TRANSMISSION LINE
AN M. J. ELECTRIC PUBLICATION
FALL 2015
WHAT’S INSIDE
BP WHITING REFINERY
GRAND PRAIRIE PROJECT
BEST PRACTICES VIDEO
FLINT CREEK PLANT PROJECT
SENDERO WIND FARM
MIOSHA PARTNERSHIP
COLBY SUBSTATION
INTEGRITY ● INSPIRED ● INVESTED
Industrial • Power Generation
Instrumentation • Transmission
Distribution • Substation • Renewables
MJE Drilling • Energized Services
Storm Response
MJE NEWS
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
TEAM EXCELLENCE AWARD
M. J. Electric’s Relay for Life team has received the Team Excellence Award for the Lakeshore
Division five years in a row! This year the MJE team also achieved All-Star Team status which
required 1) $1,000 in total sponsorship and tribute signs, 2) three survivors on the team, 3) ten
ACS Cancer Action Network memberships, 4) $500 in online donations, 5) an average of at least
$100 per team member in total raised, and finally 6) provide a mission-related table sit or mission
moment at a meeting. MJE is committed to find a cure.
EL VALOR REACH FOR
THE FUTURE GOLF OUTING
than 1,000 individuals with disabilities and their
families from diverse communities.
Every year MJE participates in the El Valor Reach
for the Future Golf Outing. Monies raised at this
event fund El Valor programs that support early
childhood education, inclusion of persons with
disabilities, and leadership through education in
the greater Chicago area.
El Valor is the second largest provider of early
childhood education programs in Chicago, and
was nominated by Illinois State Governor Pat
Quinn as a National Center for Excellence.
El Valor believes that individuals with disabilities
are vital members of the community and is
committed to assisting and supporting people with
disabilities through programs that emphasize
personal choice, employment, inclusion,
enrichment, and leadership. They work with more
El Valor also established university partnership
programs to address the increasing demand for
qualified, culturally and linguistically skilled
personnel for the fields of education,
rehabilitation, health, business, and government.
More than 650 working adults, 90% Latino, have
graduated with Master and Doctorate degrees
from El Valor’s community-based university
partnerships. Statistics show that 120 working
adults, 98% Latino, 2% African American, have
enrolled in Masters in Business Administration,
Masters in Social Work, Doctorate in Education
Leadership, and Doctorate in Community
Psychology in partnership with area universities.
Read more about El Valor at elvalor.org
QUANTA
COMMITMENT
COIN
At M. J. Electric, as well as our parent
company Quanta Services, safety is a
priority and outstanding safety efforts are
recognized. The Quanta Safety
Commitment Coin, Belt Buckle, and a
congratulatory letter from Quanta’s
executive management are awarded to
show appreciation for a resolute
commitment to safety. John Holtz, Vice
President Central Region, has
demonstrated constant safety leadership
in his region and has provided support
for the safety staff. Due to his dedication
for setting the standard for safety in our
industry, John recently received the
Quanta’s Commitment Coin. The Central
Region as a whole was awarded
Quanta’s CEO Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Award. They are
currently working with the National Safety
Council to identify leading indicators that
will improve their overall safety program.
The Central Region has also been
accepted into the OSHA Challenge
Program. The criteria for acceptance
include being an employer (private or
public sector) under OSHA jurisdiction
that meets all eligibility requirements, an
employer committed to workplace safety
and health and developing an effective
safety and health management program,
and once accepted into the Program,
ensure necessary actions will be taken to
meet each stage's requirements,
including regularly submitting progress
reports to their Challenge Administrator.
Congratulations to John and the Central
Region! They know the most successful
job is one done with safety implemented
every step of the way.
TRANSMISSION
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
COVERT-SEGRETO
TRANSMISSION LINE
MJE installed a new 345 kV transmission power line for ITC to connect the
Covert Generating Plant to American Electric Power’s Segreto Substation.
Wire strung for the transmission line included 1431 KCMIL ACSR conductor,
OPGW, and shield wire. Construction was complete July 2015.
