|
|
|
Kawamura urges farmers to participate in biomass program |
|
|
|
|
Written by Editor
|
|
Sunday, 04 October 2009 |
|
SACRAMENTO – The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that biomass conversion facilities may begin to apply for qualification under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).
This allows farm producers or owners of eligible material who sell to these facilities to apply for matching payments under the collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) component of BCAP, which provides financial assistance to owners of eligible material who deliver the material to qualified biomass conversion facilities that use biomass to produce heat, power, biobased products or advanced biofuels.
An eligible material owner may be eligible for a matching CHST payment for eligible material delivered to a qualified biomass conversion facility which will be paid at a rate of $1 for $1 per dry-ton equivalent received from a qualified biomass conversion facility, not to exceed $45 per dry-ton equivalent. An eligible material owner may receive payments for a period of two years. The purpose of the matching payments is to assist biomass producers with the CHST cost of delivering biomass to a qualified biomass conversion facility.
For example, if a qualified biomass conversion facility pays a producer $30 per dry ton for biomass, the eligible material owner or producer would be able to apply for a matching payment of $30 per dry ton from FSA.
“We applaud the USDA for providing more biomass incentives,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “This is a progressive option for power generation and waste management, and I urge all who may benefit to strongly consider this program.”
Biomass conversion facilities may become “qualified” by signing an agreement with FSA state offices. The agreement generally provides the framework that facilitates the making of CHST matching payments to eligible material owners or producers who plan to deliver biomass to that facility.
After a biomass conversion facility becomes “qualified” by signing an agreement with FSA, eligible material owners or producers, who market eligible material to that biomass conversion facility, must apply for the CHST matching payment program at their nearest FSA county office before the eligible material is delivered.
Eligible material owners must also provide a copy of their delivery agreement with the qualified biomass conversion facility as part of the application for a CHST matching payment. After the product is delivered, a producer must provide FSA with documentation of product quantity, quality, and payment rate. County offices will verify payment request information with the qualified biomass conversion facilities.
Interested biomass conversion facilities should contact their FSA state offices for further information and can visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/energy to download and review the agreement. |
|
|
Lake County Bar Association elects new officers |
|
|
|
|
Written by Editor
|
|
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 |
|
LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Bar Association is pleased to announce its new slate of officers for the 2009-10 term.
They include President Mary Heare Amodio, an estate planning attorney in sole practice in Lakeport; Vice President E. Gregory Schrader, a civil litigator in sole practice in the Riviera; and Secretary Rebekah Turney, an associate in the firm of Katzoff & Riggs in the Riviera.
The Lake County Bar Association (LCBA) is an informal association of attorneys who live or work in Lake County.
Any active member of the California Bar is welcome to affiliate with the LCBA by contacting the group at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
LCBA does not collect dues and does not have either a lawyer referral service or a legal assistance program at this time.
For additional information you can contact the bar by email (
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
) or you may leave a message at 707-263-5759. |
|
|
Kohl's Creates 5,200 jobs, opens 37 new stores |
|
|
|
|
Written by Editor
|
|
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 |
|
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. – Kohl's Department Stores is marking the grand opening of 37 new stores that have created more than 5,200 jobs across six states.
"We are proud that Kohl's is in a position to grow and add more than 5,000 jobs to the economy," said Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We have used our financial strength during this downturn to expand in key markets, such as California, as well as invest in our existing store base in order to gain market share at a time when customers are looking for value more than ever."
Among the 37 stores opening Wednesday, 35 are former Mervyn's locations, 30 of which are in California.
With the addition of these stores, Kohl's now has 121 California locations, a 33 percent increase in the state. This translates into more than 4,200 new jobs in California.
New store locations opening this week include: California – Capitola, Downey, Eureka, Fullerton, Citrus Heights, Huntington Beach, Lodi, Merced, Millbrae, Monrovia, Napa, San Diego (three stores), Northridge, Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Redondo Beach, San Luis Obispo, San Rafael, Hayward, Sun Valley, Tustin, Ukiah, Upland, Los Angeles, Whittier, Cypress, Mountain View, Redwood City; Florida – Plantation; Louisiana – Lake Charles; Nevada – Henderson, Las Vegas (two stores); Texas – El Paso; Utah – Salt Lake City.
All new Kohl's stores in California, Nevada, Texas and Utah are former Mervyn's locations.
