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CAMS Renewables Success Stories
The following are some examples of initiatives taken by CAMS that increased value, advanced safety considerations, or otherwise improved value for project owners.
The following are some examples of initiatives taken by CAMS that increased value, advanced safety considerations, or otherwise improved value for project owners.
Evaluating a power asset becomes increasingly difficult without a sound understanding of power operations and fundamental asset management optimization capabilities. We created this white paper to help you avoid common pitfalls we have seen people make when considering acquiring a power generation asset. Complete the form to download.
CAMS and its employees have an extensive and successful track record developing, managing, and operating power generation assets across North America, Europe, and Latin America. Services for the Power Generation sector include asset management (AM), operations and maintenance (O&M), finance and accounting, EH&S, due diligence, operational assessments, project management, and regulatory compliance and reporting. CAMS currently manages over 30 power plant facilities representing over 38,000 MWs of generating capacity.
HOUSTON – Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS), an industry-leading asset management and operations and maintenance (O&M) services provider, and FlexGen, the second-largest U.S. energy storage technology company, announced today that they have formed a strategic partnership to serve the growing battery energy storage system (BESS) market in the United States.
The partnership creates the first comprehensive services offering for BESS owners and investors, covering greenfield development and brownfield redevelopment. FlexGen’s proprietary HybridOS control system and proven ability to navigate the global procurement system, coupled with CAMS’ geographic scale and operational expertise, delivers a reliable and streamlined BESS solution.
“We are very pleased to partner with FlexGen to create this comprehensive service offering,” said Brian Ivany, co-president of CAMS Renewable Services. “As the complexity and size of BESS development grow, it is vital to embed maintenance and operational considerations into the asset design phase. Working with FlexGen to design, procure and construct the optimal physical components and software control systems in the context of O&M results in a more cost-effective and reliable project.”
“FlexGen is excited to work with CAMS to serve our clients as they work to navigate the energy transition,” said Steve Panagiotou, director of commercial operations at FlexGen. “CAMS has a proven track record in asset management and O&M services in the power generation market. We look forward to working with them to provide energy investors end-to-end battery storage solutions.”
For more information about the combined offerings, please visit here.
About CAMS
CAMS is a privately held company providing a full range of services in the energy sector. These services include lifecycle management of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues for all facility and industry types. Our founding principle is to add value through superior management and operation of our clients’ energy infrastructure assets. To this end, we empower our employees to pursue creative and sustainable business practices in the field and at our corporate office that contribute to operational excellence, financial performance, a safe workplace, and a better community and environment. We do not take this responsibility lightly: We treat the assets with which we are entrusted as our own. For additional information, visit www.camstex.com.
About FlexGen
FlexGen is the second-largest U.S. energy storage technology company, and first in Texas with an 80% market share. Leveraging its best-in-class energy management software and power electronics, FlexGen delivers utility-scale storage projects integrated with traditional and renewable power generation globally. Our customers and partners include the most technically and commercially demanding developers, utilities, government agencies, and industrial companies in the world. For more information, visit www.flexgen.com.
HOUSTON – Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS) today announced that it has acquired the U.S. solar operations and maintenance (O&M) business of Belectric Inc. The Belectric portfolio includes 141 operating sites in 11 states.
With extensive O&M and Asset Management experience in renewable power generation, CAMS sees this solar O&M transaction as a natural extension of its existing offerings. With this acquisition, CAMS continues to execute its strategy of advancing its renewable energy footprint and leads the way in providing a full range of services to its customers.
“We are excited to grow our regional presence in the solar power industry,” said Greg Bobrow, COO of CAMS. “The purchase of Belectric compliments and further strengthens our existing capabilities and markets in the power generation industry. It integrates seamlessly into the CAMS suite of solutions that are focused on and guided by sustainability.”
CAMS has long prioritized the development of renewable energy resources, both for reducing emissions and supplementing existing electricity generation. Since its establishment in 2007, CAMS has expanded its presence in renewables generation (wind, solar, battery storage) representing approximately 3,500 MWs of generating capacity, with offsetting emissions estimated at 8.2 million tons of C02 annually. CAMS brings its existing technical, EH&S, regulatory, and other areas of expertise and best practices to efficiently and safely support this solar power generation market.
