RMEL eNews

Industry Information

Making the Case for Utility Operated, Blockchain Enabled Power Systems

In April 2016, the first official peer to peer (P2P) energy transaction occurred between neighbors in a residential neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/utility-business/making-case-utility-operated-blockchain-enabled-power-systems to view the full article online.

DOE Report: Greater Training and Education Needed to Meet Future Demand for U.S. Hydropower Workers

Expanded training and education programs are needed to meet future hydropower industry workforce needs, according to a new report produced by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Center for the New Energy Economy.

Visit https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2019/07/doe-report-greater-training-and-education-needed-to-meet-future-demand-for-u-s-hydropower-workers.html to view the full article online.

Berkeley Sets Historic Law Banning Natural Gas From New Buildings

The Berkeley, California, City Council unanimously voted this week to ban natural gas infrastructure in new low-rise residential buildings, beginning Jan 1. 2020.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/berkeley-sets-historic-law-banning-natural-gas-from-new-buildings/559026/ to view the full article online.

FERC Orders PJM to Postpone Capacity Auction

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a ruling on Thursday directing the PJM Interconnection not to conduct "a major feature" of its market, its capacity auction planned for August.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-orders-pjm-to-postpone-capacity-auction/559610/ to view the full article online.

VPPs with Smart Inverters Offer Crucial Flexibility to the Changing Grid

Energy generation and consumption is rapidly transforming into a decentralized, decarbonized, and digitized model due to a number of market forces.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/07/vpps-with-smart-inverters-offer-crucial-flexibility-to-the-changing-grid.html to view the full article online.

Department of Energy Announces $121 Million for Small Business Research and Development Grants

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry today announced that the Department of Energy will award 113 grants totaling $121 million to 103 small businesses in 29 states.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-121-million-small-business-research-and-development-grants to view the full article online.

Governor Cuomo Executes the Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Agreement and Signs Historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, joined by former Vice President Al Gore, executed the nation's largest offshore wind agreement and the single largest renewable energy procurement by any state in U.S. history - nearly 1,700 megawatts - with the selection of two offshore wind projects, that will create enough energy to power over 1 million homes, create more than 1,600 jobs, and result in $3.2 billion in economic activity.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/wind/141/780769/governor-cuomo-executes-the-nation-s-largest-offshore-wind-agreement-and-signs-historic-climate-leadership-and-community-protection-act-.html to view the full article online.

More U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants are Decommissioning as Retirements Continue

Between 2010 and the first quarter of 2019, U.S. power companies announced the retirement of more than 546 coal-fired power units, totaling about 102 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=40212 to view the full article online.

Jacksonville Electric Authority Hires Fiscal, Legal Aides to Explore Sale of Utility

Jacksonville Electric Utility, the 125-year-old Florida-based municipal which lately has engaged in a legal battle over its agreement to buy power from the financially troubled Vogtle nuclear expansion, announced it has hired financial and legal advice in what looks like a move toward privatizing the electric and water services.

Visit https://www.elp.com/articles/2019/07/jacksonville-electric-authority-hires-fiscal-legal-aides-to-explore-sale-of-utility.html to view the full article online.

China Drops Electricity Subsidy Price for Offshore Wind Power

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (the NDRC) issued a Circular on Policies of Improving the Electricity Price for On-Grid Wind Power (the Circular) at the end of May 2019.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/articles/2019/07/china-drops-electricity-subsidy-price-for-offshore-wind-power.html to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=573524&issueID=64132 to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

City of Austin's Affordable Energy Summit Empowers Service Providers with Information They Need to Assist Low-income Austinites

The City of Austin hosted its 11th Annual Affordable Energy Summit with more than 130 representatives from community service providers, who work with low- to mid-income Austinites in attendance.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2019/city-of-austin-affordable-energy-summit to view the full article online.

Environmental Technology at Laramie River Station Operational

Construction on equipment to further control emissions at Basin Electric’s Laramie River Station located near Wheatland, Wyoming, was recently completed. The emission control technology, selective catalytic reduction (SCR), was added to Unit 1 at Laramie River Station.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/scr-emission-control-technology-operational to view the full article online.

CPS Energy’s President & CEO Launches Community Input On The New "Power Bundleflex"

CPS Energy President & CEO, Paula Gold-Williams announced another step in the company’s Flexible Path, called the Power BundleFlex.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energys-president-ceo-launches-community-input-on-the-new-power-bundleflex/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Children’s Hospital, El Paso Electric Partner to Expand Pediatric Surgical Service

El Paso Electric (EPE) in partnership with El Paso Children’s Hospital (EPCH) named a hospital room in honor of EPE’s $25,000 donation that will assist in the expansion of pediatric surgical services.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/about-el-paso-electric/article/el-paso-childrens-hospital-el-paso-electric-partner-to-expand-pediatric-surgical-service to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=573526&issueID=64132 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=573527&issueID=64132 to view the full article online.

No Rooftop Required: KCP&L Announces Solar Subscription Program

KCP&L customers seeking new and innovative ways to manage their energy and support renewable options now can sign up for the company’s Solar Subscription program.

Visit https://www.kcpl.com/about-kcpl/media-center/2019/july/kcpl-announces-solar-subscription-program to view the full article online.

LPS Science Teachers Attend emPowering Energy Educators Workshop

On July 16-17, 2019, nearly 20 middle and high school science teachers from Lincoln Public Schools joined Lincoln Electric System for the first-ever emPowering Energy Educators workshop.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=116087 to view the full article online.

New Electric Meters to be Installed by NPPD

Upgrading of electric meters for residences and businesses in Rushville, Clinton and Merriman by Nebraska Public Power District will began July 22. In 2019, approximately 24,500 meters in 33 communities will be replaced, as part of a three-year project by NPPD.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/new-electric-meters-to-be-installed-by-nppd to view the full article online.

NextEra Energy Transmission Completes Acquisition of Underwater Transmission Cable System

NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. has completed its previously announced acquisition of Trans Bay Cable, LLC from affiliates of Steelriver Infrastructure Fund North America.

Visit http://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/2019-07-16-NextEra-Energy-Transmission-completes-acquisition-of-underwater-transmission-cable-system to view the full article online.

OPPD Working to Meet Changing Customer Expectations

Omaha Public Power District works hard to be a trusted energy partner that our customers and communities can count on for value, caring and excellence. The utility wants to meet customers’ needs and expectations now, and in the future.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2019/july/oppd-working-to-meet-changing-customer-expectations/ to view the full article online.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is Pursuing an Aggressive Responsible Energy Plan

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is pursuing an aggressive Responsible Energy Plan to transition to a cleaner energy portfolio, while ensuring reliability, increasing member flexibility and with a goal to lower wholesale rates.

Visit https://www.tristate.coop/tri-state-announces-transformative-responsible-energy-plan to view the full article online.

Summer Air Conditioning and the Demand Rate

When United Power instituted the demand charge, there was a corresponding REDUCTION in the cost of energy. When United Power moved to a demand rate we uncoupled costs that had previously been blended into the rate.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/summer-air-conditioning-and-demand-rate to view the full article online.

TEP Offers High School, Other Internships

Tucson Electric Power marked a milestone this year by sponsoring its 100th internship for students from a local high school, one of the many internship opportunities at our company.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-offers-high-school-other-internships/ to view the full article online.

WAPA to Solicit Proposals for Renewable Energy Contracts

WAPA, on behalf of the Department of Energy, will solicit proposals for a long-term renewable energy contract or contracts for up to 50 megawatts of energy located in the California Independent System Operator territory.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2019/Pages/request-for-bids-advance-notice.aspx to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Commissions New Hale Wind Project

Hale County landowners, civic leaders and elected officials are joining Xcel Energy today in celebrating the completion of the new Hale Wind Project near Plainview, Texas – a clean energy resource that is now serving Texas and New Mexico customers with low-cost energy as it strengthens the local economy.

Visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/media_room/news_releases/xcel_energy_commissions_new_hale_wind_project to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League