Monthly archive

Cybersecurity and Digitalization for the Electricity Sector – Implementing Lessons Learned

October 19th, 2021

As energy systems continue to advance technologically, they have become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In response to this threat, USEA partnered with USAID to share some key tools and resources to improve cybersecurity in the energy sector. This effort culminated in a series of cybersecurity webinars, launched in June 2020, aimed at the utility sector of USAID partner countries working on this issue, or looking at how to get started.

Women In Energy: Katherine Neebe

September 30th, 2021

The Women in Energy series is a joint project between USEA and USAID that was developed out of USEA’s Engendering Utilities Partnership, a program funded by USAID to improve gender policies and gender outcomes at their respective organizations.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – Feasibility Study and Design for Oserian Two Lakes – High Voltage KPLC Interconnection

This feasibility study and design for the Oserian Two Lakes Power corporation will contribute to the completion of an interconnection between their planned industrial park and KPLC. It will provide OTLP with the power redundancy to support their master plan and maintain their commitment to be powered by 100% renewable energy resources. This study will be conducted as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) East Africa Geothermal Partnership (EAGP).

Katherine Neebe

Job Title: 
Vice President of National Engagement and Strategy
Organization: 
Duke Energy

Katherine Neebe serves as vice president of national engagement and strategy and chief sustainability officer for Duke Energy. She also serves as president of the Duke Energy Foundation. In these capacities, she leads Duke Energy’s stakeholder engagement efforts to develop solutions to meet customer needs for continued reliable and affordable energy – while simultaneously working to achieve the company’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work.

Katherine joined Duke Energy in August 2020 from Walmart, where she led environmental, social and governance strategy and oversaw stakeholder engagement on behalf of Walmart’s sustainability team.

From 2007-2013, Katherine was at the World Wildlife Fund where she managed one of the world’s largest corporate-NGO partnerships, a $97 million sustainability-driven initiative with The Coca-Cola Company focused on water, agriculture and climate, which was active in over 45 countries.

Over the past 20 years, Katherine has worked with a wide range of corporate, government and nonprofit organizations. Weaving together her intensive business experience and commitment to social and environmental responsibility, she brings in-depth insight to effective stakeholder engagement and an ability to ground sustainability into actionable terms.

Katherine is a First Movers fellow through the Aspen Institute, received her Master of Business Administration from The Darden School at the University of Virginia and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Colorado College.

Duke Energy, one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electric services to approximately 7.7 million customers in the Southeast and Midwest. The company also distributes natural gas services to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its commercial business operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK.

Secondary Job Title: 
Chief Sustainability Officer

Recording: 2020-2021 United States Energy Award Ceremony

September 30th, 2021
The presentation of the 2020-2021 United States Energy Award to Charif Souki, Co-founder and Chairman of Tellurian Inc. The ceremony took place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on September 29, 2021.

USEA Announces Charif Souki As 2020-2021 United States Energy Award Recipient

September 29th, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Today, USEA announced Charif Souki, Co-Founder and Chairman of Tellurian Inc., as the recipient of the 2020-2021 United States Energy Award in recognition of his outstanding lifetime efforts to advance energy initiatives and for his support of USEA.

Padu Padmanabhan

Mr. Padu S. Padmanaban was the former Program Director of the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) and Senior Energy Advisor for USAID/India’s bilateral program.  He has served with the World Bank, Washington DC as an Energy Efficiency Specialist and was a visiting fellow with the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  He has over four decades of experience in the design of national and regional energy efficiency programs, power sector reforms, regional energy integration, energy-water nexus, clean energy, and energy access projects, including the planning and establishment of national and regional centers of excellence in energy efficiency.  He is a trustee of Alttech Foundation, a Bangalore based NGO devoted to advancing water-energy sustainability and is the founder member of the Alliance for Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), India.

Mr. Padu Padmanabhan is the author of the pioneering book titled: First Fuel: India’s Energy Efficiency Journey that recounts the evolution of energy conservation and management in India since the early 70’s.  The volume provides approaches to mainstream energy efficiency and capture the benefits of clean energy solutions in the country to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.

Mr. Padmanaban is the recipient of several international and national awards in energy management and efficiency. These include The Regional Energy Manager of the Year 2019 Award by the United States Association of Energy Engineers and the World Clean Energy Award, 2007 by the Swiss-based Transatlantic 21 in global recognition of his achievements in advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy. He is the recipient of the Hall of Fame Award by the Indian Green Building Council in 2013; the All India Power Award in 2010; and the Energy Professional Development Award, 2008 given by the Association of Energy Engineers, India.

Mr. Padmanaban taught at the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC.  He has a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras (1973), a postgraduate certificate in Fuel Efficiency (1974-76) from the National Productivity Council of India and diplomas in Energy Management from UCTI-Institute for Industrial Reconstruction, Rome (1981) and International Labor Organization, Turin (1983), Italy.

Interview with First Fuel Author Padu Padmanabhan

October 12th, 2021

The historic oil crisis of 1973, which permanently altered significant economic policies worldwide, marked a turning point in India’s energy odyssey, putting the country on the path towards energy efficiency. A young energy researcher at the National Productivity Council at the time, Padu Padmanabhan soon found himself at a juncture that would lead him to the many watershed moments of this journey.

Carlos Arturo Vanegas Vesga

Job Title: 
Senior Counsellor for the National Dispatch Center
Organization: 
XM

Carlos Arturo Vanegas Vesga has a MSc in Electrical Power System and Management at the University of Dundee – Scotland – UK. He has more than 27 years in Planning, Dispatch and Real time issues in the Colombian ISO - XM. He has also been a Senior Trainer and panelist in different operational fields and the leader of a number of international studies and consultancies for different organizations, including the Ecuadorian Power System with the ISO CENACE, Perú’s Independent Operator (COES), Panamá’s National System Operator CND, Chile’s North System Operator (former CDEC SING), the Dominican System Operator (ETED) and the Chilean Operator (CEN). Actually, he works as Senior Counsellor for the National Dispatch Center at XM.

Profile Type: 
Speaker

Job Announcement: Program Coordinator

September 21st, 2021

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Position Title:

Program Coordinator, Energy Utility Partnership Program

Location:

Washington, DC

Category:

International Development

Term:

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