DC Water first in North America to use thermal hydrolysis for wastewater treatment.

Washington, D.C. — The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is set to begin work on two massive environmental projects at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, the world’s largest facility of its kind.

Blue Plains processes an average of 370 million gallons of wastewater per day.

Thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digesters

DC Water will be the first in North America to use thermal hydrolysis for wastewater treatment. When completed, it will be the largest thermal hydrolysis plant in the world. Though the practice has been employed in Europe, the water sector in North America has not yet adopted this technology. Industry leaders across the continent eagerly await the results of DC Water’s undertaking.

The process “pressure-cooks” the solids left over after wastewater treatment to produce combined heat and power—generating 13 MW of electricity ($10 million savings annually). These vessels can also ingest scraps, fats and grease to generate power. ($400 million project)

“DC Water is the largest consumer of electricity in the District, and the digesters should cut our consumption by a third,” said General Manager George S. Hawkins. “That’s enough to power 8,000 homes. We’re also saving $10 million in trucking costs and reducing our carbon emissions by cutting the amount of solids at the end of the process in half.”

Enhanced Nutrient Removal Facilities

Enhanced Nutrient Removal Facilities (ENR) is claimed to reduce the amount of nitrogen in effluent to meet the new U.S. EPA and Chesapeake Bay Program goals of 4.7 million pounds per year or less in 2014—one of the most stringent requirements in the world.

“The Enhanced Nutrient Removal Facilities are the result of years of technology research performed at Blue Plains,” said Chairman William M. Walker. “Blue Plains was the first to reach the 2010 Chesapeake Bay Program goals for nitrogen reduction, and we’re well on track to be the first for the next round.”

Nitrogen related run-off from agriculture and sewage are major pollutants of U.S. and global waterways. They represent the downside of the advantages of the Green Revolution.

These projects are slated for completion in 2014. There is more information on the project progress at dcwater.com.

Source: PR Newswire http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/dcwater/50282/

White House Administration Member and Economic Thought Leaders Address Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum

U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science Dr. Steven Koonin States Importance of U.S. Leadership and Examines U.S. Role in Global Energy Sustainability

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Platts — U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science Steven Koonin asked a group of energy industry leaders today to analyze America’s commitment to and progress toward sustainability against a challenging global backdrop, stating the need for engaged conversation about energy resources and how to use them in a more sustainable manner.

At the third annual Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum entitled “The Outlook for Sustainability: Charting a Course Amidst Economic, Geopolitical and Environmental Challenges” Koonin urged energy executives to apply a construct sense of balance in carving out such strategies, as “sustainability is about managing imbalances.” Those imbalances include the gap between oil reserves and demand for oil, as well as those inherent in the current human relationship with the carbon cycle.

Koonin also told attendees: “Energy changes are slow unless there is a deliberate drive for acceleration.”

The forum brought together globally renowned economists, analysts and business leaders to debate the viability of many of the sustainable solutions now under discussion or implementation worldwide. Koonin’s keynote address was followed by roundtable discussions debating the politics and economics of — and industry preparedness for — future electric power and oil supply solutions.

As part of the Forum, leading economists participated today in a lively debate about the true economics of proposed sustainable solutions for future electric power and oil supply. Among the issues discussed: cap and trade schemes, demand response including “smart meter” and “smart grid,” the renaissance of nuclear power, renewable energy such as wind and solar, clean coal technologies, OPEC, the Middle East and Russian oil supply, and biofuels.

Guerry Waters, vice president, industry strategy and marketing utilities global business unit, Oracle, led discussion surrounding the economics of sustainability, stating that achieving sustainability will be no small task or quick fix. Panelists included John Kingston, Platts global director of oil, who talked about how some U.S. companies are “betting their futures on what they believe will be a bonanza from shale natural gas.” Kingston also pointed to analysts who question the ultimate efficacy of that strategy.

Sarah O. Ladislaw, fellow, Energy and National Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies, discussed the intersection of security and sustainability, pointing out how “consumer feelings of insecurity increased when the price of oil went up.” Michael Mandel, former chief economist for BusinessWeek, “was optimistic, long-term” despite projections about the industry in the face of a global population crisis and global warming prospects that will exacerbate energy supply. Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs, McGraw-Hill Construction, pointed to housing starts and transmission line expansion: “The leading indicators for the construction industry trend upward.”

David Wyss, chief economist, Standard & Poor’s, maintained that the U.S. economy has bottomed out after the longest and deepest recession since the 1930s, “but the recovery remains fragile.” Wyss expects the recovery to be slow and uneven, because “there are too many internal and external imbalances to support robust growth.”

James Parish, executive vice president, energy solutions and LEAN transformations, RWD, headed up the other panel on sustainability. Michael F. Mansfield, Sr., chief executive officer at Mansfield Oil Company, discussed the pre-eminent position of sustainable policy at Mansfield. Roberta Bowman, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, Duke Energy Technology, maintained that “sustainability, on an industry basis, will only come about through dedication to efficiency, collaboration and capacity-building.”

Curt L. Hebert, Jr., executive vice president, external affairs, Entergy Corp., approached sustainability from the perspective of “conduct,” as well as creating proper incentives and price signals. Pedro Azagra, chief development officer, Iberdola, tied sustainability policy to the proper servicing of clients and communities.

John Caroselli, executive vice president of National Grid, discussed the innovative way the company tasks sustainability goals to its individual lines of business and how to mobilize customers to get on board.

R.W. Beck was the principal sponsor of the Forum joined by co-sponsors Oracle, RWD and Capgemini.

The names of winners of the Platts Global Energy Awards “Award of Excellence” can be found at: http://img.en25.com/Web/Platts/AOE_GEO_Forum_Final.pdf.

The forum precedes the energy industry’s most prestigious annual awards program, now in its 11th year and hosted by Platts, the world’s leading energy and metals information provider, which this year is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The awards showcase exemplary accomplishments by businesses and individuals worldwide.

As part of the program, winners will be announced on December 3 for several new or updated categories for 2009, including Green Energy Initiative of the Year, Deal of the Year; Infrastructure Project of the Year; and Energy Producer of the Year. The annual awards finalists and winners exemplify the spirit of innovation and an enduring commitment to employees, customers, shareholders, the environment, and the energy industry as a whole.

