Sunfinity Helps Texas Homeowners Put Solar in the Spotlight with Rebate from the State’s Largest Electric Provider

DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The largest energy delivery company in Texas, Oncor, has begun accepting applications for their annual solar rebate – one of the state’s best solar rebate offers. For 2021, Oncor has introduced a new, increased maximum size of 15 kW-DC (kilowatts) for eligible consumer systems with rebates up to $8,500.

The Oncor rebate also extends to businesses for systems up to 300kW dc with rebates capped…

DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The largest energy delivery company in Texas, Oncor, has begun accepting applications for their annual solar rebate – one of the state’s best solar rebate offers. For 2021, Oncor has introduced a new, increased maximum size of 15 kW-DC (kilowatts) for eligible consumer systems with rebates up to $8,500.

The Oncor rebate also extends to businesses for systems up to 300kW dc with rebates capped at $120,000. Sunfinity Renewable Energy has helped a variety of businesses, from non-profits like My Possibilities to coworking site Good Coworking, leverage the Oncor rebate to dramatically cut the cost of a new commercial solar array.

Sunfinity’s Chairman John Billingsley stressed that consumers and businesses can combine the Oncor rebate with the recently increased federal tax credit (where eligible) for even more savings. (The federal tax credit was scheduled to decline from 26% to 22% in 2021 and 10% for 2022 and then be eliminated entirely for consumers in 2023. Congressional legislation in December 2020 extended the 26% tax credit for both consumers and businesses through 2022.) «Every homeowner and every business will have a slightly different situation, but the savings on a new system are compelling – they can go as high as 50% by stacking incentives,» he said. «On top of that, consider that with solar you’ll be saving on electricity for decades to come.»    

Oncor serves 408 communities and 98 counties in Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, east Texas communities like Tyler, central Texas cities like Killeen, Temple, Waco and Round Rock, and west Texas counties including the MidlandOdessa area.

Sunfinity can provide residential and commercial proposals free-of-charge showing a proposed system design, potential monetary and environmental savings, and potential savings with the Oncor rebate and tax credit (www.sunfinity.com/contactus). Battery storage equipment is also possible. The rebate program will be closed when available funds are expended, so interested parties should act immediately.

ABOUT SUNFINITY RENEWABLE ENERGY

Sunfinity Renewable Energy, LLC (www.sunfinity.com) offers customers a clean energy alternative to traditional energy by providing solar power directly to homeowners, businesses, and other organizations for less than they spend on their current utility bills.  Sunfinity gives customers control of their energy costs to protect them from the rising rates of electricity and makes switching to solar energy easy by offering turnkey solar system services to customers, from design, permitting and installation to monitoring and maintenance. Sunfinity’s Commercial & Industrial team serves a wide array of for-profit and non-profit organizations, from auto dealerships to schools and learning facilities. 

CONTACT:  Karla Neely, 214.707.3071, 290624@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Sunfinity Renewable Energy

Vinson & Elkins Attracts Nationally Recognized Renewable Energy Team

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Vinson & Elkins announced today it has expanded its market leading Renewable and Sustainable Energy and Tax practices with the addition of a nationally recognized renewable energy finance team that includes partners Sean Moran, Mike Joyce, Lauren Collins and Aaron Prince, counsel <span…

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Vinson & Elkins announced today it has expanded its market leading Renewable and Sustainable Energy and Tax practices with the addition of a nationally recognized renewable energy finance team that includes partners Sean Moran, Mike Joyce, Lauren Collins and Aaron Prince, counsel Josh Heideman and Trevor Shelton, and a number of talented associates. 

This team brings to V&E a broad-based and sophisticated energy and infrastructure finance practice and comprehensive experience in acquisitions and tax equity. Each was previously with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati LLP. 

«Sean, Mike, Lauren and Aaron are among the leading practitioners in renewable energy and tax equity in the United States,» said V&E Managing Partner Scott Wulfe. «Virtually all of our clients are interested in renewable and sustainable energy, and the practice is growing rapidly all over the world. Now is a particularly exciting time in the industry given the convergence of significant economic, technological and political developments. The addition of this team enhances our ability to help our clients navigate the rapidly transforming landscape.»

«V&E’s clients are at the forefront of the energy evolution,» Moran said. «As a result, the firm has all the pieces – the complementary practices and lawyers necessary to serve this client base. We all agreed that joining V&E will allow us not only to continue serving our existing clients at the highest level but to take advantage of a number of opportunities to develop and extend the practice.»

