LiteSource

Five local companies proved they are still growing, both in profits and jobs, and were named to a list of Indiana Companies to Watch for 2011. The award went to 43 companies across the state, and includes two in Crown Point, two in Valparaiso and one in East Chicago. The award recognizes private businesses with six to 150 employees and between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue, according to a press release. Read More

Terbium. Erbium. Yttrium. They're hardly household names, but they and 14 other rare-earth elements (REEs) are essential to the operation of a variety of products (flat-panel displays and color TVs), as well as medical devices, the batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles, catalytic converters, and processes like petroleum refining. They also comprise about 85% of the phosphors used in fluorescent lamps, and a growing supply/demand imbalance is resulting in REE price hikes that already are being reflected in lamp manufacturers' pricing. Read More

The U.S. ESCO industry grew at about 7% per year from 2006 to 2008, reaching total annual revenues of about $4.1 billion in 2008, according to a recently released report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO). James Dixon, Vice Chairman of NAESCO and Vice President of Energy Services at ConEdison Solutions, said that, "ESCOs grew right through the recession, illustrating the increasingly significant role that ESCOs are playing in meeting our energy needs." Read More