• About
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • More
    • Demographics & Advertising Rates
    • Terms & Conditions
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
No Result
View All Result
California Business Journal
  • Front Page
  • Business
  • Finance
  • People
  • Featured
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • Law
  • News
  • Food
  • Art & Culture
  • Human Interest
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Health & Fitness
California Business Journal
DSC00007

Easing California’s Industrial Power Shortage

by Michael Ashley, Staff Writer, California Business Journal
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As CEO Brian James explains how MBS Engineering helps ease the California power crunch through natural gas turbines, it’s quite disarming because at the same time he talks about the importance of saving lives with gas safety.

James considers himself a preventative firefighter since gas leak inspections and seismic valves stop deadly gas fires before they start.

It is a creative and unusual way for MBS to see itself because for James’ company, the impetus is always on safety — for employees and the companies it serves.

A year ago, for instance, MBS helped a retirement home in Hayward, California with a gas leak. “The problem was under the concrete, so it was difficult to get to,” James says. “It was in the middle of winter so they did not have the option of not having gas to heat the premises.” Given the predicament and the scarcity of competing, qualified, contractors, MBS could have named its asking price, but “our focus is not making money, it was helping a vulnerable segment of the population,” James says.

So where does the focus on safety come from? At the age of 10, James began collecting scrap metal to convert into pot holders through welding. This experience, and the presumptive accidents, cultivated a first-hand appreciation for safety in James.

His concern today is California’s energy crisis. The static electric power generation levels plus the growing population and power demand will result in drastically increased prices for grid electric utility, through marginal cost (when you get to the end of any commodity, the price increases wildly as demand goes up).

Natural gas turbines

The San Francisco Bay Area housing crisis is an example of this marginal cost increase effect. MBS commissioned an engineering paper on this impending crisis. James says it is a way to alleviate this problem: use gas — differently.

While California utilities are currently using natural gas to generate about half the state’s electric power, much of the ‘waste heat’ (thermal energy that remains after combustion of the gas powers an electric generator) cannot be utilized on-site, or transported for use.

The plan is to not generate and then transport the power as electricity, but to use gas turbines, on-site, where the ‘waste heat’ can be used in a variety of ways: as thermal energy or for temperature control, even for drying or CO2 provision for plants.

Rather than the ‘hub’ transforming gas fuel to electricity, and wasting thermal power, and bleeding electrical power along the transmission lines, the ‘spokes’ generate power at the terminus, and waste much less. The efficiency through this distributed model goes from about 30% to 90%.

Needless to say, this solution reduces electric costs and is better for the environment, for the power produced. Finally, it may be the only way some industries get approval for their operations.

ADVERTISEMENT

With the burgeoning hemp and related industries drawing even more power, the utility may be unable to deliver power. “People don’t realize how wasteful the grid electric utility is,” says engineer Trent Vleisides.

Because of the large power output from these on-site gas turbines, they are indicated for mostly industrial operations, including beer breweries, emergency backup systems, critical infrastructure, dairy farms, IT data collocation centers and server farms, and occasionally schools and colleges.

MBS stops deadly gas leak fires before they start.
MBS stops deadly gas leak fires before they start.

The fires that plagued Northern California in 2018 prove that power utilities need help, and MBS has been providing it for some time, if not generating electrical power. MBS commonly gets commercial leak inspection (survey) and repair referrals from utilities like PG&E and has installed more seismic valves than any other company in the state of California. The focus on safety is a large reason MBS is trusted.

The fleet of MBS service trucks is showroom clean and it recently purchased an oversize HydroVac trenching truck. James takes pride in the quality and configuration of MBS’ tools, including state-of-the-art leak detection equipment like the Remote Methane Leak Detector (RMLD) and Detecto Pak-Infrared Detector (DP-IR), both of which are typically used by utilities.

The staff wear logo-embroidered, high-end apparel one just isn’t used to seeing as part of any company uniform. And that philosophy — to reach, to excel, to go beyond the minimum requirement – is a cornerstone of the company, apparent in philosophy, management and employees alike. The engineers at MBS take particular pride in the granularity and accuracy of their leak survey reports and the details of their project plans and work scopes.

The orientation toward uncommon quality has its effect: it’s great for morale. And this belief is not just exemplified in tools and materials, in trucks and attire, but extends to the design of the office in San Ramon, California (MBS is currently expanding to offices across the street). It’s common knowledge that working in a nice environment, like offering nice apparel to your employees, just feels nice – but not every company practices it.

“I was raised poor and sometimes even went hungry,” James says. “This is why I provide boots to new hires, and why our fridge is always stocked with food. I know the feeling of not having enough, and I don’t want anybody else to experience that.” Hearing this, it occurs to us that it could just be that MBS has made an actionable business philosophy of simply being nice.

MBS is something of a happy paradox: it employs contractors who are actually engineers. It is a profitable company that isn’t cheap. One employee says that MBS employees aren’t micromanaged; they’re empowered to do their best, which also means they are free to fail, on occasion.

