RMEL eNews

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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.

Industry Information

U.S. Hydropower Generation Expected to Increase by 6% in 2024

This year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects hydropower generation to increase 6% and account for 250 billion kWh, based on forecasts in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). EIA said it expects hydropower to increase in nearly every part of the country, with notable increases in the southeast and northwest and Rockies.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/renewables/hydroelectric/u-s-hydropower-generation-expected-to-increase-by-6-in-2024/ to view the full article online.

Report: Small Modular Reactor Market Expected to Reach $295 Billion by 2043

Market analyst IDTechEx expects the installation rate of small modular reactors (SMRs) to grow significantly from the end of the decade, contributing significantly to solving the climate crisis. The flexibility of these reactors beyond supplying electricity to the grid is a significant reason that their expected impact is so broad.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/nuclear/smr-market-expected-to-reach-295bn-by-2043-shows-report/ to view the full article online.

DOE Eases Environmental Review Requirements for Transmission, Storage, and Solar Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is simplifying the environmental review process for certain energy storage systems such as battery systems, transmission line upgrades, and solar photovoltaic systems.

DOE is amending its list of categories of projects which, because they typically do not have significant environmental impacts, qualify for the simplest form of environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/policy-regulation/doe-eases-environmental-review-requirements-for-transmission-storage-and-solar-projects/ to view the full article online.

EPA Leans on Carbon Capture as it Releases Final Power Plant Pollution Rules

The highly-anticipated announcement outlined a suite of measures aimed at reducing air, water and land pollution from the power sector. As the sector makes long-term investments in the transition to clean energy, EPA said the rules are designed to work with power companies’ planning processes.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/emissions/epa-leans-on-carbon-capture-as-it-releases-final-power-plant-pollution-rules/ to view the full article online.

SPP Markets+ Western Market Plan Sparks Support, Protest and Concerns

The Southwest Power Pool’s plan to launch its Markets+ market in the West drew support, opposition and recommended changes from utilities, state regulators and other stakeholders, in filings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/spp-markets-western-ferc-aps-xcel-edam-caiso/714682/ to view the full article online.

States Rethink Data Centers as ‘Electricity Hogs’ Strain the Grid

Data centers are the backbone of the increasingly digital world, and they consume a growing share of the nation’s electricity, with no signs of slowing down. The global consultancy McKinsey & Company predicts these operations will double their U.S. electric demands from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to 35 gigawatts by 2030 — enough electricity to power more than 26 million average homes.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/policy-regulation/states-rethink-data-centers-as-electricity-hogs-strain-the-grid/ to view the full article online.

DOE Announces New Advanced Manufacturing Opportunity for Hydropower Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have opened a technical collaboration opportunity for industry partners interested in developing innovative hydropower technologies using advanced materials and manufacturing.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/news/doe-announces-new-advanced-manufacturing-opportunity-for-hydropower-projects/ to view the full article online.

EIA: U.S. Wind Generation Falls for First Time Since 1990s

Data from EIA’s Power Plant Operations Report show that U.S. wind generation in 2023 totaled 425,235 GWh, 2.1% less than the 434,297 GWh generated in 2022. EIA says that the 2023 decline indicates that wind as a generation source is maturing after decades of “rapid growth.”

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/eia-u-s-wind-generation-falls-for-first-time-since-1990s/ to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Tri-State Moving Forward with $186.5 Million in Transmission System Upgrades

The transmission expansion will increase Tri-State’s availability to add renewable energy resources in eastern Colorado by more than 700 megawatts. The transmission effort also augments Tri-State’s proposed 2023 Electric Resource Plan, which was filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CoPUC) in December 2023 and identifies 1,250 megawatts of renewable energy and energy storage through 2031.

Visit https://tristate.coop/tri-state-moving-forward-1865-million-transmission-system-upgrades to view the full article online.

Construction Begins on Roundup-To-Kummer Ridge Transmission Line

The project includes 33 miles of new 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the existing Roundup substation (north of Killdeer, North Dakota) and the existing Kummer Ridge substation (near Johnson’s Corner, North Dakota), and will help serve the growing load Basin Electric members are experiencing in northwest North Dakota.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Construction-begins-on-Roundup-to-Kummer-Ridge-transmission-line to view the full article online.

Felina Solar Resource: EPE Leads the Charge in Texas' Renewable Energy Revolution

El Paso Electric (EPE) is proud to announce the groundbreaking ceremony for its newest endeavor, the Felina Solar Resource in Fabens, Texas. This monumental project marks a significant step forward in EPE's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/felina-solar-resource-epe-leads-the-charge-in-texas-renewable-energy-revolution to view the full article online.

OPPD Earns Top Tier Customer Satisfaction Scores

Omaha Public Power District is adapting and evolving to meet changing customer expectations, and customers are taking notice. At this week’s committee meetings for the OPPD Board of Directors, utility leaders shared the results of annual residential and business syndicated customer surveys, which gave the utility high marks in customer satisfaction and engagement.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2024/april/oppd-earns-top-tier-customer-satisfaction-scores/ to view the full article online.

PacifiCorp Formally Commits to California ISO's EDAM

PacifiCorp became the first entity in the Western United States to formally commit to a regional coordinated energy market by signing an implementation agreement this week with the California ISO for its Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM).

Visit https://www.pacificorp.com/about/newsroom/news-releases/california-iso-edam.html to view the full article online.

SRP Reservoirs Continue to Thrive After Two Productive Winters

After two productive winters, SRP reservoirs are expected to be near capacity this spring as the Valley enters the heaviest-use period of the year. As of today, the Salt River system is 96% full; the Verde River System is 70% full and the total reservoir system is 93% full.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-reservoirs-continue-to-thrive-after-two-productive-winters/ to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Closes on Previously Announced Acquisition of Talen Energy Gas Plants in Corpus Christi and Laredo

CPS Energy announced the closing on the acquisition of Talen Energy Corporation’s (“Talen”) (OTCQX: TLNE) approximately 1,710-megawatt (“MW”) generation portfolio located in the South Zone of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) market for $785 million, subject to customary net working capital adjustments.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-closes-on-previously-announced-acquisition-of-talen-energy-gas-plants-in-corpus-christi-and-laredo/ to view the full article online.

White Paper

Clearing the Air: Wind Farms More Land Efficient than Previously Thought

Wind power is a source of energy that is both affordable and renewable. However, decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels. Research was based on the assessment of the land-use of close to 320 wind farms in the U.S. paints a very different picture.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240417182834.htm to view the full article online.

Positive Perceptions of Solar Projects

A new survey has found that for residents living within three miles of a large-scale solar development, positive attitudes outnumbered negative attitudes by almost a 3-to-1 margin. Researchers surveyed almost 1,000 residents living near solar projects.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160649.htm to view the full article online.

Global North Energy Outsourcing Demands More Attention

Manufacturing nations in the Global North are stockpiling energy and emission problems by outsourcing energy-intensive industrial processes to countries in the Global South.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240415163743.htm to view the full article online.

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