Most of the solar panels will sit on the rooftops of office buildings in the Googleplex -- the nickname for the site. Others will provide shaded parking as part of newly constructed solar-panel canopies over existing Google car parking lots. Onsite electricity will help Google offset the price of power fueled by natural gas and delivered through the local grid by Pacific Gas & Electric Co., a unit of PG&E Corp., and Google's main energy provider.

Electrician Charged in National Bankruptcy Fraud Sting
An electrician who bribed a former governor was among 78 people charged with bankruptcy fraud in the past two months, says the Justice Department. Authorities in New Haven, Conn., claim th$at electrical contractor Kurt Claywell, who admitted giving former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland expensive champagne and Cuban cigars for access to state contracts, tried to hide assets, including a boat, a rare book collection, 35 acres of land, $35,000 worth of wine, and a gun collection. Bankruptcy fraud often follows false claims on mortgages, banks, and the mail, says Deputy Attorney Genereral Paul McNulty, who outlined the nationwide crackdown on people trying to conceal more than $3 million in assets. According to the FBI, the arrests are on track to outpace last year's estimated total of 100 bankruptcy fraud cases.

PG&E Awards $600,000 in Grants for "Solar Schools" Program
San Jose, Calif,-based Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) recently announced the 30 schools selected to receive an installation of a 1.3kW solar generation system. The installation of each photovoltaic system and the solar education curriculum that accompanies it were made possible by a $20,000 grant from PG&E's Solar Schools Program. "In providing these grants, equipment, and curriculum, we hope to educate students on the benefits of clean, alternative energy sources like solar power and inspire them to become the solar inventors and scientists of tomorrow," says Ophelia Basgal, PG&E vice president of civic partnerships and community initiatives.

For 2006, PG&E has committed $1.7 million toward expanding the Solar Schools program, which involves installation of photovoltaic systems in more than 30 schools, a solar-based curriculum training package, and workshops for teachers in addition to funding "Bright Ideas," which supports innovative solar science projects in classrooms.

ADVERTISEMENT
Win big with the new IDEAL Power Pouch!
Play the Haulin' Amps sweepstakes and you could be on your way to Daytona in 2007! Look for game pieces inside specially marked IDEAL and Buchanan Power Pouches^™ -- the new bags that are convenient and recloseable and stand up on the job. Hundreds of other great prizes, too. Visit www.idealindustries.com for details.

---

---

ADVERTISEMENT
New Flip Clip from Cooper B-Line
The fastest, most-inexpensive way to securely hang and level wire basket tray, saving installers time and money. The Flip Clip^™ can be used with 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threaded rods, eliminating the need for multiple hanger sizes. The Flip Clip requires only one nut and one tool for installation. www.cooperbline.com/flipclip

---

Business Brief
Frost & Sullivan recently awarded the low-voltage drives division of ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, the Global Market and Product Leadership Award, 2006. Frost & Sullivan considered technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development for its evaluation.

For more Business Briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.

---

ADVERTISEMENT
New From
E-Mon D-Mon
Load Control Option for Class 3000 Meters
Managing energy has never been easier! Many commercial and industrial customers want monitoring and control capabilities but do not have the financial or personnel resources to manage a full-scale load-management system. The load-control option is designed to operate at user-selectable high and low set points, providing users with the capability to reduce electrical demand by shedding loads or activating a local generator. The low kilowatt limit point allows the load to be returned to normal operating power independently as pre-set parameters are met. Contact E-Mon at (800) 334-3666 or visit www.emon.com/ecm103.asp for details!

---

Eye on Safety
Electrical Accident Leads to Death
A worker severely burned in an electrical accident this August at the construction site for the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Bloomington, Ind., died Oct. 13. Scott Shelton, 35, an employee of Muncie, Ind.-based Electromation, received burns covering 95% of his body after an electrical panel he and two other men were working on was energized with 12,000V and shorted. The resulting electrical arc, which extended from 6 to 8 feet, sparked a fire in the service room, lighting all three workers on fire.

Another injured worker, Stephen Abbott, and his family have already filed a lawsuit in Monroe Country, citing safety negligence on the part of Wal-Mart Stores; the LaSalle Group, the general contractor at the site; and Duke Energy. Abbot's lawsuit claims that prior to the day of the accident, the electricians had worked on the electrical units only when the power was off. OSHA is currently investigating the incident as well.

---

ADVERTISEMENT
ClearTrax^™ range-taking connectors feature easy lay-in installation of aluminum or copper conductors and accommodate a wire range of 1000MCM - 6. Benefits are a faster and safer connection resulting from reduced cable manipulation during installation. Visit our Web site at www.ilsco.com for additional product information.

---

Shows and Events
Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
The U.S. Green Building Council has scheduled the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo for Nov. 15-17 in Denver. This year's conference offers three days of educational programming, workshops, and an exhibition floor, covering topics such as integrating LEED through construction, integrated building systems design, operations and maintenance for IEQ and Energy Efficiency, and using LEED on new and existing projects. For more information and to register, visit the conference's Web site.

Power-Gen International
Power-Gen International will take place from Nov. 28-30 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. This year's event includes a technical tour of the Kissimmee Utility Authority and discussions on industry trends, such as generation strategies, an update on large-frame gas turbines, and gasification and synfuels. For more information and to register, visit the Power-Gen Web site.

EC&M E-Tradeshow

Free Live Conferences in November
Mark Nov. 16 on your schedule to attend these highly informative live conferences:

• Learn about all the new energy-storage technologies -- including ultracapacitors, fuel cells, and flywheels -- now available by attending the live conference "Energy Storage Methods for Standby Electric Power Systems," presented by John DeDad at 11 a.m. EDT and PDT.
• Find out how to size residential electrical generators by sitting in on Generac's live conference scheduled for 9 .am. EDT and PDT. If you can't make these times, we're having a special Contractor's Night live conference at 8 p.m. EDT.
• If you're looking for construction industry information to include in your business forecast for 2007, you'll certainly want to attend Jim Lucy's 2007 Electrical Market Sales Forecast, scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT and PDT. You'll see forecasting statistics for residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial construction market segments. This yearly presentation has become a must-see for electrical equipment manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and engineers.

But before attending these events, make sure you visit the 2006 EC&M E-TradeShow, a year-long virtual business event. In addition to attending live activities at conference sessions scheduled throughout the year, you can meet with exhibitors in virtual exhibit halls. You can also access past presentations, which are archived in the E-Tradeshow. Employing the latest interactive 3D technology, sponsors use online tradeshow booths to generate leads on a continuous basis throughout the year, while interacting live with customers and prospects during scheduled events. Free access and all the information you need are available at http://ecmweb.com/etradeshow/.