Thursday, November 09, 2017 2:16:20 PM
Recently the contract with Whitefish Energy to restore electricity to Puerto Rico was canceled.
The contract was to rebuild more than 100 miles of downed 230 and 115kv transmission lines on the hurricane-ravaged island. WEH quickly mobilized 200 power line workers, sending certified crews equipment, and construction and project management teams to initiate rebuilding the electric infrastructure across the island. Planning stages included bringing on an addition 200-300 workers to complete the massive recovery effort.
WEH had 440 linemen working on power restoration and shipped around 600 pieces of heavy equipment including cranes, excavators, and helicopters to Puerto Rico. They had completed over thirty miles of transmission lines.
Reasons for the cancellation are suspect!
1. Whitefish Energy had only two employees. They sub-contract the work to other companies - like a general contractor.
2. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke lives in Whitefish, it's a small town.
3. Zinke's son interned at Whitefish last summer.
4. San Juan mayor Cruz believed Whitefish was "inadequate" to do the job.
5. It was a "no-bid" contract. (Nobody else showed up to bid on the job)
6. No right to review the cost and profit elements of the labor rates.
7. Nancy Pelosi called on the contract to be "terminated immediately."
8. A major investor in Whitefish donated to Republicans, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump!
Watch a video of Whitefish employees in action here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/30/puerto-rico-power-restoration-why-taking-so-long/806747001/
Lakeland Utility was interested but had to work through insurance coverage for equipment that would be traveling by sea to Puerto Rico. He needed to get guarantees that his workers — who would be working 16-hour days, seven days a week — had somewhere safe to sleep, reliable supplies of food water and security for them and their equipment.
Crews subcontracted by Whitefish planned to finish their projects before Nov. 30, officials said.
Jorge Ramos (an anti-Trumper) said he is recommending that Oklahoma-based Cobra Acquisitions, which has a $200 million contract with the government, subcontract the workers Whitefish had employed if the contract allows for it. Ramos also said Cobra’s contract is “practically” the same as the one awarded to Whitefish.
(This would allow many of Whitefish's subcontractors to continue work, just under a different general contractor!) Gov. Ricardo Rosselló wants 50% of the power restored by Nov. 15th!
Recent Whitefish projects were:
Install 230kv transmission line, direct-embedded double-circuit steel pole structure, and conductor and overhead ground wire. WEH completed the project on budget and 52 days ahead of schedule.
Slide Ridge Overhead Power Rebuild (WA): Hired by PUD No.1 of Chelan County to rebuild distribution line climbing 5,000 feet of elevation which was destroyed by forest fire. Due to the extreme terrain and conditions, helicopters were required to perform the work.
Whitefish had already restored electricity to 500K people in hospitals, homes, and businesses around San Juan.
Logistics Complicate Puerto Rico's Electric Grid Recovery
San Juan is more than 1,000 miles from Miami. PREPA was in a form of bankruptcy.
The lack of power has forced lifestyle changes on the island. Credit and debit cards are useless. ATMs are out. No Internet, television or air conditioning. Dead cell phone batteries.
Oct. 19th, linesmen work to restor power in Cantera, P.R.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whitefish-energy-headquarters-montana-contract-puerto-rico/
The contract was to rebuild more than 100 miles of downed 230 and 115kv transmission lines on the hurricane-ravaged island. WEH quickly mobilized 200 power line workers, sending certified crews equipment, and construction and project management teams to initiate rebuilding the electric infrastructure across the island. Planning stages included bringing on an addition 200-300 workers to complete the massive recovery effort.
WEH had 440 linemen working on power restoration and shipped around 600 pieces of heavy equipment including cranes, excavators, and helicopters to Puerto Rico. They had completed over thirty miles of transmission lines.
Reasons for the cancellation are suspect!
1. Whitefish Energy had only two employees. They sub-contract the work to other companies - like a general contractor.
2. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke lives in Whitefish, it's a small town.
3. Zinke's son interned at Whitefish last summer.
4. San Juan mayor Cruz believed Whitefish was "inadequate" to do the job.
5. It was a "no-bid" contract. (Nobody else showed up to bid on the job)
6. No right to review the cost and profit elements of the labor rates.
7. Nancy Pelosi called on the contract to be "terminated immediately."
8. A major investor in Whitefish donated to Republicans, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump!
Watch a video of Whitefish employees in action here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/30/puerto-rico-power-restoration-why-taking-so-long/806747001/
Lakeland Utility was interested but had to work through insurance coverage for equipment that would be traveling by sea to Puerto Rico. He needed to get guarantees that his workers — who would be working 16-hour days, seven days a week — had somewhere safe to sleep, reliable supplies of food water and security for them and their equipment.
Crews subcontracted by Whitefish planned to finish their projects before Nov. 30, officials said.
Jorge Ramos (an anti-Trumper) said he is recommending that Oklahoma-based Cobra Acquisitions, which has a $200 million contract with the government, subcontract the workers Whitefish had employed if the contract allows for it. Ramos also said Cobra’s contract is “practically” the same as the one awarded to Whitefish.
(This would allow many of Whitefish's subcontractors to continue work, just under a different general contractor!) Gov. Ricardo Rosselló wants 50% of the power restored by Nov. 15th!
Recent Whitefish projects were:
Install 230kv transmission line, direct-embedded double-circuit steel pole structure, and conductor and overhead ground wire. WEH completed the project on budget and 52 days ahead of schedule.
Slide Ridge Overhead Power Rebuild (WA): Hired by PUD No.1 of Chelan County to rebuild distribution line climbing 5,000 feet of elevation which was destroyed by forest fire. Due to the extreme terrain and conditions, helicopters were required to perform the work.
Whitefish had already restored electricity to 500K people in hospitals, homes, and businesses around San Juan.
Logistics Complicate Puerto Rico's Electric Grid Recovery
San Juan is more than 1,000 miles from Miami. PREPA was in a form of bankruptcy.
The lack of power has forced lifestyle changes on the island. Credit and debit cards are useless. ATMs are out. No Internet, television or air conditioning. Dead cell phone batteries.
Oct. 19th, linesmen work to restor power in Cantera, P.R.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whitefish-energy-headquarters-montana-contract-puerto-rico/
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
