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We are Movin' and Shakin'
By Mike Hyland
Executive Director, NEPPA
When you keep busy, sometimes it’s tough to see the forest through the trees. Head down, nose to the grindstone and living by the old adage of “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”. But as I flew cross country from San Diego last week, I took a moment to pause and take notice of the myriad of changes throughout the NEPPA membership.
First, let’s start with the NEPPA Board of Directors. At our March strategic planning and board meeting, the board voted in two new board members to fill two empty seats. One of our Maine seats became vacant when Greg Sherman (Houlton, ME) stepped down, and a Connecticut seat became open due to the well-deserved retirement of Mark Biron (Groton, CT). We welcome Anna Henderson (Kennebunk, ME) and Chris Larose (Norwich, CT) and look forward to their participation!
Next are the recent Management Changes within the NEPPA membership. We had a few GM’s retire, and similar to NFL coaches in the off-season, GM’s are replaced rather quickly.
Highlights Include:
- Kevin Kelly of Groton, MA retired, and was replaced by an internal candidate – John Patterson.
- At Wellsley, GM Don Newell retired, and he was replaced by David Wood, former GM of Concord, MA.
- Jason Bulger of Concord is now the interim GM of Concord.
- GM Brian Choquette of Hudson, MA announced his retirement, and the new GM is Justin Connell, a familiar face to many within the NEPPA community.
- Earlier the year we also saw new GM Dan Faille take the reins in Chicopee, MA as GM Jim Lisowski retired in January.
- GM Jackie Crowley retired earlier this month from Middleborough, MA and new GM Ken Stone is now leading the Middleborough team.
- In Hardwick, VT GM Mike Sullivan recently stepped down and Hardwick is actively recruiting his replacement.
- The same goes for Danvers, MA, as they search for a new Utility and DPW Director.
I certainly may have missed one, but it does reinforce the need for succession planning within a utility. And for the younger, less experienced readers, this movement probably won’t stop – thus ensuring lots of opportunities for growth and senior roles within the membership.
Additionally, I’d like to touch on the Volunteer Leadership Positions that many of the NEPPA member employees participate in through organizations such as APPA, NRECA, TAPS, etc.
Highlights Include:
- CEO Scott Hallowell of Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative in Calais, ME serves both on the NEPPA Board and the NRECA Board.
- Pete Dion, GM of Wakefield, MA has recently been selected to serve on the Electric Subsector Coordinating Council, replacing Jackie Crowley who diligently served for years.
- Just this week Barry Tupper, GM of Holden, MA and member of the NEPPA Board Executive Committee was elected to the APPA Board by the voting members of the APPA membership.
- At the same meeting, we had Nick Lawler, GM of Littleton, MA and president of the NEPPA board, become the Chair of the APPA. Nick is pictured above posing with his son Everett and Sugar Ray Leonard at the APPA Conference this month where Nick was elected as the new APPA Board Chair.
And there are even more employees of the NEPPA membership that are serving on Committees, Task Forces, and Review Panels.
Highlights Include:
- NEPPA Board member Jackie Pratt, GM of Stowe Electric, VT sits on the APPA DEED Program Board, including the Executive Committee.
- Connor Readon of LELWD, MA is serving on the Smart Energy Program Review panel, while Jason Small of Danvers, MA and Sam Osmancevic, Belmont, MA serve on the RP3 Program Review Panel.
- Justin Connell of Hudson replaced Mike Cloutier, GM of Middleton, MA on the PowerPAC Board at APPA.
- Bob Holland of Shrewsbury, MA recently stepped down from the APPA Policy Maker’s Council, but we still have Joel Rinebold, Commissioner from Wallingford, CT on the PMC.
- I personally serve on the APPA Advisory Committee.
- Nick Lawler and Barry Tupper both sit on the APPA Mutual Aid Committee.
- John Tzimorangas of Energy New England and Dave Meisinger of CMEEC both sit on the APPA CEO Climate Change and Generation Policy Committee.
- And we can keep on listing names – such as Gary Lemay of the NHEC and Cyril Brunner of Vermont Electric Coop being active in the NRECA DER Member Advisory Group.