“Our company and our customers are increasingly focused on the transition of energy generation towards renewable sources,” Bobrow added. “CAMS always looks for ways to support an improved environment while at the same time providing cost savings and creating value for our customers. We at CAMS look forward to a growing marketing presence in the solar energy space.”
About CAMS
CAMS is a privately held company providing a full range of services in the energy sector. These services include lifecycle management of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues for all facility and industry types. Our founding principle is to add value through superior management and operation of our clients’ energy infrastructure assets. To this end, we empower our employees to pursue creative and sustainable business practices in the field and at our corporate office that contribute to operational excellence, financial performance, a safe workplace, and a better community and environment. We do not take this responsibility lightly: We treat the assets with which we are entrusted as our own. For additional information, visit www.camstex.com.
About Belectric
Belectric Inc. is part of the BELECTRIC Group, one of the most successful enterprises in the development, construction and Operations & Maintenance of utility scale solar power plants. BELECTRIC has constructed globally over 400 solar PV power plants with over 3.0 GW of installed capacity.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been busy. Since late August, the EPA published two final rules relating to coal combustion residuals (CCR), one final rule relating to wastewater discharge from coal-fired power plants with emission controls and proposed a significant rewrite to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR).
These rules have significant implications for coal-fired power plants’ future operations, and the CSAPR update will affect all power plants in 12 states in the eastern United States. CAMS operates three coal-fired power plants – Gavin Station in Ohio and Conemaugh and Keystone Stations in Pennsylvania. A summary of each rule and its implications follows.
COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS PART A AND PART B
In response to the catastrophic TVA Kingston coal ash release in December 2008, EPA passed a series of enhanced regulations to regulate the storage and disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) or coal ash. EPA published the Disposal of CCR rule in April 2015. This rule addresses groundwater protection from leaking contaminants, blowing of materials into the air as dust, and catastrophic failure of coal ash surface impoundments. There is also a requirement to post specific information about coal-fired power plant CCR programs on public websites. Under the CCR rule, the design of ponds used to store coal ash must meet particular groundwater protection standards or be removed from service and closed. Clay lined impoundments were previously permissible if groundwater monitoring did not detect a release. However, a 2018 court decision requires all active ponds to meet the rule’s liner requirements. In 2019, EPA proposed “A Holistic Approach to Closure,” Parts A and B, which outlines requirements for maintaining, closing, and replacing “unlined” ponds.
Part A specifies timelines for the development of alternative pond capacity and the use of unlined ponds. Under Part A, unlined ponds may not receive any coal ash after April 11, 2021, unless they receive an extension from EPA or the state agency. Extensions are available if a plant develops another method for storing CCR material (i.e., installing new ponds, retrofitting liners to existing ponds, removing waste streams) or a plant commits to the permanent closure of the coal-fired units. In essence, almost every coal-fired power plant must have lined CCR ponds that meeting EPA standards between 04/21 and 10/23 or commit to the retirement of the coal-fired boilers. Extension applications are required to be filed by November 30, 2020. Gavin’s Part A demonstration was filed October 19, 2020, and Conemaugh’s was filed the week of November 16. Keystone already has concrete-lined ponds that meet the requirements of the CCR Rule.
Part B offers a potential alternative for CCR ponds considered “unlined” but provides an equivalent groundwater protection level. For such facilities, Part B defines a process through which a facility may make an “alternate liner demonstration,” which, if successful, would allow those ponds to continue to operate without modification. Conemaugh’s ash filter ponds are lined with engineered synthetic clay liners that offer groundwater protection equivalent to or better than the standards the EPA sets forth in the CCR rule. An application to proceed with an alternate liner demonstration is due by November 30. Conemaugh’s application will be filed the week of November 16.
