PCCA Journal 2nd Quarter 2023

The Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association 2nd Quarter 2023 Biden Nominates Gomez to Fill FCC Vacancy USDA Announces $11 Billion Investment to Advance Clean Energy Across Rural America PCCA Members Bring Top Industry Issues to Capitol Hill PCCA Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Dignity Act New PCCA Chair Ed Campbell Quanta Services, Inc.

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2nd Quarter 2023 Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association Publication Staff PO Box 638 Churchton, Maryland 20733 (800) 542-PCCA • www.pccaweb.org ©2023 Power & Communication Contractors Association Publisher Timothy Wagner Editor Michael Ancell Advertising Sales Stacy Bowdring Photography Jorge de Casanova Information Technology Greg Smela Accounting James Wagner Layout & Design Joseph Wagner PCCA Members Bring Top Industry Issues to Capitol Hill 9 By Zack Perconti & Jaime Steve In April, PCCA members returned to Washington D.C., holding our first official fly-in since 2020. The PCCA group traveled to Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers and their staffs on four key issues vital to broadband and electrical construction. The group—some of PCCA’s core government affairs committee members, both contractors and associates— met with 28 House and Senate offices representing more than a dozen states over the course of a very busy and productive day. PCCA Leads with Education at 78th Annual Convention 18 With more than 400 attendees, PCCA held its second-largest convention ever this March in Miami Beach. Education is always a mainstay of PCCA meetings, and in Miami PCCA members learned about the state of utility construction markets, damage prevention, immigration as a workforce solution, issues surrounding contracts, PCCA’s top legislative priorities, the latest equipment and services in the industry, and much more. PCCA News 7 Human Resources | By Greg Guidry 13 Power News 32 Broadband News 35 News Briefs 40 PCCA Member News 46 Industry Calendar 49 New PCCA Members 49 Advertiser Index 49 Last Word | By Tim Wagner 50 Officer Directors Board of Directors Garrett Akin Brooks Construction Co., LLC Nick Anderson Anderson Underground, Inc. John Audi Mears Group, Inc. Bob Breeden ElectricCom, Inc. Bonnie Burnham Service Electric Company John Capodice Sterling Site Access Solutions Josh DeBruine Michels Corporation Justin Druffel Caterpillar, Inc. John Fluharty (Advisory) Mears Group, Inc. Tom Fredericks American Polywater Corporation Robin Gilbertson J&R Underground, LLC Jerrod Henschel Equix, Inc. Chase Lapcinski Push, Inc. Tommy Muse, Jr. Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc. Steve Sellenriek (Advisory) UtiliSource Sam Stephens Tjader & Highstrom Jason Tyler Brooks Construction Co., LLC Billy Vincent ElectriCom, Inc. Michael Whitebread J.J. Kane Auctioneers Chris Wozniak Intercon Construction, Inc. Chairman Ed Campbell Quanta Services, Inc.. Chairman-Elect Matthew Gabrielse Gabe’s Construction Co., Inc 1st Vice Chairman Rob Pribyl MP Nexlevel, LLC. 2nd Vice Chairman Craig Amerine Amerine Utilities Construction, Inc Treasurer Heath Sellenriek Sellenriek Construction Secretary Chase Lapcinski Push, Inc.

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PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 7 PCCA NEWS During the 78th Annual PCCA Convention in Miami Beach, Fla., in March, the PCCA Education & Research Foundation announced the recipients of its 2023-2024 scholarships: $10,000 PCCA Scholarships These 4-year, $10,000 scholarships are open to the children and other dependents of PCCA-member employees. • Gavin Baltes, Falls Church, Va., Mechanical Engineering (Mears Group) • Connor Keenan, Waunakee, Wis., Mechanical Engineering (Infrasource) • Jack McDermott, St. Charles, Ill., Construction Engineering (Dura-Line) • Caitlynn Wohlford, Bonney Lake, Wash., Undecided/STEM (LTS Managed Technical Services) $1,000 “Who Will Do the Work?” Scholarships These $1,000 scholarships are open to students at PCCA-affiliated community colleges and technical schools. • Ethan Rentel, Utility Systems Technician • Garrett Mason, Utility Systems Construction • Todd Bobo, Utility Systems Technician • Julius Sharrow, Assoc. of Applied Science in Utility Systems PCCA Announces 2023-24 Scholarship Winners PCCA members and staff participated in Celebration of Construction on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., May 14-16, to discuss the important work being done to deliver broadband to all Americans and to strengthen our nation’s power grid. We also talked about the rewarding careers in the construction industry with tourists, school groups, and delighted children as they climbed on the construction equipment and visited the booths like trick-or-treaters. The event also gave PCCA members to meet with lawmakers, regulators, and their staffs to highlight issues important to our industry. We were delighted that FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington each stopped by our booth to discuss rural broadband, PCCA’s work with technical schools and community colleges, damage prevention, and more. PCCA members also enjoyed time with so many of our industry allies, including folks from the Common Ground Alliance, Distribution Contractors Association, National Utility Contractors Association, and of course the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, who did an outstanding job planning and executing this amazing event. PCCA thanks the following members for working our booth, helping us with meetings, and supporting the association: • Daryl Bouwkamp, Vermeer • John Capodice, Sterling • John Fluharty, Mears Group • Tom Fredericks, American Polywater • Robin Gilbertson, J&R Underground • Jake Jeffords, Vermeer • Gary Lawson, Ditch Witch • Dan Levac, PLP PCCA Celebrates Construction on the National Mall

