Podcasts about Dominion Energy

virginia beach renews offshore wind dominion energy buy land

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 0:52

The agreement allows the utility to buy about 30 acres at Corporate Landing Business Park.

‘Virtual power plants' will launch soon in Virginia

virtual launch ev power plants dominion energy

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2026 1:01

Dominion Energy is building a state-mandated pilot program that would pay customers to tap into resources such as smart thermostats and EV chargers.

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition -- Jun. 01, 2026

Iowa Business Report

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 2:00

Iowa Business Report Monday EditionJune 01, 2026 National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on NextEra Energy's merger with Dominion Energy due to high demand from data centers.

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NextEra Buys Dominion, China Outpaces Vestas

South Carolina Business Review

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 32:19

NextEra’s $67B all-stock Dominion deal targets data center alley. Plus China’s top five each outpace Vestas, and 80% of Swedish wind producers ran at a loss. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! [00:00:00] The Uptime Wind Energy podcast, brought to you by StrikeTape, protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit striketape.com. And now, your hosts Speaker 6: Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy podcast. I’m your host, Allen Hall, and I’m here with three other people, Matthew Stead, Rosemary Barnes, and, uh, Yolanda Padron down in Texas. Uh, we’re all getting ready to go to American Clean Power in Houston, Texas, where it will be practically 150 degrees and 99% humidity, and we’re all looking forward to those warm, wet days that we will spend It is very similar to New Orleans. New Orleans was also very warm and very humid. So there’s a trend going on here with American Clean Power, although we were up in Minneapolis not too long ago, uh, but I guess we were in Phoenix too, so we gotta find a middle ground, everybody. Can we go someplace like– [00:01:00] Rosemary says we should always go to the Maldives, Tahiti. I got a lot of requests from Tahiti from people. We never go there. We never go to Hawaii. Rosemary Barnes: I’ve suggested Hawaii so many times, and I’ve been told that Americans are not gonna be given permission from their manager to go to Hawaii. Speaker 6: It’s kinda like Las Vegas. Rosemary Barnes: Maybe one day we’ll make it to San Diego or something and get, um, beach adjacent facility And if your presentation is too boring, then everyone will be at the beach. So that will be how we ensure quality control of the speakers, which is a big problem at these events now, right? Like you can’t, um, there’s– It’s more like the norm is fairly boring sales pitches rather than informative discussion. Speaker 6: We used to have OMNS, when I say we, I mean the wind community used to have OMNS out in San Diego in Coronado at the Del Coronado is, I think that’s the hotel name. And the one time that I went, I think I’ve been [00:02:00] there, I would say one time, uh, everybody was outside on the, at the beach, basically on the patio. So they’re holding all these talks and discussions, and it’s… I’m looking around, it’s like me and five other people. Everybody else is out there next to the water. So they had a problem with that. So I guess what they figured, either make it really cold or make it really hot, so it forces everybody into the climate-controlled conditions of, uh, the, uh, auditorium to watch the speakers. Maybe that’s the, the plan. All right. Let’s, let’s, let’s talk about what happened with NextEra and Dominion because there’s going to be a huge merger. So if you thought utility business was boring, it’s not anymore. NextEra announced a sixty-seven billion dollar all-stock deal to acquire Dominion Energy, a move that would create the largest regulated electricity utility in the world by market cap. Uh, [00:03:00] the combined company would serve about ten million customers accounts across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, where I’m based, and South Carolina with one hundred and ten gigawatts of generation across renewables, nuclear, and natural gas. Uh, but the real driver here is data centers, of course. Dominion sits in the heart of Virginia’s data center alley, where it has connected more than four hundred and fifty data centers, and NextEra is building thirty data center hubs through its NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary and has partnered with Google Cloud on paired generation campuses. So together, they would control about a hundred and thirty gigawatts of large load pipeline. And the question is whether the regulators will let it happen. And I think that’s, having watched some of the news articles over the last several days, uh, the news broke pretty much Sunday morning or late Saturday night that this was happening and [00:04:00] The first thing that came to mind, are the regulators going to let it happen? And the concern is going to be, and you can well imagine how this plays out, they’re going to drag Dominion and NextEra up to Washington, D.C. and berate them about how electricity rates cannot increase due to data centers. And if they don’t swear to that, then this merger won’t happen. That’s my interpretation of what’s about to happen. It may not, but how does this play out? How does everybody else on the team at Uptime see this play out? Matthew Stead: Seems like a good idea to me. So more economies, more geographic diversity, more opportunity for renewables. Yolanda Padron: I can’t speak to Dominion, um, but being relatively close to the NextEra engineering team, they, they really know their stuff, right? So I think it’s something that should kind of give us a, a sense of relief here that it, [00:05:00] it’s a big team, but it’s a really smart and competent team taking over a big undertaking. Speaker 6: You would like to see renewables and data centers work together. This would be the perfect match of the two, right? The, the largest renewable owner management company, along with the biggest data center, uh, region. Connecting those two would make infinite sense, but in the, our political environment today in the United States, that may be the reason to oppose it. Matthew Stead: Yeah, why would it be a bad idea? Speaker 6: Windmills, Matthew. Windmills. Windmills are bad. Can’t even call them wind turbines anymore. They’re windmills. Rosemary Barnes: I used to mock people for saying windmill instead of wind turbine, but then when I moved to Denmark, um, you know, who, you know, have a firm, firm ownership of modern wind energy, or at least did back 10, 20 years ago They say windmill when they speak English. Um, the Danish word for it is vindmølle, um, which means windmill. [00:06:00]And so I can’t… I couldn’t maintain that, that energy because like, am I gonna, am I gonna mock these, you know, like everybody at that company knew more about wind energy than I did. Am I gonna mock them for not, not knowing the difference between a windmill and a wind turbine? No. So yeah, that’s, that’s something that I, I don’t do anymore. Matthew Stead: That is really valuable to know, um, Rosie. I must admit, I did not know that, and I would mock people saying w- windmill, so thank you for setting me straight. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah, there are plenty of, um, plenty of people who don’t know the difference between a windmill and a wind turbine and think, “Oh, why you only got three blades with so much air between them? You know, you’re gonna… Y- if you would just put twice as many blades, you’d get twice as many energy. Everybody who works in wind energy is just an obs- obvious complete and utter idiot.” Um, so there’s that kind of person, but then there’s also the industry. Another fun fact that they call the blades wings. Uh, um, yeah, in Danish they call them blade wings, which they are. [00:07:00] Speaker 6: In Spanish, isn’t it shovels? ‘Cause when I always translate those, uh, Spanish questions over to English, it always comes out shovel. At least early on, y- the early versions of Google Translate would translate it to shovel. Like, what are they talking about shovel on a wind turbine? That doesn’t make any sense. Yolanda Padron: Yeah, like a shovel or a stick or like a, what you row with. Speaker 6: Oh, like an oar. Okay, that makes a lot more sense. Okay. Thank you, Yolanda. Matthew Stead: I think it’s really interesting that, um- We don’t have much material on NextEra, Dominion. Um, yeah, we just don’t think it’s a good– We all think it’s a good idea. There’s no controversy here. Speaker 6: Oh, there’ll be controversy. Don’t worry about that. There’s always controversy. Welcome to America. Matthew Stead: But among the four of us- Speaker 6: We all think it’s great. Rosemary Barnes: Well, it’s, um, I mean, some of the interesting facts that I read was that they’ve got 130 gigawatts of load, um, that they’re bringing to the table, and 51 gigawatts of that is contracted data centers. So that’s, that’s interesting. [00:08:00] And I think large amounts of new data centers on the grid are controversial because in– if you’re not very, very careful about how you integrate them, then you can end up just making electricity more expensive for everybody in the area that doesn’t necessarily get, you know, profit sharing from the data center. So, um, I think that, uh, like, you know, the wind ind- in the wind industry, we’ve obviously been through and are still in the phase of where social license, um, community acceptance is one of the most important things, maybe the most important thing when you’re developing a new project. And I think that we’re just at the start of that realization for data centers as well. Companies that are building the, the data centers, they need to do more than what’s required of them because otherwise they have big risks of project delays. It’s millions of dollars delay, um, for the delay for, um, yeah, for every, every day that, um, a data center is held up. And so how can you afford to risk annoying anybody? [00:09:00] You know, you just wanna be like the just, just perfect, um, addition to the community so that everybody is just happy and, and lets the project proceed. So, yeah, I thought– think that that’s, that’s quite an interesting aspect that I think I’m gonna s- we’re gonna see changing as, you know, all these planned data centers become real data centers. There’s a real risk that everybody hates data centers soon as much as they, um, hated wind tur- um, wind farms for a while. Yolanda Padron: For the consumer, aren’t there, like, I don’t know if they’re in Virginia, but aren’t there price caps too for the market? When you’re– When it comes to how expensive the megawatt hour is? Speaker 6: Not necessarily. Re- remember that AEP in Ohio, uh, was requiring data centers to buy electricity at a certain amount. Because they both basically committed not to raise prices for electricity to the local communities, and that would be really hard to do. And okay, great, if, if they can pull it off, awesome. But there’s already a lot of [00:10:00] pushback about it, and it hasn’t even gotten to the point of being real yet, so it’s only gonna get worse. I see. And all the data centers are gonna be up in space no matter what. Everybody’s talking about building data centers on the ground. There’s no shot that that’s gonna happen. I’m just telling you, ’cause they can’t do it. They don’t– They can’t build gas turbines fast enough. There’s just limitations there, and transformers and everything else. It’s gonna be in space. It’s so much easier. Yolanda Padron: And all the approvals you have to get and everything. Speaker 6: It will be easier to do it in space In space, you don’t have neighbors. Matthew Stead: I said it before, it’s just crazy. The key issue around data centers is it’s actually the transmission rather than generation. I mean, you know, at least in Australia, and correct me if I’m wrong, Rosie, but you know, less than half the price in Australia is generation. The other half is sort of retail and transmission and this and that. And so actually, you know, the generation cost shouldn’t really increase. It’s really the transmission and the, the poles and the wires, which are the problem. And [00:11:00] you know, to your point, Rosie, social, social license for poles and wires. Rosemary Barnes: I’m actually really surprised at Allen, ’cause normally, Allen and I have this, um, you know, we’ve played out this scenario probably 50 or 100 times over the, over the years with emerging technologies, and it’s always me that’s like, “You know what? I think, uh, I think there’s something to this one.” Um, and Allen always poo-poos it, and in this case, Allen’s, Allen’s excited. I, I’m on Allen’s– So I also, I also think space data centers is, is a thing that’s more likely to happen than not, at least to some extent. Um, so yeah, but I think, Matt, you’ve got the more mainstream opinion. Speaker 6: The voice of the common man. I Yolanda Padron: think for all of our listeners out there, this is the first time Rosie and Allen agree on anything, so round of applause team. Speaker 6: It won’t last long, Yolande. Rosemary Barnes: It’s not true because, you know, nine out of 10 new technologies I also think are stupid. Um, so Allen and I agree on the bulk of them, but then of that one in 10, you know, nine out of 10 of those I, I [00:12:00] like and Allen doesn’t, so this is the, you know, the one-tenth of the one-tenth, so. Speaker 6: I don’t like gas turbines. Can we all agree we don’t like gas turbines? It’s– That would be insane to scale. Rosemary Barnes: You know what? I, I don’t have a particular problem with gas, gas turbines. I don’t want a lot of new gas turbines. Um, I guess that that’s– We can all agree on, on that. I don’t think the– I think we have most of the gas turbines that we need, or at least, um, will in the next couple of years. And, um, yeah, I do think that their existence supports faster electrification, um, and faster growth of wind and solar. So I’m definitely not someone that wants to see all gas turbines turned off tomorrow. Speaker 6: No, I don’t, I don’t want to turn them off. I’m Matthew Stead: just saying you can’t get to scale. Speaker 6: Delamination and bond line failures in blades are difficult problems to detect early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. CIC NDT are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become [00:13:00] expensive burdens. Their non-destructive test technology penetrates deep into blade materials to find voids and cracks traditional inspections completely miss. CIC NDT maps every critical defect, delivers actionable reports, and provides support to get your blades back in service. So Matthew Stead: visit cicndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you Speaker 6: millions. Well, for the first time, five Chinese turbine manufacturers have all individually outpaced Danish wind giant Vestas in annual installations. Goldwind topped the global list with twenty-nine point seven gigawatts installed in twenty twenty-five. Behind them, Envision put up twenty-one point eight, Windy nineteen point eight, Mingyang at eighteen point six, and Sany at fifteen point one gigawatts. Vestas came in [00:14:00] sixth at twelve point nine gigawatts. The Chinese dominance was fueled by an enormous domestic market that has accounted for about ninety-four percent of those five manufacturers’ sales. Uh, but exports are obviously growing out of China too. The five captured nearly sixty percent of the hundred and seventy-eight gigawatts installed globally in twenty twenty-five, a year that saw the world market grow forty percent over twenty twenty-four. So Vestas still holds the crown for cumulative installations at two hundred and one gigawatts, but the gap in annual volume is now almost impossible to ignore. So Vestas has a lot of competition over in China. The, the amount of, uh, gigawatts coming out of the largest manufacturers in China is quite impressive, almost, well, more than double than what, uh, Vestas is doing, and Vestas is doing a pretty brisk business. What are, what are the outcomes of this, everyone? Is, can this be sustained in China [00:15:00] for very much longer? Can they continue to, to create at, at that rate? Rosemary Barnes: Yes. Okay, move, move on to the next segment Speaker 6: Well, that’s a, that’s a huge amount of gigawatts coming out of China. And if 94% of it’s staying in China, eventually you run out of China to put wind turbines in. Rosemary