EFFLUENT LIMITATION GUIDELINES FOR POWER PLANT WASTEWATER
On October 13, 2020, EPA finalized the revised Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) for Steam Electric Power Plants Rule. This regulation affects power plants that discharge bottom ash (BA) transport water or wastewater from flue gas desulfurization (FGD). The ELG rules potentially affect Keystone, Conemaugh, and Gavin stations. The ELG rule requires BA and FGD wastewaters’ compliance as soon as possible, but no later than 12/31/2025. There is an alternate compliance option of ceasing the plants’ operation by 12/31/2028 and meeting more stringent FGD limits by 12/31/2028. The most significant limitations in the FGD rule relate to mercury, selenium, arsenic, and nitrate/nitrite discharge. Compliance with the BA rule may be accomplished through the revision of a plant’s water balance. All three stations are currently evaluating their compliance options.
CROSS-STATE AIR POLLUTION RULE REVISED UPDATE
The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) requires power plants in 23 eastern states to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to improve air quality through a “cap and trade” program. There are three programs in CSAPR, for which allowances are accounted and traded independently – SO2, annual NOx, and Ozone Season (May-September) NOx. Every ton of NOx emitted during the summer from an affected plant requires the surrender of two allowances: an ozone season NOx allowance and an annual NOx allowance. The cost of these allowances impact power plant operating economics.
On October 30, 2020, the EPA proposed a significant update to CSAPR, reducing the number of Ozone Season NOx allowances available for power plants in 12 states by 55% beginning in 2021. The impacted states are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. These states will belong to a new trading group, with allowance trading restricted to the same group sources. This change is not expected to impact compliance for any of the plants CAMS operates. However, it will affect compliance costs. The restriction on the number of allowances available and the market size restriction are both expected to impact allowance prices. These changes in allowance prices could have a discernible impact on coal-fired power plants’ cost of operation, in addition to the ELG and CCR rules noted above.
Please contact CAMS’ Environmental Services Department if you have questions about any of the above regulations or other EPA rulemaking
HOUSTON – Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS) announced today it made a corporate donation to the Houston Food Bank. The gift, made on behalf of CAMS employees, supports a local non-profit that offers a critical lifeline to some of the most vulnerable members of the greater Houston community.
“Our communities continue to suffer the impact of COVID-19,” said CAMS COO Greg Bobrow. “As we look to a brighter future, our company shares a sense of responsibility to assist. This gift supports a non-profit that continues to provide essential services despite the challenges of 2020.”
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased need for food assistance in Southeast Texas communities. CAMS’ donation helps provide 30,000 meals to families in need. The Houston Food Bank is the area’s largest hunger-relief distribution agency.
“On behalf of CAMS, we would like to extend our personal and genuine appreciation to the Houston Food Bank and all its volunteers who have worked tirelessly to serve those in need during these challenging times,” said Bobrow.
“Thank you so much for this generous donation,” said Yolanda Webb, Strategic Gifts Officer of Houston Food Bank. “We are so proud that we can count on leaders like CAMS in our community to stand up and make a difference. This gift is so valuable and truly making a difference for so many in need of food and hope right now.”
Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS) presented three different topics at the virtual Air & Waste Management Association’s (A&WMA) MEGA Symposium – Navigating the Emerging Energy Environment.
CAMS experts discussed the energy sector in times of disaster and pandemic, and the transformation of the energy landscape.
The A&WMA MEGA Symposium as a whole examined the various perspectives on electric power issues as the industry transitions to a cleaner footprint with advanced, cost-effective and reliable energy solutions. Challenges and opportunities will be discussed for new technologies such as renewables and batteries, traditional fossil-based power generation, and the intersection of new and existing energy sources.
Access CAMS presentations below or contact us for more information at info@camstex.com.
Luke Henderson, CAMS
CAMS O&M East Region team shares operating experience on prioritizing the safety of our employees and maintaining operational readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nick Kemper, CAMS, and Jason Goldberg, FE Group
CAMS’ brownfield redevelopment team discusses the proven methods of decommissioning, decontamination, demolition and redevelopment of aging coal-fired power facilities in order to repower the property with renewable generation technology.
Peter Belmonte, CAMS
Today’s utilities and power generating companies need help transforming aging power plants through retirement, replacement, retrofitting or redevelopment. With power infrastructure in place, CAMS looks at all the generation options available to replace “old smokey power” and evaluates those costs and viabilities.
A&WMA is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan professional organization that enhances knowledge and expertise by providing a neutral forum for technology exchange, professional development, networking opportunities, public education, and outreach to more than 5,000 environmental professionals in 65 countries. A&WMA also promotes global environmental responsibility and increases the effectiveness of organizations to make critical decisions that benefit society. For more information, please visit www.awma.org.
By David Harsell
As part of an effort to keep pace with the ever-changing technology of the oil industry, the BLM issued new Federal Onshore Orders in Jan 2017. These new regulations affected numerous topics including administration, reporting, operations, site security, and oil and gas measurement on Federal leases. Many of the significant portions of these regulations included implementation dates that were being phased-in to allow the industry adequate time to comply with their requirements and the BLM to create the necessary procedures and software for proper administration.
Because of the complexity of Onshore Order 3173 Requirements for Site Security and Production Handling, the BLM placed a temporary hold on implementing certain aspects of this regulation so that it could be re-written to provide more clarity to the industry’s operators. The new re-written Onshore Order 3173 is planned to be released to the public in the next several weeks and will be posted for 60 days to allow operators to review the requirements and provide comments. The re-write should address common issues/concerns with flowback equipment, commingling, allocation meters, bypasses, and Facility Measurement Points (FMPs). The BLM highly recommends and encourages operators to read the proposed re-write and submit comments as available on the Federal Register website.
Applications for the assignment of FMPs are still on hold until several development stages are completed after the introduction of the AFMSS 2 WISx system which will replace the Well Information System (WIS). The introduction of WISx will not happen until mid-March and the FMP reporting module will not be available until late 2020.
CAMS in-house technical staff is familiar with the requirements of the new Federal Onshore Orders and has experience working with the BLM to resolve compliance problems. As your operations encounter issues with understanding or complying with these new regulations, you should consider contacting CAMS to conduct a survey of your overall compliance level or assist in addressing problems. CAMS can be reached by sending an email or calling 713-380-4719.
This article is written by David Harsell, a CAMS senior engineering advisor, with over 45 yrs of industry engineering, facilities and operating experience working with the BLM.
HOUSTON – Consolidated Asset Management Services, LLC (“CAMS” or the “Company”) announced the execution of an agreement to perform accounting and other related services for Silverado Oil & Gas, LLC (“Silverado”).
Silverado is a privately held company focused on the acquisition and exploitation of oil and gas assets and formed in partnership with EnCap Investments L.P. The Silverado team has decades of oil and gas expertise for both public and private companies across numerous conventional and unconventional resource plays in the United States. For additional information, please visit www.sogllc.com.
CAMS, headquartered in Houston, was formed in 2007 to provide back office and acquisition support services for energy assets including power generation, E&P, midstream and renewables, both domestically and abroad. CAMS leverages its economies of scale and experienced professionals to reduce costs, improve financial accuracy, and exceed external reporting requirements for owners of energy assets. CAMS E&P provides comprehensive asset management services to independent oil and gas companies active in a variety of areas including onshore, offshore, conventional, and shale plays. For additional information, please contact bivany@camstex.com or visit www.camstex.com.
HOUSTON – Earlier this month, Consolidated Asset Management Services (“CAMS”) and its O&M team received nine (9) Best Practices Awards, two (2) of them being “Best of The Best” Awards for 2019 from the Combined Cycle Journal (“CCJ”) (http://www.ccj-online.com/7f-owner-operators-capture-five-top-best-practices-awards/).
The Best Practice Awards, according to Scott Schwieger, General Manager of CCJ, recognize the valuable contributions made by owner/operator personnel to improve the safety and performance of generating facilities powered by gas turbines.
“Best Practices Awards” recipients for CAMS’ operated plants include:
“Best of The Best Awards” recipients for CAMS’ operated plants include:
“We believe part of what differentiates CAMS as an operator, is the ability to cultivate a sense of ownership and a desire for continuous improvement in our operating teams. We are thrilled to see these hard-working teams be recognized for their added value to the facilities and respective owners,” said Eric Garrett, Executive Vice President of Operations for CAMS.
CAMS is a privately held company providing Asset Management (AM), Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and other technical services for the Exploration and Production, Midstream and Power Generation sectors of the energy industry. CAMS’ O&M and AM experience includes over 100 power facilities in North America, totaling nearly 35,000 MW. For additional information, please visit us at www.camstex.com.