COVERT GENERATING STATION
Crews are still working on the Covert Generating Plant including updates on the
existing 345 kV switchyard in Van Buren County (MI). MJE Drilling installed pier
foundations with MJE crews updating four switches, six breakers, ten CCVTs,
and twelve CTs. Over the duration of the project, MJE crews are working through
scheduled outages to keep the power plant online. These improvements are
scheduled for completion in October 2015.
GRAND PRAIRIE PROJECT
AWARDED TO MJE
MJE was awarded Commonwealth Edison’s Grand Prairie Gateway project. Grand
Prairie Gateway is a new 345 kV transmission line that will extend 60 miles across
Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, and DuPage Counties. The double and triple circuit structures
with one 345 kV circuit and two OPGW will connect the existing ComEd Byron and
Wayne substations. The new line will create immediate customer savings by reducing
grid congestion, increasing customers’ access to lower-cost generation, including wind
power, and will reduce carbon emissions by 473,000 tons over 15 years.
Construction will be led by Project Manager Karen Tower and is scheduled to begin in
the second quarter 2016 with expected in service in 2017. Project information found
online at www.comed.com.
LORE-TURKEY
RIVER REBUILD
ITC’s Lore to Turkey River 161 kV Rebuild
project in Dubuque and Clayton Counties
(IA) is complete. This 19.7-mile rebuild
included replacing existing wood
H-frames and guyed 3-pole structures
with steel H-frames and un-guyed self
supported angle structures. MJE Drilling
crews installed foundations. Construction
was conducted on public and private
right-of-ways.
INDUSTRIAL, POWER & CONTROLS
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
MIOSHA PARTNERSHIP
Both M. J. Electric and PCI were recently awarded work at the
Holland Energy Park in Holland, Michigan. MJE has joined a
MIOSHA partnership at the site which serves to create a
cooperative relationship between the building trades, the
contractors, and MIOSHA. All parties are committed to providing
a safe and healthy workplace, and to demonstrate leadership,
responsibility, and accountability in furthering worker health and
safety on all levels.
GEORGE S. SULLIVAN
POWER PLANT EXPANSION
Anchorage Municipality Light & Power (ML&P) awarded Quanta
Power Generation (QPG) a 30-month EPC contract for the Power
Plant 2 Expansion Project at the George S. Sullivan Power Plant in
Anchorage, Alaska. MJE was subcontracted by QPG for all electrical
work including temporary power, underground, above ground, GIS
substation, instrumentation, and assisting with commissioning and
startup. MJE’s Industrial Power & Controls Division has been in
Alaska since May 2014 with PCI joining the project in August 2015.
The Holland Energy Park is a 2x1 combined-cycle natural
gas-fired generation facility consisting of two Siemens SGT-800
combustion turbines, two Vogt HRSGs, and one Siemens steam
turbine. The completed project will provide electrical power for
the community and produce a by-product of hot water that will be
used for snow melt in the city streets and sidewalks.
Currently MJE, PCI, and IBEW LU 1547 craftsmen are on site.
MJE’s Utility Division will be constructing the plant’s GIS substation
and mobilized this September.
The George S. Sullivan Power Plant is a 2 X 1
combined cycle 120 MW natural gas-fired plant,
utilizing two GE LM6000 gas turbines, two IST
Once Through Steam Generators (OSTG), and
one Siemens SST-400 steam turbine. The project
is scheduled to finish and be turned over to
ML&P June 2016.
BP WHITING REFINERY
MJE was recently awarded a major turnaround event at the BP Whiting Refinery with a scope of work which
includes furnace work on all eight heaters, rebuild of a power distribution center, and the replacement of six
vessels and installation of the Flare Gas Recovery Project.
MJE DRILLING
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
PALISADES TRANSMISSION
LINE AND FOUNDATIONS
MJE Drilling was contracted to dig foundations on
approximately one mile of single-circuit 345 kV line leading into
the new Segreto Substation. The Segreto Substation is tied
into the double-circuit 345 kV Palisades - Cook transmission
line being constructed by MJE.
The scope of work includes nine monopole
structures, ranging from 160 to 195 feet, on pier
foundations with full length anchor bolts. The
foundations range from 7.5 to 10 feet in diameter,
and as deep as 38 feet.
