Fences keeping people out of forest areas closed due to kauri dieback in Auckland are being vandalised, and people are entering closed tracks due to a sense of entitlement, a council compliance manager says.

Signs like these have been removed and vandalised. Photo: RNZ / Joanna MacKenzie

Compliance officers were out over the Christmas-New Year break and while most people are following the rules, 14 people will be receiving bylaw breach and trespass notices and another four will be getting formal warnings.

Vandalism was worryingly on the increase as well.

Auckland Council regulatory compliance manager Steve Pearce said a small minority were undermining efforts to protect kauri forests to ensure New Zealanders and tourists could continue to enjoy these.

"There's been fences that have been taken down, chucked into nearby streams, signs that have been removed and it's just senseless vandalism. People that are a bit bored and pushing things over when they really don't need to," he told RNZ's Summer Report.

"We're trying to protect those ranges and those parks for all New Zealanders, all of our tourists and a couple of silly people have gone and wrecked it for everyone."

Pearce said people caught on closed tracks often believed they had a right to be there and the council had no right to enforce biosecurity rules introduced to protect kauri sites.

"Generally it's people going, 'this is my local area, my forest, I'm allowed to be around here'. And you've also got a bunch of people who kind of think 'well, actually the council don't have the right to exclude me from this public area'. But there's a reason we're doing this, we're not doing it for just a bit of fun."

He said it was essential people stayed off closed tracks because the micro-organism responsible for dieback was soil-based and easily transported from one site to another.

"Some areas are closed because they don't have Kauri dieback, so they are pristine. The kauri seem to be thriving. So we're trying to protect those kauri that are still surviving really well. There are other kauri that are known to be infected and we're trying to prevent the spread of the disease from these areas to other areas.

"At this stage we don't have a cure for kauri dieback, so the only thing we can do is prevent the transmission."

Over the Waitkere forest canopy it's not hard to see the damage kauri dieback has done. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

Kauri dieback is a disease caused by the microscopic fungus-like organism Phytophthora agathidicida (PA). It lives in the soil and infects kauri roots, damaging the tissues that carry nutrients and water within the tree, effectively starving it to death.

It is typical spread by dirt on people's footwear, meaning trampers are required to scrub and spray their shoes entering and leaving tracks.

"There seems like a lot of other vectors as well, walking your dog, going on and off the track, they get some mud on their paws and that gets spread around," Pearce said.

"So the real simple thing is, stay out of those areas and when you're on the tracks scrub their boots, spray them afterwards."

He said the council didn't want anyone going through the courts and urged people to simply stay off closed tracks and enjoy the tracks that have remained open.

"The only enforcement tool we have is a prosecution through the district court. So we had our first prosecution late last year. That's a maximum $20,000 fine. We don't envisage that it will be anywhere near that maximum, but it's really important that people take this seriously."

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Fences at closed kauri forests vandalised and thrown in streams - RNZ

Boys Basketball

The Guilford boys basketball team went to New Haven and earned its first win of the season with a 56-50 victory over Career on Jan. 7. Three days later, the Indians took an 80-43 defeat against Hillhouse to move to 1-3 on the year.

Chris Cahill scored 28 points, and John Petonito had 12 points when the Indians beat Career. Guilford trailed by as many as seven points in the first quarter before fighting its way back. The Indians took a 39-30 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers rallied to cut it to 52-50 with 1:19 remaining. The Indians converted four of their six attempts from the free-throw line, including two by Cahill, to solidify the win.

Cahill scored 18 points for Guilford in the Hillhouse game. Brayden Santa Barbara chipped in with 11 points.

Girls Basketball

The Indians came away with a split of two games last week and are now 2-4 this year. Guilford dropped a contest to Sheehan and then came back with a convincing win versus Career.

On Jan. 7, Guilford lost to Sheehan by the score of 50-43. Faith ODonnell scored seven points for the Indians. Elle Petra had six points, while Sam Leiby and Moira Kellaher added five points apiece.

In the teams second road game of the week, Guilford netted a 68-26 victory against Career on Jan. 10. ODonnell, Leiby, Kellaher, and Petra all scored 10 points in the win.

Boys Ice Hockey

Senior captain Jack Dacey recorded a natural hat trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime, to lift Guilford to a 4-3 overtime win against St. Joseph on Jan. 11.

Dacey scored a pair of third-period goals to help the Indians rally for their victory over St. Joseph. Guilford outshot the Cadets by a 34-20 margin for the game.

