Monday, February 25, 2013

Calgon Carbon's CEO Discusses Q4 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript


Calgon Carbon Corporation (CCC) Q4 2012 Earnings Call February 21, 2013 10:00 AM ET
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Calgon Carbon Corporation's Fourth Quarter 2012 Results Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session.
(Operator Instructions)
I will now like to turn the call over to Gail Gerono, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Gail Gerono - VP, IR
Thank you. Good morning and thank you for joining us. Our speakers today are Randy Dearth, Calgon Carbon’s CEO, Bob O'Brien our Chief Operating Officer and Steve Schott our CFO.
Before we begin, I would like to remind you that the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Today's presentations or perhaps some of the comments that Calgon Carbon’s executives make during the Q&A may contain statements that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements typically contain words such expect, believe, estimate, anticipate, or similar words indicating that future outcomes are uncertain.
Statements looking forward in time including statements regarding future growth and profitability, price increases, cost savings, broader product lines, enhanced competitive posture and acquisitions are included in the Company's most recent annual report pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested during the webcast.
Further, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the Company's control. Some of the factors that could affect the future performance of the company are changes in or delays in the implementation of regulations that cause the market for our products, acquisitions high energy and raw material costs, costs of imports and related tariffs, labor relations, capital and environmental requirements, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, borrowing restrictions, validity of patents and other intellectual property, and pension costs.
In the context of the forward-looking information provided in this webcast, please refer to the discussions of risk factors and other information detailed in, as well as the other information contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report. Randy?
Randy Dearth - President and CEO
Thanks, Gail and welcome everyone to the call. First I would like to reiterate what I said in our press release that was issued earlier today. Calgon Carbon’s financial performance for the fourth quarter of 2012 was solid, generating earnings per share of $0.16. We had a good quarter and we also made excellent progress on our corporate initiatives, especially in reducing cost.
I will review that progress and discuss future initiatives a bit later. First, Steve will review the company’s financial performance for the fourth quarter and then Bob will provide a review of operations. So, Steve?
Steve Schott
Thanks, Randy. Good morning, everyone. Total sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $141.8 million compared to $138.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, the sales increase of $3.6 million or 2.6% was primarily due to higher sales in the Activated Carbon and Service segment of $5.1 million in spite of $1 million of unfavorable foreign exchange effects. The increased sales in the Activated Carbon and Service segment were partially offset by a decline in the Equipment segment sales of $2.1 million.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Doosan Boiler System for Waste to Energy Plant in Poland



German waste to energy technology manufacturer, Doosan Lentjes, a part of Doosan Power Systems, is to deliver key boiler technologies for a new waste to energy facility being built in Krakow, Poland.
Doosan said that the plant will be based on its air-cooled reciprocating grate and boiler technology.
As a key subcontractor to POSCO Engineering & Construction of South Korea, Doosan Lentjes is to supply a complete boiler system for the plant, which will consist of two lines capable of processing up to 220,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per year.
The company added that the new plant is currently the largest waste to energy plant under construction in Poland.
According to Doosan the contract includes engineering, procurement and delivery of equipment as well as services for construction and commissioning.
The plant, scheduled for completion by the end of 2015, will combine Doosan Lentjes’ reciprocating grate and steam generator technologies to produce electricity and district heat.
Doosan added that it has installed similar technologies at several waste to energy plants worldwide, most recently at plants in Frankfurt, Germany and Harlingen, Netherlands.
Once complete the plant is expected to generate around 8 MW of electricity and some 35 MW of heat.


Read More

Korean Firm Wins Polish Waste to Energy Contract

A contract to build a 220,000 tonne per year waste to energy facility in Krakow, Poland has been awarded to Korean construction and engineering company, POSCO E&C.
New Law Opens Polish Waste to Energy Market
For many years Poland has been facing a serious problem of waste management and disposal, with the current system failing to reduce landfilled waste. Adam Koz?owski explains how new legislation aims to address the situation and how it could drive the country's adoption of waste to energy technology.
$100m Polish Waste to Energy Contract for Keppel Seghers Consortium
A consortium including waste to energy technology developer, Keppel Seghers Belgium, a part of the Keppel Corporation (KPLM.SI), has secured a contract to build a combined heat and power (CHP) waste to energy project in Bialystok, Poland.


Friday, February 22, 2013

Solar Scammers Arrested : Renewable Energy News | alternative energy asia global india – flixya



by Energy Matters

The arrest last week of a "pastor" and his wife who allegedly duped hundreds of people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively in a scam involving solar panels provides a reminder to solar shoppers to carry out due diligence before forking out for a solar power system.

