Groundbreaking on Ivanpah Solar – Fisher Capital Equipment Update

Fisher Capital Equipment Management Update- Bechtel joined BrightSource Energy today in a ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, a groundbreaking project that will usher in a new era of advanced solar power in the United States.The ceremony was held in California's Mojave Desert next to the Ivanpah site. Avoid online internet scams, get latest updates on Fisher Capital Equipment Management website.

Ian Copeland, president of Bechtel's Renewable Power business, described the significance of Ivanpah for Bechtel and the renewable power industry. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and other state and local dignitaries also recognized the importance of Ivanpah in the evolution of renewable energy. 
ABOUT IVANPAH. Bechtel is partnering with BrightSource Energy on one of the most important projects yet in renewable energy.
The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, in the Mojave Desert northwest of Needles, will be the first large-scale solar thermal project built in California in nearly two decades, and the largest of its kind in the world. It will generate enough electricity to power more than 140,000 homes and will nearly double the amount of commercial solar thermal electricity produced in the United States today.
Bechtel will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for Ivanpah. The company also is an equity investor in the project, underscoring its commitment to fighting climate change through renewable energy.
The complex will consist of three separate plants using use BrightSource Energy’s Luz Power Tower (LPT) technology. It will displace 400,000 tons (363,000 metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions per year— the equivalent of taking 70,000 cars off the road— while also reducing water use 90 percent by using a closed-loop dry-cooling technology.
The three plants will have a combined capacity of around 400 megawatts of electricity, which BrightSource will provide to PG&E and Southern California Edison. Commencement of construction on the first plant was in October 2010, following permitting review by the California Energy Commission and the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. The first plant is scheduled to come online in mid-2012.
Bechtel (BEK tl) is the world's No. 1 choice for engineering, construction, and project management.
Our diverse portfolio encompasses energy, transportation, communications, mining, oil and gas, and government services. We currently have projects in dozens of locations worldwide, from Alaska to Australia. No matter how challenging a project or how remote its location, chances are Bechtel can handle it. That's because we bring an unmatched combination of knowledge, skill, experience, and customer commitment to every job.
We have had record revenues for the past five years, and Engineering News-Record (ENR) has named Bechtel the top U.S. construction contractor for 12 straight years.
While we work for governments and commercial customers, our projects have helped grow local economies and improve the quality of life for communities and people around the world. Time and again our work has demonstrated that the only limits on human achievement are those that we place on ourselves. 
Privately owned with headquarters in San Francisco, we have offices around the world and 49,000 employees. In 2009, we had revenues of $30.8 billion and booked new work valued at $20.3 billion. 

Fisher Capital Updates - Bechtel-Enka Completes Albanian Motorway

Fisher Capital Equipment Management News Updates - TIRANA, ALBANIA -  Bechtel and joint-venture partner Enka today completed construction on the Albanian Motorway, a 37-mile (61-km), four-lane highway that stretches from central Albania to the to Kosovo border. The motorway is now open to traffic. 
Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Careers scams. Keep posted and don’t be a victim. 
The end of construction was marked by a ceremony to open a second tunnel bore, the final section of the motorway. Ministers of transport from Albania and Kosovo, and additional senior officials from both countries, attended the opening. Speaking on behalf of the Albanian government, Sokol Olldashi, the minister of transport and telecommunications, thanked Bechtel-Enka for its commitment and the quality of work performed during construction of the motorway.
The motorway is the central leg of a 106-mile (171-km) highway traversing the country from the Adriatic Sea to the northeastern village of Kalimash near Kosovo. The new roadway cuts travel time along the route from six to two hours, boosting coastal trade and northeast tourism. The motorway also provides a vital connection within Albania and across the region, linking markets to the Adriatic port of Durres and contributing to economic growth as Albania prepares for accession to the European Union.
The Albanian Motorway is one of the largest-ever infrastructure projects in the country and presented many engineering challenges due to complexities of the geology in the region and the fast-track construction schedule. The motorway includes a 3.4-mile (5.5-km) twin bore tunnel and 29 bridges built in a rocky, mountainous region.
During construction, the project was the largest employer in the area, with Albanians accounting for two thirds of the workforce.
Fisher Capital Equipment Management News Updates - Bechtel (BEK tl) is the world's No. 1 choice for engineering, construction, and project management. Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Careers scams. Keep posted and don’t be a victim. 
Our diverse portfolio encompasses energy, transportation, communications, mining, oil and gas, and government services. We currently have projects in dozens of locations worldwide, from Alaska to Australia. No matter how challenging a project or how remote its location, chances are Bechtel can handle it. That's because we bring an unmatched combination of knowledge, skill, experience, and customer commitment to every job.
We have had record revenues for the past five years, and Engineering News-Record (ENR) has named Bechtel the top U.S. construction contractor for 12 straight years.
While we work for governments and commercial customers, our projects have helped grow local economies and improve the quality of life for communities and people around the world. Time and again our work has demonstrated that the only limits on human achievement are those that we place on ourselves. 
Privately owned with headquarters in San Francisco, we have offices around the world and 49,000 employees. In 2009, we had revenues of $30.8 billion and booked new work valued at $20.3 billion.