Earlier in the week, the Indians battled North Branford to a 4-4 draw. Guilford has a record of 2-4-1 on the season.

Girls Fencing

Guilford posted wins over North Haven and Hand and then swept all four of its opponents at the Morgan Invitational last week.

The Indians started off the week by earning a 24-3 win over North Haven on Jan. 8. Guilfords foil (9-0), pe (8-1), and saber (7-2) teams all claimed victory at the meet.

The day after that, Guilford defeated Hand by a 20-7 score, led by wins from its saber (8-1), foil (6-3), and pe (6-3) squads. The Indians JV team took a 15-12 defeat to Hand, but still saw its saber team get a 5-4 victory.

Then on Jan. 11, the Indians notched four victories when they competed at the Morgan Invitational. Guilford defeated Greenwich (20-7), Hand (23-4), Hopkins (19-8), and Morgan (20-7) at the event. The Indians saber team went 9-0 against all four opponents.

Saber teammates Shayla Flynn, Anna Angkatavanich, Adella Cho, and Camilla Gipson were unbeatable all day long for Guilford. Exceptional performances by peist Julia Gangemi and foil fencer Lindsey Smith left them also undefeated for the day.

Boys Fencing

The Indians competed in a pair of dual-meets last week, picking up a 15-12 victory over North Haven on Jan. 8. Guilford recorded a 6-3 win in foil and a 5-4 victory in saber, while taking a 5-4 loss in pe against North Haven.

The following day, the Indians took a 16-11 loss to Hand. Guilfords JV team earned a 16-11 win versus the Tigers, led by victories from its saber (7-2) and pe (6-3) squads.

On Jan. 11, Guilford competed at the Morgan Invitational in Clinton. The Indians won three of their four matches on the day, earning victories against Greenwich (17-10), Hand (15-12), and Morgan (20-7) to go with a loss versus Hopkins (15-12). The pe team went 9-0 in the win over Greenwich.

Boys Swimming and Diving

The Greater New Haven Warriors boys swimming and diving team hosted Cheshire for a matchup at Walter Gawrych Community Pool on Jan. 9. The Warriors took a 97-88 defeat against the Rams to move to 1-2 this season.

Wrestling

Guilford took two out of three matches in a four-team home meet against Ledyard, Middletown, and Trumbull on Jan. 11. The Indians defeated Ledyard (41-33) and Middletown (35-34), while losing to Trumbull (53-24) at the meet.

Posting wins for Guilford against Ledyard were Mohammad Halabi at 106 pounds, John Fernandes with a 13-2 decision at 132 pounds, Kyle Putnam with an 11-4 win at 132 pounds; Edward Barlage, who outpointed his opponent 11-0 at 138 pounds; Aiden Ghiroli, who recorded a pin in 2:23 at 170 pounds; Zach Halas, who picked up a forfeit win at 182 pounds; and Ian Rose, a pinfill victor at 220 pounds.

Halabi, Barlage, Ghiroli, and Rose earned for Guilford victories versus Middletown.

Anthony Bomgardner won by pin in the 125-pound match against Trumbull. Other wins were recorded by Barlage (138), Brent Strand (160), and Rose (220).

Earlier in the week, the Indians recorded a 37-33 victory versus Foran on Jan. 8.

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Guilford Boys' Hoops Gets Win Against Career; Fencing Teams Have Big Weeks - Zip06.com

Friday, January 10th 2020 - 12:10 UTC A report posted on the OIE website showed the disease, which has devastated herds in the world's top pork producer China, had now been found next to Germany

Poland recorded 55 outbreaks of African swine fever in wild boar near the German border last month, the world animal health body said on Thursday, in a sign the deadly virus is spreading near one of the European Union's biggest pork exporters.

A report posted on the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) website showed that the disease, which has devastated herds in the world's top pork producer China, had now been found in a village less than 30km from Germany.

African swine fever is harmless to humans but highly deadly in boars and pigs. It originated in Africa before spreading to Europe and Asia and has already killed hundreds of millions pigs, while reshaping global meat and feed markets.

Germany's government said early December it was stepping up measures to prevent an outbreak of African swine fever after a case was discovered in Poland close to its border.

A majority of the outbreaks reported by the Polish farm ministry to the OIE were discovered between Dec 4 and Dec 23 in neighboring villages in the states of Lubuskie and Wielkopolskie, 75 to 100 km from the German border.

There are fears in Germany that its exports of pork to China and other Asian countries could be threatened, with import bans regularly imposed on pig meat from regions where African swine fever has been discovered.