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PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 9 On April 25-26, PCCA members returned to Washington D.C., holding our first official fly-in since 2020. A strong group of PCCA leaders traveled to Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers and their staffs on four key issues vital to broadband and electrical construction industries. The group—some of PCCA’s core government affairs committee members, both contractors and associates—met with 28 House and Senate offices representing more than a dozen states over the course of a very busy and productive day. The members who volunteered their time and energy on behalf of the industry were Steve Sellenriek (Sellenriek Construction), John Fluharty (Mears Group), Dan Levac (Preformed Line Products), Robin Gilbertson (J&R Underground LLC), Sam Stephens (Tjader & Highstrom), Daryl Bouwkamp (Vermeer), Chris Parrack (Sterling Site Access Solutions), Jerry Beyer (Vermeer), Nick Anderson (Anderson Underground), Nate Newsome (GPRS), and James Wagner (PCCA). The group was joined by Sarah Magruder-Lyle of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) who discussed the need for GIS (geographic information system) mapping of underground assets to significantly reduce damages and costs. “This was an important, well-organized PCCA effort,” PCCA Past Chairman John Fluharty, Mears Group, said. “We talked directly with our Representatives, Senators, and their staffs and explained the key needs of our industry. Over the years, these folks have come to recognize us as truth-tellers who let them know what’s really happening out in the field, how federal dollars are actually being spent.” The four key issues highlighted for congressional offices were: 1. Workforce shortage needs with an immigration fix, 2. Implementation of the $42 billion for broadband buildouts under the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), 3. Permitting reform to reduce project delays and obstruction of projects, and 4. PHMSA (Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Act) reauthorization and the need to establish a pilot program for GIS mapping of underground systems to enhance damage prevention. Workforce Needs According to industry estimates, the construction industry will need at least 546,000 workers in 2023 to meet anticipated demand. That number is set to grow as it does not factor in the additional labor necessary to support federal broadband investment provided through the Broadband Equity, Access, Continued on page 10 Inside Washington Zack Perconti PCCA Government Affairs Representative zperconti@pccaweb.org (703) 677-6049 Jaime Steve PCCA Government Affairs Representative jsteve@pccaweb.org (202) 841-5493 PCCA Members Bring Top Industry Issues to Capitol Hill

