Utilities

New Industry and Advocate Agreement to Boost Streetlight Efficiency; Save Electricity and Money

WASHINGTON (November 3, 2009) -- A breakthrough agreement between electrical manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, will create the first national standards for street lights, parking lot lights and other outdoor lighting. The standard will save electricity and money for consumers, taxpayers and local governments.    » read more »

Stimulus funding moving to local communities

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that two South Dakota electric utilities will receive a total of $9.6 million to implement Smart Grid technology across the state. Black Hills Power of Rapid City will receive $5,592,602 and Sioux Valley Energy of Colman will receive $4,016,368. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the projects will give the companies the ability to update and expand their innovative electricity technologies.    » read more »

Federal Dollars Would Lower Costs in Lower Hudson Valley; Con Edison Applied For Federal Recovery Dollars To Modernize Grid, Install Smart Meters

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced more than $136 million that will help lower energy costs for residents in Westchester, Rockland, and Orange Counties and New York City. The federal funding will be used for an initiative by Con Edison to modernize the electric grid.

The federal dollars would be allocated by the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Senator Gillibrand helped pass earlier this year. The federal investment would help Con Edison's 3.3 million customers conserve energy and save on their electric bills.    » read more »

Funding Represents Federal Investment Championed by Cantwell to Make the Nation's Electricity Grid Smarter, Stronger, More Efficient, and Reliable

October 27,2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Snohomish Public Utility District (PUD) will receive a federal investment of $15,825,817 to implement smart grid technologies that will create jobs and lead to lower electricity bills for consumers.

The funding will be used to install a smart grid framework, including a digital telecommunications network, substation automation and a robust distribution system infrastructure. This will enable the implementation of future smart grid technologies, including smart meters that will provide real-time energy use information to customers.    » read more »

Funding Represents Federal Investment Championed by Cantwell to Make the Nation's Electricity Grid Smarter, Stronger, More Efficient, and Reliable

October 27,2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Avista Utilities in Spokane will receive a federal investment of $20,000,000 to implement smart grid technologies that will create jobs and lead to lower electricity bills for consumers.

The funding will be used to implement a distribution management system, intelligent end devices, and a communication network to reduce distribution system loses, enable automatic restoration to customers during outages, and allow for the integration of on-site generating resources.    » read more »

Investment will create green jobs and help Hoosier consumers conserve energy, lower utility costs

October 27, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh today announced that Indiana will receive more than $39 million in economic recovery funds to modernize local electrical grids and accelerate Indiana’s transition to a more efficient electric system.

Smart grids are modernized electricity grids that deliver power from suppliers to consumers in a way that saves energy and lowers consumer costs for using electricity during non-peak hours. Bayh announced the funding for Auburn, Carmel and Indianapolis today under The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »

Cooperative agreement will foster programs to support wildlife populations and promote biodiversity on AEP-owned lands and transmission rights of way.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2009 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has agreed to become a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Energy for Wildlife program. As part of the program, AEP and NWTF will work cooperatively to identify, develop and implement programs to enhance the environment and habitat for a number of wildlife species on AEP-owned lands and transmission rights of way.

The agreement covers approximately 60,000 acres of AEP-owned land and segments of existing transmission rights of way throughout AEP´s 11-state service territory, stretching from Michigan to Texas.    » read more »

Clovis-Area Superstation To Send NM-Produced Renewable Energy to Customers in Other States

Oct. 12, 2009 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced that New Mexico will be home to the Tres Amigas Super Station, which will connect America’s three main power grids – opening the door to more efficient delivery of renewable energy through the nation’s power transmission infrastructure.

“New Mexico leads the way in green and renewable energy development,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “But we need the ability to send energy produced in New Mexico to surrounding states. Tres Amigas will break that barrier, creating a larger market for our energy.

New Mexico is proud to be chosen as the site for this unique renewable energy market hub."    » read more »

October 12, 2009 -- Saint Paul – With our first taste of winter arriving earlier than expected, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is reminding families who are having trouble paying their heating bills to contact their local utility company right away.

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, which takes effect this Thursday, October 15, protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off through April 15, provided they contact their utility to set up a payment plan.    » read more »

FPL’s DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center's 90,000 photovoltaic panels will begin delivering electricity to customers

October 13, 2009 -- JUNO BEACH, Fla. – The nation’s largest solar photovoltaic plant will power up in one week, Florida Power & Light Company announced today.

FPL’s DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Arcadia, Fla., is expected to begin delivering clean, renewable electricity to customers on Oct. 20 – ahead of schedule and $22.2 million under budget.

The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center uses more than 90,000 photovoltaic panels to turn the sun's rays into electricity to power more than 3,000 homes.    » read more »

ATLANTA, Oct. 9 -- Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company that acquires, builds, manages and owns wholesale generation assets, today announced that it is acquiring Nacogdoches Power, LLC from American Renewables, LLC and will move ahead with construction of the planned biomass power plant in Sacul, Texas.

Groundbreaking is expected in the fall of 2009 and commercial operation is projected for the summer of 2012. When completed, the project will be one of the largest biomass-fueled electric generating facilities in the U.S., capable of generating approximately 100 megawatts.

The plant's output is committed through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Austin Energy, the municipal utility owned by and serving Austin, Texas.    » read more »

Site owners to be paid rent for the use of their property for utility-owned installations; Segment is part of a program that will double installed solar capacity in New Jersey

(October 12, 2009 - Newark, N.J.) PSE&G is soliciting proposals from developers and third-party-owned sites for the development of 5 megawatts of roof and ground-mounted solar systems to be owned by PSE&G and that will provide rental income to property owners. Solar developers, together with owners of real estate located in the utility’s electric service territory, will propose sites for solar installations. Owners will receive rent for roof-mounted, building-mounted, and ground-mounted solar systems installed on their properties and connected directly into the electric grid.    » read more »

Investments Will Benefit Nearly 113,000 Rural Customers in 33 States

LAS CRUCES, N.M., Sept. 30, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 58 rural utilities and cooperatives in 33 states have been selected to receive $2.4 billion in loans and loan guarantees to build and repair over 12,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements that will benefit almost 113,000 rural customers.

Vilsack made the announcement during a Rural Tour stop in Las Cruces, N.M., as part of the Obama Administration's effort to develop infrastructure and build the economy of rural communities.    » read more »

More than $3 billion investment over next 3 years will provide relief to Californians facing tough economic times

San Francisco, CA (September 24, 2009) – California today approved the biggest utility energy efficiency program in the country’s history that will result in lower utility bills, cleaner air for Californians, and move the state a step closer to implementing its landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).    » read more »

$9.5 Million Will Help Communities Reduce Utility Bills

September 15, 2009 -- PHOENIX – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today announced the first commitment of funds associated with Arizona’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for rural Arizona.

More than $9.5 million will be available to five Arizona counties and 68 communities, with a population of 35,000 or less, to develop and implement projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing energy use in their communities.    » read more »