Project Managers Ben Kessler (M. J. Electric) and Jason
Kreider (MJE Drilling) are working together to complete these
projects in Van Buren County in a safe and timely manner for
American Electric Power.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
TRAINING TOWER
Missouri Valley Line Constructors (MVLC) recently contracted MJE
Drilling and M. J. Electric to secure foundations and erect a lattice tower
at their outdoor pole yard training facility in Warren County (IA). The
MJE Drilling crew used its mini Lo-Drill to drill and pour four 3’ x 16’
foundations on which the tower legs would sit. MJE erected the new
tower which is located behind the training center at the school. This
structure will give students valuable experience training in field-like
conditions. The top section of the training tower was donated by
International Transmission Company.
The MVLC Apprenticeship Training Program was established in 1964 as
a not-for-profit entity to ensure that the electrical industry of a steady
supply of qualified workers. This program trains thousands of apprentice
linemen, traffic signal technicians and substation technicians each year.
Because local unions are often not in a position to offer the diversity of
work required, or reasonably continuous employment of apprentices,
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and National
Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) signed a permission
agreement with Missouri Valley Line Constructors Apprenticeship
Training Program to govern all matters of apprenticeship and training.
Read more at www.movalleyjatc.org
MJE DRILLING
TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
“
6
BEST PRACTICES:
“ DRILLED HOLES” VIDEO
“
In July, MJE Drilling developed a training video
entitled, “Best Practices: Drilled Holes – Pier or
Direct Embed Foundations” using a mimicked
field environment in Iron Mountain. An MJE
Drilling crew prepared the location by digging
and securing a hole similar to what crews
would encounter in the field. The video
demonstrates retrieving a person from the hole
with a rescue stick by using a dummy. Below
are some behind the scenes pictures taken
while shooting the video.
SPREADER
BEAM ADDS
SAFETY
In efforts to work as safely as
possible, MJE Drilling began
utilizing a Liftpro International
spreader beam with evener
system on a substation foundation
job in Michigan. This equipment
was needed to pick up four full
length anchor bolt cages.
A full-length
anchor bolt cage is
10’ x 39’ and weighs
approximately
40,000 pounds; the
largest MJE Drilling
has ever installed.
After testing the equipment
in-house, MJE Drilling now utilizes
this apparatus on an ITC jobsite in
Van Buren County (MI).
SUBSTATION
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
KILLDEER SUBSTATION
M. J. Electric crews have mobilized and begun site grading,
erosion controls, drainage installations and driveway
construction for ITC’s 161/345 kV Killdeer Substation. An MJE
Drilling crew will mobilize and install foundations, and a
substation crew will begin below grade grounding, raceway, and
Trenwa installation. Subsequently crews will erect steel
structures and install equipment including the control building,
bussing, jumpers, above grade grounding, raceway, control
cable and terminations.
This project is a part of the “multi-value projects” (MVP) work
that is being constructed over an 11-state region. Projects are
contributing to improve reliability, access to generation sources,
system efficiency, and economic investment. Read more about
ITC’s MVP projects at www.itc-holdings.com.
“
Site grading,
erosion controls,
drainage
installations and
driveway
construction for
ITC’s 161/345 kV
Killdeer
Substation has
begun.
OREGON CLEAN ENERGY
APV SWITCHYARD
Construction has started on
the Oregon Clean Energy
Switchyard near Toledo, Ohio.
MJE was awarded the
Engineering, Procurement, and
Construction (EPC) contract at
the end of 2014. M. J. Electric
is providing complete
engineering and design, supply,
inspection, delivery, installation,
testing, and commissioning.
MJE Drilling was awarded the
foundation portion of the
switchyard.
The switchyard will consist of
a new 345 kV five-breaker ring
bus substation, including
breakers, bus, steel structures,
disconnect switches, control
enclosure, relays, meters, RTU,
SCADA, and other miscellaneous supporting
equipment. It will be an interconnection
point to transfer energy from the proposed
800 MW combined cycle natural gas power
plant referred to as the Oregon Clean Energy
Center. The interconnection to the power plant
will be an overhead bus. Completion date is set
for Spring 2016.
