Rural electric cooperatives, which are heavily dependent on coal for generation, are leading opponents of proposed rules to cut carbon dioxide from existing power plants by 30 percent in the next 16 years. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association "is a 47-state network of 905 cooperatives and keeps the lights on for
more than 42 million consumers, roughly 13 percent of the U.S.
electricity market," Benjamin Hulac reports for Environment and Energy Publishing.
"Seventy percent of the power from NRECA's generation and transmission cooperatives is fueled by coal, and 58 percent of the fuel mix sold by distribution co-ops is coal-based," Hulac writes. But not long ago, coal provided 80 percent of generation, so some co-ops have been moving toward renewable energy. Farmers Electric Cooperative in Iowa has spent nearly four years building the state's largest solar farm. "Solar is coming on strong," co-op CEO Warren McKenna told Hulac. "Our goal is to have 15 percent of our power produced locally by 2025," through renewable energy. About half the co-op's electricity comes from coal.
The small co-op, which serves only 650
members, "has an expanse of 2,900
panels spanning 4½ acres along a gravel road in southwest Johnson
County," Josh O'Leary reports for the Iowa City Press Citizen. "The solar farm, which cost $2.2 million to build, will generate more than 1
million kilowatt hours each year. That's enough energy to power about
120 homes, and eliminate more than 2 million pounds of carbon pollution
each year, project leaders say." (O'Leary photo)
McKenna said the array can generate up to 1,800 watts per customer, "giving the cooperative the highest per-capita solar generation rate of any utility in the nation," O'Leary writes.
Other co-ops have also turned to renewable energy, Hulac writes. "The Cloverland Electric co-op in Dafter, Mich., can produce up to 36 megawatt-hours with its hydroelectric plant, and the Peninsula Light Co. in Gig Harbor, Wash., operates a 20-megawatt wind-powered system. And the chapter with perhaps the most audacious renewable energy goals — the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative in Lihu'e, Hawaii — plans to generate half of the power it distributes from renewable sources by 2023."
"NRECA-backed cooperatives sell power to 93 percent of the country's impoverished counties — home to approximately 4 million citizens," Hulac reports. In recent years the lobby has donated $2,336,547 to a variety of politicians from almost every state, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, with 69 percent going to Republicans. (Read more)
"Seventy percent of the power from NRECA's generation and transmission cooperatives is fueled by coal, and 58 percent of the fuel mix sold by distribution co-ops is coal-based," Hulac writes. But not long ago, coal provided 80 percent of generation, so some co-ops have been moving toward renewable energy. Farmers Electric Cooperative in Iowa has spent nearly four years building the state's largest solar farm. "Solar is coming on strong," co-op CEO Warren McKenna told Hulac. "Our goal is to have 15 percent of our power produced locally by 2025," through renewable energy. About half the co-op's electricity comes from coal.
The small co-op, which serves only 650
members, "has an expanse of 2,900
panels spanning 4½ acres along a gravel road in southwest Johnson
County," Josh O'Leary reports for the Iowa City Press Citizen. "The solar farm, which cost $2.2 million to build, will generate more than 1
million kilowatt hours each year. That's enough energy to power about
120 homes, and eliminate more than 2 million pounds of carbon pollution
each year, project leaders say." (O'Leary photo)McKenna said the array can generate up to 1,800 watts per customer, "giving the cooperative the highest per-capita solar generation rate of any utility in the nation," O'Leary writes.
Other co-ops have also turned to renewable energy, Hulac writes. "The Cloverland Electric co-op in Dafter, Mich., can produce up to 36 megawatt-hours with its hydroelectric plant, and the Peninsula Light Co. in Gig Harbor, Wash., operates a 20-megawatt wind-powered system. And the chapter with perhaps the most audacious renewable energy goals — the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative in Lihu'e, Hawaii — plans to generate half of the power it distributes from renewable sources by 2023."
"NRECA-backed cooperatives sell power to 93 percent of the country's impoverished counties — home to approximately 4 million citizens," Hulac reports. In recent years the lobby has donated $2,336,547 to a variety of politicians from almost every state, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, with 69 percent going to Republicans. (Read more)
No comments:
Post a Comment