Palmetto President and CEO Receives Award and Endowed Scholarship Established in His Honor
Posted on Jun 19, 2014
The University of South Carolina Beaufort recently announced a $100,000 endowed scholarship honoring retiring Palmetto Electric Cooperative President and CEO Tom Upshaw. Palmetto Electric Cooperative (Palmetto) and Palmetto Electric Trust provided the funds for the endowment. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley also awarded Upshaw with the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest citizen honor. For more on this story, click here.
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Ferrellgas Acquires Kaw Valley Propane
Posted on Jun 19, 2014
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (Ferrellgas) recently acquired Kaw Valley Propane from Kaw Valley Electric Cooperative, based in Topeka, Kansas. This acquisition marks Ferrellgas’ fifth retail propane acquisition since August 2013. Read more about this story here.
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Telecom Company Wins Transmission Case
Posted on Jun 17, 2014
A North Carolina court ruled that pole attachment rates charged by Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation were in violation of a North Carolina statute, according to the Federal Communications Commission rate formula. The issue revolves around the rates per pole that would be charged to telecom customers in the area. Nearly 7,400 poles are at issue. For more information, click here.
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Customers of Florida Coop to Get Millions
Posted on Jun 17, 2014
Florida-based Lee County Electric Cooperative has approved an equity distribution of $6.1 million to current and inactive customers and an additional distribution of $6.1 million to memberships that have been closed since 2006. Customers receiving a distribution of less than $250 will receive a credit on their bills. Click here for more information.
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Montana Coop Set to Emerge from Bankruptcy
Posted on Jun 17, 2014
A federal bankruptcy judge tentatively approved a reorganization plan for Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative last week, pending receipt of a proposed order and other supplemental plan documents and agreements. As the Sutherland Coop Team reported on March 29, 2014, Southern Montana settled in March with noteholders that funded the construction of a gas power plant, the Highwood Generating Station, near Great Falls Montana. Read more here.
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USDA Loans and Grants Given to Coops
Posted on Jun 11, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program has awarded $22.5 million in loans and grants to organizations in nine states to promote rural economic development. The USDA provides these zero-interest loans and grants to utilities that lend funds to local businesses for projects to create and retain employment in rural areas. The Midland Power Cooperative in Jefferson, Iowa, and the Aiken Electric Cooperative in Aiken, South Carolina, are two recipients. Click here to read the story or to see the complete list of recipients.
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Coal Squeezed Out By Environmental Regulations
Posted on Jun 11, 2014
New environmental regulations and coal plant retirements will affect the nation’s energy mix by 2015, according to a government report. Coal consumption is projected to drop by 3.1 percent in 2015, despite the demand for coal power during the coldest parts of last winter. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates coal plant operators will shut down 60 GW of capacity by 2020, with 90 percent of that occurring by 2016. Coal accounts for about 40 percent of the current U.S. electricity supply. For more information, including cost implications, click here.
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Delaware Coop to Buy Power from Landfill
Posted on Jun 10, 2014
Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) recently entered into an agreement to buy power generated by a 2-MW, methane-fueled plant located at a state-operated landfill. Massachusetts-based renewable energy firm Ameresco will operate the plant and sell the power to DEC. Delaware Governor Jack Markell touted the environmental benefits achieved by methane power “in a way that makes economic sense” at the dedication of the landfill. Click here for more.
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Additional Renewable Energy for Georgia Coops
Posted on Jun 5, 2014
A new methane gas-to-energy project has been added to the renewable energy portfolio for Georgia coops. Developed through Green Power EMC, the nearly 5-MW landfill project will diversify the energy portfolios of participating coops that will purchase power from the project under a long-term power purchase agreement. To learn more about this development, click here.
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New Geothermal Plant on Horizon for California Coop
Posted on Jun 5, 2014
Surprise Valley Electrification Corp. is nearing completion of a 3-MW geothermal power plant project that began in 2009. With financing from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, federal grants and state tax credits, the new facility will provide power, cooled water and heat to local consumers. Read more here.
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South Carolina Coops Speak Out Against EPA Carbon Mandate
Posted on Jun 5, 2014
Several South Carolina electric coops have joined the ranks of opponents to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed carbon emission limits for existing power plants. Coops are particularly concerned about the compliance costs associated with the new rule, which will ultimately be paid by rural coop customers. Click here for more information.
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Texas Coop Teaching Firefighters to Handle Rooftop Solar
Posted on Jun 5, 2014
In an effort to ensure that local firefighters are properly prepared to fight blazes at structures containing rooftop solar installations, Texas-based Nueces Electric Cooperative is offering free classes on how to handle these installations during a fire. To read more about this story, click here.
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Texas Coop Teaching Firefighters to Handle Rooftop Solar
Posted on Jun 4, 2014
In an effort to ensure that local firefighters are properly prepared to fight blazes at structures containing rooftop solar installations, Texas-based Nueces Electric Cooperative is offering free classes on how to handle these installations during a fire. To read more about this story, click here.
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EPA Carbon Rule Could Lead States to Cap-and-Trade Programs
Posted on Jun 3, 2014
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulations requiring a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions from existing power plants by 2030 outlines several approved ways for states to reach the targeted reductions. However, some experts believe that most states will likely focus on achieving compliance through cap-and-trade systems. Because the electricity grid operates on a regional basis, cap-and-trade systems that encompass several states at a regional level may be the preferred option. Read more here (subscription required).
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