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Ceiling Fan Debate Highlights Energy Controversy (States vs. Federal)

The efficiency of ceiling fans may not be at the center of the country’s energy debate, given record high gasoline prices. Yet the issue has become a focus of critics, including congressional Democrats, who complain Congress is not doing enough to address conservation as part of a broad energy bill. When the House recently began writing a revised package of energy proposals, Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., wasted no time offering an amendment – the first out of the block – that would call for the Energy Department to establish a federal efficiency standard for home ceiling fans. But Democrats and outside energy efficiency advocates said Deal’s measure would pre-empt stronger fan efficiency requirements already approved or being considered in more than half dozen states, calling it a step backward in efforts to curb energy use. Congress not only “is doing far too little to improve energy efficiency,” but also “will pre-empt stronger state standards,” said Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, arguing against Deal’s measure. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., also expressed misgivings over Deal’s amendment, but it was quickly approved, 29-17, by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The committee plans to resume action on the bill Tuesday, and other committees were […]

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Millennium Cell Awarded 5-Yr, $3M Contract from U.S. DOE

Millennium Cell Inc. (Nasdaq:MCEL – News), a leading developer of hydrogen energy systems, announced Wednesday that it has executed a Cooperative Research Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of Center of Excellence for Chemical Hydrogen Storage. Total funding to Millennium Cell will be $3 million over a five-year period. With the receipt of this funding, the Company has begun its collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Lab to develop hydrogen generation systems that meet the DOE’s hydrogen storage efficiency targets. As part of this program, the Company is also working with Los Alamos National Lab, Rohm and Haas and others to evaluate lower cost sodium borohydride manufacturing methods. Millennium Cell’s objective for this program is to develop cost-effective, energy-efficient hydrogen storage systems that will enable longer-term markets for the Company’s technology. “We are pleased to be recognized as the leader in borohydride-based hydrogen storage technology, as evidenced by our selection to participate in the Center of Excellence for Chemical Hydrogen Storage. This program represents an opportunity to leverage our expert knowledge of hydrogen storage technology and through an accelerated process, potentially develop additional applications for it with the assistance of world-class researchers,” commented H. David Ramm, Millennium […]

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SunOpta Obtains Regulatory Approval to Buy-Back up to 5% of Shares

SunOpta Inc. (Nasdaq:STKL – News; TSX:SOY – News) announced Tuesday that The Toronto Stock Exchange has accepted notice of its intention to purchase for cancellation, by way of a normal course issuer bid, up to approximately 5% of its issued and outstanding common shares, as of March 31, 2005, in the open market through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Purchases will be made in accordance with applicable rules of the TSX and requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and at the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. No specific number of shares to be acquired has been established. However, purchases will not exceed 2% of the outstanding common shares in any 30 day period. The issuer bid will commence on April 14, 2005 and will expire no later than April 13, 2006. SunOpta believes that the common shares are undervalued at current market prices based on its current earnings and future prospects and that such repurchase of common shares is a worthwhile investment and in the best interests of both SunOpta and its shareholders. To the knowledge of SunOpta, no insider will receive any direct benefit from the issuer bid nor does […]

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Nike Issues Corporate Responsibility Report

BEAVERTON, OR – Nike, Inc. today issued its second corporate responsibility (CR) report highlighting the Nike brand’s CR priorities, programs, progress and challenges relating to workers in contract factories; employees and diversity; the environment; and community investment. In addition, the company voluntarily disclosed the names and locations of the more than 700 active contract factories that currently make Nike-branded products worldwide. The 108-page report, Nike’s first public corporate responsibility report since it made the decision to stop reporting in October 2002 when it petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the Kasky v. Nike First Amendment case, was released in conjunction with the annual Ceres conference in Boston, MA. Ceres is a coalition of investment funds, environmental organizations and public interest groups. “We’ve been fairly quiet for the past three years in corporate responsibility because of the Kasky lawsuit. So we’re using this report to play a little catch-up and draw a more complete picture,” said Philip H. Knight, Nike founder and chairman, in his opening letter in the report. “It makes for a long report, but I urge you to read it from cover to cover. And then some; because probably the most significant piece of disclosure linked to […]

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