Week in review
Avista Utilities is seeking proposals from renewable energy suppliers to bolster its portfolio, saying it’ll experience a gap between supply and demand by 2010. Avista wants to acquire 35 megawatts of power by the end of 2007 and wants that power to come from renewable sources, such as wind. Proposals are due by Feb. 1. It’s a sign of changing times for the company founded as Washington Water Power 116 years ago to produce power from the flow of the region’s rivers. Currently, only about half of Avista’s power supply comes from hydropower and that will drop to one-quarter within the next 20 years.
Hotel prices set wallet-busting records in New York City in 2005 following a long, slow recovery in the nation’s hotel industry from the 2001 terrorist attacks. The average daily price of a room in New York hit $292 in November.
Coldwater Creek Inc., the Sandpoint-based women’s apparel retailer, said it will open six day spas in targeted locations later this year. The company said the 5,000-square-foot spas will be located near existing Coldwater Creek stores, although it didn’t specify which ones. The retailer’s typical shopper, a 40- to 45-year-old woman with a household income of $75,000 or more, is similar to the demographic targeted by day spas, according to a spa industry association.
“ Developer Ron Wells is ready to begin construction on a condominium project located on an old Spokane fire station site near downtown. Wells said half of the 10 units have been sold at prices starting at around $500,000.
About 450 Sacred Heart workers are in negotiations with Sacred Heart Medical Center for a new contract and the two sides anticipate an amicable agreement later this month. The employees are respiratory therapists, surgical and X-ray technicians and mental health counselors who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1001. A successful contract would be a second for the union, which formed several years ago amid a wave of organizing at Spokane hospitals.
“ Chevrolet was the best-selling brand in the U.S. market in 2005, outpacing Ford for the first time in 19 years, although all U.S. automakers continued to lose ground to foreign rivals.
“ Standard & Poor’s lowered Ford Motor Co.’s corporate credit rating further into junk territory, citing concerns about the company’s ability to turn around its North American operations.
“ Boeing Co. set a new record for commercial airplane orders in 2005, while also more than tripling the number of jet orders from the previous year. The Chicago aerospace company said it had received 1,002 net airplane orders during 2005. That beats the company’s previous record set in 1988, when Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, which have since merged, booked 877 net orders. In 2004, Boeing had 272 net commercial airplane orders.