Drew Smithee, PE

Recovering performance engineer / IRP analyst / wind turbine climber / pipeline planner. Sometimes fish and losing sports teams.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

I’m on a mission to civilize #EnergyTwitter one thread at a time.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

Jokes on you demand side management program. A/C can’t precool and turn off for the peak of it can’t keep up in the first place.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

@MatthewWithy Oh I’m sure. I still don’t think they’ll get approval to do that.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

Doesn’t have NY approval and expect to begin construction in the next few months doesn’t usually jive.

[RTO Insider™ @rtoinsider]

After years of planning and negotiations, a major New York City-area transmission project is in line for a key state approval and possible start of site work in late 2026.

See Full Story: https://t.co/TLk5uYTd3V
Writer: John Cropley

[Progress Bar 2026 @ProgressBar202_]

2026 is 50% complete.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

I saw the link and assumed this was @thesunionnews

[Ken Girardin @PolicyEngineer]

It's bad that NYS wrote an RFP (and made a new clean energy "tier") to match the biz plan for a particular project (CHPE) but hey: that's Albany!

It's really bad when that hugely questionable project doesn't actually deliver electricity in a heat wave.

https://t.co/gV7QfAliwb

[ThompsonEnergy @ThompsonEnergy]

.@FERC staff dismissed a protest opposing an application filed by El Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C. “seeking authorization to construct, install, modify, operate, and maintain its Permian West Expansion Project.” #natgas #pipelines https://t.co/povAyShAxO

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

On a related note I bought a new water heater. So that’s exciting.

[Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation @DOECMEI]

🚨JUST ANNOUNCED: @ENERGY has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to permanently end home appliance and equipment mandates that raise costs and disrupt consumer choice.

https://t.co/XyhbcIb8se

[ThompsonEnergy @ThompsonEnergy]

.@FERC granted an application filed by TTC Connector, LLC “for authorization to construct, own, and operate new natural gas pipeline and compression facilities in Colorado and Wharton Counties, Texas (TTC Project).” #natgas #pipelines https://t.co/knFS0tH3WT

[PJM Interconnection @pjminterconnect]

PJM continues to implement alerts and actions to maintain reliable system operations throughout this week’s extreme heat and humidity. A Hot Weather Alert remains in effect for the entire region PJM serves through at least July 3. A Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert has been issued for July 2 for across its footprint. These alerts do not require any actions from customers. https://t.co/peaLHsodzm

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

👀

[PJM Interconnection @pjminterconnect]

Forecast peak #electricity usage for July 2 in #PJM region: 166,241 MW at 5 p.m. (Eastern); total scheduled capacity 172,780 MW (data as of 6 a.m.)

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

Comment section is brutal.

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool.

Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can.

Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment.

A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved. Let's ease demand — and get through the heat — together.

[McNeil @REFLOG18]

That level in Super Mario 3 where the sun is trying to kill you is just every day now.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

I call it marginal pricing

[Dr. Jessica R. Lovering @J_Lovering]

This is an emergent issue in a lot of renewable-heavy local grids. I sit in a wind energy department, they call it cannibalization. In California, new solar is mostly replacing old solar whose tax credits have run out (unless they have batteries)

[Utility Dive @UtilityDive]

Sen. King urges FERC to reject $67B NextEra-Dominion merger

NextEra Energy’s efforts to kill the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project is a sign of how the combined utility could stifle competition and harm consumers, he said. https://t.co/z3zVPmvqQ2

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

When the AI bubble pops think of all those assets sitting there doing nothing just waiting to plummet the marginal cost.

[Alex Trembath @atrembath]

The energy transition will not proceed in the way that climate advocates imagined over the last decade, but if they let it, AI could do more for electrification and decarbonization than the Green New Deal or the IRA was ever going to.

[Ben Inskeep @Ben_Inskeep]

The IURC approved a plan to shift $20.3 million in transmission upgrades for SK Hynix's semiconductor plant onto a bill surcharge paid by all Duke Energy customers.

Another subsidy for a trillion-dollar tech company.
Another rate increase for Hoosier households.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

@Clt_TrafficGuy I mean our backup is everyone gets a list of 25 names to call. lol

I imagine a nuclear might have another automated backup? But even then when you’re asking people to report into the office you’re not saving much time. You’re just freeing up the dialers to do value added work.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

A better description would be “the speed dial button was broken”.

Also Everbridge is a pain in the ass.

[Sammy Fretwell @sfretwell83]

An alert system didn’t work at multiple nuclear plants, including site near Columbia, SC https://t.co/koyeJeUEoA

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

@Clt_TrafficGuy I mean it’s a cool system. But it’s really just a one way group text for phone calls.

Then you can set it to keep calling if they don’t answer.

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

@midconmaven What’s going on in Wisconsin????

[Drew Smithee, PE @DrewSmithee]

Wasn’t exactly expecting half a bcf of pipeline capacity in Wisconsin

[Criterion Research @PipelineFlows]

FERC granted ANR Pipeline a notice to proceed with construction on TC Energy's Heartland Project. The project adds 473,000 Dth/d of firm transportation in Wisconsin and Illinois via roughly 68.9 miles of new pipeline loop and three new compressor stations. Construction is set to begin in 3Q26 with service targeted for 3Q27. https://t.co/ebe2UWSayy #NatGas #ONGT