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Strengthening the grid backbone for U.S. energy dominance

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Natural gas: A core component of Invenergy’s energy mix

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Raising industry standards: Invenergy’s new Center of Excellence

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Invenergy, Verizon partner to procure over 1 GW in renewable energy

Invenergy and Hubbell Announce Supply Chain Agreement Partnership, Supporting Local Jobs and US Infrastructure

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Invenergy Announces Commercial Operations at Its 10th Arizona Battery Energy Storage Center

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Illuminate USA Celebrates One Thousand Illuminators and One Million Solar Panels in less than One Year

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Invenergy Announces $30M Center of Excellence Focused on Training and Manufacturing

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Read CEO Michael Polsky's conversation with Axios about the criticality of interregional transmission infrastructure  

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Destructive wildfires burned down nearly 1,000 homes in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30th, 2021. To provide support to those affected by the wildfires, Invenergy Impact donated $10,000 to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, organized by the Community Foundation Boulder County. This foundation works closely with local government and nonprofit partners to provide aid to those with damaged or destroyed homes, those who were evacuated, and who lost wages due to business closure or destruction.

Camp Springs Supports the Scurry County Jr. Livestock Association

Both the 4H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs are important community partners across all our developing and operating projects. Last month, the 130.5-MW Camp Springs Energy Center in Texas supported the Scurry County Jr. Livestock Association with a donation to support student exhibitors in the livestock show ring. Through donations from local communities and businesses, over $540,000 was raised in total for local students! The Camp Springs team has also helped set up the stock show ring prior to the start of the show to support the program for the past five years. Jackie Roberson, Site Administrator, Victor Chapa, Wind Technician, and Justin Sullivan, Lead Wind Technician, helped-out at the event this year. Photo caption: Jackie pictured with family friend and local student Tatum Bec Price setting up for the livestock show.

Invenergy Volunteers at MSI’s Black Creativity Career Showcase

 Invenergy employees from our Chicago office volunteered at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s (MSI) Black Creativity Showcase. This Career Showcase is part of the larger Black Creativity programming at MSI throughout Black History Month. The mission of the program is to inspire African American children to pursue educational opportunities and careers in the fields of science, technology, medicine, and engineering, through programs and events at the museum. This year there were 17 career stations, almost 70 professionals and approximately 3,500 guests attending the event! Eyuel Gorfu, Senior Staff Engineer, Renewable Engineering, Rhonda Jones, Vice President, Regulatory Compliance, Varun Praveen, Project Manager, Renewable Project Management, and Anne-Lawrence Nemorin, Staff Engineer, Renewable Engineering represented our Chicago team at the event.

Local Nebraska FFA Chapter Presents “How Wind Energy Affects Us Today”

The Boone Central Future Farmers of America in Albion, Nebraska asked the local Invenergy Operations team to review a virtual presentation they prepared for the Nebraska State FFA for the agricultural issue contest, “How Wind Energy Affects Us Today.” The team of four provided many facts and statistics about wind power and the Operations team gave feedback based on their extensive knowledge of the industry. Among these experts are Chelsey Briese, Manager, Operations Support, Matt Krings, New Site Start Up Manager, Renewable O&M, Luke Hinkle, Director, Renewable O&M, Nick Heithoff, Thunderhead Energy Center O&M Manager, Cole Haddix, Lead Field Services Technician 3 Level 2.

