Comcast Claims Interactive Ad Success

TV ads that let viewers set reminders to watch or record upcoming shows are already paying off, according to one Comcast Corp. executive.

In one instance of an interactive TV ad campaign tested in San Francisco, Comcast Spotlight director of product management Kathleen DeBenedictis credits such "reminder" ads for bringing in more viewers in key demographics. "It's all about driving viewership to those programs," DeBenedictis told the audience here yesterday.

The campaign included interactive reminder spots run by Lifetime Television and CBS on Comcast's San Francisco system, where it says it has 1.2 million interactive TV-enabled homes. Two days prior to the premiere of Lifetime’s Project Runway series -- which targets women 18 to 49 -- the network ran "remind record" spots. The campaign resulted in a 74 percent higher viewership for the 18-to-49 demo in San Francisco compared to other top 20 markets, DeBenedictis said.

DeBenedictis said Comcast Spotlight has run about 200 paid interactive TV ad campaigns, including 15-second and 30-second tune-in campaigns from programmers. It is also running spots from advertisers that allow subscribers to request more information about a product.

Comcast also surveyed subscribers to get feedback on interactive ad campaigns. Some of the results: 98 percent of subscribers surveyed said the interactive ads are easy to use; 95 percent thought the interactive ads were appropriate; and 97 percent said they’d use interactive TV ads again in the future, DeBenedictis said.

“We’re definitely seeing that viewers are responding positively to these applications, and they perceive them as valuable.”

Refreshing 'tired' stories
In addition to interactive advertising, Comcast is stepping up its focus on interactive TV programming. The MSO plans to deploy an EBIF-based ITV application for CNN, which will afford digital cable subscribers access to news stories supplied by CNN.com, Turner Broadcasting vice president of business development Michael Quigley said Thursday.

The application, which Turner has been developing for about two years, will prompt subscribers to press the select buttons on their remote controls to access text-based stories and photos supplied by CNN.com, Quigley said.

The ITV application will also allow viewers to access VoD content from CNN from its linear TV channel. The app is designed to keep viewers tuned to the channel longer, according to Quigley.

“One of the things we have a need to address at CNN is when the viewer tunes to the network, and says, ‘I’m tired of the story.’ In that situation, without some kind of interaction, he could ultimately [change channels],” Quigley said.

Just pay $1 to Claim $4,276 Internet System from world’s #1 internet wealth expert . Limited Offer!
Over 55,000 satisfied customers worldwide!

Eaton to supply CH-53K helicopter cockpit control panels, dimming controllers

Engineers at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a United Technologies company in Irvine, Calif., needed lighted control panels and dimming controllers for its CH-53K military heavy-lift helicopter under development for the U.S. Marine Corps.

They found what they needed at Eaton Corp., a Cleveland-based designer and manufacturer of electrical systems and components for aircraft, industrial, and mobile equipment.

Eaton Corp. won a contract from Sikorsky to design, develop, and supply the helicopter control panels and controllers. Eaton also holds a contract for the helicopter’s hydraulic power generation system, integrated fuel system, and fluid conveyance package.

According to the contract, Eaton personnel will provide the lighted control-panel support hardware for five helicopter ship sets, as well as system development test sets, during the development phase of the program. The development phase runs through 2014.

Sikorsky staff anticipates the production of more than 156 helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps. Sikorsky holds a contract valued at approximately $20 million and, when combined with anticipated foreign military sales, is expected to exceed $26 million over the approximate 12-year life of the program.

Just pay $1 to Claim $4,276 Internet System from world’s #1 internet wealth expert . Limited Offer!
Over 55,000 satisfied customers worldwide!

GlaxoSmithKline Settles 200 Birth Defects Cases Linked to Antidepressant

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has entered into confidential settlements with nearly 200 families who claimed that its antidepressant Paxil caused congenital birth defects.

Most of the claims alleged that babies born to mothers taking Paxil suffered heart defects. Last October, a suit filed on behalf of Lyam Kilker said he was born with three cardiac defects, including a hole between two chambers of his heart that disrupted the aorta.

Kilker’s case is the only one to have gone to trial, and a Philadelphia jury awarded Kilker’s family $2.5 million in compensatory damages. Plaintiffs argued that animal testing revealed potential problems with Paxil, but the company did not follow up with additional tests. A company memo introduced as evidence during the trial also revealed that Glaxo considered covering up any negative test results. “If neg, results can bury,” the 1997 memo said.

