RMEL eNews

Industry Information

Tunneling Robot Speeds Installation of Underground Utilities, Aiding Resilience Efforts

Petra, a San Francisco-based robotics company focused on installing utilities underground, has developed a boring robot designed to tunnel utility channels through difficult terrain, including bedrock.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tunnelling-robot-underground-utilities-Petra/618238/ to view the full article online.

California ISO Sketches $30.5B Draft Transmission Plan to Meet State's Clean Energy Goals

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) on Monday issued a 20-year draft transmission outlook plan for the first time, detailing the long-term infrastructure required to achieve clean energy goals in the grid operator’s footprint.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-iso-sketches-305b-draft-transmission-plan-to-meet-states-clea/618230/ to view the full article online.

Partners Agree to Move Ahead on 500 MW San Vicente Energy Storage Facility

Partners the City of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority will begin negotiations on a project development agreement with the BHE Kiewit Team to develop Phase 1 of the potential 500 MW San Vicente Energy Storage Facility Project.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/hydro-industry-news/partners-agree-to-move-ahead-on-500-mw-san-vicente-energy-storage-facility/ to view the full article online.

Partners Advance FTM Energy Storage Project in New York

Energy storage services provider Stem Inc. said it will provide smart energy storage services to NineDot Energy, a cleantech developer that designs and deploys community distributed energy generation and storage projects.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/news/partners-advance-ftm-energy-storage-project-in-new-york/ to view the full article online.

DOE Awards 13.4 Million Barrels From Strategic Petroleum Reserve Exchange to Bolster Fuel Supply Chain

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved seven additional exchanges of 13.4 million barrels of crude oil for release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-awards-134-million-barrels-strategic-petroleum-reserve-exchange-bolster-fuel-supply to view the full article online.

Constellation Launches as Largest U.S. Clean Energy Company After Completing Separation from Exelon

Constellation announced the completion of its separation from Exelon Corp. and its launch as a standalone, publicly traded company and the nation's largest carbon-free energy producer and leading supplier of clean energy solutions to millions of homes and businesses.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/climate-change/82/942751/constellation-launches-as-largest-u-s-clean-energy-company-after-completing-separation-from-exelon.html to view the full article online.

New England Natural Gas and Electricity Prices Increase on Supply Constraints, High Demand

The spot natural gas price at the Algonquin Citygate, a trading hub and the benchmark for the natural gas price in New England, averaged $20.55 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) during January 2022—the highest monthly average price since February 2014—and exceeded $28/MMBtu on several days as part of a pattern of price spikes this winter.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51158 to view the full article online.

WEC Energy Group Plans Hydrogen Power Pilot Using Reciprocating Engines

WEC Energy Group announced a pilot project to test co-firing hydrogen with natural gas at one of its Michigan power plants.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/hydrogen/wec-energy-group-plans-hydrogen-power-pilot-using-reciprocating-engines/ to view the full article online.

California ISO Releases First-Ever 20-Year Transmission Outlook

To help enable and accelerate the integration of new renewable electricity resources onto the grid, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) has published a draft of its first-ever 20-Year Transmission Outlook.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/overhead-transmission/article/21215776/california-iso-releases-firstever-20year-transmission-outlook to view the full article online.

The Nuclear Industry Argues Regulators Don’t Understand New Small Reactors

The nuclear power industry is betting its future on a new generation of reactors small enough to fit on a truck—an emerging technology that mostly uses alternatives to water for cooling, runs at lower pressure than traditional units, and costs far less than the behemoth power plants and cooling towers that define the nuclear landscape today.

Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-07/nuclear-industry-says-government-regulators-don-t-understand-new-small-reactors?srnd=green to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

CSO Shares Journey to WAPA

On Nov. 21, 2021, Kerry Whitford officially joined WAPA as the organization's chief strategy officer. Whitford brings decades' worth of experience in strategic planning, performance measurement, enterprise risk management and stakeholder relations to the role.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2022/Pages/cso-shares-journey-to-WAPA.aspx to view the full article online.

APS CEO Jeff Guldner Shares Snapshot of What’s Ahead for 2022

Two years after APS announced a bold Clean Energy Commitment to serve customers with 100% clean and carbon-free energy by 2050, Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) CEO Jeff Guldner sat down with Public Utilities Fortnightly magazine to discuss the progress made on clean energy goals, the continued investment in Arizona’s future prosperity and what else he is focusing on this year.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-CEO-Jeff-Guldner-shares-snapshot-of-what-is-ahead-for-2022 to view the full article online.