SUBSTATION
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
COLBY SUBSTATION
The Colby 345 kV Substation is the second half of the
161/345 kV yard. The scope of work included site
grading, drainage installations, drilled pier foundations,
below grade grounding and raceway, erection of steel
structures, installation of above grade grounding and
raceway, installation of equipment and associated bus
and jumpers, installation and termination of control
cabling, setting of the new control building, final grading,
final rocking, and commissioning support. MJE began
this project in May 2014, and will be completing it by the
end of September 2015.
Colby 345 kV Substation, located northwest of Mason
City (IA), is a component of MISO’s Multi-Value Projects
being constructed over an 11-state region. Projects are
contributing to improve reliability, access to generation
sources, system efficiency, and economic investment.
Read more about MVP projects at
www.itc-holdings.com
HICKORY
CREEK
SUBSTATION
ITC’s Hickory Creek Substation located
on 40-acres in Dubuque County (IA) is
nearly complete. For site preparation,
crews received 7,622 loads of
engineered fill and miscellaneous stone
weighing 187,658 tons, and moved
roughly 184,500 tons of unsuitable soils
and spoils. The trucks drove 327,294
miles delivering and removing soil and
rock; 149,426 miles of which were on
gravel roads. The total mileage
driven is equivalent to circling
the earth thirteen times, or
traveling to the moon and a
third of the way back!
After preparing the site, the crews
placed 2,000 cubic yards of concrete
and constructed a 345/161 kV
substation. MJE Drilling finished below
grade installation, including the
substation foundations in April. The
above grade build-out, two controls
buildings, and transformer relocation are
in their finishing phases. Final rocking
and commissioning support will be the
last stage of this project.
PROCESS CONTROLS
& INSTRUMENTATION
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TRANSMISSION LINE | 2015 | ISSUE 3
Flint Creek Plant FGD/ACI Project
PCI is installing instrumentation and tubing at Southwestern Electric Power Company’s 528 MW Flint
Creek Generating Station in Gentry, Arkansas. The retrofit project includes controls for a dry flue gas
desulfurization system to reduce SO2 emissions, low NOx burners and overfire air to reduce NOx
emissions, an activated carbon injection to reduce mercury emissions, and a fabric filter to filter
particulate matter at the existing power plant.
In addition to Flint Creek, PCI will also be performing work this fall at:
Wolverine Power’s new Alpine Power Plant in Elmira, MI
City of Holland’s new Holland Energy Park in Holland, MI
Tucson Electric Power’s Stacker Reclaimer Project
at the Springerville Generating Station in Springerville, AZ
And PNM’s SNCR Reduction Project at the San Juan Generation Station in Waterflow, NM.
RENEWABLES
SENDERO WIND FARM
Exelon Generation’s 78 MW Sendero Wind Farm project is currently underway in Jim Hogg and Zapata
counties in Texas. MJE crews are currently installing 155,000 feet of 34.5 kV underground collection
system. MJE has contracted two Quanta Services’ companies, Can-Fer Utility Service and North
Houston Pole Line, to construct the 34.5 kV / 138 kV collector substation, and the 6.2 mile 138 kV
transmission line. The wind farm will feature 39 GE 2.0 MW wind turbines in addition to its extensive
underground collection system, collector substation, and transmission line. The wind farm is scheduled
to be energized late October.
Corporate Headquarters
200 West Frank Pipp Drive
PO Box 686
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
MJE NEWS
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
PROFESSIONALS
Project Management Professional (PMP) is a credential
offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Organizations employ PMP certified project managers to
improve the success rate of projects in all areas of
knowledge, by applying a standardized and evolving set
of project management principles. To obtain this
credential is to obtain a highly esteemed certification in
the construction industry because the PMI’s PMP
credential is the gold standard certification credential in
the industry.