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 10 Inside Washington Continued from page 9 and Deployment (BEAD) program, of which very little of the $42.5 billion that will be provided has reached the market. PCCA members educated Congress on how the association and its members are leading the way in recruiting and training the broadband construction workforce of tomorrow. Our members discussed the importance of federal support for technical education and PCCA’s school partnerships, as well as the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) of which PCCA is an industry partner. However, with the April unemployment rate sitting at only 3.4 percent and billions of federal broadband investment set to soon hit the market, these domestic workforce development programs will simply not be enough to close the gap on their own. PCCA, therefore, has committed to supporting immigration and seasonal visa reforms as a path to meeting the workforce needs of tomorrow. At our Washington Fly-In, PCCA members came prepared to argue on behalf of the business community for some of the common-sense reforms that polls show are supported by the American public. During their meetings, PCCA members urged their elected officials to add their names in support of Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar’s (R-Fla.) Dignity Act, which PCCA fully supports. Salazar, who represents parts of Miami, continues to be a champion of immigration reform and, along with Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.), reintroduced the sweeping immigration bill for consideration in the current 118th Congress. “In all our meetings, members of Congress and their staff agreed that immigration laws should be updated so that people who want to work can legally join America’s workforce,” PCCA Past Chairman Steve Sellenriek said. While the Dignity Act is not a perfect piece of legislation, PCCA hopes that it can form the basis of bipartisan compromise. At its core, the legislation seeks to overhaul and streamline America’s complicated and overburdened immigration system, reducing the incentive to cross the border illegally. It also provides substantial investment toward securing the southern border and creates a path to legal status and work for otherwise law-abiding undocumented individuals currently in the United States. For more information on the Dignity Act, we encourage you to visit salazar.house.gov. The business community has increasingly come around to PCCA’s viewpoint on this issue. Shortly after our Washington fly-in, and together with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 400 other stakeholders around the country, PCCA helped launch the Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reforms This Year (LIBERTY) Campaign calling for Congress to begin taking steps to reach a bipartisan compromise that addresses these key issues. PCCA has already launched a Muster campaign on this issue, with more to come. For more information and to see our letter to Congress, visit the campaign’s official website at callingforliberty.org. Infrastructure Act Implementation This year is an important one for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the 117th Congress’s landmark legislation investing billions in American infrastructure. While some of the funds have begun to reach the market, most of the $42.5 billion overseen by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program have yet to be allocated to states. Concerns remain about how exactly those dollars will be distributed, with some in the industry feeling that the coverage maps used to allocate funding may still be inadequate. PCCA members also conveyed concerns around the “make it up as you go along” approach to Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements, which are still coming into force on future federally supported infrastructure projects. Our key message to Congress, therefore, boiled down to the importance of oversight, and PCCA remains a valuable industry partner. Any discussion of federal broadband policy would be incomplete without discussing speed standards, and our time in D.C. was no exception. PCCA told members of Congress that federal dollars for broadband deployment projects should be used to install the most effective technologies that provide the best service possible at speeds needed for modern living—namely, fiber broadband at a standard of 100/100 Mbps. While 100/20 Mbps is a step in the right direction, higher standards should be encouraged. A quick selfie in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for, from left, Daryl Bouwkamp, Vermeer; Dan Levac, PLP; Chris Parrack, Sterling, Jerry Beyer, Vermeer; and James Wagner, PCCA.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 11 Permitting Reform None of the goals that Congress and the White House set when passing IIJA and other legislation can be met without comprehensive permitting reform. Most folks in Washington can agree on that. The trouble has been in determining what exactly that reform should look like, and PCCA came prepared with our own suggestions. House Republicans approved permitting reform as part of a larger energy cost reduction bill (H.R. 1) in April. While H.R. 1 is seen as dead-on-arrival in the U.S. Senate, some of the permitting reform provisions appear to have both Democratic and Republican support in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Late last year, Senate Democrats had an agreement amongst themselves to pass permitting reform as proposed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), but that agreement was torpedoed by opposition from some House Democrats coupled with a withdrawal of Republican support. Since the passage of H.R. 1, Senator Manchin has reintroduced his proposed legislation, the Building American Energy Security Act of 2023. That same week, Republican Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the PCCA-supported RESTART and SPUR Acts. Negotiations on a bipartisan bill are ongoing. While nothing is ever easy in Congress, PCCA is optimistic that a permitting reform bill could be passed into law by the end of this year. This would allow many more broadband and electric industry projects to progress on a faster timeline. PHMSA Reauthorization and Damage Prevention This is a very important year for damage prevention policy. Rollout of federal infrastructure investment from recent legislation will significantly increase construction excavation activity across the United States, and with it, the chance of damage to underground utilities. Already, according to the PCCA-sponsored Infrastructure Protection Coalition study, damages to underground lines and societal expenses, excess costs, and waste associated with said damages amount to $91 billion in annual damage and waste costs. Combined with the CGA’s 50-in-5 damages reduction challenge, government and industry need to work together to identify all avenues possible to make excavation safer and more efficient. Fortunately, there is a prime legislative opportunity later this year, as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is due for reauthorization. PHMSA reauthorization provides the best vehicle to influence dig law at the federal level, and the triannual reauthorization could not come at a better time. PCCA and the IPC have already set about encouraging Congress to implement some of the national recommendations from the IPC study and have produced a white paper outlining some of the key steps that they could take. While on Capitol Hill, PCCA was fortunate to be joined by CGA’s Magruder-Lyle, who helped educate members of Congress and their staffs that GIS mapping of underground utilities is one of the most effective ways to reduce damages. PCCA is also urging Congress to create a new three-year, $10 million pilot program for GIS mapping of underground assets, with the hopes that it could later be expanded to cover all utilities under the jurisdiction of other agencies. PCCA government affairs staff have helped our association make a big impact here in D.C. in recent years, but nothing compares to having our industry leaders advocate directly on Capitol Hill. PCCA looks forward to welcoming both firsttimers and Washington veterans back to Capitol Hill soon. A photo op between meetings for, from left, Nate Newsome, GPRS; Steve Sellenriek, Sellenriek Construction; John Fluharty, Mears Group; Sam Stephens, Tjader & Highstrom; Robin Gilbertson, J&R Underground; and Nick Anderson, Anderson Underground.

