Acura Wins IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Almost exactly 30 years after Acura’s first class win at Daytona International Raceway, the manufacturer triumphed over all this weekend as Wayne Taylor Racing won this weekend’s 59th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

<img id="prnejpg787aleft" title="#10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi, DPi: Helio Castroneves, Alexander Rossi,…

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Almost exactly 30 years after Acura’s first class win at Daytona International Raceway, the manufacturer triumphed over all this weekend as Wayne Taylor Racing won this weekend’s 59th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

#10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi, DPi: Helio Castroneves, Alexander Rossi, Filipe Albuquerque, Ricky Taylor winner

The season-opening round in the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, this weekend’s 24-hour endurance contest came down to the final hour, with five teams contending for the overall victory.  Combining speed with endurance – with the Acura ARX-05 prototype requiring fewer pit stops than the competition over the length of the race – the WTR driver lineup of Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi and Helio Castroneves held off late-race charges from the Cadillacs of Chip Ganassi Racing and Action Express, the Mazda-Multimatic prototype, and fellow Acura team Meyer Shank Racing to score their third consecutive Daytona victory, and the first with Acura.

All five contenders were running within 30 seconds of each other as the race entered its final hour.  A «short fill» and two tire only change at the final pit stop moved Albuquerque’s Acura to the head of the field, with the Ganassi prototype of Renger van der Zande less than two seconds back. However, a cut tire with just seven minutes remaining sent van der Zande to the pits, and Albuquerque went on to take the checkers, and Acura’s first overall victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

In the SiriusXM AutoNation Acura ARX-05, the Meyer Shank Racing lineup of Dane Cameron, Olivier Pla, Juan Pablo Montoya and A.J. Allmendinger also led multiple times throughtout the race, but was forced to deal with handling issues as winds increased in the final hours, taking the checkers in fourth.

Acura NSX GT3 Evo
Electronic issues and an early-race cut tire dented the Acura GTD debut of the Magnus with Archangel’s NSX GT3 Evo, driven by Andy Lally, John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly and two-time defending GTD champion Mario Farnbacher.  The cut tire, likely the result of debris on track, damaged the underbody and led to an unscheduled pit stop for #44 Acura in the opening hour, and a series of delays through the night left the NSX GT3 Evo team 11th at the finish.

Acura Rolex 24 Results

  • 1st overall – #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05 DPi 
                            Drivers Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi, Helio Castroneves
  • 4th overall – #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-05 DPi 
                            Drivers Dane Cameron, Olivier Pla, Juan Pablo Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger
  • 11th GTD –  Magnus with Archangel Acura NSX GT3 Evo 
                            Drivers Andy Lally, John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly, Mario Farnbacher

DPi Manufacturers’ Championship (after 1 of 10 rounds)

  1. Acura          380
  2. Cadillac       355
  3. Mazda         332

Acura Rolex 24 Fast Facts

  • Today’s overall win at the Rolex 24 comes almost exactly 30 years after Acura scored its first major endurance racing victory, the Camel Lights class win at Daytona, February 2-3, 1991.
  • Acura first entered IMSA competition in 1991, shortly after the company’s founding in 1986, and the 1991 Daytona race was the first major event for the company. Comptech Racing and drivers Parker Johnstone, Steve Cameron [uncle of current Acura racer Dane Cameron] and Bob Lesnett, driving a Spice Acura SE90P, claimed the victory that year in a class that compares to today’s LMP2 division.
  • Acura repeated as Camel Lights win at Daytona in 1992, with Comptech drivers Johnstone, and Cameron joined by Jimmy Vasser [who also won Honda’s first Indy car championship in 1996].
  • Today’s victory is the third consecutive Rolex 24 triumph for Wayne Taylor Racing but the first since WTR became an Acura team at the end of 2020.

Quotes
Filipe Albuquerque (#10 Konica Minolta Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05) Rolex 24 at Daytona winner:  «I think it was a hell of a show. I could almost see [Renger van der Zande’s] eyes in my mirrors, he was so hungry for this. He was faster than me, but it’s one thing to catch and another thing is to pass. He was really pushing hard. I was lucky that they had a puncture. This was probably the hardest race of my life.»

Dane Cameron (#60 Meyer Shank Racing ARX-05) finished 4th: «All in all it was an okay day. Our goal was to put ourselves in contention [for the win] at the end of the day and we did that by finishing on the lead lap. The Meyer Shank Racing boys did a great job preparing the car and executing pit stops without issues. It is probably the first time in six or seven years that I have run this race without a problem on a pit stop. I am very pleased with the effort the guys put in, with a short off-season and a large transition to a new program. We lacked a bit of speed near the end of the race today, but we were able to compete for a victory when it counted. We will take good [championship] points from today for our championship effort and we’ll move forward and turn the page to Sebring.» 

David Salters (President, Honda Performance Development) on this weekend’s Acura victory at the season-opening Rolex 24: «It’s an historic day for Acura, and thanks to IMSA for putting on a stunning event. I want to thank all of our teams for their huge effort to come and race here in arguably one of the most arduous endurance events on the planet. They came, and demonstrated just how good they were.  This is all the result of a team effort.  Everyone at HPD was integral in developing the strong relationship we have with our teams, and I believe it showed in today’s results.  I also need to thank all the marvelous people at Team Penske for their efforts and success the previous three years.  They established the foundations that we’re now building upon.  Again, it’s all about a team of brilliant, hard-working people, and it shows the performance heritage of Acura.»

Next
The 2020 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship now moves to central Florida for the 69th annual Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring, March 20 in Sebring, Fla.

Acura Motorsports Social media content and video links from this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona are available on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (www.twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1430518/Acura_Motorsports_ARX_05.jpg  

SOURCE Acura Motorsports

New Duke Energy subsidiary, eTransEnergy, to help companies and cities transition commercial fleets to electric vehicles

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today announced a major step to help large businesses and municipalities with all the planning, financing, acquisition and deployment services to electrify their fleets. The company, eTransEnergy LLC, a new, wholly owned subsidiary, will provide unregulated services to assist school districts, transit services and companies across the country achieve their…

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today announced a major step to help large businesses and municipalities with all the planning, financing, acquisition and deployment services to electrify their fleets. The company, eTransEnergy LLC, a new, wholly owned subsidiary, will provide unregulated services to assist school districts, transit services and companies across the country achieve their economic and sustainability goals as they transition to clean energy transportation options.

Commercial fleets looking for reduced emissions, less noise, better performance and lower operating costs now have one comprehensive source for transitioning their fleets to EVs (electric vehicles), from start to finish.  

«Electrifying vehicles represents an incredible opportunity for our customers and communities to reduce carbon emissions,» said Doug Esamann, executive vice president of energy solutions for Duke Energy. «Through eTransEnergy, we’re offering a low-risk, realistic solution for customers to transform their fleets.»

As a Duke Energy company, eTransEnergy professionals offer many years of combined experience working with commercial electric fleets, managing total cost of ownership and maintaining the supporting infrastructure. Customers will benefit from this knowledge through comprehensive infrastructure planning, smart charging technology, on-site solar energy generation, battery backup options and other aspects of EV fleet management.

Greg Fields, eTransEnergy managing director, said, «We understand the unique needs of fleet operators and our goal is to simplify the complex process of scaled electric fleet adoption.»

eTransEnergy works with commercial electric original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide customers with access to the vehicle that best meets their needs. In addition, and to support the sustainable growth of distributed technologies like electric vehicles, Duke Energy works continuously in all its service areas to strengthen and improve the electric grid. And now, with eTransEnergy services available across North America, Duke Energy will work with local utilities to support updates to the energy grid and other infrastructure as needed.

