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Note 11 - Related Party Transactions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


On December 12, 2012, our Board of Directors appointed James Tu to serve as our non-executive Chairman. On April 30, 2013, Mr. Tu became the Executive Chairman assuming the duties of the Principal Executive Officer. On October 30, 2013 Mr. Tu was appointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors. Mr. Tu is also the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of 5 Elements Global Advisors, an investment advisory and management company managing the holdings of 5 Elements Global Fund LP, which was a beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of our common stock prior to the August 2014 registered offering. 5 Elements Global Advisors focuses on investing in clean energy companies with breakthrough, commercialized technologies, and near-term profitability potential. Mr. Tu is also Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Communal International Ltd. (“Communal”), a British Virgin Islands company dedicated to assisting clean energy, solutions-based companies, maximizing technology and product potential and gaining them access to global marketing, distribution licensing, manufacturing and financing resources. Communal has a 50 percent ownership interest in 5 Elements Energy Efficiencies (BVI) Ltd., a beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of our common stock. Yeh-Mei Cheng controls 5 Elements Energy Efficiencies (BVI) Ltd. and owns the other 50 percent. She is Co-Founder of Communal International Ltd. with Mr. Tu and the mother of Simon Cheng, a current member of our Board of Directors and an employee of the Company.


On February 27, 2012, we entered into an Asian Business Development/Collaboration Agreement with Communal. The agreement has a 60 month term. Additionally, during the term of the agreement, we will pay Communal a 5 percent commission on the net sales that occur within the territory, as defined by the agreement. We have incurred no commissions due under this agreement through March 31, 2015.


Effective January 1, 2013, the Asian Business Development/Collaboration Agreement with Communal was amended to reflect the extension of the terms of the Agreement for an additional twelve months, and the addition of certain services and countries in the territory covered by the Agreement. In connection with the amended and restated Agreement, nothing was paid during the first quarter of 2015 or 2014, respectively. We recorded expense of $56 thousand under this agreement during the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively. At March 31, 2015, we had $170 thousand relating to this agreement included under the caption, “Prepaid and other current assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.