“Give me a dollar, and you can have these books that say ‘top secret’ all over them.” | Shutterstock

June 21, 2024

China is known for being extremely tight-lipped when it comes to its national military and its objectives. But for as guarded as the government is, it took only about $1 for one man to get his hands on some of its secrets.

A Chinese military history buff referred to only as Zhang was recently praised by the country’s Ministry of State Security for returning four discarded books full of confidential documents. Zhang notified officials via hotline after purchasing the books for 6 yuan (85 cents) from a local recycling station and realizing they were more than just “history books.” I guess the pages about “scientific balloons” gave it away. 

An investigation revealed that two military employees tasked with shredding books instead sold them to a recycling center for about 20 yuan ($2.75). A government post said agents were able to secure the rest of the books but failed to mention anything about the two employees … 

Now, this RTO Insider energy news has been declassified just for you: 

• A new study commissioned by Renewable Northwest says Powerex is poised to benefit if the West ends up divided between CAISO’s EDAM and SPP’s Markets+. Robert Mullin breaks it down. 
  

• Growing demand from Northern Virginia’s Data Center Alley could outpace the power industry’s ability to keep up, according to a new report by Aurora Energy Research. James Downing has the story. 

• A relatively low turnout of constructed capacity in recent years could deepen a potential 1-GW capacity deficit in summer 2025 to more than 14 GW by summer 2029, MISO and OMS revealed in its 11th annual resource adequacy survey. Amanda Durish Cook reports on that, along with … 

• … MISO putting the final touches on the FERC filings for its $1.8 billion Joint Targeted Interconnection Queue transmission portfolio with SPP. 

Then, we slipped you this news as well: 

• CAISO Kicks off Stakeholder Process for Pathways Initiative 

• ISO-NE PAC Briefs: June 20, 2024 

Lastly, we have news from other sources: 

• “Craig Greene won’t seek reelection to Louisiana Public Service Commission,” Louisiana Illuminator 

• “Missed Deadlines Pile Up As New York’s Climate Law Turns Five,” New York Focus 

• “New law aims to crack down on RI’s solar industry,” WPRI 

From everyone at RTO Insider, thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day! Also, be sure to check out our latest news from NetZero Insider below!

Shawn McFarland  

The latest from NetZero Insider:

• DOE Announces $900M to Kick-start Small Modular Nuclear Pipeline
  
• NY Opens Land-based Renewable Energy Solicitation
• NY Sets Strategy to Reach 6 GW Energy Storage
  

The latest from ERO Insider:

• NERC State of Reliability Report Notes Progress, Challenges in 2023
  

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Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings:

• 6/25/24: MISO Markets Committee of the Board of Directors Meeting
• 6/26/24: MISO Advisory Committee Meeting
• 6/27/24: CAISO Congestion Revenue Rights Customer Partnership Group Meeting
• 6/27/24: CAISO Market Performance and Planning Forum
• 6/27/24: PJM Markets and Reliability Committee Meeting
• 6/27/24: MISO Board of Directors (BOD) – Open Session
• 6/27/24: FERC Meeting
• 6/27/24: PJM Members Committee Meeting

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