Conducted by Brock Ramey, North American Power Manager for Industrial Info.
Brock Ramey (BR):
NAES is an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) provider for both older and newer assets. The profile of the generation fleet has changed over the last couple of years. We've seen more renewables, specifically wind, and more natural gas plants and projects. Where has NAES seen their business grow and what are some of the challenges associated with that growth?
Tony Downey has joined NAES as Director of Safety for Maintenance and Construction. Tony will be based out of the Pittsburgh office and will be responsible for safety process and technical support for NAES Power Contractors, and the Turbine Services and Industrial Services Divisions of NAES.
George Wackerhagen, NAES Vice President of Power Plant Operations and Technical Services, is featured in a Q&A in the January issue of Biomass Magazine. The article, entitled "Minding the Fleet", is an insight into how NAES operates and manages over 100 power plants around the world, 10 of which are biomass facilities.
The city of Centralia, Wash., sought a 15- to 20-year maintenance solution in early 2010 for its 12-MW Yelm Hydroelectric Project, a run-of-river facility on the Nisqually River about 20 miles east of Olympia, Wash. The city has routinely maintained this 1930s facility, which supplies nearly a third of the city's electrical needs.
NAES Corporation Plant and Maintenance Managers made four presentations in various tracks/sessions during the 2012 501F&G Users Group conference over the dates of February 13-16 in Tampa, FL.
The RCCMH B.L. England Generating Station is located in Cape May County, N.J., on the Great Egg Harbor River. The facility provides approximately 450 MW of generating capacity from three generating units. Two units burn coal and the third unit burns bunker C oil. Unit 2 is a balanced draft coal-fired boiler rated at 155 MW equipped with flue gas desulfurization, ESP and NOX control. The primary fuel for the plant is eastern bituminous coal. The plant is currently operated by NAES Corp., an independent O&M services provider located in Washington State.
As president and CEO of the world's largest third-party power plant operating company, NAES Corporation's John Brewster has been working in the industry for 35 years. Although he has worked with a variety of groups within the building trades, he knows that the open lines of communications the owner community has with the Boilermakers is unusual. Brewster said, "They're so far ahead of the other unions, and have been for years."
In uncertain times, many companies in the energy business move in the same direction and follow some of the same trends. Capital is hoarded instead of invested, hiring is curtailed and focus is put on continuing the flow of revenue without undue risk or growth effort. According to John Brewster, president and chief executive officer of NAES, the company is taking a decidedly different tack.
NAES Corporation made five presentations in various tracks/sessions during the 2011 Power Gen International Conference & Expo over the dates of December 13-15 in Las Vegas.
"Providing a successful customer outcome is the focal point of all our business units," added Canavera. "This effort involves delivery services that meet expectations in terms of quality, cost and schedule."
To read the entire article and see more quotes from Glen, please click here.
