RMEL eNews

Industry Information

SPP Approves $545M in Transmission Upgrades, Eyes Storage to Help Reduce Costs

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.

Glick: FERC Actions 'Freeze Out' States, Court Would Overturn MOPR Order

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.

Safe Work Verified Through Data Logging Technology

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.

U.S. DOE announces American-Made Challenge Prize for geothermal technology

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.

Three U.S. Agencies Announce Pathfinder Initiative to Protect Energy Critical Infrastructure

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.

Energy Department Announces Additional $3M for Projects to Create New Market Opportunities for Coal

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.

CPUC Issues Proposal Requiring Utilities to Conduct Multi-Cultural Outreach for Wildfires

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.

Annual Energy Outlook 2020

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.

EEI President: U.S. Utilities Moving Fast to Clean Energy Future

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.

BPA Deconstructs the Wildfire Equation

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.

Member Announcements

APS Sets Course for 100 Percent Clean Energy Future

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.

Basin Electric Board Approves Lonesome Creek Station Unit 6

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 Magazine Presents CEOs Who ‘Get It’

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 Now Accepting Applications For 8th Annual Summer High School Internship Program

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 Announces Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent, Adds 660 Megawatts Of Wind Energy to Its Portfolio

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.

LES’ Educational Interactive Tiny House to be Unveiled at Home Show Feb. 7-9

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.

Drone Work to be Completed in Northeast Nebraska

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 and the Community Team Up to Shape New Mexico's Energy Future

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 Closes Sale of the Mankato Energy Center to Xcel Energy

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 Issues RFP to Procure up to 400 MW of Solar and Seeks Competitive Proposals for Projects Sited on the Navajo Nation

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

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.

Tri-State Announces Transformative Responsible Energy Plan Actions to Advance Cooperative Clean Energy

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.

Promoting Renewable Energy at Cooper Center

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.

New Senior VP and Chief Information Officer Selected

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.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League