OKLAHOMA
PUBLIC POWER
A publication of the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma
May 2015
Public Power Leaders Visit State Capitol
MESO members recently called on lawmakers during
MESO’s Public Power Day at the Capitol to discuss the
benefits municipally owned electric utilities deliver.
“Public Power in Oklahoma has a great story to tell,”
said Tom Rider, MESO’s General Manager. “We chose
to begin telling that story to our lawmakers during a year
when we as an association (or community) don't have a
very active legislative agenda.”
Nearly 30 Public Power leaders had individual
meetings with their local lawmakers and key committee
chairs. Some opted to call on the Governor’s office and
the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
“The Public Power community — all of us — need to step up our efforts to tell our story,” Rider added. “We
need to be talking about the benefits of local ownership, the jobs we help create, and so much more.”
(see PUBLIC POWER LEADERS, page 7)
APPA's Sue Kelly Lays Out Major Challenges for Public Power
As the featured speaker for the 2015 MESO Public Power Conference,
APPA President and CEO, Sue Kelly, laid out four major challenges with
the potential to impact all Public Power Utilities.
The four major issues that every Public Power Utility in the country
may be facing today or in the future are:
1. New EPA CO2 Regulations for existing electric generation units
2. Continued Access to Tax-Exempt Financing
3. Cyber/Physical Security Issues
4. Maintaining Our Competitive Position with the Advent of New
Technologies
Kelly told the audience her goal for EPA CO2 Regulations and
Rulemaking was to “prevent customers of public power systems from
paying stranded costs for existing or modified fossil-fired generation
units—we don’t want to have to pay off bonds on units we cannot run
(see SUE KELLY, page 6)
In This Issue
Dan Blankenship Selected
for Marvin Hicks –
Al Middleton Award –
Page 2
John Ramey Earns
Ray Duffy Personal
Service Award –
Page 3
Janice Berryhill Chosen
for a Marvin HIcks –
Al Middleton Service Award –
Page 4
OMPA Awarded
Clarence Fulkerson
Electric System Achievement
Award – Page 5
Page 2
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
Stillwater's Dan Blankenship Selected
for a Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton Meritorious Service Award
Dan Blankenship, Stillwater
Utilities, was selected to receive
a Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton
Meritorious Service Award.
An engineer by training,
Blankenship leads a multi-faceted
public life. As director of the
Stillwater Utilities Authority, he
has responsibility for the city’s
electric, water, wastewater and
solid waste management. He also
directs the operations of the City’s
utility customer service, fleet, and
environmental programs divisions.
Under his leadership, Stillwater
is in the process of building the
$70M SUA natural gas electric
generation station. Part of the
Southwestern Power Pool grid,
this electric generation project
will provide power to Stillwater for
years to come.
him to serve on the Oklahoma
Department of Environmental
Quality (ODEQ) Board of
Directors. His involvement with
ODEQ provides Oklahoma cities
and towns with a strong advocate
(see BLANKENSHIP, page 7)
MESO BOARD OF
DIRECTORS & STAFF
Blankenship’s influence extends
state-wide. He is the current
Chairman of the OMUSA board,
is the immediate two-term past
President of MESO, and continues
to serve on the board. Additionally,
Blankenship serves on the
Oklahoma Municipal Utilities
Providers steering committee. In
2014, Governor Fallin appointed
MESO MEMBER UTILITIES
Altus*
Anadarko
Benton, Ark*
Bentonville, Ark*
Blackwell*
Braman
Broken Bow
Burlington
Byng
Claremore*
Coffeyville, Kansas
Collinsville*
Comanche*
Copan
Cordell*
Cushing*
Duncan*
Edmond*
Eldorado
Fairview*
Fort Supply
Frederick*
Geary*
Goltry*
Granite*
GRDA*
Hominy*
Hope, Ark*
Kaw City
Kingfisher*
Laverne*
Lexington
Lindsay*
Mangum*
Manitou
Mannford*
Marlow*
Miami*
Monett, Mo*
Mooreland*
Newkirk*
Okeene*
Olustee
OMPA*
Orlando
Paragould, Ark
Paris, Ark
Pawhuska*
Pawnee*
Perry*
Ponca City*
Pond Creek*
Poplar Bluff, Mo
Prague*
Prescott, Ark*
Purcell*
Pryor*
Ryan
Sallisaw*
Siloam Springs, Ark*
Skiatook*
South Coffeyville
