Categoría: Geovanny Vicente

Water Well Trust Receives Grant from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Water Well Trust, a national nonprofit helping low-income Americans get access to a clean, safe water supply, recently received a $250,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida through the…

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Water Well Trust, a national nonprofit helping low-income Americans get access to a clean, safe water supply, recently received a $250,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida through the Delores Barr Weaver Family Endowment Fund 1.

This is the second grant the Water Well Trust (WWT) has received from the Delores Barr Weaver Family Endowment Fund 1. The WWT was initially approached by the Foundation because the Delores Barr Weaver Family Endowment Fund 1 wished to pursue safe drinking water projects in the U.S. The Weaver family believes everyone should have safe drinking water, and supports international water projects as well.

In 2020, the Fund provided a $50,000 grant to the Trust that was used to provide six families with water wells in five states. The first family to receive assistance was the Suazo family from Middletown, NY. This couple has four children in the home and Mrs. Suazo is living with multiple sclerosis. The family had a well that one contractor termed a «swamp well,» with water unfit for consumption. The Suazo project was successfully completed in June 2020.

Under the latest grant, the Trust will be able to drill 21 wells in 2021, with grant monies going toward needy families on the WWT wait list. The Fund has stipulated that the funds be used as grant money as opposed to loans.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is a tax-exempt public charity. Created by generous individuals, families, businesses and organizations, each of their more than 600 funds helps build stronger communities. Created in 1964, the Foundation has assets of $483 million and has made approximately $550 million in grants since inception.

The Water Well Trust maintains a wait list of American households requesting funding for the drilling of new wells or rehabilitation of non-functioning wells in high-need, low-resource rural areas. Prospective applicants can download the application form and instruction letter from the Water Well Trust website. 

For more information, visit waterwelltrust.org.

About The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (www.jaxcf.org), Florida’s oldest and largest community foundation, works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community. The Foundation helps donors invest their philanthropic gifts wisely, helps nonprofits serve the region effectively, and helps people come together to make the community a better place.  

About The Water Well Trust

The Water Well Trust (WWT) is a 501(c)3 organization created by the Water Systems Council to provide a clean water supply to American families living without access to a precious resource most of us take for granted. The WWT and its partners build wells for low-income families nationwide that need safe drinking water.  To learn more, visit waterwelltrust.org.

Contact:
Margaret Martens, Program Director
Water Well Trust
291981@email4pr.com
202-625-4387

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SOURCE Water Well Trust

Solectrac launches reservation program for its all-electric tractors

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As demand has grown quickly for Solectrac’s first to market all-electric tractors, the company announced its new reservation campaign. With a $1000 deposit, reduced from fifty percent of the total cost, customers can now reserve their place in the productions line. «We’ve decided to decrease the initial deposit to allow customers to express their interest and intent. This is good for our customers and good for our…

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As demand has grown quickly for Solectrac’s first to market all-electric tractors, the company announced its new reservation campaign. With a $1000 deposit, reduced from fifty percent of the total cost, customers can now reserve their place in the productions line. «We’ve decided to decrease the initial deposit to allow customers to express their interest and intent. This is good for our customers and good for our production line,» said Steve Heckeroth, CEO/Founder.

Solectrac Inc., North America‘s first manufacturer and distributor of quiet, zero emission electric tractors came to the attention of the marketplace last year with their very successful crowdfunding campaign, followed by double investments from Ideanomics. Solectrac has since grown their manufacturing capabilities to ramp up production and meet demand while pursuing their long-term goal to reduce carbon output in farming and utility work.

Solectrac is taking reservations for its 40 HP-equivalent eUtility tractor and the 4-wheel drive 30 HP-equivalent compact electric tractor (CET). Both tractors are built to outperform their diesel counterparts by eliminating exhaust and noise and with the benefit of instant torque at low RPM.  Solectrac tractors accommodate existing implements and are perfectly suited for farm and utility operations, as well as in livestock and equestrian environments where noise is an important consideration. Additionally, the low noise level and absence of exhaust makes electric tractors desirable in any environment by improving workers’ health and safety.

Solectrac‘s electric tractors can be charged either from the utility grid or from renewable energy, like solar and wind. Electricity is cheaper than diesel fuel and Solectrac tractors only have one moving part in the motor. Consequently, maintenance and fuel cost over the lifetime of the electric tractor is estimated to be one-third that of a diesel tractor. Using solar or wind energy in the charging infrastructure completely eliminates fossil fuel inputs thereby reducing the users’ carbon footprint and helping meet climate goals.

In 2019 Solectrac became a California Benefit Corporation and a Certified B Corp «to use business as a force for good.» The company is also the recipient of the World Alliance’s Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions label. Through the World Alliance the Solar Impulse Foundation is selecting 1,000 of the most efficient and profitable solutions that can transition society to being economically viable while being environmentally sustainable.

Reservations are open now on Solectrac‘s website www.solectrac.com

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SOURCE Solectrac, Inc.

