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Alpha Motor Corporation Unveils The ACE™ Of Mobility – Versatile Technology On Wheels With A Sleek Electrifying Presence

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Accelerating innovation for humanity, automotive company Alpha Motor Corporation has unveiled the ACE™, a striking Coupe, hailing it as the quintessential urban electric vehicle set to transform zero emission mobility.

The ACE™ Coupe balances versatility, performance, and sustainability on a compact footprint that supports multiple body styles including coupe, sedan, and utility crossover. The ACE™ Coupe is built on a modular vehicle platform that is an extension of Alpha’s much anticipated ICON™ EUV (Electric Utility Vehicle). Both ACE™ and ICON™ are created to prioritize consumer friendliness through technology with a welcoming energy.

The ACE™ Coupe was unveiled in a refined silver paint that the company named as «Blue Seraph» for its chic metallic finish. Underneath the polished bonnet and rear hatch is abundant cargo space enabled by its electric vehicle architecture. The ACE™ Coupe vehicle dimensions measure approximately 4,180mm (165in) in length, 1886mm (74in) in width, and 1450mm (57in) in height.

«The ACE™ Coupe is for consumers who desire a sleek ride with the versatility, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness of an electric vehicle,» stated Michael Smith, Alpha Motor Corporation Chief Executive Officer.

Inside the dynamic ACE™ Coupe is comfortable front seats for the driver and passenger, along with compact rear seats for occasional storage. Its interior architecture optimizes cabin space through a seamless and fluid construction that reduces components without compromising ergonomic comfort or ease of use. Furthermore, a central display integrates user interface controls that can be synchronized or replaced with the user’s own electronic device.

«ACE™ is a departure from contemporary automotive and places emphasis on mobility for the user. Alpha is rethinking automobiles for the sake of innovation that moves humanity. ACE™ was created from the perspective of technology that empowers individuals and their lifestyles,» continued Mr. Smith.

The ACE™ line of pure electric vehicles is built for flexible customization and is anticipated to be offered in a variety of unique color, material, and feature combinations. ACE™ Coupe reservation inquires can be sent to reservemyace@alphamotorinc.com. Alpha plans to roll out variants of ACE™ in the coming months. Details on ACE™ and Alpha Motor Corporation is provided on the company’s website www.alphamotorinc.com.

Please contact pr@alphamotorinc.com for more information.

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SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation

Able Sees Corporate Responsibility as Behavioral Weigh Station en Route to Moving Industry Net-Zero Emissions

MANASSAS, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — «The idea that our fossil fuel-dependent industry will somehow wake up one morning with better emission solutions is a form of corporate apathy,» says Able CEO Joe Singleton. «When these rapid advancements do arrive, it will have been the everyday decisions and policies fractionalizing output that we have put in place which will create lasting and significant change.» (<a target="_blank"…

Longtime advocates of environmental awareness, Able was one of the first independent moving companies to utilize GPS tracking and logistics software in order to minimize travel redundancy. In-house scales at Able reduce total mileage, and the company replaces its trucks every 7 years in efforts to take advantage of new technology and maintain fuel efficiency.

Aware of the impact organic matter in landfills has on the environment, Able works with Move for Hunger and other groups that can utilize items left behind in moves. Recently the company consulted C2 Management, a reuse and recycling specialist in Berryville, Virginia, to assess its diversionary practices.

«Building a network of professionals that are seeking and providing answers to environmental issues is what responsible business leaders do,» says Able Chief Operating Officer Steve Kuhn, «and sharing this information with clients is part of our corporate mission.»

Company efforts to begin aggregating best industry practices for distribution are underway through the Community arm of its recently launched Wellbeing program «Alive and Able.» Able Chief Strategist Gary Corbett lauds the organic interest in the community expressed by the group and sees the impact of programs like these hastening reductions in energy pollution. «Sharing helpful practices and resources with both our residential and commercial clients can exponentially increase environmental awareness and interest in a very practical way,» he says.