Authorities in German states bordering Poland have built fences in an attempt to stop wild boars wandering into Germany and spreading the disease. A series of 90 cm high fences similar to those used to close farm fields were built by the state of Brandenburg in December while the state also relaxed hunting restrictions to allow more shooting of boar, the state agriculture ministry said.

The state of Saxony said it is this week building a 4.5km electrified fence along a high risk sector close to the border with Poland. Countries infected by severe animal diseases such as African swine fever or highly pathogenic bird flu, must warn the OIE immediately and submit regular follow-up reports.

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Electric fences between Poland and Germany to avoid spread of African swine fever - MercoPress

Crowley, Texas, company Superior AC & Heat launched its updated range of professional HVAC repair and installation services for clients in Crowley.

(Newswire.net -- January 10, 2020) -- Crowley, TX -- Crowley, Texas, company Superior AC & Heat launched its updated range of professional HVAC repair and installation services for clients in Crowley, Arlington, Fort Worth, Burleson and surrounding areas.

Superior AC & Heat announced the launch of an updated range of HVAC repair and installation services for residential and commercial clients in Crowley, Texas. Since 1980, the company has been proudly serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area, providing fast and affordable services.

More information can be found at https://www.superioracnheat.com

Air conditioning systems are essentials for keeping indoor air clean, warm during winter, cool in the summer, and maintaining proper humidity levels for optimal comfort. The newly updated repair and installation services at Superior AC & Heat ensure that Crowley residents benefit from a fast, responsive, and reliable service.

As one of the oldest HVAC companies in Texas, Superior AC & Heat follows all safety and efficiency standards as defined by the State of Texas as well as local building codes. The company can take care of each client's residential or commercial heating and cooling needs, while guaranteeing a courteous, professional, and efficient service.

In addition, all technicians at Superior AC & Heat have been screened and are regularly drug tested. They will always arrive in clean uniforms, driving clearly marked vehicles.

The expert team will identify the problem and repair the issue to keep the client's system functioning the way it should. When an air conditioning or heating system is not working properly, the professional technicians are ready to assist clients with a fast, responsive, and reliable service 24/7.

Whether clients are looking for a new, efficient HVAC system for their entire home or need help with a tricky repair, the professional team at Superior AC & Heat can help. They are dedicated to helping each and every client make the best choice and complete the job quickly to minimize any interruption at the clients home or business.

A satisfied client said: "Great company! Their bid was lower than the other two companies I called and their service was amazing. Mike had my unit back running in less than an hour. Very professional, will definitely use them for any future needs."

Interested parties can find more by visiting the above-mentioned website.

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Crowley TX HVAC Repair and Installation Heating and Cooling Services Launched - Newswire

Nailing It Down

By Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty

Is your heating system meeting your needs? Is it clean, inexpensive and effective?

Last week we compared a variety of different heating systems and noted the pros and cons of each. Those we discussed included baseboard heaters, heat pump/air handler with ductwork, gas, pellet stove and wood stove.

Today we are concentrating on our favorite choice: the ductless heat pump. We really cant say enough about this effective, inexpensive option to heating your home.

Ductless heat pump program

After you get done reading todays column, consider whether you might be interested in installing a ductless heat pump. Its a good choice for many different living situations. And it might be a terrific choice for you, especially if you happen to be eligible for a program that installs free ductless heat pumps.

We will discuss the details of the free program in next weeks column including giving the income qualifications. For now, read up on why we especially like this form of heating and cooling your home.

Cheap alternative for heat

In this climate, a regular outside heat pump and inside air handler furnace with ducts is an efficient way to heat a house. The technology of any heat pump basically recovers heat from the outside air and transfers it via a closed-loop refrigerant gas to the inside air handler furnace inside your house. The air handler blows circulating air through the air handlers radiator coil that was heated by the gas and delivers warm air throughout the house in your ducts and floor vents.

In the summer, it will do the reverse drying out the indoor air and pulling the heat out of the air from inside the house and blowing it off outside at the exterior heat pump. The returning air feels cool, providing you with a nice air conditioned space.

Ductless heat pumps are just as they sound, not needing any ductwork to convey the heated or cooled air.

Their benefits are many. Here are just a few:

They do not pollute.

They are relatively easy and inexpensive to install, and sometimes come with a rebate from the PUD.

They provide filtered air better for folks with allergies and health concerns.

They require no ductwork in or under your house, saving you money on installation.