Trust for Public Land Community Charrette

Utopia Hill, Head of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction at Reactivate and Alicia Russo, Senior Analyst, Social Impact, Invenergy attended a community charrette with leadership from one of Invenergy’s Impact Partners, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), various community members and associations working on the design for an Under the Grid project in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. The local community is heavily involved in planning out the look and feel of the space, and during the charrette mood boards were scattered around the room with different elements that could be included in the space. To learn more about this project and many others part of TPL’s Equitable Communities Fund, attend the Impact Partner Lunch & Learn on Monday, April 18

VTO at the Greater Chicago Food Depository

To celebrate Wellness Week, a group from the Invenergy Chicago team focused on Community Well-Being by volunteering at the 

. The team boxed 6,040lbs of assorted foods, which equals about 2,400 meals for people in need. Sandra Enshiwat, Senior Manager, Total Rewards, Stephanie Cuddalore, Senior Accountant, International Accounting, Isabelle Pascarelli, Manager, Business Transformation, Ellen Janowski, Associate, Knowledge Management, Stephen Rodgers, Accountant, Corporate Accounting, Erin Eastwood, Senior Analyst, Business Transformation, Patrick Magnier, Project Manager, Renewable Project Management, April Alvarado, Senior HR Generalist, Foster Lewin, Technology Adoption Manager, and Jennifer Karim, Associate, Land Development all helped out at GCFD.

Colleagues at our 584-MW Nelson Energy Center in Illinois are supporting the annual Ronald Reagan 5k Run in Dixon, IL for the seventh year in a row. The event itself takes place in July, and in past years Nelson employees ran the race together as part of their team building. This year, the Reagan Run 5k Committee is awarding six $500 scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education at a 2-year college, 4-year college/university or trade school. Rob Rooney, Nelson Plant Manager, Josh Alfaro, Nelson Maintenance Manager, and Lisa Young, Plant Administrator presented the donation to a representative for the Reagan Run.

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Impact Recap - First Quarter 2022

Invenergy understands that to continue staying ahead of the curve in the clean energy industry, we need the best workforce on our team. And in our more than 20 years in the business, we’ve seen just how educational opportunities and a passion for the industry are important for current and prospective employees to succeed. At Invenergy, we understand these factors, in addition to prioritizing a workforce that brings a variety of backgrounds, skills and ideas to work each day, are important to our continued success.

That belief is what makes our partnership with Chicago Scholars so important. Their organization’s mission is to “uniquely select, train and mentor academically ambitious students from under-resourced communities to complete college and become the next generation of leaders” in the city.

Over the course of a seven-year period, Chicago Scholars helps students in three phases of their academic development: college access, college success and college to careers. Throughout the program, students learn how to navigate the college admissions process, self-advocacy and networking skills, career development training and more.

For the last two years, Invenergy has sponsored Chicago Scholars’ Vibrant Green Futures mainstage event, in addition to offering thought leadership during the program. This year, Rhonda Jones, Invenergy’s Vice President of Reliability Compliance, discussed how the clean energy industry can diversify its leadership ranks.

Invenergy and Chicago Scholars have worked together to invest in the next generation of leaders. This summer we welcomed Sabine Ramirez, an undergrad at Purdue University pursuing an engineering degree, to our intern class. Sabine is part of the Chicago Scholar’s EMERGE program. The EMERGE Scholars program provides students with leadership and professional development experiences through paid internships with career partners throughout Chicago.

We also established the Invenergy Scholarship, which has been awarded to two Chicago Scholars students attending a four-year college or university who want to pursue a career in renewable energy. Read on to learn about the two award recipients, Amina Alkhatib and Ntokozo “Zandie” Lawson, and how their passion for sustainability drives their future career goals.

Amina graduated at the top of her class from Senn High School’s International Baccalaureate program. Inspired to fight climate change, she is eager to study renewable energy in college and dedicate her life to protecting the environment. An athlete who loves to be outside, Amina is excited to learn more about ways in which humans can use kinetic energy to support renewable energy initiatives. Amina has participated in her high school’s service club, debate team, and Spanish club, and she is also a member of the soccer, basketball, and flag football teams. Amina’s goal is to become a leader in the renewable energy industry, inspiring and representing women of color, and making renewable energy more accessible and efficient to have a positive impact on the environment. Amina will be attending The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Zandie graduated from Senn High School, completing the academically rigorous International Baccalaureate program. A leader in her school community, Zandie served as co-founder and chair of the IB student council, a school ambassador and athlete, and a team member who planned and organized ROTC events. Motivated by an appreciation for the beauty of nature, an interest in business, and an awareness of environmental-related injustices, Zandie feels motivated to take action against climate change. As president of her high school’s Green Club, Zandie organized school clean-ups and advocated for recycling programs. Zandie also spent recent summers interning at the Chicago Botanic Garden, an experience that opened her eyes to climate change and sustainable development. These experiences solidified her commitment to making change in her community and promoting the use of renewable energy. Zandie will be attending Denison University, where she plans to major in global commerce and environmental science.

Invenergy’s Impact partnerships are a reflection of the core principles of our business and the role we want to play in a changing world. 

Learn more about how Invenergy and our partners are making an impact at www.invenergyimpact.com

Invenergy Impact Partner Spotlight: Chicago Scholars

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Members of Invenergy’s Denver team recently took the day off from their laptops and meetings to do something different: climbing onto a rooftop in Westminster, Colorado, to learn how to install solar panels. Although we are experts in the clean energy industry, we relied on the certified professionals at GRID Alternatives to lead this workday.

 is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy, especially in communities most impacted by underemployment, pollution and climate change. With a common goal to expand access to clean energy solutions across the globe, we’re excited to feature GRID Alternatives for our Impact Partner spotlight.

From providing no-cost solar to qualified low-income households through its 

, a program designed to develop the skills that are most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs, GRID is providing individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity with several ways to be a part of the clean energy transition.

GRID also promotes access to hands-on experience with residential solar through volunteer workdays. During the Denver team’s volunteer workday, employees from engineering, social impact, and preconstruction groups, among others, used their volunteer time off to gain an understanding of installing residential solar systems through GRID’s staff and participants in their IBT program.

Sam Bernat, an analyst on Invenergy’s origination team, learned a lot from his experience with the program.

“The GRID Alternatives team helped teach us how to install the racking, panels, and wiring for the rooftop solar system. Their team was very knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about giving back to the communities in our area,” he says. “It was great to spend this time with my coworkers and to get to know a team as driven as GRID Alternatives. Overall, the experience was fulfilling, informative and fun.”

GRID also has international programming with communities in Nicaragua, Nepal, and Mexico, where they install solar electric systems to power homes, health centers, small businesses, water projects, orphanages and schools and other mission-aligned organizations.

Invenergy’s Dylan Masi, senior associate, pre-construction, participated in GRID’s Nepal trip in 2019. “Along with a group of 10 volunteers and three GRID Alternatives staff, Masi traveled to the Chitwan National Park where she installed rooftop solar and a battery bank in an off-grid eco-tourism tower.

“We met with local community members who explained how adding electricity to the tower would bring more tourists to the park, generating more revenue which would go toward local schools as well as anti-poaching initiatives and other wildlife conservation measures. The national park was beautiful – we were able to see elephants and even a big rhinoceros while working on the tower.”

Masi appreciated being able to split her time between work installing solar and storage infrastructure and learning more about Nepalese culture.

“I got to go on a safari ride in the jungle and climb to a temple in Kathmandu, among other activities, as well as do meaningful work by bringing clean energy to a small community across the world”.

Invenergy is providing financial support to participants in GRID’s IBT program, and we look forward to building on our partnership in the future.

Impact Partner Spotlight: GRID Alternatives

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From a young age, kids start thinking about what they might want to do when they grow up. Aside from some of the old favorites – like an astronaut or firefighter – KidWind is focused on adding “a job in the clean energy field” to that list. With a mission like that, Invenergy is proud to feature them as our Impact Partner of the Month.

