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To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the funding of 18 projects designed to protect public health by improving water quality and public sanitation services in 12 states – USDA Press Release: Read Project List by State 

04/23/10 Westport, WA – $3.9 million rural development loan received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in order to make upgrades to its wastewater treatment facility – the Daily World: Read More 

04/17/10 Mingo County, WV – Mingo County Public Service District has received a $900,000 USDA Grant and a $763,000 federal loan for the Marrowbone Creek water system – the Williamson Daily News: Read More 

04/16/10 Scioto County, OH – $29 million in ARRA Stimulus Funds will be used for a Minford Water/Sewer Project – Community Common: Read More

These projects above apear to wrap up Stimulus Funding for Clean Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects. I will continue to keep my eyes open for new developments. This will be my last post to this Stimulus Watch Blog until further notice. Thank You for following the money. David Courtney

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

Additional Tool to Follow the Money – American Recovery Act Prime Contractors seeking Sub-Contractor Bids – SBA Sub-Contracting Network – See List 

Another Tool to Follow the Money – SBA Directory of Companies by State with Contacts having Federal Contracts frequently seeking Sub-Contractors and Vendors: Review Directory 

04/15/10 Clinton, MS – City officials on Tuesday were to take part in a “Groundbreaking for the Greenhouse” to be paid for with $3.8 million ARRA/DEQ Funds, half of it a low-interest loan, located at the Southside Treatment Plant off Clinton-Raymond Road – Clinton News: Read More 

04/15/10 Oak Orchard, DE – $5,582,000 Loan and a $2,999,847 Grant administered by USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program to assist in Oak Orchards Wastewater Expansion Program – Sussex Countian: Read More 

04/14/10 Rhinelander, WI – City will award contracts partly ARRA Funded, for the water service and sanitary sewer portions of the project that will include a new wastewater lift station – Rhinelander Daily News: Read More 

04/14/10 Woodstock, CT -Woodstock Academy is line to receive $1.4 million in federal grants and loans toward improvements to its wastewater system – Norwich Bulletin: Read More 

04/13/10 Lavaca, AR – Governor Mike Beebe presented a check for a $7.5 Million ARRA grant to representatives of the Franklin-Sebastian Public Water Authority to help fund improvements for the Charleston, Lavaca and River South water supplies – Charleston Express: Read More 

04/12/10 Muletown, Minford, Clarktown, and Rubyville, OH – $29.6 million ($29.4 million in USDA loan and grant funds, and $240,000 in leveraged funds) received for Wastewater Project – Teatro Naturale: Read More 

04/10/10 Chadron, NE – Governor Heineman will be attending an open house and ribbon cutting at the new Chadron Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project received $1,090,000 in ARRA Funds – KCSR 610AM Radio: Read More 

04/10/10 Elmore, MN – $7.7 million in USDA Stimulus Funds will help pay for New Wastewater Improvement Projects – Faribault County Register: Read More 

04/09/10 Gray, GA – Gray City Council members voted to officially begin the process of building a new wastewater treatment plant using possible USDA ARRA Funds – the Jones County News: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

04/08/10 Maryville, MO – City receives $177,600 Grant for 3 new booster centrifugal pumps and variable frequency drives at the water treatment facility – Northwest Missourian: Read More 

04/07/10 Chapel Hill, NC – $14.5 Million Research Grant awarded to the University of North Carolina, New Waste Water Treatment Plant included in the project – News Observer: Read More 

04/07/10 Rock Island, WA – Work will begin Monday laying pipe for Rock Island’s new sewage collection system – This ARRA Funded project has no Wastewater Treatment plant to process Sewage – the Wenatchee World: Read More 

04/06/10 Scioto County, Ohio – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $29.4 Million ARRA funding for a regional wastewater system to replace rural Septic Tanks for 1,340 users in four rural Ohio communities – USDA Press Release: Read More 

04/06/10 Sebastian & Franklin Counties – $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds awarded to help secure water to more than 29,000 people in eastern Sebastian County and Franklin County – the City Wire: Read More 

04/05/10 Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has committed all $218.9 Million ARRA Stimulus Funds for Water Projects – Link to Project List available at WCTV: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

