Cooperative Among Participants at Congressional Hearing on the Future of Hydropower Generation
Posted on May 5, 2011 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Cooperative Among Participants at Congressional Hearing on the Future of Hydropower Generation
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing Wednesday to discuss the legal and regulatory barriers to increased hydropower generation. Consumers Power, Inc., an Oregon cooperative, was among the participants and noted concerns about overgeneration related to the rapid increase of wind being generated in the region. For CPI’s complete testimony, click...
New Campaign Finance Law Could Affect Georgia Coops
Posted on May 3, 2011 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on New Campaign Finance Law Could Affect Georgia Coops
The Georgia Legislature has sent Senate Bill 160 to the state’s governor for consideration. The bill changes the state’s campaign finance laws by allowing public utility corporations to make contributions to political campaigns. Electric membership corporations, however, are still prohibited from making any contributions to political campaigns. Despite this restriction, the...
Oregon Coop Unlikely to Be Exempted From Renewable Portfolio Standard
Posted on Apr 29, 2011 in Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Oregon Coop Unlikely to Be Exempted From Renewable Portfolio Standard
Umatilla Electric Cooperative has been seeking an exemption from the Oregon legislature, and the recent defeat of SB 955 raises doubts as to whether the coop will obtain an exemption from the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for large utilities, which requires that 25 percent of the coop’s energy come from renewables by 2025. The East Oregonian has the full story.
Decision Under New Alabama Ethics Act Allows Coops To Mingle With Legislators
Posted on Apr 22, 2011 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Decision Under New Alabama Ethics Act Allows Coops To Mingle With Legislators
The Alabama Ethics Commission issued several advisory opinions this month, including one involving a Baldwin County power cooperative. The opinions were the first big test for last minute changes made to the Alabama Ethics Act, which were rushed through during a special session last year. The commission found that a coop could invite legislators to Chamber of Commerce functions. Read...
New Bill Could Affect the Way Texas Coops Buy Power
Posted on Apr 21, 2011 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on New Bill Could Affect the Way Texas Coops Buy Power
Yesterday, the Texas Senate sent a bill to the House that could affect the state’s coops. The bill establishes a Texas Energy Policy Council to develop a statewide strategic energy policy that balances public health and environmental matters with the issues of costs and energy reliability. The bill would set up a framework for coops and other utilities to buy power from natural gas...
Pedernales Coop Board Expresses Cautious Support For Regulation Bill
Posted on Apr 19, 2011 in Corporate Governance, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Pedernales Coop Board Expresses Cautious Support For Regulation Bill
Members of the Texas-based Pedernales Electric Cooperative board of directors said Monday that they will support Senator Troy Fraser’s latest attempt to impose state regulation on the coop if he addresses some concerns about the bill first. Pedernales continues to recover from a scandal that exposed closed-door practices, excessive spending and criminal activity. As some members noted...
Minnesota Coop Benefits From Roll Back of Coal Restrictions
Posted on Apr 19, 2011 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Minnesota Coop Benefits From Roll Back of Coal Restrictions
Minnesota senators voted last Thursday to lift restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from coal production. Supporters said the restrictions have amounted to a moratorium on both new coal plants in the state and the purchase of energy produced by new coal plants in neighboring states. Several Democrats joined the chamber’s Republicans in their unanimous support of rolling back the...
Executive of Kentucky Coop Warns of the Impacts that Proposed EPA Rules Will Have on Industrial Customers
Posted on Apr 8, 2011 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Executive of Kentucky Coop Warns of the Impacts that Proposed EPA Rules Will Have on Industrial Customers
Mark Bailey, CEO of Big Rivers Electric Corporation, spoke before a U.S. House subcommittee regarding the costs of the proposed regulations that the coop would be forced to pass along to its industrial base. A significant portion of the coop’s total power is used by energy intensive aluminum smelters that may be forced to relocate abroad in order to avoid higher electric rates. Roll...
Missouri Senate Committee Approves Nuclear Site Permitting Bill
Posted on Apr 6, 2011 in Legislative & Politics, Permitting, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Missouri Senate Committee Approves Nuclear Site Permitting Bill
After being approved by the Missouri Senate Commerce Committee in a 7-2 vote, the bill now moves to the full Missouri Senate. A group of electric utilities, including electric cooperatives, has been advocating for the bill’s passage in order to keep nuclear as an option for baseload power. Co-Mo Electric Cooperative has the full story.
Rule Requiring Installation of Pollution Controls on Back-up Generators Would Cost Iowa Cooperatives Big Money
Posted on Apr 4, 2011 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Rates | Comments Off on Rule Requiring Installation of Pollution Controls on Back-up Generators Would Cost Iowa Cooperatives Big Money
The CEO of North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative objected to the rule because coop’s members would have to pay more than $5 million to install catalyst technology on back-up units that run for a yearly average of 11 hours each. Based on cost-benefit concerns like these, Governor Branstad vetoed the state rule. Radio Iowa has the full story.
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