EnviroPolitics
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EnviroBusiness News….

London firm buying KeySpan KeySpan, the nation's fifth-biggest natural gas distributor, yesterday agreed
to be acquired by National Grid, a London-based conglomerate that has been steadily buying up energy businesses
in New England and the Northeast. The $7.4B deal will create the nation's third-largest energy-delivery utility in a
sector experiencing a wave of consolidation as the price of energy has skyrocketed. Star-Ledger 2/28/06

Chemical contamination study plans announced for two New York sites Chemical contamination sites
in Mechanicville and Warrensburg, NY will be studied as a precursor to their cleanup under state aid announced
by Denise Sheehan, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation The city of Mechanicville
will get $410,000 of the $1.7M in available state aid to study environmental contamination at the Mechanicville Light
Industrial Park. The City of Mechanicville will use the funding to investigate the Mechanicville Light Industrial Park
located at Industrial Park Road in the City. The Business Review (Albany) 2/27/06

South Jersey business leaders go easy on Corzine Governors looking for ways to balance a state budget
often do not make good company for business leaders looking to hold onto their money but New Jersey's new
governor encounters an optimistic audience as Development Council meets AC Press 2/27/06

HydroGen powers up production A fuel cell company that is aiming at producing commercially viable fuel cells
for industrial use is giving new life to a former tool and die manufacturing facility on the banks of the Youghiogheny
River in the tiny Pennsylvania borough of Versailles. HydroGen Corp., which uses a patented technology developed
by the Westinghouse Electrical Corp., is in the process of ramping up production for its 400 kilowatt fuel cells and
plans to announce shortly where it will house its first industrial fuel cell demonstration project. Construction work
on the fuel cell installation is scheduled to begin by April. Pittsburgh Business Times  2/27/06

Rohm and Haas plans $25M makeover Rohm and Haas Co., the Philadelphia chemical company that makes
its home on Independence Mall, has decided to spend up to $25M to renovate its headquarters, ending an internal
debate over whether to sell its building and relocate to more modern facilities. For the last two years, the company
had gone back and forth over whether to spend millions of dollars to upgrade its 1960s-era building or move into
cheaper yet state-of-the art space in Center City. Part of those deliberations centered on selling the building amid
a condominium boom under way in the city that has made any existing structure, especially one with such a highly
desirable address as Independence Mall, a hot commodity. Philadelphia Business Journal 2/27/06

Chemical company, FMC, announces $150M buyback, 18 cent dividend The Philadelphia-based
corporation announces that its Board of Directors has approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend and
declared a dividend of $0.18 per share, payable on April 20, 2006, to shareholders of record as of March 31.
Additionally, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to $150M of the Company's common stock. Shares
may be purchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of management
based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors. Although the repurchase program does not
include a specific timetable or price targets and may be suspended or terminated at any time, the Company
 expects that the program will be accomplished over the next two years. FMC  2/24/06 
More trouble for Xanadu builder Virginia-based Mills Corp. said the company's 2005 earnings and
funds from operations will be significantly below expectations and that prior guidance for 2005 should no
longer be relied on. Mills has already restated earnings twice this year  Bergen Record  2/24/06                                
 > Mack-Cali CEO talks soothingly of Xanadu Star-Ledger 2/24/06

EU regulators OK takeover of Engelhard BRUSSELS, Belgium — European Union regulators
yesterday approved the proposed hostile takeover of Iselin, NJ-based Engelhard Corp. by BASF AG,
the world's biggest chemical maker. Associated Press 2/24/06

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Wolf Block partner leaves for Flaster Longtime Wolf Block Schorr & Solis-Cohen litigation
partner Abbe F. Fletman has joined Flaster Greenberg's recently expanded Philadelphia office. Fletman
 will be a partner in the Cherry Hill, NJ-based firm's commercial-litigation and intellectual-property practices.
She handles commercial disputes involving trademark, copyright and patent matters. She also handles
contracts, professional-negligence actions, commercial-lease disputes and housing-discrimination actions,
among other areas. Fletman is also active in Democratic politics. She served as local counsel for the
Kerry-Edwards 2004 presidential campaign and was a member of the transition teams for Philadelphia
Mayor John F. Street and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. Philadelphia Business Journal 2/23/06

