NRECA CEO: Carbon-Free Electricity Generation by 2035 Is Overly Ambitious
Posted on Mar 25, 2022
After the Biden administration set the goal of achieving a 100% carbon-free electric sector by 2035, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO, Jim Matheson, argued to Congress this overly ambitious goal could threaten grid reliability and requires technology that is not yet available. Matheson suggested Congress instead focus on a resilient and reliable electric grid that is affordable, and continue to take additional actions like tax credits, permit streamlining and coordination on electrification required to meet future energy sector needs
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Developers Appeal Federal Ruling Blocking Transmission Project Through Wildlife Refuge
Posted on Mar 25, 2022
ITC Midwest, American Transmission and Dairyland Power Cooperative have appealed a federal ruling that blocks the construction of transmission lines through the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. The lines are part of a $492 million project that would run more than 100 miles between Dane County, Wisconsin and Dubuque County Iowa.
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North Carolina Cooperatives to Launch Utility-Scale Battery Storage Project
Posted on Mar 21, 2022
North Carolina Electric Membership Corp. will own and operate a utility-scale battery storage project, which will total up to 40 megawatts of storage. The batteries will enhance reliability and help manage peak demand.
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NRECA Requests Postal Service Abandon Postage Rate Increases
Posted on Mar 21, 2022
The U.S. Postal Service is set to increase nonprofit marketing mail rates by an average of 7.8%. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), along with other nonprofits, are asking the Postal Service to abandon the increases in light of the Postal Reform Act of 2022, which President Biden is expected to sign into law soon.
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Cryptocurrency Mining Impacts Texas Power Grid
Posted on Mar 21, 2022
Texas power utilities, including Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative, Inc., have been left on their own to figure out how to manage energy demand from cryptocurrency mining. The utilities have been fielding proposals for demand management, including the need for upgrades to transmission lines or requiring miners to pay higher power rates.
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New Hampshire Electric Cooperative to Expand Broadband
Posted on Mar 4, 2022
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is planning a broadband expansion to over 30 towns in rural parts of Grafton County, NH, to an estimated 16,500 people. The project is expected to start in early summer 2022 and be completed in 18 months.
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Montana Cooperative’s Savings Total $1.7 Million in 2021
Posted on Mar 4, 2022
Flathead Electric Cooperative’s energy efficiency efforts saved approximately 10,766 megawatt hours of electricity, resulting in payments of $1.7 million in energy efficiency savings to the coop’s members and partners. The coop credits the savings to its new outreach program focused on educating members on energy efficiency.
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NRECA Supports States’ Authority to Set Emission Standards at Power Plants
Posted on Mar 4, 2022
As the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments over whether the Environmental Protection Agency can set emissions standards for fossil fuel generation resources, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) stated its support for preserving states’ authority to do so. The Court is expected to decide the case by June 2022.
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Flint Energies and Conexon Connect Partner to Provide Broadband to Rural Georgia
Posted on Mar 3, 2022
Flint Energies and Conexon Connect have announced a $90 million project to deploy a 3,000-mile fiber network in middle Georgia. The project is made possible through a combination of grants and significant investments by the two companies. Work is set to begin immediately and finish in 2026.
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Minnkota’s Project Tundra Carbon Capture Study Approved by North Dakota Regulators
Posted on Feb 26, 2022
North Dakota regulators approved a $5.4 million grant for the final engineering study related to Minnkota Power Cooperative’s (Minnkota) Project Tundra carbon capture project. The project aims to capture carbon emissions from the coal-fired plant and bury them underground. If Minnkota decides to move forward with the project, they could begin construction by the end of 2022.
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Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Take Over Its Transmission Operations in 2023
Posted on Feb 26, 2022
Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), a Texas electric cooperative, expects to be operating its own transmission plant from a new transmission center by the end of 2023. Lower Colorado River Authority currently operate PEC’s transmission.
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Georgia Cooperatives Awarded $130 Million in Broadband Grants
Posted on Feb 26, 2022
Altamaha EMC, Central Georgia EMC, Diverse Power, Ocmulgee EMC, Southern Rivers Energy and Washington EMC are among the Georgia cooperatives who received a combined $130 million in rural broadband grants from the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion dollar bill passed in March of 2021. The funds will be used to expand broadband to more than 120,000 customers across Georgia.
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Dairyland Power Cooperative Announces Partnership to Explore Potential Nuclear Power Deployment
Posted on Feb 24, 2022
Dairyland Power Cooperative has signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the potential deployment of NuScale’s nuclear power technology to serve Dairyland’s members across four states. NuScale’s small modular reactor technology is well suited for placement at retiring coal sites, preserving energy jobs and aiding in the clean energy transition.
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Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative Is First Texas Utility to Securitize ERCOT Bill From Winter Storm Uri
Posted on Feb 21, 2022
Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative, Inc. is the first Texas utility to securitize its debt from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) stemming for 2021 Winter Storm Uri. This option prevents Rayburn from facing potential bankruptcy and preserving its right to sue ERCOT for the extraordinary energy prices last February in the midst of devastating cold temperatures that left 246 people dead as ERCOT ordered electric load shedding.
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