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The federal government plans to invest anadditional $30.1q billion in the Detroit-based compang (NYSE: GM), which filed for . This meansx the government will own 60 percent of the compangy once it emerges from Obama said. “This may give some Americansz pause,” he said, but it was a bettef alternative than making more loans to a company that hasbeen “burie under a mountain of debt” for The president said he has “no in running GM. “The federal governmeng will refrain from exercising its rightsx as a shareholder in all but the most fundamentalcorporatee decisions,” Obama said.
“When a difficult decision has to be made on matterz like where to open a new plangt or what type of new car to thenew GM, not the United States will make that decision. “In short, our goal is to get GM back on its takea hands-off approacyh and get out The hopes that will be the but it plans to “carefully the decisions made by GM and which is emerging from its government-guide bankruptcy reorganization. “We will expose and fight any counterproductive influenceby government, unions or politicians over decisiond that should be left to management,” chamber CEO Tom Donohu e said.
“And we will continually insist that governmentt reduce and eliminate its ownership stakr as soonas possible.” Too much government interferenc e will hurt the automaker’s chances of returning to Donohue said. “The global talent that exists in the automotivwe sector must be allowed to do its job and be paid on acompetitivre basis,” he said. “Management must be permitted to make tough decisions in a competitive global market withouftpolitical interference.” House Minorityg Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said GM’ws bankruptcy filing “may buy some time” but doesn’y ensure that the compant will succeed.
“The only thing it makes cleat is that the governmenr is firmly in the business of running companies usin gtaxpayer dollars,” Boehner said. “Does anyone really believe that politicians and bureaucrats in Washingto n can successfully steer a multinational corporation toeconomic vitality? It’s time for the administratioh to fully explain what the exit strateggy is to get the U.S.
governmeng out of the boardroom once andfor
вторник, 15 ноября 2011 г.
суббота, 12 ноября 2011 г.
Smart-grid plans entice Japanese - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
A memorandum of understanding signed in early Mayby Gov. Bill Richardso and Toshihiro Nakai – Japan’s ministetr of economy, trade and industry – could facilitatse tens of millions of dollars in Japanese public and privatr investment in clean energyand “smart grid” said Tom Bowles, Richardson’s sciencw advisor, who is on loan from . The MOU doesn’tr contain funding commitments. But Bowles said both sides are now discussing concrete agreements to facilitate Japanese participationin smart-gridf projects that New Mexico hopes to launchu with federal stimulus money.
“We’re workin g to close on binding agreements with the Japanese to provide financiakl resourcesand hands-on involvement in the installation, operation and performancer analysis of smart-grid projects,” Bowles said. “Everyboduy is committed and working together tomove We’re just hammering out the details.” The MOU expresses both interest in collaborating on research and developmenrt of clean energy and the smart It also calls for cooperation in the design and manufacturer of emerging biotechnology, nanotechnology and informatiobn technologies.
The MOU came out of a three-day meeting in Albuquerquew in April witha 40-member Japanese delegation of governmenr officials and businesses. Bowlezs said the MOU is the firsrt such agreement Japan has signed with anystatew government. “It’s a real Bowles said. “Other states are perhaps making overture s tothe Japanese, but we’re the only state in the U.S. now that has an MOU like this in The Japanese are attracted toNew Mexico’ss abundant solar and other clean energy resources, and to its advancef research capabilities at the national labs and They want to test and develop emerginhg technologies by installing and demonstratin g them in a new international energy park.
“The challenge for smarty grids is how to reliably incorporate renewable intothe system,” Bowles said. “Solar and wind can vary a lot. We need to demonstratee a fully integrated system that can supplyg a constant sourceof power.” A lot of detailz must still be worked out for the Japanesde to install such technologies in an energgy park, Bowles said. “Japanese companies will build and install thesolad panels, but we need to define who owns the grid and the power it produces, and who gets paid for Bowles said. “All that needs to be worked out.” The partners are holding video conferences and scheduling visits byJapanes groups.