According to a Brisbane Times article, the pair came to the attention of the Queensland Fraud Squad after more than 150 complaints were made in relation to their company in 2011. The two are due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 19.
                                                                                                                    
Fraud and other issues relating to solar power systems are still unfortunately too common. While many solar cowboys and fly-by-nighters have fled the industry, aNews.com.au article states 1,613 complaints were lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 2012, up from 1,229 the year before.

As not all solar panels are created equal, or for that matter solar inverters, the number of complaints may continue to rise as cheap and cheerful solar components start failing under Australia's often harsh conditions and consumers find the company they purchased them from unhelpful - or now non-existent.

Price isn't always an indicator of quality however, and aside from the solar panels and inverters themselves, installation quality can play a major role in not only the performance of a system; but its durability and very importantly, safety. Also often glossed over is the quality of the mounting system. Considering it's what keeps the solar panels attached to the roof; it probably deserves more attention when making a purchase decision.

National solar solutions provider Energy Matters offers a plain-English 23-pageSolar Power Consumer Guide as a free download to not only help demystify solar power for those considering going solar, but to also assist consumers in avoiding some of the common pitfalls, tricks and traps when buying a system.

Related article :

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Solar Scammers Arrested : Renewable Energy News



by Energy Matters

The arrest last week of a "pastor" and his wife who allegedly duped hundreds of people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively in a scam involving solar panels provides a reminder to solar shoppers to carry out due diligence before forking out for a solar power system.
  
According to a 
Brisbane Times article, the pair came to the attention of the Queensland Fraud Squad after more than 150 complaints were made in relation to their company in 2011. The two are due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 19.
  
Fraud and other issues relating to solar power systems are still unfortunately too common. While many solar cowboys and fly-by-nighters have fled the industry, a
News.com.au article states 1,613 complaints were lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 2012, up from 1,229 the year before.
   
As not all 
solar panels are created equal, or for that matter solar inverters, the number of complaints may continue to rise as cheap and cheerful solar components start failing under Australia's often harsh conditions and consumers find the company they purchased them from unhelpful - or now non-existent.
   
Price isn't always an indicator of quality however, and aside from the solar panels and inverters themselves, 
installation quality can play a major role in not only the performance of  a system; but its durability and very importantly, safety. Also often glossed over is the quality of the mounting system. Considering it's what keeps the solar panels attached to the roof; it probably deserves more attention when making a purchase decision.
    
National solar solutions provider Energy Matters offers a plain-English 23-page
Solar Power Consumer Guide as a free download to not only help demystify solar power for those considering going solar, but to also assist consumers in avoiding some of the common pitfalls, tricks and traps when buying a system.

Solar Scammers Arrested : Renewable Energy News



by Energy Matters

The arrest last week of a "pastor" and his wife who allegedly duped hundreds of people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively in a scam involving solar panels provides a reminder to solar shoppers to carry out due diligence before forking out for a solar power system.
  
According to a 
Brisbane Times article, the pair came to the attention of the Queensland Fraud Squad after more than 150 complaints were made in relation to their company in 2011. The two are due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 19.
  
Fraud and other issues relating to solar power systems are still unfortunately too common. While many solar cowboys and fly-by-nighters have fled the industry, a
News.com.au article states 1,613 complaints were lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 2012, up from 1,229 the year before.
   
As not all 
solar panels are created equal, or for that matter solar inverters, the number of complaints may continue to rise as cheap and cheerful solar components start failing under Australia's often harsh conditions and consumers find the company they purchased them from unhelpful - or now non-existent.
   
Price isn't always an indicator of quality however, and aside from the solar panels and inverters themselves, 
installation quality can play a major role in not only the performance of  a system; but its durability and very importantly, safety. Also often glossed over is the quality of the mounting system. Considering it's what keeps the solar panels attached to the roof; it probably deserves more attention when making a purchase decision.
    
National solar solutions provider Energy Matters offers a plain-English 23-page
Solar Power Consumer Guide as a free download to not only help demystify solar power for those considering going solar, but to also assist consumers in avoiding some of the common pitfalls, tricks and traps when buying a system.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

More on why we need an alternative to alternative energy | NJ.com - Storify


Check out these pictures of the horribly ugly  industrial site built in a beautiful farm field at Mercer County College.
I got them from Teresa Lourenco, who lives nearby andabout whom I wrote not long ago.She and her neighbors live next to what was once a beautiful farm field now covered with 45 acres of metal - all in the name of environmentalism.
Then read these links to all the disasters connected with wind power. Of particular interest to New Jerseyans is the piece about a windmill in England that collapsed in a mere 50-mph wind. Such winds are common off the Jersey Coast. How would they do in a hurricane? We'll find out if our politicians get their way and waste billions of dollars repeating this fiasco off our cost.