Fleet owners and operators interested in more information should visit the eTransEnergy website.

Duke Energy’s fleet conversion pledge

Duke Energy has pledged to convert 100% of its nearly 4,000 light-duty vehicles to electric and 50% of its approximately 6,000 combined fleet of medium-duty, heavy-duty and off-road vehicles to EVs, plug-in hybrids or other zero-carbon alternatives by 2030. For more information on Duke Energy’s comprehensive climate strategy, visit duke-energy.com/climate.

To help spur EV adoption, Duke Energy is launching several pilot programs that deliver a more expansive charging infrastructure throughout its service territories. In Florida, the company’s pilot is off the ground with over 570 charging stations nearing completion. Duke Energy has received approvals for pilots in North Carolina and South Carolina as well, and has a proposal pending in Ohio.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit’s regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2020 «World’s Most Admired Companies» list, and Forbes’ 2019 «America’s Best Employers» list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Jennifer Sharpe
Phone: 704.616.2013
Email: jennifer.sharpe@duke-energy.com

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SOURCE Duke Energy

Acura Wins IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Almost exactly 30 years after Acura’s first class win at Daytona International Raceway, the manufacturer triumphed over all this weekend as Wayne Taylor Racing won this weekend’s 59th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

<a href="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1430518/Acura_Motorsports_ARX_05.html" target="_blank"…

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Almost exactly 30 years after Acura’s first class win at Daytona International Raceway, the manufacturer triumphed over all this weekend as Wayne Taylor Racing won this weekend’s 59th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The season-opening round in the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, this weekend’s 24-hour endurance contest came down to the final hour, with five teams contending for the overall victory.  Combining speed with endurance – with the Acura ARX-05 prototype requiring fewer pit stops than the competition over the length of the race – the WTR driver lineup of Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi and Helio Castroneves held off late-race charges from the Cadillacs of Chip Ganassi Racing and Action Express, the Mazda-Multimatic prototype, and fellow Acura team Meyer Shank Racing to score their third consecutive Daytona victory, and the first with Acura.

All five contenders were running within 30 seconds of each other as the race entered its final hour.  A «short fill» and two tire only change at the final pit stop moved Albuquerque’s Acura to the head of the field, with the Ganassi prototype of Renger van der Zande less than two seconds back. However, a cut tire with just seven minutes remaining sent van der Zande to the pits, and Albuquerque went on to take the checkers, and Acura’s first overall victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

In the SiriusXM AutoNation Acura ARX-05, the Meyer Shank Racing lineup of Dane Cameron, Olivier Pla, Juan Pablo Montoya and A.J. Allmendinger also led multiple times throughtout the race, but was forced to deal with handling issues as winds increased in the final hours, taking the checkers in fourth.

Acura NSX GT3 Evo
Electronic issues and an early-race cut tire dented the Acura GTD debut of the Magnus with Archangel’s NSX GT3 Evo, driven by Andy Lally, John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly and two-time defending GTD champion Mario Farnbacher.  The cut tire, likely the result of debris on track, damaged the underbody and led to an unscheduled pit stop for #44 Acura in the opening hour, and a series of delays through the night left the NSX GT3 Evo team 11th at the finish.

Acura Rolex 24 Results

  • 1st overall – #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05 DPi 
                            Drivers Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi, Helio Castroneves
  • 4th overall – #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-05 DPi 
                            Drivers Dane Cameron, Olivier Pla, Juan Pablo Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger
  • 11th GTD –  Magnus with Archangel Acura NSX GT3 Evo 
                            Drivers Andy Lally, John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly, Mario Farnbacher

DPi Manufacturers’ Championship (after 1 of 10 rounds)

  1. Acura          380
  2. Cadillac       355
  3. Mazda         332

Acura Rolex 24 Fast Facts

  • Today’s overall win at the Rolex 24 comes almost exactly 30 years after Acura scored its first major endurance racing victory, the Camel Lights class win at Daytona, February 2-3, 1991.
  • Acura first entered IMSA competition in 1991, shortly after the company’s founding in 1986, and the 1991 Daytona race was the first major event for the company. Comptech Racing and drivers Parker Johnstone, Steve Cameron [uncle of current Acura racer Dane Cameron] and Bob Lesnett, driving a Spice Acura SE90P, claimed the victory that year in a class that compares to today’s LMP2 division.
  • Acura repeated as Camel Lights win at Daytona in 1992, with Comptech drivers Johnstone, and Cameron joined by Jimmy Vasser [who also won Honda’s first Indy car championship in 1996].
  • Today’s victory is the third consecutive Rolex 24 triumph for Wayne Taylor Racing but the first since WTR became an Acura team at the end of 2020.

Quotes
Filipe Albuquerque (#10 Konica Minolta Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05) Rolex 24 at Daytona winner:  «I think it was a hell of a show. I could almost see [Renger van der Zande’s] eyes in my mirrors, he was so hungry for this. He was faster than me, but it’s one thing to catch and another thing is to pass. He was really pushing hard. I was lucky that they had a puncture. This was probably the hardest race of my life.»

Dane Cameron (#60 Meyer Shank Racing ARX-05) finished 4th: «All in all it was an okay day. Our goal was to put ourselves in contention [for the win] at the end of the day and we did that by finishing on the lead lap. The Meyer Shank Racing boys did a great job preparing the car and executing pit stops without issues. It is probably the first time in six or seven years that I have run this race without a problem on a pit stop. I am very pleased with the effort the guys put in, with a short off-season and a large transition to a new program. We lacked a bit of speed near the end of the race today, but we were able to compete for a victory when it counted. We will take good [championship] points from today for our championship effort and we’ll move forward and turn the page to Sebring.» 

David Salters (President, Honda Performance Development) on this weekend’s Acura victory at the season-opening Rolex 24: «It’s an historic day for Acura, and thanks to IMSA for putting on a stunning event. I want to thank all of our teams for their huge effort to come and race here in arguably one of the most arduous endurance events on the planet. They came, and demonstrated just how good they were.  This is all the result of a team effort.  Everyone at HPD was integral in developing the strong relationship we have with our teams, and I believe it showed in today’s results.  I also need to thank all the marvelous people at Team Penske for their efforts and success the previous three years.  They established the foundations that we’re now building upon.  Again, it’s all about a team of brilliant, hard-working people, and it shows the performance heritage of Acura.»

Next
The 2020 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship now moves to central Florida for the 69th annual Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring, March 20 in Sebring, Fla.

Acura Motorsports Social media content and video links from this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona are available on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (www.twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).

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SOURCE Acura Motorsports

Georgia Power encourages action during Severe Weather Awareness Week

ATLANTA, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Georgia Power is encouraging its 2.6 million customers to be severe-weather ready, as the company partners with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service for Severe Weather Awareness Week (SWAW), which will take place February 1 – 5. Because Georgia is susceptible to all types of severe weather, each day of the week will focus on a…

ATLANTA, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Georgia Power is encouraging its 2.6 million customers to be severe-weather ready, as the company partners with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service for Severe Weather Awareness Week (SWAW), which will take place February 1 – 5. Because Georgia is susceptible to all types of severe weather, each day of the week will focus on a specific type of severe weather or preparedness action Georgia Power customers can take to help become storm ready.

