Reopenings support businesses and residents whose livelihoods rely directly and indirectly on hosting and guiding visitors to Jasper National Park.
Reopenings support businesses and residents whose livelihoods rely directly and indirectly on hosting and guiding visitors to Jasper National Park.
October 10, 2024 Jasper National Park, Alberta Parks Canada
This week, some of the most visited places in Jasper National Park are reopening! Visitor experiences that have reopened since the Jasper Wildfire Complex required closing the entire park include: Miette Hot Springs, the Columbia Icefields, Sunwapta Falls, Pyramid Lake, Athabasca Falls, Old Fort Point and Lake Annette.
Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages and in a newly appointed role as Ministerial Lead to Jasper, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced fall and winter backcountry camping availability, an update on winter activities expected in Jasper, and the reopening of Maligne Road on Friday, October 11, 2024. The Parks Canada Reservation System will have select backcountry sites available to book on October 10, 2024 at 14:00 p.m. MST.
The economy of Jasper depends on visitors and the Government of Canada is committed to welcoming tourists to Jasper National Park following the Jasper Wildfire Complex. As one of the hardest hit areas during the wildfire, Maligne Road is a significant reopening—in addition to all the incredible work to open many other popular areas. Parks Canada will continue to reopen areas of Jasper National Park as soon as it is safe to do so.
The reopening of the major visitor experience areas within Jasper National Park ensures that Jasper residents, Canadians and international visitors alike can make plans to enjoy this iconic winter destination. Winter activities this year in Jasper will include many of the beloved experiences the park is known for, including winter events and outdoor recreation experiences like cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and flat-packed trails for walking and fat biking.
Visitors are encouraged to plan their trip in advance. Jasper National Park has launched an interactive map of what’s open to simplify trip planning. While in Jasper, visitors can stop by the Jasper National Park Visitor Information Centre in the heart of downtown for advice and recommendations on making the most of their of their Parks Canada experience.
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Oliver Anderson Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change 819-962-0686 oIiver.anderson@ec.gc.ca
Alice Hansen Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, and Ministerial Lead for Jasper Alice.hansen@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Jasper is open to visitors. If you plan to travel to Jasper, check what’s open and available before you go. To simplify trip planning, Jasper National Park has launched an interactive map of what’s open, with information being updated regularly.
Reopened areas have been assessed for fire danger and dangerous trees have been removed. When you are in reopened areas, be aware of your surroundings, because rain, snow and wind weather events could create unstable conditions.
Jasper National Park area reopenings are supporting the path to recovery. Openings of interest include:
October 11, 2024: Maligne Road, including Opal Hills, Bald Hills, Jacques Lake, Moose Lake loop, Mary Shaffer trails, Overlander and the trail from 6th bridge to 5th bridge reopen. Many backcountry trails and campgrounds reopen and visitors may reserve their backcountry site on the Parks Canada Reservation System beginning at 2:00 p.m. October 10, 2024.
September 20, 2024: Saturday Night Lake Loop Trail, Magic Ridge Trail, the Suburbs climbing area and pullouts on the Icefields Parkway reopen.
September 13, 2024: Snaring/Celestine Road reopen to Moberly Homestead. All day use areas from the Columbia Icefields to Honeymoon Campground, Wilcox Pass Trail, and the Pyramid Bench area trails including Marjorie Lake Trail and Discovery Trail reopen.
September 6, 2024: The Icefields Parkway (93N) reopens to cyclists. All pullouts and viewpoints reopen on Miette Road, including frontcountry trails Miette Mine and Sulphur Skyline. Along Highway 16, all highway pullouts, day use areas and trails are open. Talbot Lake, Jasper Lake, the climbing area at Morro Slabs, as well as Dorothy and Christine Lakes trails reopen.
September 1, 2024: Roadside privies along Highway 16, the Miette River Pullout, Overlander Trail, Jasper House and Hidden Valley reopen. Roadside privies on 93N, Goats and Glaciers, Stutfield Glacier and Tangle Falls reopen.
