Idemitsu Renewables Completes $60 Million Financing for 50 Megawatt Central 40 Solar Project in California

SAN FRANCISCOJune 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Idemitsu Renewables, the US-based renewable energy business of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, announced today it has closed on debt financing for its 50 MWp Central 40 solar project in Stanislaus County, California.

Debt financing was provided by KeyBank National Association. KeyBanc Capital Markets served as sole arranger of the financing. “This project expands Idemitsu Renewables’ operating business in California,” said Cary Vandenberg, Managing Director of Idemitsu Renewables. “We were happy to build upon our existing relationship with KeyBank and to close a successful transaction even amidst the difficulty of the current COVID environment.” “As a part of our continuing support for renewable energy, we are pleased to support the growth of Idemitsu Renewables’ solar business in California,” said Andrew Redinger, Manager Director & Group Head, Utilities Power & Renewables at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

The renewable power generated by Central 40 will be sold through a power purchase agreement with Silicon Valley Power, which serves the City of Santa Clara. Idemitsu Renewables, the US-based renewable energy subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, is a leading solar and storage developer and IPP. The company acquires, develops, owns, and operates utility-scale solar power generation plants; selling the clean energy to help communities both economically and ecologically live in healthier environments. With offices in California and Nevada, Idemitsu Renewables continues to develop its growing pipeline of energy projects. Learn more at http://idemitsurenewables.com/.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/idemitsu-renewables-completes-60-million-120500052.html

EV Connect, Trillium Complete California’s Central Valley Electric Highway

Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers traveling through California’s Central Valley now have more than 150 miles of State Highway 99 supported by fast-charging stations at three Love’s Travel Stops. The expansion is a result of a partnership between EV Connect and Trillium, Love’s alternative fuel business unit.

The California Electric Highway is an extensive network of charging stations along Interstate 5, Highway 99, and other primary roads throughout California. The completion of the new charging stations expands California’s portion of the nearly 4,000-mile West Coast Electric Highway aimed at providing charging stations every 25 to 50 miles. The initiative is funded through incentives and grants from the California Energy Commission. Funding support is provided by the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, which invests in transportation and fuel technology innovation that helps California meet its energy, clean air and climate change goals. EV Connect will operate the charging stations, while Trillium will build the sites and provide ongoing management.

The three Love’s charging sites will feature rates of 50 or 150 kilowatts and accommodate charging for up to four vehicles at one time. The new charging stations, including DC fast chargers (DCFC) and level-2 chargers at Love’s stations in Ripon, Madera and Tulare, use EV Connect’s EV Cloud, an innovative cloud-based software platform for managing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. “We can now provide electric vehicle drivers the same safe and well-maintained travel stop services that we’ve provided to professional truck drivers and everyday motorists since 1964,” said Frank Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “We’re excited to welcome motorists along Route 99 and play a part in reducing emissions through our electric vehicle infrastructure.”

EV Connect provides the industry’s largest open-standards EV charging cloud platform for managing networks of charging stations, their interaction with utilities and the improvement of the driver experience. “Love’s Travel Stops are a mainstay of the American road trip, and we are excited to help roll out charging locations on the nation’s highway system and bring long-distance mobility to electric vehicles,” said Jordan Ramer, founder, and CEO of EV Connect. “We are pleased to work with Trillium to deploy their DCFCs in strategic locations to fulfill part of EV Connect’s deployment program under the California Energy Commission grant program.”

https://www.saurenergy.com/ev-storage/ev-connect-trillium-complete-californias-central-valley-electric-highway

Here’s Tony Hawk Getting Barreled at The Ranch

The Ranch is not your typical wave. Besides the whole obvious manmade perfection thing, it has some absurdly fast and steep sections where most average surfers shouldn’t bother attempting anything that resembles a turn. At least not on your first crack at one of its waves. Bury a rail, miscalculate your speed, stall when you should be racing…any mishap before getting to what really matters — the barrel section — and you’ll kick yourself for eternity knowing you blew something that was literally handed to you on a silver platter. That’s the curse that hides underneath the Surf Ranch’s thin veil of potential bliss.

Of course, it’s really only this big of a deal if your chances at scoring a wave in Lemoore are limited to a couple of waves. If you’re somehow granted the opportunity to give the place a full day’s worth of playtime then your perspective will undoubtedly change. Take some chances. Try something you’ve never attempted before. Besides, if you fall flat on your face, there will literally be another wave in 20 seconds with your name on it.

Tony Hawk got a swing at The Ranch back in 2018 when he and Shaun White traded waves for a day. If the emotional rollercoaster of his first session was anything like the anxiety-riddled one described above, then we’d venture a guess this past weekend’s trip to Lemoore was actual bliss, capped off with a proper frontside barrel for the Birdman himself.capped off with a proper frontside barrel for the Birdman himself.

http://theinertia.com/surf/heres-tony-hawk-getting-barreled-at-the-ranch/

Telling the COVID-19 story for your great-great grandchildren

The COVID-19 worldwide pandemic will likely go into the history books as comparable to the so-called “Spanish Flu” of 1917-1923. The California Historical Society, which has troves of stories, newspapers and photos of that earlier deadly virus, hopes Californians will help it record to history of the current pandemic, which it calls a crisis of historic proportions.