They are inexpensive to operate paying for themselves in just a few years and lasting 20 years.

They are easy to maintain.

We think the drawbacks are few, but we do need to mention them:

The heating units are visible, so the locations of both the exterior and interior units might initially be a practical or aesthetic concern.

If the electrical power goes out, you lose your heat unless you have a compatible generator or another backup source.

A house thats chopped up with lots of little rooms will not benefit from this type of system as much as one with a more open concept.

Itll heat what it can see

To be most efficient, you will want the inside ductless heat pump unit located where it can see the most living areas possible living room, dining room and kitchen where the space is more open and where you spend most of your time.

If it can see down a hallway, it may also heat it and the rooms connected to it when doors are left open. Still, you may want to have some kind of backup heat in those rooms.

Figuring ways to recirculate the air back to the unit is worth it. One little trick to help heated air get to where you want it is to open a window a crack in the room, which relieves pressure and draws in heated air. Some homes benefit from multiple indoor units or more than one setup. Your contractor will know which is best for what you want to achieve.

The ductless air heating units are about 3 feet wide and a foot tall and protrude from the wall about a foot. The air flow can be pointed just the way it is needed in your house.

While you may not have conceived of having a nice-looking heating unit on your wall, after about a week of clean, consistent, cheap heat, you wont even notice its there.

To maintain a ductless heat pump, you just need to open the unit and rinse the reusable filters in the sink, dry them and put them back in the unit. If treated correctly, the filters shouldnt wear out.

Consider for the future

Maybe your oil or gas furnace, cadet wall heaters, electric baseboard or pellet stove, or ducted heat pump is nearing retirement age. If thats the case, before you replace it with the same, try researching a ductless heat pump.

In our experience, most homes need just one unit. The cost runs about $4,000 for a 1-ton unit installed (more for bigger units or complicated installations).

Most heating contractors on the Harbor can install a ductless heat pump. We suggest that you get three bids before choosing which contractor to go with as you would on any major home improvement project.

Backups suggested

A ductless heat pump will provide most of what you need to keep your home a comfortable temperature 90% of the time.

However, if we get a deep, long-lasting cold snap, there simply wont be enough heat in the air for it to extract, so some sort of backup heat is suggested. Keeping your old system as a backup could make up the difference for short-term needs.

You may want to have something like a furnace-rated propane or gas fireplace or pellet stove for those very, very cold days instead. Regular fireplaces are the last resort and you should never try to heat your home with a barbecue or other non-vented appliance.

Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is executive director. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing for all residents of Grays Harbor County. For questions about home repair, renting, remodeling or buying, call 360-533-7828 or visit 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen. Our office is fully ADA-compliant.

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Nailing It Down: Singing the praises of ductless heat pumps - The Daily World

Natural gas utilities in Massachusetts are facing an existential crisis: they could be out of business by mid-century. That's because the state's 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act requires emissions from burning fossil fuels like natural gas be cut by 80% economy-wide by 2050.

But now a solution that could help save the companies and the climate is at hand. Or, more accurately, underfoot. It's geothermal energy, which takes advantage of thebiggest energy storage system on earth: the earth itself.

Our planet absorbs the sun's solar energy and stores it underground as thermal energy that can be used to heat and cool homes and businesses.Just a few yards down, the earth's temperature is a constant 50 to 60 degrees; warmer than the air above during winter, cooler in the summer. You can take advantage of the temperature difference using what is called a geothermal or ground source heat pump: plastic pipes filled with water and antifreeze pick up the heat from the ground, and the pump circulates it through a building.

The technology, developed in the late 1940s, does away with furnaces, air conditioners and hot water heaters, and is the most efficient way to heat and cool a building. While it's widespread in some countries, like Sweden, it's been slow to catch on here.

"The site has to be appropriate," said architect Lisa Cunningham, who recently designeda gut renovation of a private Brookline home using geothermal energy. The best sites for geothermal systems have lots of space to install horizontal pipes in relatively shallow ground. But because the Brookline lot is so small, workers had to drill two holes 500 feet deep.

"One thing that's so great about having a project like this right in the heart of a very dense town, we're showing people it can be very cost-effective," Cunningham said, adding that the cost for installing the system in the Brookline home "came in less than a comparable gas system."

But that includes thousands of dollars in state rebates and federal tax incentives that are expiring. Cost is still a big hurdle, said Zeyneb Magavi, co-executive director ofHome Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), a Cambridge-based environmental nonprofit.

