NRECA Backs Potential Senate Deal on Federal Building Efficiency
Posted on Jun 13, 2013 in Climate Change, Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Backs Potential Senate Deal on Federal Building Efficiency
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is supporting bipartisan legislation to repeal a law ending fossil energy use in new and renovated federal buildings by 2030 and replace it with legislation to expand existing efficiency goals. A June 3 letter sent by NRECA and eight trade organizations to members of the U.S. Senate stated: “These provisions would give...
Two G&T Coops Seek Change in Rail Shipping Regulations
Posted on Jun 6, 2013 in Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Two G&T Coops Seek Change in Rail Shipping Regulations
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) and Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. have joined other shippers in requesting that the federal Surface Transportation Board change rules related to switching carload freight between carriers. The proposal, called reciprocal switching, would allow captive shippers, subject to certain conditions, to access a second carrier if their...
Agriculture Secretary Announces Award of Grants in 11 States
Posted on May 23, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on Agriculture Secretary Announces Award of Grants in 11 States
Several coops in 11 states have received funding from the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. This round of funding highlights USDA’s continued focus on carrying out its mission to strengthen the rural economy. The coops that received funding include East Mississippi Electric Power Association, Western Illinois Electrical Coop., Three Notch Electric Membership...
Indiana Coop and CFC “Amend & Extend” Line of Credit
Posted on May 20, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on Indiana Coop and CFC “Amend & Extend” Line of Credit
Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative (Hoosier), based in Indiana, and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) have finalized a deal to “amend and extend” a $400 million line of credit. The line of credit, which has an original maturity date of August 11, 2016, will now remain in place through April 30, 2018. Hoosier’s plans for the credit line include...
Coops Concerned with EPA Proposal for Power Plants
Posted on May 20, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Concerned with EPA Proposal for Power Plants
Electric coops are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw its proposal which could greatly affect power plants under the Clean Air Act. The proposal, which would involve at least 36 states, would “fundamentally” change how power plants operate during startups, shutdowns and malfunctions. Electric Co-op Today has more details on the cooperatives’...
Coops Advocate Water Heater Rule Change
Posted on May 15, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Advocate Water Heater Rule Change
Electric cooperatives are advocating that the Department of Energy (DOE) make changes to a new rule that would phase out large-capacity electric storage water heaters from demand management programs. These water heaters save time and energy for cooperatives and provide significant reductions in wholesale power costs. Currently, the DOE has offered one-year waivers for the water...
Texas Utilities May Buy Surplus Solar Energy from Customers
Posted on May 7, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Texas Utilities May Buy Surplus Solar Energy from Customers
A bill passed in the Texas Senate proposes that utilities pay Texas customers that generate excess solar energy a fair market price for their contributions to the electrical grid. Under current law, if a utility does not voluntarily offer to buy excess solar energy, customers must negotiate directly with their providers to be compensated for the energy they add to the grid. Read more...
Information Sharing Cyber Security Bill to Go to Senate
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on Information Sharing Cyber Security Bill to Go to Senate
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, a bill that could help electric coops defend against threats, has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would encourage the sharing of cyber threat information between the federal government and the private sector, including coops. The next step is for the bill to clear the Senate. For more information, click...
Colorado Senate Passes Bill to Raise Renewable Energy Requirements
Posted on Apr 17, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Colorado Senate Passes Bill to Raise Renewable Energy Requirements
Colorado Senators passed a bill 18-17 this week that would dramatically raise renewable energy requirements for the state’s electric coops. The bill would require the electricity coops to get 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, which is a 10 percent increase from present requirements. The bill also would limit consumer rate increases for these upgrades to 2...
Montana Coop to Participate in Battery Test
Posted on Mar 5, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Technology | Comments Off on Montana Coop to Participate in Battery Test
Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (Flathead Electric) Kalispell, Montana, campus will be the first test site for the Zinc Air Inc. (Zinc Air) battery storage technology. The tests are expected to last about six months and will allow Zinc Air and Flathead Electric to assess applications for both utility and end-user benefits, such as peak demand reduction and load shifting. Click...
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