Water battle rages at Grand Canyon Feb 22, 2009
More than 250 cities, towns and tribal communities in seven states buy power generated at the dam, signing contracts with the Western Area Power Administration, a federal agency. When there's not enough power, WAPA must make up the difference on the open market at higher prices. (AZCentral -- News)
New high-voltage lines would carry wind power Feb 10, 2009
12 billion project scheduled to go online in 2020. Dubbed the "Green Power Express,'' the 3,000-mile transmission network would link the windiest parts of the upper Midwest with its largest cities, including Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.ITC Holdings Co., a Michigan-based transmission utility, said its transmission superhighway would help America achieve its renewable energy goals and eliminate inefficiencies in the electric grid. The project could be eligible for renewable energy... (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Council accepts bid for library basement; to advertise for new fire truck Feb 8, 2009
The council felt the city could handle the increases from Heartland, Western Area Power Administration as well as B-Y Water for the time being and will not be raising customer's rates as this time. Lil' Cavs Corner Daycare. (Tyndall Tribune & Register, SD)
WAPA announces rate increase Feb 8, 2009
Commissioner Dick Ericsson asked Heinemeyer about the percentage of electricity in total that Madison receives from WAPA. Heinemeyer said that WAPA currently supplied 50 percent of Madison's needs. According to Heinemeyer, WAPA had supplied as much as 80 percent in the past, but Madison's electricity needs had grown while its allocation had remained the same. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
DEQ approves rebuilding power line between Great Falls and Havre Apr 1, 2008
- The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has approved plans by the Western Area Power Administration to rebuild a transmission line between Great Falls and Havre. WAPA plans to rebuild and upgrade a 103-mile segment of transmission line over 10 years. (Montana Standard, MT)
Power line plans take shape Apr 1, 2008
The project is the culmination of a public/private partnership among the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, the Western Area Power Administration and independent transmission company Trans-Elect ... "You have to have the generation and transmission, and you have to have the economics in place as well," said Randy Wilkerson, spokesman for the Western Area Power Administration. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
New Colorado - Wyoming Transmission Offering Apr 1, 2008
The WCI Project is a public/private development partnership involving the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (WIA), Trans-Elect Development Company LLC (Trans-Elect), and the Western Area Power Administration (Western), with Trans-Elect managing the development effort ... Steve Waddington, WIA executive director, said "the WCI Open Season is the culmination of a regional effort over several years to eliminate a long-standing transmission constraint between Colorado and Wyoming. Once commitments... (PR Newswire)
Working from above Mar 7, 2008
Helicopters were ferrying buckets of cement Wednesday from trucks off County Road 211 to the construction site where 14 steel poles, 74 feet to 104 feet tall, have been set in the ground, said Carolyn Hinkley, a public-affairs specialist for the Western Area Power Administration in Lakewood. "If the weather holds, they will be flying (today) and Friday to finish," Hinkley said. (Durango Herald)
City council to advertise Mar 5, 2008
The council gave approval to allow two individuals, to be determined, from the city attend the District III legislative dinner March 13 in Mitchell as well as a Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) meeting March 7 in Vermillion. In reviewing the city insurance policy, it was found that the water tower was currently valued at 74,000. (Tyndall Tribune & Register, SD)
Mountains snowmelt looks good for Missouri runoff Feb 18, 2008
The Western Area Power Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, sells the power to cities, rural electric cooperatives, American Indian tribes, and other nonprofit providers. When it can't fulfill its contracts with electricity from the Missouri River dams, it has to buy power elsewhere. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
40 years old, Yellowtail Dam still hums (37) Feb 18, 2008
The rest is sold to utility companies and electricity cooperatives throughout the West through the Western Area Power Administration. Yellowtail was designed to produce 250 megawatts (one megawatt roughly is enough to power 1,000 houses) but in recent drought-stricken years has produced far less. (Montana Standard, MT)
Council deals with insurance, library, etc. Feb 6, 2008
Finance officer Patterson and city attorney Rothschadl conversed throughout the past month on how the city could generate additional revenue to offset the increase in electrical rates from WAPA and Heartland. Different scenarios were presented such as the same surcharges for residential and commercial customers or a per kilowatt hour increase across the board. (Tyndall Tribune & Register, SD)
