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A tribal nation is one step closer to switching on a large solar project in southwestern Minnesota. The Upper Sioux Community installed rows of solar panels to power its casino in 2024. The project means the tribe plans to buy less electricity from its local utility, the Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association. The cooperative then threatened to cut off power to the casino. A judge ruled in favor of the tribe in early June. Now, the dispute is up to state regulators to decide. A spokesperson with the Public Utilities Commission said a public comment period is open through July 22 and the commission is likely to take up the issue this fall.Gabriel Chan is a University of Minnesota professor focused on energy policy. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how the case fits into the landscape of efforts to transition to renewable electricity across the state.
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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In a scathing critique of the current state of energy policy, the speaker takes aim at the government's handling of the energy crisis, arguing that the real villain is not the data centers or the demand for electricity, but the regulatory machine that's driving up costs. With a focus on Colorado, the speaker highlights the state's aggressive climate mandates and the devastating impact they're having on residents.The episode delves into the world of energy policy, exploring the complex relationships between data centers, government regulations, and the cost of electricity. The speaker examines the concept of "cost causation," where the one who causes the cost pays the cost, and argues that this principle should be applied to data centers, making them pay for their own infrastructure. The episode also touches on the idea of a "pincer movement," where the government and data centers are driving up electricity costs, leaving consumers to bear the brunt.The speaker also discusses the importance of state and local elections, highlighting the impact of regulators and public utility commissions on energy policy. They point to Colorado as an example, where a proposed tax increase for Douglas County schools is met with skepticism, given the district's declining enrollment. The speaker argues that the school board's request for more money to educate fewer children is a symptom of a larger issue, where the government's policies are driving up costs without providing a clear solution.If you're tired of feeling like you're being taken advantage of by the government and data centers, tune in to this episode to hear the speaker's take on the energy crisis and the need for real change. With a healthy dose of skepticism and a commitment to transparency, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in energy policy and the impact it has on their daily lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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An electric transmission line in northeast Minnesota is facing opposition from people fighting a proposed data center. The state Public Utilities Commission is holding hearings on the proposed power line from Grand Rapids to Hermantown. Google wants to build a massive data center where the line would end.A man who operated a banquet hall that was a key part of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme is heading to prison for more than three years. Abdullahe Jesow used a fake nonprofit called Academy for Youth Excellence to siphon $4.3 million from taxpayer funded child nutrition programs by falsely claiming to have served millions of meals to kids during COVID.
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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Love it or hate it, TABOR — the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights — has an ongoing impact on how Colorado handles our taxes. Every few years, an initiative comes along to change this constitutional amendment — like this November, when voters could be deciding whether or not to raise taxes on the rich — but they generally fail. Could this be the one that breaks through? Host Bree Davies sits down with Paul Teske, distinguished professor at Denver's School of Public Affairs, to learn more about TABOR's fate in 2026, plus why Dems think Colorado voters are ready to enter the national redistricting fight, and what the Public Utilities Commission role is in your growing Xcel bills. Coloradans For a Level Playing Field is the organization behind the TABOR income tax reform initiative. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Did you enjoy today's sponsored interview with Elizabeth Martinez from Compass? Learn more here. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations in Minnesota in the wake of the shooting death of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Protests have erupted nationwide after Good's death, and there have been many in Northeast Ohio communities, including Cleveland, Akron and Kent. This week, social media has been filled locally with unverified reports of ICE activities in Cleveland. Noted immigration attorney Margaret Wong said there were reports of ICE agents in Cleveland and offered advice about people's rights should ICE agents come to their door. Cleveland Police took the extraordinary step on Wednesday to issue a statement saying it's not its job to enforce general federal immigration law. We will begin Friday's “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion of CPD's statement and rising concerns over ICE. FirstEnergy is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to lower reliability standards for power outages, basically allowing for more outages that last longer before its determined that standards weren't met. A first hearing is scheduled for next month. The Cleveland Clinic announced yesterday that it intends to earn certification as a Level 1 trauma center at its Main Campus by 2028, its second Level 1 trauma center in the region, after Akron General. Cleveland Clinic main campus leader Dr. Scott Steele said he sees a need for this top tier of trauma care within the Clinic's own system. But Cleveland already has Level 1 trauma centers -- operated University Hospitals and also by MetroHealth, which called for the clinic to reconsider and claimed patient costs would rise as a result of the clinic's actions. An effort to repeal a new state law that makes changes to the recreational marijuana statute passed by voters and also bans intoxicating hemp suffered a setback this week. A group trying to prevent Senate Bill 56 from going into effect and allow voters to decide whether to repeal it in November had its petition summary language rejected by Attorney General Dave Yost. We've heard a lot about the Browns planned move to a new enclosed stadium in Brook Park from the Cleveland perspective. Now, we're getting a bit more insight into how the mega project could impact Brook Park. This week the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency or NOACA held a meeting about how the stadium could impact traffic. The Canton Hall of Fame Village has secured financing that could jump start the stalled construction on a massive indoor water park. "Game Day Bay" sits at the front of the Village property was started in 2022 but has been sitting unfinished since 2024. All this week on Ideastream Public Media you've been hearing reporting about the firefighting crisis facing Ohio. 70% of Ohio's fire departments are at least partially staffed by volunteers. Those volunteer positions are getting harder to fill as current volunteers near retirement. The reporting is a collaboration between Ideastream and The Ohio Newsroom and you'll find all the stories on our website as "Sound the Alarm". Guests: Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media Abigail Bottar, Reporter, Ideastream Public News Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV
Host Joe DeMare describes watching a herd of wild deer as they engaged in rutting with bucks fighting over does. Next he interviews Cathy Cowan Becker, President of Save Ohio Parks, as she talks about how the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio denies AEP's request to eliminate net metering, which would have eliminated rooftop solar installations. Then she talks about the plan to open Ohio's parks and wildlife refuges to fracking. Rebecca Wood tells us all about the snowy owl. Ecological News includes a shocking HB6 update. Larry Householder, former Speaker of the Ohio House, serving a 20 year sentence for bribery, has appealed to the US Supreme Court arguing that bribery is just corporate speech and should be protected and encouraged, and should not be illegal.#AEP#NETMETERING#SNOWYOWL#Fracking#Savewater#Waterpollution#Injectionwell#Saveparks#Townhall
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives
Host/Producer: Amy Browne The state legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology committee held a work session this week for LD 343. The original title of the bill (and the title still posted on the legislature’s website as of Wednesday afternoon, was “An Act to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Seek Informational Bids Regarding Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in the State”, but the committee chair noted that the name was changed by amendment last October to “An Act to Ensure Periodic Assessment for Clean Energy Technology”. Here are some clips from the discussion at the work session. You can listen to/watch the entire meeting, archived here About the host: Amy Browne started out at WERU as a volunteer news & public affairs producer in 2000, co-hosting/co-producing RadioActive with Meredith DeFrancesco. She joined the team of Voices producers a few years later, and has been WERU's News & Public Affairs Manager since January, 2006. In addition to RadioActive, Voices, Maine Currents and Maine: The Way Life Could Be, Amy also produced and hosted the WERU News Report for several years. She has produced segments for national programs including Free Speech Radio News, This Way Out, Making Contact, Workers Independent News, Pacifica PeaceWatch, and Live Wire News, and has contributed to Democracy Now and the WBAI News Report. She is the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Environmental Journalism Award from the Sierra Club of Maine, and Maine Association of Broadcasters awards for her work in 2017 and 2021. Theme music: BreakBeat Chemists I, 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License The post Around Town 1/8/26: Local News, Culture and Events first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.
