3 Questions with Mandy Olson
Amanda Olson is the Engineering Director for Burns & McDonnell 's Transmission and Distribution business. With 14 years in the industry, she has supported everything from small maintenance projects to mega greenfield projects. She leads the innovative, forward-thinking engineers and technical experts at Burns & McDonnell and plans for the ever-changing market by aligning knowledge and skills with current and future projects. She discusses her start in the industry, key innovations, and surprising industry events from the past year.
What about the energy industry drew you to make it a career?
My journey into the power industry wasn't a deliberate choice. While searching for internships during my second year of college, I stumbled upon the Burns & McDonnell booth at the Missouri University of Science and Technology career fair. Despite my limited knowledge about substations at the time, I was offered an internship in their substation group. I quickly developed a passion for the work and formed meaningful connections with the people I collaborated with. This experience resonates with many individuals I've encountered in the power industry.
Having said that, I believe it is crucial to change this narrative and actively inspire and engage people to consider a career in the power sector. We have a responsibility to generate interest and enthusiasm for working in power, and attracting top talent to address the numerous challenges we face both now and in the future. Our goal should be to ensure that individuals intentionally align their education with a launch point into the power industry, rather than stumbling upon it by chance.
What are some key innovations necessary to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States?
From my perspective, expediting the integration of clean energy sources and storage is paramount to reducing GHG emissions in the US. Besides enhancing storage mechanisms, we must focus on innovations that enable us to achieve more with less. Each new energy source necessitates stations and connection points, but the approval and installation processes lag behind. Therefore, we require innovative approaches in designing and installing these projects, embracing modularity to minimize material waste and save construction time.
This is why I find the products developed by VEIR so fascinating. By maximizing the efficiency of the installed infrastructure, we can significantly reduce the workload required to meet energy demand and simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions. VEIR's initiatives align perfectly with this objective.
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What energy-related event surprised you the most in the past 12 months?
Approaching the one-year mark, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passage in 2022 was a remarkable milestone for the United States. This legislation not only supports vital investments in infrastructure necessary for reducing GHG emissions in the energy sector but also shines a spotlight on our industry as a whole. With increased attention comes a surge in new talent, which will undoubtedly drive technological advancements and expedite the implementation of energy projects.
Something that surprises me is the limited activity in the nuclear sector. While fossil fuels may serve as a bridge during the energy transition, I am skeptical that storage solutions alone will sufficiently stabilize the diversified energy mix down the line. In my view, nuclear energy will play a crucial role in our future, but currently, small modular reactors face a chicken-and-egg dilemma. Mass manufacturing and supply chain development hinges on securing orders, yet substantial orders are unlikely to materialize without an established supply chain.
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