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PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 13 HUMAN RESOURCES Greg Guidry Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart greg.guidry@ogletree.com (337) 769-6583 The issue of violence in the workplace has become an issue of great concern for all employers in the United States, given the frequency of incidents that are occurring in 2023. According to available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20,050 people experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence in 2020. In the same year, 392 workers were killed by homicide: 81 percent were men, 28 percent were Black, 18 percent were Hispanic, and 20 of the victims were in the construction and extraction industry. What is workplace violence? It is any act of aggression, or threat of an act, that threatens the safety, security, or wellbeing of an individual who is at work or on duty. You know it when you see it. There are different types of workplace violence: Type 1: Criminal Intent. The aggressor has no legitimate relationship to the workplace. The largest number of workplace incidents fall into this type/category. Type 2: Customer/Client/Patient: Aggressor is recipient/ object of service provided (i.e., patients, clients, customers, passengers, etc.). Type 3: Co-Worker/Employee. Aggressor has employmentrelated involvement with the workplace. Type 4: Personal. Aggressor does not work within the business but is known to/has personal relationship with an employee. What laws are implicated by workplace violence issues? As we all know because of the political discourse that follows each active shooter incident, there are competing concerns: laws that protect gun possession and laws that require employers to provide a safe workplace. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to keep and use arms for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. More recently in a 2022 decision, the Court held that there is a constitutional right for citizens to carry a firearm outside the home for selfdefense, invalidating the previous stringent licensing requirements for concealed carry permits in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and D.C. Twenty-four states have laws that permit guns to be kept in locked employee vehicles. The laws vary somewhat from state to state, so if you have any policies banning weapons in vehicles, you will need to review the laws of the state you are working in to determine the legality of your policy and the penalty for violating the applicable law. Although OSHA has not yet developed any standards on workplace violence, it has issued several guidelines on enforcement under its general duty clause. OSHA’s general duty clause requires all employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Depending on the circumstances, OSHA could issue a citation under the General Duty Clause. However, there are court decisions holding that gun-related workplace violence is not a “recognized hazard” under the general duty clause. OSHA is currently working on a standard on workplace violence in healthcare facilities. Its proposed rule would require Violence in the Workplace: Preventive Measures for Employers Continued on page 14 As we all know because of the political discourse that follows each active shooter incident, there are competing concerns: laws that protect gun possession and laws that require employers to provide a safe workplace.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 14 Human Resources Continued from page 13 a workplace violence prevention program, regular hazard assessments, implementation of control measures, training, incident investigation, maintenance of a workplace violence log, and anti-retaliation provision to encourage reporting. Several states have passed legislation with similar requirements to OSHA’s proposed healthcare standard, and there are currently many bills pending in state legislatures adding or expanding those laws. What are some strategies all employers, including construction industry employers, can implement? 1. Develop Workplace Violence Policy and Procedures • Consider your hiring practices • Background checks consistent with Fair Credit Reporting Act and anti-discrimination laws • Reference checks • Consider your interview questions • Non-discrimination/anti-harassment policy that includes anti-bullying provisions • Various reporting procedures • Work rules/code of conduct • Weapons policy (to include premises and company vehicles) • Accommodation/leave policy • Employee Assistance Program resources 2. Supervisor/Manager Training • To recognize behavioral markers • Fascination/display of weapons • Substance abuse/under influence • Signs of severe stress • Violent history • Signs of poor psychological functioning • Decreased or inconsistent production • Social isolation and poor peer relationships • Poor personal hygiene • Drastic changes in personality • Duty to report observations/complaints of bullying or threatening behavior • Consideration of risk of violence with discipline/termination and planning accordingly • How to Deal with Threats of Violence OSHA is currently working on a standard on workplace violence in healthcare facilities. Its proposed rule would require a workplace violence prevention program, regular hazard assessments, implementation of control measures, training, incident investigation, maintenance of a workplace violence log, and anti-retaliation provision to encourage reporting. period in the aftermath of the threats • Termination Protocol • Do not give advance notice of a termination • Consider conducting termination(s) remotely • Do not allow employee to leave the exit interview unescorted • Consider whether conducting exit interview is necessary • Keep termination meetings short and concise • Listen to employee and avoid arguing • Have adequate security available in the event of a violent outburst • If necessary, communicate with current employees to explain what happened to allay their fears and answer any questions 3. Employee Awareness • If you see something say something—often connected on social media and seeing troubling posts • Educate employees on reporting procedures, emergency action plan, and crisis management team • Consider mock training exercises • Run, hide, or fight training 4. Emergency Action Plan • Conduct Risk Assessment • Existing or potential hazards? • History or pattern of workplace violence? • Neighborhood crime patterns? • Industry experiences? • Alert any employee under threat as soon as possible after learning of the circumstances • Remove a current employee making threats from the workplace (with security if needed) • Contact law enforcement, report the threat, and, if necessary, follow up with law enforcement encouraging it to act to protect the workplace or employees • File for and attempt to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the employee who made the threats, keeping in mind that securing the TRO may not eliminate the threat • Retain qualified private security to protect the workplace for some time

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 15 • Job-specific exposures? • Physical work environment? • Security Measures • Implementing security monitoring systems • Using limited access key cards • Checking employee identification cards • Installing emergency warning systems • Hiring full-time or after-hours security guards • Establishing strictly enforced visitor sign-in policies • Thoroughly screening the backgrounds of new employees • Providing security escorts for those employees working late • Assessing the need for metal detectors • Establishing safe room for employees during emergencies • Formulate a Crisis Plan • Assessing/monitoring the incident • Summoning help • Warning employees • Locking the building/securing the area • Waiting for emergency response personnel • Working with police/fire/paramedics to resolve the situation • Managing follow-up activities • Conduct drills 5. Establish Crisis Management Team • Purpose is to manage and assess threatening situations • Membership should include • Human Resources • Security • Medical • Legal • Responsible for maintaining accurate contact information • Incident investigation and post-incident analysis is critical All construction industry employers are strongly encouraged to review their current policies and practices on this serious issue and beef them up if necessary. CONVENIENT COMPACT DESIGN 10” x 13” x less than 2” thick THE EV3 KIT INCLUDES: 1 - TRI-FOLD 36” RULER, 3 - FOLDABLE “MARK” MARKERS, 1 - FOLDABLE “HIT” MARKER WHITE BOARD, MARKER SET, ERASER - ALL STORED NEATLY IN A DRAWSTRING BACKPACK EXCAVATION VERIFICATION KIT ANNANDALE, MN | PH: 877-274-7223 | WWW.FS3INC.BIZ *Helpful Hint* Take pictures before you dig! *Helpful Tools* Jobsite Sketches with color coded markers! ®

