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Fascinating Facts: A History of Solar Energy from ancient Egypt to Today
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
Many ancient cultures, including the ancient Egyptians, utilized solar energy in various ways throughout history. The ancient Egyptians, for example, designed their mud brick-houses to harness the sun's heat for warmth during the night. This practice was also observed in other ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, Native Americans, and Chinese.The concept of converting light into electricity dates back to ancient times, but the photovoltaic effect was officially discovered in 1839 by French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel. His groundbreaking observation laid...
Mon Power Employees Support Local Communities in Fight Against Hunger
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
Mon Power employees have joined forces with Morgantown-based nonprofit Pantry Plus More to tackle child hunger in Monongahela County, West Virginia. According to Pantry Plus More, one in five children in the county go to bed hungry, highlighting the crucial need for assistance in the area.The recent collaboration between Mon Power employees and Pantry Plus More involved various activities aimed at alleviating food insecurity. Volunteers packed food boxes, prepared weekend food bags for students, assembled hygiene boxes for families in need, and assisted with organizing...
Columbia Gas technician aids semi-truck passengers after highway rollover
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
For Columbia Gas of Ohio Field Technician Curtis Van Vlerah, April 12 began like most other mornings. He was in his Columbia Gas vehicle on a loop connecting I-475 to I-75 in Toledo, near the Ryder MOD where he reports. However, his routine morning changed when he noticed the car in front of him pulling to the side of the highway and a semi-truck further ahead flipped on its side, wheels still spinning.
AEP Ohio Shares Tips for Planting Trees This Spring In Celebration of Arbor Day
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
Gahanna, Ohio (April 23, 2024) — Spring is here, and with Arbor Day approaching, AEP Ohio is encouraging customers to plan before planting trees to prevent future power outages. Dale Hopkins, forestry manager at AEP Ohio, highlighted the importance of proper tree placement, stating, "Trees are a top cause of power outages," while emphasizing the efforts of the forestry team to maintain a safe distance between trees and power lines.To help customers make informed decisions, AEP Ohio's forestry team provided tips for planting trees in suitable locations. Hopkins advised...
EnergizeNJ Proposal Aims to Improve Power Outages in New Jersey
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
JCP&L's President, Jim Fakult, recently highlighted the significance of the company's EnergizeNJ initiative, aimed at enhancing service reliability for customers. Fakult stated, "EnergizeNJ is one of the most significant initiatives JCP&L has ever put together to enhance service reliability for customers. It’s important to us that these upgrades not only enhance service by reducing how often you lose power or how long your lights are out, but also do it in a cost-conscious manner."The initiative, which involves $930.5 million in infrastructure upgrades, focuses on...
FirstEnergy Employees Kick Off 2024 Harvest for Hunger Campaign by Volunteering at Westmoreland Food Bank
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
FirstEnergy employees from West Penn Power recently volunteered at the Westmoreland Food Bank in Pennsylvania to kick off the 2024 Harvest for Hunger campaign. Scott Wyman, President of FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania Operations, led the volunteers and humorously dubbed them “Team Frozen Hands” as they packed food boxes for military personnel and veterans in need.Laurie Peddicord, Manager of Legal Operations, joined the efforts by stacking various food items, including wagyu beef steaks and hot dogs, into the boxes. The volunteers worked diligently to fill the boxes with a...
FirstEnergy Set to Plant More Than 25,000 Trees in 2024
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 23, 2024
FirstEnergy Corp. has announced its plan to plant over 25,000 trees throughout its service territory in 2024, with nearly 17,000 trees set to be planted in April alone. This initiative comes as part of the company's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and community support.Jessica Shaffer, Advanced Scientist and Lead of FirstEnergy’s Green Teams, emphasized the importance of trees in stabilizing the environment and enhancing landscapes. She stated, “Trees play a vital role in stabilizing the environment by absorbing carbon, soaking up stormwater that can...
FirstEnergy Celebrates Line Worker Appreciation Day 2024
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 18, 2024
Today, April 18, is National Line Worker Appreciation Day, a day set aside to recognize the dedication and hard work of the individuals who ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to our homes and communities. In a statement, FirstEnergy emphasized the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices made by these essential workers, who often risk their lives and spend time away from their families to provide uninterrupted power supply.FirstEnergy, a company with nearly 2,500 line workers employed across multiple states, highlighted the tireless efforts of these...
Work Underway to Upgrade Electric System in Erie County, Pennsylvania
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 18, 2024
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., is currently implementing upgrades in Erie County aimed at enhancing the electric system and reducing service interruptions. Scott Wyman, President of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania Operations, highlighted the significance of substation upgrades in maintaining reliable power supply for customers. These enhancements are part of the Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan II, a $200 million initiative set to benefit over 8,000 customers in various communities within Erie County.Wyman...
FirstEnergy Foundation Supports Mylan Park’s Mission to Share Community Diversity in Monongalia County
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 18, 2024
The FirstEnergy Foundation recently provided a $15,000 grant to help the Mylan Park Foundation put on this year’s event, which boasted hundreds of attendees of all ages and backgrounds.“This event brought local families together to experience the diversity within our community,” said Ron Justice, Mylan Park Foundation Board President. “We are so grateful to the FirstEnergy Foundation for helping us introduce children and their parents to other cultures through their foods, music, dances, hobbies, and sports.”Lorna Wisham, President of the FirstEnergy Foundation, said,...
