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Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=782813&issueID=91804 to view the full article online.

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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!

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Most of US Faces Elevated Risk of Blackouts in Extreme Heat this Summer, NERC Warns
  
Resources should be adequate to meet normal summer peak demand, but “if summer temperatures spike and become more widespread, the U.S. West, Midwest, Texas and Southeast United States, New England and Ontario may experience resource shortfalls,” NERC concluded.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/most-of-us-faces-elevated-risk-of-summer-blackouts-extreme-heat-nerc/650531/ to view the full article online.

Growing Hydropower Output in Western U.S. May Supplant Natural Gas this Summer
U.S. power prices have been lower in 2023 than 2022 due to lower natural gas prices and modest power demand, and it will be important to watch coal-fired power plant retirements and hydropower capacity in the western U.S. going forward, said S&P Global Commodity Insights power market analysts.

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/business-finance/business/growing-hydropower-output-in-western-u-s-may-supplant-natural-gas-this-summer/ to view the full article online.

States Submit Consensus-Based System Proposal for Colorado River Basin
  

The Department of the Interior announced that representatives from the seven Colorado River Basin states have agreed to submission of a Lower Basin, consensus-based system conservation proposal.

This is the latest development in efforts to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System, intended to address ongoing severe drought conditions and a changing climate in the Colorado River Basin. 

Visit https://www.hydroreview.com/environmental/states-submit-consensus-based-system-proposal-for-colorado-river-basin/ to view the full article online.

DOE Announces $34 Million for 18 Tribal Clean Energy Projects
This funding will strengthen tribal communities by supercharging their access to solar power and microgrids, increasing energy security and resilience, and powering unelectrified tribal buildings. These investments bring our nation closer to the Biden-Harris Administration's goal to enhance tribal energy sovereignty and reduce energy costs for American families as we head towards a clean energy future. 

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/climate-change/82/1023775/doe-announces-34-million-for-18-tribal-clean-energy-projects.html to view the full article online.

2023 Global Solar Investment Projected to Overtake Oil for the First Time: International Energy Agency
  

More than $1.7 trillion will be invested in clean energy, including renewables, EVs and nuclear in 2023, while slightly more than $1 trillion will be spent on oil, gas and coal, according to projections by the International Energy Agency. Solar is the “star performer,” with more than $1 billion a day expected to go into solar in investments in 2023, and $380 billion for the year, “edging this spending above that in upstream oil for the first time,” the IEA said in a report.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-investment-oil-global-clean-energy-transition-2023/651282/ to view the full article online.

Clean Energy Investment is Extending its Lead Over Fossil Fuels, Boosted by Energy Security Strengths

Investment in clean energy technologies is significantly outpacing spending on fossil fuels as affordability and security concerns triggered by the global energy crisis strengthen the momentum behind more sustainable options. About USD 2.8 trillion is set to be invested globally in energy in 2023, of which more than USD 1.7 trillion is expected to go to clean technologies - including renewables, electric vehicles, nuclear power, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency improvements and heat pumps - according to the IEA's latest World Energy Investment report. 

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/climate-change/82/1024566/clean-energy-investment-is-extending-its-lead-over-fossil-fuels-boosted-by-energy-security-strengths.html to view the full article online.

US Battery Storage Capacity Increased by 52% Year-Over-Year, to 10.8 GW by the End of Q1: Report
  
The added capacity represents a 7% increase from the end of 2022, according to an S&P Global Commodity Insights report using government filings. The data include facilities that began commercial operation or were synchronized to the grid.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-battery-storage-capacity-first-quarter/651302/ to view the full article online.

Member Announcements
Arbor Day Foundation Awards OPPD with Tree Line USA Designation 2023
  

Omaha Public Power District is proud to share we’ve earned an honorable distinction for our commitment to proper urban forest management, including tree planting and care in our service territory. The Arbor Day Foundation has named OPPD a Tree Line USA Utility for the 23rd year. Tree Line USA, a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing best practices that protect and cultivate America's urban tree canopy.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2023/april/arbor-day-foundation-awards-oppd-with-tree-line-usa-designation-2023/ to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Plans to Nearly Triple the Amount of Solar on Upper Midwest System by 2028
Xcel Energy is proposing to add an additional 250-megawatt solar project near the existing Sherco plant site in Becker, Minnesota, which will soon be home to the Upper Midwest’s largest solar development and represents an important piece of the company’s clean energy future.

Visit https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-plans-to-nearly-triple-the-amount-of-solar-on-upper-midwest-system-MCMIZRNQTEDNHSDJKGC57V5E4Y74 to view the full article online.

TEP, City of Tucson Agree to Work Toward Clean Energy Agreement
  
Tucson Electric Power and the City of Tucson have signed a letter of intent to work toward powering 100 percent of city operations with renewable energy. The letter reflects progress made since Susan Gray, TEP’s President and CEO, pledged on Jan. 23 to begin discussions of a clean energy supply agreement with the city. 

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-city-of-tucson-agree-to-work-toward-clean-energy-agreement/ to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Receives First Commercial Retrofit Certification from Build San Antonio Green
CPS Energy’s headquarters has been recognized with the first-ever Build San Antonio Green (BSAG) commercial retrofit certification. The CPS Energy headquarters building is the first BSAG Commercial Retrofit over 200,000 square feet and the first major renovation of two existing buildings. This certification, known as a level 2, signifies CPS Energy’s headquarters being ten percent or over projected energy savings over code. 

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-receives-first-commercial-retrofit-certification-from-build-san-antonio-green/ to view the full article online.

Basin Electric Named a Top 10 Workplace by Young Professionals Network
  
The YP Network is dedicated to professional development, entrepreneurship, community service, and networking. It creates and fosters connections between its members and local businesses and organizations and welcomes all professionals between the ages of 21 and 40. 

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Basin-Electric-named-one-of-the-top-10-places-to-work to view the full article online.

NPPD Earns Third Consecutive Diamond RP3 Designation

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. NPPD is among 271 of over 2000 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation, and NPPD was originally honored in 2017 for the first time.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/nppd-earns-third-consecutive-diamond-rp3-designation to view the full article online.

White Paper
New Priming Method Improves Battery Life, Efficiency
Scientists at Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering have developed a readily scalable method to optimize prelithiation, a process that helps mitigate lithium loss and improves battery life cycles by coating silicon anodes with stabilized lithium metal particles (SLMPs).

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230515132004.htm to view the full article online.

Driving on Sunshine: Clean, Usable Liquid Fuels Made from Solar Power

Researchers have developed a solar-powered technology that converts carbon dioxide and water into liquid fuels that can be added directly to a car's engine as drop-in fuel. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, harnessed the power of photosynthesis to convert CO2, water and sunlight into multicarbon fuels -- ethanol and propanol -- in a single step. These fuels have a high energy density and can be easily stored or transported.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230518120808.htm to view the full article online.

Hydrogen Battery: Storing Hydrogen in Coal May Help Power Clean Energy Economy
The quest to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source that could curb our dependence on fossil fuels may lead to an unexpected place -- coal. A team of Penn State scientists found that coal may represent a potential way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230526121105.htm to view the full article online.