Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- In December, President Barack Obama signed the tax legislation that extends the US Department of the Treasury's 1603 cash grant program for the solar and wind industries for one year. With an extension of this program now in place, the solar industry can continue its record growth, creating new employment opportunities for Americans in 2011 and growing the number of solar projects. As momentum in the solar industry continues, the industry must proceed with caution to not make rash decisions. This program could supercharge growth in 2011, but make it for difficult for integrators to plan past next year, as many 2012 projects could be pulled into 2011. Companies who are taking advantage of this grant must think about not only how it will affect next year, but also the years beyond.

When first implemented, the cash grant program provided a lifeline by transitioning the unfavorable tax credits to upfront payments not tied to a particular company's income. This was a huge help to renewable energy developers. The grant is 30 percent of the full cost of the intended solar system.

Without the grant, system owners could still claim the 30 percent as a tax credit, but some businesses weren't profitable enough to make use of the full tax credit. This grant now keeps all businesses eligible for the 30 percent incentive, not just those with enough profits (or those with financing partners with enough profits).

In addition to not having to worry about how their tax situation impacts whether they can claim the tax credit, customers who claim the grant receive the proceeds quickly, as opposed to waiting until the next tax-filing season. It helps them achieve their return on investment quicker, making it more attractive from an investment standpoint, and allows them to free up funds for future developments.

A statement put out by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) stated that, so far, the Treasury grant program has helped move forward more than 1,100 solar projects in 42 states and supported $18 billion in investment. As well, the program helped the solar industry grow by over 100 percent in 2010, create enough new solar capacity to power 200,000 homes and provide work to more than 93,000 Americans. This is great news from SEIA and, in 2011, we in the solar industry hope to have the same growth; however, the industry as a whole must think well ahead of 2011. We will likely be in the same situation next year with the same issues in place that we faced this year. Hopefully the economy—as well as companies' revenue—will be stronger.

One thing to note, the program has a relatively short window of opportunity (projects must commence construction by the end of 2011 in order to qualify for the grant), and there is uncertainty and inconsistency over how the grants are taxed at the state level (which may have negatively impacted the usefulness of the program to solar projects in particular). The extension could again cause a big rush by developers to meet eligibility rules before it sunsets at the end of 2011. The industry will have to be careful to not create a situation where the market overheats in 2011 at the expense of 2012 and 2013. That could create an imbalance of supply and demand of raw materials and force companies to make short-term decisions that aren't good for the industry in the long run.

While this grant is a great incentive, most people in the industry would like to see the roadmap to a business model that doesn't depend on industry-specific government support. Federal government incentives tend to be feast-or-famine. Ideally, government incentives would decline gradually over time to help the industry acclimate to no industry-specific government support.

The solar industry looks forward to this next year, and the vast possibilities and opportunities this cash grant's extension affords businesses and employees. With 2010 success as indicators, it seems the US will continue to be a leader in renewable energy, much with the support of government endeavors such as the Treasury's 1603 cash grant program. However, with no single federal program able to fully support the industry over the short or long term, we must continue to examine not only the present, but also focus our energy on the future.

http://www.granttreasury.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- A new agency to be launched next month (26 January) in Bonn, Germany, aims to promote a swift transition towards the use of renewable energy worldwide.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which was initially driven by Denmark, Germany and Spain, will be the first worldwide agency solely dedicated to promoting renewable energy, acting as the "voice of renewable energy", according to its website.

IRENA's activities will include providing consultancy to governments of both developed and developing countries on renewable technology transfer, including technical options and cost. It will collect and evaluate new information on applied technology and best practices, process this information and foster its exchange and dissemination.

It plans to support projects in biomass, hydropower, wind, solar and geothermal energy and biofuels.

Given the large-scale impact of climate change, particularly in developing countries, European countries will embark on a global renewable energy revolution, by replacing carbon-driven economies with renewable energy economies, Elena Espinosa, Spain's minister of the environment and marine affairs, said at the UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland, last week (11 December).

"We have to overcome barriers to harvest the full potential of renewable energies, not only to tackle climate change but to switch to a more secure, lower-carbon energy system that does not undermine economic and social development," she said.

These barriers include low public awareness, ineffective political frameworks and governments continuing to subsidise conventional energy sources.

According to Sigmar Gabriel, federal environment minister of Germany, the shift to renewable energy has created some 250,000 new jobs in Germany in less than ten years.

Gabriel said the German government will collaborate with India next year to explore renewable energy and energy efficiency through solar power.

"We intend to help them power up the grid in the rural areas so they can improve productivity of solar power," Gabriel said. "And with a decentralised renewable network there would be no need for expensive grid solutions."

Denmark's minister for climate and energy, Connie Hedegaard, told SciDev.Net that in 2007, more than US$100 billion was invested worldwide in renewable energy technology, and that many renewable technologies and industries have been growing at rates of 20–60 per cent year on year.

LAUNCH OF THE CENTRE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF INTERNATIONAL INCOMING
CALLS IN GHANA

A couple of months ago, the Parliament of Ghana adopted Act 786 which allows the Telecommunications Regulator of the country, the NCA (National Communications Authority) to equip itself with a system for the control and supervision of international incoming calls.

The system has been operational since the 1st of March 2010 thanks to the launch of the Supervision Centre, called NCA Annex, which is equipped with ultra efficient mechanisms to fight fraud on international traffic.

This technical platform, set up for the NCA by its partner Global Voice Group, makes it possible to detect at least 700 new fraudulent numbers per day, which means that the Government of Ghana as well as local operators practising legally in the country, are recouping a loss of an estimated 2 Million USD per month.

The NCA Annex centre will be inaugurated in the coming weeks by the Minister of Communications, the Hon. Haruna Iddrissu, who recently confirmed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the set up is well structured and will generate an additional 50 Million USD per annum on international incoming calls in Ghana, as well as additional revenue for the operators.

http://www.voicenetglobal.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- Thanks to the Internet, Americans who belong to the Democratic Party are getting a voice of their own in the presidential nomination, as the party has agreed to allow expatriates to choose 22 delegates to the national convention as part of the so-called Super Tuesday voting next month.

