Duke Energy announces 2017 Power Partner award winners

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The familiar phrase "Cream rises to the top" precisely describes each of the six organizations receiving the 2017 Duke Energy Power Partner award.

Duke Energy established the Power Partner award in 1992 to honor businesses and other organizations that achieve exemplary results in categories that include solutions innovation, community excellence, renewable excellence, sustainability innovation and storm restoration. Each of the 2017 Power Partners will be recognized at individual award ceremonies this winter.

"This year, we made adjustments to the nomination and selection process by choosing winners in distinct categories that align with Duke Energy's purpose and core values," said Chris Edge, Duke Energy vice president for large business customers. "We are proud to shine a light on these companies that consistently demonstrate their devotion to leadership, collaboration and business excellence."

The 2017 Power Partner award-winning organizations include:

• Qorvo Inc., Apopka, FL
  Category: Solutions Innovation
  Qorvo, global provider of innovative radio frequency (RF) solutions that connect us, partnered with Duke Energy to develop an innovative backup generation/demand response system. This solution delivers premium service reliability to customers while helping Duke Energy manage its system during times of grid stress. The resiliency provided by this solution is key for Qorvo's advanced processes, so it can scale production to support global smartphones and the networks that connect our world.
  
  
• Grifols, Clayton, NC
  Category: Solutions Innovation
  Grifols produces essential plasma-derived medicines for patients and provides hospitals, pharmacies and health care professionals with the tools, information and services they need to help them deliver expert medical care. The company's manufacturing processes require extremely high levels of reliability and power quality. Over the years, Grifols has worked with Duke Energy to meet this premium power requirement, leveraging Duke Energy's Premier Power solution, as well as redundant transformers and an alternate distribution service.
  
  
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Fletcher, NC
  Category: Community Excellence
  When a new manufacturing neighbor moved to town, Sierra Nevada Brewing did what neighbors often do: welcomed them to the neighborhood. However, to economically serve this new neighbor's 13-megawatt demand for power, Duke Energy required access across Sierra Nevada's campus. Rather than throwing up barriers, Sierra Nevada worked with Duke Energy and the manufacturer to grant the access needed to serve the new demand. This not only reduced Duke Energy's cost to serve the new customer, but also allowed Duke Energy to meet the manufacturer's timeline, smoothing the way for a $217 million investment in its new facility.
  
  
• Naval Support Activity Crane, Crane, IN
  Category: Renewable Excellence
  Throughout the country, the U.S. Navy has been working with utilities to advance renewable energy projects in support of the Navy's renewable and energy security goals. Duke Energy has partnered with the Naval Support Activity Crane base to install, own and operate a 17-megawatt solar power plant. It is Duke Energy's first regulated solar investment in Indiana. Making its land available to Duke Energy, the Navy has enabled the utility to generate clean, renewable power at Naval Support Activity Crane and flow this power to the grid for consumption by all customers.
  
  
• Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., Lafayette, IN
  Category: Innovation in Sustainability
  Subaru is a recognized leader in environmental stewardship, winning 11 major awards since 2003. In addition to being an early innovator in recycling, the company has made a continuing commitment to reduce its waste stream. With a dedicated staff of sustainability professionals, Subaru freely shares its best practices with others, including Duke Energy's sustainability organization. In addition, Subaru and Duke Energy worked together in 2016 to erect two bald eagle nesting platforms on Subaru's site, helping increase the bald eagle population.
  
  
• Godwin Manufacturing, Dunn, NC
  Category: Storm Restoration
  When severe weather strikes, Duke Energy crews leap into action, supported by a logistics team that provides the facilities, equipment and materials needed to quickly and safely restore service. Making these items promptly available to crews is key to timely restorations. For the past 16 years, Godwin has allowed Duke Energy to use its gated truck lot to stage materials needed for storm restoration. In addition, Pat Godwin, president of Godwin Manufacturing, allows Duke Energy access to climate-controlled facilities with running water and restrooms.

About Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

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