For more information and to participate: https://tinyurl.com/y7jjgfb6

CCVEDC Gains State Funding to Market Central California

Fresno – Assemblymembers Rudy Salas and Dr. Joaquin Arambula presented a check for $40,000 to the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation (CCVEDC) Dec. 20 at their December board meeting in Fresno.  This is the first direct investment in economic development in the Central Valley by the state in some time. The funding will support the eight-county regional economic development efforts.

2019 California Economic Summit Bolsters Commitment to Propel Inland Economic Growth and the CA Dream

The 2019 California Economic Summit concluded in Fresno, marking its eighth and largest gathering where more than 900 public, private and civic leaders from across California came together to commit to policies and programs that will make the California dream accessible to all. The Summit focused on workforce development, education, housing, infrastructure and ecosystem vitality, with an emphasis on lifting economic growth in all regions of state. Produced by California Forward (CA Fwd), the Summit is built upon the principle that regional approaches to economic problem solving are critical to advancing the state’s triple bottom line strategy of growing the economy, improving environmental quality, and increasing opportunity for all residents.

https://caeconomy.org/reporting/entry/2019-california-economic-summit-bolsters-commitment-to-propel-inland-econom

CSUB ranks among top in country in science field salaries

Cal State Bakersfield is in the top tier for salaries in the physical and life sciences in the country, according to a new report by PayScale.

The 2019-20 College Salary Report ranked CSUB at 75 of 543 physical and life science programs evaluated for the report, putting the university in the top 14 percent. Statewide, CSUB placed third in this area within the CSU system.

“Our graduates earn top salaries because employers recognize the value of a CSUB education,” said Kathleen Madden, dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering. “We are rightly proud of the role that we play in changing the future for our students while meeting the STEM workforce needs of Kern County and beyond.”

The annual PayScale report is based on the salaries of 3.5 million college graduates.

CSUB ranks among top in country in science field salaries

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino taking a gamble on Kern County

Posted: 7:18 PM, Jun 04, 2019

BAKERSFIELD,Calif. — A huge rockin’ establishment will soon be calling Kern County home.

The Tejon Indian tribe in partnership with Hard Rock International have announced today that the two organizations are bringing a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino right here in our community.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will be developed right here on over 300 acres of land, which is located just off highway 99 near the Mettler exIt.

Just about 20 minutes south of Bakersfield will soon be called home to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tejon.
Scott Nielson, managing member developer, of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon says that the casino is projected to bring in more than 3,000 jobs and 1,000 of those will be for construction.

The projected cost to build the casino is around $600 million and an environmental report still must be done before construction can begin.

“Hard Rock’s interest in this area is because it believes that the Bakersfield and Kern County area Is underserved for this kind of entertainment,” said Nielson. “We believe that at this location we can build the type of facility and we project that it will attract people from all over California.”

The casino and hotel will sit on more than 300 acres of land located off Highway 99 and Highway 166. It will include a 22 acre RV park, 400 hotel rooms, a Rock Spa and Fitness center, resort pool and a convention center with an entertainment venue. 52 of those acres will be used for the actual structure of the hotel and casino.

The rest of the acres will be utilized for other usage the Tejon tribe will decide on at a later time.

“There will be a very large entertainment venue and meeting space which will be the largest in Kern County,” Nielson said. “Which will allow Kern County to hold events and functions that it isn’t currently able to host.”

The announcement came down on Tuesday as a partnership with the Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock international. The Tejon tribe will own the casino but controlled by Hard Rock.

“We are in the process of moving forward and hope to conclude that process in a year. It would then take 18 to 24 months to complete the development and the construction of this project,” Nielson said.

The two companies have been working closely with the county, who tells 23ABC they are very excited about the partnership. The county says that the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is going to have a great impact on Kern’s economy.

“This is another company that is coming along and seeing the value that Kern County offers,” said Megan Person, director of countywide communications.

“We have had Amazon, Loreal, now we have the Hard Rock. Obviously Kern County has something to offer these big businesses.”

Person says the sheriff and fire department will be responsible for responding to the area and the casino will build additional infrastructure to support their needs.

“Because they will require fire and sheriff services this isn’t formalized yet, but they will build a facility or station to help man the area,” Person said.

Officials added that it’s still unclear how much the county could benefit financially from this project.

