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ESI Energy penalized for over 150 aviary deaths from turbine blades It can make for an exhausting debate when the things that are supposed to be helping the environment end up hurting another part of the environment. With wind turbines and bird endangerment, the issue persists, in another chapter of the Bird Law saga. ESI Energy, a wind power farm operator, pled guilty Tuesday to three counts of violating the MBTA (Migratory Bird Treaty Act), incurring federal penalties of probation and $8 million in fines, for the deaths of bald eagles caused by its turbine blades, according to a judge's sentencing in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Each penalty was "based on the documented deaths of golden eagles due to blunt force trauma from being struck by a wind turbine blade at a particular facility in Wyoming or New Mexico, where ESI had not applied for the necessary permits," according to the DOJ. ESI, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, further acknowledged that at least 150 bald and golden eagles have died in total since 2012, across 50 of its 154 wind energy facilities. 136 of those deaths have been affirmatively determined to be attributable to the eagle being struck by a wind turbine blade. Due to the rarity and American symbolism of bald eagles, the case puts a renewed spotlight on aviary deaths, a longstanding problem within the wind power industry. We've reported on several localized debates on the subject over the past ten years. Turbine manufacturers have tried to combat the problem with solutions such as painting turbines black. In fact, a Connecticut solar developer just last week protested the construction of further offshore wind farms near his home solely on the basis of bird migration: NextEra, for its part, issued a lengthy and defensive response disagreeing with the DOJ's decision and regulations, taking time to highlight its own prominent environmental track record: "We disagree with the government's underlying enforcement policy, which under most circumstances makes building and operating a wind farm into which certain birds may accidentally fly a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) – even when the wind farm was developed and sited in a way that sought to avoid avian wildlife collisions...We have a long-standing and well-earned reputation for protecting our environment and positively co-existing with and supporting wildlife around our facilities, and we have never sited a wind turbine knowing an eagle would fly into it nor have we taken any action in disregard of federal law." The court sentenced ESI, pursuant to a plea agreement, to a fine of $1,861,600, restitution in the amount of $6,210,991, and a five-year period of probation during which it must follow an Eagle Management Plan (EMP). The EMP requires implementation of up to $27 million (during the period of probation; more thereafter if a written extension is signed) of measures intended to minimize additional eagle deaths and injuries, and payment of compensatory mitigation for future eagle deaths and injuries of $29,623 per bald or golden eagle. ESI also must over the next 36 months apply for permits for any unavoidable take of eagles at each of 50 of its facilities where take is documented or, in the case of four facilities not yet operational, predicted. Full statement from the Department of Justice can be viewed here.

Staten Island warehouse overcomes obstacles to achieve landmark first You almost expected someone to yell "April Fool's!" But it never came. Corporate giant Amazon has a unionized facility for the first time in its 27-year history. Workers at a Staten Island, N.Y., location of the shipping/tech services conglomerate voted to form a union April 1 despite two years of resistance, achieving a landmark victory for employees at the country's second largest private employer. An Amazon employee pickets outside a warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. It's also likely a victory for an American workforce seeking increasing flexibility and employee empowerment in precarious times. Credit is due to other Amazon branches who dented the corporate fortifications designed to suppress unionizing: namely the efforts of an Amazon location in Bessemer, Alabama. Almost exactly a year ago, that warehouse held its first vote. Just six days ago, it lost the second attempt just as it did in April 2021. However, in both instances in Bessemer, employees are asking for a recall vote after claiming miscounted votes. So how, and why, did this particular ALU (Amazon Labor Union) location reach the summit? Especially when, as one report from CNN suggested, it had to battle through personal attacks and corporate intimidation? It was through what some might call a "Gen-Z" outreach approach that included grassroots organizational tools like GoFundMe pages and TikTok—combined with traditional methods like providing home-cooked meals for employees and t-shirts for awareness. Reading more about Christian Smalls and his movement is worth the time. Big-picture-wise, the vote is a landmark decision that will surely spark ripple effects in the American workforce.

