December 17, 2015 Transforming Maine’s Energy Future: MYR Energy Partners with L.E. Myers to Complete Pioneering $1.4B Power Reliability Program
MYR Energy and L.E. Myers joined forces to construct and rebuild more than 1,000 structures and string 210 miles of 345kV and 115kV transmission lines throughout northeastern Maine
In December of 2014, MYR Group Inc. subsidiaries MYR Energy Services, Inc. (MYR Energy) and The L.E. Myers Co. (L.E. Myers) partnered to successfully complete their portion of Central Maine Power Co.’s $1.4 billion Maine Power Reliability Program (MPRP), the largest infrastructure project in the state’s history at the time.
MPRP increased system reliability and will continue to do so over the coming decades, providing the infrastructure for the state’s emerging wind, hydro, biomass, and tidal energy industries. MYR Energy provided construction management and material procurement for the Northern Loop – the largest portion of the MPRP – with sister subsidiary L.E. Myers constructing and rebuilding more than 2,000 structures and 210 miles of 115kV and 345kV transmission lines throughout northeastern Maine. The 18 segments all required concurrent work at any given time, working through harsh winters.
“The MPRP project was one of the most complex and challenging in L.E. Myers’ history,” Group Vice President Scott Tibbetts said. “Working through some very harsh winters and treading carefully in Maine’s sensitive ecosystems, we had 18 jobs to complete, all of which required some concurrent work at any given time.”
The project presented extremely challenging environmental concerns, including a steep slope between a gas pipeline and remote stream channels, saturated wetland pockets, and fragile wildlife habitats. The MYR Energy-L.E. Myers team hired a full-time environmental coordinator to oversee and ensure compliance with more than 5,000 pages of environmental permits. Strict environmental monitoring was conducted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers, and third-party inspectors. Numerous restrictions dictated what seasons and times work could be performed.
“Protecting water resources and minimizing land and wildlife impacts were of primary concern, particularly the prevention of muddy or contaminated water from entering wetlands, streams, ponds, and rivers,” Tibbetts said. “We took detailed control measures to safeguard these natural resources.”
An impressive demonstration of that teamwork took place during the summer of 2012, when the crews safely completed a wire pull that spanned 2,419 feet over the Penobscot River, a delicate and risky operation that involved a helicopter, two cranes, and two pairs of 380-foot-tall lattice towers on opposite banks of the river.
In October 2013, the project hit a remarkable milestone — one million work hours on the MPRP project without a single lost-time incident.
“Do it right, don’t take shortcuts, and look out for your team – that’s what it’s all about,” MYR Group vice president of safety Jim Foley said. “It was accepted at all levels that if everybody worked safely, everything else would come together.”
MPRP and the project players involved have been an instrumental force in helping to boost Maine’s economy. 150 apprentices from the local I.B.E.W. joined the team, many of whom used the opportunity to gain valuable experience and receive top-notch training from an industry-leading electrical contractor.
Additionally, MPRP generated more than $1 billion in state spending. Whether MYR Group employees stopped in for snacks at a general store, fueled up trucks at a gas station, or placed project material orders with nearby suppliers, local and regional proprietors enjoyed the increase in business.
When project requirements involve interactions with local land and homeowners, L.E. Myers and MYR Energy make every effort to respect property and minimize inconvenience to residents. Crews are commended for their ability to restore conditions to their original state, leaving little to no footprint behind.
Project Details: Maine Power Reliability Program