Severe Weather Daily Schedule

  • Feb. 1 – Family PreparednessA well-built kit should contain enough supplies to get you and your family through three days without electricity or running water.
  • Feb. 2 – Thunderstorm SafetyDowned trees are usually the cause of an outage after a storm. Never attempt to pull tree limbs off wires yourself.
  • Feb 3 – Tornado SafetyThe safest place in your home is the lowest level – the basement. If you don’t have a basement, choose a small room away from windows, like a closet, hallway or bathroom. If your safest room is a first-floor bathroom, get in the tub and hold a mattress or cushions over your head for protection.
  • Feb. 4 – Lightning SafetySeek shelter inside away from doors and windows. Avoid electronic equipment of all types, including land line phones, as lightning can travel through electrical systems. Avoid indoor water use during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing.
  • Feb. 5 – FloodingNever attempt to walk or drive through flood waters. Water may appear shallow, but flooding can wash out deep holes or sweep people away. Downed wires can also be submerged in water or mud.

Georgia Power reminds customers to keep safety first when a storm is imminent and offers the following severe weather tips:

  • Before a Storm:  Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit, and family plan. Unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.
  • During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity – appliances, metal objects and water.
  • After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line. 

Tools You Can Use to Prepare for Severe Weather Year-round

  • @GeorgiaPower on Twitter – Follow @GeorgiaPower on Twitter for storm tips, outage updates and more.
  • Outage Alerts – Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and updates via text message.
  • Outage & Storm Center – Available at www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to sign up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938. 
  • Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.
  • Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.
  • Emergency Plan and Kit – Visit the Georgia Power storm page for information on how to build a family emergency plan and emergency supply kit. 

Georgia Power constantly monitors changing weather conditions and remains prepared to respond to any service interruptions that might occur because of severe weather. Customers can subscribe to Georgia Power’s YouTube Storm Channel for the latest safety videos and can connect with Georgia Power on Facebook and Twitter for helpful information and restoration updates during severe weather.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the Company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the Company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the Company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

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SOURCE Georgia Power

Clean Cars 2030 Gains Legislative Momentum, Reflects Urgent Need to Confront Climate Crisis While Addressing Pollution and Health Inequities

SEATTLE, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Clean Cars 2030, a bill reintroduced in the Washington legislature with 27 co-sponsors and strong support from constituents, will have a hearing today at 3:30 pm…

SEATTLE, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Clean Cars 2030, a bill reintroduced in the Washington legislature with 27 co-sponsors and strong support from constituents, will have a hearing today at 3:30 pm PT in the House Transportation Committee. The bill, HB 1204/SB 5256, requires all model year 2030 or later passenger and light-duty vehicles sold in Washington State to be electric. People can keep and sell model-year 2029 and older gas cars as long as they like. The bill was drafted by lead sponsor Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Seattle) with assistance from Coltura, a Seattle-based nonprofit working to improve climate, health, and equity by accelerating the transition from gasoline and diesel to cleaner alternatives.

Gasoline and diesel on-road emissions are the single biggest source of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions in Washington, at nearly 30 percent of total emissions. With Clean Cars 2030, Washington would join more than 20 countries that plan to phase out sales of new gas cars. Since the bill was introduced last year as the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. to set a deadline for the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have announced 2035 targets for ending sales of new gas-powered cars.

«Clean Cars 2030 will ensure that our policy goals and actions move us rapidly toward a 100 percent clean energy environment and keep pace with what is now a global trend toward vehicle electrification,» said Rep. Macri. «This bill is not only good for the environment, but it will also bring important equity to low-income households by significantly lowering fuel costs and car repairs while stimulating the economy by hastening a boom charging infrastructure construction and EV manufacturing. Clean Cars 2030 is a commonsense solution that will usher in a cleaner, healthier future for all Washingtonians.»

Why Wait?

EVs with more than 400 miles of range are already available, and dozens of new models of electric cars, trucks, and SUVs are coming to market. By 2025 or sooner, EVs are forecast to reach price parity with similar gasoline models. New technology allowing EVs to charge nearly as fast as it takes to fill a tank with gas will also be widely available and convenient by 2030. Research commissioned by Coltura and conducted by Yale University, George Mason University, and Climate Nexus found 59 percent of Washington voters support a 2030 electric vehicle requirement.

«There is no reason to wait beyond 2030 to commit to a clean transportation future,» said Matthew Metz, co-executive director of Coltura. «The transition period is achievable, and it will give automakers and utilities certainty about the EV market, which will further accelerate innovation and progress. We must put the pedal to the metal. It’s time we move beyond gasoline and eliminate our biggest source of carbon emissions in Washington State

Clean Cars 2030 will:

  • Put Washington on the road to powering its vehicles with cheap, clean, renewable electricity produced in-state.
  • Create clarity for local governments, automakers, charging companies, utilities, investors, landlords, and workplaces around the future growth of the state’s EV market.
  • Incentivize private-sector investment in new EVs and charging stations without imposing significant burdens on the state budget or the taxpayers.
  • Increase opportunities for lower-income Washingtonians to acquire used EVs and enjoy significant savings over costs of owning a fossil fuel vehicle.
  • Result in reductions in carbon emissions and air pollution.
  • Reduce the threat that oil and gasoline pose to our air, water, and health. According to the Washington Department of Ecology, motor vehicles release an estimated three million gallons of petroleum annually into the Puget Sound Basin, the rough equivalent of an Exxon Valdez supertanker spill every four years.

For more information about Clean Cars 2030, please visit:

About Coltura

Coltura is working to improve climate, health, and equity by accelerating the transition from gasoline and diesel to cleaner alternatives. It focuses on changing gasoline supply, gasoline demand, and gasoline culture through innovative legal and policy pathways, media, and art. Learn more at https://www.coltura.org/washington-clean-cars.

Media Contact
Samara Villasenor
425-255-0890
290468@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Coltura

Con nueva campaña de lanzamiento, el MDX 2022 reafirma su rol como insignia de la marca Acura

TORRANCE, California, 1 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Previo a su llegada a los concesionarios este 2 de febrero, la campaña de lanzamiento del MDX 2022 renovado de Acura (<a target="_blank"…

TORRANCE, California, 1 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Previo a su llegada a los concesionarios este 2 de febrero, la campaña de lanzamiento del MDX 2022 renovado de Acura (acura.us/mdxlaunchcampaign) permite conocer la forma en que la larga y exitosa trayectoria de la marca en las carreras y los deportes a motor ha potenciado la cuarta generación de este SUV, abriéndole el camino para tomar su nuevo rol como insignia de la marca.

2022 MDX Asserts its Role as the Flagship of the Acura Brand in New Launch Campaign

Con la canción «Tear It Up» de Queen como banda sonora, la nueva campaña de Acura resalta elementos potentes del renovado MDX, incluido su diseño exterior audaz y deportivo que se complementa con un interior elegante y sofisticado, apropiando lo último en tecnología para ofrecer la cabina más avanzada en la historia de la marca. El desempeño del MDX está respaldado por una suspensión frontal de doble horquilla que se implementa por primera vez en esta nueva plataforma ultrarrígida, la cual se presenta en un sitio conexo (acura.us/mdxperformance) donde también se ilustra la capacidad de carga del MDX. Toda la información acerca del MDX 2022 está disponible aquí.

Esta campaña integral conduce al público a través de un emocionante viaje por los vehículos y autos de carreras más representativos de Acura, buscando resaltar cómo el MDX comparte el «mismo ADN» del NSX 1991, el Integra 2001 Type R y el NSX 2021. El legado de carreras de Acura es reflejo del auto de competencia Comptech Spice Acura GTP Lights que Parker Johnstone condujo a tres victorias consecutivas del campeonato de pilotos IMSA Camel Lights entre 1991 y 1993, junto con una aparición del NSX GT3 Evo, ganador consecutivo del Campeonato IMSA.