WiM provides an encore for National Women's Month Providing a fitting encore for National Women's Month, the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) announced its 2022 Board of Directors March 29. Familiar names line the board: Southwire, Rockwell, GM, and more. The Cleveland-based organization announced the election of 22 members to its 2022 Board of Directors, who begin their terms on April 1, 2022 (tomorrow!) WiM, which has over 11,000 members, calls itself "the only national association specifically dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing sector." The board will be led by Chair Virginia Harn, Principal, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), Minneapolis, MN; Vice Chair Carrie Uhl, Chief Procurement Officer, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI; Treasurer Ronda Wright, Regional Director Supply Excellence, Mars Wrigley North America, Atlanta, GA; Secretary Lisa Skidmore, Senior Director, Advanced Quality Engineering, GE Appliances, a Haier company, Louisville, KY; and Past Chair Misti Rice, Executive Director of Government Affairs, Magna International, Troy, MI. First-term members of the 2022 WiM board are: Sheree Gaus, Global Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Waters Corporation, Milford, MA Peggy Gulick, Director Digital Transformation Operations, Kohler Co., Kohler, WI Tiffanie Lewis, VP, HR Technology and Service Solutions, Diebold Nixdorf, Hudson, OH Jane Thomas, President, Teijin Holdings USA, Inc., Sausalito, CA “On behalf of the entire WiM organization, I am thrilled to welcome the newest members of the WiM Board of Directors,” said WiM President Allison Grealis. “WiM’s board includes outstanding leaders from some of our nation’s most prestigious manufacturing companies. I look forward to working with them to further WiM’s mission of supporting, promoting and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry. Now, more than ever, it is important to engage women leaders and their male allies as they continue to lead this industry’s recovery from the pandemic.” Additional board members who are continuing their service include: Jai Aja, Enterprise Customer Success Manager, Rockwell Automation, Norristown, PA Karen Bazela, Vice President, Customer Service & Specialty Distribution, Southwire Company, Carrollton, GA Cynthia Bolt, Senior Vice President and GM, Manufacturing, Automotive and Energy, Salesforce, Villanova, PA Tami Hedgren, Manufacturing Lead - Tractors & Combines, John Deere, Moline, IL Jessica Kinman, WW Industrial NPD Solutions Leader, Amazon, Seattle, WA Cara Madzy, Vice President Operations, Coatings Americas, BASF, Southfield, MI Sandra McNeil, General Manager, Amazon.com Services, Inc., Seattle, WA Valerie Salera, Team Leader, Aftermarket Product Engineering, Trane Technologies, Davidson, NC Rachael D. Sampson, Senior Vice President, National Director of Key4Women, KeyBank, Cincinnati, OH Danielle Schneider, Applications Engineer, Pridgeon & Clay, Grand Rapids, MI Amy Volz, Global Director, Brand Strategy, Trane Technologies, Davidson, NC Jeff White, Partner and Manufacturing Law Industry Group Chair, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford, CT Devon Winter, Senior Vice President, Director, F.W. Winter Inc. & Co., Camden, NJ Grealis also thanked outgoing members of the WiM board for their exceptional service to the industry: Lynn Kier, Diebold Nixdorf; Tammy LeBlanc, ISRA Vision Systems; and Adrienne Temple, South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Gardena firm behind NBC Universal, Pauley Pavilion wins MCAA award From the world of commercial contracting, here's proof that you can be a high-profile company and still operate safely. Xcel Mechanical Systems, a Gardena, CA firm behind the HVAC and plumbing systems in some of Southern California’s most iconic buildings, was recognized March 16 with an MCAA/CNA National Safety Excellence Award—its third in five years. Xcel's fingerprints are on the NBC Universal West Coast production facility in Universal City, Los Angeles, where the company says it saved NBC around $120,000 on the project through a redesign that included the elimination of pumps and other "service" streamlining: "alternative design and piping configuration that eliminated the need for the secondary set of condenser water pumps (initially the basis of the Free Cooling concept), solved the service access issues." It also handled the wet and dry sides of HVAC systems for the renovation of UCLA's famed Pauley Pavilion, one of college basketball's most historic venues. UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.