In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration warned doctors about a 35,000-person study that found that pregnant women on Paxil were twice as likely to have a child with defects than women taking other antidepressants.

The terms of the settlement will remain confidential. At least 600 Paxil birth defect cases have been filed, and up to 100 cases were settled prior to the settlement announced on Thursday. Paxil generates nearly $3 billion in annual sales, ConsumerAffairs.com reports.

Just pay $1 to Claim $4,276 Internet System from world’s #1 internet wealth expert . Limited Offer!
Over 55,000 satisfied customers worldwide!

NRG Energy's Wind farm set to move forward

Federal waters off Delaware are officially open to bidders seeking to lease parts of the Outer Continental Shelf. That means NRG Energy’s Bluewater Wind wind offshore farm is a big step closer to completion.

NRG Energy spokesman David Gaier said, “We feel that we are very far along in the game as far as the Mid-Atlantic Wind Park is concerned.” He said the company already has in hand a power-purchase agreement with Delmarva Power for 200 megawatts of energy, an agreement to deliver wind power to the regional electric grid and a lease to install a meteorological tower for studies.

Gaier said the company plans to have turbines generating power by 2014.

Gaier said NRG is reviewing the application from the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which is part of the interior department. “This action by the Department of the Interior formally opens the permitting process for us,” said Gaier. This is the first-ever offshore wind permit process, said Gaier, so the company can’t estimate how long it will take. But, he said, the company expects to meet its deadlines.

Gov. Jack Markell said, “Delawareans are eager to seize the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind and we are proud to be the first state in which MMS will issue an Offshore Wind Request for Interest.”

Gaier said the company would also have to complete environmental-impact studies, including the effects of the planned park on migratory birds.

“We believe, based on other studies and from long-term experience in Europe, there will be no negative impact on birds. In fact, one of the first organizations to support us in Delaware was Delaware Audubon,” said Gaier.

NRG Energy purchased Bluewater Wind from Australian-based Babcock and Brown in November 2009 after Babcock and Brown had financial problems and went into voluntary administration, selling off its assets. In 2008, Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power signed a power-purchase agreement after more than a year of contentious negotiation. MMS said if there is no competitive interest, the agency says it may proceed with a noncompetitive lease process. Both options will include public participation and environmental review, the agency said.

The Department of the Interior announced last week the first step in allowing a wind farm project off Rehoboth Beach. Interior secretary Ken Salazar said federal and Delaware officials have been working closely on the project. The Minerals Management Service governs continental shelf leases.

The Request for Interest includes federal waters between Delaware Bay shipping routes. The point closest to land is 7.5 miles due east of Rehoboth Beach.

Just pay $1 to Claim $4,276 Internet System from world’s #1 internet wealth expert for one month. Limited Offer!
Over 55,000 satisfied customers worldwide!

For Investors, Diabetes Is a Growth Industry: GlaxoSmithKline

The numbers are sobering. Approximately 24 million Americans today have diabetes, and another 12 million are expected to be diagnosed by 2020, according to the American Diabetes Association. One survey puts the toll of lost productivity and caring for diabetes patients at $218 billion annually in the U.S. alone.Yet for investors, the fast-growing diabetes industry suggests something else: opportunity.

Each week seems to bring another development. Earlier this month, Swiss pharma giant Roche Holding AG announced its acquisition of a unit working on a new type of insulin patch. That development came on the heels of AstraZeneca's rollout of the new diabetes drug, Onglyza, in India — a country that is projected to have the most diabetes cases globally by the end of 2010, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). In January, Novo-Nordisk got approval for its new once-a-week diabetes drug, Victoza, one of a new generation of similar medications.

Of course, not every new diabetes product is a success. The FDA may be considering halting trials of GlaxoSmithKline’s diabetes treatment Avandia due to possible side effects like increased risk of heart attack. (In a statement, GlaxoSmithKline says it “welcomes additional scientific information that could help guide decisions around clinical trials and ultimately patient safety.”) Inhaled insulin drugs have also been something of a bust, with Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Novo-Nordisk abandoning efforts to develop those products.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Bank of America Refinance Mortgage Rates – Home Loans Lower on April 30th for First Time Home Buyers

Bank of America refinance mortgage rates remain at low levels as we are seeing home loans around 4.85% for the 30 year fixed mortgage. As April comes to a close and the first time home buyer tax credit is set to expire many first time buyers are flooding the market hoping to get a very low mortgage rate with a great home price.

