RMEL eNews

Industry Information

Mayors Unveil $60B Plan to Support Midwest Energy Transition

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and other mayors from Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia unveiled last week the "Marshall Plan for Middle America," a $60 billion blueprint to help the region transition away from fossil fuels toward a greener, more sustainable economy.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/mayors-unveil-60b-plan-to-support-midwest-energy-transition/589122/ to view the full article online.

Portuguese Wave Energy Project Gets Go Ahead

Swedish wave energy firm CorPower Ocean is set to unleash a new project in the Atlantic Ocean off Portugal after securing a 10-year license.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2020/11/17/portuguese-wave-energy-project-gets-go-ahead/ to view the full article online.

NREL Studying Use of Thermoplastic Resin for Wind Turbine Blades to Aid Recycling

A new material for wind blades that can be recycled could transform the wind industry, rendering renewable energy more sustainable than ever before while lowering costs in the process.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2020/11/17/nrel-studying-use-of-thermoplastic-resin-for-wind-turbine-blades-to-aid-recycling/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Energy Issues a Request for Information for Enhanced Weathering Research Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy, in collaboration with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Office of Science, announced a request for information (RFI) about “enhanced weathering” research opportunities that could lead to advances in the capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Visit https://www.energy.gov/fe/articles/us-department-energy-issues-request-information-enhanced-weathering-research to view the full article online.

NY Green Bank Announces Financial Commitments of $165.9 Million in Record Setting Second and Third Quarters in 2020 Helping the State Rebuild its Economy and Combat Climate Change

NY Green Bank, a division of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), announced its strongest third quarter since inception with the release of its Quarterly Metrics Report. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NY Green Bank has remained committed to its mission, executing 16 clean energy and sustainable infrastructure transactions representing $165.9 million in new investments in the second and third quarters, bringing its total commitments to $1.1 billion.

Visit https://menafn.com/1101140587/NY-Green-Bank-Announces-Financial-Commitments-Of-1659-Million-In-Record-Setting-Second-And-Third-Quarters-In-2020-Helping-The-State-Rebuild-Its-Economy-And-Combat-Climate-Change to view the full article online.

Short-Term Energy Outlook November 2020

The November Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to heightened levels of uncertainty because responses to COVID-19 continue to evolve.

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

Survey Reveals Low-Income Consumers Need Financial Help to Engage in Smart Energy

The Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) released a new report that sheds light on lower-income consumers’ behaviors, attitudes and values on energy efficiency, smart home technology, renewable energy, their electricity providers and climate change.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2020/11/17/survey-reveals-low-income-consumers-need-financial-help-to-engage-in-smart-energy/ to view the full article online.

Australia’s 5-GW Renewable Hydrogen Project Moves Forward

Hydrogen Renewables Australia (HRA) has made progress on its 5000MW Murchison Renewable Hydrogen Project, by announcing a partnership with fund managers Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/2020/11/16/australias-5-gw-renewable-hydrogen-project-moves-forward/ to view the full article online.

Electricity as a Fuel

When people think about electricity as a transportation fuel, they normally think about it in the context of moving people around by electric cars, trucks, mass transit and buses. However, there also is a growing interest in electricity as a more efficient and cost-effective transportation fuel for moving things, like shipping freight, last-mile delivery of goods and even powering seaports.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/electrification/article/21143252/utilities-companies-consider-electricity-as-a-fuel-for-moving-things to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Austin Energy Commits to Electrifying Transportation With 24 New Fast Chargers

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers will now be able to spend less time charging their vehicle thanks to Austin Energy's installation of 24 new fast chargers across Austin.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/news-releases/2020/austin-energy-commits-to-electrifying-transportation-with-24-new-fast-chargers to view the full article online.

Expanded Wind Project to Power Arizona With More Clean Energy

Customers of Arizona Public Service Company (APS) will soon power their homes and businesses with more clean energy. Earlier this year, APS announced a bold commitment to deliver 100% clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/Expanded-wind-project-to-power-Arizona-with-more-clean-energy to view the full article online.

Carbon XPRIZE team finalizes testing at Wyoming Integrated Test Center

CO2Concrete™ is the first finalist competing for the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE to complete its technology demonstration. The testing began this spring and was finished in October at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) at Basin Electric’s Dry Fork Station near Gillette, Wyoming.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/carbon-xprize-team-finalizes-testing-wyoming-integrated-test-center to view the full article online.

CPS Energy and VIA Announce Renewable Natural Gas Partnership

CPS Energy and VIA Metropolitan Transit announce details about a new fuel supply partnership that will provide Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) created by landfill biogas to VIA’s fleet of over 500 buses, beginning in 2021.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-and-via-announce-renewable-natural-gas-partnership/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric CEO Joins Borderplex Alliance Executive Committee

The Borderplex Alliance announced Kelly A. Tomblin will serve on its executive committee. Ms. Tomblin is the new chief executive officer of El Paso Electric and a global business leader.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-electric-ceo-joins-borderplex-alliance-executive-committee to view the full article online.