Everyone Counts, a company based in San Diego that specializes in online voting, is running the Internet voting for the Democrat primary for overseas residents. Everyone Counts handled the voting by Internet for local elections in British cities in 2003 and 2007 as well as the online voting for the Australian election in November, handling voting by soldiers stationed in Iraq and other spots overseas.

The Democratic primary for Americans abroad will start Feb. 5, the Tuesday when 21 states will hold primaries, and run until Feb. 12. In addition to voting by Internet, people can also cast ballots by mail, fax or - in 34 countries - they can vote in person.

"Internet allows people to participate who are busy and wouldn't normally get involved," said Meredith Gowan Le Goff, a lawyer who is the vice chairman for Democrats Abroad in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We want all people to be able to take part in the primary whether they are a Peace Corps worker in Africa or a missionary somewhere in Asia."

Prospective voters must be American citizens living overseas and must either be members of Democrats Abroad, a mostly volunteer organization that groups Democrats living abroad, or they may register and request a ballot at www.votefromabroad.org.

Republicans Abroad is not a part of the Republican National Committee, also known as RNC, which is responsible for the convention that chooses a candidate, so Republicans living outside of the United States cannot send delegates to the convention, but like Democrats they can vote by absentee ballot in the primaries in the state where they were last a resident.

"Will that change soon? I don't think so," said Cynthia Dillon, the executive director of Republicans Abroad. "If we were under the RNC we would probably send delegates, but we aren't."

Prospective Democratic voters must sign up by the end of this month and will be sent a personal identification number via regular mail that they use to identify themselves when they vote online. They will also be asked other questions to confirm their identity when they vote.

To ensure anonymity, when the vote is sent in, the PIN is cancelled and the vote is given a random identification number that only the voter knows and which can be used to confirm that the vote got counted.

"One of the things we add besides security in the voting is a way to monitor the vote as it is going on and to see if there has been a breach," said Lori Steele, chief executive of Everyone Counts. "People can also check to see that their vote arrived and was counted, so there are many checks and balances in the system."

Yet security of the voting process, whether it be in person or over the Internet, remains on the minds of some of those involved in the voting preparations.

"You can never be sure there is no fraud," said Gowan Le Goff. "Fraud is possible in any election and we have seen a lot of it in some recent elections. The best you can do is focus on the process and do the best you can to guarantee there is no fraud and that is what we are doing."

There are no official figures on the number of Americans residing outside of the United States because of the difficulty in keeping track of a largely transient group, some of whom do not alert officials that they have moved overseas. Estimates from both political parties put the number at six to seven million.

At 6.5 million, that would make a conglomeration of the U.S. citizens living abroad the 13th most populous state just ahead of Massachusetts, but the Democrats living abroad will get just 22 delegates, the same number as South Dakota and just 5 percent of the California delegation. California is the most populous state in the United States, with 35 million residents; South Dakota is the 46th, with 750,000 residents.

"The number of delegates is very low, but the problem is we don't know how many people are of voting age living abroad and some may go home and vote," said Gowan Le Goff. "There is no way to count the Americans out there. At least in South Dakota you know how many people are living there. Students, Peace Corps volunteers, Mormon missionaries, these are not people that stay put so they are hard to count."

Americans living abroad have been able to vote in federal elections since 1976, and those who vote in a home state's primary cannot also vote in the Democrats Abroad balloting.

http://www.voicenetglobal.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- A bill that embodies the controversial tax-cut deal negotiated by President Obama's administration and Republican congressional leaders includes an extension of a Treasury Department grant program for solar energy installations.

The federal government provides a 30 percent federal tax credit for the cost of renewable energy projects for both homeowners and businesses. However, because of the recession, some commercial project developers, large and small, have limited or no federal tax liabilities and are thus unable to take advantage of the tax credit.

In response, the Obama administration and Congress established in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act what is known as the Treasury Department's Section 1603 grant program, which allows the 30 percent credit to be distributed as a cash grant instead for commercial projects.

The grant program was set to expire at the end of 2010, creating concern among renewable energy developers. The Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group, has urged its members to press their congressional representatives for an extension through 2012.

An extension through 2011 is included in the tax-cut measure introduced Dec. 9 by U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. The measure is called "The Reid-McConnell Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010."

The eleventh-hour inclusion of the extension of a powerful incentive for solar and wind energy projects is likely to put pressure on Democrats in Congress who otherwise might be inclined to oppose the measure because of its polarizing extension of tax cuts that would benefit upper-income as well as middle-income taxpayers. The bill also would extend unemployment payments, a provision many Republican senators and representatives might otherwise tend to oppose.

The Section 1603 program has provided grants that have assisted the funding of renewable energy projects in all but a handful of states.

"This bill is not perfect, but it provides the economic boost middle-class families and small businesses in Nevada and across America need," Mr. Reid said in a message on his website. "Middle-class families and small businesses will see their taxes go down.

This measure contains additional jobcreating tax incentives for working families including the payroll tax cut, child tax credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. It provides incentives to create clean-energy jobs, energy-efficient homes, and investments in renewable energy. And it will ensure that the millions of Americans still looking for work in this economy will continue to have the safety net they rely on to make ends meet."

The tax-cut deal reached by the Obama administration and GOP leaders, however, has created a backlash among Democrats in Congress, and its potential for passage is uncertain.

The Treasury grant program has approved nearly 1,500 awards totaling more than $5.5 billion in payments, mostly for wind and solar electricity projects.

So far, the largest awards have been for wind projects, ranging up to about $218 million for a project in the state of Washington.

Solar electricity projects have received the highest number of awards, with almost 1,200. Solar electricity awards have ranged from a few thousand dollars to about $62 million for a Florida Power & Light Co. project.

The proposed Reid-McConnell measure also would enhance a law on depreciation provisions for investments in new business equipment.

Businesses under existing law are allowed to recover the costs of expenditures over time, according to a depreciation schedule.

Starting on Jan 1, 2008, and ending last year, Congress began allowing businesses to take an additional depreciation deduction allowance equal to 50 percent of the cost of depreciable property.

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 extended the increase in the depreciation deduction allowance through the end of 2010. The tax-cut bill would extend and temporarily increase the bonus depreciation for investments in new equipment by businesses.