Op-Ed: U.S. needs to prioritize wind energy in 2008 Feb 1, 2008
I have been in discussions with stakeholders like Western Area Power Authority (WAPA) and Midwest Independent Transmission System Operators (MISO) and from my position on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and this year will also present good opportunities for developing transmission capabilities nationwide. As we strive to meet our national energy needs, we recognize that South Dakota has much to offer. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
Good, bad in works for HMU rates in future Dec 22, 2007
Those power additives might help offset what appears to be a rate increase in waiting from the WAPA generating facilities on the river. Because of a seven-year drought, WAPA has frequently entered the open market in order to supply their more than 300 customers (including HMU and the local REC) with power when the hydro-electric plant at the dams aren't capable of those supplies. (Harlan Tribune, IA)
Bird diverters doing their jobs Dec 19, 2007
The first half of the study was finished in October, said Misti Schriner, the study leader for the Western Area Power Administration headquartered in Lakewood, Colo. "The Snake Creek Embankment study is the only study being done in these conditions in the Central Flyway," she said. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
More Christmas trees adorned with LEDs Dec 14, 2007
By Jomay Steen, Journal staff Friday, December 14, 2007. In the past, when people trimmed their trees, eaves and rooftops with holiday lights, they may have experienced blown fuses, heat damage, possibly a scorched Christmas tree and an extra 15 to 20 added to their January power bill. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Officials to gather for wind meeting Nov 29, 2007
Power generating organizations providing perspectives on transmission include Clipper Windpower, Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Western Area Power Administration, Heartland Consumers Power District, NorthWestern Energy, and Otter Tail Power Company. Landowners, public officials and others interested in transmission influences on wind energy development are encouraged to attend. (Black Hills Pioneer, SD)
WAPA raises wholesale electricity rate to city Nov 28, 2007
The new overall rates for wholesale electricity from WAPA will increase from 19 ... WAPA, which distributes electricity produced by the Missouri River dams, has set the rate increase as effective on Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2012. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
In Tomorrow's NT:AMU electric rates to increase 8 percent Nov 27, 2007
AMU has utilized three sources for electric power - ownership of just over 17 megawatts of capacity in the Council Bluffs Unit Three (CB3) coal-fired power plant; a long-term power supply contract with Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) for federal hydroelectric power from the Missouri River dams; and short-term energy purchases which have been used almost exclusively during outages at CB3. Officials say costs related to CB3 increased in part because the cost of coal and rail delivery of... (Atlantic News-Telegraph, IO)
Source of water for West at risk Nov 25, 2007
Some of Arizona's rural areas rely more heavily on hydropower, much of it sold through Western Area Power Administration. The power wholesaler markets and distributes electricity generated by 56 hydropowered plants, selling to towns such as Wickenburg and Thatcher, as well as Luke Air Force Base and the Ak-Chin Indian Community. (AZCentral -- News)
City Hall shakeup Nov 16, 2007
Porter came to Wellington from the east coast after a career of over 25 years working with federal power agencies and with the Western Area Power Administration. He also served four years with the United States Navy. (Wellington Daily News, KS)
More of this story Nov 15, 2007
As an aside, the eastern 1/2 of Montana is served by the sister organization known as the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). Fifteen thousand miles of high voltage power line and two very complex control centers transfer power from generation to load. (Cut Bank Pioneer Press - Golden Triangle, MT)
Electrical co-ops raising rates Oct 29, 2007
Rushmore Electric is the wholesale distributor of power generated by WAPA's Missouri River hydro-electric dams and Basin Electric's power plants ... About 82 percent of Rushmore's power comes from Basin Electric and 18 percent from WAPA. ... After seven years of drought, power generated by WAPA's dams has declined because there is less water flowing through the dams, Simmons said. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Casper briefs Oct 17, 2007
