Weekly News Digest- August 30, 2017

Stay on top of trends in the high voltage industry with this week's news digest from around the web. Here are some of the top headlines from this past week.

DOE Responds as Hurricane Harvey Impacts Texas

As Hurricane Harvey impacts Texas, the Department of Energy (DOE) is closely monitoring energy infrastructure impacts and coordinating across the federal community, state and local governments, and with industry partners. DOE emergency responders are now staffing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Response Coordination Center in Washington, DC and the Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, TX as well as the Texas State Emergency Operations Center in Austin, TX. DOE emergency responders facilitate communication and situational awareness of energy sector requirements and impacts and provide subject matter expertise to expedite restoration.

Duke Energy Issues Request for Wind Energy in the Carolinas

As part of building a smarter energy future and generating cleaner energy for its customers, Duke Energy Carolinas issued a request for proposals (RFP) for up to 500 MW of wind capacity that would be delivered to its transmission system. Results from the RFP could bring clean wind energy to the Carolinas and help DEC meet North Carolina’s 2007 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) that mandates the company generate 12.5% of its retail sales in the state by renewable energy or energy efficiency programs by 2021 and continuing afterward.

Colorado Energy Plan Calls for 2,400 MW of New Generation

A coalition of 14 groups lead by Xcel Energy has proposed a Colorado Energy Plan that could add up to 2,400 MW of new generation in the state. The plan would develop up to 1,000 MW of wind, 700 MW of solar and 700 MW of natural gas projects. Xcel has targeted development and ownership of 50 percent of renewables and 75 percent of natural gas, energy storage, and renewable sources with storage in the plan. Xcel plans to issue an RFP in the coming days.

PJM Board Approves $417 Million Investment In Transmission Improvements

The PJM Interconnection Board of Managers has authorized more than $417 million in electric transmission projects for reliability. Among the largest is the replacement of a large, outdated substation that serves healthcare buildings, government, education, transportation centers and other critical infrastructure customers in Newark, New Jersey. The Public Service Electric & Gas Newark Switch substation project replaces aging equipment.

Navajo Solar Activates as Tribe Braces for Coal Loss

A giant array of solar panels near the famed sandstone buttes of Monument Valley has begun producing electricity for the Navajo Nation at a time when the tribe is bracing for the loss of hundreds of jobs from the impending closure of a nearby coal-fired power plant. The Kayenta Solar Facility is the first utility-scale solar project on the Navajo Nation, producing enough electricity to power about 13,000 Navajo homes. The plant comes at a time when the area's energy landscape is shifting.

Constellation, United Renewable build Georgia Solar Power Project

Constellation, a unit of Exelon Corp., and United Renewable Energy built a 1 MW (DC) solar generation project at Owens Corning’s manufacturing facility in Fairburn, Georgia. The solar power installation is designed to supply about 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity during its first year of operation to Georgia Power and supports Owens Corning’s sustainability goals. The project is part of Georgia Power’s strategy to encourage and cultivate renewable energy sources in Georgia under a program developed in coordination with and approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission.

Power Grid Companies Nationwide Giving Money, Help for Harvey Victims

U.S. electric power utilities and service companies are stepping up to help Houston with money and manpower as it reels from the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Exelon Corp., Pacific Gas & Electric, NextEra Energy, Avangrid and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories were among the grid-connected firms which are donating toward Harvey relief efforts. The storm has caused more than 300,000 power outages throughout south Texas and dumped about 50 inches of rain on flood-ravaged Houston.