This impressive list shows the dedication and willingness to serve of our members. We are appreciative to have a membership that is ready to step up and fill in where needed. It is this culture of volunteerism that will help us to navigate the changes ahead.
Cheers
-Mike
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Accepting NEPPA Award Nominations NOW | |
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Recognize Public Power Employees,
Commissioners & Industry Partners
Submit nominations by Friday, July 5, 2024
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NEPPA would like to recognize excellence in electric utility operations and leadership throughout our region and we invite you to submit your nominations for the following award categories. Winners will be recognized during NEPPA’s Annual Conference Awards Banquet on August 26, 2024, in Bretton Woods, NH.
- Person of the Year Award
- Distinguished Service Award
- NEPPA Service Award
- Robert "Henny" Henriksen Mutual Aid Service Award
- Francis “Skip” Willey Individual Achievement Award
- Carol A. Tracey Customer Service Award
- Commissioner Service Award
- Outstanding Affiliate Member
- Century Award
- Special Recognition Award
We look forward to the opportunity to honor public power’s most outstanding individuals. We thank you for taking the time to submit your nominations by Friday, July 5, 2024.
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Upcoming Training & Events | |
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NEPPA's 2024 Annual Conference
August 25 - 28, 2024
Register before July 26th to get the special early bird rate!
Omni Mount Washington Resort
Bretton Woods, NH
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Tactical Tuesday
July 9, 2024
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Joshua Simmons, P.E.
Cogito Innovations
"An Introduction to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Solutions for Mission-Critical Operations"
Virtual on Zoom
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Hoisting 1B-1D
July 23, 2024
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Hoisting 2A-2C
July 24, 2024
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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@Your-Site Virtual: Hot Stick Safety
September 4, 2024
8:30 am (EST)
@Your-Site Virtual: Job Briefings
September 5, 2024
8:30 am (EST)
Tactical Tuesday (Virtual)
September 10, 2024
2:00 - 3:00 pm (EST)
Substation II - Session I
September 10 -13, 2024
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Littleton, MA
Metering II
September 24 - 26, 2024
8:00 am - 2:30 pm
Littleton, MA
Safety Orientation Program
September 24 - 26, 2024
8:00 am - 2:30 pm
Littleton, MA
Public Utility Management Program (PUMP) - Virtual Session II
September 24, 2024
8:30 am - 12:00 pm (EST)
Substation II - Session II
October 1 - 4, 2024
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Littleton, MA
Tactical Tuesday (Virtual)
October 8, 2024
2:00 - 3:00 pm (EST)
Hoisting 1B - 1A
October 15, 2024
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Hoisting 2A - 2C
October 16, 2024
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Crew Leadership
October 16 - 17, 2024
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Littleton, MA
Substation II - Session III
October 22 - 25, 2024
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Littleton, MA
Public Utility Management Program (PUMP) - Session II
October 29 - 31, 2024
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
2024 Energy Connect Conference*
October 2024
TBD
OSHA-10 Plus T&D
November 6 - 7, 2024
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Littleton, MA
Substation II - Session IV
November 19 - 22, 2024
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Littleton, MA
Tactical Tuesday (Virtual)
November 12, 2024
2:00 - 3:00 pm (EST)
Tactical Tuesday (Virtual)
December 10, 2024
2:00 - 3:00 pm (EST)
*Please contact communications@neppa.org to be notified as soon as registration opens.
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Legislation: House Committees advance FY25 NDAA and 2024 Farm Bill; Congress passes FAA reauthorization… | |
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Nominations: Senate ENR Committee advances FERC nominees for a floor vote…
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Regulations: FERC finalizes its long-awaited transmission planning and cost allocation rule; IRS releases guidance on IRA tax credits… | | |
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Westfield Utility Celebrates 125 Years, Excited for Fiber-Optic Growth
Westfield, MA - May 15, 2024 - Westfield Gas & Electric invited its 140 employees to a lunch meeting on May 15 at the Great Awakening Brewing Company on Mill Street to celebrate the municipal utility’s 125th anniversary. Guests also included retirees and elected officials, including Mayor Michael McCabe. General Manager Thomas Flaherty said since its establishment in 1899, WG&E has been committed to the community’s growth and development, providing safe and reliable natural gas and electric services to homes and businesses alike.
