RMEL eNews

Industry Information

Transactive Energy May Bring a Whole New Grid

Power grid operators are perpetually walking a tightrope, trying to balance the supply of generation and the capacity to deliver it with customer needs at any given moment and location within the service territory.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/distributed-energy-resources/article/21132568/transactive-energy-may-bring-a-whole-new-grid to view the full article online.

Should the U.S. Beef up Cybersecurity Rules for Distributed Resources? FERC Solicits Public Input

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday published a notice of inquiry (NOI) on cybersecurity issues, including how "a coordinated cyberattack on geographically distributed targets" could disrupt the grid and potential measures to counter the threat.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/should-the-us-beef-up-cybersecurity-rules-for-distributed-resources-ferc/580585/ to view the full article online.

California Considers 1st-in-U.S. Electric Truck Sales Rule

California regulators approved new rules that would force automakers to sell more electric work trucks and delivery vans, a first-of-its-kind rule aimed at helping the nation’s most populous state clean up its worst-in-the-nation air quality.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2020/06/30/california-considers-1st-in-us-electric-truck-sales-rule/ to view the full article online.

Florida's Customer-Sited Solar Reaches New Heights as Regulators Oppose Federal Petition to Upend Net Metering

Customer-owned renewable energy nearly doubled in 2019 as investor-owned utilities are required to offer expedited interconnection agreements, according to the Florida Public Service Commission's (PSC) annual net metering report released on Monday.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/floridas-customer-sited-solar-reaches-new-heights-as-regulators-oppose-fed/580870/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Energy Launches Hydro Power Prize, Names Fish Protection Prize Stage I Winners

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel R Simmons has announced the launch of the Innovations in Advanced Manufacturing for Hydropower (I AM Hydro) Prize, a competition designed to lower costs and improve the performance of hydropower components and facilities by using advanced manufacturing.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2020/07/01/u-s-department-of-energy-launches-hydro-power-prize-names-fish-protection-prize-stage-i-winners/ to view the full article online.

COVID-19, Severe Weather and Power Outages

Wildfire and hurricane season is here and with it comes an influx of weather-related power outages. Experts are warning that natural disasters and extreme weather events will be more frequent and severe this year and that this summer will be hotter than average.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2020/06/30/covid-19-severe-weather-and-power-outages/ to view the full article online.

Energy Department Selects 11 Projects to Receive $3.3M for High Performance Computing Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected 11 projects to receive $3.3 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/fe/articles/energy-department-selects-11-projects-receive-33m-high-performance-computing-research to view the full article online.

The Birth of Offshore Wind in Poland

On July 1, 2020, representatives of the Polish government and Polish wind energy industry signed a "Letter of Intent on cooperation for development of offshore wind power in Poland." The letter lays out the foundation for the development of offshore wind in Poland.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/wind/141/844031/-the-birth-of-offshore-wind-in-poland-.html to view the full article online.

AEP Energy Signs PPA for Output from New 400-MW Wind Project in Illinois

American Electric Power's AEP Energy subsidiary has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with an affiliate of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) for the output of 400 megawatt (MW) of renewable energy from Panther Grove Wind Energy Facility in Woodford County, Illinois.

Visit https://energycentral.com/news/aep-energy-signs-ppa-output-new-400-mw-wind-project-illinois-0 to view the full article online.

Nonfossil Sources Accounted for 20% of U.S. Energy Consumption in 2019

Overall energy consumption in the United States totaled 100 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2019, only slightly less than the record set in 2018 and the third-highest level of annual U.S. energy consumption ever.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=44277 to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

FERC Approves Basin Electric’s Market-Based Rates Application

This authority is required for utilities to make wholesale power sales in the market (as opposed to regulated cost-based retail sales).

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/ferc-approves-basin-electrics-market-based-rates-application to view the full article online.

Black Hills Corp. Announces Leadership Changes and Strategic Consolidation of Colorado Utilities

Black Hills Corp. announced plans to combine the management of its electric and gas utilities in Colorado under a single strategic leader.