Toll earnings still terrific Toll Brothers Inc. reports strong fiscal-first-quarter results though it continues
to warn of a year that won't be as robust as its record-setting fiscal 2005. The company said net income
rose 49 percent from $110.1M to $163.9M, revenues jumped 35 percent from $990M to $1.34B and diluted
earnings per share increased from 66 to 98 cents compared to the same period a year ago. The company's
quarter ended Jan. 31. Toll of Horsham, Pa., said that signed contracts dropped by 21 percent to $1.14B
compared with the same quarter a year earlier when the total was $1.44B. Though a decline, it was the
second-highest number of signed contracts for a first quarter in the luxury builder's history.
 Philadelphia Business Journal  2/23/06

OSHA proposes $236,000 in penalties for foundry The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational
Safety and Health Administration has cited United States Pipe and Foundry and proposed penalties
totaling $236,000 following an August 2005 "enhanced enforcement" inspection conducted at the
company's plant in Birmingham, Alabama. "Despite OSHA's enforcement and outreach efforts,
this company has continued to disregard their basic obligation under the Occupational Safety and
Health Act," said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's Birmingham area director. OSHA's enhanced enforcement
policy focuses on employers who receive "high gravity" citations for violations at the highest level of
severity. Under the policy, OSHA may conduct inspections at employer worksites other than the one
where the original high gravity citations were issued and may seek a variety of remedies including federal
court enforcement of citations. OSHA  2/22/06

Sterman takes over at Environmental Facilities Corporation David Sterman has been
approved as president and CEO of the state Environmental Facilities Corp. Sterman, who has
been EFC's executive vice president since 1997. He previously was a deputy commissioner in
the state Department of Environmental Conservation. EFC assists New York communities and
businesses with environmental issues and manages billions of dollars in low-interest loans and
grants. Sterman, a Glenville resident, succeeds Thomas Kelly. Kelly left to become general
counsel of the New York Power Authority. The Business Review (Albany) 2/22/06

Calgon Carbon puts off financial report Calgon Carbon Corp. said it was delaying release
of its 2005 financial results because of vendor invoices it said were not accounted for. The Robinson
Township, PA-based company, which provides carbon used to remove contaminants
and odors from air and water, said it would put off release of the reports pending the outcome of an
investigation into about $1.3M in invoices that were not "recorded in a timely fashion," according to
a news release. Pittsburgh Business Times 2/21/06

Keating takes new Kennametal post Kennametal Inc. has appointed a new corporate vice
president who will also serve as president for the company's traditional business division that
encompasses 60 percent of its revenues. Ron Keating, a five-year veteran of the Latrobe, PA.-based
company and who previously headed the company's Energy Mining and Construction Solutions Group,
takes over the Metalworking Solutions Services Group on March 1. The energy and mining group
comprises the section of the company's business that manufactures tools used in drilling and mining
operations. The more mature metalworking solutions division makes tools used in shaping, drilling
or cutting other metals. Pittsburgh Business Times 2/21/06

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S.C. cement maker to use nonhazardous solid waste as fuel at plant Energis LLC, a South
Carolina cement maker, has begun using nonhazardous solid waste as fuel at its Holly Hill, S.C., plant.
The waste, which will include plastics, oil absorbents, wood and paint solids, will supplement the
company's use of fossil fuels to power its cement kiln. The materials must have heat values of at least
5,000 BTUs, said company president Mario Romero. The program will divert waste from landfills while
reducing Energis's reliance on fossil fuels. Energis is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holcim Inc., one of
the world's leading cement suppliers Waste News 2/21/06

Court omission costs advisory firm $13M U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kathryn Ferguson
has stripped a Washington, D.C., insurance recovery firm of $13M in legal fees because it failed
to disclose conflicts of interest while conducting bankruptcy work for Mercerville NJ's Congoleum,
reports the New Jersey Law Journal. NJBIZ 2/20/06

Alcoa names Mitchell to lead closures unit V. Lance Mitchell has been named president of Alcoa
Closure Systems International business, a supplier of aluminum and plastic closures and packaging
equipment for food and beverage makers. Most recently, Mitchell, 46, was group vice president for
PolyOne Corp., an Ohio- company which makes industrial-use plastic. Pittsburgh-based Alcoa's
closure unit has 27 locations worldwide, employing about 3,000 people. Its major markets include
carbonated soft drinks, juice, bottled water, beer and motor oil. 2/20/06
Energy marketer finds NY atmosphere electric North America's largest energy service company,
Direct Energy, has finally decided it's time to do business in New York. By the end of the year, the firm
plans to be selling to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout New York.
The Business Review (Albany) 2/20/06

