And now for our second installment of highlighting WAPA’s Exceptional Service Award winners 🏆. That winner? Ben Blaquiere, a Supervisory Electrical Engineer in WAPA’s Upper Great Plains region. Like his peers have said, Ben epitomizes the organization’s core values through dedication, hard work and humility. For over 38 years, he has been a cornerstone at the Miles City Converter Station in eastern #Montana ensuring its reliable operations and extending its operational lifespan in countless ways. Even in 1985, Ben became the sole station supervisory engineer. Under his guidance, the Miles City Converter, a critical 200-megawatt asynchronous direct current tie, has consistently played a crucial role in balancing loads and stabilizing transmission operations across the Eastern and Western Interconnections. Read more on Ben’s recognition below 🔻 The ESA recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond, contributes to critical projects or committees and advances WAPA’s strategic plan through exceptional performance and external activities. #HydroPower #CleanEnergy #Renewable #Transmission #ElectricPower #ShiningStar #Excellence
Western Area Power Administration
Utilities
Lakewood, Colorado 15,397 followers
Mission: Safely provide reliable, cost-based hydropower and transmission to our customers and the communities we serve.
About us
Western Area Power Administration is one of the nation’s largest utilities with annual revenues of $1 billion. WAPA markets and delivers more than 10,000 megawatts of reliable, cost-based hydropower generated from 57 Federal hydropower dams to rural electric cooperatives, municipalities, public utility districts, Federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes and irrigation districts. WAPA's footprint and scope covers 15-states, 135 Congressional districts, 10 multi-use water projects and 10 rate-setting systems. WAPA employees around 1,500 professionals in a variety of fields from high-voltage linemen to archeologists. The Western Area Power Administration uses social media sites such as LinkedIn to provide the public with information as widely as possible. Please take the time to comment or engage on post as they relate to the featured topics. And we ask that you do so in a way that builds a positive, thoughtful digital environment. The views expressed in the comments only reflect those of the comment’s author. They do not necessarily reflect the official views of WAPA, the U.S. Department of Energy, or the federal government. WAPA reserves the discretion to hide, delete or not allow comments ranging anywhere from vulgar or abusive language to defamatory statements or solicitations for business proposals. A complete list of words that may generate these actions can be found on WAPA’s website at the link below. Please get in touch with our LinkedIn administrators for questions on this policy.
- Website
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https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/online-code-of-conduct/
External link for Western Area Power Administration
- Industry
- Utilities
- Company size
- 1,001-5,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Lakewood, Colorado
- Type
- Government Agency
- Founded
- 1977
- Specialties
- Power marketing and transmission system operation and maintenance
Locations
Employees at Western Area Power Administration
Updates
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With WAPA’s work in and around both hydroelectric dams as well as our more than 17,000 miles of transmission lines ⚡that run through a wide variety of climates, being good stewards of the lands upon which we work is at the top on our minds. And that means ensuring our operations are as sustainable as possible. Our #Sustainability Program enshrines our goal of “Safeguarding a sustainable energy future”, and WAPA achieves sustainable operations through: ✅ The combination of both sustainable and efficient operations ✅ The reduction of impact to the environment ✅ The contribution of everyday resource conservation Learn more about WAPA’s sustainability practices below, and read more from our Sustainability and Environmental Management System Program Lead Meg Frew who describes how WAPA plays a critical role in sustainability by transmitting carbon-free energy generated from hydropower. #HydroPower #CleanEnergy #Renewable #Transmission #ElectricPower
Inspiring sustainability efforts inside and outside WAPA
https://www.wapa.gov
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Another update from U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Hurricane #Milton STAY SAFE ⚠️ : The hurricane WILL produce a storm surge, high winds, flash flooding and tornadoes 🌀. Keep following directions from local officials and make sure you find shelter as soon as possible. Call Florida's State Assistance Info Line: 1-800-342-3557 or visit https://lnkd.in/etnDGuNp or click/tap below.
