| Revolution in the power lines
A QUIET revolution in the way the nation plans for its future electricity needs took place in Holyoke earlier this month, when the operator of the region's power grid held an auction for the cheapest ways to meet demand until 2011. The big winner was conservation. The recent auction by the nonprofit Independent System Operator New England was the first in the country in which bidders could propose ways to cut demand and increase efficiency, instead of just increasing supply. The auction proved that it can be cheaper for a system to arrange, for instance, for big power users to ease off the air-conditioning on the hottest days than for the system to look to other options, such as the construction of new peak-power plants that burn costly natural gas. Looking ahead to 2010 and 2011, the ISO had decided it needed about 1,800 new megawatts of capacity - enough to power about 1.3 million homes.
Trane Directors Declare Quarterly Dividend of 16 Cents Per Share of ...
PISCATAWAY, N.J., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Trane Inc. (NYSE: TT) today declared a quarterly dividend of 16 cents per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on March 20, 2008, to shareholders of record on March 3, 2008. On Dec. 17, 2007, Trane announced that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (NYSE: IR) . The agreement is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2008. About Trane Trane Inc. provides heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and services that enhance the quality and comfort of the air in homes and buildings around the world. The company offers customers a broad range of energy-efficient HVAC systems; dehumidifying and air cleaning products; service and parts support; advanced building controls; and financing solutions.
Middle-class autoworkers cling to way of life amid benefit cuts
Just two weeks after his 18th birthday, Randy Horter started his first factory job, helping make clutches and air conditioning systems at an auto parts plant. Since then, the 49-year-old Chrysler line worker has cobbled together a career working at various manufacturing plants and made a nice, middle-class life with his wife, Candace, who works at the same Chrysler plant in Belvidere, Ill. The couple earns about $75,000 a year, unless one or the other is laid off. They own two used cars and their home. Between them, they raised five children, now grown, and were hoping to start preparing for retirement. .
48 killed as tornadoes wreak havoc in US
Violent storms and tornadoes ripped through five southern US states late yesterday and early today, killing at least 48 people and injuring more than 100 others. The powerful winds destroyed homes, flattened warehouses and collapsed the roof of a shopping mall. The victims included 24 people in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama. The severe storms moved eastwards this morning and tornado warnings were posted for Georgia and northern Florida, the New York Times said. In Arkansas, two parents and their 11-year-old daughter died after their home "took a direct hit" from the storm, the Pope County coroner, Leonard Krout, said. "Neighbours and friends who were there said: 'There used to be a home there,'" Krout said. Rescuers were carrying out door-to-door searches in an attempt to find more victims.
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