Ethics 

Bechtel's culture is grounded in integrity and respect. This means adhering to the highest standards of ethics. Our reputation as an ethical company is one of our most valuable assets. We stand by everything we do.  

Quality

At Bechtel, quality means doing the job right the first time.  We've always delivered quality work, and we are continually striving to improve our performance through Six Sigma and other initiatives.

Safety 

Bechtel has a world-class safety program, and it pays off. Nearly 90 percent of our projects complete each year without a lost-time accident. Our philosophy is simple—every accident, and therefore every injury, is preventable. 

Boiler Room Equipment: HeatSponge SIDEKICK Eventually Exposed

Boiler Room Equipment, Inc, is very pleased to eventually introduce the SIDEKICK type of condensing boiler economizers for industrial and conventional warm water boilers. Fisher Capital on Boiler Room Equipment, Inc, - The Sidekick continues to be in advancement for almost a couple of years and shows an transformative growth of high-proficiency installations in the boiler market. The SIDEKICK is a warning game changer the likes of which have not been knowledgeable since the launch of the very first condensing boilers. The SIDEKICK provides the capability to combine condensing boiler efficiencies to conventional boilers on a new or retrofit basis. The SIDEKICK enables a person with a conventional boiler system the power to recognize condensing efficiency gains that normally would demand the existing boiler to be destroyed and changed with a brand new condensing boiler. Conventional, non-condensing boilers can now realize the efficiency benefits of outdoor air temperature reset controls and lower circulating hot water loop temperatures. Sidekicks also allow for duel fuel condensing applications utilizing conventional boilers. The SIDEKICK features all stainless internal construction, stainless tubes and fins, and an insulated outer casing. Inspection and clean out ports make periodic maintenance and cleaning easy.

The effectiveness of the SIDEKICK moves far beyond simply energy retrieval to the ultra-productive procedure by which it really is chosen and created. Temperature recovery for condensing purposes presents a substantial quantity of variables that creates a catalog-approach to products collection nearly impossible. Boilerroom Equipment has developed a new method of quantifying heat recovery, the Recovery Rate, and integrated this into the design. The development of the Recovery Rate variable permits a customer to customize the level of heat recovery and cost straight to the specifications of each particular application. We establish this fresh idea in heat recovery design as 3D Modularity, for modular construction in three dimensions. Based on a "Mass-Customization" approach to product development, Bruce will consider all of the application design constraints and will design a SIDEKICK enhanced to satisfy the exact overall performance needs at the most reasonably competitive selling price. Bruce has been given the ability to consider all aspects of the heat exchanger design relative to the price of the equipment and generate a fully priced proposal all in real-time; a software and engineering accomplishment that added over one thousand hours of coding and heat transfer modification to Bruce's core program. This means Bruce can handle all inquiries and generate proposals in real time by himself. The near elimination of sales and support overhead and significantly reduced project execution overhead requirements the Bruce software provides allows us to offer a product superior to any before it at pricing and responsiveness levels no conventional competitor could hope to match. 

Fisher Capital News: European Union Combats Pollutant Emissions from Non-Road Mobile Machinery

With such close scrutiny on pollutant emissions from road vehicles, what measures are in place to regulate emissions from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM)? Get educated, avoid scam and learn from latest news update from Fisher Capital Equipment Management Leasing.

NRMM refers to any transportable industrial equipment or vehicle with or without bodywork that is not intended to be used to carry goods or passengers on the road, in which an internal combustion engine is installed. This includes any vehicle fitted with a diesel engine and covers numerous construction vehicles and equipment such as excavators, front loaders and compressors.

Do NRMM contribute significantly to pollutant levels?

NRMM are not currently subject to as tight controls as road vehicles and investigations undertaken by the European Commission estimate that off road machinery accounts for approximately a quarter of the emissions of oxides of nitrogen and a third of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter)  emissions of mobile sources in 2000.

