Latest news with #MidcontinentIndependentSystemOperator
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Regulators want additional info on proposed Michigan electric transmission line expansion
Power lines leading into ITC's Oneida Substation in Eaton County's Oneida Township, the starting point for a proposed transmission line. June 7, 2025 | Photo by Jon King State regulators are seeking more information on the impacts of the proposed routes on two transmission line expansion projects that would place many miles of electric service wires across the state. ITC Holding Corp., doing business as the Michigan Electric Transmission Company, plans to build two approximately 50 mile spans of high-voltage electric transmission lines, one from the Indiana border starting in Branch County to a substation in Calhoun County, and the other stretching from Eaton County to Gratiot County. The projects were proposed in 2022 and are slated to cost nearly $850 million. They have been hailed by supporters as some of the first transmission line projects approved by MISO, a midwestern power grid operator, which could help bolster Michigan's electric grid. But the situation has some residents grappling with the possibility of an electricity rate increase that could affect all Michiganders, as well as concerns that their land might be seized in the process. For now, those residents were given somewhat of a reprieve as the Michigan Public Service Commission on Thursday asked for additional briefings on the proposed routes. The company in 2024 applied for certificates of public convenience and necessity on the projects, which were up for discussion at Thursday's meeting. Commissioners noted evidence showing the company's proposed route between Branch and Calhoun counties runs through a rural airport, although an alternative proposed route sidesteps the airport but requires more new right-of-way allowance. Members of the commission asked for supplemental briefs on the reasonableness of the route's impact on the airport and the overall social impacts of the proposed alternative route. Those briefs are due back to the commission June 26. In a statement to Michigan Advance, the company said it will continue to work with the commission on the certificates. 'These Tranche 1 projects are part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, Long-Range Transmission Plan, or LRTP, which will improve grid reliability and resiliency, support state economic development efforts and enable the safe and reliable movement of power to Michigan communities,' the company said. 'ITC looks forward to continuing our work with agencies, municipalities and landowners.' Community members who would be affected by the transmission lines spoke in opposition to the project during public comment at the end of the meeting. Robert Williams, the owner of the airport in question, said the proposed lines go directly across his rural airfield located just south of Marshall. He said he has been in contact with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and that the agency is pursuing his concerns about an electric transmission line running across a federally-registered airport. The team is investigating if an alternative route is available to the [the company],' Williams said. '[A proposed alternative] does not change the entire route. It only changes a small section.' Williams added that, in his conversation with federal regulators, the subject of burying the transmission lines was discussed and said it could be done. 'That is a precedent that's been set before the varied transmission lines up to 720,000 volts,' Williams said. 'These are 345,000 volts.' Peter Sullivan also commented on the project. His mother, Margot Sullivan, lives in Fowler and owns 80 acres of centennial farmland in a section of the proposed route. Although the commission did not approve the project and sought additional information on Thursday, Sullivan said he and others will continue to demand that the company move the overall right-of-way from properties in the proposed route by 50 feet. He said their demands also include the company not using virgin land to make new easements or rights-of-way and instead use existing rights-of-way. Union City resident Jake Wages said he hopes the commission would not approve the project after getting additional information based on the number of centennial farms and agricultural farms that are in the way of the proposed route. Wages claimed that the company has not been transparent with residents. He said he has had numerous conversations with those potentially affected by the lines in Branch and Calhoun counties and that not one of them has said they agreed to terms with the company on giving up their land. 'The contract is so lopsided that anybody with any common sense wouldn't even consider signing it,' Wages said. 'They want to put in there that any equipment that is on our property belongs to them, and if something happens to it, we're liable for it. At that point, who's liable for any contamination? We're responsible for their vehicles, their maintenance, cleaning up their mess. They want access to our property [around the clock] without any type of notification.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Business Wire
AEM Report: Western U.S. Drought Nearly Triples in One Year, Threatening Critical Resources and Infrastructure
GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western United States faces a rapidly worsening drought crisis, with affected areas nearly tripling compared to last year, according to AEM's 2025 Summer Weather Outlook, which was released today. This significant drought expansion raises serious concerns about water availability, agricultural productivity, wildfire threats, and infrastructure stability across the region. 'This summer will bring a dangerous combination of heat, dryness, and fuel buildup that elevates wildfire risks across North America,' said James Aman, Senior Meteorologist at AEM. The report shows Lake Mead and Lake Powell, crucial reservoirs providing water for millions, have reached alarmingly low levels, holding just one-third of their usual capacity. This shortage poses significant challenges to agriculture, urban water supplies, and industries reliant on consistent water availability. In Nebraska, drought conditions have notably impacted agriculture, severely affecting more than half of the state's corn acreage. The severe drought conditions are further intensifying wildfire risks, particularly around the July 4th holiday, historically associated with increased wildfire activity. The Outlook indicates that areas such as California, the Great Basin, and the northern Rockies are projected to face above-normal fire potential throughout the summer months, further straining firefighting resources and endangering communities. Canada is also facing extreme fire danger across western provinces, with burned acreage already triple the seasonal average. 'This summer will bring a dangerous combination of heat, dryness, and fuel buildup that elevates wildfire risks across North America,' said James Aman, Senior Meteorologist at AEM. 'We're already seeing an above-average number of wildfires in the U.S., with similar trends north of the border.' Additionally, hotter-than-normal temperatures are expected across the Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and the Upper Midwest, exacerbating drought conditions and placing significant stress on regional electric grids. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) specifically faces heightened vulnerability due to anticipated peak summer air-conditioning demands, highlighting the critical need for adaptive energy management and infrastructure resilience. The full outlook can be viewed on the website. About AEM AEM is combining global technology leaders to empower communities and organizations to survive and thrive in the face of escalating environmental risks. By deploying intelligent sensing networks, operating a secure and scalable data management infrastructure, and delivering high-value analytics through a suite of end-user applications, AEM serves as the essential source for environmental insights. These technologies enable positive outcomes, helping reduce environmental impact and creating a safer world. For more information, visit
Axios
04-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Entergy, grid operator promise earlier warnings after Memorial Day weekend outages
New Orleanians could get earlier warnings before the next rolling blackout, according to Entergy and the regional grid operator — a change prompted by the widespread Memorial Day weekend outages. Why it matters: Utilities knew the grid was strained for at least 48 hours but didn't tell the public until the AC went out for about 100,000 customers on a hot holiday weekend. The big picture: The May 25 event was an "extremely rare" transmission emergency, not a capacity issue, said Todd Hillman, senior VP and chief customer officer at Midcontinent Independent System Operator. Speaking to the New Orleans City Council on Tuesday, Hillman likened the agency to air traffic controllers for the power grid. There was enough power elsewhere, he said, but they couldn't get it to metro New Orleans to meet the demand. (MISO's full explanation) To prevent outages spreading throughout the region, MISO told Entergy and Cleco to cut power by specific amounts within 30 minutes. Entergy operators in Jackson, Mississippi, used models to select neighborhoods for the outage. (Timeline from Entergy New Orleans) How it works: New Orleans is in a "pocket" in MISO's system, which makes it more difficult to get power to the area. Think of the transmission lines like bridges accessing an island, Hillman said. When only two of the three bridges are working, traffic is limited. MISO has done transmission line improvements elsewhere in its system, but there's a bottleneck in south Louisiana. Improvement projects are still in the planning phases, MISO reps said Tuesday. Friction point: Industrial customers use 70% of the state's power, according to Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, who was in council chambers Tuesday for the committee meeting. "I feel that there has been a priority by our utilities in favor of industrial customers at the expense of residential and commercial," Lewis said. "I think we have to have a big conversation about that." Stunning stat: Louisiana's electricity customers experience more than 12 times as many hours of power outages than the national average, writes Axios' Chelsea Brasted. What we're watching: New Orleans is working on ways to make itself more sustainable during power outages. It has the Community Lighthouse project, and the council is looking at microgrids and virtual power plants. These would use a network of solar panels and battery storage systems to serve as a backup to the grid if it goes down or there's a strain. Go deeper. Council President JP Morrell tells Axios he expects the council to make a decision this year about the virtual power plants. Zoom out: More communication has been an ongoing theme in recent council meetings. Members want to get information to the public sooner, especially through the NOLA Ready text system. Examples: The jail outbreak and neutral ground parking. What's next: The Louisiana Public Service Commission will hear from MISO and Entergy Louisiana at its June 18 meeting about the power outages and the transmission situation. Go deeper
