Around the Circuit
Results from NEMA's latest business conditions survey show the flagship Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions exceeded 50 points in December — with more respondents reporting conditions improved relative to the previous month than reporting they declined — for a third consecutive month. The index measured 52 in December, down slightly from 56 in November. The survey's measure of the intensity of change in conditions, meanwhile, indicated no change in the December business environment compared to November. To read more on this story, visit EC&M's website.
The resurgence of manufacturing following the crash of 2008 is unprecedented. The most current U.S. manufacturing technology orders put the year-to-date total at $463.32 million, which is up 80.5% compared with 2010 and are the second highest dollar amount in the last 15 years. As of October, manufacturing technology orders had already surpassed the total value accumulated in 2007. To read more on this story, visit EC&M's website.
Construction employment increased in December by 17,000 driven by gains in nonresidential construction employment, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said that construction employment likely benefitted from unseasonably warm weather across much of the country that extended the construction season. To read more on this story, visit EC&M's website.
As consumer interest in fuel-efficient vehicles remains high, two automakers, Chevrolet and Nissan, ended 2010 with the launch of their first highway-capable plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) for the mass market. These vehicles, commercially available in December 2010, enable drivers to reduce both gasoline expenses and greenhouse gas emissions. Many other auto manufacturers are working to electrify their lineups with new models. For example, Toyota plans to launch PEV Prius in January 2012, and other manufacturers have plans to launch plug-in electric models in the near future. To read more on this story, visit EC&M's website.
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Project Watch
Cal-Pacific Construction Inc. is seeking bids quotations from electrical subcontractors for Redwood Center Improvements in San Francisco. Bids are due January 25 at 2:30 p.m. PST. Email pa@pacific888.com.
The University of Massachusetts is asking for bids from electrical subcontractors. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 18.The deadline to submit bigs is 12 p.m. EST on January 25. For more information, click here.
Web Exclusives
Dallas County Schools (DCS) is one of the largest pupil transportation operators in the United States, maintaining 10 service centers that house its 1,700 bus pupil transportation fleet. So when it came time to upgrade the DCS parking lot lighting systems, energy efficiency was a must. The school district turned to Lumetech Group for upgrade options, resulting in the successful installation of an energy-efficient LED lighting solution in all of the DCS parking lots. To read this story, visit the EC&M website.
Nationally, the unemployment rates remains above 8%, but in Connecticut, one company is bucking the trend. In the aftermath of October’s historic storms, Newington Electric Co. has announced the formation of Connecticut Home Generator Systems. To read more on this story, visit the EC&M website.
Faith Technologies has partnered with Bergelectric in a joint venture to provide the electrical construction services for Irwin Army Community Hospital in Fort Riley, Kan. This new facility is replacing the existing 50-year-old hospital to provide state-of-the-art health care for soldiers and their family members. To see the photo, visit the EC&M website.
Eye on Safety
In Sandown, N.H., an SUV slid off a wrecker and struck an electrical worker on Thursday morning, firefighters said. The driver of the wrecker was loading the SUV onto his vehicle on Riverbend Drive when it slid off and temporarily pinned an electrical worker between the SUV and a junction box, New Hampshire Electric Co-op said. The worker was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Workers shut off power to the area. Watch footage of the rescue here.
Call for Papers
IEEE Green Technologies Conference
IEEE is requesting papers for its 4th Annual Green Technologies Conference to take place from April 19-20 in Tulsa, Okla. The deadline to submit papers is January 15. Topics of interest include energy generation and storage technologies; energy usage, reduction, and conservation; architectural and engineering sustainable designs; environmental, legal, social, economic, and political impacts; smart grid communication and control, evolution, and integration of renewable and reduced emission energy sources. For more information, visit the IEEE Greentech website.
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