Bank of America and almost all mortgage lenders continue to enjoy the low interest rate environment. Just this week the Federal Reserve Bank announced that they are going to take the necessary steps to keep interest rates low for an extender period of time. This means that banks and lenders will be able to add new customers.

Customers are benefiting from this low interest rate environment as they are able to borrow money at much lower rates. This means that mortgage and car payments are likely much less. With this being the case, well qualified borrowers can save a significant amount of money that they can use to buy some of the finer things in life that they desire.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Comcast sees good quarterly results

Comcast Corp. its quarterly profits go up. The good thing is that it was able to beat the analyst expectations.

Comcast is the largest cable company. It has been able to do this, since the company added newer customers through its high-speed Internet services.

The company saw its earnings rise by 31 cents as against the expectations of 30 cents.

The Philadelphia-based company was able to add 1.02 million new customers.

Comcos has also rebranded itself and takenover the name if "Xfinity". With this, it wants to highlight that it gives very high speed Internet service.

Then there are services lime "OnDemand Online" which helps the customer watch videos on the Web.

The news reports also suggest that Comcast is trying hard to win over the customers of Verizon. Its main focus is Philadelphia and Washington.

Comcast saw its net income increase by 12 per cent to touch $866 million or 31 cents for every share. Last year, the figure was $772 million or 27 cents.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Norfolk Southern earnings rise, revenue up

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced Tuesday that its first-quarter profit rose 45 percent from the same quarter a year ago, as the effects of the global recession eased.

Net income was $257 million, or 68 cents a share, for the quarter that ended March 31, up from $177 million, or 47 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2009. The earnings beat Wall Street projections by 2 cents a share. The average earnings-per-share estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News was 66 cents.

Norfolk Southern's operating revenues for the first quarter rose 15 percent to $2.2 billion, from $1.9 billion in the same quarter last year.

It was the first time in 15 months that the Norfolk-based railroad, the nation's fourth-largest, was able to announce a year-over-year increase in net income. That last occurred on Jan. 27, 2009, when it reported fourth-quarter 2008 profit jumped 13 percent.

For all four quarters of 2009, profit decreases ranged from 32 percent to 45 percent.

"Looking ahead, we are increasingly convinced that the domestic economic recovery is well under way, although the rate of growth is still somewhat unclear," Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman told Wall Street analysts in a teleconference late Tuesday. "...We saw a big upsurge in business in March, and while some of that was clearly catch-up from a snowbound February, we are very encouraged that our April volumes have continued to be strong."

Quarterly revenues were up across all of the railroad's business segments:

--General merchandise rose to $1.2 billion, a 23 percent increase from $975 million in the same quarter a year ago.

--Coal climbed to $629 million from $602 million last year, a 4.5 percent increase.

--Intermodal, involving the shipment of truck trailers and shipping containers, was up 12 percent, rising to $410 million from $366 million in the same quarter last year.

Norfolk Southern released its earnings after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. In trading Tuesday, its stock fell $1.44 a share, closing at $59.65.

On Thursday, Union Pacific, the nation's largest railroad, reported that its net income for the first quarter rose 43 percent, to $516 million from $362 million in the same quarter a year ago. Revenue grew 16 percent, to $3.96 billion.

On April 13, CSX Corp., the third-largest, reported that first-quarter net earnings jumped 24 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago, to $306 million from $246 million. Revenue grew 11 percent, to $2.49 billion.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the second-largest, was acquired by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. earlier this year and no longer releases its own earnings.

Berkshire Hathaway's first-quarter earnings are expected to be announced early next month.

Norfolk Southern operates roughly 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia and serves every major container port in the eastern United States, including Hampton Roads. Earlier Tuesday, the railroad announced the regular quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share on its common stock, payable on June 10, to stockholders of record on May 7.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

NRG Energy, Inc. to Present First Quarter 2010 Earnings on May 10

NRG Energy, Inc. to present the Company's first quarter 2010 financial results to the financial community in a conference call to be held Monday, May 10, at 9:00am eastern.

Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and presentation materials by logging on to NRG's website at http://www.nrgenergy.com and clicking on "Investors." The webcast will be archived on the site for those unable to listen in real time.

