RMEL eNews

Industry Information

US Nuclear, Coal Power Sites Could Host Up to 269 GWe of New Nuclear Capacity: DOE

Forty-one reactor sites could host up to 60 GW of new capacity from large light-water reactors, such as the AP-1000, or up to 95 GW of new capacity from smaller 600-MWe advanced reactors, DOE said.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-nuclear-coal-power-sites-could-host-up-to-269-gwe-of-new-nuclear-capaci/727066/ to view the full article online.

NREL Breaks Ground on $224M Energy Materials Processing Facility

The 127,000-square-foot laboratory is intended to enable collaboration between industry partners, universities, and other DOE laboratories to accelerate laboratory-scale innovations in energy materials to market-ready products and processes. The total budget for the EMAPS project is $224 million.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/news/nrel-breaks-ground-on-224m-energy-materials-processing-facility/ to view the full article online.

Battery Sector Gets $3B From Biden Administration

The Department of Energy awarded 25 projects over $3 billion under the bipartisan infrastructure law to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials, the agency announced.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-department-3-billion-battery-sector-workforce-dow-honeywell-abtc/727668/ to view the full article online.

Despite Decreasing Fossil Fuel Prices, Hydropower is Still Competitive, Report Finds

The report, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2023, was released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the Global Renewables Summit during the UN General Assembly in New York. Of the record 473 GW added in 2023, 81% (or 382 GW) of newly commissioned, utility-scale renewable projects had lower costs than their fossil fuel-fired alternatives.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/business-finance/business/despite-decreasing-fossil-fuel-prices-hydropower-is-still-competitive-report-finds/ to view the full article online.

The Air Force is Testing Geothermal for On-Base Power

The U.S. Air Force has awarded its first contract to determine whether a power plant using geopressured geothermal systems, or GGS, can generate the clean energy needed for a base to achieve energy resilience.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/renewables/the-air-force-is-testing-geothermal-for-on-base-power/ to view the full article online.

81% Of Renewables Offer Cheaper Energy Than Fossil Fuels, Report Says

The world added 473 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity last year, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, and four-fifths of it produces power more cheaply than fossil fuels do.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2024/09/26/81-of-new-renewables-produce-cheaper-energy-than-fossil-fuels/?ss=energy to view the full article online.

What Makes Nuclear Power Plants Attractive to Data Center Owners?

With two separate announcements this year that a nuclear power plant owner has agreed to supply a data center with dedicated power, it begs the question: what do data center operators see in nuclear power?

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/nuclear/what-makes-nuclear-power-plants-attractive-to-data-center-owners/ to view the full article online.

Low-Emissions Hydrogen Projects Growing but Policy Support Still Lags

Investment and projects in low-emissions hydrogen are growing, but policies to stimulate demand in key sectors such as heavy industry, refining and long-distance transport are needed to speed up deployment.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/hydrogen/low-emissions-hydrogen-projects-grow-but-policy-support-still-lags/ to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

El Paso Electric Named a Top Utility in Economic Development

El Paso Electric (EPE) is proud to announce that it has been named a Top Utility in Economic Development for 2024 by Site Selection magazine, recognizing the company’s dedication and visionary leadership in driving transformative economic growth and development in the region. This prestigious award highlights EPE’s strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts in supporting the economic vitality of West Texas and Southern New Mexico.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-electric-named-a-top-utility-in-economic-development to view the full article online.

United Power Named a Finalist for $261 million in New ERA Investment

United Power is pleased to announce that it is a finalist for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service. The New ERA investment will be used to offset the cost of United Power’s transition to a strategic portfolio of clean energy that includes power purchase agreements that will provide more than 760 megawatts of renewable resources to its members by 2030.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/united-power-named-finalist-261-million-new-era-investment to view the full article online.

OPPD Provides Resource Planning Update & Details New Wind Energy Agreement to Complement OPPD’s Diverse Energy Portfolio

OPPD leadership presented the monitoring report for Strategic Directive (SD) 9: Integrated System Planning during a recent board committee meeting. The directive covers OPPD’s planning efforts to efficiently integrate the transmission system, supply and demand side resources, and the increasingly complex distribution system. OPPD continually works to meet the needs of customers, adapting to industry changes to maintain reliable and resilient electric service.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2024/september/oppd-provides-resource-planning-update-details-new-wind-energy-agreement-to-complement-oppd-s-diverse-energy-portfolio/ to view the full article online.

On the Hottest Days, APS Virtual Power Plant Helps Cool Demand on Grid

APS’s VPP is a partnership with customers, a network of thousands of customer-owned devices, like smart thermostats and home battery storage, that act as an energy resource and a collaborative way to reduce energy demand at peak times to balance supply and demand. The energy production this connection of smart technology avoids reduces the need to start up or build a traditional, physical power plant. This saves customers’ money, protects the environment and increases overall grid reliability.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/On_the_Hottest_Days_APS_Virtual_Power_Plants_Help_Cool_Demand_on_Grid to view the full article online.

Wyoming ITC At Basin Electric's Dry Fork Station Awarded Funding

A carbon capture pilot project at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) near Dry Fork Station in Gillette, Wyoming, has been awarded nearly $5 million through the Department of Energy (DOE) for research. The large-scale project is the first of four DOE selections to be awarded federal funding under DOE’s Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Program.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Wyoming-ITC-at-Dry-Fork-Station-awarded-funding to view the full article online.

SRP and NextEra Energy Resources Unveil New Wind Energy Resource for the Valley

Salt River Project (SRP), NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the Arizona State Land Department and Babbitt Ranches celebrated the completion of Babbitt Ranch Energy Center, a 161-megawatt (MW) wind project located on Babbitt Ranches property in Coconino County, north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Babbitt Ranch Energy Center will play an important role in decarbonizing SRP’s energy portfolio while the company works to meet the energy needs of one of the fastest growing areas of the nation.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-and-nextera-energy-resources-unveil-new-wind-energy-resource-for-the-valley/ to view the full article online.

TEP Receives Highest Employer Honor from U.S. Department of Defense

TEP was one of 15 companies honored with the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. TEP was selected from among 1,758 U.S. employers nominated by a National Guard or Reserve Component Service member this year through Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a U.S. Department of Defense office.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-receives-highest-employer-honor-from-u-s-department-of-defense/ to view the full article online.

White Paper

Shining Light on How Solar Power and Farming Can Coexist

Scientists have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximizing crop growth while generating solar power.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906141606.htm to view the full article online.

Technology Could Boost Renewable Energy Storage

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are critical to sustaining our planet, but they come with a big challenge: they don't always generate power when it's needed. To make the most of them, we need efficient and affordable ways to store the energy they produce, so we have power even when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916153438.htm to view the full article online.

Getting to Zero Emissions: A Call for Unified Energy Planning

To help speed decarbonization, state regulators should reconceive of gas and electric utilities as serving the same purpose, according to a new report. Without coordinated action, the energy transition could become slower, more expensive, and more inequitable, the authors warn.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240930160635.htm to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League