Oxides of nitrogen and particulates are the most significant pollutants emitted by diesel engines and are the two pollutants of most concern to the United Kingdom in terms of air quality. Oxides of nitrogen can have adverse effects on health, particularly among those with respiratory problems. In addition, they contribute to acidification, and to ground level ozone formation. Particulates are also damaging to health, particularly those suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory complaints.

What has been done to control these emissions?

Directive 97/68/EC was passed by the European Parliament and the Council of 16 December 1997 to approximate the laws of Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery. Several amendments have been made to this directive including, 2001/63/EC, 2002/88/EC, and 2004/26/EC to include technological advancements and to extend the scope of the directive to cover agricultural and forestry tractors, small spark ignition engines, locomotives and inland waterway vessels. The directive identifies the necessity to control emissions of air pollutants that have recognised health risks such as nitrogen dioxide, particulates – black smoke and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide.

How does it work?

The directive approximates laws of the Member States with regard to emission standards and has established a ''type approval' procedure for engines intended to be fitted to NRMM.  Type approval is a procedure whereby a Member State certifies that an internal combustion engine 'type' or 'family' meets the minimum technical requirements specified in the directive with regards to its level of emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Through certification, engine 'types' or 'families' can be approved with the assumption that, as a result of similar design, the expected exhaust emissions will comply with requirements of the directive.

What does this mean for the Construction Industry?

The Mayor of London’s 'Best Practice Guidance' already recommends minimum standards for off-road vehicles associated with increasing numbers of construction sites in London and large high profile demolition and construction sites, more commonly being asked by local planning authorities to specify exhaust emission controls for NRMM within their Construction Environmental Management plans.

In instances where the existing poor air quality exists upgrading NRMM to the latest engine 'type' or 'family', where budget allows,  can not only reduce the impact construction activities have on local air quality but also have climate change benefits through efficient / clean engine technologies.  As an alternative a range of exhaust after-treatment technologies is also available as a retrofit or as an original equipment option. Where upgrading to the latest technology or retrofit is not possible, other simple changes to on-site operations can be made to reduce the impact of NRMM. Such changes as using ultra low sulphur equivalent diesel and routinely maintaining/servicing an engine can hugely reduce levels of pollutants. Moreover, careful consideration of where to locate stationary construction plant equipment such as generators and cranes can also minimise the impact of exhaust emissions i.e. away from pedestrian walkways or areas where members of the public may be exposed for any length of time. A cost effective way that companies with sizeable stocks of NRMM can minimise their impacts on air quality at the most sensitive sites would be to distribute only there newest NRMM to sites with existing air quality issues.

With ever increasing pressure on the construction industry to tighten up their environmental practices, emissions from NRMM should not forgotten and through planned equipment renewal and on-site management companies can help protect the general public and employees against recognised health risks from air pollution and improve their environmental credentials.

Fisher Capital Management South Korea, Brazil’s Economy: 1st Quarter

Fisher Capital Management Seoul Korea, Brazil’s Economy - The brief recession of 2009 has given way to a robust increase in consumer demand and recovery in investment in Brazil in 2010. The economy is likely to grow 5.5%

this year. GDP grew 2% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2009 and fell 0.2%

for the whole of 2009 compared with 2008.

Fisher Capital Management South Korea Investing: - The central bank did not raise its target overnight interest rate, the so-called Selic rate, unchanged leaving it at 8.75% a year. This was expected as the presidential

election is nearing. The rate fell from 13.75% to 8.75% between December 2008

and July 2009. By the year-end, the rate is expected to rise by 250 basis points to

curb inflation.

Even though the US and Brazil are not as open an economy as one would believe.

Trade accounts for approximately 14% for both the countries. US cotton subsidies had been a bone of contention for the two countries. The US was accused of excessive cotton subsidies by Brazil. After eight years of litigation at the World Trade Organization Brazil has won the case and Brazil’s move to raise tariffs on

a wide range of American goods has a potential of starting a new front in the trade

war with the US over cotton subsidies. Overall, the issue is still not blown out of

proportion as the two countries are engaged on other fronts.

Fisher Capital Management Korea, Brazil’s Economy: 1st Quarter Investment - Brazil’s government announced a R$958.9bn programme of investments in infrastructure for 2011 to 2014. The program is known as the PAC 2 … the

Portuguese acronym for accelerated growth programme, part two … to increase

Brazil’s investment rate and its potential for economic growth during the period

of the next government, which begins on January 1 2011.