NV Energy could be fined $1M, why the Public Utilities Commission is considering fining the utility. Plus, a lawsuit against a rap mogul and a former Las Vegas police official is dismissed, we'll tell you why. And, If you're still looking for NYE plans in Las Vegas, we've got a few options to choose from. You can watch 7@7 weekdays on any of your favorite streaming platforms.
In this episode of Energy Newsbeat – Conversations in Energy, host Stu Turley sits down with Dr. Gene Nelson of Californians for Green Nuclear Power and the “Green Nuke” Substack to unpack how anti-nuclear ideology and California's Public Utilities Commission are ignoring basic physics and economics. Dr. Nelson explains why overreliance on solar, wind, and batteries makes grids brittle—citing the April 28 blackout in Spain and idle nuclear plants taxed to prop up renewables—while nuclear delivers cheap, reliable, 24/7 power with strong safety records and massive “synchronous inertia” for heavy loads like California's water system.They dig into Diablo Canyon's real-world performance and safety culture, debunk nuclear fearmongering, highlight the hidden costs, land use, waste, and subsidies behind wind and solar, and connect these policies to deindustrialization in places like Germany and California. Throughout, Dr. Nelson shares his on-the-ground advocacy, from farmers' markets to PUC hearings, arguing that embracing nuclear is essential for energy reliability, national security, and an honest path forward on emissions.Due to Gavin Newsom's energy policies, California and the entire West Coast of the United States are facing one of the most significant national security threats you can experience. And that is an energy crisis on a self-imposed path of Net Zero and the elimination of nuclear and fossil fuels. Well, they wanted to take atomic power down with those same policies, and it just does not make sense to shut down the other nuclear reactors in the name of clean energy.As for the war on fossil fuels, they executed that war too well, and they got what they wanted, only to see the oil companies go out of business or leave the West Coast. Now Californians will have to import more than 70% of their oil, including gasoline and diesel. And there will be more tankers off the California coast, causing ecological damage and potential accidents.Dr. Gene Nelson brings up some critical points about wind and solar power. It is based upon facts and physics. When driving on the highway vs. stop-and-go traffic, you use less gasoline and emit less. Well, the same thing applies to wind and solar on the grid: trying to put DC power from wind and solar into AC systems.Thank you, Dr. Nelson, for your dedication to nuclear and clean power for California and the United States. I truly appreciate your efforts and your insights on this critical topic for California. - Stu Highlights of the Podcast00:00 - Intro1:24 – CPUC Issues and Bureaucratic Problems4:24 – “We Don't Need No Stinking Physics” Moment6:50 – Spain–Portugal Blackout Explained7:52 – Why Spain Idled Its Nuclear Plants8:53 – Germany's Nuclear Exit & Economic Decline9:53 – Three Mile Island Reality vs Fear10:49 – Nuclear Training, Simulators & Safety Culture13:22 – Diablo Canyon Outage & Operator Preparedness15:07 – Dr. Nelson's Car Accident Story16:40 – The Origin of the Green Headband19:27 – Net Zero Myths & Real Grid Costs21:57 – Solar, Wind & True LCOE+ Costs22:59 – China's Nuclear Expansion & Global Energy Shift23:25 – Understanding Grid Inertia & Reliability25:11 – California's Massive Water Pumps & Power Needs27:24 – How Renewables Raise Emissions & Wear Out Engines29:18 – Inside Diablo Canyon: Turbines & Control Room31:15 – Earthquake Simulation & Real-World Plant Response32:27 – Why Diablo Canyon Is Built Like a Fortress34:15 – Microreactors, New Fuel & Nuclear Innovation37:32 – Nuclear Safety Compared to Wind Turbine Risks39:03 – Land Use Problems: Solar & Wind Footprint41:22 – Subsidies, Repowering & Hidden Costs43:13 – Solar Waste, Toxic Panels & Recycling Issues45:59 – EVs Powered Mostly by Fossil Fuels47:22 – Imported Jet Fuel & “Green” Policy Contradictions48:55 – Sinopec Dependence & Energy Security50:03 – PUC Regulatory Capture & High Power Costs52:04 – Media Narratives vs Energy Reality53:21 – How to Contact Dr. Nelson & Support CGNP57:42 – California's Energy Crisis & National Security58:56 – Final Thoughts, Thanks & OutroWe recommend subscribing to Dr. Nelson's GreenNuke Substack. https://greennuke.substack.com/Full transcript on https://energynewsbeat.co/Check out other discussions on https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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What happens when the world's most ambitious climate state runs head-on into a hostile federal government? Can California still lead the clean-energy transition while battling rising costs, wildfires and the Trump government's sweeping tariffs? And what does a “pragmatic reset” on climate policy look like when the stakes have never been higher?This week on Cleaning Up Bryony Worthington sits down with Liane Randolph, former Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and longtime public servant, shaping California's climate, energy, and air-quality strategy. Across roles spanning the Public Utilities Commission and state natural resources agencies, Randolph has been at the center of some of the most consequential policy decisions in the United States — from the rise of rooftop solar and utility-scale storage to the creation of zero-emission vehicle mandates and the state's pioneering cap-and-invest system.Together, they unpack how California built the modern EV market, the origins of the famous “duck curve,” and why central planning turned out to be critical for keeping the lights on in a decarbonizing grid. Randolph also details the extraordinary federal