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PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 18 Convention Recap Continued from page 15 With more than 400 attendees, the Power & Communication Contractors Association held its second-largest convention ever this March in Miami Beach. Education is always a mainstay of PCCA meetings, and in Miami PCCA members learned about the state of utility construction markets, damage prevention, immigration as a workforce solution, issues surrounding contracts, PCCA’s top legislative priorities, the latest equipment and services in the industry, and much more. PCCA also announced its annual scholarships, raised money for important association programs, honored outgoing Chair Jerrod Henschel, welcomed new Chair Ed Campbell, and inducted two PCCA stalwarts into its Hall of Fame: John Fluharty and Dan Levac. And of course, as PCCA members are known to do, everyone had a great time! As always, the convention opened with a PCCA Leadership Development Program session led by Andy Patron, Aboveboard Consulting: Contracts, Risk, Change Orders, Conflict, and Negotiations. The following morning featured the annual PCCA/CGA/Nulca Excavation Safety Summit, moderated by Jerrod Henschel, Equix Inc. The panel featured Sam Hall, Vice President, Damage Prevention Institute, Common Ground Alliance; CGA Chairman and NULCA President Josh Hinrichs, PCCA Past Chairman and CGA Secretary John Fluharty, and PCCA Past Chairman and CGA Board member Steve Sellenriek. Sellenriek, Sellenriek Construction, discussed damage prevention progress being made in Missouri and the benefits and challenges of underground utilities mapping. He also recommended that his fellow contractors join CGA and the Damage Prevention Institute and urged them to submit data to CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report. “If you’re not reporting to DIRT,” he said, “you’re doing yourself an injustice.” PCCA Past Chairmen also met on Saturday to discuss ongoing association activities and to select the 2023-24 PCCA Scholarship Recipients. Recipients of the 4-year, $10,000 scholarships, open to the children and other dependents of PCCA-member employees, are Gavin Baltes, Falls Church, Va. (Mears Group); Connor Keenan, Waunakee, Wis. (Infrasource); Jack McDermott, St. Charles, Ill. (Dura-Line); and Caitlynn Wohlford, Bonney Lake, Wash. (LTS Managed Technical Services). Recipients of the $1,000 “Who Will Do the Work?” Scholarships, open to students at PCCA-affiliated schools, are Ethan PCCA Leads with Education at 78th Annual Convention

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 19 Rentel, Utility Systems Technician; Garrett Mason, Utility Systems Construction; Todd Bobo, Utility Systems Technician; and Julius Sharrow, Assoc. of Applied Science in Utility Systems. That evening, keynote speaker Gregory Offner shared the lessons learned while traveling the world playing piano bars into a message of how employers can create experiences that their people want to engage in. He said that we should engage our audience and “determine what each employee wants in their tip jar.” Plus we all got to sing along! Sundays at PCCA conventions always start with the Prayer Breakfast (this year was the 51st annual!) and end with the Annual Silent & Live Auctions, which raise funds for PCCA scholarships, workforce development, damage prevention efforts, and more. The Prayer Breakfast was hosted by PCCA Hall of Famer Herb Fluharty, and the speaker Pastor Eric Isaac discussed how adversity was always part of God’s plan. “God gives you adversity to grow you,” he said. Sunday in Miami Beach also included Continuum Capital Principal Mark Bridgers’ presentation on the Economics of Immigration, detailing the history of immigration in the U.S., some common misunderstandings, and some of the possible solutions being offered. He said that immigrants are primarily complements to the U.S. workforce, not substitutes and that there is no correlation between immigration and the unemployment rate. The Annual Associates Exhibit & Breakfast opened the convention’s fourth day, and contractors crowded into the ballroom to learn more about the jobsite and business solutions offered by PCCA’s associate members. FMI President & CEO Chris Daum delivered his always informative power and communication market update on Monday morning. He said the long-term outlook for these markets “is awesome but still requires solutions.” The convention’s final day featured PCCA’s Issue Roundtables, starting with an education panel that discussed scholarships, registered apprenticeships, and utility construction programs at technical colleges that PCCA works with. PCCA President & CEO Tim Wagner talked about a video PCCA is creating to promote our industry to young people and his work with the Ohio Broadband 5G Sector Partnership Program to develop a skilled telecommunications workforce in the state. Dr. Shawn Strong, President of the State Technical College of Missouri, described his school’s tremendous success in recent years: WalletHub’s #1 two-year college in the U.S. for the last four years, six straight years of record-breaking enrollment, and a 99.7 percent graduate placement rate. He reported that the school’s Utility Systems Technician program now has 150 students and the powerline program has 100 students. The government & industry affairs session, Moderated by John Fluharty of Mears Group, included lots of audience participation and a lively discussion of broadband deployment, immigration reform, permitting issues, Buy American requirements, a variety of onerous labor provisions from the Biden administration, and more. The panel featured Ben Brubeck, Associated Builders and Contractors Association; Patrick Halley, Wireless Infrastructure Association; Marissa Mitrovich, Fiber Broadband Association; Shekinah Pepper, USDA Rural Utilities Service; and Kristen Swearingen, Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. PCCA closed the convention with a Circa 1955 Party where members honored outgoing Chairman Jerrod Henschel with the association’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award “in appreciation of his diligent efforts, his faithful service, and his outstanding accomplishments for the members of this association.” Henschel then passed the PCCA Chairman’s Gavel to Ed Campbell, Quanta Services. Tim Wagner thanked the outgoing members of the PCCA Board of Directors: John Fluharty and Jeff Brown, Global Machinery, and he announced a new Associate Rep to the Board: Tom Fredericks, American Polywater. The evening’s festivities closed with the PCCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring John Fluharty of Mears Group and Dan Levac of Preformed Line Products for their years of hard work for PCCA and the power and broadband construction industry. Fluharty was introduced by his daughter Natasha, who shared a few kind words as well as a few less-thankind words that were absolutely hilarious. Upon presenting the award, Wagner said, “In my 23 years with PCCA I can’t think of another member who has spent more time on PCCA business and been more instrumental in PCCA’s success and standing in the construction industry.” Fluharty said that his passion for PCCA is based largely on the association sharing three of the pillars in his life: work, faith, and family. It was noted that Dan Levac has been called a lot of things during his 20+ years as a PCCA member, but perhaps none more apt than what Wagner called him that night on Miami Beach: “Dan is the poster child for Associate Member involvement in PCCA.” He continued, “No matter what Dan does, he approaches it with total commitment. 100 percent in. That’s how he’s treated PCCA for more than 20 years: 100 percent in. That’s why Dan is the perfect PCCA Hall of Fame inductee and why we’re here to celebrate him tonight!” In his funny and touching speech, Levac said that people should never “underestimate the strength, passion, and reach of the PCCA.”

