EdF Opens Economic Development Partnership with U.S. Utility
The United States and France have had a long history of alliance. In that spirit, Electricitàƒ© de France (EdF) and Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. (PP&L) have formed a partnership for economic development and community affairs. Eleven executives recently visited Central Eastern Pennsylvania to meet with PP&L economic and community development professionals, as well as community leaders, and to tour industrial sites.
According to James Nulton, PP&L`s economic development international director, with electricity deregulation on the horizon in France, EdF sought a strategic alliance with a company that has experienced change, and has innovative, effective approaches to economic and community development. “Both companies have a great deal of information and experience to share. This partnership is an opportunity for both companies to increase the effectiveness of their economic and community development program,” Nulton said.
EdF will provide significant support to PP&L`s growing economic development efforts in Europe, and will help accelerate efforts to reach French companies that may be looking to expand in the United States. Nulton said partnership is the key to PP&L`s success in economic development. The company works with state, regional and local organizations to create jobs and address community needs. PP&L economic development initiatives include comprehensive plant location services, marketing, a no-interest loan program for industrial site development and scholarship aid for training and certifications of local economic development professionals. The newest initiative is an Internet locator service for available industrial and corporate office properties in Central Eastern Pennsylvania.
PP&L, a subsidiary of PP&L Resources Inc., generates electricity, provides electricity delivery service to 1.2 million customers in eastern and central Pennsylvania and markets or trades wholesale energy in 26 states and Canada. EdF, based in Paris, has 180,000 employees and nearly 30 million customers.