Carbon Dioxide Capture Pilot Project At Wyoming Itc Expected To Begin This Year

Construction of a Membrane Technology and Research (MTR) carbon dioxide capture pilot project at Wyoming’s Integrated Test Center (ITC) is expected to begin this fall but could be pushed back due to long lead times on equipment.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Carbon-dioxide-capture-project-at-Wyoming-ITC-expected-to-begin-this-year to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Reliability Project Includes Installation of New Natural Gas Main to Serve Growing Population Near Loop 1604 and IH 10 W

CPS Energy will begin construction on a new natural gas main being installed under Loop 1604 near IH-10 on the northwest side of San Antonio.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-reliability-project-includes-installation-of-new-natural-gas-main-to-serve-growing-population-near-loop-1604-and-ih-10-w/ to view the full article online.

ECI Announces Executive VP David Anderson’s Retirement

After 32 years with ECI and almost 40 years in the industry, Dave Anderson is retiring as ECI’s Executive Vice President. Dave was ECI’s seventh employee and has played a significant part in our growth to almost 800 people in 23 offices.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/pdf/DJA_Retirement_020122.pdf to view the full article online.

EPE Looks to Expand Popular Texas Community Solar Program by Issuing a Request for Proposal

El Paso Electric (EPE) releases a request for proposal (RFP) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services for a 10-megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar generating facility coupled with an optional 3 MW battery energy storage system.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/epe-looks-to-expand-popular-texas-community-solar-program-by-issuing-a-request-for-proposal to view the full article online.

Daimler Truck North America, NextEra Energy Resources and BlackRock Renewable Power Announce Plans To Accelerate Public Charging Infrastructure For Commercial Vehicles Across The U.S.

Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and BlackRock Renewable Power (BlackRock) announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to lay the foundation for a proposed joint venture (JV) to design, develop, install and operate a nationwide, high-performance charging network for medium- and heavy-duty battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the U.S.

Visit https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/news-releases?item=123840 to view the full article online.

OPP Continues Strong Focus on Reliability & Resiliency for Future Generation

Omaha Public Power District is laying the groundwork to provide the energy needed to power growing communities, while pursuing the goal of becoming a net-zero carbon producer by 2050.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2022/january/oppd-continues-strong-focus-on-reliability-resiliency-for-future-generation/ to view the full article online.

Idaho Power, PacifiCorp and BPA Propose New Plan for Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line

Idaho Power, PacifiCorp and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) have reached a non-binding agreement that would help meet growing customer demand, improve safety and reliability, and reinforce the Pacific Northwest transmission system.

Visit https://www.pacificorp.com/about/newsroom/news-releases/boardman-to-hemingway-transmission.html to view the full article online.

Colorado Utilities Plan to Join the Western Energy Imbalance Service Market

Xcel Energy-Colorado, Platte River Power Authority and Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC announced plans to join the Western Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS) Market, operated by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP).

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news-releases/colorado-utilities-plan-to-join-the-western-energy-imbalance-service-market/ to view the full article online.

SRP Extends Kayenta I Solar Contract and Announces New Navajo Nation-Based "Cameron Solar" Facility

At a ceremony in Phoenix, officials with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), Salt River Project (SRP), and leaders of the Navajo Nation agreed to extend a ground-breaking agreement that paved the way for the first-ever, large-scale utility solar farm on the Navajo Nation, the “Kayenta I” facility.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-extends-kayenta-i-solar-contract-and-announces-new-navajo-nation-based-cameron-solar-facility/ to view the full article online.

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Files Application for Second Solar Project

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation applied for a Solar Energy System Permit in Russell County on Feb. 7, 2022. Sunflower plans to develop the Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell project, a 20-megawatt solar farm located three miles east of Russell.

Visit https://www.sunflower.net/sunflower-electric-power-corporation-files-application-for-second-solar-project/ to view the full article online.

Tri-State to Have 100% of its Load in Organized Markets in 2023

Wholesale power supply cooperative Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association will have 100% of its members’ load in organized markets in 2023, following the announcement of Xcel Energy’s plans to join the Southwest Power Pool Western Energy Imbalance Service (SPP WEIS).

Visit https://tristate.coop/tri-state-have-100-its-load-organized-markets-2023 to view the full article online.

February Message from Mark A. Gabriel

Charles Darwin put things into perspective when he noted, “it is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/february-message-mark-gabriel to view the full article online.

Five Ways TEP is Bringing More Solar to the Community

Whether we harness the sun’s energy from large community arrays or smaller rooftop systems, solar energy plays an important role in helping us build a cleaner, greener grid.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/five-ways-tep-is-bringing-more-solar-to-the-community/ to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Plan Approved to Drive Nation-Leading Carbon Reductions

Xcel Energy, a national leader in the clean energy transition, yesterday received approval for its plan to reduce carbon emissions from electricity provided to its Upper Midwest customers by more than 85% by 2030.

Visit https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-plan-approved-to-drive-nation-leading-carbon-reductions-20Y2R000000bmLaUAI to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League