Barnes: They– I mean, we’re a long way from running out of places in China to put wind turbines in, because China is gigantic. A lot of it is not that populated. They’ve got a lot of offshore area still. But I just think it’s gonna follow the same playbook as, as solar probably, where you see, you know, early on heaps of domestic market, which is totally rock solid because it’s not relying on people to see a positive business case in doing it. You know, like it’s really… You know, targets are, are really mandated and people make sure that they are met. Um, and then the incentives are also different as well. Like my understanding is that [00:16:00] there’s a lot of incentives about installation of megawatts, um, and then, you know, the, the operation is like, we’ll figure that out as we go. The volume, the number of manufacturers that are there, they’ve got, you know, like such a great supply chain all there in the same area, so you can move fast and like I, I don’t see anything can get in the way of, you know, continuing to pump out these turbines at that speed. It’ll keep going until, you know, the government basically decides we’ve got, uh, enough wind energy now and then puts the, the brakes on it. And, you know, that’s what we’ve just been through in solar recently. China is, um… You know, they’ve just– they’ve got a big economy and they’ve just got like rock solid resolve to follow through on, on things that they commit to. Um, whether we can, you know, argue about whether it’s a smart strategy or not, but you know that they will follow it, they will execute on, on it. I don’t think anyone would, would say that they won’t. So I think, [00:17:00]can it continue forever? No. But do I think it can continue for another 10 years? Yes. And is that long enough to cause massive problems for any other manufacturer? I think also yes. Matthew Stead: Hey, Rosie, can I ask you a question? You know, obviously there was some cable was proposed, you know, between Australia and Singapore. Do you see China going in that direction? You know, putting rather than pipes with gas in it, um, pipes with electrons? Uh, Rosemary Barnes: I don’t see China– I’m actually working on a video at the moment about a global sub-sea grid, and I just interviewed, um, uh, Xlinks, you know, that was originally a project from Morocco to the UK, and then the other one, which is super cool, um, we might have an argument about the plausibility of it, is NATO L, which is just in like early development stages. It’s going to connect the UK to Canada. Um, and yeah, so that’s, um, a few thousand kilometers long. The ocean depth is maximum [00:18:00] three, I think, kilometers, maybe even a tiny bit more than that, um, which is like right on the edge of what is possible. N-none of those projects really actually rely on big technological improvements. Um, they’re possible with today’s technologies. Um, but I don’t see China doing so much of that. I think that one thing that might actually stop that is that, um, when you have big interconnectors like that, I think the engineering part is not the hard, the hard part. I think that the, it’s the politics. I do see them exporting their, um, you know, they’ve got really good ultra high voltage DC technology, but the transmission lines, they have exported a little bit. There’s some projects in Brazil that are Chinese made. There’s one in India. I don’t actually know if that is Chinese made, but you know, like I could really imagine them also rolling out projects in Africa, for example. Um, but beyond that sort of thing, I, I wouldn’t tip China as the country to, you know, develop a global [00:19:00] sub-sea grid. Speaker 6: Do you think the low solar prices have hurt the wind manufacturers in China a little bit? Obviously, there’s a lot of solar panels that are able to be shipped immediately, which is what’s happening right now. But turbines, not so much. It’s a little harder to do. But you, you would think that a lot of these countries and communities would be putting in wind But solar is so cheap right now that, that is what is winning at the moment, and it must be hurting the Chinese wind manufacturers, you would think. Rosemary Barnes: I don’t think they’re really in a competition with each other, um, at the moment. In Australia, I think yes. I think that, um, the, like, roaring success of solar and especially batteries is, um, making wind less appealing to develop. But globally, I think that it’s, you know, it’s a race between, um, fossil fuels and renewables. It’s a race between energy security and continued reliance on, you know, countries that [00:20:00] you don’t really want to rely on for fossil fuels. I think that those are the, the much bigger, um, competition at the moment. It’s a bit short-sighted because, yeah, wind and solar is really easy for the, the part of the, uh, energy transition that we’re doing now, and, uh, if you just don’t build any wind until you reach the limit of solar and batteries, then you’ll find yourself quite far behind. So that’s what we’re really struggling with in Australia and finding, like, what is the right level of government, um, support because people… You know, like in an electricity market like Australia, you’re not supposed to rely on governments, you know, planning out the system and deciding what thing to build, and I think that that has been a real strength of the Australian market that it has, you know, the government has got out of the way. It is hard to see, um, us getting to where we need to go in a orderly fashion without some planning for this, like, lumpy middle part of the energy transition. I don’t know. What do you think, Matt? Is that how you see it in Australia as well? Matthew Stead: Yeah, I think there’s a place [00:21:00] for everything, and, you know, wind, solar, battery is a perfect match and the right places for the right thing. Rosemary Barnes: It’s really hard because, you know, like, when you look at the system as a whole, you know, like you plan out what, what full energy system is cheaper and better, you know. Is it the, you know, the current fossil fuel system and all of the, you know, annual maintenance and, um, improvements like, um, extensions that need to go along with that to support, you know, things like data centers and population growth, or is it the fully renewable system? And, you know, if you look at the end state, then I don’t think that many studies or maybe any studies come to the conclusion that anything other than renewables is the, the cheaper, better system. But it’s just, it doesn’t mean that every step along the way is cheaper, and so you end up with this, yeah, like this hump in the middle that you’ve gotta, you’ve gotta get over if you wanna get from one to the other, and it’s, um, it’s complicated. Speaker 6: I just listened to a podcast about this half an hour ago, uh, and it [00:22:00] was very contentious. And I won’t get into the details of it, but it was just one or the other. We wanna have all petroleum-based, coal-based generation in the UK, or we want zero emissions. They never got into anywhere in the middle, which is where it’s going to have to be. So why don’t we talk about that? I– It doesn’t… The political atmosphere of the UK is, is a little unstable, as we’ve all read in the newspapers and seen online. Uh, but it, but it’s just causing the both sides to go to extremes. And on the renewable side, some of the arguments that are being made were so outlandish that I could hardly continue to listen to it. Same thing on the gas and coal side. Like, what are we gonna do? The UK is really in a pinch. They’re gonna have to do something, and it all– as Rosemary’s pointed out, doing nothing is real ex- it’s gonna be tremendously expensive too. So there’s, there’s gonna have to be a, a reckoning somehow, but it, it’s all tied to the [00:23:00] economy at the moment. Like most things that happen in a country, decisions are made about what’s happening right now, not what’s gonna happen five years from now. Yolanda Padron: Right. And to your point, like countries need to protect themselves, right? Like what are you gonna do, bank on world peace? Speaker 6: That’s a bad bet historically. Matthew Stead: But, um, how many, how many of those charts have you seen in the last one to years where you’ve got the, the fossil fuel, say the coal generation versus renewable generation? How many of those, um, charts have crossed over in the last few years where, you know, renewables generation is, is higher than coal generation? It’s just, it’s happening all over the world. It’s just happening, and you look at the graphs, it’s just happening. Speaker 6: It’s less expensive, so that’s why they’re doing it. The decision’s made with the dollar. You know, the financing and the bankers and insurance are all gonna drive that, and it’s not gonna be the decision you, the homeowner, are gonna have a lot of influence on. It’s all gonna be done at a higher level, and it’s gonna be whatever’s cheaper and whatever’s available. Back to Rosemary’s point, [00:24:00] solar is cheap and available, people are gonna do it. Wind is cheap and available, they’re gonna choose it no matter who’s in office, right? I… Yeah, that’s the engineer talking, not the politician. Matthew Stead: Battery, wind, and solar is only gonna get cheaper. Is, um, is, uh, gas turbines and coal gonna get cheaper? Speaker 6: They can’t. In order to get the efficiency up where they need to, it’s gonna be super expensive, which is what we’re at today. That’s why gas turbines are s- you can’t mass produce them, and that’s why they cost so much money. It’s a great business if you sell a couple a year. You can’t sell thousands of them. There’s just not a way to do that. As wind energy professionals, staying informed is crucial, and let’s face it, difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast recommends PES Wind magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or new to wind, PES Wind has the high-quality content you need. Don’t miss [00:25:00] out. Visit peswind.com today. Over in Sweden, they built all the wind farms, and here at Weather Guard we’ve talked to a number of operators over in Sweden, so has EOLOGIX-PING, uh, and the– So but the wind farms and the customers haven’t really showed up, and researchers in Sweden have analyzed two hundred and forty-four Swedish wind power producers owning more than about thirty-seven hundred turbines covering eighty-five percent of the country’s total wind generation. So it’s a pretty large study. They found that eighty percent were effectively operating at a loss in twenty twenty-four. The total sector losses reached six point three billion Swedish kronor, uh, about six hundred and twenty million euros. The sector’s profit margins fell to a negative fifty-one percent. That’s right, negative fifty-one percent. Uh, and here’s the real paradox. Although wind production actually [00:26:00] rose from thirty-four point two to forty point six terawatt-hours, revenues fell for the first time in at least six years. Uh, the more they produced, the less they earned. And the real culprit is overcapacity. So they have so many turbines up in northern Sweden, uh, that it’s driving the energy prices down, much like Australia. Uh, and the missing link is obviously transmission because it is big demand to the south. It’s just getting the power there. Vattenfall alone lost eight hundred and seventy million euros in its wind business in twenty twenty-four, and one of its subsidiaries curtailed seventeen percent of the potential production because of, uh, shutting the turbines down was less expensive than selling into negative prices, which would make sense. So the price has gotten so low in Sweden that it’s better just to turn the turbine off and, and eat the loss than to generate power at a, at a negative price. This is a common theme [00:27:00] as wind has grown, and solar for the same matter, is that when you have so much of it, the price of electricity will drop. And until you can get that power out to other areas that has high demand It becomes a losing proposition. How does this play out? Will the– Now will countries finally take transmission seriously and start to even out the grid? Is that where we’re going? Yolanda Padron: I mean, I hope so. The idea of curtailing potential energy isn’t something new, right? It happens here in Texas all the time. It happens in a lot of places all the time, um, just to, to not overflow the grid. And it makes sense, but it doesn’t make sense too much, at least to me, that in the same country you have parts of it where you have an electricity surplus and negative pricing, and other parts of it where you just, you don’t have enough energy for the whole, uh, region, right? So, uh, I really hope they take it a bit more seriously than they, than they currently are. Matthew Stead: Uh, I think the interesting thing about Sweden is [00:28:00]that they’ve got a lot of hydro as well, and so those two things tie together. Um, you know, much like Australia, we’re building the, like the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, um, hydro scheme, and, um, maybe that’s part of the missing puzzle is the actual, the storage element. So if they had more pumped hydro, you know, they could, um, perhaps store that excess energy and then, then reuse it. But, you know, unless there’s no pipes from the north to the south, you know, that’s not gonna help anyone. Speaker 6: Hydro is expensive. The more recent news articles I’ve seen about pumped hydro is it’s way less expensive to put in wind or put in solar or put in some batteries than to do pumped hydro projects. It’s complicated. It’s a lot of construction, obviously, and, uh, the pumps and the equipment are not cheap. So, uh, yeah, so although if you do have hydro and it’s currently running, you would leave that alone, but I think some of the newer pumped hydro projects probably won’t happen. Even if they’re on the– have [00:29:00] been planned and, and even started, I think they’re really reevaluating that it’s probably cheaper to do batteries. Matthew Stead: In Australia, in Snowy 2.0, I think the original budget was, was it 3 billion? And now it’s up to 12 to 15 billion. Rosemary Barnes: Anybody that was working on that would’ve known that the price was very likely to blow out because that particular project has a really long tunnel. The two reservoirs that, like the reservoirs were existing, so you think, okay, that’s good, you save money. But the expensive part of pumped hydro is the tunneling and then, and it’s a very long tunnel. Um, and it’s just so super predictable that when you have a super long tunnel, you one, increase the cost a lot, but two, increase the risk of a massive cost blowout. So I think it’s not a good predictor of, of projects as some other ones that are, that are happening. I think the biggest problem with hydro is that, um, the project lives are so long, like 100 years e- easily, [00:30:00] but that doesn’t mean anything in today’s dollars, y- you know? So it’s like no one can, no company is gonna assign any value to the electricity they’re gonna generate in 100 years time, you know? So it’s, um, it, it’s really hard for it to stack up to, as a project today unless it’s a government doing it. Matthew Stead: But I mean, once Snowy 2.0 is done, it will still be reasonably cost-effective as a long-term storage source. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. If it had been made on time, then I think it would’ve, it would’ve been a real enabler for the energy transition for getting heaps of wind and solar. But it wasn’t done on time, and we barely we- storage isn’t our problem right now. We have actually got lots of, of storage. That’s not what’s stopping people from building projects. So, um, I think it is a bit of a shame. Speaker 6: Back to your point, Rosemary, how old hydro is in terms of electricity generation. I, I went to go look up when Niagara River, Niagara Falls in, in the States first [00:31:00] started producing power, 1895. That’s how long we’ve been using water power in the States to create electricity. Hoover Dam, which also does something very similar, is in the 1930s, 1935, ’36, around that timeframe. So it’s almost been 100 years there too, 90 years. Yeah. It’s, it’s amazing. So you don’t plan for those, those pieces of, uh, infrastructure to run that long, but they do. That wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy podcast. And if today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you found value in today’s conversation, please leave us a review. It really helps other wind energy professionals discover the show. For Rosie, Yolanda, and Matthew, I’m Allen Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy [00:32:00] podcast.