KidWind is a non-profit organization that helps teachers and students creatively explore the science, technology and implications of a world powered by renewable energy. The program starts by providing teachers with a wealth of ideas and resources for incorporating renewable energy lessons into their curriculum. One way it supports educators is through virtual and in-person workshops and their extended REcharge Academy, Kidwind’s flagship educator training program. This four-day program comprises in-person training sessions focused on expanding teachers’ knowledge of the renewable energy industry, combined with a variety of hands-on activities they can implement to teach renewable energy concepts to their students.

Topics at the academy this year included the future of our power grid, careers in sustainable energy, energy policy and tours of renewable energy installations. As part of this year’s partnership, Invenergy sponsored two Colorado teachers to attend the 2022 REcharge Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In May, Invenergy also sponsored a three-hour KidWind Project teacher training for 14 teachers from the Blue Ridge Unified School District and surrounding areas in Illinois. These educators learned more about Invenergy’s Sapphire Sky Energy Center (250 MW, Wind, IL) and participated in activities like the MacGyver Wind Challenge, where they competed to build a device with an attached weight from a bag of basic materials that could spin in the wind and lift off the ground. To help put this training into action, Invenergy donated funding for teachers to equip their classrooms with gear for their students, along with the option for a stipend for additional gear and lesson planning assistance.

In June, Invenergy’s renewables development team in Wisconsin hosted a teacher workshop at nearby Madison Area Technical College, with a special focus on solar energy, including solar siting and installation processes. They also toured the college’s onsite solar installation labs and rooftop solar array as well as Invenergy’s Badger Hollow I Energy Center. Following the workshop, a Madison County educator had this to say about their experience: “This was an awesome workshop with just the right mix of hands-on activities, discussion and field trips. We were so happy to be able to attend to learn about some of Wisconsin's largest solar arrays and get a chance to connect with all the energy educators and experts.”

The culmination of these training programs and student instruction comes to fruition at regional and national competitions, known as KidWind Challenges. During these events, students across the U.S. present ideas for creating their own sources of wind and solar energy – taking them one step closer to choosing a career in the renewable energy sector. Invenergy’s Impact partnerships are a reflection of the core principles of our business and the role we want to play in a changing world. Learn more about how Invenergy and our partners are making an impact at www.invenergyimpact.com

Invenergy Impact Partner Spotlight: KidWind

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November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, a time to remember the many sacrifices made by servicemembers across the US armed forces. These men and women safeguard our security and prosperity, and each year we recognize our veterans for their service to the country. 

“The military is not just about fighting wars in foreign countries,” says Invenergy Vice President, Third Party Services Brad Purtell, who spent six years in the Navy. “It’s about protecting the American way of life, both abroad and domestically, which includes helping fellow Americans recover in their darkest hours.” 

It is in that spirit of community engagement that Purtell and Senior Manager, Operations Support Frank Santiago went to Gibson City, Illinois to volunteer with 

 to assist families displaced by flooding.

Team Rubicon is a nonprofit disaster response organization that mobilizes veterans and civilian volunteers (known as “Greyshirts”) to help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises in the United States and abroad. The organization has responded to over 400 disasters since the group was founded in 2010. Recent activities include COVID-19 vaccine distribution, helping to resettle Afghan allies in the United States, and providing on-the-ground support in following a major earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. 

Invenergy has worked with Team Rubicon on a variety of disaster recovery efforts, and last year raised more than $5,000 for the organization by selling facemasks. The partnership with the organization has been spearheaded by the Invenergy Veterans Network (IVN), a company affinity group that supports veteran recruitment and engagement in clean energy and coordinates additional days of veteran-driven volunteer service. 

Down in Gibson City, Purtell and Santiago worked side by side with fellow veterans and volunteers to provide a much-needed service for the residents in their “darkest hours.” Late summer rains caused flash flooding that made almost every road in the area impassable and required the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes. Once they were able to return, they saw how significant the flood damage was, and the volunteers got to work removing old, soiled drywall, flooring, and framing to prepare the homes for repair and rebuilding.

Santiago, who also spent six years in the Navy, was happy to get his hands dirty helping the people in Invenergy’s home state. 