Installation of these nesting structures was done in cooperation with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Western Area Power Administration, and the Davis/Boston Limited Partnership. Other wildlife projects planned in the future along the North Platte River include the installation of several bat roosting boxes, cottonwood pole plantings and the development of interpretive wildlife viewing opportunities. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
City council discusses Oct 17, 2007
Also reviewed was the rates from Western Area Power Administration, Heartland and East River. WAPA rates will increase in 2007 from 4. (Tyndall Tribune & Register, SD)
Rates to increase soon in Breckenridge Oct 4, 2007
Breckenridge's primary source of power is Western Area Powers Administration (WAPA), Muehler said. The droughts have forced WAPA to purchase electricity on the open market in order to fulfill their contract with Breckenridge and other customers. (Wahpeton Daily News, ND)
Nevada could get huge solar thermal plant Oct 2, 2007
gives bonding authority to the Western Area Power Administration so it can do the job. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Wagner considers municipal utility Sep 30, 2007
That deadline must be met to become eligible for Western Area Power Administration allocations on Jan. 1, 2011. Municipal power means local control over rates and service and keeps the profit in Wagner, Cotton said. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Clean energy pledges could impact Nevada Sep 28, 2007
It's renewable, clean, reliable and affordable (BusinessWeek)
Gridley City Council approves energy saving programs Sep 8, 2007
According to a report prepared by City of Gridley Finance Director Brad Wilkie, he expiration of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) agreement with Pacific Gas and Electricity (PGown as 2948A at the end of 2004, has radically changed the availability of low cost federal electrical power to the City. f all the NCPA municipal agency members, the City of Gridley had the highest percentage of power resources from WAPA, compared to our consumer loads. (Gridley Herald, CA)
City projects $15.3 million budget Sep 8, 2007
Consumers on the city's electrical grid should expect higher bills in 2008, since the Western Area Power Administration, the city's primary supplier of electricity, is expected to raise its rates for electricity by 25 percent on Jan. 1. WAPA's decision to raise its rates was primarily influenced by the recent years of drought on the Upper Great Plains. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
Project aims to give birds a flighting chance Aug 26, 2007
But as much and maybe more so are the power lines that are owned by the Western Area Power Administration. Twelve metal towers march across the causeway, gripping 10 power lines as they go. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Herseth Sandlin visits Howard wind-blade plant Aug 24, 2007
Wally Thompson of Alternegy LLC told Herseth Sandlin that Western Area Power Administration officials have expressed an interest in supplying wind-generated electricity to their customers. However, WAPA's mandate centers on hydroelectric power distribution, not wind energy, Thompson said. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
Day of Caring is chance to give back Aug 16, 2007
MIKE McCLEARY/Tribune Donna Roll, center, snips a tree root two feet in the soil as she and other Caring of Caring volunteers from the Bank of North Dakota, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Western Area Power Administration install a memorial pond at Tracy's Sanctuary House in Bismarck on Wednesday. The annual event is organized by the Missouri Slope Areawide United Way and gathers hundreds of volunteers to paint, clean or add improvements to 19 charitable or non-profit organizations in... (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Thune hears concerns over funding shortfalls for dams Aug 14, 2007
Those agencies include WAPA (Western Area Power Administration), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. But, he said, the gap in funding isn't getting any smaller. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
Chapman council debates sidewalk repair issue Aug 12, 2007
heard from Thompson he was working on the city's contract with WAPA (Western Area Power Administration), part of the city's electric generation system. Thompson said the city receives money from WAPA on contract, but a letter from the group indicated the city would not longer receive WAPA money. (Abilene Recorder Chronicle)
Coolidge construction leads to big sinkhole Aug 10, 2007
But the plan hit a snag due to existing landmarks, namely a Western Area Power Administration power pole squarely in the path of the oncoming sewer main. "The original plan was to run the main straight east along Vah-ki Inn," Peters said. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
HMU to re-bid tractor/loader Aug 4, 2007
They also heard a report on WAPA electric generation and wholesale pricing. Recent dry years have caused increased energy costs from WAPA, who uses dams for power generation. (Harlan Tribune, IA)
Donna Caryl Barkdoll Jul 31, 2007