Evergy’s Board Unanimously Believes the Sustainability Transformation Plan is Best Path Forward for Value Creation and Serving All Stakeholders’ Best Interests

Evergy’s Board and management are committed to serving the best interests of ALL Evergy shareholders and stakeholders. Our focus is on the execution of the Company’s Sustainability Transformation Plan (“STP”), which the Board unanimously determined is the option that creates the highest, most certain value for shareholders and benefits for our stakeholders.

Visit https://investors.evergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-issues-statement to view the full article online.

LES Earns Gold Level Recognition for Workplace Health

Lincoln Electric System recently earned Gold Level recognition from the American Heart Association on its Workplace Health Achievement Index. The recognition comes for taking significant steps toward building a culture of health and wellness within the workplace.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=122850 to view the full article online.

Oklahoma’s First Battery Energy Storage System Provides Window into the Future of Renewable Energy in Region

The profile of Rush Springs Energy Storage is rather unassuming – nine storage containers filled with thousands of the sort of battery modules you’d find in a laptop computer – but the site could have a groundbreaking impact on the future of renewable energy in the region.

Visit http://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/Oklahomas-first-battery-energy-storage-system-provides-window-into-the-future-of-renewable-energy-in-region to view the full article online.

OPPD Utilizing Drone Technology to Maintain System Reliability

Omaha Public Power District is using drone technology to help ensure our customers have power when they need it. We know that’s crucial, particularly with so many working or attending school remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2020/november/oppd-utilizing-drone-technology-to-maintain-system-reliability/ to view the full article online.

Platte River Board Approves 2020 IRP

Following two years of public discussions and surveys, numerous studies and reports, and energy mix modeling on multiple levels, the Platte River Power Authority Board of Directors approved the utility’s 2020 integrated resource plan (IRP).

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news-releases/platte-river-board-approves-2020-irp/ to view the full article online.

PNM Accelerates Substantial Customer Savings and Economic Aid to the Navajo Nation with Early Exit from the Four Corners Power Plant

PNM and the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), announced the signing of an agreement for PNM to exit from the Four Corners Power Plant seven years early. The agreement unlocks an approximate $100 million in customer savings and provides approximately $16 million in economic aid funds to the Navajo Nation if approved by regulators.

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

SRP Introduces Program to Help Reduce Wildfire Risks to Watershed

SRP has created a new program that allows residential customers to invest $3 a month towards strategic forest thinning projects to help reduce the risk and devastating impacts of catastrophic wildfire and protect the health of the watersheds that provide water to the Valley.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-introduces-program-to-help-reduce-wildfire-risks-to-watershed/ to view the full article online.

Liberty Utilities and Liberty Power Donate $500,000 to Support Local Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (“Algonquin” or “the Company”) (TSX/NYSE:AQN), parent company of Liberty Utilities and Liberty Power, is announcing a US$500,000 donation to support communities within its service territories during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit https://libertyutilities.com/liberty-utilities-and-liberty-power-donation.html to view the full article online.

Colorado Gov. Polis Joins Tri-State to Announce Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced Tri-State will be submitting a “preferred scenario” to reduce emissions associated with its wholesale electricity sales in Colorado by 80% by 2030.

Visit https://www.tristategt.org/colorado-gov-polis-joins-tri-state-announce-greenhouse-gas-reduction-goals to view the full article online.

United Power Joins Rebuild Effort

United Power dispatched a crew to Granby to assist Mountain Parks Electric in its rebuild effort after receiving significant damage from the East Troublesome Fire in late October. United Power joins four other cooperatives as part of the rebuild in coordination with the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/united-power-joins-rebuild-effort to view the full article online.

What it Takes to be a Lineworker

Tucson Electric Power's lineworkers keep power flowing to homes and businesses. While many people have seen our crews working in bucket trucks or climbing poles, most don’t know how hard they’ve worked to get there.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/what-it-takes-to-be-a-lineworker/ to view the full article online.

New Capability Shields Grid From Solar Storms

Scientists call it “Solar Cycle 25,” and WAPA is getting ready for it. According to a recent NASA press release, researchers believe that the sun passed its cyclical minimum of solar activity in December 2019, and a new period of potential solar outbursts has begun.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2020/Pages/New-capability-shields-grid-from-solar-storms.aspx to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Supports Nonprofits Working to Build Social Justice, Equity

Xcel Energy announced it is donating $76,000 to six Colorado nonprofit and community partners committed to equity and justice in our communities. The money is part of a larger $500,000 commitment to organizations across the company’s entire service territory and will be used for scholarships, educational support and support for social programs.

Visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/media_room/news_releases/xcel_energy_supports_nonprofits_working_to_build_social_justice,_equity to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League