Hensel Phelps Puts Safety First During National Construction Safety Week

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

More than 500 people including construction craftsmen, trade partners, members of the Houston Airports executive staff, Hensel Phelps leadership, and the mayor of the City of Houston were on hand for the National Construction Safety week observance at the construction site of the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) area at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The $518 million renovation of the FIS area is part of the Houston Airports IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP).

The event was held by Hensel Phelps, the prime contractor for the FIS project, in conjunction with the City of Houston, to recognize the impressive construction safety efforts demonstrated by the 400 construction workers and trade partners actively working on the site.

“As mayor, I have been to many ribbon cuttings. But this is the first time I have been invited to come pay tribute and acknowledge those who have built those fine buildings or built those terminals or built those bridges. Human capital, men, and women, who work every day, are the ones who make the investment and allow all these other things to take place,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Congratulations on 512 days without a lost time accident!”

Mayor Turner connected with the construction workers by sharing his work safety experiences as an electrician’s assistant before attending college. Turner added that his job helped him pay for college.

Hensel Phelps President and CEO Mike Choutka said the number one priority should be to send all construction teammates home safely every single day.

The event included a tour of the ongoing Federal Inspection Services Area redevelopment jobsite, and recognition of the special team of workers who meet regularly to discuss ways to make work on the project a safer and more efficient process.

“These are milestones that mark our way to progress, success and completion,” said Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz as he noted the advancement of the project.

The event coincided with North American Occupational Safety and Health Administration “Safety Awareness Week” which began May 1, 2023. The observance is considered an important exercise for the entire U.S. construction industry sector. The construction workers were challenged to continue being vigilant and recommit to workplace safety by taking the safety pledge during the event.

Diaz said 40-million people came through the airport last year, and experienced some of what it is like to go through a large-scale complex construction project. He acknowledged for the travelling public and for workers, construction time at an airport is not an easy process to experience. But he said the completion of the project will help the airport fulfill its mission to connect the people, businesses, cultures, and economies of the world to Houston.

Source: Hensel Phelps

CENTERPOINT ENERGY CONTINUES SHIFT FROM COAL-FIRED GENERATION

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

CenterPoint Energy continues shift from coal-fired generation; renewables complemented with natural gas-fired generation forge ahead as generation portfolio

The IRP preferred portfolio was shared at CenterPoint Energy's fourth and final public stakeholder meeting, conducted as part of a year-long planning process involving extensive analysis and public input. The proposed plan is expected to save customers nearly $80 million in the aggregate compared to the continued use of coal while reducing carbon emissions from its electric generation fleet by more than 95% over the next 20 years. Currently, 85% of electricity generated for southwest Indiana customers comes from coal. By 2030, it is expected that more than 80% of CenterPoint Energy's electricity will be generated by solar and wind, with the remainder provided by natural gas.

"Our recommended mix of renewable and natural gas resources is expected to maintain the ability to turn on generating resources during times of greatest demand supporting reliability and continuing our strategy of providing cleaner electricity that meets customers' future energy needs," said Richard Leger, Senior Vice President, Indiana Electric.

CenterPoint Energy's IRP is conducted every three years and submitted to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). Based on an in-depth analysis of energy needs, public stakeholder input and many other factors which are updated and forecasted across the next 20 years, the IRP identifies a balanced plan that seeks to supply reliable and reasonably priced electricity to the utility's 150,000 customers in southwestern Indiana. The plan also is designed to comply with the new, more stringent capacity requirements set by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to meet peak energy demand across all four seasons. Modeling conducted within the IRP analysis points CenterPoint Energy toward the following goals:

• Converting F.B. Culley 3, the last coal unit operated by CenterPoint Energy, to natural gas by 2027, maintaining its 270 MW capacity

- Preserving the 270 MW of dispatchable generation is expected to maintain reliability during long duration summer and winter weather events

• Adding 200 MW of wind and 200 MW of solar by 2030, with the potential need for an additional 400 MW of wind resources by 2032

Leger said, "Customer and stakeholder engagement were heavily considered throughout this process. We appreciate the thoughtful insights which helped us arrive at our go-forward plan that will help meet the growing demands of our residential and business customers in the region and maintain our environmental responsibilities. We continue our goal to provide a responsible, resilient and reliable energy future, which requires fast-ramping resources like natural gas turbines to keep the power flowing when renewable generation is not sufficient."

The IURC previously granted approval for the construction of two natural gas combustion turbines, with capacity of 460 MW. CenterPoint Energy also has five previously announced solar projects in various stages of development. In addition, a wind generation project has been filed and is awaiting IURC approval. The completed IRP is expected to be submitted to the IURC by June 1. A director's report, detailing the IURC's comments, will likely be issued by the second quarter of 2024. For more information on CenterPoint Energy's preferred portfolio and the IRP process, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/IRP.

Leger added, "We are confident the proposed portfolio will meet the expectations of our customers and deliver on our goal to provide a cost-effective, well-balanced energy mix. These continued investments in our generation transition plan will allow customers to benefit in the near term and leaves room for flexibility as the future of electric generation continues to evolve."

Source: CenterPoint Energy

More than Bricks & Mortar

As one of the nation’s largest builders, Turner is dedicated to providing avenues of opportunity for Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses in Houston to achieve entrepreneurial success. Our commitment to social responsibility and fair play is not just on paper; it’s ingrained in our company culture. We are devoted to making contributions that not only strengthen the local economy, but also reflect the demographics of the community at large.

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