August 24, 2024: Reopening of many trails on the Pyramid Bench adjacent to the townsite.
August 23, 2024: 93N reopens to vehicle traffic.
August 20, 2024: Highway 16 fully reopens.
August 18, 2024: Miette Hot Springs reopens.
August 16, 2024: Town and transfer station re-entry for residents.
August 9, 2024: Highway 16 reopens to all traffic from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 93N from Saskatchewan River Crossing to the Icefields Centre also reopens.
August 4, 2024: Highway 16 is open during limited times to evacuated Jasper residents in BC to travel back to Alberta.
August 1, 2024: Highway 16 reopens to commercial traffic during limited times.
Jasper National Park is Ready for Winter
The reopening of the major visitor experience areas within Jasper National Park ensures that residents, Canadians and international visitors can plan to enjoy this iconic winter destination. Parks Canada supports winter events and outdoor recreation experiences like cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and flat-packed trails for walking and fat biking. Since the wildfire, much work has been done to assess sites and ensure their safe reopening and plans for winter are very much a part of this work. As a result, many of the Jasper’s typical winter activities will continue to be available again this winter.
Reopening visitor offers and areas outside the town required removing hazards such as fallen trees, assessing trail conditions, repairing infrastructure, and restoring several services, including emergency response, visitor safety, garbage collection, washroom cleaning, human-wildlife coexistence, and facilities maintenance. Parks Canada has been working closely with tourism partners, the Municipality of Jasper and many other partners and agencies to make reopening possible.
Stay Updated:
Please visit the following suggested social media accounts and web pages for information including archival material and the latest updates on recovery and rebuild in Jasper and the Jasper Wildfire Complex:
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
While traveling to Georgia and North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Vice President Harris reaffirmed that she, President Biden, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration will be with the southeast as they rebuild and recover.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
October 10, 2024
Nearly half of 2023 audits had significant deficiencies.
“This is an astonishing finding that calls for immediate action by the PCAOB—and careful review by regulators….(I)nvestors and the public essentially face a coin flip when it comes to whether they should believe and trust the results of public companies’ audits.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), members of the Senate Committee on Finance, called on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to establish stricter accountability for accounting firms with “unacceptable” deficiency rates. The PCAOB is charged with overseeing the audits of public companies to protect investors and provide the public with “informative, accurate, and independent audit reports.” But the agency is not doing its job.
Last year, the PCAOB’s review of over 200 accounting firms’ audits found that 46% had errors so significant that that auditor “had not obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support its opinion” about a public company’s financial statements and financial reporting. The findings of this review reveal a nearly complete failure by the agency and cast doubts on the auditing process that plays a crucial role for investors in publicly traded companies.
“[T]he findings of this new analysis reveal a nearly complete failure [by PCAOB], indicating that investors and the public essentially face a coin flip when it comes to whether they should believe and trust the results of public companies’ audits,” wrote Senators Warren and Whitehouse.
Yet, the PCAOB does not appear to recognize the seriousness of the problem. In fact, Chair Erica Williams said the report showed “small signs of movement in the right direction.” And Board Member Christina Ho downplayed the findings, asserting that “there is another side to the story.”
‘[T]his is the wrong conclusion to draw from an embarrassing and intolerable set of findings,” wrote Sens. Waren and Whitehouse.
“The PCAOB must do better. …Either [auditing] standards are inadequate—or the PCAOB is failing to establish accountability for firms that do not meet them. These are unacceptable failures by the PCAOB,” concluded the lawmakers.
The senators request clarification about how the PCAOB plans to hold auditors accountable for ongoing problems by October 23, 2024.
Senator Warren has led the charge to ensure the PCAOB is effective and accountable to the public:
In January 2023, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote to the PCAOB raising concerns about crypto accounting firms’ independence and methodology following reports of whitewashed audits of crypto firms with histories of malfeasance.
In May 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sent a letter to Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler requesting the SEC use its authority to immediately remove and replace the members of the PCAOB, which sets standards for audits of public company financial statements required under Sarbanes-Oxley.
In April 2017, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) wrote to PCAOB, raising questions and releasing new information about KPMG’s role as the independent auditor of Wells Fargo during the time period in which thousands of Wells Fargo staff engaged in fraudulent behavior affecting millions of accounts.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of bipartisan colleagues to introduce the Secure School Buses Act, legislation to ensure school bus manufacturers tied to foreign entities and countries of concern, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), do not receive federal funding.
“When we use taxpayer dollars, we should be investing those dollars back into American businesses, workers, and communities – not sending money overseas to adversaries like China,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to ensure taxpayer investments in our children’s school buses won’t line the pockets of bad actors like China and give them a competitive edge over our workers and businesses.”
Several years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Clean School Bus Program to replace existing school buses with cleaner alternatives. According to the EPA, they have awarded almost $3 billion in taxpayer funds through this program. Troublingly, certain companies in the electric bus industry have ties to the CCP and other foreign entities of concern. While federal funds are prohibited from going to companies with ties to the CCP and other foreign entities of concern for public transit, there are no such prohibitions for the procurement of school buses. The Secure School Buses Act would prohibit the award of federal grant funding to school bus manufacturers with certain ties to a foreign entity of concern.
Senator Baldwin has long pushed to close loopholes that allow federal funding to be used for purchasing and manufacturing equipment overseas, including her bipartisan Buy America for Small Shipyard Grants, SAFE TRAINS Act, and Made in America Act, which were signed into law.
The Secure School Buses Act is led by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and also co-sponsored by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and John Cornyn (R-TX). The bill is endorsed by the Alliance for American Manufacturing and Heritage Action.
Click here for bill text.
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-VA, announced an estimated $35,159,000 in federal funding for Virginia to identify and replace lead pipes and create good-paying water infrastructure jobs. The funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped pass and is being allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after the Biden-Harris Administration issued a rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to replace lead pipes within the next ten years.
“Every Virginian should have access to safe, reliable drinking water,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled this funding will eliminate dangerous lead exposure in the tap water of homes and schools across the Commonwealth, all while creating good-paying jobs. We’re glad to have helped pass the legislation that made this investment possible and will continue to do all that we can to keep Virginians safe.”
The EPA estimates that as of 2023, there are 187,883 lead services lines in Virginia, which can lead to significant long-term health risks for those exposed. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This funding will combat these risks by accelerating the lead pipe removal process.
The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them.
Warner and Kaine have long advocated for clean drinking water for Virginians. In September 2024, Warner and Kaine announced nearly $2 million in federal funding for Lee and Wise counties and the Town of Clintwood to support infrastructure projects that will improve and extend waterline and sewer systems to additional homes. In February, they announced over $2.8 million in federal funding to improve water quality and increase access to safe drinking water in Wythe County and to assess the public health risk from harmful chemicals in local landfills in rural communities across Virginia. Last year, they announced $4,352,000 in federal funding for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund (VCWRLF).
Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and members from the Texas delegation wrote to the North American Development Bank (NADBank) urging its board to revive the Water Infrastructure Fund to assist border communities facing water shortages.
In the letter, the members wrote, “As it did in previous years, NADBank should use funding from retained earnings to provide concessional financing such as grants or subsidized loans for water conservation and diversification projects. This investment is essential to the well-being of our American municipalities and agricultural projects, and we fully support the Bank’s role in overseeing and implementing the fund to ensure these resources are allocated effectively.”
Sens. Cruz and Cornyn sent the letter with Reps. Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas-15), Vincente Gonzalez (D-Texas-34), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas-23), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas-16), and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas-28).
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Members of the Board:
We are writing to express our strong support for the re-establishment of NADBank’s Water Infrastructure Fund and to urge the Board to take swift action in restoring this critical program. The need for sustainable water management in the U.S.-Mexico border region is greater than ever. Re-establishing the fund would be a significant step in ensuring long-term water security for both municipal and agricultural communities.