Read More
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Georgetown Light Commissioners (from left): John Smolinsky, Pete Dion, Wayne Snow (chair), Dave Schofield (General Manager) | |
Georgetown APPA Recognition
Georgetown, MA - May 21, 2024 - Georgetown Municipal Light Department has been nationally recognized by the American Public Power Association (APPA) with two honors for achieving exceptional electric reliability. Georgetown Light was awarded the prestigious Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation at the annual APPA Engineering & Operations Technical Conference and was also recognized earlier in the year for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service with APPA’s Certificate of Excellence in Reliability.
Read More
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“Northeast Public Power thanks Senator Markey for his leadership, and including the voice of consumer-owned utilities in the discussion of a clean energy future,”
-Mike Hyland, Executive Director of the Northeast Public Power Association.
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Senator Markey Announces Discussion Draft to Improve Governance of Country's Grid Operators | |
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Boston, MA - May 31, 2024 - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, today held a roundtable discussion in Boston with utility, renewable energy, community, and labor stakeholders on regional energy grid priorities. Senator Markey discussed positive recent actions from the regional grid operator and utilities, as well as the need for further movement on governance, transmission, technologies, labor, and equity within the region’s electricity market to unleash the clean and affordable energy revolution.
Read More
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MMWEC Site Solar Project Reaches Commerical Operation |
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Spring 2024 - The MMWEC/Master Sergeant Alexander Cotton Memorial Solar Project, a 6.9 megawatt (MW) project located on MMWEC’s Ludlow campus, has achieved commercial operation. The project, located on a 30-acre parcel, achieved commercial operation on March 1, 2024 after meeting all required ISO New England and engineering, procurement and construction contract requirements.
Read More
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Vineyard Offshore and Energy New England Announce Partnership for Purchase of Offshore Wind | |
Boston, MA - June, 2024 – Vineyard Offshore (VO), the nation’s leading offshore wind development company, and municipal light plant cooperative Energy New England (ENE) have announced their intention to explore opportunities for ENE or its member municipal light departments to purchase clean power generated by VO’s proposed Vineyard Wind 2 or a future project, should VO be awarded a power purchase contract through a Massachusetts procurement.
Read More
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Keeping You Connected...
Events & Opportunities | | |
Women in Public Power Conference
July 24 - 25, 2024
Hotel Murano Tacoma, WA
Who Should Attend:
Any woman working in public power.
Conference Overview:
This year’s WIPP Conference continues the tradition of honoring issues specific to women from all areas and levels within the public power industry. It is a place for leaders at all levels—whether you are a customer/member service representative, director/commissioner, meter reader, CEO, accountant, purchaser, or any other employee—to network and learn from one another.
Read More
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APPA's DEED Fall 2024 Grant Application Cycle is Open
May 1, 2024 - Apply by August 15 for the opportunity to secure funding of up to $125,000 for initiatives aimed at increasing efficiency, reducing costs, introducing new services, or enhancing processes and practices for improved customer service.
DEED grants play a crucial role in driving energy innovation by supporting pilot projects, technology demonstrations, and best practice enhancements. Exclusively available to DEED members, these grants result in projects that contribute to increased reliability, safety, and sustainability in public power.
Read More
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NEPPA's 2024 Apprentice Rodeo | |
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100 DAYS OF SUMMER
The 100 Days of Summer campaign provides critical information to raise awareness and assist in mitigating the risks associated with the most common on and off-duty mishaps. The industry call this the 100 Days of Summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are 60% more accidents during this time, it’s very easy to become complacent.
The weather is nice, the days are longer, and employees take vacations. Read more for tips to stay safe in the summer months.
Read More
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Extend your brand to those who matter! | |
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Advertising for the 2024 NEPPA Directory of Consumer-Owned Electric Utilities in New England is now underway!
Dear Member, our publishing partner E&M Consulting is in the process of producing our Northeast Public Power Association Directory of Consumer-Owned Electric Utilities in New England.
If you have any interest in advertising in the Directory, you can view the advertising options and sign-up online through https://www.reserveyourad.com/NEPPA/
Don't hesitate to call Ryan at 978-301-6361 if you have any questions. As always, your support of the Northeast Public Power Association is greatly appreciated.
Click here for rate sheet and form
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