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 20 Images of PCCA 2023 Keynote speaker/piano player Gregory Offner collects requests from the PCCA audience. And yes, of course, somebody requested “Sweet Caroline.”

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 21 PCCA Chairman Jerrod Henschel, Equix, Inc., welcomes fellow members to beautiful Miami Beach and the 78th Annual PCCA Convention. During his Economics of Immigration session, Continuum Capital Principal Mark Bridgers said that there has been no successful immigration legislation of consequence in the U.S. since 1986. He called it the “third rail of American politics.”

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 22 Dr. Shawn Strong, President of the State Technical College of Missouri, talks about the success the school has at recruiting and graduating students during the Education Issues roundtable. During his always enlightening power and communication market update, FMI President & CEO Chris Daum discusses the “wild ride” we’ve all been on since March 2020. He said that the biggest problem with the U.S. economy is that “we don’t have enough people working.”

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 23 Who knew government affairs were so fun? The Government & Industry Issues roundtable included Kristen Swearingen, Coalition for a Democratic Workplace; Ben Brubeck, Associated Builders and Contractors Association; moderator John Fluharty, Mears Group; and Patrick Halley, Wireless Infrastructure Association. These sharp-dressed men were inducted into the PCCA Hall of Fame on the convention’s final night: Dan Levac, Preformed Line Products, and John Fluharty, Mears Group. At the Closing Party, outgoing Chairman Jerrod Henschel, Equix, Inc., accepts the PCCA Distinguished Service Award for his many contributions to the association and the industry over the years.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 24 Above, a beautiful evening on Miami Beach for the Annual Board/Past Chair/Sponsor Reception. Left & top, Andy Patron’s Leadership Development session on contracts captivates Dan Tait, Mears Group; Ted Hastings, Henkels & McCoy; and Chris Parrack, Sterling Site Access Solutions. All these smiles show what a great time everyone had at the Board/Past Chair/Sponsor Reception. Right, Medea Gabrielse, Toni Henschel, and Karen Gabrielse. (Kudos to Kelly Francaviglia for an epic photo bomb!) Below left, Casey Gann, Missi Amerine, Shari Steinbecker, Billie Hinrichs, Roxanne Sellenriek, and Whitney Dotson. Below right, Sam Stephens with Weston, August & Elizabeth Peiffer. The PCCA Board tackles association business, including funding for a new marketing video that will promote the excellent careers that our industry offers to students around the country. Justin Druffel, Caterpillar, and Billy Vincent, ElectriCom, pay close attention during the Board of Directors meeting.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 25 Support from sponsors helps make PCCA meetings special. Enjoying the reception are Ted & Kim Clemens, General Machine Products; Kendell Lewis & Jenna Drake, Plummettaz America; and Jon & Teri Elliott, Plummettaz America. PCCA Past Chairmen meet each year at the convention to weigh in on association activities and select scholarship winners. Discussing business here are Austin Shanfelter, Jerrod Henschel, and Gene Klaasmeyer. The First-time Attendee Reception gives the PCCA leadership and staff the opportunity to get to know new members in a smaller, less crowded setting. Above, Logan Holmquist and Mike Berg, both with PUSH, Inc., meet Past Chairman John Fluharty, Mears Group. Below, Sonya Mobley, Right Turn Supply, chats with Board member Bonnie Burnham, Service Electric Company. Adding knowledge and expertise to the broadband discussions during the Government & Industry Issues roundtable were Marissa Mitrovich, Fiber Broadband Association, and Shekinah Pepper, USDA Rural Utilities Service. Above, Terry Crosier, Digital Control, Inc.; Justin Druffel, Caterpillar; and Charlie Fajardo, ComTech Sales talk business at the First-timers Reception.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 26 Toni Henschel reads from the Book of Isaiah during the Prayer Breakfast: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Rex Schick, K&W Underground, and Darren Dierbeck, Vantage Point Solutions, discuss broadband funding issues during the exhibit. Pastor Eric Isaac cautions the PCCA congregation, “The path God leads us down is not always in line with our expectations.” The Annual Contractor/Associate Exhibit & Breakfast gives members a chance to discuss new products and services, supply chain issues, and more in a relaxed setting. Left, Garrett Akin, Brooks Construction Co., talks with Andrew Golly, Right Turn Supply. Talking trucks with Rob Troxel, Premier Truck Rentals (second from right), are Jacob Elliott, Seth Barclay, and Coty Beaman, all with Midstate Communications Contractors. PCCA Past Chairman and Hall of Famer Herb Fluharty leads the Annual Prayer Breakfast with poise, humor, and an abundance of faith.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 27 Members show their picks of heads or tails as auctioneer Michael Whitebread prepares to toss the coin. Yvette McNett and Danny Mulcay, Utilicom Supply Associates, enjoy the Live Auction. At the Mears Group table, Greg Bosch is always quick to flash his bid card, while Tom Clapper wonders if he’ll ever buy anything. PCCA’s Annual Auction funds scholarships, workforce development initiatives, and more. Below, Ditch Witch folks enjoying the Silent Auction & Reception, from left, Amy Thielke, Corey & Connie Smith, and Matt Thielke. Brian Sandon and his J.J. Kane Auctioneers colleagues Michael Whitebread and Jonathan Julian make the PCCA Auction run smoothly and profitably every year. Thanks guys!