“My time in the military instilled certain qualities and attributes that are long-lasting, and these qualities have shaped the way I think and work,” Santiago says. "Our deployment with Team Rubicon served as a reminder of the camaraderie and sense of purpose that allows us to carry out the mission of restoring communities and peoples' livelihoods." 

The technical skills and community-focused approach instilled during their time in the military have also helped many veterans find a new home in the renewable industry when their service ends. Approximately 10 percent of employees at the Invenergy headquarters in Chicago and 16 percent of Invenergy Services technicians are military veterans, and we’re proud to have their expertise and dedication in building a more sustainable world – and in helping the communities around us. 

Invenergy Veterans Network Members Volunteer With Team Rubicon

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FFA prepares its members for leadership in careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture through STEM education programming, career and leadership development events, local engagement, literacy, advocacy and more. The organization provides hands-on experiences that give members the tools to achieve professional success.

“I’ve benefitted both personally and professionally from FFA,” said Lee.

 Before he was an FFA advisor, Lee was a member of the Coleman FFA chapter during his high school days. He was on the FFA Officer Team, Farm Skills Team, FFA Quiz Team and the Livestock Judging Team. “I learned public speaking, problem solving, how to conduct a meeting using the rules of parliamentary procedure, and so many other skills that I use in my role with Invenergy every day.”

In honor of National FFA Week, Invenergy colleagues share their FFA experiences, how those experiences translated into their careers, and what Invenergy's FFA sponsorship means to them.

Seeding Our Future: Invenergy and the National FFA

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Last year, a Vestas V150 nacelle was damaged in transit prior to installation at the Invenergy-constructed Atchison Energy Center (300 MW, Wind, MO), the first Invenergy project in Missouri. The nacelle, which houses a turbine’s generating components, was unfortunately rendered unusable for operation, but Invenergy, Ameren, and Vestas partnered with the nearby Tarkio Technology Institute to donate the nacelle. The technical institute was happy to take the decommissioned unit for use on their campus as a hands-on learning tool for students in the school’s wind technician program. 

Located on the campus of Tarkio College in northwestern Missouri, the Tarkio Technical Institute offers wind energy coursework alongside plumbing, HVAC, welding, and computer information technology programs. Wind tech students will use the donated nacelle that is in original condition and weighs approximately 120 tons and includes the generator, gearbox, drive train, and brake assembly. The unit was delivered to Tarkio Tech’s campus in January and was dedicated at an official ceremony and ribbon cutting in late April. 

Many schools have decommissioned equipment for students to train with, but that equipment tends to be outdated, says Senior Project Manager, Renewable Project Development Louis Feldman. This nacelle, on the other hand, is a brand-new model released in 2019 to the US that is going to be deployed to new wind sites for the next ten years. “It’s a very relevant piece of equipment that’s going to provide relevant experience to wind techs in training at Tarkio Tech,” he says. 

Like many technical programs across the country, Tarkio Tech’s wind technician program provides basic teachings of wind energy technology and prepares students for entry-level wind tech positions. Programs like this equip students for work at projects like the Outlaw Wind Project, which bring well-paying and long-lasting jobs to American communities and provide revenue for schools, infrastructure, and other local needs. 

, clean energy remained the biggest job creator across America’s energy sector in 2021, employing nearly three times as many workers as fossil fuel extraction and generation trades. There are more clean energy jobs in the US than middle and elementary school teachers, bankers, farmers or real estate agents, and median wages for clean energy jobs higher than the national average. In fact, Feldman points out, Tarkio Tech’s wind tech students didn’t need to attend the school’s recent job fair – all already had wind tech jobs lined up before they graduated. 

We all deserve to share in the benefits of clean, reliable energy, and Invenergy is proud to help students become the next generation of technicians, engineers, operators, and innovators building a sustainable world.  

