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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.
Generation
CPS Energy will acquire Talen’s approximately 1,710-megawatt generation portfolio located in the South Zone of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market for $785 million. CPS Energy will acquire all assets associated with Talen’s 897 MW Barney Davis and 635 MW Nueces Bay natural gas-fired generation facilities, as well as its 178 MW natural gas-fired generation facility in Laredo, Tex.
Electricity Markets
The Bonneville Power Administration released a document that details BPA’s position on the policies, products and services it will offer its utility customers in new long-term wholesale electric power contracts beginning in 2028. BPA has set a goal of executing the new long-term contracts by December 2025.
Electricity Markets
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has launched a survey of Texas electricity consumers to study the costs they may incur from power interruptions. Randomly selected residential, commercial, and large industrial electricity consumers in the ERCOT region will receive an email request to participate in the survey.
Grid Modernization
Liberty New Hampshire is using residential storage systems to create a virtual power plant. The utility has installed and owns 2,600 kilowatt hours of lithium-ion battery storage at 100 homes in its New Hampshire territory and in order to have the batteries serve as a virtual power plant, Liberty-New Hampshire contracted with Caterpillar Inc.’s Distributed Energy Resource Management team.
Generation
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the offer of a conditional commitment of up to $1.52 billion for a loan guarantee to Holtec Palisades to finance the restoration and resumption of service of an 800-megawatt electric nuclear generating station in Covert Township, Michigan. The project aims to bring back online the Palisades Nuclear Plant, which ceased operations in May 2022, and upgrade it to produce baseload power until at least 2051.
Energy Efficiency
The Middleborough Gas & Electric Department recently held a heat pump forum with the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant. MGED and TMLP are Massachusetts public power utilities.
Electricity Markets
A bill that calls for a public utility study tied to the possible replacement of investor-owned Rochester Gas & Electric has been re-introduced in the Monroe County, N.Y., Legislature.
Community Engagement
ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., Arizona public power utility Salt River Project, South Carolina’s Santee Cooper and the Tennessee Valley Authority have been recognized as top utilities by Business Facilities, a leading economic development and site selection magazine.