RMEL eNews
Alltricity Network Report
  

From RMEL Executive Director Rick Putnicki

RMEL ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

RMEL is proud to announce the appointment of Ken Wilmot as its new Executive Director, effective March 4th, 2024. With a wealth of experience in the energy sector, Ken is poised to lead RMEL into a new era of growth and success. Read the full press release to learn more about Ken.

As I reflect on my time leading RMEL, I couldn't be more thrilled to pass the torch to Ken. His passion for the electric energy industry, past involvement with RMEL, and dedication to driving positive change are truly inspiring. I have every confidence that he will lead RMEL with vision and integrity, propelling the Association to new heights of excellence, and I know you will enjoy getting to know him.

It's an exciting moment for RMEL as we welcome Ken to the team. His fresh perspective and innovative ideas will invigorate the Association and our membership and further strengthen our commitment to education and networking. I look forward to witnessing the great strides we'll take under his leadership.

As I transition into retirement, I am reminded of all the great relationships that have been formed over the past 12 years. A final toast of gratitude to all the fourteen Board Presidents I had the honor to serve and learn from. The numerous Board Directors who spent their valuable time helping shape the direction of this association. The education committee members who are the quality behind our educational content and professional networking. And the staff with unwavering support to represent our mission forward. It has been an honor to serve this industry. It has been a blessing to do it through the relationships that have been built.

With Ken as the next Executive Director, I'm filled with optimism for RMEL's future. With Ken at the helm, I have no doubt that RMEL will continue to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the electric energy industry. Here's to the exciting journey ahead, and please join me in welcoming Ken!

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, March 7 to join us for an OPEN HOUSE at the RMEL Office in Centennial, CO! This would be a great opportunity to stop by and meet Ken! It will also allow me an opportunity to share my “thank you’s” to the great people whose paths I have crossed over the past 12 years. It has been a great run for me, and I am excited about what is to come. Your Association is in GREAT hands!

REGISTRATION FOR RMEL’S 2024 SPRING CONFERENCE IS NOW OPEN – JOIN US MAY 20TH-22ND IN DENVER, CO!

Register and Book Your Discounted Hotel Room in RMEL’s block (hotel booking deadline is April 29th, 2024).

Spring is in the air, and RMEL is excited share that registration is OPEN for the 2024 Spring Conference! Taking place Monday, May 20th through Wednesday, May 22nd at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, we are all ready to enjoy knowledge sharing, professional development, education and networking opportunities, camaraderie, and of course: famous mile high views!

Take advantage of timely and relevant content in the 25+ technical sessions that tie together trends, technology, operations, engineering, leadership, and culture to build toward the electric energy future. We will share more details about the program soon, but in the meantime, visit the 2024 Spring Conference event page for the most up to date information.

If you are managing people or projects, engineering, planning or operating systems in the electric utility industry, this conference is for you. The Spring Conference has been a tradition since RMEL’s early beginnings. Known for providing outstanding continuing education and networking opportunities, this conference covers generation, transmission, distribution and management topics. The topics and breakout structure of the conference allow attendees to customize their education experience to focus on presentations and resources that align with their needs. Ample time is also provided to network with industry peers including the golf outing, networking breaks and meals and evening receptions.

THE NEXTGENERATION POWER PIONEER PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP RETURNS

Established by the RMEL Board of Directors in 2023, the NextGeneration Power Pioneer Committee is pleased to announce the return of the Pre-Conference Workshop, hosted on Monday, May 20th, prior to the start of the 2024 RMEL Spring Conference, for the electric energy industry's next generation. Join us for the opportunity to develop both supervisor and individual contributor leadership skills and network with others in the industry by connecting with others before the Conference kicks off. The full Pre-Conference Workshop agenda will become available soon and professional Development Hour (PDHs) certificates will be awarded after completion of the workshop.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM FOR THE SPRING CONFERENCE AT A DISCOUNTED RATE

In the meantime, book your room at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center and receive the special RMEL room block discounted rate of $194. To reserve your room, click the "Book a Room" link above. Enter the dates of your stay within the block dates (May 19th - May 23rd) to receive the RMEL Spring Conference group rates and room availability.