"This amazing donation illustrates the commitment that Invenergy has made to our young people and our community,” said Tarkio Tech’s President John Davis. The nacelle “provides Tarkio Tech’s wind students an opportunity to become familiar with the environment inside the nacelle long before their first day on the job.” 

Next Generation of Wind Energy Technicians Supported Through Invenergy, Ameren, and Vestas Nacelle Donation

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Kansas Renewable Team Volunteers at ReStore

In December 2021 the Kansas Renewable Development Team volunteered at the 

 in Denver. Habitat ReStores are independently owned reuse stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. ReStores accept donations and sell a constantly changing inventory of diverse, high-quality merchandise to the public at a fraction of the retail price, while diverting reusable household items and building materials from area landfills. The funds raised at Habitat Restores contribute to future Habitat for Humanity builds. 

During their VTO the team received, organized, and staged donations in the ReStore showroom. 

This month JoEllen Billotte, Analyst, Renewable Development based in our Denver office, volunteered with her church to package up 4,000 pounds of food from the 

 and distributed care packages to over 120 families in need in the Denver area. The care packages included non-perishable items and fresh produce, as well as a gift card to the grocery store, a big bag of candy, and a warm lap blanket. 

Forward Energy Center donates to Dodge County Toy Bank

The Forward Energy Center team in Wisconsin donated to the Dodge County Toy Bank in Wisconsin during this holiday season. 

The Gunsight Team Supports Big Spring Intermediate School & Local Angel Tree Program

The Gunsight Energy Center team in Texas purchased much-needed school supplies for students, teachers and staff at Big Spring Intermediate School. The site was able to donate over $2,000 of school supplies like headphones, books, dictionaries, pens, pencils, markers, scissors, highlighters, bookshelves, supply carts, classroom tables, educational games and more.

The team also participated in the yearly Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. Through the Angel Tree Program, items are collected for all ages from babies to teenagers, to seniors.

Invenergy Japan Donates to Kodomo Shokudo 

In 2021, our Japan Team donated over 2 metric tons of rice to 

, a non-profit organization based in Japan for Kodomo Shokudo, or children's cafeterias, across the country. Kodomo Shokudo are cafeterias that provide healthy free or low-cost meals to children in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Kodomo Shokudo has increased by 33% across the country and while visiting children also learn about nutrition, table manners, and many offer tutoring as well. To learn more about the importance of Kodomo Shokudo in Japan, check out 

The Invenergy Portland Team volunteered with Portland Parks and Recreation to help maintain some of the trail system in Marquam Nature Park. They spend the morning removing fallen leaves from the surface and surrounding area of the trails. Once these leaves fall, they get wet and slippery causing a hazard to people utilizing the trail system. They also plug drainage systems which can cause damage to the trails if left unchecked, given the amount of precipitation that Portland receives. 

“The work we completed allowed us to enjoy the natural beauty of the park, with the added satisfaction of knowing many other people will get that chance as well.” – Zach Lea, Senior Analyst, Renewable Development

Military Order of the Purple Heart at Wake Wind Energy Center

Wake Energy Center was personally thanked by members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) for their donations over the past four years to the organization through the site's Invenergy Impact Program. Marine Corporal Steve Oien, who served in Vietnam and is the Commander of MOPH Chapter 0900, and Ron Goulette, a combat medic and member of the 101st Airborne Division, presented the Wake team with “A Purple Heart Business” proclamation and an award plaque. 

The MOPH Chapter 0900 serves veterans in the South Plains of Texas area which includes counties where Wake Energy Center and McAdoo Energy Center are located. Funds for welfare, rehabilitation and/or service work carried on by the organization are derived through the collection of used household items, the operation of thrift stores, through the donation of automobiles and monetary donations. Family members of Purple Heart recipients are eligible to belong to the Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which also does important work nationally and locally in veterans’ hospitals. Learn more about MOPH and their important work 

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Invenergy Impact Recap: December 2021

On December 12, the county was shaken by images of tornados tearing through communities across the middle of the United States. At least 50 tornados were reported in eight states, leaving 88 people dead and countless without power. Our hearts go out to the families affected by these events, a tragedy that seemed especially devastating during a time otherwise focused on the holidays and the new year.