Able Director of International Michele Eckert appreciates the international exposure to energy issues the company receives through being a FIDI Affiliate, the gold standard for international moving. «Carbon reduction is a topic that comes up frequently in conversations with Affiliates around the world,» she says, «and it makes me feel proud to work for a company that not only considers these issues but also takes steps to reduce its footprint.»

While the company understands that net-zero emissions may be a longer way off, it feels like a near-zero emissions scenario is achievable by 2035. «Drastic reductions through technology and more carbon offsetting opportunities may make neutrality an earlier possibility, says COO Kuhn, «but we feel more responsible owning an ideal of near-zero in that time frame.»

CEO Singleton now carefully considers the environmental impact of all operational decisions the company makes from facilities efficiency to truck replacement. «Cautionary thinking in this regard leaves us in the best position possible to seriously consider change when presented with advancements in energy efficiency,» says Singleton.

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SOURCE Able Moving & Storage

Texas luxury home sales top $10 billion

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Texas homes that sold for $1 million or higher from November 2019 to October 2020 increased 23.5% to 6,347 sales, according to the 2020 Texas Luxury Home Sales Report released today by Texas Realtors. The annual report examining housing statistics for luxury homes in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metropolitan areas also showed total sales of million-dollar and higher homes reached $10.3 billion, a 23.8% increase from the previous year. That total accounted for 8.8% of all sales dollar volume.

Marvin Jolly, 2021 chairman of Texas Realtors, commented, «One reason we’ve seen strong growth in luxury home sales despite the pandemic is that mortgage rates are so low. Buyers of high-end properties are finding they can buy more for their money, particularly when compared to many real estate markets in New York, California and other pricier areas.»

The median price for luxury homes in Texas for the first 10 months of 2020 was $1,360,000, 0.7% less than the previous year. The average price per square foot for luxury homes increased 3.5% to $361, which is substantially more than the $139 average price per square foot for all residential Texas homes.

From January to October 2020, luxury homes in Texas spent an average of 86 days on the market, a decrease of one day from the same time frame in 2019. On average, luxury homes spend more time on the market than lower-priced homes.

Jolly concluded, «Buyers in the market for homes priced at $1 million and above will continue to have a good selection in most areas of Texas. The features of luxury homes vary considerably from one property to another, though—from luxury condominiums and waterfront properties to homes with large acreage and guest quarters. Realtors have seen every type of home and can help homebuyers and sellers weigh all their options to make the best real estate decisions for them.»

About the Texas Luxury Home Sales Report
The 2020 edition of the Texas Luxury Home Sales Report is provided by the Data Relevance Project, a partnership among Texas REALTORS® and local REALTOR® associations throughout the state. Data analysis is provided by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The report analyzes home sales priced $1 million and higher from November 2019 through October 2020 for the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio MSAs.

About Texas REALTORS®
With more than 140,000 members, Texas REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. In 2020, Texas REALTORS® is celebrating a century of shaping Texas by being the advocate for private property rights, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, and providing its members with the tools to achieve success. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more.

Contact:
Morgan Moritz
mmoritz@piercom.com

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SOURCE Texas REALTORS

Unicorns May Not Exist, but Clean, Sustainable Energy Does

EAST PEORIA, Ill., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — NTS Innovations has achieved a major milestone in its development of a revolutionary clean energy source – Graphene Energy Harvesting (GEH). The company, in partnership with the University of Arkansas, has completed the development of its energy harvesting circuit on a silicon wafer. This technology will be packaged in a commercial chip and available for purchase through a global network of electronics distributors in 2021.

Graphene Energy Harvesting is nothing short of a game changer. A turning point in history that could change the way we do things today, for the better.

Imagine that jumble of power cords taking up space in your drawer being obsolete. No need to search for spare batteries. No more waiting on your devices to charge… they are always charging in the background, leaving your device powered and ready for use when you need it. But that’s just the beginning…

How does it work?

You may have heard of a material called graphene. Graphene is 100x stronger than steel and a better conductor of electricity than copper. It is also flexible and elastic. What’s better, when graphene is freestanding, it is actually in a constant state of motion.

This motion can now be harvested as clean, sustainable energy.

