RMEL eNews

Industry Information

DOE to Attack CO2 Emissions with Billions in Funding from Inflation Reduction, Infrastructure Laws

Bipartisan infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, investments in carbon dioxide reduction can and must be used along with clean energy to address the climate crisis, the Department of Energy said in announcing its Carbon Negative Shot, or CNS.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/carbon-capture-doe-funding-45q-ccs-direct-air/629624/ to view the full article online.

There is a Place for Natural Gas on a Zero-Carbon Grid: EPRI

Gas-fired generation paired with carbon removal technologies can reduce the costs of decarbonizing the electricity sector by $300 billion over the next 15 years, the Electric Power Research Institute concluded.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/natural-gas-carbon-capture-CCS-45Q-tax-credit-epri/630325/ to view the full article online.

Emerging Small Reactors Projected to Provide 90 GW of Nuclear Power to the US Grid by 2050: NEI Survey

The push for carbon-free energy will drive the growth of small modular reactors, or SMRs, with 300 of them expected to be online by 2050 supplying 731 TWh of power, according to the results of a survey the Nuclear Energy Institute conducted with a subset of its member utilities.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/emerging-small-reactors-projected-to-provide-90-gw-of-nuclear-power-to-the/629936/ to view the full article online.

As Airports Rush to Electrify, Important Questions Remain Unanswered, and Unasked

As nearly every commercial service airport in the United States is owned by public entities in some fashion, there also is political pressure on airport administrators to limit their use of fossil fuels in everything from their rental car facilities to new or expanded terminals and the vendors who lease space in them to making room for electric airplanes.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielmarkind/2022/08/29/as-airports-rush-to-electrify-important-questions-remain-unanswered-and-unasked/?sh=2810e4621664 to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Energy Invests $31 Million to Advance Carbon Capture and Storage for Natural Gas Power and Industrial Sectors

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced more than $31 million in funding for 10 projects to develop carbon capture technologies capable of capturing at least 95 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from natural gas power plants, waste-to-energy power plants, and industrial applications, including cement and steel.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/us-department-energy-invests-31-million-advance-carbon-capture-and-storage-natural to view the full article online.

2020 Inflation-Adjusted U.S. Energy Expenditures Lowest Since 2002

In 2020, the amount U.S. consumers spent on energy (energy expenditures) fell to $1 trillion, the least amount since 2002, according to our State Energy Data System (SEDS). U.S. energy expenditures are the total amount spent on all energy used in the residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors combined.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=53620# to view the full article online.

Justice Department, FTC Urge FERC to Expand Competition for Building New Transmission, Deny Utility Exclusivity

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s proposal to reinstate a federal right of first refusal giving incumbent utilities first dibs on building certain regional transmission projects would hurt consumers and should be scrapped, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission told the agency.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/justice-doj-ftc-ferc-transmission-competition-utilities-rofr/629966/ to view the full article online.

Electricity Generation from Natural Gas Hit Record High in July, EIA Says

Electric power generated from U.S. natural-gas fired plants reached 6.37 million MWh on July 21, a record high according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Hourly Electric Grid Monitor.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/gas/daily-u-s-electricity-generation-from-natural-gas-hit-record-high-in-july-eia/ to view the full article online.

Amazon Signs Green Hydrogen Supply Deal with Plug Power

Using Plug Power’s electrolyzers, liquefaction capabilities, and cryogenic tankers, Plug will deliver green hydrogen to Amazon beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The liquified green hydrogen will be used to fuel Amazon's transportation and building operations, the companies said.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydrogen/amazon-signs-green-hydrogen-supply-deal-with-plug-power/ to view the full article online.

Grid Interactive Solar + Storage Expanding in Utah and Idaho

If consumers are willing to purchase and install solar energy on their homes and they are also willing to purchase and install batteries so they can continue using that solar energy at night when the sun goes down, could those same batteries be used by the electric utility as a grid asset?

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/grid-interactive-solar-storage-expanding-in-utah-and-idaho/ to view the full article online.

APS Awards Grants to West Valley Nonprofit Organizations

Arizona Public Service Co. (APS), in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation, has announced the recipients of its 2022 West Valley Grants Program, in which eligible nonprofits receive funding for programs supporting the environment, education, community development and arts and culture.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-awards-grants-to-west-valley-nonprofit-organizations to view the full article online.

Basin Electric Directors Approve Long-Rnage Engineering Plan

The Basin Electric board of directors approved the 2023-2032 long-range engineering plan (LREP). The LREP includes a preliminary look at capital projects that may be considered for approval in the next 10 years, with increased detail available for the first three years of the plan.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Basin-Electric-directors-approve-Long-Range-Engineering-Plan to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Board Votes to Enter Contract Negotiations with Rudy D. Garza to Serve as Permanent President & CEO

The CPS Energy Board of Trustees voted to enter a 30-day contract negotiation period with Interim President & CEO, Rudy D. Garza to serve as permanent President & CEO for the utility. Garza has served in the interim role since November 2021.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-board-votes-to-enter-contract-negotiations-with-rudy-d-garza-to-serve-as-permanent-president-ceo/ to view the full article online.

