Categoría: Geovanny Vicente

Texas enters 2021 as world’s 9th largest economy by GDP

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Texas enters 2021 as the world’s ninth largest economy, proof of the success of a long-term strategy to make Texas the best place to start or relocate a business, said Robert Allen, President and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

«This is more than just a statistic,» Allen said. «The fact that our state, if it were a nation, would be the world’s ninth largest economy…

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Texas enters 2021 as the world’s ninth largest economy, proof of the success of a long-term strategy to make Texas the best place to start or relocate a business, said Robert Allen, President and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

«This is more than just a statistic,» Allen said. «The fact that our state, if it were a nation, would be the world’s ninth largest economy shows that Texas is well positioned to outperform economically, regardless of the challenges that may lie ahead.»

TxEDC is an independently funded non-profit organization in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism charged with marketing Texas as a premier business location, the cornerstone of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s economic development agenda.

«While 2020 brought unique challenges, Texas continued to shine as a beacon of hope and opportunity,» Abbott said. «Texas’ ranking as the world’s ninth largest economy is because of the hardworking men and women of the Lone Star State, our commitment to economic freedom, our state-of-the-art infrastructure and business climate. As we cultivate an environment of growth and opportunity, Texas will continue to build an even brighter future for all Texans.»

Since 2015, Texas has been recognized as the world’s 10th largest economy — ahead of Canada and South Korea and behind Brazil. Texas’s economy overtook Brazil’s to become the ninth largest economy in the world, according to 2019 GDP data from the International Monetary Fund.  

Gross Domestic Product is a measurement of the size and strength of an economy. As of 2019, the United States has a GDP of $21.4 trillion, making it the world’s largest economy, followed by China, Japan and Germany, according to the IMF. Texas has a GDP of $1.9 trillion. Italy, with a GDP of $2 trillion, is in eighth place, and Brazil, with a GDP of $1.8 trillion, is 10th, according to the IMF ranking of global economies.

Texas is ranked first in the nation for its growth prospects, «thanks to strong employment and income growth forecasts for the next five years,» says a recent Forbes report.

In 2020, Amazon, CBRE, Tesla, HP and Oracle moved to or expanded their operations in Texas, which has further bolstered the strength and size of Texas’s economy. This trend is expected to continue in 2021, Allen said.

«Why come to Texas from other states? Our highly competitive tax climate, world-class infrastructure, a skilled workforce of 14 million people, business-friendly economic policies and abundant quality of life,» Allen said. «Texas obviously has a lot to offer. Our standing as the world’s ninth largest economy and our long-term expansion shows that Texas also offers rock-solid stability to companies that want to locate here.»

The Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) is an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to economic development, business recruitment and job creation in the state of Texas. The public-private partnership of TxEDC and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism markets Texas as a premier business destination to let corporate decision- makers and site selection consultants know that they can Go Big in Texas. For more information about TxEDC, visit www.GoBigInTexas.com.

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SOURCE Texas Economic Development Corporation

Super-Majority of Virginia Residents Want the Freedom to Choose Clean Energy

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — A new poll shows that a super-majority of Virginia residents want the freedom to choose their energy supplier, choose clean energy, and want more renewable energy to be generated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SurveyUSA interviewed more than 500 Virginia adults who rent or own their home, pay their utility bills, and have at least some input on their utility company’s household choice….

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — A new poll shows that a super-majority of Virginia residents want the freedom to choose their energy supplier, choose clean energy, and want more renewable energy to be generated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SurveyUSA interviewed more than 500 Virginia adults who rent or own their home, pay their utility bills, and have at least some input on their utility company’s household choice. Support for consumers being able to choose their renewable energy provider cuts across the typical partisan divide. The vast majority of Republicans and Democrats agree that they want the freedom to choose their energy provider. The poll bolsters the case for HB2048, a bill sponsored by Delegate Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond, 71st District), that would restore Virginians’ ability to select their own 100% renewable energy provider.

