District Energy, 2007, 4th Quarter - Sample Partial Issue

Chairman’s
Message

annual! – is titled “Critical Energy, Critical

Needs.” The theme and the Houston loca-

tion could not be more appropriate. A pre-

conference workshop on emergency pre-

paredness and catastrophe response is

being planned to help our member organi-

zations prepare for the worst while hoping

for the best. Watch your email and period-

ically check www.districtenergy.org/calen

dar.htm to ensure you have the latest on

the conference and can take advantage of

the Feb. 2, 2007, early-bird deadline.

As I sit down to write this, I have just

Year-round reliability, even in the face

recently returned from visiting one

of disaster, is key to the success of any dis-

of our member facilities, Entergy

trict energy system. I believe our member

Thermal in New Orleans, La. I want to

district energy systems have a reputation

thank John Carlson for taking time away

for reliability throughout the world, and

from his schedule to host me. I am fortu-

you, our members, make this possible. This

nate to have had the opportunity to tour

year’s IDEA theme is “Leading the Way,”

first-hand some parts of the city. It was

and I can confidently state that IDEA-mem-

about a year ago when Katrina affected

ber systems are leading the way by demon-

everyone’s way of life in New Orleans, but

strating their systems are hardy and reli-

also throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and

able and are based on strong, proven and

parts of Alabama and Texas.

functional designs.

Yet through all of the hurricane’s

Admittedly, district energy systems are

destruction, Entergy Thermal’s district cool-

only as reliable as the people who manage,

ing plant in New Orleans was able to stay

operate and maintain them. That’s why I

online and support the neighboring hospi-

strongly urge you to continue to invest in

tals for as long as they needed cooling to

your people, just as you have previously

operate. (See p. 46 for a profile of one of

invested in your plant assets. Get your

Entergy Thermal’s customers – Louisiana

people or your company associates involved

State University (LSU) Health Sciences

in IDEA and send them to the workshops

Center in New Orleans, which is the largest

or conferences to learn – not just from the

academic medical complex in the state.)

programs, but also from each other. We

As we know from news reports, New

will all be the better for it. When you

Orleans and its many hospitals are strug-

invest in your people, they produce future

gling to get back to normal. Many of the

dividends for you, themselves, and the

hospitals served by Entergy Thermal are

communities you serve.

now only partially operational, and there

In early September, more than 120

is a possibility that one may never reopen

people attended the IDEA distribution and

and others may function at reduced levels

marketing workshops in New York City.

for several more months. It is clear the city

(See photo and summary on p. 35.) The

will be rebuilding some areas for many

discussions were lively and informative,

years to come. On a positive note, however,

and we can’t thank our friends at Con

the areas around the French Quarter are

Edison Steam Business Unit enough for

open, and the city encourages everyone to

their hospitality and contributions to the

come and visit and, in doing so, help the

event. Appropriately, the workshops were

New Orleans economy get back on its feet.

held at the Con Ed Learning Center, which

It is timely then, that IDEA’s 2007

embodies the importance of employee

Campus Energy Conference – the 20th

training at all levels.

IDEA members also will soon have the opportunity to participate in a district energy system safety survey. The safety survey was last conducted in 2003, and IDEA is looking forward to updating the data so it can share valuable information on safety best practices with its member systems. (See p. 25 and www.districtenergy.org/ weblink.html for more information.) The detailed survey timeline will be announced in late November or early December, and data collection will begin in January. Please be sure your system participates in this important benchmarking effort.

Once I complete the writing of this column, I’m headed to China for business. I travel there and to the Middle East often and never cease to be impressed by each area’s growth and, in particular, the Middle East’s commitment to district cooling. To support this activity, IDEA is establishing a Middle East chapter. In January, we will hold the International District Cooling Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Early interest shows this conference will be a well-attended, drawing people from all over the world. We are committed to the new chapter’s success and are excited to be involved with the grass-roots efforts of the region’s energy companies and associated service providers.

In closing, I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. As we head into the fall, we now start looking forward to next year’s opportunities and challenges. Please continue to share with me your ideas and comments about what I can do for our organization – for our organization is you – and your participation makes IDEA what it is today.