04/02/10 Kannapolis, NC – $1.2 Million ARRA Stimulus Awarded for storm water improvements at the Research Campus and the replacement of a water treatment plant pump is funded by a $170,300 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant – Salisbury Post: Read More 

04/01/10 Louisville, KY – $4.17 Million in Stimulus ARRA Funding to Improve Louisville, Ky., Water Service – Environmental Protection News: Read More 

03/30/10 Omaha, NE – $7.5 million in federal stimulus money received to put toward the Wastewater System overhaul – Omaha World Herald: Read More 

03/28/10 Princeton County, KY – Work is underway for ARRA Funded Sewer Basin Projects by Bobby Luttrell and Sons, of Ohio County – the Times Leader: Read More 

03/28/10 St. Peters, MO – City of St. Peters will receive a $91,500 grant from the state Department of Natural Resources to upgrade its water treatment plant – Suburban Journals: Read More 

03/27/10 Independence, MO – Gov. Jay Nixon came to Independence this week to announce a $1 million ARRA Grant for the city to use to improve wastewater treatment – the Examiner: Read More 

03/26/10 Cape Girardeau, MO – $2 million check received for Water Improvements. Half the money is a grant from stimulus funds approved by Congress last year. The other half is a loan, with $840,721 coming from stimulus funds as well and the remaining $159,729 coming from a state loan fund dedicated to water and sewer improvements – Southeast Missourian: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

03/25/10 Athens, OH – Athens will receive $362,000 to replace equipment at the city’s wastewater treatment facility – Pomeroy Daily Sentinel: Read More

03/25/10 Folkston, GA – Folkston awarded $300,000 ARRA Grant to install energy-efficient aerators at the city’s wastewater treatment plant – the Florida Times Union: Read More

03/25/10 Wilmington, OH – $309,393 in Stimulus funding will be committed to bringing methane gas from the city landfill to power the city’s wastewater treatment plant – Wilmington News Journal: Read More

03/23/10 Red Bluff, CA – Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to break ground on the Red Bluff Pump Project. It is a $5.25 million cooperative agreement that is part of the $109 million going to the Red Bluff project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – Daily News: Read More

03/22/10 Independence, MO – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced a $1 million grant aimed at enhancing the 32-year-old plant’s energy efficiency during plant tour – Examiner: Read More

03/21/10 Boothbay, Mars Hill & Norway, ME – Norway will receive a $385,000 Stimulus loan and $1.1 million grant to improve sewer system efficiency. Mars Hill will receive grants of nearly $1 million for water and wastewater improvements; Boothbay Harbor Sewer District will receive a $342,000 loan and $250,000 grant – Seacoast: Read More

03/20/10 Keyser, WV – City of Keyser will receive over $7 million in Recovery Act funding to build a new water treatment facility – Mineral Daily News Tribune: Read More

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

With the focus on reducing energy consumption, sustainable growth and reduced operating cost I thought it would be a good idea to review power factor.  In 900 words or less, here is the abbreviated explanation.

The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent power, and is a number between 0 and 1 (frequently expressed as a percentage, e.g. 0.5 pf = 50% pf. Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit.

A power factor of one or “unity power factor” is the goal of any electric utility company since if the power factor is less than one, they have to supply more current to the user for a given amount of power use. In so doing, they incur more line losses.

Industrial facilities tend to have a “lagging power factor”, where the current lags the voltage (like an inductor). This is primarily the result of having a lot of electric induction motors – the windings of motors act as inductors as seen by the power supply. Capacitors have the opposite effect and can compensate for the inductive motor windings.

The significance of power factor lies in the fact that utility companies supply customers with volt-amperes, but bill them for watts. The relationship is (watts = volts x amperes x power factor). It is clear that power factors below 1.0 require a utility to generate more than the minimum volt-amperes necessary to supply the power (watts). This increases generation and transmission costs. Utilities may impose penalties on customers who do not have good power factors on their overall buildings.

Watts, or real power, is what a customer pays for. VARS is the extra “power” transmitted to compensate for a power factor less than 1.0. The combination of the two is called “apparent” power (VA or volt-amperes).

A low power factor is expensive and inefficient and some utility companies may charge additional fees when the power factor is less than 0.95. A low power factor will reduce the electrical system’s distribution capacity by increasing the current flow and causing voltage drops.

