The whaling industry was an important part of the economy in the 18th and 19th centuries. Whales were hunted for their meat, blubber and oil. Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” is the best known novel on the topic, and it was based in part on the 1807 sinking of the whaling ship Essex by an 80-ton sperm whale. Melville also drew on his own experiences as a sailor to write the story of Captain Ahab’s obsession with killing the whale in revenge for Moby Dick biting off Ahab’s leg on a previous voyage. It is seen as a Great American Novel now, but it was out of print at the time of Melville’s death. Times change.
While there are no whales (or missing legs) in our 2025 construction outlook, the industry might be in for some choppy waters in the second half of 2025, according to our experts. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR’s economist Chris Kuehl notes to be on the lookout for interest rate policies, a possible shift in government priorities with infrastructure projects and labor shortages. Times change, and you have to hold on tight. All the economists Jeff Gavin talked to mentioned the shortage of skilled labor, and it seems that issue is still the industry’s white whale. Turn to page 20 for “Navigating the Economic Seas.” Hopefully it will help you get your sea legs.
We trade the sea for the mountains in our project profile this month. In “Hitting the Mineral Mine” on page 48, Susan Bloom takes us to the Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota. Local electrical contractor Amptek Inc. does specialized work for the mining industry there. The area is rich in critical minerals such as nickel, iron and copper. Lance Johnson, Amptek’s president, shares how his firm takes on this unique work: “There are two pieces to the mining process that involve us—the mining piece itself (e.g., actual extraction) and the processing piece.”
What’s your favorite new tool? If you need some inspiration, senior associate editor Holly Sauer writes about the 2024 Showstopper Award winners. Catch up on all these innovative solutions on page 56.
Our columnists are always up on the times. Jim Hayes considers fiber and connector improvements and the A.I. hype in his 2025 fiber optic update on page 74. Kyle Krueger writes a case study on peninsula and island countertop receptacle compliance challenges on page 67. Derek Vigstol continues his series on grounding and bonding on page 46 with “How to Size an EGC.”
Isn’t the art, and especially the cover, eye-catching and interesting every month? Our expert articles are always fantastically set off with designs by Paul Philpott, Tom Specht and Chris Specht at BonoTom Studio. Thanks for your hard work every month to help keep this magazine fresh, interesting and beautiful to look at. We’re thankful for your work over the years and for all the design awards cluttering our offices.
We’re looking forward to a new year with great stories to come in the pages of this magazine. If you have any topics you want to hear about, email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you, including ideas for writing your own magnum opus, white whale not required. Happy new year!
