Fitch Ratings Study Finds that Cooperatives Must Adapt to Maintain Stable Credit Quality
Posted on May 15, 2015 in Economic Downturn, Financing, Innovation/Efficiency, Rates, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Fitch Ratings Study Finds that Cooperatives Must Adapt to Maintain Stable Credit Quality
A recent report by Fitch Ratings found that electrical cooperatives today face challenges created by changing technologies, slowing growth and changing consumer usage patterns. These challenges will require that cooperatives find ways to adapt if they want to maintain strong credit quality in the A to AA range. For example, one adaptation made by many cooperatives has been to decouple...
NERC Study Finds EPA’s Clean Power Plan Unworkable
Posted on Apr 30, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on NERC Study Finds EPA’s Clean Power Plan Unworkable
A recent North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) study finds that the Clean Power Plan of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would require that electric cooperatives shut down approximately 21 percent of their coal generation by 2025. The study also found that the generation and transmission projects necessary to fill the void left by coal generation would not be...
USDA Announces Funding for Infrastructure Projects
Posted on Apr 22, 2015 in Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on USDA Announces Funding for Infrastructure Projects
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $72 million in funding for six electric infrastructure projects, including several projects being developed by rural electric cooperatives. The projects include a transmission project in Kansas being developed by Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, transmission and other system improvements by Broad River Electric...
Mohave Electric Cooperative Serves Members with New Solar Facility
Posted on Apr 13, 2015 in Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy, Tax | Comments Off on Mohave Electric Cooperative Serves Members with New Solar Facility
Arizona’s Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) is now purchasing power from a new utility-grade solar facility to supply its members with renewable power. The facility is currently owned by a private developer, whose appetite for the associated tax credits improved the economics of the deal for MEC and its members, and will be owned by MEC when the tax credits have been exhausted. Click...
Appalachian Regional Commission Awards $500,000 Grant to Rural Electric Cooperative for Solar Project
Posted on Apr 9, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Appalachian Regional Commission Awards $500,000 Grant to Rural Electric Cooperative for Solar Project
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe recently announced the grant of $500,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission ARC) to the BARC Electric Cooperative (BARCEC). The grant will help fund a new solar facility and learning center in rural Appalachia. The facility will produce between 250 and 350 kilowatts of electricity—enough to provide power to approximately 60 residential...
Texas Co-op Approves Distributed Generation Initiative
Posted on Apr 8, 2015 in Corporate Governance, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Texas Co-op Approves Distributed Generation Initiative
The board of directors of Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) has approved a resolution to include initiatives for more distributed generation as part of PEC’s overall business plan. PEC officials have indicated these measures are a response to PEC’s members’ desire for reliable and renewable energy solutions. To read more please click here.
Capacity for Distributed Energy Storage Expected to Increase Dramatically by 2018
Posted on Apr 8, 2015 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Capacity for Distributed Energy Storage Expected to Increase Dramatically by 2018
A recent report by Navigant Research suggests that the capacity distributed energy storage systems (DESS) will grow 10-fold by 2018. Worldwide DESS capacity is expected to grow to 2.4 GW from the current level of 276 MW, and revenues from DESS are expected to be greater than $16.5 billion by 2024. Research indicates the boom is being generated by improved technologies, including...
EPA Proposes Costly New Water Regulations
Posted on Mar 25, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Land Use, Legislative & Politics, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on EPA Proposes Costly New Water Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new water regulations which would increase costs and require extensive permitting for power line construction and maintenance. At a hearing on the proposed rules, Russ Biggica of the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association warned Congress that the rules would drive up costs for cooperatives, including the cost of renewable energy...
Renewables Top Fossil Fuels in Generation Growth
Posted on Mar 17, 2015 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Renewables Top Fossil Fuels in Generation Growth
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Electric Power Monthly report, in 2014 increases in wind and solar generation outpaced traditional fossil fuel generation growth. Net generation of wind increased roughly 14 million MW hours and net generation of commercial-scale solar grew by approximately 9 million MW hours. To read more about this story, please...
G&T Cooperative Adds Solar Production Facilities
Posted on Mar 16, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on G&T Cooperative Adds Solar Production Facilities
Illinois G&T Prairie Power has announced plans to construct two new solar power facilities. Jay Bartlett, CEO of Prairie Power, stated that the G&T is building the facilities in response to its members’ interest in renewable energy sources. Once completed, all of its nearly 80,000 members will be able to sign up to purchase power from the solar projects. Please click here to...
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