Kentucky was hit particularly hard by the tornadoes, and Invenergy’s Kentucky development team felt this distress acutely, having spent a lot of time in the state and getting to know its communities well. Through Invenergy’s Impact Program, a donation of $25,000 was made to the 

, to help residents get back on their feet.

The Kentucky tornadoes are a sobering reminder that natural disasters occur with little warning and can be destructive beyond belief. Volunteer organizations are critical to providing relief in times of sudden distress, mobilizing quickly to provide on-the-ground support wherever they are needed. As such, Invenergy believes it’s also important to support these organizations and the work they do.

In December, Invenergy provided $15,000 to Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization that promptly dispatched groups of local “Greyshirt” volunteers throughout 

 of working with Team Rubicon to aid in disaster relief situations through the Invenergy Veterans Network and Invenergy Impact Program. 

, the fact remains that we must work together to meet the challenges of climate change. Invenergy is proud to develop projects that ensure the lights stay on and essential services continue to operate. We will continue delivering clean, reliable power to communities across the country and supporting organizations and funds that help them in their times of need.

If you want to help areas affected by the recent tornadoes, donate to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund 

, and learn how to volunteer with Team Rubicon and become a Greyshirt 

Invenergy Provides Donations in Response to Recent Tornados in the Midwest

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Recently, members of our Renewable Development and Pre-Construction teams for the Gulf South region traveled to New Orleans to volunteer in the wake of Hurricane Ida, the second-most intense hurricane in Louisiana’s recorded history behind Hurricane Katrina, devastated the area at the end of August 2021.

Manager Laurel Downen, Director Julia Kimmerly, Senior Analyst Erik Maag, Associate Henry Petrash, Associate Margaret Nolan, Analyst Patrick Breslin and Analyst Matt Boscow volunteered their time with 

 ripping out moldy drywall and removing siding to prep area homes for repair and rebuilding.

Downen also spent a day at Our Daily Bread, a food bank in Tangipahoa Parish north of New Orleans. Downen, alongside community members, served more than 1,200 hot meals and distributed boxes of food to families affected by the storm. Working in the parish was especially important because Downen has spent much of her time there working with community members developing two Invenergy solar farms.

“There were trees down everywhere, tarps on homes, roads blocked by debris, work trucks everywhere – just widespread destruction,” Downen said. “We really wanted to help in the community where our project is located.”

Prior to her the team’s trip to Louisiana, Downen coordinated the distribution of 1,000 LuminAid solar-powered lanterns/phone charger combinations as the area was still without power. The donation was made through Invenergy’s Impact program. Invenergy previously partnered with LuminAid on hurricane relief efforts. The Invenergy team also sponsored a dinner for area line workers to show their appreciation of the work being done to restore power.

“We’re glad to be able to send Louisiana some love,” Downen said.

Learn more about how Invenergy employees are making a positive impact in the 2020 Invenergy Impact Report: www.invenergyimpact.com

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Helping Out After Hurricane Ida

On a planet with increasingly extreme weather, we’re seeing catastrophic droughts and record-level heat that in turn has lead to an ever-growing number of wildfires across the US each year. Our colleagues at the 135-MW Judith Gap Energy Center in Montana have seen these fires firsthand, a terrifying sight that reinforces the dire need to combat climate change and for more sustainable energy solutions worldwide. 

Through Invenergy’s Impact Program, the Judith Gap team regularly donates to the Wheatland County Volunteer Fire Department, which relies on donations to keep themselves afloat. The department is the first to respond when a fire breaks out in the region near Invenergy’s project, and the Department also helps with proactive fire-fighting measures like building fire lines to help farmers protect their property. 

