ITC Energizes Thumb ‘Loop’ For 5,000 MW of Wind Energy
ITC Transmission, a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., has announced that its “Thumb Loop” high-voltage transmission project is complete. ITC invested about $510 million to build the 345,000-volt (345 kV) line, which is the backbone of a system designed to meet the maximum wind energy potential of the Thumb area. It will also contribute to regional [...]
Co-ops Support WOTUS Withdrawal Legislation
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jo Ann Emerson spoke recently in support of the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 1732), which would require the EPA and Corps of Engineers to withdraw the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and re-propose a new rule after consulting with stakeholders, including electric co-ops. [...]
Co-ops Help Review Clean Power Plan For Existing Plants
Representatives from 10 electric co-ops met with the EPA and Small Business Administration (SBA) for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel regarding the proposed plan for existing power plants that the EPA is developing as part of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Co-ops reps from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Florida [...]
Midwest Launches New Fiber Broadband Marketing Tools, Including Video
Midwest Connections, an unregulated service of Midwest Energy Cooperative, has launched a rural broadband revolution in southwest Michigan, and is implementing an aggressive construction and activation plan for 2015 and beyond to light up the new fiber internet service, says communications director, Patty Nowlin. Two new communications initiatives were recently introduced to promote the [...]
Alger Delta Lineworker Grzyb Retires After 43 Years
Rich Grzyb (pictured above), a journeyman lineworker/meter technician for Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association, has retired after many years of dedicated service. Grzyb began his career on April 3, 1972, and retired on April 3, 2015, capping his tenure with Alger Delta at exactly 43 years. A full-time, on-call lineman until November 2003, he was [...]
PIE&G Communities First Fund Awards $16,500 in Scholarships
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op members continue to assist area community organizations and individuals through the voluntary “round up” of their electric and natural gas billings. Member contributions to the Communities First Fund provide resources for grants and scholarships for use in their local communities within the PIE&G service area. At their recent meeting, [...]