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Education and Upcoming Events

Visit https://www.rmel.org/RMEL/Events/List/RMEL/Events_Info/List_of_Events.aspx?hkey=caf67ebf-969d-42dd-815f-43eab06040da to view the full article online.

Graduate-Level Education in Power Systems Engineering – Entirely Online

EPCE and Worcester Polytechnic Institute have partnered to help prepare graduates for careers in engineering management and to also further the education of experienced engineers. Our power systems engineering program combines essential topics in power systems engineering with technology-focused business courses. Graduate-level certificates and degrees are offered.

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Industry Information

Traceability, Accountability, and Diversification Come to the Fore as the Energy Sector Enters Into a New Decade

The world has never been more aware of the importance of conserving resources and reducing carbon emissions. Nowhere is this growing consciousness more keenly felt than in the energy sector. Companies need to navigate increasingly demanding taxation regimes and government policies as well as the negative perception connected to fossil fuel taking root among the general population and brought to the fore by the likes of Greta Thunberg and the Extinction Rebellion.

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/2020/01/01/traceability-accountability-and-diversification-come-to-the-fore-as-the-energy-sector-enters-into-a-new-decade/ to view the full article online.

Department of Energy Announces $20 Million for Extreme Environment Materials for Power Generation

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has announced up to $20 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development projects under the funding opportunity announcement (FOA), Extreme Environment Materials for Power Generation.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-20-million-extreme-environment-materials-power-generation to view the full article online.

NERC: Grid operators must prepare for 330 GW of renewables by 2029

The challenge for the nation's electric system will be in accommodating a growing amount of renewable resources, according to NERC's 2019 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, released Thursday. The analysis shows more than 330 GW of solar and wind capacity are planned for installation through 2029.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nerc-grid-operators-must-prepare-for-330-gw-of-renewables-by-2029/569462/ to view the full article online.

Australia’s Draft 2020 Integrated System Plan Calls for More Pumped Hydro

Australia’s Draft 2020 Integrated System Plan (ISP) published earlier this month, intended to be an “actionable” roadmap for the efficient development of the National Electricity Market, calls for more pumped hydro in the system.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/2019/12/23/australias-draft-2020-integrated-system-plan-calls-for-more-pumped-hydro/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Energy Department Awards $3M for R&D on Behind-the-Meter Control systems for DER

Eaton announced it has been awarded a $3 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to pursue research and development initiatives involving control systems for behind-the-meter solar and energy storage.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2020/01/01/us-energy-department-awards-3m-for-rd-on-behind-the-meter-control-systems-for-der/ to view the full article online.

FERC Directs PJM to Expand Minimum Offer Price Rule

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) acted to protect the competitive capacity market administered by PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) by directing PJM to expand its current Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) to address state-subsidized electric generation resources, with certain exemptions.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/t-d/56/808370/ferc-directs-pjm-to-expand-minimum-offer-price-rule-.html to view the full article online.

EIA Projects Nearly 50% Increase in World Energy Usage by 2050, Led by Growth in Asia

In its newly released International Energy Outlook 2019 (IEO2019) Reference case, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that world energy consumption will grow by nearly 50% between 2018 and 2050. Most of this growth comes from countries that are not in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and this growth is focused in regions where strong economic growth is driving demand, particularly in Asia.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42342 to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Lacal Becomes First Woman to Lead Operations at 3.3-GW Palo Verde Nuclear Plant

Later this month, Maria Lacal becomes part of an extremely rare group: women who run nuclear operations at a major utility. Arizona Public Service previously announced that Maria Lacal, currently Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Oversight, will succeed Bob Bement effective January 21.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/2020/01/02/lacal-becomes-first-woman-to-lead-operations-at-3-3-gw-palo-verde-nuclear-plant/ to view the full article online.

Bakken, Lonesome Creek Station Unit 6 Project Team Work Underway

With load growth forecasted in Basin Electric’s service territory, teams have been established to explore new generation. The project teams for Bakken Generation and Lonesome Creek Station Unit 6 were set up to develop the construction projects, according to Gavin McCollam, Vice President of Engineering and Construction.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/bakken-lonesome-creek-6-project-team-work-underway to view the full article online.

