FERC Sets July Technical Conference To Address COVID-19 Energy Sector Issues
June 11, 2020
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted June 11, 2020
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 8-9 will hold a technical conference to consider the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic are having on various segments of the country’s energy industry.
In a recent notice about the technical conference, FERC detailed the topics that will be addressed at the two-day meeting.
On Wednesday, July 8, conference topics will include system operations and planning challenges, electricity demand and transmission planning.
The second day of the conference (Thursday, July 9) will include panels on natural gas and oil demand and access to capital issues for the energy sector.
Additional details on what each day’s panels will discuss are available here.
The Commission will provide details on panelists for the technical conference in a future notice.
Santee Cooper, Central Look To Add Up To 500 MW of Utility-Scale Solar
June 11, 2020
by Taelor Bentley
APPA News
Posted June 11, 2020
Santee Cooper and Central Electric Power Cooperative have begun a bid process seeking to purchase up to 500 megawatts (MW) of new utility-scale solar power through several projects to be built across South Carolina.
Santee Cooper, the state-owned public power utility in South Carolina, has sent a request for proposals (RFP) to nearly 30 solar developers. Santee Cooper will work with Central to review the bids and awards contracts. Central may choose to become a counterparty to one or more purchase agreements through this process. Contracts will target power projects of 25-125 MW each. The developers will own the projects, while Santee Cooper and Central will purchase the electric output.
“This RFP signals Santee Cooper’s commitment to Central, and to all Santee Cooper customers, to transform our generation into a leaner, greener portfolio that increases sustainability and costs less,” said Santee Cooper President and CEO Mark Bonsall. “This is a market-driven process designed to produce the best prices and best benefits for our customers, and to do so in a manner that is open and transparent.” Central is Santee Cooper’s largest customer.
The process will be conducted in accordance with terms approved by the South Carolina General Assembly governing Santee Cooper through May 2021. The process includes an ongoing question-and-answer period through July 13, and bids are due July 30. Santee Cooper and Central will review the bids with a goal to finish negotiations with developers and begin awarding contracts later this year.
The current resource plan for service of Santee Cooper’s customers includes the addition of up to 1,000 MW of new solar capacity placed into service by 2024 and an additional 500 MW added by 2031, all to be purchased from third-party providers and intended in part to replace some existing coal-fired generation.
DOE Official Details Agency’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
June 9, 2020
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Supporting virus research, securing critical infrastructure and stabilizing the energy markets are all key actions that the Department of Energy has taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark Menezes, Under Secretary of Energy, said on June 8.
He made his remarks on the first day of the American Public Power Association’s Public Power Connect Virtual Summit and Business Meeting.
With respect to virus research, Menezes noted that “seven of the world class Department of Energy labs are partners in the COVID-19 high performance computing consortium. With DOE and IBM as co-chairs, this extraordinary effort brings together leaders in government, industry and academia to provide access to the world’s most powerful computing resources in support of coronavirus research.”
Along with their consortium-related work, the DOE’s national labs “are making significant strides against the virus in many other ways,” he said.
For example, researchers at Oak Ridge laboratory in Tennessee, scientists use Summit, the world’s fastest, smartest super computer to screen more than 8,000 drug compounds, finding 77 that have potential use in the fight for a cure through vaccines or therapeutics.
Menezes noted that one of the most crucial and ongoing missions of the DOE is securing critical energy infrastructure in ensuring energy resilience during national emergencies.
“During this pandemic, the stakes could not be higher. Hospitals and other frontline healthcare workers depend on an uninterrupted energy supply to run ventilators and other emergency services equipment,” he said.
“That’s why on January 31, we activated our energy response organization and tasked it with assessing, preparing for and providing awareness of issues that may require federal support,” he noted.
Menezes also commented on an executive order signed by President Trump on May 1 that authorizes U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to work with the Cabinet and energy industry to secure the country’s bulk-power system (BPS).
“The first important action we will take under this executive order is to prohibit future use of BPS equipment which has a nexus with a foreign adversary and the failure of which would pose a risk to our national security and the safety of Americans,” the DOE official said.
“While some concerns have been raised about how the order will affect future infrastructure projects, I say to you today the Department will implement this order in a strategic, transparent, methodical way and we will work with industry throughout the process,” Menezes said, adding that the DOE looks forward to working with Joy Ditto, President and CEO of the American Public Power Association, and the rest of her team at APPA.
As for the third prong of the DOE’s response to the pandemic, Menezes noted that the DOE “took swift and decisive action to stabilize global energy markets.”
Senate panel approves nomination of Menezes
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 9 approved the nomination of Menezes to be Deputy Secretary of the DOE.
Menezes was nominated to the Deputy Secretary position in February. Menezes’ nomination now awaits further consideration by the full Senate.