H2bid.com, a global website serving the water and wastewater industries, has been named as a finalist in a business contest sponsored by Forbes.com. H2bid is an online exchange that provides access to water and wastewater utility contract opportunities from around the world. Nearly 1,000 businesses entered the “Boost Your Business” contest, but only five made the final round. H2bid.com is the only company from the water industry in the finals. The winning company will receive $100,000. The winner will be determined, in part, by online voting at the Forbes.com website.

“We are proud to represent the water industry in such a high-profile contest,” said Glenn Oliver, H2bid’s Founder and President. “If we win, we will offer more services and support to the industry.”

Through H2bid’s online marketplace, water and wastewater utilities have an online presence, reaching vendors around the world, 24/7. At the same time, water industry vendors have immediate, unmatched access to contract opportunities around the globe.

H2bid is currently beta testing H2find.com (www.h2find.com), a new website that allows contractors and subcontractors serving the water and wastewater industries to find each other. There is also a blog (www.h2bidblog.com), which includes original articles on water policy issues as well as other information on the water industry.

To vote for H2bid, go to http://www.forbes.com/byb/final_round/byb07_h2bid.html. The polls close on November 30, 2007 and the winner will be announced in early December.

As oil prices have been rising, biofuels have been booming. Biofuels are made from plant matter; the complex carbohydrates of the plants are converted into hydrocarbon chains, which behave much like gasoline and diesel fuels. Even if you’ve never heard the term, you’ve undoubtedly heard the names of the fuels; ethanol, methanol and biodiesel are all examples of biofuels currently available in many countries.

The main benefit of biofuels is easy to grasp; biofuels are a renewable resource, unlike petroleum. When the world’s supply of oil is consumed, there will be no way to ‘make new oil’. Conversely, there is a constant harvest of new, growing fuel-crops. Corn, soybeans, hardwoods, sugar canes – all can be harvested and used for biofuel production…More