Riggs Distler Wins Three NECA 2024 Project Excellence Awards

Riggs Distler is thrilled to announce that it has been honored with three Project Excellence Awards by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). These awards, recognizing outstanding electrical contracting work across the United States, highlight Riggs Distler’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainable energy solutions.

NECA’s Project Excellence Awards celebrate electrical contractors who have demonstrated exceptional professionalism, ingenuity, and dedication in their projects. Riggs Distler received awards in the categories of Energy Solutions/Green Buildings over $1 Million, Streetlighting/Traffic Signals Under $1 Million, and Substation/Interconnection. Each project was judged on its aesthetics, application, difficulty, innovation, originality, and the results it delivered.

Award-Winning Projects

South Fork Wind (Category: Energy Solutions/Green Buildings over $1 Million)In a landmark project completed in 2023, Riggs Distler played a crucial role in the development of the South Fork Wind Farm, the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States. This project, a collaboration between Ørsted and Eversource, generates 132 MW of clean energy, enough to power nearly 70,000 homes in East Hampton, New York.

Riggs Distler’s contribution involved the onshore assembly and fabrication of key components for the wind turbine foundations, including external concrete platforms, supported internal platforms, and anode cages. The project also included extensive electrical work, such as the installation of conduit systems, task lighting, and high-voltage equipment. Despite the challenges of developing a new supply chain and working with complex offshore wind turbine components, Riggs Distler delivered the project on time and to the highest standards. This achievement not only supports New York State’s ambitious climate goals but also sets a new precedent for offshore wind farms in the U.S. With the installation of the final turbine, the project now stands as America’s inaugural fully operational utility-scale offshore wind farm in federal waters.

NECA Winners Gallery

SmartNodes (Category: Streetlighting/Traffic Signals Under $1 Million)

Riggs Distler’s Underground Utility division was responsible for the installation of over 33,000 smart nodes in Maryland street lighting fixtures throughout 2023. This project marked a significant leap forward in public lighting infrastructure, integrating smart technology across various fixture types to enhance functionality, efficiency, and sustainability.

The smart nodes allow real-time monitoring and management of nearly one million streetlights, improving service reliability and public safety. By enabling faster detection and repair of outages, these smart nodes contribute to a more efficient and responsive street lighting system, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the overall customer experience.

NECA Winners Gallery

Texas Ave. Substation 69kV Upgrade (Category: Substation/Interconnection)

Riggs Distler’s Substation group successfully completed the Texas Ave. Substation 69kV Upgrade Project in New Jersey. This complex project involved installing critical infrastructure components, including high-voltage systems, transformers, and a prefabricated control house.

Despite the fast-paced nature of the project and the tight deadlines, Riggs Distler’s team executed the work with precision and efficiency. Their innovative solutions, such as the design of a 69kV bus section for rapid storm response, significantly enhanced service stability for our client’s customers. The successful completion of this project underscores Riggs Distler’s capability to deliver reliable and forward-thinking electrical solutions.

NECA Winners Gallery

Riggs Distler will be formally recognized for these awards at the NECA 2024 Convention and Trade Show on Monday, September 30th, in San Diego, CA. The NECA Project Excellence Awards celebrate the exceptional work of electrical contractors across the United States, and Riggs Distler is honored to be among this year’s distinguished recipients.

“We are incredibly proud of our teams for their hard work and dedication, which have earned us these prestigious NECA Project Excellence Awards,” said President and CEO, Stephen Zemaitatis Jr. “These projects reflect our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in the electrical construction industry. We are grateful to NECA for recognizing our efforts and look forward to continuing to set new standards in the industry.”

These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of our teams across the Offshore Wind, Substation, and Street Lighting divisions. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in electrical contracting, we remain committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients and contributing to a more sustainable future.