Potential Risks in Solar Interconnection Changes
Posted on Apr 3, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Potential Risks in Solar Interconnection Changes
In a filing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association recently identified significant reliability and safety risks that could be caused by the proposed revised procedures for interconnecting small solar generation with the grid. NRECA requested that FERC reject the Solar Energy Industries Association’s request for...
Arizona Coop Seeks to Offer Prepaid Services to Members
Posted on Apr 2, 2012 in Rates, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Arizona Coop Seeks to Offer Prepaid Services to Members
Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) is seeking permission from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to offer its members prepaid electric service. If approved, the service would provide pay-as-you-go service for customers who request it. AARP Arizona has submitted comments to the ACC raising some questions about MEC’s proposal, especially with regard to how the proposed service...
EPA Regulations Could Prevent the Use of Coal at New Plants
Posted on Apr 2, 2012 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA Regulations Could Prevent the Use of Coal at New Plants
Under a new rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on March 27, carbon dioxide emissions from new fossil fuel plants would be required to be roughly equivalent to the emissions from new combined-cycle natural gas plants. Some industry members believe the rule could effectively prevent the use of coal to produce electric power at new plants. The proposed standard...
Impact of New GHG Rules on Planned Virginia Plant Uncertain
Posted on Mar 29, 2012 in Environmental, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Impact of New GHG Rules on Planned Virginia Plant Uncertain
New rules proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would limit greenhouse gas emissions for power plants that begin construction a year or more into the future. The effect of the new rules on Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s plans for a new 1,500-MW, coal-fired power plant in Surry County, Virginia, remains uncertain. The Daily Press has the full story.
Revised Definition of “Bulk Electric System” May Benefit Coops
Posted on Mar 15, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Revised Definition of “Bulk Electric System” May Benefit Coops
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) submitted a revised definition of the term “Bulk Electric System” (BES) for approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If accepted, the revised definition may benefit coops by limiting the types of facilities subject to the NERC Reliability Standards. In particular, coops owning only radial facilities would likely...
Montana PSC’s Request to Intervene in Coop Bankruptcy Proceedings Is Denied
Posted on Mar 9, 2012 in Economic Downturn, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Montana PSC’s Request to Intervene in Coop Bankruptcy Proceedings Is Denied
A U.S. Bankruptcy judge denied the Montana Public Service Commission’s (PSC) request to intervene in the bankruptcy proceedings of Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. despite the PSC’s argument that intervention would be in the public interest. Counsel for the coop argued against intervention because the PSC does not regulate coops and is not a...
U.S. Department of Agriculture to Fund Rural Electric Infrastructure
Posted on Mar 8, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on U.S. Department of Agriculture to Fund Rural Electric Infrastructure
USDA Rural Development announced that rural electric coops in eight states will receive funding for smart grid technologies and generation and transmission facility improvements. The Rural Utilities Service will be charged with managing the $201 million in loans, of which about $25 million will go towards smart grid developments. The announcement came at the 2012 National Rural...
EPA and North Dakota Closer to Agreement on Haze Reduction Plan
Posted on Mar 5, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA and North Dakota Closer to Agreement on Haze Reduction Plan
Officials for the state of North Dakota announced last Friday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to approve the majority of the state’s regional haze air quality plan. The EPA had previously called North Dakota’s plan inadequate and had threatened to assume regulatory authority in the state, which relied heavily on coal power. The announcement comes as good news for...
Facility Owners Should Heed New Cybersecurity Legislation
Posted on Feb 29, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Facility Owners Should Heed New Cybersecurity Legislation
The push for new legislation to combat cybersecurity threats appears to be gaining steam in Congress. While election year politics, competing legislative priorities and other roadblocks may ultimately derail these legislative efforts, owners of critical infrastructure should take heed: Facility owners would be subject to “performance requirements,” certification...
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Lawsuit Gains Steam
Posted on Feb 27, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Lawsuit Gains Steam
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and several G&Ts have joined in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The new rule sets emissions caps and procedures for nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide that contribute to ozone formation in 27 eastern states and uses a system of tradable emissions allowances. The...
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