RMEL eNews

Alltricity Network Report

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=592976&issueID=64136 to view the full article online.

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Education and Upcoming Events

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

Southwest Power Pool Launches Reliability Coordinator Services in Western Interconnection

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) on Tuesday began its Western reliability coordination (RC) service on behalf of more than a dozen utilities in the Western interconnection.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/southwest-power-pool-launches-reliability-coordinator-services-in-western-i/568391/ to view the full article online.

LADWP Launches Human External Cargo Program

One year ago, the utility began training its linemen and pilots in human external cargo to improve efficiency and safety.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations/ladwp-launches-human-external-cargo-program to view the full article online.

Road to 100: How a Demolished Kansas Town Became a Model of DOE Renewables Resilience

The destruction wrought by a 2007 tornado gave the federal government an opportunity to build up a fully renewable town in a conservative part of the country.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/road-to-100-how-a-demolished-kansas-town-became-a-model-of-doe-renewables/568392/ to view the full article online.

NASA Says Satellite Data Can Cut Disaster Response Times, Costs

Researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center determined that ready access to near-real-time information about flooded roads (via satellite data) could have saved ambulance drivers and other emergency responders an average of nine minutes per emergency response and potential millions of dollars, using the 2011 Southeast Asian floods as a case study.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2019/12/02/nasa-says-satellite-data-can-cut-disaster-response-times-costs/ to view the full article online.

Shell Energy Signs Solar PPA for Energy Produced by EDF California Project

EDF Renewables North America and Shell Energy North America have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement for 132 MW of solar output in Riverside County, California.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2019/12/04/shell-energy-signs-solar-ppa-for-energy-produced-by-edf-california-project/ to view the full article online.

Sensor Program Marks Next Step in Authority's Digital Utility Strategy

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is reaching design completion of its statewide sensor deployment program, allowing site installations to commence.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/ot-it/53/804965/sensor-program-marks-next-step-in-authority-s-digital-utility-strategy-.html to view the full article online.

Hydrogen Research Fuels New Solar Ideas for Green Energy

New research led by Curtin University explores the use of methanol as a storage for hydrogen fuel, providing a potential green option for the extraction and creation of this zero pollution energy source.

Visit https://phys.org/news/2019-12-hydrogen-fuels-solar-ideas-green.html to view the full article online.

EIA Monthly Energy Review

A publication of recent energy statistics. This publication includes total energy production, consumption, and trade; energy prices; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and international petroleum; carbon dioxide emissions; and data unit conversions values.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/ to view the full article online.

Marine Power Systems Wins Funding for Wave, Wind Technology

Marine Power Systems won £4.3 million by the European Regional Development Fund to accelerate the development of a floating offshore wave and wind technology for energy generation in deep water locations.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2019/12/04/marine-power-systems-wins-funding-for-wave-wind-technology/ to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Austin Energy Presents Checks to AISD Totaling Nearly $99,000

Austin Energy presented checks that total nearly $99,000 to the Austin Independent School District for its participation in the utility’s Load Co-op program and from donations to the Public School Energy Assistance fund.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2019/austin-energy-presents-checks-to-aisd to view the full article online.

APS was Named as One of the World’s "Top 100 Green Utilities" in an Annual Report Released by Energy Intelligence

APS was named as one of the world’s “Top 100 Green Utilities” in an annual report released by Energy Intelligence, a global independent energy news and research provider.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-earns-spot-among-top-100-greenest-utilities-worldwide to view the full article online.

Dry Fork Mine Receives Safety Award From Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

Dry Fork Mine in Gillette, Wyoming was the recipient of a state mine safety award given by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services during its Safety and Workforce Summit this summer.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/dry-fork-mine-receives-safety-award-wyoming-department-workforce-services to view the full article online.

El Paso Utilities Unite to Educate and Empower Customers to Avoid Scams

El Paso Electric (EPE), El Paso Water and Texas Gas Service team up to raise awareness and educate customers on scams through the fourth annual Utility Scam Awareness Week initiative.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-utilities-unite-to-educate-and-empower-customers-to-avoid-scams to view the full article online.

NextEra Energy Resources newest solar plant now powering customers in South Carolina

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC announced the start of operations at its newest solar energy generating facility, the Shaw Creek Solar Energy Center in Aiken.

Visit http://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/2019-11-18-NextEra-Energy-Resources-newest-solar-plant-now-powering-customers-in-South-Carolina to view the full article online.

OPPD Board Clears the Way For State’s Largest Solar Presence, With Natural Gas Backup

The Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors voted to add between 400 and 600 megawatts of utility-scale solar capacity to OPPD’s energy portfolio. It will be the largest solar presence in the state of Nebraska and one of the largest in the region.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2019/november/oppd-board-clears-the-way-for-state-s-largest-solar-presence-with-natural-gas-backup/ to view the full article online.

Navajo Generating Station Permanently Shuts Down

Operation of one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the Southwest officially ended on Nov. 18th when its operator, Salt River Project (SRP), permanently shut down all three units of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS), located on the Navajo Nation just east of Page, Ariz.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/navajo-generating-station-permanently-shuts-down/ to view the full article online.

Tri-State Board of Directors Approves Community Solar Program Recommended by Membership’s Contract Committee

Rural electricity consumers will have expanded opportunities to participate in community solar under a new program recommended by the membership of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and approved by the cooperative’s board of directors at their November meeting.

Visit https://www.tristate.coop/tri-state-expands-opportunity-community-solar to view the full article online.

TEP Offers New Rates for Electric Vehicle Owners

Tucson Electric Power is rolling out two new pricing plans next year for owners of battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs), offering the lowest power supply charges overnight, seven days a week.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-offers-new-rates-for-electric-vehicle-owners/ to view the full article online.

WAPA Completes Transition to New Reliability Coordinators

Western Area Power Administration has successfully completed its transition to new reliability coordinators for its balancing authorities and transmission operators in the Western Interconnection.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2019/Pages/reliability-coordinator-transition.aspx to view the full article online.

White Paper

New Study Looks to Biological Enzymes as Source of Hydrogen Fuel

Research from the University of Illinois and the University of California, Davis has chemists one step closer to recreating nature's most efficient machinery for generating hydrogen gas.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191125120936.htm to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League