“The county won’t be able to tax the tribe, because it’s a government in of itself and a government can’t tax another government,” Nielson said. “The tribe will enter into an agreement where they will pay the county as if they were being tax”

The actual date of groundbreaking here for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has not been finalized yet, but 23ABC is told the doors won’t open until a few more years.

https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/hard-rock-hotel-and-casino-taking-a-gamble-on-kern-county

Stockton and other Central Valley cities, best California cities to start a small business

Central Valley Business Times

• It’s ranked fifth in the state, 34th in the nation
• Fresno almost ties with San Francisco

With this being “National Small Business Week” and half of Americans working for small businesses, the personal finance website WalletHub has released its report on “2019’s Best Large Cities to Start a Business.”

WalletHub says it compared 100 U.S. cities across 19 key indicators of startup viability. The data set ranges from five-year business-survival rate to office-space affordability.

Here is WalletHub’s rankings for the California cities itincluded in its report:

• Oakland, 19th nationally
• Irvine, 20th
• Los Angeles

• San Diego, 30th
Stockton, 34th

• Long Beach, 37th
• San Jose, 42nd
• San Francisco, 44th
Fresno, 45th
• Chula Vista, 51st
• San Bernardino, 52nd
• Sacramento, 54th
Bakersfield 56th
• Anaheim, 65th
• Santa Ana, 72nd
• Fremont, 90th

Best vs. Worst
• Toledo, Ohio, has the lowest average annual rent for office space, $11.93 per square foot, which is 6.7 times cheaper than in San Francisco, the city with the highest at $80.22 per square foot.

• Detroit has the lowest labor costs (median annual income), $27,838, which is 4.4 times lower than in Fremont, the city with the highest at $122,191.

• Laredo, Texas, has the lowest cost-of-living index, 77, which is 2.5 times lower than in San Francisco, the city with the highest at 196.

• Miami, Florida, has the most startups per 100,000 residents, 234.72, which is 3.2 times more than in  Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the city with the fewest at 74.40.

For the full report:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-to-start-abusiness/2281/ – main-findings

https://files.constantcontact.com/2cb20f61601/aec4dc6c-c168-4ded-91e8-1694b4ac9461.pdf

Off-Site Construction Startup Entekra Selects Modesto as Site for $35-Million Factory that Expands Capacity by 3,000 Units

 

Entekra to Create 250 New Jobs at the Facility, which will be the Most Technologically-Advanced Construction Manufacturing Plant in North America

Entekra

Apr 17, 2019, 12:08 ET

MODESTO, Calif., April 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Entekra™ LLC, the California off-site construction startup with an integrated solution that allows home builders to reduce cycle time while achieving productivity and quality gains, has selected Modesto as the site for its new $35-million manufacturing factory, which will boost annual production capacity by 3,000 units and create 250 new jobs.

Since its founding in late 2016 in nearby Ripon, Entekra has made significant inroads deploying its Fully Integrated Off-Site Solution™ (FIOSS™), as the company is already working or in discussions with a majority of the country’s largest home builders.

“Expanding our operations within the greater Modesto community, which has been supportive of our efforts from Day 1, will allow Entekra to effectively capitalize on the tremendous interest in transitioning to FIOSS from the inefficient and labor-intensive method of stick-framing houses on site,” said Entekra CEO Gerard McCaughey.

The new 200,000-square-foot facility will be the most technologically advanced construction-related factory in North America and will facilitate the servicing of residential housing developments from Bakersfield to the California–Oregonborder.

“The City is honored that Entekra chose Modesto for its flagship state-of-the-art off-site building factory. Entekra is both a leader in its industry and a great fit in Modesto’s strong manufacturing sector,” said Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez.

“We are proud to coordinate with the Stanislaus County Office of Education and Opportunity Stanislaus to answer Entekra’s workforce requirements, and look forward to anchoring its North American success,” Lopez added.

According to Opportunity Stanislaus, the Modesto factory construction represents $61.6 million total impact on the local economy, with the project employing approximately 400 individuals directly and indirectly.

While relatively new to the U.S. market, FIOSS has been leveraged for more than a half-century to build homes in Europeand Asia. It has a proven track record for reducing overall build time by as much as 33 percent, while also reducing skilled labor needs by more than 40 percent – a key consideration given the ongoing labor shortage that has plagued U.S. builders.

Entekra will begin installing automated equipment in the Modesto facility in June and anticipates that the first FIOSS houses will be off-site manufactured and ready for rapid on-site assembly in July.

For more information on Entekra, visit entekra.com.

About Entekra

Entekra (entekra.com) was founded in late 2016 to transform the way houses are built in America with its Fully Integrated Off-Site Solution™ (FIOSS™). Based in Ripon, Calif., the off-site construction company streamlines the build process by completely integrating concept, design, and engineering with off-site manufacturing and on-site assembly. Entekra’s management team is comprised of key executives from Ireland’s Century Homes, who grew that startup into Europe’s largest off-site company and are responsible for nearly 175,000 FIOSS homes assembled on three continents.

SOURCE Entekra

Related Links

https://www.entekra.com