—Xcel Mechanical photo Meanwhile, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), based in Rockville, MD, represents more than 2,600 mechanical contractors nationwide; teaming with CNA Insurance to present the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award annually to five commercial mechanical contractors of varying size. Wednesday’s recognition – which came during MCAA’s weeklong National Convention in San Diego, CA - marks Xcel Mechanical’s third MCAA/CNA National Safety Excellence Award in the past five years. “It’s important to note that every MCAA member contractor that competes for this award is already a leader in terms of their commitment to Occupational Health & Safety,” said Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety and Health. “For an MCAA member contractor to win this award just once is remarkable, which makes Xcel Mechanical’s third award extraordinary.” Xcel Mechanical Systems President Kevin Michel, a California state-licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) who founded the Gardena, CA-based design-build firm more than two decades ago, said his senior management team’s decision to invest in an industry-leading Safety Program many years ago came easily, especially given the job-related dangers construction workers face each day. “Construction workers everywhere perform their jobs in high-risk environments, and so doing whatever we can to keep our employees safe is an everyday priority,” Mr. Michel said. “An effective safety program starts with commitment, teamwork, accountability, and personal responsibility,” he said. “The result of that effort is that our employees return home to their families safe each night, which is the most important part. But these awards are also an enormous point of pride for everyone at Xcel Mechanical,” he said. “These awards represent the diligence of our entire company. They are without question the most important recognitions we have received since opening our doors.”

Energy Transition For All The scholar's phrase et al. is no longer exclusively academic. That same denotation (from the Latin meaning 'and others') now embodies the current approach of climate advocates in the energy industry. As part of an extensive energy initiative from the American Clean Power association called ET4All, a number of companies are launching energy platforms and programs designed to further integrate renewable sources. ET4ALL's mission, as fostered by ACP, reads: Clean energy is continuing its growth towards becoming the predominant source of electricity in the United States. Our industry should lead in responsibly managing that growth – for our workers, communities, and in the pursuit of a diverse and inclusive sector. This initiative is our Energy Transition for All. The pillars of the ET4All initiative are: Expanding opportunity for workers Creating Value for Communities Leading in Diversity and Inclusion The following programs are highlighted on ACP's ET4All page; and they include some heavy hitters of the power industry: Invenergy's Reactivate, a community solar energy platform to build out solar projects in low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. Pattern Energy's DE&I (diversity, equity, and inclusivity) Council, supporting employee-led Affinity Networks, Dominion Energy's annual Careers in Energy Diversity Student Conference to educate women & minorities about career options. Pattern Energy implemented a range of initiatives focused on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Examples include launching a DE&I Council, supporting employee-led Affinity Networks, publishing a Statement of DEI Commitments, hosting a DE&I Month, conducting a staff engagement survey focused on DEI topics, and requiring leadership to take unconscious bias workshops. Since 2019 Dominion Energy has held an annual Careers in Energy Diversity Student Conference bringing in hundreds of women and minority students from across the country to expose them to and educate them about career options within the energy industry. Students interview and compete for paid summer internships, many of which ultimately lead to full-time job offers upon graduation. Duke Energy has built a robust pipeline of diverse candidates by setting and publishing goals of growing the share of women in the workforce to 25% and people of color to 20%. To achieve these goals, it has integrated HBCUs into recruiting activities, conducted employee surveys to identify and address DE&I shortcomings, and set supplier diversity targets that have led to a spend increase on diverse suppliers of 10% per year (~$100M). Clearway Energy’s West Virginia Pilot Apprenticeship Program provides $20,000 to cover wages and education for former coal workers or their family members to get trained as wind technicians. Enel Green Power has a workforce retraining partnership with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) and Innovation Partnership with AdeptID to focus on (i) workforce retraining programs for oil and gas workers, and (ii) machine learning analytics for inclusive job mobility. Enel is combining its partnership with TSTC and AdeptID to identify non-obvious, high-likelihood transitions such as renewable energy, specifically for roles that don’t require college degrees.

IPS acquires ABB hydro generator rewind, transformer repair businesses It's time to update the Integrated Power Services map again. Deja vu? Yes. The Greenville, S.C., based service and repair powerhouse acquired three prominent service operations in Washington, California, and Montana just two months ago. This time, IPS is snatching up an even wider swathe of assets: ABB's Canadian and U.S. hydro generator rewind and transformer repair businesses in Quebec and Colorado. This will increase three key areas of the company's service capabilities: 1) hydro generator service and repair up to 50 mW. 2) remanufacturing and service capabilities for transformers up to 40 MVA . 3) remanufacturing and service capabilities for switchgear up to 38 kV. The sale includes ABB’s Beloeil, Quebec coil manufacturing facility and its Denver, Colorado service center, per a March 21 IPS press release, and is expected to lose in the 2nd Quarter of 2022. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but the acquisition includes 80 employees working in Beloeil and Denver in coil manufacturing, transformer remanufacturing, hydro field services, electro-mechanical repair, design engineering, sales, and support. Here's the updated coverage map: The deal expands IPS’s power management capabilities and complements its recent platform investment in National Switchgear and National Field Service. By combining ABB’s transformer business with National’s operations, IPS adds a Center of Excellence for Transformer remanufacturing capability to National’s NETA-certified Transmission and Distribution, and Protection and Control services. Pictured below is ABB's Denver repair facility: ABB's Denver service center for transformer repair is being acquired by IPS.—ABB library photo “We’re pleased to add these renewable energy, power management and power distribution services to our North American network,” said John Zuleger, IPS President and CEO. “IPS welcomes our new highly skilled employees and looks forward to making a significant growth commitment to customers who seek a trusted advisor, high-quality service provider for this critical equipment.”

U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate solar loopholes A San Jose solar panel manufacturer submitted a petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce investigating a possible Chinese circumvention of tariffs regarding the product. The filing, which was submitted in February by Auxin Solar, alleges that certain Chinese-made solar panels were assembled in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia before being shipped to the U.S. Auxin Solar in San Jose, California.—Auxin Solar photo It is staunchly opposed by a major organization, the SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association), who criticized Auxin for prioritizing "the interests of one company" and said the petition "lacks legal merit". The U.S. Commerce Department plans to take up the investigation, Auxin Solar Inc. said in a statement March 28. “For years, Chinese solar producers have refused to fairly price their products in the U.S. and have gone to significant lengths to continue undercutting American manufacturers and workers by establishing circumventing operations in countries not covered by those duties,” said Auxin Solar CEO Mamun Rashid. He said he was grateful that Commerce officials “recognized the need to investigate this pervasive backdoor dumping and how it continues to injure American solar producers.” Conversely, in a statement, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) criticized Auxin for pursuing what she called the “self interests of one company.” Commerce Department rules allow petitions from single entities and even from non-American interests. She said “The mere threat of tariffs altered the industry’s growth trajectory and is one of the reasons why we’re now expecting a 19% decline in near-term solar forecasts.” She said that “Taking up this case will have a chilling effect on the solar industry” and predicted it could lead to market volatility and job losses.

