By: Emily Adelman, Corporate Communications Specialist
When the forecast turns towards extreme cold and record-breaking snowfall, NAES teams across the country shift into a high-gear culture of preparedness. From the Arctic blasts of New England to the single-digit temperatures of the Texas Panhandle, the NAES approach is defined by Safety and People-First, two of our main values. Read below for more on how four NAES crews exemplified the grit and ownership required to keep the grid stable in some serious winter weather.
This winter brought New England its most brutal stretch of weather since 1948, with over five feet of snow and wind chills hitting a -15°F, with the feels-like temperatures even lower. While the region hunkered down, the NAES teams at Milford Power, Dighton Power, and Salem Harbor Station ensured the lights stayed on across the grid.
Milford Power: Milford, Massachusetts
When ISO New England called during the height of the storm, Milford answered. With town water cut off due to drought, the team trucked in water and manually drained hoses and equipment in freezing conditions after every load.
The team also maintained a perfect record, no safety or environmental incidents, while carpooling to ensure every essential worker made it home safely.
Milford Power’s team demonstrated a strong work ethic and teamwork during record-setting snowfall, further solidifying our NAES team as the best in the country when operating and maintaining our sites.
Dighton Power: Dighton, Massachusetts
Record-breaking snow was no match for the Dighton Power crew and their determination to keep the gates open. The photos below show the before, during, and after of the driveway that the Dighton crew kept clear as snow fell.
This constant snow removal allowed the long driveway to stay open for emergency access and seamless shift changes. The teamwork Dighton displayed was unmatched, as one of the team members walked a quarter mile through six feet of snow to reach the main road for a pickup. The team made sure everyone made it home safely, as people with four-wheel drive ensured nobody was left stranded.
Management held status calls, checking in on both the plant and well-being of the team throughout the event, exemplifying a true people-first approach and showing a NAES value in action.
Salem Harbor Station: Salem, Massachusetts
Facing the coldest temperatures in nearly 80 years, the Salem Harbor Station team managed an impressive 43 successful starts amidst “pay-for-performance” pressure. Not only did they manage record successful starts, but not a single employee was late in January or February, despite the historic snowfall. This is a photo from Plant Manager Eric Brown’s home during the storm!
We also want to give Luke Kondratas, Nate Woolsey, Mike Blomberg, and Ron Britner their props for repairing a critical heat trace in -15°F wind chills. Their quick and hard work prevented a total plant outage.
“The team should be immensely proud of their efforts during this winter storm,” Plant Manager Eric Brown said. “This winter was defined by challenging weather, plant conditions, and commercial environment. It’s difficult to wrap up the winter into a few sentences.”
While New England faced a brutal stretch of weather, so did other sites across the country, including in Sherman, Texas. Winter Storm Fern brought Texas to a standstill with more than 80 consecutive hours of freezing temperatures. But the NAES team at Rayburn Energy Station was one step ahead. Through proactive planning and a willingness to do whatever it takes, our NAES site remained the picture of reliability during the deep freeze.
Rayburn Energy Station: Sherman, Texas
In anticipation of dangerous and icy roads, the Rayburn Energy Station team converted the conference room into a temporary dormitory. Management and operators stayed onsite for four straight nights, ensuring 24/7 leadership and operational coverage.
Before the ice hit, the team shielded critical valves and equipment from accumulation, ensuring the plant was able to operate efficiently during the storm. The team also secured an ammonia delivery from a specialized vendor, which saved the day when the regular supplier canceled all deliveries due to icy road conditions.
Rayburn Energy Station maintenance crews were split into day and night shifts, while extra IC&E and labor contractors were mobilized to keep walking paths safe and equipment running in single-digit temperatures.
“I could not be prouder of how this team prepares for and responds to these events,” Rayburn Energy Station Plant Manager Alex O’Brien said. “Their efforts continue to ensure Rayburn Energy Station will perform in the toughest conditions when it matters most.”
Ultimately, the success of the winter season was measured in not just megawatts and uptime, but also the commitment to our core values: Safety and People. By prioritizing the well-being of our people and the commitment to being safe during the winter, these sites truly embody the NAES values.