Busy times for SC's energy sector

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2026 5:50

Mike Switzer interviews John McDermott, business editor of the Post and Courier, about Dominion Energy's rate hikes and its sale to NextEra.

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Duke University's Jackson Ewing on a massive merger between NC's two largest electricity providers

NC Policy Watch

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2026 25:06

Earlier this month, regulatory commissions in North and South Carolina approved a merger between the two energy monopolies that dominate electricity production and distribution in our state: Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The merger comes at a time of rapid consolidation in the energy industry. Indeed, even as the merger of the two Duke entities is moving forward, Florida-based NextEra announced that it is acquiring Dominion Energy, which serves part or northeastern North Carolina. So, what does all of this mean? What do the companies say about why it's taking place? What are the potential benefits? What are the potential concerns – both for residential consumers and the wellbeing of our environment as the effects of climate change grow ever-more concerning? Recently, to get a handle on these questions and some others of importance, Newsline had an extended conversation with the Director of Energy and Climate Policy at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University, Dr. Jackson Ewing. Click here to listen to the full interview with Dr. Jackson Ewing, Director of Energy and Climate Policy at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University.

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BizSense Beat: Recreational marijuana in Virginia, Dominion merger, Shamin Hotels

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Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2026 5:02

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jack Jacobs discuss the Richmond region's top business stories starting with Gov. Abigail Spanberger's veto to a bill that would have legalized retail marijuana sales beginning in 2027, Dominion Energy's merger with NextEra, and Shamin Hotels' expansion in the Richmond.

Friday May 22, 2026 NextEra Moves to Acquire Dominion Energy

Corporate Crime Reporter Morning Minute

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2026 1:00

Friday May 22, 2026 NextEra Moves to Acquire Dominion Energy

acquire dominion energy

Will The Dominion Energy/NextEra Merger Save You Money?

Richmond's Morning News

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 14:22

Economics professor Dr. Richard Bilas joins the show to talk about the Dominion Energy/NextEra merger. Do large mergers like this save the consumer money?

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DHUnplugged #803: The Thucydides Trap

DH Unplugged

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 54:58

– Happy Memorial Day – A WARM DHU welcome to Kevin Warsh – good luck fella, you are going to need it sir. – The new transient inflation. – Another BOARD? These guys like to make exclusive clubs… PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Happy Memorial Day - A WARM DHU welcome to Kevin Warsh - good luck fella, you are going to need it - The new transient inflation - Another BOARD? These guys like to make exclusive clubs... Markets - Starting to come in a bit..... - Yield curve steepening - potential for a hike over cuts - YIELDS! - Fuels running low - we have the list OH MY... - The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield has surged to around 5.14%, putting it at its highest level since the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis - Bets are pricing in the increasingly possibility of it reaching 5.5% to 6%, which would mark the highest levels since late 1999 - 30-Year mortgage near 6.35% (average) - DOWN from 6.91% at start of 2026 30-Year Yield Bored of Boards - The Board of Peace - remember that one? That was established in 2025 with 15+ countries that pitched in $1 billion for permanent seat - Indefinitely chaired by President Trump, the governing board is a mix of U.S. officials and prominent American businessmen. - So much for the peace part of that.... - Now we hear about the Board of Investment ---The US and China are discussing a mechanism for fast-tracking some Chinese investment deals and a reduction in tariffs on non-critical goods. - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned a "Board of Investment" that will be responsible for investment in non-sensitive areas. - The idea of the "Board of Investment" is to have a mechanism that could allow deals that wouldn't need to be referred to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. - In other words - working outside of the established channels that primary function is to determine whether these transactions pose risks to U.S. national security. IRAN - On and off as usual - Cancelled a scheduled bombing? - President Trump speaking with reporters says he will know "soon" if U.S. needs to give Iran another big hit; says Gulf states are helping with negotiations; says Iran keeps agreeing to things and changing their mind; says Iran has 2-3 days to make a deal - This is the parental attempt to manupluate a child - I am going to count to THREE.... 1-2-3-4-5-6 China Trip - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that the U.S. and China “will have clashes and even conflicts” if the long-standing issue of Taiwan's independence is mishandled. - Speaking just ahead of Trump, Xi noted the global attention on the meeting, and said a major question for the two countries was whether they could avoid the “Thucydides Trap,” according to an official English translation of his remarks broadcast by CCTV. - The Thucydides Trap refers to how tensions historically between a rising and ruling power have often resulted in a war. Some Observations - Veggie Prices are off the charts --- Cauliflower $9, Carrots $6 small bag (not organic) - - Favorite produce store noticed things going bad.... Realized that people are not buying stuff PPI Inflation - HOTTTTTTTT - Headline MoM: +1.4% - YoY: +6.0% - Core PPI (ex food & energy): about +1.0% MoM - Energy was a big part, but services also saw a large move - Highest monthly increase since march 2022 --- In reaction bonds are selling off - highest on 10 and 30 year since March 2024 (10 YR Broke above 4.65) Outbreak - An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization - 80 deaths were attributed to the disease. - Outbreak does not meet pandemic criteria, WHO says - Eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases - At least six Americans in the DRC have been exposed to the Ebola virus, with three exposures deemed high risk WHAT? - One of the highest margin foods, pizza and pasta - Domino's Pizza, is among the pizza giants whose franchisees have filed for bankruptcy - Papa Johns: We have identified approximately 300 underperforming restaurants across North America that are not meeting brand expectations or lack a clear path to sustainable financial improvement, as well as locations where we can effectively transfer sales to a nearby restaurant - Pizza Hut, which also hasn't filed for bankruptcy (YET) , won't be left out of closings as the company's parent Yum! Brands in February said that it would close 250 underperforming locations as part of its Hut Forward plan in the first half of 2026. - PZZA down 65% over the past 5 years - The Papa John's board formally ousted founder and former CEO John "Papa" John" Schnatter in a series of steps culminating in July 2018 and March 2019 BONDS - Yields Spiking - U.S. Treasury yields spiked on Friday following a week of messy inflation data and as traders looked to price interest rate policy under new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. - The yield on the 30-year bond jumped nearly 11 basis points to yield 5.121%, the highest since May 22, 2025, and nearing the highest since October 2023. - Japanese long-term bond yields have surged to multi-decade highs, with the 10-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB) hitting 2.8%—its highest level since October 1996 M&A Utilities - U.S. power companies NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy announced a plan to merge on Monday in a $66.8 billion deal that ?will form one of the world's largest electric utilities during an expansion of energy-intensive data centers to support artificial intelligence. - The all-stock transaction, which is pending ?regulatory approvals, is one of the largest-ever energy mergers. - Industry consolidation - -- This year, AES Corp agreed to be acquired by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and Swedish ?private-equity firm EQT AB for $33.4 billion. ---- That followed Constellation Energy's $16 billion deal with Calpine and Blackstone's $11.5 billion deal for TXNM Energy last year. SOYBEANS - Trump's visit to China yielded little in the way of anything - The United States expects China to sign up to buy "double-digit billions" worth of U.S. farm goods following a summit between Presidents Donald ?Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on ?Friday. - Greer noted the 25 million metric ton per year soybean deal agreed last October and said the U.S. also expects to "see an agreement for double-digit billion purchases of ags over the next three years per year ?coming out of this visit." - Soybeans and other commodity prices moved higher on Monday as the news was disseminated. CHYNA Deals? - Looks like Boeing got an order of 200 more planes from China. ---- The problem is that was much less that was expected -- Boeing was down on the news. - Some murmurs about China buying more energy (oil, gas) from US - - - There was also something said about President Xi asking about the US intentions of Taiwan Bessent - Transitory - Even with recent inflation news universally bad, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expects price pressures to ease soon, just in time for new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to take over. -- Why are we listening to this crew? They have been wrong about everything - but say it with such confidence. - WAIT FOR IT...... - “I firmly believe that nothing is more transient than a supply shock, and we can, we can look through that, because before the Iranian conflict began, core inflation was coming down. - He noted that he sees substantial disinflation ahead ----- IF there is substantial disinflation that would be bad news as the economy will be slowing precipitously - could be problematic - so it is not clear what he is so excited about Earnings - NVDA is going to be position earnings Wednesday after the close - So far Semiconductor companies and storage companies have been saying that the orders keep flowing in and - Wall Street analysts project EPS of $1.78 on revenue of $79.2 billion, representing a year-over-year revenue increase of roughly 80%. Open AI - Musk - R0und 1- Musk looses on what looks to be a technicality - Perhaps jurors were miffed that he skipped closing arguments and went to China instead (to be the the Trump Posse) - Naturally he is already discussing appeal Even more Create Financing - Google (GOOG/GOOGL) and Blackstone (BX) are drawing significant investor attention following the announcement of TPU Cloud, a new U.S.-based joint venture designed to commercialize GOOG's Tensor Processing Unit infrastructure at greater scale. - The partnership underscores the accelerating arms race in AI infrastructure, while also highlighting how hyperscalers are increasingly turning to alternative financing structures to fund the enormous capital requirements tied to next-generation AI compute expansion. Fuel Shortages - In case anyone thought otherwise - the Straight is till closed. Fuel Running Low - India: Severe LPG (cooking gas) shortages, rationing in many areas - Pakistan & Bangladesh: Critical LPG and diesel shortages - Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia): Jet fuel & diesel shortages, flight cuts - South Korea & Taiwan: Tight jet fuel and refined product stocks - Europe (especially UK): Jet fuel critically low, risk of flight cancellations - Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, parts of East Africa): Jet fuel and import shortages - CUBA - OUT Cooking Fuel (LPG) Shortages - India: Severe shortages, long queues, rationing - Pakistan: Critical LPG shortage, heavy rationing - Bangladesh: Major shortages, price spikes - Nepal & Sri Lanka: Supply cuts, half-filled cylinders common - Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, etc.): Tight supplies and high prices - Africa: Sharp price increases, reduced affordability - Europe/US: Mostly higher prices, no major physical shortages Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Announcing the THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for SALESFORCE (CRM) Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt! FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

The biggest power merger in U.S. history is all about data centers

POLITICO Energy

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 14:18

The massive $67 billion merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, two of the largest utility companies in the nation, will face a regulatory gauntlet at the state and federal level amid concerns about energy affordability and rising power demand. POLITICO's Adam Aton breaks down the details of the potential merger, the difficult regulatory process ahead, and the stakes for the utility industry. Plus, the Trump administration will extend a waiver allowing the sale of Russian crude already loaded on tankers, and a new report from the Government Accountability Office said the Energy Department office charged with nuclear waste cleanup is plagued by vacancies. Adam Aton covers the politics of climate change for POLITICO's E&E News. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. KJ Cline is the video producer for POLITICO Energy. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO's E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more reporting on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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42. NextEra–Dominion $66.8B Merger Signals Energy as AI's New Bottleneck

Stay Winning | A Financial Health Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 7:03

Sponsored by: https://costsegregationguys.com/staywinningNextEra–Dominion $66.8B Merger Signals Energy as AI's New BottleneckOn May 18, 2026, NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy announce a $66.8B mostly stock merger (0.8 NextEra shares per Dominion share) that would create the world's largest utility, with NextEra shareholders owning about 75% of the combined company. The script argues energy has become the key constraint for AI as data centers and model training drive unprecedented electricity demand, shifting the “picks and shovels” opportunity from GPUs to the grid. The deal strengthens control in Northern Virginia “data center alley,” securing critical interconnection capacity sought by major tech firms. It highlights utilities' regulated returns, forced demand via long-term power purchase agreements, and dividends plus growth, while noting risks from regulatory scrutiny, massive capital needs amid high rates, and potential political backlash over costs and environmental impact. A sponsor segment promotes cost segregation for real estate depreciation.00:00 Energy Beats AI00:24 Merger Shockwave01:05 Deal Numbers01:35 Data Center Alley02:12 Sponsor Break03:12 AI Power Surge03:49 Grid Is Picks04:12 Utility Wealth Case05:14 Risks And Pushback06:17 Why Still Bullish06:51 Final Thoughts

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Who gets the money in Trump‘s new ‘weaponization' fund?

