INDUSTRY INSIGHT:
Energizing the Future: Our Electric Grid in Transition
“The electric grid in the U.S. is facing a convergence of powerful forces putting pressure on operators to make significant and unprecedented investments to modernize, expand, and ensure reliability. These investments are not short-term and will likely be required through at least 2040.”
As we move toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, the headwinds of four significant and evolving challenges have emerged:
1. The clean energy transition.
2. Significant load growth driven by greater electrification.
3. Aging infrastructure that must be upgraded or replaced.
4. System hardening in response to severe weather events.
Clean Energy Transition
The clean energy transition involves shifting from fossil fuels to sources that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These sources include renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower, as well as other cleaner options, including renewable natural gas (RNG), geothermal, hydrogen (H2), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS). As we gradually move toward cleaner energy sources, we not
only reduce GHG emissions but also foster technological innovation, create jobs, enhance energy independence, and improve public health. This transition to clean energy generation will require new transmission systems or system modifications and will encompass the interconnection and distribution of alternative energy sources.
In 2013, the Texas Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) project constructed 3,500 miles of high-voltage transmission lines connecting wind power areas to major population centers. More recently, a project in New York State known as Smart Path Connect has been building out the transmission system in the northern region of the state, enabling renewable energy development and transport to parts of the state with increasing loads.
D’Huy Engineering is now CHA NEWS
D’Huy Engineering has rebranded as CHA. Based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, D’Huy was acquired by CHA in February 2024 and has an impressive portfolio of projects from public schools and municipal buildings to water treatment facilities.
Read more here.
In addition to land-based wind and solar development, massive offshore wind generation is planned for the country through 2040 (39,000 MW). These facilities require significant offshore and onshore transmission system upgrades to connect to load centers.
Significant Load Growth
Electric load growth in the United States had slowed since the 1950s, but that’s changing very quickly. Some states are reeling from load growth of over 75% in as little as 5 years, and industry experts forecast the country’s electricity demand will grow 4.7% for at least the next 5 years. The industry hasn’t seen that rate of growth since the 1970s. Some regions are expected to have electric load growth of more than 30% in the next decade driven by a number of factors, including:
1. An increase in manufacturing and industrial activity, which will, in part, be bolstered by initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act advancing domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
2. The growing electrification of buildings in an effort to reduce GHG emissions.
3. The electrification of transportation through a transition to electric vehicles (EV). States with aggressive plans
for expansion of EV infrastructure will likely see corresponding increases in electricity demand.
4. The rapid expansion of data-center capacity driven by AI and the demand for increased cloud storage impacting many regions of the country.
The challenge today is ensuring the energy supply is available and deliverable to meet the load when it’s connected to the system. One can buy an electric car and plug it in much faster than the distribution can be upgraded to meet the demand to charge the car.
Aging Infrastructure
With significant high-voltage transmission facilities having been commissioned in the 1950s to 1970s, the average age of the high-voltage transmission system in the U.S. is approximately 40 years old, with more than 25% of the system being in service more than 50 years. To maintain the integrity of the electric grid, transmission replacements or upgrades are often needed for facilities that have been in service for 80 to 100 years. Transmission owners have comprehensive inspection and asset management programs to extend the service life of their facilities; however, replacements are eventually required for safe, reliable operations.
2024 Internship Program Wraps Up with Presentations and Awards NEWS
CHA welcomed 70 interns from 43 different colleges and universities to 25 offices this summer. These bright and curious students supported projects across our three sectors and corporate groups. To close out their experience, the interns traveled to CHA’s offices in Albany and Indianapolis to present a final project requiring research and recommendations to address a current industry challenge.
Albany President’s Award
Cost-Effective High-Performance Building Design
Indianapolis President’s Award
PFAS: The Forever Chemical
“With a growing dependence on reliable electric service, more than ever, electric customers, including high-demand businesses, expect high reliability but at a low cost.”
Severe Weather Events
The weather is a constant threat to our electric grid. More frequent and intense hurricanes and storm surges are causing severe damage to electrical infrastructure. As severe weather events become more frequent and sea level rise criteria change, utilities continue to enhance their design standards for reliable operations. Storm hardening is typically done concurrently with aging infrastructure replacement projects to be efficient and minimize capital needs.
Challenges and Opportunities
With a growing dependence on reliable electric service, more than ever, electric customers, including high-demand businesses, expect high reliability but at a low cost. Electric reliability has significantly improved over the past 20 years, while electric price increases have averaged less than inflation (2.36% average annual increase), driven primarily by the cost of energy. But today, the cost of energy delivery driven by transmission needs and new generation capacity is resulting in significant price increases for customers. Customers receive bills from utilities and don’t associate high costs with renewable energy transition programs and reliability improvements. This puts pressure on utilities to
aggressively control costs and increase transparency with their customers while providing reliable service.
