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Washington, D.C., March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recognizing the value of America’s next-generation renewable, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have issued a new report that identifies the potential of marine energy resources (wave, tidal, ocean current, ocean thermal, and riverine marine) titled Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities. Utilizing national and state level data, the report finds that the total marine energy technical resource in the 50 states to be 2,300 TWh/yr or the equivalent to roughly 57% of 2019 U.S. electricity generation – enough to power 220 million U.S. homes.

“The new report demonstrates that marine energy technologies could be the missing link for meeting our nation’s clean energy goals and decarbonizing our electricity grid,” said Malcolm Woolf, NHA President and CEO. “Much like the development of solar energy, with each passing day, marine energy moves one step closer to full scale commercialization.  We believe that the marine energy industry is poised for gigawatt (GW) scale deployment in the United States in the coming decade. President Biden and Congress have proposed an ambitious target of achieving 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, and tapping into just a fraction of marine energy’s potential could help make that a reality. ”

Report Pinpoints National, Regional and State Potential

In the report, NREL identified specific areas within the U.S. where marine energy devices could be deployed and its potential contribution for generation. For example,

• On the West Coast, wave energy would be the dominant source, where there is a potential for 250 TWh/yr, which is equivalent to 67% of the region’s net electricity generation in 2019, enough to power 23 million homes.
• On the East Coast, ocean thermal would be the dominant source, where there is a potential 460 TWh/y, which is equivalent to 49% of the region’s net electricity generation in 2019 enough to power 43-million homes.

Ongoing U.S Marine Energy Device Deployments

Throughout the country, marine energy developers are working to develop and deploy new power generation devices. For example, last October, Verdant Power deployed its TriFrame® Mounted Gen-5 Tidal Turbines, in New York City’s East River. To date, the device has exceeded expectations and generated 100 MWh in only the first 85 days of continuous operation, a record for marine energy production in the United States. This is far earlier than projected, which means the demonstration project is on track to generate more than 430 MWh in one year of operation.

In Igiugig, Alaska, the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) has demonstrated its 40-kW RivGen® Power System in the Kvichak River. It operated throughout 2020 and proved its ability to survive the harsh Alaskan winters. A second RivGen® Power System is being prepared for deployment at Igiugig this summer.

“Marine energy isn’t theoretical anymore, as innovations within the industry are leading to deployments that are proving the viability of the technologies” said Woolf. “One of the most significant challenges to the domestic marine energy industry is the need to continually attract private investment to fund innovation and initial demonstrations during the pre-competitive stages of technology development, primarily due to the timelines and technical risks involved. As with more mature power generation technologies, such as advanced gas turbines or solar converter systems, support from the U.S. Federal Government for critical early stage innovation and technology deployment efforts is key to igniting commercialization of the marine energy industry.”

Research Leads the March Towards Commercialization

For domestic marine energy developers, research and testing devices remains front and center. Assisting this effort, today, there are now four National Marine Energy Centers: Pacific Marine Energy Center (Oregon State University, University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks); Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Florida Atlantic University; Hawaii National Marine Renewable Energy Center at the University of Hawaii; and Atlantic Marine Energy Center based at the University of New Hampshire.

Additionally, on March 1, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a 25-year hydroelectric production license for Oregon State University’s PacWave South testing facility to deploy and test technologies to generate energy from ocean waves. It’s FERC’s first-ever license for a wave energy facility.  The ability to test devices in the unforgiving waters of the Pacific Ocean, about 6 nautical miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon, is expected to go a long way in proving the viability of devices.

“Establishing and expanding critical testing infrastructure, including grid connection and deployment equipment, for pre-commercial marine energy devices along with support for technology validation activities is critical to moving forward,” said Woolf. “We are encouraged by the network of U.S. companies, supported by universities and the National Labs, that are working to unlock the global marine energy resource and the new Blue Economy.”

About NHA

The National Hydropower Association (NHA) is a nonprofit association dedicated exclusively to promoting the growth of clean, renewable hydropower and marine energy. On April 28-30, NHA will be hosting the virtual International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) 2021, supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) through Ocean Energy Systems (OES). Every two years, ICOE brings together international stakeholders, experts and exhibitors from the marine energy sectors (tidal, wave, ocean currents, ocean thermal gradients) to discuss device innovation, new market developments and regulatory frameworks to spur commercialization. This is the first time the United States has hosted this important international event. For more information on ICOE 2021 visit www.icoe2021.org.

