Solar power more than doubled in PJM in each of the last two years and continues to grow. The map below shows the amount of solar capacity by county in PJM’s region.

A number of states in PJM follow renewable standards and goals. The map below illustrates these goals.

This map is from www.dsireusa.org and appeared in PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Plan for 2011.

Businesses and homes which can generate at least one megawatt-hour of power from solar energy can qualify to capture credit for the megawatt-hour as a solar renewable energy credit (REC). The solar REC can be traded or sold to another entity to satisfy its compliance with state goals. PJM Environmental Information Services (EIS), a subsidiary of PJM, administers the registry, the Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS), which tracks and records RECs.

PJM’s Renewable Energy Dashboard provides a snapshot of how much renewable energy is available in PJM and proposed to be built in the region.

PJM Interconnection, along with the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Urban Research (IUR) and other local partners, is teaming up to provide a real-time electricity price ticker on selected  websites. The Electricity Price Ticker is a data stream from PJM with the real-time locational marginal price (LMP) for the PECO Energy zone,

the wholesale price for southeastern Pennsylvania. The color background in the graphic corresponds to the price in the legend of PJM’s LMP contour map.

“You can find the time, temperature and the current price of gas just about anywhere. What about the price of power–something you rely on every day,” says Susan Covino, senior consultant in PJM’s Markets Division.

This week, throughout Penn’s campus in University City, Penn’s IUR is promoting the price ticker and website to the campus community of more than 40,000 students, faculty and staff.  The ticker is the centerpiece of an awareness campaign to increase the public’s understanding of the connection between the wholesale price of electricity and individual consumer use. Consumers who check the ticker from time to time also will s
The other partners are the University of Pennsylvania’s Facilities and Residential Services, the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy Efficient Buildings, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Penn State’s GridSTAR, and PECO. ee the variability of electricity prices by time of day and season.

Clicking on the price ticker takes visitors to a landing page that explains what the price ticker means and directs them to the partners’ individual websites for consumer education. PJM’s landing page, which is within the PJM Learning Center, features an infographic explaining what it takes to use a megawatt-hour of power.

The Learning Center allows you to choose the level of information you need for specific PJM and electricity industry topics such as how electricity is created and transported to ensure a reliable grid, to an overview of the fair and efficient electricity markets that PJM administers, to infrastructure planning for the future.

PJM is dedicated to meeting the needs of our various audiences by enhancing our online resources and developing new information about the electricity industry and PJM. Please share your feedback on the Learning Center with us.

Why PJM now needs a meteorologist

Historically, PJM relied on automated forecasting programs to predict weather patterns based on seasonal norms. When extreme weather conditions such as Hurricane Irene occurred, the automated systems were no longer sufficient to provide consistent accuracy for load forecasts. The load forecasting error margin began exceeding the standard of three percent.

PJM researched other utility and member companies and found that hiring an operational meteorologist would be prudent. That’s when PJM hired Elizabeth Ellis, meteorologist – Dispatch, to fill the role. Ellis graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology and energy, business and finance.

“I always liked doing things a little differently than everyone else,” said Ellis on

why she’s working for a power grid rather than a television network. “When I started as a student in meteorology, I already knew I didn’t want to be a TV forecaster, because that’s what most of my peers wanted to do with their degrees. I love taking my knowledge of weather forecasting and applying it to something completely different, like load forecasting. And with my background in energy and economics, this is the perfect place for me.”

The role of a power grid meteorologist

Ellis provides Dispatch and senior management with current and future weather conditions, evaluation of the control room tools and determining which weather programs are the most effective for tracking weather changes.

Since hiring a meteorologist, PJM’s load forecast accuracy has consistently improved. In addition, Ellis suggested implementing several dedicated displays in the control room for tracking weather so that a visible display will always show weather radar and satellite data. The current displays are handled by the master coordinator as one of the many tools used in shift responsibilities.

Mike Kormos, senior vice president– Operations

“Growing up in the late sixties and seventies, nobody seemed to me to be ‘larger than life’ than Muhammad Ali,” Kormos said. “Whether you agreed or disagreed on any particular issue he raised, he was able to generate a lot of public discussion on the very important issues of the era.”

