by Alan Panebaker vtdigger.org The big guns in the Vermont utility world converged on the Statehouse Tuesday to warn lawmakers against passing legislation that would direct the state Public Service Board to a specific course of action.In testimony before House committees on Natural Resources and Energy and Commerce and Economic Development, utility CEOs, business representatives and a former chair of the board all cautioned against proposals that would, in effect, tell the board or the Department of Public Service to ensure ratepayers get $21 million in a cash or refund. The Legislature has yet to consider as a body any of the proposals.The hearing hosted proponents of a proposal by the Shumlin administration and the stateâ s two largest utilities. It stands in stark contrast to a hearing in the Senate last week in which lawmakers grilled Department of Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller on why the state could not strike a more favorable deal with Green Mountain Power and CVPS, who need approval from the Public Service Board for a merger of the two companies under the ownership of Gaz Metro, a Canadian utility.The utilities and the Department of Public Service recently produced a memorandum of understanding in the $700 million merger. The utilities petitioned the state Public Service Board in September for approval of the deal.The sticking point for the Legislature is a proposal in the agreement that would invest $21 million in an efficiency fund to comply with a requirement that the utilities share profits from an above-market-value merger with ratepayers to compensate them for a bailout in the 1990s when the state utilities entered into imprudent contracts with Hydro-Quebec. Some lawmakers want to see that money go straight to ratepayers, and they are ready to pass legislation that would make sure that happens.Louise McCarren, former chair of the Public Service Board, told the House committees to tread lightly when considering interfering with the boardâ s work.Louise McCarren, former chair of the Vermont Public Service Board, testifies Tuesday at the Statehouse. VTD/Alan Panebakerâ There are consequences of the Legislature reaching into this case and making a decision that constrains the outcome of the boardâ s decision,’McCarren said.She said the Legislature created the board to be independent. Parties in the proceeding should not be allowed to approach the General Assembly when they do not believe the Public Service Board will deliver them a favorable result. She said interfering with the quasi-judicial board would be like the Legislature interfering in a high-profile civil court proceeding.She said it could encourage a â backdoor process’that could undercut the boardâ s authority and ability to make independent decisions.â Itâ s an incredibly dangerous thing to do,’she said. â It sends a message that the orderly process can be replaced because thereâ s someone across the street who can help out.âCEOs of both the stateâ s largest utilities and Department of Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller hammered the importance of not intervening in the deal.The Legislature has intervened numerous times in open Public Service Board dockets. The most high-profile intervention came in 2006 when it passed a law requiring legislative approval before the board could approve a renewed license for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, a law that a federal court ultimately found unconstitutional.Rep. Tony Klein, who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, organized the meeting with Bill Botzow, chair of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.Klein said the purpose of the hearing was to gain knowledge of the entire proposed merger, which the utilities hope the board will approve this summer.â If itâ s a 700-plus million dollar deal and people are only focused on the 21 million. Part of hearing was to figure out whatâ s in the rest of the $700 million,’he said.Klein said he wanted to hear from businesses about how they felt they would be affected by an unstable regulatory environment.But for lawmakers who have been trying desperately to find a vehicle to propose some sort of amendment that would require the utilities to pay CVPS ratepayers $21 million rather than invest $21 million in ratepayer money to create benefits in electric and thermal efficiency, the hearing seemed fabricated to quash those ideas in the Statehouse and the media.â I had the feeling it was orchestrated,’said Rep. Patti Komline, who has worked with other lawmakers to push House Speaker Shap Smith to allow bills to come to the floor that could be used as a vehicle for an amendment to require the cash or refund payment.Komline and the AARP were added to the list of witnesses at the last minute. The original lineup only included representatives who supported the utilities’position. It was the first time representatives from AARP, which has embarked on a months-long media campaign pushing for cash payments to customers, gave legislative testimony on the issue.Klein, who asked few questions of other witnesses, peppered AARP Director of Advocacy Philene Taormina. At one point, Rep. Paul Ralston asked Klein to lay off and not engage in a debate.Proponents of the cash payback mechanism proposed by AARP in the Public Service Board proceeding and ultimately adopted by some lawmakers continue to try to find a means to get their message to the board.Komline said about 80 representatives, representing more than 320,000 Vermonters are ready to vote for such an amendment. She said it is appropriate for the Legislature to intervene, especially considering the fact that many feel the utility shareholders are getting a better deal since they will recoup the $21 million investment in rates.Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell said legislative intervention could unravel the entire process, particularly since lawmakers have not read through the thousands of pages of testimony and days of hearings that go into the merger as the board has.â One of the things that hopefully became very clear today was the rigor that goes into the Public Service Board process,’she said. â Weâ ve always found in hindsight that they do a fair job figuring out all the different views and perspectives and coming up with an order that makes sense for Vermont.âOther lawmakers have more nuanced opinions.Sen. Ernie Shand, who sits on the Commerce and Economic Development committee, said he sees the Public Service Board as an employee. The state should tell its members what they should do but allow them sufficient space to do their job.â If the time comes and they screw up, we will tell them,’he said.Shand said he would be more comfortable with the Legislature disapproving of the boardâ s process after the docket is closed. April 10, 2012 vtdigger.org read more

Seven Days,Joined by Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, tech business owners, economic development officials and others at Ello in Burlington, Governor Peter Shumlin Wednesday touted the upcoming 2014 Vermont Tech Jam being held on Friday and Saturday, and highlighted Vermont’s growing high-tech industry and national recognition. “We’re at Ello today because this company – the hottest new social media site since Facebook — is a great example of this booming part of our economy,” Shumlin said. “Ello is not alone. There are new companies across Vermont looking for employees to take these cutting-edge jobs. The growing popularity of Vermont Tech Jam is a testament to this thriving sector of our economy.”Vermont Tech Jam file photo by Matthew Thorsen.Ello, which was co-founded by CEO Paul Budnitz, is an ad-free social network site with the motto “Beautiful, Simple and Ad-Free.” The site has seen exponential growth since its launch, particularly from people seeking an alternative to Facebook.“Like Vermont, Ello is beautiful. Also like Vermont, Ello does not allow billboard advertising of any kind,” said Budnitz. “Ello is a very Vermont business — this is a state with a long history of successful businesses that take a stand for what they believe in, and make money doing it.”The 8th Vermont Tech Jam (there were two Tech Jams in 2008), presented by Dealer.com and MyWebGrocer, takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington. The Tech Jam is organized by independent newsweekly Seven Days and the Vermont Technology Alliance, the trade organization for the tech sector. The two were part of a coalition of public and private sector partners who started the Tech Jam in 2008.“Tech Jam is one of the most exciting, optimistic events of the year,” said Weinberger. “The annual growth of the event reminds us how far the region’s tech sector has come and demonstrates Burlington’s potential to be a great tech city.  Thanks to innovators like Paul Budnitz and his remarkable creation, Ello, Burlington is becoming recognized as an outstanding place to launch a start-up and grow tech businesses.”The Vermont Tech Jam is a job fair and tech expo, with 60-plus exhibitors including some of Vermont’s largest employers (Fletcher Allen, IBM, Keurig Green Mountain, the State of Vermont, Dealer.com) to some of its newest startups (Notabli, Xemory Software, GameTheory, Designbook). Colleges, universities and job training programs will also exhibit, including Champlain College, Vermont Tech, UVM Continuing and Distance Ed, CCV, Vermont Law School and Vermont Works for Women’s Step Up to IT program.Cathy Resmer, Associate Editor of Seven Days and one of Tech Jam’s organizers, said exhibitor space sold out this year for the fourth year in a row. There are half a dozen companies on the waiting list. She said at least 48 exhibitors are actively looking to fill technical positions, including longtime Tech Jam supporters like Dealer.com, MyWebGrocer, Keurig Green Mountain, LORD MicroStrain, Logic Supply, Vermont Information Processing, Greensea Systems, Global-Z International, Middlebury Interactive Languages and SoundToys, as well as  first-time exhibitors asicNorth, Linear Technology, IrisVR, Notabli, Level 3, Xemory Software and A.N. Deringer of St. Albans. Seven Days publishes its annual Tech Issue on the Wednesday before the Jam; 36,000 copies hit the streets on Wed. October 22. The Tech Jam program guide is inserted into every issue (see schedule below).The State of Vermont has been a strong supporter of the Tech Jam, through the Agency of Education, the Agency of Commerce and Community Develop and the Vermont Department of Labor, all of which are sponsoring the Jam in various ways. The State of Vermont departments of Human Resources and Labor are also exhibitors.