pushback now facing the state: repealed Clean Air Act waivers, legal battles over truck and car standards, and tariff-driven supply-chain shocks that threaten progress.The episode explores:The past and future of California's zero-emission vehicle strategy — from catalytic converters to the birth of TeslaWhy batteries exploded onto the grid, and how wildfire adaptation is reshaping costsThe mechanics and impacts of California's whole-economy cap-and-invest programThe new affordability crisis — and whether a pragmatic climate “reset” is neededElectric aviation, high-speed rail, and the technologies California should bet on nextThe state's 2045 net-zero planning — and which sectors will need breakthroughs like DAC and industrial CCSLeadership Circle:Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.Discover more:CARB: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/First Cars, Now Planes: Is The Future of Flying Electric? Ep194: Anders Forslund: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW3uTBbAGHAWhy Is It So Hard to Clean Up Global Shipping? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdUCidkeDto
City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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City and County of San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Audio Podcast
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Xcel Energy customers could see their electric bills jump by an average of $13 a month next year. That's if state regulators approve the rate hikes the company is proposing: 9.6 percent for 2025 and another 3.6 percent for 2026. Xcel, which is Minnesota's largest electricity provider, says the higher rates will fund investments in reliability, clean energy and its nuclear plants – and help it prepare for higher energy use in the future. The Public Utilities Commission, which is the board that regulates utilities in Minnesota, is holding meetings around the state this month to gather public input. Annie Levenson-Falk advocates for utility consumers as the leader of a group called the Citizens Utility Board. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it. There's a virtual public hearing on electric rates Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Others are scheduled around the state through next Thursday. In a statement to MPR News, Xcel wrote, “We are committed to meeting our state's growing demand for electricity, maintaining reliable service, working toward a cleaner energy future and keeping costs low for our customers. Our proposal reflects the needs expressed by our customers as they electrify their homes and businesses and invest in economic development.”
A controversial 9% rate hike from NV Energy is set to be voted on this month, just as a state cyberattack delays public input and a scandal over decades of customer overcharges fuels public outrage. Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Camalot Todd of the Nevada Conservation League and Jacob Solis of Battle Born Progress to unpack why frustration with Nevada's largest utility is reaching a boiling point. As of publication, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's website has remained down and the meeting for public input has not been rescheduled. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 9th episode: Huel - Get 15% off with code LASVEGAS Southern Nevada Water Authority AFAN Black & White Gala Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Ohio electric customers will soon stop propping up two coal plants with subsidies tacked onto their bills. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio voted to zero out the charges as of Aug. 14. The subsidies were part of the scandal-tainted House Bill 6 that also bailed out nuclear power plants. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio GOP Chairman Matt Borges were sentenced to prison for their role in a bribery scheme connected to the passage of the bill. We will begin Friday's “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable with the removal of the subsidies and why the audit is being requested. School kids have sick days and snow days. Should they also get days for mental health care? Senator Willis Blackshear, a Dayton Democrat, has introduced for the third time a bill giving K-through-12 students up to three "mental health days" per school year. Robbery, felonious assault, breaking and entering and auto theft are down in Akron, according to the city's new crime report, which also shows there has been a slight increase in shootings, more burglaries and a sharp decrease in overdose deaths. And, Cleveland firefighters will get a huge pay increase, 21 percent, under a new three-year union contract with the city. Plus, we'll cover other stories of the week too.
Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Texas senate committee approves GOP redistricting plan while Dems hold out in other states to block quorum; ICE uses rental truck to surprise and round up day laborers in LA despite court order on ICE stops; California teaming up with big tech companies to bring Artificial Intelligence courses to classrooms; State Supreme Court orders Public Utilities Commission to reconsider cuts to rooftop solar owners; Altadena residents protest State Farm rate hikes, reluctance to pay for fire damage after massive wildfire; Federal judge blocks construction at Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail, as ICE builds new detention centers at military bases in Texas, Indiana, New Jersey; Air Force denying early retirement options for transgender servicemembers, using medical screenings to find transgender members who do not come forward The post Texas senate committee approves GOP redistricting plan; ICE uses rental truck to surprise and round up day laborers in LA – August 7, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.
