Colorado Coop Makes Lofty Renewable Energy Commitment
Posted on Jun 7, 2019
Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) recently announced its “80 by 30” plan. The plan aims to have the cooperative run on 80% carbon-free energy by 2030. PVREA’s goal will include exploration of advancing technology like battery storage and grid management, as well as planned expansion of local renewable energy generation.
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Texas Legislature Clarifies Coops May Own and Operate Batteries Without Registration
Posted on May 31, 2019
The Texas Governor has signed a new law clarifying that electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in the state may own and operate batteries without registering with the Public Utility Commission as power generation companies.
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USDA Announces Continued Investments in Rural Electric Systems
Posted on May 31, 2019
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday that it will provide $858 million in funding for rural electric systems to improve infrastructure and invest in smart grid technology. Major recipients include the Carroll Electric Cooperative in Berryville, AR and the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. The loans result in part from the recommendations of the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity.
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NRECA Praises House Bill Lowering Coop Pension Premiums
Posted on May 29, 2019
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) came out last week in support of the House of Representatives passing a bill to reduce premiums that coops pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for defined benefit pension plans. NRECA CEO Jim Matheson noted that the reduced premiums are in line with coops’ low-risk profile and will help coops continue to attract talent and provide for retirees.
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Dairyland Expands Wind Portfolio with Avangrid PPA
Posted on May 29, 2019
Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) and Avangrid Renewables, LLC (Avangrid) have entered a new power purchase agreement (PPA) for renewable energy produced by the Tatanka Ridge Wind Farm. The 52 MW of power should support around 16,000 of Dairyland’s members, and the broader wind project is expected to generate upwards of $1.7 million dollars in local economic benefits annually.
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Texas Cooperative to Install Battery Storage System
Posted on May 29, 2019
Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) has signed an agreement with Aggreko, a provider of mobile and modular power solutions, to install and commission a battery energy storage system in Johnson City, Texas. The system will provide solar shifting from a nearby solar farm within the PEC service territory.
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Texas Cooperatives Agree to Purchase Solar Energy
Posted on May 21, 2019
Bartlett Electric Cooperative, Comanche Electric Cooperative, Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative, PenTex Energy and South Plains Electric Cooperative have signed agreements to purchase 7 MW of distribution-scale solar generation, providing an increased supply of cost-effective and clean energy to their members. All of the arrays are scheduled to begin operation by June 2020.
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FCC Appoints NRECA’s Matheson to Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee
Posted on May 20, 2019
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Ajit Pai, recently appointed National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO, Jim Matheson, to serve on a Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. The committee will identify new ways to encourage the expansion of broadband to rural communities, as well as aim to improve disaster response and recovery capabilities in the communications sector. The committee will meet for the first time on June 13.
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FERC Decision Draws NRECA Commentary
Posted on May 17, 2019
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) issued a statement criticizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) refusal to reconsider rules on energy storage resources in wholesale markets. NRECA leadership noted that FERC’s assumption of discretionary authority may undermine local utilities’ and regulatory authorities’ management of storage resources for consumers.
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Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. to Purchase 236.5 MW of Wind Power from Enel Green Power
Posted on May 17, 2019
Enel Green Power’s new Missouri wind farm, set for construction in the second half of 2019, will provide all of its power to Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. The new power purchase agreement expands Associated’s portfolio of contracted wind sources to eight.
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Two Coops Receive Funding from FCC for Broadband
Posted on May 16, 2019
Two coops – ECO Services and United Services – will receive more than $20 million each from the Federal Communications Commission to expand broadband in Oklahoma and Missouri.
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NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion for Broadband
Posted on May 14, 2019
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), along with America’s Communications Association and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to advance a new $20 billion auction for building rural broadband. Dubbed the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund, this new auction is expected to offer up to $20.4 billion to build broadband in unserved or underserved census blocks identified by the FCC.
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Senators and Coops Voice Concerns Regarding FERC’s Distributed Energy Resources Proposal
Posted on May 9, 2019
A recent proposal from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) would allow third parties to aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs) and sell electricity on the wholesale electricity market. A group of U.S. Senators wrote a letter to FERC outlining the concerns heard from rural electric cooperatives regarding the potential adverse impact on reliability and prices for consumers if aggregation of DERs is determined by independent third parties and not at the local and state regulatory level.
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Florida Coop to Receive $24.1 Million for Hurricane Michael Expenses
Posted on May 1, 2019
West Florida Electric Cooperative Association will receive $24.1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement of Hurricane Michael expenses. FEMA’s Public Assistance Program is an essential source of funding for communities recovering from federally-declared disasters or emergencies.
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