For equipment placed in service after Sept. 8, 2010, and through Dec. 31, 2011, the bill would provide for a bonus depreciation of 100 percent. For investments placed in service after Dec. 31, 2011, and through the end of 2012, the bill would authorize a 50 percent bonus depreciation.

http://www.granttreasury.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- No one could have foreseen the simple white suit Lennon wore to the famous Abbey Road recording studio was destined to become one of the most recognized, scrutinized, satirized and parodied garments in rock-n-roll folklore. The iconic two piece suit Lennon wore the morning the cover shot for the 1969 Abbey Road LP was taken has recently come on the market, along with the blazer Lennon wore in the 1971 Documentary for "Imagine", and a Chrysler station wagon from the NYC Lennon-Ono household. These important items will be selling at Braswell Auction Galleries 26th annual New Years Day sale alongside many rare and one of a kind items from other notable estates.

The Abbey Road image is one of the most unforgettable album covers of all time and the famous shot for the final Beatles album took on a life of it's own, sparking more controversy than most rock n roll photographs do by contributing to the morbidly fun urban legend "Paul is Dead" circulating at the time. These rumors alleged McCartney's accidental death, and the subsequent cover up were cryptically revealed by clues found in the lyrics of and especially on the Abbey Road jacket cover image. The suit figured prominently, suggesting the cover shot was symbolic of Paul's funeral procession with John dressed in white represented the clergy.

Conspiracies aside, it would be difficult to overestimate the impact Ian McMullen's famed shot of the four musicians crossing the zebra cross walk has had on countless Beatle fans. Forty years after first being published, the familiar image is so indelibly imprinted on the public imagination it serves as the catalyst for thousands of multi-generational Beatles fans to make the pilgrimage to the famed spot and pay homage. The world famous corner has such an enduring appeal that a dedicated webcam (www.abbeyroad.com) streams 24/7 as devoted fans disrupttraffic while striking the famous tableau.

As the recent acquisition of the Beatles portfolio of songs to Apple/iTunes and the current trippy Swedish video circulating on YouTube indicate the Beatles, and John Lennon's popularity have not waned and interest in the auction is expected to be high. The one-of-a-kind Ted Lapidus suit and the blazer were previously sold by Julien's Auction in 2005 to collector Anthony Puglisese, his collection was sold in 2008 at Gurnsey's auction, and the current owner is divesting of his very large collection a few special pieces at a time. Braswell's owner Gary Braswell says "Having property from John Lennon estate is a very special event, it's exciting to be a part of it. The interest in the white suit, the "Imagine" jacket and the car transcend any kind of traditional category, we're looking foreword to collectors from all over the spectrum to participate".

Braswell Galleries will offer an unusual pen, ink and mixed media work by controversial artist Damien Hirst. Mr. Hirst, born June7th 1965 in Bristol, England, is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist to date. He is well represented in the major museums worldwide. Mr. Hirst's central theme throughout his works is Death. This work features a mid 1990's black ink drawing on paper of a male profile, the head outlined with stubbed out cigarette butts fastened to the paper with tape, signed lower right Damien Hirst.

Other examples of highlights in the annual New Years Day Auction are two rare, signed and numbered, untouched color photographs of a nude Marilyn Monroe taken by Bert Stern during the famous photo shoot known as "The Last Session",a mixed media on paper portrait from controversial contemporary artist Damien Hirst, a pencil and gouache depicting performers on stage by German artist George Gorsz, and a magnificent antique intricately carved and detailed 9' model of a cathedral. Many unique items from the estate of Pulitzer Prize winning author of the American classic "The Grapes of Wrath" John Steinbeck, including an etched Lalique charger depicting a tiger with quotes from the William Blake poem "Tyger, Tyger", several autographed books and papers and personal items will be sure to generate interest. A large portfolio of never before documented watercolors and sketches by artist Jacque Lipshitz will be crossing the block as well as a fine, large bronze of horses and a jockey from French artist Leon Bureau.

http://www.iconicwhite.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- Michael Jackson had an arsenal of glittery gloves. But on November 21, the glove — the handmade, rhinestone-encrusted left-hand glove the late singer wore when he stunned the world by uncorking the moonwalk during the "Motown 25" special in 1983 — will be auctioned off at a Music Icons event at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York's Times Square.

The glove is considered the "Holy Grail of Michael Jackson memorabilia" by auctioneer Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions, which is putting it up for sale alongside some other unique music collectibles, including early Madonna demo tapes, unreleased Jimi Hendrix lyrics and items from Bob Dylan, Elvis, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin.

Unlike the many other shiny gloves Jackson wore over the years, which were right-handed and covered with hand-sewn crystals, the Motown special glove was for the left hand and was a modified, storebought glove covered with rhinestones. The one-of-a-kind keepsake, expected to go for between $40,000-$60,000, has been in the hands of founding Commodores member Walter "Clyde" Orange, who received it from Jackson the night he wore it. In a letter accompanying the glove, Orange describes how he came to have it and his friendship with Jackson over the years.

The pair got to know each other in the 1970s, when the Commodores toured with the Jackson 5. Orange said Jackson would always turn down his requests for autographs and that turned into a running joke between them. "In his humble way, he refused to give me his autograph, saying that I was more famous than he was," Orange writes. "He never did give me his autograph."

When they met up again in March 1983, during the Motown special taping, Jackson sang with his brothers and took the stage alone to unveil the moonwalk while performing "Billie Jean." Afterwards, Orange said, "Michael came up behind me and put his hand over my eyes and said, 'Guess who?' I knew who it was because I felt the one glove on his left hand and no glove on the other. When I once again asked him for his autograph, Michael gave me the glove he wore that night instead, still refusing to give me his autograph! He was always a real prankster, even as a little boy, so I asked him if he was serious about giving me the glove, and he assured me that he was."

When Jackson died on June 25 at the age of 50 following cardiac arrest, Orange said he decided the glove was too important a historical item to hold onto. "Remember, it was not yet a trademark for him," said Orange, 62. "Whenever I saw him after that, I teased that I would return the glove in exchange for his autograph, but he always refused, telling me to keep the glove and then, jokingly, asking for my autograph. I have taken very good care of this glove since that historic night at Motown 25, and Michael and his family will always have a special place in my heart."

