Chattanooga
Engineers Club Newsletter
http://www.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/
NEXT
MEETING ____________________
Monday
August 23 –
David Wade, Chief Operating Officer - Chattanooga Electric Power Board
“Chattanooga
EPB’s Fiber Optic Network for Smart Grid Deployment”
David
Wade will describe the fiber optic-based communication system that is being
built as the backbone for the EPB’s Smart Grid. He will also
discuss the recently awarded $111.5 million in federal stimulus funding from
the Department of Energy to expedite their Smart Grid implementation. EPB
is one of the largest municipal power distributors in the country, serving more
than 168,000 homes and businesses in a 600-square mile area.
David
Wade has more than 27 years of experience in the electrical industry ranging
from hands-on construction to engineering. As EPB’s Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer, David leads the company’s effort
to build one of the country’s most sophisticated smart electric
distribution systems.
DUES
INCREASE RECOMMENDED
The
membership, in a regular meeting on August 16, by a show of hands vote,
approved an increase in dues from $30 to $40 to be effective January
2011. There was no opposition to Ed Chapin’s proposal. This action
was taken to help compensate for Club expenditures that have exceeded income
for the last two years. Last year, we increased the 2010 dues of Full and
Associate members from $50 to $60 per year. However, additional funds are
needed to overcome our deficit.
FUTURE
MEETINGS ____________________
Monday
August 30 –
Matt McKee - Komatsu Plant Tour, assemble at noon at plant entrance.
(Lunch arrangements are on your own.)
Komatsu
is a world leader in building Construction and Mining equipment. The
Chattanooga plant focuses on assembly of Hydraulic excavators and a line of
Forestry Machines. The Chattanooga Komatsu operation also builds frames
for the excavators, utilizing state of the art welding robots as well as CNC
machining centers. There are also computer controlled blasting machines
and modern paint shops.
Steel-toed
boots are required in the plant as well as safety glasses (these can be
provided as needed). We will be touring two building. The main
building consists of the manufacturing and assembly shops for the
excavators. The second smaller building is located at the end of the
facility where the forestry equipment is built. There are no stairs to
climb, however the tour will take almost an hour, including walking through a
stockyard between buildings. (Wheelchair access is available.)
Monday
September 6 –
No Meeting in Observance of Labor Day
Monday
September 13
–
Dale Bradshaw – Consultant to NRECA
“Algae
for CO2 Capture”
PREVIOUS
MEETING____________________
Monday
August 16 –
“Smart Grid Developments” Dale Bradshaw, Consultant
to the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association’s (NRECA), presented information on the various
“SMARTER GRID” projects that NRECA is pursuing. The 983
Co-ops of the NRECA account for approx 70% of the US Grid and 10% of the world
electric generation. A group of 20 electric co-operatives has
begun a Smart Grid demonstration that touches 10 different states, and is
supported by a $34M in federal stimulus funds. Dale described the effort
to revise IEEE 1547 to allow “Islanding” of networks within the
Grid and the “Living Laboratory” of various projects all over the
USA that will be reviewed on their economic and value add benefits.
Dale has a BS in Engineering Physics and an MS in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA in Finance from the
University of Tennessee. He retired from TVA in 2004 after 29 years of
service, including Senior Manager of R&D for Transmission.
CHATTANOOGA
ENGINEERS CLUB — CORPORATE SPONSORS_____________
We gratefully acknowledge the corporate sponsorships listed
below.
2010 — Robbins & Bohr, LLC
2009 — Coca—Cola
2008 — Alstom
2008 — Chattanooga State
MEETING
LOGISTICS_______________________
The
Chattanooga Engineer's Club meets at the DOUBLETREE HOTEL,
407 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402. Free parking may be
available in the gated parking lot on the south side of the Hotel. Plan
to arrive before 11:30 a.m., if you intend to park in the limited space
available. Late arrivals may need to pay for parking on the street or in
a nearby public parking garage.
QUESTIONS
and SUGGESTIONS______________
If
you have any questions, items that would be of interest to the Chattanooga
Engineers Club, or suggestions for future programs, please contact Ralph
Boroughs by e-mail at rdboroughs@gmail.com or by
phone at 423-227-0412. You can find membership application forms, references to
future programs, historical data, and other info at http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org.
To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Chattanooga
Technology Organization mailing list at http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/email.
Links
to local engineering societies are available to you at: http://www.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/engineer/
For
a calendar of local technology related events see: http://chatc.org/