"Geothermal ground source heating has been around a long time, and it has usually been installed one house by one house individually," she said. "It works. However, it is a fairly high up-front cost, and you have to have the means and motivation to be able to do it."

Magavi, a clean energy advocate, said she asked herself: Who already digs holes and puts pipes in the ground, has big money and is motivated to find a new business model? Her answer: natural gas distribution companies.

Magavi was familiar with the gas utilities through her work along with HEETco-executive director Audrey Schulman and the Gas Leaks Allies helpinggas companies identify leaky pipes most in need of repair.

Together, they found it would cost $9 billion over 20 years to fix the aging infrastructure. Magavi suggested they use for money to transform the industry instead.

"The idea is that a gas utility takes out its leaky gas pipe and, instead of putting in new gas pipe, we put in a hot water loop," Magavi said. "If we're going to invest in infrastructure, let's invest in infrastructure for the next century. Let's not invest in infrastructure that was hot in 1850."

HEET commissioned a study to investigate if there were a way to make geothermal energy appealing to both utilities and environmentalists.

"We wanted something that was renewable, resilient, reliable, kept gas workers in jobs, [was] equal or lower cost than gas, and safe and doable," Magavi said. She found that "networking" connecting geothermal systems to many homes and businesses ticked all of the boxes.

"The beautiful thing is that when you interconnect them, the more customers you put on the system, the more efficient it gets," Magavi said.

Magavi showed the results to senior officials with Eversource, the largest energy delivery company in New England.

It was an unusual pitch, but she felt that "they also understood that we were approaching this always from a data- and fact-based conversation, and they took us very seriously," Magavi said.

Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner said the company likes the idea.

"This looks a lot like the gas business that we're in except it's totally clean," Conner said. "Eversource can bring the capital and the expertise to this. We know how to build infrastructure."

Eversource conducted its own study of networked geothermal heat pump systems, leading it to propose three different pilot projects to Massachusetts regulators in order to prove that the networked systems are feasible.

Under a networked system, homes and businesses would own the geothermal heat pumps, while Eversource would own and manage the system of pipes, sensors and pressure regulators, Conner said. That would convert the gas utility into a networked, thermal management company.

"Maybe I have a laundromat that has a lot of heat load, maybe it's working a lot in the evening," Conner said. "So they are leveraging putting heat back into the system potentially in the evening when others need it for cooling. So you get that benefit."

State regulators are now reviewing Eversources's proposals for networked pilot projects, and could give the go-ahead within a year.

"I think we can move fast," Magavi said. "My vision of the future is that we have wires delivering us renewable energy competing with pipes delivering us renewable energy. So thermal power and electric power grids, and the two benefit each other."

Geothermal energy heating our homes, with pumps powered by solar- and wind-generated electricity. If this unusual collaboration between a natural gas utility and an environmental organization pays off, a clean energy future could be right under our feet.

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How A Climate Change Nonprofit Got Eversource Thinking About A Geothermal Future - WBUR

Winsupply Acquires Rosen Supply, Plumbing and Heating Distributor | 2020-01-10 | ACHR News This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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Winsupply Acquires Rosen Supply, Plumbing and Heating Distributor - ACHR NEWS

Originally constructed in 1978, Great River Energys high-voltage direct-current system is one of a few of its kind in the world and one of the electric generation and transmission cooperatives most valuable assets. The co-ops high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) system consists of a 436-mile (702-km) HVDC transmission line and two converter stations, one at each end of the line, that convert electricity from alternating-current (AC) power to direct-current (DC) power and vice versa. Nearly all the power is delivered from Coal Creek Station the co-ops largest power plant in Underwood, North Dakota, U.S., to Minnesota, where the utilitys 28 member co-ops are located.

After eight years of planning and preparation, Great River Energy recently upgraded the unique HVDC system, successfully completing one of the most significant transmission projects in its history. The utility and ABB the manufacturer of its HVDC system completed the upgrade from March 7, 2019, to May 17, 2019, during a power plant outage that was planned for regular maintenance. As part of the upgrade, all the equipment in the converter stations was replaced with todays technology. This included replacing the conversion equipment (valves), controls, cooling towers and smoothing reactors as well as updating the DC yards. All the work either took place inside or directly supporting the converter stations, not on the transmission line itself.

Although ABB has completed other similar HVDC system upgrades, this project was unique because the work had to be done in an extremely tight construction window. With only a 74-day power plant outage in which to work, Great River Energy carefully planned for years to ensure the work could be completed on time, on budget and safely.