The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
Shoot us a Text.Episode #1110: Today we cover Trump's sweeping auto tariffs, Tesla's not‑so‑autonomous “Robotaxi” rollout, and the rise of agentic checkout in online retail.Show Notes with links:President Trump's country-by-country auto tariff deadline has arrived, setting off a new round of trade negotiations and recalibrations for global automakers.Canadian tariffs rise to 35%, though most USMCA-compliant vehicles dodge the hike.Mexico earns a 90-day delay on new tariffs, holding at 25% on non-U.S. content.Japan and South Korea cut tariffs to 15% with total pledges of $900B to U.S. industryJapan is also willing to take American imports based on U.S. standards, meaning American OEMs don't need to make a different car.“You can take the car you make in Detroit, put it on a boat and send it,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.Tesla's long-hyped “Robotaxi” expansion into the Bay Area looks more like a rebranded Uber than a self-driving revolution. The cars run under Tesla's app but still rely on humans behind the wheel.Each car has a “safety monitor” in the driver's seat, making it equivalent to an Uber driver using Tesla's supervised Full Self‑Driving system.The California DMV and Public Utilities Commission expressed concern after hearing Tesla employees discuss an imminent Robotaxi launch, even though the company has not applied for the required permits.Politico reported that Tesla's counsel reassured regulators, claiming the rollout was limited to employees, friends, family, and select members of the public.Tesla is now actively recruiting “vehicle operators” in nine additional U.S. cities to replicate the Bay Area service.“Agentic checkout” is the latest frontier for artificial intelligence. Payment giants, tech platforms, and retailers are all racing to build systems that let AI handle more of the shopping journey.Mastercard, Visa, Google, and PayPal are each rolling out agentic checkout platforms, designed to let AI act as a shopper's digital assistant.PayPal is upgrading its decades‑old systems to handle the heavier transaction loads expected from AI‑driven commerce.Experts say the winners will be payment providers and e‑commerce platforms that build the infrastructure for AI agents rather than compete with them.Michelle Gill, GM of small business and financial services at PayPal said that The general sense in the industry is that “rather than competing, these stakeholders increasingly collaborate to harness the potential of agentic AI.”Mastercard's Co‑President of Global Partnerships, Sherri Haymond, said retailers won't need to replace entire platforms: “I would encourage merchants to have an open mind, and to lean in and do the work to make their environment accessible in this Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/
Allen discusses the strain on America's largest power grid due to data center demand, Taiwan's $3 billion wind farm project, the potential sale of Allete and new data center regulations in Ohio. 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! America's largest power grid is under serious strain. Data centers and AI chatbots are using electricity faster than new power plants can be built. PJM Interconnection covers thirteen states from Illinois to Tennessee and Virginia to New Jersey. The company serves sixty seven million customers. This summer, electricity bills could jump more than twenty percent in some areas. The region has the most data centers in the world. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is threatening to pull his state out of the grid entirely. Recently, PJM's CEO has announced he's leaving and PJM Board members have been voted out. PJM spokesman Jeffrey Shields says the problem is simple economics. "Prices will remain high as long as demand growth is outstripping supply. Right now, we need every megawatt we can get." The grid lost more than five point six gigawatts in the last decade. Old power plants shut down faster than new ones come online. Meanwhile, data center demand keeps growing. By twenty thirty, PJM expects thirty two gigawatts of increased demand. Almost all of that will come from data centers. Ørsted has secured three billion dollars in financing for a major wind farm project in Taiwan. The Greater Changhua Two project will supply clean energy to over one million households once it's fully operational. The wind farm sits thirty to thirty seven miles off Taiwan's coast. Taiwan wants twenty percent of its electricity to come from renewable sources by twenty twenty five. This project is a critical step toward that goal. Ørsted plans to sell part of its ownership stake after the project is completed. This strategy lets the company recycle money into new projects while keeping operational control. Allete is one step closer to being sold. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has withdrawn its opposition to the six point two billion dollar deal. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners want to buy the company. Allete runs Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin. The sale still needs approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. That's the last hurdle before the deal can close. The new owners have agreed to several customer protections. They'll freeze rates for one year and reduce the company's allowed profit margin. They've also promised fifty million dollars in additional clean energy investments. AEP Ohio has won approval for new rules that protect customers from data center costs. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved the plan on July ninth. Large data centers will now have to pay for at least eighty five percent of the electricity they sign up for, even if they use less. AEP Ohio President Marc Reitter says the rules align data center demand with infrastructure costs. "This infrastructure will support Ohio's growing tech sector and help secure America's data storage facilities here in the U.S." The requirements will last twelve years, including a four year ramp up period. Data center owners must also prove they're financially able to meet their obligations. RWE has extended CEO Markus Krebber's contract until twenty thirty one. The early extension adds another five years to his current agreement. Krebber has led the German energy company since twenty twenty one.
The family of a man who was struck while crossing a street in McCully is now suing the city. Why the family is making their case and what the city's response is. New admission fees are coming to Hilo's Panaewa Zoo. When they will begin and what the price hike is. State lawmakers pressured the head of the Public Utilities Commission to do more to bring down electric rates. We'll tell you the details of what else was discussed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the heels of yet another victory for South Dakota landowners, where the Public Utilities Commission once again denied the application for Summit Carbon Solution's Green New Deal boondoggle, this week's episode recaps a Lincoln Day Dinner held in Belle Fourche, SD featuring Amanda Radke, SD Speaker Pro Tem Karla Lems, and Senator Mark Lapka.Presented by Bid on Beef | CK6 Consulting | CK6 Source | Real Tuff Livestock Equipment | Redmond RealSalt | By-O-Reg+ | Dirt Road RadioSave on Redmond Real Salt with code RADKE at https://shop.redmondagriculture.com/Check out Amanda's agricultural children's books here: https://amandaradke.com/collections/amandas-books
Welcome back to the Tahoe TAP, everyone! Your hosts, Mike Peron and Rob Galloway, deliver another fresh episode of Things, Adventure and People all Tahoe related delivered straight to your ears. Thanks for spending your time with us! As always, we're keeping it local with a quick round up of top news from around the Tahoe region and then the majority of our show will be spent getting to know Hayley Williamson, Chairperson of the Governing Board at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. In addition to her position on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board, Hayley Williamson has more than a decade of public utility law experience. She is the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN), where she started in 2013, was first appointed Chair in 2020 by Governor Sisolak then reappointed Chair in 2023 by Governor Lombardo. As a Commissioner, she has been responsible for developing rules to implement many important pieces of legislation, including Nevada's Renewable Portfolio Standard, renewable natural gas requirements, and Natural Disaster Protection Plans. Hayley was also elected by her national peers to serve on the Board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in 2022.