About Platts: Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a leading global provider of energy and commodities information. With a century of business experience, Platts serves customers across more than 150 countries. An independent provider, Platts serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, emissions, nuclear power, coal, petrochemical, shipping, and metals markets from 17 offices worldwide. Platts’ real-time news, pricing, analytical services and conferences help markets operate with transparency and efficiency. Traders, risk managers, analysts, and industry leaders depend upon Platts to help them make better trading and investment decisions. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies: Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, Capital IQ, J.D. Power and Associates, McGraw-Hill Construction and Aviation Week. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were $6.4 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE Platts

ICON2009 Succeeds in Busan

BUSAN, South Korea, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-Asia/ –

– Became the discussion forum of world renowned game, animation and movie CG specialists
– About 2,600 digital contents professionals and preliminary workers from 15 countries participated in the event

The bureau of ICON2009 (Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (BIPA), http://www.iconconf.or.kr , President: Gyucheol Kim) announced that it has successfully hosted ICON2009 (International Contents Creator’s Conference) for 2 days from Nov. 26 to 27, in the biggest scale ever for the event.

Celebrating the 3rd year, the theme of this year’s event was “Future Vision of Core Leading Contents of Digital Entertainment Industry.” For the first time, the conference was held in Busan along with G-Star 2009, adding more profundity to the whole event.

Each year, world renowned game, animation and movie CG specialists participate in ICON and present the current trends and the future vision of their technology. In this year’s event, 28 professionals from 8 countries, including the US, China and Japan, and 26 Korean specialists lectured in 45 classes in 4 sessions.

The keynotes included the introduction to Blade & Soul by Jaehyun Bae, the Chief of Development Unit in NC Soft; the presentation on the world gaming industry by Nocolay Nickelsen, the vice president of Funcom, famous for Age of Conan; and the one on the Chinese market by Diana Li, the CEO of Shanda games. Each of these keynotes was hailed by industry followers.

Also, the development know-how and the trailer videos were revealed for the first time ever in the world to draw attention from many enthusiasts. An online game Dragon Ball Online and a Japanese animation Yonayona Penguin were partially revealed by the developers before their official launch in the market.

“In the event, the current trends and the future vision of creating, marketing and developing digital contents were presented, and the Korean professionals and preliminary workers could find information and hope for moving one step ahead of their current position,” said BIPA, the organizer of this conference.

Increased by 38% from last year, 2,596 people from 15 countries worldwide participated in this year’s event, which was far more developed both in quality and in quantity. Also, it is expected to play a large part in creating a new image for Busan as a world-class city specializing in digital contents.

    Contact

     Jungwon Yoon
     Tel:   +82-51-749-9432
     Email: gardeny@busanit.or.kr

SOURCE BUSAN IT Industry Promotion Agency

The Copenhagen climate conference: key EU objectives

International negotiations were launched at the end of 2007 to draw up a United Nations agreement on tackling climate change for the period after 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires. The EU wants these negotiations to result in a comprehensive, ambitious, fair, science-based and legally binding global treaty.

The new treaty should aim to ensure global warming is kept below 2°C above the pre-industrial temperature. It should cover all elements of the 2007 Bali Action Plan, which set the agenda and scope of the international negotiations.

Given the slow progress made in the negotiations to date, and a lack of consensus about the shape of the eventual agreement, it is now unlikely that the treaty can be finalised at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December as originally planned.

The EU’s goal is therefore to make as much progress as possible in Copenhagen towards a full treaty and to reach an ambitious and comprehensive political agreement covering all its key elements.

This agreement would shape the full contours of the final outcome of the negotiating process, provide the guidance needed to elaborate it into a legal text, and specify both a process for doing so and, if possible, the shape of the legal agreement to be reached.

From the EU’s viewpoint, the Copenhagen agreement will need to cover four elements:

1. Pledges on emissions and finance

The two central pledges that developed and developing countries alike will be expected to make in Copenhagen are their contributions in terms of mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions and of providing financial assistance, particularly to the poorest and most vulnerable developing countries.

On mitigation, developed countries should make ambitious, binding and quantified emission limitation or reduction commitments. To keep the 2°C target within reach, these commitments need to amount to a cut in collective emissions from developed countries in the order of 30% below 1990 levels by 2020.

Action is also needed by developing countries. In particular the more economically advanced developing countries should pledge ambitious, quantified mitigation actions. Overall developing country pledges should amount to a substantial deviation – in the order of 15-30% – below the currently predicted growth rate in their collective emissions by 2020.

The EU has committed unconditionally to cut its emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020 and is implementing this goal through the climate and energy package ( IP/09/628 ). It has also committed to scale up its emission cut to 30% provided other industrialised countries agree to make comparable reductions and developing countries contribute adequately to the global effort according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities.

Regarding finance , a deal is needed on both ‘fast start’ financing to help developing countries strengthen their capacities to tackle climate change in the short term (2010-2012) and a significant scaling up of public and private financial flows to developing countries from 2013. The EU is ready to contribute its fair share of both.

Total international public finance required by developing countries to combat climate change is estimated by the European Commission in the range of €22-50 billion per year by 2020 under a global agreement that is in line with the EU’s level of ambition. The EU wants contributions to be shared fairly on the basis of a comprehensive global key reflecting contributing countries’ emission levels and ability to pay (GDP). All countries except the least developed should contribute, but developing countries would be net beneficiaries.

It is vital that both mitigation and financial commitments are captured in the Copenhagen agreement in the strongest possible manner. The best way to do this is to include them in a Decision by the Confererence of Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

2. Key architectural components of the future treaty

The key architectural components of the future treaty need to be agreed because they can significantly affect how ambitious the mitigation pledges are in practice. They are also needed to ensure the pledges are implemented.

These key architectural components include the following:

• A procedure for codifying emission mitigation contributions by developed and developing countries and for reviewing and updating them;
• Targets for reducing global emissions from the international aviation and maritime transport sectors, an international arrangement to address emissions of hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs) and a work programme for the agriculture sector;
• A framework for action on adaptation to climate change;
• A framework for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and promoting conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) in developing countries;
• Accounting rules for emission changes due to land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) in developed countries;
• The role of low carbon growth plans and nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs);
• The role and use of carbon markets, including reform of the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation mechanism and the establishment of sectoral carbon market mechanisms;
• Institutional arrangements for the management and matching up of international financial resources with developing countries’ financing needs;
• A framework for stepping up international cooperation on technology;
• The length of the treaty’s commitment period; starting levels for measuring emission reductions; common accounting rules for the banking of national emission rights (assigned amount units) from the Kyoto Protocols first commitment period; and a framework of rules on compliance;
• Strengthened rules on m onitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of action on mitigation and adaptation and of related support.