Esta campaña se desarrolló en colaboración con la agencia de publicidad MullenLowe LA, y será desplegada por medios de radio y televisión, digitales y redes sociales. Entre los espacios más destacados, habrá transmisiones deportivas en vivo y por cable de la NBA y la NCAA, así como partidos de la Locura de Marzo. La campaña del MDX 2022 también se desplegará por plataformas de transmisión en vivo con versiones de 30 y 15 segundos de las piezas para televisión, así como segmentos de 6 segundos que se verán en las redes sociales. Los contenidos del MDX de Acura también saldrán al aire en español y en chino.

 Otros elementos destacados de la campaña incluyen:

  • «Historia del origen», una activación para redes sociales que se lanzará el próximo mes a través de las redes sociales de Acura, con una serie de videos que exploran el concepto del «mismo ADN» en la historia de desempeño e innovación que llevaron a desarrollar el MDX.
  • «Mamá trabajadora», piezas de televisión de 30 segundos exclusivamente en español, las cuales se transmitirán por redes nacionales hispanas, incluidas Telemundo y Univisión, en las que se presenta la dualidad de la MDX 2022 como SUV familiar de alto desempeño y utramoderna, buscando llegar a la audiencia hispana.
  • Alianzas editoriales digitales de alto impacto con Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast, Martini, al igual que las hispanas People en Español y Mama’s Latina.
  • Integración con medios digitales de alto impacto para llegar a audiencias chinas específicas, trabajando con editoriales de nicho como Asian Media Group.

Acerca de Acura 

Acura es una marca automotriz líder que ofrece «Precision Crafted Performance» (un desempeño diseñado con precisión): un compromiso con el estilo expresivo, el alto desempeño y la ingeniería innovadora, todo construido sobre una base de calidad y confiabilidad. La línea Acura cuenta con cinco modelos distintivos: los sedanes deportivos ILX y TLX, los vehículos utilitarios deportivos RDX y MDX, y el superdeportivo NSX eléctrico de última generación. Todos los modelos de Acura vendidos en Norteamérica para el año modelo 2021 se fabrican en los EE. UU., con piezas de origen nacional y mundial.

Información adicional para los medios incluyendo precios, características y especificaciones, así como fotografías en alta resolución, están disponibles en AcuraNews.com. La información para el consumidor está disponible en Acura.com.

Acura Logo.

Foto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1429784/HERO_2022_MDX.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458749/acura_logo.jpg  

FUENTE Acura

Major Companies, Institutions in Illinois Call for 100% Clean Energy Legislation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly two dozen companies and higher education institutions in Illinois called on state lawmakers today to accelerate the state’s transition to 100% clean energy and a cleaner, more equitable transportation system.

<a href="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1429616/Ceres_logo_.html" target="_blank"…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly two dozen companies and higher education institutions in Illinois called on state lawmakers today to accelerate the state’s transition to 100% clean energy and a cleaner, more equitable transportation system.

«Strengthening Illinois’ clean energy and transportation programs will also help the state recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, build regulatory accountability, and secure a just future for communities disproportionately impacted by climate change,» they wrote in a letter delivered to Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly. 

The signatories include Advocate Aurora Health, IKEA Retail US, Mars, Inc., Microsoft, Paypal, Salesforce, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Unilever, and the University of Illinois, among others. The sustainability nonprofit Ceres coordinated the letter. 

Climate legislation is expected to be a top priority for the Illinois General Assembly this year. Among legislation likely to be considered is the Clean Energy and Jobs Act (CEJA), which was first introduced in 2018 and includes proposals to help Illinois achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, transition to a carbon-free power sector by 2030, expand energy efficiency programs and electric vehicle infrastructure, and implement a just transition for fossil fuel workers.

«We need bold action now if we are to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and build a better future for generations to come,» said Patrick Flynn, vice president of sustainability at Salesforce. «Illinois has a unique opportunity to make a bold climate commitment and ensure a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon economy.»

«Siemens supports Gov. Pritzker’s work to advance clean energy policies that promote equitable solutions, seek to create jobs, and will help the state of Illinois reach the next level of critical technology deployment in transportation electrification, sustainability and resilience,» said Judy Martinez-Faye, head of external affairs, Midwest Region and Texas, Siemens USA. «We fully support and are looking forward to working with Gov. Pritzker’s Energy Team regarding his principles for a clean and renewable economy in Illinois

View full press release here

Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact:
Helen Booth-Tobin
booth-tobin@ceres.org
617-247-0700 ext. 214

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/major-companies-institutions-in-illinois-call-for-100-clean-energy-legislation-301218696.html

SOURCE Ceres

AgBiTech launches global web platforms for its game-changing biological pest control solutions

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — AgBiTech, a crop protection company focusing on science-based biological crop protection with teams around the world, has launched its Australia, Brazil, USA and Global websites detailing its products, activities and partnerships in various regions in the world, including Africa and South…

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — AgBiTech, a crop protection company focusing on science-based biological crop protection with teams around the world, has launched its Australia, Brazil, USA and Global websites detailing its products, activities and partnerships in various regions in the world, including Africa and South Asia.

While AgBiTech has a strong research program to continually develop innovative biological insect control solutions, the websites now allow users to access and fully understand the power of effective biological insect control.

AgBiTech CEO Adriano Vilas-Boas says the resources outline how nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) are naturally occurring, highly effective bioinsecticides against a number of important insect pests. «It takes growers through how NPVs work, how they fit in with integrated pest management, resistance management and residue management across a range of crops, including soybeans, sorghum, sweet corn, field corn, hemp, peanuts,  cotton and many other crops,» he explains.

Around the world, AgBiTech products target hundreds of million dollars’ worth of pests, including Fall Armyworm, Cotton Bollworm/Corn Earworm, Soybean Looper, Diamondback Moth, Tuta absoluta and others in many important crops, including broadacre field crops as well as horticulture and specialty crops.

«While caterpillars have developed resistance to most chemical insecticides and now also to some genetically modified (GM) crops, they have not done so with their co-evolved naturally occurring viruses,» Mr Vilas-Boas says. «These viruses have virtually no effect on any other species in the ecosystem which makes them incredibly safe to beneficial insects, the environment and most importantly, to the people using them.»

«Our products are soft on the environment, but tough on the targeted pests. As a result, biological tools like ours are rapidly coming to reduce or optimize the usage of chemical insecticide active ingredients, which is why the launch of these online resources is so significant.»

The websites can be found at;

Global/Corporate        www.agbitech.com 
Australia                      www.agbitech.com.au 
Brazil                           www.agbitech.com.br 
USA                            www.agbitech.us

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agbitech-launches-global-web-platforms-for-its-game-changing-biological-pest-control-solutions-301219133.html

SOURCE AgBiTech Pty Ltd

Manufacturing PMI® at 58.7%; January 2021 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®

New Orders, Production & Employment Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing at Faster Rate; Backlog Growing; Raw Materials Inventories Growing; Customers’ Inventories Too Low; Prices Increasing; Exports and Imports Growing

This report reflects the recently completed annual adjustments to the seasonal factors used to calculate the indexes.

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in January, with the overall…

New Orders, Production & Employment Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing at Faster Rate; Backlog Growing; Raw Materials Inventories Growing; Customers’ Inventories Too Low; Prices Increasing; Exports and Imports Growing

This report reflects the recently completed annual adjustments to the seasonal factors used to calculate the indexes.

