EVENT OVERVIEW
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency sponsored a delegation from Turkey’s energy sector to visit the U.S. The objective of the visit was to familiarize the delegation with advanced U.S. technologies and best practices and techniques, as well as regulations for Live Wire Maintenance and Repair (LWMR) operations. This would then enable the Turkish delegates to implement a nationwide LWMR strategy in Turkey.
EVENT SUMMARY
The USTDA Turkey Live Wire Maintenance and Repair RTM stated on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. They traveled to Atlanta, GA, and the RTM ended on June 23, 2019 in Kansas City, MO.
In Washington, DC on Wednesday morning, the group went to the USTDA and had a meet and greet with senior USTDA leadership, as well as an RTM program orientation meeting where they were briefed about the live power sector and itinerary for the next two weeks. Then it was time for their first U.S. company meeting with Versalift. After lunch the delegates met with Global Energy Advantage to learn about LineVision. To finish the first day of meetings, the USTDA hosted a U.S. Regulatory and Standards Roundtable in the USTDA Business Center with U.S. Stakeholders. Thursday’s schedule included meetings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, GE's Grid Solutions division, and a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with the U.S.-Turkey Business Council and some additional U.S. companies. After this meeting, the delegation was off to the airport to catch their flight to Atlanta, GA.
In Atlanta, GA on Friday morning, the delegation started the day meeting with Georgia Power at their Klondike training facility followed by a tour of the facility. Following the meeting and lunch, Georgia Power took the delegation to a work site in the field, where the delegation could see some live power line work being performed in real-time. This wrapped up a nice first week and the delegates spent the weekend enjoying Atlanta.
On Monday, the week started off with an early morning meeting and demonstration with Vermeer Southeast, before continuing the drive to the Chattanooga, TN area for a meeting at the Southeast Lineman Training Center. The day ended with a meeting with the Electric Power Board, a power distribution company in Chattanooga. Tuesday started with a short meeting at the hotel with the Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction. The delegation then headed out for meetings in Atlanta with the Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) Training Center and the National Electric Energy Research, Testing & Applications Center before getting on a plane to Kansas City.
In Kansas City, MO on Wednesday, the delegation spent the whole day with Hubbell Power Systems. On Thursday, the delegation met with Kansas City Power and Light and was able to see a live demonstration at their facilities. Afterwards, the delegation had their final meeting with the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange. On Friday, the final day of the program, the delegation spent the day with Altec learning about their equipment and seeing it in action. The delegation departed for Turkey on Saturday.
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