Energy

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [APRIL 2020]

• ANDALUSIA, Ala. and MIAMI, Fl. (April 29, 2020)  – PowerSouth Energy Cooperative (EST. 1941) and Origis Energy announce a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a new 80 megawatt (MW) large scale solar project to be constructed in Covington County, AL. Wing Solar is a project by Origis Energy. It is scheduled to come online in late 2022.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

• [FEB 2021]Approaches to Accomplishing Rural Broadband Expansion

Are there promising approaches to expanding broadband infrastructure? One approach is using electric cooperatives to provide the service. Electrical cooperatives often have a fiber “backbone,” which transmits data from the smart grid back to the operations center. Using the fiber backbone for smart grid applications as well as retail broadband service is an example of economies of scope, the term used to describe the savings achieved by having one firm produce multiple products. Electrical cooperatives also have easements and utility poles that can yield substantial cost savings. The biggest challenge to the electrical cooperative approach is that many states have ambiguous laws regarding broadband provision by electrical cooperatives. In some cases, state laws prohibit electrical cooperatives from providing broadband service entirely. 

[JAN 2021]

• Large funding will be available through grants, cooperative agreements, loan procurements and other types of federal support.

In total, energy programs at DOE will receive nearly $40 billion in funding, an increase of more than $1 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level.

• Congressional support for clean energy research and development (R&D) remains strong, as evidenced by increasing budgets for most of the relevant programs at federal agencies, especially the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

• Every DOE program dedicated to clean energy research, development and deployment received an increase for Fiscal Year 2021, making billions of dollars available through grants, cooperative agreements, loans and loan guarantees, and other federal support.

• This Holland & Knight alert provides an overview of DOE funding levels this year and looks ahead to future opportunities that companies can try to help shape over the coming months.

[JAN 2021]

• Energy Act 2020 passed

The Act represents the culmination of more than five years' work on a bipartisan energy reauthorization bill led by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

• The final bill signals a "down payment" on a transition toward a future for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) focused on innovation, technology commercialization, emissions reductions, renewables and domestic manufacturing.

• New programs authorized by the bill will support research and deployment for energy storage, reducing emissions from the industrial and manufacturing sectors, technology demonstration and commercial-scale carbon-capture.

• Section 3202. Energy storage technology and microgrid assistance program.

Section 3202 establishes an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program at DOE for rural electric cooperatives and public utilities to assist with designing and demonstrating energy storage and microgrid projects that use energy from renewable energy sources.

PUERTO RICO

[2019]

• Country's first electric cooperative is reality after legislation is signed

• Cooperatives of Americas News on Puerto Rican Law

GREECE

[2020]

• Hundreds of Greek families jointly building solar power plants of 100 MW

  The Greek cooperative, which dates back to 1930, initiated the development of individual solar power installations even before the 2010 law enabled it. The Pan-Hellenic Confederation of Unions of Agricultural Co-operatives, Paseges, is currently promoting the example in the region of Western Macedonia, where state-owned Public Power Corp. (PPC) is planning to install 2 GW in photovoltaic – PV plants in lignite open pits.

• Development of community energy in Greece

• Greece defined “Energy Communities” under the law 4513 in 2018. An “Energy Community” is a cooperative aiming to promote the social and solidarity economy and innovation in the energy sector, to address energy poverty and to promote sustainable energy production, storage, energy management, self-consumption, distribution and energy supply, as well as to enhance energy self-sufficiency and security

SLOVENIA

[2021]

• Government launch public calls worth EUR 30 million for renewable energy projects

SERBIA

[2021]

• Serbia holds public consultations on draft laws on renewable energy, energy efficiency

According to the proposal in the draft law, energy communities would not be allowed to make profit because they would be registered under the law on associations, not the law on cooperatives. If they were to be registered under the law on cooperatives, then legal entities would not be allowed to be founders, whereas the idea is for communities to be established by both individuals and legal entities, according to Atanacković.

EUROPE

[2021]

• European co-ops work for a gender-equitable energy transition

Renewable energy co-ops are made up of groups of citizens who jointly co-operate on energy transition projects. While they are not always registered as co-operatives due to verifying legislation across states, they abide by the co-operative principles, including voluntary and open membership, democratic governance and education, training and information, all of which foster inclusion.

POLAND

• Energy Cooperatives and Polish Law (Short Analysis)

Republika Srpska

Republic of Srpska adopts new law on renewable energy sources [February 2022]