CPS Energy President & CEO Paula Gold-Williams Honored with S&P Global Energy Chief Trailblazer of the Year Award

Paula Gold-Williams, President & CEO of CPS Energy was named the first ever 2019 Chief Trailblazer of the Year at the 21st annual S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards that was held in New York City on December 12th.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-president-ceo-paula-gold-williams-honored-with-sp-global-energy-chief-trailblazer-of-the-year-award/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric Plans to Add First Ever Utility-Scale Battery Storage, Hundreds of MWs of Solar Energy by 2023

El Paso Electric (EPE) (NYSE: EE) continues to take steps to make its power generation portfolio cleaner and more sustainable by enacting a long-term energy supply resource plan that includes expanding solar energy, introducing utility-scale battery storage, and constructing a new state-of-the-art-natural gas-fired generation unit.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/epe-plans-to-add-first-ever-utility-scale-battery-storage-hundreds-of-mws-of-solar-energy-by-2023 to view the full article online.

Senior Management Promotions Announced by NPPD

Three promotions were announced regarding the senior management team at Nebraska Public Power District by President and CEO Pat Pope, Tom Kent was promoted to the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Tim Arlt was named Vice-President and General Manager of Retail, and Robyn Tweedy was appointed Vice-President and Chief Information Officer.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/senior-management-promotions-announced-by-nppd to view the full article online.

OPPD Board Approves 2020 Corporate Operating Plan with no General Rate Increases

Omaha Public Power District customers will see no general rate increases for the fourth straight year, per its newly approved Corporate Operating Plan (COP) for 2020. The utility’s board of directors approved the $1.3 billion plan at its monthly meeting.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2019/december/oppd-board-approves-2020-corporate-operating-plan-with-no-general-rate-increases/ to view the full article online.

Four Colorado Power Providers to Join the Western Energy Imbalance Market

Four Colorado utilities announced today that they plan to join the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM), operated by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), to save customers money while allowing them to use more energy from wind and solar. Xcel Energy, Black Hills Colorado Electric, Colorado Springs Utilities and Platte River Power Authority have different business models, customers and geography, but all share a commitment to leading the clean energy transition and believe the WEIM will provide the most benefit to their collective Colorado customers.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news/four-colorado-power-providers-to-join-the-california-western-energy-imbalance-market/ to view the full article online.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and Mid-Kansas Electric Company Merge

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announces its merger with Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc. effective Jan.1, 2020. The merger of the two cooperatively operated, wholesale electric utilities incorporates Mid-Kansas into Sunflower.

Visit https://www.sunflower.net/sunflower-electric-power-corp-and-mid-kansas-electric-company-merge/ to view the full article online.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Will Donate $60,000 to the Yampa River Fund Over the Next Three Years.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced that it will donate $60,000 in funds, which will be matched anonymously, to the Yampa River Fund over the next three years. The cooperative is also a member of the Fund, which was established in September. The Yampa River Fund is a community-driven water fund dedicated to identifying and funding activities that protect the water supply, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities provided by the Yampa River.

Visit https://www.tristate.coop/tri-state-announces-funding-yampa-river-fund to view the full article online.

From Golf Carts to 125-Foot Bucket Trucks: TEP’s Versatile Fleet Services

Bucket trucks are Tucson Electric Power’s most iconic vehicles, frequently seen lifting crews more than 40 feet in the air to repair power lines. But our fleet actually includes a wide variety of vehicles, from the massive Condor – equipped with a 125-foot lift – to relatively tiny golf carts. Our nearly 800 vehicles include standard pickups, forklifts, flatbeds and even a snow track machine to reach communication towers on Mount Bigelow in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the winter.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/from-golf-carts-to-125-foot-bucket-trucks-teps-versatile-fleet-services/ to view the full article online.

WAPA Completes Transition to New Reliability Coordinators

WAPA successfully completed its transition to new reliability coordinators for its balancing authorities and transmission operators in the Western Interconnection after more than a year of preparation and testing.

Southwest Power Pool began providing RC services to WAPA’s Western Area Upper Great Plains - West, Western Area Colorado Missouri and Western Area Lower Colorado BAs and the associated transmission operators Dec. 3. The BAs encompass the transmission operations for Upper Great Plains in the Western Interconnection, the Colorado River Storage Project and the Rocky Mountain and Desert Southwest regions.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2019/Pages/transitioning-reliability-coordinators.aspx to view the full article online.

White Paper

Big Step in Producing Carbon-Neutral Fuel: Silver Diphosphide

A new chemical process described in the journal Nature Communications does in the lab what trees do in nature -- it converts carbon dioxide into usable chemicals or fuels. This new, carbon-neutral process, created by researchers at Wake Forest University, uses silver diphosphide (AgP2) as a novel catalyst that takes carbon dioxide pollution from manufacturing plants and converts it to a material called syngas, from which the liquid fuel used in manufacturing is made.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216122420.htm to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League