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DOE, Partners Announce Agreement to Speed Commercialization of Long-Duration Energy Storage

The partnership brings together the Department of Energy with industry experts for “milestone-driven activities and engagements,” said Anna Siefken, senior advisor for the Office of Technology Transitions. Parties to the agreement include DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions, the Edison Electric Institute, Electric Power Research Institute and Long Duration Energy Storage Council.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/long-duration-energy-storage-DOE-EEI-EPRI-LDES/644551/ to view the full article online.

Clean Energy Funding Gaps Persist Despite Record Green Investments

A study has revealed that 2022 saw record clean energy investment across the globe, reaching $1.3 trillion. However, despite being up 19% from 2021 investment levels and 50% from before the pandemic in 2019, more still is needed to meet a 1.5°C goal by 2050.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/news/clean-energy-funding-gaps-persist-despite-record-green-investments/ to view the full article online.

Lower Gas Prices to Drive 35%-45% ‘Plunge’ in 2023 Peak Power Prices Across Most of US: Moody’s

Moody’s lowered its outlook for unregulated utilities and power generation companies to stable from positive, citing the lower gas prices. The firm said it now expects gas prices to average slightly more than $3/MMBtu in 2023, “down sharply from our previous expectations that gas prices would remain above $4.50/MMBtu.”

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/lower-gas-prices-drive-35-45-plunge-in-2023-expected-peak-power-prices-a/644920/ to view the full article online.

CISA Launches Ransomware Warning Pilot for Critical Infrastructure Providers

The Joint Ransomware Task Force is coordinating the program, called the Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot, actively warning organizations about internet-accessible vulnerabilities linked to known threat actors.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/cisa-ransomware-warning-critical-infrastructure/645071/ to view the full article online.

DOE on Path to Deployment for Hydrogen, Advanced Nuclear, Long Duration Energy Storage

Total investment across the hydrogen, nuclear and long duration energy storage sectors must increase from approximately $40 billion now to $300 billion by 2030, with continued acceleration until 2050 in order to stay on track in reaching decarbonization targets.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/hydrogen/doe-on-path-to-deployment-for-hydrogen-advanced-nuclear-long-duration-energy-storage/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Regulators Delay Decision on Nuclear Fuel Storage License

U.S. regulators say they need more time to wrap up a final safety report and make a decision on whether to license a multibillion-dollar complex meant to temporarily store tons of spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants around the nation.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/ap-news/u-s-regulators-delay-decision-on-nuclear-fuel-storage-license/ to view the full article online.

Reuse of Coal Plants Can Cut Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Development Costs by 35%: Report

Nearly one-fourth of the current U.S. coal-fired fleet is scheduled to retire by 2029, providing opportunities to site advanced nuclear plants, specifically small modular reactors, or SMRs, a Washington, D.C. think tank says in a recent report.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/coal-plants-retire-advanced-nuclear-reactors-smr/645974/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Power Generation from Renewables Surpassed Coal for the First Time, Says EIA

In 2022, generation from renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal surpassed coal-fired generation in the U.S. electric power sector for the first time. That’s according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Electricity Power Monthly.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/renewables/u-s-power-generation-from-renewables-surpassed-coal-for-the-first-time-says-eia/ to view the full article online.

Utilities: Improved Transformer Efficiency is Important, but Goal Could Threaten Grid Reliability

The problem, warned the Edison Electric Institute, is DOE’s plan would essentially require new liquid-immersed distribution transformers to use amorphous core steel — and the U.S. does not currently produce enough of that type of steel, making replacements hard to come by. “Improved transformer efficiency is important but cannot come at the expense of reliability,” wrote EEI, the trade group for U.S. investor-owned utilities.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/utilities-improved-transformer-efficiency-is-important-but-goal-could-thr/646396/ to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

United States Green Building Council Designates Gold LEED® Certification for Platte River’s New Headquarters Building

Designation marks first development in Fort Collins to achieve LEED Gold in USGBC’s version 4 category for building design and construction, new construction.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news-releases/gold-leed-certification-for-platte-rivers-new-headquarters-building/ to view the full article online.

Construction Begins on New Wind Energy Resource Project North of Flagstaff

SRP to purchase full energy output from the project to be developed by NextEra Energy Resources on Babbitt Ranches’ land.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/construction-begins-on-new-wind-energy-resource-project-north-of-flagstaff/ to view the full article online.

SRP Board Selects Jim Pratt as New General Manager and CEO of SRP, the Nation’s 3rd-Largest Not-for-Profit, Community-Based Public Power Utility

Pratt will lead SRP’s more than 5,000 employees as they continue to provide low-cost, reliable water and power. He will also work with SRP’s elected board and council, which remains steadfast in achieving the company’s vital 2035 Corporate Goals navigating a rapidly changing industry with customers’ best interests in mind.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-board-selects-jim-pratt-as-new-general-manager-and-ceo-of-srp-the-nations-3rd-largest-not-for-profit-community-based-public-power-utility/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric Earns 2023 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award

El Paso Electric (EPE) is proud to announce that it has received the 2023 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for our dedication and commitment to helping customers save on energy consumption and efforts in customer outreach and education on energy efficiency.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/company/news/el-paso-electric-earns-2023-energy-star-partner-of-the-year-award to view the full article online.

Earthwork Begins on Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV Site

PGSIV will generate about 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity near the existing Pioneer Generation Station northwest of Williston, North Dakota. The new natural gas-fueled generation will be a combination of combustion turbine and reciprocating engine units to provide dispatch flexibility while addressing near-term load growth and long-term grid stability in the Bakken region.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Earthwork-begins-on-Pioneer-Generation-Station-Phase-IV-site to view the full article online.

United Power Connects 10,000th Rooftop Solar System

Rooftop solar has quickly become a preferred solution for electric utility customers who are looking to offset their regular energy usage with more renewable options. The growth rate for solar installations on United Power’s system has increased at a rapid pace over the last three years, placing the cooperative at the forefront in connected solar across electric utilities nationwide.

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/united-power-connects-10000th-rooftop-solar-system to view the full article online.

Austin Energy General Manager Announces Retirement

With nearly 40 years of service to the electric utility industry, including eight years with Austin Energy, General Manager Jackie Sargent announced her retirement from Austin Energy today. Sargent served as the first female General Manager of Austin Energy.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/about/news/news-releases/2023/austin-energy-general-manager-announces-retirement to view the full article online.

White Paper

Switching to Hydrogen Fuel Could Prolong the Methane Problem

Hydrogen is often heralded as the clean fuel of the future, but new research suggests that leaky hydrogen infrastructure could end up increasing atmospheric methane levels, which would cause decades-long climate consequences.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230313162740.htm to view the full article online.

Minimizing Electric Vehicles' Impact on the Grid

Some projections show that widespread adoption of electric vehicles might require costly new power plants to meet peak loads in the evening. A new study shows that placing EV charging stations strategic ways and setting up systems to initiate charging at delayed times could lessen or eliminate the need for new power plants.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230315132448.htm to view the full article online.

Solar Industry Feeling the Heat Over Disposal of 80 Million Panels

Paradoxically, one of the reasons people are installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in huge numbers is to help the environment, but the industry is now grappling with the anticipated waste generated by 100,000 tons of panels due to be dismantled in Australia from 2035.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230321112650.htm to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League