Archive for September, 2011

The EPSA on Taking Control of the Power Business

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Power plant managers should invest more time and effort into making the case for what they think needs to happen in the energy legislative and regulatory arenas, says John Shelk, President & Chief Executive Officer, Electric Power Supply Association.

This may not come naturally to business leaders, but having clear answers from policy makers is essential when making business decisions, Shelk adds.

Ahead of the marcus evans Power Plant Management Summit 2011 in Wheeling, Illinois, October 17-19, Shelk puts the power policy scene under the spotlight and shares his ideas on how power plant managers can seize control of the future.

What are the latest regulations and mandates that will have an impact on the power sector?

John Shelk: There are a number of regulations, both on the environmental and economic front. EPA regulations will profoundly affect power plants that are undertaking repowering initiatives.

While the President recently decided not to pursue a tightening of the ozone standards, there is a range of other rules on greenhouse gases, traditional pollutants and coal ash influencing the industry.

On the economic side, the competitive part of the business is primarily regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Demand response compensation, capacity market rules and cyber security will impact how power plants operate moving forward.

How should power plant management executives prepare for these developments?

John Shelk: It is difficult to prepare and that is one of the concerns we hear all the time. There are so many developments, at so many agencies, and no single regulator looking at how they all impact the power business.

Power plant managers should invest time and effort into making the case for what they think needs to happen in the energy legislative and regulatory arenas. Unfortunately, many come to that realization too late. What we have learned painfully is that you can have the best manager with the most efficient power plant, but if you cannot get access to the transmission system, your plant will not run, although from a business standpoint it should.

It may not come naturally to business leaders to get involved, but having clear answers from policy makers is essential when making business decisions, investing and picking among technologies. Plant managers and company executives need to know what the rules are going to be.

Policy makers do not appreciate what it takes to run these businesses. Many have never run a power plant. Very few sectors are as heavily regulated. There must be more interaction and education between the business and regulation sides. Power plant managers have a duty to communicate the message that electricity is an essential part of the economy and provides jobs, but is very capital intensive. Revenues cannot be subject to political tinkering. That is true for the competitive space where they rely on market forces for their revenue and also for the more regulated space where profits are more directly determined by state regulatory bodies.

What are your thoughts for the future? What opportunities do you forecast?

John Shelk: The demand for power is likely to increase. Power plant managers should look at least a decade ahead, which is difficult, but required at the present time.

We are headed for a decade of uncertainty. With that hopefully comes many opportunities for individual plants, companies and society as a whole. It is very likely that the existing stock of power plants will overturn in the next decade to a large degree, in one shape or form. That is unsettling to many, but it is also an exciting time to put the best technologies, best practices and most effective leadership to the task.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Power Plant Management Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at the Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Illinois, 17-19 October 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on optimizing plants, complying with environmental regulations and workforce management.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

CapX2020: Filling the Energy Supply Gap in the Midwest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“In a world where the use of consumer electronic goods is constantly increasing and air conditioning is no longer a luxury, we must find a way to supply the high energy demands that the current grid can no longer maintain,” says Terry Grove, Co-Executive Director, CapX2020. Eleven utility companies have joined together to create the CapX2020 project, which will provide new transmission lines throughout the Upper Midwest.

A speaker at the marcus evans Transmission & Distribution Summit 2011, taking place in Wheeling, Illinois, November 2-4, Grove discusses the importance of forming commercial agreements and how to better plan and identify infrastructure needs. 

What is the biggest challenge in the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) industry at the moment?

Terry Grove: Over the past 30 years there has been no major upgrade to the transmission grid while electricity demand has steadily increased. With the increasing population and growing use of electronic consumer goods, the demand will continue to grow. The Midwest region is currently using more electricity than the grid can handle.

We must re-arrange the energy supply in our portfolios and start building on the foundations that we already have.

What is the CapX2020 project?

Terry Grove: The CapX2020 project consists of 11 utilities companies joining together to build more than 700 miles of high voltage transmission lines in the Upper Midwest. These lines are being built in segments designed to meet this growing demand.

The primary drivers of the new lines are to ensure continued reliability, meet future growth and to bring in renewable energy sources, such as wind power. We have designed the project to be adaptable to everyone’s needs. 

What difficulties were faced in the development of this project?

Terry Grove: When building a project that involves the public, the biggest challenge is bringing those people into the process. Instead of hearing about it when it is complete, communities and individual landowners should be involved early through a comprehensive outreach plan that includes open houses and meetings with local government officials. The people living in the area must have a vested interest in the project or else it will not be approved.

Planning and identifying the specific infrastructure needs took a lot of our time. Parallel to working with state regulators, local officials and land owners, we have had to identify the appropriate infrastructure to meet our customers’ needs.

How were 11 utility companies able to work together as one entity?

Terry Grove: When numerous companies are trying to collaborate, it is essential to build a strong chorus of support. Working with diverse business structures has been tricky, but when you keep your eye on the big picture and remember that you are helping so many individuals, it all comes together.

Defining and forming commercial agreements between all 11 companies has been an achievement for us. We were able to create a flexible template that accommodated each company’s needs and then customized it for each project.
 
What benefits will the CapX2020 project bring about?

Terry Grove: Our aim has been to provide a flexible platform that can adapt to all types of energy in the future. 

The common bond between all utilities in the project is to meet the need of consumers. CapX2020 will enhance reliability and provide a more efficient transmission system, not just in the short-term, but also over decades.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Transmission & Distribution Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Illinois, November 2-4, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on grid modernization, increasing energy efficiency and protecting critical assets.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com