Ukraine and Moldova power grids synchronized with EU One month into the Russia-Ukraine War, here are some important updates: Following an urgent request by [Ukrainian power supplier] Ukrenergo and [Moldelectrica of] Moldova for emergency synchronization, the TSOs of Continental Europe agreed to start on March 16 the trial synchronization of the Continental European Power System with the power systems of Ukraine and Moldova. This acceleration of the synchronization project ongoing since 2017 has been possible thanks to the previous studies carried out and the adoption of risks mitigation measures. A safe confinement structure over the old sarcophagus covering the damaged fourth reactor at the Chernobyl site.—SkyNews photo Continental Europe TSOs are now supporting the stability of the Ukrainian-Moldovan power system following a positive analysis which confirmed that an emergency synchronization is technically feasible with a number of measures to ensure safe and secure power systems. "This is a significant milestone for the Continental Europe TSOs working in collaboration with Ukrenergo and Moldelectrica that are operating their respective power systems under extremely difficult circumstances," ENTSO-E stated. "ENTSO-E would like to thank the European Commission, all TSOs involved and their national authorities for their support and assistance in the synchronisation process." The New York Times reported on a particularly relevant aspect of the situation (for our readers): maintenance and power restoration amidst the extremes of war. Militarily, the war has reportedly devolved into a stalemate. Satellite images partially support these claims, but a parallel information war makes definitive military progress nearly indiscernible. Both Ukrainian military leaders and Russian state media continue to widely discredit any claims made by the opposition. Among the few agreed-upon facts: The major cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Kyiv continue to be flashpoints of the war. The three are all under siege, bombarded daily, and experience both military and civilian casualties regularly. This would indeed support the narrative of a developing war of attrition. Mariupol has taken the worst damage, and some war analysts believe it has jumped to the forefront of Russian efforts. Earlier Thursday (March 24), leaders from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom met for a series of emergency summits in Brussels: one each for NATO, the European Union, and G-7 (Group of Seven) purposes. Sanctions were issued on members of the Duma (Russia's Parliament), and refugee acceptance was addressed (the U.S. said it would take up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war) at these meetings; while a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace was again denied. The Washington Post reported on the fragility of Ukrainian nuclear sites during a state of war. Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia are both under Russian control, leading to overworked employees and managers who may be unfamiliar with the equipment, etc. Reuters reported March 15 that a section of the Russian Yamal-Europe pipeline resumed eastbound gas delivery to Poland from Germany following normal, westbound supplies earlier in the morning, citing data from German network operator Gascade. A maintenance worker on the Russian Yamal-Europe pipeline.—Reuters photo

Kansas City engineering firm allies with neighboring MBE Burns & McDonnell, the civil engineering firm based in Kansas City, and Infinite Energy Construction (IEC), an electrical contractor and certified minority-owned business enterprise (MBE), have entered an alliance to begin jointly providing electrical transmission and distribution engineering services, according to a March 22 press release. IEC Engineering, a newly formed business unit within IEC, "will work primarily with the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Group at Burns & McDonnell on projects for electric utilities," the companies said, adding that many large utilities are launching "multibillion-dollar capital investment programs" to upgrade and expand transmission and distribution infrastructure in response to new system demands, "which are being driven by renewable energy sources and the expected rapid growth of charging stations needed by electric vehicles." While its deal with Burns focuses on energy and infrastructure, IEC also does extensive community work elsewhere, if its Facebook page is any evidence. An IEC gym and playground project in Cartagena, Bolivar, Columbia.—IEC photo As part of the aforementioned capital investment plans, however, IEC sees a monetary opportunity for a minority-owned business. "Many utilities have made commitments to allocate a share of this spending toward diverse suppliers that can provide a range of engineering, construction and other specialty services. IEC Engineering has already begun hiring engineering staff and is actively performing design on projects." Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies encompassing 10,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, and more to design and build critical infrastructure. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 60 offices globally, the company is 100% employee-owned and also has a growing presence in Chicago. Burns and McDonnell employees outside Soldier Field, Chicago.—Burns & McDonnell photo Founded in 1996 in Kansas City, MO, IEC has grown from a regional electrical contractor to a General Contractor serving Federal and Institutional clients throughout the United States. IEC has a long-standing relationship with Burns & McDonnell spanning nearly 20 years, providing electrical construction services as a subcontractor on a number of projects. “It’s hard to overstate the impact this collaboration will have on IEC,” says Nilson Goes, president of IEC. “This is an opportunity to enter a very important market that we could not otherwise replicate. We have a long relationship with Burns & McDonnell and consider them to be mentors and friends as well as business partners. We hold similar values as companies and will do whatever it takes to continue earning trust on every project.” As an electrical contractor, IEC has worked extensively across the U.S. on commercial, military, aviation and industrial projects, providing skilled electrical tradespeople for design-build, design-assist and design-bid-build projects. “We have a longstanding commitment to go the extra mile with our minority-owned and women-owned business partners to mentor them and help them grow, not just to give them project work from time to time,” says Daniel Sierra, a business development manager at Burns & McDonnell focusing on electrical substation projects. “IEC has a culture and commitment to clients and the community that mirrors what we believe at Burns & McDonnell. We see great things ahead for this alliance.” As new staff are added to IEC Engineering, Burns & McDonnell will provide extensive training and development aimed at establishing best practices and capabilities utilizing new technology-enabled processes. “We’ve spent many years developing strong relationships with a diverse supplier base and have come to see that we gain as much value from them as they do from us,” says Luke Ezell, a substation project manager with Burns & McDonnell. “This team creates a win-win for everyone.”