WNY has role in NYC water project In the early to mid-1900s, our engineering forefathers did a
yeoman's job in designing a system of reservoirs and dams to meet the water storage and supply needs
of the growing New York City area. Now, modern engineers are doing their part to ensure that the complex
system, which pumps an estimated 90 percent of the area's daily demand of 1.4 billion gallons, stays in
top working condition for the next half-century and beyond. Business First of Buffalo 2/20/06

Land buyers face more EPA rules Anyone looking to purchase commercial property later this year
should expect to spend more time and money on environmental studies, thanks to new federal regulations.
The rules, issued last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and set to take effect Nov. 1, tighten
the rules for environmental site assessments. If they follow the EPA rules, land buyers are insulated from
potential future litigation and government penalties. Pittsburgh Business Times 2/20/06  

Mack-Cali buying Gale Co. for $545M After a week of intense negotiations, Mack-Cali Realty
will acquire the Gale Co., the companies announced yesterday. The acquisition puts Cranford NJ-based
Mack-Cali in an even more dominant position as the top owner of office buildings in New Jersey, and also
will give it Gale's lucrative building-management division. Star-Ledger 2/17/06

NJ-DEP Compliance Advisory: Freshwater Permits Disclosure of a potentially historic
resource/ruin is required on application submittals for freshwater wetland permits NJ-DEP 2/16/06

Toll gives Fla. division the Toll name Toll Brothers Inc. said Thursday that is has officially changed
the name of its Landstar Homes division in central Florida to Toll Brothers, completing Landstar's transition
into Toll Brothers. The Horsham, Pa., luxury homebuilder bought Landstar Homes last July, marking the first
time that Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL) entered the central Florida market. Landstar was established in 1978
and focuses on the Orlando area. Since the transition started, Toll Brothers has expanded its central Florida
office to more than 120 employees and plans to move its central Florida operations this summer into a new
35,000-square-foot headquarters Philadelphia Business Journal 2/16/06

PDG Environmental gets $3M in contracts Cleanup contractor PDG Environmental said it won
several contracts worth a total of $3M for asbestos removal in four states, including an industrial plant
in Louisiana. The sites were not identified in a release from Pittsburgh-based PDG (OTCBB:PDGE).
The Louisiana contract is worth $1M; the other deals are a $1.5M contract for a hospital and power
plant in Oregon, $1M for an industrial plant in Tennessee and $500,000 for a church in Florida.
Pittsburgh Business Times 2/16/06

NY State offers $20M for clean full mass transit The New York State DOT has $20M to pay for
clean fuel hybrid-electric or compressed natural gas fueled buses available to non-New York City transit
agencies. The money is part of the $2.9B Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act approved
by voters on Nov. 8 The Business Review (Albany)  2/16/06

EPA honors landfill methane partners The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), Washington,
Landfill Methane Outreach Program has awarded it latest round of partner and project of the year awards.
The awards recognize “excellence in reducing landfill methane emissions and creating renewable energy.”
EPA  2/16/06

Engineering firm to join Canadian consulting firm Dufresne-Henry, a Vermont engineering and
planning firm with an office in Saratoga Springs, NY announced Wednesday it intends to join Stantec,
an international design and consulting firm based in Edmonton, Canada. Stantec (NYSE: SXC) offers
the same core services as Dufresne-Henry, including engineering, planning, landscape architecture
and environmental science. Stantec, however, also offers clients expertise in architecture, interior design,
facilities planning and operations, manufacturing and industrial services, bio/pharmaceuticals, energy
and resources services The Business Review (Albany) 2/15/06

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Mack-Cali negotiating to buy entire Gale Co. Mack-Cali Realty is closing in on a $530M deal
to acquire the Gale Co. in a move that would further solidify the Cranford, NJ-based real-estate empire
as the leading owner of office space in the state, three real estate executives with direct knowledge of
the negotiations said yesterday Star-Ledger 2/15/06 
New Jersey makes, the world takes Exports of New Jersey goods increased by 9.8 percent to a
record $21B in 2005. Canada remained the top recipient of New Jersey goods, followed by the United
Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Mexico, according to federal data analyzed by the World Institute for
Strategic Economic Research. The value of goods imported into New York ports also increased, rising
7.5 percent to $246 billion, the organization said. Most of those goods come into ports in Newark, Jersey
City and Elizabeth. Canada was the largest importer. China was second with a 24 percent hike in exports
to New Jersey - the biggest increase of any country in the top 20 importers. After China, the next biggest
importers were Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. Bergen Record 2/15/06 