Highlights from the new survey:

  • 83% of Virginia residents want the freedom to choose clean energy for their homes.
  • 77% of Virginians want to be able to choose their electric supplier. 
  • 66% of Virginia residents would like to see more clean, renewable energy in Virginia’s generation mix.
  • 66% of respondents expressed an interest in community solar as a new way to support solar development without putting solar panels on their rooftop (assuming savings of 5-10% on electricity costs).

Restoring Virginians’ ability to shop for 100% renewable energy would promote and expand the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy economy and help it to meet its ambitious carbon reduction goals.

The poll was commissioned by CleanChoice Energy, a member of a broad coalition supporting HB 2048. For more information about HB 2048 and to contact legislators visit: www.EnergyChoiceforVirginia.com.

About CleanChoice Energy
CleanChoice Energy empowers people and businesses to cut emissions, support renewable energy, and live cleaner lives. Founded in 2012, the company has become one of the fastest-growing businesses in America, as ranked on the Inc. 500 and Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™. CleanChoice Energy is a Certified B Corporation, a member of the American Sustainable Business Council and the U.S. Green Building Council, and is certified with the highest available rating by Green America’s Green Business Network. For more information or to become a customer, visit CleanChoiceEnergy.com.

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SOURCE CleanChoice Energy

A Second Chance for Organic Photovoltaics, IDTechEx Investigates

BOSTON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Printing solar panels like newsprint using organic semiconductors is the longstanding aspiration, given the obvious benefits of renewable energy and the potential for low-cost, large-area, energy-efficient production. However, despite attempts by Konarka and others, commercializing organic photovoltaic (OPV) panels has previously proved challenging. This was largely due to the falling prices of silicon panels, the comparatively low efficiency of OPV modules, and…

BOSTON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Printing solar panels like newsprint using organic semiconductors is the longstanding aspiration, given the obvious benefits of renewable energy and the potential for low-cost, large-area, energy-efficient production. However, despite attempts by Konarka and others, commercializing organic photovoltaic (OPV) panels has previously proved challenging. This was largely due to the falling prices of silicon panels, the comparatively low efficiency of OPV modules, and the difficulty of ensuring adequate long-term stability under constant irradiation.

Around 2015 single-junction organic solar cell efficiencies seemed to be plateauing at around 11%, and the technology was largely regarded as a nice idea that never quite met the necessary efficiency and longevity requirements. However, recently efficiencies have increased, while the differentiated attributes of OPV enable commercial viability for applications such as building-integrated, indoor, and semi-transparent photovoltaics. Additional discussion of this renaissance in OPV, along with analysis of the printed electronic materials market, is provided in the recently released IDTechEx report «Materials for Printed/Flexible Electronics 2021-2031: Technologies, Applications, Market Forecasts«.

OPV suits emerging applications

OPV offers all the advantages associated with printed electronics: flexibility, thinness, low weight and energy-efficient manufacturing. These attributes make it ideal for small volume emerging applications where flexibility and a thin film format is essential, such as incorporating solar panels into clothing and bags. However, for established applications such as rooftop panels, these are offset by the lower efficiency and perceived lower durability relative to conventional silicon PV.

As such, some of the most promising applications for OPV with the potential for high volumes are those that exploit a feature not present in silicon cells: a tunable absorption spectrum. Changing the molecules used to make the active, light-absorbing layer enables semi-transparent solar cells with around 70% transmission at visible wavelengths. This approach reduces installation costs since window glass will be installed in buildings anyway while harvesting energy from non-visible light reduces air conditioning requirements – Brazilian OPV manufacturer Sunew are seeing rapid growth for this application.

Another emerging application in which OPV is well-suited is indoor energy harvesting. The light-absorbing molecules can be chosen to maximize efficiency for the emission spectrum of indoor lighting, such as white LEDs or fluorescent tubes, while the lower intensity reduces unwanted energy loss mechanisms. These features enable OPV to out-compete silicon PV for indoor applications. Indeed, Swedish company Epishine have raised millions of Euros to commercialize OPV for indoor energy harvesting, targeting low power IoT applications.