Northwest Indiana Civil Rights Agency Director Announces Bid for Indiana United States Senate Race

ANDERSON, Ind., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Haneefah Khaaliq is running as a Democrat for the United States Senate seat in Indiana against Senator Todd Young. Young’s seat is up for reelection in 2022. Ms. Khaaliq’s platform revolves around education, poverty, and civil rights. Ms. Khaaliq promises constant communication, dialogue, and conversation with Hoosiers, which she believes they’ve been deprived…

ANDERSON, Ind., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Haneefah Khaaliq is running as a Democrat for the United States Senate seat in Indiana against Senator Todd Young. Young’s seat is up for reelection in 2022. Ms. Khaaliq’s platform revolves around education, poverty, and civil rights. Ms. Khaaliq promises constant communication, dialogue, and conversation with Hoosiers, which she believes they’ve been deprived of for far too long.

A community volunteer and previous church youth minister, Ms. Khaaliq was born in Chicago, Illinois, and relocated to Northwest Indiana in 2000, where she graduated with honors from Lake Central High School in St. John, IN. She went on to attend IUPUI where she received high honors and graduated with a degree in Education. After teaching, she returned to school to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. Now, she acts as a human relations director for an agency charged with enforcing the civil rights law. She is an adjunct professor at Indiana University and operates her own social service providing legal assistance and mental health referrals to low-income individuals nationwide.

Ms. Khaaliq is the stepdaughter of a hardworking, retired U.S. Steelworker and factory worker. She comes from a family of honorable veterans who served their country proudly and has a lifetime of acquired values and skills commensurate with representing and leading the people.

Haneefah Khaaliq for U.S.  Senate
P.O. Box 114 Anderson, IN 46016
765-278-6780
317-999-5592

haneefahkhaaliq.org

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SOURCE Hoosiers for Haneefah

Deloitte: Consumer Perception of Travel Safety Improves as Vaccines Roll Out, COVID Cases Decline

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

Key takeaways

  • Six weeks after COVID-19 vaccine distribution began in the U.S., more than 50% of U.S. adults expect to be fully vaccinated in the next six months.
  • As a result of the vaccine rollout, the percentage of U.S. adults feeling safe staying in a hotel and flying reach highest levels since April 2019 at 46% and 34%, respectively.
  • Of those already vaccinated, 70% feel safe staying in a hotel and 54% feel safe flying. 
  • More than half (53%) of those already vaccinated are likely to spend more on travel in the next four weeks.

Why this matters
As a global health crisis morphed into an economic one, Deloitte has been conducting a series of weekly surveys, around the United States, to better understand the interplay between personal safety and economic vulnerability as a driver of purchase decisions and consumer behavior. The most recent iteration (fielded Jan. 22 to 27) of «Deloitte’s Global State of the Consumer Tracker,» queried at least 1,000 American consumers. As nearly 30 million vaccine doses have been administered in the U.S., the latest responses show improving travel intentions and increasing consumer activity, pointing to a gradual recovery in the travel sector.

With stronger safety perceptions, net spending intent on travel reaches pandemic high mark
Nearly a year after the pandemic onset, which hit the travel industry harder than most, there’s reason to be optimistic. As more consumers are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine across the U.S., the perceived safety of leisure travel is on the rise.

  • Fifty-three percent of those already vaccinated are likely to spend more on travel in the next four weeks compared to 30% for the overall population.
  • Over the next three months, vaccinated consumers indicate that they are two times more likely to take a domestic flight and 1.7 times more likely to stay in a hotel than the rest.
  • These vaccinated consumers are also more likely to engage in activities such as renting a car (63%) and booking a private accommodation (61%).

Key quote
«After being virtually homebound for the last year, the vaccine rollout is providing consumers with an increased sense of safety, meaning they are ready to get back on the road and in the air. Travel intentions across all categories have increased, which should be welcome news for restaurants, hoteliers, airlines and a host of other consumer and hospitality-focused businesses who have been preparing for this shift with increased safety measures to instill confidence for the long-term.»

– Ramya Murali, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and U.S. hospitality leader

Travel spending intentions increase, but may not return to pre-pandemic levels
While travel intentions and activity are starting to rise, consumers are still somewhat cautious and leisure travel plans may not fully return to pre-pandemic levels.

  • Post-pandemic 35% of consumers say they will eat out less at restaurants than they did prior to COVID-19.
  • Similarly, 37% of consumers say they will fly less often than before the onset of the pandemic, and 36% will have fewer hotel stays.
  • Consumers also indicate that post-pandemic they expect to continue to work from home at a level six times higher than pre-pandemic levels (30% versus 5% in 2019).
  • However, near-term things are looking up; booking intentions are improving as we head into spring, with 38% expecting to stay in a hotel over the next three months (the highest percentage since the onset of the pandemic).
  • Additionally, nearly one-third (30%) plan on taking a domestic flight in the next quarter, also a pandemic high.

Key quote
«While this early-spring time period would usually be filled with spring break trips, many upcoming vacations have been canceled, or are in doubt, because of the pandemic. However, consumers are beginning to look post-vaccination. With pent up travel demand, we expect that many consumers look forward to the ability to travel freely, and responsibly, once again.»

