Friday, August 20, 2010By Candace Carlisle / Staff WriterFORT WORTH — Wind turbines could possibly be placed on the University of North Texas campus, according to university officials at the regents’ quarterly board meeting Thursday.A feasibility study is being conducted on placing three wind turbines next to the new football stadium, which is being constructed near Bonnie Brae Street, or somewhere else on campus. The study would measure the possible effects on water, air quality and soil, among other environmental effects, and is being funded by a $200,000 grant awarded in mid-June by the Texas Comptroller’s State Energy Conservation Office, said Todd Spinks, director of the UNT Office of Sustainability. The turbines, which are about 125 feet tall with a blade length of 30 feet, could be paid for by an additional $1.8 million grant from the state’s conservation office, he said. But that grant won’t be awarded until after the feasibility study is completed and state officials view the results, he said. “Right now, we’re primarily in the development stage and we are conducting a feasibility study to determine the impact [of the turbines],” Spinks said. “This was an opportunity for us to bring this to the board’s attention … to begin the dialogue.” The turbines could provide 80 percent to 85 percent of the new stadium’s power needs and save an estimated $100,000 a year in electricity, he said. While the idea could make environmental and fiscal sense, several regents voiced concerns about some negative effects the wind turbines could have, including the possibility of noise interfering with athletic programs, the aesthetics of the turbines and the effects on the nearby neighborhood. Regent Brint Ryan, a UNT alumnus, said he’s excited about renewable energy, but not excited about the aesthetics of wind turbines. He said he couldn’t picture wind turbines on the UNT campus anytime soon. C. Dan Smith, chairman of the board, said he thought wind turbines could be a good idea, but he’d like more information from the completed study. He added that he’d like to see the study focus on possible locations at UNT other than near the stadium, which already has several facilities in operation. “We might have other locations, such as the research park, which would tie into the research school,” Smith said. “I think the research park would make more sense, but I’d need more facts.” UNT officials said they’d be meeting with residents of nearby neighborhoods to discuss the possibility of wind turbines on campus, but no dates on those meetings were given. Also approved during the meeting were several facility-related projects, including increasing the budget for the park’s clean room from $3 million to $4 million to add 1,200 square feet of space to the laboratory. Vish Prasad, vice president for research and economic development, said the additional investment will help the research park attract private companies to use the university’s research space. “Now Discovery Park becomes a real discovery park, with more economic development — that is the key,” Prasad said. CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her email address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com
21.07.2010 | Author: sibleyhaleySince the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, there has been a great need for equipment to help with manpower and supplies moving. One thing has changed since those days, and that is the need to elevate man and other forms of lift workers and tools to high levels, sometimes, full stories above the ground. When a human touch is needed, people can be lifted with the right equipment. Construction equipment rental is a great way to use equipment without having to invest in the purchase of equipment which will likely require additional maintenance costs and depreciation.Construction equipment rental is ideal when the budget is tight and a company does not want to spend money on buying a computer, or deals with accounting for maintenance, inspection and other associated costs. Rents are a convenient way to have a computer at hand while necessary, because then the company can simply return when the project is finished, without having to pay full price otherwise involved in a purchase.Taking into account speed equipment such as elevators and lifts man of the pen, you can depreciate once they have been acquired, a decision is especially advisable to opt for rental to consider the pros and cons of a possible takeover. In addition, construction equipment rental is a great way to ensure that the team needs is inspected and repaired. It is essential that equipment and vehicles involved in the construction and storage are kept in optimal working conditions because they are often used to lift heavy loads, which can be dangerous if handled improperly, or if the team does not manipulate .Some construction equipment lift heavy loads to great heights, making safe and proper maintenance man lift and forklift hire essential as an accident with heavy weight and long falls often disastrous. When considering the construction equipment rental, it is best for a company to consider the nature of the project for which equipment is needed.For example, firms regularly used vehicles commonly used for reservoir construction, but the team is a part of everyday work in a warehouse, which means a long lease term, or even a purchase, can be more sensitive to their needs. For the relatively short construction or renovation, the procedures for lifts and man lifts car will make more sense, because the company does not have to maintain the equipment after it is no longer in use.About the Author: -Dee Salazar has worked in the industry of construction equipment rental for several years, and fully recommends that companies looking to find a good quality equipment such as elevators and lifts man of the pen for a special project, consider renting. Rental equipment can help companies avoid the headaches associated with the purchase accounting, and are a great way to help a company with its construction and storage requirements, while balancing the benefits and costs to hire a purchase. Dee also emphasizes that choose to elevate man and forklift rental is ideal for maintaining the equipment properly maintained.