“Not only do we help connect employers to job seekers, we also help tell the tech story of Vermont,” Resmer said. She noted that in January 2014, the website techie.com(link is external) named Burlington one of the country’s Top 10 Most Promising Tech Hubs to Watch, citing the Tech Jam as one of the reasons.In addition, the Governor said the state’s newly launched Great Jobs in Vermont campaign has seen early success. Great Jobs is a marketing and job posting site, launched in collaboration with the Department of Labor’s “Vermont Job Link,” connects job seekers in and out of state with exciting available job openings in Vermont businesses. Vermont’s autumn microsite that hosts GreatJobsinVT.com has seen strong traffic through the autumn season, receiving over 44,000 users since September 10. Of the users, about 15,980 were from New York, 10,369 were from Massachusetts, 7,720 were from New Jersey, and 2,560 were from Vermont.Kurt Nielsen of Keurig Green Mountain, founder of the Vermont Recruiters Association, said the group is using the Great Jobs in VT LinkedIn site to help get the word out about jobs openings. The LinkedIn group has already grown to 567 members with 138 current job postings. The Association was formed to attract and keep good employees from both inside and outside Vermont.“With the growth of companies such as Ello, Dealer.com, Pwnie Express and other worldwide leaders in the tech sector, Vermont is becoming known nationally and internationally as a hotbed of technical ingenuity,” said Pat Moulton, Secretary of Commerce and Community Development. “And Burlington is fast joining the ranks of Boulder, Palo Alto, Cambridge and other start-up centers as an incubator for innovation.”In addition to Ello, other recent startups include:·         Faraday of Middlebury, which uses computer learning to predict customer behavior and identify ways customers can save on energy.·         Yonder, the Woodstock-based app that Backpacker calls “What happens when Instagram and Foursquare meet at REI.”·         Pwnie Express of Barre, the maker of what WIRED Magazine has called “the little white box that can hack your network.”·         Inntopia, the Stowe-based developer of software for resort bookings and online reservations  that was recently sold to Northstar Travel Media.·         Localvore of Burlington, an alternative to Groupon that just received another round of private funding.·         Logic Supply of South Burlington, which makes industrial-strength mini-computers that don’t break and are used by the Coast Guard and more.·         And Middlebury Interactive, which has doubled in size in the past 5 years and more than 170,000 students at 1,200 schools around the country use its digital language courses.“These are the kinds of jobs that will keep Vermonters home, and attract people from across the country who want to work, play and raise their families here,” Shumlin said.Tech Jam highlights, provided by Cathy Resmer of Seven Days:Friday highlights: — More than 400 middle and high school students from all across Vermont will visit the Tech Jam on Friday, October 24. Field trips will arrive from Middlebury, Williamstown, South Hero, Cabot, St. Albans, Moretown and Burlington, among others. Peter Drescher, the Agency’s Technology Coordinator, has organized a showcase of student projects on the Student STEM Stage.– Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe will be speaking at a press conference on Friday, October 24, to announce a new statewide initiative with Google and the State’s Division of Historic Preservation.– Seven Days and The Agency of Commerce and Community Development present the Tech Tank, a 90-minute series of short talks that highlight innovative Vermont companies, including Greensea Systems, Mack Molding, Logic Supply, Dealer.com and MyWebGrocer.– David Bradbury offers a guided tour of VCET@BTV(link sends e-mail), Burlington’s new tech hub in the FairPoint building across the street from the Jam.– The Vermont Technology Alliance will announce the winners Tech Jam Awards, sponsored by Merchants Bank, in Generator, Burlington’s maker space. Commerce Secretary Patricia Moulton presents the awards Friday night. Finalists for the Innovation Award: IBM, Greensea Systems and Stone Environmental; finalists for the Ambassador Award: Girl Develop It Burlington, UVM Department of Computer Science, Bradley Holt and Jason Pelletier of Found Line.Saturday highlights:– Seven Days and Kids VT are hosting a Girls in STEM luncheon. We’re providing lunch for invited tech savvy teens interested in tech careers and local women role models in STEM fields, including Maureen McElaney of Dealer.com, founder of Girl Develop It Burlington, Rebecca Grenier, a developer at EatingWell Media Group, IBM engineer Jennifer Robbins and Professor Mercedes Rincon, a patent-holding researcher of UVM’s College of Medicine.– Vermont EPSCoR presents a panel aimed at helping startups find funding. Presenters include entrepreneurs who have successfully gotten funding through federal SBIR grants (Steve Arms, founder of Microstrain; Jack Glaser, CEO of MBF Bioscience), as well as Cairn Cross from FreshTracks Capital.– Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger moderates a panel about BTV Ignite, the city’s partnership to leverage the opportunities created by its gigabit, fiber-to-the-home network.Both days: HR reps offer tips on job-seeking strategies in “How to Get Hired” sessions; Logic Supply teaches people to build basic computers in workshops; GameTheory explains the process behind conceptualizing a successful video game in “paper prototyping” workshops; Vermont makers show their stuff and demonstrate equipment at Generator, Burlington’s new maker space. read more

