From the Desk of Executive Director Richard Putnicki

Thank You for Supporting the RMEL Foundation

What a great start to summer, kicking it off with the RMEL Foundation Golf Tournament last week and having our FIRST in-person event since March 2020! Golfers were excited and the spirit and traditions of RMEL were all around us. We sold out all 144 spots of the tournament about one month before the tournament, with six additional teams on the “wait list” if a foursome dropped out. This is extremely exciting if this is an indication of what we will see when our educational programming opens up. On top of the success of getting back together, through everyone’s generosity, we were able to raise just under $26,000 for scholarships at the tournament. This record total is truly a result of the generosity from our membership and recognition of the great work sponsored by the RMEL Foundation. We appreciate everyone’s support, and I especially want to thank Johnny Bofilios and Copperleaf for this year’s Title Sponsorship.

The next RMEL Foundation fundraiser is the big one! The RMEL Foundation Auction will take place this fall during the 2021 RMEL Fall Convention. You can send in your donations and donation forms now, and more details on the donation deadline will be available soon!

More Educational Events

Webinar & Roundtable – Low Carbon Fuels
July 8, 2021, 9-10:30 a.m. MDT

Low carbon fuels, including biomass/waste, liquid biofuels, renewable natural gas and hydrogen, are of significant interest as a means of decarbonizing numerous industries, most notably the electric power sector. This presentation will provide an overview of the field of bioenergy, a summary of feedstock characteristics, and high-level design and project development considerations for producing/using power, heat, and solid, liquid, or gaseous biofuels. The role of bioenergy as part a suite of other decarbonization technologies will also be discussed.

Webinar: Substation Grounding System Testing and Maintenance
July 27, 2021, 9-10:30 a.m. MDT

The condition of a substation's grounding system is key to ensuring personnel safety and reliable equipment operation. However, despite its importance, integrity testing methods and frequencies vary widely due in part to the lack of industry standards addressing substation ground mat maintenance. The Western Area Power Administration will present their approach to this issue in three parts: the need for testing based on field safety concerns, testing methods used to evaluate the condition of the grounding system, and testing program implementation based on reliability centered maintenance principles. Attendees will hear experiences and perspectives of field personnel, engineering staff and program management.

Hybrid RMEL Safety Roundtable
August (date tbd)  9 a.m. - 2 p.m. MDT, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Westminster, CO

More details will be available soon about a hybrid Safety Roundtable being held in-person at Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association with virtual video conference capabilities enabled for those who wish to attend virtually. We are looking forward to this new type of offering.

Hybrid Generation Roundtable
September 30, 2021, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. MDT, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Westminster, CO

More details will be available soon about a hybrid Generation Roundtable being held in-person at Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association with virtual video conference capabilities enabled for those who wish to attend virtually. We are looking forward to this new type of offering.

2021 Fall Convention

2021 RMEL Fall Convention 
Dates & Location: To be Announced

I have been approached by many of you asking if we are going to have the RMEL Fall Convention this year and is there a chance it will be back live, in person?  I assure you, the staff is doing its homework and everything in its power to make that happen. We are looking into venue and location options, as well as what a virtual component might look like. We are hoping to share more details soon about the 2021 Fall Convention and in-person, virtual and hybrid offerings. Please mark your calendars for this event to occur in the October time frame. 

We will continue to do what we do every year. We will compile a stellar lineup of keynotes, general session speakers and the CEO Panel for our signature Fall event. We will provide a relaxed forum for networking with your peers and colleagues to find and share solutions to the critical issues that our utilities are facing. We all know how much we have missed that the last 18 months! The educational focus will include timely presentations on vision and forecast trends, current and future industry projects, lessons learned, new technology, public policy, fuel strategies, workforce challenges and other relevant topics selected by RMEL’s leadership. Speakers are primarily CEOs, senior executives and other top leaders from inside the industry discussing the issues that matter most to you. Find significant value in the two day streamlined format. Make the connections you need and learn from education presentations that will benefit you and your company.

We look forward to seeing you together again!

Nominate a Leader for an RMEL Award by July 30

RMEL actively tries to capture the opportunity to allow our members to recognize leaders in their organizations. We are seeking nominations of those exemplary individuals in the electric energy industry for the Distinguished Leadership Award, Industry Leadership Award and the Honorary Life Membership Award. These awards are presented to individuals to commend outstanding work and leadership at their organizations and in the electric energy industry. Submit your nomination by July 30.

Thank you again for helping us kick off a great 2021! We look forward to seeing you soon!