– Anthony Jackson, principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP and U.S. airlines leader   

Connect with us on Twitter @DeloitteCB or on LinkedIn @RamyaMurali and @AnthonyJackson.

About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today’s marketplace — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Now celebrating 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s more than 330,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee («DTTL»), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as «Deloitte Global») does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the «Deloitte» name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

 

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SOURCE Deloitte

The California Black Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Minority ontractors/ Northern California Chapter Partner to Build Advocacy for M/WBE Construction Trades

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The new year is off to an industrious start with Jay King, CEO and President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC), announcing a statewide partnership with the <a target="_blank"…

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The new year is off to an industrious start with Jay King, CEO and President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC), announcing a statewide partnership with the National Association of Minority Contractors, Northern California (NAMCNC), under the direction of its Northern California Chapter President, Pete Varma. The two organizations intend to spearhead a plan to direct support, education and contracting opportunities to Minority/Women Business Enterprises construction trades throughout California. Together both CBCC and NAMCNC will act as catalysts, building relationships between corporations seeking subcontracting opportunities and underrepresented small businesses. The CBCC is the largest African American non-profit business organization, representing hundreds of businesses, affiliates and Chambers of Commerce in California while the NAMC is the oldest minority construction trade association in the United States.

The construction industry workforce in the United States is made up of over 25 million Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) employees. The representation of BIPOC in critical roles has never been more crucial. While there are some corporations that are actively promoting inclusion and diversity in the awarding of work contracts, many are not, due to the inability to properly target these candidates. Both King and Varma hope to mitigate this disproportioned workforce by stimulating a productive environment of inclusive hiring tactics, targeted training programs, and by forming partnerships with owners, developers and prime contractors.

«This last year has been a tumultuous one for the building and construction trades. Within this key industry group, no one has felt the crippling effects of the pandemic more than minorities, women, the disabled veteran-owned and especially the Black-owned construction trades,» expressed Pete Varma, NAMCNC President. «As a result, this segment has faced additional roadblocks when it comes to talent acquisition, strategic partnerships and the opportunity to effectively scale their construction business.»

«Recognizing this, NAMCNC has developed a Pre-Apprentice Construction Labor-Ready program. NAMCNC is filling the gap of labor shortage by educating and training young men and women from underserved communities, foster youth, high schools/ adult schools and others. Coupled with our Contractor Readiness program, which includes financing, bonding, and growth strategy, we are priming our members for success. NAMCNC is enthusiastic about our constituents and works towards creating a more representative and equitable workforce. Our alliance with the CBCC positions us to be even more of service,» cites Varma.

NAMC is made of more than 50 Hall of Fame legacy contractors and builders, with a combined annual project capacity of over a billion dollars nationally. As a leading voice for minority trade workers, NAMC also provides assistance/guidance to undocumented workers in the construction industry. Corporations, owners, developers, city, county and federal agencies all must change their policies to ensure the growth and opportunity for the under-represented contractor workforce. CBCC and NAMCNC are focused on influencing the legislation of each local municipality, so that they are more encouraging and focused on minorities, disabled veterans and women-owned businesses, all while improving the culture of the construction industry they effect.

«Our economy is being rebuilt after a year of unrelenting devastation, from the pandemic and the many protests that have taken place throughout the Trump Presidency. But we don’t want to focus on the divide, we want to build the bridge of coming together,» cites CBCC CEO and President, Jay King. «With 95% of our (African American) businesses existing as one employee, financial literacy is the chamber’s foundational mission alongside of ensuring that our small and micro business owners are included in the rebuilding process of our communities and economies.»

«Pete and I will mobilize all key opportunities to represent on behalf of these entities, to ensure they are not overlooked and partner them with other sole proprietors from all of the other disadvantaged groups who have similar issues, so that we can create a culture of allies, not adversaries, and comrades instead of competitors,» King continues. «This we believe will be the beginning of a conversation that should be had across America in every business sector in the country. We want to be inclusive of all Americans so we can make ‘America Great for Once.'»

Pete Varma serves as President of National Association of Minority Contractors Northern California Chapter, Vice President of Nokatu Construction (an America Indian General Contractor firm) and President of Intraline, Inc. Varma serves on Caltrans Statewide Small Business Council, Standing Committee, emphasis: Small Business (SB), the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) and Chair for Caltrans Statewide Small Business Council-Construction Committee and member of African American DBE Participation Committee for the California Department of Transportation. He also serves and advocates on behalf of Minority, Women and Disabled Construction Trades to the California High Speed Rail and to the BART Small Business Advisory Council. Varma’s development teams are made up of local talent that utilize community-based resources. Varma has devoted over 30 years to construction management services, allowing all motivated members of each community an opportunity to affect its growth.

Jay King was elected president of the California Black Chamber of Commerce in June of 2019, working tirelessly as an advocate for African American small business owners. His community involvement includes sitting on the Cal Trans Small Business Council, Chairman of the African American DBE, Participation Committee for the California Department of Transportation, as well as holding seats on the Small Business Council for the Department of General Services (DGS) and the California High Speed Rail project. Other organizations include Commissioner on the Sacramento Police Commission, organizer of the North Sacramento Leadership Council, and founder and spokesperson for the Greater Sacramento Financial Literacy Group.

