Archive of the 'Transmission Technologies' Category

Yesterday at the PES press conference, Wanda Reder, PES President, announced a new award has been approved by PES. It will be called the Douglas M. Staszesky Distribution Automation Award. It is to be given yearly to a person in the industry who has demonstrated the enthusiasm for promoting and implementing Distribution Automation Projects. Doug recently passed away, but was told of the honor a few months ago. He said, “This is truly a high honor and just the sort of legacy I’d like to leave the industry.” It includes a scholarship to the school of the recipient’s choice and a travel stipend to the awards banquet. Doug was a good friend to all of us and we will miss him. He helped me with a lot of articles I have written. He could really get you excited when he explained a concept. Stop by the S&C exhibit and talk to them about the award. They have supported this award from the start.

The folks at Trench have been doing so neat things with series coils. They can install one of these on a transmission line and keep the current in manageable levels. That beats taking the line out of service to reconductor it. Stop by and ask Tony or Dave to explain how it works. It’s pretty cool and switchable.

Have you ever wanted to see the insides of a transformer? Talk to Vince Paparo at MTC Transformers. His group is going to tear down a trashed core and coil (on the exhibit floor) and rebuild it. They will take a couple of days to let everyone see how it goes. Vince took some time out of his busy day to explain transformers to my student group. Thanks Vince. Everyone go see this exhibit.

Hi campers. There are some pretty intersting things around here today. I met Art Becker, fleet specialist for ComEd. He has a full electrical hybred line truck on display. It runs on bio-diesel. The hybred electrical system can run the aerial system for about 40 minutes with the truck silent - no engine running. Art says that is very important in a residential area late at night.

In an earlier posting I said Tommy Mayne was all over the place. Well, I kept running into him tonight at the reception. Tommy checks and double checks all the activities. As he says, he makes sure everyone is having fun. I caught up with him and John Paserba (PES VP of Meetings) as they checked things out. As you can see by the smiles, everything was good. I hope you didn’t miss this happening.

After a couple of hours on the floor, it was time for a break. As luck would have it, McDonalds is right in McCormick Place – these folks think of everything. If you think – yeah right just another rude fast food place. Well you got that wrong. I met Otis today. He was manning the cash register and he had a smile and kind word for everyone in line. When it was my turn he took my order and chatted while it came up. I asked about the pace starting tomorrow - would it be hard on them. He smiled and said that after the Chicago Auto Show this would be very nice. It is good to kept things in perspective. Of course, I had ordered something that had to be made fresh. I guess I looked tired after dodging fork lifts and Otis told me to go sit down, he would bring me my order when it came up. It as great meeting this gentleman, he was making the Expo better one person at a time.

The first person I ran into was Tommy Mayne. He is everywhere and he is excited. I don’t see how one person can be in so many places. Tommy said the last time the PES Expo was in Chicago was in 1993. That Expo holds the PES record for the most attendees. I remember it, I was there and it was awesome, but the 2008 is poised to surpass that one. So far the pre-registration is over 11,000! Tommy said, if you count dogs, cats, and passing political folks it is going to be huge by any standards.

Dick got back to me with the Wind Working Group meeting details folks. He says the new working group will meet:

Wednesday 2:00 - 4:00 “Transmission Alternatives for Remote Wind

Generation WG Meeting”

Room N136, Level 1 of McCormick Place North

If you are interested in the wind go!

Boy did I get an ear full about Wind, speed, and utilities. One Renewable IPP member had a comment on the last blog. He said the utilities he is working with have a year long waiting list just to start the system studies. The studies will take over a year! Do you call that fast - he is up set. What about it Utilities? What is your side of the issue? Send me your comments.

With the interest in manufacturer’s displays, Dick Erdel of Hubbell called me to talk about the Hubbell exhibit. The Hubbell display covers (3,500sqft) 7 business units and is modular. It comes in 108 crates! It has to go back in those same crates too when they tear it all down. They use it for a lot of shows and have to keep modernizing and updating. Part of the exhibit is 25 years old, but you could never tell. It takes 3 semis to haul it around the country. This is renewable at its best! Thanks Dick. I welcome any and all comments.

Talking with Dick Piwko (Chair of the Wind Energy Coordinating Committee), I found out there is going to be a meeting for a new working group on wind at the Expo - added bonus. It’s called “Transmission Alternatives for Remote Wind Generation.” It’s scheduled for Wednesday (04/23/08) from 2:00PM to 4:00PM. Check with Dick at the Panel Session Wednesday morning for room location. Dick says wind energy is pushing transmission system growth very fast to keep pace with developers. Anyone having problems with keeping ahead of wind developers? What are the problems you are encountering? Tell me about it! I’d welcome any and all comments.