NCSC Funds Two Solar Projects for Hawaii Coop
Posted on Nov 4, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on NCSC Funds Two Solar Projects for Hawaii Coop
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) will break ground this week on one of two planned solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants on the island of Kaua‘i, Hawaii. The National Cooperative Services Corporation (NCSC) has advanced initial funding for the estimated $40 million project, which will be the largest utility-scale solar facility in Hawaii and will meet an estimated 5 percent of...
NRECA, Electric Coops, DOE Collaborate on Solar Energy
Posted on Oct 28, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on NRECA, Electric Coops, DOE Collaborate on Solar Energy
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), 15 electric cooperatives in a dozen states and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating on a jointly funded project called the SunShot Initiative, which is aimed at bringing down the cost of utility-scale solar projects by controlling the costs of labor, procurement and materials through standardization. NRECA’s...
MISO Will Not Allow Shutdown of Presque Isle Power Plant
Posted on Oct 22, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on MISO Will Not Allow Shutdown of Presque Isle Power Plant
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) says We Energies’ Presque Isle coal-fired power plant in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula needs to remain operational for reliability reasons, despite a bid by We Energies to suspend operations. We Energies had discussed retiring the power plant several years ago but changed its mind after Wolverine Power Cooperative (Wolverine) agreed to...
Dairyland to Retire Alma Station
Posted on Oct 22, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Dairyland to Retire Alma Station
Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) has announced plans to shutter two boilers of one of its coal-fired generating plants in Alma, Wisconsin, because of the age of the facility, demand, market prices and regulations. Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) obligations require that Dairyland produce a quarter of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025. Currently about 88...
Montana Coops Discuss Sage Grouse and Renewable Portfolio Standard
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Montana Coops Discuss Sage Grouse and Renewable Portfolio Standard
Efforts to avoid listing the sage grouse as an endangered species and changes to the Montana Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) were among the issues discussed at the annual Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association meeting. Efforts to save the sage grouse may require coops to reroute existing lines or plan new lines to avoid breeding locations, which may increase member rates. The...
Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) seeks to resume its net metering program after reaching the state’s 4% cap on mandatory net metering. VEC’s tariff proposal would adjust credits downward for new participants due to the rapid increase in demand and the decrease in prices associated with net metered solar energy systems. However, Renewable Energy Vermont opposes VEC’s proposal,...
Colorado Wind Farm Expanded
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Colorado Wind Farm Expanded
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State) recently completed a 24-MW expansion to the Colorado Highlands Wind Farm. The expanded facility saw a 36% increase in generation,which, when combined with Tri-State’s other renewable resources, amounts to an estimated 18% of the energy produced by Tri-State for its member coops. The Denver Business Journal has...
Hawaiian Coop Explores Fuel Options
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Financing, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Hawaiian Coop Explores Fuel Options
With its fuel supply contract set to expire in April 2015, Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative has requested information from prospective fuel suppliers to determine whether alternatives to oil are feasible. State officials would like to see the coop turn to liquefied natural gas. The coop must also consider its goal of 50% or more renewable sources by 2023. Click here for the full...
Coop Uses Crowdfunding to Create Additional Wind Power
Posted on Sep 30, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop Uses Crowdfunding to Create Additional Wind Power
East River Electric Cooperative (EREC), a supplier of electric power for rural areas of South Dakota and Minnesota, is using crowdfunding to add more wind power to its portfolio. Crowdfunding is a new method through which many writers, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs get their projects funded by strangers. EREC crowdfunded from the communities it serves to finance a portion of...
Distribution Coop Approves Community Solar Initiative
Posted on Sep 21, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Project Development, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Distribution Coop Approves Community Solar Initiative
The board of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), based in Colorado, recently approved a program where 10 or more members can apply to develop a community solar garden and sell the power back to the coop. LPEA is accepting proposals through year’s end. The Durango Herald has the full story.
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