Essentially, they are invited to own their work and be accountable for their output. In today’s micro-managed workplace, this management style is unusual, but it’s working: MBS keeps people — and they are happy.

Too often, we see corners cut, bean-counting, micro-management, and ‘me-first’ expediency from businesses. We have all seen the slouching in the last few decades, the 12-ounce soda can cut to 11.5 ounces, the outsourced, exploited workers, the sub-par materials from overseas.

MBS is the antithesis of that.

Is MBS just smarter than other companies? Is the company just nicer? Does it win because it is more focused service than money? Because it is oriented toward safety? Because of the team James has painstakingly put together? Because the employees are free to do exceptional work? Or is it some combination of the above?

MBS is driven to excel. The push to excel, to be excellent, is just not something you see in business very often; profitability and success don’t demand it. But you know where you do see it and where it is indispensable? On the field, in the elite sports that mark James’ formative years, from college football, to years of coaching. The trick is capturing the drive one sees on the field and bringing it to the office and James has achieved it.

 

Tags: 2018Artbay areabeerCaliforniaCEOcoachingcollegecommercialcontractorsEasing California's Industrial Power ShortageelectricityemployeesenergyfocusfoodHearingindustrialinfrastructureMBS Engineeringnaturalnatural gasniceNorthernPG&EpowerretirementSan FranciscoserverState of California
ADVERTISEMENT
Michael Ashley, Staff Writer, California Business Journal

Michael Ashley, Staff Writer, California Business Journal

ADVERTISEMENT

CBJ Newsletter

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram LinkedIn

Advertise With CBJ

Contact Rick@CalBizJournal.com

CBJ Rates and Demographics

ADVERTISEMENT
1REALTOUR-SAN DIEGO-WEB DESIGN
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn Instagram Youtube
C B J   LOGO  SVG-01
  • About
  • Contact California Business Journal
  • Testimonials
  • Demographics & Advertising Rates
  • Terms & Conditions

Categories

  • Art & Culture
  • Business
  • California Hotel Listings
  • Daily Updates
  • Editor's Choice
  • Education
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Food & Dining
  • Health & Fitness
  • Human Interest
  • Insurance
  • Law
  • Lawyers
  • Marketing
  • Medical
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Opinion
  • People
  • Popular
  • Real Estate
  • Social Media
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized

CBJ Partner Firebrand Media

Laguna Beach Independent Newspaper
 Laguna Beach City Guide
 Newport Beach Independent Newspaper
Newport Beach Country Club Magazine
  Montage Magazine
 Omni Escapes Hotel Magazine
 Bespoke Concierge New York
 Evans Hotels
 Laguna Beach Magazine
 On The Menu Laguna Beach
 Newport Beach Magazine
Coastal Real Estate Guide (NB,LB, CDM)
Monarch Beach Resort Magazine
 Pacific Coast Magazine (SoCal)
Sea Island Life Magazine
Salamander Hotel & Resorts Magazine
 View our entire portfolio

 

Most Viewed

  • More Truth About Temu: Is Temu A Chinese Company?

    The Truth About Temu: Where Is It From?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Lawsuit Basics: How Much Does It Cost to Sue Someone?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Investigation: Can TriumphFX Take Your Money?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What to Do When an Online Casino Refuses to Pay Out Your Winnings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Impact of Covid: Racing to Buy Second Citizenships

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 5 Flavors On Elf Bar BC5000 Review

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • NFL Paychecks: How Do NFL Players Get Paid?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Temu’s New Shipping Policy Is A Smashing Hit For Shoppers All Over the Country

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 30 Best Temu Alternative Apps To Buy from Online

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Five Reasons Why The Government Does Not Like Bitcoin

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Latest Articles

Courtesy: Pexels

The Evolution of Gambling: Exploring the Future of Crypto Betting and Technological Advancements

How to Get 1,000 YouTube Subscribers (for Free!)

Why Music Sounds Better Under the Influence of Cannabis?

How Affiliate Marketing Truly Works

A Game of Chance and Destiny: Delve into the Intriguing Universe of Casinos

Courtesy: Unsplash

Why Do You Need Data Protection Software?

Mostbet brand in 2023

Exploring the Growth Potential of Delaware Statutory Trust Properties

How To Practice Self-Care When You’re Struggling With Infertility

An 8-Step Guide to Make a Music Video Like a Pro

California Business Journal | California Business News, California News Media, California business articles | Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire, Northern California, San Francisco | Huntington Beach CA 92649 | (949) 648-3815
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Site Design by 1REALTOUR

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Business
  • Finance
  • People
  • Featured
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • Law
  • News
  • Food
  • Art & Culture
  • Human Interest
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Health & Fitness

California Business Journal | California Business News, California News Media, California business articles | Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire, Northern California, San Francisco | Huntington Beach CA 92649 | (949) 648-3815
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Site Design by 1REALTOUR