These challenges create exciting opportunities for engineers and utility professionals tasked to design innovative and cost-efficient solutions. These teams are seeking improved asset management to optimize life cycle cost and improved grid design and operations using new technologies, including high-capacity lines with advanced material conductors.
The most successful utilities understand the significance of the challenges they’ll face over the next 15 years and are working diligently to cost-effectively enhance their electric grids with solution-focused technical experts and trusted partners such as CHA.
For more information, contact:
Charlie Freni, CHA’s Power Sector Strategy Leader: cfreni@chasolutions.com
Dwayne Basler, Market Segment Leader: dbasler@chasolutions.com
Frank Peverly, Market Segment Leader: fpeverly@chasolutions.com
CHA Opens New Office in Burlington, MA NEWS
CHA has opened a new office in Burlington, MA. This office, about one hour from downtown Boston on the “inner loop,” will be home to members of the transportation team in highway, bridge and traffic.
FROM THE CEO’S DESK…
As we enter the last quarter of 2024, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the many transformational projects our teams have collaborated on with our clients this year. Your trust in us is the cornerstone of our success, and we are genuinely grateful for the opportunity to work with you and create sustainable solutions that will exceed your expectations and improve our communities.
At CHA, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional value to our clients by presenting innovative and seamless bundled solutions tailored to the requirements of your projects. As your integrated solutions provider, we will marshal and coordinate all required resources and services, providing a comprehensive service that reduces the need to deal with multiple contractors. Our comprehensive solutions approach streamlines project operations and simplifies the complexity of managing and coordinating among multiple vendors.
We aim to be your single point of contact – the project manager who will harness all resources, simplify coordination and communication, drive efficiency and savings, and deliver a successful project outcome on schedule and on budget.
One current project that stands out as a shining example of our integrated approach and project management expertise on complex, multi-disciplined projects is our work on Tyndall Airforce Base just outside of Panama City, Florida. This mega design-build project is being executed as a joint venture between CHA and Dewberry in support of Lane Construction and involves coordination and execution by multiple CHA engineering teams, including roadway/bridge, water, wastewater, sewer, utility infrastructure, and grid resiliency. This very large and historic federal infrastructure project required us to provide an extraordinary complement of services to support the major reconstruction of the base after it was devastated by Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018. For this project, CHA will deliver over 8 miles of new and rehabilitated road networks and 5 new roundabouts to improve traffic flow along with lighted multi-modal corridors and trails for pedestrians. We will deliver new utility
infrastructure, including 7 miles of potable and fire water mains with a new pump station and water storage tank, 2.1 miles of sanitary sewer conveyance and force mains, 31 miles of new electrical distribution and switchyard, 17.3 miles of communications distribution, 4 miles of natural gas distribution, and 6.6 miles of stormwater drainage with 4 new master drainage stormwater ponds. Meeting and delivering on complex challenges like Tyndall Air Force Base with a diverse array of services and an approach that is seamless and collaborative with the client exemplifies CHA’s distinct ability to deliver integrated solutions, setting us apart as a true strategic partner.
We are excited about all projects, big and small, and taking on our clients’ challenges as our own. Finding a better way to deliver exceptional value is what motivates our teams every day. I encourage you to partner with CHA to experience our unique approach to delivering integrated bundled services, from planning and design to project management and final delivery, to meet your most challenging needs.
Jim Stephenson, President & CEO
FEATURED PROJECTS
CHA Hits 20,000 LinkedIn Followers NEWS
Are you connected with CHA on LinkedIn? More than 20,000 people are! This summer, our LinkedIn page surpassed 20,000 followers—an ambitious goal we aimed to achieve by the end of the year. If you’re not following us yet, now’s the perfect time to join our LinkedIn community.
AZEK Manufacturing Facility
Boise, Idaho
CHA provided design and construction management for AZEK’s manufacturing facility expansion project, which showcases sustainable industrial growth with the addition of several extrusion lines with advanced systems for materials handling and processing, emphasizing energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
Key sustainable features include high-efficiency cooling systems, state-of-the-art dust collection, collection of rainwater for reuse, and integrated recycling of construction waste and scrap materials. The integration of R&D and QC labs further supports AZEK’s commitment to sustainable product innovation.
Emerging Professional Firm NEWS
CHA has been selected as a 2024 New England American Institute of Architects (AIA) Components Emerging Professional Firm. This designation demonstrates the firm’s commitment to developing its emerging professional staff and supporting their career development. CHA accepted this honor from AIA Maine on October 18 in Portland, Maine.
