Industrial Wiring Training on CD
Leviton Manufacturing's Industrial Products Division, Little Neck, N.Y., recently introduced the Industrial Wiring Device APTitude 2000 CD ROM-based training program. The program consists of three basic sections: industrial products; technical support; and healthcare products. For more information, call (800) 323-8920 or visit www.leviton.com.
Lighting Awards Call for Entries
The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), Chicago, is accepting submissions for the 18th Annual Lighting Design Awards. Established in 1983 to honor lighting projects that display high aesthetic achievement backed by technical expertise, the awards will be chosen May 31 in Las Vegas. Deadline for submission is February 1. For more information, visit www.iald.org.
BATTCON 2001
The storage battery industry's fifth international conference will be held in Boca Raton, Fla., April 30 to May 2. This three-day symposium draws more than 350 representatives from power companies, telephone companies, and UPS manufacturers worldwide. For more information on the conference, visit www.battcon.com or contact Jack Clayton at (561) 997-2299, ext. 207.
Cat UPS Awarded Top 100 R&D Honor
R&D Magazine has announced the Caterpillar uninterruptible power supply (Cat UPS) as a 2000 R&D Awards winner to be featured in the September R&D Awards issue. R&D Magazine recognized the Cat UPS as one of the 100 most technologically significant new products and processes of the year.
The Cat UPS, developed jointly by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., and Active Power, Inc. of Austin, Texas, incorporates flywheel technology as the energy storage component. It protects critical electrical loads from power disturbances and provides an uninterrupted transition to a standby generator set, without needing batteries.
NERC Issues Reliability 2000-2009 Assessment
According to the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Reliability Assessment 2000-2009, after several years of decline, projected capacity margins across North America show a marked increase over the next five years, as new merchant electricity generating plants come on line. Merchant plant developers have announced plans to construct more than 190,000MW of new generation by 2004.
Although it is unlikely that all of this new capacity will be constructed, "near-term electric generating capacity adequacy is expected to be satisfactory in North America," says Michehl R. Gent, President of NERC. If even half of that capacity makes it to completion, capacity margins will be adequate. Longer-term generation adequacy is difficult to assess, due to shifting trends in the way generation is planned, constructed, owned, and operated. If current trends continue, long-term margins also should be adequate. For a copy of NERC's Reliability Assessment report, visit www.nerc.com/~pc/syscond.html.
EGSA Unveils New Web Site
The Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA), Boca Raton, Fla., recently launched a redesigned Web site (www.egsa.org) that incorporates many new online services for members and visitors.
One of the most significant additions to the site is the new online version of the association's printed buyer's guide. This feature allows visitors to search for specific industry suppliers or service providers. Search results include direct links to suppliers' Web sites and e-mail addresses, along with their mail addresses, and phone and fax numbers.
The site also includes free downloads of EGSA standards, provides the latest information about standards currently under review, and offers visitors the opportunity to comment on draft proposals for new and revised standards.
Excara to Distribute Sears Industrial Products Online
In forming a strategic alliance with Sears Industrial Sales, a division of Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Excara, Inc., Burlington, Mass., becomes the first e-commerce partner authorized to carry Sears Industrial product lines. This agreement represents the first time any of Sears Industrial products have been available through a third-party distributor.
PurchasingCenter.com, Excara's marketplace, will carry approximately 10,000 Sears Industrial products, including custom tool sets, storage units, and safety equipment.
Distributed Power E-Newsletter
ASCO Power Technologies, Florham Park, N.J., recently launched the DP Happenings e-newsletter, which reports news and information on technologies, trends, and issues of the quickly emerging distributed power (DP) market.
Short news reports deliver information and provide e-mail access to more in-depth treatments. Topics include the status of DP generation technologies, the energy situation in California, DP economics, case studies, interconnection, the three critical interfaces of DP, and results of roundtables on DP and standby power.
Subscribe by visiting www.asco.com/newsletter/newsletter.html. For more information, call (800) 937-ASCO.
Enlightening America
The Energy Efficient Lighting Association (EELA), Princeton Junction, N.J., will hold its fourth annual Enlightening America 2001 Conference and Trade Show at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Philadelphia on March 25 to 27. The theme for the event, "The Partnership in Lighting - Advanced Thinking in Energy Efficiency," will unite facility owners and managers with the lighting marketplace. For more information, call (609) 799-4900 or visit www.eela.com.
