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Editor's Note

Cast Your Vote for the EC&M Product of the Year!
Would you like to help pick the prestigious EC&M Product of the Year winner and qualify for a chance to win $100? If you're an EC&M subscriber, make your vote count by visiting the 2010 EC&M Product of the Year category winners list. To review the products, click on the links for each of the 33 category winners to read a brief description and view a photo. Once you're finished with your review, visit the polling page, enter your contact information, choose your favorite product from the drop-down menu, and click submit.

Your selection will help us identify the 2010 EC&M Product of the Year Platinum, Gold, and Silver award winners. As an added incentive, three lucky voters will be randomly selected to receive a $100 gift check.

The voting poll will remain open through 5 p.m. on June 18. Please, only one vote per EC&M subscriber. Any votes received from manufacturers, PR firms, or non-EC&M readers will be discarded.

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AEMC^® Introduces the New 5000V Megohmmeter Model 6505
The Megohmmeter Model 6505 is a portable instrument housed in a rugged field case and operates on either battery or line power. It performs voltage, insulation, and capacitance measurements. Insulation resistances up to 10,000 GΩ (10T) can be measured and test voltages from 40V to 5,100V can be selected.
Model 6505 is designed with the highest level of built-in safety features. This meter incorporates test inhibit capabilities that will not allow test voltages to be generated if a live sample is detected. The test terminals are recessed to ensure operating safety.
www.aemc.com

Around the Circuit
Construction Firms Add Jobs in April
Construction firms added 14,000 new jobs in April, the second consecutive month of employment gains for the industry, according to Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America. After more than two years of dramatic job losses, the construction industry is once again adding jobs, thanks primarily to the increasing number of stimulus-funded projects now underway, the association notes.

To read more on this story, visit EC&M's Web site.

NEMA's North American EBCIs Remain at High Levels in April
The economic environment facing electrical equipment manufacturers continued to show strong improvement in April, according to respondents to Rosslyn, Va.-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association's (NEMA) latest business confidence survey. While the Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions was unchanged in April at 71.7, it matched its highest monthly level since May 2004. Readings above 50 are typically associated with an improvement in conditions. Moreover, the EBCI for future North American conditions, which advanced 2.2 points to 73.9 in April, reflects widespread sentiment that the improvement seen over the last several months will persist through the summer.

To read more on this story, visit EC&M's Web site.

Seattle Utility Picked to Lead National Effort on LED Street Lights
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that Seattle City Light will lead a new national effort to promote the installation of energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) street lights. The Municipal Solid State Street Lighting Consortium will share information, performance results, and residents' feedback about LED street lights with participating communities from coast to coast.

To read more on this story, visit EC&M's Web site.

Stimulus Funding Increases Construction Spending in March
Increases in public-sector construction spending, driven by stimulus funds, helped boost total construction activity by almost $2 billion between February and March, according to an analysis of federal spending figures by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America. The figures show that the stimulus has gone from slowing declines in construction spending to contributing to increases, the association notes.

To read more on this story, visit EC&M's Web site.

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Free Marketing, Business, Training, and Product Resources
Now more than ever, you need real-world solutions to grow your business and meet customer needs. You need a partner that can help you tap into business, marketing and electrical industry expertise to enhance your operations. Schneider Electric gives you an advantage. (Exclusive for U.S. electrical contractors)
To learn more visit our Web site.

Project Watch
Contractor Services in Missouri
East Central College, Union, Mo., is seeking to pre-qualify general contractors for its Administration Building renovation. Project scope includes electrical, data/telcom, fire alarm, and fire suppression. Written qualifications will be accepted at the Business Office until 4 p.m. CST on May 17. For more information visit the school's Web site.

Plant Maintenance in St. Louis
Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, is requesting proposals for an in-house plant maintenance program. Sealed proposals must be submitted by 10 a.m. CST on May 21. For more information, visit The List Web site.

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As the leading electrical integrator in the United States, Lectrus custom engineers, builds, and integrates electrical power equipment into robust metal enclosures. We typically team with electrical OEM and generator partners to provide fully integrated, mobile power assemblies that save time, money, and space when compared to conventional site-built structures. www.lectrus.com

Web Exclusives
Business Brief
The leading worldwide resource for clean, reliable, efficient energy delivery will be headquartered in Atlanta, with the opening of GE's Digital Energy business' new Smart Grid Technology Center of Excellence (COE). The center is expected to add about 400 new jobs over three years. It will combine the world headquarters for GE's Digital Energy business, a world-class smart grid engineering laboratory, and a world-destination smart grid customer solutions showcase.

For more Business Briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.

EERE Announces $3 Million for University-Led Wind Power Education and Research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the investment of nearly $3 million to advance the work of 16 institutions performing wind power research, including several colleges and universities. The recipients will use these funds to further the department's goal of bolstering the emerging clean-energy sector with cutting-edge, highly trained workers. These awards will advance wind turbine technology research and development, enhance wind technology curricula for university coursework, provide students with educational opportunities for hands-on wind technology research, develop training programs that will build the wind power workforce, and research possible environmental impacts of wind power deployment.

To read more about the DOE's investment in wind energy technology, visit the EC&M Web site.

Eye on Safety
Injured Contractor Sues AEP and Employer for Unsafe Working Conditions
A contractor injured in an electrical flash at the John Amos Power Plant in Putnam County, W.Va., has filed suit against plant owner and operator American Electric Power (AEP), Columbus, Ohio. The suit alleges AEP did not provide the contractor with safe working conditions and also names the contractor's employer, Pritchard Electric Co., Huntington, W.Va. The flash, according to the suit, was caused by negligent "construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, repair, design, and calibration of electrical equipment" owned and operated by AEP and that Pritchard was aware of the "unsafe working conditions" at the plant. Construction to install pollution-control scrubbers at the plant has been ongoing for about five years.

Shows & Events
IEEE/IAS PPIC 2010
The 56th annual IEEE/IAS Pulp and Paper Industry Conference will take place from June 21-23 in San Antonio. Topics for the technical program include changes in electrical engineering, maintenance, and safety practices, standards, and codes; plant equipment upgrade case studies; generator and motor protection; and electrical upgrades with an emphasis on reliability. For more information and to register, visit the conference's Web site.

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