«Capital is being deployed into the renewable energy and adjacent markets at a record pace, and there are significant challenges and opportunities our clients face,» said Kaam Sahely, head of V&E’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure practices. «The addition of this team, with whom we have worked on multiple transactions, cements our position as a preeminent firm for sophisticated investors and participants in the renewable energy markets.»

Moran, Joyce, Collins, Heideman and Shelton will remain in Los Angeles, where V&E has secured temporary office space and will open a permanent location when conditions permit. Prince will join the firm’s New York office. Below is a brief overview of each new partner and counsel’s practice.

Sean Moran, Tax Equity: Moran focuses on asset finance, with an emphasis on financing, acquiring and disposing of renewable energy, zero carbon and infrastructure assets. Instrumental in creating the structure that has become the standard for renewable energy deals in the United States, Moran has handled many of the country’s largest and most complex renewable energy financing transactions, including numerous first-of-its-kind deals. In the course of his practice, Moran represents Fortune 50 companies, investors, sponsors and developers. His clients include some of the largest investors in the renewable energy market, collectively investing billions of dollars in renewable energy generation. His projects include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and waste-to-energy facilities that generate electric power in all but a couple of states. Recently, he has represented both investors and sponsors in the development of solar and storage facilities, off-shore wind power facilities and fossil fuel power facilities that sequester carbon. Moran is ranked by Chambers USA (2020) as a Band 1 lawyer nationally for Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy, where sources call him a «[t]op tax equity lawyer,» and a client says, «[w]e really rely on him from a tax, financing and transactional perspective. He knows the market very well and is incredibly valuable to us.» He graduated from Fordham University with a B.S. degree in 1981 and a J.D. in 1988 and earned an LL.M. in Tax from New York University School of Law in 1994.

Mike Joyce, Corporate: Joyce’s practice focuses on energy and infrastructure finance. He has represented clients in numerous cutting-edge transactions in the energy and infrastructure field, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy sectors such as solar, wind and storage. He also has considerable experience with geothermal, biomass, coal, gas-fired and nuclear projects, as well as with joint ventures and the disposition and acquisition of energy and infrastructure assets. Joyce is a recognized practitioner in Chambers Global and Chambers USA (2020) for Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy. He received his B.A. degree from Claremont McKenna College in 1998 and his J.D. degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2002.

Lauren Collins, Tax Equity: Collins focuses on tax matters related to project finance, with an emphasis on renewable energy and infrastructure assets. She has represented clients in the financing, disposition, acquisition and development of renewable energy projects including solar, wind, energy storage, carbon sequestration, fuel cell and biomass projects. Collins has considerable experience utilizing a variety of structures to finance these assets and has helped develop some of the most complex and cutting-edge renewable energy financing transactions in the United States, including numerous first-of-its-kind deals. In the course of her practice, Collins represents Fortune 50 companies, investors, utilities, sponsors and developers in the renewable energy space and has advised clients more broadly in connection with various federal and state tax matters. Her experience includes tax issues related to M&A and private equity, reorganizations and bankruptcy, structured finance and New Markets Tax Credits. Collins received her B.A. degree from the University of California, San Diego in 2007, and her J.D. degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law in 2010. She also received an LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law in 2011.

Aaron Prince, Corporate: Prince’s practice focuses on asset based financing, acquisition and joint venture transactions. He represents tax equity investors, private equity funds, sponsors, lenders, borrowers and other investors in project finance, structured finance, acquisitions, joint ventures and general corporate transactions, primarily in the energy sector, including renewable energy (such as solar, wind, geothermal and refined coal). In addition, Prince has experience advising clients on other asset-based and non-asset based financing transactions, including innovative transactions in the fintech space. Prince received his B.A. degree from Emory University in 2005 and J.D., cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2008.

Josh Heideman, Corporate: Heideman’s practice focuses on renewable energy asset finance and acquisitions. Heideman has represented clients in numerous renewable energy transactions in solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, with a particular emphasis on tax equity financing. He also has considerable experience with renewable asset financing, non-asset financing, mergers and acquisitions and asset deals in both the renewable energy and technology sectors. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Southern California in 2003, and his J.D. degree from New York University School of Law in 2006.

Trevor Shelton, Corporate: Shelton represents equity investors, lenders, sponsors and project developers in the energy and project finance space. He has extensive renewable energy experience including the financing of wind, solar and numerous other asset types utilizing a variety of structures. Shelton has worked on many first of their kind transactions as well as some of the largest renewable energy projects in the United States. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, in 2002 and his J.D. degree from UCLA School of Law in 2006.

