Class of 2011

In the Oscar nominated movie, “The King’s Speech”, Colin Firth acts out the King’s stammer with the memorable line “because I have a voice!” Voices were heard from Tahrir Square in Cairo.

In publishing, we give a voice to our contributing editors and in this issue to the Class of 2011.

We are pleased and proud to present our 12th Class of the millennium.

Alasdair Cathcart was recently named President of Bechtel’s Power Global Business Unit overseeing fossil, nuclear, renewables, and transmission and communications. “Bechtel is rightly known for project focus,” he says on page 4, but he’s driving a culture to motivate discretionary performance.

Power generation facilities are among the biggest industrial users of fresh water, Heiner Markhoff, President and CEO of GE Water and Process Technologies, stated on page 5. GE is doubling R&D investments in new water-management technologies to increase water reuse and recycling.




J. T. Grumski joined SAIC in 1997 and has led the development of SAIC’S energy strategy and successful acquisition of the Benham Companies and R.W. Beck. He spells out his customers’ challenges and offers technically sound and financially feasible solutions on page 6.

Dr. René Umlauft has served as Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Renewable Energy since 2008. He sees renewables accounting for up to 17 percent of the 2030 market. Siemens has tripled its R&D wind power budget in the last two years, expressed on page 7.

Rolls-Royce provides a diverse yet integrated product portfolio of power solutions. Looking into the future, Mr. Athanasia sees Rolls-Royce investing in renewables and fuel cell technology, on page 8.

Dr. Song Wu is Director of Advanced Technologies for Hitachi Power Systems America based in Basking Ridge, NJ. He is responsible for advancing the company’s core technologies and planning for technology and product strategy described on page 9.

In three years, Ralf Sigrist has grown Nordex USA to 180 employees and built a new 150,000 square foot wind turbine manufacturing plant in Arkansas. His hiring goal is 800 people and he sees the states’ Renewable Energy Standard (RES) imminently doable on page 10.

Craig Arnold is spearheading Dow’s comprehensive strategy of energy efficiency and CO² management. Dow has invested $1 billion in industrial energy efficiency programs for its own operations and is collaborating with Alstom on CCS outlined on page 11.

Michael Howard, President and CEO of Electric Power Research Institute says that the preeminent challenge facing the electricity sector is to produce power in a cleaner, near-zero emission generation fleet and deliver it over an interactive electric grid. He lists seven major focus areas EPRI is working in on page 12.

The US solar market doubled in 2010 and Sharp’s market share is 15 percent,
Eric Hafter who heads up Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group observes on page 13. SEGS is launching new products this summer.

Privately held Mortenson Construction Company has emerged as one of the leading renewables contractors in North America, Jerry Grundtner underscores on page 14. In 2010, Mortenson added 62 employees to its renewable group.

Schott has been manufacturing components for the solar industry since 1958, Tom Hecht, President of Schott Solar PV shared. Schott commissioned its third Solar Barometer in 2010 which is summarized on page 15.

Bob Bibb had worked on over 1,500 assignments for 500 clients in half a dozen countries and 40 states over 20 years before selling Bibb and Associates to Kiewit in 1998. He recently formed Bibb-EAC and shares his future plans on page 16.

Tendril secured 20 smart grid pilot programs in 2010 in 14 states. What Tendril learns will be critical to the rollout of the Smart Grid on a broad scale, CEO Adrian Tuck asserts on page 17.

Over half of Honeywell’s portfolio is linked to energy efficiency. Jeremy Eaton reports on page 18 that increasing attention is being paid to energy efficiency and demand management resulting in smart grid related projects.

As things stand now, the supply chain is inadequate to reach many nations’ 2020 renewable targets. Scaling up will not be easy and is dependent on continued availability of subsidies, but should present many opportunities, Jane Allen of Deloitte predicts on page 19.

Barry Worthington has been Executive Director of the United States Energy Association, directing the Association’s domestic and international activities since 1988. USEA will continue its mission to bring about a greater understanding of energy issues, Mr. Worthington said on page 20.

Jerry Robinson offers an overview of power industry staffing and recruitment including his views on the industry’s current status, future needs and his insight on high-impact issues the industry faces on page 21. Mr. Robinson is Managing Partner of Strategic Contract Resources.

As 2011 gets underway, PIC’s Todd Grzech believes that technology is the key. We need to create an environment where information and knowledge is at the fingertips of every field employee, he suggests on page 22.

MyCelX provides clean water technology solutions and operates in 10 countries, CEO Connie Mixon tells us on page 23. MyCelX was a finalist for the Sustainable Technology Innovation of the Year Award at the 2010 Platts Global Energy Awards.


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