DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Logistics Cost Case Study SUMMARY Demonstrative transportation scenario: How many 60 ft. [18.3 m] CL 1 RS, steel, wood, and concrete poles can be shipped in a single truckload? PROBLEM With single-piece poles, especially those over 60 ft. [18.3 m], larger equipment, highway escorts, over-length permits, and more truckloads are required to transport pole resources. RS POLE SOLUTION RS poles are transported in compact nested bundles. Lightweight RS modules can be transported using standard trailers and equipment. Reduced transportation costs per pole. For 60 ft. [18.3 m] CL 1 poles, the RS pole’s nested design can ship 26 more poles than concrete; 13 more poles than wood; and 5 more poles than steel on every truck.

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Liability Case Study SUMMARY Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC) had just completed building a new distribution line when it suffered a direct hit by a tornado. PROBLEM RGEC lost eight of the newly installed 40 ft. (12.2 m) CL3 wood distribution poles causing power outages for customers in serviced by the line. RS POLE SOLUTION The high-performance RS poles used on portions of the line where the tornado hit stood strong withstanding the tornado and demonstrated their grid hardening qualities.   “A tornado touched down in Lajitas on October 7th. We had pad mounted transformers and junction boxes swept completely off their pads! We lost eight 12.19 m CL 3 wooden poles on our brand-new Study Butte-Lajitas 34.5kV 3Ø line. These were snapped like toothpicks two feet above the ground. RGEC Operations reported that the RS composite poles that we installed in the area ‘did not budge at all.” Dan Laws, CEO & General Manager Rio Grande Electric Cooperative

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Liability Case Study SUMMARY West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative (WKREC) was in the process of a pilot evaluation of 10 RS poles when disaster struck. PROBLEM WKREC was hit with two “one hundred year storms” within 5 months: September of 2008, Hurricane Ike sped up the Mississippi Valley and hammered West Kentucky’s territory, taking down thousands of trees and 800 of its wood utility poles. January of 2009, a severe ice storm took down an additional 1,600 wood poles and an overloaded steel pole. RS POLE SOLUTION The high-performance RS poles were undamaged and even carried the load of the steel pole when it collapsed, which was installed next to the RS poles. WKREC now has so much confidence in the RS pole that it uses them in their highest priority sections of their grid, including carrying the lines out of a new substation and a new 69kV transmission line.   “You can’t beat the warranty. We like to use RS poles to harden our infrastructure in critical, high value locations.” Steve Coltharp, Purchasing Agent West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Logistics Cost and Longest Life Case Study SUMMARY A telecommunications company located in the Arctic North of Canada required a utility pole solution that can withstand extreme temperatures. PROBLEM For six months of the year, temperatures consistently drop below -76°F [-60°C]: Traditional poles were deteriorating quickly from the harsh winter loading conditions. Their goal was to minimize the investment in equipment to transport and install their poles. RS POLE SOLUTION Thermoset resin and weathering durability enables high performance RS poles to perform consistently in the harsh arctic weather. Lower replacement costs. Lower maintenance and inspection costs. Longer pole service life expectancy. Lightweight RS modules enabled NorthwesTel to use smaller trucks, install the poles by hand and save on capital expenditures.   “The installation crew was really impressed with how easily the poles were installed. All it took was a two-person crew to erect each pole.” Rick Moses, Access Implementation Manager NorthwesTel

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Liability Case Study SUMMARY The town of Princeton, MA has a broadband network that includes 24 RS poles with a distribution under build. PROBLEM In December 2008, Princeton, MA was hit by an ice storm with devastating results on the broadband network and distribution grid. RS POLE SOLUTION Following the storm, the only broadband signal available was being transmitted from the antennas mounted on the high-performance RS poles. While some of the crossarms needed to be replaced, the RS poles stood strong and were not damaged by the ice storm.   “Ayacht Technology Solutions is a wireless reseller in the northeast United States. We have a customer with 24 RS poles used as wireless towers. In December of 2008, some of the worst ice storms we have ever seen came through our customer’s town. We had many trees come down on the power lines that were also run on the towers. Not one RS tower sustained any damage or needed any repair despite the extreme weight and force put on them by falling trees and downed power lines.” Mark Ayotte Ayacht Technology Solutions, LLC