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in January, with the overall economy notching an eighth consecutive month of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee:

«The January Manufacturing PMI® registered 58.7 percent, down 1.8 percentage points from the seasonally adjusted December reading of 60.5 percent. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the eighth month in a row after contraction in March, April, and May. The New Orders Index registered 61.1 percent, down 6.4 percentage points from the seasonally adjusted December reading of 67.5 percent. The Production Index registered 60.7 percent, a decrease of 4 percentage points compared to the seasonally adjusted December reading of 64.7 percent. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 59.7 percent, 0.6 percentage point above the December reading of 59.1 percent. The Employment Index registered 52.6 percent, 0.9 percentage point higher from the seasonally adjusted December reading of 51.7 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 68.2 percent, up 0.5 percentage point from the December figure of 67.7 percent. The Inventories Index registered 50.8 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than the seasonally adjusted December reading of 51 percent. The Prices Index registered 82.1 percent, up 4.5 percentage points compared to the December reading of 77.6 percent. The New Export Orders Index registered 54.9 percent, a decrease of 2.6 percentage points compared to the December reading of 57.5 percent. The Imports Index registered 56.8 percent, a 2.2-percentage point increase from the December reading of 54.6 percent.»

Fiore continues, «The manufacturing economy continued its recovery in January. Survey committee members reported that their companies and suppliers continue to operate in reconfigured factories, but absenteeism, short-term shutdowns to sanitize facilities and difficulties in returning and hiring workers are continuing to cause strains that limit manufacturing growth potential. However, panel sentiment remains optimistic (three positive comments for every cautious comment), similar to December levels. Demand expanded, with the (1) New Orders Index growing at a strong level, supported by the New Export Orders Index expanding, (2) Customers’ Inventories Index remaining in ‘too low’ territory and at a level considered a positive for future production, and the (3) Backlog of Orders Index remaining at high levels. Consumption (measured by the Production and Employment indexes) contributed negatively (a combined 3.1-percentage point decrease) to the Manufacturing PMI® calculation. Five of the top six industries reported moderate to strong expansion. The Employment Index expanded for a second straight month, but panelists continue to note difficulties in attracting and retaining labor at their companies and supplier facilities. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports — continued to indicate input-driven constraints to production expansion, at higher rates compared to December, as indicated by minimal gains in inventory levels and declining supplier performance. Imports expanded in the period, despite port backlogs, but not at levels desired by panelists. Supplier delivery struggles continued, contributing moderately to the Manufacturing PMI® calculation. (The Supplier Deliveries and Inventories indexes directly factor into the Manufacturing PMI®; the Imports Index does not.) The Prices Index surged dramatically in January, hitting a level last reached in April 2011, indicating continued supplier pricing power.

«Of the six biggest manufacturing industries, five — Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Computer & Electronic Products — registered moderate to strong growth in January. Petroleum & Coal Products contracted.

«Manufacturing performed well for the eighth straight month, with demand, consumption and inputs registering strong growth compared to December. Labor market difficulties at panelists’ companies and their suppliers will continue to restrict the manufacturing economy expansion until the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis abates,» says Fiore.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in January, in the following order: Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Transportation Equipment; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Wood Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Furniture & Related Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Textile Mills; and Computer & Electronic Products. The two industries reporting contraction in January are: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Petroleum & Coal Products.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING

  • «Supplier factory capacity is well utilized. Increased demand, labor constraints and upstream supply delays are pushing lead times. This is more prevalent with international than U.S.-based suppliers.» (Computer & Electronic Products)
  • «Business remains strong. Manufacturing running at full capacity.» (Chemical Products)
  • «Very strong demand with limitations in supply to meet increased demand.» (Transportation Equipment)
  • «Labor continues to be one of our largest challenges.» (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)
  • «Our current business demand is going way past pre-COVID-19 [levels].» (Fabricated Metal Products)
  • «Business is very good. Customer inventories are low, with a significant order backlog through April. Supply base is struggling to keep up with demand, disrupting our production here and there. Raw material lead times have been extended. COVID-19 continues to cause challenges throughout the supply chain. Huge logistics challenges, especially in getting product through ports and in getting containers. We are seeing significant cost increases in logistics and raw materials.» (Machinery)
  • «We have had an increase in employees testing positive for COVID-19, negatively impacting manufacturing.» (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)
  • «2020 growth at 5 percent during a very challenging and volatile year. 2021 is expected to bring growth at a 7-percent or even greater pace. Logistics is the critical concern, but we are currently abating risk.» (Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components)
  • «January 2021 started with strong orders for plastic components in auto, electrical and other sectors. The industry outlook is optimistic. Looking at investing in new equipment for anticipated demand later this year. Reshoring is taking hold, with new customer potential.» (Plastics & Rubber Products)
  • «Business is improving, but we are still struggling with a shortage of available labor.» (Primary Metals)

 

MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE

January 2021

Index

Series Index

Jan

Series Index

Dec

Percentage

Point

Change

Direction

Rate of Change

Trend* (Months)

Manufacturing PMI®

58.7

60.5

-1.8

Growing

Slower

8

New Orders

61.1

67.5

-6.4

Growing

Slower

8

Production

60.7

64.7

-4.0

Growing

Slower

8

Employment

52.6

51.7

+0.9

Growing

Faster

2

Supplier Deliveries

68.2

67.7

+0.5

Slowing

Faster

59

Inventories

50.8

51.0

-0.2

Growing

Slower

4

Customers’ Inventories

33.1

37.9

-4.8

Too Low

Faster

54

Prices

82.1

77.6

+4.5

Increasing

Faster

8

Backlog of Orders

59.7

59.1

+0.6

Growing

Faster

7

New Export Orders

54.9

57.5

-2.6

Growing

Slower

7

Imports

56.8

54.6

+2.2

Growing

Faster

7

OVERALL ECONOMY

Growing

Slower

8

Manufacturing Sector

Growing

Slower

8

Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.
Indexes reflect newly released seasonal adjustment factors.

COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY

Commodities Up in Price
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Plastic; Aluminum (8); Ammonia; Brass Products (3); Calcium Carbonate; Copper (8); Corn; Corrugate (4); Corrugated Boxes (3); Crude Oil (2); Diesel; Electrical Components (2); Electronic Components (2); Ethylene; Freight (3); High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE); Isocyanates (2); Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD); Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Resins; Lumber (7); Memory; Natural Gas; Nylon Fiber; Ocean Freight (2); Oil-Based Lubricants (2); Packaging Supplies (2); Paper Products (2); Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Gloves (2); Plastic Resins (5); Plating Services; Precious Metals; Propylene; Polypropylene (7); Polyols; Polyvinyl Chloride (4); Printed Circuit Boards; Soybean Products (4); Steel (6); Steel — Galvanized; Steel — High Carbon (2); Steel — Cold Rolled (5); Steel — Hot Rolled (5); Steel Products (5); Steel — Scrap (2); Steel — Stainless (3); Sulfuric Acid; and Wood — Pallets (2).

Commodities Down in Price
Caustic Soda.

Commodities in Short Supply
Copper; Corrugate; Corrugated Boxes (3); Electrical Components (4); Electronic Components (2); Freight — Road; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Gloves (11); Semiconductors (2); Steel (2); Steel — Cold Rolled; Steel — Fabricated; and Steel — Hot Rolled (3).

Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.