Fisher Capital Management South Korea, Investment News: Henrique Meirelles who provided monetary stability to Brazil is all set to stand for election either as a Vice President or a senator. President Lula may choose him to

run for the Vice President office to send a message that macroeconomic stability

will be maintained under Ms Rousseff, presidential nominee of Mr. Lula’s party in the October election.

Fisher Capital is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world.

As a full service company Fisher Capital provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

Let us keep you informed of all the latest news and developments with our free monthly newsletter of analysis and recommendations.

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Fisher Capital Management- Financial Market August 2010

Fisher Capital Management- Financial Markets: Sentiment in the financial markets has improved

over the past month. The global economic recovery is continuing,

so far there have been no sovereign debt defaults, and there has

been a modest recovery in the euro. Investors and traders therefore

appear to have concluded that the gloom was overdone.

But there has been evidence of a worsening situation in Spain, and

the decision by the Chinese authorities to adopt a “more flexible”

towards renminbi has also raised some concerns about the growth

prospects for the Chinese economy.

Fisher Capital Management- Equity Markets: All the major equity markets, and the emerging

markets, have improved over the past month. Wall Street has outperformed

markets elsewhere because of some welcome economic

data; there have been strong gains in most of the mainland European

markets as the sovereign debt crisis has appeared to ease; the UK

market has welcomed the measures by the new coalition government

to address the problems of the huge UK fiscal deficit; and the

Japanese market has also moved slightly higher. Corporate results

have been satisfactory; and this has helped to improve sentiment

amongst investors.

Government Bond Markets have had another unusual month. The

sovereign debt crisis might have been expected to lead to a general

weakness in bond markets; but the main effect has been to produce

aggressive switching for the “weaker” markets to the “stronger”

ones, and a further widening of the yield curve.

As a result the major markets are unchanged or only slightly lower

at a time when the “weaker” markets, especially in Southern Europe,

have continued their sharp declines. Slow economic growth and

low short-term interest rates are continuing to provide support.

Currencies: The improvement in sentiment in the markets has led

to a movement of funds out of the “safe havens” of the dollar and

the yen into commodity-related currencies and “riskier” assets.

Both the dollar and the yen are therefore slightly weaker over the

month; and this movement has also eased some of the pressure on

the euro, and allowed it to recover.

Sterling has also improved as the markets have welcomed the

measures introduced by the new UK government to reduce the

fiscal deficit.

Fisher Capital Management- Shrt-Term Interest Rates: There have been no changes in shortterm

interest rates over the past month in the major financial

markets.

Fisher Capital Management- Commodity markets: have produced a mixed performance over the

past month, with some weakness in base metal prices, but strong

gains in the prices of cocoa, coffee, oil and precious metals.

How to avoid Engineering Scholarship Scams

Fisher Capital Equipment Tips - Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Careers. Civil Engineer site - How to avoid Engineering Scholarship Scams

Student or parents needs to be able to recognize the scholarship fraud profile. Following are top 10 Scholarship Scams.

1. The free seminar scam. Overwhelmed by all the information out there? Want to make the best financial aid decisions for you or your child? Often a free financial aid seminar is no more than a “come-on” for insurance sales pitches, matching services or investment products.

Signs that should make the warning bells go off: Are they using the hard sell? Sign-up today or the price shoots up tomorrow? Can only answer certain questions after you pay their fee? Wants your credit card information to “hold” a scholarship for you? Your ears should be ringing by now.

Remember, if you receive help from a consultant, he or she must sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If the seminar sales rep refuses to do so, it is another alarm bell. And never let a company consultant suggest that you adjust your income on the FAFSA in order to receive more aid. It’s unethical (a crime even). And it can backfire, big time.

2. Scholarships for profit. Scholarships are designed for many purposes—recruit talented athletes, assist low income applicants, encourage study in an academic discipline, promote campus diversity, attract the best students—but profit should never be one of them. Scammers that award modest scholarships of $1,000 (or no scholarship at all) can collect many times over that amount in fees by attracting thousands of applicants. You may only be out the 15 bucks or so, but multiple that by 1,000 scholarship hopefuls just like you and you just made for a nice payday for the scholarship scam artist. Being denied such a scholarship does not make you undeserving—but just one more scammed applicant.

3. The advance-fee loan. A low-interest loan with an upfront fee? Don’t think so, and neither should you. Legitimate lenders deduct fees from at the time disbursement checks are issue; they do not charge fees before paying out the loan to a borrower. Be wary of any lender that asks for money upfront—that is a loan that will likely never materialize.

