NEMA Currents Blog

NEC 2008 – Half time report

We are half way through the States adoption process for the 2008 National Electrical Code®. This code cycle has seen opposition has come from the beleaguered home builders on two issues - expanded use of Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and tamper proof outlets. The home builders claim that...

Published Mon, Jul 20 2009 1:26 PM by Winstanley, Gerard

Filed under: Electrical Safety, AFCI, Tamper Resistant Receptacles

Let's Make a Deal

Compromise : 1. a settlement of differences by mutual concessions. 2. the result of such settlement. 3. something intermediate between different things. 4. an endangering, esp. of reputation; exposure to danger, suspicion, etc. 5. to settle by a compromise. 6. to make liable to danger, suspicion, scandal...

Published Wed, Jul 22 2009 9:00 AM by Owen, Sarah

Filed under: Labor, Card Check, EFCA

What is Health Care Reform? Depends on Who You Ask

Health care reform is a big deal for U.S. businesses, including our electrical manufacturers. Health care costs have grown steadily for more than a decade, and businesses -- which bear much of the cost for their employers -- have felt the strain on their bottom lines. (Of course, in that time medical...

Published Tue, Jul 07 2009 12:48 PM by golds

Filed under: Health Care

Time to Relax

Since I am in long-weekend mode already, and don't want to interrupt the reverie by pointing out that firm signs of economic recovery remain elusive, I thought I'd direct readers to some interesting takes on two important policy issues: cap-and-trade and health care. On the health care debate...

Published Thu, Jul 02 2009 1:07 PM by Lego, Brian

Filed under: Smart Grid, Electrical Grid, Economics, Health Care

Another "Baby Bottle" finding . . . . Whom do you believe?

This morning brought an announcement of another “official” government finding concerning the hazards of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical building block used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. If you’ve paid even minimal attention to current events the past few years...

Published Fri, Jul 10 2009 3:57 PM by Kohorst, Mark

Filed under: Environment, Regulation

Hold on to Your Pants

Think that the proposed "millionaire surtax" to help pay for health care reforms won't impact job growth? Think again. Last week, the House Ways & Means Committee approved health care surtaxes which, when combined with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and reversion of the top federal...

Published Wed, Jul 22 2009 9:43 AM by Owen, Sarah

Filed under: Health Care, Tax

Going BANANAs

The energy industry in this country has long struggled to find suitable locations for plants and resource development. That's because for decades they've faced NIMBY -- community activists who put up roadblocks to ensure such efforts were "Not In My Back Yard." But the politics of the...

Published Tue, Jul 21 2009 3:15 PM by golds

Filed under: Smart Grid, transmission corridors

An end to the housing market’s troubles? Not yet

New data on housing starts provide the best indication to date that homebuilding activity, at least for the single-family side of the equation, likely bottomed out at the beginning of this year. This marks a dramatic improvement from the veritable free-fall in construction activity recorded over the...

Published Fri, Jul 17 2009 2:01 PM by Lego, Brian

Filed under: Economics

Summertime Blues

Last week I wrote columns on the possible "compromise" on the anti-democratic " Employee Free Choice Act " (HR 1409/S 560) and the proposed "millionaire" surtax designed to pay for health care reforms. I'd like to say that all of the problems with EFCA and the health...

Published Wed, Jul 29 2009 9:10 AM by Owen, Sarah

Filed under: EFCA, Health Care

Bad Ideas Never Die

Sometimes you'll see a proposal mentioned by a politician that sounds appealing based on emotion. Unfortunately, many of these proposals exist for no other reason than to say to the electorate "We Care!". And such is the case with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) announcement...

Published Fri, Jul 10 2009 3:13 PM by Lego, Brian

Filed under: Economics

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