Report Details How Sustainable Energy Utility Would Benefit Ann Arbor, Mich.

October 29, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
October 29, 2021

A sustainable energy utility (SEU) for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich., is feasible and would yield a variety of benefits for the city, a new report concludes. While the SEU would be a publicly owned municipal utility, the report notes that the SEU would differ from a traditional municipal utility in that it would supplement the current investor-owned utility (IOU).  

City Has Aggressive Carbon Neutrality Goal

The City of Ann Arbor has adopted an aggressive goal of a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030, known as A2ZERO.

“Achieving this goal will require ambitious and transformative practices,” the report, “Ann Arbor’s Sustainable Energy Utility: A Publicly Owned, Locally Powered, Reliable, Clean, Fast and Equitable Power Model For Our Community,” said.

In the course of reviewing pathways to achieve A2ZERO, especially within the power sector, an idea emerged of creating a SEU, a non-profit, publicly owned, municipal utility that focuses on providing affordable, 100% renewable, reliable, and locally sourced power.

“A SEU is not your parents’ — or your grandparents’ — kind of utility. It is a model that uses modern energy technology to give residents reliable, truly local, clean, equitable, and nearly always cheaper energy — quickly,” the report, which was released by the City of Ann Arbor in October 2021, said.

The idea for an Ann Arbor SEU emerged after an Ann Arbor Energy Commission meeting in early spring of 2021. In that meeting, the Commission was presented with details about laws that constrain Ann Arbor’s utility options, different forms of community energy procurement, and what possibilities might exist to reach Ann Arbor’s goals given those restrictions. While neither speaker explicitly spoke about a SEU, the ideas presented in that meeting spurred research into the creation of a municipal utility built entirely on clean, local, distributed energy technologies.

Shortly after the Energy Commission meeting, staff in the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) reached out to two locations where SEUs are up and running: Delaware and the District of Columbia. “While these SEUs operate in areas with more flexible legal frameworks than Michigan, these conversations provided valuable information into how existing SEUs operate, their strengths, and opportunities for enhancement,” the report noted.

Following these conversations, OSI created a conceptual model of a Michigan-specific SEU and reached out to five experts in various areas of energy-related law, policy, and technology to gather their professional insights into the viability of the model. All conveyed excitement at the prospect of an Ann Arbor specific SEU, and a willingness to engage with the city to more fully explore the concept.

What Is An SEU?

A SEU is a publicly owned municipal utility. What’s different, however, is that a SEU does not own or utilize large-scale poles and wires.

“Instead, a SEU generates power through local renewable energy installations such as SEU installed solar/battery systems that provide power to your home or business, and microgrids or geothermal systems that allow you and your neighbors to share power generated in your neighborhood,” the report said.

“In addition to providing power from local renewable energy, the SEU could provide services such as more holistic energy waste reduction (efficiency) upgrades, support with beneficial electrification, and billing and payment options that DTE doesn’t offer (e.g. on-bill financing).” DTE is the IOU that currently serves Ann Arbor.

A SEU would supplement DTE, allowing residents and business owners more than one choice about where they get their energy. “This approach allows us to immediately reduce climate pollution by focusing on new, local, clean energy installations, improve our resilience during major grid events, improve the comfort, safety, and long-term value of our homes and businesses, help lower-income residents make their bills more affordable, and invest in our local economy,” the report said.

Because the city would not be procuring existing infrastructure from DTE, “we will be able to move much more quickly into action than would otherwise be possible — putting generation into place to advance our 2030 goal,” the report noted.

Services That A SEU Could Provide

Because a SEU is a municipally owned utility, it can offer many things not currently available to Ann Arbor residents, the report noted.

In designing a model SEU, staff envisioned it helping residents and businesses reduce energy usage, utilize renewable energy, electrify buildings and transportation systems, improve resilience, save money, and improve indoor comfort, health, and safety.

More specifically, staff envisioned a SEU that offered some or all of the things that residents have said they want:

• Improved resilience during power outages, by increasing residents’ access to solar and energy storage; 
• Microgrids between neighboring households, where solar and storage are shared;
• Robust energy waste reduction programs and rebates to support residents — even those who don’t own their dwellings — with improving indoor comfort, health, and safety, all while saving money;
• On-bill financing to help lower the costs and increase the flexibility of paying for a clean energy transition;
• District level geothermal systems so that neighbors can jointly tap into the earth to heat and cool their homes and businesses;
• Community solar programs that allow neighboring residents to benefit from solar installed at community centers, in parks, or in shared areas around the city;
• Support for beneficial electrification and associated training and rebate programs to help people transition to cleaner and safer all-electric homes and businesses; and
• Energy justice initiatives, including broad and deep access to renewable energy, the creation of programs for low-income and underserved residents, and the expansion of weatherization services.

“Regardless of where we begin, one thing is clear: a SEU must provide electricity,” the report said.

“Because of this, we propose starting the SEU immediately by providing four core services: 1) creating solar and storage systems to boost resilience at single locations; 2) piloting microgrids in target neighborhoods; 3) creating robust energy waste reduction offerings; and 4) setting up on-bill financing offerings.”

The report is available here.

APPA Offers Municipalization Resources

The American Public Power Association offers resources related to municipalization on its website. Click here for details on those resources.

Thirty-Eight Public Power Utilities, Organizations Earn Public Power Communications Awards

October 27, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
October 27, 2021

Thirty-eight public power electric utilities and utility organizations earned Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards from the American Public Power Association. The awards were presented at APPA’s Customer Connections Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.  

The annual awards recognize excellence in communications. The entries are judged in three categories: print/digital, web/social media, and video.

Awards were given to those that showed ingenuity and creativity in telling their stories through outstanding copy, design, financial data presentation, graphics, social media engagement, video editing, and web layout and interactivity.

This year’s awards were judged by Jeff Beddow, Independent Public Relations Consultant; Steve Mitnick, Executive Editor at Public Utilities Fortnightly; and Dianne Vance, Director of Business Development and Sales at the American Occupational Therapy Association. 

For a list of this year’s winners, click here.