HAMMOND | The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center is presenting its Business Feasibility Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. May 18 at the Hammond INnovation Center, 5209 Hohman Ave.The workshop is designed to help would-be entrepreneurs determine their preparedness and ability to launch a business by examining the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges involved in business ownership.Cost is $25 and registration and payment are required in advance. To register, call (219) 644-3513 or visit http://www.nwisbdc.org.Published by: nwi.com
TCERA is inviting proposals from qualified firms to provide comprehensive investment consulting, monitoring and advice services for the $924 million defined benefit public pension plan. Extensive experience in evaluating, selecting and monitoring investment managers across a broad spectrum of asset classes, along with providing education and advice to the Board of Trustees and staff is required. Responses must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on June 25, 2010.More information at: TCERA website
May 4th, 2010From Nairobi CBDProject: Hotel Development in Kenya, Nairobi-CBD-South East Commercial Park.Client: Mr. J MLocation: Nairobi CBD South East Commercial Park.EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis is a project proposal for the construction of a middle class Hotel on a parcel of land situated at Nairobi CBD South East Commercial Park.The project has been conceived, designed and will be implemented by www.a4architect.com for Mr. J. MThe estimated development cost for the project is KES 355,500,000[USD 4,443,750].The project completion period shall take 12 months from ground breaking to hand over.Return on Investment shall be in a period of 1 year.Total gross anticipated income per annum including food and beverage sales =388,800,000.00[4,860,000.00]Read more about this project at: A4Architect.Com
By LARRY MITCHELL - Staff WriterPosted: 05/04/2010 12:00:00 AM PDTCHICO — Two local congressmen want the U.S. Postal Service to do a new feasibility study on its plan to close the Marysville mail-processing facility, according to Fran Peace, district director for Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico.Herger and Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, wrote to Postmaster General John Potter last week, asking to meet with him on the issue.Peace, in a phone interview, said the two congressmen think a new study is warranted for a number of reasons. For one, they think the Postal Service didn't solicit public input from a wide enough area.The Postal Service has decided to close the Marysville facility by October. Mail sent from Butte County and seven other counties, which is now processed in Marysville, would be processed in West Sacramento instead.Many Yuba County officials are upset by the proposed change, partly because of the jobs that would be lost. Some postal workers employed at the Marysville facility are unhappy, too.The letter from Herger and McClintock states that the only public meeting on the proposed closure was held in Yuba County and that there were no meetings in the other seven counties whose mail would be affected.The letter also notes that where agricultural inspectors examine all mailed plants, fruit and vegetables at the Marysville facility, that wouldn't be done at the West Sacramento operation. This poses a potential threat to agriculture, and the issue needs to be considered in the feasibility study, the letter notes. Another issue is possible delays in mail delivery. It could happen that absentee ballots mailed in by some voters might not arrive in time to be counted, the congressmen's letter states. It says this actually happened in 2005, when the Marysville facility was closed and mail was sent to West Sacramento for a time. Ultimately, the Marysville facility was reopened.Augustine Ruiz, a spokesman for the Postal Service, said his agency did seek public input from an adequate area.Also, he said there would be no delays in mail delivery because of closing the Marysville facility. There were delays in 2005, he said, but in those days there was much more mail being sent. With less mail today, he said, the volume could be handled smoothly and on time.The Postal Service wants to close the Marysville facility to save money. The move has become necessary because of declining volumes of mail, Ruiz said.Peace said Herger wants to see that all concerns of his constituents are adequately addressed.If they are sufficiently addressed and closing the Marysville facility still turns out to make the most economic sense, Herger would support the move, she said.Staff writer Larry Mitchell can be reached at 896-7759 or lmitchell@chicoer.com.Published by: Chicoer
