Business album briefs
Uniontown Vinegar results in
Some home gardeners already use vinegar as a herbicide, and some garden stores sell vinegar pesticides. But no one has tested it scientifically until now. Agricultural Research Service scientists offer the first scientific evidence that it may be a potent weedkiller that is inexpensive and environmentally safe – perfect for organic farmers. ARS researchers Jay Radhakrishnan, John R. Teasdale and Ben Coffman in Beltsville, Md., tested vinegar on major weeds – common lamb’s-quarters, giant foxtail, velvetleaf, smooth pigweed and Canada thistle – in greenhouse and field studies.
They hand-sprayed the weeds with various solutions of vinegar, uniformly coating the leaves. The researchers found that 5- and 10-percent concentrations killed the weeds during their first two weeks of life. Older plants required higher concentrations of vinegar to kill them. At the higher concentrations, vinegar had an 85- to 100-percent kill rate at all growth stages. A bottle of household vinegar is about a 5-percent concentration.
Canada thistle, one of the most tenacious weeds in the world, proved the most susceptible; the 5-percent concentration had a 100-percent kill rate of the perennial’s top growth.
The 20-percent concentration can do this in about 2 hours. Spot spraying of cornfields with 20 percent vinegar killed 80 to 100 percent of weeds without harming the corn, but the scientists stress the need for more research. If the vinegar were sprayed over an entire field, it would cost about $65 per acre.
If applied to local weed infestations only, such as may occur in the crop row after cultivation, it may only cost about $20 to $30.
The researchers use only vinegar made from fruits or grains, to conform to organic farming standards. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency.
For more information call William F. Gallagher at 724-438-0111.
Hagersotwn, Md.
Utility breaks ground
Allegheny Energy Supply, the generating and trading subsidiary of Allegheny Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AYE), held a ceremonial groundbreaking today for its 630-megawatt (MW) natural gas, combined-cycle generating facility in St. Joseph County, Ind. This $460-million electric generating facility will support Allegheny Energy Supply’s growth strategy of owning or controlling more than 14,500 MW of generating capacity by 2005.
“Construction of the St. Joseph Generating Facility marks the first major expansion of Allegheny generating facilities outside of the Mid-Atlantic Region, where we have operated as a franchised energy provider for more than 100 years,” said Michael P. Morrell, President, Allegheny Energy Supply, during afternoon ceremonies. “This plant complements our presence in the Midwest region where we already have 1,710 MW of generation and moves us further westward in our national expansion.”
As part of the ceremony, Allegheny Energy Supply donated $150,000 as a first of two installments for new ambulances in St. Joseph County.
“We have had a very warm reception here in St. Joseph County, and we are very appreciative of the support from the local community,” he said. “So in keeping with our philosophy of supporting the communities where we have generating facilities, we are pleased to contribute to this worthwhile purchase of new ambulances to serve the people of St. Joseph County.”
Located about 10 miles west of South Bend near New Carlisle, the facility will be built on a 100-acre tract that is within the St. Joseph County Economic Development District No. 2. At peak construction, approximately 400 craft laborers will be employed at the facility. The generating facility is expected to be completed and in operation by mid-2004.
Allegheny energy Supply develops, owns, and operates electric generating facilities and supplies and trades energy and energy-related commodities in selected domestic retail and wholesale markets. With its recently announced acquisitions and expansion plans, Allegheny Energy Supply will have ownership or control of generating capacity totaling more than 14,500 MW by 2005, with assets strategically located throughout the United States. For more information about Allegheny Energy Supply, visit our web site at www.alleghenyenergysupply.com
Harrisburg
Clustering encouraged
At a roundtable discussion he hosted today, state Rep. Victor J. Lescovitz, D-Washington/Beaver, encouraged the chemical industry and others to put their resources together to explore the benefits of clustering.
“Economic development just doesn’t happen by coincidence; you have to throw new ideas out on the table, work together and look at more than just one business at a time,” said Lescovitz. “Clustering is a concept for economic growth and I think southwestern Pennsylvania is an ideal business climate for this practice.”
At today’s discussion, Lescovitz brought together leaders in the region’s chemical industry and members of the academic and economic development community to explore the benefits of clustering. The forum was being held from 10 a.m. till noon at NOVA Chemicals Corp.’s U.S. operating center in Moon Township.
“We must take a step forward. If our industries from the ‘old economy’ would have worked together they might have survived,” said Lescovitz. “In this new era I would like to see our businesses and industries learn the benefits of collaboration.”
Carnegie Mellon University President Dr. Jared Cohon moderated the discussion with Lescovitz. Cohon is on the steering committee of a study evaluating cluster development being conducted by the Council on Competitiveness.
Lescovitz was spurred to further the study of clustering after reviewing the body of work by Dr. Michael Porter of Harvard University. Porter is now co-chairman of the council’s Cluster Innovation project. In the project, the Pittsburgh region was one of five being used as a model for possible success.
The council defines a cluster as a geographic concentration of competing and cooperating companies, suppliers, service providers and associated institutions.
Lescovitz supports the council’s mission to shape the national debate on competitiveness by concentrating on a few critical issues, which include technological innovation, work-force development and the benchmarking of U.S. economic performance against other countries.
“I support the work of the council, but my main focus today is supporting and promoting the economic growth of southwestern Pennsylvania,” he said. “I am very pleased to see so many people come together today to further development in this region, starting with the chemical industry.”