Fortnightly Magazine - July 2024

Picture Energy: U.S. Energy Association Public Policy Forum

Industries Across Energy Annually Convene

The USEA's Annual Membership Meeting and Public Policy Forum celebrated its 100th Anniversary this year. Always a top focus is the expansion and enhancement of energy supply and delivery to all peoples of the world and certainly those in developing countries. Panels at the Public Policy Forum discussed impressive advances in South America and eastern Europe particularly.

The Next Act For Utilities M&A

Flipping the Script on the Past

“State regulatory commissions can be demanding in how they evaluate proposed mergers, such as by applying the public interest standard and distributing net synergy benefits (after costs-to-achieve) between customers and shareholders.”

Death of a Bottleneck

New Transmission Line Life via Reconductoring

“If line losses on an existing line are 20 MW, installing an advanced conductor would reduce losses to approximately 10 MW for the same current, allowing 10 MW of plant construction to be permanently deferred.”

Tri-State G&T Highlights Three Initiatives

Flexibility, Solar, Reliability

“Tri-State’s members, including distribution cooperatives and public power districts across four states, will have increased flexibility to self-supply more power through a Bring Your Own Resource program filed with FERC on June 7. If approved, members would be able to supply up to 40% of their power requirements.”

The Nuclear Renaissance of Today and Tomorrow

Acceleration Over Next Decade

“The U.S. Department of State’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of SMR Technology – or FIRST – program, supports the development of nuclear energy innovation with partner nations.”

Data Centers: Challenges and Opportunities for Utilities

AEIC

“Data center energy use in the U.S. has doubled over the past three years and is expected to grow nearly sixty-seven percent from twenty-one to thirty-five gigawatts by the end of the decade, according to FERC. EPRI reports that by 2030, data centers could account for up to nine percent of all U.S. electricity consumption.”

Practical Realities of the Clean Energy Transition

Pedal to the Metal

“Another practical reality is that emerging energy supply technologies expected to contribute to net-zero goals are not yet available at the scale or cost required for broad deployment. Bringing new energy supply technology options to market has historically taken multiple decades.”
V