 

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LeRoy Coleman
National Hydropower Association
2027508405
[email protected]

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. and SALT LAKE CITY, March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VERB Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), a rapidly emerging market leader in business-focused interactive video sales and marketing tools, including livestream ecommerce, CRM, and content management applications, today announced that CEO Rory J. Cutaia is presenting at the Emerging Growth Conference on March 17, 2021 at 9:30 AM ET to a live, online audience.

Mr. Cutaia’s presentation will highlight the Company’s unique interactive video technology and software-as-a-service sales enablement solutions, including its livestream ecommerce application verbLIVE, shifts in global shopping trends and consumer behavior for which the Company’s products are well-positioned, and recent strategic initiatives. A question-and-answer session will follow his presentation.

Please register here to attend the conference: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6904637667304920590?source=VERB

An archived webcast will also be made available on EmergingGrowth.com.

The Emerging Growth Conference is an effective way for public companies to present and communicate with the investment community. The conference focuses on companies in a wide range of growth sectors with strong management teams, innovative product and services, focused strategy and execution, and overall potential for long-term growth. Its audience includes institutional and individual investors, investment advisors and analysts.

About VERB

VERB Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) is rapidly emerging as the market leader in business-focused interactive video sales and marketing tools, including livestream ecommerce, CRM, and content management applications. With offices in California and Utah, USA, VERB provides next-generation software applications to sales-based organizations in more than 60 countries and 48 languages. The Company’s proprietary, patented, and patent-pending technology platform produces real-time, measurable results, with customers reporting greater than 600% increases in conversion rates. VERB’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) products are cloud-based, accessible on all mobile and desktop devices, and are available by subscription for individual and enterprise users. The Company’s technology is also integrated into popular ERP, CRM, and marketing platforms. For more information, please visit www.verb.tech.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about the closing of the offering of common stock. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with: the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures on our business, customers, markets and the worldwide economy; our plans to attract new customers, retain existing customers and increase our annual revenue; the development and delivery of new products, including verbLIVE; our plans and expectations regarding software-as-a-service offerings; our ability to execute on, integrate, and realize the benefits of any acquisitions; fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and other operating measures; increasing competition; general economic, market and business conditions; and the risks described in the filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) from time to time, including the risks described under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on May 14, 2020, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on June 4, 2020, and which should be read in conjunction with our financial results and forward-looking statements contained therein, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on November 16, 2020, which should be read in conjunction with our financial results and forward-looking statements contained therein. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:

888.504.9929
[email protected]

Media Contact:

855.250.2300, ext.107
[email protected]

NEW YORK, March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, has launched an investigation into whether the board members of Extended Stay America, Inc. (NASDAQ: STAY) (“ESA”) breached their fiduciary duties or violated the federal securities laws in connection with the company’s acquisition by funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Starwood Capital Group.

Click here to learn more and participate in the action.

On March 15, 2021, ESA announced that it had signed an agreement to be acquired by Blackstone and Starwood for approximately $6 billion. Pursuant to the merger agreement, ESA stockholders will receive $19.50 in cash for each share of ESA common stock owned. The deal is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2021.

Bragar Eagel & Squire is concerned that ESA’s board of directors oversaw an unfair process and ultimately agreed to an inadequate merger agreement. Accordingly, the firm is investigating all relevant aspects of the deal and is committed to securing the best result possible for ESA’s stockholders.

If you own shares of ESA and are concerned about the proposed merger, or you are interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact Melissa Fortunato or Alexandra Raymond by email at [email protected] or telephone at (646) 860-9157, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact Information:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.
Melissa Fortunato, Esq.
Alexandra Raymond, Esq.
[email protected]
www.bespc.com

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ready for use in creative food and beverage innovations, SweeGen’s Bestevia Rebaudioside B has received the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) Letter of No Objection from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Health, wellness and lifestyle modifications are on the mind of most consumers as pandemic conditions have them moving away from artificial sweeteners and sugar. More consumers are embracing nature-based stevia sweeteners and clean-label ingredients in their food and beverages. The drink market is responding as a surge of new global drink launches containing stevia are on the rise, with North America leading, as reported by Mintel in a sugar reduction analysis. 

“With a design-thinking approach for using consumer-preferred ingredients, coupled with Reb B’s characteristics and flexibility, such as good solubility and zero calories, we are very excited about collaborating with brands on functional beverages with unique flavors and nutritional ingredients,” said Casey McCormick, director of product development.

As brands are under pressure to reduce sugar, yet charged with creating great tasting products, the GRAS status qualifies Reb B as one more high-purity nature-based sweetener with a unique sensory profile to join Sweegen’s expansive stevia portfolio, including the highly sought-after Rebs D, E, I and M.

