Oak Ridge Today

Solar company, German Energy Agency dedicate first U.S. solar project

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Vis Solis Solar Park

Local and state officials joined business executives and German officials at a Thursday ribbon-cutting ceremony for a 50 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array at Heritage Center.

Note: This story was updated at 9:25 a.m. April 29.

A Tennessee solar company and the German Energy Agency, or dena, celebrated their first U.S. solar project Thursday, a 50 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array at Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge.

The array includes seven ground-mounted trackers that are 20 feet high. They each include 28-30 solar panels. The trackers adjust themselves to capture the most sunlight, using two sensors each to adjust from east to west and tilting up and down.

It’s a public-private partnership involving dena and Vis Solis LLC of Franklin, Tenn., a subsidiary of Vis Solis GmbH in Breesen, Germany. Also involved is German manufacturer DEGERenergie.

It’s a $250,000 to $300,000 investment, said Carlos Mayer, Vis Solis chief executive officer. [Read more…]

Alexander, Corker support legislation to allow states to collect online sales taxes

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker announced their support this week for federal legislation that would allow states to collect sales taxes on items bought online and through catalogs.

“Currently, remote businesses do not have to collect sales taxes in the states they sell into, while brick-and-mortar businesses do, creating a price disadvantage,” said Alexander, a Tennessee Republican.

He said the Marketplace Fairness Act would grant states the option to require that remote businesses, such as those selling online or through catalogs, collect sales taxes on purchases within states’ borders. The U.S. Senate voted 74-20 on Monday to begin debating the legislation. [Read more…]

Watson’s budget proposes same tax rate, less funding for Chamber, ORCVB

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

The budget proposed by Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson on Monday would not raise property taxes, but it would slash funding for the Chamber of Commerce, and Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The ORCVB funding could be cut from $410,000 to $300,000, Watson told City Council members during a Monday night work session. The city needs “more heads in beds,” more people staying here and more events, Watson said.

The chamber’s contract with the city is now worth about $260,000. The city could instead use $125,000 for funding of services and projects—sending city officials on recruiting trips, for example—and spend $55,000 on memberships in organizations such as the Roane Alliance and Anderson County Economic Development Association. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge hires former Clinton city manager as industrial, commercial recruiter

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Steve Jones

Steve Jones

Former Clinton City Manager Steve Jones has been hired by the City of Oak Ridge to provide economic development support services, with a particular emphasis on industrial and commercial recruitment.

The term of the support services agreement is April through October 2013. Jones will be paid $3,500 per month and will report to Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.

“Steve was extremely successful as a recruiter during his 10-year tenure as city manager of Clinton,” Watson said. “With the advent of the Uranium Processing Facility project and the upswing in industrial activity in the region, the city will benefit from having a professional business developer focusing everyday on opportunities for Oak Ridge. I look forward to having Steve representing us at the regional and state levels.” [Read more…]

Omega Plastics to expand in Clinton; invest $8.2 million, add 80 jobs

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Omega Plastics will expand its corporate headquarters in Clinton, investing $8.2 million and adding 80 new positions in Anderson County, state officials and company executives announced Wednesday.

The expansion will add an extra 85,000 square feet, more than doubling the company’s current facility in the Carden Farm Industrial Park, a press release said. It said Omega Plastics is a world leader in “plastics extrusion molding solutions for prototype and low-volume production.”

The company supplies clients across the globe in medical, consumer packaging, automotive, and security and safety productions. [Read more…]

ORNL leading study focused on afterlife of electric vehicle batteries

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Once they’ve finished powering electric vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles, it may not be the end of the road for automotive batteries, which researchers believe can provide continued benefits for consumers, automakers, and the environment.

Five used Chevrolet Volt batteries are at the heart of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s effort to determine the feasibility of a community energy storage system that would put electricity onto the grid. During the next year, researchers from ORNL, General Motors, and the ABB Group will conduct studies and compile data using a first-of-its-kind test platform officially commissioned Tuesday. [Read more…]

Primetime business networking event Thursday

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CH2M Hill at Primetime

Representatives from Chamber member firm CH2M HILL with the winner of one of many door prizes given away by exhibitors at the Primetime networking event last fall. The spring event will be held Thursday at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has its spring Primetime networking event on Thursday.

This spring’s theme is “Under the Bigtop.” Jugglers, carnival food, and music will all add to the festive environment, a press release said.

The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Primetime is designed to stimulate sales, so anyone—Chamber member or not—is encouraged to attend, the release said. [Read more…]

Franchise expo in Knoxville on Tuesday

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Have you ever thought about owning your own business? Jerry Bird of FranNet, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, and other area organizations are sponsoring a “Meet the Franchisors” event on Wednesday at Rothchild Catering and Conference Center in Knoxville.

Presentations will be made by franchisors looking to expand into Knoxville and the surrounding areas, as well as business experts who can assist in buying and growing a business, a press release said. [Read more…]

New China Palace still open on waterfront, moving to Central Avenue this summer

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New China Palace Restaurant

The New China Palace on Melton Lake Drive has been granted a three-month lease extension, and the restaurant will be open on the city’s waterfront through May. The restaurant plans to re-open on Central Avenue by July.

The New China Palace restaurant will be open on the Oak Ridge waterfront through May, and the new owner plans to open in a new place on Central Avenue by July.

In a letter last June, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson told the restaurant’s former owners Chung-Nan Chou and Fu-Li Chou that the city would not renew the lease when it expired in February.

But the new owner Cheng Ping Ren said the city gave the restaurant a three-month lease extension on the waterfront site on Melton Lake Drive. It expires May 31. [Read more…]

DOE Oak Ridge Office awards $14 million contract for roads, grounds, maintenance

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Larry Kelly

Larry Kelly

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office recently awarded a $14 million contract to Knoxville-based small business Environment, Safety, and Health Inc. for roads, grounds, and maintenance services on the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation.

“The Oak Ridge Reservation includes 105 miles of roads and thousands of acres of land that require upkeep, and maintaining their functionality is vitally important to our operations,” said DOE-ORO Manager Larry Kelly. “We require a responsive and professional organization to carry out this mission, and we have that with ES&H.”

ES&H Inc., the incumbent contractor since 2008, will continue to provide services in support of roads, grounds, and maintenance on the 33,500-acre Oak Ridge Reservation and will employ 18 people in support of the contract. [Read more…]

Council approves Protomet tax break, ends recycling rewards program

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A five-year, 100 percent tax break for parts manufacturer Protomet was approved in a 4-1 vote by the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday.

The tax break could be used to help Protomet more than double the size of its 15,000-square-foot plant in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park, consolidate operations with a Blount County facility, and add 20-30 workers.

Also Monday, the City Council agreed in a voice vote, with no objections, to end the RecycleBank Reward Program and determine later what to do with the savings of $0.84 per household per month. The savings are expected to add up to about $124,000 each year. [Read more…]

Council to consider tax incentives for Protomet, ending recycling rewards

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In a cost-cutting move, the Oak Ridge City Council tonight will consider ending the rewards part of the city’s recycling program.

Ending those rewards, which can be redeemed for discounts at local businesses, could save about $124,000, city officials said.

Also tonight, the City Council will consider approving a five-year, 100 percent tax break for Protomet. The incentive could help the parts manufacturer more than double the size of its plant on Larson Drive in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park and add 20-30 workers. [Read more…]