Both Jay King and Pete Varma are encouraging corporations and contractors alike to reach out to them for additional information. Contact the California Black Chamber of Commerce (https://www.calbcc.org/home ) via email at cbcc@calbcc.org or at 916-467-8878. Contact the National Association of Minority Contractor, Northern California Chapter (http://www.namcnc.org/) at info@namcnc.org or at (877) 791-1630.

jazzmyne Public Relations
323-380-8819
e-mail:  makeda@jazzmynepr.com
web:  www.jazzmynepr.com

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SOURCE California Black Chamber of Commerce; National Association of Minority Contractors, Northern California

AUC Woodruff Library Awarded $750,000 Collaborative Grant with Project STAND to Advance Archiving of Social Justice Initiatives among College Students of Color

ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library in partnership with Project STAND has received generous funding of $750,000 from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support a three-year project: Building Capacity, Ethical Documentation and Archiving of Student Activism in BIPOC Communities. The project will advance the community archiving of social justice initiatives among former and current college…

ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library in partnership with Project STAND has received generous funding of $750,000 from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support a three-year project: Building Capacity, Ethical Documentation and Archiving of Student Activism in BIPOC Communities. The project will advance the community archiving of social justice initiatives among former and current college and university students of color. The AUC Woodruff Library and Project STAND will collaborate with the University of Maryland Libraries (College Park), and the 65 Project STAND consortium member institutions to support the archiving and accessibility of documentation of organizing and activism among Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students.

Though not the first collaboration between the AUC Woodruff Library and Project STAND, this partnership will enable the establishment of archivist residencies to create modules for teaching with primary resources on student activism in marginalized communities, and the presentation of workshops on personal archiving and ethical documentation for student activists and social justice organizations.

CEO and Library Director Loretta Parham, AUC Woodruff Library said, «We look forward to continuing our partnership with Project STAND and the network of institutions and advocates involved in the work to document and preserve the record of activism and social justice among BIPOC college students. The AUC Woodruff Library stands on a legacy of student engagement that began with the Atlanta Student Movement on the AUC campuses during the Civil Rights period. The vision and expertise of the involved archivists is significant and the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is to be celebrated.»

This project will also significantly expand and strengthen the capacity of Project STAND, as well as improve its web presence, establish a digital repository scholarly works, oral histories, presentations and archived social media. Micro-grants will be provided to Project STAND consortium members, as well as HBCUs and non-member institutions to support small digitization projects documenting social justice activism by students of color. To further broaden and promote the work of marginalized organizers within student communities and archivists, a podcast will also be produced to feature their voices.  

«We are proud to partner in this exciting endeavor with the AUC Woodruff Library and Project STAND,» said Adriene Lim, Dean, University of Maryland Libraries, «and to advance our work providing collections and programs that reflect the diversity of our community, and incorporate the histories and experiences of those who have been historically underrepresented.»

Lae’l Hughes-Watkins, Founder of Project STAND and University Archivist for the University of Maryland, shared, «The Project STAND consortium never could have imagined that we would launch the next stage of our development during one of the most challenging periods in recent American history. We are inspired by this generous level of support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to continue to strengthen relationships we are building with student organizers in Black and Brown communities and other marginalized student populations. Our efforts to engage in the ethical documentation and archiving of these communities who remain at the forefront of some of the most transformative work in this time of reckoning within academic organizations have gained a new sense of urgency.»

************** 

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library partners with the nation’s largest consortium of historically black colleges and universities: Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College to provide information management, instruction and access to global information resources in support of teaching and learning, scholarship and cultural preservation of the AUC.  The Library is the winner of the 2016 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award in the university category from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). Home to a premier Archives Research Center, the Library provides collaborative leadership in preservation, access and collection development of unique archival resources documenting African American history and culture. To learn more, visit www.auctr.edu.

Project STAND is an online clearinghouse where academic institutions provide researchers a centralized access point to historical and archival documentation on the development and ongoing occurrences of student dissent in primarily marginalized communities. Visit http://standarchives.com for more information.

As the largest university library system in the Washington D.C. – Baltimore area, the University of Maryland (UMD) Libraries serve more than 41,000 students and 14,000 faculty and staff of the flagship College Park campus. The Libraries’ work enables student success, supports teaching, research, and creativity, and enriches the intellectual and cultural life of the community.  A member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of Research Libraries, the UMD Libraries was honored with the 2020 Excellence in Academic Libraries award in the university category from ACRL. To learn more, visit: www.lib.umd.edu.

Contact: Carolyn Hart
404-978-2003
chart@auctr.edu

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SOURCE Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library

BTG Pactual joins the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network

SÃO PAULO, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BTG Pactual (BPAC11), the largest investment bank in Latin America, has joined the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network (NSBN), the U.S. stock exchange’s database of information on the main issuances of sustainable bonds around the world. The bank registered its raising of US$ 500 million in green bonds, from January this year, alongside two other minor issuances made in 2020, and became the first financial institution from <span…

SÃO PAULO, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BTG Pactual (BPAC11), the largest investment bank in Latin America, has joined the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network (NSBN), the U.S. stock exchange’s database of information on the main issuances of sustainable bonds around the world. The bank registered its raising of US$ 500 million in green bonds, from January this year, alongside two other minor issuances made in 2020, and became the first financial institution from Latin America to join the list.