4. Your Financial Aid Office. Huh? Your college Financial Aid Office is a credible and free resource for education funding. But beware; the Education Department recently banned the practice of lenders offering financial incentives to universities that recommend their service as a preferred lender (the university often receiving a “cut” for the loan). The move was prompted by investigations showing that some university officials accepted gifts, payments or stock on favorable terms in exchange for such practices. In other instances, marketing representatives for lenders staffed phones at student aid offices. In an $85 billion student loan industry, you have to ask yourself if your university steered you to the lender with the best rate available, or simply the one lining their pockets. Ouch.

5. The guaranteed matching service. If Match.com can’t guarantee you Prince Charming and firmer abs, scholarship matching services cannot guarantee you money in the bank. Matching services that promise guaranteed matching sources for a processing fee of $49.95 (and much higher) will at best provide you with information available for free on the web. Take note that these services often inflate their database when an individual sponsor offers hundreds of scholarships.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that many of the sources provided by scholarship matching services are inaccurate and “few, if any at all, receive the actual funds”. The BBB adds that information provided is often out of date, providing sources for deadlines that have long passed. And never mind that money-back guarantee—it comes with more hoops to jump through than any dog-and-pony show you could ever imagine.

6. Linked products. Don’t let any sales person ever convince you that a financial product, such as student life insurance, or an annuity, must be purchased to qualify for federal student financial aid. It just isn’t so. And it is a sure fire scam.

7. The telemarketer. Telemarketing was once the biggest bugaboos of scholarship fraud when the FTC first addressed scholarship scams in the 90s. Attention more recently has shifted to bogus financial aid and scholarship seminars, and deceptive practices among consultants. That does not mean that telemarketing scams still do not surface. The U.S. Department of Education warned consumers recently about telemarketing scammers posing as U.S. Department of Education (ED) officers offering grants to students for a $249 processing fee (by requesting a bank or credit card number). Contact the DOE’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-MIS-USED begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-MIS-USED      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (1-800-647-8733 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-647-8733      end_of_the_skype_highlighting) or oig.hotline@ed.gov to learn more.

8. Guaranteed financial aid consultants. What can you expect for your fee from a financial aid consultant? Help completing the FAFSA, estimating your expected family contribution (EFC), and advising you or child on types of aid. Information and assistance that is readily available and free from a financial aid office at any university, your local library, on the web, or from a high school guidance counselor. So what is free, free, free information worth to you? Plenty, if you pay fees to a financial aid consultant to get it.

Some may want the handholding of a consultant regardless. Then be aware of deceptive claims that should send you looking for help from other sources. A financial aid consultant may guarantee a minimum $2,500 in aid or promise to refund your money. That’s nice, but misleading. Yes, you will no doubt receive that $2,500 student loan, but then so will every applicant who completes the FAFSA (free and on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov). A federal entitlement available simply by completing the FAFSA should not be misrepresented or misconstrued as aid a consulting company can uniquely guarantee you as an enticement.

Likewise, if a consulting service guarantees you will receive every last penny to ship your child off to school (or your money back), you should not be fooled. You guessed it, another federal entitlement that is a byproduct of completing the FAFSA. That and a decent credit rating will earn you a PLUS loan for 100 percent of the total cost of attendance for you or your child. It is just good sense to steer clear of any company that entices clientele with benefits that are freely available to all students completing the FAFSA (whether they pay pricey consulting fees or not) as a federal entitlement.

Remember, if a consulting agency is completing a FAFSA (or any other form) on your behalf, review, sign it, and mail it yourself. You should maintain copies of the completed FAFSA and expect a refund if it is incorrect. And always agree to a flat fee for financial aid consulting services, never a percentage of aid received. Qualifications to consider when screening potential financial aid consultants include whether the consultant has experience at a financial aid office and is a Certified Public Accountant. Never be hesitant to ask for references.

9. The sweepstakes scholarship. Lucky you! You have just been selected as a finalist to win a scholarship in a sweepstakes that you never entered. (And you thought you never won anything.) The only obstacle standing between you and collecting your winnings is paying the redemption fee. Be wary of contests, websites and scholarships that collect personal data, payout a single dollar-amount (play the lottery today?) and repay the kindness with a barrage of advertisements. Which brings us to our next popular scam tactic.

10. The redemption fee. Common catchphrases by the scammer are disbursement fee, redemption fee, or processing fee. Notice the common denominator here? Legitimate scholarships do not ask a student to pay for an award. Be wary of any money awarded to you out of the blue that comes with strings, especially those with strings attached to your pocketbook.