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Tag: electric

Hitachi AAB Power Grids expanding in Bland County

Hitachi ABB Power Grids will invest $6.2 million to upgrade equipment and increase manufacturing capacity at its operations in Bland County, where it is the county’s largest private-sector employer. The expansion will add 40 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday.

“Hitachi ABB Power Grids has made tremendous contributions to Southwest Virginia and the commonwealth for nearly 50 years, and we look forward to our continued partnership with this expansion,” Northam said in a statement. “The company’s decision to invest in its Bland County facility is a testament to the region’s accessibility, integrated transportation network and skilled manufacturing workforce. We thank Hitachi ABB for its commitment to sustainable energy and for helping advance our Clean Energy Virginia initiative in rural parts of the commonwealth.”

The Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ Bland facility has been in operation since 1972, designing and manufacturing medium voltage dry-type power transformers to be used to adjust and stabilize the voltage of electricity flowing between the electric grid and businesses, homes and factories. The company employs 800 people throughout Virginia, with approximately 332 working at its Bland County facility. The Bland County operation competed with other Hitachi manufacturing facilities across the United States for the project.

“With its proximity to key markets and range of transportation options, Virginia provides the right combination of location and access that makes it easy to get our products where they need to be,” Steve McKinney, Hitachi ABB Power Grids senior vice president and hub manager for transformer business in North America, said in a statement. “Perhaps most importantly, the commonwealth has a skilled workforce and is able to meet our advanced manufacturing needs. We look forward to building on our long, successful track record in Virginia.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the Bland County Economic Development Authority, the Virginia’s Industrial Advancement Alliance and the Port of Virginia to secure the project for Virginia. Northam approved a $140,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Bland County with the project, and the company is eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. VEDP’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program will provide funding and services to support employee training.

“It is always good news when a multinational corporation like Hitachi ABB Power Grids chooses to expand, due in part, to the benefits provided by The Port of Virginia,” Virginia Port Authority CEO and Executive Director John Reinhart said in a statement. “We are expanding our capabilities to attract more companies like Hitachi ABB Power Grids, and we look forward to serving as its international trade gateway for decades to come.”

 

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Dominion Energy directs $1M to help small businesses, residents pay energy bills

Virginia small businesses and residential customers can receive additional support to pay their energy bills through Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc.’s EnergyShare program, the company announced Thursday.

Small businesses, nonprofit organizations and houses of worship can receive up to $1,000 to go toward unpaid Dominion Energy Virginia electric bills that have accrued during the pandemic. Due to coronavirus impacts, the utility committed an additional $1 million to its $13 million annual program to help customers in need of bill assistance. Of the funds Dominion Energy committed on Thursday, $500,000 will go toward business needs while the other half is reserved for residential customers. Small businesses will be able to apply beginning Sept. 1.

“While small businesses are focused on resuming their operations, bringing back their workforce and prioritizing the health and safety of their customers and employees, the EnergyShare Small Business Relief Program lends a hand to those at the heart of our economy,” Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barry DuVal said in a statement. “The landscape continues to change due to the ongoing pandemic and many small businesses are in vital need of additional support. That is why the Virginia Chamber Foundation is proud to partner with Dominion Energy on this relief program.”

Dominion is working with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation to extend the reach of the program. The foundation is establishing an advisory council will work to raise program awareness and funds will be administered through the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation. United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg will manage the distribution of funds.

Advisory council members include representatives from the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Asian Foundation, the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League of Hampton Roads, the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Business League of Richmond. 

The EnergyShare program is funded through company contributions (not covered by customer rates) and donations from employees, retirees and the public.

“For decades, EnergyShare has helped many in crisis get the financial help they need and this pandemic has made it an even more crucial resource,” Robert Blue, Dominion Energy Virginia co-chief operating officer and executive vice president, said in a statement. “If you’re having trouble paying your bill, we want you to know we’re here to help you find the best solution for your unique situation.”

 

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Dominion taps new CEO, rearranges top leadership

Robert M. Blue
Robert M. Blue

Dominion Energy Inc. Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II will become executive chair effective Oct. 1. Robert M. Blue, the Richmond-based Fortune 500 energy utility’s executive vice president and co-chief operating officer, will succeed Farrell as president and CEO, the company announced Friday.

Also on Friday, Dominion announced an unaudited net loss of $1.2 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared with a net gain of $54 million for the same period in 2019. The company cited worse-than-usual weather problems and costs associated with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Supply Header projects, as well as net gains on nuclear decommissioning trust funds in contributing to the quarterly numbers. On July 5, Dominion and Duke Energy announced they were abandoning plans to build the $8 billion, 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

As a result of the leadership change, Diane Leopold, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer, will become Dominion’s sole chief operating officer, responsible for all the company’s operating segments. Edward H. “Ed” Baine will become president of Dominion Energy Virginia.

Farrell, who joined Dominion in 1995, became president and CEO in 2006 and chairman in 2007. He will continue to serve on Dominion’s board of directors.

“One of my goals as CEO was to build a strong leadership team and a long-term succession plan,” said Farrell. “Today’s announcement is the next step in that process. There is no established time frame for my role as executive chair, and I look forward to continuing to serve the company on behalf of our shareholders, customers and communities. I will be particularly focused on continuing to develop our strategic plan and Dominion’s leadership in the new clean energy economy.”

Blue joined Dominion in 2005 and has served in several top leadership positions, including as president of Dominion Virginia Power. Before working for Dominion, he was a counselor and director of policy for Gov. Mark Warner. He started his career as an attorney and partner at Hogan & Hartson and as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia. He serves on the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, is a board member and past chair of the Virginia Healthcare Foundation and also serves on the board for Communities in Schools of Virginia. Blue is a graduate of the University of Virginia, Yale Law School and the U.Va. Darden School of Business.

Leopold joined Dominion in 1995 and currently serves as chair of the American Gas Association. She sits on the Virginia Union University Board of Trustees and is on the board of directors of Markel Corp. and of the GO Virginia Foundation. Leopold is a graduate of the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom and has a master’s degree in engineering from George Washington University. She earned her MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Baine, who in 2019 was named Dominion Energy Virginia’s senior vice president for power delivery, also joined Dominion in 1995. He started as as an associate engineer after earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. He also serves on the boards of the Southeastern Electric Exchange Board of Directors,  the Dominion Energy Credit Union, ChamberRVA, Venture Richmond, CJW Medical Center, the Valentine museum and MEGA Mentors.

 

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Rappahannock Electric Cooperative CEO to retire

Fredericksburg-based Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) announced Tuesday that president and CEO Kent D. Farmer, who has served since 2004, will retire Aug. 1. He has been with the company for a total of 41 years.

“It has been my honor and privilege to lead REC and to serve its membership for the past 16 years,” Farmer said in a statement. “Having served two decades in executive leadership, now it is time for me to allow the next generation of leaders to take the helm.”

John Hewa. Photo courtesy Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

John D. Hewa, REC’s vice president of corporate services and chief operating officer, will succeed Farmer as president and CEO. There has been a multiyear succession plan in place, Christopher G. Shipe, chairman of the REC board of directors, said in a statement. 

Hewa has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the electric utilities industry. He has previously served as CEO of electric cooperatives in Texas and Florida and as vice president of research, engineering and technical services at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington.

REC serves 22 Virginia counties and has more than 17,000 miles of power lines across the state. It has more than 170,000 customers.

 

 

 

 

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