POWER Engineers

In July 2024, in the Kibera area of Nairobi, Kenya, a team of #POWER engineers and scientists joined Ecologists Without Borders (EcoWB) through a POWER innovation challenge to tackle a critical issue in the area: waste and stormwater management. Three main tributary streams that flow through the community and empty into the Nairobi Reservoir had become choked with human waste, trash, and sediment over time, leading to poor water quality. ? Initially, the team was confident in a potential solution to address the issue but quickly realized the overwhelming scale of challenges before them. Learn how the team pivoted to reassess their planned approach and collaborated with (EcoWB), Empower the Community, a local Kenyan organization, and other community leaders to develop a plan to address water quality issues long-term. #Engineering

"Say That Again" is back, and this time, we're thrilled to feature our Chief Innovation Officer Jason Pfaff, who’s been at #POWER for 16 years, sharing his insights on fostering innovation and navigating emerging technologies in the power industry. Before joining POWER, he began in environmental planning as a landscape architect focused on permitting. Later, he launched Visual Genesis, a company that bridged communication gaps in public and regulatory processes through visualization and 3D modeling. When POWER acquired Visual Genesis, it became the foundation of our Visualization Team. On building an effective innovation program: “Creating a culture of innovation starts with believing you are an innovative company,” he explains. “It’s about encouraging employees to look for problems and think differently about solutions.” For an innovation program to thrive, he highlights five essential elements: Leadership Alignment: 1?? “If leadership isn’t aligned on company goals, what failure and success mean, and the courage to commit to innovation, the program won’t succeed.” 2???Focus on Big Problems: “Many programs fail because they target small, incremental issues. At POWER, we focus on solving the industry's and our clients’ biggest challenges.” 3???Platforms and Processes: “Innovation needs a clear path—from idea generation to prototyping and evaluation. You also need a platform to share and grow those ideas.” 4???Revenue Generation: “Innovative solutions must not only solve problems but also generate revenue, scale effectively, and have measurable success metrics.” 5???Recognition: “It’s crucial to celebrate individuals for their ideas and hard work. Recognition fuels a culture of innovation.” On emerging technologies as disruptors: "Understanding which technologies might disrupt your business starts with understanding how you create value. POWER’s solutions often rely on billable hours, and technologies like reality capture, generative AI, and digital twins could disrupt but also create opportunity." Generative AI and digital twins: “These two technologies are deeply interconnected,” he shares. “Digital twins provide structured data that generative AI needs to thrive. Imagine AI leveraging digital twin datasets to begin self-assembly—that’s where things get interesting.” The next big tech trend: “It’s not a single technology; it’s the combination of technologies,” he emphasizes. “Generative design, geospatial data, AI, and digital twins are converging to transform how we manage the grid.” With millions of transmission lines, power plants, and substations in the U.S., the grid is shifting from manual processes to dynamic solutions powered by digital twins, IoT sensors, and AI. “Future solutions will adapt and evolve with our clients’ needs.” #Engineering #Innovation

At #POWER, we take pride in fostering a flexible culture that supports remote and hybrid work across our teams. That same flexibility shapes our approach to training. Hybrid training has become a key part of how we work, and we’re making it even better by focusing on three essentials: Hybrid Technology, Content Modification, and Instructor Preparation. It’s all about keeping our teams connected, engaged, and ready for anything! Our hybrid classrooms function like modern TV studios, where instructors engage seamlessly with in-person and virtual students. Tools like weConnect let virtual learners control their experience while keeping everyone connected. We’re also adapting training content—some courses fit hybrid formats easily, while others require rethinking. Flexibility and feedback help us find the right balance. Engagement is a top priority, using tools like whiteboarding, polling, and multimedia to keep students connected. While it takes time, the ability to reach more learners makes it worthwhile. By expanding access, enhancing experiences, and boosting efficiency, we’re building a lasting hybrid training model and are excited about what’s ahead! #Remote #Engineering

?? New EPA Regulations Alert! ?? On November 18, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final greenhouse gas (GHG) rule in the Federal Register, imposing a Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) on excess methane emissions from certain oil and gas facilities (O&G) starting this year. This 2022 Inflation Reduction Act rule applies to O&G facilities reporting more than 25,000 metric tons per year of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions under 40 CFR 98 Subpart W of the federal GHG reporting program. The new WEC rule is codified at 40 CFR Part 99. Learn more about this new regulation here: https://lnkd.in/g8hpS_rr #EnvironmentalCompliance #AirQuality #ProjectManagement

??? Unlock the Future of Power Transmission with Superconductors! ??? Discover how superconductors can revolutionize the power #grid by offering a more efficient and cost-effective transmission solution. Our latest whitepaper, "Practicality of Superconductors in Power Transmission," by Engineer Kailey Cole, dives into the latest advancements, potential applications, and challenges of this cutting-edge technology. Download the whitepaper now: https://lnkd.in/gAuQGBRk #PowerTransmission #Engineering #POWER

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program is revolutionizing our power grid. By improving resilience, integrating renewable energy and promoting innovation, it paves the way for a sustainable energy future. In the latest T&D World issue, Brandy Smart explains how securing GRIP funding requires developers to navigate tight timelines with complex applications and explains what to expect once applications are complete. ???? Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/gyvrstUr #Energy #Sustainability #GridResilience #Innovation

Happy America Recycles Day! Today, we come together to celebrate the power of recycling and our commitment to keeping our communities and our planet clean. Recycling is more than just a process; it's a pledge to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. Every small act helps— from sorting our recyclables at home to supporting companies with sustainable practices. Together, we can make a significant impact. Take action today: ? Reduce waste by reusing and repurposing items ?? Use items made from sustainable materials ?? Educate ourselves and others about proper recycling methods ?? Support businesses that prioritize sustainability Join us in celebrating America Recycles Day by making mindful choices that contribute to a healthier Earth. For more tips on recycling and sustainability, check out the official EPA website ?? https://lnkd.in/gNy6gHhF #AmericaRecyclesDay #Sustainability #Recycle

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