Consider this popular analogy to clarify the relationship between real and apparent power.  We all know a glass of draft beer generally has a “head” on it. Let’s say your favorite pub institutes a new policy – you only pay for the beer, not the foam. While the foam is just aerated beer, it is not really usable in that form. If the glass of beer is half foam, you pay half the price.  This is the same principle as electricity generation – the consumer only pays for the beer (real power), not the foam. 

The main advantages of the Power Factor Correction are:

•         The electrical load on the Utility is reduced, thereby allowing the Utility to supply the surplus power to other consumers, without increasing its generation capacity.

•         Most of the Utilities impose low power factor penalties. By correcting the power factor, this penalty can be avoided.

•         High power factor reduces the load currents. Therefore, a considerable saving is made in the hardware cost, such as cables, switchgear, substation transformers, etc.

Impact on the Power Utility

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

03/19/10 Gray, GA – City Council approves applying for Federal Stimulus Funds for New Wastewater Treatment Plant – the Jones County News: Read More 

03/18/10 Gilman, WI -  U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided nearly $7.7 million in grants and loans to help the Village of Gilman upgrade their wastewater and water systems – WEAU 13TV: Read More 

03/18/10 Millerton, NY – The Village received an Energy Grant for $286,334 to go toward installing a 49-kilowatt photovoltaic system to produce energy for the pump house to bring water from the wells to the water tower – the Millerton News: Read More 

03/17/10 Alpine, TX – $419,600 ARRA award and $104,900 match. The city will install a 50-kw solar photovoltaic at the wastewater treatment plant – Sun Pluggers: Read More 

03/17/10 Hanford, WA – Cleanup and Groundwater Treatment is proceeding with the installation of new Pumps and crew funded with Recovery Act Money – the News Tribune: Read More 

03/17/10 Horseshoe Bay, TX – $311,396.83 ARRA award, $62,279.37 match. The city will install a 41.1-kw roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system at the Slickrock Lift Station – Sun Pluggers: Read More 

03/16/10 Chase City, VA – Chase City Town Council voted to apply for a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant that would help fund a proposed $2,892,000 sewer upgrade – Virginia/North Carolina News: Read More 

03/16/10 Gordon, MN – With a $261,000 Grant from the Federal Stimulus package the Gordon Sanitary District is conducting a feasibility study to connect 55 buildings to its sewer system – 91.3 KUWS Radio: Read More 

03/15/10 Desoto County, MS – Receives additional ARRA awards for $132,008 contract for flood control and $5 million for wastewater infrastructure improvements – Desoto Times Tribune: Read More 

03/15/10 Paris, MO – Groundbreaking Ceremony coming up on New 100,000 gallon elevated storage tank, pump station, distribution system improvements and new water meters funded with ARRA Grants and Loans – Hannibal Courier-Post: Read More 

03/13/10 Sallisaw, OK – Commissioners awarded a contract for a low bid of $1,643,000 to Preload Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y., for the construction of a 1.5-million-gallon clear well at the city’s water treatment plant. They also awarded a contract to low bidder S & J Construction Co. Inc. of Jacksonville, Ark., for $2,590,180.23 for construction of a raw water transmission line. All funded with Grant Money – Sequoyah Times: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources 

03/12/10 Boydton, VA – Boydton Town Council unanimously agreed to seek United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development grants for a $1,496,000 sewer upgrade project – South Hill Enterprise: Read More

03/10/10 Boone County, MO – $350,000 Stimulus Grant received for Wastewater Improvement Project – KBIA 91.3 FM Radio: Read More

03/08/10 Fairhaven, MA – Groundbreaking was today for New Wastewater Treatment Plant using $7.9 Million in Stimulus Funds – EPA Release: Read More

03/08/10 Plainfield, CT – $33 Million to be spent on Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, the project is partially Stimulus Funded – Norwich Bulletin: Read More

03/08/10 Red Deer, Alberta – Canadian $36 Million Stimulus Funds Sewer and Storm Water Project – Red Deer Advocate: Read More  

03/06/10 Bremerton, WA – $7.5 Million Stimulus Award for Bremerton’s New Sewer Installation is pulling Gorst out of the Sewer – Kitsap Sun: Read More

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources

03/05/10 Cave Spring, GA – New water project, which includes two new tanks and the replacement of substandard water lines throughout the city, is being funded through a federal stimulus package grant and low-interest loan – Rome News-Tribune: Read More 