About NRG

NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 Index company, owns and operates one of the country's largest and most diverse power generation portfolios. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, the Company's power plants provide more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity--enough to supply more than 20 million homes. NRG's retail business, Reliant Energy, serves more than 1.6 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers in Texas. A past recipient of the energy industry's highest honors--Platts Industry Leadership and Energy Company of the Year awards, NRG is a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a group of business and environmental organizations calling for mandatory legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

GlaxoSmithKline launches mini Nicorette lozenges

GlaxoSmithKline said Tuesday it is selling a fast-dissolving lozenge version of its Nicorette anti-smoking lozenges.

The British drugmaker said the new mini lozenge dissolves up to three times faster than similar products. It is designed to help relieve nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and comes in a small pocket-size vial. The company is launching the lozenges with a campaign that includes a Facebook contest.

GlaxoSmithKline reported about $529 million in nicotine replacement therapy revenue in 2009, including sales of Nicorette gum, Nicoderm CQ patches and Commit lozenges.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

GlaxoSmithKline Q1 results 'strong'

The pharmaceutical company, which rivals AstraZeneca, says it was encouraged by underlying revenue growth which was driven by emerging markets and consumer health growth.

The stock has marginally underperformed the rest of the FTSE 100 on concerns over US Healthcare reform, however rose swiftly by about 1.2 pct on the news.

It remains down since however since then.

The profits at the group beat market expectation at £7.36 bn whilst margins were affected as the Group prepares its business to absorb any future US Healthcare reform.

Overall, profits were £2.23 billion and 30.7p earnings per share - slightly under some expectations of £2.41 billion and 31.3p earnings per share which investment bank Nomura gave.

The earnings however did beat consensus.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Eaton Vance Declares Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors of Eaton Vance Corp. today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable May 10, 2010 to shareholders of record on April 30, 2010.

Eaton Vance Corp. is one of the oldest investment management firms in the United States, with a history dating back to 1924. Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed $173.1 billion in assets as of March 31, 2010, offering individuals and institutions a broad array of investment strategies and wealth management solutions. The Company's long record of providing exemplary service and attractive returns through a variety of market conditions has made Eaton Vance the investment manager of choice for many of today's most discerning investors.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

FDA Chides Glaxo for Cancer-Drug Ad

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday said an advertisement for a GlaxoSmithKline PLC cancer drug and a Web site for a bladder treatment the company co-promotes were "false or misleading."

The agency also took issue with a consumer email from Novartis AG about its pain gel Voltaren.

Specifically, an advertisement that ran in a cancer medical journal involving Glaxo's drug Arzerra omitted "important information about the drug's safety and effectiveness," the FDA said in a letter to the company that was posted on the agency's Web site. Arzerra was approved in October to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia after other therapies fail.

The agency said the ad, which ran in December, failed to reveal any risks associated with the product, including a serious brain infection, pneumonia, fevers and other blood disorders. The agency said a Web-site address provided in the ad that directed people to all the prescribing information for Arzerra doesn't mitigate the "misleading omission of material information from the ad."

Mary Anne Rhyne, a Glaxo spokeswoman, said the Arzerra ad referenced by the FDA won't be used again.

"We are working to resolve any remaining questions and ensure our materials reflect the direction provided by the FDA," she said.

In another letter released Friday, the FDA said a Web site for the drug Vesicare, which is co-promoted in the U.S. by GlaxoSmithKline, of Brentford, England, and Japan's Astellas Pharma Inc., presented unsubstantiated superiority claims and overstated the effectiveness of the product. Vesicare is approved to treat a condition known as overactive bladder.

The agency said information on the Web site suggested Vesicare was better than another drug, tolterodine, at improving incontinence, by citing a study comparing the products. The FDA said the information used to make a superiority claim involved a secondary study endpoint, rather than a main study goal, and doesn't provide enough evidence to suggest Vesicare is better than the other drug.

Both Astellas and GlaxoSmithKline said the Vesicare Web site has been changed to remove the content the FDA was concerned about.

The FDA said a so-called "adherence email" sent by Novartis involving Voltaren, a gel applied to the knees or hands for osteoarthritis pain, "minimizes risks associated with the use of Voltaren Gel, overstates the efficacy of Voltaren Gel and broadens the indication for Voltaren Gel."

