White House Calls for Additional Spending on Nation’s Power Grid
Posted on Aug 13, 2013
The Obama Administration has released a report on the costs of power outages, which calls for increased spending on the nation’s electric power system. According to the report, power outages cost the economy $18 billion to $33 billion per year. Seven of the ten most costly storms in U.S. history occurred between 2004 and 2012, during a time when the U.S. electric grid was aging. The report suggests new spending should be focused on a few main areas, including “hardening” the system by installing stronger equipment, building more transmission wires and energy storage systems to make...
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NRECA Opposes President’s Plan on Climate Change
Posted on Aug 13, 2013
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has launched a campaign against President Barack Obama’s proposal to use the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide and fight climate change. The NRECA released a video voicing its opposition to the President’s plan. Click here for more.
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Tennessee Coop Receives Solar Generation Honor
Posted on Aug 12, 2013
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has recognized Tennessee-based Chickasaw Electric Cooperative (Chickasaw Electric) for its impressive per-capita solar generation. The coop averages 217 watts for each of its over 15,000 customers, which places Chickasaw Electric fifth on SEPA’s national list. See the Tennessee Valley Authority press release for more information.
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Minnesota Coop Set to Break Ground on Ethanol Plant
Posted on Aug 12, 2013
Minnesota-based Great River Energy (GRE) plans to begin construction this fall in North Dakota on Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, a $155 million ethanol plant. Dakota Spirit AgEnergy will be the second ethanol plant developed by GRE and should begin operations in the first quarter of 2015. The Minneapolis StarTribune has the details.
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Utilities Object to Recommendations for Columbia River Treaty
Posted on Aug 9, 2013
Flathead Electric Cooperative and other utilities have expressed their concern in recent months over the rate impacts of certain recommended changes to the Columbia River Treaty relating to the river’s ecosystem. This half-decade-old treaty provides for the return of power to Canada in exchange for flood control provided by dams in Canada. See the Daily Inter Lake for details on the recommended changes and the response by utilities.
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John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant Named Plant of the Year
Posted on Aug 9, 2013
The new 600-MW John W. Turk, Jr. coal-fueled plant in Arkansas has been named Plant of the Year by POWER Magazine. The plant, which is co-owned by Southwestern Electric Power Company, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, East Texas Electric Cooperative and Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, received this award for overcoming a number of regulatory hurdles and legal obstacles. POWER Magazine has more on this story.
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North Dakota City Commission Denies Franchise to Coop
Posted on Aug 7, 2013
The Devils Lake City Commission denied a request from Nodak Electric Cooperative (Nodak) for a franchise to allow the cooperative to provide electrical service to some areas within the city limits. All property within the city limits is currently served by Otter Tail Power Company. As the city limits expand, Nodak was seeking to serve several new subdivisions within the city limits. To read more about this story, click here.
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FERC Conditionally Approves Alaskan Hydro Project
Posted on Aug 7, 2013
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has conditionally approved a license for a 6.5-MW hydroelectric project in Alaska which will reportedly cost $38.8 million. The license was awarded to Copper Valley Electric Association for the proposed Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project. The license includes various environmental mitigation conditions for the project, which is expected to generate roughly 23,300 megawatt-hours per year. To read more about this project, click here (subscription required).
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Coops Challenge Lending for New Renewable Energy Projects
Posted on Aug 5, 2013
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has voiced opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to establish a new Rural Utilities Service (RUS) lending project aimed at renewable energy. The USDA announced in early June that it would consider implementing the program under the Electric Loan program to fund renewable energy generation, even for non-rural residents. NRECA submitted comments to the USDA arguing that the project finance program could overwhelm the workload of RUS staffers and end up costing too much money. Click here for...
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FERC Sides With Louisiana Coop in NERC Challenge
Posted on Aug 5, 2013
As the Sutherland Coop team reported on July 25, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sided with South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) and ordered the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to remove the coop from its compliance registry for distribution providers and load-serving entities. SLECA originally came under the compliance registry in 2008 when its generation provider determined that it should register with NERC under the federal reliability requirements in Section 215 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. SLECA later realized that it...
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Coop to Assist TVA and Developer with Two New Solar Facilities
Posted on Aug 2, 2013
Developer Strata Solar is collaborating with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Pickwick Electric Cooperative (Pickwick) on two new 20-MW solar projects in McNairy, Tennessee, with enough capacity to power up to 4,000 homes. Strata Solar will construct and operate the two facilities, TVA will purchase the output and Pickwick will play a supporting role by providing interconnection. Click here for more information.
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Wisconsin Bill to Protect Coops From Civil Suits
Posted on Aug 2, 2013
Wisconsin State Assembly representatives have proposed Assembly Bill 257 to protect coops and other electricity providers from civil liability for damage to persons and property resulting from power service. The bill does not intend to modify existing standards related to permissible stray voltage levels, but critics say the bill will take utilities off the hook for related harm and will function as a disincentive to mitigate against stray voltage at any level. Click here for more information.
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Court Rejects Challenge to EPA Haze Rule
Posted on Jul 31, 2013
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 regional haze rule in Oklahoma despite challenges that the EPA overstepped its authority. The decision is expected to impact coal-based electricity, which makes up about 70% of cooperative-owned generation. To read more about this story and a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia regarding ozone standards, click here.
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Arkansas Coop Enters Wind Agreement
Posted on Jul 31, 2013
RES Americas and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) have entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement, which will result in the construction of 75 new wind turbines in two Oklahoma counties. The 150-MW Origin Wind Project, which is slated to begin operations by late 2014, will add to the 51 MW of wind capacity acquired by AECC through a 2012 power purchase agreement. Click here for more.
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