MARK BOSLET: APRIL 28, 2010Local Host has created a cooling system for data-centers that siphons icy water from 984 feet below the surface of Norway's Nordfjord.Now the startup wants to build the world's largest green data center in an abandoned mine.Local Host CEO Sindre Kvalheim says his goal is to build "the world's largest, high-security green data center." There are reasons to think he might succeed. The central coast Sogn og Fjordane region of Norway has an abundance of cheap hydro-electric and wind power to run racks of energy-hungry servers. The company already attracted the attention of IBM and Tandberg. Now it plans to reach out to Google and Microsoft for the $100 million it needs to complete the project.It also has an endless supply of freezing water in the 66-mile-long fjord nearby, Norway's sixth longest. "We can cool a data center more efficiently that any where else in the world," said Kvalheim, who disclosed details of the project for the first time outside of Norway at the Nordic Green II conference taking place in Menlo Park this week (see more coverage here). "We know it's not only doable, it's feasible."The company has been testing its cooling system for two years at a small, 20-rack data center it runs in Maloy, Norway. "We have reduced our power costs by 50 percent" by eliminating the need for an electric chiller to cool the servers, says Kvalheim. The salt water brought from the depths of the fjord is 45 degrees and cools less corrosive fresh water, which circulates among the computers. The fjord water remains pressurized and requires little energy to pump.Local Host began studying the underground site in October and expects to complete a feasibility study in June. Kvalheim is convinced the findings will be encouraging.Both Norway and Iceland hope to take advantage of their often-frigid weather to eliminate one of the more vexing problems facing IT managers: air conditioning. Cooling can consume half of the power used in data centers. Although many companies have been able to reduce their air conditioning bills with passive cooling and better data center design, air conditioners remain standard equipment in data centers. When it comes to passive cooling, Iceland and Norway are ideal. Even in summer, the temperature often hovers in the 50s. Iceland has a few projects coming on line this year. (The ample supplies of hydroelectric and geothermal power also make both countries green power centers. 98 percent of Norway's power comes from renewable power -- it exports the vast majority of its natural gas.)Ireland is already capitalizing on its coastal breezes and cold temperatures to woo data center owners. Microsoft recently planted a green data center there.But the challenges facing the Norwegian project are significant. IBM has funded 10 percent of the feasibility study and the Norwegian government kicked in 50 percent. However, finding $100 million in construction costs are beyond the means of the tiny company. That has Kvalheim eager to approach Internet giants Google and Microsoft.He says the 1.4 million-square-foot center will have six stories with tunnels and roads for customers to haul in trailer-truck-sized portable data centers. The abandoned olivine mine could fit between 2,000 and 3,000 of the portable units, which Kvalheim says he will build, even though vendors such as Hewlett-Packard and Sun offer commercial models.Construction could start in 2011, with the demand for data-intensive Internet services only expected to increase in the years to follow. As the world learns to cope with the need for greater energy efficiency, green centers are likely to draw increasing interest from the online titans of the coming decade. In Kvalheim's view, that means harnessing the frigid water of a Norwegian fjord.Published by: GreenTechMedia.Com
BY THE MAINEBIZ NEWS STAFFTodayA Maine Public Utilities Commission advisory panel has recommended scrapping parts of Central Maine Power Co.'s proposed $1.5 billion Maine Power Reliability Project.The examiner's report, released April 23, backed most of CMP's plan to upgrade or add to its high-voltage transmission backbone in the northern and western portions of Maine, but recommended denying or deferring parts of the project in other regions. The report supported a plan for additional 345 kilovolt transmission lines from Orrington to Albion and in the Buxton/South Gorham areas, as well as other various upgrades to improve reliability. But the report said additional 345 kV and 115 kV lines from South Gorham to the Maine/New Hampshire border and in central Maine, as well as several new substations, "would not be needed within a reasonable planning horizon."In making its recommendations, the staff disagreed with ISO-New England's reliability analysis, and found ISO-NE's electricity load forecasts "unreasonable" and did not meet the organization's "own requirements that the stressed conditions...have a reasonable probability of actually occurring." The staff attributed the state's high electricity rates in part to "the over-stringent assumptions used by ISO-NE" and urged for greater transparency in transmission projects. The staff's report would bring the project's total cost down to $1 billion.The report also said that other non-transmission projects, like the massive solar installations proposed by Portland-based GridSolar, be further considered as alternatives.The PUC plans to deliberate on the case May 25, according to the Portland Press Herald.Published by: MaineBiz.Biz