Indianapolis Pogues Run Greenway Glowing Trail
Indianapolis, Indiana
In a first-of-its-kind application for Indiana, the Pogue’s Run Greenway has added glow-in-the-dark stone to the trail’s asphalt surface, a feature that pays double tribute to both the former road that this trail replaced, which at one time was paved in colored glass from a nearby glass factory, and the park’s historic “Feast of Lanterns” festival, in which neighbors gather annually to decorate the park with glowing hanging lanterns. As an added benefit, the glowing surface will help nighttime and early morning users stay safe on the path as it winds through an unlit section of Spades Park.
CHA collaborated with the City of Indianapolis to design the three-mile Pogue’s Run Greenway, beginning near the intersection of the existing Monon Trail and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail at East 10th Street downtown. Once complete, this new urban multi-use path will make connections to seven Near Eastside neighborhoods and three city parks. The project provides vital links called for in the Indianapolis Greenways Plan and will provide safe multi-modal access for thousands of residents to the nearby parks, the Monon Trail, and downtown Indianapolis.
The project includes reducing excess roadway width to accommodate the separated path, urban stormwater planters, new curbs and landscape buffers, restoration of a 1903 historic concrete arch bridge, design of a new steel pedestrian bridge, enhanced street crossings, and trail signage. CHA was instrumental in making this innovative trail a reality, including project management, trail and bridge design, public outreach and stakeholder coordination, permitting, and construction phase services.
Watch the trail come to life:
Innovative Technology Leader Joins CHA to Drive Digital Transformation NEWS
CHA has named Jeff Netland Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. Jeff brings deep expertise and leadership in driving organization growth through advanced technology applications and development.
Read more here.
University of Maine at Farmington, Sweatt-Winter
Childcare and Early Education Center
Farmington, Maine
The Sweatt-Winter Childcare and Early Education Center serves a dual purpose, providing nurturing daily care for infants through six-year-olds while also serving as a vital lab school for students in the university’s teacher education program. Despite the challenges posed by the existing structure, which served as a former call center, our design team employed biophilic design strategies to craft a cuttingedge facility that offers a range of scaled experiences. From age-specific early childhood classrooms and outdoor nature-based playgrounds to undergraduate/graduate student classrooms, every aspect of the center is designed to foster growth, learning, and creativity.
CHA conducted space planning and visioning exercises with nine different stakeholder groups, ranging from faculty and staff to students and parents, to ensure that all user group voices were heard and represented in the design process. These intensive information-gathering activities allowed our design team to engage with end-users from all perspectives to create a strong vision reflecting the values of the university’s early childhood program. After three years of stakeholder input, design, and construction, this vision was realized with the opening of the center in the fall of 2023.
Citation Award in the Renovation & Adaptive Reuse category from the Maine Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Brownfield Project of the Year NEWS
CHA’s brownfield work for the City of Chiloquin, Oregon, has been honored with the Oregon Brownfield Project of the Year Award. This honor was presented to our team at the Oregon Brownfield Conference.
Read more here.
HIGHLIGHT: 2023 Sustainability Report
Ambitious Goals & Key Accomplishments
CHA released its 2023 Sustainability Report documenting ambitious goals and significant achievements, including carbon reduction, impactful projects, meaningful community outreach, greener operations, a stronger highly-trained workforce, and high scores on an important industry sustainability ranking.
Standing out among the firm’s many successes in 2023 was the achievement of its carbon reduction goal – to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per employee 20% by 2025 (from its 2019 baseline) two years early.
CHA also scored high marks on the CDP Climate Change Score Report, an important industry sustainability indicator for corporations, placing CHA among the top 32% of companies in the Management level and providing evidence of its advanced environmental stewardship and actions across all sectors. Earning a B from CDP serves as a powerful affirmation that CHA is on the right path and is poised to achieve even greater sustainability milestones in the future.
View CHA’s 2023 Sustainability Report
Pedestrian Bridge Earns APWA Project of the Year
The Rogers Bridge at Chattahoochee River – Pedestrian Bridge project in Gwinnett County, GA, was awarded the 2024 Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association (APWA) Georgia Chapter for Structures $5M-$25M.
Read more here.
CHA Names New President for Commercial & Institutional Sector NEWS
Cynthia Joudrey, PE, has been named Executive Vice President and Sector President for Commercial and Institutional. In this role, she will spearhead the strategic direction and drive growth and performance goals across the sector’s business lines, including building design, land development, fire protection services, project management/ construction management, and sports facility design.
Read more here.