Most recently, Donna was employed by Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). She enjoyed camping, traveling, the Black Hills in South Dakota, and Snow Range in Wyoming. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Investing in wind power a good idea for South Dakota Jul 22, 2007
Thune recently made the case for wind power to the Western Area Power Administration, which controls much of the power lines in South Dakota, in the hopes that WAPA might study the integration of wind power and Missouri River hydro-electric power. If it is possible to tap South Dakota s strong winds for electric power generation and utilize our hydroelectric dams when the winds die down, it would mark a major development in South Dakota s power generation, Thune said. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
More than 30 WAPA towers downed by storm; fields stripped Jul 17, 2007
"Whatever that weather system was, it was pretty severe," said Brian Morris, the WAPA state manager ... No customer outages were reported, Morris said, because WAPA rerouted power from its system. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Gridley utility rates to increase Jul 6, 2007
The bulk of the power available to supply Gridley's customers with electricity is provided by the City's long term contract with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). The City has rights to 0. (Gridley Herald, CA)
Value of Modernizing the Grid Jul 6, 2007
BPA owns and operates the backbone system in the Pacific Northwest, they have built hundreds of miles of transmission in the last few years, and effectively manage all outages in that part of the US. TVA and WAPA have similar success stories. Remember that it was WAPA that fixed the infamous path 15 in Californiai. (Energy Pulse, CO)
Hispanic Television Update Jun 20, 2007
The fast-growing Spanish-language tier now includes NDTV-The Dominican Channel, Ecuavisa Internacional, Caracol TV Internacional and WAPA America, raising Cablevisions iOe roster to 37 networks. . (Multichannel News)
BIGGS CITY COUNCIL HOLDS SPECIAL SESSION ON NCPA Jun 14, 2007
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates the facilities and the electricity is marketed by the Western Area Power Administration. The company will meet the future needs for power by using green and clean reliable generation plants. (Gridley Herald, CA)
Cablevision Beefs Up iO en español May 30, 2007
NDTV-The Dominican Channel, Ecuavisa Internacional, Caracol TV Internacional, WAPA America Join Tier ... WAPA America: It provides original programming from Puerto Rico, with content that includes boxing, baseball, news and Noticentro 4. (Multichannel News)
Rescue Units Called In To Save A Dummy May 11, 2007
The response was quick and complete: When a passer-by called Tuesday to report a worker dangling from a Western Area Power Administration tower 150 feet in the air, authorities responded by sending Casper Fire-EMS rescue and command units, two Natrona County sheriff's vehicles, a fire protection district rescue unit and a Life Flight helicopter. All to rescue a dummy. (CBS 4, CO)
Somebody help that poor man ... nequin May 9, 2007
Casper Fire-EMS chief of operations Mark Harshman, among the first to respond, called the Western Area Power Administration, which owns the tower, and its district manager Dave Neumayer told him the rescue dummy was part of a training exercise last week in which a "worker" fell and broke his hip, Neumayer said. Neumayer said the Casper Fire-EMS Department should have known about the dummy because it responded to the training exercise accident. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
• Slope co-op chafing at sharing of managers May 8, 2007
Franklund said they have patched together agreements among Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Western Area Power Administration and Montana-Dakota Utilities to get enough electricity to the oil fields in all but dire transmission emergencies. A permanent solution will come when Basin Electric Power Cooperative brings in a new transmission feed sometime by 2010. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
HMU bumps cable ad rates Apr 16, 2007
Most of the meeting was reports, including one regarding Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) concerns of a wholesale electric rate increase to offset the drought-caused lack of power generation. They sited seven years of drought and low water conditions in reservoirs that could take several years of high rain and snow fall to bring levels back to normal. (Harlan Tribune, IA)
• Diverters looking after safety of birds Apr 13, 2007
Western Area Power Administration is installing the bird diverters on three spans of power lines that run parallel to U.S. 83 along the causeway that separates lakes Sakakawea and Audubon. The hope is to cut the number of bird deaths from under 1,000 annually to fewer than 500, said Misti Schriner, a Western biologist. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Thune promotes wind power development Apr 13, 2007
Thune also met with officials of the Western Area Power Administration in Watertown, South Dakota to discuss transmission bottleneck issues and wind power development. Yesterday, Senator Thune sent a letter to WAPA requesting an expeditious review of the concept of integrating the generation of hydropower from Missouri River dams and wind farms in central South Dakota. (Black Hills Pioneer, SD)
