Note 2 - New Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]	NOTE 2 — NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS New accounting pronouncements effective in the nine -month period ended September 30, 2017 Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board “(FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016 - 09, Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, an update to the guidance on stock-based compensation. Under the new guidance, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies will be recognized in the income statement as they occur. This will replace previous guidance, which required tax benefits that exceed compensation cost (windfalls) to be recognized in equity. It also eliminated the need to maintain a “windfall pool,” and removed the requirement to delay recognizing a windfall until it reduces current taxes payable. The new guidance also changed the cash flow presentation of excess tax benefits, classifying them as operating inflows, consistent with other cash flows related to income taxes. Previously, windfalls were classified as financing activities. This guidance affects the dilutive effects in earnings per share, as there will no longer be excess tax benefits recognized in additional paid in capital. Previously those excess tax benefits were included in assumed proceeds from applying the treasury stock method when computing diluted EPS. Under the amended guidance, companies are able to make an accounting policy election to either ( 1 ) continue to estimate forfeitures or ( 2 ) account for forfeitures as they occur. This updated guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Interests Held through Related Parties that are under Common Control In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 17, Consolidation (Topic 810 ): Interests held through Related Parties that are under Common Control. The amendments in this update require that if a decision maker is required to evaluate whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it will need to consider only its proportionate indirect interest in the VIE held through a common control party. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively for each period presented and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015 - 11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, Topic 330. The update contains no amendments to disclosure requirements, but replaces the concept of ‘lower of cost or market’ with that of ‘lower of cost and net realizable value’. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those reporting periods. The amendments should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. New accounting pronouncements effective in future periods Derivatives and Hedging In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017 - 12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this Update better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted in any interim period after issuance of the Update. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements, if any. Intangibles –Goodwill and Other In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017 - 04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350 ). The amendments in this Update require the entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider the income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. This Update, eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test under the current guidance. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The amendments in this Update should be applied on a prospective basis. An entity is also required to disclose the nature of and the reason for the change in accounting principal upon transition. That disclosure should be provided in the first annual period and the interim period within the first annual period when the entity initially adopts the amendments in this Update. The amendments in this Update are effective for the annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. Compensation - Stock Compensation In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017 - 09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718 ). The amendments in this Update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The amendments in this update require that an entity should account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following are met: ( 1 ) The fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; ( 2 ) The vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; ( 3 ) The classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The current disclosure requirements in Topic 718 apply regardless of whether an entity is required to apply modification accounting under the amendments in this Update. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this Update should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. Business Combinations In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017 - 01, Business Combinations (Topic 805 ). The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments in this update primarily provide a screen to determine when a set of assets and activities is not a business and by that reduces the number of transactions that need to be further evaluated. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. Statement of Cash Flow In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230 ) – Restricted Cash. The amendments in this update require that a statement of cash flows explain the changes during the period in total cash, cash equivalents, and the amounts generally described as restricted cash or cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively for each period presented and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. The amendments in this update require that the entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller ’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. The new guidance does not apply to intra-entity transfers on inventory. The amendments in this update should be applied for each period presented and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The modified retrospective approach will be required for transition to the new guidance, with cumulative-effect adjustment recorded in retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted in the first quarter of 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. Revenues from Contracts with Customers In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014 - 09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, Topic 606, which was a joint project of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The update provides that an entity should recognize revenue in connection with the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Specifically, an entity is required to apply each of the following steps: ( 1 ) identify the contract(s) with the customer; ( 2 ) identify the performance obligations in the contracts; ( 3 ) determine the transaction price; ( 4 ) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract; and ( 5 ) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014 - 09 also prescribes additional financial presentations and disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted no earlier than 2017 for calendar fiscal year entities. The Company expects the adoption of this standard to have an immaterial impact, if any, on its Electricity segment as it accounts for its PPA ’s under ASC 840, Leases, however, the Company is still evaluating the related potential impact on its investment in an unconsolidated company. The Company is still evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of the standard on its Product segment, however, it believes that such impact, if any, will be immaterial. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 08, Principal versus Agent Considerations. This update does not change the core principles of the guidance and is intended to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. When another entity is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, an entity is required to determine if the nature of its promise is to provide the specific good or service itself (that is, the entity is a principal) or to arrange for that good or service to be provided by the other party (that is, the entity is an agent). The guidance includes indicators to assist an entity in determining whether it acts as a principal or agent in a specified transaction. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted no earlier than 2017 for calendar fiscal year entities. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements, however, it believes that any such impact, if any, will be immaterial. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 02, Leases, Topic 842. This update introduces a number of changes and simplifies previous guidance, primarily the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases. The Update retains the distinction between finance leases and operating leases and the classification criteria between the two types remains substantially similar. Also, lessor accounting remains largely unchanged from previous guidance. However, key aspects of the Update were aligned with the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. Additionally, the Update defines a lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of the identified asset means that the customer has both (a) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and (b) the right to direct the use of the asset. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The update primarily requires that an entity present separately, in other comprehensive income, the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk if the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The application of this update should be by means of cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amendments in this update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of this update on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE

— NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

New accounting pronouncements effective in the

nine

-month

period ended

September 30, 2017

Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

March 2016,

the Financial Accounting Standards Board “(FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”)

2016

09,

Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, an update to the guidance on stock-based compensation. Under the new guidance, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies will be recognized in the income statement as they occur. This will replace previous guidance, which required tax benefits that exceed compensation cost (windfalls) to be recognized in equity. It also eliminated the need to maintain a “windfall pool,” and removed the requirement to delay recognizing a windfall until it reduces current taxes payable. The new guidance also changed the cash flow presentation of excess tax benefits, classifying them as operating inflows, consistent with other cash flows related to income taxes. Previously, windfalls were classified as financing activities. This guidance affects the dilutive effects in earnings per share, as there will

longer be excess tax benefits recognized in additional paid in capital. Previously those excess tax benefits were included in assumed proceeds from applying the treasury stock method when computing diluted EPS. Under the amended guidance, companies are able to make an accounting policy election to either (

) continue to estimate forfeitures or (

) account for forfeitures as they occur. This updated guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after

December 15, 2016.