Speaking to The Associated Press, Orange added, "There's 100 other gloves out there, but this is the one you want. ... He blew up after that [performance] with 'Billie Jean.' ... The world should see this. This is the first. That's the song that made him shoot through the roof as a superstar."

Orange hopes the glove will end up at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or another historical institution, and he said he's happy the proceeds from the sale will benefit the MusiCares Foundation, which helps musicians struggling with substance abuse. Other Jackson items going under the gavel at the event include a fedora the singer wore onstage at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, zombie costumes from the "Thriller" video, a costume from Jackson's final United States concert in April 2002, and a signed and stage-worn "Bad" jacket.

http://www.iconicwhite.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- Will the 30% US Treasury Grant for solar and other renewable energy set to expire at the end of the year be extended?

The chances are about 50/50, said Keith Martin, transactional attorney at Chadbourne & Parke and Washington insider speaking at the Novogradac Financing Renewable Energy Conference held in Washington, D.C. November 10 and 11.

The focus was on doing deals with developers, investors, and tax attorneys abundant, and module manufacturers like First Solar ((FSLR), SunPower (SPWRA) and JA Solar (JASO) less visible.

While the Investment Tax Credit for solar and other renewable energy technologies doesn't expire until 2016, the US Treasury Grant Program, enacted in February 2009 under ARRA to address frozen capital markets, sunsets on December 31, 2010.

Commercial solar developers at the conference were hungry for the answers to two questions: Will the grant be extended and, if not, how am I eligible if my project in not Placed In Service by the end of the year?

Mike Novogradac, Managing Partner of San Francisco-based, Novogradac & Company, the conference sponsor, has been reading the smoke signals. If it happens at all, he weighed in, it will be during the lame duck session of Congress between now and the January swearing-in, most likely as part of a larger omnibus tax bill or linked to unemployment insurance. If it's not extended, the feeling was there is little chance of it passing in the new Congress in January.

Assuming the grant is not extended, commercial solar developers can meet the eligibility requirement to receive the grant in two ways. For energy properties not Placed In Service (PIS) in 2010, developers must begin construction by 12/31/10 by meeting one of two tests: 1) sufficient physical work or; 2) 5% cost safe harbor.

US Treasury guidance defines sufficient physical work as "work of a significant physical nature" that "demonstrates a continuous program of construction." The intent of the definition is to avoid projects that begin construction to become eligible for the grant and then put the project on hold. More interesting is what does not qualify as "physical work": planning, designing, securing financing, and obtaining permits among others.

More straightforward and a bit more broad is Treasury guidance on the second test - meeting the 5% Cost Safe Harbor Test by ensuring that 5% of total project costs have been paid or incurred on or before 12/31/2010. Eligible costs that may be included in the 5% are direct construction costs as well as planning, engineering and design costs. Costs are considered "incurred" when a binding contract is in place with a third party (i.e. between the system owner and the Installer/General Contractor), payment has been made for the equipment, and delivery is expected within 3 ½ months of payment. One other word of warning to developers: anticipate escalating project costs and bake in a cushion above the 5% costs, somewhere in the 8-10% range.

Let's look at a quick example on a $1m solar PV roof mount PPA with Developer A and Developer B. Both developers are applying for the Treasury grant and neither project is expected to be Placed In Service prior to December 31, 2010. If they meet the eligibility requirement, both projects would receive a $300,000 grant. Developer A expects roughly half his project costs, or $500,000, to be
"incurred" in payment for solar modules and racking and has signed a binding contract with his General Contractor, who is expected to build the solar system. The General Contractor orders equipment on December 1. Because the host has specified American-made SolarWorld (SRWRF.PK) panels, availability is limited and delivery is not expected until January 15, 2011. Does Developer A meet the 5% Cost Safe Harbor Test and eligibility for the grant? Yes.

Developer B decides to use the "Physical Work" test to be eligible for the grant and pays his designers $55,000 for the engineering plan. Total project costs later increase to $1.2m. Is Developer B eligible for the grant? No.

In a post-grant financing environment in 2011, developers may have a harder go of it getting deals to "pencil out", relying on fewer funding sources with a return to tax equity and the 30% ITC. In 2010 about 40% of renewable energy deals in the US were financed with the grant.

Still, Steve Tracy, Conference Coordinator and Novogradac partner, takes a sunnier view and says, "developers know how to follow the money" pointing to the emergence of non-tax funding sources including sponsor equity and deferred fees, private equity, and robust state subsidies.

http://www.granttreasury.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- This is a village with a dual population -- humans live in charming medieval houses; white storks and their half-ton nests rule the rooftops.

Gerard Wey, known in these parts as Papa Stork, is the emissary between man and bird. If an anxious villager reports a stork in danger, Wey and his crews rush to the scene. If the birds stage too large a takeover, he's there to remove some nests.

For Wey, the gray-bearded director of the Association for the Protection and Reintroduction of Storks in Alsace and Lorraine, the birds that now dominate Munster's skyline represent a comeback story infused with as much symbolism as the bald eagle's return from near-extinction in the United States.

Twenty-five years ago, the iconic emblem of Alsace -- a bird revered for centuries as the bringer of fertility and luck to any home where it nested -- had dwindled to fewer than nine pairs in the entire upper Rhine River Valley. Though flocks of the white storks resided elsewhere in the world, they had all but disappeared from the region most closely identified with them.

Today, one of the most successful repopulation programs of its kind has restored the beloved white stork to the Alsace and Lorraine region, with at least 270 pairs nesting this year on the roofs and treetops of its picturesque villages.

"What's important to me is keeping a species from disappearing in an area where people identified so closely with that species," Wey said. But he quickly added: "Safety comes first. If it means we have to get rid of a nest, we will. We have to manage the population. Man is part of the environment, too."

Nowhere is the balance more delicate than in Munster, also known for its smelly cheeses. The first pair of storks returned to Munster in 1988, five years after France launched the repopulation program. This year, white storks have built 23 nests here. Five balance atop the chimneys and roofs of a single building in the town center -- a former monastery that now houses a kindergarten. Wey estimated that the tiny town can safely accommodate no more than 14 nests, and his crews have begun removing some.

