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Education and Upcoming Events
 

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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 2021 RMEL Champions!

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Industry Information
Duke, Dominion, Other Utility Executives Lay Out Critical Steps to Achieve Decarbonization Targets
  
As utilities meet aggressive federal and state decarbonization targets, it will be incumbent on them to communicate and educate customers, executives from major U.S. utilities said at the BNEF Summit on Wednesday.

Visit https://bit.ly/3edkEJj to view the full article online.

Chelan PUD to Supply Hydropower to Avista
  
Avista and Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) in Washington State have finalized a contract for renewable hydropower from two Chelan PUD hydropower projects on the Columbia River.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/business-finance/chelan-pud-to-supply-hydropower-to-avista/ to view the full article online.

Offshore Wind in the U.S. Advances With 30-GW Commitment From Government
  
During a government-sponsored forum, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland joined the Secretaries of Energy, Commerce, and Transportation along with representatives from states, the offshore wind industry, and members of the labor community to identify solutions to the greatest challenges facing the development of U.S. offshore wind.

Visit https://bit.ly/2QwbUWa to view the full article online.

U.S. Department Of Energy Awards $2 Million To Develop Clean Hydrogen Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $2 million to four research and development (R&D) projects advancing clean-hydrogen production technologies, which may prove pivotal to reducing carbon emissions and meeting the Biden Administration’s climate change goals.

Visit https://bit.ly/3ajOTgt to view the full article online.

DOE Announces $162 Million to Decarbonize Cars and Trucks
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled two funding opportunities totaling more than $162 million to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions among cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles. 

Visit https://bit.ly/3skKP5z to view the full article online.

Last Winter Saw Larger-Than-Average U.S. Natural Gas Withdrawals From Storage
Significantly colder-than-normal temperatures in the Lower 48 states in late January through mid-February resulted in increased heating demand for natural gas in the United States, despite an otherwise warmer-than-normal winter.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=47576 to view the full article online.

 
Customer Care: The New Reality is a Merged Reality
  
The global pandemic has forced many industries to transform at a faster pace than ever before. From virtual meetings and events, to remote working. 

Visit https://www.power-grid.com/webcasts/customer-care-the-new-reality-is-a-merged-reality/ to view the full article online.

PG&E Begins Implementation of Remote Grids for Fire Mitigation, Resiliency and Customer Service
  
The first operational remote grid for California’s largest investor-owned utility will be made up of an integrated solar, battery, and generator system. If it works, the plan will be to roll out several hundred more across the state.

Visit https://bit.ly/2OTFvsf to view the full article online.

AEP’s North-Central Wind Project Commercially Operational in OK
  
The first of three Oklahoma wind energy facilities to be owned by subsidiaries of American Electric Power is now completed and in commercial operation.

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Subsea Interconnector Between Norway and Germany Now in Operation
  
NordLink, the subsea interconnector between Norway and Germany, is now in operation. 

Visit https://bit.ly/3ahregz to view the full article online.

Ben Fowke’s testimony before US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Building Back Better: Addressing Climate Change in the Electricity Sector and Fostering Economic Growth

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LES Receives National Recognition for Reliability, Safety
Lincoln Electric System has been awarded a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.

Visit https://www.les.com/company/news/les-receives-national-recognition-reliability-safety to view the full article online.

Member Announcements
APS Announces Plans for Seasonal Operations at Four Corners Power Plant
  
Arizona Public Service Co. (APS), an owner and operator of the Four Corners Power Plant, announced plans of an agreement among plant owners Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to move toward operating the plant seasonally beginning fall 2023, subject to necessary approvals.

Visit https://bit.ly/3gfGCOg to view the full article online.

CPS Energy’s Flexible Path Strategy Drives Support for Electric Vehicles
  
Since CPS Energy’s President & CEO, Paula Gold-Williams, created the Flexible PathSM strategy in 2017, the nation’s largest municipally owned, fully-integrated electric and natural gas utility has focused on seeking new and innovative ways to reduce air emissions to create a cleaner San Antonio energy future. 

Visit https://bit.ly/3x0gj4A to view the full article online.

NPPD Ranks First Among Peer Utilities in Safety
  
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices during 2020, ranking first among similar sized utilities.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/nppd-ranks-first-among-peer-utilities-in-safety to view the full article online.

NextEra Energy Marketing announces formation of Great Pee Dee Mitigation Bank
NextEra Energy Marketing, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC,  announced that it has formed the Great Pee Dee Mitigation Bank (GPDMB) in northeastern South Carolina. The GPDMB was approved by South Carolina's Interagency Review Team (IRT) in February 2021, along with the first release of stream and wetland mitigation credits.

Visit https://bit.ly/3x0r07k to view the full article online.

OPPD Board Continues Succession Planning as President & CEO Tim Burke Announces His Retirement
The Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors discussed succession plans following the recent retirement announcement by President & CEO Timothy J. Burke. Burke will be stepping down July 2 after 24 years at the utility.

Visit https://bit.ly/3gddSWs to view the full article online.

New PRPA Solar Project Operational
Platte River Power Authority’s latest solar installation began commercial operation earlier this month, featuring the utility’s first use of battery storage, a technology critical to the organization’s goal of achieving a 100% noncarbon energy portfolio by 2030.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news-releases/new-solar-project-operational/ to view the full article online.

 
PNM Seeks Proposals for New Generation to Serve New Mexico’s Energy Needs
Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) is issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for any and all forms of electric generation and innovative technologies to power our customers and transition our energy mix to 100 percent emissions-free.

Visit https://bit.ly/3ai7wRU to view the full article online.

Southern Power Acquires Deuel Harvest Wind Farm
Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, announced the acquisition of its 14th wind project — the 300-megawatt (MW) Deuel Harvest Wind Farm — from Invenergy, a leading developer, owner and operator of sustainable energy solutions.

Visit https://bit.ly/2QzAk0Y to view the full article online.

SRP is Now Home to the Valley’s Most Comprehensive Utility Technology Innovation Laboratory
Cross department collaboration, technician and engineer training, tabletop exercises and state-of-the art utility technology testing are just some of the value-added capabilities SRP has as part of its new Technology Innovation Laboratory in Scottsdale. 

Visit https://bit.ly/3x40QAo to view the full article online.

 
Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp First to Complete Sunflower’s Site Certification Process
Stamped for approval! The Dodge City Business Park became a certified site, which verifies that the 245-acre business park meets necessary criteria for industrial development.

Visit https://bit.ly/3uXkSLm to view the full article online.

Tri-State Expands Participation in CAISO Western Energy Imbalance Market
Wholesale power supply cooperative Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association expanded its participation in the CAISO Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) real-time energy market into New Mexico at midnight, April 1 as the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) balancing authority joined the market.

Visit https://tristate.coop/tri-state-expands-participation-caiso-western-energy-imbalance-market to view the full article online.

​Additional Utility Joins Evaluation of SPP RTO Expansion to the West
Southwest Power Pool received a letter from Western Area Power Administration’s Colorado River Storage Project expressing interest in evaluating membership in the organization. 

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2021/Pages/crsp-spp-rto-membership.aspx to view the full article online.

White Paper
Dow-like Index for Energy Prices Might Help Smooth Transition to Clean Power
Since the early industrial revolution in the mid-1700s, fossil fuels have acquired an ever-growing footprint in energy production. However, the environmental concerns of fossil fuels use and their inevitable depletion have led to a global shift toward renewable energy sources. These transitions, however, raise questions about the best choice of renewables and the impact of investing in these resources on consumer cost.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113345.htm to view the full article online.