RMEL eNews
RMEL Report
  

From RMEL Executive Director Rick Putnicki

2023 is Now Well Underway and RMEL has an Exciting Lineup of In-Person Events Starting this Month!
Although RMEL’s first event of the year, the Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop, was postponed due to inclement weather; RMEL is pleased to have already rescheduled this always-popular event for Thursday, March 16th, 2023. Please share with colleagues or those new to the industry who would benefit from a better understanding of how electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed.

Our Education Committees are working diligently to add new events, both in-person and virtually, to the RMEL Event calendar on a regular basis, so be sure please visit the RMEL Events and Education Calendar webpage for the most up-to-date list of offerings. Our Committees, made up of RMEL Members, strives to organize timely, important, and thoughtful educational and networking events, and we are looking forward to a full year of these opportunities curated by our members, for our members. We hope to see you soon at an upcoming event!   

Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY 2023 SAFETY ROUNDTABLE
February 21st, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. MST – Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in Westminster, CO

Featured Topic: An Electrical Utility's Experience with Custom Molded Hearing Protection

RMEL Safety Roundtables offer a unique forum for peer-to-peer sharing of experiences, critical issues and expertise. The roundtable is a discussion group, open only to RMEL members. Discussion is based on topics brought by attendees. Typically, we start the event with a short presentation, followed by attendee discussion and sharing. Some questions are submitted before the event and are used to start the conversation. Attendees are also encouraged to ask the audience to share their experiences, help troubleshoot problems, and obtain best practices. The Safety Roundtable is a great forum to build a network of peers in a smaller, informal setting. 

RESCHEDULED WORKSHOP: An Introduction to the Electric Utility
Thursday, March 16th, 2023 – 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MST – Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Denver Tech Center in Denver, CO

As an electric utility professional, you all understand the importance of Safety FIRST! We made that important call in January to postpone the Basic Utility Workshop due to inclement weather. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are happy to announce the Workshop is rescheduled for Thursday, March 16th, at the Denver Tech Center Doubletree Hotel. Those scheduled for the January course will be given the option to attend March event or receive a refund. 

For those others that are interested, take advantage of the reschedule and join RMEL for this workshop designed to acquaint non-technical utility employees with the basics of their industry from the generation to the distribution of electricity. The workshop will focus on five areas: an overview to electricity and electrical power systems, information on conventional production methods, alternative technologies, transmission and distribution systems, and customer service. In the overview, you will learn about the basic theory of electricity, how it is produced, and delivered to your home. In the conventional production methods section you will learn the role of primary energy sources: water, gas, oil, coal, and nuclear. You will also hear about power conversion processes, system application, capital and operating costs and grid connection considerations.

2023 RMEL SAFETY CONFERENCE
Thursday, March 23rd - Friday, March 24th, 2023 – SRP's PERA Club in Tempe, AZ

Safety is paramount in the power industry. It holds no boundaries. No rank. It is not a sometime thing. Safety must be at the forefront of everything we do. Everyone is responsible for safety. When it comes to safety, everyone is a leader. The theme of RMEL's 2023 Safety Conference is "From Compliance to Commitment." Presentations will dive into the challenges we face today and safety best practices. Interactive roundtable discussions mixed into the program provide the opportunity to learn from each other. 

TRANSMISSION & SUBSTATION RENEWABLES CONFERENCE
Tuesday, March 28th - Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 – Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in Westminster, CO

Register now! And additional event details and information will be provided soon. 

2023 RMEL DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERS WORKSHOP
Tuesday, April 4th - Wednesday, April 5th 2023 – Evergy in Kansas City, MO

Additional event details and information will be provided soon. 

2023 RMEL SPRING CONFERENCE
Monday, May 22nd - Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 – InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza in Kansas City, MO

Additional event details and information will be provided soon. In the meantime, book your room at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza Hotel and receive the special RMEL room block discounted rate of $194. To reserve your room, click the "Book a Room" link above to open the hotel's website where you will click 'book now'. Enter the dates of your stay within the block dates (May 21 - May 24) and click 'Search' to receive the RMEL Spring Conference group rates and room availability.