Sunoco Logistics buys pipelines from Alon USA Sunoco Logistics Partners LP says it has
agreed to buy a Texas crude-oil pipeline system from Alon USA Energy Inc. for $68 million.
Philadelphia Business Journal 2/14/06

Duquesne Light earnings up on sale of energy unit Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. said earnings
rose for 2005, helped by the sale of its Energy Solutions unit. The Pittsburgh-based utility (NYSE:DQE)
said 2005 income from continuing operations was $112.9M, or $1.45 per diluted share, compared to
$87.2M, or $1.14 per share, for 2004. Pittsburgh Business Times 2/14/06   

BASF deal could mean higher price German chemical giant BASF could prevail it its bid to acquire
NJ-based Engelhard, analysts said, but the deal will likely come at a higher price. Star-Ledger 2/14/06

GE looks to local companies to supply dredging related services General Electric Co.
said its unprecedented dredging of PCB-laden silt in the upper Hudson River will create the need
for a wide array of goods and services that it wants local businesses to meet. The company has
created what it is calling an online "marketplace" -- www.hudsonworks.net -- to give businesses
information about the project. The Web site will also allow companies to supply GE information
about their businesses. GE said it can see a need for a wide array of services and products as
the dredging unfolds, including plumbing, heating, trash and snow removal, gravel, welding supplies
and rail and marine facilities. The Business Review (Albany) 2/13/06

Competition pushes starting-lawyer salaries up in Philadelphia  Duane Morris and
Wolf Block Schorr & Solis-Cohen and  are the first large Philadelphia law firms to match competitor
Drinker Biddle & Reath in raising first-year associate salaries this year to $125,000 from $115,000.
Wolf Block said it would also report double-digit increases in key financial indicators, including profits
per equity partner, for fiscal year 2005, which ended for Wolf Block on Jan. 31.
Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Dechert, the most profitable Philadelphia-based large firms, have listed
their starting salaries at $125,000 for the past two years, while the rest of the city's large-firm community
was listed at $115,000. But Drinker Biddle announced earlier this year that it would increase to $125,000,
causing the city's other large firms to make a decision about matching. While Wolf Block's more senior
associates will all receive raises, Alderman said they will not all experience a $10,000 jump as the firm
does not have a lock-step pay system. Alderman said the firm plans to pay for the raises with its usual
annual billing rate increases, an increase in hours its lawyers bill and an expected increase in profits
for 2006. Philadelphia Business Journal 2/13/06

Coal shipments firing up revenue increases for railroad CSX Corp. is in the black, and
not just financially. That's because the company's record-setting fourth quarter revenues, $2.2B, and
profits, $237M, were fueled in large part by coal. While aggressive pricing and fuel surcharges helped
boost revenue across all CSX segments, only coal recorded higher volume in the fourth quarter of 2005
than in the same quarter of 2004, 450,000 carloads to 436,000 carloads. And coal led all segments in
year-over-year revenue growth at 14.5 percent, or $521M to $455M when adjusting for the prior fourth
quarter having an extra week. The coal transportation market could be strong for many quarters to come.
The Energy Information Administration, the analytical arm of the Department of Energy, projects coal
consumption will reach 1.8 billion short tons by 2030, up from 1.1 billion short tons in 2004, or 61.6 percent.
A short ton equals 2,000 pounds. Business Journal of Jacksonville 2/13/06

CEO touts energy company's future David Crane, president and chief executive officer of
NRG Energy, said the West Windsor, NJ company's acquisition of Texas Genco earlier this month
for $5.8 billion will take it from anonymous to famous. He said NRG is a wholesale power company --
generating 25,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for 20 million homes -- whose name doesn't
appear on anyone's utility bill. Trenton Times 2/10/06

Outages pull plug on Allegheny Energy Allegheny Energy Inc. said power plant outages
and higher wholesale energy costs caused fourth-quarter earnings to slide. For the three months
ended Dec. 31, Greensburg, PA.-based Allegheny (NYSE:AYE) said net income fell to $3.1M,
or 2 cents per diluted share, from $72.4M, or 48 cents a share, a year ago.
Pittsburgh Business Times 2/10/06

