Director, Environmental Services, NAES Corporation
Pamela Berner has long had a love for the environment. “I always wanted to be outside,” the Delaware native says. That passion carried into her work in environmental compliance, first at Delmarva Power and for the past 16 years at NAES Corporation. Working out of New Castle, Berner leads a team of 25, providing support and ensuring environmental compliance for 182 power-generating facilities in 32 states, plus projects in Mexico and the United Kingdom.
“We ensure that they not only implement our strong environmental commitment…but also the permits and compliance of the local areas where those plants are,” says Berner, noting that regulations vary by federal, state and local jurisdiction. “Our folks are really a check and balance.”
NAES primarily operates natural gas combustion facilities but is introducing solar and wind turbine facilities, too. Some plants have individuals on-site, while others don’t, and Berner’s team must handle the thousands of inquiries that come in annually. This year, that meant introducing some clever techniques to ensure both plant and worker safety, like virtual visits via video communication. No matter how they execute their jobs, environmental compliance is always at the forefront.