Technological transition brings multiple benefits

Improvements in OPV efficiency and stability have largely been driven by a recent technological transition. The first generation of OPV cells had the active, light-absorbing layer containing a blend of polymer and fullerene, with an energy level offset between the materials enabling charges to be separated and thus current to be produced. The fullerene is known as an acceptor material and was regarded as an essential component of an organic solar cell. However, fullerene-based molecules have now largely been replaced with non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). This technological transition brings multiple benefits, including:

  • Increased efficiency (now over 17%, see Figure 1)
  • Increased stability
  • Greater tunability
  • Increased absorption 
  • Facilitating simpler donor polymers
  • Improved printability
  • Easier manufacturing of acceptor materials

Analyzing the printed electronic materials market

Extensive discussion regarding organic photovoltaics and the opportunities for this technology in emerging applications are given in the new IDTechEx report «Materials for Printed/Flexible Electronics 2021-2031: Technologies, Applications, Market Forecasts«. This report also covers a wide range of other materials, including materials for organic light-emitting diodes, transistors and photodetectors, carbon nanotubes, perovskites, quantum dots, functional inorganic inks, conductive adhesives, low-temperature solder, and conductive inks. Our granular market forecasts (in both revenue and volume (kg)) cover each of the material categories outlined above, with breakdowns into further subcategories where relevant. The market is enabled by specialized, functional materials, with the report focusing on material requirements, progress, and opportunities. Technical analysis and an interview-led approach bring the reader unbiased outlooks, benchmarking studies, and player assessments across the diverse printed electronic materials market.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/PEMats or for the full portfolio of Printed Electronics research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/PE.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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Natalie Moreton
Digital Marketing Manager
press@IDTechEx.com
+44(0)1223 812300

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SOURCE IDTechEx

FlexGen, KPP Team Up to Deliver Kansas’ Solomon Energy Storage Center

DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — FlexGen, a leading energy storage technology company, announced that it is partnering with The Kansas Power…

DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — FlexGen, a leading energy storage technology company, announced that it is partnering with The Kansas Power Pool (KPP), to design, build and operate the Solomon Energy Storage Center in Minneapolis, Kansas. KPP is a member-driven public power organization which procures energy and transmission service for community-owned electric utilities across Kansas. 

«FlexGen is proud to serve KPP and the people of Kansas on this record-setting battery storage project.» Alan Grosse, COO

When commissioned at the end of the year, the Solomon Energy Storage Center will deliver a total of 1 MW of power – with enough energy to supply four hours of power to more than 250 homes when the utility’s members need it most. The FlexGen battery system also includes a «black start» capability for the utility to use if the grid goes offline. «Black start» is often compared to jumpstarting a car, where the FlexGen battery system provides the power needed to jumpstart backup generators that put more power onto the grid.

«The Solomon Energy Storage Center is another example of KPP delivering on its mission to provide cost-effective and reliable public power and services for our community of members,» says Mark Chesney, KPP’s CEO and General Manager. «We are pleased to work with FlexGen on this important project that will add resiliency and reduce costs.» Kelson Energy is providing project development, market analytics and implementation support to KPP on the project.

Kansas’ largest battery storage project
Sized at 5.1 MWh, the Solomon Energy Storage Center will be the largest battery project in Kansas, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance data. Kelson Energy is providing project development, market analytics and implementation support to KPP on the project. The battery system operates on FlexGen’s energy management software platform, FlexGen HybridOS, which enables the seamless export of power onto the grid when it’s most needed – during times of peak demand or when weather disrupts the grid. During off-peak times the battery storage systems will charge when power prices are lower.

«FlexGen is proud to serve KPP and the people of Kansas on this record-setting battery storage project,» says Alan Grosse, COO of FlexGen. «The Solomon Energy Storage Center exemplifies how the FlexGen HybridOS platform enables utilities to affordably offer dependable energy storage for their customers.»