Francis Collins given official nod to continue as NIH directorPresident Donald Trump announced yesterday that Francis Collins, MD, PhD, an Obama administration holdover, will stay on as permanent director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), multiple media sites reported.Collins, a physician and geneticist appointed in 2009, was asked to stay on temporarily after Trump’s November 2016 election. Yesterday’s move made it official. Before joining the NIH, he was well known for spearheading the International Human Genome Project, which in 2003 sequenced the entire human genome for the first time.The NIH, which employs about 20,000 people, is a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. It comprises 27 institutes and centers and awards billions of dollars in research grants each year. Collins retains NIH leadership at a time when Trump has asked for a 22% cut in the agency’s $32 billion budget. Collins has avoided explaining how the NIH would survive such a dramatic cut, pointing instead to the agency’s broad bipartisan congressional support, ScienceInsider reported.In a statement, Collins said, “I am honored to continue as the Director of the National Institutes of Health and consider it a great privilege to serve at a time of unprecedented opportunity to advance health and relieve suffering through biomedical research. . . . I am grateful for the President’s vote of confidence in my ability to continue to lead this great agency.”Sen Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who chairs the Senate health committee, called the announcement “good news for the country and one of President Trump’s best appointments. There’s nobody better qualified than Francis Collins to help accelerate the medical miracles that have the potential to help virtually every American family.”Jun 6 ScienceInsider story NIH bio on Collins Zika DNA vaccine protects reproductive tract in male miceA new DNA-based Zika vaccine protected mice from Zika-related damage to the testes in a new clinical trial. Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the makers of the vaccine (GLS-5700), published the results of the trial today in Nature Communications. In a press statement, Inovio said the results of the trial could mean that GLS-5700 could one day prevent sexual transmission of the mosquito-borne disease.In the study, 10-week-old mice were challenged with high doses of Zika virus after receiving one dose of GLS-5700. Controls showed high levels of Zika RNA in sperm samples, but the vaccinated mice exhibited no signs of the Zika virus in their testes.In other Zika news, whole-blood samples contain Zika virus antigens that can be useful in detecting the illness in people via flow cytometry, according to a study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases based on whole-blood samples taken from Zika patients during Singapore’s 2015-2016 outbreak.Although using polymerase chain reaction to detect Zika virus is common practice, the authors of the study note that people with mild illness might not get tested, and results could be skewed if the patient has waited too long.”The use of whole blood staining for Zika antigen in blood monocytes is a cost-effective method with a short turnaround time that should be explored in the future as an alternative to aid in the diagnosis of active ZIKAV infection,” the authors conclude. Jun 7 Nat Communstudy Jun 7 Inovio press release Jun 6 J Infect Dis study New Mexico confirms first case of human plague this yearEarlier this week the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed the state’s first human case of plague of the year, in a 63-year-old man. He is hospitalized in Sante Fe County.An environmental investigation is under way in the man’s home, and neighbors have been informed of the risk. Plague is a serious bacterial infection typically transmitted from rodents to humans via flea bites.So far this year, 10 dogs and 5 cats have contracted the disease in New Mexico.”Plague activity has been widespread in northcentral New Mexico this spring,” said Paul Ettestad, DVM, public health veterinarian for the NMDOH. “Sick or dead rodents and rabbits are being reported from different areas in the state, so it is very important to take precautions to avoid rodents and their fleas which can expose you to plague. Pets that are allowed to roam and hunt can bring plague-infected fleas from dead rodents back into the home, putting you and your children at risk.”Symptoms of plague begin with a sudden onset of fever, chills, and swelling