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Recently in Public Power Current
To find earlier stories in Public Power Current, browse by popular topics or contact us at News@PublicPower.org.
Workforce
Florida public power utility JEA has promoted two executives to newly created roles to help advance the utility’s goals and objectives, and to further ensure strategic alignment across the organization.
Reliability
As operational challenges multiply, some utilities have found drones to be an effective tool to optimize limited resources and maintain safe and reliable service. Many utilities have either hired drone service providers that use professional pilots or started dedicated aviation units with their utility. In contrast, Skydio uses artificial intelligence to interpret the visual data coming from the fisheye cameras that serve as a drone’s “eyes.”
Generation
Nearly 468,000 MW of new generation capacity is under development in the U.S., which is comparable to the total capacity under development this time last year, the American Public Power Association said.
Environment
Santee Cooper has undertaken a major capital project that primarily relies on South Carolina-located companies and resources to increase environmental protections at its two coal-fired generating stations in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules.
Transmission
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a preliminary list of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors “to accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for expanded transmission,” it said on May 8.
Electricity Markets
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency hosted energy professionals from Eurasia and Sri Lanka that were visiting the United States as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SABIT program.
Community Engagement
Florida public power utility OUC has received the Sustainability and Resiliency Award and the Award of Excellence in Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2024 Golden Brick Awards, which recognize people, projects and initiatives that propel downtown Orlando, Fla., forward.
Distributed Energy Resources
Microsoft has entered an agreement with Brookfield Asset Management and Brookfield Renewable that provides a pathway for Brookfield to deliver more than 10.5 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity between 2026 and 2030 in the U.S. and Europe to Microsoft.