Chicago Security

Archive for November, 2009

History has shown us how to fight in wars to safeguard our energy supply, how to leave waste in our path, and how to struggle with purposeful imbalances of resources.   We witness, everyday where our history has taken us and quietly hope that there will be an ace up our sleeve to ensure our bright future. 

Renewable energy is entering the mainstream of our lives and creating a new and exciting global economy and environmental revolution.  Wouldn’t it be obvious, then, that ensuring the project’s safety and the public’s safety would be the foundation that it rests upon?

I’d like to introduce Mr. Ken Daniel, CEO of Security Advisors Worldwide or SAW.  Mr. Daniel heads up an elite team of specialists who have circled the globe many times protecting the United States and serving humanity’s unending needs.  They are currently forging the path in a new type of industry that will not only protect our nation’s glory, but will also share that protection with the world. 

Welcome Ken.  As we sit here and speak, all eyes are on renewable energy and the possibilities it has for economic stability and global healing.  It looks as though it’s the answer we’ve been waiting for.  With its importance, however, also comes the need for its protection, and it sounds like SAW is the company to do it.  Tell me about SAW.

Mr. Ken Daniel:

SAW stands for Security Advisors Worldwide.  We were formed in April of 2008 following a conversation we were having with Henry Herman, of Jetstream Wind.  During the conversation, Henry interjected and asked if there was any way we’d like to look into renewable energy and the security issues that may arise around the new renewable energy program. 

With a collective Seventy-five years of experience we are good at what we do.  But learning about renewable energy technology, its unique security demands, and its potential for freeing us from our dependency on fossil fuels was very exciting. 

So, with the help of my friends and Vice Presidents, Clint Waldrop and Yudi Wong, we formed Security Advisors Worldwide.  We will be providing worldwide security and vulnerability assessments for all types of renewable energy, whether it be solar, wind, solar thermal, or hydrogen.

So security, as it were, is venturing into a whole new type of industry.  Are there any other companies like yours out there?     

SAW is the only security company of its kind.  Like the renewable energy industry, Security Advisors Worldwide was one of those unforeseen businesses created by the renewable energy push.  

For SAW, every project is a construction site first.  Whether the project is located in a remote area, away from everyday traffic, or next to the local high school, it’s essential to provide effective security on the construction site to begin with.

And so, what we do is provide assessments from the time that we first take a look at the dirt until one year after power is being generated.  SAW conducts risk assessments to protect our client’s projects against theft, vandalism, and those little things that slow down the time line of that project.  We assess not only the state of the physical security on site, but also the state of those people that are on the inside; safety concerns are also evaluated.  And with regards to insurance issues and potential insurance issues with these large energy facilities, we show due diligence to insure the safe and timely implementation of the renewable project. 

In a nut shell, we work hard to guarantee that the project has the opportunity to get off the ground.  We believe that security is a proactive commitment that says, “This is not an easy target”, regardless of where you’re located.” 

What projects have you been working on since you were formed?

Jetstream Wind became our first client in April of 2008 and we’ve signed an exclusive contract with them for five years.  Since then, we’ve been contacted by other energy programs to provide assessments of their security.  Taos Wind and Power, (Billy Lockwood, CEO), has also chosen to be under the watchful eye of SAW.  

What types of security and safety issues are you looking at?

I really give a lot of credit to Henry (Herman) at Jetstream Wind.  He had the foresight to realize that building renewable energy sites unprotected, had the likely potential of creating huge liability issues.  SAW believes that renewable energy companies must be more security conscious, protecting their valuable assets and finishing projects on time.  We want fifteen projects to spring up, but right now, our best efforts are going toward keeping the projects on time, which includes both safety and security.

Is there a difference between safety and security?

Well, if you just look at security, you’re missing an even bigger picture.  Safety is actually a big part of security too.  

First of all, you’ve heard the old phrase, “If you build it, they will come”.  People will come to the site to be inquisitive, curious, or to salvage items like copper, steel and other metals.  Then you’ve got the tools and equipment…there’s a 5.4 trillion dollar insurance loss on construction projects per year. 

You’re also going to have everyone from construction workers, electricians and technical experts at the site.  Each of these groups will require different security accesses and will work different hours.  To control all of this traffic and provide a safe and secure environment SAW will use “State of the Art” security systems to help in the monitoring.  

We’ll also be sure that basic first-aid training is provided as well as reliable ingress and egress routes for emergency vehicle access to the site.  You have to realize that most of renewable energy sites are located for off the beaten path. It’s important for Project Managers to know that their employees are well trained and will be taken care of while they’re on the job site.

Are these job sites going to be like other construction sites? As a renewable energy security company, do you consider the environmental impact of these projects?

Well, we’re going to have to put up some fences and barriers in the early stages of construction. These are renewable sites, however, and SAW intends to use as many passive systems as possible, leaving as small a footprint as possible.   

I love riding my Harley through the mountains, and I don’t want to see the landscape ruined any more than anyone else.  But there’s so much new and cost effective security technology out there in the way of infrared, cameras, and monitoring gear.  This will allow one person to easily sit inside the control room and monitor everything going on, and this goes back to my promise to Henry.  SAW will create the smallest possible footprint on the land for renewable energy areas, and leave the land as pristine as we possibly can.

