Eversheds Sutherland Coop Law Blog
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NRECA Requests COVID-19 Relief from Congress

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is asking Congress for relief from potential economic hardship its members may experience as a result of COVID-19. As Congress prepares to pass additional virus relief, NRECA will seek the inclusion of measures geared towards supporting cooperatives.
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Aid for Coops Included in Coronavirus Federal Relief Bill

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) urged Congress to include aid for electric cooperatives and their consumer-members as part of the federal relief efforts aimed at helping the struggling economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $2 trillion federal coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress offers millions in aid to consumers struggling to pay their utility bills and billions in grants to small businesses.
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Coops Pledge to Sustain Broadband Service as Pandemic Hardships Increase

Several electric cooperatives that provide broadband internet are taking steps to keep rural communities connected during the coronavirus pandemic, including measures that go far beyond a Federal Communications Commission call to sustain service for low-income customers. Those steps include delivering higher connection speeds, even for members who subscribe to more modest plans.
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NRECA Urges Congress to Include Aid for Coops in CARES Act

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), in a letter to congressional leaders, requested that aid for electric coops be included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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Electric Cooperatives Adjust Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

As Americans reduce direct contact with one another to slow the spread of the coronavirus, generation and transmission cooperatives are working to keep electricity flowing to homes, businesses and institutions. For example, Great River Energy is giving the majority of its administrative staff the option of working remotely and has reduced staffing in its facilities to essential minimum levels to help prevent the threat of coronavirus exposure. Dairyland Power Cooperative has instructed staff to forgo face-to-face meetings in favor of phone calls, emails or teleconferencing.
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Congress Passes Legislation to Improve Broadband Mapping

The Broadband Deployment and Technological Availability Act passed Congress and is expected to be signed by President Trump. The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to collect more detailed data from broadband providers. The bill will allow coops better information about broadband service in rural communities, addressing a common understanding that current data is insufficient.
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ODEC to Develop 15 New Solar Installations

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) recently agreed to an expansion of its partnership with EDF Renewables to develop 15 solar projects in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. The projects will generate more than 60 MW of power for Old Dominion’s members.
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Illinois Coop Uses VR Technology

Jo-Carroll Energy, an Illinois cooperative, is now using virtual reality (VR) technology to allow its employees to virtually access substations 25 to 70 miles away from its headquarters. Specifically, engineers at Jo-Carroll Energy and its power suppliers, Dairyland Power Cooperative and Prairie Power, Inc., can now virtually access highly-detailed, accurate scans of 18 of the coop’s 34 substations without leaving their offices.
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USDA Announces $900 Million Investment in Rural Infrastructure

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $900 million investment to build and improve rural electric infrastructure across 16 states through its Electric Loan Program. The investment will result in new or improved electric line of over 2,700 miles. One of the largest recipients, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, will receive $347 million to improve power generation and system reliability.
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IRS Issues Guidance on Section 45Q, Carbon Capture and Sequestration Credits

On February 19, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued two pieces of long-anticipated guidance on Section 45Q, Carbon Capture and Sequestration credits.  In this Bottom Line videocast, Susan Lafferty and Amish Shah discuss: • Section 45Q Carbon Capture and Sequestration credit • Beginning of Construction Guidance—Notice 2020-12 • Partnership Allocation Guidance—Revenue Procedure 2020-12 • Expected future guidance
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Basin Electric and Geronimo Energy Announce Solar PPA

Basin Electric and Geronimo Energy announced the execution of a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the Wild Springs Solar Project. This project is a 128 MW solar project located in South Dakota, and is expected to begin operations in 2022.
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FCC Chairman Looks at Michigan’s Rural Broadband

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai visited Michigan to get a firsthand look at Midwest Energy & Communications’ (MEC) broadband initiative. Pai’s trip preceded the vote on the rules for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), a $20.4 billion reverse auction aimed at bringing high-speed internet to the country’s unserved communities. Pai heralded MEC’s initiative, funded by a precursor to RDOF, as highly successful and thinks RDOF will help further address the challenges presented by rural broadband.
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PSCW Grants Approval for 149 MW Solar Facility

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) recently granted approval for Ranger Power’s Badger State Solar facility, with the entire 149 MW renewable energy output to be purchased by Dairyland Power Cooperative. Badger State Solar will bring hundreds of construction jobs to the area and will ultimately generate enough renewable energy to power over 20,000 homes. Construction of Badger State Solar will begin in 2021 with commercial operation commencing in 2022.
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CEO of Oregon Coop Warns of Impact of Federal Government Delays on Wildfire Risk

Dave Markham, President and CEO of Central Electric Cooperative, Inc., an electric cooperative in Redmond, Oregon, testified before two subcommittees of the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding how delays in federal action have affected the wildfire mitigation efforts of electric cooperatives located near federal lands.
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