Energy-Efficiency Upgrades in Michigan
Consumers Energy, Lansing, Mich., is inviting companies to submit bids to participate in the start of a $500-million program to help Michigan residents and businesses use energy more efficiently and save on their energy bills. Expected to start in July, these positions will be in energy auditing, equipment installation and pickup, engineering, education, and administration. In addition, contractors will install additional high-efficiency electrical and mechanical upgrades, including items such as furnaces, air conditioning, lighting, and hot water heaters. The Consumers Energy’s Request for Proposal (RFP) includes bid opportunities to implement programs in the following areas: business solutions; residential efficient products; residential comprehensive homes; residential appliance recycling; and grade 4-6 energy education. Contractors may choose to respond to one, several, or all of the RFP areas. For more information, visit the Consumers Energy RFP Web site.

Web Exclusives
Business Brief
Solar Energy Initiatives, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Solar Energy Alternatives, Westlake Village, Calif., have agreed to enter into a marketing, contract, finance, installation, and operating agreement for commercial and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the Unites States and certain foreign markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Solar Energy Alternatives will handle marketing, power purchase contracts, and project financing. Solar Energy Initiatives will provide feasibility and due diligence analysis, supply the solar panels and ancillary equipment, contract site engineering and installation of equipment, and operate/maintain the installation.

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

Eye on Safety
Worker Electrocuted at Connecticut Science Center Job Site
At 8 a.m. on March 13, a construction worker at the Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, Conn., was killed in an electrical accident. The Science Center has been under construction for about three years and is scheduled to open in May. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Washington, D.C., has closed the job site pending an investigation into the incident.

Shows & Events
ABC Construction Education Conference
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) will present its Construction Education Conference from April 15-17 in Las Vegas. Topics for presentations at this year's conference include LEED for new construction and major renovations, NFPA 70E updates and changes, and best practices in electrical fabrication. For more information and to register, visit the ABC Web site.

Battcon 2009
The Battcon International Stationary Battery Conference will take place from April 27-29 in Orlando, Fla. Topics for papers to be presented include battery technologies in stationary standby power applications, batteries as part of an energy-efficient infrastructure, and battery handling at the installation site. For more information and to register, visit the Battcon Web site.

Enroll In EC&M University's Online Arc Flash Courses
Need Arc Flash prevention training and continuing education, but don't have a travel budget? That's no problem. EC&M University’s e-Training Center is the answer! Just link to these live, online training courses directly from your computer. Each course will be presented in a concise and easy-to-understand manner by an industry acknowledged expert.

• Clarifying NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 Requirements
  April 9, 2009
• Impact of System and Operating Conditions on Arc Flash Energy Levels
  April 21, 2009
• High Resistance Grounding and Arc Flash Accident Prevention
  May 7, 2009
• Mitigation of Arc Flash Hazards Using Fuses
  May 12, 2009
• Arc Flash Testing Updates
  June 16, 2009
• Arc Flash Hazard Mitigation Case Studies
  June 25, 2009