RMEL eNews

Rocky Mountain Electrical League

Alltricity Network Report
Commonwealth delivers a wider range of services than ever before…
Commonwealth Associates, Inc.
Fire Hardening, Drone Services, Tower Modeling, Owners Engineering, T-Line Design, Substation Design, Protection & Controls, Commissioning, Compliance, Project Development, Safety & Site Security, Planning Studies, Land & Right-of-Way, Power Flow Studies, Environmental & Permitting 
Learn More!
Advertisement
Education and Upcoming Events

Safety Roundtable - February 2020 --- February 21, 2020 (Westminster, CO)
Power Supply Planning for Modern Energy Solutions Conference --- March 11-12, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Transmission Planning and Operations Conference --- March 18-19, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Distribution Technologies for Engineering and Operations Workshop --- March 24-25, 2020 (Tempe, AZ)
Safety Conference --- March 25-26, 2020 (Austin, TX)
2020 Spring Management, Engineering & Operations Conference --- May 11-13, 2020 (Austin, TX)
Plant Cycling & Flexibility Symposium & Tour --- June 10-11, 2020 (Overland Park, KS)
Transmission Resiliency, Response & Restoration Symposium --- June 17-18, 2020 (Denver, CO)
2020 RMEL Foundation Golf Tournament --- June 24, 2020 (Littleton, CO)
Project Management Workshop --- July 8-9, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Grid-Scale Storage Workshop & Tour --- August 5-6, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Leadership Workshop --- August 12-13, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Safety Roundtable - August 2020 --- August 20, 2020 (Golden, CO)
2020 Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention --- September 14-16, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Planning Session: 2021 Spring Conference --- October 1, 2020 (Lone Tree, CO)
Renewable Planning and Operations Conference --- October 21-22, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Transmission & Distribution Asset Management Workshop --- November 4-5, 2020 (Denver, CO)
Safety Roundtable - November 2020 --- November 5, 2020 (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.

Burns & McDonnell
Power Contracting, LLC
Alltricity Network Member Information
Graduate-Level Education in Power Systems Engineering – Entirely Online
EPCE
EPCE and Worcester Polytechnic Institute have partnered to help prepare graduates for careers in engineering management and to also further the education of experienced engineers. Our power systems engineering program combines essential topics in power systems engineering with technology-focused business courses. Graduate-level certificates and degrees are offered.
Accelerate your career today
Advertisement
Industry Information
  
Southwest Power Pool's Board of Directors on Jan. 28 approved a 2020 SPP Transmission Expansion Plan Report that includes 78 projects in eight states worth approximately $545 million to construct over the next six years.

 

 

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/spp-approves-545m-in-transmission-upgrades-eyes-storage-to-help-reduce-co/571345/ to view the full article online.

  
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's recent actions interpreting the Natural Gas Act and the Federal Power Act "freeze out the states," Democratic Commissioner Rich Glick told a crowd of state energy officials.

 

 

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/glick-ferc-actions-freeze-out-states-court-would-overturn-mopr-order/571802/ to view the full article online.

  
On Distribution, Transmission or Substation equipment, testing for presence or absence of nominal voltage is mandated specifically by OSHA rule 1910.269(n)(5) which states “Testing. The employer shall ensure that, unless a previously installed ground is present, employees test lines and equipment and verify the absence of nominal voltage before employees install any ground on those lines or that equipment.”

Visit https://www.electricity-today.com/td-products/safe-work-verified-through-data-logging-technology to view the full article online.

  
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $3.25 million for the American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize. This prize is designed to spur innovation and address manufacturing challenges fundamental to operating in harsh geothermal environments.

 

 

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2020/02/05/u-s-doe-announces-american-made-challenge-prize-for-geothermal-technology/ to view the full article online.

  
 

 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) jointly signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to partner on a new Energy Sector Pathfinder initiative. 

 

 

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2020/02/05/three-u-s-agencies-announce-pathfinder-initiative-to-protect-energy-critical-infrastructure/ to view the full article online.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected three additional projects to receive approximately $3 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development projects. 

Visit https://www.energy.gov/fe/articles/energy-department-announces-additional-3m-projects-create-new-market-opportunities-coal to view the full article online.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in ongoing actions to help utilities mitigate the risks of wildfires, today (2/5) issued a proposal that, if approved by the CPUC's Commissioners, would require utilities to conduct outreach to the public before, during, and after a wildfire in all languages prevalent in their service territories.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/general/90/814960/cpuc-issues-proposal-requiring-utilities-to-conduct-multi-cultural-outreach-for-wildfires.html to view the full article online.


