The World Resources Institute, General Electric and Goldman Sachs Launch Initiative to Measure Water Risks and Opportunities

The World Resources Institute, General Electric and Goldman Sachs Launch Initiative to Measure Water Risks and Opportunities

Water Index Will Offer Most Comprehensive Measure of Corporate Risks and Opportunities
TREVOSE, Pa.--Monday, December 07, 2009-- The World Resources Institute (WRI), in partnership with General Electric (NYSE: GE) and Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), has launched an initiative to measure water-related risks facing companies and their investors. The initiative will develop a Water Index as a standardized approach to identify and mitigate water-related corporate risk.
The Index will offer one of the most expansive measures of water risks currently available. It will aggregate nearly 20 weighted factors capturing water availability, regulations, water quality and reputational issues.
As water resource constraints affect nearly all industries, the Water Index will be widely applicable. The Index will allow companies and investors to transparently and adequately capture the various components of water-related risk and will enable business leaders to make more well-informed investment decisions.
The Water Index will draw on publicly available data regarding physical scarcity and water quality and overlay important factors including the regulatory regime and social and reputational issues that have not previously been incorporated into water risk measurement. Ultimately, this mapping tool will allow users to combine and compare different components of the water risk assessment.
“In many regions around the world, water scarcity from climate change and pollution is starting to impact a company’s performance, yet few analysts account for water-related risks,” says Jonathan Lash, president of WRI. “WRI hopes that investors will begin ‘pricing in’ these under-appreciated risks, driving investments to support more hydrologically efficient designs and technologies.”
From the perspective of General Electric and Goldman Sachs, the Water Index will allow each firm to better advise customers and clients on water-related risks and opportunities.
“From a technology perspective, solutions to enable water reuse and mitigate risk already exist,” said Heiner Markhoff, president and CEO—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “Advanced solutions, such as membrane technology and water-efficient cooling technologies, are available to manage the risks once these are identified and measured, which is what the Water Index aims to do. We are thrilled to work with WRI and Goldman Sachs on this project.”
“Many environmental factors, including water, pose both challenges and opportunities for investors and businesses,” says Tracy Wolstencroft, global head of environmental markets for Goldman Sachs. “The Water Index will provide valuable insights that can inform investment decisions and will help identify new opportunities across sectors and geographies.”
About the World Resources Institute
The World Resources Institute (www.wri.org) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives.
About Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities and investment management services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other major financial centers around the world.
The Environmental Markets Group is responsible for ensuring that Goldman Sachs’ people, capital, and ideas are leveraged effectively to develop market-based solutions to environmental issues. The group partners with corporations, non-government organizations, and academic institutions to identify and provide guidance on relevant environmental topics. The Environmental Markets Group disseminates research and project results through a combination of publications, conferences and targeted outreach to engage and educate clients, investors and policymakers.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that's built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With 60,000 global employees and 2008 revenues of $38.6 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com. GE is imagination at work.
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Water stocks news - Calgon Carbon (NYSE: CCC) Announces Acquisition of Zwicky Denmark and Sweden

Calgon Carbon (NYSE: CCC) Announces Acquisition of Zwicky Denmark and Sweden


PITTSBURGH---Calgon Carbon Corporation (NYSE: CCC) and its European operation, Chemviron Carbon, announced today the acquisition of Zwicky Denmark and Sweden, long-term distributors of Chemviron Carbon’s activated carbon products and providers of services associated with the reactivation of activated carbon. Zwicky Denmark and Sweden had sales of EUR 3.1 million ($4.2 million) in 2008.

Commenting on the acquisition, Kees Majoor, Calgon Carbon’s senior vice president – Asia and Europe, said, “Since the Zwicky companies have been Chemviron Carbon’s exclusive distributor of its activated carbon products and provider of its mobile filter technology through a service center in Kolding, Denmark, the acquisition is an excellent fit with our existing operations. The acquisition is also consistent with our strategic initiatives to accelerate sales growth in Denmark, Norway and Sweden and to expand our service capabilities in Europe.”