in the lymph nodes that line the groin, armpits, and neck. Antibiotics can prevent death and serious complications when administered quickly after diagnosis.Jun 5 NMDOH statement FDA recommends post-exposure step to prevent hepatitis A in tuna caseThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending post-exposure hepatitis A prophylaxis for any unvaccinated people who may have eaten recalled fish or undercooked tuna products in the past 2 weeks.As of May 18, Hilo Fish Company recalled frozen tuna that may be contaminated by the hepatitis A virus. There are no illnesses linked to the tuna as yet, but the fish in question was distributed to restaurants and retailers in New York, Texas, Oklahoma, and California. The FDA has published the names of these restaurants and retailers on its Web site.Post-exposure prophylaxis includes a hepatitis A vaccine for people between the ages of 1 and 40, and hepatitis A virus-specific immunoglobulin (IG) for people outside of that age range. The FDA said that people who are unsure of their vaccination status should speak with their doctors.Hepatitis A is a serious liver infection that can be transmitted through contaminated food and water. Jun 6 FDA statement read more

The sidewalk installation is underway today along Trinity Drive near DP Road and the N.M. 502 roundabout project. The Hilltop House Hotel is at left. Photo by Ed Birnbaum

COUNTY News:Two upcoming “virtual” workshops will offer residents in White Rock and Los Alamos their first opportunity to voice ideas about the future of the two downtown areas. The first GoToWebinar, facilitated by the County’s consultants from Dekker/Perich/Sabatini (DPS), will be specifically for White Rock residents and the second workshop using GoToWebinar will focus on the downtown area of Los Alamos.The ‘Downtown Master Plans and Development Code Update’ is a two-year project initiated by Los Alamos County, starting in June 2020. The project encompasses two phases: Phase 1 will create Downtown Master Plans for both the Los Alamos and White Rock downtown areas; andPhase 2 will update the County’s Chapter 16 Development Code, the County’s zoning. Both phases recognize the unique challenges that Los Alamos County faces. The project team will develop strategies to address the economic and population growth projected for the County.The Downtown Master Plan meeting for White Rock is Wednesday, Aug. 19, and the meeting for Los Alamos is Thursday, Aug. 20. Both meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. on GoToWebinar, a virtual conference platform, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s public health order.  Virtual meeting detailed information and links to attend can be found below and residents need to register in advance: https://losalamosconnect.org/get-involved/virtual-visioning-workshop-white-rock/The Virtual Visioning Workshops will help articulate a vision for the downtown areas and prioritize downtown goals. During this workshop the community will discuss the various components that make a downtown successful: great public spaces, thriving businesses, contemporary housing and walkable districts. From this discussion the community will identify and prioritize a vision and associated goals to inform the direction of the master plan.  The outcomes of the Los Alamos County Downtown Master Plans & Code Update project rely heavily on input solicited during public outreach. Both project phases described above will have a series of outreach events and provide continuous opportunities for input through a variety of outreach channels. In the case of a revised public health order, outreach methods will be adjusted to serve the greatest number of participants in a safe environment.  A website has been established by DPS to provide a convenient, one-stop place for residents to follow along as the project phases proceed. A timeline can be viewed on the site. Meetings will be recorded for those unable to attend and added to the site, and additional documents as well as surveys to gather feedback will be available soon. Visit and bookmark https://losalamosconnect.org/ for more information. read more

Jessica Mackin-CiproThis week I start a series of what my perfect day in each East End village would look like. This week, Southampton.I’d start my day with a stop at Sant Ambroeus on Main Street. One of my favorite things to do is order a cappuccino at the coffee bar. There, you can enjoy your coffee. It’s not the normal morning rush. Unlike most mornings, I’d also order a pastry, because on this pretend day, calories do not count. The Italian eatery, named after the patron saint of Milan, never disappoints.After leisurely sipping my coffee, I’d stroll on over to the Southampton Arts Center. There’s a closing day gallery tour and champagne toast for the show “East End Collected4,” curated by Paton Miller, on Sunday, May 20, at 3 PM. Next week, the “Light on Shadow” exhibit opens, featuring photographs by Shawn Heinrichs.Next on the agenda is a stop at one of my favorite buildings, the Southampton Historical Museum’s Rogers Mansion. The current exhibit “Hunting the Whale: The Rise and Fall of a Southampton Industry” is on view through August 4.Lunch is at Fellingham’s, a sports