About FlexGen 
FlexGen is the second-largest U.S. energy storage technology company, and first in Texas with 80% market share. Leveraging its best-in-class energy management software and power electronics, FlexGen delivers utility-scale storage projects integrated with traditional and renewable power generation globally. Our customers and partners include the most technically and commercially demanding developers, utilities, government agencies and industrial companies in the world. For more information, visit www.flexgen.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Carrera, 972-207-1935
karen@mckeemanpr.com

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SOURCE FlexGen

Darden Restaurants Helps Feeding America® Food Banks In Five States Add Mobile Food Pantries To Serve Communities In Need

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As part of the company’s ongoing efforts to fight hunger, Darden Restaurants has partnered with Feeding America® to enhance mobile food pantry programs in areas with higher levels of food insecurity, including communities of color. Through a $500,000 grant from the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation and additional support from Darden’s partners, Penske Truck Leasing and Lineage Logistics,…

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As part of the company’s ongoing efforts to fight hunger, Darden Restaurants has partnered with Feeding America® to enhance mobile food pantry programs in areas with higher levels of food insecurity, including communities of color. Through a $500,000 grant from the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation and additional support from Darden’s partners, Penske Truck Leasing and Lineage Logistics, five Feeding America food banks will each receive a 26-foot refrigerated box truck to help increase access to nutritious food and address transportation needs.

«As a restaurant company, we are uniquely positioned to make a meaningful difference in the fight against hunger, and we are proud to partner with Feeding America to make a positive impact in communities where it is needed most,» said Gene Lee, Chairman and CEO of Darden. «Mobile food pantries are an important tool to help food banks meet the increased need caused by the pandemic. These vehicles will help Feeding America food banks in five different states directly distribute a large supply of food in their communities for years to come.»

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Feeding America projects that one in six people could experience food insecurity, and people of color are even more likely to face hunger. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, when compared to white households, black households are 2.4 times more likely to be food insecure, and Hispanic households are two times more likely.

«Hunger in America is a devastating reality for millions of our neighbors. The pandemic has created an increased need for food assistance and caused major disruptions for charitable food distribution,» said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Chief Executive Officer for Feeding America. «Mobile food pantries are a critical solution to addressing both concerns. These refrigerated vehicles will remove significant barriers to getting food to vulnerable populations in five different communities. We are grateful to Darden, Penske and Lineage for making this possible.»

Feeding America helped identify food banks serving communities of color with disproportionately high levels of food insecurity and the need to increase their mobile food pantry capacity to serve neighbors facing hunger. Food banks receiving this gift include:

  • Feeding the Valley Food Bank in Midland, Ga.
  • Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana in Shreveport, La.
  • Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, Tenn.
  • San Antonio Food Bank in San Antonio, Texas
  • Second Harvest of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.

Darden and the Darden Foundation have a long-standing commitment to help fight hunger and have been partners with Feeding America for more than 10 years. Since 2018, the Darden Foundation has provided $6.5 million to support member food banks across all 50 states.

These efforts go hand-in-hand with Darden’s Harvest program. Each day, every Darden restaurant collects surplus, wholesome food that is not served to guests and prepares it for donation to local nonprofit partners. Since its inception, more than 120 million pounds of food — totaling more than 100 million meals — have been donated through the Harvest program.

About Darden Restaurants and The Darden Foundation
Darden is a restaurant company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

The Darden Foundation works to bring to life our spirit of service through its philanthropic support of charitable organizations across the country. Since 1995, The Darden Foundation has awarded more than $90 million in grants to non-profit organizations such as Feeding America, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and American Red Cross.

About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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SOURCE Darden Restaurants, Inc.

PuroClean Surges to #102 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 42nd Annual Franchise 500®

TAMARAC, Fla., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — PuroClean, a leading restoration and remediation franchise, today announced it has earned the 102nd spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2021 Franchise 500®. Recognized for its exceptional growth, leadership, and culture in the restoration franchise industry, PuroClean ranked…

TAMARAC, Fla., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — PuroClean, a leading restoration and remediation franchise, today announced it has earned the 102nd spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2021 Franchise 500®. Recognized for its exceptional growth, leadership, and culture in the restoration franchise industry, PuroClean ranked second in the restoration service franchise category. PuroClean has risen nearly 20 places in one year and has risen more than 150 spots since 2018.

«It’s an incredible honor to be acknowledged year after year in one of the most competitive rankings within the franchising industry, especially as our network comes together in support of those impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic,» said Mark W. Davis, CEO and Chairman of PuroClean. «Despite the unprecedented challenges we all faced during 2020, PuroClean was able to reach record-breaking heights, and we look forward to continuing this track record in the years ahead.» 

