RMEL eNews
Alltricity Network Report
  

From RMEL Executive Director Ken Wilmot

RMEL IS REBRANDING! THE ELECTRIFYING NEW NAME & BRAND WILL BE UNVEILED LATER THIS WEEK

I am thrilled to share some exciting news that marks a significant milestone in our association's journey. After months of careful planning and thoughtful consideration, we are proud to unveil our new brand identity later this week!

Our association has always been committed to excellence, innovation, and serving our members with the utmost dedication. As we continue to evolve and grow, it became clear that our brand needed to reflect the dynamic nature of our community and the values we hold dear. Our new brand identity is a testament to our commitment to our mission – Preparing the electric energy industry for the future through education and networking – and it embodies the spirit of collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment that defines our association. With a fresh look and feel, we are poised to embark on an exciting new chapter together.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved in this process, from our dedicated Board of Directors to our valued members. Your input, feedback, and support has been invaluable every step of the way.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our association. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence and make a positive impact on our industry and community, and we can’t wait to celebrate this transformation with you very soon.

REGISTER FOR RMEL’S 2024 SPRING CONFERENCE & VIEW THE FULL EVENT BROCHURE!

Only a few weeks left until the 2024 Spring Conference – Register now! 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! Register and Book Your Discounted Hotel Room in RMEL’s block.

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. Visit the 2024 Spring Conference event page for the most up-to-date information and check out the Full Brochure to learn about the speakers, topics, and session descriptions for the three education tracks: Generation, Transmission & Distribution, and Management, as well as other exciting conference events, including the NextGeneration Power Pioneer Pre-Conference Workshop, keynote speakers, Senior Leadership panelists, sponsored receptions, rebrand celebrations, and more!

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, plus meals and evening receptions.

2024 SPRING CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

RMEL welcomes two stellar keynote speakers. We are confident you will not be disappointed! 

Day 1 Keynote Speaker (Tuesday, May 21st): Aron Ralston, Fearless Adventurer, Wilderness Advocate, & Subject of the Film 127 Hours

Ralston's extraordinary story of survival after an 800-pound boulder trapped him in a remote Utah canyon captured global headlines in 2003. In his New York Times best seller, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, the Oscar-nominated film 127 Hours and on stage, Ralston takes audiences vicariously through those six days without water, means of communication, or hope of escape, to the ecstatic moments when he freed himself by severing his own arm. 

Following a miraculous rescue spearheaded by his mom and with the aid of prosthetics he helped design, Aron returned to his outdoor passions, completing elite mountaineering projects which remain unrepeated even to this day. Ralston’s incredible triumph in the face of insurmountable odds inspires audiences to harness the power of their deepest motivations, relationships and mindset to transform personal and professional "boulders" into their blessings.

Day 2 Keynote Speaker (Wednesday, May 22nd): Dr. Matthew Hallowell, Founder & Executive Director of Construction Safety Research Alliance | President’s Teaching Scholar & Chaired Professor of Engineering at the University of Colorado

Dr. Hallowell earned a BS and MS in Civil Engineering and a PhD with a focus on Construction Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers on emerging topics such as leading indicators, energy-based safety and precursor analysis. Since 2022, he has been recognized by Stanford University as one of the top three safety researchers in the world and among the top 1% of scientists across all disciplines. Dr. Hallowell helps translate research to practice as the principal technical advisor to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the INGAA Foundation, and other industry associations. His work has been recognized with the National Science Foundation Career Award, the Construction Industry Institute Outstanding Researcher Award, and the inaugural EEI Thomas Farrell Safety Leadership and Innovation Award. Before his academic career, he worked in construction as a laborer, project engineer and quality inspector.

ENHANCE YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE AND ATTEND THE NEXTGENERATION POWER PIONEER PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

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 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. MDT, prior to the start of the 2024 RMEL Spring Conference, for the electric energy industry's next generation.