NTS Innovations, partnering with the University of Arkansas, has developed the revolutionary technology called Graphene Energy Harvesting.

GEH is the act of harvesting energy at the nanoscale level from the naturally occurring oscillations in graphene. Envision a wind turbine. The wind turbine captures the energy of the wind through movement. In a similar way (but at nanoscale), freestanding graphene converts ambient energy into mechanical energy in the form of ripple fluctuations, much like waves on the ocean.
GEH is the only clean and continuous power alternative that can operate in any environment, anywhere on the planet… and beyond.

«GEH is a nanoscale device on a semiconductor wafer. The technology itself varies slightly with temperature but is otherwise robust in all environments,» said Preston Carter, Chief Technology Officer at NTS Innovations. «GEH can generate power in outer-space and aerospace environments, GEH will work anywhere on Earth, and will continue to work deep in the ocean. The only environmental limitations to GEH will be the packaging used to contain it.»

From theory to commercial application

With the development of an energy harvesting circuit complete, NTS Innovations is now moving on to prototypes and optimization for commercial applications.

When the first generation GEH chip is fully developed and available for purchase in late 2021, it will mark the beginning of a scalable and virtually limitless power-fulfillment solution for countless applications.

GEH chips are made with common semiconductor manufacturing techniques, making them cost-effective, scalable, and easy to mass produce. The first generation GEH chip is targeted for 10mW (milliwatts) with a chip size of 12x12x3mm.

The first generation GEH chip will enable sensors and small electronics to become self-powered, without the need to recharge or replace batteries. But it doesn’t stop there. Future releases of the GEH chip will increase in power density, holding promise for applications ranging from cell phones, tablets, appliances, and cars.

«We are very excited to introduce this game-changing technology. An enormous amount of work has gone into the development of Graphene Energy Harvesting. We are extremely thankful for the NTS Innovations team taking this from its discovery to a proven concept, and now chip production. This ‘World Changing Technology’ can bring power to every corner of the globe. Something as simple as a small light can change lives,» said Don Meyer, Founder and CEO of NTS Innovations.

NTS Innovations holds the exclusive, global rights to this technology.

About NTS Innovations

NTS Innovations is a science to commercialization company specializing in nanotechnology. Since its founding in 2016, NTS has been dedicated to partnerships with the academic community to bring innovative research to market. Having participated in projects involving next generation water filtration, 2D material supply and novel spray applied coatings, NTS is currently focused on the commercialization of Graphene Energy Harvesting. The NTS team possesses a diverse commercial background, with an extensive track record in product development and company building.

For More Information

Prospective customers can sign up to receive developer kit notifications at NTSInnovations.com.

To contact representatives at the company directly with questions or for details on current investor round and licensing considerations, please reach out to the NTS PR Team via email, phone (309) 305-3450, or visit our website at NTSinnovations.com.

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SOURCE NTS Innovations

Texas luxury home sales top $10 billion

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Texas homes that sold for $1 million or higher from November 2019 to October 2020 increased 23.5% to 6,347 sales, according to the 2020 Texas Luxury Home Sales Report released today by Texas Realtors. The annual report examining housing statistics for luxury homes in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metropolitan areas also showed total sales of million-dollar and higher homes reached $10.3 billion, a 23.8% increase from the previous year. That total accounted for 8.8% of all sales dollar volume.

Contact:
Morgan Moritz
mmoritz@piercom.com

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SOURCE Texas REALTORS

Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement for Sale of Wheelabrator Technologies U.K. to First Sentier Investors

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. («Wheelabrator Technologies») announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell WTI / EFW Holdings («Wheelabrator U.K.») to the European Diversified Infrastructure Fund III SCSp («EDIF III»), an infrastructure fund managed by First Sentier Investors («FSI»). The transaction is expected to complete in early 2021.

