Alabama Agricultre Dept. to Retrofit Headquarters

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The state Department of Agriculture and
Industries plans to spend nearly $3 million to replace the
plumbing, electrical systems and air conditioning in its Montgomery
headquarters.
    The department has picked Chevron Energy Solutions Co. of San
Francisco to handle the project.
    The department’s maintenance director, Pete Wethington, says the
building was constructed in the early 1970s and pipes are
crumbling. Wethington says the department plans to use energy
savings to help pay for the work over the next 20 years.
    The Legislature’s Contract Review Committee looked at the
proposed contract between the department and Chevron on Thursday.
One member, state Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery, initially
expressed concern about using a California company, but after
getting more information, he decided not to hold up the contract.