JANUARY 2021 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

Manufacturing PMI®
Manufacturing grew in January, as the Manufacturing PMI® registered 58.7 percent, 1.8 percentage points lower than the seasonally adjusted December reading of 60.5 percent. «The Manufacturing PMI® continued to indicate strong sector expansion and U.S. economic growth in January. All five contributing subindexes were in growth territory, but at lower rates compared to December. Of the six biggest manufacturing industries, five — Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Computer & Electronic Products — expanded. The New Orders and Production indexes continued to expand at strong levels. The Supplier Deliveries Index continued to reflect suppliers’ difficulties in maintaining delivery rates, due to factory labor-safety issues and transportation challenges. All 10 subindexes were positive for the period; a reading of ‘too low’ for Customers’ Inventories Index is considered a positive for future production,» says Fiore. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A Manufacturing PMI® above 43.1 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the January Manufacturing PMI® indicates the overall economy grew in January for the eighth consecutive month following contractions in March, April, and May. «The past relationship between the Manufacturing PMI® and the overall economy indicates that the Manufacturing PMI® for December (58.7 percent) corresponds to a 4.4-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis,» says Fiore.

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Month

Manufacturing
PMI®

Month

Manufacturing
PMI®

Jan 2021

58.7

Jul 2020

53.7

Dec 2020

60.5

Jun 2020

52.2

Nov 2020

57.7

May 2020

43.1

Oct 2020

58.8

Apr 2020

41.7

Sep 2020

55.7

Mar 2020

49.7

Aug 2020

55.6

Feb 2020

50.3

Average for 12 months – 53.1

High – 60.5

Low – 41.7

New Orders
ISM®‘s New Orders Index registered 61.1 percent in January, a decrease of 6.4 percentage points compared to the seasonally adjusted 67.5 percent reported in December. This indicates that new orders grew for the eighth consecutive month. «Five of the six largest manufacturing sectors —Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Computer & Electronic Products — expanded. Petroleum & Coal Products retained its prior month level of growth,» says Fiore. A New Orders Index above 52.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau’s series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the 13 that reported growth in new orders in January — in the following order — are: Primary Metals; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Plastics & Rubber Products; Transportation Equipment; Wood Products; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Furniture & Related Products; and Computer & Electronic Products. The two industries reporting a decline in new orders in January are: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Textile Mills.

New Orders

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Jan 2021

37.0

51.0

12.0

+25.0

61.1

Dec 2020

40.3

45.1

14.6

+25.7

67.5

Nov 2020

35.9

50.1

14.0

+21.9

65.7

Oct 2020

40.3

49.2

10.5

+29.8

66.9

Production
The Production Index registered 60.7 percent in January, 4 percentage points lower than the seasonally adjusted December reading of 64.7 percent, indicating growth for the eighth consecutive month. «Five (Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Computer & Electronic Products) of the top six industries expanded at moderate to strong levels,» says Fiore. An index above 52.1 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board’s Industrial Production figures.

The 12 industries reporting growth in production during the month of January — listed in order — are: Machinery; Primary Metals; Wood Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products; and Computer & Electronic Products. The two industries reporting decreased production in January are: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Textile Mills.

Production

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Jan 2021

30.8

57.8

11.4

+19.4

60.7

Dec 2020

32.3

54.6

13.1

+19.2

64.7

Nov 2020

33.7

52.0

14.3

+19.4

62.2

Oct 2020

37.4

51.0

11.7

+25.7

63.1

Employment
ISM®‘s Employment Index registered 52.6 percent in January, 0.9 percentage point higher than the seasonally adjusted December reading of 51.7 percent. «The Employment Index grew for the second month in a row with only one (Chemical Products) of the six big industry sectors expanding. Continued strong new-order levels, low customer inventories and an expanding backlog indicate potential employment strength for the rest of the first quarter. For the fifth straight month, survey panelists’ comments indicate that significantly more companies are hiring or attempting to hire than those reducing labor forces,» says Fiore. An Employment Index above 50.6 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the six industries to report employment growth in January — in the following order — are: Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Wood Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; and Chemical Products. The seven industries reporting a decrease in employment in January — listed in the following order — are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Paper Products; Textile Mills; Petroleum & Coal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

Employment

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Jan 2021

13.9

72.2

13.8

+0.1

52.6

Dec 2020

14.9

68.8

16.3

-1.4

51.7

Nov 2020

14.8

66.4

18.9

-4.1

48.3

Oct 2020

23.1

59.3

17.7

+5.4

52.1

Supplier Deliveries
The delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in January, as the Supplier Deliveries Index registered 68.2 percent. This is 0.5 percentage point higher than the 67.7 percent reported in December. «Suppliers continue to struggle to deliver, with deliveries slowing at a faster rate compared to the previous month. Transportation challenges and challenges in supplier-labor markets are still constraining production growth — and to a greater extent compared to December. The Supplier Deliveries Index reflects the difficulties suppliers continue to experience due to COVID-19 impacts combined with strong growth in economic activity. Since stable manufacturing began in August 2020, the index has gone up every month, indicating that suppliers are experiencing greater difficulties in meeting factory needs. Supplier labor and transportation constraints are not expected to diminish in the near-to-moderate term due to COVID-19 impacts,» says Fiore. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.

Seventeen industries reported slower supplier deliveries in January, listed in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Primary Metals. No industries reported faster supplier deliveries in January.

Supplier Deliveries

 

%Slower

 

%Same

 

%Faster

 

Net

 

Index

Jan 2021

39.9

56.5

3.5

+36.4

68.2

Dec 2020

39.5

56.3

4.2

+35.3

 67.7*

Nov 2020

27.5

68.4

4.1

+23.4

61.7

Oct 2020

24.7

71.5

3.8

+20.9

60.5

*Supplier Deliveries is no longer seasonally adjusted; however, due to more precise rounding, this number increased by 0.1 percentage point.

Inventories
The Inventories Index registered 50.8 percent in January, 0.2 percentage point lower than the seasonally adjusted 51 percent reported for December. Inventories grew for a fourth consecutive month after three months of contraction. «Inventory growth stability in light of ongoing supplier constraints indicates that supply chains are meeting near-term production demand, despite transportation and COVID-19 headwinds. However, delivery rates are not strong enough to grow inventory, as many panelists would prefer,» says Fiore. An Inventories Index greater than 44.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

The seven industries reporting higher inventories in January — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Furniture & Related Products; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Machinery; and Transportation Equipment. The four industries reporting a decrease in inventories in January are: Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Fabricated Metal Products. Seven industries reported no change in January compared to December.

Inventories

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Jan 2021

18.1

65.6

16.3

+1.8

50.8

Dec 2020

22.1

53.5

24.4

-2.3

51.0

Nov 2020

18.1

62.4

19.4

-1.3

50.8

Oct 2020

21.3

59.9

18.8

+2.5

51.6

Customers’ Inventories
ISM®‘s Customers’ Inventories Index registered 33.1 percent in January, 4.8 percentage points lower than the 37.9 percent reported for December, indicating that customers’ inventory levels were considered too low. «Customers’ inventories are too low for the 54th consecutive month, a positive for future production growth. This is the lowest reading since December 2009 (32.5 percent), and for six months in a row, the Customers’ Inventories Index has been at its lowest levels since December 2009-June 2010, when it averaged 35.2 percent,» says Fiore.

Of the 18 industries, the only one reporting higher customers’ inventories in January is Printing & Related Support Activities. The 14 industries reporting customers’ inventories as too low during January — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products; Chemical Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

Customers’
Inventories

%
Reporting

%Too
High

%About
Right

%Too
Low

 

Net

 

Index

Jan 2021

75

3.3

59.6

37.1

-33.8

33.1

Dec 2020

75

7.2

61.4

31.4

-24.2

37.9

Nov 2020

78

6.7

59.3

34.0

-27.3

36.3

Oct 2020

77

6.8

59.7

33.5

-26.7

36.7

Prices
The ISM® Prices Index registered 82.1 percent, an increase of 4.5 percentage points compared to the December reading of 77.6 percent, indicating raw materials prices increased for the eighth consecutive month. This is the highest reading since April 2011, when the index registered 82.6 percent. «Aluminum, brass, copper, chemicals, steel, soy and corn products, petroleum-based products including plastics, transportation costs, electrical and electronic components, corrugate, wood and lumber products all continued to record price increases,» says Fiore. A Prices Index above 52.7 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.