Spiro*
Stillwater*
Stilwell*
Stroud*
Tahlequah*
Tecumseh*
Tonkawa*
Wagoner*
Walters*
Watonga*
Waurika*
Waynoka*
Wetumka
Wynnewood
Yale*
*Job Training & Safety Participants
President
David Slezickey, Kingfisher
President-Elect
Tim Schook, Stroud
Vice President
Daryl Golbek, Claremore
Secretary / Treasurer
Mike Doublehead, Tahlequah
Directors
Phil Johnston, Ponca City
Gary Pruett, Pryor
Karen Riffel, Mooreland
David Yeager, Duncan
Dan Blankenship, Stillwater
Dean Sherrick, Edmond
Bill Bruce, Pawhuska
Ex-Officio Members
Drake Rice, OMPA
Grant Burget, GRDA
General Manager
Tom Rider
Director of
Administration & Finance
Deborah Miner-Gonzales
Administrative Assistants
Michelle Danner
Nita LaBlue
Director of Communications
& Professional Development
Jeff Kaufmann
Director of Training & Safety
Tom Dougherty
Training and Safety Instructors
Ray Armstrong
Terry Knox
Gary Gardner
MESO OFFICE
308 N.E. 27th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-2717
(405)528-7564 or (800) 636-MESO
(405)524-5095 FAX
www.meso.org
Page 3
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
John Ramey Earns Ray Duffy Personal Service Award
In his final days of public service, Okeene’s Town
Administrator, John Ramey, was presented with the
well-deserved Ray Duffy Personal Service Award at the
2015 MESO Public Power Conference.
“John Ramey is a living example of the ideals that
are required of individuals who are committed to public
service and their communities.” said MESO Board
President, Dean Sherrick.
Ramey began his public service more than 44 years
ago as a firefighter for the City of Tonkawa in 1970.
In 1975, he was appointed as Tonkawa’s Fire Chief
making him the youngest fire chief in Oklahoma. In that
capacity, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the
Oklahoma State Fire Chief’s Association and served
as president in 1980. Following a line of duty injury,
Ramey moved from the Tonkawa Fire Department to
the City Clerk’s office in 1985. That same year, he was
recognized by the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce
with their “Outstanding Service Award.”
In May, 1986, Ramey was appointed Clerk/Treasurer for Tonkawa. In 1996, he was awarded the “Certified
Municipal Clerk” (CMC) designation from the International Municipal Clerks Institute. During his tenure as Clerk/
Treasurer, Ramey served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Municipal Clerks, Treasurers & Finance
Officials Association, serving as president from 1991-1993. During his tenure as Fire Chief and City Clerk,
(see RAMEY, page 4)
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Page 4
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
Altus’ Janice Berryhill Chosen for a Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton
Meritorious Service Award
A Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton Meritorious Service
Award was awarded to Janice Berryhill, Utility Services
Director, City of Altus.
“Janice has been a tireless supporter of public power
during her more than 20 years of service, which began
in 1993 as a cashier,” said Tom Rider, MESO’s General
Manager. “Over the years, Janice has proven her
commitment to the citizens of Altus. She progressed
through the ranks from cashier, to billing clerk to her
current position.”
In describing her service, Rider said, “Janice uses
her position to effectively work with customers on their
bills and promote energy efficiency in the community.
She instills in customers a pride in their local utility,
explaining how electric sales benefit departments
throughout the city, from police and fire to the parks.
Her efforts were recognized by the City of Altus when
she was selected as the Employee of the Year in 2002.
In recognition of her contribution to Altus Power,
Altus Utilities, the City of Altus and Oklahoma’s Public
Power community, Berryhill was recognized as a
recipient of the Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton Meritorious
Service Award.
“Janice’s continuing leadership and dedication to public power were significant in helping make Altus Power a
standard in the industry,” Rider added. “With 21 years of service, she continues to educate, promote and serve
the citizens, believing that the owners of the utility are her family."