Celebrate Earth Day with Huge Solar Deals by YellowLite
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 18, 2024
Yellowlite, a company dedicated to environmental preservation, is leading by example this Earth Day by offering significant solar discounts. The company recently participated in a river cleanup at Big Creek Reservations, further solidifying its commitment to a cleaner, greener future.In the first quarter of 2024, Yellowlite achieved remarkable milestones, including producing 8,665,365 kWhs of energy, offsetting 7,330,898 lbs of CO2, growing 54,983 tree seedlings, and offsetting 374,169 gallons of gas. These accomplishments demonstrate Yellowlite's dedication to...
West Penn Power Green Team Collaborates with Community Volunteers to Enhance Plant Diversity in Washington Park
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 17, 2024
More than 20 volunteers, including West Penn Power's Green Team, recently came together to plant native trees and shrubs in Washington Park, western Pennsylvania. Pam Kilgore, co-organizer of the event and an outdoor education expert at the park, emphasized the importance of adding diversity to the plant species in the area, stating, "The area is currently densely populated with sycamores, which are great for erosion control, but we need more variety."Students from Washington High School, Washington and Jefferson College, and members of the Washington Rotary Club joined...
FirstEnergy Appoints John Combs as Senior Vice President of Shared Services
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 16, 2024
FirstEnergy Corp. has named John Combs as its new Senior Vice President of Shared Services, effective April 22. In a statement, President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Tierney expressed confidence in Combs, saying, "John is a dynamic leader whose unique blend of technology, business and financial skills and experience guiding large organizations through technology modernization and digital transformation makes him a strong addition to the FirstEnergy leadership team."Combs joins FirstEnergy from JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he held the position of Managing Director,...
Mon Power Employees Support Workforce Development Competition for West Virginia’s Best Technical Students
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 16, 2024
Mon Power employee Stewart Whitehair, with 30 years of experience as an electrician, is actively involved in promoting opportunities in the technical field. Whitehair serves on the Marion County Technical Center’s Advisory Council for its electrical program and participates in an annual competition organized by SkillsUSA, a workforce development organization.Whitehair emphasized the importance of attracting young people to vocational and technical careers, stating, “We need to get more young people interested in pursuing careers in vocational and technical jobs.” He...
Settlement Reached in FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities’ Grid Modernization Plan
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 15, 2024
FirstEnergy Corp.’s Ohio electric companies have reached a settlement on their Grid Modernization (Grid Mod) II plan, aiming to expand the deployment of smart meters to an additional 1.4 million customers in Ohio. The four-year, $421 million plan, if approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), will continue the system upgrades initiated under Grid Mod I, including the installation of approximately 706,000 smart meters across Ohio.Patricia Mullin, Acting President of FirstEnergy’s Ohio Operations, highlighted the significance of smart meters in empowering...
Columbia Gas promotes National Work Zone Awareness Week
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 15, 2024
Columbia Gas and other organizations throughout Ohio are promoting National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 15-19. They encourage motorists to slow down, stay alert, and respect work zone directives to help prevent incidents and fatalities.
Ohio Children Safely View Total Solar Eclipse Thanks to Sight-Saving Shades from FirstEnergy
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 11, 2024
On Monday, April 8, millions of people across the United States witnessed a total eclipse of the sun, experiencing a rare celestial event where midafternoon turned into what seemed like midnight. In northeast Ohio, thousands of children were able to safely view the eclipse, thanks to the generosity of FirstEnergy.FirstEnergy, in collaboration with Prevent Blindness of Northeast Ohio, provided over 70,000 pairs of ISO-certified eclipse viewing glasses for students. Lorna Wisham, Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement at FirstEnergy, expressed the...
Tree-Trimming Work Underway to Help Prevent or Minimize Power Outages for JCP&L Customers
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 10, 2024
Holmdel, N.J. – FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has embarked on a tree-trimming initiative spanning over 3,400 miles of power lines in its service territory across 13 counties. The endeavor aims to enhance electric service reliability by mitigating tree-related outages, particularly during severe weather conditions.JCP&L President, Jim Fakult, emphasized the significance of the tree-trimming program, stating, “Falling trees and branches are the number one cause of power outages for our customers in New Jersey. Our year-round...
OEC Applauds DOE Transformer Rule Change That Eases Supply Chain Gridlock, Enhances Electricity Reliability
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 10, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Energy revised its rule on electricity distribution transformers this week, which will ease supply chain challenges and ultimately support electricity reliability and grid resilience.U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio expressed his satisfaction with the changes, stating, “Building transformers made with Ohio steel is crucial to our electric grid and our energy independence.” Brown also commended the DOE for listening to stakeholders and making significant improvements to the initial standards, adding, “The final standards are a step...
The Community Foundation of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Donates $12,000 to Local Community Causes, and Family of Fallen Lineworker
By Ohio Energy Reporter | Apr 10, 2024
COLUMBUS, OH - The Community Foundation of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives has recently allocated funds to support various charitable causes within local communities and assist the family of a fallen lineworker.In a statement, the foundation announced that nearly $8,000 in grants were approved for 8 charitable organizations. The foundation expressed its dedication to giving back to the communities served by Ohio’s 25 electric cooperatives.Among the beneficiaries of the grants are organizations such as the Worthington Resource Pantry, Stiff Person Syndrome Research...