One of the fastest-growing restoration franchises in the United States, PuroClean enables its franchise owners to capitalize on diverse revenue opportunities and offers a pathway to success in the multimillion-dollar property damage restoration industry. Beyond its ranking on the Franchise 500®, PuroClean has earned countless other accolades for its innovations in franchising, including recognition for its PuroVet program, which helps military veterans realize their dream of business ownership.

«This year’s Franchise 500 ranking speaks to the true testament of The PuroClean Way, answering the call of those in need, as our franchise owners aid and protect home and business owners, guided by our world-class support team each and every day,» said Steve White, President and COO of PuroClean. «Together, as one team, we will continue moving forward to build upon the success of our franchise network, servicing our local communities with relentless customer service.»

The Franchise 500® is recognized as the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. PuroClean was evaluated against key factors such as costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, financial strength, and stability. Each prospective franchise is awarded a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and Entrepreneur ranks the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores each year in the Franchise 500®.

Over its 42 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. PuroClean’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

To view PuroClean in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2021 issue of Entrepreneur. For more information on the PuroClean franchise system, contact 800-351-2282 or visit www.PuroCleanFranchise.com.

About PuroClean
PuroClean provides water damage remediation, flood water removal, fire and smoke damage remediation, mold removal, and biohazard cleanup to commercial and residential customers. Founded in 2001, PuroClean has a comprehensive network of more than 300 franchise offices across North America. PuroClean technicians are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures, while operating under a strict code of ethics. Each PuroClean office is independently owned and operated. For more information about PuroClean, contact 800-775-7876 or visit www.puroclean.com; for franchise information, visit www.purocleanfranchise.com.   

Media Contacts:
Hemsworth Communications
Rachel Tabacnic / Julie Hong
954-716-7614 or PuroCleanPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

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SOURCE PuroClean

Keurig Dr Pepper Joins Leading Collaboratives Focused on Building a Circular Economy for Plastics

BURLINGTON, Mass. and PLANO, Texas, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) announced today that it has become a signatory in two regional initiatives of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global

BURLINGTON, Mass. and PLANO, Texas, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) announced today that it has become a signatory in two regional initiatives of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact network – the U.S. Plastic Pact and the Canada Plastics Pact.  Both Pacts bring together key players from across the local plastic value chain behind a common vision and clear, actionable targets to create a path forward toward a circular economy for plastics. In addition, the Company also recently joined Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance®, which brings together thought leaders from the private sector, conservation and academia actively working toward solutions that will mitigate plastic waste entering the ocean.

«At Keurig Dr Pepper, we are committed to driving real impact and circular solutions,» said Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper. «We recognize that achieving a truly circular economy for plastics requires significant systematic change, and we are eager to join these groups of diverse leaders from across sectors to ensure that plastics never become waste or pollution.»

As an Activator of the U.S. Plastics Pact and Canada Plastics Pact, Keurig Dr Pepper has agreed to collectively make efforts toward these four ambitious country-level goals espoused by the Pacts:

  1. Define a list of packaging to be designated as problematic or unnecessary by 2021 and take measures to eliminate them by 2025.
  2. By 2025, all plastic packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
  3. By 2025, undertake ambitious actions to effectively recycle or compost 50% of plastic packaging.
  4. By 2025, the average recycled content or responsibly sourced bio-based content in plastic packaging will be 30%.

The U.S. Plastics Pact is a collaboration led by The Recycling Partnership, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Ellen MacArthur Foundation supporting upstream innovation and a coordinated national strategy to rethink the way plastic is designed, used and reused.  Announced today, the Canada Plastics Pact is committed to tackling plastic waste and pollution by bringing together businesses, government, non-governmental organizations and other key actors under the vision of creating a circular economy in Canada in which plastic waste is kept out of the environment.  

Founded in 2012 by leading U.S.-based environmental non-profit Ocean Conservancy, the Trash Free Seas Alliance is the oldest collaborative forum focused on innovative and pragmatic solutions to the ocean plastic pollution crisis. Trash Free Seas Alliance members are working toward demonstrably reducing the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean annually by 50% by 2025.