bar that was voted one of the Best Bars in America by Esquire. The building that houses the decades-old restaurant was originally an 1830 carriage house, and it has its original hand carved beams and handmade nails.Nostalgic sports memorabilia decorate the restaurant. It’s “where good sports meet.” Even if I know little to nothing about sports, I know Fellingham’s knocks it out of the park. Order one of the reasonably priced 20+ burgers on the menu, grab a cold brew, and enjoy this venue.After lunch, it’s time to walk off that burger. I’d stop in to Kyle by Alene Too because Real Housewives are life — the store is owned by “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Kyle Richards. Recently I walked out of the store with a croquet set and some garden flamingos for just $50, a purchase I am very proud of. The store also has nice clothing as well.I’d have to stop by One Kings Lane, perfect for home goods and unique gifts. I recently purchased a house, so this is a go-to for decorating. (See facing Market Page for some of the great products from One Kings Lane.)And since calories still don’t count during this imaginary day, a stop to the Topaire Flower Shop candy shop is also in order.Jessica Mackin-CiproLater on, with a group of friends, it’s time for dinner at Tutto il Giorno. I’d start with its Pompelmo cocktail, made with Simple Vodka, Aperol, grapefruit, lime, and mint syrup. For every drink served, Simple Vodka donates one meal to a hungry American. Dinner would include the restaurant’s delicious pasta dishes and lots of laughs.After dinner, it’s off to the Southampton Social Club for drinks, an excellent choice for a summer night with friends.There you have it. My perfect day in Southampton.@HamptonDazeJessica@indyeastend.com Share read more

Get instant access to must-read content today!To access hundreds of features, subscribe today! At a time when the world is forced to go digital more than ever before just to stay connected, discover the in-depth content our subscribers receive every month by subscribing to gasworld.Don’t just stay connected, stay at the forefront – join gasworld and become a subscriber to access all of our must-read content online from just $270. Subscribe

Get instant access to must-read content today!To access hundreds of features, subscribe today! At a time when the world is forced to go digital more than ever before just to stay connected, discover the in-depth content our subscribers receive every month by subscribing to gasworld.Don’t just stay connected, stay at the forefront – join gasworld and become a subscriber to access all of our must-read content online from just $270. Subscribe

Australia’s oil and gas producer, and operator of the GLNG project Santos has secured an additional 3-year, AUD 1 billion (USD 817.5m) bilateral bank loan facility.Santos says that the new facility with ANZ Banking Group significantly enhances the company’s liquidity profile and financial flexibility at attractive funding costs.Santos Chief Financial Officer Andrew Seaton said that the facility further strengthens Santos’ conservative liquidity profile.“This facility provides a substantial buffer over and above the company’s funding needs in the current uncertain oil price environment,” Seaton said.Santos recently cut planned spending by AUD 700 million (USD 572.4m) and is mulling asset sales as a response to the weakest oil prices in five years.“The current volatile oil price means that Santos is focused on driving operational efficiency, reducing costs, prudently managing capital and making sure our balance sheet remains strong – without making short term reactive decisions that could damage the long term interests of the company or the interests of shareholders,” said Santos Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer David Knox in an announcement to spending cuts. read more

CLS Offshore Limited has named James Norwood as their new Commercial Director. Norwood joins CLS Offshore from Raytheon Anschuetz GmbH, and will be responsible for developing the strategy, commercial and business development activities of the company.Graduating in 2001 from the University of Plymouth with a degree in Maritime Business and Marine Law, Norwood joined Portland Port as their Marketing Manager prior to joining the Royal Navy in 2002.Leaving the Royal Navy in 2008, James took on increasingly senior roles within BMT Group, TRANSAS Marine Ltd and latterly as Head of Business Development for Marine, Oil & Gas at Raytheon Anschuetz GmbH.Speaking of his appointment, James Norwood said “I am delighted to be joining CLS Offshore at this exciting time. I have been following the phenomenal growth of this organisation over the last two years and am very pleased to now be a part of it. CLS Offshore is synonymous in the industry with providing high quality products and services and I look forward to working with the CLS team to further enhance our client’s capabilities”Norwood holds an MBA from Imperial College London and a BSC (Hons) in Maritime Business and Marine Law. He is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute.CLS Offshore provides of Engineering, Project Management, Fabrication solutions to the international oil and gas industry. read more