first published week of: 09/15/2014
Site Selection magazine has selected its annual Top Utilities in Economic Development, based on the following mix of objective and subjective criteria: Analysis of corporate end-user project activity in 2013 in that company's territory based on the Conway Data New Plant Database and submitted materials from utilities; website tools and data; innovative programs and incentives for business, including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and the utility's own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends.
The winning utilities, in alphabetical order, are Alabama Power, Birmingham, Ala.; American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio; Duke Energy, Charlotte, N.C.; Entergy, New Orleans, La.; FirstEnergy, Akron, Ohio; Florida Power & Light, Juno Beach, Fla.; Georgia Power, Atlanta, Ga.; Gulf Power, Pensacola, Fla.; LG&E-KU, Louisville, Ky.; and Tennessee Valley Authority, Nashville, Tenn.
Those qualifying for Honorable Mention include Ameren, St. Louis, Mo.; CenterPoint Energy, Houston, Texas; ComEd (Exelon), Chicago, Ill.; Hoosier Energy, Bloomington, Ind.; National Grid, Syracuse, N.Y.; Nebraska Public Power District, Columbus, Neb.; NV Energy, Las Vegas, Nev.; Omaha Public Power District, Omaha, Neb.; Santee Cooper/South Carolina Power Team, Columbia, S.C.; and Southern California Edison, Rosemead, Calif.
'This year's Top Utilities feature some familiar names,' says Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection. 'That's because they not only continue to turn in the numbers year after year, but continue to invest in doing more, and in innovative new approaches to partnering with both companies and communities. In other words, despite regulatory concerns, prices of fuel and a host of other mitigating factors, they mean what they say when it comes to their mission to serve.' continued…