Delaware

Delaware Celebrates eV2g Electric Vehicle to Grid Power Project

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell was joined by executives from NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) and officials from the U.S. Energy Dept and the University of Delaware to celebrate the eV2g project’s naming as an official PJM Interconnection resource.

eV2g electric vehicle fleet

eV2g electric vehicle fleet (photo – Evan Krape/Univ. of Delaware)

In lay terms, this means they have successfully developed and commercialized technology enabling the sale of power from electric vehicles back to the grid.

NRG and UD have been working on the eV2g project since Sept 2011, attempting to set up a two-way interface so that power can flow from the grid to electric vehicles or the other way around.

On Feb 27, 2013, the eV2g project became a PJM frequency regulation market participant. This frequency regulation is the basis on which demand and supply is balanced every second.

For the last two months, the fleet of eV2g electric vehicles has been selling power back to PJM, the power transmission organization charged with the coordination of wholesale electricity movement across an area that includes 60 million consumers in 13 Mid-Atlantic states.

Gov. Markell said the NRG-UD partnership on this project illustrates the potential research institutions have for spurring economic development.

Denise Wilson, NRG executive vice president, likewise said that the advancement of the project proved that such partnerships had the power to accelerate development of clean energy technologies.

UD President Patrick Harker thanked all the policy leaders and industry for coming together for a project that involves stable energy, clean energy-powered vehicles, and profitable sustainability.

One of the key reasons the eV2g project is big news is because it has an intermediate layer where power from multiple electric vehicles can be aggregated to turn it into one big power source for the grid, rather than a large number of smaller ones to be dealt with individually.

Vehicles charged at night using wind power can become a big source that can be tapped by the grid during the day, when demand is higher. It will help fleet owners generate revenue even when vehicles are parked.

The fleet of electric vehicles required for the project was provided by BMW. The charging stations based on technology developed by the University of Delaware were provided by Milbank Manufacturing, and AutoPort Inc. installed the control technology.

PJM changed its rules and reduced the minimum amount of power required to be provided by participants. Michael J. Kormos, senior vice president of PJM Operations, said that they knew it would attract innovation, and that they were happy to be a part of the project and hoped for more such innovation from the industry.

Harim Group Plans $100M Expansion With 700 New Jobs in Delaware

South Korean poultry company Harim Group is planning to buy the former Pinnacle Foods facility in Millsboro, Delaware and turn it into a poultry processing plant.

DE Gov. Markell - Harim announcement

DE Gov. Markell with Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and DEDO Director Alan Levin (photo – Delware Governor’s Office)

The project will require a $100 million investment by Harim, and will create 700 new jobs for poultry processing, cutting and cooking.

The Harim Group entered the U.S. by purchasing the bankrupt Allen’s in Sept 2011, and became Allen Harim. Their U.S. corporate headquarters is in Seaford, DE.

The company has about 1,400 employees spread across facilities in Seaford and Harbeson in Delaware, along with two more facilities in Cordova, Maryland and Liberty, North Carolina.

When they bought Allen’s back in 2011, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said “We care about every job and work to create the conditions that will help make businesses successful.” He added that Harim had many choices ahead and they would make sure Delaware continued to be the right choice.

Also at that time, Hong Kuk Kim, chairman of the Harim Group, said that his first meeting with the Governor gave him a “very good first impression” of Delaware.

The Governor and Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee subsequently undertook a trip to Korea in Dec 2012, and took the time to visit with the Harim Group. This trip further solidified the relationship. All this ground work ensured that when an opportunity arose, Delaware was able to take advantage of it.

This particular expansion project was initiated by Secretary Kee, who broached the subject of buying the Pinnacle Foods plant with Harim executives. The Pinnacle Vlasic plant was shut down last November, which resulted in 200 workers losing their jobs.

Allen Harim CEO Gary Gladys said the company’s expansion into Millsboro and the 700 new jobs would have a significant economic impact in Delaware. He added that it was a “symbol of our deep commitment to the United States market with an investment of an estimated $100 million.”

He added that their base on the Delmarva Peninsula offered a solid foundation to grow their operations, and this expansion into Millsboro was a part of that strategy.

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware) said he was happy to have been part of the effort to replace the jobs lost at the Vlasic plant, and grateful to Allen Harim for taking over the plant and restoring hundreds of needed jobs in Sussex County.

Offshore Wind Developers Sign Agreement with Environmental Groups

The sustainable development of offshore wind farms producing clean and renewable energy got a big boost with the signing of a voluntary agreement between wind power developers and environmental groups trying to protect marine life.

Offshore wind farm

Offshore wind farm (photo – pnnl.gov)

Specifically, the agreement was signed to protect the North Atlantic right whale when it migrates through the mid-Atlantic.

The agreement is limited in its scope to site assessment and characterization activities over the next four years necessary for offshore wind energy development in the mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Areas.

It does not apply to the subsequent construction and operations phases, nor does it imply or suggest what measures may be appropriate at the construction and operations phases.

The wind power companies involved are the Providence, Rhode Island-based Deepwater Wind; Boston, Massachusetts-based Energy Management, Inc.; and Bluewater Wind Delaware LLC.

The environmental organizations party to the agreement include the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); Sierra Club; Environment America; National Wildlife Federation; International Fund for Animal Welfare; Conservation Law Foundation; Oceana; Southern Environmental Law Center; and New England Aquarium.

Statements from parties to the agreement:-

“This first-of-a-kind agreement will help industry leaders more quickly capture the enormous potential of wind blowing off the Mid-Atlantic coast, while protecting a critically endangered species at the same time,” said NRDC Clean Energy Counsel Kit Kennedy.

“Offshore wind energy is a critical component to our nation’s long-term energy security. We have an enormous energy resource right off of our coast and developing it will help preserve our environment and protect species like the North Atlantic right whale,” said Jeffrey Grybowski, CEO of Deepwater Wind.

“We share with these leading developers a common objective to get offshore wind up and running as quickly as possible as a key tool in the fight against climate change. It’s a win-win agreement that both enhances protection for critically endangered right whales and advances offshore wind’s progress in the Atlantic,” said Tricia K. Jedele, vice president and director of Conservation Law Foundation Rhode Island.

“Climate change is the single biggest threat to wildlife today and we urgently need to transition to clean energy sources like offshore wind. This collaborative agreement between key ocean stakeholders helps ensure these Atlantic offshore wind industry leaders can develop while protecting critically endangered right whales,” said Justin Allegro, renewable energy and wildlife program manager at the National Wildlife Federation.

The agreement includes the following main restrictions or policy changes:-

-          Seasonal restrictions on sub-bottom profiling and on pile driving for meteorological tower installation;

-          Vessel speed restriction;

-          Use of noise attenuation and source level reduction technology to reduce sound during meteorological tower construction;

-          Establishment of exclusion zone; and

-          Real-time monitoring for whale activity in the site area.

You can see more details in the signed agreement that was sent to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Office of Renewable Energy.

Port of Wilmington, Delaware Serves As A Hub For Economic Development

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The Port of Wilmington in the state of Delaware is seen as a region which could be a hub for economic development in the future.

One of the biggest companies in the region of Wilmington is Dole Fresh Fruit which has a facility for production. One of the Vice Presidents for the Operations for Dole Fresh Fruit elaborates on how the Wilmington location has operating processes which are nearly doubled when compared to another facility across the continent. Vice President Stuart Jablon states that the facility is an ideal access point as the population area has a diverse range of demographics.

A third party business is also an important part of Dole Fresh Fruits as they utilize vessels to transport tires and computers to schools that are in dire need. The facilities in Wilmington and the trained labor force allow Dole to have a competitive advantage over other businesses. Many of the employees are dedicated and loyal as they work hard to make Dole a success according to Vice President Stuart Jablon. Economic downturns were able to be curbed as the quality facilities; workforce and real estate location has led to the transportation of 5 million tons of cargo.

