TRANSMISSION LINE - M. J. Electric, LLC€¦ · and Midway Airports. UAV Technical Tour L to R:...

TRANSMISSION LINEAN M. J. ELECTRIC PUBLICATION

Summer 2018

I N T E G R I T Y ● I N S P I R E D ● I N V E S T E DI N T E G R I T Y ● I N S P I R E D ● I N V E S T E DI N T E G R I T Y ● I N S P I R E D ● I N V E S T E D

NW OHIO PROJECTPAULDING COUNTY, OHIO

MJE NEWS2 TRANSMISSION LINE | 2018 | ISSUE 2

MJE offered a technical tour at the Xcel Energy training yard during theIEEE Conference in Denver, Colorado in May. Eric Hardesty, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Supervisor, hosted this special event as a platformto unveil the incredible abilities of UAVs in electrical inspection.

The demonstration was attended by 50 utility transmission and distribution engineers from around the world including, China, Ghana, Dominican Republic, Scotland, Guam, Canada and the United States. The MJE UAV team demonstrated the uses of UAVs in real world scenarios and showed how their operations are conducted safely and faster than conventional services.

Two years ago, MJE began using UAVs revolutionizing how we inspect all manners of electrical construction. Inspection of infrastructure is necessary for detecting and identifying asset condition and potential hazards before they become an operational or safety concern. UAVs compile a combination of high-resolution imagery and video to provide comprehensive data about our customers’ infrastructure.

MJE utilizes cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative, safe, and cost-effective solutions to our customers’ construction needs. Inspection services include: FLIR Thermal Imaging and Mapping, Transmission Lines and Towers, Wind Turbines, Live Flare Stacks, Cell Tower Inventory, Construction Audits, Roofing and Infrastructure, and ROW Inspection.

MJE is licensed and certified through FAA Licensed Remote Pilots, ITC Certified sUAS Thermographers, FAA Authorized Night Operations, and authorized to operate in airspace of Gary/Chicago International, O’Hare,and Midway Airports.

UAV Technical Tour

L to R: Tony Broccolo (Executive Vice President),Jim Maness (Senior Project Manager), Paul Trgovcich (Project Manager),

Tom Frame (Operations Manager), Jim Voss (Director of Operations)

Paul Trgovcich, an M. J. Electric Industrial, Power & Controls Division Project Manager, has been awarded a Quanta Commitment Coin by Executive Vice President Tony Broccolo for his safety leadership while working under hazardous project conditions.The project scope included the installation of 140 miles of 5 kV skin-effect heat trace and fiber optic monitoring cable along a new

12 inch vacuum gas oil pipeline which passes through the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area in Southeastern Louisiana.

Numerous safety challenges were encountered including:

• High heat and severe humidity.• Dangerous wildlife habitat with alligators, snakes, and insects.• Weather events such as daily thunderstorms, a five-day tropical depression, a hurricane, and a close proximity tornado.• Continually high water levels and flooding requiring work in muddy terrain and wet excavations.• Challenging access roads with several locations only accessible by watercraft.• Close proximity to energized hydrocarbon pipelines. The Quanta Commitment Coin Paul received is a pillar of support and a reminder that his commitment to his M. J. Electric family will not go unnoticed.

Quanta Commitment Coin

3 TRANSMISSION LINE | 2018 | ISSUE 2

Invest In The Future Scholarship RecipientsM. J. Electric hopes to inspire students to consider the electrical construction industry as a trade in which to invest their future. The M. J. Electric “Invest inthe Future” Scholarship Program grants one scholarship in both Iron Mountainand Kingsford High Schools awarding up to a maximum of $4,000 ($1,000 per year for a 4-year program) per scholarship. This scholarship program helps local high school students pursue their dream of a college education without accumulating the burdensome debt that often follows.

Congratulations to Nick McCole (Kingsford High School), and Ben Diercks(Iron Mountain High School) for being the 2018 recipients of the M. J. Electric’s “Invest in the Future” Scholarship.

