< Previous108 SEPTEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO Nclimate. Ed Sitar, ComEd’s manager of economic development, says the state’s new Future Energy Jobs Act “pivots Illinois to the new clean energy economy, saving and creating thousands of clean energy jobs and providing job training for the future workforce, while also creating significant consumer and environmental benefits. The law significantly expands energy efficiency program funding and offers incentives for solar energy installation.” Meanwhile, the utility’s own Energy Foundry, created specifically to invest venture capital in today’s most promising energy start-ups, has invested in 13 companies, representing 150 new jobs to build on alternative energy options for customers.ComEd spearheaded the launch of a new proactive statewide business outreach and retention initiative known as CORE (Creating Opportunities for Retention and Expansion), and also continues to pursue its Energy Ready Zones program (created to match areas with available substation electricity capacity and large vacant land sites primed for development) and its economic development “boot camps” for community leaders.Duke EnergyCharlotte, North Carolinalocationdukeenergy.comTHIS SQUAD HELPED cultivate $5.9 billion in corporate facility investment that brings with it more than 12,460 jobs across a 95,000-sq.-mile territory in parts of seven states that is home to 9.2 million people. “Some of our key highlights for the year include expansion of our electrification program (i.e. electric vehicle charging infrastructure), launching a new and improved economic development rider program, adopting drone technology [to modernize site viewing capabilities] and growing our team,” primarily in Florida, says Stuart Heishman, vice president of economic development, business recruitment & territorial strategies. His team brought 100 projects across the finish line, with the Carolinas landing more than half of those (58, equal to the total number of expansions among the 100), and Indiana and Florida attracting 24 and 15, respectively.Among the strategies deployed by the Duke team in 2017 was the assignment of each business recruitment manager to key Utility economic development teams transform a region’s strengths into competitive advantage.Photo courtesy of Duke Energy110 SEPTEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO Ncities where the majority of site consultants and related experts on service provider organizations reside: Atlanta, Detroit, Raleigh, Orlando and San Francisco. A total of more sites (among since ) were evaluated for the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program, whose portfolio over years has welcomed major projects resulting in the creation of , new jobs and approximately $ billion in capital investment. Big wins included such companies as Egger Wood Products, Pfi zer and Corning Fiber. But losses meant something too, says Heishman. “Duke Energy and its Economic Development Team shone brightest in what eventually turned out to be the loss of Toyota Mazda, Project New World,” he writes of the project that landed in Huntsville instead of in North Carolina. “Led by the Economic Development team, the company mobilized across departments ranging from Transmission to Rates and Regulatory Aff airs to make truly remarkable service commitments in a valiant attempt to win this project. In the end, Toyota chose to build its facility elsewhere. But the eff ort to win taught us indelible lessons about our resourcefulness and creativity, and it opened up new processes to accomplish what was once thought to be impossible — lessons that will no doubt serve us well in competitions to come.”EntergyNew Orleans, Louisianaentergysiteselection.comENTERGY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS helped bring , new jobs and more than $. billion of investment to its four-state territory were it serves . million customers amidst a population of . million people. Major projects came from Wanhua Chemical Group in Louisiana, Butterball in Arkansas, Synnex in Mississippi and Jeff erson Energy in Texas, among others. Louisiana led in both project value and job creation, followed by Texas.In , Entergy Mississippi developed an Excellerator Grant program to help Mississippi communities be more competitive for industrial development, awarding $, grants to counties. Meanwhile, the utility’s workforce training grant program continues It is critical to have a workforce capable of supporting the long-term prosperity and growth opportunity of our community.”— Entergy Chairman and CEO Leo Denault, July 2018, announcing a $250,000 commitment to Jobs for America’s GraduatesIt is critical to have a workforce capable of 112 SEPTEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO Nto support programs such as the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Initiative and Operation Spark in New Orleans.In addition to continuing its Strategic Site Initiative Project to add quality industrial sites across its territories, Entergy’s renovated Site Selection Center website (buildingsandsites.com) launched in September 2017 with sophisticated property search options, filtering and data export options and a full range of ESRI data layers.While helping customers achieve sustainability goals, Entergy’s been holding its own: In 2017 it was one of only five U.S. electric utilities to be named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, an honor Entergy has achieved for 16 years in a row.Georgia Power CompanyAtlanta, Georgiaselectgeorgia.comARGUABLY