The port in the region of Wilmington has ultimately been responsible for the generation of nearly 5,000 brand new jobs and the generation of approximately $30 million dollars in revenue. The close proximity of the Port of Wilmington to the railroads and the interstate highway has made the region one of the most lucrative and attractive in regards to cargo transportation. Close proximity to the Delaware Bay is also important to Dole Fruit and the company called Chiquita. The transportation of petroleum products is also becoming important in the region of Wilmington.

Overall, the Port of Wilmington is considered to be a lucrative hub for economic development in the state of Delaware.

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JP Morgan Chase to Add 1,200 Jobs in Delaware

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) Director Alan Levin announced that JP Morgan Chase is planning to expand its operations in the state and add 1,200 new jobs.

Delaware economic development

Photo - DEDO

“Delaware continues to be the choice for companies looking to invest and expand,” said Director Levin. “Chase plans to spend millions of dollars in Delaware and add critical jobs in our financial services industry. It’s important to support the company’s investment in our state and ensure our workforce is part of its future.”

Chase plans to make up to a $50 million capital investment for the expansion, and has applied for a $10 million grant from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the expansion. Chase already has 6,000 full-time workers in Newark and Wilmington, and the 1,200 new jobs will be in addition to the existing count.

“JPMorgan Chase has a long and rich history here in Delaware and it is a great place to do business,” said Gordon Smith, CEO of Chase’s Card Services and Auto business. “We appreciate the positive business climate fostered by Governor Markell, his administration and the leadership of the state.”

Note that the $10 million grant is available subject to the fact that at least half or 600 of the 1,200 new jobs have be in place before the grant disbursement takes place.

This is one of the good trends as far as incentives provided by DEDO and other Delaware organizations to the financial services industry are concerned. A couple of months ago, Citi opened a new facility in Wilmington that they said would add 260 new jobs.

Wilmington offered Citi $390,000 in low-interest loans which would convert into a grant if they employed 155 people through 2016. In addition, Citi was also given a five year exemption of the $15 per employee head tax. M&T Bank is building a new data center in Millsboro adding 50 more jobs to its 450 current workforce there.

Capital One plans to expand by 500 jobs in Delaware, as part of a proposed agreement announced last September. As part of the expansion agreement, Capital One is also scheduled to receive a Delaware Strategic Fund Job Creation Incentive of $5.6 million dollars. Under the agreement, the 500 new jobs must be in place by December 2013.

This kind of clear and explicit link between grants and job creation leaves no room to doubt the efficiency of economic development incentives, and should help Delaware climb up the state rankings in studies like Good Jobs First and the Pew Center’s Evidence Counts report.

Governor Jack Markell Wants Economic Development Strategies Implemented in Delaware

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The Governor of Delaware Jack Markell had a famous state of state speech in which measures of economic development and the accountability of the government were discussed.

Jack Markell proposed that the Delaware fund should be supported as he aims to keep and build up the number of employers in the private sector in the state.

The Governor elaborated on the Delaware fund and proposed plans for approximately 41 minutes.

There were also innovative proposals discussed such as a partnership between the public and private sector to ultimately modernize the port that is located in the area of Wilmington, tax credits for businesses who employee veterans and a partnership with Facebook as they assist the local businesses with marketing matters.

Governor Jack Markell also criticized the electric utility in the state of Delaware as many businesses complained that the charges were too high. Markell understood that the electric municipalities are very important to the state as revenue is made but the Governor wants to make sure to keep the businesses in the region in order for the state of Delaware to thrive.

The Governor ultimately wants to retain jobs and bring new jobs in the region and the municipalities are aggravating many of the businesses with the high rates. Markell proposes that the charges are fair and competitive as they are charged to the local businesses in Delaware.

Governor Jack Markell also addressed the need for improving the school system in the state of Delaware. Markell wants to make sure that young children are properly prepared for the next level of schooling in the future. The Governor made sure he pointed out the rising costs of Medicaid in the state of Delaware as well. Markell wants to make sure that the state is not scaring away the public from accessing affordable health care.

Ultimately, Governor Jack Markell wants to move the state of Delaware forward through economic development strategies.

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