Quanta Services, Inc. offers a PMP Boot Camp to all
employees who are interested in obtaining their
certification. PMP Boot Camp is an intense course
designed to prepare an experienced Project Manager to
take the PMP exam and gain a PMP Certification. The
PMP certification is a qualification program for project
managers, and the exam for it is offered as a
computer-based test through the global network of
Prometric Testing Centers.
In order to qualify to take the PMP exam an applicant
must have 1) a secondary diploma (high school or the
global equivalent) with at least 5 years of project
management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and
directing projects, or 2) a 4-year degree (bachelor’s or
the global equivalent) and at least 3 years of project
management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and
directing projects. Additionally a participant must
complete 35 Professional Development Hours of
continuing education in Project Management before
sitting for the exam.
MJE is privileged to employ PMP certified professionals
including:
Andy Gardner
Ben Kessler
Bill Nagy III
Casey Kimma
Cory Borchardt
Greg Rogers
James Maness
John Jamicich
Marty Sutinen
Matua Mendiola
Meredeth Bellmore
Nate Raiche
Nick Feira
Rachel Holtz
Richard Maguire
Rob Grasty
Travis Moore
NEWLY CERTIFIED
Keith Keeney
Joey Wade
Roger St. John
North Central Regional
Vice President
Project Manager
Vice President Industrial
Power & Controls
Project Manager-Estimator
Director of Operations
Industrial Power & Controls
Operations Manager Process
Controls & Instrumentation
General Foreman
Project Manager
Vice President Industrial Power
& Controls/Business
Development
Operations Manager
Project Manager
Project Manager
Senior Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Manager
Senior Project Manager
Project Manager
Manager-Project Management
Chief Engineer Industrial
Power & Controls
Project Controls Engineer
MJE is proud to have quality staff to
continue to set the standard against
which all others are measured.
EASTERN REGION SAFETY TRAINING
MJE’s Eastern Region conducted OSHA 20-Hour and
Grounding for the Protection of Employees training in
August at the Shoemakersville (PA) office. Quanta
Services’ James McGowan used a PowerPoint
presentation and workbook for the OSHA 20-Hour to
interactively train thirty people, including MJE Safety
Management.
He discussed basic electric principles and the effects of
electrical current in the human body and just how
unforgiving mistakes in our business can be. He used the
Hubbell/Chance Grounding Simulator Kit to demonstrate
how current can flow across a T&D system that has been
de-energized but not tested, grounded, and bonded.
After clearly reinforcing the need for protection and
reasons we need to continually improve, Dave Houle
(Vice President - Safety, Health, and Environmental), Paul
Randby (Vice President - Western Operations), and Dave
Shea (Manager of Safety and Health - Utility Division)
explained how the Grounding for the Protection of
Employees policy accomplishes that purpose. This policy
consolidates and better organizes many previously
existing requirements related to grounding into one
document. More significantly, it provides additional
information on Insulation, Isolation, or Equipotential Zone
EPZ approaches for worker safety and includes “how-to”
illustrations for frequently encountered situations. Vigilant
adherence to this policy supports MJE’s initiative of
providing a safe work environment for every employee.
Appleton Office
N2023 Greenville Drive
Greenville, WI 54942
Central Region Office
1190 Erie Court
Crown Point, IN 46307
Iowa Office
600 Ford Lane
Center Point, IA 52213
North Central Office
2271 Xcelsior Drive
Oxford, MI 48371
Midwest Regional Office
1200 Roosevelt Road
Suite 400
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Western Region Office
15252 W Freeway Drive NE
Forest Lake, MN 55025
Northeast Region Office
1047 Shoemakersville Avenue
Shoemakersville, PA 19555
Wisconsin Office
1201 Enterprise Drive Suite C
De Pere, WI 54115
New England Office
945 Concord Street Suite 201
Framingham, MA 01701
The safety training rollout is continuing across the Eastern
Region and M. J. Electric as a whole.
M. J. Electric invests in and fosters trusting relationships as we safely deliver electric transmission, substation, distribution,
renewable energy, power, industrial, and concrete foundation construction services that increase the security, reliability, and
capacity of our nation’s infrastructure. For additional information about our company, or to change your contact information, please
visit at www.mjelectric.com or email us at info@mjelectric.com.
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