Did you see the northern lights last month? Visibility extended unusually far south because of a powerful geomagnetic storm. We were sorry we couldn’t see them. Later, we realized what havoc the storm actually wreaked. It caused blackouts and communications issues. Navigational systems in farming equipment were affected at the height of planting season. Whether you got a photo of the lights or not, everybody and everything is affected by the movement of energy.
Considering this, it is impressive to remember what ECs can achieve when they harness power to improve communities, and we are glad to spotlight these achievements. In “Powering a Sustainable Future” on page 2, Susan Bloom writes about the work Christenson Electric did at the Gilchrist Substation in Oregon for the Midstate Electric Cooperative. It’s only three acres but set new standards in the field of power infrastructure. If your firm has completed a job you would like to see profiled in these pages, give Julie a shout at [email protected].
Continuing through the life cycle of energy, Chuck Ross reminds us about the importance of planning end-of-life strategies for solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and transformers, because the earliest installations could be reaching the replacement or retirement stages soon. Time flies. Read “Renewables Go Full Circle” on page 6.
Cyber threats are no joke at any level. The digital transformation of the energy sector, distributed energy resources, smart meters and other connected devices have created a large potential attack surface for cybercriminals, rogue nation-states and other bad actors to exploit. Find out what some experts have to say on page 8, in Katie Kuehner-Hebert’s “Creating a Sense of Cybersecurity.”
In “Planning for the Unknown,” Susan DeGrane explains that filings for utility rate hikes might affect infrastructure improvements. It happened in Illinois—could it happen in your state? Read more on page 14.
These pages also include articles about ticks (a common hazard when working outside), utilities and a reminder never to get comfortable around electricity. On page 16 in “The Basics,” Gordon Feller shows benefits to applying international standards to local projects.
If the aurora borealis isn’t coming to us, we may have to take a group trip and search it out for ourselves. And we’ll make sure to bring our hard hats and safety glasses with us.