These memberships build upon Keurig Dr Pepper’s current sustainable packaging commitments and will aid in ensuring new levels of accountability and transparency when reporting annual progress against its goals. Under its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility program, the Company recently achieved one of its longstanding commitments to make all K-Cup® pods in the U.S. recyclable at the end of 2020, following achieving that important milestone in Canada at the end of 2018. The Company has committed to converting 100% of packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2025, as well as to use 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content across its packaging portfolio by 2025.

About Keurig Dr Pepper
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $11 billion and nearly 26,000 employees. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. and Canada. The Company’s portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands is designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and includes Keurig®, Dr Pepper®, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters®, Canada Dry®, Snapple®, Bai®, Mott’s®, CORE® and The Original Donut Shop®. Through its powerful sales and distribution network, KDP can deliver its portfolio of hot and cold beverages to nearly every point of purchase for consumers.  The Company is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing its beverages responsibly through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, including efforts around circular packaging, efficient natural resource use and supply chain sustainability.  For more information, visit, www.keurigdrpepper.com.

KDP Contacts
Tyson Seely (Investors)
T: 781-418-3352 | tyson.seely@kdrp.com

Steve Alexander (Investors)
T: 972-673-6769 | steve.alexander@kdrp.com

Katie Gilroy (Media)
T: 781-418-3345 | katie.gilroy@kdrp.com 

(PRNewsfoto/Keurig Dr Pepper)

 

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SOURCE Keurig Dr Pepper

Sanwa Alterna Brokerage Says Canada Economy Expected To Grow

MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Sanwa Alterna Brokerage has today said that the Canadian economy is expected to experience economic growth throughout 2021. Canada’s biggest priority comes from the newly elected U.S. president Joe Biden, as their administration looks to re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which would boost trade in <span…

MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Sanwa Alterna Brokerage has today said that the Canadian economy is expected to experience economic growth throughout 2021. Canada’s biggest priority comes from the newly elected U.S. president Joe Biden, as their administration looks to re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which would boost trade in North America.

The Asia-Pacific is now the world’s leading region of economic growth. Upon re-entering the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Canada will secure a free trade agreement with ten other Asia-Pacific countries, offering major opportunities for both trade and expansion.

«Canada is a trading nation. 70% of the country’s economic output comprises international trade alone, and we see a strong administration committed to open trade and economic recovery. The United States hugely influences the Canadian economy, and with the last few years of US-China trade wars likely to come to an end, we see a positive uptrend growth for Canada’s economy this year.» said Michael Sharpe, Head of International Equities at Sanwa Alterna Brokerage.

Economic researchers from Sanwa Alterna Brokerage highlighted that Canada’s national inflation rate lowered to an annual rate of 0.7%. Economic growth has been projected to accelerate to 4% in 2021 and approach the 5% benchmark in the following year. 

Ken Keisuke who heads up the Market Intelligence department at Sanwa Alterna Brokerage commented «Canada has been one of the major countries that have supported fiscal stimulus and are committed to continuing support further if needed over the next couple of years. These efforts have ensured that interest rates stay low, and they have also positively affected the lowering of unemployment rates.»

Financial stock markets have rallied to all-time highs since bottoming out from last April, and both the Dow Jones and the S&P are now up by more than 60%. With investor confidence increasing on the global economy’s state entering a full recovery from the coronavirus declines, markets continue to rally.

About

Sanwa Alterna Brokerage was founded in 2011 to provide a streamlined wealth management and investment service for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth private investors and corporate clients. We have partnered with people and businesses for two decades, incorporating a forward-looking approach that has guided our success.

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SOURCE Sanwa Alterna Brokerage

Rx Savings Solutions Inaugural Consumer Insights Report Examines Intersection of COVID and Drug Affordability

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As COVID-19 continues to impact every aspect of the healthcare and financial sectors, consumers around the country are confronting an uncertain economic climate while also addressing some familiar challenges—including the ever-increasing cost of prescription drugs. According to new data released today from <a target="_blank"…

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As COVID-19 continues to impact every aspect of the healthcare and financial sectors, consumers around the country are confronting an uncertain economic climate while also addressing some familiar challenges—including the ever-increasing cost of prescription drugs. According to new data released today from Rx Savings Solutions, the market-leading tool for pharmacy transparency, 67% of consumers feel a lack of control over their prescription drug costs.