In this case, the court considered this issue: Do Florida S.B. 7072's content-moderation restrictions comply with the First Amendment, and do the law's individualized-explanation requirements comply with the First Amendment? The case was decided on July 1, 2024. The Supreme Court held that The judgments are vacated, and the cases are remanded, because neither the Eleventh Circuit nor the Fifth Circuit conducted a proper analysis of the facial First Amendment challenges to the Florida and Texas laws regulating large internet platforms. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion of the Court. Under precedents like Miami Herald v Tornillo, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v Public Utilities Commission, Turner Broadcasting v FCC, and Hurley v Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston, when a private entity engages in expressive activity, including curating others' speech, government interference with that activity implicates the First Amendment. Specifically, the First Amendment protects entities engaged in expressive activities, including compiling and curating others' speech, from being forced to accommodate messages they prefer to exclude. This protection applies even when the compiler includes most items and excludes only a few. The government cannot justify interfering with a private speaker's editorial choices merely by claiming an interest in improving or balancing the marketplace of ideas. These principles likely apply to the content moderation practices of social media platforms like Facebook's News Feed, indicating that state laws regulating these practices may face significant First Amendment hurdles. However, this analysis may not apply to all of the laws' applications, so it is important for courts to conduct a thorough examination of the laws' full scope and their constitutional and unconstitutional applications in a proper facial challenge analysis. Texas's regulation of social media platforms' content moderation policies aims to alter the speech displayed on these platforms, reflecting the state's disapproval of the platforms' current content selection and moderation practices. However, under the First Amendment, Texas cannot impose its preferences on how private entities curate and present speech, as this would amount to government control over the expression of ideas. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the majority opinion in full and authored a separate concurrence. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the majority opinion in part and authored a separate concurrence. Justice Clarence Thomas authored an opinion concurring in the judgment. Justice Samuel Alito authored an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch joined. The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you.
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Ryan Parrish, a liaison with Pennsylvania 811, to discuss the critical topic of excavation safety. As we dive into the conversation, Ryan shares his role as a middleman between underground utility companies, designers, engineers, and the One Call center, emphasizing the importance of education and awareness in preventing accidents during excavation projects.Ryan highlights the significance of calling before you dig, a well-known mantra in the industry, but he also elaborates on the various educational initiatives he leads, including the PA1 Call Safety Days. These events bring together municipal officials, engineers, and excavators to discuss their obligations and best practices for safe excavation. With five events scheduled across Pennsylvania, Ryan encourages listeners to participate and stay informed.The discussion shifts to current trends in excavation safety, with Ryan pointing out that proper design is crucial for successful and safe excavation projects. He stresses that designers must provide accurate and up-to-date plans to excavators to avoid hitting underground utilities, which can lead to costly damages and legal disputes. Ryan also addresses the responsibilities of project owners, urging them to ensure that their designers have the necessary information to create safe excavation plans.As the conversation progresses, we touch on recent legislative changes affecting excavation safety and the importance of compliance with PA One Call laws. Ryan explains the role of the Public Utilities Commission in enforcing these regulations and the necessity for project owners to be aware of their obligations regarding underground utilities.One of the standout topics of this episode is the introduction of Coordinate PA, a new application designed to facilitate communication among project stakeholders. Ryan explains how this tool helps coordinate large projects, ensuring that all parties are on the same page and can collaborate effectively to avoid unnecessary disruptions and costs.Throughout the episode, Ryan emphasizes the importance of safety and communication in the excavation industry. He encourages excavators to take their time on job sites, re-notify 811 if they notice any issues, and utilize the resources available to them, including the free services offered to homeowners.In closing, we reflect on the need to spread awareness about the importance of calling 811 before any excavation work, whether for professional contractors or homeowners. Ryan's insights provide valuable information for anyone involved in construction and excavation, making this episode a must-listen for industry professionals and the general public alike.Join us as we continue to explore the vital aspects of safety in the construction industry, and don't forget to visit buildingpapodcast.com for more resources and past episodes!
Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society. In this episode, Justin interviews Kevin Stein, the CEO of Delos Insurance Solutions. Kevin tells of his aerospace engineering background and how modeling led him to the insurance space. He speaks of his passion for insurance, and of co-founding Delos Insurance Solutions to fill the commercial coverage gap around California Wildfires. Kevin speaks of his optimism for the future of Wildfire control with property fire-hardening principles and new detection and deterrent technology. Listen in for advice on hardening commercial properties against wildfire risk, and how to secure coverage against this risk. Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS. [:15] About this episode. From RIMS headquarters in New York, our guest today is Kevin Stein, the CEO of Delos Insurance and we will discuss wildfire risk. [:39] The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep will be held with Purima virtually on November 14th and 15th. The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Course will be hosted along with George Mason University from December 3rd through the 5th. [:58] Links to these courses can be found on the Certifications page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:05] RIMS Virtual Workshops! “Risk Appetite Management” is back by popular demand. Registration closes November 19th for the session on November 20th and 21st. That session will be led by Ken Baker. [1:20] Elise Farnham of Illumine Consulting recently joined us here on RIMScast. On December 4th and 5th, she will host “Applying and Integrating ERM”. On December 17th and 18th, she will host “Captives as an Alternate Risk Financing Technique”. [1:37] Those are just three of the workshops RIMS offers; we have lots more! Other dates for the Fall and Winter are available on the Virtual Workshops calendar, RIMS.org/virtualworkshops. [1:49] This is the last call to register for the RIMS ERM Conference 2024 which will be held on November 18‒19, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The agenda is live, we've got a great keynote, and