Commenting on that, BTG Pactual CEO Roberto Sallouti said

«Our green issuances are the recognition of our sustainable and impact investing agenda. At BTG Pactual, we are committed to helping our clients build their success while adhering to ESG values. Joining the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network is an important acknowledgment of such engagement».

The idea behind Nasdaq’s initiative is to improve transparency for the sustainable bonds market by creating a database so that investors can monitor issuances made all around the world, tracing information on value, projects supported and the framework of the issuing institution. Created last year, the Sustainable Bond Network already has data on more than 300 issuers from over 20 countries.

«Through our partnership with BTG Pactual, we are able to further expand the footprint of the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network into Latin America,» said Ann-Charlotte Eliasson, Head of Sustainable Bond Network at Nasdaq. «Since its launch a year ago, we have developed the network into a leading global solution that helps issuers showcase their sustainable bonds. At the same time, investors are provided with a comprehensive tool to evaluate and compare the impact from the capital raised by the bonds.»

BTG’s green issuance and its inclusion in the NSBN are initiatives that reinforce BTG Pactual’s commitment to identify and continuously improve best practices for sustainability, governance and the management of its business, and come on top of the bank’s other impact investment and ESG initiatives.

In 2019, the bank offset 100% of the carbon emissions caused by its global operations, including travel and journeys for work. In 2020, it created the Sustainable & Impact Investing area, which promotes the creation of products and services that combine financial return with positive socio-environmental impact, it became a signatory of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) and a member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

In October last year, BTG Pactual launched Brazil’s first ESG ETF, and in November, the Landscape Capital strategy, which will be dedicated to natural climate solutions through the purchase of devastated land in Brazil and other Latin American nations in order to reforest it with native vegetation. In 2021, BTG Pactual launched its first impact investment fund, which will be allocated to companies that intend to generate positive social and environmental impact alongside solid returns.

About BTG Pactual

BTG Pactual is an investment bank from Latin America, operating in Investment Banking, Corporate Lending, Sales & Trading, Wealth Management and Asset Management. Since inception, in 1983, the Bank has been run based on a meritocratic partnership culture, focused on clients, excellence and a long-term vision. We have cemented our status as one of the most innovative sector players and have won numerous national and international awards. We currently have almost 3,000 employees in offices across Brazil, as well as in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, the US, Portugal and England. For more information go to http://www.btgpactual.com 

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SOURCE BTG Pactual

Atlas Renewable Energy ranks top clean energy developer for corporate PPAs in Latin America, and in top ten globally

MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As presented by Bloomberg NEF’s 1H 2021 Corporate Energy Market Outlook published on Jan. 26, 2020, Atlas Renewable Energy ranked as the number one clean energy developer selling renewable energy to corporate buyers in Latin America during 2020 and occupied 6th place globally with over half a gigawatt contracted for private offtakers in the region.

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MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As presented by Bloomberg NEF’s 1H 2021 Corporate Energy Market Outlook published on Jan. 26, 2020, Atlas Renewable Energy ranked as the number one clean energy developer selling renewable energy to corporate buyers in Latin America during 2020 and occupied 6th place globally with over half a gigawatt contracted for private offtakers in the region.

This success includes a landmark long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) that Atlas Renewable Energy contracted with Anglo-American, a natural resources multinational, which will procure clean energy to its operations in Brazil from the Casablanca project, Atlas Renewable Energy’s 349MW solar plant in Minas Gerais. Casablanca is the largest bilateral solar PPA signed in Latin America to this date.

Similarly, Atlas Renewable Energy signed another groundbreaking project with the Brazilian subsidiary of one of the largest petrochemical multinationals, Dow Chemical. The energy for that project will be sourced from Atlas Renewable Energy’s Jacaranda solar plant and will provide clean energy to Dow’s operations in the state of Bahía under a novel deal structure that addresses solar intermittency and provides a 24h energy offering by swapping the excess solar energy during the day with other clean energy sources that can produce at nighttime, thereby serving a continuous energy load.

Both projects fall under these companies’ strategy to attain ambitious sustainability goals, aiming to reduce a considerable amount of their CO2 emissions and clean their energy matrix, a trend that is rapidly being adopted and implemented in Latin America by large energy consumers in the natural resources and chemical sectors. And, importantly, both projects are uniquely characterized by equally pioneering and ambitious social community engagement programs promoting diversity and inclusion.

«We are extremely proud of the growth that Atlas Renewable Energy has consistently been able to sustain over recent years, repeatedly offering tailor-made energy solutions to our clients. Going forward, we see ourselves continuing to innovate in this space to reduce the carbon footprint of companies and institutions, while also reducing their energy bill.» said Carlos Barrera, Atlas Renewable Energy’s CEO. «The private sector is becoming more conscious about the need to operate sustainably. As such, procuring clean energy has become essential for large energy consumers, and Atlas can support them to find creative and smarter solutions to accelerate their adoption of cleaner sources of energy.»