03/05/10 Fort Collins, CO – Stimulus Funds help promote Clean Technology for Wastewater Treatment to Mexican and Chinese Companies – Fort Collins Coloradoan: Read More 

03/04/10 Netarts, OR – Netarts Oceanside Sanitary District is now seeking contractors to bid on a project to build a new treatment plant. The total project cost is estimated at around $21 million, with construction around $17 million and Stimulus Funded the Daily Journal of Commerce: Read More 

03/04/10 Donnellson, MS – City to File Application for Stimulus Funding for Wastewater Improvement Projects – Fort Madison Daily Democrat: Read More 

03/03/10 Swansea, MA – New desalination plant has received $1.2 million in federal stimulus funds and a low-interest $5.7 million loan – the Herald News: Read More 

03/02/10 Pierce County, WI – Village Board reviews Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements contingent on receiving Stimulus Grant – Pierce County Herald: Read More 

03/01/10 Ridgefield, CT – Work should start soon on $1.4 Million Stimulus Funded Water Project connecting 2 Schools to Clean Drinking Water – the Ridgefield Press: Read More 

02/28/10 California, MO – The City of California Phase 2 Up-Date on Sewer Project ARRA Funded by a $2,708,100 grant and a $2,708,000 loan – California Democrat: Read More 

02/28/10 Kendall County, IL – Wastewater Treatment facility that was ARRA Funded is 85% Completed – Beacon News: Read More 

02/26/10 Port Wentworth, GA – Groundbreaking on a New Wastewater Treatment Plant that received $17.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. – WSAV 3TV: Read More 

02/26/10 Rockville, MD – U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water Subcommittee, toured City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant to see how $1.7 Million Stimulus Dollars were spent – Gazette: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

02/26/10 Charleston, WVA – West Virginia American Water awarded $3.85 Million in ARRA Stimulus Funding for the installation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system – Market Watch: Read More 

02/26/10 Gridley, CA – Groundbreaking today for Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion that is to use $5 Million Stimulus Grant and Loan combination – the Gridley Herald: Read More 

02/24/10 Bedford, OH – Monroe County now eligible for $13.2 million ARRA Economic Development Funds to be used for more efficient Wastewater Pumps – I Stock Analyst: Read More 

02/24/10 Clinton, IA – New Wastewater Treatment Plant Bid came in $18 Million under expected, this project is partly Stimulus Funded – the Clinton Herald: Read More 

02/24/10 Columbia, MO – Boone County receives $360,000 in ARRA Funds to assist 2 Neighborhood Improvement District Sewer Projects – Columbia Daily Tribune: Read More 

02/24/10 Somerset, KY – $380,000 contract awarded to a Danville firm to replace the aging sewerage system at General Burnside Island State Park with a pump station – I Stock Analyst: Read More 

02/24/10 Wythe County, VA – $4.4 million in USDA Rural Development grants and $7.4 million in loans Awarded for improvements to water treatment systems – Big News.BIZ: Read More 

02/23/10 California, Lake Ozark and Wardsville, MO – All 3 Towns receive Rural Clean Water Grant and Loan Combinations for Drinking Water System Improvements – News Tribune: Read More 

02/23/10 Georgetown, DE – Town approves $480,000 ARRA Loan to pay for Water Pump Station Overhaul, Contract awarded to Zober Contracting of Dover – the Daily Times: Read More 

02/23/10 Minneola, FL – $345,000 Stimulus will fund New Sewer Expansion out to the Lake County Correctional facility – Daily Commercial: Read More 

02/21/10 Princeton, KY – Grant Check received for 2 Loans in the amount of $2,753,000 for Sewer Rehab work – the Times Leader: Read More 

02/20/10 Townsend, MT – Work is underway on Sewer Projects funded by the American Recovery Act – Helena Independent Record: Read More 

02/19/10 Fort Kent, ME – USDA Rural Development assisted the community with a Water and Waste Disposal Loan of $531,000 and grant of $2.6 million to replace water and wastewater infrastructure – Bangor Daily News: Read More 

02/19/10 Wilmington, DE – Honeywell is the Contractor for Green Energy and Drinking Water Booster Pumps – Power On: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link – Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com