we've got so many fantastic educational sessions and networking opportunities for you! [2:07] So visit the Events page of RIMS.org and register today! A link is also in this episode's show notes. [2:14] Interview! Climate change and wildfire risks are on our minds here at RIMScast! My take is that there is no longer a wildfire season here in the U.S., it's just wildfire year. Let's see if our guest agrees with me, and what risk managers can do to combat and mitigate this problem. [2:39] My guest is Kevin Stein. He is the CEO of Delos Insurance Solutions and he is an aerospace engineer by training. We're going to get a fascinating perspective from him on wildfire risks and what risk professionals can do to limit their exposure. [2:56] We're also going to talk about the trends driving wildfire reduction techniques. Let's get to it! Kevin Stein, welcome to RIMScast! [3:21] Kevin and a Co-founder started Delos Insurance Solutions in 2017. It is a specialty MGA. They sell policies across California in areas that other insurers have vacated because of perceived wildfire exposure in those regions. [3:40] Delos Insurance Solutions is in partnership with an environment think tank made up of 100 professors, post-doc scientists, and the top wildfire researchers in the world. [99] They have co-developed the civil government models for agencies including CalFire, the Public Utilities Commission, and the U.S. Forestry Service, for 25 years. [4:04] With the think tank, Delos Insurance Solutions has developed more sophisticated wildfire underwriting internal tools and models that give a sense of a per-risk view of wildfire exposure as well as a portfolio-level view of wildfire exposure. [4:19] With that, Delos Insurance Solutions has developed a number of programs. They sell home insurance, landlord's insurance, and vacant home insurance across California. [4:33] Kevin tells about his experience as an aerospace engineer. He did his Master's in Aerospace Engineering at Stanford. He started on the modeling side and found his way into insurance. [4:56] Kevin finds insurance fascinating. He says that everybody in the industry understands how interesting insurance is and everybody outside the insurance industry does not. Having gone from outside the industry to inside it, Kevin says the people in the industry are correct. [5:13] Kevin says there are many different, interesting aspects of insurance and his career has been a wild ride. [5:40] Kevin says the reality of wildfire season is that wildfires can happen at any time. There need to be specific conditions for these fires to become large, destructive wildfires. Conditions need to be hot, dry, and windy and there needs to be fuel. [6:01] The seasons have been changing. In California, the wildfire seasons in 2017 and 2018 were very destructive. Historically, Northern California has a rainy season from mid-October through late March or early April. In 2017 they had sun through the end of December and rain until June. [6:43] During the Fall, Northern California has a lake effect of winds coming over the mountains out to the ocean, and it's usually stormy. In 2017 and 2018, they had 100-degree temperatures, the vegetation had been dry for six months, and the extreme winds led to fire superstorms. [7:11] In any wildfire area, once sustained rains start, you're in a more comfortable position. You need vegetation that's been dried out for a while to have large fire superstorms but even in the Spring or early Summer, you can have individual or smaller fires that threaten your properties. [7:37] The antidote to smaller, individual fires is to implement property-hardening techniques on commercial properties that effectively protect structures against smaller, slower-moving fires. [8:25] Fires are spreading. The Salem, Massachusetts fires, the Eastern Canada fires, the Hawaiian fires, the fires in Oklahoma, and in San Diego show that fires can happen in a lot of geographies now that have not experienced fires before. [8:59] This has a big effect on the insurance market. Insurers and reinsurers are looking at the spread and prevalence of wildfires and getting more concerned about what that means for their average exposure and maximum exposure. [9:18] The price of re-insurance is going up significantly and the availability of re-insurance and capacity is going down significantly. [9:28] The key for folks who own properties and large buildings and who rely on risk transfer as an effective means for managing their risk, is to be more creative and find more specialty groups. [9:49] The insurance industry is morphing. The previous structure included wildfire exposure with hurricane exposure and tornado exposure. Now many of them will exclude wildfire. [10:16] Risk managers will have to find specialty groups that are underwriting wildfire exposure more effectively and capturing re-insurance capacity more effectively to provide policies for people with this exposure. [10:40] A key to understanding your fire exposure is to understand what type of fires you are potentially exposed to. There are wind-driven fire locations, moisture-driven fire locations, and vegetation-driven fire locations. [10:58] To harden your property to vegetation fires, make the area around your building either a parking lot or drought-resistant, fire-resistant landscaping. Don't use bark or woodchips. You can have small scattered plants surrounded by concrete to avoid the risk of vegetation fire. [11:50] With wind-driven fires, your biggest risk is embers. Embers can catch a building on fire by igniting vegetation at the base of the structure, so remove all vegetation against the structure or under eaves, especially with single-story structures. [12:20] Embers can also get inside structures. Have ember-mesh screens on air intakes, such as those used by the HVAC system, and any openings in the foundation and your eaves. [13:03] Build structures out of fire-resistant materials. Shingles and siding need to be fire-resistant or fire-safe. Use double-pane windows. Single-pane windows crack in fires and embers can get in. Use ember-mesh screens. [13:59] For landscaping, make sure it is drought-resistant and fire-resistant. [13:52] Plug Time! RIMS Webinars! On November 14th, Marsh will present “Risk Perception and Management: Insights for a Changing Landscape”. [14:03] On November 21st, HUB International returns with the fourth installment of their Ready for Tomorrow series, “From AI to the SEC: The Future of D&O Litigation and Regulatory Exposures”. [14:17] On November 25th, Resolver returns to discuss “The Future of Risk & Compliance: 5 Key Insights for the Modern Leader”. [14:26] On December 5th, we have “Predictive Strategies to Detect Electrical and Machinery Failures”, presented by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD company. [14:37] On Thursday, December 12th, OneTrust returns to deliver “Staying Vigilant: 7 Practical Tips for Ongoing Third-Party Risk Monitoring”. [14:47] More webinars will be announced soon and added to the RIMS.org/webinars page. Go there to register. Registration is complimentary for RIMS members. [14:59] RIMS is now accepting nominations for all awards other than Risk Manager of the Year 2025. The submission deadline is Monday, January 6th, 2025. To receive a RIMS award, all winners must be active members and in good standing. [15:19] The awards are the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chapter Leadership Award, the Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award, the Volunteer of the Year “Heart of RIMS” Award, the Richard W. Bland Memorial Award, the Chapter of the Year Award, the Rising Risk Professional Award, the Risk Management Hall of Fame, and the Cristy Award. [15:57] You can find more information about the awards through the About Us page of RIMS.org