MJE NEWS

Future LeadersProgram 2018In March 2018, MJE held the kickoff event for theFuture Leaders Program. The program is designedto develop and prepare staff for promotional opportunities, strengthen the company’s talent pipeline, improve bench strength, and address successionneeds. After completing a comprehensive nomination and vetting process Mike Benoit, Operations Manager;Leigh Conducy, Field SHE Coordinator; Alyssa Hartwig, Accountant; John Jamicich, Project Manager; Dave Levits, Estimating Manager; Shane Miller, Project Manager; Mathew Moreau, JCR Project Manager;Keith Normand, JCR Operations Manager; Nick Schwartz, Operations Manager; Jason Washburn, Quality Control Coordinator; and Jay Price, Foreman, were selected to participate.

M. J. Electric has partnered with the IMPACT Group to lead the Future Leaders Program. Elements include each participant completing a competency assessment, capstone project, personal development plan, and on-going personal coaching. MJE Senior Management and the participant’s manager are very engaged in this 7-month program and work closely with all of the participants and the IMPACT Group to ensure success.

On May 10, 2018, leading construction companies from the Northwest Indiana region came together at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana, for the 2018 CAF/NWIBRT Safety Awards Banquet, hosted through a partnership between Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF) and Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable (NWIBRT). The Safety Awards Banquet celebrates the people and companies that demonstrate a resolute commitment to reducing or eliminating hazards during construction projects.

In 2018, MJE became an Elite Partner with NWIBRT and was a presenting sponsor at this year’s awards banquet. MJE, along with just five other contractors, was given an Achievement Award.

“There are a lot of tough, hardworking people in the construction industries, and they can’t afford to shirk their responsibilities when it comes to safety. Everyone takes it seriously, and we’re proud of all the members of NWIBRT for their commitment,” said Rick Foor, NWIBRT Safety Committee Chairman and Cargill–Hammond’s Health and Safety Manager.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!

CAF/NWIBRT Safety Awards Banquet

L to R: Jeremy Smith, Doug Hanson, Daniel Boyd, Tony Broccolo, Tom Frame,Jim Voss, Jay Price, Jim Maness, Sam McCabe, and Eric Cadle

Kingsford Recipient Nickolas McColeand MJE Representative Dayna Nault

MJE Vice President of Human ResourcesSteve Feira and Iron Mountain Recipient Ben Diercks

MJE NEWS4 TRANSMISSION LINE | 2018 | ISSUE 2

On April 18, 2018, MJE celebrated National Lineman Appreciation Day with the restof the country. Being a lineman requires a person to be trained to install, maintain,and repair the transmission and distribution lines and systems that deliver powerfrom the generating source to the end user. It is considered one of the mostdemanding jobs needing excellent training to safely deal with the hazards inherentto the work. However, it is also a very rewarding career.

Lineman Jason Townsend, who works out of IBEW Local Union 196 in Elgin, Illinois, began learning his craft at ALBAT (American Line Builders Apprenticeship Training)in 2000. He has been employed by MJE for the past five years and previously worked at various other construction companies. Townsend not only loves his trade, but also loves its history. Seventeen years ago, he began amassing a collection of lineman memorabilia to help preserve the trade’s history. Beginning with a $10 purchase ofan old amp-stick at a North Carolina antique shop, the collection has grown to contain over 5,000 items including a bottle nose glass phasing set, insulators from 1860,a Pluto insulator that was featured at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893, and more.

By collecting the historic tools, Townsend is able to see how the industry haschanged from decade to decade. He owns hundreds of wooden hot sticks from 1912to the present, as well as over 2000 insulators. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has made linemen's jobs safer over the years and the tools have gotten much lighter and less cumbersome. Linemen once had to rely on aglass phasing set and wood tools but now many tools are made of fiberglass.