In a first-of-its-kind survey of 700 American consumers—all of whom use prescription drugs—Rx Savings Solutions examined the intersection of COVID-19 and prescription drug affordability and offers key insight into how people are making decisions on important healthcare matters. According to the survey, most respondents (74%) are still seeing their prescription drug costs rise—or remain at the same high levels. With that stat expected to trend upwards into 2021, 29% say they will use a price transparency tool, 24% will talk to their healthcare provider about lower-cost alternatives, and 22% say they will switch or continue to use home delivery services.

Serving more than 8 million members nationwide, Rx Savings Solutions’ clinical technology contains over 30,000 unique and dose-adjusted prescription drug suggestions, used to drive proven savings results for clients and their members, including 42 FORTUNE 500 leading companies. Using an online portal or mobile app, Rx Savings Solutions members can submit a new prescription request to their provider with one click. On average, members who switch to a lower-cost drug save $45 out of pocket, per fill.

Among other key findings, Rx Savings Solutions found that of all the ways people are changing their behavior in response to the pandemic, 46% switched to mail-order or 90-day fills due to COVID-19 and to reduce their prescription costs. One in four skipped doses or rationed their fills. Thirty-one percent experienced a medication that was out of stock at the pharmacy and 17% experienced a delay in their mail-order prescription delivery.

In 2020, Rx Savings Solutions analyzed 69 million member prescription claims, finding almost $2 billion in addressable prescription drug savings. Of that savings opportunity, about 22% is out-of-pocket opportunity for the consumer.  

«Last year was one like no other. But amid all the uncertainty, we found an opportunity to engage with consumers around the country and get their insight on some important topics that impact their health as well as their bottom lines,» said Michael Rea, a clinical pharmacist who founded and currently leads Rx Savings Solutions. «We can certainly empathize with the confusion and helplessness so many people feel when filling their prescriptions—it’s our goal to ease that pain. With our solution, members are in the driver’s seat when they’re shopping for medications.» 

When asked who should be responsible for lowering the cost of prescription drugs, survey respondents were largely split—41% to 40%—looking either to the government or pharmaceutical companies.

«One thing that remains consistent, even with the backdrop of a pandemic, is healthcare costs are still going up. It’s more clear now than ever—people want to know their options when managing their prescription drugs,» added Rea.

For a full copy of 2020 Consumer Insights, please visit: https://rxsavingssolutions.com/consumer-insights

About Rx Savings Solutions 
Founded by a former retail pharmacist, Rx Savings Solutions works on behalf of health plans and self-insured employers to help their members reduce out-of-pocket prescription costs and the plan’s pharmacy spend. The solution layers on top of an existing pharmacy benefit and analyzes individual claims to identify and present cost-saving alternatives to each member.

Whenever savings opportunities are found, members are proactively notified through preferred communication channels. They engage with the solution through a personal online portal, mobile app and live, concierge member support provided by certified pharmacy technicians. Rx Savings Solutions currently serves more than 8 million members nationwide. For more information, visit rxsavingssolutions.com or follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Contact:
Cecile Fradkin
S&C Public Relations Inc.
646-941-9139 
media@rxsavingsllc.com

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SOURCE Rx Savings Solutions

Navistar Collaborates with General Motors And OneH2 To Launch Hydrogen Truck Ecosystem

LISLE, Ill., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with General Motors and OneH2, Navistar, Inc., a subsidiary of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV), is introducing a complete solution for customer implementation of a zero-emission long-haul system, which will be initially piloted by J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., a subsidiary of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT).

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LISLE, Ill., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with General Motors and OneH2, Navistar, Inc., a subsidiary of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV), is introducing a complete solution for customer implementation of a zero-emission long-haul system, which will be initially piloted by J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., a subsidiary of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT).