An excerpt:

The £250,000 tower, which stood as tall as a six storey building, was hit by gale force gusts of 50mph.
The 50KW structure then collapsed at a farm in Bradworth, Devon, leaving a "mangled wreck".
Margaret Coles, Chairwoman of Bradworthy District Council, said hail storms and strong winds have hit the area and the turbine, installed just three years ago, simply could not withstand the wind.
"The bolts on the base could not withstand the wind and as we are a very windy part of the country they [the energy company] have egg on their face," she said. "There are concerns about safety."

People are only now waking up to what a scam these climate-change alarmists are foisting on us. How much of the planet will they despoil before politicians wise up to what's going on?
Related article :

More on why we need an alternative to alternative energy | NJ.com - Storify


Check out these pictures of the horribly ugly  industrial site built in a beautiful farm field at Mercer County College.
I got them from Teresa Lourenco, who lives nearby andabout whom I wrote not long ago.She and her neighbors live next to what was once a beautiful farm field now covered with 45 acres of metal - all in the name of environmentalism.
Then read these links to all the disasters connected with wind power. Of particular interest to New Jerseyans is the piece about a windmill in England that collapsed in a mere 50-mph wind. Such winds are common off the Jersey Coast. How would they do in a hurricane? We'll find out if our politicians get their way and waste billions of dollars repeating this fiasco off our cost.

An excerpt:

The £250,000 tower, which stood as tall as a six storey building, was hit by gale force gusts of 50mph.
The 50KW structure then collapsed at a farm in Bradworth, Devon, leaving a "mangled wreck".
Margaret Coles, Chairwoman of Bradworthy District Council, said hail storms and strong winds have hit the area and the turbine, installed just three years ago, simply could not withstand the wind.
"The bolts on the base could not withstand the wind and as we are a very windy part of the country they [the energy company] have egg on their face," she said. "There are concerns about safety."

People are only now waking up to what a scam these climate-change alarmists are foisting on us. How much of the planet will they despoil before politicians wise up to what's going on?
Related article :

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Asia Global Energy International News - Study: Heat From Megacities Making Winters Warmer


                                                                        
America's climate change-obsessed media love to point to warmer winters in our country as proof of Al Gore's infamous money-making scam.
A new study from the journal Nature Climate Change reported by the Los Angeles Times Monday finds that in North America and Asia, heat from megacities is playing a larger part than anyone previously thought.
"So-called waste heat produced by human activities in major urban centers has altered aspects of the jet stream and other atmospheric systems, causing significant warming in some regions and cooling in others," the Times reported of the study.
"What we found is that energy use from multiple urban areas collectively can warm the atmosphere remotely, thousands of miles away from the energy consumption regions," lead author Guang Zhang, a research meteorologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, observed. "This is accomplished through atmospheric circulation change."
Although the overall heat produced might be small on a global scale, it is highly concentrated, "and in many cases, positioned directly beneath major atmospheric troughs and ridges."
According to the study, winter temperatures in Russia and northern Asia have increased by up to two degrees Fahrenheit as a result of this megacity heat. In the northeastern United States - conveniently the center of America's global warming-obsessed media! - and southern Canada, "the effect has raised winter temperatures by more than a degree."
America's media had a conniption fit recently when it was "reported" that 2012 was the "warmest year on record" for the 48 states on the U.S. mainland.
Exactly how much of an impact did all the heat coming from cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have?
Keep in mind that the authors of this study believe their numbers are conservative because they only studied heat from megacities.
When all of the world's heat sources are factored in, just how much of the warming that we've seen since the magical year 1850 - this is the year climate alarmists love to begin their calculations from! - is due to urbanization and NOT carbon dioxide?
Be advised that the authors of this study are not contesting global warming orthodoxy.
However, skeptics have noted for decades that there are many factors behind the global temperature rise since 1850, and that pinning the blame on a trace, naturally-occurring, necessary to life gas defies scientific reason.
This study goes to support such skepticism.
The only question remaining is how much play it will get from media hellbent on ignoring all reports that go against their climate ideology.