Working Ahead

Great River Energy, ABB and its contractors developed a detailed schedule in Primavera, a project management software tool. The schedule captured every task that had to be completed during the outage, how long each task should take and the date by which each task should be completed. About 1350 tasks were identified for each of the two converter stations. The design of the schedule helped to make the critical-path elements clear to the contractors. Everyone knew what the priorities were to ensure resources were available and tasks completed safely and on time. This schedule had to be followed to the letter to ensure the outage went smoothly.

Knowing the construction window was tight and nonnegotiable, Great River Energy took every opportunity to ask what could be done ahead of the March 7 outage start date to eliminate tasks and ensure success. As a result, five major items were completed ahead of time.

First, a plan was put in place to ensure all major equipment was delivered and ready on-site prior to the start of the outage. To facilitate this, Great River Energy constructed a 35,000-sq ft (3251-sq m) permanent facility at the Coal Creek Station site in North Dakota and ABB constructed a temporary 20,000-sq ft (1858-sq m) facility at the Dickinson converter station in Minnesota. This enabled ABB to deliver all major equipment to the sites well before the start of the outage and preconstruct sections of the new valves in the winter of 2018.

Second, Great River Energy proactively worked with the Midwest Reliability Organization, the regional organization for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), to discuss the co-ops plan for ensuring compliance. Great River Energy was one of the first utilities to complete a project of this nature since versions 5 and 6 of the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards became mandatory. Great River Energy had to manage the compliance of both the old control systems and the new control systems while they were being installed and uninstalled before, during and after the outage. This included tracking more than 2000 cyber assets subject to NERC CIP requirements.

To help test compliance and the plan overall, in early 2019, the co-op and ABB replaced the controls on six AC filter banks. This also reduced the amount of equipment that would have to be commissioned during the 74-day outage.

Third, the floors of the converter station buildings were prepared to ensure they could withstand the weight of the cranes coming in and out of the buildings to demolish the old valve stacks. The floors of the old buildings were not designed for the weight of the cranes. If the floors collapsed during demolition, the impact would have been catastrophic.

To reinforce the converter station floors, ABB installed about an additional 60 braces and posts. The floors were covered with 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch (12.7-mm to 19-mm) thick steel plates. Weighing between 800 lb and 1000 lb (363 kg to 454 kg) each, the plates were hauled in by a forklift and put in place with magnets.

Fourth, in the spring of 2018, during a regularly planned maintenance outage, crews staged equipment, cut holes in the basement walls of the converter stations, and poured concrete for foundation piers, cooling towers and cable trench.

Fifth, to eliminate airborne particulates, Great River Energy hired contractors to prepare pipes that were coated in lead-based paint and had to be cut during demolition.

Demolition and Construction

The first day of the outage, March 7, was dedicated exclusively to environmental preparations Great River Energy staff had to make to ensure the work site was safe for contractors. Because the converter stations were built more than 40 years ago, a significant amount of hazardous material had to be addressed.

During the first 24 hours of the outage, Great River Energy contractors removed and disposed of 12,000 gal. (45,425 L) of glycol from the old air-cooled valves and 8600 gal. (32,555 L) of mineral oil used in the smoothing reactor. Certified contractors also removed non-friable asbestos from the heating ventilation and air conditioning ducts.

Great River Energys HVDC system is made up of two poles, which the co-op refers to as pole 1 and pole 2. The 74-day outage plan was designed for a 42-day outage of pole 1, a 35-day outage of pole 2 and an overlap of three days where both poles would not be operating.

On the second day of the outage, after a safety meeting, ABB immediately began demolition of pole 1 equipment, specifically on the fan room and valve hall. The task was much like gutting an old car; everything had to come out. In this case, it was like working simultaneously on two similar carsthat were 436 miles apart.

Coordination was a daily task for Great River Energy and ABB as work schedules continually were revised and communicated to ensure the more than 150 contractors knew what to do next at each site. The time devoted to developing the meticulous schedule paid off. The work closely followed the original plan, except for a few minor issues and some unwelcome weather. Crews in North Dakota worked in high winds and significantly below-average temperatures, and Minnesota got piles of snow. More than 100,000 cu yards (76,456 cu m) of snow had to be removed from the Dickinson station parking lots and the DC yard so that project work could continue.

Safety also was a key focus. Before each shift began, a safety meeting was held with all contractors to talk about what work had to be accomplished. Each contractor then had a tailgate meeting to discuss the specifics of the tasks.