We hope to see you in Denver!

SPRING CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE!

Reach a diverse electric utility audience and enhance your organization's visibility at the 2023 RMEL Spring Conference through Tabletop Sponsorships. Reserve your spot quickly as we have sold out in the past! View the Tabletop Sponsorship Brochure and Sign Up for a spot today. If you have questions or would like to discuss a customized opportunity, please contact us at info@rmel.org or 303-865-5544.

RMEL'S UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS

We will continue to offer additional events in the months leading up to the 2024 Spring Conference. Please visit the RMEL Events and Education Calendar webpage for the most up-to-date list of offerings, and reference the below Upcoming Event List in this newsletter to learn more and register. Our Committees, made up of RMEL Members, strives to organize timely, important and thoughtful educational and networking events, and we are looking forward to a full year of these opportunities curated by our members, for our members. We hope to see you soon at an upcoming event!   

RMEL AS YOUR RESOURCE

As always, please consider RMEL a resource to you and your organization. Please share those development opportunities with your peers, workgroups and your professional network! Also, do not hesitate to reach out to us with topics or workshops you would deem beneficial to our industry. 

 
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Education and Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY SAFETY ROUNDTABLE - February 28th, 2024 (Westminster, CO)

TRANSMISSION & SUBSTATION RENEWABLES CONFERENCE - March 5th-6th, 2024 (Westminster, CO)

DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERING & RESILIENCY WORKSHOP - March 27th-28th, 2024 (Salt Lake City, UT)

2024 SAFETY CONFERENCE - April 2nd-4th, 2024 (Tempe, AZ)

2024 RMEL SPRING CONFERENCE - May 20th-22nd, 2024 (Denver, CO)

TRANSMISSION, SUBSTATION, POWER DELIVERY PROJECTS CONFERENCE - June 26th-27th, 2024 (Westminster, CO)

2024 RMEL FALL CONVENTION - September 16th-18th, 2024 (Austin, TX)

   
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Alltricity Network Member Information
RMEL's trusted network is now accessible on Facebook, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). These are forums intended for RMEL members only. Working side-by-side in a cooperative manner, RMEL members band together for the common goal of bettering the industry and improving service for utility customers. For more than 100 years, these key principles have proven successful and, more importantly, are tried-and-true methods for building strong business relationships.
 
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Industry Information
  
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Communities can now use three Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs to fund net-zero energy projects when rebuilding schools, hospitals, fire stations and other infrastructure after a disaster.
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Member Announcements
Salt River Project (SRP) has been included on the Forbes list of America’s Best-in-State Employers 2023, ranking 6th in Arizona. America's Best-in-State Employers 2023 were identified based on 2.1 million employer recommendations from employees working for companies with more than 500 employees in the United States. 
  
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Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has finalized the route for the Norfolk-Stanton North Project, which will provide a necessary path for a new 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between two local substations. “We are grateful for the active participation at our open houses and public hearings,” says NPPD Project Manager Paul Brune. 
The acquisition of the production facility at the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency site includes onsite infrastructure and the rights to RNG production at the landfill under a long-term contract. The facility currently injects RNG into the natural gas distribution system serving Dubuque, which is owned and operated by Black Hills Corp.’s regulated natural gas utility in Iowa.
El Paso Electric (EPE) officially broke ground on construction of a 10 megawatt (MW) solar facility for its successful Texas Community Solar program. In its commitment to provide accessible renewable energy to all, this second expansion of this program will allow for an additional 5,000 customers to subscribe to solar energy. 
 
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Researchers are tapping into idled electric vehicles to act as mobile generators and help power overworked and aging electricity grids. After analyzing energy demand on Alberta's power grid during rush hour, the research proposes an innovative way to replenish electrical grids with power generated from fuel cells in trucks.
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