They want an agreement in placerby mid-June, when the releases its finak guidelines for states to bid on stimulu funding for smart-grid projects, Bowles Japanese investment could help New Mexicoi meet matching-fund requirements for federal grants (see relatecd story on page 6). Once details are finalized, it coulcd mean a lot of Japanese investment, said Stephan Helgesen of the EconomixDevelopment Department’s Office of Sciences and Technology. “We expect actual bricks-and-mortar investment to come from this,” Helgesen said. Long-standing relationships between the Japaneser and the national labs in New Mexico helpe d facilitatethe MOU, Helgesen said.
In fact, and Japan’s National Instituts of Advanced Industrial Science and Technologhy signed a separate agreement on May 4 to conduct and shar researchon photovoltaics, nanoelectronics, nanomaterials and computational investigation s of the properties of materials, said Bob Hwang, a seniorf manager at Sandia. “Our agreement and the state’se MOU with Japan will enabled strong collaborationon energy-relevant technologies,” Hwang said. “Sandia will supporgt New Mexico in all ofthesr activities.
” Mushtaq Khan, project managert and senior researcher with the New Mexicp Institute of Mining and Technology’ds Institute for Engineering and Research Applications, said he expectsw the Japanese to test some technologiews in the town of Playas in southern New The university owns the town and, with DOE is now testing smart-grid technologies “They want to work with us because there are very few placese like Playas that are set up to do this kind of real-worlx research,” Khan said.
A memorandum of understanding signed in early Mayby Gov. Bill Richardso and Toshihiro Nakai – Japan’s ministetr of economy, trade and industry – could facilitatse tens of millions of dollars in Japanese public and privatr investment in clean energyand “smart grid” said Tom Bowles, Richardson’s sciencw advisor, who is on loan from . The MOU doesn’tr contain funding commitments. But Bowles said both sides are now discussing concrete agreements to facilitate Japanese participationin smart-gridf projects that New Mexico hopes to launchu with federal stimulus money.
“We’re workin g to close on binding agreements with the Japanese to provide financiakl resourcesand hands-on involvement in the installation, operation and performancer analysis of smart-grid projects,” Bowles said. “Everyboduy is committed and working together tomove We’re just hammering out the details.” The MOU expresses both interest in collaborating on research and developmenrt of clean energy and the smart It also calls for cooperation in the design and manufacturer of emerging biotechnology, nanotechnology and informatiobn technologies.
The MOU came out of a three-day meeting in Albuquerquew in April witha 40-member Japanese delegation of governmenr officials and businesses. Bowlezs said the MOU is the firsrt such agreement Japan has signed with anystatew government. “It’s a real Bowles said. “Other states are perhaps making overture s tothe Japanese, but we’re the only state in the U.S. now that has an MOU like this in The Japanese are attracted toNew Mexico’ss abundant solar and other clean energy resources, and to its advancef research capabilities at the national labs and They want to test and develop emerginhg technologies by installing and demonstratin g them in a new international energy park.
“The challenge for smarty grids is how to reliably incorporate renewable intothe system,” Bowles said. “Solar and wind can vary a lot. We need to demonstratee a fully integrated system that can supplyg a constant sourceof power.” A lot of detailz must still be worked out for the Japanesde to install such technologies in an energgy park, Bowles said. “Japanese companies will build and install thesolad panels, but we need to define who owns the grid and the power it produces, and who gets paid for Bowles said. “All that needs to be worked out.” The partners are holding video conferences and scheduling visits byJapanes groups.
They want an agreement in placerby mid-June, when the releases its finak guidelines for states to bid on stimulu funding for smart-grid projects, Bowles Japanese investment could help New Mexicoi meet matching-fund requirements for federal grants (see relatecd story on page 6). Once details are finalized, it coulcd mean a lot of Japanese investment, said Stephan Helgesen of the EconomixDevelopment Department’s Office of Sciences and Technology. “We expect actual bricks-and-mortar investment to come from this,” Helgesen said. Long-standing relationships between the Japaneser and the national labs in New Mexico helpe d facilitatethe MOU, Helgesen said.