“I've heard so many horror stories about guys cutting up old hot sticks,” Townsend says. “Sooner or later, we're not going to have anything lying around. I think it's important for the young guys to see what the old guys had to put up with. We haveit easy now, but back then it was really hard work and the fatality rate was very high.”

Townsend's garage is filled with memorabilia. To show the collection to other linemen, he packs the prized items into a hot stick trailer from 1939. The Association of Electric Cooperatives donated the trailer to him and he invested $1500 to refurbish, sandblast, and transform it from its brown and rusty condition to a bright canary yellow. He has hauled this trailer to local and regional rodeos, local union halls, picnics, parties, and the International Lineman's Rodeo and Expo in Kansas. Jason will be showcasing his collection at the upcoming family and friends MJE Carnival Fundraiser at the corporate office in August.

Celebrating Lineman

34 kV MarbleWasher Insulators

Insulators

3600 Old SS Phasing SetPat Date 1912

Very Rare Temp Wooden Cutout

Pluto InsulatorOld Black Tape RollsOld Power Company Signs

Old Power Company Signs

CONSTRUCT is a collaborative approach that connects people and companies. It is a nine-week training program offering up the information and guidance needed to compete for good-paying, entry-level jobs in construction-related fields. It is designed to addressthe need to increase the pool of qualified minority candidates for construction jobs in Illinois by strengthening job readiness and life skills, and preparing for industry-required testing that is often a prerequisite for employment. The program includes job shadowing to give candidates an up-close look at the various career paths available. Through the program, participants receive career guidance, life skills training, and practical education about construction industry fields.

CONSTRUCT is powered by an alliance of companies, social service agencies, and labor unions that iscommitted to removing barriers for individuals interested in the construction industry. Construction crews can—and should—be reflective of the diversity present in the communities where they work. CONSTRUCTis one way to help increase the pool of qualified minoritycandidates for construction-related jobs in Illinois.

The agencies, using experienced trainers, run the classes at their facilities, provide individual job counselingand guidance, and work with students on job placementopportunities. Entry-level job opportunities can include meterreading, truck drivers, transporter, foreman, customer servicerepresentative, lineman, designer, electric apprentice, and more.

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) launched the CONSTRUCT program in 2013. It began with ten companies and three social serviceagencies and now has grown to include the three major utility companies in northern Illinois, 31 construction companies, and sevensocial service agencies.


MJE NEWS

In April, 108 students graduated from the nine-week CONSTRUCT Program. Each student received training and information needed to compete for entry-level jobs in construction-related fields. ComEd hosted a graduation ceremony for the largest graduating class of CONSTRUCT to date, aimed at getting more diverse candidates into local construction and energy jobs. Congratulations graduates.

CONSTRUCT Program

Safety Manager Tom Hogue and Senior Project Manager John Jamicich participated in the2018 CONSTRUCT Program highlighting potential employment opportunities within the

electrical utility industry.

Salem Harbor Energy CenterThe 674 MW natural gas-fired Salem Harbor Energy Center project is complete. The Salem Harbor Energy Center is a quick-start, combined-cycle facility that replaced the original Salem Harbor Generating Station. The original coal and oil-fired generating station was demolished. The new Salem Harbor Energy Center is located on 23 acres of the original 65-acre site near Salem, Massachusetts.

MJE supported Burns & McDonnell in their endeavor to have the plant complete and running automatically by June 1, 2018. A significant component of the construction involved installation of twelve 1300 foot lengthsof 750 mcm cable for the performance heater power. The work required substantial rigging with most of the cable pulled by hand. It tooka true team effort to successfully meet theJune 1st deadline. MJE’s Senior Project Manager Mike Benoit led electrical crewsfrom IBEW Local 103.

Process Controls & Instrumentation was also contracted to complete the necessary instrumentation and testing for the Energy Center. PCI’s team completed commissioning and start-up, shooting 2,300 loops in a little over 4 weeks in order to meet Burns & McDonnell’s goal. PCI’s General Foreman Jamie Monson provided oversightfor crews from UA Pipefitters Local 537.

