Press Release: Site Selection’s Top Utilities in Economic Development

Site Selection magazine has selected its annual Top Utilities in Economic Development, based on the following mix of objective and subjective criteria: Analysis of corporate end-user project activity in that company’s territory based on the Conway Data New Plant Database and submitted materials from utilities; survey input from corporate end users and site consultants; website tools and data; innovative programs and incentives for business, including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and the utility’s own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends.

The winning utilities, in alphabetical order, are Alabama Power, Birmingham, Ala.; Ameren, St. Louis, Mo.; Duke Energy, Plainfield, Ind., and Charlotte, N.C.; Entergy Corp., New Orleans, La.; FirstEnergy, Akron, Ohio; Georgia Power, Atlanta, Ga.; Hoosier Energy, Bloomington, Ind.; Hydro-Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Progress Energy, Raleigh, N.C.; and Tennessee Valley Authority, Nashville, Tenn.

Those qualifying for Honorable Mention include CenterPoint Energy, Houston, Texas; National Grid, Syracuse, N.Y.; Nebraska Public Power District, Columbus, Neb.; Northeast Utilities, Hartford, Conn.; Oncor, Dallas, Texas; Portland General Electric, Portland, Ore.; PPL, Allentown, Pa.; South Carolina Power Team, Columbia, S.C.; Southern California Edison, Irwindale, Calif.; and Vectren, Evansville, Ind.

“The most powerful utility economic development teams are backed by corporations that don’t just move power around – they wield it,” says Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection. “They do that through innovative programs for business, collaboration with community partners and their own investment in generation, transmission and other assets. Even the bubbling cauldron of cost and regulatory challenges hasn’t tempered these leaders’ optimism in the economic development of their territories.”

“Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local business climate,” says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “This year’s Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2010.”
The entire Top Utilities article and the annual Utilities Directory appear in the September 2011 edition of Site Selection and appear online at www.siteselection.com. Also featured in the issue:

• Reports on energy innovations, infrastructure, logistics, and plastics & chemicals;
• The Canada 2011 Report, including Site Selection’s annual Canadian Competitiveness Award and Top Canadian Groups awards;
• A California spotlight featuring an exclusive interview with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom; and other state spotlights on Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, Massachusetts and the Dakotas;
• International spotlights on India, Northern Ireland and Malaysia;
• Area reports on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Upper Midwest regions that explore, among other topics, the return of manufacturing to the U.S. from abroad;
• Investment Profiles of Malaysia, Greater Philadelphia, Saxony-Anhalt and utilities Ameren and Progress Energy.

Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 44,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online (www.siteselection.com). The SiteNet Dispatch, a weekly e-mail newsletter, is delivered to approximately 44,000 industry professionals. The publication also publishes “The Site Selection Energy Report” and “The Site Selection Life Sciences Report” monthly e-newsletters.

Conway Data is an international publishing and association management company headquartered in Atlanta. The firm manages the Industrial Asset Management Council, the Development Hall of Fame and the World Development Federation (WDF), offers consulting services and awards the Conway Safe Skies Award.