Sutherland Advises South Mississippi Electric on Purchase of LSP Energy’s Batesville Plant
Posted on Dec 21, 2012
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has advised South Mississippi Electric (SME) on the purchase of LSP Energy LP’s Batesville, Mississippi, plant. The transaction closed this week and involved the acquisition of three gas-fired, combined-cycle generating units with the capacity to produce up to 837 megawatts of electricity at a purchase price of approximately $332/kW. Read more here.
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USDA Announces $6.1 Million in Rural Project Funding
Posted on Dec 20, 2012
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its most recent series of grants and loans designed to boost economic development in rural communities. This latest round of funding will serve communities in seven Midwestern and Southern states and involves more than $6.1 million. See the press release for further details.
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Report Finds Renewables on the Rise
Posted on Dec 20, 2012
A preliminary version of the Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook Report finds that renewable energy production, particularly wind and solar, is expected to rise over the next 30 years. The increase is largely attributed to state renewable energy requirements and heightened environmental regulations The final version of the annual report is scheduled to be released in spring 2013. For more information, click here.
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Alaskan Coop Decides Not to Buy Plant
Posted on Dec 20, 2012
Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) will not purchase a 22.5-MW, coal-fired generation plant located at Clear Air Force Station about 80 miles from Fairbanks. Citing cost concerns, both from an environmental and efficiency perspective, GVEA determined that purchasing the plant was not in the best interest of its customers. Clear Air Force Station hopes to connect to the GVEA grid and begin purchasing power from the coop in 2014. Click here for the full story.
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Judge Denies Sierra Club’s Challenge to $3 Billion Mississippi Coal Plant
Posted on Dec 19, 2012
A Mississippi judge has ruled against the Sierra Club’s attempt to invalidate the licensing for a $3 billion coat plant granted to Mississippi Power Co. Inc. and South Mississippi Electric Power Association by the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The court held that policy decisions on long-term solutions for fuel diversity and price stability of fuels used in electric generation should be left to the Public Service Commission and not the judicial branch. The Sierra Club intends to appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Read more here (subscription required).
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New EPA Rule May Delay Plant Expansions
Posted on Dec 19, 2012
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently adopted a rule that reduces the limits on fine particle emissions by 20 percent. Experts say that this limit reduction could delay power plant expansions and similar projects in certain regions of the country. While most of the country’s counties will not need to adjust regulatory requirements to meet the new standard, the new EPA rule may result in delayed permitting of new power facilities and other projects. To read more about the new rule’s possible effects, click here (subscription required).
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Colorado Cooperatives Increase Solar Portfolios
Posted on Dec 19, 2012
Two Colorado electric cooperatives are adding to their renewable energy portfolios by constructing solar arrays expected to generate a maximum of 3 MW of solar power for their member-consumers. United Power, Inc.’s 2-MW solar array was brought online last week, and San Miguel Power Association, Inc.’s (San Miguel) 1-MW “community” solar array will begin operations by the end of the year. Additionally, the San Miguel array is currently the country’s largest community-owned solar project, and it will allow customers to purchase the solar panels at a price of $700 each. Click here for...
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Southern Power to Supplement Cobb EMC
Posted on Dec 19, 2012
Starting in 2016, Georgia-based Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) will receive electricity from Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company. The 325 megawatts of electricity to be provided annually will supplement Cobb EMC’s current generation resources for a seven-year period. Read more here.
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Iowa Coops to Attend Workshop on Preventing Cyber-Attacks
Posted on Dec 14, 2012
The heads of electric cooperatives in Iowa will meet for a three-day workshop and training session at Iowa State University in Ames. The goal of the workshop is to protect the state’s electric coops from cyber-attacks, which are becoming an increasingly important topic of grid reliability. Organizers say the first line of defense is ensuring that the workforce is adequately trained. A workforce that understands “the importance of cyber security” is the key, according to Craig Miller, project manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. To read more about the...
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New Study Finds Credit Quality of G&T Coops on the Rise
Posted on Dec 14, 2012
Kroll Bond Rating Agency recently released the results of a multi-month study related to its development of a new rating methodology for rural generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives. The study found that the credit quality and strength of G&Ts have improved significantly over the past 20 years. The findings also indicated that many market participants give disproportionate weight to the financial metrics of G&Ts while often failing to give proper weight to the strong security features which they possess. The study said that long-term member contracts, minimal...
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Study Finds Northwest Needs More Generation
Posted on Dec 13, 2012
A study conducted by the Northwest Resource Adequacy Forum for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council said that utilities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington will need approximately 350 MW of additional capacity by 2017. The additional generation will likely be needed because California plans to retire certain power plants, which will upset the region’s current import/export regime. Click here for the full story.
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New Mexico Coop Sees Insurance Premiums Spike
Posted on Dec 13, 2012
Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative faces an almost 33 percent increase in its overall insurance premiums resulting from a significant increase in general liability, workers’ compensation and executive officer-specific claims. The coop plans to explore other insurance providers and quotes to avoid an almost $200,000 increase in insurance premiums. The Rio Grande Sun has more.
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Tri-State Authorizes Capital Credits
Posted on Dec 13, 2012
The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) board of directors has authorized $10 million in capital credits to be refunded to members. The board has approved a reimbursement for 24 straight years. Tri-State makes the refunds when it meets equity capital ratios and other financial objectives. Click here for more.
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Hawaii Regulators Approve Kaua’i Island Solar Power Purchase Agreement
Posted on Dec 11, 2012
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a 20-year power purchase agreement between the Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative and REC Solar for its 300-kilowatt, MP2 Hawaii Solar Project in Koloa. This will be the 36th-largest renewable energy project in Hawaii. Read more here.
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