Workforce

In “Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part I,” I alluded to the institutionalization of the military service. Specifically, I wrote about the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program and some of the principles that make it successful. These high-level values are instilled in recruits through the training process and during day-to-day interactions. In Part I, I […]

Many power plant operators began their careers in the armed forces. Why is the military such a good training ground? Perhaps the answer lies in the principles instilled in recruits from day one of boot camp

The U.S. bulk electric system consists of more than 360,000 miles of transmission lines, including approximately 180,000 miles of high-voltage lines, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That means power companies have a lot on their plates when it comes to inspecting and maintaining those assets. Furthermore, the stakes are high. As wildfires in […]

Brass Knuckle® SmartCut™ BKCR2403 marries ANSI Level 2 cut resistance with fine motor dexterity and tactile sensitivity CLEVELAND—December 21, 2020—Demonstrating just how important appropriate hand protection is, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 70% of workers who experience hand injuries are not wearing gloves. Matching the hazard to the proper level of protection […]

POWER has renamed its flagship event, ELECTRIC POWER, to Experience POWER to more accurately reflect how the event brings to life the premier content covered in POWER magazine. HOUSTON, Texas, December 8, 2020 – POWER announced today it is officially changing the name of the ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition to Experience POWER after a […]

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — NAES Corporation (“NAES”) announced that it acquired Bay4 Energy Services, LLC (“Bay4”), a leading independent renewable energy service provider, effective 12/02/20. “We are excited that Bay4 will be joining the NAES family, bringing with it more than 30 years of asset performance and portfolio management experience,” said Norm Escover, […]

According to Cheryl Farrow, CEO of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT), there are three basic pillars that make up the engineering field. They are licensed engineers, technicians and technologists, and skilled trades. “We can’t be successful without all three of these pillars working together effectively,” Farrow said as a guest […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has unearthed a number of challenges for power plant managers. However, technology exists to keep workers safe. Through the use of Location Anchors and WirelessHART infrastructure

Engineering empowers society in so many unprecedented ways, and with innovation at its core, the profession recognizes reaching its full potential requires the inclusivity of all segments of society. Two years

Just as products are packaged so that they can be contained, handled, made mobile, and have their use sequenced, “packaging” work can bring the same benefits. To package work, planners create detailed workflows in advance rather than allowing construction to unfold in a self-assembling, freeform, decentralized way. Capital project construction can rely on a project […]

These Ten Steps May Help Power Companies Avoid Headaches, Delays, Higher Costs, and Legal Complications Jacqueline Greenberg Vogt, Esq. and Robert C. Epstein, Esq. The International Energy Agency projects the rapid growth of renewables, with solar at the center of this new constellation of electricity generation technologies. Hydropower remains the largest renewable source of electricity, […]

A focus on continuous improvement has helped the nuclear power industry shine in recent years. The U.S.'s fleet of nuclear reactors has achieved average capacity factors of more than 92% over the past five

In the past, routine maintenance on the General Electric (GE) 7FA-class gas turbine coupling was time-consuming, costly, and presented unnecessary safety risks for service technicians and plant maintenance

Manheim, PA – Harrington Hoists, Inc. has introduced their new CX010 mini hand chain hoist designed for use in high or difficult to reach areas.  This hoist has a rated capacity of 1 Ton and is the third model in Harrington’s line of smallest and most lightweight hand chain hoists in the world. This hoist […]

Not all root cause analysis is equally effective or reliable. Many root cause systems operate as standalone modules, without helping investigators collect accurate information. In the TapRooT® 7-Step Process (and in the 5-Step Process for simple investigations), its root cause analysis tools are used throughout the investigation to make every investigation phase—including information collection—more robust […]

MEA honors Brian Hunter of We Energies with a 2020 Life Sustaining Award for saving a trapped man from suffocating to death in 2019. BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Oct. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — MEA Energy Association (MEA) is honored to present Brian Hunter, a We Energies utility troubleshooter, with a Life Sustaining Award for saving a man’s […]

In the 1940s, the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant was built in unprecedented secrecy as part of the Manhattan Project. Its purpose was to provide enriched uranium for the world’s first atomic bomb, and it expanded operations during the Cold War, producing enriched uranium for defense and commercial purposes. Uranium enrichment operations were halted at […]

Developing a power plant safety culture takes time and constant effort, but the payoff is priceless, safety leaders at three major power companies said during a morning session at the Experience POWER virtual event on Sept. 30.  Jeffrey Mullins, safety and health consultant for the 2.6-GW coal-fired Gavin Power Plant owned by Lightstone Generation, kicked […]

If you’ve worked in the maintenance department at a power plant, you know how important planning and scheduling are to success. There’s an old saying that goes, “plan the work, and work the plan.” Effective teams do that well, but it’s not easy. “Planning drives scheduling, not surprisingly, but planning is not scheduling,” Keith Berriman, […]

Winners of individual and team awards were revealed at Experience POWER as the virtual event kicked into full swing on Sept. 28. Among the recipients were a number of exceptional leaders and innovators drawn from the power industry. Top Young Professional. Meriem Bellizim, senior manager, Business Development, ACWA Power, was chosen as 2020’s Top Young […]

“Tedious.” If you ask electric utilities for one word on powerline inspection, that would probably be it. “Time-consuming” and “expensive” would probably also feature. Yet, “vital” would be just as valid: there is no way to safely operate a transmission and distribution network without inspecting lines for damage or risk from factors such as vegetation. […]

September 16, 2020, Littleton, CO. The Hydropower Foundation announced the 2020 Julie Keil Scholarship Recipient is Ka’Liyah Burnett. A sophomore at the University of Maryland, pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree. Ka’Liyah is the third winner of the scholarship, which was established in 2015 to honor Julie Keil, a passionate leader known for balancing the interests […]

September 15th 2020 – Introducing DTC BRUNT Workwear, is a brand here to redefine everyday workwear for essential workers from the team that brought you M.Gemi and Trade Coffee. Possibly the last apparel industry sector to be “disrupted”? Workwear. Yes, that’s right, the category of everyday wear favored by 13.9% of the United States, mechanics, […]

BP made headlines in early August when it announced it wants to develop about 50 GW of net renewable generating capacity by 2030—a 20-fold increase from the 2.5 GW deployed in 2019—as part of a new

This is the last of a three-part series on technology in construction. In the May issue, Part I focused on predicting and adapting to change. Part II—in the July issue—examined choosing and implementing

In February 2020, TIME magazine described the coronavirus pandemic’s workplace implications as “the world’s largest work-from-home experiment.” Today, it’s apparent that it is no longer an experiment, but a new way of working for the foreseeable future. Globally, 70% of people work remotely at least once a week, as every sector from government institutions and […]

“Things keep going,” Brent Tomamichel, fleet manager of Southeast Power (Figure 1), said when asked to describe the current state of the power industry. “Our industry is unique in that way; no matter what is happening in the world, everyone needs and wants their power on.”  If you’re one of the more than 1.9 million people […]