Look-ahead tool improves efficiencies, cuts costs for ISO

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Excerpt: Following approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Midwest Independent Service Operator (MISO) implemented a new Look Ahead Commitment (LAC) Tool for its power grid operators which will improve operational efficiencies and reduce the cost of wholesale power. The LAC Tool mo …

Wind Innovator 2012: Travis Smith, Senior Member of IEEE

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Excerpt: Travis Smith didn’t start out in the wind energy sector. But with more than 20 years of experience as an engineer and consultant, he has since become the “wind guy” in a small, often-overlooked community— the protection engineers who ensure the stability of the electrical grid. Now a staff e …

Aluminum cutout, arrester, and pothead brackets

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Excerpt: Chance model single-phase bolted pole brackets offer three configurations in two sizes. Models include a dual-mount (shown), a single-mount, and a single-L style. For more options, the system includes an offset extension that can be added to any model. The 6061-T6 aluminum brackets are fitted with g …

Cable spacers solve problem of many cables and not much pole space

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Excerpt: Growing communities need more electrical power and usually more electric lines strung conveniently overhead on poles. When a conventional pole carries its max number of lines, the local electrical company has several options. The experience of a small electrical cooperative is useful in under …

Policy: FERC Order 1000 gives transmission planning an update

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Excerpt: In July 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 1000 on transmission planning and cost allocations. The reforms in Order 1000 should lead to more transmission investment, especially in transmission projects intended to move renewable energy resources onto the grid. …

A Recap of ABB’s Automation and Power World 2012

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Excerpt: I learned something new today. The George Brown Convention Center in Houston is huge! Seriously, it's ginormous. I know this because I practically walked the entire two miles around the whole thing looking for the door. Once I approached the loading center, I figured it was time to ask for help. Sho …

AWEA Seminar: Financing, Investment and My First Time in NY

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Excerpt: I spent four months in Ireland in college. The local girls there weren't so familiar with Ohio (they asked if it was close to where Paris Hilton lived), but they had been to New York. I'd traveled my way around Paris, London, Berlin and more, but I could not say the same. Four years later, I know I' …

Regional conference lets Texas transmission community discuss issues

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Excerpt: To encourage the electric-transmission industry in Texas to gather and discuss its most critical issues, Energy Central's TransmissionHub announced a new conference called TransForum Texas. TransForum Texas will be held April 24 to 26, 2012, in San Antonio, Texas. Registration is open; early-bir …

Energy storage company readies for more growth

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Excerpt: Xtreme Power Inc., developer and manufacturer of Dynamic Power Resource digital power management and energy storage equipment has promoted Alan J. Gotcher, Ph.D., to president, CEO, and a member of Xtreme Power’s board of directors. Company co-founder and former CEO Carlos Coe, Ph.D., will now ser …

FERC affirms MISO’s interpretation of transmission capacity sharing

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Excerpt:   The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), denied Southwest Power Pool's (SPP) request for rehearing on issues related to its joint operating agreement (JOA) with MISO. The ruling affirms, for the second time, MISO's interpretation of the JOA. On July 1, 2011, FERC issued a decla …