Ramey
(continued from page 3)
Ramey served as Tonkawa’s
interim City Manager four times. In
February, 2001, he was appointed
as the City Manager. Under his
leadership, Tonkawa consolidated
service departments into the
Public Works Department. This
consolidation led to quick and
effective response to the massive
2002 ice storm. Working together
the units of the Public Works
department had electricity restored
within three days and then
assisted surrounding communities
in their recovery. Ramey was
recognized by the Chamber as
Tonkawa’s “Citizen of the Year” in
2002.
After thirty-six years with
Tonkawa, Ramey retired in April
2007 only to be hired by the Town
of Okeene as Town Administrator
in May 2007.
Ramey has been actively
involved in promoting and
improving Public Power in
Oklahoma. He has served on
the OMPA Energy Services
Committee, Competitive Utility
Program Oversight Committee,
and serves on OMPA’s Board of
Directors. Additionally, he serves
on the MESO Board of Directors.
In 2011, Ramey received
national recognition from the
American Public Power Association
when he was honored with the
“Larry Hobart 7 Hats Award”
for his expertise in Accounting,
Administration, Community
Leadership, Field Supervision,
Human Resources, Planning &
Design, and Public Relations.
“John’s commitment to Public
Power, the betterment of the
communities he has served, and
a desire to leave things better
than when he arrived distinguish
him as a champion of municipal
government and local control,”
Sherrick said. “He is a shining
example of the very best in local
government.”
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Page 5
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
OMPA Awarded Clarence Fulkerson
Electric System Achievement Award
The Clarence Fulkerson Electric System
Achievement Award was awarded to the Oklahoma
Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) for their Charles D.
Lamb Energy Center near Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The Clarence Fulkerson Electric System
Achievement Award recognizes a MESO member that
has distinguished itself during the year for exemplary
system enhancement, improvement, reliability or
other innovative efforts to improve municipal power in
Oklahoma.
“Beginning in 2013, the Oklahoma Municipal Power
Authority definitely lived up to the ideals of this award
through its approval, permitting and construction of
the Charles D. Lamb Energy Center in Ponca City,”
said Tom Rider, MESO’s General Manager. “Coming
online in June, 2015, this center will enable OMPA to
meet the energy needs of its member customers for
years to come.”
The Charles D. Lamb Energy Center consists of
a natural gas powered, simple cycle combustion
turbine with an installed capacity of 103 megawatts.
The plant will be used primarily for peaking power.
ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
Peaking power is power that is produced due to the
high demand for electricity during the warm summer
months. The plant will be a quick-start plant and will
have very little noise, due to the sound minimizing
barrier around the turbine.
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Page 6
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
GRDA Receives New Numbers
on Its Positive Economic Impact in Oklahoma
An updated look at the Grand River Dam
Authority’s economic impact in Oklahoma shows that
it will continue to grow steadily, while the economic
benefits of a new GRDA construction project will also
be very significant over the short term.
In March, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
released new economic impact numbers on GRDA,
updating a study first commissioned by
the Authority in 2012.
“It’s been three years since we first
looked at the GRDA impact in this way,”
said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Dan
Sullivan, who presented the study’s findings during
the April 8 meeting of the GRDA Board of Directors.
“Today, with a major construction project underway,
we felt it was a good time to revisit and update the
study.”
This new study does take into account that major
construction project: a $400 million, 495 megawatt
(MW) combined cycle generation plant. In January,
GRDA broke ground on that facility, which will be
fueled by Oklahoma natural gas when it begins
operations in 2017.
Combined with GRDA’s operations, quality of
life contributions and low cost power, this new
construction and investment in Oklahoma is estimated
to facilitate an annual economic activity impact
ranging between $960 million and just over $1 billion
during the first two years of construction.
Meanwhile, the impact generated solely by the
utility’s operational impact, is estimated to range
between $510 million and $581 million in economic
activity during the period between 2015
and 2020. During that same period,
GRDA is estimated to support an annual
real disposable impact of $310 to $337
million in the state’s economy.
“We think it’s very significant that GRDA continues
to generate economic activity that exceeds our
revenues of approximately $500 million each year,”
said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Dan Sullivan.
“This organization’s role is to be a positive contributor
to the state in terms of economic development and
quality of life for Oklahomans, and we are pleased
that this study reveals we are doing that.”