THE FLAGSHIP utility in Southern Company’s stable (which includes strong performers Alabama Power and Mississippi Power), Georgia Power’s efforts in 2017 led to attracting or retaining 15,792 jobs associated with $5.7 billion in corporate facility investment. Projects came from the likes of Alcon in the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek, Interstate Paper in Riceboro, Luxottica in McDonough, Safavieh in Savannah and Pratt-Whitney Forging in Columbus. Capital investment results were nearly double the team’s 2017 goal, and the largest total in Georgia Power’s economic development history.Among the Community and Economic Development team’s accomplishments in 2017 was the transformation of its physical plant into the Georgia Experience Center (GEC), which includes The Immersion Room (an interactive presentation experience); The Barometer of Boom (a digital art installation based on data visualization); and the Hometown Hall of Fame, a space dedicated to featuring accomplishments of cities around the state. The redesign of SelectGeorgia.com offered communities, prospects and partners a more dynamic way to engage with the team and content.To support the state’s booming film and TV production scene, the Georgia Power team also has launched an online database highlighting Georgia Power–owned properties, (including lakes, land, and buildings) that can be used for film or TV locations.LG&E/Kentucky Utilities (PPL)Louisville, Kentuckylge-ku.com/our-company/economic-developmentIN 2017 THERE were 155 projects announced within LG&E and KU Energy’s service territory, creating 7,471 jobs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky with an associated capital investment of more than $4 billion.In 2017 LG&E and KU Energy provided over $1.2 million in economic development rider credits to participants. The company also has continued a long-term investment strategy of zero-interest loans to support the development of industrial land in two Kentucky communities that totals an investment of over $500,000. The company is in the process of investing $2.2 billion in its electric and natural gas network by installing intelligent control equipment on its distribution system to enhance system restoration and improve service. It’s also established a commercial-scale battery and energy storage research project in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute.In announcing its 2017 numbers in May, the utility noted that, in addition to serving on economic development boards and associations, LG&E and KU is a founding sponsor of KentuckyUnited (KYU), established in 2008 to market the state to site selection consultants and business attraction leaders nationally and internationally through site visits and events.Omaha Public Power DistrictOmaha, Nebraskawww.oppd.comPERFORMING WELL ON per-capita measures for its 13-county population of 833,000, the Omaha Public Power District service area was involved in 40 projects creating 861 new jobs and retaining 520 jobs in 2017. The top projects by job creation were: Facebook (100+ jobs, $1 billion); Evolva (50 jobs, $60 million); Veramaris (20 jobs, $200 114 SEPTEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO Nmillion); LightEdge ( jobs, $ million); and Novozymes ( jobs, $ million).As a public power utility OPPD takes its role in economic development seriously, says Tim O’Brien, manager, economic development, noting that state statute requires public power entities to engage in economic development. Full engagement by OPPD was part of the banner year that saw Nebraska capture Site Selection’s per-capita Governor’s Cup trophy, and Greater Omaha rank No. among metro areas with populations between , and million in Site Selection’s ranking of Top Metros. e utility is busy with a site development program and new marketing platform. Its commitment underlying it all is to provide rates percent below the national average. (Now that’s a good start to a new slogan.) With the addition of a new wind facility, OPPD aims to provide approximately percent of its generation from renewable energy sources when the facility comes online, currently We rely on our key partners for business attraction, support their eff orts on an as-needed basis, and celebrate their success.”— Maureen Sharkey, economic development specialist for PECO’s Economic & Business Development DepartmentWe rely on our key partners We rely on our key partners for business attraction, We rely on our key partners S I T E S E L E C T I O N SEPTEMBER 2018 115scheduled for late 2019. Meanwhile, it’s working toward another wind project of 250 to 300 megawatts that would put the utility at more than 50 percent of retail sales coming from renewables. PECO, An Exelon CompanyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvaniawww.peco.com/economicPECO WAS PART of a Greater Philadelphia regional effort that saw more than 110 projects land in its territory, including major investments from Aramark, Cerner, Comcast, GSK and Spark Therapeutics. Maureen Sharkey, economic development specialist for PECO’s Economic & Business Development Department, says “Unlike years ago, when PECO led the effort to showcase Greater Philadelphia’s assets nationwide and abroad, the impact of deregulation, realities of energy efficiency requirements, the need for advanced energy solutions, and market trends that favor urban areas like Greater Philadelphia led to a conscientious shift. Rather than being directly involved with regional marketing, we rely on our key partners for business