The 2023 RMEL Foundation Scholarship Application Closes Later this Month!
The deadline to apply is Friday, February 24th, 2023

We encourage you to spread the word and share within your respective organizations and professional network. The deadline for students to apply is Friday, February 24th, 2023. Access the scholarship application to learn more! Please let us know if you have college/trade school/university contacts who would like to receive the scholarship information. Thank you for the Corporate and Individual Cash Donations! The RMEL Foundation Auction raised over $30,000. Learn more about 2023 Named Scholarship Sponsor opportunities for your company.

Now Accepting 2023 RMEL Emerging Leader Award Nominations!  
The deadline to submit nominations is Monday, March 20th, 2023.

Do you mentor or have colleagues who are up-and-coming leaders in their company? Show your support and submit them for nomination for the RMEL Emerging Leader Award! RMEL's Emerging Leader Award recognizes and honors individual members who have made significant contributions within their organization, and have demonstrated the potential for leadership and outstanding service for the electric utility industry. The nominee must have no less than 5 years of experience, and no more than 10 years' experience within the industry. The 2023 award will be conferred at the 2023 RMEL Spring Management, Engineering, and Operations Conference taking place May 22 - May 24 in Kansas City, MO.

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Education and Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY 2023 SAFETY ROUNDTABLE --- Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. MST (Westminster, CO)

RESCHEDULED WORKSHOP: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ELECTRIC UTILITY --- Thursday, March 16th, 2023 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MDT (Denver, CO)

2023 RMEL SAFETY CONFERENCE --- March 23rd – March 24th, 2023 (Tempe, AZ).

TRANSMISSION & SUBSTATION RENEWABLES CONFERENCE --- March 28th – March 29th, 2023 (Westminster, CO).

2023 RMEL DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERS WORKSHOP --- April 4th – April 5th, 2023 (Kansas City, MO)

2023 RMEL SPRING CONFERENCE --- May 22nd – May 24th, 2023 (Kansas City, MO). Stay tuned for more event details and information coming soon!

2023 RMEL FALL CONVENTION --- September 2023 (Final Dates TBD) (Phoenix, AZ). Stay tuned for more event details and information coming!

   
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RMEL Member Information
Join RMEL's Groups on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
RMEL's trusted network is now accessible on Facebook, LinkedIn and 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, 2022 RMEL Champions!
Industry Information
Energy Storage is a Cost-Effective Alternative to Transmission to Integrate Renewables: Study
Energy storage is a cost-effective alternative to traditional transmission lines for integrating renewable energy, maintaining reliability and modernizing the electric grid, according to a recent study.
NuScale Power’s Small Modular Reactor Design is First in US to Get NRC Approval
  
The design is an advanced light-water SMR with each power module able to generate 50 MW. NuScale’s VOYGR SMR plant can house up to 12 factory-built power modules, about one-third the size of a traditional large-scale reactor, according to the DOE.
Electricity Prices Surged 14.3% in 2022, Double Overall Inflation: US Report
  
The price of residential electricity is projected in the coming years to rise more slowly, the Energy Information Administration said Jan. 10. It jumped to 15.07 cents a kWh last year, from 13.66 cents per kWh in 2021. It’s projected to rise to 15.45 cents a kWh this year and by a penny in 2024.
The Wettest Winter Storms in the Western U.S. are Growing Wetter, Larger
  
These storms are changing shape in a warmer world, sprawling to drench more land while also growing more intense at their cores, the Department of Energy’s PNNL said. 
EPA Proposes Denying Coal Ash Disposal at Six Plants
The agency also proposed a process for these coal plants to seek an extension, in the interest of addressing grid reliability issues.
   
