RMEL eNews

Education and Upcoming Events

Don't Miss These Upcoming RMEL Events
Project Management Workshop — July 10-11, 2019 (Golden, CO)
Plant Management, Engineering and Operations Conference — August 7-8, 2019 (Golden, CO)
Transmission Resiliency, Response & Restoration Symposium — August 13-14, 2019 (Golden, CO)
Leadership Workshop — August 14-15, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Safety Roundtable — August 23, 2019 (Golden, CO)
Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention — September 16-18, 2019 *NEW MONDAY-WEDNESDAY DATES* (Kansas City, MO)
2020 Spring Conference Planning Session — October 3, 2019
Distribution Engineers Workshop — October 9-10, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Renewable Planning & Operations Conference — October 16-17, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Safety Roundtable — November 1, 2019 (Fort Collins, CO)

Visit https://www.rmel.org/RMEL/Events/List/RMEL/Events_Info/List_of_Events.aspx?hkey=caf67ebf-969d-42dd-815f-43eab06040da to view the full article online.

Industry Information

Diversifying the Northeast Power Mix: Is Offshore Wind Storage Key to the Region's Reliability?

Offshore wind and battery storage are about to come into the Northeastern power mix in a big way.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/diversifying-the-northeast-power-mix-is-offshore-wind-storage-key-to-the/557412/ to view the full article online.

California Tees Up Wildfire Liability Bill as Utility, Consumer Groups Diverge on Solutions

The California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee will consider AB 1054, aimed at helping utilities pay wildfire damage liabilities, so long as they are not found responsible for sparking the blaze.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-tees-up-wildfire-liability-bill-as-utility-consumer-groups-dive/558134/ to view the full article online.

Massachusetts Approves Contracts for Hydroelectricity Through NECEC Project

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has issued an order approving long-term contracts for 9,554,940 MWh annually of hydropower between H.Q. Energy Services (U.S.) Inc. and the Commonwealth’s electric distribution companies through the New England Clean Energy Connect 100% Hydro project (NECEC Hydro).

Visit https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2019/06/massachusetts-approves-contracts-for-hydroelectricity-through-necec-project.html to view the full article online.

Dominion Energy Begins Construction on Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

Dominion Energy has begun construction on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, which will feature two 6-MW wind turbines and power about 3,000 homes.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/07/dominion-energy-begins-construction-on-coastal-virginia-offshore-wind-project.html to view the full article online.

Department of Energy Announces 2019 Technology Commercialization Fund Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced over $24 million in funding for 77 projects supported by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF).

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-2019-technology-commercialization-fund-projects to view the full article online.

Department of Energy Announces $17 Million for Research in EPSCoR States

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $17 million in funding for nine energy research projects under the federal Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/general/90/777795/department-of-energy-announces-17-million-for-research-in-epscor-states.html to view the full article online.

FPL and LCEC Strengthen Grid for Storm Season

Electric utility companies Florida Power & Light and Lee County Electric Cooperative have been making improvements in customers' service reliability to prepare for the 2019 hurricane season.

Visit https://www.energycentral.com/news/fpl-and-lcec-strengthen-grid-storm-season to view the full article online.

Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Coal Continue to Dominate U.S. Energy Consumption

Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—have accounted for at least 80% of energy consumption in the United States for well over a century.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=40013 to view the full article online.

New Solar Permit Software Could Reduce Costs and Expand Residential Markets

Solar Foundation and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) are joining the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), several national residential solar companies and other nonprofit organizations to develop new automated permit software for distributed solar and storage, reducing the cost of solar installations and saving resources for local governments and taxpayers.

Visit https://www.elp.com/articles/2019/07/new-solar-permit-software-could-reduce-costs-and-expand-residential-markets.html to view the full article online.

Promising Results From Carbon Capture Project for Biomass CHP Plants

A new research project is studying the feasibility of using carbon capture technology at biomass CHP plants in Denmark.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/articles/2019/06/promising-results-from-carbon-capture-project-at-chp-plant.html to view the full article online.

The Influence of Storage

By all outward appearances, the transmission grid and distribution network have not changed much over the last 100 years.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/energy-storage/influence-storage to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Basin Electric Co-Sponsors Electric Vehicle Event

Basin Electric class C member, Capital Electric Cooperative, hosted an electric vehicle (EV) tailgate party at the North Dakota state capitol building on June 17.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/basin-electric-member-hosts-electric-vehicle-event-north-dakota-state to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Statement in Response to the Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. Report Prepared for Sierra Club

The Sierra Club released a report prepared by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. on June 25, 2019. Click below for CPS Energy’s response to this report.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-statement-in-response-to-the-synapse-energy-economics-inc-report-prepared-for-sierra-club/ to view the full article online.

Native El Pasoan Adrian Rodriguez Named Interim CEO of EPE

El Paso Electric Company (EPE) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Adrian Rodriguez, EPE’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, as interim Chief Executive Officer.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/about-el-paso-electric/article/native-el-pasoan-adrian-rodriguez-named-interim-ceo-of-epe to view the full article online.

Westar and KCP&L Pass 50 Million Megawatt Hour of Wind Energy

Westar Energy and KCP&L wind farms recently passed 50 million megawatt hours of wind electricity production. That’s enough electricity to power all the company’s residential customers for more than a year.

Visit https://www.kcpl.com/about-kcpl/media-center/2019/june/westar-and-kcpl-pass-50-million-megawatt-hour-of-wind-energy to view the full article online.

LES Rates Still Rank Among Lowest in the Nation

Lincoln Electric System’s 2019 rates ranked 11th lowest among 100 cities surveyed in a nationwide study, said Emily Koenig, LES director of Finance & Rates.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=115836 to view the full article online.

Incentives for Electric Vehicles, Charging Stations Now Available

Interest continues to grow among consumers when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle - specifically an electric vehicle (EV).

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/incentives-for-electric-vehicles-charging-stations-now-available to view the full article online.

OPPD Laying the Groundwork for a Bright Energy Future

As the utility industry evolves, Omaha Public Power District continues to lead the way the future is powered. At their monthly board meeting, the OPPD Board of Directors received a strategic planning update from President & CEO Timothy J. Burke.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2019/june/oppd-laying-the-groundwork-for-a-bright-energy-future/ to view the full article online.

PNM Proposes Gas, Solar+Storage Mix as Cheapest Option to Replace San Juan Coal Plant

Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) filed its application to retire the San Juan Generating Station coal-fired plant in 2022, giving state regulators four separate replacement scenarios.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pnm-proposes-gas-solarstorage-mix-as-cheapest-option-to-replace-san-juan/558115/ to view the full article online.

Liberty Utilities Reaches Milestone in Bringing 100% Renewable Energy Generation to Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas

Liberty Utilities – Empire District (“Liberty-Empire”) is pleased to announce that its efforts to bring 100% renewable energy generation to customers moved one step closer to reality.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/pdf/06-20-2019_Liberty_Utilities_Reaches_Milestone_in_Wind_Energy_Generation_.pdf to view the full article online.

Engaging Employees From Onboarding Onward

WAPA’s new employee onboarding is a yearlong, highly integrated process that includes ongoing interaction from supervisors, leaders and Human Resources.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2019/Pages/employee-onboarding.aspx to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League