The study also took a close look at the Oklahoma
jobs supported by GRDA and found the utility’s
positive externalities are estimated to support over
7,100 jobs in the state’s economy in 2015-16. Also,
(see GRDA, page 7)
Sue Kelly
(continued from page 1)
and to ensure Public Power systems can manage
the risks/costs of compliance programs; some type
of regulation is coming; all increased costs will have
to be passed on to retail customers, so we need to
minimize them”
“For the last few years, cybersecurity has been the
“hot” issue for our industry in Congress,” Kelly said.
In addition to cybersecurity she stressed the need for
physical security. She recommended several simple
tips anyone can do to help with cybersecurity – train
employees to think twice before opening emails from
unknown senders or clicking on links; strengthen
passwords; patch and update software programs
consistently; and limit third-party (vendor) access and
ensure they too follow sound cybersecurity practices.
Kelly noted Tax-Exempt Bonds — which
municipalities regularly rely upon on to finance
projects — were “always on the budget menu”
in Washington, D.C. Both the White House and
Congressional Republicans have floated proposals.
She discussed a bipartisan letter to the House
Leadership from 124 House members sent March 24,
2015. The letter, which was signed by Oklahoma’s
Representative Tom Cole, expressed opposition
to limits on tax exempt bond interest set out in the
Administration’s 2016 Budget Proposal.
Regarding new technologies, Kelly reminded the
audience that retail customers own the utilities. If the
customers expect incorporation of new technologies
(such as distributed generation), Public Power Utilities
must make it a win-win proposition. Public Power
communities must balance interests of customer
classes, bondholders; reexamine rate designs,
develop options and alternatives.
She called on the audience to communicate
the benefits of Public Power stressing the need
to maintain ongoing relationships with legislators/
regulators (before you need them!) and to be a
trusted source of information.
“Public Power utilities face many challenges, but
we have always had challenges, and we have the
advantage of being clear about both who owns us and
who we serve — our customers,” Kelly said.
Page 7
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
GRDA
(continued from page 6)
between 2015 and 2020, GRDA’s operational impact is estimated to
support roughly 40 percent of those 7,100 jobs statewide.
“We’re very pleased with these numbers,” said Sullivan. “They serve
as a benchmark and show that GRDA is meeting its mission as an asset
for all of Oklahoma. However, with our construction project underway,
and other new initiatives related to caring for the Grand River watershed,
we feel that GRDA’s ability to support the economy of Oklahoma will only
grow in the years ahead.”
Earlier this year, GRDA entered an interagency agreement with
Oklahoma State University that will lead to a new study focused solely on
the economic impact that recreation has in the Grand River watershed.
When those numbers are compiled, Sullivan added that GRDA will
have even more data to better define its positive impact and help it plan
ways to maintain that in the future. A closer look at this water-related
information is merited when the history of the lake region is considered.
In fact, according to the commerce department’s study, there was a 33
percent population growth in the Grand Lake region between 1940 (when
Grand Lake was completed) and 2010. The study added that during the
same period, “Oklahoma’s non-metro counties experienced virtually no
population growth.”
The OSU study will provide “very specific data, focused on the
water-related economic activity and will complement the commerce
department’s study very well,” said Sullivan. “I think it will further
strengthen GRDA’s position as an important economic engine for
Oklahoma.”
The Economic Impact of The Grand River Dam Authority study,
compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, can be viewed
online at www.grda.com.
MESO
Affiliate/ Associate
Members
Allgeier, Martin & Associates, Inc.
Altec
APPA
CIA Machinery
D.W. Gates Engineering
Equipment Technology, Inc.
ESC Engineering
Finley & Cook, CPA's
Fred Oberlender & Associates
Garver, LLC
Grand River Dam Authority
Green Equipment Company
Group of Patriots
Guernsey
Hometown Connections
Irby
Kriz-Davis Company
Local Government
Testing Consortium
M.W. Bevins Company
Marathon Electric Co.
Northwest Transformers Co., Inc.
Oklahoma Municipal
Power Authority
Protective Equipment
Testing Laboratory
Solomon Corporation
Public Power Leaders
(continued from page 1)
As part of the 2015 Public Power Day at the Capitol, MESO printed
handouts “Oklahoma’s Public Power Story.” The MESO team will be
delivering these to cities as they travel across the state. Also, MESO
is developing long-term plans to provide tools and ways to enhance
individual utilities relationships with key community stakeholders and
legislators.