Tyndale Company
   
DOE Invests More than $130 Million to Lower Nation’s Carbon Pollution
Funding supports 33 carbon management projects to ramp up efforts to achieve nationwide goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Clean Tech Investment Reaches Par with Fossil Fuels, BNEF Says
  
The report said that almost every sector that it covered notched a new record level of investment in 2022, including renewable energy, energy storage, electrified transport, electrified heat, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and sustainable materials. 
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $47 Million To Develop Affordable Clean Hydrogen Technologies
Projects funded under this opportunity will reduce costs, enhance hydrogen infrastructure, and improve the performance of hydrogen fuel cells advancing the Department's Hydrogen Shot goal of reducing the cost of clean hydrogen to $1 per kilogram within a decade.
99% Of U.S. Coal Plants are More Expensive than New Renewables. a Coal-To-Clean Transition is Worth $589 Billion, Mostly in Red States
  
U.S. coal-fueled electricity generation is in secular decline, falling from more than half of our annual electricity supply 20 years ago to less than 20% today. This decline was initially driven by natural gas competition and energy efficiency improvements reducing electricity demand. But the acceleration of coal’s economic decline is now being driven by fast-falling clean energy prices—and smart government policy.
Member Announcements
Great Plains Synfuels Plant Produces Record Tons of Anhydrous Ammonia in 2022
The Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah, North Dakota, saw the highest annual anhydrous ammonia production on record in 2022. The last record production occurred in 2020. Improvements made in the facility over several years have improved the capacity and availability of the unit, said Aaron Marquardt, Dakota Gas fertilizer section manager. 
NPPD Beginning Siting Study for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Under legislative bill 1014, the State of Nebraska allocated $1 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to complete a siting study for small modular reactors. As an owner of a current operating nuclear power plant, Cooper Nuclear Station, NPPD qualified to apply for these funds to complete the siting study. 
CPS Energy Starting Reliability Project to Address Booming Growth in Northwest Bexar County Area
  
CPS Energy will improve the current infrastructure and distribution of its electric service to support the reliability in the growing Cross Mountain area, located in the northwest section of Bexar County. According to the U.S. Census, from 2010–2020, the Cross Mountain population grew three times faster than the City of San Antonio.
Evergy Seeks to Add Generation Resources
Evergy issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for generation resources to serve its customers. The all-source RFP solicits bids for Evergy’s purchase or contracting of up to 1,240 megawatts (MW) of energy resources that will be in service by 2026. The RFP is Evergy’s first since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
NextEra Energy Announces Leadership Succession at Florida Power & Light Company; Eric Silagy To Retire, Armando Pimentel Named President and CEO, FPL
NextEra Energy, Inc. announced that Eric Silagy, chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), has notified the company of his intention to retire after 20 years with the company, including 11 years leading FPL. Armando Pimentel, who previously served in several senior executive roles with NextEra Energy, will rejoin the company and is named president and CEO, FPL. 
Neset-to-Northshore Transmission Project Energized
The 27-mile transmission line begins at the existing Neset Substation east of Tioga, North Dakota, and ends at the new Northshore substation south of Ross, North Dakota. According to Bobby Nasset, Basin Electric civil engineering supervisor, the project will provide capacity to serve increasing load growth in the region.
Form Energy Partners with Xcel Energy on Two Multi-day Energy Storage Projects
Form Energy, Inc., an American technology company developing and commercializing a new class of cost-effective, multi-day energy storage systems, announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) to deploy its iron-air battery systems at two of Xcel Energy's retiring coal plant sites. 
White Paper
Cheap, Sustainable Hydrogen through Solar Power
A new kind of solar panel has achieved 9% efficiency in converting water into hydrogen and oxygen--mimicking a crucial step in natural photosynthesis. Outdoors, it represents a major leap in the technology, nearly 10 times more efficient than solar water-splitting experiments of its kind.
A New Tool Helps Map Out Where to Develop Clean Energy Infrastructure
The Geospatial Energy Mapper is an interactive online mapping tool that can help identify areas across the country that are suitable for wind, solar, and other clean energy infrastructure projects.
Hydrogen's Place in an Increasingly Connected Energy Web Shows Need for Regulatory Change
Capturing the potential profits and jobs offered by a growing hydrogen industry may need as much innovation in regulatory agencies as it does in the research laboratories, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin. The work highlights the increasing complexity and interconnected nature of energy markets as disparate regulatory agencies push for increased use of clean energy sources.
Harnessing Solar Energy: New Method Improves Readings of Double-Sided Panels
A leading laboratory in photonics and renewable energy at the University of Ottawa has developed a new method for measuring the solar energy produced by bifacial solar panels, the double-sided solar technology which is expected to meet increased global energy demands moving forward.