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...
Proposed Coal Dust Tariff May Receive Coop Opposition
Posted on Apr 28, 2011 in Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Proposed Coal Dust Tariff May Receive Coop Opposition
BNSF Railway’s recently proposed coal dust tariff will limit the amount of coal dust flying from trains leaving mines in Wyoming. Coop coal buyers, including Arkansas Electric Cooperative, are among those who have opposed previous attempts to restrict the release of coal dust. The new rules should be issued in the next few weeks and coop customers will need to decide whether to...
North Dakota to Challenge EPA Takeover
Posted on Apr 26, 2011 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on North Dakota to Challenge EPA Takeover
North Dakota has declared its intent to challenge the EPA’s takeover of an air quality control program at two coal-fired power plants in the state once the EPA issues its final plan by May 13 of this year. The EPA seeks to control the coal plants’ operations for compliance with the federal Regional Haze program, according to the Bismarck Tribune.
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.
Coop Membership is Expanding Faster Than Overall Population Growth
Posted on Apr 5, 2011 in Economic Downturn, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coop Membership is Expanding Faster Than Overall Population Growth
With most of the nation’s population growth occurring in the western and southern states, coops that serve suburban and other neighboring areas have seen significant increases in the number of customers in their service areas. This rate of growth is expected to continue so long as population centers in the south and west continue to grow at rates in excess of the national population...
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