«Hydrogen fuel cells offer great promise for heavy duty trucks in applications requiring a higher density of energy, fast refueling and additional range,» said Persio Lisboa, Navistar president and CEO. «We are excited to provide customers with added flexibility through a new hydrogen truck ecosystem that combines our vehicles with the hydrogen fuel cell technology of General Motors and the modular, mobile and scalable hydrogen production and fueling capabilities of OneH2. And we are very pleased that our valued customer J.B. Hunt has committed to utilize the solution on dedicated routes and to share key learnings.»

Navistar plans to make its first production model International® RH™ Series fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) commercially available in model year 2024. Test vehicles are expected to begin the pilot phase under the new, complete solution at the end of 2022. The integrated solution will be competitive with other powertrain offerings with a target range of 500+ miles and a hydrogen fueling time of less than 15 minutes.

The International® RHTM Series FCEV will get its energy from two GM Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes. Each Hydrotec power cube contains 300-plus hydrogen fuel cells along with thermal and power management systems. They are compact and easy to package into many different applications.

The combined propulsion system within the International® RHTM Series FCEV will feature better power density for short-range travel, better short-burst kW output and a per-mile cost expected to be comparable to diesel in certain market segments.

«GM’s vision of a world with zero emissions isn’t limited to passenger vehicles. We believe in EVs for everyone,» said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. «We’re thrilled to work with like-minded companies like Navistar and OneH2 to offer a complete solution for progressive carriers that want to eliminate tailpipe emissions with a power solution that can compete with diesel.»

Under its partnership agreement with Navistar, OneH2 will supply its hydrogen fueling solution, which includes hydrogen production, storage, delivery and safety. In addition, Navistar is taking a minority stake in OneH2. Through its affiliates, OneH2 plans to kickstart substantial hydrogen heavy truck refueling infrastructure by incorporating more than 2,000 International® RH™ Series FCEVs into existing truck fleets in the near term.

«We’re excited about the opportunity to partner with Navistar,» said Paul Dawson, OneH2 president and CEO. «We believe strongly that hydrogen fuel is the future of zero- emission renewable energy in the heavy truck market, and are pleased that this agreement will provide additional scope for its application. Under this agreement, we will be able to offer fleets a zero-emission truck with total cost of operation lower than diesel in key segments of the industry.»

These newly announced collaborations with General Motors and OneH2 represent important milestones in Navistar’s phased development of hydrogen fuel cell solutions. These technologies leverage Navistar’s battery electric vehicle platforms and provide the customer with a single-source, fully integrated zero-emission solution that includes vehicles, fueling and service.

«J.B. Hunt is committed to delivering more while using less, and this new fully-integrated solution offers a prime opportunity to do that,» said John Roberts, J.B. Hunt president and CEO. «As we serve our customers and communities, the combination of hydrogen fuel cell technology and refueling capability will enable us to reduce emissions along with energy consumption, fulfilling our environmental sustainability commitment to our customers and the communities we serve. We are excited for the potential of this innovative business model and look forward to sharing our learnings from this pilot program with Navistar and its involved technical and infrastructure partners.»  

For additional information, visit InternationalTrucks.com/HydrogenFuelCell.

About Navistar

Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial trucks, proprietary diesel engines, and IC Bus® brand school and commercial buses. An affiliate also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com.

About General Motors

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries can be found at https://www.gm.com.

About OneH2

OneH2, Inc., headquartered in Longview, North Carolina, is a privately held, vertically integrated hydrogen fuel company. OneH2 is emerging as a leader in providing scalable hydrogen fuel systems coupled with cost effective delivered hydrogen fuel for use in industrial vehicle and truck markets. For more information about OneH2, Inc. visit the Company’s website at www.oneh2.com. 

About J.B. Hunt

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., an S&P 500 company, provides innovative supply chain solutions for a variety of customers throughout North America. Utilizing an integrated, multimodal approach, the company applies technology-driven methods to create the best solution for each customer, adding efficiency, flexibility, and value to their operations. J.B. Hunt services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, final mile, and more. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT and is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.

All marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Navistar International Corporation