According to Bloomberg NEF’s report, which tracks corporate clean energy trends, Corporate PPA activity in Latin America in 2020 totaled 1.5GW, of which 1,047MW was procured in Brazil, the region’s largest economy and clean energy market. Brazil PPA volumes nearly doubled from 2019 and solar contracts accounted for nearly 80% of this growth, driving a strong trend towards solar energy at the regional level.

With these deals, large mining and chemical companies in Brazil dominated Latin America’s corporate procurement landscape in 2020. Global miner Anglo American was the largest corporate offtaker, based on Bloomberg’s report, followed by the Brazilian subsidiary of US-based multinational Dow Chemical.

With this major achievement, Atlas Renewable Energy looks to the future to continue supplying clean energy to big energy consumers across the Americas, accelerating the region’s transition toward clean energy, while promoting best practices and elevating the industry standards.

About Atlas Renewable Energy

Atlas Renewable Energy is a renewable energy generation company that develops, builds, and operates renewable energy projects with long-term contracts across the Americas. The current company portfolio is 2.2GW of contracted projects in development, construction, or operational stages, and aims to expand by an additional 4GW in the next years.

Launched in early 2017, Atlas Renewable Energy includes an experienced team with the longest track record in the solar energy industry in Latin America. The company is recognized for its high standards in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale projects.

Atlas Renewable Energy is part of the Energy Fund IV, founded by Actis, a leading private equity investor in the energy sector. Atlas Renewable Energy’s growth is focused on the leading emerging markets and economies, using its proven development, commercialization, and structuring know-how to accelerate the transformation toward clean energy. By actively engaging with the community and stakeholders at the center of its project strategy, the company works every day to provide a cleaner future.

To know more about Atlas Renewable Energy, visit: www.atlasrenewableenergy.com

Contact Details:
David Chambers +44 (0)75 5788 7405, dchambers@headlandconsultancy.com  

1221 Brickell Ave. Suite 1200
Miami, FL 33131, USA
www.atlasrenewableenergy.com
contacto@atlasren.com,
+1 786 358 5614

 

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SOURCE Atlas Renewable Energy

BlocPower Raises $63 Million Series A to Green Urban Buildings and Creates Innovative Financing Solution Alongside the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BlocPower, a Brooklyn-based climate tech startup that is rapidly greening American inner cities, today announced a $63 million Series A round ($55 million debt, $8…

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BlocPower, a Brooklyn-based climate tech startup that is rapidly greening American inner cities, today announced a $63 million Series A round ($55 million debt, $8 million equity). The round was led by American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, AccelR8 and The Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, with participation from Kapor Capital, Elemental Excelerator, CityRock Venture Partners, The Schmidt Family Foundation and Salesforce Ventures. To date, the company has raised $68 million from early anchor investors, including Kapor Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, MaC Venture Capital, Exelon, New York Ventures of the Empire State Development Corporation, Echoing Green, and The Schmidt Family Foundation. The funding will enable BlocPower to expand and scale its inner-city energy retrofit projects across the U.S., create green jobs, improve quality of life for urban residents and save the planet.

Founded in 2014 by CEO Donnel Baird, BlocPower was inspired by his experience working alongside the Obama administration on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project. The goal was to hire and train unemployed union workers to «green» buildings around the country but, at the time, the costs of retrofits overwhelmed savings from the shift to clean energy.

BlocPower has overcome these challenges by leveraging advanced technologies, innovative electrification equipment and structured finance to provide green heating and cooling to America’s aging urban buildings. As a Public Benefit Corporation, BlocPower partners with utilities, government agencies, and building owners to identify unhealthy, energy-wasting buildings to retrofit. BlocPower’s machine learning platform determines which retrofits will produce the most energy savings at scale and uses the cloud and IoT to gather data and remotely monitor energy consumption.

«By combining emerging technologies, our software platform and our new innovative green financing solution, we can now provide sustainability upgrades to millions of buildings in underserved communities,» Baird says. «BlocPower is creating new green jobs by turning buildings into Teslas, making them smarter, healthier, and more profitable by getting them off of fossil fuels.»

To fund these projects, BlocPower created an innovative financing solution that enables small and medium sized building owners to bring much needed energy efficiency improvements to their properties with no out-of-pocket cost. Backed by up to $50 million from The Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group and $5 million from Inclusive Prosperity Capital, this structured financial product covers the installation and maintenance of air source heat pumps, a proven high-efficiency technology that uses electricity to cleanly provide both heating and cooling, and which is more cost effective than even natural gas systems. By installing modern, efficient, all electric heating and cooling equipment, BlocPower improves indoor air quality and reduces or eliminates fossil fuel use, saving building owners 20 to 70 percent on energy costs.

So far, BlocPower has completed retrofits in more than 1,000 buildings in New York City and has projects underway in 24 cities, including Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Oakland. The company will soon offer Environmental Justice Impact Green Bonds to other institutional investors to help finance BlocPower’s future green retrofit projects.