NPPD’s Tom Kent, City of Marlow, Okla.’s Jason McPherson Elected To APPA Board

October 20, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
October 20, 2021

Tom Kent, President and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District, and Jason McPherson, City Administrator, City of Marlow, Okla., were recently elected to serve on the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Board of Directors.

Kent will fill the Region 3 Board seat, which covers the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, while McPherson will fill the Region 4 Board seat, which covers Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

“I am honored and humbled by this appointment and the opportunity to serve public power on the local, state and now national level,” McPherson said. “I look forward to this challenge and intend to work diligently to fulfill my role.”

Additional details on APPA board members are available here.

 

APPA Board of Directors Approves Business Plan

October 20, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
October 20, 2021

The American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Board of Directors last week approved a business plan for APPA.

The business plan is the result of a partnership between APPA and McKinley Advisors to create a comprehensive and forward-focused plan that aligns with and maximizes the association’s strategic and financial plans. The timeline for the plan is 2022 to 2026.

“This plan establishes a clear pathway driven by a set of guiding principles, specific priorities and a robust business framework that will take APPA from the successful association it is today toward the thriving association articulated in the organization’s vision statement: To shape the future of public power to drive a new era of community-owned electric service,” the plan’s executive summary notes.

McKinley Advisors worked with APPA staff and volunteer leaders throughout a nine-month process that included, among other things, creation of a business planning committee comprised of members that met several times and provided valuable feedback, qualitative interviews with additional members as well as APPA staff, Board of Directors working sessions, staff working sessions and analysis of recent membership surveys and third-party analyses of membership engagement performed previously.

The recommendations detailed in the plan reflect these various inputs as well as a broad understanding of past and emerging association best practices.

To inform the business planning project, McKinley engaged in a data-driven approach that included multiple research phases to inform the direction of the business plan.

The executive summary notes that APPA is operating from a position of strength with healthy reserves, strong member retention and a unique value proposition.

However, three primary drivers have accelerated the association’s need to establish sustainable revenue sources and reinforce the value of membership: the COVID-19 pandemic, aging and retiring membership and industry disruptors.

Recommendations

The business plan’s recommendations are categorized into three areas of focus designed to provide APPA a forward-focused road map to provide strong member and constituent value that aligns with the strategic plan and ensures a secure financial position for the organization.

In some cases, the recommendations are a continuation and expansion of existing work. In other cases, the recommendations move APPA in a new direction. All recommendations were based on data collected throughout the project and take into consideration association best practices.

Further details on the plan will be rolled out to members in the coming months and members can view the executive summary here.

Public Power Advocate William Gallagher Passes Away

October 18, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
October 18, 2021

William Gallagher, a longtime public power advocate, passed away on Oct. 15, 2021, at the age of 81.

“Bill was a tireless advocate for public power,” said Joy Ditto, President and CEO of the American Public Power Association (APPA). “There are so many things that Bill did during his decades in public power, including chairing the APPA Board of Directors, chairing the CEO Climate Change and Generation Policy Task Force for many years, and receiving the APPA Statesmanship Award,” she said.

Gallagher also served as General Manager of the Vermont Public Power Authority and as a consultant for the Transmission Access Policy Study Group.

“Bill brought the directness and forcefulness of a New Englander coupled with the warmth and collegiality of someone who understood and was imbued with the mission of public power,” Ditto went on to say.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Jude’s Hospital, the dearest to him of many children’s charities Bill gave to generously for decades.

A visitation will be held Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Serenity Funeral Home, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774, followed by a memorial service beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.serenityfuneralhomelargo.com for the Gallagher family.

Public Power Utilities Create Pathways For Next Generation Of Hispanic Leaders

October 13, 2021

by Tanya DiRivi
APPA News, and
Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
October 13, 2021

We began our coverage honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month – commemorated September 15 to October 15 – by profiling some of public power’s Hispanic heritage leaders at the chief executive and governing body leadership levels. In it they discussed the importance of sharing public power’s story and actively working to recruit and help develop future leaders. These are some success stories.  

Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities – Los Alamos, New Mexico

Every public power utility has a unique story to share. Some happen to be more famous than others.

Los Alamos County may be immediately recognized as the place where the atomic bomb was created. It has been a beacon for PhD’s to work on pioneering technologies at the Los Alamos National Laboratory since the beginning of World War II’s “Manhattan Project.”

Attracting and retaining talent at the local utility can be especially challenging given that competition. It means that actively recruiting and developing home grown talent – both in skilled trades and professional positions – is especially important. Getting prospective employees in the public power pipeline early and then mentoring them throughout the training and development process is critical for small towns and cities like Los Alamos. Whether through summer college internships or branching out to surrounding high schools, participants usually leave impressed with what happens behind the scenes.

Steve Cummins, a New Mexico native, worked on the F-14 Tomcat Navy fighter jets before attending junior college to become an engineer. He had a lot of catching up to do. “It took me three years of junior college to catch up to the kids coming out of high school and going into engineering,” he recalled. With encouragement from his Navy mentors, he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico. Cummins ran his own painting business to pay for college and had no job prospects upon graduation. Until one of the property owners at an engineering company building he was painting told him he needed an engineer. These private industry leaders introduced him to Los Alamos County to lead the master planning efforts for the County’s domestic water system. These same leaders advised him to get private sector experience first. “They said, ‘The public sector needs good people.’ After seven years in consulting, I was working for the county utility,” Cummins said.

The utility’s job description had initially discouraged him from applying. Los Alamos seemingly wanted someone with 30 years of utility experience. Now Cummins is the deputy utility manager of power production and manages an electric coordination agreement with the Department of Energy for the Los Alamos National Laboratory, representing 80% of the utility’s load. He rose through the ranks not because of his engineering skills, but because he had good people skills – and opportunities for advancement. “At a small utility, we’re all working managers wearing multiple hats from managing power plants to implementing cybersecurity standards and operating transmission and distribution systems with real-time operators performing merchant services,” he said.

