by Sean Thompson, Supervisor NERC Services The 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment (LTRA) by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) underscores critical reliability challenges facing the power industry over the next decade. These findings hold significant implications for generator owners as the energy landscape evolves. Key trends include rising electricity…

By Dale Tarr, NERC Reliability Specialist The ongoing effort to register Inverter Based Resources (IBRs) continues as regions transition from identification to outreach amid IBR Registration Milestone Phase 2. The July 2024 request for information (RFI) sent to Balancing Authorities and Transmission Owners, used to identify registration candidates, netted 365…

by William White, Senior NERC Reliability Specialist In today’s rapidly evolving energy sector, the importance of complying with regulatory standards cannot be overstated. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability and security of the North American electrical grid. To maintain operational efficiency,…

By Troy Dahlgren, NERC Reliability Specialist FERC Order 901, issued on October 19, 2023, mandates the development of new and revised reliability standards to address the challenges posed by the increasing integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) into the electric grid. This order represents a transformative regulatory initiative aimed at ensuring…

By Leonard Wills, NERC Reliability Specialist As malicious actors continue honing their attack methods, cyber hygiene holds paramount importance for individuals and entities seeking stronger security postures and lower risks. Cyber hygiene involves routine practices that protect digital assets—such as training, asset inventory, password security, vulnerability checks, and security audits—thereby…

Team, We are excited to announce that Bates Szakos is rejoining NAES Power Contractors as the Director of Strategic Growth and Operations, effective immediately. After three years away, Bates’s return underscores our dedication to strategic growth at NPC. Bates first joined NPC over twelve years ago as an Estimator & Project Manager. His…

By Leland McMillan, Supervisor NERC Services and Carl Curry, NERC Reliability Specialist NERC Standards are aimed to increase electric reliability, but the one major component that is outside NERC’s jurisdiction is natural gas supply. NERC issued a statement in September 2024 indicating that fuel supply was a contributing factor for past winter events.…

By Eddie Aveitia, NERC CIP Reliability Specialist As the renewable energy sector continues to expand rapidly in 2024, it faces an increasingly complex and dangerous cybersecurity landscape. Wind farms, solar power plants, and other green energy infrastructure have become prime targets for malicious actors seeking to disrupt operations, steal sensitive…

By Shaun Rohret, Senior Reliability Specialist, NERC Services The following standards are currently subject to recent and future enforcement on NERC’s site: EOP 11-4 Emergency Operations and EOP 12-2 Extreme Cold Weather Preparedness Applicable Entities · Balancing Authority   · Generator Operator   · Generator Owner   · Reliability Coordinator   ·Transmission Operator   · Transmission Owner  · Distribution Provider Effective on October 1, 2024, the purpose of…

By Stefano Schnitger, NERC Reliability Specialist Phase 2 of NERC’s inverter-based resource (IBR) registration initiative is in full swing. This phase will focus on the complete identification of Category 2 Generator Owner and Generator Operator candidates. The ERO Enterprise (NERC and the six Regional Entities) has already begun identifying potential registration…

NAES Power Contractors (NPC) installed a new Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) system and an Activated Carbon Injection (ACI) system at a major coal-fired generating station owned by a cooperative in the Midwest as part of a regional air-quality project. The project supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new Mercury…

NAES Power Contractors (NPC) rebuilt an Alstom air preheater at an 850 MW coal-fired plant. NPC worked around the clock for three weeks to expedite the unit’s return to service. The team built temporary shelters to keep the major weather from impeding the work and coordinated with client representatives for…

NAES Power Contractors (NPC) had responsibility for site management, craft labor and directing subcontractors for this $31 million-plus project at the 1,800 MW Conemaugh Generating Station. NPC s upplied and installed new electrostatic precipitator (ESP) internals for Units 1 and 2 (four boxes total) during two power outages.

NAES Power Contractors has provided ongoing maintenance, modification and construction at the 2,218 MW Colstrip facility since 1988, including services during normal operating periods, scheduled outages and unscheduled outages. NPC provided the same services at the 154 MW Corette facility from 1988 until its closure in 2015.

AMP Fremont is a 540 MW nominal load 2 x 1 natural gas fired generating station with 163 MW of duct-firing capacity. American Municipal Power (AMP) and its members self-operate several electric plants. However, for its first combined-cycle gas turbine facility – the 703 MW Fremont Energy Center in northwestern…

The largest simple cycle plant in the US, Elwood consists of 9 GE Frame 7FA combustion turbines. The facility is a full merchant power as of Spring 2017 with 15 full-time employees covering 24/7. Elwood, Illinois: NAES Environmental Services was responsible for successfully permitting the addition of Blackstart engines and low…

Connecticut’s Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) facility presents a triple challenge to an operator, in that its three discrete units – a Waste Processing Facility (WPF), a Power Block Facility (PBF) and an auxiliary Jet Turbine Facility (JTF) – each require a separate operating plan. ‘NAES Safe’ Program Turns…

49 MW dual-fuel natural gas and oil plant that consists of an electric generation plant and a distribution substation located in Chaska, Minnesota. The facility sits on seven acres approximately 500 feet from the Minnesota River. Dry Air Injection System Solves Humidity-RelatedElectrical Problem at MMPA Minnesota River      By Bob Burchfield –…

NAES Environmental serviced a 320 MW coal-fired cogeneration plant in the mid-west, which utilizes four coal-fired circulation fluidized bed (CFB) boilers and two steam turbines and their respective generators. The facility controls NOx and SO2 emissions with CFB boiler technology. The addition of limestone into the boilers reduces the SO2 emissions while low…