EPA Carbon Rule Could Lead States to Cap-and-Trade Programs
Posted on Jun 3, 2014 in Climate Change, Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on EPA Carbon Rule Could Lead States to Cap-and-Trade Programs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulations requiring a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions from existing power plants by 2030 outlines several approved ways for states to reach the targeted reductions. However, some experts believe that most states will likely focus on achieving compliance through cap-and-trade systems. Because the electricity grid...
EPA Proposes New Rule to Cut Emissions from Existing Plants
Posted on Jun 2, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA Proposes New Rule to Cut Emissions from Existing Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Monday that it has issued a proposed rule that would for the first time reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing stationary sources, including coal-fired power plants. The proposal calls for a cut in carbon dioxide emissions from existing plants to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and would be implemented through a...
Key Points in Carbon Rules to be Released Next Week
Posted on Jun 1, 2014 in Climate Change, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Key Points in Carbon Rules to be Released Next Week
President Barack Obama and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are expected to release the new carbon regulations of power plants under the Clean Air Act. See Law360 for key issues to watch for and an analysis of the potential legal challenges (subscription required).
Florida City Considers Municipal Utility Model
Posted on May 30, 2014 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Florida City Considers Municipal Utility Model
With a 30-year franchise agreement with Lee County Electric Cooperative coming to an end in September 2016, the city of Cape Coral, Florida, will consider whether taking control of power distribution in the form of a municipal electric utility is feasible and desirable. The city council voted to move forward with initial investigative efforts earlier this week. The News-Press has the...
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Controversy Over EPA Haze Authority
Posted on May 28, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Controversy Over EPA Haze Authority
The U.S. Supreme Court denied petitions from North Dakota and Oklahoma challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decisions to prioritize the respective states’ emissions control plans in favor of a federal plan. In separate cases, the states claimed that the EPA’s action undermines the state-federal relationship outlined by the Clean Air Act. For more on the cases...
Senate Agriculture Committee Raises Concerns about Proposed RUS Environmental Regulation
Posted on May 28, 2014 in Environmental, Financing, Legislative & Politics, Patronage Capital, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Senate Agriculture Committee Raises Concerns about Proposed RUS Environmental Regulation
In its report accompanying spending legislation for fiscal year 2015, the Senate Agriculture Committee has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development office to provide a report on the impact of a controversial regulation proposed by the USDA. The regulation at issue would reclassify all loan transactions for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) borrowers as “major...
Proposed CFTC Regulations May Affect Coops
Posted on May 28, 2014 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Proposed CFTC Regulations May Affect Coops
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is proposing to amend its swap dealer regulations for entities entering into swaps with utility special entities. Click here to read the press release, which includes three actions intended to protect liquidity for end-users, a term that would typically include coops. Read more here.
Power Plant Emissions Regulations Are Around the Corner
Posted on May 20, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Power Plant Emissions Regulations Are Around the Corner
Final regulations for capping greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants are expected to be unveiled in June 2014. The regulations provide that new coal-fired plants would limit emissions to within 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour. However, the plants would have the flexibility of choosing to average their emissions over several years if they agree to adhere...
State Regulators Approve 200-Mile Transmission Line for Basin Electric
Posted on May 16, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on State Regulators Approve 200-Mile Transmission Line for Basin Electric
The North Dakota Public Service Commission recently approved Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s (Basin Electric) proposed 200-mile, 345-kV transmission line. The new transmission line will improve connections between the Antelope Valley Station and newly signed wind farm contracts and the coop’s members in other parts of the state. Electric Co-op Today has more on this...
RUS Electric Loan Program at Risk?
Posted on May 14, 2014 in Environmental, Financing, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on RUS Electric Loan Program at Risk?
Electric coops that borrow from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) could face unprecedented new requirements if a proposed federal rule is approved. The rule, proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency, would reclassify many common activities associated with RUS loans in a way that triggers federally required environmental reviews, in addition to the...
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