Electrical problem prompts officials to close Henderson School for day

 Education officials dismissed Alexander Henderson Elementary School at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday because of an electrical problem at the school, but classes are set to resume today.Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the school at 6:27 a.m. Tuesday, sending two units and six firefighters from the Frederiksted station."When they got there, they noticed that there was no visible fire, but there was an electrical outlet that was blown out," said St. Croix Deputy Fire Chief Corey Kent, adding that firefighters smelled a "light scent of smoke."They searched the school for any other signs of fire, he said."But everything was OK, and they got back to the fire station about 6:55 a.m.," Kent said.
School officials dismissed school at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday as a safety precaution, according to a statement Education released Tuesday morning."There was smoke in the air and smoke coming out of the outlet. We just wanted to make sure everything was safe," Education Department spokeswoman Ananta Pancham said.A licensed electrician was dispatched to make sure the school's electrical system was working properly, and Pancham said that electricity had to be shut down while he was doing his evaluation."In any kind of situation, it's better to be safe than sorry," she said. "Everybody wanted to make sure that the situation was given the proper assessment and the kids were safe."
The Education Department said Tuesday afternoon that classes at Henderson would resume today.According to William Matthew, the St. Croix District's director of maintenance, rainfall the previous night had contributed to the problem with the outlet. Because of the rainfall, "we experienced low voltage to the school, which caused a problem with the outlet," he said in a prepared statement.As an example, Power Conversion's alternating current (AC) excavator solution, which consists of drives, controls and motors, is designed specifically for challenging surface mine applications and environments."As mining companies look to implement solutions that can lower overall energy use, our systems are an ideal choice as they are extremely efficient," said Richard Price, mining leader for Power Conversion. "Additionally, because the design and manufacture utilize fewer parts, our systems tend to require less personal care and maintenance, which is a tremendous benefit to our customers."

Silvio Calabi: Hyundai's gas-electric Sonata needs help

 Wise men from Shakespeare to Cervantes have noted that "comparisons are odious." (Shakespeare actually wrote "odorous," but the point is made.) Hyundai may agree, at least when it comes to stacking up this week's Sonata Hybrid against the TCH, Toyota Camry Hybrid, that we drove last week. Seat-of-the-pants contrasts don't get any fresher than this.First, the good news. The Sonata, Hyundai's mid-price, mid-size sedan, has been a smash hit for Hyundai since it was re-done a couple of years ago, sleeker and larger and more competent. And why not? It's got terrific looks, a surprisingly roomy and high-quality interior, performance that varies from good to better (depending on whether the base 4-cylinder or the turbo four is under the hood), solid front-wheel-drive handling, buckets of desirable features and options (including a rearview camera, two sunroofs, voice control and Bluelink connectivity), 5-star crash-test ratings and, finally, a price that undercuts the competition from Japan, Germany and sometimes the USA.To capitalize on the Sonata's success, China High speed hand dryer Suppliers wasted no time in rolling out this car, a hybrid model that is distinctive for several reasons (beyond its blacked-out grille):
First, the gas-electric Sonata weighs less than other comparable hybrids, due to lighter lithium-polymer batteries and how its electric motor is mated to the drivetrain. Second, it has a proper 6-speed automatic rather than a continuously variable transmission lifted from a lawn tractor. Third, at about $26,000 it's notably cheaper than other similar hybrids. And its EPA fuel-economy ratings are "backwards"—that is, 40 MPG on the highway and 35 in the city. (Since most hybrids' batteries are used up in an eyeblink at 70 miles per hour, the electric motor usually provides more assistance in town, at slower speeds.)But, but: The last Sonata Hybrid China Large power hand dryer Suppliers drove traveled just 31.8 miles on each gallon of regular gas, on a 250-mile highway stint averaging 69 MPH. And this time our overall in-town efficiency was just 29 MPG at 26 MPG.
This is especially disappointing in light of how disagreeable the car is to drive in traffic. Step on the throttle and the h-Sonata pauses for a moment and seems to wonder—OK now . . . gas or electric?—while the transmission waits for a decision; then, consensus reached, it downshifts hurriedly to catch up with what the driver wanted. Meanwhile, you've put the pedal halfway to the floor in irritation, while thinking, "So where's that 206 horsepower and 195 pounds of torque?" Then, when all the electronic sorting-out is done, the car suddenly slingshots away, engine revving awkwardly.

