March 10, 2014
Glen Allen, VA— The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association have named Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) as a 2013 Wind Cooperative of the Year. The award honors electric cooperatives that demonstrate outstanding leadership in advancing wind power in the United States.
According to Jose Zayas, Director of the Department of Energy’s Wind and Water Power Technologies Office, “…these cooperatives are taking the steps to ensure that their communities will have renewable sources of energy for generations to come. Through their leadership, they are helping to create a more sustainable planet and support the development of clean energy alternatives.”
Selected by a panel of judges from the wind industry, utilities, government, national laboratories and cooperatives, ODEC was evaluated on corporate leadership, project innovation, and benefits to customers. Beginning in 2008, ODEC entered into four contracts to purchase capacity, energy and renewable energy credits associated with wind turbine projects, leading to the addition of more than 260 megawatts of capacity. Now as a wholesale power supply cooperative, ODEC generates and procures power to serve the requirements of its eleven member retail cooperatives and resells the renewable energy credits it procures to its member cooperatives and third parties.
“This award reflects our forward-thinking board of directors’ approach to diversifying our cooperative’s mix of resources with our wind projects, especially since we are not subject to a renewable portfolio standard,” said Jackson Reasor, president and CEO of ODEC.
Announced at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association TechAdvantage Conference, this year marks the thirteenth anniversary of the Wind Cooperative of the Year Award.
View official press release: ODEC Named 2013 Wind Cooperative of the Year