Footprint Power’s Salem Harbor Energy Center provides efficient, low-emission power to New England and supports the introduction of new renewable energy resources to the power grid.



Gemma Power Systems awarded MJE the above ground construction for the Medway II Facility located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts.The Exelon West Medway II Facility is a 200 MW dual-fuel simple cycle power plant. The new facility will be constructed on a 70-acre site adjacent to Exelon’s existing 173 MW West Medway Generating Station and will feature two 100 MW General Electric LMS100 combustion turbine generators.

MJE will install and test all above ground electrical systems for two LMS100 CTGs, balance of plant, and associated equipment for the200 MW dual-fuel simple-cycle plant. The 45-man crew is pulling750 kcmil cable to eight 480 V transformers, installing cable traythrough the Trenwa, terminations for the air cooled heat exchanger motors, and instrumentation throughout the plant. This project, under Project Manager Derek Ciezczak, began in February and will be complete in September.

West Medway II Facility Project

INDUSTRIAL, POWERAND CONTROLS

AwardsHunt Electric recently awarded PCI a contract to perform instrumentation construction at the Arauco Fiber Board Plantin Grayling, Michigan. This plant will not only be the largest single-line capacity particle board plant in North America, butalso the first greenfield particleboard plant constructed on this continent since 2001.

PCI has started construction at the Flint Hill Resources Pine Bend Refinery in Rosemount, Minnesota for Hunt Electric and AMEC Foster Wheeler. The scope includes completing the instrumentation for the new Combined Heat and Power Project. This type of generation takes waste products from the refining process and turns them into heat which will, in turn, power the refinery. The system will use natural gas and heat-recovery to produce roughly 40 percent of the electricity needed at the refinery. PCI’s project manager for this project is Tom Dubord.

Current ProjectsPCI continues work for Kokosing and Siemens Power at the Lordstown Energy Center in Lordstown, Ohio. PCI is performing

loop checks and start up assistance at the 940 MW combined-cycle facility. PCI Project Manager Al Merren and several of PCI’s best technicians are currently on site.

Completed ConstructionPCI was recently contracted by Boldt construction to assist witha paper machine rebuild in Skowhegan, Maine. Due to the quick turnaround of the project, PCI mobilized rapidly with tools and manpower. Field Operations Manager Mike Stohl and severalof PCI’s finest played an integral part in the successful completionof this project. Due substantially to PCI’s participation, SappiPaper was able to start on schedule.

Hunt Electric had contracted PCI to complete various capital projects at the Husky Refinery in Superior, Wisconsin. Due to an explosion in the gasoline producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit and massive fire, the project is currently on hold. It is nothing short of a miracle that no employees were critically injured or killed with this event. Rich Usimaki was the project manager at this facility. Hopefully PCI can play a significant role in rebuilding the damaged areas of the refinery.

PROCESS CONTROLS& INSTRUMENTATION

Cross Winds III White Construction awarded M. J. Electric the Cross Winds III Wind Farm project including the substation, collector system, and tower wiring in Unionville, Michigan. Construction began Spring 2018 and will be complete late 2019 under the project management of Kevin DeLongchamp.


RENEWABLE ENERGY

Green River WindFarm SubstationMortenson Company contracted MJE to build the Green River Wind Farm Substation in Bureau County, Illinois.This engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project consists of a 138/34.5 kV collection substation,34.5 kV collection system, foundations, conduit, and grounding. The 194 MW Green River Wind Farm willutilize 74 Gamesa 2.6 MW turbines and cover approximately 13,500 acres of farmland. Constructionis scheduled to be complete by the end of 2018.

