Lane Electric Coop Introduces One-Month Rate Cut for Customers
Posted on Nov 1, 2011
The board of Oregon-based Lane Electric Cooperative instituted a 21 percent rate reduction for one month only. The rate reduction, which was caused by higher than expected profit margins of Lane Electric, will be reflected on the December bills of its customers. For details, click here.
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Two Iowa Coops Plan to Merge
Posted on Oct 31, 2011
Humboldt County Rural Electric Cooperative and Midland Power Cooperative are moving forward with a plan to merge. The boards of both coops have endorsed the proposed merger and a vote by the members likely will take place in March 2012. The Fort Dodge Messenger has more about the planned merger.
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Vermont Coops Become Customers of State’s Largest Wind Farm
Posted on Oct 31, 2011
The largest wind farm in Vermont officially opened on October 26, and two of the state’s coops plan to be big customers of the facility. Washington Electric Cooperative and Vermont Electric Cooperative will buy a combined 60 percent of the output from the farm. The new $90 million, 40-megawatt, 16-turbine wind farm is the result of an eight-year planning and building process. To read more about the wind farm and Washington Electric coop’s part in its development, click here.
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Montana Senator Proposes Bill to Encourage Local Generation
Posted on Oct 27, 2011
In an effort to increase local energy production, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester introduced the Clean Transmission for Rural Communities Act, which broadens the electric power technologies eligible for municipal or cooperative bond financing. Renewable energy development, rural economic growth and new jobs are among the purported benefits of the bill. Read more here.
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Environmental Groups File Petition against John W. Turk, Jr. Plant
Posted on Oct 26, 2011
The Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and Audubon Arkansas filed a petition on October 25 with the Arkansas Public Service Commission (Arkansas PSC) attempting to halt work on the John W. Turk, Jr. coal plant being constructed by the Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO). The petition alleges that by filing for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN), SWEPCO waived its right to proceed without a CECPN, and thus SWEPCO is not lawfully entitled to proceed with construction pursuant to the exemption from the CECPN requirement that SWEPCO elected after the...
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Trade Groups Oppose Pole Regulation Effort
Posted on Oct 26, 2011
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and other trade groups have made a filing with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a U.S. District Court’s holding that utility poles are not a “point source” under the Clean Water Act and, therefore, do not fall under its permitting requirements. For more details click here.
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Coop Participates in Planning for Expected Increase in Central Oregon’s Power Needs
Posted on Oct 25, 2011
The supply of reliable power to growing industrial load was the topic of a recent meeting in Central Oregon among Bonneville Power Administration, Pacific Power and the Central Electric Coop. The Facebook data center that opened earlier this year in Prineville is one example of a facility that requires a reliable source of power, and Central Electric Coop is in talks with at least three other companies that are considering building similar facilities in the state. More information, including why Oregon is viewed as an attractive location for data centers, can be found here.
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Montana Coop Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Posted on Oct 24, 2011
Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 21. Major creditors include the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and PPL EnergyPlus. The Great Falls Tribune is covering this story.
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North Dakota Coops To Receive Flood Recovery Grants
Posted on Oct 20, 2011
Two North Dakota electric cooperatives, Verendrye Electric Cooperative and Capital Electric Cooperative, will receive a total of $3.4 million in federal grants to help with flood recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency funds will be used to repair infrastructure. For more information, click here.
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Coops Ranked by Revenue-Earnings by NCB
Posted on Oct 20, 2011
NCB, a federally- charted savings bank, released its annual NCB Coop 100, listing the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses, including electric cooperatives. In 2010, the cooperatives on the list posted revenues totaling approximately $193.8 billion. This year, Basin Electric Power Cooperative was 29th on the list, with a reported $1.5 billion in revenue in 2010. Click here for more information and a link to the entire list.
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Hawaii Coop Looks to Reallocate RUS Loan to Solar Project
Posted on Oct 18, 2011
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative wants to use a Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan previously planned for a 10-MW renewable biodiesel plant to develop a 10 MW solar project. If approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the shift in financing will allow Kauai Island to double its solar generation capacity and take advantage of certain state and federal tax incentives. Read more.
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Pedernales to Distribute Capital Credits
Posted on Oct 18, 2011
Pedernales Electric Cooperative will divvy out roughly $13.5 million in capital credits to current and former members. The distribution stems from Pedernales’ Capital Credits Policy implemented in April 2011 and is comparable to a quarter of Pedernales’ 2010 net margin. The Highlander has more.
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Argan Awarded Texas Biomass Plant
Posted on Oct 18, 2011
Gemma Power Systems, a subsidiary of Argan Inc. has been appointed to build a $165 million biomass plant near Woodville, Texas. East Texas Electric Cooperative awarded the contract, which still requires certain regulatory approvals. The parties anticipate a project completion date in December 2014. The Washington Business Journal has the full story.
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New York Legislation Opens New Service Areas to Coops
Posted on Oct 14, 2011
Under the new law, the definition of “rural” has been changed to cover towns with up to 20,000 residents. Prior to this change, the limit in New York was 1,000 residents. Electric Co-op Today has the full story.
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