Consumers were out in force and in the mood to spend over the Thanksgiving weekend, exceeding industry expectations and giving retailers a promising start to the all-important holiday shopping season.

An estimated 212.5 million consumers visited shopping malls and online retailers Thursday through Sunday, up from 195.4 million last year, according to a survey released Sunday by the National Retail Federation. The amount spent by the average shopper increased 6 percent to $365.34. Total spending over the course of the long weekend topped $45 billion, up from $41.2 billion last year.

“Spending power is there, confidence is not. And I think retailers are tapping that spending power with pretty clever promotions,” said federation spokesman Scott Krugman.

Retailers pin a lot of hope on Black Friday;  the post-Thanksgiving shopping day traditionally accounts for a hefty portion of their profits for the year. Many shoppers got an early jump on deals this year, with in-store and online promotions in advance of the day. Some experts expected the advance deals to undercut the weekend’s sales, but early estimates seemed to prove them wrong.

Leading up to Black Friday, analysts generally offered tepid forecasts of improved consumer spending this year, under the assumption that the weak job market and consumer debt would restrain spending.

Activity Friday indeed remained rather flat, with retail research firm ShopperTrak reporting a nominal year-over-year increase of 0.3 percent to $10.69 billion in sales. NFR pointed out, however, that the strong flow of foot traffic and sales on Thursday and Saturday gave a boost to total weekend numbers.

The number of people who shopped on Thanksgiving, both in-store and online, has doubled in the past five years, from 10.3 million in 2005 to 22.3 million this year. Some 19.8 percent of men copped to shopping excursions on turkey day.

Read More

Cities across the U.S. are creating solar maps to help residents learn more about installing solar.

Pastrami meatball turkey leberkas drumstick, sirloin kielbasa. Ball tip short ribs rump shank. Ground round sirloin rump, shoulder chicken turkey tongue venison pork loin ball tip fatback short loin meatloaf pancetta sausage.

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov 03, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Northern States Power Company- Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company, today asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to approve a base Electric rate increase for 2011 and 2012. The company provides electric service to 1.2 million cusomers in Minnesota.

“This case is needed to fund important infrastructure improvements, ensure compliance with increasing regulatory requirements, and respond to changes in the economy,” said Judy Poferl, president and CEO of NSP-Minnesota. “While we have worked to manage costs and increase our efficiency, we are not able to avoid this rate request. The increase will support our ability to provide our customers high quality, reliable electric service at a good value, both now and over the long term.”

The company requests an increase of approximately $150 million (5.6 percent) in base electric rates in 2011, and an additional $48 million (1.8 percent) in 2012, for a total of $198 million (7.4 percent) effective Jan. 1, 2012. The majority of the 2012 increase is necessary for expected costs in the coming year for the previously approved Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant power increase and life extension projects. “The request for 2012 will help delay a subsequent rate case as we will continue to make significant investments in our system, including the important projects at our Monticello nuclear plant,” said Poferl.

As part of this filing, Xcel Energy seeks implementation of interim rates effective Jan. 2, 2011. Under the company’s interim rate proposal, a typical residential customer’s monthly bill would increase by approximately 5.5 percent, or $4.09, based on use of 675 kilowatt-hours. A typical small business customer’s monthly bill would increase by approximately 5.4 percent, or $6, based on use of 1,035 kilowatt-hours.

Approximately half of the company’s 2011 request is related to costs associated with infrastructure investments, primarily at the utility’s two nuclear plants, but also investments to improve reliability of its transmission and distribution systems. Compliance with new regulatory measures, such as security, emissions controls and reliability, account for more than 10 percent of the request. The large majority of remaining costs are due to various economic trends, such as reduced sales, higher health care costs, and a loss in value of the employee pension fund that requires the company to fund the plan for the first time since 1994.