That’s really nice to hear. 

Because you’ve had such an amazing military career, you probably see the world from a slightly different perspective than most of us.  So tell me, why did you choose this renewable energy path?  What’s the bigger picture for you?

We all realize the impact on people, gear, and equipment that comes from having to go someplace to bring the energy home.  If we can develop the energy here, maybe we won’t have such a need to go and risk that anymore.

I guess that when you pass through counties like the Middle East for example, and see oil burning in ponds everywhere, you realize that there’s gluttony in some areas and there’s a demand in others.  What I’d like to see is a more energy independent United States, without having to rely on foreign oil to get though our day-to-day business.

Also, standing on a beach outside of Phuket, Thailand watching the sun go down, made me realized what a pretty place the world is.  But if we don’t do something, we’re going to be continually creating our own mess.  We can do something right now.  And if SAW has anything to do with it for whatever our lineage is, then I think that this would be my legacy.

With the experience that you, Clint, and Yudi have had, do you believe that renewable energy will assist with National Security?  Are renewables a threat for terrorism?

Well, let’s take a look at what terrorism really is…Are we talking about international terrorists coming over here to wreak havoc on our wind farms?  Nah.  What would really be the point? 

Homeland Security sees renewable energy as security for the country.  The more secure our energy sources are, the more independent we are of other things.  The Department of Energy and Homeland Security realize this.  But these new and up-in-coming companies may not have the background in security and will have to hire companies like SAW to manage the security nuts and bolts.  Make them safe, make them secure so we can start producing the clean energy our country needs and wants.

Let’s talk about the economy and how it may effect renewable implementation here in the United States and also in foreign countries.

You can estimate that the construction of a renewable energy facility could take up to eighteen months before it’s producing power.   During this period, there’s going to be a great boost to the local economy, from the local gas station that has to fill up and service construction vehicles, to the local physical security company who will provide people, to the local hardware store that will supply all of those little things that you didn’t get but needed.

Internationally speaking, I’ll be going into Haiti soon, and one of my big questions is, “how can we secure the project and materials?”  Once the decision is made to go we will make sure that equipment stays where it belongs, which will help bring the project in on time.  This will require hiring from the local communities which will, in turn, strengthen that country’s economy.  And then, far beyond the initial construction and implementation, Haiti will have a continuous source of income for thirty years. 

Why are you going to Haiti?

I’m on my way to Haiti to do a renewable assessment for Jetstream Wind and to meet with a group of people that have just developed and opened a new hospital there.  Currently, they’re running it off of generators because the electrical issues in Haiti are very difficult. I’m scheduled to meet with the US AID for Haiti, the US Ambassador for Haiti, and several Prime Ministers.

This is the type of project that’s going to take years to complete and that will be there for years to come.  There are going to be people travelling in and out of that country and they need to feel and be protected.   

Can we speak again after you’ve returned from Haiti?  I’d like to hear about how it went.

Absolutely.  I look forward to it.

Do you feel that the government is doing everything that it can to assist in this endeavor?

Well, big oil companies, for example, have a profit/loss margin too.  They’re in business, you know, and they’ve been in business for a long time.  If the “government” was really serious about renewable energy, you would have power plants springing up called Chevron.  But it’s not happening that way.  It’s going to be the entrepreneurs and it’s going to be the hard-working people seeing it through. 

With the new president-elect, Barack Obama, and his policy on renewable energy, there are going to be some doors opening.  I think we all realize that we can’t do without (renewable energy) and none of us can turn our backs to what’s already going on.

Last question…There are plans for more nuclear power.  Besides waste and safety issues, these plants create security risks will require substantial security standards.  What role will your company be playing in this scenario?

Yes, from what I understand, the Department of Energy and other groups are looking at more nuclear power plants.  Nuclear power has been proven, right now, to be a decent energy source.  Yeah, it takes a lot of people to safeguard it, that’s because it’s such a powerful energy source.  How is SAW going to be involved with this? Well, if we do our job right, and Henry and other renewable energy programs are able to put as much power as they can on the grid, we’ll have to build less nuclear power plants. 

A renewable site can be torn down and the land can be put back to as close to pristine as possible, and the parts from the retired site can be used at other locations.  That’s a little harder to do with nuclear waste. 

I just really believe that nuclear energy was good for its time, and may still have a place in our energy future, but if we can safely and securely produce renewable energy and upgrade this country’s power grid to transport it, than do we even need nuclear energy?

Hmmm…Good question.  Thank you, Ken, for taking the time to show us a different side of renewable energy.   I believe that I remember you saying, “There are doors to be opened and so there will also be someone there to open them first.  But then, of course, they have to be the first one to walk through”. 

I hope, Ken, that I didn’t butcher that too much.  What I understood from it, though, was that companies such as SAW, Jetstream Wind, and Taos Wind and Power have already opened that door and aren’t afraid to be first. 

Thank you for all that you’ve done and will continue to do on behalf of so many others.

Ornesha De Paoli

Green Ascension ~ Evolving People on an Evolving Planet

If you would like further information about Security Advisors Worldwide, or would like to contract them:

Security Advisors Worldwide