Real-World Applications of AI TECHNOLOGY
The news is filled with stories about Artificial Intelligence or AI – some good, some bad, and some just wrong. With all this buzz, it is important to understand the fundamentals of the technology and how it can be used to create efficiencies with some real-world applications. From our standpoint, AI technology is not going to replace jobs, but it instead will help us and our industry be more efficient, especially with the repetitive parts of the jobs. It will also help us iterate on different ideas faster, which in turn will free up highly skilled technical staff to use their creative skills and expertise to help us innovate and maximize the value we provide to our customers. AI is another tool in our toolbox and will never replace the human element essential to our work.
CHA has taken a careful and thoughtful approach to using AI, one that leverages the technology but protects our information from becoming part of the larger AI dataset. Providing basic information, with proper source checking, is one common use of AI technology, but let’s now turn to two real-world applications of AI at CHA.
One example is the use of Transcend Design Generator (TDG) software by our Water Resources group to enhance our workflows to deliver better water and wastewater treatment designs for our clients. Our team is using this AI technology to function as an assistant to aid in generating design options for projects based on initial
ENR Sourcebook Top 25 NEWS
CHA ranks among the top firms in the country across multiple markets and sectors according to the 2024 Engineering News-Record (ENR) Sourcebook. We scored Top 25 rankings in manufacturing, buildings, power, and water resources.
design calculations. TDG can be used to quickly develop preliminary design documents (drawings, specifications, calculations, costs, and reports) to tighten the schedule and need for manual analysis to develop design options, system sizes, planning layout, and preliminary level cost estimates. This data-driven, web-based tool allows us to input variable engineering calculations to produce design options, giving us more iterations to work from and sparking creative solution development. According to Water Resources Chief Engineer Aziz Ahmed, “CHA is at the forefront of technology in the smart water arena. TDG software helped us develop alternative design options for a large project pursuit and not only helped us win the project but also helped us be ready with a base layout and conceptual design before we secured the contract.”
Another example is the use of AI technology, specially, Microsoft Copilot, by our Marketing Team. Our team is experimenting with AI to find ways to help streamline our proposal writing process. We have found that by crafting and fine tuning insightful prompts and directing Copilot to our own curated files, we are able to identify useful information more efficiently. For example, AI can cull through years of project history and quickly find the right
information from previous projects and similar efforts. According to Proposal Manager Jessica Lockwood, “We are testing the use of this tool with some of our technical teams and getting great feedback. As we develop approaches to use the tool to build different sections of proposals, we are identifying ways for our team to be more efficient.” We are also beginning to use AI tools to assist with graphic generation, photo editing, and video creation.
AI will continue to advance and revolutionize our work and our lives. By understanding when and how to best use this technology, we can be more efficient and deliver even more value for our customers. As we continue this journey of discovery, which we’ll share with you, we know it will likely include enhanced automation, more customized solutions, and a strong focus on ethical considerations and transparency.
For more information, contact:
Jeff Netland, CHA’s Chief Digital Officer: jnetland@chasoutions.com
HEALTH & SAFETY
Lightning Hazards: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Seek Safe Shelter
There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms roll in. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm, so seek shelter immediately. Any thunder you hear is caused by lightning, so the only completely safe action is to get inside a safe building or vehicle. While working outside, watch the sky for thunderstorms and seek shelter before the weather deteriorates.
Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Lightning can occur between the cloud and the ground or within and between thunderstorm clouds. The average lightning bolt carries about 30,000 amps of charge, has 300 million volts of electric potential, and is about 50,000°F.
Be Ready for Thunderstorms:
• Know the weather patterns in your area and monitor weather conditions.
• Have an established shelter plan.
• Seek shelter in a building or vehicle.
• Remain in the shelter for 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.
• If you cannot seek shelter, avoid open fields, rooftops, scaffolding, utility poles and ladders, stay away from water, and stay away from trees and tall objects.
CHAngemakers NEWS
Our thought leaders continue to share insights and essential industry lessons through blogs, podcasts, and presentations. Be sure to follow CHA on social media for all our CHAngemaker content or check out these recent posts you may have missed:
ARTICLE/BLOG
Turning Brownfields into Community Assets
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ARTICLE/BLOG
Aspiration to Impact: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Utilities and Communities
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ARTICLE/BLOG
Asset Management in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Enhancing Reliability and Efficiency
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ARTICLE/BLOG
Birmingham Airport Cargo Facility: A Model for Regional Airports
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PODCAST
CHAtting with CHA - Aziz Ahmed, Leann Wishah & Brian Houston on the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
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ARTICLE/BLOG
Enhancing Substation SecurityPrioritizing and Implementing Best Practices
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PODCAST
The Latest Practices of Accelerated Bridge Construction
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ARTICLE/BLOG
Soften The Blow of Local Law 97
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