In addition to the new California locations, Kohl's is opening stores in Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas and Utah.
During spring 2009, Kohl's opened 19 stores, including its first Alaska location. In total, the retailer opened 56 stores in 2009, and now operates 1,059 stores in 49 states. Kohl's is also remodeling 51 locations nationwide this year.
For more information, visit www.kohls.com/ca . |
|
|
USDA announces heat wave disaster designation |
|
|
|
|
Written by Editor
|
|
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 |
|
SACRAMENTO – United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a disaster declaration due to a heat wave this spring.
Secretary Vilsack designated Glenn and Tehama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by high temperatures that occurred during the period of May 15 through May 31, with Butte, Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, Plumas, Shasta and Trinity counties named as contiguous disaster counties.
“I wish to thank Secretary Vilsack for the declaration of disaster,” said A.G. Kawamura, secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture. “We value our partnership with the USDA. This is an important and much appreciated step in helping farmers and ranchers that were damaged by excessive heat.”
USDA has determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant a secretarial natural disaster designation.
The designation makes farmers and ranchers in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for assistance from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
This action is in addition to a designation of disaster by Vilsack last week due to drought damage in California. |
|
|
Business owner issues challenge to find county's biggest recycler |
|
|
|
|
Written by Bill Stone
|
|
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 |
 Recycle-only receptacles can help businesses reduce their garbage bills. Clearlake businessman Bill Stone is challenging other businesses to compete for biggest recycler honors. Courtesy photo.
CLEARLAKE – “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore,” is what I was thinking when I opened my garbage bill. I am the co-owner, along with Alvaro Valencia, of A & B Collision in Clearlake.
As I looked up the phone number of C & S Waste Solutions, I noticed on their web site that they offer a free waste assessment program. Yes, I said FREE!
I called and set an appointment with Julie Price, recycling manager of C & S Waste Solutions. She came to our shop, A & B Collision in Clearlake, and we went over what we could do to reduce our waste.
Price was very helpful and professional, and, as a result, we were able to reduce our business waste from a four-yard container to a two-yard container. As a small business owner, it is very important to cut costs wherever possible.
We installed recycle-only cans in the body shop, paint shop and office. We are encouraging our employees to recycle and they have been very receptive.
As a business, we not only have reduced our waste going into the county landfill, we have also helped the city of Clearlake improve its recycling numbers.
Since our meeting with Price, we have been able to reduce our garbage fee by $135 per month.
After my “mad as hell” moment, I had what some people might call an epiphany.
I thought to myself, I’m actually turning something from a negative into a positive. I started to ponder, what if all businesses took advantage of reducing waste and cutting their costs to dispose of waste.
I became excited and thought … we could create a challenge to all Lake County businesses to vie for being recognized as Lake County’s biggest recycler!
The challenge I am proposing is that all businesses in Lake County reduce the waste that they produce that ends up in our landfill and implement smart, educated and creative ways to recycle more.
Here’s how we can all play the game. Implement recycling, re-use and waste reduction activities at your place of business, at home and in the community (schools, parks, special events, etc.).
You can nominate a business in Lake County or business owners can nominate themselves as being “Lake County’s Biggest Recycler.”
Nominations can be emailed to Rebecca Dierssen, public services analyst with the county of Lake at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
For those without Internet access, you can fax your nomination to Dierssen at 707-262-0973. She can also be reached by phone at 707-263-1980.
Included with the nomination should be a brief letter stating what steps have been taken in the nominated business to reduce waste and why the business should be considered as a contender in the challenge.
A committee of county business owners is being formed to help judge the nominations. All nominations should be received by Monday, Nov. 16.
We are currently soliciting prizes to be awarded to our top recyclers, and intend on having local press acknowledge our participants and winners.
Please join me in turning “mad as hell” into “proud as hell” by participating in this challenge.
For further information about recycling, reusing, and reducing waste, or for your FREE waste assessment, contact: Bill Stone, A & B Collision, 707-994-8800; Julie Price, Lake County Waste Solutions / Clearlake Waste Solutions, 707-234-6400, www.candswaste.com ; South Lake Refuse,
707-994-8613; Lakeport Disposal, 707-263-6080, www.lakeportdisposal.com .
Bill Stone is co-owner of A & B Collision in Clearlake and is a fanatic recycler.
|
|
| | << Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
| | Results 46 - 54 of 419 |
|
|