Are you an aspiring leader in the electric energy field? Do you mentor a colleague earlier in their career and are also driven to contribute to the industry’s future at your organization? If so, you and your colleagues are encouraged to attend the NextGeneration Power Pioneer Pre-Conference Workshop for the opportunity to develop both supervisor and individual contributor leadership skills and network with others in the industry. View the full Pre-Conference Workshop agenda now! Professional Development Hour (PDHs) certificates will be awarded after completion of the workshop.

The theme of the 2024 Pre-Conference Workshop is Navigating Your Career in the Transforming Electric Energy Industry. From empowering your team members to seizing personal growth opportunities, this workshop will explore strategies for fostering career advancement in the evolving energy industry. Discover how to identify and capitalize on opportunities both within and beyond your job description, driving professional growth and organizational success.

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

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 22nd) to receive the RMEL Spring Conference group rates and room availability.

We’ll see you in Denver soon!

SPRING CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE!

Reach a diverse electric utility audience and enhance your organization's visibility at the 2024 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 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! Take advantage of the Job Postings section on the RMEL website to assist in your recruiting, and do not hesitate to reach out to us with topics or workshops you would deem beneficial to our industry.

 
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We provide expert engineering and consulting services that enable a more reliable and resilient power system. Collaborating with diverse energy industry stakeholders, we tackle intricate energy engineering challenges. Our areas of expertise encompass Renewable Energy, Studies and Consulting, as well as Power Delivery and Power Generation.
 
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Education and Upcoming Events

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

2024 RMEL FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT - June 25th, 2024 (Littleton, CO)

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

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

   
Burns & McDonnell
      
Meridian Cooperative
   
Alltricity Network Member Information
Join RMEL's Groups on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
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.
 
RMEL Champions is a prestigious group of RMEL supporters with access to useful and beneficial promotional opportunities. Thank you, 2023 RMEL Champions!
Private LTE: Bridging the Data Gap in the Energy Transition
Black & Veatch Corporation®
Eager to use big data to improve operations and drive new business models, utilities are turning to AMI, sensors and intelligent devices.
But, with this technology comes big data to instantly gather, analyze and share across the enterprise, revealing a gap in the utility operation — the network. Download this ebook and explore lessons learned from real Black & Veatch LTE deployments.
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Industry Information
U.S. Hydropower Generation Expected to Increase by 6% in 2024
This year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects hydropower generation to increase 6% and account for 250 billion kWh, based on forecasts in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). EIA said it expects hydropower to increase in nearly every part of the country, with notable increases in the southeast and northwest and Rockies.
Report: Small Modular Reactor Market Expected to Reach $295 Billion by 2043
  
Market analyst IDTechEx expects the installation rate of small modular reactors (SMRs) to grow significantly from the end of the decade, contributing significantly to solving the climate crisis. The flexibility of these reactors beyond supplying electricity to the grid is a significant reason that their expected impact is so broad.
DOE Eases Environmental Review Requirements for Transmission, Storage, and Solar Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is simplifying the environmental review process for certain energy storage systems such as battery systems, transmission line upgrades, and solar photovoltaic systems.
DOE is amending its list of categories of projects which, because they typically do not have significant environmental impacts, qualify for the simplest form of environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 
EPA Leans on Carbon Capture as it Releases Final Power Plant Pollution Rules
  
The highly-anticipated announcement outlined a suite of measures aimed at reducing air, water and land pollution from the power sector. As the sector makes long-term investments in the transition to clean energy, EPA said the rules are designed to work with power companies’ planning processes.
   
Futura Systems, Inc
      
FlexGen Power Systems, Inc.
   