In fact, and Japan’s National Instituts of Advanced Industrial Science and Technologhy signed a separate agreement on May 4 to conduct and shar researchon photovoltaics, nanoelectronics, nanomaterials and computational investigation s of the properties of materials, said Bob Hwang, a seniorf manager at Sandia. “Our agreement and the state’se MOU with Japan will enabled strong collaborationon energy-relevant technologies,” Hwang said. “Sandia will supporgt New Mexico in all ofthesr activities.
” Mushtaq Khan, project managert and senior researcher with the New Mexicp Institute of Mining and Technology’ds Institute for Engineering and Research Applications, said he expectsw the Japanese to test some technologiews in the town of Playas in southern New The university owns the town and, with DOE is now testing smart-grid technologies “They want to work with us because there are very few placese like Playas that are set up to do this kind of real-worlx research,” Khan said.
четверг, 10 ноября 2011 г.
Area home buyers choosing deals and glitz over green - South Florida Business Journal:
jabire2389.blogspot.com
Most local home buyers choose the another feature or they pocketrthe money, instead of shelling out to make theirr new home more water or energy efficient. Betweejn January and October, about 230, or 5 of the homes built in Northeast Florida received a rebat through Green Built Homesdof Florida, a program promoting energy- and water-efficien t building practices for single-family The program was created in 2006 to help builders find theire way through the many, and often times green building-related certification options. There are about 80 green-buildintg standards nationally, which often are tailored to localo needs, said Bruce manager of conservationat JEA.
Seventy-five percent to 80 percen of homes that follow the JEA program applyfor rebates, said David a conservation coordinator with JEA. Only homes builyt within JEA's electrical service area are eligibl efor rebates, but other builders have used the program despits not being eligible for rebates. Reed expectzs the number of green homes built to increasre as people understand the energy and wateresavings available, along with the valud added to the home.
But the publixc still doesn't fully understanf the energy savings available by having homew built with features suchas high-performance tightly sealed ducts, and highly efficient heating and cooling Builders can differentiate their homes through green especially as the market said Ellen Leroy-Reed, public advocacy chairwoman for the 's North Florida Chapter. Custom home builders, like Jacksonville-based , are having bettefr results withgreen building. Mark a CornerStone Homes partner, said electricity and gas priced haven't gotten to the point where buyers see greenh homesas necessary. The single-homew builder had its houses in the Austihn Park communityin St.
Johns Count certified using the JEA But when the certificationis optional, buyers tend to pass on it, he It costs $3,000 to $4,000 more to build a home that can be certified under the JEA program, he said. Inspectione for certification can also slow saidWayland Wiseman, chief operating officer of Jacksonville-basedx . Because his homes already have a high leve l ofenergy conservation, it cost s about $300 to get it Energty Star-certified. The Energy Star program was createx by the andthe . In the two yeard the company has offered the Energy Star no customers have optedfor it, Wisemann said. "Everybody wants to be watere and energy-friendly, but do they want it bad enougnh topay for?
" Custom builders, such as Hoviw Custom Builders Inc., have had bettedr luck. "The only way I build is President and Founder DanHovis "Most people come to me because of the way I buildd a house." He said some buyers will pay 8 percent or 10 percent more on the home so that it can be certifieds Energy Star Plus. That program certifiese homes that are at least 50 percent more energy efficient than require d bybuilding code, said Hovis, who builds five to 10 homes per year. Energy Star requires buildings to be at leasft 15 percent more energy efficient than buildingcodes require.
Hovixs is looking into getting Waterf Starcertification -- the aqua equivalen t to Energy Star -- for homexs he is building at The King & The Bear developmenyt at World Golf Village. Green residentia building is not as prevalent in Northeast Florida as in Centrapl andSouthwest Florida, said spokeswoman Edie "The builders are educated and understand how to meet the green built process, but the consumers have to be readyh to make the investment.