“This GRAS status is a great milestone for food and beverage manufacturers because Bestevia Reb B expands the toolkit for tackling the hurdles of reducing sugar in products, especially in beverages,” said Hadi Omrani, director of technical & regulatory affairs.

Bestevia Reb B is a next generation stevia sweetener because it is only found in trace amounts in the stevia leaf, much like its sweet-tasting counterparts in Sweegen’s non-GMO stevia nature-based sweetener portfolio. Since the best tasting sweetener molecules are found in such small quantities in the leaves, SweeGen uses its proprietary bioconversion technology to produce a range of  sustainable stevia sweeteners with assured quality, regulatory compliance and competitive prices. 

Last year, SweeGen announced Bestevia Reb B was ready for commercial production.

SweeGen continues to focus on application technology, taste modulation expertise and regional consumer trends in order to meet the high demand for unique sugar reduction solutions in the nature-based sweetener space.

Bestevia® is a registered trademark of SweeGen Inc.

About SweeGen

SweeGen provides sweet taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.

We are on a mission to reduce the sugar and artificial sweeteners in our global diet.  Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love.  With the best next generation stevia sweeteners in our portfolio such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, SweeGen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want and consumers prefer.

For more information please contact [email protected] and visit SweeGen’s website, www.sweegen.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, among other statements, statements regarding the future prospects for Rebs, B, D, E, I M, and N stevia leaf sweeteners. These statements are based on current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of SweeGen, Inc.

Relevant risks and uncertainties include those referenced in the historic filings of SweeGen, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements, and therefore should be carefully considered. SweeGen, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

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Attachment

• Cheers image

Ana Arakelian
SweeGen, Inc.
949-709-0583
[email protected]

ALAMEDA, Calif., March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jitterbit, the API transformation company, today announced that it has been recognized as a gold medallist and leader in the 2021 Data Integration & iPaaS Data Quadrant report from SoftwareReviews, a division of IT research and consulting firm Info-Tech Research Group. The award is based on the collective knowledge of real users and placement is based on satisfaction with product features, vendor experience, capabilities and emotional sentiment.

Breadth of Features and Business Value Created were two of the strongest capabilities associated with Jitterbit. Jitterbit was the highest ranking vendor in the Breadth of Features category, and achieved the top satisfaction scores in a variety of areas representing vendor capabilities and product features, including:

• Ease of Implementation
• Ease of Data Integration
• Availability and Quality of Training

Jitterbit also received an Emotional Footprint score of +89, receiving top scores around transparency, fairness, and enabling productivity. Jitterbit received no negative Emotional Footprint scores, one of just two vendors to do so. Emotional Footprint Metrics in which Jitterbit ranked highly include:

• Client Friendly Policies
• Performance Enhancing
• Saving Time

The Emotional Footprint makes the SoftwareReviews Data Quadrant unique as it is the inclusion of aggregated emotional response ratings in the areas of service, negotiation, product impact, conflict resolution, and strategy and innovation. This creates a powerful indicator of overall user feeling toward the vendor and its product from the software user’s point of view.

“Jitterbit is committed to providing an exceptional user experience,” said Shekar Hariharan, Vice President of Marketing at Jitterbit. “Our gold medalist distinction indicates that not only have we met our customers’ needs, but we have delighted them in the process. We look forward to maintaining our strong position in the market moving forward.”

About SoftwareReviews Data Quadrant Awards and Software Reports:

SoftwareReviews Data Quadrant Awards recognize outstanding vendors in the technology marketplace as evaluated by their users annually. Top vendors in a software category are eligible to receive Data Quadrant Gold Medals, provided their net-promoter scores meet the threshold for sufficiently high user satisfaction across four areas of evaluation: vendor capabilities, product features, likeliness to recommend, and vendor experience. In-depth product evaluation reports are available at http://www.softwarereviews.com.

About SoftwareReviews:

SoftwareReviews is a division of Info-Tech Research Group, a world-class IT research and consulting firm established in 1997. Backed by two decades of IT research and advisory experience, SoftwareReviews is a leading source of expertise and insight into the enterprise software landscape and client-vendor relationships. By collecting real data from IT and business professionals, the SoftwareReviews methodology produces the most detailed and authentic insights into the experience of evaluating and purchasing enterprise software.

About Jitterbit, Inc.

Jitterbit, the API transformation company, makes it quicker and easier for businesses to exploit data from any source, empowering them to rapidly innovate and make faster, more effective decisions. The Jitterbit Harmony API integration platform and API360 solutions enable companies to quickly connect SaaS, on-premises, and cloud applications and instantly infuse intelligence into any business process. To learn more, visit www.jitterbit.com or follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @Jitterbit.

Contact:
[email protected]