Douglas Bowman, MSEE, PE

Another missed opportunity to improve resilience and community good will. This Puget Sound Energy 230kV line upgrade was very controversial https://lnkd.in/epSUBNTV with the utility claiming a “critical need” as far back as 2013. The neighborhoods wanted the line underground….not to be. In time, utilities will start to evaluate “the total cost of ownership” of transmission and distribution lines that might include the lost revenue customers have during extended outages, the internal costs of YEARS of fighting with your franchise granting communities, and the significant advances in UG technology that reduces construction costs and, according to FERC 1 https://lnkd.in/etxbWdA6 reports filed by all IOU’s, has lower O&M costs. Planners, engineers and data scientists take note. Be sure to evaluate all your options. Thanks. Mike #pdi2 #underground #totalcostofownership

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Thanks to PJM Interconnection teams for this insightful #RTEP report showcasing your strategy towards: ➡ optimizing infrastructure investment ➡ fostering transmission and #interconnection planning ➡ strengthening regional planning to benefit consumers #powergrids Manu Asthana

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To receive federal GRIP grants from the DOE, utilities must follow strict rules and create new processes. Utilities need to make sure they have proper policies in place to meet these requirements. Adapting internal systems, training staff, and using new tools are crucial to stay compliant and successful. By using solutions like Adlib’s document automation, utilities can streamline reporting, track progress accurately, and manage compliance documentation efficiently, ensuring successful project execution. https://lnkd.in/gdd2PpBh #DOE #GRIP #grants #compliance #utilities #documentautomation

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Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains. #GridsIntegration #DepartmentofEnergy #DOE

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Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains. #transmission #PJM #elmnt #grid #usrenewables

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🔔 For those who've missed it, PJM Interconnection posted last week a very neat infographic showing the status of their queue. Something I found interesting is that PJM shared they've cleared around 40 GW of new generation to connect to the grid that has not yet started construction. According to PJM, nothing from their end is holding these projects back, but yet they sit idle due to financing, siting or supply chain issues. This also aligns with the recent post made by Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) where they flagged 50 GW of approved generation projects that are in various stages of completion with many still awaiting construction due to similar problems flagged by PJM. If you're a developer in this situation, it would be great to learn more about the challenges you are facing.

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MOP has, over the years, proactively appointed bid process coordinators to facilitate bidding process to develop transmission systems for evacuation of green power from RE rich states. CTU has also been nudged well to develop these transmission systems and other relevant forums have been fully utilized for faster development of these transmission systems. What is found lacking is almost a similar ecosystem for development of intra-state transmission network so that the additional power being fed into the system gets delivered to the load centres/utilities as state transmission systems have not grown to cater to such additional power flow. Reasons could be ROW issues, capital investments, absence of bidding rules/regulations/bid process coordinators etc. Development of such intra-state transmission systems in the state is the need of the hour.

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FERC has approved NERC’s revised ROP to identify and register unregistered IBRs connected to the Bulk-Power System by May 2026, addressing a reliability gap associated with the increasing integration of IBRs on the grid. The new Category 2 GO/GOP will apply to entities owning or operating IBRs with an aggregate nameplate capacity of 20 MVA and above and are connected to 60 kV and above. 🔍 Impact: 📈~14% increase in visibility of existing IBRs. ✅~98% of IBRs will comply NERC Reliability Standards, on par with conventional resources. ⚡This strengthens the reliability and resilience of our electric grid. For further reading: https://lnkd.in/g-Czbj4D #Energy #FERC #NERC #IBR #GridManagement #EnergyTransition

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We are there for the communities affected by natural disasters and Mother Nature in general. The climate severity is ever-changing, and MasTec Utility Services is there. #climatechange #emergencyrestoration #heroesdonotalwayswearcapes

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Pumped storage around the world continues to grow, but in specific geographic locations (as you would expect). As we have seen in hydro-electric generation, their continues to be turbine/generator upgrades - further improving the efficiency and the capacity. #pumpedstorage #energystorage #hydro https://lnkd.in/gQBZJzht

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PJM Interconnection and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) are teaming up to enhance power flows between their grids. This joint study, set for completion early next year, aims to boost reliability and resiliency through coordinated transmission analysis. This initiative responds to calls from state utility regulators, governors, and advocacy coalitions to address near-term needs and lay the groundwork for the future. Increasing transfer capacity could save over $15 billion by 2035! With the Big WIRES Act in Congress and the Department of Energy highlighting the need for new transfer capacity, this project is a crucial step towards a more resilient and sustainable energy future. #GridInnovation #EnergyEfficiency #PJM #MISO #SustainableEnergy #GridResiliency #EnergySavings #utilitiesmanagement #utilitiesmanager #energymarket #energyconsumption #energycosts #energyanalysis

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No new gas-fired power plants are expected to come online in 2024 in PJM. The last time that happened was 1987 according to EIA data. The chart below shows the number of newly commissioned individual gas turbines and IC engines in the core PJM area (NJ, PA, OH, MD, DE, VA and WV) and includes behind-the-fence generation. EIA data for 2023 is not available yet but new capacity did come online according to S&P Global. Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration PJM Interconnection, #power #renewables #solar #naturalgas