The agency said the email "prominently presents efficacy claims" or effectiveness information "in large bolded font size and in colorful text and graphics surrounded by a significant amount of white space" while the "risk information is relegated to the bottom of the email...in single-spaced paragraph format that makes the information very difficult to read."

In a statement, a Novartis spokeswoman said the Swiss company was reviewing the letter it received from the FDA. "We plan to work with the FDA to address concerns," she said.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

GlaxoSmithKline: The Unluckiest Pharma Company in the World

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the world’s second-largest drug maker, just can’t seem to catch a break.

It appears the Swiss pharma giant can do nothing right these days. First, there was Advair, the asthma drug that worsened the condition with prolonged use, then there was Avandia, the diabetes drug which has been shown to cause heart attacks. Now, there is GSK’s vaccine for the diarrhea-inducing virus Rotarix. The vaccine was found to contain traces of the supposedly innocuous pig disease called porcine circovirus.

Several governments have advised their doctors to avoid treating patients with the drug until the risk of the unintended ingredients can be determined. Switzerland is the most recent country to issue a cease and desist order. The company spokespeople insist this is only a temporary precaution, and that those who have already been inoculated with the drug have nothing to fear. Stay tuned for further mishaps from GlaxoSmithKline, we predict their heavy-hitter, Tums, will be shown to cause indigestion and heartburn.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline in deal to supply low-cost vaccines

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline will supply hundreds of millions of doses of their pneumonia vaccines to the world's poorest countries at heavily discounted prices under a novel agreement, reports the New York Times.

The deal was announced by the Gavi Alliance, a non-profit organisation, which estimated the program could save a total of 900,000 lives by 2015 and up to seven million lives by 2030.

Pneumococcal disease not only kills small children but also maims, leaving survivors with high rates of mental disability, seizures and deafness, says Sarah Boseley in the Guardian. She continues: "There's no doubt about the good that such a vaccine can do. But there will continue to be questions about the way the deal has been done, not least because it is the first of its kind and sets a pattern for the future".

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline will provide up to 300 million doses each of their vaccines over a 10-year period under the new agreement. The price for the first 20% of the supply will be $7 a dose. Then the price will drop to $3.50 a dose for the remainder. The vaccines would be paid for by donations raised by Gavi and by the governments of the countries that ordered the vaccines. In Western markets, the pneumococcal vaccines sell for $54 to $108 a dose.

"For the price of a Starbucks latte, developing countries are going to be able to buy a dose of a life-saving vaccine," said Orin Levine, director of the international vaccine access center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who has worked with GAVI.

The NYT reports that officials involved in the deal say that it historically took many years for a vaccine developed in the West to trickle down to developing countries. But the new program would make the first vaccines available to Africa this year.

"American kids and African kids will get this new vaccine in the same year," Dr. Levine of Johns Hopkins said. "That's just never happened before."

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Conoco to halve its 20 percent stake in LUKOIL

ConocoPhillips said it plans to halve its 20 percent equity stake in Russian oil major LUKOIL as part of a program to boost returns and reduce debt.

Conoco, which has big exposure to a weak refining market and is challenged by exploration and production assets in North America that are tilted toward less-profitable natural gas, lags its oil major peers in returns.

ConocoPhillips released a bare-bones plan to revive its finances five months ago, which included the sale of $10 billion in assets.

At the time, investors and analysts speculated that Conoco might sell part of its stake in the Russian oil major and last week Reuters reported that Conoco had decided to do so.

It is "more appropriate" for the company to use proceeds from part of its LUKOIL interest to increase shareholder value, Jim Mulva, Conoco chief executive, told the company's annual meeting with analysts. But he also said it was important for the company to remain in Russia.

LUKOIL was the most likely buyer of the 10 percent stake, which is worth $4.9 billion, analysts at Raymond James said in a research note.

LUKOIL Vice President Leonid Fedun told analysts in London that his company would not rule out buying the shares being sold by Conoco, but added that the Kremlin could oppose such a move.

Conoco said potential dispositions in 2010 include its interests in the Syncrude oil sands project and the Rex pipeline, 10 percent of its Lower 48 and Western Canada portfolio, and its remaining gasoline retail operations.

About half of the assets will be sold in 2010, and the remainder in 2011, the company said.

The company also said it plans a $5 billion share repurchase program and will raise its dividend 10 percent.

The third-largest U.S. oil company said it expects per share production growth of 3 percent in 2010 and 2011 and 3 percent to 5 percent in subsequent years.

At 1600 GMT, the company's shares were up 7 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $52.58 on the New York Stock Exchange.

LUKOIL's Fedun said planned tax breaks in Russia meant its cash flows could rise and that the Kremlin could object if this money was spent buying back the shares.

"The political leadership of the country may see it negatively," he said.

He added that any purchase would depend on LUKOIL's other financial obligations and said he himself would not buy the shares. Fedun already owns 9 percent of LUKOIL.

LUKOIL, Russia's No. 2 oil producer missed forecasts when posting a 23 percent drop in 2009 profit on Wednesday.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

GE Energy, Partner Seek Smarter Way To Charge Electric Cars

GE Energy has entered into a partnership with electric vehicle plug developer Juice Technologies LLC to integrate smart-metering technology into charging devices. GE Energy, a unit of General Electric Co. (GE), has been developing products and services to help the integration of advanced energy technologies into the transmission system in a way that allows better use of power resources. The partnership with Juice is its first move into electric car charging technology.

With advanced metering technology incorporated into charging devices developed by Juice, GE hopes vehicle owners will be able to manage the charging, the same way smart meters are being deployed to help people monitor electricity use. Clemente also said utilities may eventually develop a rate system whereby electric vehicle owners would have an incentive to charge up their cars during off-peak hours, and the smart charging stations would help them control that.

GE said it will start offering the chargers with Juice's technology in the second half of this year.

GE is in talks with original equipment manufacturers in the auto industry to discuss the adoption of its meters, which it believes will be used both at homes as well as in public charging infrastructure.

Some electric vehicle developers are offering charging kits to be installed in their customers' homes. For instance, ClipperCreek Inc. delivered chargers for Tesla Motors Inc.'s Roadster and BMW AG's (BMW.XE) Mini E, and Nissan USA has a deal with AeroVironment Inc. (AVAV) to use its chargers for the fully electric Nissan Leaf.

Juice Technologies, which worked with utilities and the Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research to develop its technology, has also developed a kit for homeowners to manage their energy consumption that is marketed under the brand PlugSmart.

Juice is backed by private individual investors as well as "a significant equity investment" by a large consumer electronics company, with which Juice is working to market its home energy management technology, said Aaron Martlage

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Norfolk Southern Facilitates $3.1 Billion in Industrial Investment Along Rail Lines in 2009

Norfolk Southern Corporation in the location of 70 new industries and the expansion of 23 existing industries along its rail lines in 2009.

New plants and expansions represented an investment of more than $3.1 billion by Norfolk Southern customers and are expected to create 3,000 jobs in the railroad's territory, eventually generating more than 138,500 carloads of new rail traffic annually.

Norfolk Southern assisted state and local government and economic development officials throughout 19 states in helping customers identify ideal locations for new and expanded facilities.

"The energy sector anchored our results during 2009," said Newell Baker, assistant vice president industrial development. "Our group assisted in the location or expansion of 24 energy related facilities in 12 states across our service area. Ethanol production and distribution accounted for the lion's share of energy projects, with 11 new and expanded facilities that began to receive NS rail service in 2009."

The balance of other projects secured during 2009 was distributed among several of the broad product areas Norfolk Southern serves.

Norfolk Southern works with state and local economic development authorities on projects involving site location and development of infrastructure to connect customers to its rail system and provides free and confidential plant location services, including industrial park planning, site layout, track design, and logistics assistance. During the past 10 years, Norfolk Southern's Industrial Development Department has participated in the location or expansion of 1,084 facilities, representing an investment of $23.9 billion and creating nearly 50,000 customer jobs in the territory served by the railroad.

Norfolk Southern Corporation ( NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing efficient connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Conn. blast fuels plant plan’s critics

Carlsbad Fire Chief Kevin Crawford said that this week’s fatal explosion at a Connecticut power plant has validated his city’s stand that such projects are dangerous and shouldn’t be underestimated.

The blast occurred Sunday, three days after public hearings wrapped up on a proposal by NRG Energy to build a 540-megawatt plant next to Interstate 5 in Carlsbad.

Construction of the 620-megawatt plant in Middletown, Conn., was nearing completion when crews were testing a natural-gas line. The blast ripped a giant hole in the works, killing five workers and injuring 27. The explosion was heard 20 miles away.

“It gives me a sense that maybe in the eyes of other people, my opinion is getting validated a little,” Crawford said. “Here’s exactly what we were trying to say.”