Cummins recalls, just 10 years ago, that he was seeking counsel from industry experts with 30 years of electric utility experience. “I didn’t have a mentor when I got into power. It was sink or swim,” he said. After two years of leaning on a PNM mentor, “he told me I’d be fine. He said, ‘I can’t teach you anymore. This industry is changing so fast that most of my knowledge doesn’t even apply anymore.’” Indeed, one of the most unique attributes at Los Alamos is the national lab. It employs over 13,000 people – and one quarter of them are PhD’s. “These are our customers and local leaders – so you have to be on your toes,” he said.
In recent years Los Alamos has increased recruitment efforts at local universities to find employees. They also must compete with big companies and large utilities (like PNM or SRP) that will pay more for engineers out of college. It means looking locally for teachable talent too. “We were looking for an electrical engineer for quite a while and found an ex-military guy with a geophysics degree who had a great personality,” Cummins said.

Another thing they look for is employees who call New Mexico home. “We were impressed with his experience and we talked up the opportunities with Los Alamos County. Now he’s working with us and studying for an electrical engineering degree. Hopefully we can keep him on our team.” Cummins also said that Los Alamos County benefits by being a close family, giving opportunities throughout the four-utility operation for advancement.

The recruitment challenge is compounded under municipal salary constraints in an area that lacks robust nightlife for a younger generation. But ultimately what brings people back is home. Once they find talent, “we find ourselves big on promoting from within. One of the biggest challenges is that there are a lot of prospective employees that don’t have a college education – and many of our jobs require that piece of paper. It’s a big hurdle. We have a tuition assistance program, but that’s still a big effort for the employee.” Cummins is working to help address that administrative challenge, of requiring a college degree, for the purpose of increasing the salary range to compete in the industry, so employees being recruited and trained today can have the opportunity to be tomorrow’s leaders.

At the mid-career level – and an emerging leader at Los Alamos – is Jordan Garcia, a power system supervisor with a finance degree. He had moved to Los Alamos to work for the national lab, where, while pursuing his MBA, met a senior utility leader in the same program. He was later contacted about an opening and has benefited from mentorship ever since. His passion for finance was a natural fit for power marketing. “Ultimately, it’s like being on Wall Street without actually being on Wall Street,” he said. Numerous functions have been consolidated under his oversight since being promoted into the position.

“I like to think that public power chose me,” he said. “There’s something for everyone – college educated or not. Some of the highest paid occupations, without a college degree, are right here,” he added, referring to work in generation, operations, transmission, substations and maintenance. He enjoys working for public power because he can see tangible results every day that affects people’s daily lives.

He credited Cummins for creating an environment that empowers employees to make decisions. “Steve is very level-headed and diplomatic,” Garcia said. “It’s really satisfying to be a part of that value.”

Garcia said that smaller public power systems have a lot to offer prospective employees, but more needs to be done to educate the community about job opportunities and how the electric lines above them turn the lights on. “We’re blessed and cursed at the same time” he said, referring to all the behind-the-scenes work to keep the system running while working on new technologies and customer programs. “I try to talk to anybody I can about my job, because people just don’t know about us,” he added.

Garcia has observed that public power is very humble, even in the face of criticism. “I’ve learned that it’s about the collective; we need to know what we don’t know and ask for help,” he said. That includes with the local community, by introducing high schoolers to what their local government does.

He said public power needs to do a better of job of telling the story, including in underrepresented areas. “We’re going to need a huge influx of skilled trades people and there’s something for everyone,” he said.

Isaac Montoya took a different path to public power. He grew up nearby and went to trade school after high school. His first job with Los Alamos County was in the parks department before applying to be a meter reader. A year later he applied to be a power system operator, believing it would be a reliable industry to get into. “Everyone needs power and water, plus the pay caught my attention – and no college experience was required,” he said. He has been with the utility for over 12 years.

“I know a little bit of everything now. When I first started, I didn’t know anything about generation or transmission,” he said. He credited Cummins for helping him better understand the industry. “Steve gave me a chance and I’m still learning every day. I find it all interesting,” Montoya added.

He said the utility industry needs to show prospective and newer employees that there is room for growth. “You need to put the word out there,” especially for a younger generation that wants hands on work. He credited Jordan Garcia for working with him to be promoted within the utility. In the future he would like to manage a bigger generation portfolio; until then he said he’ll keep gaining more knowledge.

Cummins stressed the importance of continuing the discussion with human resource departments about offering competitive wages, aggressively recruiting locally, and promoting from within. “We have lots of people retiring and that’s kind of scary,” he said. Part of the challenge will be revising traditional job descriptions, including modifying some of the educational requirements. He noted, for example, that “my job required a P.E. But we recently changed that. I want Jordan and others to have this opportunity because when you get to my level, I don’t think you need to be an engineer. That P.E. requirement would have precluded Jordan from being able to move up, which would have been crazy because he has such a passion for this job and he has more than the applicable skill set to be successful.”

Orlando Utilities Commission-Orlando, Florida

Representing the community OUC serves has long been woven into the fabric of the public power utility’s being and in its workforce.

OUC is committed to creating a work environment where everyone feels welcomed, supported and heard, which is why diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a major component of its Connected 2025 Strategic Plan.

Last summer, Clint Bullock, OUC General Manager and CEO, held listening sessions where he heard from employees across the Commission about their experiences and accepted recommendations to enhance DE&I at OUC. The sessions brought many opportunities to light and as a result, the utility expanded its efforts to ensure equity was included in all that the utility does.

OUC also looked at its Code of Conduct and set forth on creating a DE&I roadmap that outlines its plans moving forward. OUC quickly realized that employee engagement plays a huge role in the utility’s success. So, a search has been launched for a Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Employee Engagement, which OUC hopes to have in place very soon.

Utility-wide, OUC strives to create a safe and productive work environment that embraces its employees’ personal and cultural identities. OUC believes that forging a community that bridges cultures, builds lasting friendships and promotes inclusiveness is more than just good business, it’s also the right thing to do.

Sheila Rivera has worked at OUC for 23 years and has held several positions during her tenure.

“I’m proud to say that I started my journey in the Customer Service Department, which acted as a foundation for all subsequent roles. After 12 years in the role, I transitioned to Conservation and Sustainability, in the role of Conservation Analyst,” she said.

Rivera remained in this role for three years until she was promoted to Conservation Coordinator. She served as a Conservation Coordinator for five years.

