Electric Cooperative CEO Appointed to Texas Broadband Council
Posted on Aug 20, 2021
Texas Governor Greg Abbot appointed Bill Hetherington, CEO of the Bandera Electric Cooperative, to the Governor’s Broadband Development Council. The council studies and identifies ways to provide internet access to underserved areas in Texas.
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KIUC Recognized as Electric Cooperative of the Year
Posted on Aug 16, 2021
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) was one of eight electric utilities recognized as “Power Players of the Year” by the Smart Electric Power Alliance. KIUC earned its award in the category of Electric Cooperative of the Year for demonstrating industry leadership through unique innovation in an effort to significantly accelerate the transformation to a clean and modern energy system.
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Florida Coops Awarded Air Force Base Contracts
Posted on Aug 13, 2021
Two electric cooperatives have been award contracts for services at US Air Force bases in Florida. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative was awarded a $11.3 modification to a 50-year contract for the electric and water utility systems at Tyndall Air Force Base, and Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative was awarded a $25,095,024 modification to a 50-year contract with Elgin Air Force Base.
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USDA Invests in Broadband Expansion
Posted on Aug 13, 2021
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $167 million across 12 states to launch broadband infrastructure in underserved rural areas. The investment is expected to provide 100,000 people with high-speed internet access.
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NRECA Suggests FEMA Improvements
Posted on Aug 6, 2021
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) responded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) request for information related to natural disaster recovery with comments focused on fixing policies and regulations that create financial hardships for electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. Slow disbursement of emergency funds and the inability to provide nonprofits with direct access to certain disaster funds were amongst the NRECA’s concerns.
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Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s Gas Business Keeps It Local With Homegrown Rate Commission
Posted on Aug 3, 2021
Small businesses served by Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s natural gas subsidiary got a nice surprise on their July bill: a 50% drop in their monthly utility fee. The reduction in the facilities charge from $20 to $10 a month came after the coop’s innovative gas rate commission examined the subsidiary’s fee structure in response to a rate change request from small businesses.
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Iowa, North Dakota Utilities Seek $77 Million for Power Provided During Polar Vortex
Posted on Jul 30, 2021
Basin Electric and North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking payment of $77 million from Southwest Power Pool for agreeing to provide energy during February 2021’s polar vortex. At issue is whether the utilities should be paid, even though some operations were temporarily offline during the storm.
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Cooperatives Adopt NRECA Cybersecurity Technology
Posted on Jul 30, 2021
Fifty-two additional electric cooperatives have committed to use the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Essence technology to share cybersecurity and threat data with government partners. The increase comes as the Biden administration’s 100-day electric sector cybersecurity initiative concludes.
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Ten States to Receive $14 Million from USDA
Posted on Jul 30, 2021
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would invest $14 million in rural economic development in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina and Tennessee through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, which provides zero-interest loans and grants to utilities. In Missouri, White River Valley Electric Cooperative will use $1 million to construct a storm shelter and renovate school district facilities.
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Missouri Cooperatives and Farmers Lobby Lawmakers to Increase Broadband Funding
Posted on Jul 23, 2021
Missouri coops and farmers testified before the House Interim Committee on Broadband Development to increase funding for broadband development. Missouri ranks 32nd in the nation in broadband access.
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Three Coastal Georgia Counties to Launch Broadband
Posted on Jul 23, 2021
Coastal Electric Cooperative is planning to invest $40 million with a new broadband provider to serve 16,000 homes and businesses in Georgia’s Liberty County, Bryan County and Long County. The project is expected to be completed in four years.
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Kansas Cooperative to Build Two Solar Farms
Posted on Jul 23, 2021
Ninnescah Rural Electric Cooperative recently announced plans to build two 1 MW solar farms as a part of a larger cooperation between 12 rural electric cooperatives and Arkansas company Today’s Power, Inc. The projects are expected to help reduce the cost of electricity for members.
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Vermont Governor Appoints Chair to Broadband Board
Posted on Jul 23, 2021
Vermont Governor Phil Scott appointed Patty Richards, the general manager of Washington Electric Cooperative, to the state’s newly established Vermont Community Broadband Board. The Board is responsible for awarding grants and assisting with the planning, development and implementation of broadband projects.
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NRECA, Coops Apply for Federal Electric Vehicle Grants
Posted on Jul 20, 2021
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has joined with 17 of its member electric cooperatives to apply for $8 million in federal grants to bring electric vehicles to low-income rural communities.
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