TCEQ's Environmental Trade Fair & Conference coming in May

Make plans now to attend the TCEQ’s 2010 Environmental Trade Fair and Conference May 4–5 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. This annual event is Texas’ premier environmental educational forum, considered by many to be one of the best in the country. At this event, you can view the latest products and services of exhibitors, earn continuing education credits, and learn about the basics of environmental regulations. You can also attend educational sessions on topics such as: permitting, waste management, remediation, water quality planning, public drinking water, compliance assistance and enforcement, laboratory practices and data reporting, environmental quality along the Texas-Mexico border and binational water quality, ethics for professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and attorneys, underground injection control and radioactive waste management For more information, visit our Web site.

Investment in carbon accounting software hit $46 million in 2009

Salem, MA — A new report from Groom Energy Solutions looks at the $46 million invested in the enterprise carbon accounting (ECA) software market last year and some of the 60 vendors in the market.

Groom Energy's third report on the ECA market, 2010 Enterprise Carbon Accounting, says that in 2009 venture capital funding for the market reached over $46 million and acquisitions by EnerNOC, IHS and SAP were completed.

Last year also saw Microsoft and Computer Associates enter the market, and the report predicts that purchases of ECA software will increase by 600 percent, mainly by companies that have not invested in environmental software before.

The main factor pushing the market forward, the report says, is pressure from customers and investors, making companies focus on protecting and enhancing their public images. The next two factors are the cost and energy savings that come about through sustainability efforts, and mandates from buyers, such as Walmart's Supplier Sustainability Assessment Program.

The report also profiles 20 of the 60 vendors in the market, focusing on vendors in four categories: environmental health and safety vendors, new products from large firms, startup companies, and energy management firms.

The list of ECA Emerging Leaders from last year's report grows by two companies, with the addition of Enablon and Hara to the list. The returning ECA Emerging Leaders are Enviance, IHS, Johnson Controls, PE International, ProcessMAP and SAP. Inclusion in the list was based on number of customer deployments, technology features, market vision and financial stability.

From ClimateBiz.com (Jan 21, 2010)

Small businesses to give input on toxics from bricks, clay

Dec. 23 -- Small businesses have an opportunity to weigh in on the best way to regulate air toxics from the production of bricks and structural clay products such as roof tiles, the U.S. EPA said.

The government agency is inviting to nominate representatives for a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel that will give input for a proposed rule regarding production of those products. The EPA previously selected panel members in consultation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, but did not invite small businesses to nominate representatives.

The EPA issued air toxics regulations for brick and structural clay products makers in 2003, but they were later nullified by a federal court, the agency said. The EPA estimated that 82% of companies operating brick kilns are small businesses.

More information about panel participation is at http://www.epa.gov/sbrefa/brickclayproducts.htm.

(From Waste & Recycling News)