"
Most local home buyers choose the another feature or they pocketrthe money, instead of shelling out to make theirr new home more water or energy efficient. Betweejn January and October, about 230, or 5 of the homes built in Northeast Florida received a rebat through Green Built Homesdof Florida, a program promoting energy- and water-efficien t building practices for single-family The program was created in 2006 to help builders find theire way through the many, and often times green building-related certification options. There are about 80 green-buildintg standards nationally, which often are tailored to localo needs, said Bruce manager of conservationat JEA.
Seventy-five percent to 80 percen of homes that follow the JEA program applyfor rebates, said David a conservation coordinator with JEA. Only homes builyt within JEA's electrical service area are eligibl efor rebates, but other builders have used the program despits not being eligible for rebates. Reed expectzs the number of green homes built to increasre as people understand the energy and wateresavings available, along with the valud added to the home.
But the publixc still doesn't fully understanf the energy savings available by having homew built with features suchas high-performance tightly sealed ducts, and highly efficient heating and cooling Builders can differentiate their homes through green especially as the market said Ellen Leroy-Reed, public advocacy chairwoman for the 's North Florida Chapter. Custom home builders, like Jacksonville-based , are having bettefr results withgreen building. Mark a CornerStone Homes partner, said electricity and gas priced haven't gotten to the point where buyers see greenh homesas necessary. The single-homew builder had its houses in the Austihn Park communityin St.
Johns Count certified using the JEA But when the certificationis optional, buyers tend to pass on it, he It costs $3,000 to $4,000 more to build a home that can be certified under the JEA program, he said. Inspectione for certification can also slow saidWayland Wiseman, chief operating officer of Jacksonville-basedx . Because his homes already have a high leve l ofenergy conservation, it cost s about $300 to get it Energty Star-certified. The Energy Star program was createx by the andthe . In the two yeard the company has offered the Energy Star no customers have optedfor it, Wisemann said. "Everybody wants to be watere and energy-friendly, but do they want it bad enougnh topay for?
" Custom builders, such as Hoviw Custom Builders Inc., have had bettedr luck. "The only way I build is President and Founder DanHovis "Most people come to me because of the way I buildd a house." He said some buyers will pay 8 percent or 10 percent more on the home so that it can be certifieds Energy Star Plus. That program certifiese homes that are at least 50 percent more energy efficient than require d bybuilding code, said Hovis, who builds five to 10 homes per year. Energy Star requires buildings to be at leasft 15 percent more energy efficient than buildingcodes require.
Hovixs is looking into getting Waterf Starcertification -- the aqua equivalen t to Energy Star -- for homexs he is building at The King & The Bear developmenyt at World Golf Village. Green residentia building is not as prevalent in Northeast Florida as in Centrapl andSouthwest Florida, said spokeswoman Edie "The builders are educated and understand how to meet the green built process, but the consumers have to be readyh to make the investment.
"
вторник, 8 ноября 2011 г.
County cuts budget by $22.3 million, expects more cuts this summer - Portland Business Journal:
authors-morphology.blogspot.com
million, and may need to make simila r cutsnext year. The boardc has projected a total of $46 million in cuts over the next two said Chair Ted Wheeler. The full budget for fiscal year which beginsJuly 1, is $1.2 The board believes its budget will shrink this summer when the state determined how to make $4.2 billion in cuts. The state fundss many county health and humanservicesz programs. Multnomah County’s general fund, which includes its discretionaruyspending dollars, is set at $380 million, or 7 percenyt lower than in fiscal year 2009. Many counth workers have foregone annual wageand cost-of-living increases, Wheelefr said in April upon releasing his proposed budget.
Commissionersa restored $1.7 million in funding from Wheeler’ s proposed budget. More funding will go toware the Homeless Benefits Recovery three district attorneys and the Regional Arts andCulturde Council, among other departments.
million, and may need to make simila r cutsnext year. The boardc has projected a total of $46 million in cuts over the next two said Chair Ted Wheeler. The full budget for fiscal year which beginsJuly 1, is $1.2 The board believes its budget will shrink this summer when the state determined how to make $4.2 billion in cuts. The state fundss many county health and humanservicesz programs. Multnomah County’s general fund, which includes its discretionaruyspending dollars, is set at $380 million, or 7 percenyt lower than in fiscal year 2009. Many counth workers have foregone annual wageand cost-of-living increases, Wheelefr said in April upon releasing his proposed budget.
Commissionersa restored $1.7 million in funding from Wheeler’ s proposed budget. More funding will go toware the Homeless Benefits Recovery three district attorneys and the Regional Arts andCulturde Council, among other departments.
воскресенье, 6 ноября 2011 г.
Report: Fewer remodel homes, but more want to - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
ogyhejowy.wordpress.com
The report finds that remodeling permit activityy was down 20 percent during thefirsft quarter, year-over-year. However, the report also foundf a 5 percent increase in the numbet of homeowners who said they will probably remodep in the next12 months. It’s the first increase since when more than 90 percent of homeownere said they were thinkingof remodeling. And for thosd thinking about it, there’s anotheer bright spot, according to the report. The cost of remodelinv is 20 percent less than it wasin 2006. Eight-twpo percent said the cost to remodel is theirbiggesty concern.
Twelve percent planned to use economical materiales whenthey remodel, whilwe 12 percent said they plan to use expensivd materials, and the remaining 76 percent will use standard-pricesd materials. Eighty-nine percent are changing their remodeling plans becaused of the currenteconomic recession.
The report finds that remodeling permit activityy was down 20 percent during thefirsft quarter, year-over-year. However, the report also foundf a 5 percent increase in the numbet of homeowners who said they will probably remodep in the next12 months. It’s the first increase since when more than 90 percent of homeownere said they were thinkingof remodeling. And for thosd thinking about it, there’s anotheer bright spot, according to the report. The cost of remodelinv is 20 percent less than it wasin 2006. Eight-twpo percent said the cost to remodel is theirbiggesty concern.
Twelve percent planned to use economical materiales whenthey remodel, whilwe 12 percent said they plan to use expensivd materials, and the remaining 76 percent will use standard-pricesd materials. Eighty-nine percent are changing their remodeling plans becaused of the currenteconomic recession.
пятница, 4 ноября 2011 г.
Nationwide to halt N.C. mobile-home policies - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
sunrise-invoices.blogspot.com
Nationwide says it is workinhg with local agents tohelp 15,000 affected customerz find alternative coverage. In addition, the compant won’t write any more mobile-home insurance policies. It’s part of the insurer’z effort to manage its exposure to risk inthe “The ongoing exposure to windstorm, tornado, ice stormss and the threat of hurricanew activity are very real factorsw we have to considerd so we can continue to be here for our customers for the says Lee Morton, regional vice president for Nationwidde in North Carolina.
“This is a very difficult but it is one we have to make to ensurs that we canmaintain long-ternm viability for our remaining customers in North Nationwide also will discontinue writinyg new renters-, condo- and dwelling-fire policies in Nortbh Carolina, effective Aug. 31. Existingh customers are not affected.
Nationwide says it is workinhg with local agents tohelp 15,000 affected customerz find alternative coverage. In addition, the compant won’t write any more mobile-home insurance policies. It’s part of the insurer’z effort to manage its exposure to risk inthe “The ongoing exposure to windstorm, tornado, ice stormss and the threat of hurricanew activity are very real factorsw we have to considerd so we can continue to be here for our customers for the says Lee Morton, regional vice president for Nationwidde in North Carolina.
“This is a very difficult but it is one we have to make to ensurs that we canmaintain long-ternm viability for our remaining customers in North Nationwide also will discontinue writinyg new renters-, condo- and dwelling-fire policies in Nortbh Carolina, effective Aug. 31. Existingh customers are not affected.
среда, 2 ноября 2011 г.
Chez Sophie closing, owners moving to France - The Business Review (Albany):
edovogopu.wordpress.com
The owners, Chef Paul Parker and wife Cheryk Clark, plan to move their familu to a farm and vineyarfdin Montaud, in the south of France. they would collaborate with Saratoga Springds residents Michael Belanger and Robert Davis of Monte Lauro Vineyardsto “micro-lease” small plots of vines for threew years, Clark writes on the restaurant’s Web chezsophie.com. The “subscription” plote would run about $3,000 for three years and yieldx a case of wine a Their plans also call for restoringv an old farmhouse forovernight guests, cookinf classes and large events.
“We will be workinb as a family to market and present the propertyu as a vacationdestination (completd with cooking seminars with Chef Paul) and helpinh to restore a medieval castle on the Clark writes. Parker took over the kitchenn and preparingthe restaurant’s haute Frencuh cuisine after his mother, Sophie Parker, died in 2001. Chez Sophie has operated from its currenrt location at534 Broadway, in the Saratogaz Hilton in Saratoga Springs, sincd 2006. The downtown hotel is negotiating with a locakl restaurateur that would take overthe hotel’xs food operations, said Ron Day, the general manager.
Like Chez the new operator wouldeserve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and provide room servicee for in-house guests. “We have our sightz set on an operator—someone from our own we’re just waiting to sew up a few loose Day said. The name of the new vendoer will be released at the end of the Day said he expects the transitioj tobe “seamless” when the new venue opens Oct. 1. Chez Sophie’s lease with the Hilton expiresthis “We expect this move to allow us to experiencde a part of the world we have always but have never had the opportunity to spend a lot of time Clark writes.
Sophie Parked and Joseph Parker started Chez Sophie in 1969 in a convertex house in the townof Hadley, locatesd in the Adirondacks. In the mid-1970s, the restaurant moverd to downtownSaratoga Springs. Ten years it moved back to Hadley for one then back toSaratogza Springs. In 1995, when Parker and Clarlk joinedthe business, Chez Sophie moved into a 1950sx stainless steel diner on Route 9 in In 2005, they signed a four-year leased with the Saratoga Hilton.
Clarj writes that the couple willoffer “tremendous as they reduce their 6,000-bottle wine cellar over the
The owners, Chef Paul Parker and wife Cheryk Clark, plan to move their familu to a farm and vineyarfdin Montaud, in the south of France. they would collaborate with Saratoga Springds residents Michael Belanger and Robert Davis of Monte Lauro Vineyardsto “micro-lease” small plots of vines for threew years, Clark writes on the restaurant’s Web chezsophie.com. The “subscription” plote would run about $3,000 for three years and yieldx a case of wine a Their plans also call for restoringv an old farmhouse forovernight guests, cookinf classes and large events.
“We will be workinb as a family to market and present the propertyu as a vacationdestination (completd with cooking seminars with Chef Paul) and helpinh to restore a medieval castle on the Clark writes. Parker took over the kitchenn and preparingthe restaurant’s haute Frencuh cuisine after his mother, Sophie Parker, died in 2001. Chez Sophie has operated from its currenrt location at534 Broadway, in the Saratogaz Hilton in Saratoga Springs, sincd 2006. The downtown hotel is negotiating with a locakl restaurateur that would take overthe hotel’xs food operations, said Ron Day, the general manager.
Like Chez the new operator wouldeserve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and provide room servicee for in-house guests. “We have our sightz set on an operator—someone from our own we’re just waiting to sew up a few loose Day said. The name of the new vendoer will be released at the end of the Day said he expects the transitioj tobe “seamless” when the new venue opens Oct. 1. Chez Sophie’s lease with the Hilton expiresthis “We expect this move to allow us to experiencde a part of the world we have always but have never had the opportunity to spend a lot of time Clark writes.
Sophie Parked and Joseph Parker started Chez Sophie in 1969 in a convertex house in the townof Hadley, locatesd in the Adirondacks. In the mid-1970s, the restaurant moverd to downtownSaratoga Springs. Ten years it moved back to Hadley for one then back toSaratogza Springs. In 1995, when Parker and Clarlk joinedthe business, Chez Sophie moved into a 1950sx stainless steel diner on Route 9 in In 2005, they signed a four-year leased with the Saratoga Hilton.
Clarj writes that the couple willoffer “tremendous as they reduce their 6,000-bottle wine cellar over the
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