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arevon secures $98m tax equity commitment for Indiana solar projects
American energy developer, owner and operator Arevon Energy has secured a $98m tax equity commitment from Fifth Third Bank to support the development of its Ratts 1 and Heirloom solar projects in Pike County, Indiana, US. These projects, currently under construction, will collectively add 265MW of new energy for Indiana and are part of Arevon's expansion in the Midwest/Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) territories. The 192MWdc Ratts 1 Solar has secured a long-term power purchase agreement with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, while Meta will be the offtaker for 73MWdc Heirloom Solar. Both projects are expected to commence operations in the second half of 2025. The partnership with Fifth Third Bank leverages the Inflation Reduction Act's tax credit transfer provision, offering Arevon enhanced capital structure flexibility. Fifth Third Bank Head of Renewables Jon Stark stated: 'Supporting premier platforms like Arevon squarely fits our future growth, and we look forward to continuing to grow our relationship with Arevon as they continue to execute on their high-quality US renewables pipeline.' The Ratts 1 and Heirloom Solar projects represent a nearly $400m investment and are projected to contribute more than $86m to local governments, benefiting public services and infrastructure. The construction has created 200 full-time jobs and boosted local businesses. Arevon chief investment officer Denise Tait stated: 'The complex and highly successful structure of this transaction marks another notable financial accomplishment for Arevon. This is a great example of what happens when all the right pieces come together. 'We were proud to work with Fifth Third Bank and our other financing partners on all we have achieved across our projects' financing packages. The Arevon team's deep expertise and experience will enable us to continue to innovate on future financial transactions.' Advisory and legal firms Paragon Energy Capital, Latham & Watkins, and Norton Rose Fulbright played key roles in closing the latest tax equity commitment. In September 2024, Arevon announced a separate $299m financial close for these projects, marking its first uncommitted tax equity and tax credit transfer bridge loan transaction. Arevon continues to grow its portfolio in the US Midwest. Notable developments include the commencement of the Posey and Gibson solar projects in Indiana and the advancement of the 430MW Kelso Solar Project in Missouri. Arevon has secured more than $3.8bn in cumulative project financing for new solar and energy storage developments throughout the US. "Arevon secures $98m tax equity commitment for Indiana solar projects" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Massive Louisiana power outage affects thousands and disrupts Memorial Day weekend
A sudden power outage disrupted Memorial Day weekend across southeast Louisiana on 25 May, Sunday, leaving more than 100,000 residents without electricity at its peak. The blackout began around 4:30 pm and affected neighborhoods from Uptown and Mid-City to Lakeview, Metairie, and Terrytown, as well as parts of Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. The outage was triggered by a 'load shed' order from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional authority overseeing grid reliability. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans were instructed to initiate controlled, periodic power cuts to prevent a more extensive and prolonged failure of the electrical grid. 'It's just a really bad time for anyone to be without power,' said Lottie Summers, a New Orleans resident. 'It's suffering like we live in houses that are not insulated. We really need air conditioning to survive as a society, especially in New Orleans.' Also Read: Memorial Day 2025 The blackout also disrupted the 50th annual New Orleans Greek Festival in Gentilly. As hundreds gathered to celebrate, the power went out for nearly three hours, halting food preparation and silencing music. 'The electricity went out and we were unable to cook some of the food or provide air conditioning, but it's put a damper on things,' said festival organizer Alexandra Megilligan. Live Events Response from the community In response to the heat and lack of air conditioning, local business Toup's Meatery opened its doors to provide a cool space for those affected. 'We don't want anyone in our community to be suffering in any way, and that's kind of what New Orleans is all about, everyone helps each other,' Summers added. City officials expressed frustration over the lack of timely communication regarding the outage. 'Tonight, the regional transmission organization, MISO, ordered an immediate, forced, large-scale outage within the Entergy territory, leaving the utility with minimal notice,' stated City Council President JP Morrell, Council Vice President Helena Moreno, and Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis. 'The public deserves clear answers regarding the reasons behind this incident and the failure to provide timely alerts.' Entergy, a major energy company, reported on Sunday that the load-shedding order had been lifted and power was being restored. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
