Grand Canyon State Electric Coop Association CEO Testifies on Federal Policies
Posted on Jun 5, 2012 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Grand Canyon State Electric Coop Association CEO Testifies on Federal Policies
Tom Jones, CEO of Arizona’s Grand Canyon State Electric Coop Association (GCSECA), warned that proposed regulations may significantly increase energy prices for coops in the region when he recently addressed the Committee on House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed federal regulations governing the disposal of...
Coops Call for Shipping Reforms
Posted on May 31, 2012 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops Call for Shipping Reforms
Several coops and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) are among the signatories to a letter from rail shippers to U.S. House Transportation Committee members requesting support for freight industry reforms. The proposed changes would be included in an extensive surface transportation bill and would aid shippers that face high rates and poor service from a...
Michigan Coops Avoid Personal Property Tax Hike
Posted on May 29, 2012 in Regulation & Policy, Tax | Comments Off on Michigan Coops Avoid Personal Property Tax Hike
Body: The Michigan State Tax Commission will continue recognizing system economic factors (SEFs) used to calculate personal property taxes imposed on coops. SEFs take into consideration the economic disadvantages coops face when serving rural customers. The decision will save Michigan coops around $2.8 million a year. Click here for more.
Lawmakers Press for Details on EPA Proposal to Cap Emissions
Posted on May 21, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Lawmakers Press for Details on EPA Proposal to Cap Emissions
On Thursday, Representatives Fred Upton and Ed Whitfield sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asking a host of questions regarding the agency’s Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants as well its plans for future regulations on utilities. In March, the EPA released a proposal to set the country’s first-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new...
North Dakota Coop Awarded 50-Year Federal Contract
Posted on May 16, 2012 in Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on North Dakota Coop Awarded 50-Year Federal Contract
Verendrye Electric Cooperative will officially take over the electrical facilities at Minot Air Force Base on June 1. In 2010, the coop was awarded a 50-year federal contract to purchase, maintain and operate the electrical distribution infrastructure on the base. According to Air Force estimates, the contract will be worth nearly $85 million over the 50-year period. The Minot Daily...
Carbon Dioxide Rules Unlikely to Affect Coop Credit Quality
Posted on Apr 30, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Carbon Dioxide Rules Unlikely to Affect Coop Credit Quality
According to a report from Standard & Poor’s Research (S&P), the proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from new coal plants are unlikely to affect the credit quality of electric cooperatives. The EPA has proposed new emissions restrictions that will require modification at some coal-fired plants. The S&P report...
House Committee Blocks Funding for Energy Department Plans for PMAs
Posted on Apr 30, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on House Committee Blocks Funding for Energy Department Plans for PMAs
On April 25, the House Appropriations Committee approved by voice vote an amendment to the fiscal 2013 Energy and Water spending bill that blocks funding for proposed changes that would affect power marketing administrations (PMAs) and their customers. In testimony before the House Committee, NRECA CEO Glenn English raised concerns that the proposed plans would impose high costs on...
Senate Agriculture Committee Approves RESPA
Posted on Apr 30, 2012 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Senate Agriculture Committee Approves RESPA
The Rural Energy Savings Program Act (RESPA), sometimes referred to as the Conrad-Lugar Amendment, includes four policy improvements designed to help rural families, farms and small businesses save money on their energy bills. Generally, the proposed legislation: (1) authorizes coops to provide low-interest loans to members for energy efficiency improvements; (2) changes the...
House Bill Offers Coop Lenders Relief from Dodd-Frank
Posted on Apr 26, 2012 in Financing, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on House Bill Offers Coop Lenders Relief from Dodd-Frank
The Small Business Credit Availability Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week and moves on to the Senate. The bill would revise the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt smaller banks, including those offering financing to rural coops, from certain provisions of the major regulatory reform law. With less red tape and new costs to deal with, smaller banks and similar financial...
Colorado Coop Sues EPA Over New Emissions Standards
Posted on Apr 23, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Colorado Coop Sues EPA Over New Emissions Standards
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. has filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new mercury and air-toxics emissions standards for coal-fired power plants. The coop, Colorado’s second-largest power utility, serves some 1.5 million customers in Colorado, New Mexico,...
Subscribe
