RMEL eNews

Rocky Mountain Electrical League

RMEL Report
  
 

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=722504&issueID=82084 to view the full article online.

Education and Upcoming Events
 

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=722505&issueID=82084 to view the full article online.

Burns & McDonnell
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 2022 RMEL Champions!

Visit https://www.rmel.org/RMEL/Join/RMEL_Champions/RMEL/RMELMembers/RMEL_Champions.aspx?hkey=8eeb3961-71d6-4e18-9db3-82926dd88da1 to view the full article online.

Are Your Wood Poles Protected Against Fire?
Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.®
Fires in the United States have been increasing in size, damage, and cost for the last 30 years. Utility hardening programs should include fire protection and preparation as a key component. Osmose asset fire protection solutions include pre-fire solutions, such as fire protection installation and pole loading analysis, and post-fire solutions, such as visual assessments and new asset inventory verification.
Learn More
Advertisement
Industry Information
MISO Finds Broad Benefits to Building $10.4B of Transmission Projects to Support 53 GW of Clean Energy
  
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator is advancing through its stakeholder process a $10.4 billion set of transmission lines that could support about 53 GW of wind, solar, hybrid and stand-alone battery projects.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/miso-benefits-transmission-projects-renewable/621729/ to view the full article online.

Lithium-ion Roadblocks Drive Development of US-based Alternatives for Grid Battery Storage
  
There is a growing focus on emerging battery technologies that use domestic minerals and elements because supply chain constraints are impeding lithium-ion battery storage.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/lithium-ion-roadblocks-drive-development-of-us-based-alternatives-for-grid/621565/ to view the full article online.

FirstLight Power and Borrego Adding Distributed Generation to Hydropower Units
FirstLight Power announced a partnership with Borrego to bring more clean energy to New England by adding distributed generation (DG) solar, DG storage and utility-scale standalone storage at FirstLight’s hydropower facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/hydro-industry-news/firstlight-power-and-borrego-adding-distributed-generation-to-hydropower-facilities/ to view the full article online.

Massachusetts Senate Unveils Sweeping Climate Proposal
The Massachusetts Senate unveiled a sweeping climate bill April 7 aimed at helping the state meet its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/policy-regulation/massachusetts-senate-unveils-sweeping-climate-proposal/ to view the full article online.

DOE Announces $4 Million for Improving Hydrogen Turbine Performance and Reducing Hydrogen-based Energy Costs
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced $4 million in funding to advance the development of ceramic-based materials to improve the efficiency of hydrogen-fueled turbines that may one day be used in clean power plants. 

Visit https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/doe-announces-4-million-improving-hydrogen-turbine-performance-and-reducing-hydrogen to view the full article online.

Sense, Alliant Energy and Cadmus Collaborate on New Study
Sense announced that its home energy monitoring technology will be part of a new program to assess the impacts of real-time energy insights on energy efficiency and demand response for Wisconsin customers.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/ot-it/53/954122/sense-alliant-energy-and-cadmus-collaborate-on-new-study.html to view the full article online.

U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation Continues to Decline as More Reactors Retire
In 2021, for the second consecutive year, U.S. nuclear electricity generation declined. Output from U.S. nuclear power plants totaled 778 million megawatthours in 2021, or 1.5% less than the previous year.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51978 to view the full article online.

 
Could Geothermal Power U.S. Military Bases? DOD Wants to Find Out
  
As the largest energy consumer in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world, the Department of Defense (DOD) has the ability to influence markets and achieve near-immediate scale for emerging technologies.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/renewables/could-geothermal-power-u-s-military-bases-dod-wants-to-find-out/ to view the full article online.

Elon Musk Opens Tesla’s ‘Giga Texas’ That He Says Is The Biggest U.S. Plant
Elon Musk marked the official start of production at Tesla’s new Giga Texas plant in Austin, saying it’s the country’s biggest factory by size and will also be the highest-volume U.S. auto plant when fully ramped up.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2022/04/07/elon-musk-opens-teslas-giga-texas-that--he-says-is-the-biggest-us-plant/?sh=6e975d251fe2 to view the full article online.

SDG&E Releases Decarbonization Roadmap With First Utility Industry Standard Reliability Analysis
One of the biggest challenges facing the San Diego region and California is how to decarbonize key economic sectors over the next two decades, while also helping to ensure electric reliability, affordability and equity. 

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/electrification/article/21238406/sdge-releases-decarbonization-roadmap-with-first-utility-industry-standard-reliability-analysis to view the full article online.

