POWER Engineers

A leading voice in digital transformation within the utility sector, Senior Consultant Bill Hoisington, CMRP is a featured expert for Energy Central’s Network of Experts. In this interview series, Bill shares insights about the evolving digital landscape, the challenges and opportunities it presents and how data is revolutionizing the power industry. Read the full interview here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCmXa55i #ExpertInsights #DigitalTransformation #UtilitySector #EnergyInnovation

We have another fun POWER Spotlight coming at you, featuring Brian Hritsco, PE, a key #POWER team member for over 16 years! After graduating from Boise State, Brian initially joined us as a Mechanical Engineer and has since become a Senior Project Manager in our Generation Project Management Department. Brian’s journey to POWER was sparked by friends who interned with us. Their enthusiasm led him to explore the company, and he quickly became an integral part of our culture and projects. Similarly to his other engineering team members, Brian loves the unpredictability of engineering. He loves the new challenges that every day brings him and appreciates how there's never a dull moment on the job. One of the highlights of Brian’s career has been the opportunity to travel. Starting with an 8-week assignment in Bakersfield, California, just a few months after starting with POWER, he embraced every chance to work onsite across the country and around the globe, including memorable trips to Mexico, Iceland, Japan, SE Asia, Türkiye, and Africa. He was even able to bring his family along on a few of the trips, including a trip last year to Ireland where his wife Niki went along, and they celebrated her birthday while exploring the island. His travel experiences allowed him to grow personally and professionally as he learned about new cultures and gained valuable insights that he would not have gotten without the opportunities his work had given him. “Being able to share those experiences with my family has been very rewarding. Even if they don’t get to come along with me, they get to learn a little bit about the places I go, and it’s sparked an interest in travelling and other cultures that I hope to be able to explore with them for the rest of our lives.” Throughout his career, Brian has viewed challenges as learning opportunities, diving into other engineering disciplines like electrical and structural engineering. His willingness to push beyond his comfort zone and learn from mistakes has been critical to his career success. "When I first started visiting work sites, my experience was mostly limited to design work. I had to learn on the job, making mistakes and sometimes feeling overwhelmed, but each mistake was a valuable lesson. These experiences have shaped me into the Project Manager I am today. Now, I can leverage what I have learned to avoid repeating mistakes and make a more significant positive impact on our projects." #Engineering

Last month, our team (Angela Monique Thomas, PMP, William Pott, Daniel Krancer, Jason Pfaff, Derek Henderson, Aaron Mason, and Christopher Hammer) enjoyed participating in the Reality Capture Network Conference (R-CON) in Boise! We gained valuable insights from ExxonMobil and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), joined AEC innovation discussions, and explored exciting capture technologies. Balancing “fast, affordable, and high-quality”, and choosing the right scan that matches your "Jobs to Be Done", is still a challenge for owners and service providers. The good news is that this classic trade-off is becoming more severe every day.    At #POWER, we’re laser-focused on making capture solutions “fit for purpose,” working with clients across industries to tailor scanning solutions to specific project needs. We might need millimeter accuracy and flawless asset identification for a design assignment, or use a slightly looser tolerance for a virtual walk-through in a building, or build a viewshed-scale product to support public engagement and regulatory approval for a new infrastructure project.    We were thrilled to sponsor the first IGNITE pitch competition at R-CON—special shoutout to Looq AI, Manifold, and Cloneable.ai for their fantastic demos and dedication! #Engineering

At #POWER, we believe that innovation is the key to staying ahead in today’s fast-paced world. In his Leadership Insights article from our Currents newsletter, Chief Innovation Officer Jason Pfaff delves into how we foster a culture of creativity and continuous improvement. From encouraging grassroots ideas to celebrating diverse perspectives, we are committed to creating an environment where every team member can thrive and contribute to groundbreaking solutions. Join us on this journey of innovation and see how we are shaping the future of engineering. 🚀 #Innovation #Engineering #Culture #CurrentsbyPWR https://lnkd.in/gjCtt4Rd

Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Geothermal Rising Conference as a sponsor and exhibitor. There’s nothing like on-the-ground conversations and hands-on learning to inspire a future powered by geothermal resources.   Here are some key takeaways from our #POWER team: - Brian Hritsco, PE: Next-gen geothermal technology was a big focus, with startups pushing forward new techniques for geothermal power in diverse locations. The United States Department of Defense also emphasized its commitment to geothermal generation as part of its global resilience strategy. Additionally, district heating and cooling received attention, reflecting Europe’s drive to reduce fossil fuel reliance amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. - Thomas Cameron: It was exciting to see Sage Geosystems Inc. work on the Geopressured Geothermal System (GGS) for energy storage and their collaboration with Southwest Research Institute on the Super Critical CO2 turbine for geothermal power production. Efforts from Fervo Energy and the University of Utah’s FORGE team are advancing well drilling and EGS techniques and enhancing geothermal economics. - Jonas Chilcote, P.E.: Bringing together experts from all areas, such as resource studies, well design, and plant engineering, it was exciting to witness industry advancements firsthand. Conversations with colleagues and potential partners offered intriguing insights into where future projects are being planned geographically. Learn more about our geothermal work: https://lnkd.in/gH5DTkQn #Engineering

Creating a strong safety culture is essential for any organization. It starts with a commitment from leadership and extends to every employee. Looking beyond simply promoting safety to employees, POWER’s Health, Safety, and Environmental Program Leader—Jonathan Olsen—shares some ways to create, maintain, and measure the success of an effective safety culture. Check out his featured article in T&D World here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gv_DUvfX #SafetyCulture #WorkplaceSafety #Leadership #POWER

As PACK EXPO begins, #POWER is proud to highlight the pivotal role of reality capture technology within the #engineering industry. Driven by our dedication to innovation and quality, we’re delivering solutions that raise the bar on project precision, streamline workflows, and unlock deeper insights. Join Christopher Hammer and Matthew Ard as they share how reality capture technology is enhancing engineering and shaping the future of our industry. https://lnkd.in/gBwRD9KE

Looking to upgrade your transmission line design skills? Check out this whitepaper on sag-tension calculations by Senior Project Engineer Joseph Dong. This whitepaper covers: 🔹 The critical role of sag-tension calculation in transmission line engineering 🔹 Practical explanations of the catenary equation. 🔹 Detailed discussions of weather impacts and numeric solutions for real-world conditions. Download it here: https://lnkd.in/gqyZMGDH #TransmissionLines #Engineering #POWER

"Say That Again" is back, and we’re excited to feature Gretchen Cividini, our insightful Market Intelligence Specialist, sharing her thoughts on the recent overturn of the Chevron Doctrine and what it means for the power and energy sector. Gretchen has over 30 years of power industry experience, including over a decade with #POWER Engineers. Her journey with us began when we acquired Burns and Roe, where she had already spent 23 years in leadership roles, first as Senior Marketing and Proposal Manager and later as Associate Marketing Director. She was key in securing large-scale projects ranging from $1 million to $3 billion. Her leadership in marketing, proposal development, and business strategy helped drive the firm’s domestic and international growth. On the Chevron Doctrine’s overturn, Gretchen explains: “The Chevron Doctrine allowed courts to defer to agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when interpreting ambiguous statutes. Now that it’s been overturned, agencies like the EPA will face more challenges enforcing regulations. This creates a lot of uncertainty in the power and energy sector as agencies will likely face stricter reviews from the courts.” The Chevron Doctrine, established in 1984, has been essential for federal agencies like the EPA to interpret and implement regulatory policies. Now that it’s been overturned, we’re likely to see significant changes for agencies that regulate the energy industry, including: - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "The EPA has relied on the Chevron Doctrine to enforce regulations like those addressing greenhouse gas emissions and clean energy. Without it, their ability to uphold those regulations could be limited." - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): "FERC’s ability to implement renewable energy policies and enforce transmission planning could take a hit, potentially slowing down the energy transition." - U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)): "The DOE might face more challenges when pushing forward energy efficiency standards, which are crucial to supporting clean energy goals." - Internal Revenue Service (IRS): "The IRS may have difficulties interpreting complex energy tax credits from legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, which could complicate investments in renewable energy projects." As Gretchen points out, "While this shift might lead to clearer laws in the long run, the immediate impact will likely be more uncertainty, especially for utilities and companies trying to figure out how these changing regulations will affect them. It's a complex issue with long-term effects on how we protect the environment and grow the energy sector."

We are thrilled to announce that the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) has received a $15,000 Inclusion Initiative grant from the #POWER Foundation! This grant supports TAME’s mission to engage students from Black, Native American, and Hispanic communities, as well as girls, in engineering education and career exploration. With this funding, nearly 200 students in grades 6–12 will gain access to free extracurricular engineering programs, competitions, and STEM scholarships. We’re proud to support TAME’s work in building a diverse future for engineering! Learn more about their impactful programs here 👉 https://www.tame.org/ More about the grant: https://lnkd.in/gwKwM__T #Engineering