Utilities

The concept of “new energy” has ushered in a global movement dedicated to cost-effective sustainability, clean energy technology and grid innovation. Today more than ever, we’re seeing stakeholders and industry giants from all sectors — finance, manufacturing, retail, utilities, technology, even academia — come together in combined efforts.

The energy ecosystem is changing, driven by the advent of distributed clean energy, increased competition from new technologies and service providers, the evolving expectations of customers, and new opportunities for serving those customers. As the traditional business model changes, utilities are seeking new opportunities for revenue as they establish themselves as the “Preferred Energy Partner.” But getting there is another story, requiring a comprehensive category of innovative products and services that will define the future of revenue generation in the energy space.

Duke Energy, a recognized leader in transparent environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, is participating in an innovative industrywide approach to better communicate progress on ESG and sustainability issues.

Fifteen Duke Energy apprentice and journeyman lineworkers from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky earned the right to advance to the International Lineman's Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kans., Oct. 12-13, after competing in the Duke Energy Midwest Lineman's Rodeo in Plainfield on Aug. 11.

For the 25th consecutive year, Duke Energy has selected six outstanding organizations to receive the company's prestigious Power Partner award. Duke Energy established the Power Partner award in 1992 to honor businesses and other organizations that achieve exemplary results in categories that include solutions innovation, community excellence, economic development, sustainability innovation and storm restoration. Each of the 2018 Power Partners will be recognized at individual award ceremonies later this year.

Consumers Energy Howell industrial gas service worker Guy Houseman is a dedicated employee and devoted animal lover. Those two traits recently played a key role that resulted in a lifesaving effort of the four-legged kind.

Global engineering, procurement and construction company Black & Veatch’s newly released 2018 Strategic Directions: Electric Report explores the progress made by the industry as it addresses a rapidly changing customer base, commercial defection from the grid and a regulatory landscape challenged to support new market realities.

At 99 Ranch Market in Hacienda Heights, the brightly lit refrigerators display a line of unique Asian food items like durian and dumplings under new LED lights. Shoppers no longer have to be bundled in warm clothing when browsing through the refrigerated aisles, said Christopher Connaughton, 99 Ranch Market’s procurement manager. Many of their open-front refrigerated display cases were replaced with energy-efficient enclosed cases this year.

In 2015, when the call came in of an oil spill off of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, emergency officials immediately leaped into action. Santa Barbara County’s Office of Emergency Management, Plains All American Pipeline, Southern California Edison, the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish & Wildlife and a host of local, state and federal agencies responded. They organized under the Incident Command System, an organizational structure used across the country to respond to wildfires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters.

College campuses often have a local pub that students like to hang out at and for Cal Poly Pomona it’s Innovation Brew Works. But unlike other campus bars, the beers served here are all made by the students or recent graduates themselves.

The brewery laboratory is all part of the school’s philosophy of learn by doing. Student’s here not only learn the process of making beer, they also learn how to run a sustainable business. Spent grain from the beer-making process is fed to the cows at the university’s Department of Agriculture and oranges used to flavor their Orange Wit beer are grown right on campus.