RMEL eNews

Industry Information

Constructing the Great Northern Transmission Line

Minnesota Power is designing and building the 224-mile (360 km), 500-kV Great Northern Transmission Line through some of the most extensive peat bogs found in the U.S.’s lower 48 states.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/overhead-transmission/constructing-great-northern-transmission-line to view the full article online.

Renewable Gas or Electrification? Minnesota's High Stakes Experiment on Building Decarbonization

CenterPoint Energy proposed a green tariff for renewable natural gas that was rejected by Minnesota regulators, but the utility says the fuel is a viable path to decarbonization.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/renewable-gas-or-electrification-minnesotas-high-stakes-experiment-on-bui/564065/ to view the full article online.

BPA Signs Agreement to Enter Western Energy Imbalance Market

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) reports that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has signed an implementation agreement to join the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM).

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2019/10/02/bpa-signs-agreement-to-enter-western-energy-imbalance-market/ to view the full article online.

How Did Dominion Shave $300M off its Virginia Grid Modernization Plan?

Dominion Energy on Monday filed a $2.8 billion, 10-year grid modernization plan that includes a "new customer information platform" powered by the rollout of almost 1 million smart meters in the first years.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-did-dominion-shave-300m-off-its-virginia-grid-modernization-plan/564123/ to view the full article online.

Blockchain-based Registry for PACE Loans in Development

Spring Labs, which is developing a network that it says will transform how information and data are shared globally, announced that four Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing providers have selected Spring Labs to develop a national property lien registry for PACE financing.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2019/10/02/blockchain-based-registry-for-pace-loans-in-development/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Energy Invests $56 Million in Coal Technology Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 32 winners for $56.5 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects for advanced coal technologies and research under six separate funding opportunity announcements (FOAs).

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-invests-56-million-coal-technology-projects to view the full article online.

BWXT Expanding Nuclear Fuel Production for Next-gen Reactors

BWX Technologies Inc. is restarting its TRISO nuclear fuel production line. The company announced that it also plans to expand its existing capacity within a year or so. BWXT is hoping to have its nuclear fuel capacity ready and available to meet the needs of U.S. Department of Defense microreactors, space reactors and civil advanced reactors, according to the release.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/2019/10/03/bwxt-expanding-nuclear-fuel-production-for-next-gen-reactors/ to view the full article online.

Pilot Projects Test a Path to Hydrogen Economy

Hydrogen is all around us but out of sight, tied up in water, natural gas, plastics and elsewhere. Freed, that hydrogen could power cars and store energy for use later - all while leaving no emissions behind but water.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/biofuel/83/792155/pilot-projects-test-a-path-to-hydrogen-economy.html to view the full article online.

International Energy Outlook 2019 With Projections to 2050

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) International Energy Outlook (IEO) presents an
analysis of long-term world energy markets in sixteen regions through 2050.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/ieo/pdf/ieo2019.pdf to view the full article online.

Maryland Opens Fully Converted Gas-to-electric Station

Maryland officials say the nation’s first fully converted gas-to-electric refueling and service station for electric vehicles has opened in the state.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2019/10/02/maryland-opens-fully-converted-gas-to-electric-station/ to view the full article online.

Department of Energy Awards Funding for Phase II of Carbon Capture Study for Gentleman Station

The next step towards the potential for a carbon capture operation at Nebraska Public Power District’s Gerald Gentleman Station is moving forward with the announcement of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory’s funding for the study.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/department-of-energy-awards-funding-for-phase-ii-of-carbon-capture-study-for-gentleman-station to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Austin Energy Selected as 2019 Green Power Leadership Award Winner

The nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) named Austin Energy as a 2019 Green Power Leadership Award (GPLA) winner. Nine winners were recognized for their roles in promoting and expanding the use of clean, renewable energy. The awards were presented at the GPLAs at the Renewable Energy Markets 2019 conference in San Diego on Sept. 5.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2019/austin-energy-selected-as-green-power-leadership-award-winner-2019 to view the full article online.

APS Issued Two Separate Requests for Proposals for Solar and Wind Resources

Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) issued two separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for solar and wind resources. These RFPs were first announced in late July and will help expand the company’s renewable energy portfolio to approximately 2,500 megawatts by 2021 – enough to power more than half a million Arizona homes.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-issues-RFPs-for-solar-and-wind-energy-resources to view the full article online.

Paul Sukut Speaks on Carbon Technology Panel

Paul Sukut, Basin Electric CEO and general manager, was part of a panel discussion Sept. 25 during the annual meeting of the Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership, held in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/sukut-speaks-carbon-technology-panel to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric Presents Grant to STTE Foundation In Support of STEAM Education

El Paso Electric (EPE), through its Community Partner Program, presented a $15,000 grant at a check presentation ceremony to the Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation to continue its advocacy of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-electric-presents-grant-to-stte-foundation-in-support-of-steam-education to view the full article online.

Funds Available for Public, Workplace EV Charging Stations in Lincoln Area

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy recently announced the availability of approximately $1.2 million in funds allocated to Nebraska under the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust for State Beneficiaries, which is part of the court settlement of Volkswagen emissions violations from 2009-15.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=116593 to view the full article online.

OPPD Launches New Web Resource for Customers, Coinciding with October 2, Energy Efficiency Day

Omaha Public Power District knows its customers are looking for ways to reduce their energy usage – to save on their bills and for the benefit of the environment. To help, we’re launching a new and improved energy efficiency section on our website, oppd.com/EE, coinciding with Energy Efficiency Day.

Visit http://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/ to view the full article online.

Platte River Seeks More Solar Power

On behalf of its four owner communities, Platte River Power Authority issued a request for proposals (RFP) for up to 150 megawatts of additional photovoltaic electric generating capacity.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news/platte-river-seeks-more-solar-power/ to view the full article online.

SRP Plans New Infrastructure for Commercial Customer

Salt River Project has filed an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) with the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee for an upcoming project to provide energy services and infrastructure to a commercial customer in Mesa.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-plans-new-infrastructure-for-commercial-customer/ to view the full article online.

Three Regional Utilities Announce Decision to join Southwest Power Pool Market

Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) announced Sept. 9 their decision to join Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) Western Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS) market.

Visit https://www.tristate.coop/three-regional-utilities-announce-decision-join-southwest-power-pool-market to view the full article online.

Rising to the Occasion

United Power partnered with Touchstone's national balloon program to present to donations to area nonprofits.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/news to view the full article online.

New Pricing Planner Tool on TEP Website

Not sure if you’re on the right pricing plan? Use our new Pricing Planner tool on tep.com to find out and take control of your electric bills by choosing a plan for works for you. The Pricing Planner can analyze your electric use over the past year to estimate the average bills you could expect to pay under each of our four unique pricing plans: Time-of-Use (TOU), Peak Demand, Demand TOU and Basic.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/new-pricing-planner-tool-on-tep-website/ to view the full article online.

Crews Take to the Skies to Replace 600 Insulators

Sierra Nevada line crews are gearing up for the second half of a large maintenance job that uses a helicopter to replace a total of 610 insulators on 49 dead-end structures in northern California.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2019/Pages/california-insulator-replacement.aspx to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy and Itron Collaborate to Bring Advanced Technology to Energy Industry

Xcel Energy announced that it entered an agreement with Itron to secure smart meters to install across its system. The agreement creates a new strategic collaboration with Itron to develop industry-leading smart technology for the energy grid and to give customers more insight into their energy usage, while enhancing grid reliability and improving response time to outages.

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

Rocky Mountain Electrical League