The group’s clients include tax equity investors Wells Fargo, JPMorgan, The Goldman Sachs Group, State Street and others and renewable energy companies such as Cypress Creek, Clearway Energy Group, Terra Gen and Siemens.

As a leading law firm in the energy industry, V&E works with a broad spectrum of clients including companies, investors and financiers across the globe and is exceptionally well-positioned to advise on their most important and complex transactions or disputes. This includes clients’ needs in traditional energy spaces as well as the energy evolution.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is an international law firm with approximately 700 lawyers across 12 offices worldwide. For more information, please contact Melissa Anderson at +1.713.758.2030.

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SOURCE Vinson & Elkins LLP

SunPower Launches New Monitoring App Enabling Homeowners to Manage Solar and Storage

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWR), a leading solar technology and energy services provider, today announced the new mySunPower™ app, the company’s new experience for homeowners to review and manage their energy generation, consumption, and battery storage settings from a mobile device. The new mySunPower app for monitoring will be available for download for SunPower Equinox® customers on Feb. 16 on the Apple App Store and…

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWR), a leading solar technology and energy services provider, today announced the new mySunPower™ app, the company’s new experience for homeowners to review and manage their energy generation, consumption, and battery storage settings from a mobile device. The new mySunPower app for monitoring will be available for download for SunPower Equinox® customers on Feb. 16 on the Apple App Store and Google Play and will be available to all of SunPower’s 285,000 monitoring customers by spring 2021.

Designed to integrate seamlessly with SunPower’s existing homeowner platform, the mySunPower app makes it possible to optimize energy use, save money, and become less dependent on traditional energy providers in the face of rolling blackouts, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change.

SunPower has completely rethought the monitoring experience for homeowners. Launch features include:

  • Storage system controls: mySunPower users can control their battery settings from the palm of their hand. Homeowners can set their battery to minimize energy costs, lower their carbon footprint, or preserve maximum resilience in the event of unforeseen power outages.
  • Live power flow: With live data, Equinox customers with production meters can view the immediate impact of their energy choices, including the effects of changing weather conditions, adjustments in battery settings, or even the use of small appliances such as a microwave in real time.
  • In-app alerts: New notification features alert homeowners to important changes to their system status, connectivity, and weather conditions. Additional app features expected to be released later in 2021 include alerts for homeowners to prepare for rolling blackouts and other disruptions.

A TIPPING POINT FOR SOLAR AND STORAGE

According to data from Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), more than 25 percent of on-site solar systems will be paired with storage by 2025. The new mySunPower app will reduce the learning curve for customers adopting solar and storage through a completely revamped interface, actionable insights based on real-time data, and live in-app updates on the system’s status and connectivity. This customer-focused innovation will help facilitate the adoption of solar and storage systems, such as SunPower’s SunVault™ storage, transforming North America’s distributed energy grid.

«The launch of the new mySunPower app represents a major step forward for solar and storage customers,» said Jake Wachman, vice president of software product and engineering. «By combining system monitoring and control in a single, easy-to-use mobile application, SunPower is changing how homeowners interact with renewable energy technology. The new mySunPower app establishes solar and storage systems firmly in the growing smart home ecosystem.»

The app will integrate seamlessly with the mySunPower web portal, offering consumers one experience from purchase and installation to monitoring.  For more information on the new capabilities of the mySunPower app, please visit https://us.sunpower.com/products/software/mysunpower.

About SunPower
Headquartered in California’s Silicon Valley, SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) is a leading Distributed Generation Storage and Energy Services provider in North America. SunPower offers the only solar + storage solution designed and warranted by one company that gives customers control over electricity consumption and resiliency during power outages while providing cost savings to homeowners, businesses, governments, schools and utilities. For more information, visit www.sunpower.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains «forward-looking statements» within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding new technology, including the anticipated benefits thereof, and its ability to help customers achieve cost savings and provide electricity during outages. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations, and beliefs and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, regulatory changes and the availability of economic incentives promoting use of solar energy and fluctuations or declines in the performance of our solar panels and other products and solutions. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading «Risk Factors.» Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor Relations website at investors.sunpowercorp.com. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

© 2021 SunPower Corporation. All Rights Reserved. SUNPOWER ,the SUNPOWER logo, SUNPOWER EQUINOX, MYSUNPOWER and SUNVAULT are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S.

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SOURCE SunPower Corp.

Ballard Announces Q4 and Full Year 2020 Results Conference Call

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to review fourth quarter and full…

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to review fourth quarter and full year 2020 operating results.