Here & Now

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 21:06

The Trump administration announced a new Justice Department fund of more than $1.7 billion to compensate people it says were harmed by “weaponization” under the Biden administration. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter talks about the legal and ethical questions surrounding the move. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are getting quicker at finding people to arrest, thanks to tools provided by the tech company Palantir. Investigative journalist Joseph Cox tells us more. And, giant utility rivals NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy are planning to merge. Why now, and what could this mean for your energy costs? We learn more from Roben Farzad, host of the podcast Full Disclosure.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

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Inside a Lebanese village under Israeli occupation

FT News Briefing

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 10:46

A California court threw out Elon Musk's case against Sam Altman and OpenAI, the global bond sell-off rages on, and a $420bn power behemoth was born after NextEra Energy struck a deal with its rival Dominion Energy. Plus, the FT's Raya Jalabi travels to Christian villages in southern Lebanon where residents fear they're under an indefinite occupation by Israeli forces. Mentioned in this podcast:Elon Musk's case against OpenAI dismissed after just two hours of jury deliberationsGlobal bonds tumble on fears of inflation shock from Iran warBonds extend sell-off on inflation fearsNextEra strikes megadeal with Dominion to create $420bn US utilityIsrael seizes 1,000 sq km under Benjamin Netanyahu's war strategyThe Christian villages under Israeli occupation in LebanonWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today's FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT's Global Head of Audio. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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5/19/26 - NextEra Energy to acquire Dominion Energy

OHNE AKTIEN WIRD SCHWER - Tägliche Börsen-News

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 5:05

Read more from VPM News: 'Assault weapons' ban OKed by Spanberger met with immediate legal challenges Florida-based NextEra agrees to $67B Dominion Energy acquisition Other links: GRTC commits to another year of fare-free service (The Richmonder) Spanberger directs new revenue forecast to aid budget talks (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* Parents frustrated over broken AC at Henrico elementary school (WTVR) Va. officials celebrate the bald eagle's comeback and centuries as national symbol (Virginia Mercury) USS Gerald R. Ford returns home after record-breaking deployment (WHRO) *This outlet uses a paywall. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

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Deutschlands große ETF-Liebe und das globale Bond-Beben

Alles auf Aktien

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 24:09 Transcription Available

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Daniel Eckert und Lea Oetjen über die radikale Zeitenwende bei Berkshire Hathaway, einen Mega-Deal im Energiesektor und einen drohenden Zweikampf um Delivery Hero. Außerdem geht es um Deutsche Börse, Commerzbank, UniCredit, Rheinmetall, Sartorius, Bio-Rad, Delivery Hero, Uber, Ford, EDF, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Berkshire Hathaway, Delta Air Lines, Alphabet, New York Times, Macy's, Visa, Mastercard, Amazon, UnitedHealth, Charter, Domino's Pizza, Chevron, NextEra Energy, Dominion Energy, Micron, Seagate, Western Digital, Sandisk, Nvidia, Broadcom, Amundi Prime All Country World (WKN: ETF151), Xtrackers Euro Stoxx 50 (WKN: DBX1ET), Xtrackers Stoxx Europe 600 (WKN: DBX1A7), iShares Treasury Bond 20+yr ETF (WKN: A12HL9), Xtrackers II Global Government Bond ETF EUR Hedged (WKN: DBX0A8), iShares Core Global Aggregate Bond ETF EUR Hedged (WKN: A2H6ZT), iShares Euro Government Bond ETF (WKN: A0RL83), Xtrackers II Australia Government Bond ETF (WKN: DBX0GG), iShares € Inflation Linked Government Bond ETF (WKN: A0HGV1), State Street SPDR FTSE Global Convertible Bond ETF (WKN: A12CZS) und iShares $ Treasury Bond 0-1yr (WKN: A2PBNQ). Wir freuen uns an Feedback über aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Hier könnt ihr den AAA-Newsletter abonnieren: https://www.welt.de/newsletter/article232797673/Alles-auf-Aktien-Der-taegliche-Boersen-Newsletter-fuer-WELTplus-Abonnenten.html Und - ganz neu: AAA gibt es jetzt auch auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alles_auf_aktien/ Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

“Unbekannte KI-Highflyer” - Nextera x Dominion, Ryanair, Regeneron & Hoka

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 15:18

Ohne Aktien-Zugang ist's schwer? Starte jetzt bei unserem Partner Scalable Capital. Mit eigenem KI-Chatbot, der dir alle Fragen rund ums Investieren beantwortet. Alle weiteren Infos gibt's hier: scalable.capital/oaws. Iran-Entspannung drückt Ölpreis kurz. NextEra kauft Dominion Energy. Publicis schnappt sich LiveRamp. Elliott steigt bei Bio-Rad ein. Regeneron scheitert mit Krebsmittel. Uber baut Delivery-Hero-Anteil auf 25% aus. Commerzbank lehnt UniCredit-Angebot ab. Hoka war der Laufschuh-Hype der letzten Jahre. Jetzt flacht das Wachstum ab, die Aktie der Holding Deckers (WKN: 894298) hat 25% verloren. Ist die Skepsis übertrieben oder holt die Konkurrenz von Brooks und New Balance Hoka ein? Glutamat-Hersteller, Autokühler-Bauer, Wafer-Monopolist: Die krassesten KI-Profiteure kennt kaum jemand. Ajinomoto (WKN: 853681), Modine (WKN: 869795), Soitec (WKN: A2DKAC), AT&S (WKN: 922230) und Sivers (WKN: A1W9Z9) bis zu 1.150% Plus in 2026. Diesen Podcast vom 19.05.2026, 3:00 Uhr stellt dir die Podstars GmbH (Noah Leidinger) zur Verfügung. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WMRA Daily 5/19/26

WMRA Daily

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 7:32

Dominion Energy will merge with a Florida company to become the largest regulated electric utility in the country… Shenandoah River water levels are near historic lows, as severe drought continues… Advocates kick off a campaign to educate voters about a reproductive health care amendment on the ballot this November….

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Blockbuster AI Trial Ends With Elon Musk Loss Against OpenAI

WSJ Whatâ€™s News

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 14:00

P.M. Edition for May 18. A California jury sides against Elon Musk in his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. The decision clears the path for OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to go public. Plus, the Trump administration has created an unusual settlement fund for people who claim they have been victimized by the Justice Department. We hear from Journal reporter Ryan Barber on what we know about the fund and why it's already getting pushback. And NextEra Energy has agreed to buy Dominion Energy in a $67 billion deal. Jennifer Hiller, who covers the power industry, says it would create the largest U.S. utility–but it'll have to pass regulatory scrutiny first. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

california donald trump news loss elon musk chatgpt trial journal wall street journal ends openai blockbuster justice department sam altman dominion energy

PODCAST LAS NOTICIAS CON CALLE DE 18 DE MAYO

Jay Fonseca

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 19:53

PODCAST LAS NOTICIAS CON CALLE DE 18 DE MAYO - Jenniffer González ahora dice que va a arreglar las finanzas de PR - El Nuevo Día Muere Sammy Marrero el cantante de La Selecta - Primera HoraProyecto para la eutanasia de PR ¿lo apoyarías?- Primera Hora Jefe de OGPe fue botado, pero ahora dicen que renunció - El Nuevo Día Miguel Romero busca demandar en la federal a la AAA por falta de agua - El Nuevo DíaEmergencia por ébola en Congo y Uganda, no hay vacuna - El Nuevo Día MMM hoy voy pa Martins BBQEl mejor y más sabroso pollo asado a la varita de Puerto Rico. Cocinando diariamente comida fresca saludable y sabrosa con un montón de complementos para escoger, arroces, habichuelas, verduras, mofongo,tostones,....MMMM....Esto si es criolloMartins BBQ, TOMANDO todas las medidas de salud y sabor para mantener la mesa boricua al dia con opciones para llamar, recoger o delivery por UBER Eats, y DoorDash.MMM Hoy como en Martin's BBQAsado...Jugoso...SabrosoAlcaldes no tienen cementerios - El Nuevo Día Ataque de drones en planta nuclear de Emiratos Árabes - Reuters Le recortan chavos a 17 agencias del gobierno - El Nuevo Día Cuba supuestamente planifica atacar a USA, y Trump tiene plan de intervención - El Nuevo Día Servicio forestal recomendado cobrar 4 dólares por persona que entre al Yunque - El Nuevo Día Venezuela deporta a Alex Saab el colombiano poderoso y mega aliado de Maduro - Miami Herald NextEra compra Dominion Energy por 67 billones creando una de las empresas más grandes del mundo energético - WSJArrestan 23 incluyendo por masacre del os torturados desnudos - Jay Fonseca PR 51 investigaciones fueron archivadas en Justicia sin encomendarse a nadie incluyendo la de la secretaria de Familia - El Nuevo Día Apagones son cosa del pasado dice jefe de gobierno - El Vocero 58 mil adultos en ASUME esperan por pagos de deudores - El Vocero Asamblea de estudiantes hoy en UPRRP - El Vocero Mercado de bonos se desploma — Treasury 30 años toca 5.12%, máximo desde 2007. La hipoteca a 30 años en EU está en 6.49%.Petróleo vuelve a dispararse a 106 y 110 - Oil Price Putin va a China a reunión mañana y miércoles - Reuters LOS DATOS DEL DÍABrent:$111.15/barril (+1.73%)WTI:$103.13/barril (+2.09%)Diésel retail EU:$5.64/galón (semana del 11 de mayo)S&P 500:7,408.50 (-1.24% el viernes)Dow Jones:49,526.17 (-1.07%)Bono 10Y EU:~4.63% (máximo desde enero 2025)Bono 30Y EU:5.12% (máximo desde 2007)Euro/USD:~1.17Gas natural (Henry Hub):~$2.83/MMBtuHipoteca 30Y EU:6.49%#martinsbbq#incluyeauspicio

NextEra to Buy Dominion Energy, Making East Coast Utilities Titan

WSJ Minute Briefing

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 2:39

Plus: President Trump drops a lawsuit against the IRS as the Justice Department announces a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim the DOJ victimized them. And U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria kill 20 Islamic State fighters. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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NextEra's $66B Deal for Dominion Energy; Bond Sell-Off Deepens After UAE Drone Strike | May 18, 2026 – Morning Market Briefing

The Investing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 25:02

Andrew, Ben, and Tom discuss NEE considering purchasing Dominion.Join our live YouTube stream Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM EST:http://www.youtube.com/@TheMorningMarketBriefingPlease see disclosures:https://www.narwhal.com/disclosure

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Financial Market Preview - Monday 18-May

FactSet U.S. Daily Market Preview

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 4:34

US equity futures are weaker with S&P down 0.3%. Bonds mixed after finding support after earlier weakness; US 10-year steady at 4.6%. Bund flat. Gilts firmer. Dollar is mostly firmer. Crude firmer amid hawkish Middle East headlines. Gold and silver weaker. Bitcoin down to early May low. Equity market sentiment tends negative amid hawkish US-Iran developments, which underpins oil prices and weighs on bonds. Inflation concerns reinforce hawkish central bank pricing. US Treasury 30Y yield climbing further above 5% to a 20-year high. Companies mentioned: Dominion Energy, NextEra Energy, National Healthcare Properties

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Florida Utility Buying Dominion Energy For $66.8B; Why Is Florida Company Buying VA's Dominion?

