The alliance will provide both companies with enhanced resources to serve North America's emerging, solution-based market for independent on-site energy systems. ``In line with ABB's strategy of pursuing new higher growth businesses, the ABB-Catalyst alliance expands ABB's presence into the commercial and light industrial markets,'' stated Randy Schrieber, VP of ABB's Power Distribution Solutions. Advances in technologies, the effects of electric industry deregulation, greater environmental sensitivity, and increased customer awareness have created a window of opportunity for entrepreneurial and resourceful innovators. The ABB-Catalyst alliance is technology independent and vendor neutral as it integrates best-of-class technology platforms in developing innovative service and product offerings. Going beyond the traditional applications of Distributed Generation (DG), these Distributed Resource (DR) offerings also satisfy the broader operational needs of customers like cost savings, power quality and reliability, heating and cooling, and climate control. As part of the alliance growth strategy for building a national DR sales and service infrastructure, ABB and Catalyst are targeting select acquisitions and forming strategic channel and technology relationships. ``Our alliance with ABB puts us in a solid position to accelerate the growth of our DR business. As we leverage our combined knowledge base and expertise, we can better serve a more diverse customer base,'' noted Kimberly Cotter, Managing Director at Catalyst Power. ABB is a global technology company serving customers in power transmission and distribution; automation; oil, gas and petrochemicals; industrial products and contracting; and in financial services. The ABB Group employs about 165,000 people in more than 100 countries. Catalyst Power Partners LLC, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California is pioneering the development and delivery of innovative distributed resource solutions.