The conference should anchor political agreements on each of these elements in the text of an overarching COP Decision.

3. A ‘fast start’ deal

The implementation of key elements of the Copenhagen agreement should start immediately after the conference, facilitated by the provision of targeted ‘fast start’ financial support to developing countries.

Possible elements of the ‘fast start’ deal are:

• Preparation of low carbon growth plans and NAMAs, including financing to support these activities;
• Readiness for REDD, including financing for capacity building and elaboration of national forest inventories;
• Implementation of the adaptation action framework, including the set-up of any institutions and provision of financing to developing countries for further adaptation plans and their implementation;
• Preparations for implementing sectoral carbon market mechanisms, including capacity building for the monitoring and reporting of emissions from key sectors in advanced developing countries;
• Preparations for the implementation of a strengthened system of monitoring, reporting and review (MRV).

Each of these elements could be elaborated through separate Decisions taken by the COP or by the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP) to the Kyoto Protocol.

4. The follow-up process

The international negotiations have been organised on two parallel ‘tracks’ under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol respectively. The Copenhagen agreement needs to decide on which tracks decisions on points 1, 2 and 3 above will be taken and what follow-up process(es) will be created.

The EU has made clear it wants to see a single, new, legally binding treaty as the outcome of the current two-track process. The treaty should contain all the essential elements of the Kyoto Protocol plus further emission commitments by all developed countries, including the US, and emission actions by developing countries. It should be capable of universal ratification.

The EU has several reasons for this preference:

• Universal participation: a single instrument favours universal participation because only one ratification process would be required. By contrast, an agreement involving two or more instruments would run the risk of them not achieving an identical number of ratifications and of not entering into force at the same time.
• Consistency: A single instrument enables consistency because it avoids separate parallel international regimes.
• Institutions: a single instrument would offer better opportunities to streamline the international institutional framework for addressing climate change, avoiding duplication and waste of resources.
• Carbon market: a single instrument would promote greater certainty for the international carbon market, given the risk of a fragmented international climate regime if two or more instruments require ratification.
• Differentiation: a single instrument does not preclude the differentiation of obligations between different countries.

Further information:

Press release: IP/09/1867

Climate Action website www.ec.europa.eu/climateaction

SOURCE: European Union Press Office

Brussels, 2 December 2009

Copenhagen conference must produce global, ambitious and comprehensive agreement to avert dangerous climate change.

The European Commission today underlined the crucial importance of reaching a global, ambitious and comprehensive climate agreement at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December. The European Union will be working to achieve maximum progress towards finalisation of an ambitious and legally binding global climate treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in 2013.

The conference must settle the key political elements of the treaty and set up a process and mid-2010 deadline for completing the full text. The Copenhagen agreement must also incorporate a ‘fast start’ deal allowing for immediate implementation or preparation of certain actions, including financial assistance to least developed countries. Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will both participate in the conference, as will some 90 other world leaders.

President Barroso said: “In Copenhagen world leaders must take the bold decisions needed to stop climate change from reaching the dangerous and potentially catastrophic levels projected by the scientific community. We must seize this chance to keep global warming below 2°C before it is too late. But Copenhagen is also an historic opportunity to draw the roadmap to a global low-carbon society, and in so doing unleash a wave of innovation that can revitalise our economies through the creation of new, sustainable growth sectors and “green collar” jobs. The European Union has set the pace with our unilateral commitment to cut emissions 20% by 2020 and our climate financing proposals for developing countries. We will be ready to scale up our emission reduction to 30% provided our partners in both the developed and the developing world take on their fair share of the global effort.”

Commissioner Dimas added: “I very much welcome that several major partners including the US and China have recently put concrete emission targets or actions on the table. The scientific evidence tells us that to keep global warming below 2°C, industrialised countries must cut their emissions to 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020 while developing countries need to hold their emissions growth at some 15-30% below projected levels in 2020. However, the aggregate offers from developed countries still fall well short of the level of ambition needed, so I urge those countries with weak targets to improve them. Moreover a number of provisions in the current negotiating texts would have the effect of reducing developed countries’ targets in practice. These provisions must be tightened up in Copenhagen. Ensuring the environmental integrity of the future treaty is of paramount importance to the EU.”

International negotiations

International negotiations were launched at the end of 2007 to draw up a United Nations agreement on tackling climate change for the period after 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires. For the European Union, these negotiations must result in a comprehensive, ambitious, fair, science-based and legally binding global treaty.

Given the slow progress made in the negotiations to date, and a lack of consensus about the shape of the eventual agreement, it is now unlikely that the treaty can be finalised in Copenhagen as originally planned.

The EU’s goal at the conference is therefore to make as much progress as possible towards a full treaty and to reach an ambitious and comprehensive political agreement covering all its key elements as well as a ‘fast start’ deal (see MEMO/09/534 ).

Copenhagen programme

For just over the first week of the conference, until 15 December, the negotiations will take place at official level. These will be followed, from 16 December until the end of the conference on 18 December, by a high-level segment. This will initially involve ministers and Commissioner Dimas, but from 17 December world leaders are invited to join them. More than 90 have already accepted, including President Barroso.

Commissioner Dimas will arrive in Copenhagen on 12 December to participate in an informal international ministerial meeting the next day hosted by Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister who will also chair the UN conference. Ms Hedegaard has been designated Commissioner for climate action in the next European Commission.

EU representation

The Swedish EU Presidency and the European Commission will be jointly responsible for negotiating on behalf of the EU in Copenhagen.

The EU ‘Troika’, comprising Sweden, the Commission and Spain (as the next EU Presidency), will hold daily press briefings at 1400. These will be streamed live and on demand on the website of the UN climate change convention at www.unfccc.int .