Blankenship
(continued from page 2)
watching out for municipal interests. A forceful proponent of Public
Power, he works tirelessly with MESO, GRDA, & OMPA to find common
ground, and to collaborate as a unified team to support/promote public
power across the state.
In recognition of his contribution to Stillwater Utilities, the members
and staff of MESO, and the citizens of Oklahoma, Dan Blankenship is
recognized as a recipient of the Marvin Hicks-Al Middleton Meritorious
Service Award.
Sooner Meter Sales & Service
Southwestern Power Administration
Southwestern Power
Resource Association
Stanley Consultants
T&R Electric Supply Co., Inc.
Techline
United Systems
Technology, Inc. (USTI)
Page 8
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
From the 2015 MESO Public Power Conference
Save the date!
2016 MESO PUBLIC POWER CONFERENCE
April 17 – 19, 2016 • Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Page 9
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
From the 2015 MESO Public Power Conference
Page 10
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
OMPA Board Holds Annual Retreat
The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA)
Board of Directors assembled with an eye toward the
future at its annual Board Retreat on April 8-9 at the
Cross Timbers Municipal Complex, which serves as
the headquarters for Edmond Electric.
Topics included a variety of changes and trends
in the industry, as well as specific issues related to
OMPA and its member cities.
Jim McAvoy, Manager of Engineering Services,
gave a presentation on the five-year capital needs of
OMPA, including all substation and transmission line
projects, as well as work needing to be performed
on plants, both jointly- and solely-owned. The total
projected cost of the projects is $63.8 million. That
breaks down into $9.4 million for substations and
lines, $26.2 million for jointly-owned plants and $28.1
million for the OMPA plants – $19.7 million of which
was for remaining work on the Charles D. Lamb
Energy Center. The board discussed the different
ways to fund the projects.
John Vansant, Director of Corporate Services
and CFO, provided a financial forecast for the next
10 years, including revenue requirements for debt
service, load and peak forecasts, transmission costs,
plant costs, gas prices and more. It was estimated
that no new generation would be necessary through
2025.
Mike Mushrush, Director of Operations, presented
on the implications of distributed generation. The
focus was on the growth of solar and how its
reduction in cost for consumers is changing the
industry, as well as the benefits and detriments of the
new reality. The board discussed ways to prepare
for the future, including the possibility of investing in
Save the date!
2015 MESO LINEWORKERS
RODEO & SAFETY EXPO
October 14 – 15, 2015
Ponca City, OK
community solar projects. OMPA staff was instructed
to develop a tool kit related to distributed generation,
including a possible net metering rate structure,
engineering support, legal and tax analysis, and
possible safety issues.
The board then went through a series of
discussions, led by Tim Blodgett, President and
CEO of Hometown Connections. Among the issues
discussed was the growing trend of enhanced energy
storage, the changing face of power resources,
changing customer expectations, changes in the ways
utilities communicate with customers, trends in rate
making and tweaks to the OMPA mission statement
and vision. Staff was to create a work plan with regard
to all of the issues.
The board also completed its annual selfassessment.
Page 11
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
MESO Quilt Drawing Raises $1,000
for the Fallen Linemen Organization
The Oklahoma Public Power community stepped
up in a big way to support the Fallen Linemen
Organization.
“We sold chances for a drawing before and during
our annual Public Power Conference, and I am
proud of how our community responded,” said MESO
General Manager, Tom Rider. “I’m thrilled to be
sending the Fallen Linemen Organization a check for
$1,000.”
Fallen Linemen Organization’s Mission is to
memorialize fallen electrical line workers, and care
for the families who have lost or are impacted by a
severe injury of a loved one in the line of duty. We
strive to consolidate accident and injury information
to share openly for a safer work environment. Learn
more at www.fallenlinemen.org.
MESO Hosts Utility Pruning and Vegetation Management Training
Public Power professionals from across the state
recently gathered in Oklahoma City for MESO’s Utility
Pruning and Vegetation Management Training.
“Our training covered work planning, what and
when to prune, the safe use of chemicals, public education, and safety,” said Tom Dougherty, Director of
Training & Safety. “Since all of our training is safety focused, participants left with skills to work more safely.”