The adoption of this guidance did

not

have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Interests Held through Related Parties that are under Common Control

October 2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

17,

Consolidation (Topic

810

): Interests held through Related Parties that are under Common Control. The amendments in this update require that if a decision maker is required to evaluate whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it will need to consider only its proportionate indirect interest in the VIE held through a common control party. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively for each period presented and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2016,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance did

not

have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory

July 2015,

the FASB issued ASU

2015

11,

Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, Topic

330.

The update contains

amendments to disclosure requirements, but replaces the concept of

‘lower of cost or market’ with that of ‘lower of cost and net realizable value’. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December 15, 2016,

including interim periods within those reporting periods. The amendments should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance did

not

have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New accounting pronouncements effective in future periods

Derivatives and Hedging

August 2017,

the

FASB issued ASU

2017

12,

Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this Update better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2018,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted in any interim period after issuance of the Update. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements, if any.

Intangibles

–Goodwill and Other

January 2017,

the FASB issued ASU

2017

04,

Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic

350

). The amendments in this Update require the entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, however, the loss recognized should

not

exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider the income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. This Update, eliminated Step

from the goodwill impairment test under the current guidance. Step

measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The amendments in this Update should be applied on a prospective basis. An entity is also required to disclose the nature of and the reason for the change in accounting principal upon transition. That disclosure should be provided in the

first

annual period and the interim period within the

first

annual period when the entity initially adopts the amendments in this Update. The amendments in this Update are effective for the annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2019.

Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual impairment tests performed on testing dates after

January 1, 2017.

The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Compensation -

Stock Compensation

May 2017,

the FASB issued ASU

2017

09,

Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic

718

). The amendments in this Update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic

718.

The amendments in this update require that an entity should account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following are met: (

) The fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; (

) The vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; (

) The classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The current disclosure requirements in Topic

718

apply regardless of whether an entity is required to apply modification accounting under the amendments in this Update. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after

December 15, 2017.

Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this Update should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Business Combinations

January 2017,

the FASB issued ASU

2017

01,

Business Combinations (Topic

805

). The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments in this update primarily provide a screen to determine when a set of assets and activities is

not

a business and by that reduces the number of transactions that need to be further evaluated. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2017,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.

The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flow

November 2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

18,

Statement of Cash Flows (Topic

230

)

– Restricted Cash. The amendments in this update require that a statement of cash flows explain the changes during the period in total cash, cash equivalents, and the amounts generally described as restricted cash or cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively for each period presented and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2017,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory

October 2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

16,

Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. The amendments in this update require that the entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller

’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. The new guidance does

not

apply to intra-entity transfers on inventory. The amendments in this update should be applied for each period presented and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2017,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. The modified retrospective approach will be required for transition to the new guidance, with cumulative-effect adjustment recorded in retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted in the

first

quarter of

2017.

The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Revenues from Contracts with Customers

May 2014,

the FASB issued ASU

2014

09,

Revenues from Contracts with Customers, Topic

606,

which was a joint project of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The update provides that an entity should recognize revenue in connection with the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Specifically, an entity is required to apply each of the following steps: (

) identify the contract(s) with the customer; (

) identify the performance obligations in the contracts; (

) determine the transaction price; (

) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract; and (

) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU

2014

also prescribes additional financial presentations and disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December 15, 2017,

including interim periods within those reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted

earlier than

2017

for calendar fiscal year entities. The Company expects the adoption of this standard to have an immaterial impact, if any, on its Electricity segment as it accounts for its PPA

’s under ASC

840,

Leases, however, the Company is still evaluating the related potential impact on its investment in an unconsolidated company. The Company is still evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of the standard on its Product segment, however, it believes that such impact, if any, will be immaterial.

March 2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

08,

Principal versus Agent Considerations. This

update does

not

change the core principles of the guidance and is intended to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. When another entity is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, an entity is required to determine if the nature of its promise is to provide the specific good or service itself (that is, the entity is a principal) or to arrange for that good or service to be provided by the other party (that is, the entity is an agent). The guidance includes indicators to assist an entity in determining whether it acts as a principal or agent in a specified transaction. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December 15, 2017,

including interim periods within those reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted

earlier than

2017

for calendar fiscal year entities. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements, however, it believes that any such impact, if any, will be immaterial.

Leases

February 2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

02,

Leases, Topic

842.

This update introduces a number of changes and simplifies previous guidance, primarily the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases. The Update retains the distinction between finance leases and operating leases and the classification criteria between the

two

types remains substantially similar. Also, lessor accounting remains largely unchanged from previous guidance. However, key aspects of the Update were aligned with the revenue recognition guidance in Topic

606.

Additionally, the Update defines a lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of the identified asset means that the customer has both (a) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and (b) the right to direct the use of the asset. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December 15, 2018,

including interim periods within those reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

January 2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

01,

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The update primarily requires that an entity present separately, in other comprehensive income, the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk if the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The application of this update should be by means of cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amendments in this update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2017,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of this update on its consolidated financial statements.