Evergy to purchase 199 MW Persimmon Creek Wind Farm from Scout Clean Energy and Elawan Energy

Evergy and a partnership between Scout Clean Energy and Elawan Energy announced that Evergy will purchase the 199-megawatt Persimmon Creek Wind Farm in western Oklahoma for a purchase price of about $250 million. The renewable energy from this wind farm will serve customers in the Evergy Missouri West service area.

Visit https://newsroom.evergy.com/2022-08-09-Evergy-to-purchase-199-MW-Persimmon-Creek-Wind-Farm-from-Scout-Clean-Energy-and-Elawan-Energy to view the full article online.

Kent Appoints New VP of Customer Service and External Affairs

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) President and CEO Tom Kent recently announced changes in two executive leadership positions at the district.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/kent-appoints-new-vp-of-customer-service-and-external-affairs to view the full article online.

OPPD Board Approves Recommendation to Delay Transition of North Omaha Station

The Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors approved a recommendation by utility management to temporarily postpone a planned transition of North Omaha Station (NOS). Their vote postpones the retirement of NOS units 1-3, currently available to run on natural gas during times of high demand, as well as the conversion of units 4 and 5 from low-sulfur coal to natural gas.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2022/august/oppd-board-approves-recommendation-to-delay-transition-of-north-omaha-station/ to view the full article online.

SPP Welcomes New Utility to Group Evaluating Western RTO Expansion

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is pleased to announce receipt of Platte River Power Authority’s (Platte River) notice of intent to join several western entities evaluating participation in SPP’s regional transmission organization (RTO).

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news-releases/spp-welcomes-new-utility-to-group-evaluating-western-rto-expansion/ to view the full article online.

SRP Announces Leslie Meyers as New Chief Water Executive

Meyers joins SRP with more than 30 years of water resources management experience in Arizona and the Southwest, most recently with the Bureau of Reclamation.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-announces-leslie-meyers-as-new-chief-water-executive/ to view the full article online.

Co-op Provisions in Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Advance Tri-State Responsible Energy Plan

Tri-State advocated for specific provisions that advance investment in rural communities, including the direct payment of renewable energy tax credits to not-for-profit electric utilities, and funding to support cooperative investment in new renewables, energy storage and transmission.

Visit https://tristate.coop/co-op-provisions-inflation-reduction-act-2022-advance-tri-state-responsible-energy-plan to view the full article online.

TEP Exploring Hydrogen Technologies in Drive to Cleaner Future

Tucson Electric Power is participating in two efforts to explore hydrogen production, transportation and storage opportunities as we seek cost-effective, cleaner energy solutions in the face of a changing climate.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-exploring-hydrogen-technologies-in-drive-to-cleaner-future/ to view the full article online.

WAPA Successfully Executes BIL Funding for Purchase Power

Western Area Power Administration is on track to fully expend the $500 million that the organization received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support more replacement power and transmission capacity purchases caused primarily by drought and increasing power market volatility.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2022/Pages/infrastructure-law-purchase-power-funding.aspx to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Announces Transportation Vision to Power All Vehicles with Carbon-Free Energy by 2050

Xcel Energy announced a new transportation vision that drives toward providing the infrastructure and energy to run all vehicles in its service area on carbon-free electricity or other clean energy by 2050. Expanding upon the company’s existing 2030 electric vehicle (EV) vision supports its overall goal to become a net-zero energy provider by 2050.

Visit https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-announces-transportation-vision-to-power-all-vehicles-with-carbon-fr-MCR7ZHPU5UVJDMVCZ4T32OOL47CM to view the full article online.

White Paper

Sulfur shortage: A Potential Resource Crisis Looming as the World Decarbonizes

A new study highlights that global demand for sulfuric acid is set to rise significantly from '246 to 400 million tons' by 2040 -- a result of more intensive agriculture and the world moving away from fossil fuels.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220822091106.htm to view the full article online.

Local Renewable Energy Employment can Fully Replace U.S. Coal Jobs Nationwide, Study Finds

Across the United States, local wind and solar jobs can fully replace the coal-plant jobs that will be lost as the nation's power-generation system moves away from fossil fuels in the coming decades, according to a new study.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220810123704.htm to view the full article online.

A New Method Boosts Wind Farms' Energy Output, Without New Equipment

Engineers have developed a method to increase wind farms' energy output. Whereas individual turbines are typically controlled separately, the new approach models the wind flow of the entire collection of turbines and optimizes the control of individual units.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220811152532.htm to view the full article online.

Tweaking Turbine Angles Squeezes More Power Out of Wind Farms

A new control algorithm for wind farms that alters how individual turbines are oriented into the wind promises to boost farms' overall efficiency and energy output by optimizing how they deal with their turbulent wake.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220811135323.htm to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League