Lawyer leaving firm to lead bank George Matteo Jr., a partner in the Cherry Hill, N.J.,
law office of Wolf Block Schorr & Solis-Cohen, has left the firm to be president and CEO of
South Jersey's Cornerstone Bank, Philadelphia Business Journal 2/10/06

4Q profits rise for Energy East Energy East Corp. reported an increase in net income for the
fourth quarter and all of 2005, but fell short of analyst estimates. The energy services company,
which has dual headquarters in Albany, N.Y., and Portland, Maine, had net income for the fourth
quarter of $63.8 million, or 43 cents a diluted share. Analysts had predicted earnings of 51 cents
a share. In the fourth quarter of 2004, net income was $54.7 million, or 37 cents a diluted share.
Revenue also increased to $1.48 billion from $1.27 billion. The Business Review (Albany) 2/10/06

Environmentally friendly cars to stop over in Saratoga The 18th annual Tour del Sol, which
highlights new, high-mileage and zero carbon emission vehicles, will pull into the Saratoga Spa
State Park May 10 through May 14 The Business Review (Albany) 2/10/06

Exelon-PSEG deal likely to close later in year With the planned acquisition of Public
Service Enterprise Group by Exelon facing additional and tougher regulatory scrutiny, the two
companies yesterday said they expect to close the deal in the third quarter of this year,
rather than the second quarter. Star-Ledger 2/9/06

AK Steel announces second price hike AK Steel Holding Corp. said Wednesday that it will
raise prices on its hot-rolled stainless steel sheet, strip, tubular-quality and continuous mill plate
products by about 6 percent, effective with Feb. 19 shipments. The steel maker said higher
manufacturing, energy and transportation costs were the primary reasons for the increase.
AK Steel will also use the price hike to support its capital investments. The price jump follows a
Feb. 7 announcement that the company is boosting the price of zinc coatings by 70 percent as
of April 1. That increase affects the company's galvanized steel products.
Pittsburgh Business Times  2/8/06

Pfizer may sell Morris-based business Pfizer said yesterday it may sell its Morris County,
NJ-based consumer products business that markets some of the biggest over-the-counter brands,
including Listerine mouthwash, Visine eye drops and Sudafed decongestant Star-Ledger 2/8/06
Daily Record 2/8/06

Toll tweaks forecast downward again Toll Brothers Inc. said Tuesday that selling houses
during its fiscal first quarter was more "difficult" than a year ago and lowered its sales forecast
for fiscal 2006. The company now believes it will deliver between 9,200 and 9,900 homes. That
compares to 8,769 deliveries in its last fiscal year. Its previous forecast for this fiscal year was
9,500 to 10,200 home deliveries. It was the second time since November that the Horsham, PA.,
residential developer reduced its forecast for this fiscal year and could be another indicator that
the nation's housing market is losing steam after being red hot the last five years.
Philadelphia Business Journal 2/7/05   Star-Ledger 2/8/06

Koppers closes IPO Koppers Holdings Inc. said it closed its initial public offering after having
sold 11.5M shares, including 8.7M from the company. The other 2.8 million were offered by
shareholders. Koppers (NYSE:KOP), a Pittsburgh-based maker of carbon compounds and treated
 wood products that increase the durability and decay resistance of rubber, steel and aluminum,
priced its IPO at $14 a share. Pittsburgh Business Times 2/7/06   

SWEP announces environmental grants program The Society of Women Environmental
Professionals (SWEP) of Greater Philadelphia announces an environmental Grant Program to help
fund organizations or programs that creatively address a locally defined need to create, enhance,
restore, or protect the natural environment or to provide environmental awareness through educational
sessions. For 2006, the available funds are between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on project needs.
Grant applications will be accepted between January 15 and March 15. Awards will be announced
during National Environmental Education Week (April 16 – April 22, 2006). More here  2/7/06

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N.J. Resources leaps past estimates The energy company reports higher fiscal-first- quarter
earnings, propelled by its wholesale energy business, which more than doubled its profit from the
previous quarter a year ago. The Wall Township, NJ-based company said earnings for the three
months ended Dec. 31 increased to $34.3M, or $1.24 per share, a 14 percent increase from the
$30.2M, or $1.09 per share, it made in the first quarter in 2005. Star-Ledger 2/7/06   

Phila.-based firm had a very good year Sunoco denies that its South Philadelphia refinery leaked
the oily mess that the feds are suing over, but if the Philadelphia-based firm must pay for the cleanup,
it shouldn't have any trouble coming up with the scratch Daily News  Star-Ledger 2/7/06

