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Make a Powerful Difference with Commonwealth
Commonwealth Associates, Inc. ®
Commonwealth provides traditional and renewable engineering, consulting, and design services. From IPPs to IOUs, to federal contracts, to city power and light, big or small, Commonwealth has you covered. With offices and experts across the country, Commonwealth is here to make a powerful difference for you. To learn more, visit www.cai-engr.com or call 517.788.3000.
 
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Burns & McDonnell
Meridian Cooperative
Alltricity Network Member Information
RMEL's trusted network is now accessible on Facebook, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). These are forums intended for RMEL members only. Working side-by-side in a cooperative manner, RMEL members band together for the common goal of bettering the industry and improving service for utility customers. For more than 100 years, these key principles have proven successful and, more importantly, are tried-and-true methods for building strong business relationships.

 

RMEL Champions is a prestigious group of RMEL supporters with access to useful and beneficial promotional opportunities. Thank you, 2023 RMEL Champions!

Visit https://www.rmel.org/page/RMELChampions to view the full article online.

The game has changed from the traditional O&M model.
Black & Veatch Corporation®
Big Data helps owners detect issues before they become big problems. Prioritize field responses, balance the costs and benefits of maintenance activities, and generate the greatest ROI with these 4 key methods to optimize DER assets through data-driven O&M.
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Industry Information
  

With about 740 dams and associated structures to operate and maintain, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed a systemwide approach for assessing risk in flood risk management watersheds.

Visit https://hydroreview.com/dams-and-civil-structures/dam-safety/u-s-army-develops-tools-to-forecast-risk-of-potential-infrastructure-failure/ to view the full article online.


The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday announced $34 million in funding to support a dozen projects focused on improving the nation’s power resilience by moving some grid infrastructure underground. The projects span 11 states, and are being developed by small and large businesses, national labs, and universities.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/DOE-explores-moving-power-lines-underground/704637/ to view the full article online.

  
Grid reliability and small modular reactors were key topics at a biennial meeting between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Here are seven takeaways from the meeting.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-nerc-joint-meeting-smr-nuclear-black-start/705708/ to view the full article online.

  
Insurance analysts say the growing risk of severe wildfires due to climate change, and a shifting legal landscape that increasingly holds utilities accountable for the damages caused by these conflagrations, has indeed changed the calculus that goes into a utility’s liability insurance policy.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/wildfire-utility-grid-insurance-climate-pge-xcel-hawaiian-electric/703178/ to view the full article online.


Global investment in the energy transition increased 17% in 2023, reaching a new high of $1.8 trillion, according to a new report from BloombergNEF (BNEF). The report, Energy Transition Investment Trends 2024, finds that electrified transport is now the largest sector for spending in the energy transition, growing 36% in 2023 to $634 billion. 

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/news/energy-transition-investments-hit-record-1-8-trillion-in-2023/ to view the full article online.

  
Communities can now use three Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs to fund net-zero energy projects when rebuilding schools, hospitals, fire stations and other infrastructure after a disaster.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/fema-funds-net-zero-energy-projects-solar-heat-pumps-rebuild-disaster/706321/ to view the full article online.

State-linked hackers, backed by the People’s Republic of China, are actively positioned to attack critical infrastructure providers in the U.S., FBI Director Christopher Wray told a House committee. 

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/fbi-china-hackers-us-critical-infrastructure/706423/ to view the full article online.

  
The United States economy is sprinting, adding 353,000 jobs in January — a 3.7% unemployment rate. The CHIPSHIPS 0.0% Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act are spurring investment nationwide, leading to new green enterprises. Can the transmission and distribution network handle the increased traffic?

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2024/02/05/why-a-smarter-and-bigger-grid-guarantees-green-energy-growth/?ss=energy&sh=60a177b43028 to view the full article online.

Futura Systems, Inc
Member Announcements
Salt River Project (SRP) has been included on the Forbes list of America’s Best-in-State Employers 2023, ranking 6th in Arizona. America's Best-in-State Employers 2023 were identified based on 2.1 million employer recommendations from employees working for companies with more than 500 employees in the United States. 

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-named-one-of-forbes-americas-2023-best-in-state-employers/ to view the full article online.

  
CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned electric and natural gas utility in the United States, has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Genesis Consolidated Industries Holdings (GCI) for a 150 megawatt (MW) solar project called “Exodus 1.” The solar farm will be located in Caldwell County, Texas.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-marks-addition-of-150-mw-of-solar-energy-to-generation-portfolio/ to view the full article online.

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has finalized the route for the Norfolk-Stanton North Project, which will provide a necessary path for a new 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between two local substations. “We are grateful for the active participation at our open houses and public hearings,” says NPPD Project Manager Paul Brune. 

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/nppd-announces-final-line-route-for-norfolk-stanton-north-project to view the full article online.

The acquisition of the production facility at the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency site includes onsite infrastructure and the rights to RNG production at the landfill under a long-term contract. The facility currently injects RNG into the natural gas distribution system serving Dubuque, which is owned and operated by Black Hills Corp.’s regulated natural gas utility in Iowa.

Visit https://ir.blackhillscorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/black-hills-energy-renewable-resources-completes-acquisition to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric (EPE) officially broke ground on construction of a 10 megawatt (MW) solar facility for its successful Texas Community Solar program. In its commitment to provide accessible renewable energy to all, this second expansion of this program will allow for an additional 5,000 customers to subscribe to solar energy. 

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-electric-announces-the-second-expansion-of-its-texas-community-solar-program to view the full article online.

 
Under the proposal, carbon emissions reductions are expected to exceed 80% by 2030, potentially reaching up to 88%. This positions the company well to meet Minnesota’s new carbon-free standard for 2040 and continues on a path to achieving the clean energy goals of all Upper Midwest states it serves. 

Visit https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-advances-clean-energy-transition-with-new-upper-midwest-energy-plan-MCQCZBJVDDGFGV3DJALA3ECHRRZQ to view the full article online.

White Paper
Researchers are tapping into idled electric vehicles to act as mobile generators and help power overworked and aging electricity grids. After analyzing energy demand on Alberta's power grid during rush hour, the research proposes an innovative way to replenish electrical grids with power generated from fuel cells in trucks.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240113141243.htm to view the full article online.

One year ago, Caltech's Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) launched into space to demonstrate and test three technological innovations that are among those necessary to make space solar power a reality.

Visit https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240117143613.htm to view the full article online.

In the switch to 'greener' energy sources, the demand for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is surging. However, their cathodes typically contain cobalt -- a metal whose extraction has high environmental and societal costs. Now, researchers in report evaluating an earth-abundant, carbon-based cathode material that could replace cobalt and other scarce and toxic metals without sacrificing lithium-ion battery performance.

Visit https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240118122137.htm to view the full article online.