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Liability Case Study SUMMARY As one of the largest utilities in North America, Southern California Edison (SCE) developed a “Circuit of the Future” to showcase the most innovative and reliable grid technology. PROBLEM SCE needed a utility pole with increased reliability to carry the advanced grid system, as well as efficiencies in transportation and installation to reduce customer outage time. The reduction of ongoing maintenance was also a key objective. RS POLE SOLUTION Utilizing cutting edge materials and an innovative modular design, high-performance RS poles brought significant value to the SCE project, including: Enhanced reliability that minimized maintenance. Reduced customer outage time. Lower transportation and installation costs. Long life cycle minimizes future replacement costs and disruptions.   “We selected the RS product because it is lighter and therefor can be installed much faster, reducing customer outage time. And the fact that these innovative poles are built in segments means they are easier for our crews to move to work sites.” James A. Kelly, VP of Engineering Southern California Edison

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Liability Case Study SUMMARY The majority of utility poles in the North American grid are made from wood – a material that requires chemical treatments and results in deforestation. PROBLEM The deforestation involved with wood utility pole production increases a utility’s carbon footprint as a typical tree will absorb (or remove) approximately 1 ton of carbon emissions over a 40-year period. RS POLE SOLUTION As an engineered pole constructed from an inert material, RS poles eliminate deforestation and chemical coatings: The environment and surrounding community benefit from a green approach and preserved landscape. Trees stay for the health and enjoyment of future generations. Transportation efficiencies of the RS pole continue to build on the carbon savings of leaving trees in the ground. No leaching or costly soil remediation.   “RS poles have noteworthy environmental advantages. Almost all wooden poles currently in use today require chemical treatments to prevent deterioration. RS poles, by comparison, do not need to be coated with Penta, Arsenic, or Creosote. Likewise, the manufacturing process does not produce any VOCs or HAPs. As a result, these poles are the most environmentally friendly ones available in the marketplace.” NWPPA Bulletin January 2006

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Logistics Cost Case Study SUMMARY Rosendin Electric, a contractor for Florida Power & Light Energy, was responsible for the construction of a collection system for a major wind farm asset in Texas. PROBLEM The installation site was located amidst very rugged terrain, which included 200 ft. [70 m] canyons, oil wells and rough unpaved roads. Midway through the project, when initial deliveries were already shipped, unforeseen elevation changes required length adjustments to a number of poles. RS POLE SOLUTION Initial module shipments were reconfigured on-site to satisfy new height requirements, something that single-piece poles could never achieve. Avoided construction delays by approximately 10 weeks. Kept the project on time and on budget.   “The weight of the poles was a huge plus – the handling alone saved us an enormous amount of labor and equipment cost. We were under enormous pressure from the power company to get this line complete about 6 weeks ahead of schedule while their engineer was still making changes right up to the last minute. Given the opportunity, I would most definitely use this product again.” Steve Braverman, Senior Project Manager Rosendin Electric – Wind Division

DOWNLOAD PDF Lowest Logistics Cost Case Study SUMMARY Midlite Powerline Construction is a power line contractor who installs transmission lines for utilities. PROBLEM Large transmission poles made from traditional materials are heavy and cumbersome to transport and install. RS POLE SOLUTION Lightweight, modular RS substantially reduced installation costs for Midlite’s H-Frame transmission project: More efficient transportation. Less labor intensive. Reduced risk of worker injury, equipment failure and live-line accidents. Smaller, less expensive equipment – eliminated $450/hr. crane costs. Faster, more cost-effective installations. Longer pole life expectancy.   “Compared to other transmission poles we evaluated, the RS pole was the most cost effective. Transportation, assembly and installation was easier and less expensive than that of traditional poles.” Shawn Woon, Manager Midlite Powerline Construction