Westinghouse sold to Toshiba for $5.4B British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. on Monday finalized a deal
to sell Westinghouse Electric Co. to Toshiba Corp. for $5.4 billion. Toshiba, of Japan, will hold a 51
percent stake in Westinghouse, which was founded in 1886 in Pittsburgh by George Westinghouse.
The companies expect the transaction, which still needs approval from federal regulators, to be
completed in six months. Toshiba outbid General Electric Co. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
Westinghouse was put up for sale last year by BNFL, which acquired it from CBS Corp.
in 1996 for about $1.2 billion Pittsburgh Business Times 2/6/03

Saratoga chamber president named chairman of statewide group Peter Aust, president and CEO
of The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, has been elected the 2006 chairman of the board for the
Chamber Alliance of New York State. The association consists of 90 statewide chambers whose mission
is to enhance the effectiveness of chambers in legislative issues, share knowledge and experience among
chambers and provide advocacy and support to chamber executives throughout New York State. Aust has
been active with association since 2000 and was elected to the board of directors in 2002. 2/6/06

Coal makes a comeback as manufacturers consider building power plant U.S. Steel Corp.
is leading a consortium of manufacturers interested in constructing a coal gasification plant, possibly
in the Mon Valley. Such a plant would convert the region's substantial coal reserves into a cheaper,
cleaner form of natural gas. "There is a lot of interest in exploring whether this would this work for
manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania," said U.S. Steel's director of government affairs, Chris
Masciantonio. "So far, the indication is that it will." Masciantonio said the company plans to announce
more details as early as next month and disclose which local companies it will work with on the concept.
Whether U.S. Steel and its partner companies would build the power plant or simply sign on as customers
hasn't been determined Pittsburgh Business Times  2/6/06

Anti-windpower groups to meet Feb. 6 An ad hoc coalition of anti-windpower groups from
around New York will meet in Albany, N.Y., Monday, Feb. 6, to lobby against New York's indirect
underwriting of wind farms. Calling the event "The Albany Tea Party," the anti-wind groups, who
mainly hail from rural areas near wind farms, will push legislators to rein in commercial wind power
projects and take control of the state's energy policy, said Ruth Matilsky, one of the organizers.
The Business Review (Albany) 2/3/06

Engelhard reaping profit from sales growth As the threat of a hostile takeover looms, the
Iselin, NJ-based chemical company yesterday reported solid quarterly earnings. Engelhard said
fourth-quarter earnings rose 10 percent, to $63.9 million, or 53 cents a share, compared with
$58.1M  or 47 cents a share a year ago. Star-Ledger 2/3/06

Upgrades help boost PSEG earnings Public Service Enterprise Group yesterday posted $205M
million in fourth quarter earnings, more than double the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to
improved performance of its nuclear power plants. The Newark-based company credited an agreement
with Exelon for turning around the operations at the five nuclear plants, which operated at 93 percent
of capacity in the quarter compared with only 64 percent the prior year Star-Ledger 2/3/06

Rohm reports 2005 figures Rohm and Haas Co. said Thursday that 2005 was a record year
for sales and earnings despite challenges from rising raw-material costs. The Philadelphia specialty
chemical company also projected a 2006 sales increase of 3 percent to 5 percent to more than $8B.
Earnings came in at $638M, or $2.86 a share, up 29 percent from $496M, or $2.21 per share, in 2004.
Sales were up 10 percent on the year to $7.9B. Higher selling prices accounted for most of that gain,
though the company said demand in two areas -- electronic materials and various salts -- helped push
revenue. Cash from operations for full-year 2005 was about $1B. Philadelphia Business Journal 2/3/06

RCM recruited for Canadian nuclear plant RCM Technologies Inc., an information-technology
company, is based in Pennsauken, NJ, says that a joint venture involving its Canadian subsidiary has
been awarded a $62.3Mn contract to help restart two nuclear-generating units.
RCM Technologies Canada Corp. and E.S. Fox Ltd. of Niagara Falls, Ontario, were awarded the contract
by Bruce Power A LP of Tiverton, Ontario, which is restarting units one and two at Bruce Nuclear Generating
Station A in Tiverton .The companies will provide engineering analysis and design and field modifications
to ensure components in the generating units that are critical to safety will function properly in the event
of adverse environmental conditions. Philadelphia Business Journal 2/2/06  

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