Travels to Upstate New York

I am writing this month’s article over the Memorial Day weekend after visiting our New York classes and the New York associations that represent public power. There are many differences between our region and New York, yet there is even more synergy and commonality. As someone who grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., I can tell you that "up-staters" pride themselves on the ability to overcome adversity as much as New Englanders pride themselves on their independence. Growing up, we used to complain about the Alka Selzer ads touting Buffalo as having the toughest winter conditions. They got far less snow and nowhere near our level of cold. This is probably what drove me to supporting the Boston teams.

So, traveling to western New York and then along the eastern border I was pleased to see how strong and well prepared the public utilities were. However, even with all of their preparedness there are issues that could be assisted by collaboration with NEPPA. It takes six hours for mutual assistance to arrive in Long Island from upstate New York because of the distance. I imagine it would probably take around two hours from our southern Connecticut members. This rationale was not wasted on the MEUA and NYAPP members.

On Thursday, May 24, Scott Edwards (NEPPA's Mutual Aid Chair) presented to the NYAPP members and reviewed our Mutual Aid agreement and program. There were several questions, as well as recognition for the excellent performance of all of our participating members.

Also, while at the NYAPP meetings a New York state official asked the NYAPP members to develop or investigate a program to help returning vets. This made me recollect a recent discussion I had with Dave Schofield from Peabody (Mass.) Municipal Light Department. As an Army Corps of Engineers Reservist he had discussed with me the great work his unit did in Iraq rebuilding the electrical infrastructure. These two compatible needs require just one resource to create the synergy to fulfill them: NEPPA. With our training resources and knowledge we have the capability to help our returning vets and the utilities in New England and New York in search of qualified crew candidates.

I can’t imagine a better-fitting initiative for us to explore as I return to my Memorial Day weekend.

One final note on Mutual Aid: current President John Bilda’s testimony at the Senate’s Energy Committee demonstrated and acknowledged the extremely impressive job that our members did this past year with the two major events. Good job and thanks to all of the folks who work so hard to make our mutual aid program so successful!