…

Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement for Sale of Wheelabrator U.K. to First Sentier Investors

Wheelabrator U.K. is the largest pure play waste-to-energy business in the U.K. and is a developer, owner and operator of strategically located waste-to-energy facilities, with seven waste-to-energy facilities in operation and advanced development. Wheelabrator U.K. is an integral part of the U.K.’s environmental infrastructure, diverting waste from landfills or export to continental Europe to provide residents and businesses with local, sustainable disposal of non-recyclable solid waste while creating renewable energy.

Wheelabrator Technologies was acquired by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners IV («MIP») in February 2019. MIP operates within the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets division of Macquarie Group, the world’s largest infrastructure manager.

In the past 12 months, Wheelabrator U.K. reached commercial operations at Wheelabrator Kemsley, a combined heat and power facility that provides steam to the DS Smith paper mill located in Sittingbourne, Kent and reached commercial operations at two new waste-to-energy facilities in North Wales and West Yorkshire, Wheelabrator Parc Adfer and Multifuel Energy Limited Ferrybridge 2. The business continues to progress the advanced development of three further waste-to-energy facilities, Multifuel Energy Limited Skelton Grange in Yorkshire, Wheelabrator Kelvin in West Bromwich and Wheelabrator Kemsley North in Sittingbourne.

Robert Boucher, President & CEO of Wheelabrator Technologies, said, «I am incredibly proud of the U.K. team and what we have achieved as One Team to grow the Wheelabrator U.K. business over the last 11 years. I look forward to the business continuing to execute on their strategy for continued development of critical waste infrastructure in the U.K. with their new shareholder and partner. The buildout of the largest, pure play waste-to-energy business in the U.K. is the result of many years of commitment, hard work, and strong partnerships with our customers and partners, and our ability to leverage our operational excellence from the U.S. and embed it into the U.K.»

Julia Watsford, Managing Director of Wheelabrator U.K., said, «Today’s announcement marks another major milestone in the growth of our U.K. business. We remain fully committed to providing our essential waste disposal service to our customers and communities, while ensuring the safety of our people, contractors and communities remains our number one priority. We’re excited to work with our new partners at FSI to continue to deliver the critical infrastructure required to support the safe and reliable treatment of non-recyclable waste, both now and in the future. I’d like to thank all of our team members for their continued hard work and commitment to Make A Difference to make this business and this transaction a success.»

Karl Kuchel, CEO of MIP, said, «The Wheelabrator team has successfully developed a high-quality portfolio of waste-to-energy facilities in the U.K. over the past decade. We have enjoyed the opportunity to support the company over the last two years as the team has completed construction and successfully commissioned three new U.K. facilities and advanced some promising new projects, despite challenges associated with COVID-19. We have full confidence in the continued success of the platform as the Wheelabrator U.K. business enters its next phase of growth under new ownership.»

Niall Mills, Managing Partner at FSI, said, «We are delighted to make this investment in Wheelabrator U.K. Following our recent agreement to acquire SSE’s stake in the Multifuel Energy Joint Venture, we are looking forward to combining the businesses to create the U.K.’s pre-eminent waste-to-energy platform. We are proud to support Wheelabrator U.K.’s role in facilitating the energy transition while diverting residual waste from landfill. We look forward to working with the team to grow the business and capitalize on the opportunities we see in the sector.»

Credit Suisse and J.P. Morgan served as financial advisors to Wheelabrator U.K. on the sale and Linklaters served as legal counsel. Jefferies and Macquarie Capital served as financial advisors to FSI and Latham & Watkins served as lead legal counsel.

Notes to editor:

About Wheelabrator Technologies
Wheelabrator Technologies is a waste management company committed to delivering essential waste management solutions to customers and communities supported by our team of 1,800 employees. We believe in preserving our environment for future generations while providing for today’s needs. Wheelabrator is a vertically integrated business with a platform of 50 strategically located collection, transfer and disposal assets. These include waste-to-energy facilities, transfer stations, ash monofills, landfills, and fleets of rail cars and collection vehicles. We process more than 13 million tons of waste annually, convert 9 million tons of waste into clean, renewable energy that powers 685,000 homes and recycle more than 390K tons of plastic, paper and metals from the waste stream. For more on Wheelabrator, please visit www.wtienergy.com.