"If one day a nest falls on a kid and kills him, no one will want to protect the storks," he said. But the villagers of Munster are fiercely protective of the leggy, long-necked birds.

Last winter, when Wey and his assistants dismantled a dangerous nest on a roof three stories above a busy restaurant, a woman telephoned his office and threatened to call the police on him.

Few wild creatures are as dependent for survival as the white storks of Alsace on a close equilibrium with humans, according to Wey.

Unlike storks that live in wild, natural environments in other parts of the world, including some white storks, the storks of Alsace have lived among their human protectors for centuries.

http://www.iconicwhite.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- No one could have foreseen the simple white suit Lennon wore to the famous Abbey Road recording studio was destined to become one of the most recognized, scrutinized, satirized and parodied garments in rock-n-roll folklore. The iconic two piece suit Lennon wore the morning the cover shot for the 1969 Abbey Road LP was taken has recently come on the market, along with the blazer Lennon wore in the 1971 Documentary for "Imagine", and a Chrysler station wagon from the NYC Lennon-Ono household. These important items will be selling at Braswell Auction Galleries 26th annual New Years Day sale alongside many rare and one of a kind items from other notable estates.

The Abbey Road image is one of the most unforgettable album covers of all time and the famous shot for the final Beatles album took on a life of it's own, sparking more controversy than most rock n roll photographs do by contributing to the morbidly fun urban legend "Paul is Dead" circulating at the time. These rumors alleged McCartney's accidental death, and the subsequent cover up were cryptically revealed by clues found in the lyrics of and especially on the Abbey Road jacket cover image. The suit figured prominently, suggesting the cover shot was symbolic of Paul's funeral procession with John dressed in white represented the clergy.

Conspiracies aside, it would be difficult to overestimate the impact Ian McMullen's famed shot of the four musicians crossing the zebra cross walk has had on countless Beatle fans. Forty years after first being published, the familiar image is so indelibly imprinted on the public imagination it serves as the catalyst for thousands of multi-generational Beatles fans to make the pilgrimage to the famed spot and pay homage. The world famous corner has such an enduring appeal that a dedicated webcam (http://www.abbeyroad.com) streams 24/7 as devoted fans disrupt traffic while striking the famous tableau.

As the recent acquisition of the Beatles portfolio of songs to Apple/iTunes and the current trippy Swedish video circulating on YouTube indicate the Beatles, and John Lennon's popularity have not waned and interest in the auction is expected to be high. The one-of-a-kind Ted Lapidus suit and the blazer were previously sold by Julien's Auction in 2005 for $120, 000 to collector Anthony Puglisese, his collection was sold in 2008 at Gurnsey's auction, and the current owner is divesting of his very large collection a few special pieces at a time. Braswell's owner Gary Braswell says "Having property from John Lennon estate is a very special event, it's exciting to be a part of it. The interest in the white suit, the "Imagine" jacket and the car transcend any kind of traditional category, we're looking foreword to collectors from all over the spectrum to participate"

Braswell Galleries is pleased to offer an unusual pen, ink and mixed media work by controversial artist Damien Hirst. Mr. Hirst, born June7th 1965 in Bristol, England, is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist to date. Mr. Hirst's central theme throughout his works is Death. He is well represented in major museums worldwide. This work features a mid 1990's black ink drawing on paper of a male profile, the head outlined with stubbed out cigarette butts fastened to the paper with tape, signed lower right Damien Hirst.

Other examples of highlights in the annual New Years Day Auction are two rare, signed and numbered, untouched color photographs of a nude Marilyn Monroe taken by Bert Stern during the famous photo shoot known as "The Last Session",a mixed media on paper portrait from controversial contemporary artist Damien Hirst, a pencil and gouache depicting performers on stage by German artist George Gorsz, and a magnificent antique intricately carved and detailed 9' model of a cathedral. Many unique items from the estate of Pulitzer Prize winning author of the American classic "The Grapes of Wrath" John Steinbeck, including an etched Lalique charger depicting a tiger with quotes from the William Blake poem "Tyger, Tyger", several autographed books and papers and personal items will be sure to generate interest. A large portfolio of never before documented watercolors and sketches by artist Jacque Lipshitz will be crossing the block as well as a fine, large bronze of horses and a jockey from French artist Leon Bureau.

http://www.iconicwhite.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- Tata Communications, a leading provider of a new world of communications, announces it plans for London 2, a Tier-3 data centre, that will provide a state-of-the-art environment for supporting mission critical infrastructures, with advanced cooling, power, redundancy, and sustainability features to ensure that Tata Communications client's critical systems and applications are readily available while optimizing energy efficiency. The 21,400 square foot London 2 data centre will be ready for service during the second quarter of 2009.

Tata Communications has seen a dramatic growth in the number of UK companies looking to outsource their hosted IT operations as they look to rationalise costs and free up capital. Increasingly, the lack of power in the City of London has seen many firms seek to move operations outside the M25 and into a managed service environment to lower their cost of ownership, improve performance and reduce downtime of their IT investment. Moreover, a shift to an Opex-based hosting model by selectively outsourcing their IT infrastructure to an experienced services provider such as Tata Communications can achieve rapid cost savings.

Tata Communications will offer its full suite of data centre services including colocation, managed hosting and managed storage services, in addition to related and complementary value-added services. The company's data centre operations and services are monitored and managed on-site and remotely, from its centralized Managed Services Operations Centre (MSOC) on a 24x7x365 basis and by a team of highly experienced technical, communications and facilities staff. Tata Communications is ISO/IEC 14001, 20000 and 27001 certified for its Global Managed Services Operations in the areas of Managed Hosting, Managed Storage Services and Hosted Messaging Services. The London 2 data centre will reside on Tata Communications Tier-1 IP backbone from which it can provide high capacity Internet, MPLS and Ethernet services globally.