GRIDLEY ELECTRIC SUPERINTENDENT GENE SMITH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Apr 5, 2007
The State and NCPA briefing on Tuesday focused heavily upon that effort as well as a collective effort to deal with several OMB proposals involving the Bureau of Reclamation budget and ultimately the WAPA cost structure and our charges. His report continued, he most significant of these is the effort to have energy and water customers pay for the lions share of the post 9-11 security costs at the Federal dams when it is quite clear that flood safety is the principal reason for the security. (Gridley Herald, CA)
Forest Service to treat more than 9,000 acres on GMUG Apr 1, 2007
The power lines for the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and those of the Western Area Power Administration cross over national forest lands on their way to delivering electricity to homeowners and businesses. Making sure wildfire does not take down the power grid means treating fuel loads at the base of the lines is also a necessity. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
LIN TV Corp. Completes Sale of Puerto Rico Operations to InterMedia Mar 31, 2007
The stations sold include WAPA-TV, a full-power independent station, and WJPX-TV, an independent station branded as MTV Puerto Rico, as well as WAPA America, a U.S. Spanish-language cable channel. The Company plans on using the proceeds from the sale to reduce its outstanding borrowings. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Heartland partners with proposed wind farm Mar 28, 2007
Through its affiliate, Wessington Wind I, LLC, Babcock will construct, own and operate the Jerauld County facility, which will supply power to the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) grid. McDowell said that Babcock is not the largest wind developer in the U.S., but is the fourth largest wind developer in the world. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
Planned wind farm to be among state’s biggest Mar 25, 2007
The wind farm will supply electricity to the Western Area Power Administration grid. The wind farm was first announced in February but depended on the signing of an agreement to buy the power. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Power grid study group formed Mar 17, 2007
The members of the High Plains Express Transmission Project Study group are Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE: XEL) and Colorado's largest utility; Colorado Springs Utilities; Platte River Power Authority; Public Service Company of New Mexico; Salt River Project; Trans-Elect Development Co.; Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association; and the Western Area Power Administration. "Historically, the development of electric transmission has followed the... (Denver Business Journal, CO)
Public hearings set on 230-kV line route Mar 17, 2007
The project would be in partnership with the U.S. Western Area Power Administration, which now has wooden H-frame poles along Thornton. Those would be replaced by metal poles. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Assessment rated bright, dim Mar 17, 2007
Electric utilities reportedly handling needs of Valley but not those of other parts of state. Mark Shaffer The Arizona Republic Mar. (AZCentral -- Business)
Water shortage possible Mar 1, 2007
Developed by the bureau, with the National Park Service and Western Area Power Administration. Focus is on storage to benefit recreation, power generation. (AZCentral -- News)
Wednesday, February 21: Video clip highlights of The Montrose Economic Development Corporation celebrating its 50th anniversary Tuesday night at the Montrose Pavilion during its annual meeting. Feb 22, 2007
The area now hosts the Western Area Power Administration, Trienco, Montrose Athletic Club, TEI Rock Drills and Schwan's. Video clip interview with MEDC Executive Director Sandy Head, on a look back into the group's history. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
MEDC looks back on 50 years Feb 22, 2007
The area now hosts the Western Area Power Administration, Trienco, Montrose Athletic Club, TEI Rock Drills and Schwan s.. Many of the businesses MEDC helped establish in Montrose are global companies. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Cumberland River system pose problems for CPU Jan 26, 2007
"They're looking at increasing rates to SEP as a way of coming up with the money." Hunt said it years the past a law was passed so Western Area Power Association (WAPA) customers could contribute money. "That law doesn't apply to SEPA," he said. (Clarksdale Press Register, MS)
Wind causes weekend power outages Jan 9, 2007
With help from city crews, WAPA determined a transmission line south of Cody that feeds power to the Glendale substation was faulty. WAPA crews repaired the problem and power was restored ... WAPA crews were not immediately able to isolate the problem. (Cody Enterprise, WY)
