Vermont Coop Among Opponents to Proposed Wind Moratorium
Posted on Jan 17, 2013 in Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Coop Among Opponents to Proposed Wind Moratorium
Washington Electric Cooperative is among a long list of renewable energy supporters opposing a recent state legislative proposal to ban for three years the development of wind generation projects with a capacity greater than 500 kW. Legislators proposed the bill in reaction to environmental and aesthetic concerns raised by constituents. However, opponents say the move contradicts...
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to Consider Alternative Transmission Project
Posted on Jan 17, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to Consider Alternative Transmission Project
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association plans to consider an alternative route for its planned transmission project to provide new infrastructure for its electric system. Tri-State’s decision is in response to Xcel Energy’s indication that it will likely withdraw from the previously proposed joint transmission project. The project will help provide reliable power to San...
Kroll Bond Rating Agency Issues Updated Report on Fracking
Posted on Jan 15, 2013 in Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Land Use, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Kroll Bond Rating Agency Issues Updated Report on Fracking
Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) has issued an update to its report on the state and local credit risks of high-volume hydraulic fracking of the Marcellus and Utica Shale Basins, located below New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The report, available here, discusses the estimated economic impact from the recovery of these fossil fuel resources. These resources are so large...
Michigan Agency Extends Permit for Installation of Coal Plant
Posted on Jan 14, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Permitting, Project Development | Comments Off on Michigan Agency Extends Permit for Installation of Coal Plant
A coalition of Michigan electric utilities, which includes Cherryland Electric Cooperative, recently received an extended permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the construction of a contested coal plant project However, utility officials, including those representing Cadillac-based Wolverine Power Cooperative, have not announced if they intend to follow...
Finnish Company to Supply Engines to Gas Plant in Texas
Posted on Jan 8, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on Finnish Company to Supply Engines to Gas Plant in Texas
Finnish power company Wärtsilä has won a deal to supply 12 engines for a new 225-MW gas plant, the South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC) Red Gate power plant, to be located in Hidalgo County, Texas. This plant is scheduled to be operational by summer 2014. Wärtsilä has supplied components to three other power plants in Texas, including a 200-MW facility at Pearsall, Texas, which...
NRECA Speaks Out Against EPA Turbine Plan
Posted on Jan 8, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Speaks Out Against EPA Turbine Plan
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to back off on its proposed revisions to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for stationary gas turbines and stationary combustion turbines. According to the NRECA, the revisions are flawed because the revised standards would be made retroactive to February 2005 and...
AECC to Purchase Wind Power
Posted on Jan 4, 2013 in Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on AECC to Purchase Wind Power
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase up to 51 MW of power from a portion of the Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm located in Kansas. This agreement is AECC’s first purchase of wind power from an outside company. Although AECC has not disclosed the specific financial terms, an AECC representative described the deal as being...
SMECO Looks to Expand Solar
Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Financing, Land Use, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on SMECO Looks to Expand Solar
A 5.5-MW solar farm developed by Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has proved worthwhile, and the coop is now looking to build a second solar facility. SMECO’s efforts will help it satisfy a Maryland state law, which requires utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2022, with two percent of that portion coming from solar energy produced in...
New Power Plant Begins Commercial Operation in Arkansas
Posted on Dec 26, 2012 in Environmental, Project Development, Technology | Comments Off on New Power Plant Begins Commercial Operation in Arkansas
The 600-MW John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant, the nation’s first ultra-supercritical, coal-fired facility, began commercial operation this month after four years of construction and numerous legal challenges. The co-owners, including Southwestern Electric Power Company, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and East Texas Electric Cooperative, herald the plant as a shining example of...
USDA Announces $6.1 Million in Rural Project Funding
Posted on Dec 20, 2012 in Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on USDA Announces $6.1 Million in Rural Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its most recent series of grants and loans designed to boost economic development in rural communities. This latest round of funding will serve communities in seven Midwestern and Southern states and involves more than $6.1 million. See the press release for further details.
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