Texas Coops Facing Steep Fire-Related Repair Costs
Posted on Oct 4, 2011
Texas-based Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative estimates the infrastructure repairs stemming from the wildfires in Bastrop County amount to $17.5 million. Some of those funds may be reimbursed by a public assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Pedernales Electric Cooperative, which serves a neighboring area in Texas, reported that it has already spent $416,000 on fire-related repairs. You can find more details here.
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Coop Researching Peak-Time Power Consumption Reduction
Posted on Oct 3, 2011
General Electric (GE) Appliances & Lighting and Montana-based Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) are partnering up to uncover cost-effective methods of reducing peak-time power consumption. The FEC Peak Time pilot will study power supply costs associated with peak-time demand, which is usually from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Participants in the pilot program will each receive a GE Nucleus energy manager and several other energy-saving appliances. To read more about the pilot program, click here.
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Solar Energy Gets a Boost in Alabama
Posted on Oct 3, 2011
Alabama-based Arab Electric Cooperative (AEC) is making it a little easier for its members to be green. AEC voted unanimously this week to join the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Generation Partners incentive program. Under the program, the TVA gives homeowners and businesses a $1,000 incentive to help offset equipment costs, plus a 30 percent federal tax break through 2016. The Arab Tribune has the full story. You can get more information about the TVA’s Generation Partners incentive program here.
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Lewes Resolution Says No to Coop
Posted on Sep 29, 2011
The Lewes Board of Public Works determined it is not in the public’s interest to sell the city’s electric utility to Delaware Electric Cooperative. Local control, reliable service and good rate treatment already provided by the city’s utility were among the reasons residents supported the Board’s resolution. Click here for more.
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New York Law Makes Room for Rural Electric Cooperatives
Posted on Sep 29, 2011
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation that modifies the definition of “rural” and expands the geographic areas that may be served by rural electric cooperatives. The new definition conforms to the meaning adopted by the United States Department of Agriculture and lifts a restriction on rural coops to serve only customers within a city or village having a population of more than 1,000 inhabitants. Read the legislation here.
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Solar Project Moves Forward in Maryland
Posted on Sep 27, 2011
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) is joining forces with SunEdison to develop a solar facility in Hughesville, Maryland. The National Renewables Cooperative Organization has been assisting SMECO in developing the project. The 5.5-MW AC solar farm is currently pending approval from the state’s Public Service Commission. Click here to read the full story.
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Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Sued by Texas Fire Victims
Posted on Sep 27, 2011
Three victims of the Bastrop wildfire have filed a lawsuit against Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative for gross negligence that the plaintiffs allege led to one of Texas’ largest fires. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation including personal injury and property damage, mental anguish, and past and future medical expenses. A Texas Forest Service investigation report has concluded that wind gusts on September 4 knocked down trees that fell onto electrical lines at two locations, causing sparks that fell into the dry grass and tree litter below. The plaintiffs claim the coop did not remove...
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Wisconsin Coop to Purchase From Seventh Methane Digester
Posted on Sep 22, 2011
Beginning early next year, Dairyland Power Cooperative will purchase power from a new 635-kW biogas digester facility located in Augusta, Wisconsin. Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, a Dairyland member, will service the facility owned by Bush Brothers & Co. Dairyland already purchases power generated by six other digester facilities that utilize methane gas extracted from cow manure. Click here for more details.
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Pedernales Electric Cooperative Revises its Creditworthiness Policy
Posted on Sep 20, 2011
The Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors has approved changes to the coop’s creditworthiness policy. The new rules relax creditworthiness for new and existing members, including a new guarantee letter process whereby a member or applicant can be guaranteed by an existing member. You can find more details about PEC’s new plan here.
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Rolling Hills Considering Merger Opportunity
Posted on Sep 19, 2011
In preliminary talks, the trustees of Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc., a Kansas coop, are considering a merger with DS&O Electric Cooperative. Inc. In a letter to its members, Rolling Hills described the talks as “preliminary” and “non-binding.” This story was reported by the Dierking Communications News Center.
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Yellowstone Valley Electric Lawsuit Moving Forward
Posted on Sep 16, 2011
A District Court Judge in Montana has cleared the way for Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative’s (YVEC) lawsuit against Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative to proceed by turning down requests for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. YVEC, along with four other coops and the city of Great Falls, formed Southern in 2004 with the goal of owning a coal plant, but YVEC ultimately sued Southern in 2008 in an attempt to leave the cooperative. To read more about the case and the impending trial, set for November 9th, click here.
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Coops Get Government Boost For New Projects
Posted on Sep 16, 2011
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday that twenty-seven rural electric cooperative utilities will receive government funding for generation and transmission projects, distribution facilities and smart grid technologies. The United State Department of Agriculture reports that these loans are expected to finance rural electric utility improvements benefiting nearly 30,000 rural customers in 18 different states. For more on the story, and a list of coops receiving loans, click here.
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Wind Project Put on Hold in Massachusetts
Posted on Sep 9, 2011
With Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative focusing more and more of its efforts on solar projects, the town of Brewster has backed off its plan to build a wind facility with funds from the coop. The coop views solar as an increasingly competitive technology and as a solution to much of the resistance it has encountered in trying to get wind facilities built in Massachusetts. The Cape Cod Times has been following this story.
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Coop Reaches Deal to Buy 104 MWs of Power from the Shooting Star Wind Project
Posted on Sep 9, 2011
Sunflower Electric Power Corp., a Kansas cooperative, will be able to satisfy up to 29 percent of its peak retail demand once the Shooting Star Wind Project comes on line in late 2012. The project will also provide revenue to landowners who are leasing their land to the project and approximately 250,000 hours of work for construction contractors. The Wichita Eagle has the full story.
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