She is currently a Senior Business Process Analyst at OUC. As Senior Business Process Analyst, some of her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, performing analyses of processes, policies, and procedures in order to identify gaps and make recommendations for changes, serve as the operational subject matter expert resource for the Customer Care & Billing (CC&B) application, develop business requirements for test cases and user acceptance testing plans for system upgrades.

While she has not formally had a mentor at OUC, Rivera notes that she has been “very fortunate to work alongside many people who have provided guidance, motivation, and inspiration to continue to reach my full potential. I’ve been blessed to work with leaders who believed in and supported my professional development.”

She has had the opportunity to mentor employees while working as a customer service analyst. “I found that the experience helped develop my leadership skills and cultivated a sense of satisfaction from knowing that I’ve helped others expand on their knowledge and skills,” Rivera said.

While attending the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Juan Diaz was part of an Honors Society called SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers). During one of the meetings, OUC had a representative (Orlando Alancastro) who attended the session to discuss opportunities within the company.

Soon after, Diaz applied at OUC and was working as a summer intern within the Operations Department in 2003. Later that year, an opportunity opened up to apply for a position as an Electrical Engineer within the Distribution Engineering Department and he was hired.

Diaz worked as an Electrical Engineer for 14 years and was promoted to Manager of Electric Distribution in 2017.  In 2020, he was promoted to Director of Distribution Engineering, and he is now responsible for the delivery of quality electric and water distribution engineering services to OUC customers, including lighting engineering and construction services under the OUConvenient and OUConventional Lighting programs.

Diaz, who is OUC’s Director of Distribution Engineering, has had several mentors at OUC as he has continued his career. “I would say John Buchheit, Orlando Alancastro and LeMoyne Adams have been advocates contributing to my success at OUC.”

While there is not a specific person Diaz has mentored, he noted that he has trained various personnel within his department. “I hope that my training and leadership has provided guidance to some of our employees within the Distribution Engineering Department,” he said.

During her senior year of at UCF, professors stressed to Victoria Simanca the importance of internships. “I interviewed for multiple internship programs and decided to join OUC as a Water Engineering Intern,” she said. “Nearing graduation, I received a job offer from OUC, which I happily accepted given the great experience I had as an intern. My current responsibilities involve plan review for residential and commercial water connections for conformance with OUC standards for water construction.”

Simanca said that her supervisor, Charles DiGerlando, “and my coworkers have been a critical part of my career at OUC. I consider them my mentors because they helped me grow into the engineer I am today and continue to guide me along the way. I know I can count on them whenever I need help.”

She added, “Even though I don’t consider myself a mentor due to my short career, I know we have a great community at OUC where we all learn from each other.”

Even though Clara Lenis, Senior Marketing and Communications Coordinator at OUC, has been at OUC for a short time, “it has been extensively rewarding because of the team that I work with,” she said.

“I started recently, and it has been a constant learning experience. Coming from the media industry to OUC has helped me see the communications world differently, from how to write the correct message to what is going to be taken away by our customers, basically how they perceive OUC through our messaging.”

Her responsibilities at OUC vary from copywriting to creating key messages for Hispanic customers. “I’m in charge of developing and facilitating internal and external communications projects for our Marketing and New Products business unit.”

OUC is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting different employees’ stories, backgrounds and cultures and how they have contributed to OUC’s success.  “We also are sharing with our internal and external audiences facts about this important celebration that takes place for an entire month to honor contributions that Hispanics have made not only at OUC but to the United States,” she said.

The importance Of Diversity And Equity

Diversity and equity “are extremely important to me given my Hispanic heritage, which is why I feel so conformable at OUC. OUC provides a fair and level playing field for all. By creating an environment of equity, it should help to promote diversity,” said Simanca. “The diversity at OUC brings different ideas, cultures, and experiences to help create unique perspectives and problem-solving advantages within the workplace.”

Rivera said that “being both Hispanic and a woman, diversity and equity in the workplace are extremely important. Working in an environment that creates fair access, opportunity, and advancement for all has fostered a sense of pride and commitment towards my organization.”

Diaz said that diversity and equity “are important within any workplace to help retain employees by making them feel supported and valued. In addition, they encourage broader perspectives, provide opportunities and yield innovation, which aligns with our strategic initiatives.”

DE&I Initiatives

OUC supports numerous DE&I initiatives within its community and the utility. OUC’s commitment to the community not only means taking an interest in seeing the community succeed, but also actively working toward making it a better place to live.

Below are specific initiatives of OUC’s direct involvement in DE&I efforts:

OUC’s Empowerment Zone

As part of a long-term commitment to revitalizing low-income neighborhoods in the 32805 ZIP code, OUC launched a new employee task force in March 2020. With a focus on “sweat equity” and local involvement — as well as donations and nonprofit partnerships — the task force works to provide education, sustainable housing, career opportunities and more to help families and communities succeed.

City of Orlando’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Initiatives

For more than a decade, OUC has been an active sponsor and participant in the City of Orlando’s MLK Commission. With the goal to promote the celebration of Dr. King’s legacy of equality, justice, freedom, peace and harmony for all races and cultures in Greater Orlando, OUC employees have participated in the Pappy Kennedy Breakfast, parade, youth humanitarian awards and leadership forums. Corey Johnson, Supervisor of Meter Operations, has been a long-term committee member, as well, representing OUC.

Mayor Demings’ MLK Initiative

OUC supports the recently developed Orange County MLK initiative to recognize Dr. King’s legacy through programs that promote unity, diversity and connectivity, as well as provide awareness while engaging cultural differences to breed a sense of growth and cohesiveness. The utility notes that honoring Dr. King’s contribution to humanity as a community is a true reflection of the county’s mission and vision to be diverse.

onePULSE Foundation

Since its inception, OUC has supported the onePULSE Foundation to help create a sanctuary of hope in the community following the tragic day in American history five years ago, Sunday, June 12, 2016, to honor the 49 lives that were taken, the 68 others who were injured and the countless first responders and healthcare professionals who treated them. Each year OUC participates in the organization’s CommUNITY Rainbow Run and recently dedicated more than 300 volunteer hours to revitalizing the onePULSE Foundation facility’s grounds.

OUC’s 2021 OUCares Workplace Giving Campaign

United for Change focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the community. OUC joined the Heart of Florida United Way and its partner agencies to address topics like education, housing, socioeconomic status, job opportunities and compensation, all while promoting inclusivity. In 2021, OUC employees raised more than $215,000 to support these efforts.

Women in Energy

Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum was launched to inform, inspire, and motivate by recognizing the success of women leaders in the energy industry. OUC has been involved for five years and OUC’s female leaders — including Linda Ferrone, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, and Jenise Osani, Vice President of Marketing and New Product — have spoken on best practices in the industry.

Chambers of Commerce

In addition, OUC is a trustee and/or corporate sponsor for the following chambers of commerce in Central Florida:

• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
• Asian American Chamber of Commerce
• African American Chamber of Commerce
• Central Florida Disability Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce
• Indian American Chamber of Commerce

Career Pathway Opportunities

Some of the career pathway opportunities OUC offers and continues to enhance include:

• Emerging Student Program: Working with university-related student organizations such as Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM), Zebra Coalition, National Association of Black Accountants, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, along with multicultural and first-generation networking events, OUC offers a diverse student population the opportunity to gain internship experience and exposure within the utility.
   
• OUC/Valencia Electrical Powerline Technician program: Community members residing in OUC’s service territory are eligible to apply for the powerline technician program. If selected, the participant receives sponsorship to the program at no cost.

• Diversity and Veteran Outreach: OUC works with diversity- and veteran-related organizations for hiring initiatives including CareerSource, various Chambers of Commerce including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, and veteran organizations.

Beyond utility careers, OUC also offers vocational training partnerships, including:

Vocational Training Partnership: In May 2021, OUC launched the Vocational Training Partnership, a four-month, 420-hour pre-apprenticeship training program targeting residents in OUC’s Empowerment 4 the Future Zone. OUC contributed $35,000 to fund jobs training for up to 15 students interested in careers in either carpentry, plumbing, electrical or maintenance. The median salary for these trades is $50,000 a year. OUC’s funds covered tuition, the instructor’s salary, lab supplies, facility rental and participants’ stipends. 

Future Career Options

OUC also works closely with local groups and schools to help educate students on future career options. OUC employees often are requested to share their career journey and experiences.

Association of Latino Professional for America (ALPFA) Student Organization, University of Central Florida: OUC’s Human Resources’ Talent Acquisition team participate in many ALPFA events including a virtual program on effective negotiations, mock interviews and resume reviews;

After-School All-Stars: OUC employees work with the After-School All-Stars, a group devoted to helping students excel in school and life and prepare for today’s workplace by focusing on conservation and utility industry careers;

Youth Energy Academy: Sponsored by the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, this program provides opportunities for African-American middle and high school students to explore careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. While past events have included on-site visits to OUC locations, because of COVID, the event was virtual in 2020 and 2021, with local youth groups connecting via Zoom to career and conservation sessions taught by OUC professionals.

DOE Offers Up To $16 Million To Assist Communities With Development Of Energy Plans

September 28, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 28, 2021

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Sept. 15 launched a pilot program that will provide supportive services valued at up to $16 million to help communities develop locally driven energy plans.

The Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP) program is available to assist to up to 36 low-income communities and energy-burdened communities “that are either experiencing environmental justice concerns or direct economic impacts from the shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels,” DOE said.

Communities participating in Communities LEAP will develop an initial roadmap for identifying clean energy economic development pathways or accelerate progress toward existing plans for clean energy development projects.

Communities LEAP participants will receive support jointly offered by five DOE offices to pursue local energy action plans that focus on one or more of the following opportunities:

Creating Pathways For Large-Scale Clean Energy Project Planning And Infrastructure

Action plans can include design implementation and/or investment strategies for renewable energy projects that meet local environmental, economic, or community priorities and, where possible, quantifies benefits to community (e.g., energy bill savings, reduce pollution, improve energy access, revenue streams).

Among other activities, DOE anticipates providing selected communities with an analysis of clean energy planning and development opportunities based on current infrastructure, workforce availability, energy resource potential, utility regulatory structure. Projects could include technologies such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, hybrid power plants, energy storage, energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and EV charging stations.

Evaluating The Ability To Use Microgrids To Increase Community Resilience

DOE will provide community partners with analysis and assistance to determine how they can install backup power under grid emergencies to ensure local critical facilities can maintain services for public health and safety and to keep a steady power supply available for local industries, businesses, and economic development zones.

Creating Job Opportunities In Fossil Fuel Communities Or Those Home To Heavy Industries

Action plans can evaluate Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) opportunities or develop a plan for energy site reclamation, critical mineral extraction, and/or create an environmental reclamation workforce program to train new or displaced workers that will assist in remediating environmental hazards from coal extraction and/or use.

Planning For Clean Transportation Investments

DOE’s partners will work with community stakeholders to assess the local transportation system, identify community transportation needs, and determine plan objectives (e.g., decarbonization, air quality improvement, community access to transportation, workforce development, increase electric vehicle charging availability, assess grid capacity for transportation electrification).

Improving Building Energy Efficiency

DOE’s technical assistance providers will work with community stakeholders to assess the current building stock and power supply, identify building-related load management needs and opportunities for energy and cost savings, and determine additional community priorities such as reducing energy bills for residents and businesses, increasing building and community resilience and sustainability, improving the health of indoor environments, and developing new workforce opportunities.

Enhancing Investments In The Clean Energy Supply Chain

Selected communities can receive assistance to engage with existing local manufacturing facilities on energy performance to lower emissions and reduce waste; identify how local strengths – such as natural resources or existing manufacturing infrastructure or capabilities – could play a role in manufacturing new clean energy technologies. 

DOE is accepting comments until October 12 on the content of the opportunity announcement through emails addressed to: CommunitiesLEAPInfo@hq.doe.gov.

Applications are due December 17 and selections are expected to be announced in March 2022.

Additional information is available here.

Village of Pioneer, Ohio, Administrator Al Fiser Receives AMP Award

September 25, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 25, 2021

Al Fiser, village administrator for the Village of Pioneer, Ohio, is the 2021 recipient of the American Municipal Power (AMP) Seven Hats Award.

The AMP Seven Hats Award, which is modeled after the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) national Seven Hats Award, was initiated in 1984 to recognize utility managers who serve smaller communities of less than 2,500 meters, and whose management duties extend well beyond the scope of a manager in a larger system.

Award winners show skill in seven areas: planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, personnel or employee direction, and community leadership.

The award was presented to Fiser during the 2021 AMP Annual Conference, which took place Sept. 20–22 in Columbus, Ohio. Awards were also given to individuals and communities in the categories of electric system sustainability, innovation, public power promotion, safety and system improvement.

The Village of Pioneer is a small community located in northern Williams County, Ohio. Fiser has served the Village of Pioneer for 12 years.

With a small team of eight, Fiser led the completion of more than $18 million in infrastructure projects, including storm drainage, water treatment, power distribution and transmission projects, and more, all while he represented the village on the local economic board, school board and park board.

In nominating Fiser, Pioneer Mayor Ed Kidston noted that he is known for rolling up his sleeves on behalf of his employees and the village.

Click here for a video about the AMP Seven Hats Award and Fiser’s accomplishments.

APPA Seven Hats Recipients Featured on Public Power Now Podcast

Four APPA 2021 Seven Hats Award recipients have been guests on APPA’s Public Power Now podcast in recent months: Robert LaFave, Village Manager, Village of L’Anse Electric Utility, L’Anse, Michigan, Joe Price, Village Administrator, Grafton Village Power & Light, Grafton, Ohio, Faith Willoughby, Town Manager, Town of Chalmers, Indiana, and Jamie Lindstrom, Superintendent, Town of Argos, Indiana.

Click here to access the podcast episodes.

AMP Conference Celebrated Value of Public Power, Addressed Industry Trends

The 2021 AMP Annual Conference provided attendees (in-person and virtually) with a full schedule of sessions led by industry experts and leaders and celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary. 

Following AMP President and CEO Jolene Thompson’s opening remarks, participants welcomed APPA President and CEO Joy Ditto, Transmission Access Policy Study Group Executive Director Terry Huval and Large Public Power Council President John Di Stasio for a panel discussion about the value of public power and the key issues impacting the industry.

On day two, conference participants heard from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioner Allison Clements, PJM Interconnection President and CEO Manu Asthana, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator CEO John Bear for a panel discussion on the current power industry challenges and projections of the future, as well as the federal perspective on regional transmission organizations and markets.

The conference covered timely topics and trends in the power industry, including updates on power markets, a session on workforce development, a panel discussion about electric vehicles, and a discussion about “What Customers Really Want.”

In addition to the many sessions and events, AMP held its General Membership Meeting on Sept. 21.

During the AMP General Membership Meeting, elections were held for four expiring at-large AMP Board of Trustees seats. The AMP member communities of Bryan, Montpelier, Oberlin and Orrville were re-elected to three-year terms.

Following the General Membership Meeting, the AMP Board of Trustees met to elect officers for the coming year. The following individuals were re-elected to leadership positions: Chair – Jeff Brediger, City of Orrville, Ohio; Vice Chair – Robert Patrick, City of Wadsworth, Ohio; Secretary – Dave Carroll, City of Paducah, Ky.; Treasurer – Chris Monacelli, City of Westerville, Ohio.

APPA Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 14, 2021

by APPA News
September 14, 2021

To honor National Hispanic Heritage Month – commemorated September 15 to October 15 – the American Public Power Association’s Public Power Current is proudly spotlighting our Hispanic heritage colleagues across the United States and our U.S. territories. Observance began in 1968 as “Hispanic Heritage Week” and was later expanded by federal law to cover a 30-day period beginning on September 15. That date marks the independence anniversary for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

We begin our coverage by profiling some of public power’s Hispanic heritage leaders at the chief executive and governing body leadership levels. We hope you enjoy getting to know them better as much as we are honored to help celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of our fellow colleagues whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.  

Our second feature article, to follow in early October, will detail how mentorship programs have helped to develop and promote Hispanic heritage employees at public power utilities.

Imperial Irrigation District (IID) – Imperial, California

Henry Martinez serves as IID’s chief executive, managing one of the nation’s largest irrigation districts and California’s third largest public power provider. He has over 45 years of utility sector experience with increasing responsibility involving administration, technical, and field organization positions. His tenure includes nearly 25 years with Southern California Edison, 10 years with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and seven years with the Tennessee Valley Authority. An engineer by training, he also pursued graduate-level executive training at Pepperdine University and at the University of Virginia.

Having worked for both investor-owned and public power utilities, Martinez appreciates how not-for-profit utilities work to safely provide reliable, low-cost electricity and high-quality customer service. “It also means you get a utility that cares about the overall well-being and growth of your community by providing a transparent and committed public provider to the communities it serves,” he said.

The community-owned utility also strives to reflect the population it serves. IID serves Riverside and Imperial counties, the latter of which shares a border with Mexico and where Hispanics comprise 84% of the population.

Amongst the members of IID’s governing board is Division 5 Director Norma Sierra Galindo. A homegrown talent, she has served as both the board’s president and vice president during her nearly decade-long tenure and, before that, was appointed to IID’s Energy Consumers Advisory Committee, serving for eight years.

 

Martinez is the first of our Hispanic heritage leaders to offer advice on recruiting and mentoring more Hispanic workers to join and eventually lead public power utilities. “Expanding the opportunities for high-potential talent to network and develop leadership and managerial skills for personal growth” is important within IID, he said.

“Give them the tools and skills needed to accelerate their development into the executive ranks, bring them a step closer into leadership roles, and promote the value of a bicultural influence,” he added. Martinez said that providing scholarships to local Hispanic students who want a career in public power can help show them how to become an influential Hispanic leader within the organization. “Also, joining a STEM advisory board at a local college or university to provide curriculum input and work with students to develop career options following graduation,” he advised.

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Efran Paredes Maisonet, P.E., serves as Executive Director of PREPA. He joined PREPA in February 2000 as General Engineer Supervisor in the Planning and Research Division, under which he was responsible for overseeing the planning and research for PREPA’s Transmission System Division.

In 2009, he was appointed under the administration of former Governor Luis Fortuño as Deputy Advisor to the Governor in the Energy and Environment Sectors. In 2013, Paredes returned to PREPA in his former position as General Engineer Supervisor of Planning and Research Division.  In 2015, he was promoted to Director of the Planning and Research Division, where he oversaw the main areas, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewables, Engineering Systems, Rates and Forecasts, of the power system from a planning standpoint.

In August 2020, PREPA’s Governing Board selected him as the Interim Executive Director for PREPA and in November 2020 he was appointed as Executive Director. He also serves as a Member of the Board of PREPA Net, a division of PREPA that offers a full range of information technology services. 

Paredes said that being part of the public power sector “represents a balance between two sides of a coin. On one side, you have the opportunity to be part of the technological development that will allow energy to reach every home and serve people in practically every aspect of their lives. You provide security to their homes, contribute to economic development in all sectors, such as tourism, entertainment, manufacturing industries, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, trade, in other words, energy is crucial to provide stability and development.”

On the other side, “you have the responsibility to evolve, to transform the energy sector, to adapt it to the current times, facing the future, looking for new sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and efficient alternatives to ensure the energy supply,” he said.

“I have worked for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority for the past 20 years, and exactly a year ago I became Executive Director of this public corporation and I am proud to be part of Puerto Rico’s history and to contribute positively to the transformation and evolution of the energy system.”

When asked if he has any advice for recruiting and mentoring more Hispanic workers to join the public power ranks, Paredes said that being a mentor is having the role as a trusted advisor. He noted that PREPA currently employs over 1,300 Hispanic workers, working in different areas from generation, dams, irrigation and administration.

“During the past 20 years at PREPA I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from various people with whom I have had the opportunity of working with, and in the same way shared my knowledge and experiences,” he said.

“While I was working as a university lecturer my goal was to support and motivate my students to learn more about the public power systems,” Paredes noted. He was eager for them to “desire in contributing their knowledge to the energy transformation of our island, a way of them giving back but mainly helping the Power Authority’s transformation.”

He said that every day “without a doubt is a challenge, every day we learn something new, every day is an opportunity to become part of the present and the future of the main source of energy for Puerto Rico.”

Paredes studied at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. In May 1999, he graduated from University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, earning his second degree fr0m his Alma Mater, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. His master’s thesis research was on the Determination of Required Rapid Response Spinning Reserve to avoid under Frequency Load Shedding under Generation Deficiency Conditions in Puerto Rico’s Electric Power System. After completing his engineering degree, he passed the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, becoming a Licensed Electric Engineer.

New York Power Authority (NYPA) – White Plains, New York

Bethaida “Bea” Gonzalez serves as one of seven gubernatorial appointees to NYPA’s Board of Trustees. Born in Puerto Rico, she is a longtime Syracuse resident and a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Gonzalez has over 40 years of experience in higher education with a distinguished record of public service. She has been appointed to high-level positions at Syracuse University and has been elected to public office three times.

In 1991, she was the first Latina to be elected to the board of education in the City of Syracuse and, in 2001, was the first Latina elected as president of the city’s Common Council. In 2017, she received the University Professional Continuing Education Association’s Julius M. Nolte Award for Extraordinary Leadership. Last year, the Allyn Foundation – in partnership with Syracuse University, the COVID-19 Relief Fund, the Gifford Foundation, Reisman Foundation and the United Way – developed the “Bea Gonzalez Summer Scholars” program that serves over 800 youth.

She was drawn to public power as it represents a “common good” community asset to be leveraged. “Public power can be an economic catalyst – a leader in the shift from fossil fuels, and a leader in addressing issues of access, equity and inclusion by its actions and decisions,” she said. More can be done to bring awareness about opportunities at public power utilities for young, underrepresented people. She suggested “building partnerships with school districts, working with educational opportunity programs at our institutions of higher education, youth development work with community- and faith-based organizations, and hosting events and programs for students to learn more about the many career opportunities within public power” as examples. 

Her work ethic and a sense of responsibility to doing a good job are rooted in her Hispanic heritage. “These values were modeled for me by multiple generations of my family,” she said. “I stand on the shoulders of some amazing Latina women (and men) and have a responsibility to pay it forward. As a first-generation high school graduate, college graduate, elected official and many other firsts, it is imperative that I insure there be a second and third. I cannot be the first and the last.”

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) – Omaha, Nebraska

Javier Fernandez joined OPPD as vice president and chief financial officer in 2017 before being selected by the Board of Directors to serve as president and chief executive officer in July 2021. We appreciate the opportunity to have recently interviewed him on our Public Power Now podcast.

Fernandez previously worked for the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, most recently serving as chief financial officer, and had worked for private financial services firms where he advised municipal entities before that. Fernandez holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México in Mexico City, a Master of Business Administration degree from Yale University, a Utility Management Certificate from Willamette University in Oregon, and a Utility Executive Certificate from the University of Idaho. He currently serves as a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Omaha Branch), Bellevue University in Nebraska, and for Habitat for Humanity – Omaha.

Fernandez joined the public power sector after being inspired by his own journey to America. He left his home country and adopted the United States as his own after embracing the American Dream. Having studied America’s history during high school in Mexico City, “I fell in love with the language in the Declaration of Independence: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Today, 21 years after having migrated into this country and now being a proud U.S. citizen, these truths ring just as true to me now as they did back then,” he reflected.  

Fernandez wants to weave a purposeful thread as an industry leader. “The energy services we deliver are behind the unalienable rights quoted in the Declaration of Independence: A cleaner world and powering essential services that supports Life, customer representation in our elected boards that reflects Liberty and the pursuit of perfect power that enables Happiness. It’s a powerful triad.” He called public power a noble industry; one which serves customer-owners and where growth and learning are constants.

He also wants to help the next generation of public power leaders. “Unfortunately, the concept of public power – and public power career options – are also not widely known,” he said. “This is especially true in communities where there are no family ties or traditions” with public power. Fernandez advised being more proactive in outreach to traditionally less represented communities in our workforce and to share public power’s amazing story. “The value we deliver to the people who own these public assets is immense. We are stewards of incredibly valuable and critical assets, in an industry that is experiencing significant technological changes,” so being part of the public power solution will help our nation thrive.

Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) – Brownsville, Texas

Sandra A. Saenz serves as Vice-Chair on the board at BPUB. She was a board member on CASA of Cameron and Willacy Counties for a number of years and is the owner of Spanky’s Burgers & More, which has been in operation for more than 20 years.

“As a Hispanic female, the main advice that I would give is to get involved with your community and your local schools,” said Saenz. “The industry is rapidly changing, and we all need to be ready and willing to change with it. By staying involved within the schools in your area, this will create a great opportunity to mentor the professionals of today, tomorrow and the future.”

She noted that BPUB is in a predominantly Hispanic area, “and we put a lot of focus on recruiting locally and promoting the talents of our community in the City of Brownsville. We go to local job fairs and career days. We offer internships for high school and college students. We push our job openings on social media, and we have reached out and formed a close relationship with local colleges.”

It is “critical for BPUB to perform this outreach to educate people about who we are and build awareness of the opportunities we offer. You don’t have to leave home to get a good job and a good education; you can make a difference right here within your community,” Saenz said.

“Unlike other municipalities, public power provides the community with its own utility company, and because it is owned by the city, officials can help assure affordable rates and reliable service for its citizens. Decisions about the utility are made by people who live here and understand the challenges the area faces,” she said.

BPUB was formally chartered by the city of Brownsville in 1960 to provide electrical, water and wastewater services to its customers in the southernmost part of Texas. Under the charter, management, operation and control of the city’s combined water, wastewater and electric utility systems were delegated to the BPUB Board of Directors. The Board is composed of seven members: six appointed by the City Commission to four-year terms and the city’s mayor serving as the seventh member (ex-officio).

The utility serves 51,000 industrial, commercial and residential customers with electric service, 52,000 industrial, commercial and residential customers with water service and 52,000 industrial, commercial and residential customers with wastewater service.

Our second feature article will follow in early October. In it we will detail how mentorship programs have helped to develop and promote Hispanic heritage employees.

Longtime Public Power Advocate And Attorney Robert Lynch Passes Away

September 11, 2021

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 11, 2021

Robert S. Lynch, an attorney who worked on water, electricity, and environmental law issues and served in several roles for the American Public Power Association (APPA) including APPA’s Advisory Committee, passed away on Aug. 29, 2021 at the age of 82.

“He often described himself as a simple country lawyer, but in reality, he was a brilliant attorney and skillful litigator, credited with helping to shape Western water and hydropower policies for much of the last four decades,” an obituary for Lynch notes.

“I adored Bob — I always knew where his heart lay, and that was with public power and the public power community, on the top of the list after his dear family and his country,” said Joy Ditto, President and CEO of APPA. “He was also savvy politically and understood how to navigate that world to the benefit of public power.  I will miss these and many of the other things he brought to our community – I will miss him, period.”

“I had the opportunity to visit with Bob a few days before his passing,” said Leslie James, Executive Director at the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association. “Ironically, it was on National Hydropower Day. We (mostly he!) talked about his family growing up in the home we were in, the changes both the home and the family went through, and how, within just over a week, he and Anne were going to be grandparents again, to a baby girl.  And, of course, we talked about litigation and politics.”

James said that in a way, “the conversation was a microcosm of my relationship with Bob over the past 35 years. At various times, he was a mentor, a devil’s advocate, a friend, and a co-conspirator. At all times, he was the proudest husband and father I’ve ever seen (absent my own), and someone you could count on in a time of need. As I left his home, my mind went immediately to the old song title ‘I Did It My Way.’ And he did. We miss you, Bob.”

“Spending time with Bob Lynch was always an adventure,” said George Caan, Executive Director for the Washington Public Utility Districts Association. “It could be taking a trip down the Colorado River, a trip through the history of water law or just listening to him speaking so proudly of his family. Politics was never far from Bob’s adventures and it was always made more interesting by being introduced to a fine wine, scotch, or sometimes both. Bob was an extraordinary individual. His accomplishments are eternal and so was his friendship. I will miss him dearly,” Caan said.

Lynch devoted most of his practice to water, electricity, and environmental law issues, a biography on his law firm’s website notes. He litigated and consulted on issues concerning federal and state water, power, environmental and public land issues and federal and state legislation and regulations. His focus included issues related to federal and state electric deregulation, federal and state water law and policy, and environmental issues involving, among others, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act. 

Lynch worked on such projects as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Cross-Florida Barge Canal and the Central Arizona Project and consulted on issues related to Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams, federal hydropower issues and related water and water rights issues. 

He was appointed in June 1996 by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the seven-member Federal Water Rights Task Force, a federal advisory committee.

His law practice included representation of clients in the Arizona Legislature and before Congress. His practice also included representation of clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Arizona Corporation Commission and in state and federal courts. 

His litigation experience included matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, nine of the 13 federal appellate courts, three state supreme courts and several lower courts.

Lynch also served on the Advisory Committee of APPA and on the Board of Directors of its political action committee, PowerPAC (Chairman 2000-2007). He was a 2003 recipient of APPA’s Kramer-Preston Personal Service Award. 

He also served on the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Legal Advisory Committee, the Water and Property Rights (Chair) and Energy Issues Committees of the National Water Resources Association, as well as on task forces on the Endangered Species Act of both national associations. 

In addition, Lynch served as President (1991-1996) and Chairman of the Board (1996-2000) of the Central Arizona Project Association. 

Lynch held Bachelor of Arts (1961) and Bachelor of Laws (1964) degrees from the University of Arizona and a Master of Laws degree with a specialization in natural resources law from George Washington University (1972). He belonged to the Arizona, Maricopa County and Federal Bar Associations, and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. 

Lynch also testified before congressional and state legislative committees and in numerous federal agency hearings. Lynch presented papers to conferences of APPA, the Engineering Foundation, the Federal Bar Association, the National Commission on Water Quality, the Western Systems Coordinating Council, the National Water Resources Association, and the Governor’s Commission on Arizona Environment.

A funeral Mass for Lynch will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz.

Lynch is survived by his wife of 52 years, Anne, and his three daughters, Betsy, Caroline and Stephanie.