 
CopperLeaf Technologies Inc.
Tyndale Company
Member Announcements
Austin Energy Set to Begin Base Rate Review
On April 18, Austin Energy will propose base rate changes and launch a public, open and transparent base rate review process. Austin Energy policy requires a regular review of the utility’s costs and revenues so that customer charges accurately recover costs and reflect the community’s priorities. Base rates cover the costs of owning and operating the electric system.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/news-releases/2022/austin-energy-set-to-begin-base-rate-review to view the full article online.

APS Solar Power Brightens Path for Cleaner, Greener Arizona
With nearly 300 sunny days to count on each year, Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) and its customers are transforming Arizona’s sunshine into a renewable energy source that powers an increasing number of homes and businesses across the state. 

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-solar-power-brightens-path-for-cleaner-greener-Arizona to view the full article online.

Basin Electric Receives Highest Award From Great Plains Food Bank
Basin Electric was named a 2021 Hunger Relief Champion by the Great Plains Food Bank, the state's largest hunger-relief organization and the only food bank in the state of North Dakota.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Basin-Electric-receives-highest-award-from-Great-Plains-Food-Bank to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Partners With TXDoT on Improvement Project
CPS Energy is partnering with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT) on an improvement project that will eventually elevate lanes and bridges along the IH-35 corridor. 

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-partners-with-txdot-on-improvement-project/ to view the full article online.

Podcasting Powerfully: El Paso Electric Releases Third Episode of Podcast
The E.P.E. Podcast continues to connect the community and the Company as episode three of season two was released honoring Women’s History Month, as March came to a close, featuring two powerful women of EPE both on opposite ends of their careers and making an impact in their own special way.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/podcasting-powerfully-el-paso-electric-releases-third-episode-of-podcast to view the full article online.

Shedding Light on Resources to Help When Considering Solar
Lincoln Electric System recently launched a Solar Trade Ally Network and a Solar Buyer’s Checklist to help customers who are exploring solar for their homes or who’ve been contacted by solar company sales representatives.

Visit https://www.les.com/company/news/shedding-light-resources-help-when-considering-solar to view the full article online.

NPPD Signs Memorandum of Cooperation With National Electric Highway Coalition
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has signed a memorandum of cooperation to become a member of the National Electric Highway Coalition (NEHC).

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/nppd-signs-memorandum-of-cooperation-with-national-electric-highway-coalition to view the full article online.

Energy Companies Exploring Regional Grid Solutions Engage Utilicast to Oversee Strategic Planning
The Western Markets Exploratory Group announced the hiring of Utilicast, an energy consulting company, to evaluate regional market structures to improve affordability, reliability and decarbonization opportunities across the West.

Visit https://www.pacificorp.com/about/newsroom/news-releases/energy-companies-engage-utilicast-strategic-planning.html to view the full article online.

Platte River Names Officer to Lead New Division
Following a nationwide search, Platte River Power Authority recently named Raj Singam Setti to lead the utility’s new transition and integration division.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news-releases/platte-river-names-officer-to-lead-new-division/ to view the full article online.

 
PNM is Proactively Seeking Information on Emerging Technologies and New Power Resources
PNM is issuing two requests for information (RFIs) on energy resources and emerging technologies that could help the company toward its carbon-free goal.

Visit https://www.pnm.com/documents/28767612/29865400/NEWS+RELEASE+-+PNM+seeks+information+on+emerging+technologies+and+new+resources.pdf/1b38ec36-3fae-ce8c-1d43-526643e4201d?t=1647886331007 to view the full article online.

SRP Crews Depart on Saturday to Once Again Help Provide Power to Native American Families Who Have Never Had Electricity
  
Salt River Project is joining other utilities from across the nation on a local humanitarian mission to provide electricity to Arizona families on the Navajo Nation who still live without electricity in the modern world. 

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-crews-depart-on-saturday-to-once-again-help-provide-power-to-native-american-families-who-have-never-had-electricity/ to view the full article online.

TEP to Issue All-Source Request for Proposals for Additional Energy Resources
  
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will seek new wind and solar generation, energy storage systems and other resources such as energy efficiency with an All-Source Request for Proposals (ASRFP) it plans to issue on Tuesday, April 19. The due date for proposals is expected to be July 1, 2022.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-to-issue-all-source-request-for-proposals-for-additional-energy-resources/ to view the full article online.

WAPA Names New Transmission Infrastructure Program Senior Vice President
  
Paul Schwabe has been named Western Area Power Administration’s senior vice president and Transmission Infrastructure Program manager.
 

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2022/Pages/transmission-infrastructure-program-manager.aspx to view the full article online.

White Paper
Bionic Wing Flaps Improve Wind Energy Efficiency
Scientists show a bionic approach combining features of a seagull's wing with an engineered flow control accessory, known as a Gurney flap, can greatly improve wind turbine performance. 

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220322111341.htm to view the full article online.