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The Electric Current Blog

Quality, Training  |  

Electrical Apprenticeship Program Celebrates 2019 Graduates

The Electrical Alliance is pleased to announce the 2019 graduating class of the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) Apprenticeship Program. On Saturday, June 1st, graduates were honored in a celebration held in Greenbelt, MD. These men and women completed the program and became Journeyman Electricians over intensive classroom and job site training. As apprentices, they began earning good wages on day one of their training. With their honed skills and newfound knowledge, these graduates have secured high-paying, in-demand careers that offer generous benefits, all without incurring student loans.

Quality, Sustainability  |  

New Electricity Laws Enacted to Combat Climate Change

With global warming becoming a major concern, nations around the world are thinking of ways to halt climate change.

What is global warming? According to National Geographic, global warming is the gradual increase of the planet’s overall temperature. This increase correlates with the increase in the human population. Human activity has been labeled as the primary cause of global warming due to the volume of fossil fuels burned. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas caused an increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and has therefore strengthened the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is the process in which the sun’s heat reaches the earth’s atmosphere and gets trapped by greenhouse gases, causing the earth to grow warmer. In simple terms, an increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes an increase in the amount of heat absorbed, therefore raising the earth’s temperature.

Innovation, Quality, Safety  |  

Beyond The Code – National Electrical Installation Standards

At this year’s Code Seminar sponsored by the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) of the Electrical Alliance, 160 participants — including Electrical Alliance contractors’ representatives and electricians — received important updates and training on the National Electrical Codes (NEC)®. The Code Seminar, held on March 23, focused on the 2017 NEC® Significant Changes and provided updates relevant to Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (NFPA 70E) and fire alarm code.

Innovation, Quality, Safety  |  

Aarow’s Installation Challenges Working On NIH’s 24/7 Hospital Fire Alarm Replacement

Starting July 25, 2017, Aarow Electrical Solutions was awarded a contract with JV EGI/HSU to replace the active fire alarm infrastructure within NIH main hospital. There are three 14-story risers plus penthouses in the building 10 hospital East, West, center, and five 8-story risers plus penthouses in the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center (CRC), both under one roof, all of which received the new infrastructure.

Outreach, Quality  |  

Electrical Alliance Leader Honored After 36 Years of Service to the Industry

The Electrical Alliance, the DC Chapter of NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association), and IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 26 are pleased to announce that Andy Porter, former Executive Director of the DC Chapter of NECA, was inducted into the Academy of Electrical Contracting at the 2018 NECA Convention, September 29 – October 2 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Innovation, Quality  |  

2018 Project Highlight: Power Solutions Completes Work for New S.T.E.M. School

This spring, a project two years in the making was completed, allowing a new S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program near Leesburg, VA to open its doors to students for the 2018-19 school year. Electrical Alliance contractor, Power Solutions, installed all electrical services and metering; the power distribution system; all interior, emergency, exterior, and building facade lighting; and the fire alarm, grounding and lightning protection systems at The Academies of Loudoun.

Quality  |  
Singleton Electric Powers Water Treatment Facility in Virginia

Singleton Electric Powers Water Treatment Facility in Virginia

Singleton Electric, an Electrical Alliance contractor, ran 100 miles of wire as part of its effort to power the new Trap Rock Water Treatment Facility in Loudoun County, VA. To meet the current and future demands of the region’s growing population, the state-of-the-art facility was designed to be expandable and the processes scalable. Achieving this goal required the contractor to install 650,000 feet of conduit, 9 motor control centers and 200,000 feet of fiber.