"Tata Communications has seen a rapid increase in demand for managed IT infrastructure services in the EMEA region, driven in part by rationalising IT budgets and companies looking to outsource their data centre operations and achieve greater cost and resource efficiencies," said Abid Qadiri, Vice President of Data Centre Services for Tata Communications. "As the availability of highly secure Tier- 3 data centre space is limited, we are pleased to bring this state-of-the-art facility to the market."

Located 25 miles from London, the highly secure data centre facility was built by Digital Realty Trust, the world's largest wholesale data centre provider, and contains two individually segregated, maintainable data halls that receive six megawatts of power from diversely routed supplies. As Tata Communications third data centre opened in the UK, London 2 brings the company's total data centre footprint in the region to over 50,000 square feet. The company owns and operates data centres on three continents totalling nearly one million square feet of space.

On February 12, Tata Communications' announced plans to invest USD $180 million in development of data centre and associated services in Singapore,(http://www.tatacommunications.com/news/release-view.asp?d=20090212- investment) scheduled to open in 2010. (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.) The addition of London 2 and the Singapore data centre are part of the global expansion to address demands of enterprise customers worldwide, while supporting Tata Communications' commitment to invest more than $2 billion to further fuel global expansion plans.

http://www.tier3savings.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- The Middle East mobile sector is undergoing significant changes. We have seen more licensed operators entering the market and deregulation continues to change too.

The Gulf Cooperation Council market — namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman — is estimated to have a population of 37 million of whom a high percentage of around 40% are foreign workers and their families.

It is a market that enjoys a high standard of living — as reflected by per capita GDP estimated at around $22,200 in 2007.

Research reveals that pricing for mobile services too has tremendously changed over time. Many operators have moved from one plan on offer to multiple plans and also have a focus on offering attractive pricing for friends and family — which, as the figures show, is a large proportion of the population.

The charts provide some pricing benchmarks for GCC operators and other Arab countries surrounding GCC.

For comparison reason, we make a comparison with an European operator — in this case a UK provider.

We have selected one operator in each country. Prices do vary across operators in each country but not that significantly in terms of the base prices — that is, rental and usage charge.

The monthly rental charge for a postpaid product is relatively low if compared with some European countries. For example, Vodafone UK's lowest priced postpaid product is the SIM-only 18 month contract for €17.23 a month. However this plan includes 100 minutes of talk time and 500 SMSs.

Usage charges for on-net calls — calls on the same network — or off-net, to phones on a different network, do not vary greatly — with the exception of Qatar, where an off-net call is charged significantly more than an on-net call.

Vodafone's UK prices in the plan used as a comparison are €0.23 on-net and €0.40 off-net per minute, for calls outside the bundle.

SMS traffic is priced at the lowest in Oman, with Qatar charging the highest. In Qatar an on-net SMS is priced lower than off-peak and there are also peak and off-peak rates.

The off-peak rate for an on-net SMS is €0.04. This price is more in line with those charged by operators across the region.

For comparison in the UK, Vodafone's price for an SMS outside the basis 500-message bundle is €0.14.

A number of operators in the Middle East offer family and friends schemes that bring the price down for calling certain numbers.

In Oman, Omantel's family and friends service is available for subscribers on the Mada3 plan. Subscribers receive discounts on four pre-selected numbers with a 10% discount on national call rates to on-net numbers and a 5% discount on international call rates to international numbers.

The discount is on both peak and off-peak hours. A one time charge of €1.87 is levied for the activation of the service.

Saudi Telecom's friends and family service in Saudi Arabia offers a 25% discount on calls to certain numbers.

Postpaid customers can choose one of three options, from five numbers within the network to four on the network and one international. A €0.76 charge is levied.

In the UAE, Etisalat offers a favourite country plan which provides a 25% postpaid and 20% prepaid discount on international dialled calls to one selected country.

However national and international call charges are 10% higher than the standard rates.

Also in the UAE, Du offers two schemes, neither attracting a monthly fee: Me&Mine National gives a 10% discount on two selected national numbers; and Me&Mine International gives 50% on two selected international numbers

Voice pricing will further evolve as competition becomes fiercer. The comparisons shown above reveal that pricing for the entry product is relatively attractive. Pricing is likely to become more complex with the addition of bundled offerings both in terms of price plans including communication as well as add on
bundles.

To date, if compared with other regions, far fewer add-on and bundled offers are available to the Middle East subscriber base.

http://www.voicenetglobal.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- This is a topic of hot debate as the December 31st expiration date for the program rapidly approaches. The Treasury Grant Program was created under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help commercial solar property owners close the gap between the money they need and the money available from private tax equity investors. Owners can choose to recover up to 30% of their costs to build solar projects instead of taking the solar Investment Tax Credit. The grants have provided $5.5 billion of support to the solar industry and an additional $15 billion to the wind industry.

The Treasury Grant Program rules require construction on projects begin before December 31, 2010 and be completed by December 31, 2016. California, feeling the pressure of the impending deadline to begin construction before the end of the year, is caught up in a growing frenzy to approve potential solar projects. There is even speculation about whether some of the projects being approved are truly feasible.

Renewable energy companies are sounding the alarm, cautioning Congress that more than 100,000 solar and wind jobs will be lost if the program is not renewed. Additionally, solar projects which are expected to come online and provide 2,000 megawatts of solar energy could be affected if the grants are not extended. This would reduce the amount of solar energy that can be provided by 1200 megawatts. Extending the program for an additional year would provide enough solar energy to power 28,000 homes. However, these warnings may be landing on deaf ears.

The battle to renew the Treasury Grant Program has been difficult. Initially, Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Max Baucus, lost his bid for a one-year extension to the grant program. Additionally, the next version of President Obama's tax agreement didn't even include a provision to extend the program.

However, the most recent proposal which has been approved by the Senate does provide for an extension. Senators are urging Republicans to renew the Treasury Grant Program.