Hurricane Milton
floridadisaster.org
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We’re sharing this very dire alert from our teammates at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding Hurricane Milton for you and anyone in the storm’s path⚠️ Hurricane #Milton is an extremely dangerous, life-threatening storm. If you are in Florida, especially Central Florida, or are in the path of this Category 5 storm -- LEAVE NOW! If you are in an evacuation zone; there will not be time to leave tomorrow (Wednesday). 👉 Get help evacuating at https://lnkd.in/etnDGuNp
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At WAPA, safety is always on the forefront of our minds. This week marks National Fire Prevention Week, with 2024’s theme being “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” And part of a sound safety plan is preparing for disaster before it strikes. 🔥 Ensuring you have quality and working smoke alarms helps do the following: - Reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by 54% - Roughly 3 out of 5 deaths happen in a home with either no smoke alarms, or non-working alarms Follow these crucial tips! ✔️ Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area like a hallway, and on each level including the basement of the home. ✔️ Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button. ✔️ Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Read the article for more tips. #HydroPower #CleanEnergy #Renewable #Transmission #ElectricPower #FirePreventionWeek
Fire Prevention Week highlights simple safety measures
https://www.wapa.gov
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Welcome to our first installment of highlighting WAPA’s Exceptional Service Award winners 🏆. Known as ESAs, Exceptional Service Awards recognize employees who consistently go above and beyond, contributes to critical projects or committees and advances WAPA’s strategic plan through exceptional performance and external activities. One such winner is Jon Aust. A visionary leader driving WAPA’s excellence, Aust, Vice President of Power Operations for WAPA’s #Colorado River Storage Project Management Center, Desert Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions, was recognized for his strategic foresight during significant transitions in WAPA’s recent history. This includes the integration of the RM and DSW regions into the Southwest Power Pool’s Western Energy Imbalance Service and the #California Independent System Operator’s Western Energy Imbalance Market. This challenging endeavor was a perfect example of how Jon showcased his ability to navigate complex industry changes, while enhancing WAPA’s competitive position in energy markets. Read more on Jon’s ESA recognition below 🔻 #HydroPower #CleanEnergy #Renewable #Transmission #ElectricPower #ShiningStar #Excellence
WAPA honors 2024 ESA winner Jon Aust
https://www.wapa.gov
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📣 Exciting Career Opportunity: Senior Vice President, Infrastructure Asset Management & Planning (SES) ⚡ The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) is seeking a Senior Vice President for Infrastructure Asset Management & Planning! This Senior Executive Service (SES) position plays a pivotal role in overseeing and shaping the future of WAPA’s 17,000 miles of transmission lines across 15 western states. As the SVP, you'll provide strategic leadership in infrastructure policy, asset management, and transmission planning to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of WAPA’s bulk electric system assets. You will drive initiatives to integrate long-term infrastructure strategy with capital planning, engineering, procurement, and grid modernization. The key goals for this position include: ▶️ Optimizing asset life cycle management ▶️ Aligning transmission planning across regions ▶️ Improving grid reliability through innovative technologies and strategic foresight. Be a part of shaping WAPA's energy infrastructure while ensuring the future of reliable, sustainable power delivery. 🔆 Apply today to lead WAPA’s infrastructure into the future! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gVH7-uCf Join us and make an impact!
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From mid-September through mid-October, WAPA recognizes and celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual celebration recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. This year’s national theme, “Pioneers of change: shaping the future together,” reflects the innovative spirit and cultural resilience of Hispanic communities. It highlights the pivotal role Hispanic Americans play in shaping a brighter future through leadership, creativity and resilience in every sector. Read the full article on Closed Circuit via the link below. #HispanicHeritageMonth #NHHM #equality #opportunity https://lnkd.in/eSJYD-MR
Pioneers of change: shaping the future together
https://www.wapa.gov
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With summer in the rearview mirror, our days are starting to get a bit shorter, and the night sky shows a bit earlier. So why not make this week’s #PhotogenicFriday 📷 a nighttime experience? In 2019, Michael Fransen, an IT specialist based in WAPA’s Upper Great Plains region, positioned himself just right to capture this photo of WAPA’s Fort Peck-to-Dawson 230-kilovolt line as the moon began to rise over the horizon. Mike’s photo, and his patience for capturing the exposure of the night sky, truly showcases one of Montana’s nicknames: “Big Sky Country.” #PhotogenicFridays #Electric #Infrastructure #Hydropower #CleanEnergy
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WAPA Administrator and CEO Tracey A. LeBeau recently met with Pattern Energy Group – a wind, solar, transmission and energy storage developer – to discuss the future of the power grid out West and how independent transmission development plays a role in that future. During the two-day visit, the group toured a high-voltage direct current converter station (shown here) and wind farm construction project in New Mexico. The tour highlighted Pattern Energy’s planned 3.5-gigawatt wind farm in the Estancia Valley and SunZia, a 550-mile direct current transmission line, being constructed to deliver power to Arizona and California. #transmission #CleanEnergy #WindEnergy #ElectricPower #infrastructure