Further information:

The Copenhagen climate conference: key EU objectives: MEMO/09/534

Climate Action website : www.ec.europa.eu/climateaction

DG Environment Copenhagen page: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/copenhagen_09.htm

New Report: The Global Carbon Market 2009

LONDON, December 1 /PRNewswire/ — The global carbon market has grown from $11 billion in 2005 to $126 billion in 2008 accoring to a new report on http://www.companiesandmarkets.com.

The Global Carbon Market 2009: Trading Thin Air – http://www.companiesandmarkets.com/r.ashx?id=5rZnm7564169138

Global climate change and reduction of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are an important concern for many US businesses and throughout the world, and are shaping policies and initiatives. The United States is responsible of 23% of the world’s GHG emissions but as of 2009, there are no federal restrictions and no binding federal carbon trading system. However, many states and corporations have committed to cutting GHG through emissions trading.

Carbon emission credits are a key component of national and international emissions trading schemes that have been implemented to mitigate global warming. They provide a way to reduce greenhouse emissions on a large scale by capping total annual emissions, allowing the market to assign a monetary value to any shortfall through trading. Credits can be exchanged between businesses or bought and sold in international markets. Credits can also be used to finance carbon reduction schemes between trading partners and around the world. There are also many companies that sell carbon credits to commercial and individual customers interested in lowering their carbon footprint, on a voluntary basis.

For trading purposes, one allowance is equivalent to one metric ton of CO2 emissions. There are three legally binding carbon trading arrangements and one major voluntary market. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement with two main trading devices, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). The European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a government-backed trading program adopted by the European Council. The United States does not participate in the Kyoto Protocol but the US voluntary carbon markets can be divided into two main segments: the voluntary, but legally binding, cap-and-trade system that is the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the broader, non-binding, over the counter (OTC) offset market.

Some of the main markets for carbon reduction projects include renewable energy (solar, wind and hydropower), energy efficiency / demand-side management, methane capture or waste-to-energy, reforestation, carbon capture and storage (sequestration), power plant revamping and fuel switching. These are all sectors in which the United States excels, providing gateways into carbon market participation.

Emissions trading is on track to play a key role in the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy. As countries meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, the global carbon market has experienced rapid growth. From 2005 to 2008, the market grew from $11 billion to $126 billion. This growth and accompanying diversification has been made possible by an increasingly elaborate set of players. In addition to the suppliers, intermediaries and end users in the carbon market, services providers are also needed in the areas of quality control, legal advisory services, information and analysis and capacity building. Legal frameworks and regulatory bodies are also present.

Although the Kyoto Protocol will expire in 2012, there is general consensus that a cap-and-trade system will be established in the United States and a global carbon trading system will be a fixture in the world economy for decades. Carbon is predicted by some to become a commodity with its emissions regulated worldwide.

The Global Carbon Market 2009: Trading Thin Air – http://www.companiesandmarkets.com/r.ashx?id=5rZnm7564169138

Contact: Mike King, info@companiesandmarkets.com, +44-0203-086-8600

SOURCE Companiesandmarkets.com

Brussels, 25 November 2009

Commissioner Piebalgs participates in the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Wind Farm in Belgium

Energy commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, together with Belgian authorities, inaugurated recently in Estinnes, near Mons, Belgium, the world’s first wind park with giant 7MW wind turbines, a state-of-the art European technology achievement. The project for the development of the world’s most powerful wind turbine today was co-financed by the European Commission with up to € 3.3Million from the 7th Framework Programme. “Estinnes is a milestone on our ambitious road to sustainable energy. All those having worked hard to bring this project forward should take pride today in their achievements, and take courage for the work ahead”, said Commissioner Piebalgs after the inauguration.

This 7MW ENERCON E-126 wind turbine is not only the largest turbine ever put into operation in the world but it is also said to be the most efficient. For a wind park equipped with such turbines the utilization factor expressed in MW/km² increases by a factor 2,3 compared to applying state-of-the-art 2 MW class wind energy converters. To install this machine 198m high the world’s largest crawler crane was used, this is a 1.600 t crane, which was developed and constructed especially to lift the giant 127 m diameter rotor in one step.

This E-126 wind turbine comprises the most advanced power electronics in use in the wind sector and is able to provide grid stabilising ancillary services which before were reserved for conventional power plants. This project will be the largest and highest capacity wind park in the world that delivers services where power electronics have been incorporated in the wind turbines themselves. This innovative adoption of power control-electronics contributes to improving not only the performance of the wind energy converter but also the power system stability (regulation of active power, voltage, frequency and reactive power in both normal and emergency situations).

These new capabilities are a significant and indispensable feature to allow for a higher penetration of wind power into the European power systems.

The European Commission is committed to support the wind industry in achieving its 2020 target and namely to install a total wind power capacity of 180 GW.

European Commission welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.

The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force today – 1 December 2009. The occasion will be marked by a ceremony in the City of Lisbon organised jointly by the Portuguese Government, the Swedish Presidency and the European Commission.

The Commission believes that the new treaty provides significant new benefits for citizens and will settle the institutional debate for the foreseeable future. This will allow the European Union to fully concentrate on managing a smooth exit from the economic and financial crisis and pushing ahead with the 2020 strategy for greener growth.

President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso said, “The Treaty of Lisbon puts citizens at the centre of the European project. I’m delighted that we now have the right institutions to act and a period of stability, so that we can focus all our energy on delivering what matters to our citizens”.

The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. It will provide the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens’ demands.

The Treaty of Lisbon will ensure European citizens have their say in European affairs and see their fundamental rights set out in a charter. The EU will be better equipped to meet expectations in the fields of energy, climate change, cross-border crime and immigration. It will also be able to speak with a stronger voice on the international scene.

Among key improvements are:

• a more democratic and open and accountable Union – The European Parliament and national parliaments will now have a much greater say in the EU’s decision-making process, and citizens will have the right to know what their Ministers are deciding at the EU level. All European citizens will be given the opportunity to influence proposed EU laws.
• a more effective Union – through effective and streamlined institutions. Including swifter, more consistent decision-making on law and order issues, giving the EU greater ability to combat crime, terrorism and human trafficking.
• more rights for Europeans – the EU’s values and goals will be set down more clearly than ever before. And the charter of fundamental rights will be given the same legal status as the EU treaties themselves.
• a more prominent global actor – new posts have been created as part of work to bring more coherence between the different strands of its external policy, such as diplomacy, security, trade and humanitarian aid.

