PE Volume 114 Issue 7

Both the number of countries producing geothermal power and the total worldwide geothermal power capacity under development appear to be increasing significantly.*

When I think on power engineering, I reflect on how far the profession has evolved and how much it has stayed the same. The ability to generate and supply power shapes our civilization. For me, this concept is exemplified by the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a WWII Liberty class cargo ship. When she was launched in 1943, “engineer” was an active verb, not a sedentary job in front of a computer.

Plant operators communicate vital information verbally among themselves in the field via radio communication, and within the control room. The spoken word is the predominant form of communication. It’s fast, handy and recognizable.