The Annual Energy Outlook presents an assessment by the U.S. Energy Information Administration of the outlook for energy markets through 2050.

 

Visit https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/ to view the full article online.

The nation’s investor-owned utilities are leading a clean energy transformation that is already coming to fruition, the head of Edison Electric Institute told Wall Street analysts, bankers and investors Wednesday in New York.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2020/02/05/eei-president-u-s-utilities-moving-fast-to-clean-energy-future/ to view the full article online.

Bonneville Power Administration engages in a top-down review of its equipment and operations to help preserve its legacy of safety.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/wildfire/article/21122322/bpa-deconstructs-the-wildfire-equation to view the full article online.

 
CopperLeaf Technologies Inc.
Forbes Bros LTD.
Naylor Association Solutions
Naylor Association Solutions
Member Announcements
Arizona Public Service announced a goal to deliver 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050. The company has been on a trajectory of increasingly clean energy through solar power innovation, major investments in energy storage technology, carbon-free nuclear operations and advances in energy efficiency solutions.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-sets-course-for-100-percent-clean-energy-future to view the full article online.

At their January board meeting, Basin Electric directors authorized a sixth natural gas generation unit to be added to the Lonesome Creek Station near Watford City, North Dakota.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/basin-electric-board-approves-lonesome-creek-unit-6 to view the full article online.

Safety+Health, the official magazine of the National Safety Council, has announced the 2020 CEOs Who “Get It” – an annual recognition presented to safety leaders who go the extra mile to protect employees both on and off the job, as nominated by readers.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/safetyhealth-magazine-presents-ceos-who-get-it/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric is now accepting applications for the 2020 Summer High School Internship Program. The paid internship opportunity, in its eighth year, is open to all high school juniors in EPE’s service area.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news to view the full article online.

  
Evergy, Inc. announced with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly that it will expand its wind energy portfolio by 660 megawatts, and reduce carbon output by 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. Electricity from four new wind energy sites will be used to attract and retain large commercial and industrial customers.

 

Visit http://www.evergyinc.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-announces-plan-reduce-carbon-emissions-80-percent-adds to view the full article online.

In fall 2018, Lincoln Electric System began a partnership with Lincoln Public Schools’ The Career Academy at Southeast Community College, also known as TCA, to construct a new tool for assisting in the public power utility’s community outreach efforts.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=117661 to view the full article online.

Residents in northeast Nebraska may be seeing some drones flying around, as inspection work begins on a Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) transmission line that extends from north of Norfolk, through Pierce County and into Antelope County.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/drone-work-to-be-completed-in-northeast-nebraska to view the full article online.

PNM shared future technologies that could help the company achieve its 100-percent emissions-free goal by 2040. Over thirty community members attended in-person or via live webcast to discuss and deliberate existing and developing technologies, including customer side energy storage, energy battery storage, and microgrids.

Visit https://www.pnm.com/01142020-NM_energy-future to view the full article online.

  
Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, completed the previously announced sale of the Mankato Energy Center to Xcel Energy for $650 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments.

 

 

 

Visit https://www.southerncompany.com/newsroom/2020/jan-2020/mankato-energy-center-sale.html to view the full article online.

  
Salt River Project has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for up to 400 megawatts (MW) of new solar energy. The RFP seeks proposals for up to 200 MW of solar to be sited on the Navajo Nation while the remaining 200 MW is not location-specific, but must deliver to SRP’s transmission system.

 

 

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/salt-river-project-issues-rfp-to-procure-up-to-400-mw-of-solar-and-seeks-competitive-proposals-for-projects-sited-on-the-navajo-nation/ to view the full article online.

Liberty Utilities conducted a brief aerial survey of Company power lines and electrical equipment on Friday, January 31, 2020. 

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/pdf/01-29-2020_-_Liberty_Utilities_To_Conduct_Aerial_Inspection-_2.pdf to view the full article online.

In the most transformative change in its 67-year history, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced actions of its Responsible Energy Plan, which dramatically and rapidly advance the wholesale power supply cooperative’s clean energy portfolio and programs to serve its member electric cooperatives and public power districts.

Visit https://www.tristategt.org/tri-state-announces-transformative-responsible-energy-plan-actions-advance-cooperative-clean-energy to view the full article online.

Thousands of schoolchildren will learn about renewable energy and benefit from updated solar facilities at the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning, thanks to a grant from TEP.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/promoting-renewable-energy-at-cooper-center/ to view the full article online.

 
  
Michael Montoya has been named Western Area Power Administration’s new Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2020/Pages/new-chief-information-officer.aspx to view the full article online.