The real question is whether solar and wind technologies can survive without the monetary subsidies and tax credits that the Treasury Grant Program currently provides. There is much debate about the answer to this question. Even the CEOs of the various solar and wind companies are not in agreement. While some believe the industry will suffer a severe financial blow that they cannot overcome, others believe that financing beyond the United States could be the answer to their continuing success in developing clean technologies. There may be a need to reach out to other countries interested in renewable energy to sustain growth here in the United States. One thing everyone agrees on is that until the government implements long-term monetary support and solid policies for developing clean energy technologies, their future is uncertain.

http://www.granttreasury.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- New Tier 4 emission regulations for tractor engines rated at 174hp, and above, come into effect in just six weeks time. It sounds complicated, but as machinery editor Derek Casey shows, there are just two ways manufacturers will meet the tough new standards.

It can sound like rocket science, all this talk of emissions standards. Between catalytic reductions and cooled recirculation, a farmer would be forgiven for thinking he needs a degree in chemistry before buying a new tractor.

Believe me; it's far easier than it sounds. There are really just two methods that will be used to meet the Tier 4 standards that come into effect on 1 January, 2011.

The first method is selective catalytic reduction (SCR). SCR converts nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water by dosing exhaust fumes from the tractor's engine with small amounts of 'AdBlue', a urea solution that will be sprayed into the exhaust emissions downstream of the engine.

AdBlue is already used in road haulage on lorries, and a second tank will be needed on the tractor for holding it.

The second method is exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), which recirculates exhaust fumes back into the engine and uses a particulate filter to capture pollutants.

No AdBlue is required, but a bigger engine cooling package is required because you are recirculating hot exhaust gas back into the engine.

So, which method will your preferred manufacturer use?

Case IH

Case IH (through engine supplier, Fiat Powertrain Technologies) will use SCR for medium and heavy duty engines (greater than 100hp), and EGR for light-duty engines (less than 100 hp).

According to Case IH engineers, ''SCR in high-horsepower engines offers the advantages of lower fuel consumption, longer service intervals and better power response than EGR. This is because SCR allows clean, cool intake air without exhaust gas into the combustion chamber, avoiding the need for a larger
cooling system and providing a more complete fuel burn than EGR.

''Because SCR is separate from the main engine function, power and fuel efficiency are not compromised. Engine performance improves because SCR reduces emissions in the exhaust stream, allowing the engine to be tuned for performance and fuel efficiency.

''We are seeing a minimum 10% average operating cost improvement over our Tier 3 engines. Oil change intervals have lengthened to 600 hours because hot exhaust fumes are not recirculated.''

SCR requires the addition of AdBlue, which is commonly used in road haulage trucks and is currently priced at about the same as diesel fuel. Case IH says the AdBlue will be used at a rate of 3% to 5% of diesel fuel.

Taking AdBlue use into account, Case IH claims an average 10% improvement in operating costs over previous models, as a result of fuel savings and reduced oil changes.

MF, Fendt & Valtra

AGCO, including the popular brands in Ireland of Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Valtra, are already using SCR on high-horsepower tractors (including the MF8600 and Valtra S series).

AGCO was the first agricultural manufacturer to feature SCR technology in their Massey Ferguson tractors at the 2007 Agritechnica. AGCO engineers say they selected SCR technology because it is ''the most effective and fuel-efficient method of meeting present and future EPA emissions requirements.''

According to AGCO, SCR will deliver a substantial improvement in fuel economy while reducing emissions.

''Tier III technology alone can achieve NOx reductions in excess of 90% and delivers uncompromised horsepower and torque from a cooler running engine. It also delivers up to 20.8% in fuel savings compared with competing models,'' the company stated.

Service and maintenance needs of the engine are unaffected. Maintenance of the Tier III SCR solution is minimal.

The main diesel particulate filter must be changed every two years or after 4,500 hours of use. The AdBlue is consumed at a rate of approximately 3% of the fuel used. This means that for every 100 litres of fuel used, three litres of AdBlue will be consumed.

http://www.tier3savings.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- Global Uprising is an on-line community of young activists around the world who want to tell their stories about the critical issues we all face today and share them with others around the globe. Their stories have been gathered on a website that wants to be a hub for news on activism undertaken by young people in many countries and a forum for communication.

There's a growing new global movement for justice today, and it's largely driven by a new generation of activists. Young people from the US and around the world are standing up for peace, the environment, and for social justice - and they're demanding to be heard.

Global Uprising documents this new youth movement through compelling first person narratives, interviews with both new and seasoned activists, poster art, poetry, and striking black and white photographs. Issues addressed include globalisation and economic inequity, racism and women's rights, police brutality, media control, sweatshop labour and fair trade, the prison industrial complex and the criminalisation of youth, old-growth forest destruction, and biotechnology.

The site and the overall project is connected to the book "Global Uprising - Confronting the Tyrannies of the 21st Century - Stories from a New Generation of Activists" by Neva Welton and Linda Wolf (New Society Publishers; November 2001; Paperback; $17.95) that reflects the new global youth movement for peace and justice. The book is a concrete voice of youth involvement in international issues and it is able to demonstrate what youth can do and what they can change by taking action.

"Global Uprising" begins with the historical events of November 1999, when more than 50,000 people and 700 organisations demonstrated in Seattle (and in solidarity events around the world) to protest the World Trade Organization's (WTO) corporate agenda and the new round of closed-door trade talks that
govern the global economy. Students, teachers, farm workers, factory and steel workers, feminists, environmentalists, scientists, spiritual leaders, gay rights activists, animal lovers, magic workers, shopkeepers, friends and families all took to the streets for the sake of global justice.

From the 60 stories and essays of these activists, the book documents this new youth movement through compelling first person narratives and interviews. Because it cannot be easily divided into categories such as social, economic, political, or environmental activism, the diverse material in Global Uprising is loosely organised by tabs in the margin indicating Context, Tactics, Mentor, Witness, Organization, or Resources (of which there are many). Many of the pieces offer "Links" to related websites, and short quotations sprinkled throughout offer "Another Voice," the thoughts or observations of individual activists. Powerful black-and-white photographs capture the visible spirit and passion of activists at work and at rest.

http://www.voicenetglobal.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- No one could have foreseen the simple white suit Lennon wore to the famous Abbey Road recording studio was destined to become one of the most recognized, scrutinized, satirized and parodied garments in rock-n-roll folklore. The iconic two piece suit Lennon wore the morning the cover shot for the 1969 Abbey Road LP was taken has recently come on the market, along with the blazer Lennon wore in the 1971 Documentary for "Imagine", and a Chrysler station wagon from the NYC Lennon-Ono household. These important items will be selling at Braswell Auction Galleries 26th annual New Years Day sale alongside many rare and one of a kind items from other notable estates.

