Eversheds Sutherland Coop Law Blog
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NRECA Supports States’ Authority to Set Emission Standards at Power Plants

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Sues Insurer Over Winter Storm Uri Lawsuit Coverage

Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Inc., a Texas power generation cooperative, filed suit against its insurer, Hartford Underwriter Insurance Co., alleging, amongst other things, that the insurer wrongfully denied coverage of a lawsuit filed by customers claiming bodily injury and property damaged caused by power outages during Winter Storm Uri. Golden Spread is seeking declaratory judgment that the insurer is obligated to defend the coop in the action and all other actions against the coop that will be consolidated into multidistrict litigation related to Winter Storm Uri.
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Rural Electric Cooperatives Are Fastest Growing Group of Broadband Providers

Electric Cooperatives are part of a rapidly growing group of companies working to deliver broadband service to some of the hardest to reach places in the country.
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Diverse Power to Expand Broadband Services

Electric cooperative Diverse Power has received $25 million from the federal government to be used to deliver broadband internet service across five counties in Georgia.
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Solar Project Connected to Ozarks Electric Cooperative Estimated to Save School System $2.6 Million

Ozarks Electric Cooperative and Today’s Power Inc. have broken ground on a solar and battery storage project next to Sonora Middle School in Springdale, Arkansas. The project will offset roughly 95% of the energy consumed by three of the district’s campuses, provide millions in savings to the school system over the lifespan of the 25-year purchase power agreement, and reduce Ozarks’ wholesale power demand.
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MidSouth Electric Cooperative Demos Fault Sensor Designed to Help Prevent Outages and Wildfires

MidSouth Electric Cooperative has been testing experimental distribution fault anticipation sensors that notify operation crews before a fault in a substation occurs. The sensors, developed by Texas A&M University, provide operators the option of shutting down or rerouting the power to prevent damage to a circuit, minimize customer outages, and prevent sparks from a failing conductor from causing wildfires.
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Rural Energy Pilot Program Provides Assistance for Renewable Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched the Rural Energy Pilot Program designed to support efforts in rural communities to further develop renewable energy. Eligible entities may apply for grants up to $2 million and must submit a letter of intent before April 19, 2022.
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NRECA International Eyes Electrifying New Communities

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International hopes to continue electrification efforts in Zambia and Guatemala in 2022. The efforts have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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