«Given the state of economic inequality in the U.S., we’re committed to advancing BlocPower’s business as a social necessity and a proof point that impact investing isn’t sacrificial,» said Mitch Kapor, partner at Kapor Capital. «Greening America’s inner-city buildings is a critical part of protecting our planet and ensuring a brighter, healthier, more equitable future for everyone. BlocPower is showing the world how it can be done, but more importantly, why it must be done.»

Louis Kang, Managing Director of AccelR8, adds, «BlocPower’s success will demonstrate equitable climate change mitigation can be achieved in a financially sustainable and thoughtful manner.» 

The market opportunity is considerable. America’s aging buildings produce more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than the entire U.S. transportation sector. On average, 30 percent of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted at a cost of $100 billion a year. By transforming antiquated buildings into greener, smarter, healthier facilities, BlocPower has reduced building energy costs by 30 to 50 percent and reduced GHGs by 40 to 70 percent in current projects. The company believes that it can reduce U.S. GHGs by 3 to 25 percent in 5 to 10 years and recapture up to 30 percent of the wasted energy spend.

«BlocPower is proving that it is possible to have commercial solutions that improve public health in underserved communities, create quality jobs, and lower carbon emissions,» says Margaret Anadu, Managing Director and Head of the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. «We are so proud to have supported Donnel and his team through the Launch With GS entrepreneur cohort and now through both equity and debt capital to further expand their reach.»

«One of the key questions we wrestle with is how do we help create generational wealth for underrepresented and undercapitalized people and communities in America?  Climate change has the potential to devastate at-risk communities. We envision the potential to transition to clean energy as an opportunity to invest in those same communities and their people. With the investment the AmFam Institute has made in BlocPower, we believe Donnel Baird and his team can turn that vision into reality,»   said John McIntyre, Managing Director of the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact (AmFam Institute).

About BlocPower
BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology startup that is making American cities greener, smarter and healthier. Since its founding in 2014, the company has retrofitted more than 1,000 buildings in disadvantaged communities in New York City, with projects underway in 24 cities. BlocPower uses proprietary software for analysis, leasing, project management, and monitoring of clean energy projects that save customers between 20-70 percent on annual energy costs. The company has raised $68 million from the world’s top investors including American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, AccelR8, The Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, Kapor Capital, Elemental Excelerator, CityRock Venture Partners, Hatzimemos/Libby, The Schmidt Family Foundation, Salesforce Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, MaC Venture Capital, Exelon, the New York Ventures of the Empire State Development Corporation and Echoing Green.

Press Contacts for BlocPower
Eric Sokolsky, eric.sokolsky@sparkpr.com

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SOURCE BlocPower

Capital Dynamics and Hoosier Energy Sign 150MW Solar Energy Power Purchase Agreement

NEW YORK and BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Capital Dynamics CEI, the Clean Energy Infrastructure (CEI) business line of Capital Dynamics, an independent global private asset management firm, and Hoosier Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative, today announced the signing of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Under the terms of the PPA, Hoosier Energy will purchase 150-megawatts (MW) of the power generated by the Ratts 2…

NEW YORK and BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Capital Dynamics CEI, the Clean Energy Infrastructure (CEI) business line of Capital Dynamics, an independent global private asset management firm, and Hoosier Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative, today announced the signing of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Under the terms of the PPA, Hoosier Energy will purchase 150-megawatts (MW) of the power generated by the Ratts 2 Solar Project, a CEI-owned greenfield solar project that is currently being developed in Knox County, Indiana. Arevon Energy Management and Tenaska are co-developing this project and were instrumental in procuring and negotiating the terms of the PPA. Construction is expected to begin in 2022 with commercial operation anticipated in 2023.

«Hoosier Energy’s PPA with Capital Dynamics is an important step toward achieving our long-range plan of adding diverse projects to our energy portfolio that focus on lowering costs for our members and reducing our carbon footprint,» said Hoosier Energy President and CEO Donna Walker.

«We are extremely pleased that Knox County has been so supportive of the Ratts 2 Solar Project and are grateful for their partnership,» said Martin Hahn, CEO of Capital Dynamics. «This project will bring jobs, tax revenue, landowner lease payments and a wide range of additional economic benefits to Knox County. We are looking forward to working with the county and the teams at Arevon Energy Management and Tenaska to bring affordable, clean energy to this community.»

«Arevon Energy Management was pleased to play an instrumental role in structuring this agreement so that Hoosier Energy can benefit from cost savings and achieve its carbon emissions reduction goal,» said Tiago Sabino Dias, President and CEO of Arevon Energy Management. «Hoosier Energy has been a long-time partner and we applaud their efforts to improve their generation mix that will offer energy savings and reliability to their members.»

«It’s gratifying to see utilities like Hoosier Energy realize the environmental and cost benefits of renewables and take swift action to add more renewables to their generation mix,» said Steve Johnson, senior vice president in Tenaska’s Strategic Development & Acquisitions Group. «The Tenaska Solar Ventures team looks forward to working with Capital Dynamics to complete development and bring this project to fruition.» 