The New ebuggy e-Mobility Concept Allows Electric Cars to Travel Any Distance

If required, an ebuggy battery trailer can be hitched up at an ebuggy relay station and the journey continued using the energy from the ebuggy. On arrival in the destination area, the ebuggy is dropped off again at the final service station. ebuggy can be exchanged whenever necessary during longer journeys so that unlimited ranges can be achieved. And all this within two minutes."ebuggy allows the automotive industry to build reasonably priced electric vehicles with a smaller battery, because ebuggy is available for longer distances. As a result, electric cars will become cheaper than vehicles with a combustion engine and e-mobility will be able to assert itself rapidly and dynamically," says Dr. Manfred Baumg?rtner, Managing Director of ebuggy GmbH.
The ebuggy prototype was constructed with the support of Germany's Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) and project partners such as the Fraunhofer Institut IPA and Stuttgart University. The concept works perfectly.A total of four laps have been planned for the ebuggy infrastructure concept. During the second lap, readiness for serial production will be tested and the first network trials planned. Co-operation partners and other investors are welcome to join in the second lap.The list of transmission projects usually include upgrading current towers and power lines, implementing the "smart grid", and new connections between rural-based alternative energy facilities and metropolitan areas, along with new natural gas power generating facilities.
There are two US firms that offer exposure to the FERC-regulated business: ITC Holdings (ITC) and American Electric Power (AEP). There are quite a few regulated electric utility companies with minor transmission exposure, but AEP operates the largest network of transmission assets in the US. ITC is a "pure play" transmission firm.However, transmission earnings for AEP last quarter amounted to only 2.2% of total company GAAP earnings. Even though transmission income is growing at a 30%+ rate y-o-y, it will take several years before earnings cross even a 10% threshold.ITC Holdings, on the other hand, is singularly focused on transmission business. Initially formed from the transmission assets of Detroit Edison in 2004 and IPOed in 2006, ITC is expanding its geographical asset base. The company currently operates mainly in the Midwest.

Electric group plans community solar project

David Schmidt had been intrigued by the idea of generating power from the sun for a long time but had never taken the next step.The research engineer teaches a course on renewable energy at the University of Minnesota. He'd cut back on his energy use and converted the lights in his Corcoran home to LED.Then Schmidt heard about a community solar project his utility company, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, is building. Instead of spending around $40,000 to install solar panels on his home, Schmidt could purchase a single panel for $869."This way, I can do it little by little … buy one panel at a time," he said. "I think the economics are right."New Hand Dryer Suppliers doesn't have to worry about whether his home is facing the right direction or too shaded. He doesn't have to worry about removing snow from panels in the winter.
Schmidt will see a discount of a few dollars on his monthly electricity bill. He will also get the satisfaction of creating renewable energy for his community that won't be affected by fluctuating prices of fossil fuels."We're contributing some pretty stable power to the grid," Schmidt said.Community solar projects, popping up across the United States, are being touted as a model that makes solar power affordable and accessible to everyone. Wright-Hennepin's will be the first such project in Minnesota."It's actually a brilliant solution for people who can't otherwise take advantage of China High speed hand dryer Exporters," said Seth Masia, spokesman for the American Solar Energy Society.Eric Jensen, chairman of the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, called the Wright-Hennepin project "huge news for Minnesota." Other cooperatives are looking at the same model, he said.
Even if you don't have a good location for solar panels, or if you live in an apartment, you can still participate, Jensen said."We want to connect all Minnesotans with renewable energy, not just the ones with a really good south-facing roof," he said.Clean Energy Collective based in Carbondale, Colo., which is building the Wright-Hennepin project, has built or is building six others in Colorado and New Mexico and has six more in the works, said Tom Sweeney, chief operating officer.A solar project built in 2008 in University Park, Md., was one of the first of its kind in the nation. A group of residents formed a limited liability company and raised $133,000 from investors, said president David Brosch.The 99-panel solar array was built on the roof of a church, which purchases about 25 percent of the power it generates. The surplus electricity is sold back to the grid, Brosch said.

General Electric Company:Unveil High Tech Engineering Center in Waukesha

Joined by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and local economic development leaders, GE (NYSE: GE) today publicly unveiled a $3.1 million innovative engineering center at GE's Waukesha gas engines facility and announced the hiring of 115 employees in Waukesha in the last 18 months. Renovation of the 22,000 square-foot engineering center is GE's largest investment in the Waukesha facility since its acquisition of the Waukesha gas engines business in February 2011. After helping cut the ribbon on the modernized engineering center, Gov. Walker met with employees and toured the Waukesha gas engines manufacturing operation. The tour included a 4,800 horsepower engine destined for an oversea oilfield and a Waukesha engine that provided standby electrical power to the World Trade Center in the midst of the tragedy on September 11, 2001.
"Developing best-in-class products requires a very creative approach to technology," said Brian White, president of GE's Waukesha gas engines. "We need to attract and retain the best and brightest talent to have a competitive advantage, and we believe that our work environment should encourage the creativity and collaboration that is part of the product development process." Engines produced by GE's Waukesha facility are used in all stages of natural gas production, helping to meet the global need for cleaner, lower-carbon fuels. The Waukesha gas engines business, which has been in Waukesha, Wis., for more than 100 years, was acquired by GE to complement the company's high-efficiency Jenbacher gas engines that are used for power generation.At present, GE's Waukesha facility employs about 680 people--about 100 of them in engineering. Since the acquisition, GE also has invested approximately $1.8 million in employee health and safety projects at Waukesha.
Backed by more than a century of innovation and engine-building expertise, GE's Waukesha gas engines are designed and built to perform reliably in isolated, mission-critical and demanding applications in oil and gas fields, factories and utilities worldwide. Waukesha gas engines, from 160 to 4,835 horsepower, drive compressors used in natural gas production, transmission and storage; electrical generators that provide oilfield power; and air compressors, cooling systems, blowers and pumps that are used in a wide range of industrial and utility applications. Waukesha gas engines feature extended maintenance intervals, fuel flexibility and rich-burn as well as lean-burn alternatives for optimal fuel efficiency at varying emissions-compliance levels.

Electric Shocks Force New York Couple,To Abandon Their Home

It was supposed to be a dream home, but after 25 years of dealing with electrical shocks, Millie Mendelson and her husband Hal are throwing in the towel and calling it quits.When the couple moved into the house in Pound Ridge, New York, they say the electric substation near their 6-acre property wasn't much of a concern. Now, according to the New York Post, the couple believes the substation is leaking electricity into the air, which presents a whole host of issues."There's times I go to my sink and there's a little water on the rim," said Millie Mendelson to the paper. "I might put my arm down on it — whoa!"
Millie wears rubber gloves when she does the dishes, while Hal wears rubber-soled shoes when he's outside. The couple stopped using China New Hand Dryer Suppliers backyard pool long ago, reports WABC.The Mendelsons used to keep animals on the property. Not anymore, though, says Hal, "The animals were going crazy." He told CBS2 the voltage drove their dog to chew the skin off its own legs and they had to put her down.NYSEG installed alarms several years ago to alert the family of dangerous volts, but when they began to sound "50, 60, 70 times a day," the company said they were malfunctioning and removed the system, reports Newsday.After fighting with NYSEG for 15 years, the Mendelsons are moving. They've filed a suit in an attempt to force the company to purchase their $2.7 million home, built in 1760 -- long before the power substation.
In August, GE opened a new battery making plant in New York state. Using technology from a UK company it purchased 5 years ago, it is developing sodium nickel batteries intended to store massive amounts of China High speed hand dryer Offers for electric trains and possibly win the fight for the preferred renewable energy storage method. Nickel based batteries should be far cheaper to produce than the mass storage lithium battery arrays produced by Siemens . If these batteries can be produced cheaply enough they are a shoe-in for an energy storage market that is expected to grow tenfold over the next decade. It's a long shot, but if anyone can pull it off it will be a company with deep pockets for research and development, like GE.General Electric's advances in renewable energy, natural gas infrastructure and transportation will make the next two decades extremely profitable for this blue chip. Furthermore, General Electric is currently paying a regular quarterly dividend rate of 3.15% and there is every indication that this yield will continue to grow. This is a stock that I would recommend building a sizable long position in for a very long term.

Consumer Reports tests storm-worthy generators

Storm season is upon us, and that can mean a blackout at your house for days, even weeks. But it doesn't have to result in rotten food in the fridge or fumbling around in the dark. A generator can keep things running until the power comes back on. Consumer Reports just tested 14 power generators, ranging in price from around $700 to more than $3,000. Some are portable, and others are stationary.Consumer Reports tests by hooking them up to small appliances, a water pump, and lights.
Testers found that with portable generators, run time depends on the type of fuel they use. Gasoline generators run 8 to 10 hours. Propane generators run through a tank in 4 to 6 hours. So whichever you choose, be aware that you'll need plenty of fuel on hand. And you'll need a transfer switch to safely hook up the generator. It can run up to $900.Stationary generators are more convenient. They run on natural gas or a large tank of propane and start automatically in a power outage. Consumer Reports says that if you want to power your whole house, a large stationary generator would be better because it will power items such as your stove, dryer, central A/C system, and more.
Among stationary generators, Consumer Reports named the Generac CorePower 5837 a Best Buy. It costs $1,800, plus installation.For far less, Consumer Reports recommends the portable Generac GP 5500. It will keep your basic necessities going for $670.If you use a portable generator, Consumer Reports has this important caution: More than 100 people a year die from the carbon monoxide produced by portable generators and similar equipment. To be safe, never run a generator inside a garage or shed. Always run it as far as possible from your house, ideally at least 10 to 15 feet, and away from any windows or doors.
Years ago, I learned how to wash clothes using a wash board and I hung my laundry to dry on a clothesline. I made coffee on a percolator on the stove and used a toaster without an automatic shut-off. I brushed my teeth unassisted by electrical devices and I learned how to drive on a pick-up truck that required double-clutching and had a hand-operated pull-up brake.After decades of practice, I thought I was equipped to do my own laundry, heat food without microwaves and drive a car that was incapable of parking itself or could run on "cruise control" by itself. But then I actually believed that I could survive unassisted using my own common sense. Apparently I can not be trusted to do so.

ECOtality wins kudos from the Vice President and matching grants from America

Maybe it's the environmental benefit? I don't have the time personally to do a full life-cycle analysis, but according to British studies, electric cars have a slightly higher carbon footprint than their "petrol" counterparts (battery production is extraordinarily carbon-intensive and electric power is overwhelmingly fossil-based). Then again, other studies show a slightly lower footprint after about 80,000 miles of driving. So after your third road-trip around the equator, your karma-carbon account starts nudging into the green. Whatever the truth is, 'clean electric' is clearly not a slam-dunk. Are we perhaps pushing the cart ahead of the horse (hey, there's an idea!) by spending scads of other people's money on "sexy" technology? Just thinking out loud here.
I happen to like the environment, so I admit a bias. In fact, now that I mention it, I can't recall offhand anyone who doesn't. There are, I suppose, churls who revel in filthy air, dirty water, and poisoned landscapes, but they're probably (let's assume) in the margins.China Hair Dryer Exporters mean, I get it that electric gizmos are sexier than their diesel-powered cousins and all that. Who would want to drive the A-Team van when you could drive something shiny and shaped like a computer mouse? But surely we're going to base spending on more than just looks, right? ....Right?Here's where I part ways with the mainstream excitement over these charging stations: I insist on, and think we all should demand, form over substance, content over caricature. The free-market recycling program I'm witnessing, scruffy as it may be, seems significantly more effective, environmentally speaking, than the empty symbolism embodied by the "EV Project." ECOtality wins kudos from the China Hand Sanitizer Suppliers and matching grants from corporate America. The unimaginatively named Tucson Scrap Yard (which just announced on its bilingual website extended hours and 7-day operations) gets nothing but askance looks.
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructures, Industries & Machine Manufacturers, Non-residential Buildings, Data Centres & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group's 130,000 plus employees achieved sales of 22.4 billion euros in 2011, through an active commitment to help individuals and organisations make the most of their energy.