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 28 A gorgeous day for golf at the Miami Beach Gold Club. Above, Robert Juarez, City Build Utility Supply; John Audi, Mears Group; and Michael Whitebread, J.J. Kane Auctioneers. Top right, Chris Parrack, Sterling Site Access Solutions; Reese Howard, Cablevision Communications; Will Miller, AFL; and Sam Stephens, Tjader & Highstrom. From left to right, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...... A lovely day for sailing from Miamarina, through downtown Miami, and out onto Biscayne Bay aboard the Caribbean Spirit catamaran. Below, no telling where that ball went, but Ryan Steinbecker, Altec Industries, shows some fine form. Right, Mark Mitchell, Mears Group; Mark Gallucci, Digital Control, Inc.; and Brad Buxton, Custom Truck One Source.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 29 PCCA members always enjoy Pool Day. Left, Board member Josh DeBruine, Michels Corporation; Brad Gabrielse, Vermeer Wisconsin; and outgoing PCCA Chairman Jerrod Henschel, Equix, Inc. Tony Gann, Altec Industries; Steve Sellenriek, Sellenriek Construction; Ryan Steinbecker, Altec Industries; and Joe Oden, Sellenriek Construction. Right, Jake Jeffords, Vermeer MV Solutions, and Jason Batsunas, Vermeer Midwest. Smiles all around on a beautiful sunny day at the Spouse Breakfast. Cheers! Past Chairman David Aubrey, Brink Constructors; John Xanthos, VCI Construction; and Past Chairman John Fluharty, Mears Group. The PCCA crew on a fascinating Art Deco History & Culinary Tour around world-famous and always-interesting South Beach.

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 30 Eden Roc Circa 1955 Party

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 31 Industry Education • Premium Networking • Great Times! 2023 MID-YEAR MEETING Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Dana Point, California August 6 - 9, 2023

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 32 The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that this summer will see the second-most U.S. natural gas consumption for electricity generation on record, surpassed only by last summer. EIA continues to expect significant growth in U.S. electricity generation from wind and solar, but the wet winter in California and the western United States should also increase electricity generated from hydropower during the coming months. “The increasing share of renewables in the U.S. generation mix is a major feature of our electricity forecast this summer and through 2024,” EIA Administrator Joe DeCarolis said. “As electricity providers generate more electricity from renewable sources, we see electricity generated from coal decline over the next year and a half. We expect that the United States will generate less electricity from coal this year than in any year this century.” In its May Short-Term Energy Outlook, EIA expects U.S. POWER NEWS USDA Announces $11 Billion Investment to Advance Clean Energy Across Rural America On May 16, the White House announced the availability of nearly $11 billion in grants and loan opportunities that will help rural energy and utility providers bring affordable, reliable clean energy to their communities across the country. This represents the single largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936. “These investments will also combat climate change and significantly reduce air and water pollution that put children’s health at risk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stands ready to partner with municipalities, tribal entities, entrepreneurs, rural electric cooperatives, and other utilities to see this transformative investment come to life and create new economic growth and healthier communities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. Funding is available through two programs under the Inflation Reduction Act. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be opening a Letter of Interest process for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program, which makes $9.7 billion available to eligible rural electric cooperatives to deploy renewable energy systems, zeroemission, and carbon capture systems. USDA will also be opening a Letter of Interest process for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program, which makes $1 billion available in partially forgivable loans to renewableenergy developers and electric service providers, including municipals, cooperatives, and investor-owned and Tribal utilities, to help finance large-scale solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower projects, and energy storage in support of renewable energy systems. “All across America, rural cooperatives lift up our rural communities. President Biden’s investment agenda positions his Agriculture Department as the ultimate partner in this work—financing not just upgrades to clean and affordable power, but also economic empowerment and uplift,” Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, said. “For so many of our rural communities, this is simply a gamechanger. It’s a big deal.” More information is available at www. rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electricprograms/empowering-rural-americanew-era-program. EIA Expects More Generation from Renewables and Natural Gas This Summer

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 33 Power News continued on page 34 Take a look at our NEW DIGITAL TOOLS and discover what MicroTechnology can do for your next project! www.duraline.com (800) 847-7661 Visit: www.duraline.com/tech-center/digital-tools or scan the QR code: retail electricity costs will remain higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Those higher prices mean that even if households consume less electricity, their electricity bills are likely to be similar or slightly higher than last summer. EIA’s forecasts for U.S. electricity consumption and expenditures could be significantly affected by weather, especially if the summer months are hotter than forecast. “Our forecast for the consumption of electricity and for the amount Americans pay for electricity this summer is highly dependent on weather,” DeCarolis said. “If this summer turns out to be warmer than we expect, we will see more demand for air conditioning, greater electricity use, and higher bills.” EIA revised its forecasts for crude oil prices from its previous forecasts, now expecting the Brent spot price to average about $79 per barrel in 2023, down 7% from its April forecast. EIA expects U.S. gasoline prices to average near $3.40 per gallon this summer, down from its April forecast of $3.50 per gallon for the summer. The full May 2023 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available at www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo. DOE Announces $60 Million to Advance Clean Hydrogen and Improve the Power Grid On May 22, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced nearly $42 million in funding for 22 projects in 14 states to advance critical technologies for producing, storing, and deploying clean hydrogen. DOE also announced $17.8 million to establish a new North American university research consortium that will help states and tribal communities implement grid resilience programs and achieve decarbonization goals. Clean hydrogen—which is produced with zero or next-to-zero carbon emissions—can leverage all our nation’s

PCCA Journal|2nd Quarter 2023 34 Power News Continued from page 33 NRECA Calls NERC Assessment an ‘Especially Dire Warning’ of Persistent Reliability Threats National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement on May 17 after the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s summer 2023 reliability assessment. “This report is an especially dire warning that America’s ability to keep the lights on has been jeopardized,” Matheson said. “That’s unacceptable. The decisions we make today determine whether utilities across the nation have the resources to power the American economy tomorrow. Federal policies must recognize the compromised reliability reality facing the nation before it’s too late. “American families and businesses expect the lights to stay on at a cost they can afford. But that’s no longer a guarantee. Nine states saw rolling blackouts last December as the demand for electricity exceeded available supply. And proposals like last week’s EPA power plant rule will greatly compound the problem. Absent a major shift in state and federal energy policy, this is the reality we will face for years to come. It’s vital that policymakers work to prioritize reliability in every energy policy discussion.” Five issues are currently impacting the reliable delivery of electricity across the nation, Matheson said. They include: • Increasing demand for electricity as other sectors of the economy are electrified. • Decreasing electricity supply due to the disorderly retirement and insufficient replacement of existing generation. • Permitting delays that prevent new electric infrastructure from being built and connected to the grid. • Supply chain challenges. • Problems with natural gas availability. The 2023 NERC summer reliability assessment is just the latest in a series of alarming reminders about the new electric reliability challenges facing the nation: • Earlier this month, several Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioners warned the Senate of threats to reliable electricity. “I think the United States is heading for a very catastrophic situation in terms of reliability,” Commissioner Mark Christie said. • In March, PJM Interconnection CEO Manu Asthana said that the regional transmission organization needed to slow the pace of generation retirements to avoid reliability problems by the end of the decade. “I think the math is pretty straightforward,” Asthana said. clean energy resources, including renewables, nuclear, and fossil resources with carbon capture, according to a DOE press release. Clean hydrogen can also support the expansion of clean electricity by providing a means for long-duration energy storage and offering flexibility and multiple revenue streams to all types of clean power generation, including renewables, today’s nuclear fleet, advanced nuclear, and other innovative technologies. The 22 projects announced in May will develop technologies for solar fuels, created by harvesting sunlight. In addition, they will demonstrate higher-density and lower-pressure hydrogen storage technologies, lower the costs of hydrogen fuel cells for medium- and heavy-duty transportation applications, and improve hydrogen-emissions detection and monitoring—addressing potential global warming impacts. Projects selected to improve hydrogen emissions detection will supplement DOE’s well-established and extensive work on hydrogen leakage addressing community concerns about hydrogen emissions and safety, and they will advance the broader field of leakage detection and monitoring technologies. The projects will be managed by DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office and will advance DOE’s Hydrogen Shot goal of reducing the cost of clean hydrogen to 1 dollar per 1 kilogram in 1 decade (“1-1-1”). They will support DOE’s H2@Scale initiative, which aims to augment the affordable production, transport, storage, and utilization of clean hydrogen. Learn more at www.energy.gov/eere/ fuelcells/selections-funding-opportunitysupport-hydrogen-shot-and-universityresearch.

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