SRP employees win EPRI Technology Transfer Awards
A record number of Salt River Project employees have been selected to receive prestigious Technology Transfer Awards from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for their achievements in collaborative research and development (R&D) projects.
Presented annually, EPRI’s Technology Transfer Awards recognize industry leaders and innovators who help companies transform research into results and solutions that can improve the efficiency of power plants, improve transmission and distribution equipment reliability, improve cybersecurity, and enhance end-use electrification – all for the end-benefit of utility customers.
“Receiving so many awards this year is a real testament to the innovation leadership and hard work from all the SRP staff involved in EPRI research projects,” said Chico Hunter, Manager, SRP Research and Development. “In the world of research, you try to solve difficult problems with no guarantee of success. These projects illustrate how SRP employees not only found solutions, but put those solutions into action.”
The following Salt River Project employees will receive Technology Transfer Awards:
Brian Harbin, Greg Kornrumph, Sharon Morris, Tom Murray and Robert Woods received an award for their vision and leadership that supported the development of multiple case studies, showcasing alternative water supplies in use or under consideration by electric power facilities. These case studies serve as a resource for other companies looking to use alternative water sources to decrease pressure on freshwater sources for power generation.
Elvy Barton, Charlie Ester, Bruce Hallin and Sharon Morris applied research using case studies in an EPRI report, Watershed Activities and Economic Considerations. With their vision and leadership, a software tool was developed to help visualize, quantify and monetize the results of watershed improvement efforts.
Philip Augustin, Eldin Dizdarevic, Zack Heim, Justin Lee and Su Su Win Thu used EPRI’s newly developed Transmission Hosting Capacity Tool to understand how the development of both residential and utility-scale solar photovoltaic resources will impact transmission system reliability. The work done by this team allowed SRP to demonstrate the tool in a real-world environment, showing the benefits to system planning of this new automatic assessment capability.
Melissa Hoy, Oscar Montano and Nathan Tate helped apply an EPRI-developed novel technique that decreases the number of breaker misoperations by applying an EPRI-patented cleaner and commercial oil to lubricate circuit breakers without disassembling them. Hoy, Montano and Tate have been part of a collaborative effort that has applied this technique to 232 breakers, providing both maintenance savings and improved system reliability.
Max Burger and Rob Trask helped lead a research demonstration project that installed more than 250 energy management circuit breakers (EMCB), a device that can allow utilities and customers to monitor and control electricity use, across 12 utilities, at over 60 sites and in 19 states. This demonstration project has vetted EMCB’s for multiple use cases, identified installation challenges and helped to test the data collection system and associated tools.
Jeff Neuenfeldt and Brian Zimmerman led and supported a project that enabled SRP to be the first U.S. utility to procure licensing for the for the 700MHz A-block and enable a Field Area Network, which will allow universal private point-to-multipoint wireless network across a service territory. Through Neuenfeldt and Zimmerman’s efforts, SRP can support capable, reliable and secure telecommunications with grid assets as well as further enable advanced automation to address integration of renewables, enable new customer programs and ensure reliable electric service.
Kathy Knoop and Alejandra Mendez oversaw a study to determine the impact that the increase in electric vehicles in SRP’s service territory and the subsequent increase in energy consumption will have on the grid as more chargers will be installed in homes and businesses to meet demand.
“The 2018 Technology Transfer Award winners have demonstrated initiative, collaboration and leadership and represent the very best in power industry R&D,” said Arshad Mansoor, senior vice president of R&D at EPRI. “They’re shaping, enhancing and transforming the power system of the future by harnessing new and evolving technologies that can deliver benefits to their companies and the entire power industry.”
Accelerated Development Services promotes Trey Eakin
Accelerated Development Services announced the promotion of Trey Eakin to Executive Vice President effective immediately. A 33 year veteran in the retail development arena, Trey’s experience includes acquisitions, oversight, strategic analysis, project management, and lease up of retail and mixed-use projects totaling over $1 billion in value.
“Since joining the firm over three years ago, Trey has been instrumental in helping to enhance the ability for our retailers to open stores in areas where premium sites are scarce,” said Dave Cheatham, President of Accelerated Development Services, a division of Velocity Retail Group. “By working in partnership with retailers, we are able to provide superior site options and greater speed in getting their stores open across the Western U.S.,” he added.
Trey has been instrumental in the development and co-development of several projects, one of which is The Crossing at Sahuarita, it was just awarded the 2019 NAIOP Retail Project of the Year. Other projects include a 370,000 square foot retail center in Queen Creek, and numerous single and multi-tenant shop buildings throughout the Southwest.
“Our platform gives us the ability to provide a development services solution for retailers who need to create brick and mortar storefronts in select trade areas where no retail opportunities currently exist,” said Eakin. “One of our competitive advantages is that we are often able to partner with other retailers in our client base to create multi-tenant buildings that provide more affordable solutions to both retailers,” he added.
Kelly Hennessy joins Platinum Living Realty
Platinum Living Realty, an independent luxury real estate brokerage with four offices across Arizona, announced that Kelly Hennessy has joined their brokerage. Based out of Platinum Living Realty’s DC Ranch office in Scottsdale, Hennessy brings sixteen years of experience to assist those looking to buy or sell a home. Her background consists of a proficiency for both new home sales and residential resale.
“We are pleased to welcome Kelly to Platinum Living Realty,” said Michelle Macklin, co-owner of Platinum Living Realty. “Kelly’s extensive background and dedication to her clients sets her apart as one of the Valley’s top realtors.”
“As an Arizona native, I have a deep understanding of all of the Valley’s unique communities and what they have to offer,” said Hennessy. “For most of my clients, the purchase or sale of a home is the largest single investment they make in their lifetime. I’m thrilled to be joining Platinum Living Realty to offer my clients even more tools and resources to help them make the pest possible decisions when it comes to navigating Arizona’s real estate market.”
Platinum Living Realty takes a different approach than traditional real estate brokerages by providing agents with a customized package of over 20 marketing tools to help effectively target and grow their businesses; consistent and individualized coaching to work through challenges and problems that arise; abundant opportunities for generating new leads and clients; plus other tools and policies that focus on the agent’s success.
