Dimensions - Annual Review 2017 - 1

A Conversation with Barry K. Dewberry,
Geraldine Knatz, PhD, and Terry Boston, PE
In each Annual Review, we take the opportunity to reﬂect on the past year's achievements. For this issue, and with the help
of our newest board members, Terry Boston and Geraldine Knatz, both recognized leaders in their ﬁelds of power and ports
and intermodal, respectively; we've also decided to look forward to where our industry is headed. Here are excerpts from a
discussion we recently shared.

Barry Dewberry: What near term market
forces do you think will be most impactful
to our clients?

continued progress reducing renewable energy's capital
cost. Capital costs have continued to fall and all-in cost
is in parity, or cheaper, than conventional resources.

Geraldine Knatz: Transportation leaders are worried

For the ﬁrst time in my career, energy independence

about declining transit users. Transportation network

is a real possibility. Low-cost energy will drive and

companies (TNC) like Uber are having an impact, and

invigorate our economy.

our older population is reducing its use because of

some states are shifting their focus to "mobility." How

Dewberry: Where do you think the U.S.
should concentrate its limited resources
in infrastructure development?

this may appear in agency budgets is hard to say-and

Knatz: To maintain our global market position, we

autonomous vehicles are on the horizon!

need to concentrate on "gateways." Big airports, seaports,

security concerns. State leaders don't like running nearly
empty buses when a TNC could provide that service. So

cities. Wouldn't it be great if the U.S. had a "capital plan?"
Terry Boston: Natural gas and renewables, and the

You know someone who looked at our entire country

infrastructure to deliver these low-cost energy resources

and prioritized infrastructure investment to maintain

to population centers, will continue to be a market

our competitiveness? I admit I'm biased to freight

disruptor-as will the electriﬁcation of transportation

infrastructure being the highest priority.

and artiﬁcial intelligence for autonomous vehicles. We'll
see micro grids. They'll be tied to the grid but will isolate

Boston: Pipes and wires. Energy is the lifeblood of our

as backup power during extreme weather events.

economy and the lifeline to our homes. Our new shale
gas resources are not where the conventional gas wells

Dewberry: What infrastructure issues are
uppermost in the minds of industry leaders?

were, and large-scale, cost-effective renewables are often

Knatz: Overall, international trade is up this year, and the

interstates propelled our economy in the past, low-cost

economy is doing better. So what else do industry leaders

energy and its efficient delivery will determine our success

worry about? Severe weather events and resilience-both

in a digital economy.

far from population centers. Much like how railroads and

of which can signiﬁcantly impact our supply chain.
Resilience planning is challenging because of the need to
address governance, decision-making, and social capital.
Boston: In the energy sector there is good news in
two areas: the availability and price of natural gas and

Barry K. Dewberry

Geraldine Knatz

Terry Boston

Spring 2018

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dimensions - Annual Review 2017