Disaster Response and Mutual Aid
Power restoration efforts in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the wake of Tropical Storm Ernesto are nearing completion, the Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority and LUMA, which operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico, said recently.
Distributed Energy Resources
The U.S. Department of Energy issued a Request for Information focused on West Coast offshore wind transmission.
Customer Service
Power outages, wildfires, rooftop solar systems, and demand response programs create a need for utilities to communicate with customers quickly and clearly. Utilizing omnichannel communication systems can help ensure customers stay in the know and also help utilities respond to the many outage-related calls and emails from customers.
Distributed Energy Resources
Michigan public power utility Traverse City Light & Power recently announced the launch of “My Clean Choice,” a program designed “to empower individuals to make environmentally friendly choices in their daily lives,” it said.
Distributed Energy Resources
A Clean Growth Tool recently launched by RMI, matches cities and regions across the United States to clean energy industries and technologies.
Workforce
The following is a transcript of the August 12, 2024, episode of Public Power Now. Learn more about subscribing to Public Power Now at Publicpower.org/Podcasts. Some quotes may have been edited for clarity. Paul Ciampoli Welcome to the latest episode of Public Power Now. I'm Paul Ciampoli, APPA's
Generation
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a report that makes actionable recommendations to address five gaps in the domestic hydropower supply chain.
Community Engagement
Arizona public power utility Salt River Project has released its first-ever Supplier Diversity Economic Impact Report, which highlights “substantial economic impacts in Arizona including $243.3 million in spending with diverse suppliers that bolstered local economies and supported thousands of jobs,” it said on Aug. 20.
Bills and Rates
The New York State Public Service Commission recently approved the implementation of an energy affordability guarantee pilot program.
Generation
Developers and power plant owners added 20.2 gigawatts of utility-scale electric generating capacity in the United States during the first half of 2024.