The Abbey Road image is one of the most unforgettable album covers of all time and the famous shot for the final Beatles album took on a life of it's own, sparking more controversy than most rock n roll photographs do by contributing to the morbidly fun urban legend "Paul is Dead" circulating at the time. These rumors alleged McCartney's accidental death, and the subsequent cover up were cryptically revealed by clues found in the lyrics of and especially on the Abbey Road jacket cover image. The suit figured prominently, suggesting the cover shot was symbolic of Paul's funeral procession with John dressed in white represented the clergy.

Conspiracies aside, it would be difficult to overestimate the impact Ian McMullen's famed shot of the four musicians crossing the zebra cross walk has had on countless Beatle fans. Forty years after first being published, the familiar image is so indelibly imprinted on the public imagination it serves as the catalyst for thousands of multi-generational Beatles fans to make the pilgrimage to the famed spot and pay homage. The world famous corner has such an enduring appeal that a dedicated webcam (http://www.abbeyroad.com) streams 24/7 as devoted fans disrupt traffic while striking the famous tableau.

As the recent acquisition of the Beatles portfolio of songs to Apple/iTunes and the current trippy Swedish video circulating on YouTube indicate the Beatles, and John Lennon's popularity have not waned and interest in the auction is expected to be high. The one-of-a-kind Ted Lapidus suit and the blazer were previously sold by Julien's Auction in 2005 for $120, 000 to collector Anthony Puglisese, his collection was sold in 2008 at Gurnsey's auction, and the current owner is divesting of his very large collection a few special pieces at a time. Braswell's owner Gary Braswell says "Having property from John Lennon estate is a very special event, it's exciting to be a part of it. The interest in the white suit, the "Imagine" jacket and the car transcend any kind of traditional category, we're looking foreword to collectors from all over the spectrum to participate"

Braswell Galleries is pleased to offer an unusual pen, ink and mixed media work by controversial artist Damien Hirst. Mr. Hirst, born June7th 1965 in Bristol, England, is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist to date. Mr. Hirst's central theme throughout his works is Death. He is well represented in major museums worldwide. This work features a mid 1990's black ink drawing on paper of a male profile, the head outlined with stubbed out cigarette butts fastened to the paper with tape, signed lower right Damien Hirst.

Other examples of highlights in the annual New Years Day Auction are two rare, signed and numbered, untouched color photographs of a nude Marilyn Monroe taken by Bert Stern during the famous photo shoot known as "The Last Session",a mixed media on paper portrait from controversial contemporary artist Damien Hirst, a pencil and gouache depicting performers on stage by German artist George Gorsz, and a magnificent antique intricately carved and detailed 9' model of a cathedral. Many unique items from the estate of Pulitzer Prize winning author of the American classic "The Grapes of Wrath" John Steinbeck, including an etched Lalique charger depicting a tiger with quotes from the William Blake poem "Tyger, Tyger", several autographed books and papers and personal items will be sure to generate interest. A large portfolio of never before documented watercolors and sketches by artist Jacque Lipshitz will be crossing the block as well as a fine, large bronze of horses and a jockey from French artist Leon Bureau.

http://www.iconicwhite.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Madhya Pradesh, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- A data center consolidation project by the state of Oregon reduces the number of divisions from 12 to one. The $20.6 million consolidation project is estimated to save the state $5 million to $10 million every year while improving the quality of the data center to a Tier-3 facility on the Uptime Institute's tier system.

The idea for the data center consolidation started in 2001 when the state was in tough economic times and looking for any way to save a buck. The $20.6 million price tag was difficult to swallow, but the state department of administrative services decided to take on the project with the blessing of the governor.

The chance to upgrade Oregon's IT infrastructure to a modern, more secure data center facility was exciting, but had its roadblocks. Some were skeptical that the project would save the state money – so the political wrangling began.

"One of the things we got drilled on early in the project was how can a data center be more secure when you have all your eggs in one basket," said project manager Brian Oylear. "But the state of Oregon decided it was more secure to have it all in one facility.

They felt it was more efficient and easier to manage security risks if it was brought under one roof."

In the 12 scattered divisions, the public could get within one door of the hot floor, and with some mild manipulation of building security, slip into the data center, Oylear said. With the new facility, there are two sets of security doors for the only entry into the data center. There is also an exit-only egress that goes into another part of the facility.

The data center is working further to restrict access to the hot floor, making it available only to the operations team members. Even systems administrators who want to get in there would have to endure a rigorous approval process.

"I wish I could take you all there to show you how much of a Tier-0 facility we had," Oylear told attendees during a presentation at last week's Afcom conference in Orlando. "It was quite a sight to see when you walked in there. System admins sitting there with their lunches on top of disk storage. It's
quite a difference when we end up at the end of the day with a tightly managed floor system."

Once the contractor, J.E. Dunn Construction, and the architect, Yost Grube Hall Architecture, got the go-ahead in September 2004, they were off. They broke ground the next month and the facility was finished less than a year after that. They used a design-build approach, allowing the contractor to start building the data center while the architect was still designing later stages of the project.

"We were making design decisions throughout the process, often in the meetings and on site," said Miles Woofter, the project architect from Yost Grube Hall. "That takes, I think, a high degree of confidence on both sides of the team."

The state also brought in the Uptime Institute, a consulting firm that sets tier levels depending on how reliable a data center is.

A Tier-3 facility has redundant power and cooling supplies and allows for data center maintenance without affecting operations.

Tier-3 facilities are only outdone by Tier-4 data centers, which are basically immune to any downtime problems.

The consolidation included reducing the raised floor from about 25,000 sq. ft. to 15,000 sq. ft. Before the consolidation, raised floor space was being used for storage, desk space and other functions that didn't require a hot floor, Oylear said. The consolidation also let the state to cut staff from almost 300 full-time employees to about 100, a good thing for the state budget, but controversial nonetheless.

http://www.tier3savings.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm