Underground Infrastructure - June 2023 - 15

Inside Infrastructure
technologies, resources, stakeholder participation and the
damage prevention statute.
Worker retention
Retention of talent is an issue facing the entire industry. A
panel discussion was provided about building a high-performance,
" people first, " collaborative culture among LDCs
and contractors.
A key factor is a focus on corporate culture, and frontline
leaders are usually the ones driving this. Every company has
a workplace culture, whether intentional or not. Workplace
culture includes community, leadership and personal elements.
Values, communication and accountability (or lack
thereof) contribute to those elements. The point was made
that diversity is a good thing, but not at the expense of values.
The best frontline leaders " are able to take people where
they want to go but wouldn't without you. " Instilling an effective
workplace culture can carry positive impacts on company
budgets, diversity and staying up to date with multiple areas
of a given industry. The panel encouraged the audience to define
a culture to create healthy habits, implement the vision of
the culture through pilot programs, and identify and benchmark
actions of those responsible for driving the culture.
Market crystal ball
The final session of the workshop was provided by Continuum
Capital, which believes the industry stands on the precipice of
the largest wave of underground utility construction activity in
all markets over the next three-to-seven years. The potential for
the integration of hydrogen, carbon capture/use/storage, and
renewable natural gas pipeline activity is opening up a new era.
Opportunity is created out of disruption, not stability, and
the anticipated growth and new market development will be
uneven and bumpy, rather than smooth. This disruption originates
from the pandemic aftermath with a concept of VUCA
- Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity.
VUCA qualities make a situation or condition difficult to
analyze, respond to, or plan for. Understanding how to mitigate
them can greatly improve strategic abilities of a leader
and can lead to better outcomes.
VUCA can also provide a checklist of the key factors an
organization should consider when making decisions. It provides
clarity about relevant issues and helps to focus on the
" knowns and unknowns " in the context of business challenges
(both internally and externally).
COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown, supply chain
challenges (rising costs of fuel and materials), geopolitical
conflicts, political instability, cascading inflation, potential
recession, etc. have defined this VUCA period.
Some of the considerations encouraged during this presentation
include:
* Immigration is an issue that has been a contributing factor
of all construction booms in the past and will continue to be.
* Non-construction spending in gas distribution is rising
faster than capital expenditures.
* Contractors are currently being squeezed by expenses
that are not included in unit pricing.
* New construction is likely to flatten over the next
5-10 years.
* Distribution replacement programs will grow and
then flatten over 10-20 years, as replacement of cast iron
and bare steel lines continues.
* As the influence of hydrogen grows, contractors will
have to be prepared to work where the hydrogen hubs
exist and where future hubs are established.
* Renewable natural gas and the potential offered by
landfills, agricultural sources and wastewater treatment
plants will create new opportunities.
Importantly, none of this will be accomplished without
pipelines, and extensive construction will be needed. UI
WYMAN ASSOCIATES offers
strategic consulting with its clients and
direct advocacy before the United States
Congress and executive branch agencies. Working with several allies
in Washington and around the country, provides clients a constant voice
in the national debate.
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Underground Infrastructure - June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Infrastructure - June 2023
