Disney World Builds Happiest Solar Project on Earth

A new solar farm right outside the gates of Disney World and Epcot Center is causing quite a stir. Over the past year, Duke Energy built the 22-acre installation which features 48,000 photovoltaic panels arranged to look like the head of Mickey Mouse.
 
Equivalent in size to about 1,000 residential rooftop solar systems, the panels will bring peak output of about 5 megawatts of power generation to the resort and its partners.

The solar array will be operated by Duke Energy, which will sell the alternative energy to Reedy Creek Improvement District to help meet the power needs of Walt Disney World Resort and its other customers, such as Four Seasons Resort and the hoteliers along Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

But this green energy project at the Happiest Place on Earth is 50 years in the making.

In the mid-1960's, when Walt Disney selected 25,000 acres of mostly uninhabited swampland and forest to build his second theme park, the area was so remote that the nearest power and water lines were 10 to 15 miles away.

Furthermore, the property straddled 2 separate counties and neither of the counties had the services or resources needed to support a resort of that size.

The solution proposed by the Florida State Legislature, working with the Walt Disney World Company, was to create a special tax district called the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

This new district would act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government. A county government with just one tenant that is, because the Walt Disney Corporation would be solely responsible for paying the cost of providing typical municipal services like power, water, roads, fire protection, etc.

The cherry on top that sealed the deal was that local taxpayers, meaning residents of Orange and Osceola County, would not have to pay for building or maintaining those services, making it a win-win for everyone.

Fast-forward to 2015. As part of Disney’s efforts to make its resorts more environmentally sustainable, a 5-megawatt solar facility project was announced.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District accepted a fifteen-year power agreement with Duke Energy. Under the agreement, Duke Energy will lease the land from The Walt Disney Corporation and Disney will purchase the solar power from Duke.

This is another example of private industries working with local government.

Duke Energy has also said it aims to add up to 500 megawatts of additional solar energy to Florida by 2024.

The five megawatts facility is the largest solar-power project at Disney World and caused quite a stir with its unusual shape: Mickey Mouse.

Unusual perhaps for a solar plant, but quite fitting for the "Happiest Place on Earth", who can now boast of having the "Happiest Solar Project on Earth”.

United Technologies to Build $115M Complex in Palm Beach

United Technologies, the world's largest provider of building technologies, will invest $115 million to develop a new sustainable, world-class UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Fortune 500 Company chose the city for its new six-story, 265,000-square-foot Center for Intelligent Buildings, which will bring with it 380 high paying jobs. The new complex will be built on 30 acres of land near Interstate 95 and Donald Ross Boulevard

The plan also calls for a four-story parking garage with 602 spaces and bus parking for United Technologies to bring in groups from local hotels to the center for training and product demonstrations.

The center is expected to generate a $662 million economic impact over five years, according to the county. In addition to the innovative technologies to be showcased, the facility itself will feature advanced, environmentally responsible building systems and materials.

Developed to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standard, it will be both eco-friendly, intelligent and sustainable.

The building will demonstrate new technology for security, fire safety, air conditioning, elevator and escalator, and refrigeration systems. The Center for Intelligent Buildings will be a place where designers, architects, building owners and United Technologies distribution networks can get product demonstrations and training,

The city, Palm Beach County and Florida offered United Technologies millions of dollars in economic incentives to keep 70 jobs and create 380 new ones with an average wage of $85,000 by 2020.

Based in Hartford in Connecticut, UTC has annual sales of $65.1 billion, net income attributable to common shareholders of $6.2 billion and 211,500 employees. Company units include UTC Building & Industrial Systems, engine maker Pratt & Whitney, helicopter maker Sikorsky and UTC Aersopace Systems. The buildings unit has annual sales of about $29.8 billion and employs more than 118,000 people, the website said.

UTC Building & Industrial Systems is the world’s largest provider of building technologies. Through innovation and integration, UTC Building & Industrial Systems brings together technologies from across its industry-leading brands to improve building efficiency and occupant experience. The organization combines cutting-edge HVAC with intuitive software, breakthrough elevator technology with advanced security solutions, and merges entry control solutions with building automation systems to maximize comfort and enhance productivity – while minimizing energy consumption.