or the link in this interview's show notes. [16:06] Back to My Interview About Wildfire Risks with Kevin Stein! [16:36] Kevin has a really optimistic view of the future of wildfire risk. A lot of that has to do with firefighting strategies and resources. The California government has put massive amounts of money into forest management and it's been very effective. [17:01] Kevin is optimistic about the new technology. Improved outdoor sprinklers are triggered if a fire is oncoming and douse everything in water or fire-retardant material. Sensors are put in different locations to recognize fire quickly. [17:39] How fast firefighters get to a wildfire is hugely important in terms of how big the fire will be. Fires that are reached and controlled quickly don't become giant superstorms. Giant superstorms cause significant loss and burn down large buildings. Small wildfires can't do that. [18:07] The sensors are put on a variety of buildings to recognize smoke automatically with computer vision AI built in. Some longer-term technology is very interesting. In the future, there will be drone armies to replace the helicopters to pour fire retardant or water on top of wildfires. [19:10] Commercial clients can deal with re-insurers like Lloyd's of London to get coverage. Property-hardening characteristics and technologies come into play with a detailed assessment of the defensibility of the structure. [20:38] Wildfire Re-insurers are moving from being generalists to being specialists. Generalist actuaries study years of loss history to predict losses for the next year. Specialist perils require area expertise because the risks cannot be handled simply through large amounts of data. [21:13] Cyber is a great example of this. Cyber insurance was first bundled with general liability. The carriers soon realized they had no expertise to predict cyber risk so they excluded it. Specialty groups with expertise popped up to fill the gap in the market. [21:36] This has happened with flood insurance, hurricane insurance in Florida, and earthquake insurance. Wildfire is the next one. It's changing very rapidly. It's very complicated, so you need people with area expertise to be able to underwrite it profitably. [21:58] There is a trend where primary carriers are pulling back. They're making the sound decision for a risk manager who can't understand a peril. This opens up space for specialists to jump in, like Delos Insurance Solutions. Kevin says more groups will show up to serve the sector. [22:54] Kevin reveals some of his aerospace engineer experience. He put in a proposal to NASA for a heliocentric spacecraft to look for life on Alpha Centauri. That wasn't chosen, but there was an interesting satellite project he worked on. [23:35] Kevin helped create two NBN satellites to provide internet to all of Australia, combined with a detailed fiber network. Kevin managed everything mechanical on the build of those two satellites. [24:25] Special thanks again to Kevin Stein of Delos Insurance Solutions for joining us today on RIMScast. RIMS has a Wildfire Resources Page on RIMS.org. A link is in this interview's show notes. Be sure to go there for more insight and information on how you can combat wildfire risk. [24:44] More RIMS Plugs! The RIMS App is available to RIMS members exclusively. Go to the App Store and download the RIMS App with all sorts of RIMS resources and coverage. It's different from the RIMS Events App. Everyone loves the RIMS App! [25:18] You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in our show notes. RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [26:00] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [26:17] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [26:33] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [26:46] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [26:53] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe! Mentioned in this Episode: RIMS DEI Council RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS ERM Conference 2024 — November 18‒19, 2024 | Boston, MA NEW FOR MEMBERS! RIMS Mobile App RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring Valerie Fox! Nominations open for RIMS 2025 Awards! (Through Jan. 6, 2025) Nominations for the Donald M. Stuart Award RIMS Wildfire Resource Center RIMS Webinars: “Risk Perception and Management: Insights for a Changing Landscape” | Sponsored by Marsh | Nov. 14, 2024 “From AI to the SEC: The Future of D&O Litigation and Regulatory Exposures” | Sponsored by Hub International | Nov. 21, 2024 “The Future of Risk & Compliance: 5 Key Insights for the Modern Leader' | Sponsored by Resolver | Nov. 25, 2024 “Predictive Strategies to Detect Electrical and Machinery Failures” | Sponsored by TUV SUD GRC | Dec. 5, 2024 “Staying Vigilant: 7 Practical Tips for Ongoing Third-Party Risk Monitoring” | Sponsored by OneTrust | Dec. 12, 2024 RIMS.org/Webinars Upcoming Virtual Workshops: Risk Appetite Management Nov. 20‒21 RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep (Virtual)Dec. 17‒18, 2024 | 9:00 am‒4:00 pm EST — Register by Dec. 10. “Applying and Integrating ERM” | Dec. 4‒5 “Captives as an Alternate Risk Financing Technique” | Dec. 17‒18 See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops Related RIMScast Episodes: “Safety and Preparedness in 2024 with National Safety Council CEO Lorraine Martin” “Mitigating the Risks of Catastrophes with Mrunal Pandit of Tata Consumer Products” “Evolving Fire Risks with Ralph Bless” “California Wildfires: Risks, Preparedness, Business Continuity, and the Impact on Insurance Markets” (2020) Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer “Alliant's P&C Outlook For 2024” | Sponsored by Alliant “Why Subrogation is the New Arbitration” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyclone Season: Proactive Preparation for Loss Minimization” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd. “Subrogation and the Competitive Advantage” | Sponsored by Fleet Response RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model® RIMS Events App Apple | Google Play Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information. Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org. Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About our guest: Kevin Stein, CEO of Delos Insurance Solutions Social Shareables (Edited For Social Media Use): There are so many different, super-interesting aspects of insurance. — Kevin Stein I have a really optimistic view of the future of wildfire risk. A lot of that has to do with firefighting strategies and resources. The California government has put massive amounts of money into forest management and it's been very effective. — Kevin Stein Sensors can be put in different locations to recognize fire quickly. How fast firefighters get to a wildfire is hugely important in terms of how big the fire will be. Fires that are reached and controlled quickly don't become giant superstorms. — Kevin Stein There is a trend where primary carriers are pulling back. They're making the sound decision for a risk manager who can't understand a peril. This opens up space for specialists like Delos Insurance Solutions to jump in. Other groups will follow. — Kevin Stein
Minnesota's new climate laws passed in 2023 require all electricity in the state to come from carbon-free sources by the year 2040. But it's up to regulators to decide what exactly counts as carbon free — the key question that has arisen is whether burning trash and timber for energy should be a part of the mix. There may not be an answer until the end of 2025 after the Public Utilities Commission recently moved to delay the decision. Andrew Hazzard has been following this. He covers climate change and environmental justice for Sahan Journal and he joined Minnesota Now to talk about his reporting.