By Team MangaloreanMysore, Apr 26: The Indian railway authorities have taken up a feasibility study of the proposed high speed corridors in six places in the country, said the railway board Chairman S S Khurana here today.Speaking to newspersons after laying foundations stone for the Multi Functional Complex (MFC) at the Railway Station premises, he said the Board has take up high speed corridor feasibility study between Chennai-Bangalore, New Delhi-Amritsar via Chandigarh, Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune, Chennai-Hyderabad and New Delhi-Patna.This feasibility study would be taken on cost sharing basis with concerned state governments, he said.On fright corridors, he said the works had already begun in Western and Eastern railway areas.Referring to recruitment in the railways, he said the railway board had decided to conduct all India level examinations on the same day across the country for the recruitment in the railways. This system would avoid the students to attend the tests at their own places instead of going to other states. The examinations would also be conducted in regional languages in order to help the local students he added.Track doubling:Mr Khurana said that the doubling of railway line between Bangalore-Mysore is expected to take another two years and 50 per cent of works was completed so far and new works taken up between Ramanagaram and Chennapatna. He said the track doubling works were taken up on priority basis.However, there was problem in some places where the land acquisition remained. It would be overcome soon by consultation with the state government, he said. Referring to increase in passengers between Mysore and Bangalore, he said the Railways was aware of it and trying to complete the doubling work as early as possible.The state government should also cooperate in this connection with early clearance of land acquisition process. He said the Shimoga-Talaguppa Gauge Conversion Works was already completed and operations expected to commence by this year end. Nearly 1,450 km of new lines were sanctioned by the Railways for Karnataka in the 2010-11 Budget and works had already commenced.Those sanctioned were Hospet-Bellary, Hopset-Londa, Bagalakot-Kudatchi and Bidar-Gulbarga, besides Whitefiled-Kolar, Tumkur-Davangere, Shimoga-Harihara and Dharward-Belgum. He said the upgradation of the Mysore Station had already been taken up with additional facilities to passengers including an escalator.Additional parking facilities would also be provided soon, he added.Published by: Mangalorean.Com
by David Winzelberg for Long Island Business NewsThe NuHealth System is putting out requests for proposals for the $1 billion redevelopment of its East Meadow and Uniondale campuses.Ohio-based Health Care REIT will act as NuHealth’s master developer and is entertaining project ideas from qualified builders to redevelop the two properties, which together total about 85 acres.In a statement, NuHeath said Nassau County’s largest redevelopment project will create thousands of jobs, meet housing needs of seniors and medical residents, provide medical offices and improve health care of county residents.The project includes remaking the 50-acre A. Holly Patterson nursing home in Uniondale into a senior village, as well as expanding and renovating the 35-acre Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.The plan for the Uniondale property includes a new 320-bed nursing home, a 150-bed assisted living facility, a community health center, a 29-station dialysis center, 388 units of senior housing, 100,000 square feet of retail/office space, a community center, athletic field, and about four acres of open space and walking trails.NuHealth will continue to own and operate the new nursing home, community health center and dialysis center. The Town of Hempstead would need to rezone the property to allow the redevelopment.In East Meadow, NuHealth wants to build medical office buildings for private physicians, an ambulatory surgery center, medical research, a wellness center, community and open space, and new housing for hospital residents and medical students.Published by: BlackSwanZine.Com
