To download the full text of the letter sent to members of Congress, visit the Partnership for America's Web site.

DOE Awards $22.7 Million for Basic Solar Energy Research
The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) recently selected 27 projects to receive $22.7 million that will focus on fundamental science to support enhanced use of solar energy. Universities and national laboratories in 18 states will conduct the research aimed at improving the capture, conversion, and use of solar energy in order to increase the amount of solar power in the nation's energy supply. "These projects are part of our aggressive basic research in the physical sciences -- what I call 'transformational science' -- aimed at achieving a new generation of breakthrough technologies that will push the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy sources to levels comparable to petroleum and natural gas sources," says Dr. Raymond L. Orbach, DOE under secretary for science.

These projects, along with commercialization projects funded through the Solar America Initiative, form an important component of President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative. The DOE plans to fund additional projects in 2008.

Industrial Projects Rank First in Ohio Ohio has more than $7 billion in industrial projects that have either started construction or are scheduled to start construction during 2007, says Sugar Land, Texas based Industrial Info Resources. Overall, the state lays claim to 240 capital and maintenance projects across 12 industries: power; terminals; oil and gas transmission; oil and gas production; alternative fuels; petroleum refining; chemical processing; metals and minerals; pulp, paper, and wood; food and beverage; industrial manufacturing; and pharma-biotech.

Industrial manufacturing ranks highest with 72 projects totaling $1.7 billion. The power industry ranks second with 29 projects totaling $1.3 billion. The third largest industry in Ohio for project spending in 2007 is metals and minerals with 36 projects totaling $1.2 billion.

NEMA Develops Lighting Control Protocol
Members of Rosslyn, Va.-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association's (NEMA) lighting controls, ballast, luminaire, and wiring device section are developing a NEMA DALI protocol for lighting control devices such as wall switches, scene switches, occupancy sensors, and daylight sensors. The open, digital protocol, carried by one or two wires as Class 1 or Class 2, allows for group and individual control of lamp ballast systems and includes a 3-byte protocol with collision detection, priority timeslots, and basic functionality. Five priority timeslots ensure that high priority messages are not delayed by ones with lower priority.

Under the protocol, an embedded XML file will define the functionality of a NEMA device. As the basic building block of interoperability, the protocol will facilitate commissioning and allow for use of any manufacturer's commissioning tools. The NEMA Joint Sections Committee currently is also working with ZigBee Alliance to create a wireless DALI/ZigBee protocol.

Project Watch
Massachusetts School District Seeks Electrical Systems Repair
The City of Chelsea, Mass., is accepting proposals for repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and systems used in operation of the Chelsea School Dept. Proposals are due June 7 by 10 a.m. Specifications and information are available by contacting Monica C. Ford, chief procurement office for the City of Chelsea at (617) 466-4220. For more information, visit the city's Web site.

Traffic Signal Pole Replacement Needed in Tracy, Calif.
The Office of the City Clerk in Tracy, Calif., currently is requesting sealed bids for traffic signal pole replacement at Lowell Avenue and West High School. In accordance with the provisions of California Public Contract Code Section 3300, the contractor with the winning bid must have a valid Class A (general engineering) contractor's license or a valid C10 electrical general contractor's license at the time that the contract is awarded. Bids will be accepted until 3 p.m. on June 6. For more information and to download bid documents, visit the city's Web site.

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Business Brief
Pentadyne Power, Chatsworth, Calif., recently received a $4.5 million follow-on order from Department of Defense contractor Beaver Aerospace & Defense for an additional 100 Pentadyne VSS+DC systems with DX-A2 rating (certified for national defense use). This latest follow-on order from Beaver Aerospace is part of a procurement contract with Pentadyne to be the exclusive supplier of more than 500 clean energy storage systems that will be deployed in homeland security military defense applications during the next few years.

For more business briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.

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Grounding Line Addition
ILSCO introduces a new line of cast bronze clamps with copper straps for grounding rigid conduit systems. The BGCS clamps have a ground wire range of 3/0 to No. 10, a water pipe range of 1/2" to 1", and a conduit hub size range of 1/2" to 1". Two versions are available: one with a saddle for connecting the ground wire to the pipe and one without a saddle. UL listed and CSA certified. www.ilsco.com

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Shows and Events

Don't Miss These FREE Live Sessions
Scheduled for June 14th in the
EC&M e-Tradeshow

• "Major Energy Savings Through Lighting Management" presented by Patrick Kelly, Encelium, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific time
• "Mitigating Harmonics in Industrial Environments" presented by John Houdek, Allied Industrial Marketing, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific time

Before and after the conference sessions, visit the many exhibitors in this virtual tradeshow and take a look at the On-Demand Theater, where you can view past online webcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Click here to access the EC&M e-Tradeshow and attend one of these FREE live events.


2007 PES General Meeting
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) Power Engineering Society (PES), Piscataway, N.J., has scheduled its 2007 General Meeting for June 24-28 in Tampa, Fla. The General Session includes an update about PES progress and activities of the past year from PES President John D. McDonald. Also included in the itinerary are a short course on power system basics, technical tours, including Beckwith Electric and the GE Transformer Repair Facility, and tutorials presented by the Power Engineering Education Committee on topics such as power grid blackouts, harmonics modeling and simulation, asset management, and power system stabilization. For more information and to register for the General Meeting, visit the IEEE Web site.

Pulp & Paper Industry Technology Conference
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) will present its 53rd Pulp and Paper Industry Conference from June 24-29 in Williamsburg, Va. Papers to be presented at this year's event include "The Economics of Pre-EPACT Motors Operating in Industry," "Field Experience Identifying Electrically Induced Bearing Failures," Protection of Power Equipment From Corrosion in Industrial Atmosphere of Pulp and Paper Plants," and "Application of Existing Technologies to Reduce Arc-Flash Hazards." For more information and to register, visit the committee's Web site.

EC&M Code Change Conferences
Where do you turn when you need accurate information on changes to the National Electrical Code? Acknowledged as the leaders in providing information on the NEC, EC&M magazine and EC&M Seminars have been the preferred sources of this information for more than 60 years. Seven Code change conferences have been scheduled in the fall of 2007. Host cities include: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Orlando, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Seattle.

As an approved provider with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), through its Registered Continuing Education provider Program (RCEPP), professional engineers attending any of our 2008 Code change conferences will receive Professional Development Hours (PDHs), a requirement for re-licensing in many states. The conferences are also approved by every state that has a continuing education requirement for contractors and electricians.

For additional information on the dates and locations of these events, click here.