This one day MESO training session was led by
Jesse Martin, Edmond Electric’s Utility Forester Technician, and Roger Yandell, Foreman with Stilwell Utilities Tree Crew.
COMING SOON!
The Supervisor Course for 2015 – 2016
A comprehensive one-year program to develop high caliber supervisors
Look for information at www.meso.org soon.
Page 12
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
New APPA Report Says That the Overall U.S. Fuel Mix
Will Not Be Dramatically Different in 2020
From the April 28, 2015 issue of Public Power Daily
By Paul Ciampoli
News Director
A new report issued by the American Public Power
Association (APPA) examining U.S. generation
capacity concludes that the country's overall fuel mix
five years from now will not be dramatically different
from the current mix. The report also says that
natural gas will continue to be the leading generation
resource at the end of 2020.
APPA on April 27 released its ninth annual report
on current and imminent electricity generation
capacity in the U.S. by types of fuel, location and
ownership type.
The report analyzes prospective generation
capacity in four categories: under construction,
permitted, application pending and proposed.
"The data show that the nation’s electric generation
portfolio is becoming more and more diversified,"
said Paul Zummo, manager of policy research and
analysis at APPA and the report's author.
"We’ve seen a progressive diversification trend
as solar resources in particular have increased over
the past few years," Zummo noted. "That being said,
natural gas continues to be the leading resource
among all fuel choices, and will continue to be for
quite some time."
The report said that nearly 372,000 MW of new
generation capacity is under development in the
U.S., which breaks out as follows: 92,000 MW under
construction or permitted and just under 280,000 MW
proposed or pending application.
The report said that natural gas will continue to be
the top fuel source for new capacity in the near and
distant future, followed by wind. A growing amount
of generating capacity is expected to be fueled by
solar. "In fact, solar constitutes just over 10 percent
of all capacity for plants under construction and that
have permits to start building," the report's executive
summary states.
The report approximates what the U.S. capacity
mix will look like by the end of 2020.
"While the overall capacity mix in the United States
will change, it will do so at a gradual pace," the report
said. "Coal and other traditional forms of electric
generation are being displaced by wind, solar, and
other forms of renewable generation. Environmental
regulations as well as the speed at which certain
resources can be developed might spur more
significant changes. However, the overall fuel mix five
years from now will not be dramatically different from
the current mix."
Regional mix
In terms of regions, the report said that while the
Southeast has the most generation currently, with
(see APPA REPORT, page 13)
Page 13
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
APPA Report
(continued from page 12)
25 percent of the nation’s total capacity, the Western
region is slated to add the most generation, projecting
more than 144,000 MW of new capacity, the report's
executive summary notes.
The report's section that examines the regional mix
for future generating capacity states that nearly half
of the capacity under construction and permitted is in
the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
regions, with another 28.7 percent in Reliability
First Corporation (RFC) and Southeastern Electric
Reliability Council regions. Natural gas is the primary
resource in the ERCOT and RFC regions as well as
in the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council and
Northeast Power Coordinating Council regions. In
each of these four regions, natural gas accounts for at
least two-thirds of future capacity.
There is a general increase in planned solar
capacity, the report said, with just under 88 percent of
solar capacity in the permitted and under construction
stages located in the WECC region. Four regions
account for nearly 85 percent of new wind capacity —
ERCOT and WECC as well as the Midwest Reliability
Organization and Southwest Power Pool regions.
For plants in the more distant future (those that are
proposed or pending application), the fuel mix tends
more toward wind and other renewable resources,
compared to plants that are scheduled to come online
in the near future. There is almost as much natural
gas capacity as wind in the proposed or pending
application stages.
"Wind is slated to account for twenty percent or
more of new capacity in all but the Alaska and Florida
regions and is the leading resource in four regions,"
the report said. "Nearly 83 percent of the proposed
or application pending solar capacity is located in
WECC, a region that accounts for much of the future
renewable capacity, and for nearly half of all capacity
in the proposed and application pending stages.
Other forms of renewable energy, particularly wood,
waste, and waste heat, are more dispersed through
the various regions."