Geraud Darnis, President/CEO of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, said, “We are excited to announce the development of a first-of-its-kind, intelligent and sustainable customer center. This living showplace will serve as a destination for the global building community, offering truly integrated, whole-building solutions. We chose Florida among other potential locations in the Southeast for its ideal climate for year-round demonstration of advanced, energy efficient cooling technologies, as well as its proximity to existing UTC facilities and neighboring international airports.”

Governor Rick Scott said, “I am proud to announce that UTC Building & Industrial Systems has picked Florida for their new Center for Intelligent Buildings, which will add 380 jobs in the Palm Beach community. We know UTC picked Florida over other locations in the Southeast and we look forward to their continued success in the Sunshine State.”

This project was made possible by the close partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, the city of Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach County.

‘We are very excited that United Technologies has selected Palm Beach County as the location for its innovative UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings. This game-changing project is truly unique – there is no other facility like this in the U.S. and its proximity to Scripps Florida and Max Planck will solidify a true innovation and research corridor in this county,” said Kelly Smallridge, President/CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.

“We proudly welcome United Technologies as the newest partner in the Palm Beach Gardens business community,” said Mayor Eric Jablin, Palm Beach Gardens. “The addition of United Technologies is significant to the Gardens and serves as an example of intelligent growth. We are grateful to United Technologies for placing its confidence in the solid business climate we have worked to establish and for the many job opportunities they will be creating. This will be to the benefit of our local economy for many years to come.”

Georgia Power and Contractor Fined over Arc Flash Incident

OSHA inspectors opened an investigation into an arc flash incident at Georgia Power's Plant Bowen generating facility, which injured an electrician last October. Georgia Power and ABB, Inc. were both cited after the investigation with $122,780 in fines.

OSHA inspectors determined that Georgia Power failed to power down an electrical cabinet before the electricians began work.

When the arc flash occurred, a 48-year-old electrician was working on a cabinet that was still powered.

The ABB, Inc. employee suffered second and third-degree burns to his hands, arms and torso.

Georgia Power received two repeated, five serious and two other-than-serious safety citations.

The repeated violations relate to the employer failing to ensure the electrical cabinet was not powered down before allowing work to begin and not developing specific steps to power down machinery and prevent starting up during maintenance and servicing.

Georgia Power was previously cited for similar violations in 2014 at this facility.

The company's serious violations relate to its failure to:

• Ensure proper grounding of electrical equipment.
• Inform other employers of their electrical lockout program.
• Provide adequate procedures for electrical energy isolation.

ABB, Inc. was issued two serious citations.

The serious violations relate to the employer's failure to coordinate with other employers on the specific requirements of removing power from equipment before maintenance and servicing and exposing workers to electrical hazards.

"Every day, employees place their trust in their employers to keep them safe while they work, unfortunately Georgia Power and ABB failed to ensure the cabinet was properly de-energized before allowing the electrician to begin working.

This incident was totally preventable if his employers simply followed OSHA standards," said Christi Griffin, OSHA's director of the Atlanta-West Office.
   

Carolina Electrician Discovers Trove of Historic Documents

An electrician helping to renovate a historic home in Asheville, North Carolina accidentally unearthed a tin box that contained a trove of historic documents, some of which were signed by two U.S. Presidents.

The electrician, German Martinez, uncovered the collection hidden in a cavity above a doorway at the Patton-Parker House.

Mr. Martinez was running wire to a back room, working in a doorway beside a hearth. He took down a patch of drywall, revealing an older layer of plaster and wood lathing.

As he cut away, he uncovered a secret compartment hidden next to the chimney. Looking inside, he caught a glimpse of color. He pulled out a tin box embossed with Caribbean scenes and a stack of leather-bound books and legal documents covered with ash.

The find: a treasure trove of historic documents, including papers signed by presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

The home at Charlotte and Chesnut Streets, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1868 by three former slaves.

Among the historic documents was a land grant showing property in Alabama signed over to Patton by President Andrew Jackson in November 1830, likely for land wrested from Native Americans under the Indian Removal Act signed that same year.

Another land grant for Alabama property was signed by President Martin Van Buren in 1837.

The oldest document found was a 1799 sailor's journal that chronicles a year of travel.