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—- reduction of overall system load by 1.5% by reducing the voltage of the distribution system —-

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A bipartisan permitting reform bill was released on Monday. The proposed legislation supports FERC's authority to approve transmission lines and paves the way to require interregional transmission planning. If passed, the law would also require planners to consider advanced conductors and reconductoring in order to maximize current transmission capabilities. Read more about the new bill and the industry response in the article below. ⬇️ #FERC #Transmission #USEnergy #KinectSolar

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In case you missed it: The largest U.S. grid operator, PJM, recently held its annual power market auction, and the results are astonishing. The auction resulted in a price of $269.92 per megawatt-day for most of the PJM region, a significant increase from the $28.92 per megawatt-day price in the 2024/2025 auction. This 800% increase will have far-reaching effects across PJM's 13-state footprint, which includes the northeast part of Indiana. #energy #reliability #affordability #PJM #GridOperator https://lnkd.in/gv-75kfj

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We're having a heatwave in PJM Interconnection - As extreme weather accelerates, PJM needs to fix interconnection and allow new, clean resources to come online. When it comes to adding new electricity sources, the nation’s largest grid operator, which serves 13 states from Illinois to Virginia, is stuck in the mud. Solar, wind and battery projects can’t get connected to the grid, and that poses are severe threat to reliability when extreme heat (or cold) hits. https://lnkd.in/ea3tKpvZ

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PJM artificially inflates capacity prices by billions, complaint alleges. The PJM Interconnection artificially boosts capacity prices by not accounting for reliability must-run power plants in its capacity market, the Sierra Club and other groups told FERC. The PJM Interconnection’s failure to consistently account for power plants with reliability must-run contracts in its capacity market could drive up ratepayer costs by $15 billion in the next three capacity auctions, according to a complaint filed Friday at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by the Sierra Club and other groups. By failing to either require RMR resources — power plants that have been given contracts to continue operating past planned retirements — to bid into capacity auctions or to account for the expected output from those plants in its forecast for how much capacity PJM needs, the grid operator forces consumers to pay twice for those plants’ capacity value, which is “unjust and unreasonable,” the groups said in the complaint. “Failing to account for resource adequacy provided by RMR units produces capacity market price signals that are disconnected from the actual supply and demand balance on the grid,” the groups said. “The result is artificially elevated prices that harm the markets by encouraging inefficient decisions by both supply and demand side market participants.” Unlike ISO New England, the New York Independent System Operator and the California Independent System Operator, PJM doesn’t require RMR resources to participate in their capacity auctions or equivalent market, according to the complaint. Under PJM’s auction held in July, for most of the PJM region, capacity prices for the 2025/26 delivery year soared to $269.92/MW-day, up from $28.92/MW-day in the last auction, the grid operator said in an auction report. Prices hit zonal caps of $466.35/MW-day for the Baltimore Gas and Electric zone in Maryland, and $444.26/MW-day for the Dominion zone in Virginia and North Carolina. Total cost to consumers jumped to $14.7 billion from $2.2 billion in the previous auction. TNi Energy-BESS 10HR LDES, we've innovated a groundbreaking method that repurposes recycled lead-acid batteries, extending their life span to 25 years for C1 to C20 Energy Storage purposes. Previously, the industry lacked a safe and environmentally conscious alternative to lithium | sodium-ion batteries. However, our proprietary technique reveals that lead-acid batteries are not only SAFER but also 60-75% more cost-effective than their hazardous counterparts. Made in the USA. LCOS = .42 kW/h #TNiEnergy,#10HRLDES,#ELDES,#C1toC20,#nebulositycloud, #BESS,#C3Energy,#Energy,#LDESS.Energy, #ZEROemmissions, #ZEROcarbon, #energytransistion, #LeadAcid Battery, #windpower, #solarpower, #VPP, #MicroGrid, #DERM, #HydroPower, #BitCoinMining 

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CAISO approves $6.1B in new transmission projects in its 2023-24 transmission plan. https://lnkd.in/edVYzcr5 with 26 new projects to support the addition of 85 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by2035. Earlier this month, Lotus Infrastructure Global Operations and Southern California Edison were selected to jointly build and own the 30 mile, $503 million North of SONGS-to-Serrano 500-kV transmission line project expected to be operational by 2034. Also this month, CAISO said it selected NextEra’s Horizon West Transmission to build and own the roughly $2.3 billion Imperial Valley–North of SONGS project, which includes a 145-mile, 500-kV transmission line and the $340 million North Gila-to-Imperial Valley project, which consists of a 500-kV circuit between the North Gila and Imperial Valley substations by 2035. https://lnkd.in/eq3naWaz It’s an exciting time for big transmission in California! Thanks Mike #caiso #transmission

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Thinking of ways to power your A.I. Data Centers? NuScale Power provides clean, carbon free electricity in a scalable approach, and is a great option for your energy needs. A common VOYGR power station can utilize 4 to 6 reactor modules and can be expanded to 12 reactors as time and energy needs evolve. With 77MWe per module, there is plenty of power to go around! Refueling Outage Time is kept to a minimum with the use of multiple reactors, providing continuous power throughout the life of the Plant. Take some time to check out this awesome technology in the link posted below!

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