The BulleTin • Sunday, May 9, 2021 C3
Element 1
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: After a bad
breakup, a good friend and her
husband offered me a room
in their home. They have two
wonderful teenagers. Then the
pandemic came, and we all be-
came infected.
What started out as a few
months’ plan for me to get
back on my feet has lasted 14
months. I have offered to pay
them some money, but they
will accept only $200 to help
with the groceries.
My problem is I have no-
ticed that the husband is not
very happy with my presence.
I told my friend I’m ready
to start looking for my own
apartment, but she insists that
I stay just a little longer so that
I will be really stable on my
own. She tells me how “I am
family,” and I’m not bother-
ing anyone, and they have no
complaints about me. I did not
tell her what is really driving
me out.
I’m really uncomfortable
with his attitude toward me,
and I understand that perhaps
I have overstayed my welcome.
My question: Should I leave
and tell her I felt that I was no
longer welcomed by her hus-
band? Or should I just leave
without telling her? Thanks for
your input.
— Uncomfortable in Miami
Dear Uncomfortable: Do
not sneak away. Do find a
place of your own. Express to
your friend that she has been a
saint to allow you to live with
them during this extended pe-
riod, but it is clear the time has
come for you to go. Tell her
you will not only be fine but
forever in their debt for their
kindness to you.
P.S. As soon as it is feasible
— not before — give them a
nice gift for their home.
Dear Abby: I recently have
been dating a neighbor woman
who is a cat lover. I assume she
owns many of them. (I haven’t
yet been inside her apartment.)
My problem is, when she
comes over to my place, the
odor of cat urine is overpow-
ering. How do I disclose that
I’m disgusted by this cat smell
without hurting her feelings or
offending her?
— Holding My Nose in Oklahoma
Dear Holding: You have to
say something. While the odor
of cat urine may be attractive
to other cats, it has also been
known to act as people repel-
lant.
Start slow. Lead into the sub-
ject by asking her how many
felines she owns. When she
answers, ask if they are all OK.
Regardless of her response,
explain that you are asking be-
cause one (or more) of her pets
may be spraying her furni-
ture or her clothing, and it has
left an odor. This will give her
the opportunity to rectify the
problem. However, if she finds
the truth offensive, so be it, be-
cause the relationship would
not have worked out anyway.
Dear Readers: I wish a
very happy Mother’s Day to
mothers everywhere — birth
mothers, adoptive and foster
mothers, stepmothers, grand-
mothers who are raising their
grandchildren and dual-role
dads. Orchids to all of you for
the love you give not only to-
day, but each and every day.
— Love, Abby
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
eeee DYNAMIC | eee POSITIVE | eee AVERAGE | eeSO-SO | DIFFICULT
MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT today (3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon
moves from Aries into Taurus.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021: You are honest,
open and direct. Not only are you practical, you also have a wonderful, artistic
imagination. As your new year begins, you are entering a time of new beginnings
and fresh starts. Be open to letting go of old habits and habitual patterns in your
life. Consider new ways of doing things, because this year will bring you fresh
opportunities.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
eeeee On the whole, this is an upbeat, powerful day for you because, for
most of this day, the Moon is in your sign; plus, it’s dancing with lucky Jupiter.
This makes you feel optimistic and exuberant! (Check the Moon Alert for shop-
ping warnings.)
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
eeeee This is a favorable time for you with both the Sun and your ruler, fair
Venus, in your sign. This is why you feel so friendly and sociable with everyone.
Because you have a warm feeling in your tummy, you will enjoy your own
solitude.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
eeee Today part of you wants to hide, while the other part of you wants to
get out and chat to everyone. No doubt, your involvement with groups and
organizations will be positive. In particular, you might be involved in a charitable
enterprise.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
eeee You make a favorable impression on others today, which is why people
admire you and might be talking about you. (Creative and artistic friends are also
in the picture.) This is a good day to go after what you want, because Mars in your
sign gives you an edge!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
eee Today you need to shake things up a bit because you want to do some-
thing different. You want to break free from your daily routine. Ideally, you would
love to travel. Go someplace you’ve never been before. Be proactive about going
after what you want.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
eeee You’re in an adventurous frame of mind today, which is why travel and
adventure will appeal to you. However, when it comes to financial matters, you
feel so generous, you’re tempted to give away the farm. (Generosity is a good
thing, but remember your own self-interests.)
