RMEL eNews

Industry Information

New York PSC Opposes Plan to Give Utilities Right of First Refusal for Transmission Upgrades

The New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) is leading a protest asking federal regulators to reject a proposal that would give incumbent utilities a path to building certain transmission upgrades planned by third-party transmission developers.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-york-psc-nyiso-utilities-right-first-refusal-transmission/609387/ to view the full article online.

Electric Vehicle Adoption Poised to Surge, Say Experts, if Congress OKs $100B in Purchase Incentives

There are potentially more than $200 billion in electric transportation investments contained in President Joe Biden's jobs and infrastructure plans, including purchase incentives that could immediately accelerate the United States' electrification plans, according to electrification advocates watching negotiations in Congress.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-vehicle-adoption-poised-to-surge-say-experts-if-congress-oks-10/609396/ to view the full article online.

IEEE Releases New Hydroelectric Plant Rehabilitation Standard

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) has released a new standard, IEEE 1147-2021 – IEEE Guide for the Rehabilitation of Hydroelectric Power Plants.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/hydro-industry-news/ieee-releases-new-hydroelectric-plant-rehabilitation-standard/ to view the full article online.

A Supply Chain is Born: Can the U.S. Reach 30 GW of Offshore Wind by 2030?

Moments after Siemens Gamesa announced that it would build a $200 million offshore wind blade finishing facility at the Port of Virginia, the first of its kind in the U.S., Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm playfully nudged the company to do even more to support a burgeoning domestic supply chain.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/a-supply-chain-is-born-can-the-u-s-reach-30-gw-of-offshore-wind-by-2030/ to view the full article online.

Secretary Granholm Launches Carbon Negative Earthshots to Remove Gigatons of Carbon Pollution from the Air by 2050

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm announced the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) new goal to remove gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and durably store it for less than $100/ton of net CO2-equivalent.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/secretary-granholm-launches-carbon-negative-earthshots-remove-gigatons-carbon-pollution to view the full article online.

US-UK Strategic Energy Dialogue Launch

UK Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng met with US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm at the UN COP26 summit in Glasgow, where they discussed strengthening cooperation to accelerate the global transition to clean energy and build back better ambitions.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/climate-change/82/928869/us-uk-strategic-energy-dialogue-launch.html to view the full article online.

Use of Electricity in Houses to Grow More Quickly in Developing Economies

In our International Energy Outlook (IEO2021) Reference case, we project that residential buildings outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will consume more electricity than all residential and commercial buildings combined in OECD countries by 2050.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50256 to view the full article online.

Could Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Solve Texas’ Energy Woes?

A new report released last week by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) outlines how better energy efficiency and a robust demand response program using distributed energy resources (DER) already on the grid could provide up to 11 GW of “flexible generation” to ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, when the grid is strained.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/der-grid-edge/could-energy-efficiency-and-demand-response-solve-texas-energy-woes/ to view the full article online.

MAN Energy’s Gas Engines Now Ready for Hydrogen Blending

German multinational MAN Energy has announced a milestone that is expected to help accelerate decarbonization through the increased use of hydrogen in power generation.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/gas/gas-turbines/man-energys-gas-engines-now-ready-for-hydrogen-blending/ to view the full article online.

Hydrogen Of Any Made-Up ‘Color’ Can Help Achieve Net-Zero

Despite all of the bad press and attacks from the climate alarm lobby they receive, “fossil fuels” have powered a rapid expansion of the global economy and enabled vast improvements in the standard of living across the globe for well more than a century.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidblackmon/2021/11/03/hydrogen-of-any-made-up-color-can-help-achieve-net-zero/?sh=41a03e3d6ce3 to view the full article online.

Digital Substations Redefine Remoteness

The digitalization of our world has accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and nowhere is it more apparent than the workplace.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/substations/article/21176791/digital-substations-redefine-remoteness to view the full article online.

How a Global Carbon Market Could Accelerate Net-Zero

As companies around the world seek to burnish their green credentials, plans for a rigorous and regulated international carbon market to help countries and businesses reach their climate goals are becoming a key part of the fight against climate change.

Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-01/how-a-global-carbon-market-could-accelerate-net-zero-quicktake?srnd=green to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Austin Energy Announces Update to Generation Portfolio

After extensive, multi-year negotiations with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Austin Energy has been unable to reach mutually agreeable terms that would allow the utility to affordably retire its share of Fayette Power Project (FPP) coal plant as originally envisioned.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/news-releases/2021/austin-energy-announces-generation-portfolio-update to view the full article online.