Despite the challenges, by the end of the day March 12, the pole 1 valve halls at both the Dickinson and Coal Creek Station converter stations were empty, ahead of schedule. Crews transitioned from demolition to installation, with April 8 in mind. That was the day pole 1 had to be installed entirely, so commissioning could begin. To move to the next stage of the project, ABB had to demonstrate the pole 1 system was ready for operation.

Bi-Pole Outage

April 15 to April 17 were some of the most critical days of the outage because some of the work could only be completed with the system entirely out of service, and, during that time, Great River Energy would not be selling any power from Coal Creek Station into the market. In addition, this outage required coordination not only with the plant but also the regional transmission organization, the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO), and Blue Flint Ethanol, which relies on Coal Creek Station for steam.

During the bi-pole outage, the control systems that make the two poles work together had to be replaced and fully commissioned a large task to accomplish in just three days. The replacement was completed on schedule, but commissioning was delayed for one day because Great River Energy and ABB felt crews needed rest to ensure they could work safely.

After the bi-pole outage, on April 18, pole 1 was energized and the pole 2 outage continued. Crews repeated the same process for pole 2 they had followed for pole 1. On the first day, Great River Energy and its contractors removed hazardous waste. Next, they demolished the old valves and installed the new technology.

As expected, the process for demolishing and installing the equipment for pole 2 was more efficient because lessons had been learned from doing the work on pole 1. The outage time specified in the contract was reduced by seven days and ABB was able to cut the night shift one and a half weeks into the pole 2 outage. Ultimately, ABB completed the work and was ready for commissioning by May 13.

Fault Testing By Drones

Before the system could be placed in service, the protection system had to be tested as well as the line fault locator, to ensure it would locate the position of the fault correctly along the line. Great River Energy had researched various methods for staging faults to do the testing. Ultimately, the co-op chose to use an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to carry a copper wire into the line, which caused the fault. Of the options available, using a UAS clearly proved to be the safest and most efficient.

Staged faults were performed on both poles, some near the Coal Creek Station converter station, some at the midpoint of the HVDC line and some close to the Dickinson converter station. A significant amount of preparation had to be done to ensure the fault testing process would follow Great River Energys technology use policy and comply with all U.S. Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations. The co-ops line technicians were on-site with the fault testing team in case something unexpected happened and a repair was needed.

However, the most challenging part of the process was scheduling a fault because this required coordination with Coal Creek Station, both converter stations, MISO and the weather. The testing could not take place if winds were above 22 mph (35 kmph) or there was any precipitation. Ultimately, the schedule came together. Testing was performed over three days, May 15 to May 17, and generally went as expected.

Later in the afternoon on May 17, two days ahead of schedule, ABB cleared Great River Energy to proceed to commercial operation. Construction and testing were complete. The upgrade was finished.

The Results

Great River Energy successfully completed a major upgrade to its HVDC system on time and under budget, safely replacing all the equipment in two 40-year-old converter stations with todays advanced technology in a total of 72 days. Although many people contributed to the project, a core group of employees and partners including ABB, Teshmont Consultants LP and Michels Corp. ultimately overcame complex and unique challenges to make it happen.

There were unique safety and environmental considerations throughout the project, and communications was an ongoing challenge. People and equipment were located around the world in nine countries, bringing different cultural norms and time zones into play. Great River Energy employees spent a total of more than 900 days away from home, 350 of those overseas. At the peak of construction, approximately 150 contractors were working at each converter station site 24 hours a day, six days a week. In normal working conditions, only three employees would be at each site.

Great River Energys HVDC system already is delivering significant benefits. The amount of energy needed to operate the converter stations has been reduced dramatically. Additionally, while the old water-cooled valves used approximately 4 million gal. (15.1 million L) of water each month, the new air-cooled valves do not use any water.

In the end, the key success measure is continued world-class reliability. Great River Energys HVDC system has been one of the most reliable in the world over the last 40 years. Now, with todays advanced HVDC technology in place, the expectation is the co-op and its member-owners can look forward to another 40 years.

For more information:

ABB | http://www.abb.com

Blue Flint Ethanol | http://www.blueflintethanol.com

Michels Corp. | http://www.michels.us

Midwest Reliability Organization | http://www.mro.net

Mid-Continent Independent System Operator | http://www.misoenergy.org

Teshmont Consultants | http://www.teshmont.com

Link:
Gaining Maximum Return on HVDC Systems with Targeted Refurbishments - Transmission & Distribution World

A workshop to be held in Research Triangle Park on Feb. 12 will help set pest management priorities for the fledging sorghum industry in North Carolina and surrounding states.