In addition, Xcel Energy requests to modify customers’ bills by moving some costs now being recovered as separate surcharges into base rates. Since those costs are already included on customers’ bills, the move will result in no change in overall bills. This includes costs for the Metropolitan Emissions Reduction Program, which included upgrading or repowering three major Twin Cities-area coal plants, as well as construction costs for the Grand Meadow Wind Farm in southeastern Minnesota and Nobles Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota.

Poferl emphasized that Xcel Energy is a national leader in efforts to help customers use energy more wisely, and she encouraged customers to take advantage of the company’s energy efficiency programs to save money and lower their energy bills.

Xcel Energy offers several free online resources available to customers to help them conserve electricity and reduce their energy bills. They include the Home Energy Analyzer, Energy Calculator, information about rebates and incentives, and the ENERGYsmart Library.

The Minnesota commission will hold public hearings in the spring of 2011. More information can be found online at www.xcelenergy.com/itsyourenergy. A copy of the rate case filing will be available on the commission’s website at www.puc.state.mn.us.

Xcel Energy (XEL 23.85, -0.27, -1.12%) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.

At Mall of America today enjoying the Big Green Conference!

When it was finished in December of 2007, the solar PV system at Nellis Air Force Base, rated at 14.2 megawatts (MW) and generating more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, was one of the wonders of the modern world.

It was, according to a U.S. Air Force spokesman, the first step of many in making renewable electricity integral to Air Force operations, and all the more surprising because it came from the military sector, which is often viewed as inflexibly traditional.

The goal is to make the military – the biggest energy user in the federal government – less dependent on foreign oil. The hope is that such efforts will inspire further solar installations across the nation. The fact that the array was built on a capped landfill – usable for little else – demonstrated an environmental sensitivity that won hearts in the “green” movement.

Now, Air Force engineers are talking about building three new solar fields by 2013, each as big as, or bigger than, the Nellis installation. Set for the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona and Luke Air Force Base in Glendale (AZ), the solar fields will essentially quadruple the amount of electricity the Air Force in Arizona gets from clean, renewable solar power.

The 14.5-MW solar array at Luke AFB will be built in cooperation with Arizona Public Service (APS), the state’s biggest electricity producer. Built on 100 acres of under-utilized land on the base, the solar “farm” will again be operated under a PPA, and offset about half of the base’s electricity needs. It will also save Luke AFB up to $10 million on utility bills over the life of the contract/system, which is 25 years, according to Lt. Col. John Thomas, 56^th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

But Nellis AFB will still come out the leader, thanks to its plans to add a 17-MW array to the existing solar field in 2012.

Read More

RMT,Inc., a renewable energy engineering and construction company, has contracted with Pilesgrove Solar LLC to construct one of the largest solar energy facility’s in the Northeastern U.S. RMT has commenced construction on the 18 MWac facility located in Pilesgrove, NJ.

Pilesgrove Solar LLC is a joint venture between Panda Power Funds and Con Edison Development. Panda Power Funds is responsible for managing development, engineering and construction of the solar project.

“We partnered with RMT on this project because they have successfully designed and constructed dozens of utility-scale renewable energy facilities across the U.S.,” explains Todd Carter, President and Senior Partner of Panda Power Funds. “We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with RMT.”

Con Edison Development will be managing the operation, maintenance, energy management and financing of the solar facility.

“The Pilesgrove solar facility will help boost America’s energy independence and provide long-term environmental benefits,” said Robert Mennella, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Con Edison Development. “We tapped RMT for this project because they have a track record of designing and constructing high quality renewable energy facilities.”

RMT is responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the civil infrastructure, solar modules and racking system, DC and AC electrical systems, SCADA system, and meteorological system.

The project entails installation of over 71,000 photovoltaic solar modules. RMT also provided preliminary engineering and permitting support for the project.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Panda Power Funds and Con Edison Development on this state-of-the art solar energy facility,” said Frank Greb, RMT Vice President. “The facility will create enough clean energy to power over 5,100 homes and will create over 100 construction jobs.”

The Pilesgrove solar facility is expected to commence commercial operation next spring. Atlantic City Electric will be the host utility for the project.
Read more