attraction, support their efforts on an as-needed basis, and celebrate their success.”A case in point: In Montgomery County, drug distributor Amerisource Bergen announced its plans for a new headquarters, consolidating work space for 1,500 and creating 550 new information technology jobs. “PECO Economic Development provided utility information services for two developers vying for that deal and will continue to support the winner, Keystone Property Group, as the project moves into construction phase later this year,” she says. Involvement in major public-private projects is a PECO trademark, including building two 13-kilovolt circuits to meet the demands of five new super post-Panamax electric cranes at the newly expanded Port of Philadelphia, where the Commonwealth invested $300 116 SEPTEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO Nmillion. PECO also supports uCity Square, the mixed-use community in Philadelphia’s University City; and the $3.5 billion, 6.9-million-sq.-ft. (641,010-sq.-m.) Schuylkill Yards project from Brandywine Realty Trust. “PECO Economic Development meets with Brandywine on a regular basis, discussing advanced energy solutions for the first phase of the project, which includes the construction of two towers — or more, if locating within the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University footprint works for Amazon,” Sharkey says.South Carolina Power TeamColumbia, South Carolinascpowerteam.comTHE SOUTH CAROLINA Power Team (SCPT) service area covers all 46 counties in South Carolina, where team members helped to welcome 5,410 new jobs via $1.57 billion in corporate facility investments. “Our team played a substantial role in landing the Samsung Electronics deal of $380 million in Newberry County,” says James Chavez, South Carolina Power Team’s president and CEO, of the 950-job project. “The July 2017 announcement utilized SCPT Incentive Funds.”In 2014, the boards of both SC Power Team and Santee Cooper approved the establishment of a $30 million Site Readiness Fund (SRF), which matches local funds to advance sites and buildings across South Carolina to make them market-ready. “In 2017, the board of SC Power Team and Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. voted to increase the fund by nearly $6 million, increasing the fund to nearly $36 million,” says Chavez. “More than $130 million in combined funds have been put into making sites market-ready throughout South Carolina, meaning the SRF commitments of more than $27 million have leveraged an additional $100+ million in investment from local governments and electric cooperatives.” Projects influenced by SRF improvements have included GE Renewables in Laurens County; Volvo’s $520-million investment in Edisto Electric Co-op territory and the SC Ports Authority’s inland port in Dillon.Among the unique tools the team brings to the table is Project Pioneer, a statewide The scale of TVA’s utility infrastructure is rivaled by its perennial high performance when it comes to economic development.Photo courtesy o TVA S I T E S E L E C T I O N SEPTEMBER 2018 117comprehensive labor study for South Carolina that was conducted by Texas-based Site Selection Group. It was commissioned by the SC Power Team and funded by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. SCPowerTeam.com has a new area on the site dedicated to the labor study and its fi ndings.“ e SC Power Team’s state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) web applications will off er custom reporting capabilities and access to raw data,” said the team, “utilizing ArcGIS integration.” Tennessee Valley AuthorityNashville, TennesseeTVAsites.comPROJECT WINS INCLUDING Nokian Tyre in Dayton, Tennessee, and the big Toyota/Mazda JV in Huntsville, Alabama, were among totals exceeding , new jobs and $. billion in corporate investment. e success continues in . In May at a board meeting, TVA said its economic development partnerships had attracted or retained , jobs and secured $. billion in capital investment in the Valley over the previous six months alone. e board also authorized a three-year pilot program to establish an optional electric vehicle charging rate. e range of economic development activity across TVA is as broad as its territory, from a new solar farm to new transmission and switching stations near the Infi nity Megasite in Mississippi. In , TVA added aerospace and defense to its target industries, helped put together a new Composites Coalition, and continued to improve the three initiatives that comprise Product Development: the TVA Megasites Program, the InvestPrep™ Program and New Legacy Sites.TVA in its most recent fi scal year provided nearly $ million in tax equivalent payments in the eight states where it sells electricity or owns assets, and directly to local governments where it owns power facilities. “ ese funds represent another way TVA works with state and local government to invest in continued economic development, improved quality of life and overall community growth to benefi t those we serve,” said Bill Johnson, TVA president and CEO. ese funds represent another way TVA works with state and local government to invest in continued economic development, improved quality of life and overall community growth to benefi t those we serve.”— Bill Johnson, TVA president and CEO, on tax equivalent payments to communities ese funds represent another way TVA works with ese funds represent another way TVA works with state and local government to invest in continued ese funds represent another way TVA works with Next >