About Wheelabrator Technologies U.K.
Wheelabrator U.K. is the fourth largest U.K. waste-to-energy business and currently has an annual waste processing capacity of over 2.3M tonnes (2.5M tons), and a total combined electric generating capacity of 247MW (gross)—enough energy to power more than 500,000 U.K. homes. For more on Wheelabrator U.K., please visit www.wtienergy.co.uk.

About First Sentier Investors
First Sentier Investors are stewards of over €130 billion in assets managed on behalf of a client base that extends across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. With more than twenty years’ experience in infrastructure investment, it is one of the longest established managers of infrastructure assets on behalf of institutional investors and currently manages approximately €10.0 billion of equity invested across assets in the utility, transport and energy infrastructure sectors in Europe, Australia and North America. The transaction represents an important cornerstone investment of FSI-managed European Diversified Infrastructure Fund III, a European domiciled, euro-denominated fund. FSI operates as a standalone business owned and overseen by the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

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SOURCE Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.

World Economic Forum Global Council on Cryptocurrencies Publishes Inaugural Review

GUERNSEY, Jersey, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The World Economic Forum and its first cryptocurrency focused global council («the Council») today…

GUERNSEY, Jersey, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The World Economic Forum and its first cryptocurrency focused global council («the Council») today announced the release of its inaugural report, «Crypto, What Is It Good For? An Overview of Cryptocurrency Use Cases«. The report highlights use cases of digital assets that go beyond cryptocurrency and explore its impact on individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. The report includes insights from bank executives, NGO leadership, tech entrepreneurs, and investors.

Co-chairs of the recently appointed council, Meltem Demirors, Chief Strategy Officer of CoinShares, and Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa, have been working to establish the Council’s priorities and deliverables of the Council following its official start in October of this year. This invitation-only council is designed to build a community of 30 experts to share their resources and insights with the WEF’s larger network to advance the global understanding of cryptocurrencies.

The members of the Council include chief executives, risk and strategy officers from leading cryptocurrency companies, executives at financial institutions, leading technical, legal, and civil society experts, and academics who are focused on evaluating key challenges and opportunities within this space – and what it will take to achieve the key aims of cryptocurrencies. The Council will work on technical knowledge products for regulators and policy-makers enabling them to make informed decisions around governance of the asset class, capacity-building initiatives, and other projects of the council’s selection and design.

Sheila Warren, who heads the WEF’s efforts on blockchain and digital assets, commented «The WEF’s network of Global Future Councils helps us stretch our imaginations and harness innovation to shape a more inclusive future. This Council will move us toward greater awareness and understanding of the benefits, and risks, of cryptocurrencies, while helping to ensure that the benefits are ultimately made accessible to the entire global economy.»

Demirors commented «Many of the conversations you’ll hear about cryptocurrencies, and much of what we aim to do in this council, is actually not about technology. Rather, meaningful analysis of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is about imagining what could be possible in the future with this new technology, which creates a new set of social, political, and economic tools. Our Council draws from a diverse group of individuals and aims to bring together these disciplines and perspectives to explain cryptocurrencies in a new way.»

«Cryptocurrencies have the potential to create new markets and forms of value exchange that can fuel growth in the global economy. This council is focused on finding ways to make cryptocurrencies comprehensible, accessible, and inclusive so that more people can benefit from the new innovations that emerge through them,» added Sheffield.

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

About CoinShares

CoinShares is Europe’s largest digital asset investment firm, managing over $1 billion assets on behalf of a global client base. Our mission is to expand access to the digital asset ecosystem by pioneering new financial products and services that provide investors with trust and transparency when accessing this new asset class.

For more information on CoinShares, visit: https://coinshares.com/

Media Contact
Jay Morakis
+1 646 859 5951
press@coinshares.com

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SOURCE CoinShares Group

Nearly 800 Faith Leaders Endorse Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the Georgia Senate Run-off

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Over 775 faith leaders signed on to endorse Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the Georgia U.S. Senate Election through a letter of endorsement created by the faith-based organization New Moral Majority. The endorsement letter was also shared with Faithful America members. It includes Georgia faith leaders announcing their public support, as well as Brian McLaren, Jaqui Lewis, Jennifer Butler, Harry Knox, Joshua Lesser, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, John Pavlovitz, Michael-Ray Mathews, Robert Lee (great-grandson of Robert E. Lee), and more. A full list can be found at https://www.newmoralmajority.org/georgia.