The Southern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has provided a grant to fund the event, and also to develop a pest management strategic plan for the Mid-Atlantic region. The grant was awarded to the Crop Commercialization Program (CCP) at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech). NCBiotech will also host the workshop.

The Southern IPM Center is housed at North Carolina State University in collaboration with the University of Georgia and Auburn University. It works with a variety of stakeholders including extension agents, growers, government agencies, and researchers to support pest management research, education and outreach in the South.

The CCP, which promotes new, high-value crop research in North Carolina, will coordinate the workshop and lead development of the strategic plan.

Our mission is to find opportunities to increase our farmers profits and strengthen our agribusiness sector to support rural economic development, said Paul Ulanch, Ph.D., MBA, executive director of CCP. Sorghum is not typically grown in North Carolina only about 18,000 acres were planted here in 2018, he pointed out. But its a crop that has the potential to expand significantly and to attract industry to the state. So its important now to focus on pest management.

A diverse group growers, extension agents, academics, regulators, and industry and commodity association representatives is expected to participate in the one-day workshop. Theyll examine production practices and pest management issues. The goal is to incorporate information from the meeting and other sorghum pest management studies into a strategic framework a pest management strategic plan (PMSP) that will guide future crop decisions and activities in the Mid-Atlantic region (North and South Carolina and Virginia).

The strategic plan will outline priorities for sorghum research, regulation and outreach, according to Sarah Frank, NCBiotechs project administrator for CCP. That includes guiding a wide range of activities, from the registration of pesticides by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the allocation of funds for research and other pest management activities. To date, a PMSP has not been developed for sorghum in the region, she said.

Danesha Seth Carley, Ph.D., director of the Southern IPM Center, said her organization is looking forward to working with NCBiotech to support the flow of information and resources for this important sorghum project. A well-thought-out pest management strategic plan is crucial to enhance environmental, economic and human health, she added.

The effort is the latest in a multi-year collaboration to investigate ways to expand sorghum production in North Carolina, both as a feed for hogs and other livestock and as a source of biomass for ethanol.

Sorghum grows tall like corn but is more drought resistant, so it can be a reliable alternative in those areas of the state where sandy soil cant hold enough moisture for corn during dry growing seasons.

Increasing the crops acreage also has the potential to make North Carolinas huge pork industry more self-sustaining. Farmers currently produce less than a third of the 300 million bushels of animal feed the states pork and poultry producers require annually. The remainder must be shipped from the Midwest and other locations.

Sorghum also allows for the application of different herbicides and can be used as a valuable rotational crop, particularly to control nematodes.

Crop rotation is one of a number of topics that will be discussed during the workshop, which follows close on the heels of two other multi-year sorghum initiatives led by NCBiotech. The Mid-Atlantic Feed Grain Project funded from 2015-2017 by the North Carolina Pork Council, the Golden LEAF Foundation and pork producer Murphy-Brown LLC focused on increasing production of animal feed from grain crops in the region by more than 50 percent.

Another three-year, $1.87 million grant from the United States Department of Agricultures Bioenergy Research Development Initiative supports the study of sorghum as biomass for fuel and high-value chemicals in North Carolina and surrounding states. CCP was the grant recipient. This project, which concludes in 2020, brings together North Carolinas two largest economic drivers agriculture and biotechnology to maximize fibrous sorghum stalk material for use as a high-value product.

Information from these two initiatives will be incorporated into the pest management strategic plan. Well be able to determine whats most important in terms of sorghum crop management, Frank said. And we can help set the priorities for what we hope will be a steadily growing agricultural segment in our state and the region.

Sorghum production opens the doors to new market opportunities and provides us with another key crop for rotation, Ulanch pointed out. We think it will have a positive impact on growers in our state in the future.

Excerpt from:
Pest management strategy next step toward increasing sorghum production in NC - WRAL Tech Wire

Global Insect Pest Control Market Forecast 2026 By Top Players, Applications, and its Types.

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1 Global Market Overview

1.1 Scope of Statistics

Scope of Products

Scope of Manufacturers

Scope of Application

Scope of Type

Scope of Regions/Countries

1.2 Global Market Size

2 Regional Market

Regional Production

Regional Demand

Regional Trade

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Company Information

Product & Services

Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)Recent Development

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Link:
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