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Member Reflections
Within the first decade of the 20th century, several
significant organizations were founded:
1902: 3M
1906: Kellogg Company
1908: General Motors
1909: National District Heating Association (now known as
International District Energy Association)
Indeed, the NDHA was in some pretty fast company. But NDHA, as
the others, had staying power and this year, known as IDEA, it
celebrates its 95th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion,
we asked a few long-time members to share their reflections on
the association and the industry.
Wyndham Clarke
Ray DuBose
John Gray
Jack Kattner
Ken Linwick
Sy Oliker
Jan Wagner
Wyndham Clarke, Retired, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Energy Division
“Back in the early ‘80s I was always disappointed that the
leadership of IDHA (now IDEA) never really understood the
importance of lobbying on the Hill. Those who were managing
systems had difficulty recognizing that government actions,
other than grants, could have a great impact on the industry's
ability to grow. Fortunately, that changed in the ‘90s, but I
have often wondered how much more the industry would have
grown had it happened earlier when policy makers were still
trying to figure out how best to deal with our excessive
energy consumption.”
Ray DuBose, P.E., Director, Energy
Services Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
“There have many changes in the energy industry in recent
years. Chilled-water systems supplied with chilled water from
central plants became popular in the '70's and that led the
IDHA to change its name to IDHCA. The interest and growth of
on-site electrical generation in combined cycle plants and the
deregulation or restructuring of the electrical industry led
to the renaming of the IDHCA to the IDEA. Technology and
indoor air quality improvements have increased energy use in
buildings over the past 30 years. Thirty years ago no one had
a personal computer and now everybody has one. Technology adds
air conditioning load to buildings - buildings or spaces that
were once comfortable are now uncomfortably warm with the
addition of computers. Air conditioning was a luxury 30 years
ago. Now all buildings are air-conditioned with humidity
control an important feature in buildings in the humid
southeast.
“The energy demands of the world are ever-increasing and have
reached the point that energy needs sometimes drive world
policy and events. It is truly a global issue. Cities are
growing and towns are growing into cities. As the world's
population increases so does its need for energy. The IDEA
advocates a district energy concept – central plants and
thermal distribution the efficiency of which can be enhanced
by combined heat and power – that can be part of the solution
of a communities energy needs. Where environmental impacts
were not discussed 40 years ago, today the efficiencies of
district energy systems make them a better solution.
“IDEA has been instrumental in providing information through
its members that has been extremely helpful to the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over the years. The IDEA has
provided the direction we have taken in our district energy
systems that are essential to the support of the University's
mission of teaching, research, and public service.
“The value of the IDEA is in the networking opportunities
provided in the workshops and conferences. The opportunities
to be able to discuss issues related to the energy challenges
we face with the experts in field are enhanced by the agenda
the IDEA prepares for these gatherings. The networking
continues long after the curtain falls at the conferences. The
value of IDEA is the diversity of its members. Membership
includes utilities; colleges, universities, hospitals, and
other campus types; consulting firms; vendors; and others that
have expertise and experience in the district energy business
and its technology. The IDEA members collectively are the
heart and soul of district energy and for many, the heart and
soul of the energy solution.
“Whenever you think of icons in the IDEA, two legends come to
mind: Hans Nyman and Norm Taylor. Of course, Tom Casten was a
mover and a shaker and pushed the IDEA hard enough that his
influence is still seen with the move to self-perform four
years ago. Jack Kattner has had influence and gentle guidance
over the past 20 years. He has really cared about the
association as magazine editor, board member, president and
mentor. And two who have persevered through thick and thin for
many, many years are Mark Spurr and Monica Westerlund. Mike
McKay hosted the first College/University Conference in the
1980s, which over the years has grown into one of the most
viable activities of IDEA. Mike was instrumental in having the
vision that brought the physical plant membership and
participation to its highest point ever.”
John A. Gray, C.Chem., John Gray
Associates
“District energy is not just about a single power plant
supplying products and services to their clients, but rather
since 1909, we have been part of a unique interdependent
family of district energy plants around the world that rely on
each other to provide the most effective, efficient,
dependable and economical energy that is available to our
customers.”