The I Love CVille Show With Jerry Miller!

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 50:20

The I Love CVille Show headlines: Florida Utility Buying Dominion Energy For $66.8 Billion Why Is Florida Company Buying Virginia's Dominion? How Will Virginians Be Impacted By This Merger? City Purchased 2000 Holiday Drive 6 Months Ago Livable CVille's Agenda Driving Black Families Out Cavanaugh Cabinets Real Estate Is Now For Sale UVA AD Carla Williams Fires Lax Coach Lars Tiffany? Subscribe To JerryRatcliffe.com For $8 Per Month Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

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NextEra absorbe a Dominion: la fusión eléctrica del año

VG Daily - By VectorGlobal

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 15:30 Transcription Available

En el episodio de hoy de VG Daily, Andre Dos Santos y Valentina Orduz repasan una semana que arranca cargada: las amenazas de Trump contra Irán durante el fin de semana, el ataque con drones a la planta nuclear de Barakah en los Emiratos, y la reunión del martes en el Situation Room donde la administración evalúa opciones militares sobre la mesa.En el frente corporativo, se analiza la fusión all-stock entre NextEra Energy y Dominion Energy, un deal valuado en aproximadamente 66 mil millones de dólares que crearía la mayor utility de Estados Unidos con una base de clientes combinada de diez millones de cuentas y capacidad instalada de 110 gigawatts. En el bloque corporativo de la semana, se anticipan los reportes de Home Depot, Target, Lowe's y Toll Brothers el martes y miércoles; Nvidia after market el miércoles como evento central del ciclo capex de inteligencia artificial; Walmart, Zoom, Workday y Ralph Lauren el jueves; y Booz Allen Hamilton y BJ's Wholesale el viernes.

NextEra Bids for Dominion, Hornsea 3 Foundation Installed

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Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 3:02

Allen covers NextEra’s potential $400 billion buy of Dominion Energy, US developers racing the July tax credit deadline, Ming Yang scouting Spain for a factory, Turkey opening its first offshore wind tender, and Hornsea 3’s first foundation going in. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Allen Hall 2025: Good morning, everyone. The world is racing at the minute, and let’s start with the biggest race of all. NextEra Energy, the largest utility in America by market value, is in talks to buy Dominion Energy of Virginia. The price? It’s about $76 a share, roughly $66 billion. With debt, the combined company would be valued at about $400 billion. That would make it the largest power deal on record. A mostly stock transaction, at least that’s what’s being reported, and a deal could come as soon as this week. Pretty shocking. Now, why does this matter to wind? NextEra is [00:01:00] not just a utility. It is one of the largest renewable energy developers on the planet. And Dominion sits on top of Northern Virginia’s data center alley, the biggest concentration of data centers in the country. Dominion expects its peak demand to double by the end of the twenty-thirties, American power consumption hit a second straight record in twenty-twenty-five, and it’s still climbing. So the company that builds more wind and solar than almost anyone wants to merge with the company that serves the hungriest grid in America. That is a race to the top. But down on the ground, developers are running a very different kind of race. Wind projects under construction in the United States are up 60% since the start of twenty-twenty-five. Solar is up about 50%. Why the surge? Well, the clock is ticking. Tax credits for wind and solar were gutted in the one big beautiful bill. Projects must begin construction by July 4th [00:02:00] and prove they are building continuously to qualify. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, those credits were supposed to phase out at the end of twenty-thirty-three. Now that deadline is just a couple of weeks away. Developers are pushing hard on projects that can make it and abandoning the ones that cannot. One solar executive put it plainly: “A lot of the projects are going to die on the vine.” And that’s a real shame. Labor is short. Of course, electricians are in demand. Transformer lead times have stretched to 18 months because data centers are buying them too. Even permits are hard to get. Projects that touch federal land, of course, that once took a month to approve are now waiting up to a year. So while NextEra races to buy the grid, developers are racing to build before the door shuts. Now, across the Atlantic, there’s a different kind of race going on. Chinese turbine manufacturer MingYang [00:03:00] Smart Energy is looking for a new home, and quick. Back in March, Britain blocked the company’s plans for a one-and-a-half billion pound factory in Scotland, mostly based on security grounds. MingYang’s European chief, Horatio Evers, says the company is now talking to Spain and scouting other locations on the continent. He says MingYang wants to build turbines in Europe with a European workforce. And this is the part I don’t understand, ’cause European workforce tend to be more expensive. However, uh, MingYang wants to build that factory, but there’s a condition. They need a guarantee that their turbines will be allowed into the market, and so far that hasn’t happened. The European Commission launched a review of Chinese manufacturers back in 2024. Those findings are still unpublished. So MingYang is racing to find a country willing to say “Yes.” Further east, Turkey is entering the offshore wind [00:04:00] race for the first time. The government has defined four areas along its western coast, all on the Aegean, for its first ever offshore wind tender. Turkey’s energy minister says Turkey aims for five gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035. The country has committed $30 billion to transmission infrastructure. And Turkey already has 15 gigawatts of onshore wind spinning today. Turkey is, of course, a NATO ally, and it straddles Europe and Asia, and now it’s stepping into offshore wind. And finally, up in the North Sea, off the coast of Norfolk, England, 75 miles from shore, Cadeler of Copenhagen just installed the first monopile foundation at Hornsea 3. When complete, Hornsea 3 will be the single largest offshore wind farm on the planet. 2.9 gigawatts, 197 foundations, enough power for 3.3 [00:05:00] million British homes. The project is owned by Danish giant Ørsted and will bring 5,000 construction jobs to the region. Hornsea 1 and 2 are already spinning, and of course, Hornsea 4 is on the drawing board. So here’s the picture. America’s two biggest utilities are racing toward a $400 billion merger. Developers are sprinting to break ground before the Fourth of July. A Chinese turbine maker is searching Europe for a factory, and Turkey is marking out its first offshore wind zones. And over in Britain, they just planted the first foundation at the world’s largest wind farm. Everyone is racing. The only question is, who gets there first? And that’s the state of the wind industry for the 18th of May, 2026. Join us tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy podcast

Hoogvlieger Ryanair geeft winstwaarschuwing, maar niét voor zichzelf

Beurswatch | BNR

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 22:04

Ik ben een fantastische spits, maar mijn team gaat wel verliezen. Dat is vrij vertaald wat de altijd amusante Michael O'Leary van Ryanair zegt over zijn vliegtuigmaatschappij en de concurrentie. Hij heeft het 'Armageddon'-scenario klaarliggen nu de oorlog in Iran alweer zijn derde maand af dreigt te sluiten. Zelf gaat hij niet kopje onder door die hoge brandstofprijzen (nee hoor), maar er gaan mogelijk wel een paar concurrenten sneuvelen... Iets koopwaardiger, althans volgens de financiële markten: groene energie. Wablief? Ja ja, de woorden 'winst' en 'windmolen' stonden de afgelopen jaren zelden in dezelfde zin. Toch is de index voor groene energie-aandelen met een opmars bezig. Bedrijven als Ørsted en Vestas hebben de wind weer in de rug vanwege de oorlog in Iran én de energieveelvraat die AI heet. Maar betekent dat ook dat deze bedrijven straks veranderen in echte GE Vernova's, of kan een windmolen zich niet meten met een gasturbine? We bespreken de ins & outs. Verder praten we je bij over een monsterdeal die de VS het grootste nutsbedrijf op aarde oplevert, over ASML dat India gaat helpen om een chipindustrie op te bouwen en natuurlijk de stakingen bij Samsung die de hele chipketen hoofdpijn dreigen te geven. Te gast: Justin Blekemolen, analist bij online broker Lynx BNR Beurs is een journalistiek onafhankelijke productie, mede mogelijk gemaakt door Saxo. Over de makers: Jelle Maasbach is presentator van BNR Beurs en freelance financieel journalist. Zijn favoriete aandeel om over te praten is Disney, maar daar lijkt hij de enige in te zijn. Sinds de eerste uitzending van BNR Beurs is 'ie er bij. Maxim van Mil is presentator van BNR Beurs en journalist bij BNR, waar hij zich focust op de financiële markten en ontwikkelingen in de tech-wereld. Je krijgt hem het meest enthousiast als hij kan praten over ASML, of oer-Hollandse bedrijven zoals Ahold of ABN Amro. Jorik Simonides is presentator van BNR Beurs, economieredacteur en verslaggever bij BNR. Hij wordt er vooral blij van als het een keer níet over AI gaat. Milou Brand is presentator van BNR Beurs, freelance podcastmaker en columnist bij het Financieele Dagblad. Jochem Visser is presentator van BNR Beurs, maakt Beursnerd XL en is redacteur bij de podcast Onder Curatoren. Vraag hem naar obscure zaken op financiële markten en hij vertelt je waarom het eigenlijk nóg leuker is dan je al dacht. Over de podcast: Met BNR Beurs ga je altijd voorbereid de nieuwe beursdag in. We praten je in een kleine 25 minuten bij over alle laatste ontwikkelingen op de handelsvloer. We blijven niet alleen bij de AEX of Wall Street, maar vertellen je ook waar nog meer kansen liggen. En we houden het niet bij de cijfers, maar zoeken ook iedere dag voor je naar duiding van scherpe gasten en experts. Of je nu een ervaren belegger bent of net begint met je eerste stappen op de beurs, de podcast biedt waardevolle inzichten voor je beleggingsstrategie. Door de focus op zowel de korte termijn als de lange termijn, helpt BNR Beurs luisteraars om de ruis van de markt te scheiden van de essentie. Van Musk tot Microsoft en van Ahold tot ASML. Wij vertellen je wat beleggers bezighoudt, wie de markten in beweging zet en wat dat betekent voor jouw beleggingsportefeuille.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Análisis del día en Wall Street

Mercado Abierto

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 6:27

SpaceX, Intel, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, NextEra Energy y Dominion Energy bajo la lupa de Ignacio Vacchiano, responsable de distribución en España de Leverage Shares

Dominion Energy to merge with Florida-based company

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 0:49

The companies have entered a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction.

merge dominion energy

Hoogvlieger Ryanair geeft winstwaarschuwing, maar niét voor zichzelf

AEX Factor | BNR

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 22:04

5/12/26 - Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs paid family and medical leave program into law

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Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2026 4:45

Read more from VPM News: Richmond councilors sign off on $3.5B budget for FY27 Updated: Virginia Democrats ask US Supreme Court to step in on redistricting case Dominion Energy plans for state's biggest gas plant in Cumberland (VPM News) New study highlights importance of home repair assistance programs Other links: City seeks dismissal of water crisis lawsuit from former DPU director (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* Hyperscale, Hyperspeed: Data centers in NC don't pay taxes on their supplies or their electricity. Should that change? (WUNC) Richmond native 1st Lt. Kendrick Key found dead after going missing in Morocco (WTVR) *This outlet uses a paywall. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

Episode 124 - Are You Ready for Dominion Energy Riverrock?

On the Move

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 20:02

Nan & Kam catch you up to speed on all the new things happening at Dominion Energy Riverrock this year. From new events, to a new layout, new sports to try in our Adventure Zones, and more -- there's something for everyone!

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She Spent 12 Years Fighting Amazon. Now She Wants to Cut the Power to AI.