New study also points out dependency on natural gas, crude oil in U.S. A new study released by Commodity.com checks in on energy efficiency, state-by-state. The website, run by its synonymous LLC, specializes in ranking commodities significant to world economics, from oil to cryptocurrency. Check to see if your state falls into the Top 15 rankings! 15. Oregon Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 4,168.3 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 243.8 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 1,028.1 Total GDP (billion dollars): $246.65 14. Colorado Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 4,019.4 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 273.8 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 1,576.5 Total GDP (billion dollars): $392.22 13. Vermont Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 4,011.4 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 219.4 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 136.9 Total GDP (billion dollars): $34.13 12. Florida Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,920.0 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 203.8 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 4,376.4 Total GDP (billion dollars): $1,116.44 11. Delaware Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,848.5 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 304.5 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 296.5 Total GDP (billion dollars): $77.04 10. New Hampshire Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,654.5 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 235.2 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 319.8 Total GDP (billion dollars): $87.51 9. Washington Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,472.3 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 272.6 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 2,076.0 Total GDP (billion dollars): $597.87 8. Hawaii Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,350.4 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 217.2 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 307.5 Total GDP (billion dollars): $91.78 7. New Jersey Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,285.1 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 236.5 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 2,100.6 Total GDP (billion dollars): $639.44 6. Maryland Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,208.2 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 223.7 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 1,352.6 Total GDP (billion dollars): $421.61 5. Rhode Island Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 3,103.4 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 179.6 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 190.3 Total GDP (billion dollars): $61.32 4. California Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 2,555.9 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 197.5 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 7,802.3 Total GDP (billion dollars): $3,052.65 3. Connecticut Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 2,554.6 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 206.4 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 736.0 Total GDP (billion dollars): $288.11 2. Massachusetts Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 2,474.3 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 213.0 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 1,467.9 Total GDP (billion dollars): $593.26 1. New York Total energy consumption per GDP (BTU per dollar): 2,169.0 Total energy consumption per capita (million BTU per capita): 198.2 Total energy consumption (trillion BTU): 3,855.9 Total GDP (billion dollars): $1,777.75 A few takeaways: 1) Size, in this case, does matter—but it's not a dealbreaker. The nine smallest states in the Union all appear on this list; however, so do large states like California, Colorado, and Washington. 2) Texas, which not only produces massive amounts of energy but also has its own grid (ERCOT), is notably absent. This is a reflection of the state's cultivation of traditional energy sources like oil and natural gas; a point professed by the study overall. 3) The taboo part of the conversation is unavoidable: Almost every state on the list leans "blue" politically (with the notable outlier of Florida). Almost every state listed voted for Joe Biden in the most recent election and many of them have further history of democratic support. This checks out, considering that side of the aisle's commitment to renewable energy sources. Here's a more in-depth summarization of the study's findings: "As the global economy continues to expand, the need for energy to sustain that growth is increasing as well. Energy efficiency creates a number of benefits for the economy overall. Consumers and businesses that rely on energy benefit from lower prices because it is easier to meet demand with lower levels of energy production. Utilities and other energy producers can save on the cost of energy production and transmission infrastructure with more efficient generation. And more efficient energy use also has environmental advantages: efficient energy production releases lower levels of greenhouse gas and other pollutants, along with requiring less water use." The study cites policies like Energy Efficiency Resource Standards or more stringent building codes as contributors to "continued improvements in energy efficiency", acknowledging that "programs like the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for buildings and the government’s ENERGY STAR certification for consumer appliances have helped raise standards of energy efficiency for many aspects of everyday life." As for the methodology and history of the research body: To determine the states with the most energy efficient economies, researchers at Commodity.com analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The researchers used this data to rank states by their total energy consumption per GDP. In addition, the total energy consumption per capita, total energy consumption, and total GDP were provided for reference. Commodity.com began in May 2010 as HowToTradeCommodities.co.uk, published by UsefulDomains.co.uk in the UK. The site rebranded as HowToTradeCommodities.com after a few years to better target an audience beyond the UK. It then acquired the premium domain name Commodity.com in early 2017 and rebranded the site. The domain was owned for decades by George Kleinman and his business Commodity Resource Corporation (CRC), which has operated for 30+ years as a commodity brokerage firm. Prior to founding CRC, George Kleinman was one of the top commodity brokers at Merrill Lynch making their ‘Golden Circle’ before leaving to start his own operation. The U.S. also has room to continue improving in the efficiency of its energy production, thanks to an increasingly diverse—and more efficient—mix of energy sources. Fossil fuels including natural gas (34 quadrillion BTU), crude oil (23.6), and coal (10.7) constitute a sizable majority of U.S. energy production. However, energy production from fossil fuels has moved away from highly inefficient coal and toward more efficient natural gas in recent years, and other alternatives, including renewables like wind, have become a much more significant portion of the U.S. mix. In the meantime, some states are further along than others in advancing energy efficiency goals. Several factors explain why. Many of the leading states have stronger policies and standards regulating energy efficiency in utilities, buildings, or products like vehicles and appliances. Others have sped their transitions away from more inefficient fossil fuels toward efficient renewable sources with new investments and regulations. And some benefit from other economic and demographic factors, like the aforementioned shift toward less energy-intensive industries or densely populated urban areas, which promote energy efficiency in buildings and transportation. Together, these factors have put states like New York, Massachusetts, and California toward the top of the list of most energy efficient locations.

Automate returns to Motor City with big-time headliners After years in Chicago, A3's Automate conference and expo will return to Detroit this year. Register free here for a show that just added an exciting new keynote speaker to its lineup. A3 announced March 18 that its keynote speakers are set to include Daymond John, the founder and CEO of FUBU, one of the White House's Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, and perhaps best known for his tenure on ABC's hit television show "Shark Tank". John will be sharing tips for setting goals—and achieving them—in his keynote speech, “Daymond John’s 5 Shark Points: Fundamentals for Success in Business and Life” on Monday, June 6, 8:45 to 9:45 AM Eastern. His quotes recall a recent EA issue "Rise of the Machine Shop": “One effect of COVID is that it accelerated what I call the Rise of the Machines; meaning, no matter what business you're in, you're going to have to deal with new technology one way or another. The question is are you going to try to be John Connor and fight it or George Jetson and leverage it.” – Daymond John Don’t miss Daymond John—and 500+ exhibitors, more exciting keynote speakers, networking events, a full educational conference and more—only at Automate. June 6-9, 2022, Huntington Place convention center in downtown Detroit.

Wildfires, tornados, floods in one week in Texas Texans must feel like they're living in an apocalyptic world the past week. Facing a King Ghidorah of natural disasters, the state reported widespread power outages from tornados in Grayson and Jack counties, right on the heels of an initial state of emergency issued by Governor Greg Abbott on March 18 due to wildfires. The Governor updated citizens on the situation Monday, adding flood preparation protocols: "Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize state resources in anticipation of severe weather and flash flooding that is expected to impact areas of Texas beginning Monday afternoon into the early morning hours of Tuesday," according to a March 21 statement from the governor's desk. "Threats from the severe storms moving across Central, North, and East Texas could bring large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding, and the potential for tornados. Additionally, the state continues to support firefighting efforts in response to wildfires across Texas." "In preparation for this severe weather, I have directed TDEM to increase its readiness and place emergency response resources on standby for rapid deployment if needed," said Governor Abbott. "The state will continue monitoring these conditions and is ready to assist local communities affected by these storms. I ask Texans to stay alert and informed of weather developments and heed guidance from local officials." As storm systems moved across Texas March 22, a likely tornado struck the town of Jacksboro, 90 miles northwest of Dallas.