This unprecedented action shows the commitment of faith leaders to elect political leaders who will enact legislation for the good of all – to work for human decency, ensure the economic well-being of all citizens and advance the common good. Throughout their campaigns, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue have relentlessly attacked the faith and character of both Rev. Dr. Warnock and Ossoff. Faith leaders are speaking up to support the historic nominations of Rev. Dr. Warnock and Ossoff as candidates who lead with hope instead of fear, love instead of hate, and unity instead of division.

«It is significant that religious leaders are stepping forward to say it is time to heal our land and move forward in this county with more unity of purpose and spirit. It has been too long that we are divided by race, religion and ethnicity. The time has come to take significant steps to bring justice and equity to all in our country. We need to welcome the stranger, love our neighbor and stand up for those most vulnerable by electing moral leaders like Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.»
-Rev. Dr. David Key, Sr., Founding Pastor, Lake Oconee Community Church, Greensboro, GA

«Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, a native son of Savannah, pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and a spiritual descendant of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jon Ossoff, a young, energetic Jewish filmmaker, have centered their campaigns on the values of unity, justice, and healing. We want folks to know that we’re behind them in their cause to mount a historic upset against two wealthy politicians with deeply rooted familial names who haven’t shown much compassion for those we’re called by scripture to support.»
– Rev. Ryan M. Eller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of New Moral Majority

«At its best, our faith critiques broken systems and serves wounded people. In the hands of cynical politicians, it does the opposite. Faithful America’s members are showing that faith informs the values of progressives and conservatives alike. This diverse group of faith leaders endorsing a new progressive vision is a witness to the hunger for changes that will benefit the least of these among us.»
– Rev. Colin Holtz, Faithful America Board president, Atlanta, GA

Leaders from New Moral Majority, Faithful America, and many who have signed this letter are available for comment. New Moral Majority (newmoralmajority.org) and Faithful America (faithfulamerica.org) are not affiliated with the Warnock or Ossoff campaigns.

CONTACT: Chris Hughes, 502-759-7999, 261652@email4pr.com

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SOURCE New Moral Majority

Ashland Calvert City Receives 2020 SOCMA Sustainability Award

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is pleased to announce that <a target="_blank"…

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is pleased to announce that Ashland’s Calvert City, KY, facility is being recognized for its outstanding efforts and unique approaches to sustainability practices as part of the SOCMA’s 2020 Performance Improvement Awards program.

For more than 14 years, SOCMA has honored companies leading the charge in environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) through its Performance Improvement Awards program. Ashland Calvert City is among 19 facilities recognized in 2020 for their efforts in environmental stewardship.

«As the specialty chemical industry navigates the challenges of 2020, keeping a sharp focus on sustainable practices is more important than ever,» said Joe Dettinger, SOCMA’s Senior Director of Compliance & Stewardship. «Ashland’s Calvert City is a shining example of finding and implementing real-life solutions to ensure its operations are minimizing risks to the environment and community. The Calvert City team is constantly looking for ways to reduce injuries, costs, wastes and down time to ensure that the future business operation not only maintains but gains in efficiency, safety and longevity.»

In looking at the facility’s overall footprint in relation to its sustainability goals, the Ashland Calvert City team focused much of its efforts on decreasing energy consumed on site. To reduce usage, the facility:

Implemented technologies such as solar arrays.
Switched to variable speed motors for wastewater treatment blowers.
Defined aggressive timetables to identify and repair both steam and compressed air leaks.
Utilized FLUKE Ultrasonic leak detectors for air leaks.
Installed FLIR thermal imaging cameras to detect heat loss.
Replaced lighting fixtures with LED technology.

