RMEL eNews

Industry Information

SPP Board Directs Construction of 44 Transmission Projects

More than 120 Southwest Power Pool (SPP) stakeholders gathered in Little Rock on Oct. 28-29 for the annual meeting of members, held in conjunction with the board of directors and Regional State Committee (RSC). The board approved the 2019 Integrated Transmission Plan, requiring SPP members to construct 44 new projects, including 166 miles of 345-kV transmission.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/overhead-transmission/spp-board-directs-construction-44-transmission-projects to view the full article online.

California Urges Energy Providers Procure Additional 4 GW to Avoid Potential Shortages Starting in 2021

The California Public Utilities Commission published a proposed order on Monday directing load serving entities (LSEs) to procure 4 GW of capacity beyond baseline resources already set for 2022, in order to meet a potential resource adequacy shortage beginning in 2021.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-regulators-push-energy-providers-to-buy-4-gw-to-avoid-potential/565736/ to view the full article online.

E.ON Puts Customer in Control of Energy Data with Blockchain Prototype

E.ON has developed a blockchain technology that says will allow its customers to have transparency and complete control over their own energy data. Developed by engineers at the E.ON Future Lab, E.ON has registered the IT-system for a patent and the European Patent Office has now made the application public.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2019/10/30/e-on-puts-customer-in-control-of-energy-data-with-blockchain-prototype/ to view the full article online.

California Governor Calls on Warren Buffett to Purchase Bankrupt PG&E

While calls mount for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to become a public utility, Governor Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., said he would welcome a sale of the bankrupt company to investor Warren Buffett.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-governor-calls-on-warren-buffett-to-purchase-bankrupt-pge/566038/ to view the full article online.

Exelon Generation, State of Maryland Reach Agreement on Chesapeake Bay Restoration

Exelon Generation has reached a settlement agreement with the state of Maryland that will protect the long-term health of the Chesapeake Bay and preserve Maryland’s largest source of renewable energy, the 572-MW Conowingo hydroelectric plant.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2019/10/29/exelon-generation-state-of-maryland-reach-agreement-on-chesapeake-bay-restoration/ to view the full article online.

NOTICE OF INTENT: Funding for High Performance Computing

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) Initiative will issue its third joint solicitation in fall 2019 for High Performance Computing for Manufacturing and High Performance Computing for Materials.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/articles/notice-intent-funding-high-performance-computing to view the full article online.

California Commission to Launch Formal Investigation, Direct Wildfire Mitigaton Plans

After another unprecedented series of Public Safety Power Shut-offs (PSPS) and historic wind events creating red flag warnings throughout much of the state, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this week announced it was taking additional urgent actions focused on public health and safety to drive down risks of ignitions from utility infrastructure, risks that result from power loss, and the disruption to communities and commerce.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/disaster-response/california-commission-launch-formal-investigation-direct-wildfire-mitigaton-plans to view the full article online.

States to Review and Test Energy Emergency Response in a Simulated Environment

Hawaii was one of four states selected by the National Governors Association to participate in a state-focused technical assistance project to enhance their experiences in the GridEx V energy security exercise.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/general/90/797275/states-to-review-and-test-energy-emergency-response-in-a-simulated-environment.html to view the full article online.

Orsted Lowers Offshore Wind Output Forecasts, Warns of Industrywide Problem

Denmark's Ørsted issued a statement alongside its Q3 results explaining that it was downgrading its anticipated internal rate of return for several projects in Europe and Taiwan, from 7.5 to 8.5 percent down to 7 to 8 percent.

Visit https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/orsted-warns-industry-not-to-ignore-forecast-downgrades?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreentechMedia+%28Greentech+Media%29 to view the full article online.

Most Utility-Scale Batteries in the United States are Made of Lithium-ion

Most of the utility-scale battery systems used for energy storage on the U.S. electric grid use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are known for their high-cycle efficiency, fast response times, and high energy density. Nearly all of the utility-scale battery systems installed in the United States in the past five years use lithium-ion technology.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41813 to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Community Connections Resource Fair gets Customers Plugged in to City of Austin Resources

Austin Energy is hosting the 9th Annual Community Connections Resource Fair on behalf of all City of Austin Utilities. The resource fair serves customers who are struggling to make ends meet in their households.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2019/community-connections-resource-fair-plugged-coa-resources to view the full article online.

Wyoming ITC Welcomes First Tenant at Dry Fork Station

TDA’s system is sized to capture carbon dioxide from the flue gas at about the emission rate from a plant generating 50 kilowatts of electricity, or about a ton of carbon dioxide per day.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/wyoming-itc-welcomes-first-tenant-dry-fork-station to view the full article online.

CPS Energy will Carefully Align its Flexible Path to the CAAP While Balancing the Tried and True With the New for San Antonio’s Energy Future

Our Board of Trustees has endorsed the CAAP that was presented to them in August of 2019. In turn, the Board has instructed me, as CPS Energy’s President & CEO, to work towards the new 2050 net zero emission goal, through the careful implementation of our Flexible Path strategy. Through this strategy, we will balance real implications to our community’s energy security, safety, reliability, resilience, environmental sustainability and customer affordability.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-will-carefully-align-its-flexible-path-to-the-caap-while-balancing-the-tried-and-true-with-the-new-for-san-antonios-energy-future/ to view the full article online.