The Knox County Council unanimously approved the economic development agreement for the Ratts 2 Solar Project In October 2020. The county also finalized a solar ordinance to guide certain technical aspects of the project. Under the agreement, the project will pay $2.5 million in economic development payments to Knox County over a six-year period.

Ratts 2 is expected to contribute an estimated $16 million in tax revenue over the project life. According to an economic study conducted by Gnarly Tree Sustainability Institute, the Ratts 2 Solar Project is estimated to contribute $20.9 million to the Knox County Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during construction and $941,000 annually once the solar project is operational. It will bring 188 full-time construction jobs, full-time operations and maintenance employment, and annual expenditures on goods in excess of $363,000 over the project’s expected 35-year lifespan. The project will also pay an estimated $1 million lease payments annually to local landowners.

About Capital Dynamics

Capital Dynamics is an independent global asset management firm focusing on private assets including private equity, private credit and clean energy infrastructure.

Capital Dynamics’ Clean Energy Infrastructure is one of the largest renewable energy investment managers in the world with USD 6.6 billion AUM1 and has one of the longest track records in the industry. The CEI strategy was established to capture attractive investment opportunities in the largest and fastest-growing sector of global infrastructure – proven renewable energy technologies, primarily in North America and Europe, across solar, onshore wind, energy storage and related infrastructure with a focus on both utility-scale and distributed generation technologies. The CEI platform’s fully-integrated asset management affiliate provides highly-specialized services to ensure optimal performance and value from projects. The CEI strategy currently manages 7.9 GWdc of contracted gross power generation across more than 150 projects in the United States and Europe,2 and is one of the top 3 global solar PV owners.3

Since the CEI platform’s inception in 2010, over 17 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided as a result of the firm’s renewable investments.4 This is equivalent to the power needed to supply more than 3 million homes or passenger vehicles for one year.5 In 2020, the CEI strategy received top rankings from GRESB (the ESG benchmark for real assets) for commitment to sustainability, and in 2019 awarded Global PE Energy Firm of the Year by Private Equity International. For more information, please visit: www.capdyn.com.

About Arevon Energy Management

Arevon Energy Management (AEM) is an independent company with an exclusive partnership with the Capital Dynamics’ Clean Energy Infrastructure platform. AEM’s team of experts work directly with utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, and large corporations to jointly develop clean energy strategies that exceed their economic and sustainability objectives. AEM is a one-stop-shop for holistic solutions you can count on for the coming decades. For more information, please visit www.arevonenergy.com.

About Hoosier Energy

Founded in 1949, Hoosier Energy is a generation and transmission cooperative (G&T) with headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana. The G&T provides electric power and services to 18 electric distribution cooperatives in central and southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Collectively, the 18 members serve nearly 710,000 consumers. For more information, visit www.hoosierenergy.com.

About Tenaska
Tenaska, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is one of the leading independent energy companies in the United States. Forbes magazine consistently ranks Tenaska among the 50 largest private U.S. companies.

Tenaska has developed approximately 10,500 megawatts of natural gas-fueled and renewable power projects. Affiliate Tenaska Solar Ventures provides development services for approximately 14 gigawatts of renewable solar capacity in 16 states. Tenaska and its affiliates have managed the acquisition and divestiture of 10,500 MW of energy assets. The current Tenaska operating fleet includes 12 natural gas-fueled and renewable generating facilities able to generate approximately 7,500 MW combined.

Tenaska affiliates are industry leaders in natural gas and electric power marketing. Tenaska Marketing Ventures (TMV) is among the top five largest natural gas marketers in North America and is the top-ranked natural gas pipeline capacity trader. Tenaska Power Services Co. is the leading provider of energy management services to generation and demand-side customers in the U.S., with more third party-owned generation under management than any other provider.

For more information, visit www.tenaska.com/ or follow the company on LinkedIn and Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For Capital Dynamics:
Nicholas Rust
Vice President | Prosek Partners
NRust@prosek.com
T: +1 646 818 9252

For Arevon Energy Management:
Wendy Prabhu | Mercom Communications
T: +1 512 215 4452
arevon@mercomcapital.com

For Hoosier Energy:
Curt Durnil – Communications Coordinator for Media and Public Relations
cdurnil@hepn.com – 812-650-2878

Greg Seiter – Manager, Communications
gseiter@hepn.com – 317-432-7242

For Tenaska:
Timberly Ross
Public Relations
TRoss@tenaska.com
T : +1 402-691-9517

1Capital Dynamics, as of September 30, 2020. Includes assets in renewable energy projects managed by Capital Dynamics, including USD 4.2 billion assets under discretionary management and USD 2.4 billion tax equity assets. Tax equity is a financing solution for renewable energy projects.

2Capital Dynamics, as of September 30, 2020. Includes operational assets, partially commissioned assets and contracted assets with PPAs secured.

3Renewable Assets (Owners) League Tables. Bloomberg New Energy Finance as of September 30, 2020. Includes (i) assets with financing secured / under construction, (ii) partially commissioned assets, and (iii) commissioned assets projects globally, excluding China.

4Environmental benefits are based on US Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

5Environmental benefits are based on US Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

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SOURCE Capital Dynamics