These improvements give the Union the capacity to deliver change, to make Europeans more secure and prosperous and to open up their opportunities to shape globalisation.

10 examples of benefits for European citizens

• A right for citizens to make a request to the Commission for it to propose a new initiative (“European citizens initiative”)
• Better protection for citizens through the new status given to the Charter of fundamental rights
• Diplomatic and consular protection for all EU citizens when travelling and living abroad
• Mutual assistance against natural or man-made catastrophes inside the Union, such as flooding and forest fires
• New possibilities to deal with cross border effects of energy policy, civil protection and combating serious cross border threats to health
• Common action on dealing with criminal gangs who smuggle people across frontiers
• Common rules to avoid asylum shopping where multiple applications are made to different member countries
• Tackling terrorism through the freezing of assets
• More democratic approach to EU decision-making (strengthened role of European Parliament and national Parliaments)
• An ability to provide urgent financial aid to third countries

Milestones concerning the Treaty of Lisbon:

• June 2007: European Council mandate for an Intergovernmental Conference aiming at amending the existing Treaties
• July-October 2007: Intergovernmental Conference
• Approval of the Treaty approved at the informal European Council on 18-19 October 2007
• 12 December 2007: Proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the Presidents of the European Parliament (EP), the Council and the Commission.
• 13 December 2007: Signature of the new Treaty in Lisbon
• December 2007 – November 2009: ratification procedures in all 27 Member States
• 1 December 2009: – entry into force of the Treaty

A copy of the Treaty of Lisbon can be found at: http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty

SOURCE: EUROPA.EU

The non-payment risk in European e-commerce has fallen to the lowest level in seven years. The chargeback ratio – the share of credit card payments charged back after an objection by the cardholder – is down to just 0.26%, from 0.34% in the year before.

Cologne, November 2009 – This is a record low in the history of the annual E-Commerce Report, which has been published since 2002 on the basis of payment transactions processed via the platform of Deutsche Card Services. This is one of the results described in the latest issue of the study by the Deutsche Bank subsidiary. In contrast to other research, the report on “Trends in E-Commerce Purchasing and Payment Behaviour” is based on real-life transactions, not on surveys. The database consists of roughly 30 million purchase transactions processed via the platform of Deutsche Card Services between October 2007 and September 2008.

Use of 3-D Secure technology helps to reduce the chargeback ratio further
Using the up-to-date security technology 3-D Secure considerably reduces the risk of fraud for merchants. This is evident from a look at the chargeback ratio for the new online payment method Maestro, where the use of the security technology is obligatory. The overall ratio is only 0.10% and declines to 0.07% if 3-D Secure is used. Even though 3-D Secure is not offered by all banks, using it makes sense for merchants. Merchants will not be exposed to the risk of a high number of credit card payment chargebacks if they want to use 3-D Secure, but an authentication is impossible because the cardholder or the cardholder’s bank do not support the system.

Chargeback ratio particularly low for German consumers
The decline in the chargeback ratio is largely due to the fact that the ratio for Germany fell from 0.19% to 0.12%. Most chargebacks occur because the cardholder has not authorised the transaction or because the card was not presented. 3-D Secure prevents such events, which are usually fraud attempts. 77.32% of all chargebacks are due to attempted fraud. The most important reason for a rejection of a credit card transaction in European e-commerce is that the financial institution or the authorisation system reject the card. The share of that reason rose by almost 2pp again. In contrast, the E-Commerce Report 2009 found that the importance of errors connected with card use (“card invalid”, “CVV not given or invalid”) had declined.

Ratio of fraud attempts much smaller in German e-commerce than in bricks-and-mortar trade
The chargeback ratio can be compared to the shoplifting ratio in stationary retail trade. The well-known EHI Retail Institute found that, in 2008, one out of 200 shopping baskets was not paid for. This is equivalent to a shoplifting ratio of 0.5% in Germany. This ratio is 0.38pp than the fraud ratio in German e-commerce, where only one out of 833 transactions is obviously a fraud attempt. This is equivalent to a chargeback ratio of 0.12%.

Risk of non-payment of direct debits declining
German consumers in particular still like direct debiting as an online payment method. However, from the merchants’ vantage point this payment method entails the risk of chargebacks. The debit charge may not be honoured because of a lack of funds in the debited account, because the account does not exist at all or because the account holder objects to the payment and questions its legitimacy. While the direct debit chargeback ratio fell from 4.27% to 3.24% in Germany, it is still much higher than the non-payment ratio for credit card payments. Lack of funds is still the main reason why direct debits are not honoured in Europe. The percentage of chargebacks on account of closed accounts has declined most, by about 2pp.

Chargeback ratio in UK shops has halved
British merchants saw the risk of non-payment halve when their customers used credit cards. This suggests that British merchants increasingly use fraud prevention measures. 3-D Secure is already obligatory for Maestro, so it seems the procedure was extended to credit cards. The fact that the direct debit chargeback ratio of consumers from the rest of Europe fell from 1.946% to 0.032% is probably due to the fact that these consumers have adapted online payment methods.

Rising transaction values increase the risk of non-payment for credit card transactions in e-commerce
According to the E-Commerce Report 2009 by Deutsche Card Services, the chargeback ratio rises in parallel to the transaction value. This was less evident in the preceding year. However, the trend is not visible for direct debits, where the chargeback ratio is highest for the transaction value category “below 10 €”. The direct debit chargeback ratio (4.802%) is highest for transactions worth less than EUR 10 in German shops. In other words: almost one out of 20 payments fails. It seems that merchants try to do without additional security measures in this low-price segment.

Non-payment risk of credit card transactions effected by German men doubles that of transactions effected by women
In Germany, the non-payment risk nearly doubles for credit card transactions effected by men in comparison to those effected by women. In contrast, in Europe as a whole, chargeback ratios are roughly equal for men and women. In all other regions analysed in the E-Commerce Report 2009 (UK and outside Europe) the chargeback ratios are lower for men. The direct debit chargeback ratio is nearly the same for both sexes. A clear difference only appears in the transaction value category above EUR 500, where the non-payment risk of direct debits is clearly higher for men.

E-Commerce Report 2009 segues seamlessly from former issues
The E-Commerce Report 2009 segues seamlessly from the former issues published as “Pago Reports”. The study only sheds a light on purchase transactions in European shops, since only merchants domiciled in Europe use the Deutsche Card Services platform. The transactions are initiated by customers from all over the world. The E-Commerce Report 2009 distinguishes between consumers from Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), the rest of Europe and countries outside Europe. It covers both traditional payment methods such as credit cards, direct debiting and offline payment methods (e.g. COD) and ever more popular new online payment methods such as giropay and Maestro.

The E-Commerce Report 2009 is available at a price of EUR 500 (excl. VAT) from the online shop of Deutsche Card Services from now on.

REPRODUCED FROM RELEASE BY DEUTSCHE BANK CARD SERVICES

Lessons From Recession Will Help SMEs’ Future Roadmap

NEW DELHI, November 30 /PRNewswire/ –

- Learning Lessons From Recession Important for Future Upswing.

- SMEs Should Graduate From Growth by Default to Growth by Design.

- SME Credit Rating Can Act as Bridge Between SMEs and Lending Institutions.

The issue of raising a robust tech-aligned SME in India came in for intensive discussion at the “Envisioning the Wired SME” conference, organized by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) and IndiaMART.com, at the Sheraton, Saket, in New Delhi on Saturday.

Discussing the issue of propelling the growth of SMEs in a focused session, Mr. Rakesh Rewari, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI, who also chaired the session, noted, “Despite the recession, the Indian SME has been able to produce winners in the midst of a global slowdown, because they largely do not have any capital expenditure or big buck spends.” Exhorting SMEs to learn from their showing in the past two years and prepare for the post-recession upswing, Rewari said, “Product diversification and tapping the overseas market will always allow an SME to sustain its value and grow faster.” Panelists for the session included Praful Jain, Head, Enterprise Practice, Markets, KPMG, R. Ganesh, Deputy General Manager, ICICI Bank and Parag Patki, CEO, SME Rating Agency of India.

Addressing the importance of growth, at a time many SMEs have managed to make a standing for themselves in the market, Praful Jain, Head, Enterprise Practice, Markets, KPMG, emphasized on the criticality of courage and conviction and a dire need to innovate, which would go a long way in overcoming resource crunch, something that plagues almost every SME. “With a problem-solving approach, if SMEs can use their existing resources judiciously, there is a conscious effort required to convert growth by default into growth by design. That will become a pillar for its growth.”

Addressing the need gap of SMEs’ needing small funding, R. Ganesh, Deputy General Manager of ICICI Bank, underlined the bank’s commitment to SMEs, which gets addressed by a separate dedicated SME unit, which addresses the needs of SMEs, which are not big enough to attract the attention of venture capital funds or angel investors. Asking SMEs to become more transparent and accountable for better credit support, Ganesh said, “There are limitations. Banks are extremely conscious about an SME’s transaction history, and that is where most SMEs cannot sail through.”

Parag Palki, CEO, SME Rating Agency of India, outlined the gradually increasing significance of a credit rating regime, which helps SMEs liaise with banks and funding agencies, by proving their credentials. “The mission is to act as a bridge between SMEs and lending institutions. A good rating will automatically aid and support an SME’s growth story.”

About IndiaMART.com

IndiaMART.com is India’s largest online B2B marketplace connecting global buyers with suppliers through business directories, online product catalogs, buy-sell offers, industry specific marketplaces, printed media and trade shows participation.

Founded in 1996, the company has a presence in over 100 cities pan-India. With approximately 1000 employees, IndiaMART.com offers an extensive range of value-added products and services to over 500,000 members and over 5 million global buyers across industries and verticals.

IndiaMART.com has won numerous awards over the years including Red Herring 100 Asia & Emerging India and the company has been widely covered by media such as CNBC, BBC, BusinessMoney, CNN, Businessworld, Economic Times, Financial Express, etc. Its existing investors include Intel Capital and Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (Times Group), India’s largest print media group.

    For more information, please visit:
http://www.indiamart.com/press-section/

    Media Contact:

    IndiaMART.com
    Arun Tyagi
    Marketing and PR
    M : +91-9711003832
    T : +91-120-3911000
    F : +91-120-2424943
    E : pr@indiamart.com

SOURCE Indiamart Intermesh Limited

Eurail Pass Expands Into Chinese Market

BEIJING, November 23 /PRNewswire/ –

- New Campaign Launched in the Asian Market

The Eurail Group G.I.E. is swiftly expanding by inviting the Chinese market to discover the European continent by train. Every year the number of Asians travelling through Europe with a Eurail Pass continues to grow and the number of Chinese travellers increased by a staggering 25% in 2008. Eurail launches a new marketing campaign starting with two Travel Trade seminars in Beijing and Shanghai on 23rd and 24th November, 2009.

According to Zhu Shanzhong, from the China National Tourism Administration “China remains Asia’s largest source of outbound tourism and exceeds the average world level,” Eurail supports this trend by further endorsing the Eurail Pass sales in China. For this purpose, representatives and journalists from the Chinese Travel Trade industry will participate in the Eurail marketing seminars in Beijing and Shanghai to further educate and inform the Chinese market about the advantages of travelling through Europe by train.

During 2009, Eurail Group celebrated its 50th Anniversary and in the five decades since 1959 (when only one type of pass was available), Eurail has become the market leader in European rail passes. From humble beginnings when little more than 5,000 passes were sold to overseas travellers in their first year, the idea of a pre-paid pass allowing unlimited mileage across the European continent has become a huge success story. In fact, a staggering 430,000 international Eurail Pass holders trekked across Europe in 2008.

Ever growing concerns about climate issues coupled with recent major European rail investments means that travelling the continent by rail is a cleaner, less expensive and more enjoyable choice. With 160,000 miles of track in today’s European railway system covered by Eurail Passes, many major towns and villages are connected and offer excellent international connections.

The jointly promoted student offer with ISIC (the International Student Identity Card Association), makes travelling with a Eurail Pass even more appealing to the youth. Nevertheless, the Eurail Group offers a broad product range to attract all age groups by accommodating most budgets and, the brand name continues to be universally appealing with pass sales transcending across the globe.

Eurail Group will further continue to boost the development and expansion of Eurail Pass sales in the Chinese market during 2010 via the strong distribution network. “China is one of the most important new markets for Eurail and shows huge potential,” Ana Dias e Seixas, Eurail Group’s Marketing Director, says. “We would like to embrace this opportunity to highlight the many advantages of the Eurail products to more Chinese customers. In the coming year, we will concentrate on offering additional customer benefits to make the product range more attractive.”

More information: http://www.eurailgroup.com or http://www.eurailtravel.com

SOURCE Eurail Group G.I.E.

Frost & Sullivan Reveals Its Top Investment Opportunities in Africa for 2010

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Africa has garnered new interest from investors over the last year as the economic slowdown in developed economies has highlighted the growth potential on the continent. Many sectors in Africa have continued to shine, despite the global economic turmoil.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO)

“Africa is emerging as a significant frontier for growth in the current economic climate,” notes Frost & Sullivan corporate communications manager Patrick Cairns. “Frost & Sullivan has identified areas of potential we believe investors should keep an eye on over the coming year.”

Frost & Sullivan will be revealing its top investment opportunities for 2010 in an online analyst briefing on Thursday, 3 December at 2:00 pm GMT/ 4:00pm CAT. The briefing will provide insight into the industries that Frost & Sullivan projects will offer the highest returns on investment in the coming year. The markets covered will be telecommunications, business process outsourcing, renewable energy, biofuels, mining and desalination.

Highlights of the briefing will include projections on expected growth rates in each sector and information on key countries that will offer exciting returns. The discussion will benefit private equity firms, financial institutions, development finance agencies and anyone with an interest in investing on the continent, as well as those involved in the industries covered.

To participate in this briefing, please email Patrick Cairns at patrick.cairns@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail, address, company website and country. Upon receipt of the above information, a registration link will be e-mailed to you. You may also register to receive a recorded version of the briefing at anytime by submitting the aforementioned contact details.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company’s TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

Contact:
Patrick Cairns
Corporate Communications
T: +27 18 464 2402
E: patrick.cairns@frost.com
http://www.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Mobile Banking the Answer for Africa’s Unbanked – MXit

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 24 /PRNewswire/ — Globally, mobile banking will become three times more popular than traditional banking by 2011 and MXit, the mobile social network and instant messenger, is poised to offer banks in Africa a safe, seamless transaction platform that eliminates entry barriers like data costs and safety.

Jaco Hattingh, CEO for MXit Africa, predicts that in Africa, where there are over 300 million adults with no access to financial services, there will be a mass move from traditional banking services, that offer savings and cheque accounts, to those that allow for person-to-person transactions through mobile devices.

“According to Gartner, 73 million transactions are expected for 2009, however there is room for further growth if we overcome challenges like financial literacy in developing countries, as well as trust issues involved with mobile technology and the related costs of accessing the internet via a mobile phone,” says Hattingh.

“This is where MXit comes in. The low data costs of operating a mobile social network and instant messenger allows banks to deliver mobile banking solutions that cost a fraction of the cost of normal data downloads through traditional mobile internet platforms. We have proven that this can work through the transactional platforms that we’ve provided on MXit for two of South Africa’s leading banks. We’ve offered First National Bank (FNB) and Standard Bank clients the ability to do mobile banking solutions via MXit,” continues Hattingh.

Any FNB account holder can purchase MXit Moola (MXit’s virtual currency) for friends and family in a cost effective and safe manner via the MXit platform. Traditionally, Moola could only be purchased by means of a FNB credit card or a premium rated SMS. The Standard Bank mimoney payment method is for individuals who would like to transact on a website or mobi-site, but do not have access to a credit card. mimoney clients can now buy MXit Moola via mimoney without having to use a credit card.

These products are designed to meet the needs of the mobile savvy market. 40% of the South African population, even though it is considered the most developed banking country in Africa, do not have access to a bank account.

“Mobile phones present an opportunity to provide quality banking solutions for all. In developing countries like Africa, with a huge unbanked market, innovative banking and payment services like these could provide the first step towards breaking out of the poverty trap for low-income individuals. While in developed markets it simply means convenience for an increasingly mobile lifestyle,” says Hattingh.

The challenges of increased access to mobile banking are clear – however by working with platforms such as MXit these challenges can be overcome by offering clients access to a cost effective mobile banking application that is available anytime, anyplace. The mobile banking model is based on serving all income groups: teenagers, students, business, high net worth individuals and the informal sector are all able to access financial services via their mobile phones

The banking industry’s growth in the African informal market is further aggravated by the tough anti-money laundering regulations set by governments which require proof-of-identity documents to be presented at a bank branch. Presenting these documents, in order to open an account, can often be prohibitively expensive for low-income customers

“We believe that our transaction platform is an opportunity for all developing markets, not only Africa. Currently there are 4 billion mobile phones, but only 1.6 billion bank accounts. There is an enormous opportunity to reach the unbanked by means of mobile banking that is driven by MXit’s transaction platform. Developing countries are short of both physical banks and internet outlets, so banking from mobile phones is the logical solution,” continues Hattingh.

The combination of mobile payment solutions, combined with the ease of use, makes this the perfect solution for all individuals, across all income groups.

“The ability to access money transfers, mobile communication, mobile banking, mobile payments and the reduced risk of theft is an appealing solution for individuals who want access to financial services without the worry of going in to a branch or being PC-bound,” says Hattingh.

“Banks and financial service institutions would do well to partner with established mobile social networks like MXit, with a proven record in developing business platforms for the banking sector – it will certainly address the issue of cost as transacting on the MXit platform is relatively free,” concludes Hattingh.

MXit, with close to 17 million subscribers, has already secured its place as the most popular mobile social network and instant messenger in Africa and is currently on a massive expansion drive to secure its leadership in South East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Its growth and success is firmly based on its ability to read global trends and develop the level of innovation that has endeared it to its massive subscriber base.

About MXit

MXit is a free instant messaging and mobile social networking application for both mobile phones and PCs. It allows members to chat to other MXit users anywhere in the world. It also allows users to send text messages to and from mobile phones and PCs using GPRS or 3G instead of using standard SMS technology, which is expensive.

The social networking element of the business is the cornerstone of its growth. MXit is a new generation company that boasts just over 17 million members globally and is growing by 20, 000 and 28,000 users per day – while processing 250 million messages per day. It is in constant evolution to match the needs of its users and is set on becoming one of the biggest instant messaging mobile networks in the world and the preferred mobile social network for communicating with young people in South East Asia, Latin American, Africa and globally.