Ali’s overall professional record was 56 wins, five loses, and he is recognized as one of the greatest heavy weight champion of all times. In 1967, he gained attention not for his boxing but for his stand against the Vietnam War and his refusal to serve. His case ultimately went to the Supreme Court where he won his case as a conscientious objector. He continues to be active in many causes such as the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, overseas humanitarian efforts, Special Olympics and the Make a Wish Foundation.

Evelyn Robinson, manager – Regulatory/Legislative Affairs

Robinson shared her opportunity to meet Hon. Constance Baker Motley while at the University of Montevallo.

“The day that I spent with the Hon. Constance Baker Motleywas one of the best days of my life,” Robinson said. “In my mind, the word that best describes her is ‘phenomenal.’ ”

Motley helped write the briefs for Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, which ended school segregation. She became the first African American woman elected to the New York state senate and the first African American woman appointed to a federal judgeship, and was awarded the Presidential Citizens’ Medal.

Fabian Robinson, senior application developer – Corporate Applications

Robinson shared his admiration for Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican National hero who was a visionary with such progressive beliefs and plans well beyond his time that some effects have just begun to be appreciated.

“His ability to view himself and others as larger than their current disposition has been a great influence on my life,” Robinson said.

Among many other accomplishments, in 1914, Garvey started the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica. The UNIA, which grew into an international organization, encouraged self-government for black people worldwide, self-help economic projects and protest against racial discrimination.

Suzanne Daugherty, vice president, CFO and treasurer

“To me, Mary McLeod Bethune’s attitude and accomplishments epitomize the activism and advocacy that my parents worked to instill in their children,” Daugherty said. “Hers was always one of my favorite stories to read in a book of female heroes my mother gave me when I was in elementary school. I believe the efforts of earlier educators like Bethune laid the foundations for the wide array of educational opportunities that have been available to me, my sisters and my children.”

Among other accomplishments, Bethune influenced integration in the Red Cross during World War I and founded the National Council of Negro Women. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as the Director of the Division of Negro Affairs in his cabinet’s National Youth Administration. In this role, she achieved equal pay for most African American employees of the Roosevelt administration and was able to disburse millions in college scholarships to African Americans. After World War II, President Truman appointed Bethune a delegate to the San Francisco Conference which developed the blueprint for the United Nations, ensuring that the U.N. Charter included educational and human rights objectives.

Vince Duane, vice president and general counsel

Duane shared that Nelson Mandela was a personal hero to him because of Mandela’s lesson of inclusion, tolerance and forgiveness in establishing a post-apartheid South Africa.

As a teenage boy, Duane lived in Nairobi, Kenya, and was in the midst of the evolution of Africa at that time. This experience led him to admire Mandela’s message of empowerment – one grounded not in an emphasis on race, but in recognizing the connection we share in a greater human conscience.

“African American History Month gives people of all races and ethnicities opportunity to ponder the social future of our country,” Duane said. “In so reflecting, I encourage us to consider Nelson Mandela and how his example is inspiring, hopeful and instructive to the social challenges we continue to face.”

Chris Addo, engineer – Interconnection Analysis

Addo lists Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a key motivational figure in ending colonialism in Africa and leading Ghana to fight for independence, among his personal heroes.

“Dr. Nkrumah’s leadership and perseverance was very inspirational to me,” Addo said. “His leadership inspired many in Ghana to fight for independence from British colonial rule, which led to Ghana being the first independent African country.”

Sheneen Wilson, paralegal – Office of General Counsel

“My grandmother, Marie Wilmore, may not have had a statue erected on her behalf or a biography written to eulogize her life in a textbook; but she was famous to me and to all of the individuals who were privileged to have known such a wonderful person,” Wilson said.

Wilson wrote the following summary about her grandmother:

Marie Wilmore was a matriarch who was very intelligent, insightful, quick-witted, God-fearing, and loved people. She embraced all people and tried to see them as “beautifully, created masterpieces.” As a child, my grandmother lived down South with her family and worked on the family farm. They worked very long, hard hours and wished to migrate to the North in order to receive better opportunities. Because the family members intended to migrate, they knew they had to get their educations because their aphorism was “with education you work your mind very hard, while preserving the vitality of your body.” My family intended for all of the females to attend college while the males continued to work the land. Although my grandmother did not go to college immediately, she had always instilled in me the importance of obtaining an education. Many times I would ask my grandmother about living in the times when Jim Crow was flourishing. She would discuss that era (briefly) with me; but, never let on to the negative events that may have impacted her life. She wanted me to have my own experiences and accept people for who they were and not what they look like. I believe that is one of the most valuable gifts that she gave me.

My grandmother migrated to the North, married and had three children. She acquired a cornucopia of experience in several jobs, but later became a nurse and worked for the City of Philadelphia. After retiring from the City of Philadelphia, she later attended the Palmer Theological Seminary and became an ordained minister.

Yonas K. Habtemichael, engineer – System Planning

When asked how he was influenced by his hero, Habtemichael said:

My hero is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist – William Henry “Bill” Cosby, Jr. . Cosby is well-known for producing and starring in the 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show which highlighted the experiences and growth of an African American family. The show was unprecedented since it was the first show to portray an intelligent and affluent African American family with two college educated, financially successful parents – a lawyer and a doctor. Cosby used his creativity and humor to produce a revolutionary sitcom which demonstrated to America that African Americans and other ethnicities could also achieve and live the “American dream”. Though not as visible as he was before, Cosby is still very active in efforts to uplift the African American community. He tirelessly urges African American parents to focus on education, self-respect, self-improvement and good moral behavior for their children. Though Cosby’s message is directed to African Americans, the principles he communicates are applicable to any family regardless of ethnic background – a significant reason that Cosby is my hero.

Ernest Owens, master dispatcher – Dispatch
According to Owens, Grambling State University football coach Doug Williams is his hero because Williams was a pioneer of new beginnings. Williams was the first African American quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, among many other accomplishments.

In 1988, Williams beat out Hall-of-Famer John Elway and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII, becoming the first and only African American to win a Super Bowl as a starting quarterback. He threw four touchdown passes in the second quarter to lead the Redskins to a 42-10 victory; he was named the Super Bowl most valuable player.

Risa Holland, client manager – Member Relations

Holland’s grandmother, Mrs. Lula B. H. Odum, is her personal hero.

“I believe my craving for knowledge began with the stories my grandmother told me as a child,” Holland says. “I remember how she read to me, and my siblings, my cousins and many other children that somehow always made a way to her home. By her example she taught many women in my family how to be strong and persevere. She not only touched our lives but the lives of so many other children as she taught and encouraged them to go on to greater things. Although “MaDear” is not famous, I feel that her contribution to my family, her community and to society have made her my hero.”

Holland shares the following history about her grandmother:

On July 14, 1906, a baby girl was born to Jonah and Jessie Hall in Webster County, Ga. As a child, on a family farm, the tasks assigned to her were many and varied. “MaDear” always told everyone that she had a hard life but a good life.

Education for young African American children was not a priority; however, due to her intelligence, “MaDear” learned and began teaching other African American children of various age groups in a one-room school house at age 17. She completed her house work and farm work, then would walk three miles to teach at the school.

At age 35, “MaDear” went to college and graduated. She continued to teach, mother, nurse, counsel and help all of her students until she retired in 1971.

Andrew Wanjalla, co-op – Corporate Applications

“President Barack Obama inspired me to believe that in life no dream is impossible as long as you dedicate yourself, have a clear compelling vision and believe in your abilities,” Wanjalla said.  “He defied the odds and made history by becoming the first African American president to be elected to office. This set a new benchmark for what is achievable by the African American community.”

Annaka Portray, senior IT auditor – Internal Audit
Portray was inspired by Evelyn Boyd Granville’s education journey. Granville was the second African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics (Yale in 1949).

“Her experience and higher education achievement motivated me to pursue my interests in information technology,” Portray said.

Audrey Williams, contract administrator – Office – General Counsel
Williams counts Captain C.A. “Pete” Tzomes – the first African American to command a U.S. submarine – among her personal heroes.

Williams said: “African Americans in America have had many struggles in supporting their families, especially in the South.  One of the ways out of their present circumstances, and a means to provide for their families, was to join the United States Armed Forces.  Pete Tzomes not only provided for his family, but also succeeded through his hard work and dedication to his military craft.”

Esrick McCartha, client manager – Member Relations

“Carter G. Woodson’s hopes to raise awareness of African Americans’ contributions to civilization has had profound impact on my identity as an African American,” McCartha said. “Woodson compelled me to study those who have come before me to help shape my identity through their dedication, commitment and sacrifice for freedom.”

Woodson, one of the first African Americans to receive a doctorate from Harvard in 1912, dedicated his career to the field of African American history and lobbied extensively to establish African American History Month as a nationwide institution.