Calgon Carbon Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a global leader in services and solutions for making water and air safer and cleaner.

This news release contains historical information and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically contain words such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” or similar words indicating that future outcomes are uncertain. Statements looking forward in time, including statements regarding future growth and profitability, price increases, cost savings, broader product lines, enhanced competitive posture and acquisitions, are included in the company’s most recent Annual Report pursuant to the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein. Further, the company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the company’s control. Some of the factors that could affect future performance of the company are higher energy and raw material costs, costs of imports and related tariffs, labor relations, capital and environmental requirements, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, borrowing restrictions, validity of patents and other intellectual property, and pension costs. In the context of the forward-looking information provided in this news release, please refer to the discussions of risk factors and other information detailed in, as well as the other information contained in the company’s most recent Annual Report.




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Investorideas.com Top 10 Investor Searches Include Water Stocks, Natural Gas Stocks, Renewable Energy Stocks

Investorideas.com Top 10 Investor Searches Include Water Stocks, Natural Gas Stocks, Renewable Energy Stocks, Coal Stocks and Homeland Security Stocks


POINT ROBERTS, Wash., Delta, B.C.–January 6, 2009 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a global investor research portal announces this week’s top ten search phrases from inbound investors.
Water Stocks, natural gas stocks, renewable energy stocks, coal stocks and Homeland Security stocks dominated the top ten search phrases this week.
Investorideas.com is pleased to announce two new water investing columns for 2010, scheduled to launch shortly; Hydrocommerce Corner-Where Water & Money Meet with Bill Brennan and BlueTech Tracker with Paul O’Callaghan.
Investorideas.com and www.Water-Stocks.com are positioning to be a leading destination for cleantech investors researching the water space. The water news feed Water Stocks News at Investorideas.com and the global water stocks directory are two of the top tools available in addition to industry commentary and interviews.
Homeland Security and Airport Security Stocks got an extra boost this week based on news of deployment of full body scanners by several countries as well as Cramer’s announcement of his Top 2010 Investing Themes: Homeland Security
The Top 10 Investor Search List is featured on Investorideas.com home page and is updated each Wednesday for investors to review.
This week’s top 10:

1. Water stocks - Visit the Water Stocks Directory to Research Water Stocks
2. Natural gas stocks- Visit the Natural Gas Stocks Directory to Research Natural Gas stocks 3. Natural gas companies 4. Renewable energy stocks - Visit the Renewable Energy Stocks Directory to Research Green Stocks
5. Coal stocks Visit the Coal Stocks Directory to Research Coal Stocks 6. Green energy stocks
7. Homeland security stocks – Visit the Homeland Security and Defense Stocks Directory to Research Defense Stocks
8. Alternative energy companies 9. Green energy companies
10. Airport security stocks

See our complete list of stock directories by sector at Investor Ideas and research stocks in each sector.

Investors researching global water stocks can now purchase the Water Stocks Directory individually in a PDF format . The water stocks directory was previously only available as part of the Investorideas.com premium membership. Investorideas.com has broken down several of the stock directories and made them available to investors that are avid fans of specific sectors.
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Investors following the water sector can subscribe to the news feed at http://www.investorideas.com/RSS/feeds/Water-Stocks.xml. Water companies can submit news and press releases online to be included in the new syndicated feed at
http://www1.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/Default.aspx.


www.Water-Stocks.com, an investor portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, offers water investors sector- close- ups, research tools, news, Blogs, online conferences, Podcasts , interviews and a directory of public companies within the water sector .The water-stocks content hub has created a global marketplace and meeting place for investors, public companies, industry buyers and sellers of water technology, services and water assets. Investorideas.com and water –stocks.com work with private companies in the water space seeking funding and joint ventures through the global marketplace.

Investors are also reminded to sign up for the launch of the new free investor newsletter – the next great investor idea! Investors can sign up for the new free newsletter on the pop- up box on the home page of www.investorideas.com or the newsletter sign up page.


About InvestorIdeas.com:
Investor Ideas is a global financial media online destination specialized in sector investing content. Investor Ideas (and portals within the hub) was one of the first online investing and business resources providing in-depth information, news and stock directories in renewable energy, homeland security and water sectors. InvestorIdeas.com features over twenty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For Additional Information:

Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com

Source – Investorideas.com


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Water Stocks News - Middlesex Water Company Announces 5% Discount to Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Middlesex Water Company Announces 5% Discount to Dividend Reinvestment Plan

ParticipantsISELIN, NJ--December 23, 2009 - Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX) today announced that, for a limited period of time, it plans to offer shares of its Common Stock at a 5% discount to participants in the Company's Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan ("Plan"). This offer applies to all Common Stock purchases made under the Plan between February 1, 2010 and June 1, 2010, whether by optional cash payment or by dividend reinvestment. During this discount period, the purchase price of the shares will be 95% of the fair market value of the shares on the purchase dates, as described in the Company's Plan Prospectus dated August 28, 2009 ("Plan Prospectus") if purchased through the Plan.


Purchases made at the reduced price and then subsequently withdrawn from the Plan within six months after purchase will be subject to a withdrawal fee equal to the original 5% purchase price discount times the number of shares withdrawn, but not exceeding the number of shares actually purchased at the discount by the withdrawing shareholder.
The terms and conditions of the Plan, the discount purchase details and instructions for enrolling in the Plan are set forth in the Plan Prospectus, which is available online at the Company's website: www.middlesexwater.com under Investor Relations. Copies of the Prospectus may also be obtained by calling the Investor Relations Department at (732) 634-1500. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-160757) for the Plan. The entire registration statement, which includes the Plan Prospectus, can be viewed online at the SEC's website: www.sec.gov. This announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities, which can be made only by means of the Plan Prospectus.
About Middlesex Water Company
Middlesex Water Company, organized in 1897, provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater utility services in New Jersey and Delaware through various subsidiary companies. For additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company, visit the Company's web site at www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.
This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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‘World Water Monitoring Day’ Specified by EPA as Normal Activities Throughout the Year

‘World Water Monitoring Day’ Specified by EPA as Normal Activities Throughout the Year


TAIPEI, Taiwan--‘World Water Monitoring Day’ (WWMD) is an event of global concern for the water quality of the environment, aimed at encouraging people around the world to care about water quality and work together to preserve the Earth’s water resources. With enthusiastic responses from the nations, the activities marking WWMD are specified as all-year-round ones since 2009, carried out from March 22 (the‘World Water Day’, one of the major United Nations environmental events) till December 31.


In order to encourage people of Taiwan to care about water quality and working together to preserve water resources, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Executive Yuan had called for the popular participation in the WWMD activities since 2003, and held seminars to groom seed teachers in the hope of planting the roots of environmental education. By promoting the public participation in environmental protection, EPA hopes to raise the public’s environment awareness and train environment monitoring volunteers.

E.Y. EPA and Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) of Hsinchu City recently co-sponsored the 2009 WWMD ‘All People Working Together’ activities to monitor river water quality, and the VIPs present at the September 30 event include the deputy director of Department of Environmental Monitoring ＆ Information Management of E.Y. EPA Fang Shu-Hui, deputy mayor of Hsinchu City Chen Chuan-Gui, deputy director of Hsinchu EPB Chiang Shen-Ren and so on.

EPA said the Taiwan cities’ WWMD-related activities were carried out simultaneously with countries around the world, allowing Taiwan integrate into the whole world and do its part as a Global village member to preserve the water resources on Earth, so that people’s attention would be aroused and everybody in the world can enjoy clean and safe water.


Source of this release: Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, Taiwan
Contacts
for Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Executive YuanWen Hong Ann, 886-25051180-797hongann@mail.cna.com.tw



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Water Stocks News -Pure Technologies ( TSX-V: PUR) Announces New SmartBall(R) Licensee


CALGARY, Dec. 23 Pure Technologies Ltd.,( TSX-V: PUR), announced today that Applus RTD, a leading international non-destructive testing and inspection company, has purchased a license for Pure's SmartBall(R) water leak detection system for the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg). This is the third SmartBall(R) license sold this year, following similar commitments from Mouchel plc for the UK and Ireland, and Rand Water Services for Southern Africa.