SPP Markets+ Western Market Plan Sparks Support, Protest and Concerns
The Southwest Power Pool’s plan to launch its Markets+ market in the West drew support, opposition and recommended changes from utilities, state regulators and other stakeholders, in filings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
States Rethink Data Centers as ‘Electricity Hogs’ Strain the Grid
  
Data centers are the backbone of the increasingly digital world, and they consume a growing share of the nation’s electricity, with no signs of slowing down. The global consultancy McKinsey & Company predicts these operations will double their U.S. electric demands from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to 35 gigawatts by 2030 — enough electricity to power more than 26 million average homes.
DOE Announces New Advanced Manufacturing Opportunity for Hydropower Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have opened a technical collaboration opportunity for industry partners interested in developing innovative hydropower technologies using advanced materials and manufacturing.
EIA: U.S. Wind Generation Falls for First Time Since 1990s
  
Data from EIA’s Power Plant Operations Report show that U.S. wind generation in 2023 totaled 425,235 GWh, 2.1% less than the 434,297 GWh generated in 2022. EIA says that the 2023 decline indicates that wind as a generation source is maturing after decades of “rapid growth.”
Nisus Corporation: Better Science for Better Poles.
Nisus Corp®
Nisus manufactures QNAP® Copper Naphthenate, the only heavy-duty pole protection without an EPA Danger label and with a proven track record, as seen in over 1000 years of cumulative field-test data. QNAP has cleaner handling characteristics, is not a sensitizer, and, because it is EPA-labelled for residential landscaping and boiler fuel at end of pole life, it has more end-of-life disposal options. Best of all, it’s made right here in the United States.
Learn More
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Member Announcements
Tri-State Moving Forward with $186.5 Million in Transmission System Upgrades
The transmission expansion will increase Tri-State’s availability to add renewable energy resources in eastern Colorado by more than 700 megawatts. The transmission effort also augments Tri-State’s proposed 2023 Electric Resource Plan, which was filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CoPUC) in December 2023 and identifies 1,250 megawatts of renewable energy and energy storage through 2031.
Construction Begins on Roundup-To-Kummer Ridge Transmission Line
  
The project includes 33 miles of new 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the existing Roundup substation (north of Killdeer, North Dakota) and the existing Kummer Ridge substation (near Johnson’s Corner, North Dakota), and will help serve the growing load Basin Electric members are experiencing in northwest North Dakota.
Felina Solar Resource: EPE Leads the Charge in Texas' Renewable Energy Revolution
El Paso Electric (EPE) is proud to announce the groundbreaking ceremony for its newest endeavor, the Felina Solar Resource in Fabens, Texas. This monumental project marks a significant step forward in EPE's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
OPPD Earns Top Tier Customer Satisfaction Scores
  
Omaha Public Power District is adapting and evolving to meet changing customer expectations, and customers are taking notice. At this week’s committee meetings for the OPPD Board of Directors, utility leaders shared the results of annual residential and business syndicated customer surveys, which gave the utility high marks in customer satisfaction and engagement.
PacifiCorp Formally Commits to California ISO's EDAM
PacifiCorp became the first entity in the Western United States to formally commit to a regional coordinated energy market by signing an implementation agreement this week with the California ISO for its Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM).
SRP Reservoirs Continue to Thrive After Two Productive Winters
  
After two productive winters, SRP reservoirs are expected to be near capacity this spring as the Valley enters the heaviest-use period of the year. As of today, the Salt River system is 96% full; the Verde River System is 70% full and the total reservoir system is 93% full.
CPS Energy Closes on Previously Announced Acquisition of Talen Energy Gas Plants in Corpus Christi and Laredo
CPS Energy announced the closing on the acquisition of Talen Energy Corporation’s (“Talen”) (OTCQX: TLNE) approximately 1,710-megawatt (“MW”) generation portfolio located in the South Zone of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) market for $785 million, subject to customary net working capital adjustments. 
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Clearing the Air: Wind Farms More Land Efficient than Previously Thought
Wind power is a source of energy that is both affordable and renewable. However, decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels. Research was based on the assessment of the land-use of close to 320 wind farms in the U.S. paints a very different picture.
Positive Perceptions of Solar Projects
A new survey has found that for residents living within three miles of a large-scale solar development, positive attitudes outnumbered negative attitudes by almost a 3-to-1 margin. Researchers surveyed almost 1,000 residents living near solar projects.
Global North Energy Outsourcing Demands More Attention
Manufacturing nations in the Global North are stockpiling energy and emission problems by outsourcing energy-intensive industrial processes to countries in the Global South.