Metro Areas Added Construction Jobs Year-Over-Year in November
Construction employment either increased or remained steady in a growing number of metropolitan areas — 120 of 337 — between November 2009 and November 2010, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Arlington, Va. Association officials say construction employment is improving slightly thanks in large part to temporary federal funding for stimulus and military construction.

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NEMA Position on SDoC Endorsed by OSHA
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it will continue to require third-party certification via the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program for electrical products used in American workplaces and refrain from adopting Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC). OSHA's decision endorses the position taken by Rosslyn, Va.-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) in comments submitted to the agency in January 2009.

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Building Energy Management Systems Gains Momentum
The Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) market, a growing segment of the larger building efficiency industry, is gaining momentum as an alternative, cheaper means for end-users to implement energy efficiency applications in commercial buildings, according to a new report on BEMS from Pike Research, Boulder, Colo. Conceived out of the market demand for a lighter, less-expensive and strictly energy-related automation and management systems for commercial buildings, the BEMS market includes both specialized and broad-based solutions. Such solutions range from reactive energy efficiency optimization software to predictive supply and demand side energy management architectures.

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Project Watch
On-Call Electrical Services in Kansas
Sedgwick County, Kansas, is seeking proposals for on-call electrical services for any and all of the 60-plus buildings it leases or owns. The contract includes new and repair on-call electrical work. The deadline for proposals is at 1:45 p.m. CST on January 4. For more information, visit the county website.

Electrical Contract in Wyoming
The Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Procurement Section, Cheyenne, Wyo., is receiving sealed bids for the Unicover Humidity Modifications project in Cheyenne, Wyo. The project includes installation of electrical controls. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be conducted at 10 a.m. MST on January 11. Bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. MST on January 25. For additional information and to obtain bidding documents on this project, please visit the State of Wyoming's website and click on "Projects Now Available."

Web Exclusives
Business Brief
ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, and Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, Ark., have agreed that ABB will acquire Baldor in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.2 billion, including $1.1 billion of net debt. "We are deeply impressed by the skill and passion of the Baldor team and their excellent customer relationships," says Ulrich Spiesshofer, executive committee member responsible for ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division, into which Baldor's business will be integrated alongside the existing Motors and Generators business. "The strength of Baldor’s people and executive team, which will continue under the new ownership, will play a key role in our mutual success."

For more Business Briefs, visit the EC&M website.

Revolving Loan Program to Help Industries Save Energy, Boost Profits
AlabamaSAVES (Sustainable and Verifiable Energy Savings), a $60 million revolving loan program, will be a new tool to help Alabama businesses make upgrades that save energy, reduce operating expenses, and create work for state residents. Two-percent interest-rate loans of $250,000 to $4 million will be available to help existing industrial and commercial businesses finance energy-saving improvements to their facilities.

For more about this revolving loan program, visit the EC&M website.

Eye on Safety
Electrocution Leads to Fines for Nebraska Company
Federal regulators have proposed fining a Nebraska biofuel company $60,000 for safety violations connected to the electrocution of a subcontracted worker at the company's Burwell, Neb., operation. Next Step Burwell LLC committed five serious citations and one willful citation, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), including exposing workers to electrical hazards and failing to provide adequate training.

Two Next Step workers were shocked when they cleaned out a cable tray and a subcontracted employee was fatally injured when he checked the same tray..

Shows & Events
ESW 2011
The 2011 IEEE/IAS Electrical Safety Workshop (ESW) will take place in Toronto from January 24-28. Topics for tutorials at this year's event include arc flash, the misuse of voltage, stray current analysis, and why electrical workers risk working live. For more information and to register, visit the event's website.

2011 IEC National Leadership Conference
The 2011 IEC National Leadership Conference is scheduled for January 27-29 in Orlando, Fla. Sessions include "Profit Mastery," "Building Win-Win Relationships," and "Recognizing Your Leadership Brand." For more information and to register, visit the event's website.

Electric West 2011
Electric West is scheduled for February 22-24 in Long Beach, Calif. Topics for this year's sessions include:

• Business Practices & Profitability
• Code Changes & Standards
• Design
• Lighting
• Safety
• Measurement and Testing
• Power Quality and Reliability
• Renewable Technologies/Green Business
• Residential/Industrial/Commercial Applications