U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Utah State Director Michele Weaver on March 26 announced USDA is investing $76.5 million to expand the Red Mesa Tapaha Solar Farm in Utah.

The Southwest Power Pool on April 1 said that it has reached a significant milestone in the development of its western day-ahead electricity market by filing its Markets+ tariff with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Work on the tariff began less than a year ago, when 38 entities from states across the West -- including public power utilities -- executed agreements to participate in the development process.

The Los Alamos, N.M., County Council recently approved agreements for 170 megawatts of solar power from the Four Corners Area and 80 megawatts of battery storage. Over the next two years, the solar facility and battery storage system will be built northwest of Farmington, N.M.

Southwest Power Pool recently detailed how it is preparing for the effects of the April 8, 2024, eclipse. SPP has planned for the eclipse’s impact to both its enterprise operations and the reliability of the regional power grid, it said.

Power outages, wildfires, rooftop solar systems, and demand response programs create a need for utilities to communicate with customers quickly and clearly.

The Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency All Requirements Project Committee and Board of Directors voted to approve the Electric Plant Board of the City of Benham’s request to become KYMEA’s newest All Requirements member. KYMEA will begin supplying all of Benham’s wholesale power needs starting June 1, 2024.