Minnesota stands out as a leader in the energy transition, uniquely positioned at the forefront of renewable adoption in the Midwest. Through bipartisan legislation and innovative incentive programs, the state has become a trailblazer in advancing renewable energy technologies and setting a regional example for clean energy initiatives. In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nick talks to Logan O'Grady, executive director of MnSEIA, about the past and future of solar in Minnesota as well as the upcoming Gateway to Solar conference on October 8-9, 2024. Get Connected: Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org Email: Info@midwestrenew.org 0:42 Logan O'Grady introduction 1:27 MnSEIA overview 4:29 Minnesota solar market 9:24 Minnesota solar policy and bipartisanship 12:30 Lessons learned and the current solar market 16:28 Changes to utility introductory rates 20:58 The future of energy storage in Minnesota 26:23 Inspiration for storage incentive program 28:09 Energy balance in Minnesota 31:38 Gateway to Solar conference ABOUT OUR GUEST: LOGAN O'GRADY Logan O'Grady is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association. He is authorized to practice law in Minnesota and is a registered lobbyist for MnSEIA. Entering his fourth year at the helm of MnSEIA, Logan has led the organization through a period of substantial growth. Now representing over 170 member organizations, MnSEIA is the largest member-driven clean energy advocacy group in Minnesota. The biggest and most diverse member force since its founding in 2009 has helped MnSEIA pass historic legislative commitments to the solar + storage industry, including over $150 million in public investments into solar + storage programming. Logan navigated the industry through a revamp of the state's nation-leading Community Solar Garden program, the launch of Minnesota's Solar for Schools and Solar on Public Buildings programs, passed the state's new Distributed Solar Energy Standard, and has been an outspoken voice on the importance of Distributed Energy Resources in Minnesota's energy portfolio. Previously, Logan worked at Larkin Hoffman where he served as an attorney on the firm's government relations team, representing solar companies at the state Capitol and in front of the Public Utilities Commission. He also served as the Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM) and as the Committee Administrator for the Minnesota Senate's powerful capital investment committee. Logan holds a Law Degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a Master's Degree from the Hult International Business School in London.
Lamont & Tonelli made their weekly check-in on their NewsMaker line and this time around got a call from the Chairman Director for Executive Privilege of All Stupid Decisionsfor the Public Utilities Commission. Listen to Lamont & Tonelli Monday through Friday, 6-10am, on 107.7 The Bone. Get your Rock N Roll Fix at: 1077thebone.com Follow 107.7 The Bone on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Follow 107.7 The Bone on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lamont & Tonelli made their weekly check-in on their NewsMaker line and this time around got a call from the Chairman Director for Executive Privilege of All Stupid Decisionsfor the Public Utilities Commission. Listen to Lamont & Tonelli Monday through Friday, 6-10am, on 107.7 The Bone. Get your Rock N Roll Fix at: 1077thebone.com Follow 107.7 The Bone on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Follow 107.7 The Bone on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SAVING THE SOLAR INDUSTRY WHILE SHUTTING DIABLO NUKES…& SOLARIZING THE OLYMPICS We start today's Solartopian KPFK-based radio broadcast with solar pioneer RON LEONARD. Ron explains how California's “green” governor is in fact decimating the nation's renewable energy industry. Ron dissects how the states Public Utilities Commission is destroying the electric supply structure, leaving CA with the nation's 2d highest electric rates. California Solartopia's co-host MYLA RESON makes clear the need to switch to renewables ASAP. KPFK local station board chair TATANKA BRICCA chimes in with a report for the north country. Mothers for Peace co-founder LINDA SEELEY updates us the possibility that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission might seriously consider seismic issues at the Diablo site. Co-Host HARVEY “SLUGGO” WASSERMAN announces the Solartopian Olympics Committee, mean to make all future Olympics sites completely power by local renewables.
Duke Energy Corp. could be facing a $1.45 million fine from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Give us about fifteen minutes a day, and we will give you all the local news, sports, weather, and events you can handle. SPONSORS: Many thanks to our sponsors... Annapolis Subaru, the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, Solar Energy Services, and Hospice of the Chesapeake! Today... The Anne Arundel County School Board passes the budgets. The Governor and Attorney General announced a new system to track Sexual Assault Evidence Kits. The MVA announced digital IDs for Samsung are now available. The Public Utilities Commission ordered energy companies to give a longer grace period before turning off utilities. We have a list of events for you to consider this Juneteenth Weekend. Our Local Business Spotlight drops at noon on Saturday with HERE. a pop-up shop; and be sure to catch the bonus pod we dropped with Monarch Weather + Climate Intelligence. And of course, we have our Canines & Crosstreks segment with FIVE puppies! DAILY NEWSLETTER LINK: https://forms.aweber.com/form/87/493412887.htm And like we do every Friday, Annapolis Subaru and I met up with some animals from the SPCA of Anne Arundel County. Check out this week's Canines & Crosstreks! And as usual, George from DCMDVA Weather is here with your local weather forecast! Please download their app to keep on top of the local weather scene! The Eye On Annapolis Daily News Brief is produced every Monday through Friday at 6:00 am and available wherever you get your podcasts and also on our social media platforms--All Annapolis and Eye On Annapolis (FB) and @eyeonannapolis (TW) NOTE: For hearing-impaired subscribers, a full transcript is available on Eye On Annapolis.
In this edition of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the importance of broadband access for all Californians, emphasizing the state's efforts to bridge the digital divide. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of reliable internet access as students had to rely on broadband to attend school remotely, highlighting inequities in access. The state of California has initiated a large-scale effort, involving significant investments from both federal and state levels, to ensure every Californian has access to broadband. This initiative, spearheaded by the state's Department of Technology, Public Utilities Commission, and Department of Transportation, aims to make broadband accessible even in rural or economically disadvantaged areas by leveraging public infrastructure and funding to make it viable for private carriers to extend their services. The program also considers the role of the federal government and the complexities of implementing such infrastructure, including regulatory and equity issues. The initiative is in progress, with planning and grants for the 'middle mile' already under way, and efforts to address the 'last mile' to ensure comprehensive coverage.00:00 Introduction to Bridging the Digital Divide00:22 The Urgency of Broadband Access in California01:32 Understanding the Need for Massive Broadband Investment02:56 Government's Role in Subsidizing Broadband Infrastructure06:15 The Complexities of Public and Private Broadband Partnerships08:11 Equity and Accessibility: The Core of Broadband Initiatives10:51 The Process and Progress of Broadband Infrastructure Development14:54 Innovative Procurement and Future Plans17:05 Exploring New Solutions with RFI 2 Process
Listen to host Jeff Cranks as he converses with Jesse Mallory about the recent surge in utility bills in Colorado. Jeff and Jesse shed light on the role of the three-member Public Utilities Commission in these increases. This episode focuses on the significant and detrimental effects these price hikes are having on the lives of everyday individuals. #americanpotential Check out American Potential here: https://americanpotential.com