Investment in EV IT Systems to Total $5.1 Billion by 2015
The second comeback of the electric vehicle (EV) in little more than a decade has a much greater likelihood of success and will have a transformative effect on driving habits as well as the automotive and electric power industries, Boulder, Colo.-based Pike Research. Automakers are planning to produce hundreds of thousands of vehicles per year that plug in starting in 2012. By 2015, Pike Research forecasts that more than one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and EVs will be sold annually around the world, and during that year, more than three million EVs sold to date will be plugging in to recharge their batteries.

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

Green Building Market Grows Despite Construction Slowdown
Despite a deep economic recession, the U.S. green building market has expanded dramatically since 2008 and is projected to double its size by 2015, says a new report by New York-based McGraw-Hill Construction. The value of green construction starts jumped 50% from $42 billion in 2008 to $71 billion in 2010, when it represented 25% of the all new building activity, and it's expected to reach $135 billion by 2015, according to the firm's Green Outlook 2011 report.

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

LEED Revision Includes Energy-Efficiency Standards
The first of two public comment sessions recently opened on changes proposed for the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) will build upon a 2009 revision. The proposed changes, put together by USGBC's technical advisory committees, include three new credit categories and a variety of reworked and new credits and prerequisites. They touch each of the rating system's sections, including building design and construction, operations and maintenance, and LEED for homes. The draft revision also includes a "pilot credit library" for the first time, or a collection of credits that are being tested for possible inclusion in the final version of the revision, due out in 2012.

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

Project Watch
Electrical Upgrade in Pennsylvania
London Grove Township, Chester County, Pa., is soliciting bids for an electrical upgrade project. Deadline for bids is at 12 p.m. EST on December 10. For more information, visit the London Grove website.

Airport Electrical Work in New York
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is requesting bids for building and site work via work order for miscellaneous facility improvements at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, including repair, rehabilitation, demolition and construction of electrical and electronics systems, utility runs, aeronautical lighting, traffic signals, electrical/communications ductbanks and wiring. Deadline for bids is at 2:30 p.m. EST on December 14. For more information, visit the Port Authority's website.

Web Exclusives
Business Briefs
Clarkston, Mich.-based Delta PowerSystems, a full service electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) provider has announced a new alliance with Mister Sparky, a Sarasota, Fla.-based franchisor that focuses on residential electrical contracting. This business venture will allow Delta PowerSystems and Mister Sparky to be at the forefront of EVSE installation and make the electrical power sources for electric cars easily available and user-friendly for businesses and EV homeowners.

For more Business Briefs, visit the EC&M website.

BICSI Field Report: 2010 Fall Conference
Although the 4,000 attendees at the BICSI Fall Conference, held Sept. 12-15 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, showed up with new business opportunity and restricted budget issues on their minds, they were still able to focus on the emerging technologies being discussed and learn about new cabling products and hardware that can support the next generation of networks.

To read more about the BICSI conference, visit the EC&M website.

DC Power Uses Less Electricity than AC System at Duke Energy Data Center
A preliminary test by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) of a direct current (DC) power system at a Duke Energy data center in Charlotte, N.C., found that the system uses 15% less electricity than the existing alternating current (AC) power system.

To read more about the test, visit the EC&M website.

Eye on Safety
West Virginia Postal Facility Fined $287,000 for Electrical Hazards
OSHA has cited the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for workplace safety violations found at a mail processing facility in Bluefield, W.Va. Proposed penalties total $287,000. Willful violations cite the facility's failure to label electrical cabinets, properly train employees, use safety-related work practices when exposed to energized electrical parts, and provide proper electrical protective equipment. A serious citation was issued for allowing an unauthorized employee to perform inspections. USPS has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, meet with the OSHA area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. This inspection was conducted by OSHA's Charleston Area Office in West Virginia.

Shows & Events
Code Change Conferences Are Coming
The 2011 NEC is coming. Will you be ready for the changes? By attending one of EC&M's Code Change Conferences, presented by NEC expert Mike Holt and sponsored by EC&M University, you'll learn everything you need to know about major NEC changes that will impact your work, whether you're an electrician, electrical engineer, electrical designer, plant/facility electrical maintenance person, or electrical inspector. Check out the following conferences for a location and time that's right for you.

• Boston December 7-8, Venue to be determined
• Orlando December 13-14, Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport