NEMA October 2009 ElectroIndustry - 2

Oﬃcers Chairman Stuart Thorn President & CEO Southwire Company Vice Chairman Charlie Jerabek Vice Chairman OSRAM Sylvania Second Vice Chairman David J. FitzGibbon President & CEO ILSCO Corporation Treasurer Dominic J. Pileggi Chairman of the Board & CEO Thomas & Betts Corporation Immediate Past Chairman John W. Estey President & CEO S&C Electric Company President & CEO Evan R. Gaddis Secretary Clark R. Silcox COMMENTS FROM THE C-SUITE This month’s edition of electroindustry focuses on standards for new and emerging technologies. I am pleased to introduce this issue by announcing the 2009 Kite and Key Award winners, whose expertise has played a significant role in standards development and advancement of the electroindustry. They are Cheryl R. English, LC, FIES; Jacob Killinger; Greg T. Nienaber; and Jim Pauley, PE. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate these great Americans for their contributions to NEMA and our industry. Today, as we design new technologies and develop the electrical Smart Grid, international standards have become even more important. The electric vehicle, commonly called the “plug-in car,” will demonstrate my assertion. Domestic and international car makers are competing to bring their electric cars to market. Most of us expect to buy the car, take it home, and plug it in. Not today! We don’t have the standards. One manufacturer’s car plug may be different than another manufacturer’s plug. In the absence of consensus standards, it is conceivable that one may require dc power and the other ac. Recharging stations? Not yet! We don’t have the standards. This will not be like driving your gasoline-propelled vehicle with a choice of any gas station to refuel—not before we develop standards. Last, if everyone did take an electric car home and plug it in, today’s electrical grid would most likely crash. Of course, we will develop standards for plug-in cars and the supporting Smart Grid. Standards have been the backbone of NEMA’s 84-year history. Throughout this period, standardization has focused predominantly on promoting U.S. domestic practices. Today, we are far more focused on global manufacturing and our standardization efforts reflect this. NEMA is committed to this effort, holding one ISO and six IEC secretariats and administering 26 IEC U.S. Technical Advisory Groups. Plug-in cars are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We cannot overstate the need for standardization. One of NEMA’s most important missions is to ensure that both industry and government understand the need to quickly develop standards. Our process is superlative, as exemplified by our ability to publish Requirements for Smart Meter Upgradeability, the first official and original Smart Grid standard, in just 90 days. This brings me back to this year’s Kite and Key winners. Getting ahead—and staying ahead—of tomorrow’s inventions demands discipline today. All too often, however, the excitement of innovation draws young talent away from standardization, causing a brain drain. With all of the exciting technological challenges that face us in the twenty-first century, we need to cultivate intellectual prowess like that conveyed by this year’s winners. I look forward to seeing you all at Illuminations Weekend, as we honor this year’s Kite and Key Award winners and announce the winner of the 2009 Falk Award. ei President and CEO NEMA electroindustry • October 09

NEMA October 2009 ElectroIndustry

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEMA October 2009 ElectroIndustry