TxDOT, EPPD, EPE and SISD Partner for Pedestrian Safety Campaign

The Texas Department of Transportation El Paso District is partnering with the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso Electric Company and the Socorro Independent School District for a pedestrian safety campaign that launched ahead of Halloween and the end of daylight saving time.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/txdot-eppd-epe-and-sisd-partner-for-pedestrian-safety-campaign to view the full article online.

Electrical Consultants, Inc. & Relay Application Innovation, Inc. are Joining Forces

Electrical Consultants, Inc. (ECI) is proud to announce we have significantly strengthened our capabilities in system protection design and integration through the acquisition of Relay Application Innovation, Inc. (RAI). This brings significant growth in system protection design, integration, protection settings, customized software and hardware.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=587969&issueID=64135 to view the full article online.

West Plains, Evergy Announce Solar Energy Agreement

The City of West Plains, Mo., will partner with Evergy to provide solar power to the community. Evergy will build a new solar array in West Plains that will generate 9.6 megawatts of energy, enough to power 1,200 homes.

Visit http://www.evergyinc.com/news-releases/news-release-details/west-plains-evergy-announce-solar-energy-agreement to view the full article online.

LES Receives 3 Awards at Recent Ceremony

Lincoln Electric System employees accepted three awards at the 2019 Nebraska Safety Council Conference and Trade Show in York, Nebraska, Oct. 16, 2019. The honors were a Governor’s Wellness Award, Workplace Safety Award and Workplace Health Achievement Index recognition. The event was hosted by Nebraska Safety Council and WorkWell.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=116965 to view the full article online.

NPPD Installs EV Charging Stations at Three Locations

Nebraska residents and travelers will notice electric vehicle (EV) stations emerging across Nebraska Public Power District’s service territory.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/nppd-installs-ev-charging-stations-at-three-locations to view the full article online.

OPPD Earns Awards for Public Power Communications

Omaha Public Power District is committed to engaging its customers and sharing how the utility works to serve its communities. The utility’s efforts were recently honored at the American Public Power Association’s Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2019/october/oppd-earns-awards-for-public-power-communications/ to view the full article online.

PacifiCorp Draft Resource Plan Calls for Increases in Lower-Cost Wind, Solar and Storage to Manage Phased Coal Transition

PacifiCorp released a draft of its long-term energy plan that continues investments in new wind generation and transmission, while adding significant new solar and storage resources.

Visit https://www.pacificorp.com/about/newsroom/news-releases/2019-draft-irp-increased-renewables-phased-coal-transition.html to view the full article online.

Platte River to Provide Update on Resource Plan

Platte River will host a second round of community listening sessions to update residents and businesses on the status of the organization’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news/platte-river-to-provide-update-on-resource-plan/ to view the full article online.

Salt River Project Donates Solar Systems to 3 Valley Nonprofit Organizations

At the La Mesita Family Homeless Shelter, the goal is to provide more than a bed and a meal to struggling families. At this Mesa-based shelter operated by nonprofit A New Leaf, families are provided with safe housing and support services for up to 120 days. And that costs money.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/salt-river-project-donates-solar-systems-to-3-valley-nonprofit-organizations/ to view the full article online.

Sunflower again participated in CoBank’s Sharing Success Program, Which Doubles the Contributions of its Customers to the Charitable Organizations and Causes They Care About Most.

Sunflower has chosen to support the United Way because of the positive impact the organization has in the Sunflower service territory.

Visit https://www.sunflower.net/sunflower-again-participated-in-cobanks-sharing-success-program-which-doubles-the-contributions-of-its-customers-to-the-charitable-organizations-and-causes-they-care-about-most/ to view the full article online.

Liberty Utilities Team Performs Well at Lineman’s Rodeo Competition

The Liberty Utilities team performed well at the 36th annual International Lineman’s Rodeo Competition held on Saturday, October 19 in Bonner Springs, KS.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=587967&issueID=64135 to view the full article online.

Tri-State, National Partners to Advance Low Carbon Energy Use Across Colorado

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association joins the national Beneficial Electrification League (BEL), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and others today to announce establishment of the BEL’s first state chapter, which will advance beneficial electrification in Colorado.

Visit https://www.tristategt.org/tri-state-national-partners-advance-low-carbon-energy-use-across-colorado-0 to view the full article online.

TEP Solar Option Supports Brewery’s Sustainability Goals

As a microbiologist and cofounder of Tucson’s Borderlands Brewing, Mike Mallozzi wants to do his part to help save the planet – and ultimately, his beer.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-solar-option-supports-brewerys-sustainability-goals/ to view the full article online.

I2T Spotlights Everyday Innovators

Employees across WAPA set aside the day of July 11 to attend the fourth annual Inclusion, Innovation and Technology Summit, or I2T Summit.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191022121130.htm to view the full article online.

Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Fuels Up for Two More Years of Carbon-Free Electricity

After setting a company record for continuous power plant operation – 681 days – workers at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant began a month-long refueling and maintenance effort on Friday, Oct. 4.

Visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/media_room/news_releases/prairie_island_nuclear_plant_fuels_up_for_two_more_years_of_carbon-free_electricity to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League