Currently, the U.S. has just over 1.1 million
megawatts of generation capacity. The largest fuel
source is natural gas, accounting for nearly 42
percent of all generation capacity. Coal, with a share
of nearly 28 percent of capacity, is the second largest
generation source. Nuclear, hydro, and wind together
account for 23 percent of capacity. Solar currently
constitutes less than one percent of all capacity, the
report said.
The report also provides information on retirements
and planned retirements, cancellations, and capacity
that has been added over the past eight years.
Click here to read the full report.
THANKS TO THE SPONSORS
OF THE 2015 MESO PUBLIC POWER CONFERENCE
DIAMOND SPONSOR
Kriz-Davis Co.
EMERALD SPONSOR
Utility Technology Services
SILVER SPONSORS
ASAG Energy, LLC
Clifford Power Systems
Diversified Electric – A Division of Wesco
Fred Oberlender and Associates
OMAG
BRONZE SPONSORS
CBM
D.W. Gates Engineering Services
Electric Power Systems International
Elster Solutions.
ESC Engineering
Guernsey
Jones Power Products
K D Johnson Inc
Nighthawk/Energy Reps
Pelco Products, Inc.
Solomon Corporation
Techline, Inc.
Warren CAT
Westar Energy
BASIC SPONSORS
A2V Partners, LLC
Allgeier, Martin and Associates, Inc.
Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
Automated Energy
Caselle Inc.
Chris Finley Mobile Service Inc.
D W Gates Engineering
ETI-Equipment Technology
Finley Engineering Company, Inc.
Fluke
Green Equipment Company
J.L. Matthews Co.
ONLINE Utility Exchange
Osmose Utilities Services, Inc,
PrimeStone
Sooner Meter Sales & Service, Inc.
T & R Electric
Terex Utilities
The Durham Company
Utility Fleet Sales & Rental
Utility Sales Agents of North Texas
Utility Sales Agents of OK
Vivax/Metrotech/Repcom
Thanks to Arkansas Electric
Cooperatives Inc, Primestone and
Terex Utilities who sponsored “Prize
Holes” at the Golf Event held in
conjunction with the annual Public
Power Conference.
Page 14
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
UPCOMING MESO & APPA EVENTS
May 16, 2015
APPA Lineworkers Rodeo
Sacramento, California
September 13 – 16, 2015
APPA Business and Financial Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
May 17 – 20, 215
APPA Engineering and & Operations Technical
Conference
Sacramento, California
September 14 – 18, 2015
Line Design Build
Ponca City, Oklahoma
May 27, 2015
Transformer Class
Pryor, Oklahoma (GRDA Facility)
June 5 – 10, 2015
APPA National Conference
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 18 – 20, 2015
Basic Lineman Apprentice School
Edmond, Oklahoma (MESO’s Training Field)
October 14 – 15, 2015
2015 MESO Lineworkers Rodeo
Ponca City, Oklahoma
October 18 – 21, 2015
APPA Customer Connections Conference
Austin, Texas
November 18, 2015
Underground Basics
Edmond, Oklahoma (MESO’s Training Field)
Schedule subject to change
Page 15
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
Rate Studies
SCADA Systems
Substation Designs
Grounding Networks
Power Supply Studies
Optical Fiber Systems
Distribution Line Design
Protective Relaying Systems
Gas and Diesel-Fired Generation
Regulatory Compliance Assistance
System Mapping and GIS Services
www.amce.com
For more information,
scan the QR code
or contact us at
[email protected].
ALLGEIER, MARTIN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
Consulting Engineers and Surveyors
Corporate Office: 7231 East 24th Street - Joplin, MO 64804 - 417.680.7200
Rolla Office: 112 West 8th Street - Rolla, MO 65401 - 573.341.9487
Contact Dave Garrison, P.E. at 918.638.7857
Page 16
MESO May 2015 Newsletter
Serving electric utilities since 1945.
REGIONAL PRESENCE.
LOCAL SOLUTIONS.
Grove Division
63201 East 290 Road
Grove, OK 74344
(918) 791-9600
Joplin Division
1027 Virginia Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
(417) 624-5650
Dodge City Division
2303 West Frontview Street
Dodge City, KS 67801
(620) 408-9179
Wichita Division
3800 West Dora Street
Wichita, KS 67213
(316) 945-1313