Ledgers from the exclusive Asheville Club, comprised of some of the East Coast's wealthiest men, was also found.

Patton was a Civil War hero who rose to the rank of captain in the Confederate Army and came home to Asheville and built the sprawling family home.

Mr. Patton served as Asheville mayor, Buncombe County commissioner and county tax collector. He died in 1907.



“I’ve worked in a lot of old houses, but I’ve never found anything like this,” the electrician said.

Asheville attorney Jim Siemens bought the historic home last fall and is renovating it for use as a law office.
     

Join the National Safety Stand-Down: May 2-6

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other federal safety agencies have designated May 2-6, 2016, for the third annual National Safety Stand-Down. The event is a nationwide effort to remind and educate employers and workers in the construction industry of the serious dangers of falls – the cause of the highest number of industry deaths in the construction industry.

OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Center for Construction Research and Training are leading the effort to encourage employers to pause during their workday for topic discussions, demonstrations, and training on how to recognize hazards and prevent falls.

“Falls still kill far too many construction workers,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

“While we regularly work with employers, industry groups and worker organizations on preventing falls and saving lives, the National Safety Stand-Down encourages all employers – from small businesses to large companies operating at many job sites – to be part of our effort to ensure every worker makes it to the end of their shift safely.”

More than four million workers participated in the National Safety Stand-Downs in 2014 and 2015, and OSHA expects thousands of employers across the nation to join the 2016 event.

To guide their efforts, OSHA has developed the official National Safety Stand-Down website with information on conducting a successful stand-down. After their events, employers are encouraged to provide feedback and will receive a personalized certificate of participation.

 “In many workplaces, falls are a real and persistent hazard. Given the nature of the work, the construction industry sees the highest frequency of fall-related deaths and serious, sometimes debilitating injuries,” said Dr. John Howard, Director of NIOSH. “Since the effort began in 2014, the National Safety Stand-Down serves as an important opportunity for both employers and workers to stop and take time in the workday to identify existing fall hazards, and then offer demonstrations and training to emphasize how to stay safe on the job.”

The National Safety Stand-Down in 2016 is part of OSHA’s ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign. Begun in 2012, the campaign was developed in partnership with the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda program. It provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials on how to take steps to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for their workers, and train all employees in the proper use of that equipment. OSHA has also produced a brief video with more information about the 2016 Stand-Down in English and Spanish.

For more information on the success of last year’s Stand-Down, see the final data report. To learn how to partner with OSHA in this Stand-Down, visit http://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/.

The page provides details on how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access free education and training resources, fact sheets and other outreach materials in English and Spanish.



To learn more about preventing falls in construction visit http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/.

MLS Soccer Team to Build HQ, Training Complex in Marietta

Atlanta's new Major League Soccer team - Atlanta United Football Club – will build its headquarters and training complex on city-owned land along the Franklin Road corridor in Marietta, Georgia. The site is at least 50 percent larger than Centennial Olympic Park.
   
The 33-acre site off Interstate 75 will house six soccer fields - three turf and three grass, the team’s headquarters and other facilities.

In addition to functioning as a training ground for Atlanta United, it will be the training ground for the club's youth academy program, and host youth development programs and tournaments.

The headquarters building features offices, an indoor-outdoor gym, locker room, and dining area, within 30,000 square feet. With work underway, the $60-million facility should be ready a year from now.

Ground was broken earlier this year to prepare the site for construction. Atlanta United's first season begins in March 2017, when the team will play at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

Atlanta United is expected to house 123 employees - including 80 "high-paying" jobs, according to MLS.

The league also noted the project represents more than $50 million in new investment in the area by club.

"Atlanta United will also partner with the City of Marietta to develop a joint use community park along Rottenwood Creek and trails, bringing multi-use fields to youth in the community within walking distance of the training complex.

The additional fields, which will be paid for, owned, maintained and managed by Marietta Parks and Recreation will give the city and club the ability to host tournaments and community events," a spokesperson for the MLS reported.

Project Details:

• The 20-year lease calls for at least six lighted soccer fields on 32 acres of the 49-acre site owned property.
• Twenty years with two five-year options
• Years one to 10 - $1 a year as consideration for investment and improvements by Atlanta United
• Years 11 to 20 and five-year options year option years - $320,000 a year subject to CPI adjustments annually with cap at 4 percent.
• Possible consideration of joint use of a billboard on Interstate 75 as a mutual option, not mandatory.
• Improvements will be six soccer fields, lighted, and state of the art training center/headquarter offices
• Improvements are made by Major League Soccer team at their expense and with their ability to raise such without encumbering the property.
• City of Marietta to build a Franklin Road City Park featuring soccer, trails, and the rotten wood creek trail. The 13.6-acre parcel was purchased in 2012. Mayor Tumlin said there is a need for parks in the area.

Atlanta United said several months ago the team was considering property in DeKalb County and the Franklin Road property in Cobb County. The DeKalb property was selected, but the team announced the cost to develop the property would be more than anticipated and turned its attention to Cobb.

Locker Rooms

Atlanta United brings Major League Soccer to the Southeast as the league’s 22nd franchise.

The club’s avid fan base has set records in fan participation with 26,000 seats reserved to date for the 2017 inaugural season.

The first sports team to play in the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium currently under construction downtown, Atlanta United is owned by one of the city’s most influential businessmen and philanthropists, Arthur M. Blank.

Tribe to Build 800-Room Guitar-Shaped Hard Rock Casino Hotel

The oversized guitar has long been a beacon for the Hard Rock Casino chain, but the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood is looking to take to take that iconic symbol to new heights.

Plans for a colossal guitar-shaped hotel tower stretching 34 stories and containing 800 rooms were unveiled this week during a news conference with Gov. Rick Scott.

The tower is the feature attraction in the Seminole Tribe's $1.8 billion expansion plans. The structure looks every bit a guitar in scale but doesn't have a neck.

"We could have easily just built some rectangular building ... but the tribe is once again trying to create something that is iconic, that creates international tourism coming to Florida," said Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen. "We truly believe that that design alone will create additional tourism."

The expansion plans, contingent on the Legislature's approval of a deal brokered between the tribe and the governor, include the hotel tower and restaurants. The expansion is expected to bring nearly 20,000 jobs to Florida, the Seminoles said.

The hotel will increase the complex's rooms to 1,273 and add five new restaurants, a buffet and nightclub at its complex on U.S. 441 north of Sterling Road.

The tribe is committed to rivaling Las Vegas and other casino destinations around the world. "We truly think this will rival not only anything in Florida, but Atlantis and anything in the world," Allen said, pointing to an artist rendering on an easel.

The expansion includes spending almost $100 million on swimming pool space, Allen said. The plan adds a second pool and new pool bar. "Florida is about pools and the beaches and the ocean."

He said that while the aim is to create a destination that will continue to attract crowds many years from now, the expansion doesn't stretch far beyond the casino's current footprint.

While Allen focused on the Hollywood expansion, he also discussed plans for the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, which will have new poker rooms, stores and restaurants.

The Tampa hotel and casino will also add a new tower with 500 hotel rooms and a live entertainment venue with up to 2,000 seats.

For the more affluent gamblers, there will be a helipad.

Scott asked numerous questions during the presentation. His verdict at the end: "Impressive."

Several business owners who work with the Seminole Tribe stood at a microphone and discussed how their businesses had been affected by the casinos.

A flower shop owner who started working with the Seminoles in 2010, said her business has grown from five employees to more than 100 full-and part-time employees. She said she buys and installs over 35,000 flowers annually at the casino.

From the onset, the emphasis was jobs. "It would be devastating" if the proposed deal doesn't pass.
Scott rehashed the numbers: 3,800 jobs lost if the gambling deal isn't signed and 4,800 direct and indirect jobs created, outside of construction jobs, if it passes.

The gambling deal would bring $3 billion to the state over the next seven years. In return, the Seminoles would get the exclusive right to have roulette, craps and other table games in its seven casinos.

The deal also caps the number of slots and tables casinos can have, but critics point out that the caps are so large they are essentially meaningless, including a 6,000-slot limit at any one casino.

The agreement also states that the Legislature can approve new casinos in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, a limited amount of blackjack tables in parimutuels and even allowing the race tracks to stop racing and simply operate as casinos.