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
eee Because today the Moon is opposite your sign, you have to be cooperative
with others. Be prepared to go more than halfway. You will come out smelling
like a rose because, at this time, issues, especially financial matters, will tend to
go your way.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
eeee This is a solid day. Issues related to partners and close friends are warm
and supportive. Meanwhile, business related to your job, a pet or your health also
will be affirming and positive, which pretty much gives you the green light for
today — except for the Moon Alert. (See above.)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
eeee You’re in work mode, trying to get better organized. You want to im-
prove your health as well. Today, however, you want to play! Fortunately, physical
sports and exercise will fill the bill for you. You can improve yourself while having
fun. Yay!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
eeee Because this is a fun-loving, playful time for you today, you might en-
tertain at home, or several people might spontaneously gather where you live.
The purpose of this gathering could be for fun, for education or for charitable
purposes. (Just your bubble.)
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
eee Look around you. Everything you see began with a thought. (Without
question.) Because you are optimistic and inclined to believe in your ideas today,
who knows where this may lead? Remember: Everything begins with a thought.
(Check the Moon Alert above before you make a decision.)
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
eeeee This is a good money day for you. You might see ways to boost your
earnings or you might attract money to you. However, if you are spending
money or making financial decisions, check the Moon Alert. (See above.) This is a
positive day for you!
Continued from C1
When Josh Tibbits, an El-
ement 1 engineer, joined the
company seven years ago, he
was a fresh-faced 34-year-
old college graduate in the
OSU-Cascades Energy Sys-
tems Engineering program,
which was created by the col-
lege to fill a niche need.
He got his job through a
connection he had made with
Schluter, who was visiting to
talk as a guest lecturer about
energy storage.
“He encouraged us to talk
to him, and that was a few
months before graduation,”
Tibbits said. “And then I heard
they were hiring. The rest is
history.
“That contact was every-
thing, especially if you want to
stay in Bend.”
Rebecca Webb, OSU-Cas-
cades senior instructor in en-
gineering degree programs,
said the program was de-
signed to address the energy
challenges facing the planet.
Many of the hires at Element 1
are former students.
“Partnerships like this one
are very symbiotic,” Webb
said in an email. “We work
together to shape a curricu-
lum that aligns with industry
needs, the companies sponsor
capstone projects and intern-
ships, give guest lectures and
hire our graduates.”
For Bend, a business like
Element 1 supports the city’s
green jobs initiative, said Ben
Hemson, Bend business ad-
vocate.
Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin
An M13 Methanol to Hydrogen Generator is seen at Element 1 Corp in
Bend on Monday.
“Element 1 is a business
that looks to the future by
developing new technology,”
Hemson said. “We have a long
list of businesses that have
succeeded that are looking to
the future. These businesses
are forward-thinking and
growing.”
Lee, of Economic Devel-
opment for Central Oregon,
said Element 1 is among the
best examples of partnerships
OSU-Cascades has with com-
panies creating economic di-
versity.
“It’s a good example of the
university listening to the
marketplace here of where the
opportunity is. Element 1 can
benefit from this program at
OSU-Cascades because it can
employ local people and at-
tract others from the rest of
the country.”
Element 1 began when
Edlund, a new graduate of
the University of Oregon,
was hired by Bend Research
(now Lonza) to create the
technology. Edlund, also the
co-founder of Bend fuel-cell
manufacturer IdaTech, met
Schluter, a neighbor with
years of business development
experience.
Schluter says the business
model employed by Element
1 is to develop the technology
and get it ready for commer-
cial use then license others to
manufacturer the product. Al-
ready, the company’s fuel-cell
technology is being employed
by a Changchun, China truck-
ing firm.
“As long as there’s methanol
in the fuel tank, we’re using re-
newable methanol, “Schluter
said. “It’s starting to become
available on the marketplace.
It’s really clean versus diesel
and gas. Our technology pro-
duces zero pollution. No black
soot. No smog. No tailpipe
emissions.
“But it does produce CO2,
and that’s a greenhouse gas.”
Other companies also
build hydrogen fuel cells,
but what Element 1 offers is
the technology piece of the
puzzle to achieve the full po-
tential.
“It’s taken us 10 years to
make the technology market-
able,” he said. “Now the eco-
nomics of fuel cells is where
the action is, and that’s where
we got traction.”
e e
Reporter: 541-633-2117,
sroig@bendbulletin.com