The company introduced mobile instant messaging to South Africa. It started as a mobile game developer and evolved into a mobile instant messaging company, allowing its users to send messages at a fraction of the cost of traditional SMS.

To download MXit: Open your mobile browser, type in http://www.mxit.com/wap and simply follow the prompts.

Issued by:

FD Beachhead

Sandra Sampayo, +27(0)79-167-6863 or +27(0)21-487-9000, sandra.sampayo@fd.com

Jean Dennis, +27(0)83-500-5302 or +27(0)21-487-9000, jean.dennis@fd.com

SOURCE MXit

Wal-Mart Standards Fail in China, Worker Rights Abused, Report Shows

NEW YORK, Nov 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Workers making shoes, Christmas lights, tools, curtains and paper boxes sold at Wal-Mart stores labor in illegal and degrading conditions. China Labor Watch’s latest investigation of five Wal-Mart supplier factories reveals that not a single factory has implemented Wal-Mart’s basic standards, and a total of 10,000 workers included in the report suffer serious rights abuses.

“This is not about a single factory, but about Wal-Mart’s inability to implement its standards,” says CLW Executive Director, Li Qiang. In the report, CLW attributes this failure to ineffective auditing and a pricing structure that forces factories to sell goods at unsustainable prices. As the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart leverages its massive product orders to purchase goods at low prices, and workers suffer the financial burden.

As Wal-Mart gears up for holiday sales, workers at all five factories work at least 3 hours of overtime/day, for 100-140 total hours of overtime/month, and one factory routinely schedules overtime through the night. Two of the factories illegally underpay overtime wages at rates as low as $0.44/hour, and two withhold wages from workers who fail to meet production quotas. Workers’ low wages are further undermined by excessive fines and unpaid days off or maternity leave, and some workers cannot even purchase social security!

Worker abuse extends beyond paychecks. Workers at two factories are denied gloves on the grounds that it will slow production. Dormitory conditions are so poor that at one factory, there is no running water in the bathrooms. Canteen meals are extremely poor and workers often complain of hunger pangs, and one factory forbids workers from leaving the factory to eat. Worst of all, two of the factories have rules forcing workers to lie to Wal-Mart auditors, forcing workers into silence as Wal-Mart turns a blind eye to sweatshop conditions.

Violations at these randomly selected factories represent poor conditions across Wal-Mart’s supply chain in China. Wal-Mart has already pledged to remediate these five factories. But with tens of thousands of Wal-Mart supplier factories in China, CLW does not seek a piecemeal approach to factory remediation. Rather, CLW urges Wal-Mart to address its systematic failure to purchase goods made in legal conditions, according to its own basic standards.

To read the report, visit www.chinalaborwatch.org.

SOURCE China Labor Watch

Nice Ride Minnesota Announces First Kiosk Sponsors

The Minneapolis business community helping make bike share happen

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Nice Ride Minnesota, a new non-profit created to bring public bike sharing to Minneapolis, today announces another successful round of fundraising. Augsburg College, Grant Thornton, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Seward Co-op, Wedge Co-op, Equal Exchange, Peace Coffee, Birchwood Cafe, Dero Bike Rack Co. and Aveda have all announced their plans to sponsor Nice Ride bike share kiosks.

In September, Pat Geraghty, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, announced its title sponsorship for Nice Ride Minnesota, as one way they’re working to put the brakes on rising obesity levels. The bike share program is a strong compliment to the Blue Cross do campaign, which promotes physical activity and is also funded through settlement proceeds from its historic lawsuit against the tobacco companies. Their leadership was instrumental in drumming-up increased local support.

Nice Ride Minnesota plans to supply 1,000 bikes in about 80 self-service kiosks, beginning in May 2010. Bike share kiosks will be in downtown Minneapolis, on the University of Minnesota Minneapolis Campus, and in nearby commercial districts, including Uptown, Midtown, the Warehouse District, St. Anthony Main and Dinkytown. Subscribers will easily use the system, by swiping a membership card to unlock a bike, and then returning the bike to any kiosk in the city.

“Our supporting companies want the Twin Cities to be known for vitality and innovation,” said Bill Dossett, Nice Ride Minnesota executive director. “Thanks to our sponsors, Minneapolis will soon lead the nation on bike share. We know other companies will also see this initiative as an asset to the community.”

Companies are sponsoring the program for a variety of reasons, mostly because it aligns with each organization’s initiatives to have a positive impact in the community in which they serve.

“Active living is healthy living, which is why we’re proud to be a sponsor of Nice Ride Minnesota,” said Jeff Peterson, president of Abbott Northwestern Hospital. “Bike share is an easy way for people to make exercise part of every day.”

“Our sponsorship of the bike share program is motivated by our commitment to eco-friendly practices,” said Lee Wallace, CEO at Peace Coffee. “We’re active participants in the local cycle community and love the idea of bringing more Twin Cities residents out onto the streets alongside our bike delivery crew!”

“As a local business, we know that Minneapolis has a strong and vibrant bicycling community, and we look forward to being part of Nice Ride Minnesota’s growth,” said Marcos Lopez-Carlson, customer service supervisor at the Wedge Co-op, “We believe that increasing access to bicycles will improve the overall health of our urban environment.”

Tom Vogel, marketing & member services manager at Seward Co-op, believes bike share dovetails with the values of the Co-op’s membership. “Seward Co-op is committed to operating with intentional respect for the environment and to investing in the communities we serve. Nice Ride Minnesota aligns with Seward Co-op’s mission.”

“Aveda shares Nice Ride Minnesota’s vision for community wellness, environmental protection and sustainability,” Chuck Bennett, vice president of Aveda earth and community care. “We’re proud to be associated with such an innovative program that will help people enjoy all the wonderful attributes of Minneapolis.”

For additional information on bike sharing and to learn how you or your organization can support Nice Ride Minnesota, please visit www.niceridemn.com or contact Bill Dossett at 612-747-4659.

Contact:
Roepke Public Relations
Katherine Roepke
Melissa Bohlig
612-677-1717
press@roepkepr.com

SOURCE Nice Ride Minnesota