However, Steve Hoffmann, president of NRG Energy’s Western division, which has proposed the Carlsbad plant, said it’s wrong to link the two.

“I don’t believe you can draw a parallel,” Hoffmann said. “The Kleen Energy (in Connecticut) plant and the Carlsbad plant are very different.

“The Kleen Energy plant was in a building. Natural gas was released in a building … and went off, and that’s what caused the explosion.”

He said the Carlsbad plant will be in the open, so gas can’t concentrate in an enclosure and cause the same kind of blast.

Matthew Layton, manager of the California Energy Commission’s engineering office, said the Connecticut blast hasn’t changed the way the commission is evaluating the Carlsbad proposal, or others, because the agency already places a high importance on safety.

The commission has the authority to license power plants in the state. Two of the commission’s five members held a hearing in Carlsbad from Feb. 1-4, gathering information on all aspects of the plant.

NRG has proposed the plant on its 95 acres west of Interstate 5 and north of Cannon Road, and east of the coastal railroad tracks. It owns and operates the Encina Power Station on the same property, closer to the ocean.

City officials oppose the project. They say the location is no longer suitable for heavy industry. Carlsbad fire officials told the commission last week that the proposed access road encircling the plant would be too narrow, limiting firefighters’ access in an emergency.

However, NRG’s safety experts testified that the plant’s concrete-and-steel construction would render the structure practically noncombustible. Valves installed along the plant’s natural-gas lines would enable workers to cut the supply should a fire erupt, and thus prevent its spread, they said.

Frank Collins, an NRG safety expert, told commissioners that the control measures would be so sophisticated that “the Fire Department is a backup to fire-suppression systems on large fires.”

“Their testimony would indicate to me that maybe they don’t have the same degree of concern or appreciation for the impact of any incident,” Crawford said.

“We’re in the worst-day-of-your-life business and need to get the upper hand. It really says to me, OK, we’re really on the right track on this,” Crawford said, in reference to the explosion.

NRG’s Hoffmann said the company is well aware that disasters happen, and that’s why the plant would have built-in detection, suppression and monitoring systems. He called the Fire Department’s statements about potential danger “wild speculation” and said Encina’s safety record is exemplary.

When questioned last week, Carlsbad fire operations Chief Chris Heiser testified that there have been few recent incidents at Encina. The worst accident was in 1976, when six people died in a crane accident, he said.

Recent reports from Middletown indicate that gas may have vented outside the building into an enclosed area, where welding equipment ignited it.

The Connecticut disaster is prompting calls by residents elsewhere in the country to challenge power plants. Opponents of a proposed gas-fired plant in Brockton, Mass., jammed a state legislative hearing Tuesday, urging lawmakers to block its construction.

California Energy Commission officials hesitated this week to draw conclusions about Sunday’s explosion, saying they want to see the results of an investigation first. However, they said initial reports from Connecticut raised some concerns, such as the procedures used in venting the gas.

“The commission doesn’t allow venting gas into a confined space,” said Layton, the commission’s engineering office manager. “You would vent on a day that would make sure there isn’t a confined area (that would) lead to such an event.”

He also said it wasn’t clear how closely Connecticut officials monitored the venting. He said California requires a chief building officer and a safety monitor to be present for gas venting, and that it didn’t appear a monitor was there.

Layton said commissioners are familiar with the safety debate at the Carlsbad plant. The commission is expected to make a final decision on the proposed plant by the end of the year.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!

Eaton Corp. shares rendering of planned Beachwood headquarters with workers

Eaton Corp. shared a rendering of its planned Beachwood headquarters with its employees today, giving a first glimpse of the 470,000-square-foot structure that the company says it will begin building in early 2011.

Appearing to be mostly glass from the outside, the $170 million, semi-circular headquarters will cradle a lake and will be surrounded by walking paths on its 53-acre site, which is the highest point in Cuyahoga County. The development includes a 220,000-square-foot parking garage for Eaton employees. Executives in the highest of the building's 10 floors are to have views of downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie.

In an e-mail to Crain's, Eaton spokeswoman Kelly Jasko said the company plans to move about 700 of its local employees, including those now housed at Eaton Center in downtown Cleveland, to the new building in late 2012.

Site preparation and infrastructure work should begin this summer, the company reported.

Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!

Claim Your Free Copy!