Visit https://www.blackhillscorp.com/node/118181#.Xv2_TiFKi70 to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Now Calling to Provide Customers Helpful Information About Various Assistance Programs

CPS Energy understands the importance of keeping the power on during these unprecedented times.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-now-calling-to-provide-customers-helpful-information-about-various-assistance-programs/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric Customers in Texas to See Decrease on Bills this Summer

El Paso Electric (EPE) customers who reside in Texas will see a decrease on their electric bills during the peak usage season of the summer as EPE files to issue a temporary fuel refund.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-electric-customers-in-texas-to-see-decrease-on-bills-this-summer-2 to view the full article online.

Farm Equipment Striking Power Lines Prompts Reminder to Look up and Look Around for Safety

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has seen a rise this spring in the number of power line contacts by farm equipment causing a power outage and raising the potential for electrocution to the operator or damage to the equipment.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/farm-equipment-striking-power-lines-prompts-reminder-to-look-up-and-look-around-for-safety to view the full article online.

OPPD Working Hard to Keep Rates Low for Customers

Omaha Public Power District is working hard to keep rates low and affordable for its customers. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Javier Fernandez shared the latest on those efforts with the OPPD board of directors during their committee meetings this week.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2020/june/oppd-working-hard-to-keep-rates-low-for-customers/ to view the full article online.

Platte River Adds Largest Noncarbon Resource to Date

After several weeks of testing, the 225-megawatt Roundhouse Wind Energy Kinetic energy present in wind motion that can be converted to mechanical energy for driving electric power generators.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/media-releases/platte-river-adds-largest-noncarbon-resource-to-date/ to view the full article online.

PNM Seeks Proposals for New Generation to Serve New Mexico’s Energy Needs

Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) is issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for any and all forms of electric generation and innovative technologies to power our customers and transition our energy mix to 100 percent emissions-free.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/pdf/2020_Press_release_PNM_RFP_061820.pdf to view the full article online.

Reading Wind Facility in Kansas is Operational

Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, today announced that the 200-megawatt (MW) Reading Wind Facility in Osage and Lyon Counties, Kansas, is now operational.

Visit southerncompany.com/newsroom/2020/june-2020/reading-wind-facility-in-kansas-is-operational.html to view the full article online.

SRP Employees Receive 3D Printed, Custom-fitted Mask Solution for COVID-19 Safety

With Arizona’s COVID-19 cases still on the rise, and a global shortage of N95 masks, Salt River Project (SRP), along with the help of local and national partners, developed state-of-the-art, 3D-printed mask solutions for its employees in the field as an added measure to keep the community safe.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-employees-receive-3d-printed-custom-fitted-mask-solution-for-covid-19-safety/ to view the full article online.

Our Cooperative Response to COVID-19 with Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State

Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, sits down with our host, Bazi Kanani, to discuss how his cooperative has responded to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit https://youtu.be/k9Fwf3Lo48o to view the full article online.

Powering You Back to Business

The COVID19 pandemic has impacted many of our local small business members, and we wanted to take a moment to provide resources to help you. Whether you're operating with modified business practices or trying to re-open on a shoestring budget, your electric co-op is here to help connect you with information and to be your trusted energy advisor.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/powering-you-back-business to view the full article online.

TEP Plans Clean Energy Expansion, Carbon Reduction

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) plans to provide more than 70 percent of its power from wind and solar resources as part of a cleaner energy portfolio that will reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2035.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-plans-clean-energy-expansion-carbon-reduction/ to view the full article online.

Building UGP’s Biological Risk Assessment

Around two years ago, I started as a biologist in WAPA's Upper Great Plains region. My supervisor challenged me to come up with a regionwide biological strategy, similar to that which has been pursued for archaeology resources.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2020/Pages/Building-UGP%E2%80%99s-biological-risk-assessment.aspx to view the full article online.

Ben Fowke Elected EEI Chairman; Gerry Anderson, Warner Baxter, and Pedro Pizarro Elected Vice Chairmen

Ben Fowke, chairman and CEO of Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, today was elected chairman of the board of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the national association of investor-owned electric companies.

Visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/media_room/news_releases/ben_fowke_elected_eei_chairman;_gerry_anderson,_warner_baxter,_and_pedro_pizarro_elected_vice_chairmen to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League