Commenting on the development, Mike Wrigglesworth, Pure's Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, stated that this new license agreement was an indication of the increasing acceptance of SmartBall(R) as an effective and cost-efficient leak detection system for trunk mains.

ABOUT APPLUS RTD GROUP

With headquarters in the Netherlands, and offices in thirty-one countries, Applus RTD Group (www.applusrtd.com) is an international company specialized in non-destructive testing, inspection and asset integrity management. The company provides a wide range of NDT and inspection services ranging from specialized pipeline testing, on-stream monitoring and scanning, detailed inspection and data management through to integrity management. With its specialized team, Applus RTD is partners in providing custom-made solutions to all questions about water-related inspections.

About Pure Technologies Ltd.

Pure Technologies Ltd. is an international technology and services company which has developed patented technologies for inspection, monitoring and management of critical infrastructure around the world. Pure operates from its headquarters in Calgary, Canada and through subsidiaries in Maryland, New Jersey, and the UK. Pure's proprietary product portfolio includes SoundPrint(R), a continuous acoustic structural monitoring system for buildings, bridges and structures; SoundPrint(R) AFO, a fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing system for monitoring and surveillance of pipelines; and SmartBall(R), a revolutionary new leak detection technology for water, wastewater and hydrocarbon pipelines.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, without limitation, may contain the words believes, expects, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans, or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of Management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In the context of any forward-looking information please refer to risk factors detailed in, as well as other information contained in, the Company's filings with Securities Regulators (www.sedar.com).

(R) Registered Trademarks, property of Pure Technologies Ltd.

"The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release"



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Water Stocks News - Aqua America (NYSE: WTR) Successfully Accesses Capital Markets to Support $300 Million Annual Infrastructure Improvement Program

Water Stocks News - Aqua America (NYSE: WTR) Successfully Accesses Capital Markets to Support $300 Million Annual Infrastructure Improvement Program
Aqua Pennsylvania renews revolving credit line

BRYN MAWR, Pa.---Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) announced today that the company completed a $50 million private placement of unsecured senior notes at an annual interest rate of 4.72 percent over 10 years. Proceeds from the financing will be used to refinance a $20 million, 9.12 percent note that matures in January 2010 and in support of the company’s significant capital budget.

Aqua America also announced that, on December 2, the company’s largest subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., renewed its $70 million revolving credit line at 125 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate. Aqua Pennsylvania is rated A+ by Standard and Poor’s. At today’s one-month LIBOR rate of 0.23 percent, the total interest rate would be 1.48 percent.

These financing activities, along with other low-cost borrowing completed in 2009, have allowed Aqua America to lower its imbedded cost of debt for the tenth consecutive year in 2009, which benefits both customers and shareholders. These financings will allow the company to continue to invest in infrastructure improvements to enhance reliability and service to customers in a cost-effective manner given the low-interest-rate debt Aqua has been able to access. Over the next five years, Aqua America expects that its operating subsidiaries will spend roughly $1.5 billion on infrastructure improvements, most of which will be funded by internally generated cash.

Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis said, “Our management team continues to work diligently to lower the company’s cost of debt, which allows Aqua to continue to maintain its growth business model and finance infrastructure projects that will improve water quality and reliability and benefit the local economy. Aqua remains positioned to make needed capital investments to improve the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure and provide affordable service for future generations. Aqua’s strong financial position has enabled the company to access the capital markets at favorable rates and thereby pass those savings along to customers.”

Aqua America, Inc. is a publicly traded water and wastewater utility with operating subsidiaries serving approximately three million people in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Maine, Missouri, South Carolina and Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, the effect of the company’s financial position on the company’s financing, access to the capital markets and capital investment program, the effect of the company’s efforts to lower its cost of debt, the expected use of the proceeds from the financings and the company’s projected capital spending levels. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, disruption in the credit markets, the success of growth initiatives, and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, which is on file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.





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