“They’re our only resource if we need some help,” says Judith Gap Administrative Assistant Mary Beth Bennett. “These people need to leave their full-time jobs when they have to go out on fire or medical calls. They can use whatever donations they’re able to get.” 

Montana, like much of the western United States, has been devastated by wildfires that have burned thousands of acres and led to evacuations of towns. Members of the Wheatland County Volunteer Fire Department are currently helping to fight fires that are burning around 30 miles from Judith Gap in the Crazy Mountains. Recent rains provided some relief, but Judith Gap’s Operations & Maintenance Manager Michael Prater says the dry season has been starting earlier and earlier each year, with record-breaking temperatures creating tinderbox-like conditions throughout the state. 

“There were lots of fires in 2017, but this year seems much worse,” Prater says. “Lots of old-timers in the area are saying they haven’t seen so little moisture as long as records have been kept. It seems like we’re passing even the Dustbowl levels, and the season is just getting started.” 

The Judith Gap site had a close look at wildfires in recent years, when two fires crept onto the wind farm’s property. Fortunately, there was no damage to the wind energy center, but the proximity gave the team an up close and personal sense of the awesome destructiveness of the fires. 

“There’s no stopping it – fire like that, you just get out of its way,” Bennett says. 

Widespread implementation of sustainable energy is one way to help address the climate crisis and its devastating effects like wildfires, and Invenergy remains dedicated to developing innovative clean energy solutions that will help us reach this goal of building a more sustainable world. Our project sites will continue to implement measures to minimize the risk of fire, such as conducting regular drills with local fire departments and emergency responders to prepare for emergencies at wind and solar farms. 

In 2020, all services employees across our operating sites received 61.75 hours of safety training, and we had 25,317 hours of safety training fleetwide. These hours of safety training, partnerships local Emergency Medical Services, and passion for keeping their communities safe are what help Invenergy Services employees stay well-equipped to deal with the unexpected. To learn more about Invenergy and our community engagement efforts fleetwide, read the 

Judith Gap Wind Energy Center in Montana Supports Local Fire Department During Record-Breaking Heat and Wildfires

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Over the past decade, wind power capacity in the United States has more than tripled. With an operating capacity of over 110 gigawatts as of Q3 2020, wind energy is the largest renewable energy source in the country today, according to the American Wind Energy Association. 

Like any fast-growing industry, the U.S. wind industry requires a skilled, multidisciplinary workforce to continue to lead the way to a sustainable energy future. Universities and technical programs across the country are increasingly preparing the next generation of engineers, developers, and technicians for their roles in the growing field, and Invenergy colleagues are eager to help train and prepare this generation of industry leaders. 

“The worldview of the current generation of students has shifted,” says Professor Edwin Clamp of James Madison University in Harrisburg, Virginia. Professor Clamp teaches an undergraduate business course that provides students with a deep dive into the clean energy industry. “Previously, students were interested in the highest-paying industries, but the current generation wants to balance that against something that shares their values. Wind energy and renewables are the gold standards in exemplifying these values.” 

James Madison University (JMU) is one of a growing number of universities that offers educational opportunities in the area of renewables and wind energy specifically. Brad Romano, Senior Manager of Environmental Compliance and Strategy (ECS) at Invenergy, and colleagues John Aquilino, John Wojcikiewicz, and Jon Micah Goeller recently spoke with students in these courses about wildlife and ecological planning as an integral part of renewable project development. The students will be able to apply this insight to the project they’ve developed for the 2021 

, an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Each year, teams of undergrad students participate in one of CWC’s two competitions: designing, building and testing a wind turbine or citing and developing a hypothetical wind project. The JMU team is one of 13 teams chosen to compete in 2021 and was tasked with developing a theoretical wind farm in South Dakota. The final versions of their presentations are due in May and will be showcased at the 2021 competition, which is scheduled to take place June 1-7, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Invenergy Colleagues Inspire Future Wind Energy Innovators

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