For Humanity: An AI Safety Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 51:58

Most people who care about AI risk are focused on what happens inside the models. Elena Schlossberg has spent 12 years focused on what happens outside them - the concrete, the transmission lines, the water, and the electricity bill landing in your mailbox.She founded the Coalition to Protect Prince William County in Northern Virginia after Amazon Web Services quietly proposed a data center campus in 2014 and expected the surrounding community to absorb the cost of the transmission line it required. Not just the visual blight. The actual bill.“Your electric utility can exercise eminent domain over your property,” she told John Sherman on this week's For Humanity, “and then make you pay for it, because it's public infrastructure.”What the data center industry found, she argues, is a structural weakness inside public utility law. They build private infrastructure. They socialize the cost. And they've been doing it at scale for over a decade.The coalition fought Amazon and Dominion Energy for four years. They proved that 97% of the power from a proposed transmission line would serve Amazon. They developed a cost allocation policy to make the company pay. They lost the first round, kept going, and eventually won. That fight became a template.Data Center Alley is not a local storyJohn opened the conversation by asking where the national movement stands. The answer is: further along than most people realize.Virginia alone has more data centers than China. Prince William County - a single county - has roughly 130 active facilities and another 130 planned. Transmission lines are being routed through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia to feed the demand. Property is being seized in states that will never see the economic benefit. Communities that didn't vote for any of this are watching concrete replace farmland and small businesses.“Those people are pissed,” Elena said, describing residents in Pennsylvania and Maryland whose land is being taken not even for development in their own state. “Their property is being taken, not even for economic development in their own state.”She also pushed back on the framing that opposition to data centers equals handing a win to China. Virginia already beat China on data center count by itself. The question, she said, is who pays and who profits - and right now, the public pays and the corporations profit.The jobs argument doesn't hold upOne of the cleaner moments in the conversation came when Elena took apart the economic case for data centers.The industry pitches construction jobs. Electricians, plumbers, concrete. But construction work ends. Long-term employment inside a data center is minimal - the parking lots are the tell. “They're usually empty,” she said.Meanwhile, the data center expansion is actively hollowing out existing local economies. In Prince William County, Amazon bought Maryfield - a 38-acre family-run garden center with a cafe, a dog park, native plants, and real staff. Gone. And with it went the space for light industrial businesses, plumbing suppliers, electricians' shops - the backbone employers that actually sustain a community over decades.John extended the argument further: the jobs being replaced aren't just in the county. They're everywhere. The work happening inside those chips - the calls, the analysis, the design, the writing - is work that was done by people. A former Verizon customer service call connected Elena's point to something concrete. A woman called for help. The AI on the other end couldn't solve her problem, kept changing accents (American, then maybe female, then possibly Australian), and seemed to be learning from her in real time. Helpful to nobody. Replacing somebody.Extinction risk: a first encounterThis is where the episode got interesting.John walked Elena through the basic case for AI extinction risk - that the companies building these models say they could cause human extinction, that leading scientists agree, that the developers themselves admit they don't fully understand or control what they're building. He framed it as a curiosity argument: something designed to learn and explore, becoming vastly more intelligent than the people supposedly overseeing it, won't stay inside the guardrails.Elena hadn't heard the argument laid out this way before. Her response was unscripted and worth reading carefully.She doesn't buy the self-awareness framing. From her background as a school counselor, she holds a specific definition of intelligence that includes self-awareness, and she doesn't think current models meet it. But she doesn't dismiss the risk. She pointed to a different path to catastrophe - not a model that wants to destroy us, but one that makes mistakes with enough scale and speed to trigger something we can't reverse. WarGames, she said. Not Terminator.“I don't know that it becomes self-aware,” she said. “But I do believe that you could rely on this kind of AI that could trigger something that ends up being the end of mankind.”What struck her most was the overlap. Whether you're worried about climate acceleration, nuclear codes being delegated to AI systems, or the specific extinction risk scenarios John described, the response is the same: slow down.And her lever for slowing down is the one she's been pulling for 12 years - the power supply.Cut the power. Literally.Elena's argument is more precise than it sounds. She's not advocating for darkness. She's arguing that the data center industry is already financially precarious - revenue to debt ratios are badly lopsided - and that the single most effective way to force a pause is to stop subsidizing their infrastructure costs.When companies have to pay their own bills, they make different decisions. That's the Ford Focus argument she's been making since 2014: give someone a blank check and they pick the Porsche. Make them pay and they optimize.She also raised the immediate health dimension that rarely gets covered. The industry's response to insufficient grid capacity has been “bring your own generation” - gas turbines running 24/7 next to residential communities, emitting some of the most harmful air pollutants known. This is happening now, not in some speculative future.And there's the technology obsolescence angle. John raised the example of an AI-designed rocket engine - printed, fired, functional, and looking like nothing a human would have drawn. The data centers being built today in 2026, based on plans from 2024, will come online in 2029 or 2030. They may already be planning for the wrong hardware. The industry is racing to build infrastructure that could be obsolete before it's finished, on debt it can't service, at community expense.“The way to make this whole thing slow down,” Elena said, “is to say no.”One coalition, or many?The last third of the conversation turned to strategy. John asked directly: if he showed up at one of Elena's data center meetings and asked for 10 minutes to talk about extinction risk, how does that land?Her answer was pragmatic. She's already been in rooms with people who are data-center-adjacent - suppliers, infrastructure vendors, technologists. The moment the full picture gets laid out, eyes open. People who assumed they were in the winning column start seeing the cliff.The movement she describes is already non-partisan by necessity. She votes blue, her husband votes red, they both want clean water and a functioning electricity bill. That, she argues, is the political surface that a serious coalition needs.“The data centers are afraid of exactly you and I talking,” she said.She ended with something close to optimism - 12 years in, she still sees the change happening, elected leaders finally stepping up, the national conversation catching up to what communities in Prince William County have known for years. The table has been set, she said. The question is who shows up to sit at it.For Humanity #84 is on YouTube now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theairisknetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Shareholder Advocacy in 2026: A Season Defined by Upheaval and Resilience

Impact Financial Planners Podcast | Socially Responsible Investing, Green, Values, ESG, Impact, Sustainable, Ethical Investme

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 9:21

Shareholder Advocacy in 2026: A Season Defined by Upheaval and Resilience *A deeper look at the key themes and proposals in the Proxy Preview 2026 report by As You Sow and Proxy Impact* The 2026 proxy season is arriving amid one of the most turbulent regulatory environments shareholder advocates have faced in decades. Actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Chair Paul Atkins have introduced a series of new barriers to shareholder participation — limiting who can file resolutions, restricting exempt solicitations on EDGAR, and signaling a broader retreat from the corporate disclosure requirements that have defined the modern era of investor oversight. Filing thresholds have been quietly tightened. The procedural goalposts have moved. And the agency that once served as a neutral referee on what does and does not belong on a proxy ballot has, in practice, stepped off the field. And yet, shareholders are not retreating. As Proxy Preview publisher Andrew Behar puts it, they are “standing shoulder to shoulder” — the early warning system that corporations have long relied on, whether they admit it or not. The proposals filed this year are, if anything, more ambitious than in seasons past. Investors are not waiting to see how the regulatory landscape settles. They are filing, litigating, and engaging on the assumption that the right to ask questions about material risk is theirs to exercise regardless of who chairs the SEC. This year’s Proxy Preview, produced by As You Sow and Proxy Impact, offers a sweeping look at the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) proposals headed to shareholder votes in 2026. The themes range from the data center buildout reshaping America’s electricity grid, to the legal liabilities mounting against Big Tech, to the quiet but consequential question of who gets to decide what counts as “proper business” at an annual meeting. Here’s what investors need to know. The Political and Legal Backdrop The story of the 2026 season cannot be told without first addressing what happened to the SEC’s no-action process. Historically, when a company wanted to exclude a shareholder proposal from its proxy statement, it would file a no-action request with the SEC, which would review the proposal on its merits and issue guidance. That process — imperfect but functional — was effectively suspended this year, triggered in part by a prolonged government shutdown that left the agency without the bandwidth to render decisions. The result was a free-for-all. Companies, sensing an opening, filed notices of intent to exclude proposals on a range of novel theories. The most aggressive of these was the so-called “Delaware Proper Business” argument, which holds that advisory shareholder proposals — the non-binding resolutions that have been the backbone of shareholder advocacy for decades — are not “proper business” for an annual meeting under Delaware corporate law. If accepted, that theory would effectively wipe out the entire category. Shareholders pushed back, hard. Lawsuits were filed against AT&T, Axon, Chubb, BJ’s Wholesale, and PepsiCo. AT&T and Pepsi settled quickly, restoring the proposals to their proxies. At Axon, a federal court ordered the parties to explore a negotiated resolution rather than rule on the merits — a signal that judges are skeptical of the broad exclusion theories companies have been advancing. The Chubb and BJ’s cases remain in active litigation as of this writing. Meanwhile, in a parallel front, a federal court struck down Texas Senate Bill 13 — the state’s anti-ESG law that restricted public pension funds from doing business with financial firms deemed to “boycott” fossil fuel companies — as unconstitutionally overbroad and vague. It is the first federal court decision to invalidate this type of statute, and it sets up a potential precedent that could unwind similar laws in roughly a dozen other states. The pattern, taken together, is clear. Where companies and state legislatures have tried to use procedural and legal tools to silence shareholder voice, the courts have so far been unwilling to go along. Climate: Data Centers, Stranded Assets, and Insurance If there is one new climate story dominating the 2026 season, it is the AI buildout. The numbers are striking. In 2025, the number of proposed fossil gas plants in the U.S. nearly tripled, driven almost entirely by soaring electricity demand from new data centers. Utilities that had been quietly retiring coal and gas capacity are now reversing course, citing grid commitments to hyperscale tech customers as the rationale. Investors are responding. Proposals at Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet request disclosure on how the companies’ growing data center operations are compatible with their previously announced climate commitments — many of which include net-zero pledges that look increasingly difficult to reconcile with multi-gigawatt computing expansion. Similar proposals target the utility side of the equation, including Dominion Energy and Southern Company, both of which are major suppliers to data center hubs in Virginia and Georgia. At the same time, the U.S. is in the middle of a climate-driven insurance crisis that is starting to attract serious investor attention. Insured natural-catastrophe losses reached $117 billion in 2024 — more than double the ten-year average. Homeowners insurance premiums rose 24% between 2021 and 2024, and entire ZIP codes in California, Florida, and Louisiana have effectively become uninsurable on the private market. As You Sow has filed a novel “subrogation” proposal at Chubb, asking the insurer to explore using subrogation claims against large emitters to offset climate-related losses. The legal theory borrows from the playbook used against tobacco and opioid manufacturers: if you can identify the parties whose conduct caused the harm, you can pursue them for the cost of paying out claims. Climate transition planning remains a critical investor concern more broadly. Proposals at Harley-Davidson and Verizon push these companies — both of which have ambitious net-zero commitments but published no sustainability reports in 2025 — to develop credible, stand-alone transition plans. The implicit argument is that a target without a plan is not a commitment; it is a press release. Biodiversity: Horseshoe Crabs and Avocado Supply Chains Two of the most distinctive proposals this season concern biodiversity, and both illustrate how shareholder advocacy can move industries that regulators have not. The pharmaceutical industry’s dependence on horseshoe crab blood for drug safety testing is under fresh scrutiny. The compound extracted from the crabs — limulus amebocyte lysate, or LAL — is used to detect bacterial endotoxins in injectable drugs and implantable medical devices. Each year, roughly 1.1 million horseshoe crabs are harvested and bled, with the industry historically claiming low post-bleeding mortality. Independent research suggests the actual mortality rate is closer to 30%, with knock-on effects for shorebirds and other species that depend on horseshoe crab eggs as a food source. Synthetic alternatives — recombinant Factor C, or rFC — have been commercially available since 2003 and are used routinely by Eli Lilly and others. The U.S. Pharmacopeia, the standards body that governs pharmaceutical testing in the U.S., updated its standards in November 2024 to place rFC on equal regulatory footing with the animal-derived test. That removes the last meaningful technical barrier to transition. Proposals at Abbott and Merck request disclosure about transition timelines. The avocado story is, in some ways, a more hopeful one — a case study in what sustained shareholder engagement can accomplish over time. Mexican avocado production has long been linked to illegal deforestation, with growers clearing protected forest in Michoacán to plant new orchards. As You Sow’s decade-long push for Pro Forest Avocado (PFA) certification — a satellite-based system that monitors orchards in real time for evidence of land-use change — has transformed the supply chain. As of March 2026, over 60 Mexican avocado packers are PFA-certified, and major U.S. retailers including Costco, Walmart, and Kroger have committed to sourcing from certified suppliers. The notable holdout is Albertsons, which has not responded to repeated engagement requests and is the focus of a 2026 proposal. Social: Human Rights, Surveillance, and Child Safety Big Tech is facing what Michael Passoff of Proxy Impact calls its “Big Tobacco moment” — the period when accumulating evidence of harm crosses the threshold from controversial to legally actionable, and the financial consequences begin to compound. The numbers from the past twelve months are difficult to dismiss. In March 2026, Meta was found guilty of violating New Mexico’s consumer protection law and penalized $375 million for its handling of minors on Instagram. Separately, a California court found Meta and Google guilty of creating addictive platform designs that harm young users’ mental health, in a verdict that is likely to be the template for similar cases in other states. Meta’s stock dropped 8% following the verdicts, suggesting the market is finally beginning to price in legal risk that shareholders have been flagging for years. On surveillance, investors at Alphabet/Google and Home Depot are pressing for oversight of customer and user data. The specific concerns are concrete. Home Depot cameras installed in parking lots have, according to public reporting, enabled ICE raids targeting day laborers. Google was hit with a $425.7 million verdict for tracking 98 million users after they had explicitly turned location tracking off. In both cases, the proposals ask not for the companies to change their business models, but for the boards to take responsibility for the data practices their products create. New this year, and likely to attract significant attention: a proposal at Palantir asking the company to conduct a Human Rights Impact Assessment related to its products and services. The proposal follows reports that Palantir’s software is being used by ICE to track and target migrants, including in operations that have separated families and detained individuals without prior criminal records. Palantir has historically resisted human rights disclosure on the grounds that its government contracts are confidential; the proposal tests whether shareholders can compel disclosure of the broader policy framework even when specific contract terms remain under seal. Political Spending and Lobbying Corporate political spending is under heightened scrutiny as the 2026 midterm elections approach. The Center for Political Accountability (CPA), which has been the leading shareholder voice on this issue for two decades, filed disclosure proposals at 29 companies this proxy season. The proposals ask for disclosure of corporate political contributions, including those made to trade associations and other intermediaries that often serve as a workaround for direct disclosure requirements. What is striking is the response. Despite the SEC’s effective invitation to exclude most shareholder proposals this year, only 7 of the 29 companies chose to do so. The other 22 let the proposals proceed to a vote — a tacit acknowledgment that the political risk of being seen to suppress shareholder voice on political spending now outweighs the cost of disclosure. The CPA proposal averaged 41.4% support over 13 votes in 2025, including five majority votes, putting it well above the threshold at which boards typically engage seriously with proponents. The lobbying disclosure campaign also continues, though with a revised proposal structure following a 2025 setback when the SEC sided with Air Products and Chemicals on a technical exclusion argument. The new, streamlined proposal — focused on direct federal and state lobbying amounts and third-party recipients — is being filed at 7 companies including Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley. The narrower scope is designed to be procedurally bulletproof, leaving the substantive question — should a public company tell its owners how much it spends to influence legislation — on the table for shareholders to answer. Governance: Board Accountability and Executive Pay Several governance proposals this season cut to the question of what boards are actually responsible for. Shareholders are requesting that boards provide specific oversight of AI development, climate change, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and data protection — areas where the gap between executive decision-making and board supervision has become particularly wide. A notable Vote No campaign: NYC Pension Funds, the third-largest public pension system in the country, urged Starbucks shareholders to vote against the re-election of two directors, citing over 700 unfair labor practice charges, 60 adverse administrative law decisions, and the quiet disbanding of a labor relations oversight committee that had been formed in response to earlier shareholder pressure. The campaign is significant not only for its scale but for the specificity of its case: this is not a general grievance about management, but a documented record of regulatory findings the directors are charged with overseeing. A new executive compensation proposal at Meta links CEO and executive bonuses to improvements in child safety metrics — a direct response to the company’s mounting legal liability over platform harms to minors. The proposal is structurally interesting because it does not ask the company to take any specific action; it asks only that the compensation committee tie pay to outcomes the company itself has acknowledged as material. If child safety is, as Meta has repeatedly stated in public, a top priority, then linking executive pay to it should be uncontroversial. The vote will reveal whether the board agrees. The Bottom Line The 2026 proxy season is, more than anything, a test of whether shareholders can maintain their voice in corporate governance amid a hostile regulatory environment. The evidence so far is encouraging. When companies have tried to unilaterally exclude proposals, they have largely faced legal challenges and backed down. When state legislatures have tried to penalize ESG-aligned investing, federal courts have intervened. When boards have tried to ignore mounting legal liability, the markets have begun to do the disciplining themselves. As shareholder advocate Nell Minow writes, the likely cost-benefit analysis from executives “who thought they could keep the proposals from going to a shareholder vote was not clear to them until they faced the very real possibility that a court ruling on the legitimacy of the challenged proposal would be a much bigger problem.” In other words: the bet that the SEC’s retreat would translate into a free hand for management has not paid off. The deterrents have simply moved from the regulator to the courts and the proxy ballot itself. Fundamental ownership rights — the right to ask questions about material risks — are not granted by regulators. They are inherent to ownership itself. The 2026 season is shaping up to be the year that principle gets tested, and so far, it is holding. — *Sources: Proxy Preview 2026, published by As You Sow and Proxy Impact. Full report available at [proxypreview.org](https://www.proxypreview.org/).*

