Plextronics One of Six Companies to Form the U.S. Center for Energy Leadership

The CEOs of Pittsburgh, PA-headquartered Plextronics, Westinghouse, Allegheny Energy, EQT, CONSOL Energy and BPL Global announced that they have founded the U.S. Center for Energy Leadership (USCEL). The founding members of the Center are:

• Andy Hannah, CEO of Plextronics
• Aris Candris, CEO of Westinghouse
• Paul Evanson, CEO of Allegheny Energy
• Murry Gerber, CEO of EQT
• J. Brett Harvey, CEO of CONSOL Energy
• Keith Schaefer, CEO of BPL Global

According to Plextronics’ Andy Hannah, who was a catalyst for the formation of USCEL, the mission of the group is to establish a stable energy environment for the U.S. that includes energy independence, stable energy pricing and a portfolio approach to meeting increasing energy needs.

USCEL will also advocate for new and innovative technological developments that will impact all of these areas. The group will also work to address specific governmental policy, investment and technology issues that have direct bearing on the energy industry.

“The concept behind USCEL was really about the fact that the energy issues facing our country have never been more important, and here we are, in Pittsburgh, with all of the leadership, technological innovation and experience you could ask for to collectively tackle these problems,” Hannah said. “While the organizations in this group may represent different and competing segments of the energy industry, it’s clear to each of us that there’s no one technology that can fulfill all energy demands. Instead, we need to utilize all of our resources to address the energy issues that face this country and develop innovative ways to re-establish the U.S. as a leader in energy technology development.”

“USCEL is ideally suited to create and utilize technology and innovation in a manner that will help our nation, and the world, address the energy and environmental challenges we are now facing,” Aris Candris, CEO of Westinghouse, added. “Additionally, the goals of USCEL are completely consistent with those of the U.S. Department of Energy, which has announced its intention to further strengthen our country’s commitment to scientific leadership in these areas.”

Allegheny Energy is currently investing more than a billion dollars in environmental controls at its power generation facilities and is leading efforts to upgrade the nation’s electric grid to meet growing power demands and usher in new, renewable sources of energy.

BPL Global is dedicated to leading the transformation of energy efficiency and reliability of electrical networks around the globe as a leading provider of integrated smart grid software solutions and services that more efficiently manage demand, integrate distributed energy resources, automate substations, improve service reliability, and optimize cost and capital productivity.

CONSOL Energy operates the two largest bituminous coal mines in the country, both of which are located in southwestern Pennsylvania, as well as operating one of the largest natural gas production businesses in Appalachia through its subsidiary, CNXGas. In addition, CONSOL is the largest provider of coal shipping services on the Upper Ohio River and is the only U.S. coal company with a Research & Development group seeking to develop long term technological solutions to environmental and energy challenges. CONSOL employs more than 8,000.

EQT is the Appalachian Basin’s leading natural gas producer and its development of horizontal air drilling has revolutionized the natural gas industry by increasing natural gas recovery while reducing the environmental footprint to extract the gas. In fact, new technologies, some pioneered by EQT, have recently made it economically feasible to recover natural gas from the Marcellus formation, which has the potential to stimulate the biggest economic boom since coal and oil sparked the Pennsylvania industrial revolution.

Plextronics is considered a world-leader in the printed electronics industry, and its products enable companies globally to print organic solar cells and energy efficient lighting. Hannah sits on the Solar Technical Review Panel for the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), a world-leading lab in solar technology.

Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately half of the world’s 435 operating nuclear power plants. The first of four Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plants is on schedule to be completed by 2013 in China, and the technology has been identified for no less than 14 plants in the U.S.

The city offers a strong university system, led by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh, which generates break-through technology and spin-off companies. Plextronics, for example, is a spin-out of CMU, and its technology is based on discoveries made at the university by Dr. Richard McCullough.