Crews Hike, Camp, and Rappel to Keep Power at Grand Canyon

Nearly 6 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year to see beauty that has been labeled one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/Crews-hike-camp-and-repel-to-keep-power-at-Grand-Canyon to view the full article online.

Basin Electric Ranked 20th in Nation’s Top 100 Co-Ops List

Basin Electric is ranked among the nation’s top cooperatives by the National Cooperative Bank in its annual NCB Co-op 100® list, which names the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Basin-Electric-ranked-20th-in-nations-top-100-co-ops-list to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Board Appoints Rudy D. Garza as Interim President & CEO of CPS Energy Effective November 8, 2021

The CPS Energy Board of Trustees voted to appoint Rudy D. Garza as Interim President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective November 8, 2021. Garza will serve in this role while the search for the permanent President & CEO takes place.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-board-appoints-rudy-d-garza-as-interim-president-ceo-of-cps-energy-effective-november-8-2021/ to view the full article online.

Mitsubishi Power and El Paso Electric to Develop Roadmap toward Carbon-Free Energy Mix by 2045

Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) and El Paso Electric (EPE) have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) creating a collaboration framework to jointly develop projects that will enable EPE to achieve its clean energy goals.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/mitsubishi-power-and-el-paso-electric-to-develop-roadmap-toward-carbon-free-energy-mix-by-2045 to view the full article online.

Evergy Seeks to Add More Wind Energy

Evergy issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for wind energy to supply the needs of its customers. The RFP solicits bids for Evergy’s purchase of wind resources of up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) that will be in service by 2026. Projects that achieve commercial operation by mid-2024 and year-end 2025 will be given preference.

Visit https://investors.evergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-seeks-add-more-wind-energy to view the full article online.

Customers Drive Another Successful Year for LES Demand Response

This summer, LES Peak Rewards participants helped LES reduce peak summer demand by approximately 4 megawatts.

Visit https://www.les.com/company/news/customers-drive-another-successful-year-les-demand-response to view the full article online.

Time-of-Use Program Offers NPPD Customers Incentive to Save

A Time-of-Use (TOU) program has been on the minds of Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) for several years and is now a reality for NPPD retail customers. NPPD retail customers are those who receive an electric bill and pay NPPD directly.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/time-of-use-program-offers-nppd-customers-incentive-to-save to view the full article online.

OPPD Board Approves Chief Financial Officer Selection

At their monthly public meeting, the Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors approved the selection of Jeff Bishop to serve as the utility’s chief financial officer and vice president of Finance. He brings more than 20 years of experience in energy and consulting.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2021/october/oppd-board-approves-chief-financial-officer-selection/ to view the full article online.

NextEra Energy Resources, Tri-State celebrate commissioning of the Niyol Wind Energy Center

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association celebrated the commissioning of Colorado’s newest wind project – the Niyol Wind Energy Center – with a dedication ceremony near Fleming, Colo.

Visit https://tristate.coop/nextera-energy-resources-tri-state-celebrate-commissioning-niyol-wind-energy-center to view the full article online.

SRP Issues All-source RFP for New Power Generation Resources

SRP continues to experience significant increases in customer electricity demand as Phoenix and Maricopa County lead the nation in population growth and economic development.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-issues-all-source-rfp-for-new-power-generation-resources/ to view the full article online.

Unified Greeley County Completes Sunflower’s Site Certification

Unified Greeley County completed the site certification process for a light industrial property in Tribune, Kan. Unified Greeley County, in conjunction with Greeley County Community Development, submitted the necessary information to qualify it for certification through Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s Certified Sites Program.

Visit https://www.sunflower.net/unified-greeley-county-completes-sunflowers-site-certification/ to view the full article online.

November Message from Mark A. Gabriel

At the turn of the past century (1900, not 2000) there were as many electric vehicles as gas powered cars. The EVs of the day were more expensive, but quieter, cleaner and easier to start and drive.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/november-message-mark-gabriel to view the full article online.

TEP Taps Skills of Military Veterans

Tucson Electric Power is a powerhouse when it comes to leveraging the strength and skills of veterans.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-taps-skills-of-military-veterans/ to view the full article online.

New HR Award Recognizes Strategic Partnership

In August, the Power Marketing Administration Human Resources Shared Service Center launched the HR Strategic Partnership Award, an annual award for leaders who demonstrate outstanding skill in partnering with HR. The group also announced the award’s inaugural recipient, Administrative Officer Kellie Petty.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2021/Pages/new-hr-award-recognizes-strategic-partnership.aspx to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Commits to Net-zero Carbon Goal by 2050

Xcel Energy announced that it is aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its natural gas business by 2050.

Visit https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-commits-to-net-zero-carbon-goal-by-2050-20Y2R000000blqhUAA to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League