The live call can be accessed by dialing +1-604-638-5340. Alternatively, a live webcast can be accessed through a link on Ballard’s homepage (www.ballard.com). Following the call, the webcast will be archived in the Earnings, Interviews & Presentations area of the Investors section of Ballard’s website (www.ballard.com/investors).

About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems’ (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard zero-emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, passenger cars and forklift trucks. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.

Premier Smart City, Peachtree Corners, Launches Test Vehicle For Use by Public to Research and Test Mobility Technology

PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Peachtree Corners – the nation’s first smart city environment powered by real-world infrastructure and next-generation connectivity – today announced the addition of a mobility research and test vehicle designed to help companies and organizations develop and prove out new advanced mobility and…

PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Peachtree Corners – the nation’s first smart city environment powered by real-world infrastructure and next-generation connectivity – today announced the addition of a mobility research and test vehicle designed to help companies and organizations develop and prove out new advanced mobility and autonomous technologies in a living laboratory environment. The Ford Edge-based test vehicle is equipped with Level 3 autonomous capabilities on an open-source platform – differentiated from other test vehicles that either only test within closed courses or are limited to a host company’s proprietary platform.

  • Companies working on full autonomous driving systems, mapping, light detection/ranging (LiDAR), cameras/computer vision, radar, V2X systems and/or data/simulation are invited to Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners to test.
  • The test vehicle will be interacting with city-owned smart infrastructure, allowing technologies to be developed with real-world scenarios, including thousands of local residents who live, work and drive alongside the vehicle.
  • The test vehicle is equipped with a large rooftop rack, giving companies the ability to attach their own LiDAR and other sensors for testing. Engineers may easily access historical AV data directly from Ford’s autonomous vehicle dataset.
  • Invaluable data from the sensors and devices on the test vehicle, as well as across city infrastructure, is analyzed and made available to engineers through the city’s central control room – giving developers a unique advantage as they work to mature new technologies.

«There have been many mobility test vehicles introduced these past several years, but at Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, companies have the opportunity to develop new technologies on an open source mobility platform alongside other emerging solutions, while also leveraging actual smart infrastructure wholly owned by the city – not proprietary, closed platforms in closed track environments,» said Brandon Branham, chief technology officer and assistant city manager of Peachtree Corners. «The Ford Edge based test platform here operates in a living lab environment alongside residents that are walking and driving on the same public street. And we’re the first city in the world to insure a public roadway for both driven and driverless vehicle activity – giving companies a true advantage as they look to learn and improve their technologies before they ‘graduate’ and scale.»

«We’re proud to have delivered multiple smart city firsts to date, and the introduction of an open-source platform for mobility research and testing is yet another milestone – giving companies the ability to develop new technologies in an actual city – complete with obstacles and everyday challenges that autonomous machines need to learn how to face,» said Brian Johnson, city manager of Peachtree Corners. «We’ve already had successful long-term tests of autonomous shuttles, Ollie, transporting residents – and we are excited to have the opportunity to have a platform that will help move the world even closer to fulfilling the vision of fully autonomous vehicles operating safely in a city.»

For more information or to schedule a briefing with city leaders, contact Peachtree@GoDRIVEN360.com

About the City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia
As the heart of what is being called #SiliconOrchard in the metro-Atlanta region, Peachtree Corners, Georgia is a vibrant municipality that’s home to more than 45,000 residents and an innovation hub that houses some of the world’s most disruptive technology companies. As the United States’ premiere smart city – powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – Peachtree Corners serves as the model for how government and private industry can better collaborate to create a better future for society and business. From the world’s first deployment of teleoperated e-scooters to fully autonomous shuttles being utilized by actual residents, and from a solar roadway to the largest electric vehicle charging hub in the region, Peachtree Corners is where the most future-forward Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable technologies come to life for the benefit of its people, and the world.

For more information, visit http://www.peachtreecornersga.gov.

About Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners
Curiosity Lab is a 5G-enabled autonomous vehicle and smart city living laboratory located in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, a northern suburb of Atlanta. The centerpiece of the lab is a 1.5-mile test and demo track which provides a real-world environment to explore emerging technologies. Additional infrastructure includes a network operations center, smart poles, DSRC units, dedicated fiber and a 25,000 square foot tech incubator. Additional information can be found at www.curiositylabptc.com 

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SOURCE Peachtree Corners

ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 174,000 Jobs in January

ROSELAND, N.J., Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Private sector employment increased by 174,000 jobs from December to January according to the January ADP® National Employment Report.  Broadly distributed to the public each month, free of charge, the ADP National Employment…

ROSELAND, N.J., Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Private sector employment increased by 174,000 jobs from December to January according to the January ADP® National Employment Report.  Broadly distributed to the public each month, free of charge, the ADP National Employment Report is produced by the ADP Research Institute® in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics.  The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm private employment each month on a seasonally-adjusted basis.  

January 2021 Report Highlights*

View the ADP National Employment Report Infographic at www.adpemploymentreport.com.

Total U.S. Nonfarm Private Employment:     174,000

By Company Size

Small businesses:     51,000

  • 1-19 employees     26,000
  • 20-49 employees     25,000

– Medium businesses:     84,000

  • 50-499 employees     84,000

– Large businesses:     39,000

  • 500-999 employees     28,000
  • 1,000+ employees     11,000

By Sector

Goods-producing:     19,000

  • Natural resources/mining     0
  • Construction     18,000
  • Manufacturing     1,000

– Service-providing:     156,000

  • Trade/transportation/utilities    16,000
  • Information     -2,000
  • Financial activities     1,000
  • Professional/business services     40,000
         – Professional/technical services     16,000
         – Management of companies/enterprises     1,000
         – Administrative/support services     24,000
  • Education/health services     54,000
         – Health care/social assistance      48,000
         – Education     6,000
  • Leisure/hospitality     35,000
  • Other services     10,000

* Sum of components may not equal total, due to rounding.

– Franchise Employment**

  • Franchise jobs     10,700

**Complete details on franchise employment can be found here.

«The labor market continues its slow recovery amid COVID-19 headwinds,» said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. «Although job losses were previously concentrated among small and midsized businesses, we are now seeing signs of the prolonged impact of the pandemic on large companies as well.»

 

Chart 1. Change in Total Nonfarm Private Employment

 

Chart 2. Historical Trend - Change in Total Nonfarm Private Employment

 

Chart 3. Change in Nonfarm Private Employment by Industry

 

Chart 4. Change in Nonfarm Private Employment by Company Size

 

The matched sample used to develop the ADP National Employment Report was derived from ADP payroll data, which represents 460,000 U.S. clients employing nearly 26 million workers in the U.S. The December total of jobs added was revised from -123,000 to -78,000.  

To obtain additional information about the ADP National Employment Report, including additional charts, supporting data and the schedule of future release dates, or to subscribe to the monthly email alerts and RSS feeds, please visit www.adpemploymentreport.com.

The February 2021 ADP National Employment Report will be released at 8:15 a.m. ET on March 3, 2021.

About the ADP® National Employment Report™
The ADP® National Employment Report™ is a monthly measure of the change in total U.S. nonfarm private employment derived from actual, anonymous payroll data of client companies served by ADP®, a leading provider of human capital management solutions.  The report, which measures nearly 26 million U.S. workers, is produced by the ADP Research Institute®, a specialized group within the company that provides insights around employment trends and workforce strategy, in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics, Inc.

Each month, ADP Research Institute issues the ADP National Employment Report as part of the company’s commitment to adding deeper insights into the U.S. labor market and providing businesses, governments and others with a source of credible and valuable information.  The ADP National Employment Report is broadly distributed to the public each month, free of charge.

The data for this report is collected for pay periods that can be interpolated to include the week of the 12th of each month, and processed with statistical methodologies similar to those used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to compute employment from its monthly survey of establishments.  Due to this processing, this subset is modified to make it indicative of national employment levels; therefore, the resulting employment changes computed for the ADP National Employment Report are not representative of changes in ADP’s total base of U.S. business clients.

For a description of the underlying data and the statistical model used to create this report, please see the ADP National Employment Report: Development Methodology.

About the ADP Research Institute
The mission of the ADP Research Institute is to generate data-driven discoveries about the world of work, and to derive reliable economic indicators from these insights. We offer these findings to the world at large as our unique contribution to making the world of work better and more productive, and to bring greater awareness to the economy at large.

About Moody’s Analytics 
Moody’s Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs.

About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)
Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential.  HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits and Payroll. Informed by data and designed for people.   Learn more at ADP.com

ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People, ADP National Employment Report, ADP Small Business Report, ADP National Franchise Report, and ADP Research Institute are registered trademarks of ADP, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2021 ADP, Inc. All rights reserved.

ADP-Media

(PRNewsfoto/ADP, LLC)

 

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SOURCE ADP, Inc.

Recall Governor Gavin Newsom Roadtrip Boosted by Joe Collins

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kicking off his Recall Road Trip against Governor Gavin Newsom, Joe Collins and partners 1776 Forever Free and Recall Gavin Newsom 2020 collected hundreds of signatures at the Los Angeles City Hall on Sunday. The South-Central LA native will be visiting the largest cities in the state of California in an effort to collect the…

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kicking off his Recall Road Trip against Governor Gavin Newsom, Joe Collins and partners 1776 Forever Free and Recall Gavin Newsom 2020 collected hundreds of signatures at the Los Angeles City Hall on Sunday. The South-Central LA native will be visiting the largest cities in the state of California in an effort to collect the remaining signatures to remove Newsom from office.

View Event Recap Video https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LOhPMGI_cIwXNY5ix-vY5TB6LOGK3b2D/view?usp=drive sdk

The Navy Veteran was joined by hundreds of California residents whose lives have been drastically changed by Newsom’s inability to keep the state afloat. Regardless of political party or beliefs, people gathered in front of the municipal center to share the hardships they have faced ever since Newsom took office. For the past 2 years, California has had a rise in jobs leaving the state, failing schools, homelessness and crime. Newsom has mismanaged the state’s budget and has failed to be the leader the state and people need during a global pandemic. It’s time for change and a better leader.

Collins will continue his 28 day road trip all across the state of California, where residents will be able to start the initiative to recall Newsom. People will get to enjoy food vendors, live music and words of encouragement from Collins and his team as they promise Californians a better future.

Upcoming Dates

  • San Diego City Hall ○ Feb. 3rd12pm -2pm
  • Chula Vista City Hall ○ Feb. 6th12pm -2pm
  • Oceanside City Hall ○ Feb. 7th12pm -2pm
  • Irvine City Hall ○ Feb. 10th12pm -2pm
  • Los Angeles City Hall ○ Feb. 13th12pm -2pm
  • Long Beach City Hall ○ Feb. 14th12pm -2pm
  • Riverside City Hall ○ Feb. 17th12pm -2pm
  • Ventura City Hall ○ Feb. 20 – 12pm2pm
  • Ontario City Hall ○ Feb. 21 – 12pm2pm
  • Glendale City Hall ○ Feb. 2412pm -2pm
  • Bakersfield City Hall ○ Feb. 27th12pm -2pm
  • Fresno City Hall ○ Feb. 28th12pm -2pm
  • San Jose City Hall ○ March 3rd12pm -2pm
  • San Francisco City Hall ○ March 6th12pm -2pm
  • Sacramento City Hall ○ March 7th12pm -2pm

For more information on the campaign of Joe Collins for Congress, visit www,joecollinsforcongress.com/ or follow him at:

Contact: Brittani Daniels
Deputy Campaign Manager
290580@email4pr.com
(310) 617-9974

 

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SOURCE Joe Collins for Congress

Surety One, Inc. Announces Strategic Partnership with Madison Energy

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Surety One, Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Madison Energy Group, LLC to provide commercial crime insurance products to Madison’s national network of technicians and installers. The program is a deployment of Surety One, Inc.’s specialty third party fidelity bond coverage.

There is often exclusionary language in commercial crime coverage forms that leave an insured exposed to «on client’s premises» risks unless specifically…

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Surety One, Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Madison Energy Group, LLC to provide commercial crime insurance products to Madison’s national network of technicians and installers. The program is a deployment of Surety One, Inc.’s specialty third party fidelity bond coverage.

There is often exclusionary language in commercial crime coverage forms that leave an insured exposed to «on client’s premises» risks unless specifically endorsed. A third-party fidelity bond addresses the on-premises peril inherent in certain business activities. Madison’s technicians install, configure and adjust proprietary energy products on clients’ business premises. Initial and follow-up visits to fine-tune equipment create repeat exposures to Madison which are addressed by the fidelity bond.

Says Constantin Poindexter, CEO of Surety One, Inc., «Madison’s President, William Geist approached me with his concerns about protecting his clients and his enterprise’s reputation given the exposures created by independent on-site technicians. I created this program to address a gaping hole that he had in his current insurance suite. I am pleased to enter into a strategic relationship with a guy that is on the forefront of cleaner, more efficient energy delivery. Mr. Geist is also deeply involved in charitable causes that I also support. Our friendship and business relationship are valuable to me so supporting his efforts are a big win for the Surety One, Inc. Team and I.»

The Madison Energy Group, LLC is a national leader in the energy sector. Says Geist, «Madison was founded and built with a focus on affordable, effective technology that carries the best value in the industry. Our objective is to provide clients with a sound energy investment that will help them achieve efficiency and profitability while also contributing to the well-being of the environment. Due to our significant growth we’ve expanded our network of techs and installers and thus need to increase the protections that we provide clients.»

Surety One, Inc. is an international insurance intermediary domiciled in Puerto Rico, distributing surety and fidelity bond products nationally, in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. The firm delivers on a broad geographic footprint with a local feel.  For more information on the third party fidelity bond program or any surety bond need visit https://SuretyOne.com. For more information call (800) 373-2804.

 

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SOURCE Surety One, Inc.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Announces Bold Plan to Address Health Inequities and Racial Justice

BOSTON, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts («Blue Cross») today announced a set of bold initiatives to address health inequities and racial injustice.

The multipart plan features new charitable investments, including a grant…

BOSTON, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts («Blue Cross») today announced a set of bold initiatives to address health inequities and racial injustice.

The multipart plan features new charitable investments, including a grant program to support not-for-profits led by Black, Indigenous and other people of color, a first-to-market approach to collecting race and ethnicity data to address inequities in the care members receive, expanding marketing efforts to better reach a more diverse audience with critical messages focused on addressing gaps in care and improving overall health, and new investments and support for minority-owned businesses.

«As a community and a country, we are facing twin pandemics of both coronavirus and racism. Those of us in health care have a responsibility to address both. And just as we acted swiftly to respond to COVID-19, we are deepening our commitment to racial justice and to addressing long-standing inequities in health care,» said Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO. «We will continue to be a leader in creating a more equitable health care system.»

The comprehensive plan announced today builds on decades of work by Blue Cross and its Foundation to address inequities in care and to advance racial and social justice.

Charitable investments

The new $350,000 Racial Equity and Justice Grants announced today will support BIPOC-led not-for-profit organizations focused on addressing racial injustice in Massachusetts communities. Blue Cross has  awarded six organizations with a two-year grant, providing $25,000 in general operating support per year, and two organizations with a one-year, $25,000 grant. Grantees also will have the opportunity to receive in pro-bono support.

The program builds on Blue Cross’ existing investments, such as a recent $1 million contribution to the New Commonwealth Fund for Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund created last year by local Black and Brown executives, including Blue Cross Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Stephanie Lovell and Blue Cross Board members Quincy Miller, president of Eastern Bank, and Corey Thomas, CEO of Rapid7.

The company will continue to provide additional direct financial support via charitable investments to a wide range of organizations working to advance racial equity and social justice.

Addressing inequities in health care

Decades of research have shown people of color, in particular Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans, have less access to high-quality treatment and experience poorer outcomes for a wide range of medical conditions – including COVID-19.

Blue Cross’ work to address these inequities includes convening an advisory council of leading local and national experts in health inequities to help guide and shape Blue Cross’ strategy from a broad range of perspectives.

Additionally, Blue Cross is:

  • Collecting comprehensive, member-level race and ethnicity data that can be used to collaborate with the community and clinical partners to reduce racial and ethnic inequities.
    Blue Cross is the first health plan in the region to undertake this comprehensive effort.
  • Creating metrics and programs to address racial inequities in health care access and quality, including measures of service provided by Blue Cross directly to our members
  • Educating employees on the impact of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors on Blue Cross members, and effectively using this information in day-to-day interactions both internally and externally.
  • Reviewing existing contracts with vendors to assess their programs for detecting and addressing health inequities (e.g., in their algorithms and care management services) and incorporating such questions in future vendor assessment and RFPs.
  • Evolving the company’s current Diversity, Equity & Inclusion governance structure to include health equity issues, and publishing – company-wide – an enhanced scorecard that measures progress against other best-in-class companies to ensure accountability and transparency.

Standing for equity in our communities

The company is also:

  • Partnering with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Pacesetters Program to support a collaborative initiative to promote minority-owned businesses.
  • Becoming the first company to make a public pledge to support the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council’s new campaign for minority supplier development.
  • Asking BCBSMA vendors to maintain a percentage of their business with diverse suppliers and to share related data.

An inclusive company culture

The most successful companies are the most diverse, inclusive, and innovative. Blue Cross regards diversity and inclusion at Blue Cross as central to the culture and values at the company. At Blue Cross, diversity isn’t just about representation of people from different backgrounds, although that’s critically important; it’s also about ensuring the entire workforce feels respected, included, and empowered to contribute. 72% of Blue Cross employees are women, and more than 50% of the board of directors are people of color or women.

