08/05/2010 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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ERIN JOHNSON JESSICA HARPER JESSICA HARPER

Eagan auto care shop goes green 2A Burnsville auto dealer first to be LEED certified in state 8A Eagan man sues local company over alleged false job offer 44A

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DATE ##,5, 2009 AUGUST 2010

VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 23

Dakota County Tribune Since 1884

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Engineer turns misfortune into renewed energy After being laid off, Mouli Vaidyanathan of Eagan founds nds engineering firm that specializes in renewable energyy

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INSIDE BIZ FORUM

The Bush tax cuts have not stimulated the economy, but lowering the corporate tax rate will. CHRIS ANDRYSKI 4A

by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

When Eagan resident Mouli Vaidyanathan was laid off last year he found it nearly impossible to find another job in the same field. But rather than lose hope, Vaidyanathan decided to turn his misfortune around by founding Mouli Engg Inc., an engineering consulting firm that specializes in renewable energy and semiconductor and product engineering. Vaidyanathan’s business also provides expert testimony for litigation involving a series of engineering issues. On the renewable energy side, the business consults on solar energy systems for homes, businesses and government buildings as well as on wind turbines for businesses, power companies, universities and government entities. Both wind and solar systems are expected to last at least 25 years, Vaidyanathan said. When consulting on each project, Vaidyanathan provides site evaluations and design recommendations. Vaidyanathan buys the systems directly from manufacturers and provides installation through subcontracted installers, which he said enables him to offer his clients a discount on the installation. Within the first six months of starting the business, Mouli Engg has completed three residential projects. At this time, the company is working on four projects, including projects at a national park, a major energy company and a local community college. Many of his customers received stimulus rebates from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security, Vaidyanathan said, adding that he worries business may drop off once the rebates are discontinued.

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ECM Publishers’ policy is to fairly and accurately report the news. Not all sources, such as Fox News, do the same. DON HEINZMAN 4A BUSINESS 101

Family-friendly policies can generate big rewards in employee loyalty and productivity. SHARON 5A BERGEN BEST PRACTICES Photo submitted

Photo by Jessica Harper

Mouli Engg works on the system from start to finish. It provides site evaluation, design consultations and receives the systems directly from the manufacturer and subcontracts installers.

Eagan resident Mouli Vaidyanathan and his wife, Shobha Murthy, founded Mouli Engg, an engineering consulting firm that specializes in renewable energy, after Vaidyanathan was laid off last year.

Pursuing a passion Ever since his undergraduate years in the mid-1980s, Vaidyanathan has been fascinated by renewable energy. “I think we all have a duty as a global citizen to respect the planet we live in,� he said. “I want to leave the planet in a better place than when I came in.� However, there were few job opportunities in the field at the time so he pursued semiconductor

engineering. Vaidyanathan had worked for 11 years as a yield engineer in Texas when he accepted a job offer at Seagate Technology’s Bloomington facility, which designs and manufactures computer hard drives and storage solutions. Vaidyanathan claims the job was not as it appeared and has a lawsuit pending against the company. In November, he was laid off. Vaidyanathan said because Seagate

placed him in a position that was not his speciality — yield engineering — he’s had a hard time finding another job in the field. After the fiasco, Vaidyanathan decided to strike out on his own and found his own company. Mouli Engg was a way to pursue a passion and perhaps earn an income while searching for another engineering job, Vaidyanathan said. The business has been a signifi-

KEVIN STIRTZ

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Knowing your customers’ wants, meeting their needs and effective communication will help create loyal customers. 5A

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General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011

See Energy, Page 44A


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