John F. (Jack) Kattner,
P.E., President, Kattner Associates LLC
“District energy is closing in on its 100th anniversary of
declaring itself an industry. In 1909, a chain of events was
begun by some steam and electric generation practitioners who
believed that they could probably do their jobs better by
sharing experiences, becoming both teachers and students.
Their challenge, heating and powering growing industries,
institutions and central business districts, demanded that
they do the best job they could with the resources made
available to them at the time.
“I
believe that the pioneers of our association and those who
have followed them have passed more than a solid technological
beginning, more than a durable trade association and more than
just another entry on the list of energy alternatives. Rather,
I believe they have passed on their challenge: that is, to
work together to do the best job we can with the resources
made available to us during our time.
“Today, it is more important to take on that challenge than
ever before. Today, with the increasing competition for “the
resources made available to us,” we need to recognize that
challenge as an opportunity, a responsibility. In five short
years, we will launch the next 100 years of district energy.
Decades later, our successors might be asked to reflect on
their experience in the industry we hand them. What will they
say? What would we like them to say? This is, I believe, our
challenge.”
Ken Linwick, retired president,
Minneapolis Energy Center (now NRG Energy Center Minneapolis)
“The first meeting I attended of the National District Heating
Association was in Cooperstown, N.Y., in about 1957 or ‘58. At
that time, except for systems on college campuses, large
manufacturing complexes, or hospital systems, district heating
was on the decline. Few large city systems were profitable and
Utilities wanted out of the business.
“For me, however, it was my opportunity to compare what we
were doing with our small system in Rochester, Minn., with
other systems in the country. We found that while we were
small, we did many things right that the larger utilities were
unable to do. We used a demand and commodity rate structure
that applied to all of our users, and in my subsequent
position with the Minneapolis system we dealt only in
long-term contracts and were able to justify the large
front-end investments by the 20-year projected return and at
the same time leverage these investments. Our long-term
contracts had a rate structure that gave our customers some
assurances that rates would not go wild and at the same time
permitted a pass-through of legitimate operating cost
increases. We experienced very successful growth in our
systems.
“I
am pleased to see the progress that the industry has made in
the past 20 years and that forms of CHP are now taken more
seriously.”
Dr. Ishai Oliker, P.E.,
Principal, Joseph Technology Corporation
“I
immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union
in 1975. In 1977, for the first time I attended the
Sixty-Eighth Annual Conference of the International District
Heating Association held at the Pinehurst in North Carolina.
For me, it was the next life event after immigrating to the
United States. Many people, including the President Mack
Riley, warmly embraced me at the conference. I made excellent
life-long friends with Stephen Banyacski, Ellwood Clymer,
Martin Hannah, Lawrence Tuck, Rudolph Gallina, Clement Crooks,
Norman Taylor, Fred Callowhill, Lloyd Nieman and many others.
My active involvement in the IDHA events helped me utilize my
previous DH/CHP experience and to launch my successful career
in the United States.
“We all worked very hard to keep the association together and
convert it to a dynamic and professional organization capable
of becoming highly visible in the U. S. – particularly during
President Bush’s energy plan announcement at the St. Paul
District Energy facility. I think that the current tremendous
development of district energy/CHP systems in the U.S. is an
excellent opportunity for IDEA to advance and go forward to
make significant contributions to improving U.S. energy
efficiency and creating environmentally friendly
developments.”
Jan Wagner, Thermal Energy Manager,
Xcel Energy
“My first IDEA conference followed a steam distribution
failure and the inventory purchase of extremely small wool
suits! We needed help on all levels to understand both the
technology and the value that this mature business could bring
to existing and new sophisticated customers. IDEA members from
CEOs to engineers were there to share ideas and teach. What my
company values most is that these important resources are
still available and ideas continue to evolve to meet changes
in environmental climate, technology, customer needs and
competitive forces.”
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