All 18 industries reported paying increased prices for raw materials in January, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Wood Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Chemical Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Printing & Related Support Activities.

Prices

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Jan 2021

64.3

35.7

0.0

+64.3

82.1

Dec 2020

57.8

39.7

2.6

+55.2

77.6

Nov 2020

36.7

57.3

6.0

+30.7

65.4

Oct 2020

35.4

60.1

4.5

+30.9

65.5

Backlog of Orders
ISM®‘s Backlog of Orders Index registered 59.7 percent in January, a 0.6-percentage point increase compared to the 59.1 percent reported in December, indicating order backlogs expanded for the seventh consecutive month. «Backlogs expanded at slightly faster rates in January, indicating that new-order intakes more than fully offset production outputs for the ninth straight month. Four (Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Chemical Products) of the six big industry sectors’ backlogs expanded with significant strength. Backlogs achieved their highest expansion levels since June 2018, when the index registered 60.1 percent,» says Fiore.

The 12 industries reporting growth in order backlogs in January, in the following order, are: Transportation Equipment; Primary Metals; Wood Products; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; and Plastics & Rubber Products. In January, two industries reported lower backlogs: Textile Mills; and Furniture & Related Products.

Backlog of Orders

% Reporting

 

%Higher

 

%Same

 

%Lower

 

Net

 

Index

Jan 2021

91

32.1

55.2

12.7

+19.4

59.7

Dec 2020

90

31.4

55.4

13.2

+18.2

59.1

Nov 2020

89

28.9

56.1

15.0

+13.9

56.9

Oct 2020

91

27.1

57.2

15.7

+11.4

55.7

New Export Orders
ISM®‘s New Export Orders Index registered 54.9 percent in January, a decrease of 2.6 percentage points compared to the December reading of 57.5 percent. «The New Export Orders Index grew for the seventh consecutive month, but at a slower rate. Five (Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products) of the six big industry sectors expanded. New export orders were again a positive factor to the growth in new-order levels, with many panelists suggesting U.S. dollar strength was a contributor to export orders,» says Fiore.

The 10 industries reporting growth in new export orders in January — in the following order — are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The only industry reporting a decrease in new export orders is Paper Products. Seven industries reported no change in exports in January.

New Export Orders

% Reporting

 

%Higher

 

%Same

 

%Lower

 

Net

 

Index

Jan 2021

75

17.6

74.6

7.7

+9.9

54.9

Dec 2020

72

20.1

74.8

5.1

+15.0

57.5

Nov 2020

73

22.3

70.9

6.8

+15.5

57.8

Oct 2020

76

18.5

74.5

7.0

+11.5

55.7

Imports
ISM®‘s Imports Index registered 56.8 percent in January, an increase of 2.2 percentage points compared to the 54.6 percent reported for December. «Imports expanded for the seventh consecutive month, at stronger rates compared to December, reflecting continued increases in U.S. factory demand and interest in increasing on-shore inventory. Panelists continued to note record-breaking backlogs in ports of entry, as well as difficulty in arranging drayage and operating within the domestic transportation market,» says Fiore.

The 11 industries reporting growth in imports in January — in the following order — are: Wood Products; Primary Metals; Textile Mills; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components. Two industries reported a decrease in imports in January: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Paper Products.

Imports

% Reporting

 

%Higher

 

%Same

 

%Lower

 

Net

 

Index

Jan 2021

84

21.9

69.9

8.3

+13.6

56.8

Dec 2020

85

19.2

70.8

10.0

+9.2

54.6

Nov 2020

85

17.1

76.0

6.9

+10.2

55.1

Oct 2020

87

20.7

74.8

4.5

+16.2

58.1

The Supplier Deliveries, Customers’ Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders and Imports indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.

Buying Policy
Average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures increased in January by nine days to 141 days. Average lead time for Production Materials decreased in January by one day to 68 days. Average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies increased in January by two days to 39 days.

Percent Reporting

Capital Expenditures

Hand-to-
Mouth

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

6 Months

1 Year+

Average
Days

Jan 2021

21

6

10

15

30

18

141

Dec 2020

24

5

10

17

28

16

132

Nov 2020

22

6

10

16

27

19

140

Oct 2020

23

5

8

17

29

18

140

 

Percent Reporting

Production Materials

Hand-to-
Mouth

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

6 Months

1 Year+

Average
Days

Jan 2021

9

35

26

20

7

3

68

Dec 2020

9

33

27

21

7

3

69

Nov 2020

10

35

24

22

6

3

67

Oct 2020

10

38

25

19

6

2

62

 

Percent Reporting

MRO Supplies

Hand-to-
Mouth

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

6 Months

1 Year+

Average
Days

Jan 2021

31

36

19

11

3

0

39

Dec 2020

32

37

17

12

2

0

37

Nov 2020

34

36

16

10

3

1

40

Oct 2020

34

39

17

8

2

0

34

 

About This Report
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report’s information reflects the entire U.S., while the regional reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of January 2021.

The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of manufacturing supply executives based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. ISM® makes no representation, other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual company data collection procedures. The data should be compared to all other economic data sources when used in decision-making.

Data and Method of Presentation
The Manufacturing ISM®Report On Business® is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. The composition of the Manufacturing Business Survey Committee is stratified according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and each of the following NAICS-based industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP): Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing (products such as medical equipment and supplies, jewelry, sporting goods, toys and office supplies). The data are weighted based on each industry’s contribution to GDP. According to the BEA estimates for 2018 GDP (released October 29, 2019), the six largest manufacturing subsectors are: Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. Beginning in February 2018 with January 2018 data, computation of the indexes is accomplished utilizing unrounded numbers.

Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured (New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Imports, Production, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories, Customers’ Inventories, Employment and Prices), this report shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of responses in the positive economic direction (higher, better and slower for Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower, worse and faster for Supplier Deliveries), and the diffusion index. Responses are raw data and are never changed. The diffusion index includes the percent of positive responses plus one-half of those responding the same (considered positive).

The resulting single index number for those meeting the criteria for seasonal adjustments (Manufacturing PMI®, New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories) is then seasonally adjusted to allow for the effects of repetitive intra-year variations resulting primarily from normal differences in weather conditions, various institutional arrangements, and differences attributable to non-moveable holidays. All seasonal adjustment factors are subject annually to relatively minor changes when conditions warrant them. The Manufacturing PMI® is a composite index based on the diffusion indexes of five of the indexes with equal weights: New Orders (seasonally adjusted), Production (seasonally adjusted), Employment (seasonally adjusted), Supplier Deliveries (seasonally adjusted), and Inventories.

Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. A Manufacturing PMI® reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. A Manufacturing PMI® above 42.8 percent, over a period of time, indicates that the overall economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding; below 42.8 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50 percent or 42.8 percent is indicative of the extent of the expansion or decline. With some of the indicators within this report, ISM® has indicated the departure point between expansion and decline of comparable government series, as determined by regression analysis. The Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® survey is sent out to Manufacturing Business Survey Committee respondents the first part of each month. Respondents are asked to report on information for the current month for U.S. operations only. ISM® receives survey responses throughout most of any given month, with the majority of respondents generally waiting until late in the month to submit responses to give the most accurate picture of current business activity. ISM® then compiles the report for release on the first business day of the following month.