The judges were also impressed with the Ashland’s efforts to provide 160,000 pounds of hand sanitizer to help support the community’s ability to fight against COVID-19.

«Ashland’s Calvert City facility has set an impressive benchmark that other companies can strive to meet as they grow their own sustainability programs,» said Jennifer Abril, SOCMA President & CEO. «SOCMA also commends this outstanding facility and its staff for their efforts to help their community in a time of need. We are proud to count them as part of our SOCMA community.»

See the full list of Performance Improvement Award winners here.

About SOCMA

SOCMA is part of a $300 billion industry that’s fueling the U.S. economy. For more information visit www.socma.org.

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SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates

Supply chains have shifted away from China since pandemic lockdown, new research confirms

ISTANBUL, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Supply chains to the U.S. have shifted away from China since lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, new research confirms.

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ISTANBUL, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Supply chains to the U.S. have shifted away from China since lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, new research confirms.

An expansive study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) forecasts an up to $200 billion drop in the U.S.-China trade corridor by 2023, compared to 2019 levels. More than 50 experts were interviewed to provide evidence for the report.

Nations including Turkey, Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan and Poland are best placed to take up the slack as global trade returns to growth following the pandemic.

The report, commissioned by the Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK), builds on research conducted last year on the best ways to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion.

The BCG says while traditional industries remain vitally important, the countries which will capitalize most will be those which lean into 21st Century trends.

Its report recommends Turkish industry focuses on new industries such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, smart cities and household devices as part of the ‘internet of things’. To support this shift, the report recommends TAİK create three new taskforces to lead the charge toward higher exports in three broad areas: digital, electronics and joint projects in Africa. TAİK has said additional taskforces will be announced in the weeks ahead, and already has teams working on LNG and agriculture.

TAİK chairman Mehmet Ali Yacindag said: «This report confirms what many in the business world have suspected during 2020. Global supply chains are shifting and the nature of industry is changing.

«At TAİK we are determined to do everything we can to support and enable commercial deals between our member companies. Our U.S. state committees and Turkish-based members believe this is the best way of promoting growth, supporting jobs and boosting trade.

«Our taskforces will urgently explore the sectors that are ripe for growth to build new partnerships. This report spells out bold moves Turkey can take to secure a stake in future industries like renewables and electric cars. It’s an exciting prospect laid out for our private sector – to play an integral role as the world builds back better.

«As well as supporting new business agreements, TAİK is looking forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration to continue the proud history of U.S.-Turkish business ties.»

Today’s report cites evidence from brands such as Coca Cola and Apple to make its case about supply chain changes. Lockdowns escalated challenges around supply levels and raised uncertainty around future shocks. Interviews with scores of business leaders also revealed existing issues relating to China had been thrown into sharp relief by the current crisis.

Mahmut Unlu, Chairman of TAİK’s New York State Committee, said: «This report signposts the way to future opportunities that build on the decades of work to create commerce and trade ties between the U.S. and Turkey.»

«Today hundreds of thousands of Turkish-Americans support jobs and fuel economic growth in both of our countries. Clearly there is more ahead.»

Head of TAİK’s Africa taskforce Burak Talu said: «Turkish construction companies have deep expertise in Africa as contractors and investors and we are keen to build ties with private sector partners in America. Joint ventures in these projects are a win-win.»

Nail Olpak, the President of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), said: «Global trade was altered by the events of 2020 and the pandemic. Turkish businesses all over the world stand ready to support the economic recovery and this report shows the way forward.»

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Boston Consulting Group report, finalised in October 2020, can be downloaded here.
The Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) is Turkey’s oldest business council. Established in 1985, TAİK’s mission is to enhance trade and investment relations between Turkey and the United States. TAİK operates under the umbrella of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK).
For further information, please contact taik@deik.org.tr

CONTACT:
Batuhan Kurtaran
taik@deik.org.tr

DISSEMINATED BY MERCURY PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC, A REGISTERED FOREIGN AGENT, ON BEHALF OF TURKEY-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL (TAIK). MORE INFORMATION IS ON FILE WITH THE DEPT. OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON, DC.

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SOURCE Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAIK)