LBWL hometown people, hometown power, working through COVID
Chris Holman sits with the General Manager of the Lansing Board of Water and Light (LBWL), Dick Peffley, to talk about current operations during the pandemic. They cover how LBWL's processes and business has changed during the past half-year, long-term clean energy plans, and the Allen Neighborhood Center project.
Watch the full interview now!
In their interview Mr. Peffley shares how LBWL is all about hometown people, hometown power. They're not just electricity but a utility company for mid Michigan including water. Their headquarters and natural gas facility roughly twenty years ago put a $185M investment infusion into a part of Lansing that led to a reinvigorated neighborhood.
During the pandemic hundreds working from home while service boots on the ground are still out in the field, it's a bit of a challenge, in the past half year, one individual came down with the virus, but he is safe, and BWL continues to follow safety protocols.
COVID had other impacts but nothing to deter long-term goals. Delta Energy plant slowed down, but COVID19 has not derailed clean energy 50% by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2040.
LBWL Projects, Invest $90M in community a year, that sort of commitment helps the local economy, Allen Neighborhood Center is one prime example, Brandie Ekren, Lansing B.W.L. (Board of Water and Light) Executive Director, Strategic Planning, doing a great job, and BWL is just a team player in that overall effort for mid-Michigan.
BWL is committed to their existing and upcoming solar arrays, they're just a small part of it. battery technology is a continued focus heading into the future.
About LBWL
The Lansing Board of Water & Light is a municipally-owned public utility that provides safe, reliable and affordable utility products and services to more than 97,000 electric and 56,000 water customers throughout the greater Lansing area.
Our roots go back to 1885, when Lansing citizens approved building a water system. Electricity was added to our list of utility services in 1892, and steam heat in 1919. Chilled water was added in 2001.
The BWL is governed by a Board of Commissioners made up of eight local citizens who are appointed by the Lansing mayor and approved by city council. The board expanded in 2014 to include three non-voting members representing areas of our service territory outside the City of Lansing.
The BWL owns 2,000 miles of overhead and underground power lines and more than 800 miles of water mains, providing 2.7 million megawatt hours and 7 billion gallons of water to customers annually.