The industries reporting growth, as indicated in the Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® monthly report, are listed in the order of most growth to least growth. For the industries reporting contraction or decreases, those are listed in the order of the highest level of contraction/decrease to the least level of contraction/decrease.

Responses to Buying Policy reflect the percent reporting the current month’s lead time, the approximate weighted number of days ahead for which commitments are made for Capital Expenditures; Production Materials; and Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies, expressed as hand-to-mouth (five days), 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months (180 days), a year or more (360 days), and the weighted average number of days. These responses are raw data, never revised, and not seasonally adjusted since there is no significant seasonal pattern.

ISM ROB Content
The Institute for Supply Management® («ISM») Report On Business® (both Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing) («ISM ROB») contains information, text, files, images, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, and any other materials or content (collectively, «Content») of ISM («ISM ROB Content»). ISM ROB Content is protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret, and other laws, and as between you and ISM, ISM owns and retains all rights in the ISM ROB Content. ISM hereby grants you a limited, revocable, nonsublicensable license to access and display on your individual device the ISM ROB Content (excluding any software code) solely for your personal, non-commercial use. The ISM ROB Content shall also contain Content of users and other ISM licensors. Except as provided herein or as explicitly allowed in writing by ISM, you shall not copy, download, stream, capture, reproduce, duplicate, archive, upload, modify, translate, publish, broadcast, transmit, retransmit, distribute, perform, display, sell, or otherwise use any ISM ROB Content.

Except as explicitly and expressly permitted by ISM, you are strictly prohibited from creating works or materials (including but not limited to tables, charts, data streams, time-series variables, fonts, icons, link buttons, wallpaper, desktop themes, online postcards, montages, mashups and similar videos, greeting cards, and unlicensed merchandise) that derive from or are based on the ISM ROB Content. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the derivative works or materials are sold, bartered, or given away. You shall not either directly or through the use of any device, software, internet site, web-based service, or other means remove, alter, bypass, avoid, interfere with, or circumvent any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices marked on the Content or any digital rights management mechanism, device, or other content protection or access control measure associated with the Content including geo-filtering mechanisms. Without prior written authorization from ISM, you shall not build a business utilizing the Content, whether or not for profit.

You shall not create, recreate, distribute, incorporate in other work, or advertise an index of any portion of the Content unless you receive prior written authorization from ISM. Requests for permission to reproduce or distribute ISM ROB Content can be made by contacting in writing at: ISM Research, Institute for Supply Management, 309 West Elliot Road, Suite 113, Tempe, Arizona 85284-1556, or by emailing kcahill@ismworld.org. Subject: Content Request.

ISM shall not have any liability, duty, or obligation for or relating to the ISM ROB Content or other information contained herein, any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or delays in providing any ISM ROB Content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. In no event shall ISM be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, arising out of the use of the ISM ROB. Report On Business®, PMI®, and NMI® are registered trademarks of Institute for Supply Management®. Institute for Supply Management® and ISM® are registered trademarks of Institute for Supply Management, Inc.

About Institute for Supply Management®
Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) serves supply management professionals in more than 90 countries. Its 50,000 members around the world manage about US$1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually. Founded in 1915 as the first supply management institute in the world, ISM is committed to advancing the practice of supply management to drive value and competitive advantage for its members, contributing to a prosperous and sustainable world. ISM leads the profession through the ISM Report On Business®, its highly regarded certification programs and the ISM Mastery Model®. This report has been issued by the association since 1931, except for a four-year interruption during World War II.

The full text version of the Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® is posted on ISM®‘s website at www.ismrob.org on the first business day* of every month after 10:00 a.m. ET.

The next Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® featuring February 2021 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, March 1, 2021.

*Unless the New York Stock Exchange is closed.

Contact:     

Kristina Cahill

Report On Business® Analyst

ISM®, ROB/Research Manager

Tempe, Arizona

+1 480.455.5910

Email: kcahill@ismworld.org

 

Institute for Supply Management logo. (PRNewsFoto/Institute for Supply Management)

 

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SOURCE Institute for Supply Management

Tony LaFetra, CEO of Rain Bird Corporation, Passes Away

AZUSA, Calif., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Anthony «Tony» W. LaFetra, president and CEO of Rain Bird Corporation, passed away on January 29, 2021. He will be remembered as a passionate business leader whose work has had a lasting impact on the irrigation industry, generations of Rain Bird employees and the community.

During Tony’s tenure, the small irrigation company in Glendora, California was built into the international…

AZUSA, Calif., Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Anthony «Tony» W. LaFetra, president and CEO of Rain Bird Corporation, passed away on January 29, 2021. He will be remembered as a passionate business leader whose work has had a lasting impact on the irrigation industry, generations of Rain Bird employees and the community.

During Tony’s tenure, the small irrigation company in Glendora, California was built into the international market leader it is today – a company working hard to promote The Intelligent Use of Water™ around the globe.

Tony led the company’s transformation from a manufacturer of brass impact sprinklers, primarily used in agriculture, to a leading provider of irrigation products used worldwide in landscapes, golf courses, sports fields and farms. He stated that, «The irrigation industry brings moisture to crops and landscapes when the skies do not.»

Tony joined the business in 1964, first serving as a plant manager and later taking on the roles of vice president of sales and marketing, and then executive vice president. In 1978, he succeeded his mother, Rain Bird’s co-founder, Mary E. LaFetra, as president and CEO.

Tony’s tenure was highlighted by innovations that revolutionized the irrigation industry, from the world’s first computerized central control system for irrigation management in the 1970s to the launch of subsurface drip irrigation to save water and reduce the need for herbicides.

Tony stood for quality in everything he did. He set high expectations for himself, for Rain Bird, and for its employees. Those who knew Tony know that he believed that values are integral to achieving success. Tony was a model of integrity, humility, hard work and care for others.

Tony was an advocate for education. He earned bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Stanford University. He was a life-long learner and placed high value on the education of Rain Bird employees. Many employees at Rain Bird attribute their college educations, advanced degrees and less formal education to the support that Rain Bird has provided to them over the years. Outside of Rain Bird, Tony sat on the boards of directors of several universities. He most recently sat on the Board of Trustees at the University of La Verne and donated generously to establish the LaFetra College of Education. Tony once shared, «I know that education transforms lives… so I dedicate my gift… knowing we can impact generations of future teachers and students.»

Tony was also passionate about giving back to the community. He instilled these values at Rain Bird, encouraging employees to donate their time to local communities. Tony supported many organizations, including but not limited to the Theodore Payne Foundation, Citrus College Foundation, California Native Plants Society and the United Way.

In his free time, Tony enjoyed fishing and hiking and the botany of the Southern California deserts and mountains. On weekends he would escape to his cabin in the nearby mountains, where he was known to enjoy improving his property using his bulldozer.

Tony encouraged Rain Bird employees to enjoy time outside of work and to take care of their health. He promoted exercise, positivity and gratitude.

Tony is survived by his two children, Suzanne LaFetra Collier and Michael LaFetra, his sister Sarah Lynne Ludwick, his brother-in-law Art Ludwick, as well as four grandchildren. Rain Bird extends its condolences to Tony’s family.

Tony will be sorely missed. He performed his job with distinction. May he rest in peace.

Media Contact

Lynette Von Minden, Swanson Russell, +1 (402) 437-6457, lynettev@swansonrussell.com

Ivonne Flores, Rain Bird Corporation, (619) 710-1240, iflores@rainbird.com

 

SOURCE Rain Bird