NovaGold Resources Inc. (TSX:NG)(NYSE Amex:NG) today announced that a pre-feasibility study is underway for its Galore Creek copper-gold-silver project located in northern British Columbia. Galore Creek is owned equally by NovaGold and Teck Resources and managed by the Galore Creek Mining Corporation ("GCMC").NovaGold will host its quarterly conference call and webcast Wednesday, April 21 at 1 pm PST (4 pm EST)Toll-free 1-866-223-7781 or webcast at www.novagold.netGCMC has been reviewing a number of optimization scenarios for the Galore Creek project with the objective of expanding throughput, relocating the project facilities to allow for easier construction and future expansion, and reducing the risks associated with construction and operations. Based on these studies, GCMC has identified a preferred project design and initiated a pre-feasibility study for the project, with completion targeted for the first half of 2011. The pre-feasibility study will provide capital cost estimates using higher copper and gold prices than used in previous studies, as well as permitting, construction and production timelines.Primary changes to the project include:Relocation of the tailings facility allowing for construction of a conventional tailings damRelocation of the processing facilities allowing for future expansionRealignment of the tunnel and access roadPotential increase of daily throughput to 90,000 tonnes per dayCurrent plans envision the ore being crushed in the valley and then conveyed through the tunnel and along the access road to the processing plant. From there, concentrate would be piped along the remainder of the access road to Hwy 37. A trade off study will identify the best alternative for transport of concentrate to market.The project would use primarily electric power, with a powerline built along the access road to tie into the 287 kV transmission line that the British Columbia and Canadian governments have pledged to build. On April 15 the governments announced that the powerline project has entered the public review process for its Environmental Assessment Certificate.Some components of the revised plan, such as the mill and tailings location, would require new permits or amendments to existing permits. The majority of permits required for road construction remain in good standing, however, with road work during 2008 and 2009 yielding access to Km 40. GCMC may continue with road and bridge work as the project moves through the feasibility stage, with the objective of shortening the construction timeline and largely eliminating the need for helicopter support.Kevin Francis, P.Geo., Vice President Technical Services of NovaGold and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and accepts responsibility for the technical information contained within this press release.Read more about Novagold and the Galore Creek project
Posted on April 22nd, 2010FLSmidth has been awarded its second coal handling order from NTPC this year. The contract from M/s. NTPC - Tamil Nadu Energy Co Ltd (a joint venture company between National Thermal Power Corp Ltd and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board) has a value of some $20.4 million and covers engineering, supply and installation of an external coal handling system at the Vallur Thermal power plant. The plant is located at Ennore, approximately 20 km from the city of Chennai in southern India. Major equipment included in the coal handling system is a 4.4 km long pipe conveyor with a capacity of 4,000 t/h - making it the world’s largest pipe conveyor, the company says. The coal handling system will convey coal from the adjoining port to the internal coal handling stockpile.This external coal handling package is part of an expansion of the 1,500 MW mega power project. In view of the Indian Government’s ‘Power for All’ policy, NTPC has formed joint ventures with state owned electricity boards to produce power to meet the local demand.The coal handling system is based on a well-proven system as FLSmidth has previously delivered the world’s longest pipe conveyor, which is 8.2 km long and operating in Peru as well as the highest capacity coal pipe conveyor with a capacity of 2,000 t/h, operating in Colombia.The pipe conveyor is a spillage free conveying system, installed with a dust control system at end transfer stations, ensuring an environmentally friendly material handling system.“This order for the world’s largest pipe conveyor will further qualify FLSmidth for future material handling projects and supply of long distance conveyors, especially for coal. The development of our material handling activities is supported by our various acquisitions, increasing our ability to serve as a single-source supplier to both the cement and minerals industries,” Group CEO Rasmussen comments.Published by: im-mining.com