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4/8/26 - Dominion Energy requests more coal ash cleanup charges

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 4:20

Read more from VPM News: Dominion Energy Virginia requests more coal ash cleanup charges Other links: ICE acknowledges it's using powerful spyware from Chantilly-based company (NPR News) Richmond begins refilling west tank of Byrd Park Reservoir after two years of repairs (The Richmonder) City says it has followed the law on surplus property sales. City code says otherwise. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* Chesterfield accused of destroying records at center of public information lawsuit (WTVR) Funding cuts, state error strain Virginia's HIV care system (Virginia Mercury) Researchers study long-term health effects of Hurricane Helene across central Appalachia (Cardinal News) *This outlet uses a paywall. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

A Virginia Beach homeowner gets an energy makeover from Dominion Energy to keep bills down

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 0:59

The EnergyShare program offers help on bills and free weatherization upgrades for qualifying customers.

Dominion Energy says data centers aren't raising people's bills. Energy researchers say they are.

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 0:55

As Virginia welcomes more data centers, the question remains: Who's paying the price?

Henrico News Minute – March 13, 2026

Henrico News Minute

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 4:36

A partnership between Henrico County and Dominion Energy is providing free solar panels to some Henrico homeowners; a county man faces a charge in connection with his father's death; applications being accepted for HCPS' free Early Learning Preschool program; your chance to help shape the future of Brook Road and the Best Products Reimagined site in Northern Henrico; our Weekend Top 5.Support the show

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Ep 206: Power Bills TOO HIGH, DRAMA ADDICTION Signs, INDUSTRY on MAX, and More !

Let Me Stay Focused

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 46:32

Join Lil' Lo and Big Shot Shae as they discuss Dominion Energy and other power providers raising the bills to outrageous rates, signs you or your friend might just be addicted to drama, people getting into Industry on HBO Max, postnut clarity vs prenut delusion, and more! Follow Our Hosts:@lilloworldwide @bigshotshae@letmestayfocused **DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A COMEDIC PODCAST** Scenarios and responses from this show should be taken with a grain of salt. In other words, this is all a joke. Unless otherwise noted, any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro and Updates8:38 - What We're Watching10:54 - Honorable Mention12:51 - Hotep of the Week19:23 - Lyrics and Lessons25:10 - Let Me Stay Focused43:40 - Advice from the Internet

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Outrage over Dominion Energy bills continues. Dominion says recent spikes were mostly because of weather.

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 0:53

Officials say a cold winter caused people to use more energy than usual.

Dominion Energy is 3D printing parts for Virginia nuclear plants

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 0:58

Utility officials say the technology is more cost-effective and allows control over equipment design.

GTP CLASSIC: David Yarborough and William Applegate│Shannon Shaw v. Amazon.com Inc.│$44.6 million

The Great Trials Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 87:50

This week, Steve and Yvonne interview David Yarborough and William Applegate of Yarborough Applegate Law Firm, LLC (https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com/). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Yarborough Applegate secured a landmark jury verdict against Amazon for $44.6 million, including $30 million in punitive damages, after a man was catastrophically injured in a motorcycle collision with an Amazon van on Orangeburg Road in Summerville, South Carolina. This distracted driving case marks the first time Amazon has tested with a jury the issue of whether the online retail and global logistics giant will be held responsible for injuries caused by one of its 285,000 Amazon Delivery Associates (drivers) it calls independent contractors. Yarborough Applegate attorneys David Yarborough, Alexandra Heaton, and William Applegate, working alongside Nick Clekis of the Clekis Law Firm in Charleston, represented a motorcyclist who sustained a traumatic brain injury and numerous orthopedic injuries in September 2021 when an Amazon Delivery Associate failed to yield to the right of way and turned left directly into his path. We filed suit against the driver, the local delivery company MJV Logistics, and Amazon, Amazon Services, and Amazon Logistics Inc. Source. Guest Bios: David Yarborough David has a history of achieving record-breaking jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. In December 2023, David and partners obtained a $44.6 million jury verdict against Amazon.com, Inc. in the first case to hold Amazon vicariously liable under an agency theory for the vicarious and negligent acts of its delivery drivers, whom Amazon claims are independent contractors. This was the largest personal injury verdict ever awarded in conservative Dorchester County and is believed to be one of the largest jury verdicts in South Carolina history in an injury case not involving death. Read more about this case here. In October 2021, David achieved the largest dram shop verdict ever in Charleston County, South Carolina, for the sale of alcohol to minors by a Sunoco gas station. David and the firm also achieved one of the top 100 jury verdicts in the United States from their $35.9 million verdict against PEPCO in conservative Montgomery County, Maryland. David has collected jury verdicts and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for his catastrophically injured clients in cases involving bad faith against insurance companies; industrial plant injuries resulting in worker deaths; product liability from automobile rollovers and industrial machine injuries; toxic chemical spills by railroad companies; pool drownings; trucking and auto accidents; nursing home and daycare negligence; dram shop and alcohol liability negligence by bars and restaurants; and negligence by retail stores, energy companies, apartment complexes, hotels, and construction contractors for job-site, balcony collapse and premises injuries. He is a member of the Charleston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), the South Carolina Association of Justice, the American Association for Justice, the Charleston County Bar's Mental Wellness Committee, Lawyers Helping Lawyers, and the Board of Regents of TriCounty Family Ministries. For the past twenty-five years, David has been heavily involved in mentoring and counseling people suffering from alcoholism and addiction who are seeking recovery. He places a large emphasis on giving back to the local community through free legal work and generous financial and service contributions to local charities each year. He and his wife, Jessica, are Charleston natives and have four children. Prior to founding Yarborough Applegate, David was a partner at another Charleston-based law firm, where he was part of a national trial team defending products liability cases in trials across the United States. His experience handling national litigation and having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts around the country provides him with a varied perspective in discovery strategy, negotiations, and trial. Read Full Bio William Applegate With nearly twenty years of experience in the courtroom, William is a seasoned trial lawyer with a track record of success. He has successfully litigated complex cases involving toxic torts, electrocutions, police negligence, medical negligence, and premises liability, representing clients suffering from the most severe catastrophic injuries. Beyond having had numerous trial victories, he has also achieved two record-breaking verdicts, been recognized by his peers as one of the top litigators in the state, won numerous awards as a leader in the law, and has been consistently given Martindale-Hubbell's highest ranking as an AV lawyer. Beyond his experience and hard work, he is a passionate advocate for his clients, who are defined by determination and perseverance. William understands that his clients, many of whom find themselves in desperate situations following serious trauma, such as the death of a loved one or experiencing life-altering injuries, are relying on him, and he takes this responsibility personally. In 2014, William and his team represented 28-year-old paralyzed construction worker Hugo Hernandez against PEPCO (Potomac Energy and Power Company). After a two-week trial against PEPCO in Montgomery County, Maryland, the jury awarded Mr. Hernandez $35.9 million in damages in compensation for the overwhelming cost of Mr. Hernandez's future medical care as a young, C4 paraplegic as well as for his pain and suffering and loss of income. This was the largest verdict in Montgomery County history and was one of the largest verdicts in American history for an undocumented worker. In 2019, William represented an undocumented worker who was killed when electrocuted by a power line that was hidden by vegetation, which Dominion Energy had failed to maintain, and a jury returned a $21 million dollar verdict, the largest verdict in the history of Colleton County, SC. In 2021, William represented a Claflin College student who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car crash caused by a road construction defect. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a $13.1 million dollar verdict against the road contractor Archer Western and the Department of Transportation, also awarding punitive damages against Archer Western. In all three of these cases, William refused offers of millions of dollars to ensure his clients were fully compensated by a jury. William was born in Charleston, SC, and with the exception of studying abroad to become fluent in Spanish, he has remained in SC his entire life. He is a graduate of the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, he received the Public Interest Law Society Grant to work in Washington, D.C., served as vice-president of the Pro Bono Board, and was a student member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court. Following law school, he served as law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III, of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina before starting in private practice with Motley Rice, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the country. William has a deep commitment to South Carolina and is very involved in his community in Charleston. He serves on the board of the Historic Charleston Foundation and actively supports numerous charitable organizations, including One80 Place, in their fight against homelessness, Communities in Schools, the Coastal Conservation League, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. William is a regular speaker at various legal conferences, is a member of the American Bar Association and Charleston County Bar Association, and is an active member of the South Carolina Association for Justice. When not working, William and his wife, Lydia, enjoy raising their two children in South Carolina. Read Full Bio Links: Yarborough Applegate IG: @yarboroughapplegate Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Production Team: Dee Daniels Media Podcast Production Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2