New initiatives include:

  • Further educating Blue Cross leaders about their responsibilities in building an inclusive organization, understanding and eliminating bias in hiring decisions, and best management practices; these initiatives will be incorporated into internal performance metrics.
  • Cultivating diverse candidate pools and increasing the development, promotion, and retention of people of color in leadership and at other levels
  • Broadening cultural competency education for all employees to enhance awareness of unconscious bias and micro-aggressions
  • Adding Juneteenth to the corporate holiday calendar beginning in 2021

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation also is making racial inequities in health care one of its three focus areas, along with access to care and mental health. The Foundation will work with its partners to identify policies that present barriers to equitable access to health care and coverage for people of color, and to diversify the workforce and leadership of health care organizations. In addition, the Foundation has launched seven focus groups across the Commonwealth to discuss with BIPOC-led organizations what they see as the solutions to structural racism and racial inequities in health care.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on FacebookTwitterYouTube, and LinkedIn. BlueLinks for Employers

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SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

PriceSmart Announces Plans to Open Ninth Warehouse Club in Colombia, and Expects to Have 50 Clubs in Operation by Spring 2022

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) today announced that it plans to begin the construction of its ninth warehouse club in Colombia, which is anticipated to open in the fall of 2021. With the addition of this new Colombia club and previously announced new clubs in Guatemala City, Guatemala and Portmore, <span…

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) today announced that it plans to begin the construction of its ninth warehouse club in Colombia, which is anticipated to open in the fall of 2021. With the addition of this new Colombia club and previously announced new clubs in Guatemala City, Guatemala and Portmore, Jamaica, the Company expects to have 50 clubs in operation by spring 2022.

In October 2019, the Company acquired nearly 210,000 square feet of land in Colombia upon which the Company plans to construct a smaller format club located in the Floridablanca Municipality, south of Bucaramanga, Colombia.

«The commitment to another warehouse club in Colombia reflects our continuing belief that Colombia represents a significant growth market for the Company. The club will be built as a smaller format in this secondary city market, which is located approximately 250 miles from our «Las Américas» club in Medellín, Colombia. The decision to proceed with the «Bucaramanga» club is also driven by our experience with our other small formats, the potential we see in secondary markets, and the opportunity to expand our reach with the support of our newly developed online and last-mile capabilities.

«We now have three new clubs under construction. We expect this club and our previously announced Guatemala City, Guatemala club to open in the fall of 2021 and our Portmore, Jamaica club to open in the spring of 2022. With the completion of these three clubs we will have reached the 50-club milestone, but continue to believe that we still have significant growth opportunities ahead. In addition to future club growth, we also continue to focus on driving comparable net merchandise sales in our existing locations and through our omni-channel shopping alternatives. This would not have been possible without the dedication of our team across all aspects of the business,» commented Sherry S. Bahrambeygui, CEO of PriceSmart, Inc.

About PriceSmart
PriceSmart, headquartered in San Diego, owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, selling high quality merchandise and services at low prices to PriceSmart Members. PriceSmart operates 47 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (eight in Costa Rica and Colombia; seven in Panama; five in the Dominican Republic, four in Trinidad and Guatemala; three in Honduras; two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica and the United States Virgin Islands). The Company also plans to open new warehouse clubs in Guatemala City, Guatemala and Bucaramanga, Colombia around the fall of 2021 and in Portmore, Jamaica around the spring of 2022. Once these three new clubs are open, the Company will operate 50 warehouse clubs. 

This press release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the Company’s anticipated future revenues and earnings, adequacy of future cash flows, omni-channel initiatives, proposed warehouse club openings, the Company’s performance relative to competitors, the outcome of tax proceedings and related matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words «expect,» «believe,» «will,» «may,» «should,» «project,» «estimate,» «anticipated,» «scheduled,» and like expressions, and the negative thereof. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to: adverse changes in economic conditions in the Company’s markets, natural disasters, compliance risks, volatility in currency exchange rates, competition, consumer and small business spending patterns, political instability, increased costs associated with the integration of online commerce with our traditional business, whether the Company can successfully execute strategic initiatives, cybersecurity breaches that could cause disruptions in our systems or jeopardize the security of member or business information, cost increases from product and service providers, interruption of supply chains, COVID-19 related factors and challenges, including among others, the duration of the pandemic, the unknown long-term economic impact, the impact of government policies and restrictions that have limited access for our Members, and shifts in demand away from discretionary or higher priced products to lower priced products, exposure to product liability claims and product recalls, recoverability of moneys owed to PriceSmart from governments, and other important factors discussed in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date that they are made, and the Company does not undertake to update them, except as required by law.

For further information, please contact Michael L. McCleary, EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (858) 404-8826 or send an email to ir@pricesmart.com.

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SOURCE PriceSmart, Inc.