Pine River Wind FarmMJE Renewable Energy crews are constructing the Pine River Wind Farm in Gratiot County, Michigan. The Pine River Wind Farm will be built under contract with IEA for owner Invenergy LLC. This 162 MW capacity project will consist of 65 GE 2.5 MW towers. The awarded scope of work includes construction of the 138 kV collection substation as well as the full installation of the 34.5 kV collection system. Construction began in April and will be complete in October 2018. This will be the 11th wind farm MJE has been involved in within the state of Michigan.


ComEd contracted M. J. Electric to replace hundreds of poles in Chicago, Illinois and La Salle County, Illinois as a part of their wood pole replacement program. In Chicago, five crews began work in May to replace 352 poles. A complicating factor of this project is working within the City of Chicago. The requirements for performing work in the city are significantly more labor intensive than performing the same work in the suburbs. For example, poles in Chicago are typically

replaced in place and in pavement, work is in tight quarters and there are multiple other utility conflicts and congestions. Other challenges the crews face are working along the railroad right-of-way which requires significant coordination. In La Salle County, Illinois, two crews will replace 115 poles beginning in June. The poles will all be replaced by the end of the year.

Pole Replacement Program

MJE was contracted by Lansing Boardof Water and Light for overhead and underground work including the installation of duct banks with cable, vaults, testing, fiber, grounding, and removal and installation of a pole with cable. The overhead portion will involve construction over a highway in Ingham County (MI). The project is being managed byMeredeth Bellmore.

GroSolarInterconnectionProject

DISTRIBUTION


Under the direction of Project Manager,Eric Rogers, PMP, crews from Greenville, Wisconsin traveled to Westchester County, New York in March to restore power for thousands of residents. Back-to-back winter storms wiped out power throughout the county and MJE worked with Consolidated Edison to restore the power as safely and as quickly as possible.

Voice of Consolidated EdisonI have worked numerous storms throughout my eighteen year career at Con Edison. Ihave never encountered a better company than M. J. Electric. Their attention to detail was immense. Safety was a number one concern for each and every individual that was on the crew. I have never seen a better work ethic from any group of individuals as the ones that came to New York to help with the storm. Each and every member brought a unique talent that was used as a team. I would like to commend each and every one that was here.

Thank you to all,

David Mavrovic Senior SpecialistConsolidated Edison

Spring Storms

STORM RESPONSE


Newport SubstationMJE is upgrading the 161/69 kV Newport Substation for Central Iowa Power Cooperative in Wapello County, Iowa. The project consists of replacing a control building, 161/69 kV transformer, station service transformer, carrier equipment on one 161 kV line, and 161 and 69 kV switches. The scope also includes replacing one and adding one 69 kV and one 161 kV breaker, converting the 161 kV bus to a ring bus, removal of a portion of a 69 kV transfer bus, extending the substation fence, and grounding. Construction began in May and should be complete by the end of 2018.

North Appleton SubstationCrews have completed work on the North Appleton Substation and Foundation project in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. The expansion included reconfiguring the existing substation to add a new 8-position 345 kV breaker-and-a-half bus arrangement, with provisions for expansion to 10 positions. The project began July 2016.

American Transmission Company (ATC) awarded this substation upgrade to M. J. Electric and MJE Drilling as part of the Bay Lake Area regional development. This major upgrade will address many urgent and developing needs for improved reliability in the northernportion of ATC’s footprint.

SUBSTATION


M. J. Electric and MJE Drilling were commissioned by American Electric Power to build Fogwell Substation along with the corresponding transmission line and foundations. This greenfield substation will be located inside the GM Fort Wayne Truck Assembly Plant in Huntington County, Indiana. Substation crews will install the new 138 kV ring bus station, line entrances, raceway, grounding,

steel, equipment, bus, jumpers, lighting, cabling, terminations, and conductor. The foundation crews will construct forty-nine drilled piers, six breaker pads, two gate apron foundations, and ten additional foundations for the transmission line structures that tie into the substation. The project began in April and will continue through October 2018.

SUBSTATIONFogwell Substation and Foundations

Kossuth to LedyardThe ITC Midwest Kossuth to Ledyard 345 kV Transmission Lineis now complete. MJE was contracted to build a new 345 kV transmission line and MJE Drilling was contracted by ITC to construct foundations along a 24-mile route in Kossuth County, Iowa. The majority of this line was greenfield right-of-way witha small portion inside an existing 69 kV line corridor. Thisproject is a part of ITC’s Minnesota to Iowa 345 kV Transmission Project designed to strengthen the region’s high-voltagetransmission system.


TRANSMISSION

American Electric Power awarded M. J. Electricthe 138 kV Robison Park to Twin BranchTransmission Line Segment 3 Rebuildproject. The double-circuit linesegment is approximatelynine miles with 49 structuressupporting 795.0 kcmilACSR 26/7 “Drake” conductor,one 7 #8 Alumoweld shieldwire,and one 48-fiber OPGWshieldwire. Scope for therebuild also includesaccess roads, storm water pollutionprevention plan management,and structure/conductorinstallation and retirement.The project began in May 2018and will be complete by thesecond quarter of 2019.

Robison Park toTwin Branch

MJE NEWS

For additional information about our company, or to change your contact information,please visit www.mjelectric.com or email us at [email protected].

Copyright © 2017 by M. J. Electric. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of M. J. Electric.

Intermountain Electric, a sister company through Quanta Services who reports to M. J. Electric, won the Associated General Contractors National Safety Award (AGC NASA).The award is based on three years of performance relatingto incident rates, lost time, DART, and more.Congratulations Intermountain Electric!

M. J. Electric (MJE) views quality as a cornerstone of the organization. The Quality Management System (QMS) works to ensure that theMJE Quality Policy is established and aligns with the strategic direction of MJE set by the senior leadership team. It requires MJEto understand the customer’s requirements, what quality means to them, and also what “Quality” means to MJE as an organization.

One major component to a successful QMS is internal assessments including assessing the Quality Policy, Quality Objectives, and Quality Procedures. Internal assessments are a process of working together to improve customer satisfaction, confirm compliance, and to improve MJE’s operational and financial performance. This process ensures that we say what we do and do what we say.

M. J. Electric has completed training for 16 internal assessors, all with different experience levels and areas of expertise. Over the course of the next year, they will conduct internal assessments to ensure the QMS is compliant to the ISO-9001:2015 standard and that employees understand and comply with MJE’s policies and procedures. These assessments will help employees gain a deeper understanding of the Quality Policy and how their individual work aligns with MJE’s quality standards.

Award Winner

QMS Update

L to R: John Thomas, George Kettlewell, Charles Harding,Jason Clay, Adam Cressman

MJE has chosen the Foster Closet of Michigan (Dickinson County branch) as their 2018 charity. There is a nationwide shortage of foster parents and stipends that don’t cover the essentials of a growing child. The Foster Closet provides clothing, toys, shoes, baby necessities, personal care items, and many other supplies to children placed in the foster care system. New or like-new items can be donated and donated funds are used to purchase new items for foster children. These items are provided to assist in rebuilding their self-esteem and allowing them to have belongings to call their own. Many children enter foster care with little to no belongings and have suffered the effects of abuse, poverty, neglect, or even the death of their loved ones.

The Foster Closet of Michigan, divided into 25 branches, helps foster children in all Michigan counties. Any branch may provide assistance to any of the roughly 13,000 foster children in the state. The Upper Peninsula is fortunate to have Foster Closet branches in Dickinson, Delta, and Menominee counties. As of May 2018, the tri-county area has 108 children in foster care including 45 in Dickinson, 11 in Menominee, and 52 in Delta counties. This number fluctuates and new children are placed in foster care on a continual basis. The individuals who make the Foster Closet a success are not compensated for their time. All donations are utilized to assist foster children and families as well as providing a location to house the closet. MJE encourages all of our employees to consider contributing to this worthwhile cause.

Fundraising For Local Charity

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