From Compressor Stations to Consulting: Aaron Perrault on Building Energy Infrastructure Right

What does it actually take to move energy safely across hundreds of miles—without the people who depend on it ever noticing it’s there? This conversation is a reminder that the “invisible” infrastructure around us is built on a whole lot of hard-earned experience, problem-solving, and accountability.

Today, Katie and I sat down with Aaron Perrault, one of Lake Superior Consulting’s Engineering Directors, and someone I’ve genuinely enjoyed working with over the years. Aaron’s path into the energy industry started in a place that shaped him in a really practical way—boots-on-the-ground work at a natural gas compressor station right after 9/11, when engineering jobs were hard to come by.

From there, Aaron moved through product development (control valves, instrumentation, certifications), major pipeline projects at Enbridge, and eventually into consulting—where the “work” isn’t just designing systems, but translating complexity, asking the right questions, and helping projects get done the right way.

Key Themes + Takeaways
Field experience is a cheat code. Aaron’s early years troubleshooting real equipment at weird hours built instincts that still show up in his work today.
Big projects are moving assembly lines. A pipeline job site isn’t a single place—it’s a constantly shifting operation, with quality and safety systems baked into every step.
Quality isn’t a vibe—it’s a process. From visual inspection to X-ray/UT on welds, the goal is decades of reliability, not “good enough.”
Restoration is real work. Building the pipeline is only part of the story—there’s a long tail of landowner follow-up, drainage fixes, and seasonal cycles that require time and care.
Consulting changes how you think. Aaron’s talks about learning how to use consultants, scope projects properly, and choose contract types (T&M vs fixed) with a clearer view of risk.
Permitting is both the challenge and the reality. It’s iterative, demanding, and often the biggest driver of uncertainty—especially as demand grows (data centers, load growth, etc.).

Our Favorite Quotes
“I didn’t know what I was learning at the time… looking back now, very few people have those experiences.”
“Your job site is moving… it’s like a ten-mile moving assembly line.”
“We’re going to make mistakes… it’s how we respond to it and make sure we’re doing things the right way.”
“I didn’t know how to use a consultant… I would have asked more questions and leaned on more individuals.”
“We’re not trying to be annoying—we’re trying to understand the project and meet expectations.

Chapter Markers
01:00 Starting after 9/11: the compressor station years
02:00 Compressor stations, explained (and why they matter)
06:20 From field work to product development (valves + instrumentation)
08:56 Major pipeline projects: 185 miles across Illinois
12:27 When road bores go wrong—and how you respond
17:06 Coming to Lake Superior Consulting (and the surprise of what LSC really does)
32:40 The consulting lessons: scope, contracts, and communication

Your Turn
This week’s reflection: Where in your life are you gaining skills you don’t fully appreciate yet—things that might make sense only in hindsight?
And if you’re in a season of “learning on the fly,” what would it look like to treat that as real progress instead of feeling behind?

Links & Mentions:
Lake Superior Consulting – https://www.lsconsulting.com/
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