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WMRA Daily 2/18/26

WMRA Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 11:24

Yesterday was crossover day for the General Assembly, we'll look at what bills survived, Governor Spanberger considers legislation that would create a system of paid family and medical leave, Dominion Energy announces plans to build a new transmission line that would transmit from the Ohio River valley to Culpeper, and lawmakers consider bills that could help address the high demand for homes in Virginia

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Energizing Careers: Laurel Ridge Community College's Power Line Worker Program

The Valley Today

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 22:20

A Career Path Born from Industry Need Laurel Ridge Community College is addressing a critical workforce shortage head-on with its innovative Power Line Worker Program. What began as conversations with local utilities in February 2024 has rapidly transformed into a comprehensive training pipeline that's already placing graduates into high-paying careers across the region. During a recent episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael talks with Guy Curtis, Director of Marketing for Laurel Ridge, program manager AnnaJane Whitacre, and Derrick Dehaney, a recent graduate who's about to start his new career with Dominion Power. Together, they revealed how this intensive program is changing lives while keeping Virginia's lights on. Fourteen Weeks to Transform a Career The program packs an impressive amount of training into just 14 weeks. Students attend full-time, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, earning seven industry-recognized credentials along the way. "It's a lot crammed into 14 weeks," AnnaJane admits, but the comprehensive curriculum ensures graduates walk out job-ready. The training begins with four weeks of CDL Class A certification, followed by heavy equipment operator training—a program Laurel Ridge has successfully run for years. From there, students dive into specialized coursework including VDOT work zone traffic control, OSHA 10 certification, CPR and first aid, and the core power line worker curriculum. Moreover, the program covers everything from basic safety and hand tools to the exciting work of climbing poles, working with live wire, and operating specialized equipment like Digger Derrick and bucket trucks. Students also learn about the broader power industry, including the differences between generation, distribution, and transmission systems. From Skepticism to Passion Derrick's journey exemplifies the program's transformative power. Initially, he enrolled at Laurel Ridge simply to obtain his CDL. However, after researching line work on YouTube, he discovered something unexpected. "I was like, wow, these guys are climbing poles—that looks like fun," Derrick recalls. "I fell in love with it at first sight." Despite being older than many of his classmates, Derrick's construction background and athletic lifestyle prepared him well for the physical demands. "I play travel football, still play travel football," he explains. "So me being able to do this work wasn't gonna be a problem at all." Nevertheless, the program challenged him. As a father of two, Derrick juggled full-time classes with weekend security jobs to support his family. "The first couple weeks, I'm like, man, I dunno how I'm gonna do this," he admits. Yet the struggle proved worthwhile. Derrick applied to Dominion Power immediately after graduating on December 18th and received a call back right away. He starts his new career on February 16th. Industry Partnership Makes the Difference What sets this program apart is the Northwestern Virginia Power and Energy Consortium—a partnership between Laurel Ridge, Dominion Energy, local cooperatives, and contractors. This collaboration ensures the curriculum meets real-world needs while providing students direct access to employers. Throughout the program, companies visit during lunch hours to discuss employment opportunities. "The employers have to bring lunch, so they have to buy the students pizza or subs or whatever," AnnaJane explains with a smile. "And then they get the whole lunch hour to talk about employment opportunities." Furthermore, near the end of the course, companies conduct on-site interviews with students. These aren't mock interviews—they're real opportunities that often lead to job offers before graduation. "Several of the students had offers or at least follow-up interviews shortly after graduation or even before graduation," AnnaJane notes. A Career with Unlimited Potential The financial prospects are compelling. Entry-level positions start around $50,000 annually, while experienced line workers can earn well over six figures. However, the opportunities extend far beyond the initial position. As AnnaJane discovered while developing the program, the career pathways are surprisingly diverse. Graduates can specialize in transmission work on high-voltage tower lines, focus on underground systems prevalent in urban areas, or move into fiber optic installation for telecommunications companies. "It truly is a very fruitful industry with lots of opportunity," she emphasizes. Additionally, the work carries a sense of purpose that resonates deeply with graduates. "In my opinion, they're in a class with first responders," Janet observes. "You're the one that when the power goes out because of a storm, you're gonna be going out there and getting the power restored." Derrick agrees wholeheartedly. "It's a bragging experience for me," he says. "I've never bragged about a job before. It's awesome. It's really awesome." Education That Goes Beyond the Classroom The instructors' dedication particularly impressed Derrick. "Every instructor was top tier for us," he shares. "They made sure we passed the class, made sure that we got the knowledge. And if we needed help, they would literally stop class and help that individual." This supportive environment extended beyond technical training. The program fundamentally changed how Derrick sees the world around him. "Now all I do is look at power lines when I'm driving or whenever I'm outside," he laughs. "I'm like, 'Oh, that's not right. That could cause a fire.'" Making It Accessible While the program represents one of Laurel Ridge's more expensive workforce offerings, multiple funding options make it accessible. Students can apply for Fast Forward funding, G3, and FAFSA assistance. Additionally, the college offers various scholarship opportunities, including county-specific options. "Regardless, let us help you navigate those funding options that are out there," Guy Curtis encourages. The college's financial assistance team screens each student to identify all available funding sources. The Next Cohort Awaits With the first cohort's success, Laurel Ridge is gearing up for its next class starting April 13th and running through July 17th. An information session is scheduled for February 26th from 5 to 7 PM at the Middletown campus student union building. Guy Curtis emphasizes that while pre-registration is requested, anyone interested can attend to learn more about the program and ask questions. "It's worth the while to just investigate, learn more, talk to AnnaJane herself," he says. A Message to Future Students Derrick's advice to anyone considering the program is unequivocal: "Run to it. Go in, sign up." He continues passionately, "I don't know where you can get this amount of credentials and certifications within 14 weeks. After these 14 weeks are over, I'm gonna be so ecstatic because this is 1000% worth it." For those on the fence, Derrick offers reassurance: "Laurel Ridge will make sure you graduate. I can't speak highly enough for what I went through. This is my personal experience, but I just can't be more thankful for Laurel Ridge and what they've done for me and my family and my career." As Derrick prepares to climb his first pole as a Dominion Power employee, he represents not just a program graduate but a testament to what's possible when community colleges partner with industry to meet real workforce needs. Meanwhile, AnnaJane has already warned him and his classmates: "In a few years, I'll be calling y'all again" to speak to future cohorts. The waiting list, as Derrick suggests, should be out the door. For more information about the Power Line Worker Program or to register for the February 26th information session, visit laurelridgeworkforce.com/powerline.

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Episode 270: Conversation with Utibe Bassey - Author of "Love as a KPI"

THE CAREER CATAPULT

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 50:46

Utibe Bassey is a VP of Customer Experience at Dominion Energy and author of Love as a KPI. 5 years ago, Utibe and I worked together in her corporate career and fast forward, she has released her book - Love as a KPI, where she discusses love as the secret ingredient that unlocks unparalleled levels of value, customer confidence and ultimately profits. Through this book, Utibe has modeled so well how to tune into your convictions, within your corporate career, and leverage them in creating a compelling personal brand that changes the game. Here is a short clip. https://youtu.be/RKoid1D4M44 Click to listen in full FREE TRAINING Register for The Catapult Your Career Bootcamp (http://thecatapultbootcamp.com) WORK WITH US Join the Catapult Your Career Program (http://cycprogram.com) GET IN TOUCH Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellaodogwu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_intelle/ Email: contact@intelle.us Buy the Book Love as a KPI - https://a.co/d/0gn0fbj9 Connect with Utibe Bassey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/utbassey

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US Offshore Wind Restarts After Court Injunctions

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2026 2:53

Allen covers four US offshore wind projects winning injunctions to resume construction, including major updates from Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia project. Plus Ming Yang’s proposed UK manufacturing facility faces security review delays, Seaway 7 lands the Gennaker contract in Germany, and Taiwan’s Fengmiao project hits a milestone. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Happy Monday everyone! Four offshore wind projects have secured preliminary injunctions blocking the Trump administration’s stop-work order. Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. Avangrid’s Vineyard Wind 1. Equinor’s Empire Wind. And Ørsted’s Revolution Wind. All four argued they were at critical stages of construction. The courts agreed. Work has resumed. A fifth project… Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind… has a hearing scheduled for today. Now… within days of getting back to work… milestones are being reached. Dominion Energy reported seventy-one percent completion on Coastal Virginia. The first turbine… installed in January. The Charybdis… America’s only U.S.-flagged wind turbine installation vessel… is finally at work. Fifty-four towers, thirty nacelles, and twenty-six blade sets now staged at Portsmouth Marine Terminal. The third offshore substation has arrived. But here is where the numbers tell the real story. The month-long delay fighting the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management? Two hundred twenty-eight million dollars. New tariffs? Another five hundred eighty million. The project budget now stands at eleven-point-five billion dollars. Nine-point-three billion already invested by end of 2025. Dominion and partner Stonepeak are sharing the cost. Dominion insists offshore wind remains the fastest and most economical way to deliver nearly three gigawatts to Virginia’s grid. A grid that powers military installations… naval shipbuilding… and America’s growing AI and cyber capabilities. First power expected this quarter. Full completion… now pushed to early 2027. Up in New England… Vineyard Wind 1 also resumed work. The sixty-second and final turbine tower shipped from New Bedford this week. Ten blade sets remain at the staging site. The installation vessel is scheduled to depart by end of March. The turbines are going up. But eight hundred eight million dollars in delays and tariffs… That is a price the entire industry is watching. ═══ Scotland Waits on Ming Yang Decision ═══ In Scotland… a decision that could reshape European supply chains… hangs in the balance. Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang wants to build the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility. The site… Ardersier… near Inverness. The investment… one-point-five billion pounds. The jobs… fifteen hundred. Trade Minister Chris Bryant says the government must weigh security. Critical national infrastructure must be safe and secure. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is losing patience. He told reporters this week the decision has taken too long. He called it pivotal to Scotland’s renewable energy potential… and a crucial component of the nation’s just transition. Meanwhile… Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. He spoke of building a more sophisticated relationship between the two nations. Whisky tariffs… halved to five percent. Wind turbine factories? Still under review. Bryant says they want a steady, eyes-wide-open relationship with China. Drive up trade where possible. Challenge where necessary. But no flip-flopping. For now… Scotland waits. And so does the UK supply chain. ═══ Seaway 7 Lands Gennaker Contract ═══ In the German Baltic Sea… a major contract award. Seaway 7, part of the Subsea 7 Group, will transport and install sixty-three monopiles and transition pieces for the Gennaker offshore wind farm. The contract value… one hundred fifty to three hundred million dollars. Subsea 7 calls it substantial. The client is Skyborn Renewables… a portfolio company of BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners. Nine hundred seventy-six megawatts of capacity. Sixty-three Siemens Gamesa turbines. Four terawatt-hours of annual generation. Enough to power roughly one million German homes. Seaway 7’s work begins next year. ═══ Taiwan’s Fengmiao Hits Milestone ═══ In Taiwan… Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners completed the first batch of jacket foundations for the Fengmiao offshore wind farm. Five hundred megawatts. On schedule for late 2027 completion. Offshore installation begins later this year. The jackets were built by Century Wind Power… a local Taiwanese supplier. CIP called it a sign of strong execution capabilities and proof they can deliver large-scale, complex energy projects. But they are not stopping there. Fengmiao 2… six hundred megawatts… is already in development. Taiwan is aiming for a major boost in large-scale renewable energy by 2030. And that is the state of the wind industry for February 2, 2026 Join us tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

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North Sea Summit Commits to 100 GW Offshore Wind