As it did in previous years, NADBank should use funding from retained earnings to provide concessional financing such as grants or subsidized loans for water conservation and diversification projects. This investment is essential to the well-being of our American municipalities and agricultural projects, and we fully support the Bank’s role in overseeing and implementing the fund to ensure these resources are allocated effectively.
Any grant funding re-established through this program must be directed to both municipal and agricultural projects. These projects should not only conserve water, but also explore new ways to create additional water sources in the border region. In doing so, NADBank can address the urgent need for water security on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The flexibility of the grant program is critical. NADBank must be permitted to fund partial project costs in coordination with loans to enable solutions for a wide variety of projects. Additionally, NADBank should not be prohibited from providing loan financing to cover any remaining costs so as to ensure the fund remains adaptable and accessible.
Leveraging resources from other federal and state agencies such as the USDA-Rural Development, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Texas Water Development Board, will be critical in closing the funding gap for these water projects. We urge the Board to coordinate efforts with these entities to maximize the impact of NADBank’s investments.
Lastly, we request that U.S. Board members encourage Mexico to meet its capital commitments in a timely manner, and that the U.S. Board use its voice and vote to expedite the release of the remaining U.S. capital in line with Mexico’s payments.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We are confident that the re-establishment of the Water Infrastructure Fund will greatly benefit both sides of the border, ensuring that our communities have the water resources they need for the future.
Sincerely,
/X/
Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and several of their colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) resolution to recognize the women who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “We must never forget the unwavering dedication and immense sacrifices made by the courageous women who volunteered to serve our country during World War II. Their contributions to the war effort were pivotal and our nation owes them a debt of gratitude. I am honored to stand with Senators Warren and Blackburn in introducing this bipartisan resolution to give them the full recognition they deserve.”
Sens. Cruz, Warren, and Blackburn were joined by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in introducing the resolution.
Read the full text of the resolution here.
BACKGROUND:
After World War I, laws limited women to the role of nurses during war. The Navy Women’s Reserve Act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1942, reversed this law and established WAVES, allowing women to volunteer in support of war efforts. Women were then recruited to perform military assignments, including training thousands of aspiring male naval aviators, gunners, and navigators.
More than 400,000 women served our country in military capacities in World War II. In fact, women accounted for about 2.5% of the Navy, including almost 80,000 officers and enlisted personnel during the program’s peak.
The Global Barometers record a small increase in October, largely offsetting the previous month’s decline. The Coincident Barometer continues to signal economic development below the medium-term average, while the leading barometer continues to point to a normalisation of growth in the coming months.
The Coincident Global Economic Barometer increases by 2.1 points in October, to reach 93.8 points, while the Leading Barometer gains 1.9 points, to 102.5 points. The rise in both indicators is mainly driven by the results of the Asia, Pacific & Africa region.
“Since December 2022, the leading global barometer has been more positive or less negative than the coincident global barometer. For some time now, both indicators have been moving more or less sideways. This is historically quite unique and suggests that general expectations of economic normalisation seem to be repeatedly disappointed. At present, the situation in the Middle East seems to be preventing a real recovery in the global economy. We remain hopeful that solutions will be found that will allow us to move forward and that the assessment of the situation will improve significantly in the near future”, evaluates Jan-Egbert Sturm, Director of KOF Swiss Economic Institute.
Coincident Barometer – regions and sectors
The gain in the Coincident Barometer in October is the result of a 2.2-point positive contribution of the coincident indicator for the Asia, Pacific & Africa region, while Europe remains stable, and the Western Hemisphere contributes slightly negatively with -0.1 points. After losing ground between February and July of this year, the indicator for the Asia, Pacific & Africa region has stopped falling, and now fluctuates between 88 and 92 points, signalling the difficulty of the region to regain the increasing tendency observed in 2023.
All the Coincident sector indicators increase in October, with Construction standing out. Economy (aggregated business and consumer evaluations) remains at the lowest level among the sector indicators.
Leading Barometer – regions and sectors
The Leading Global Barometer leads the world economic growth rate cycle by three to six months on average. In October, the Asia, Pacific & Africa region and the Western Hemisphere contribute positively to the aggregate result with 1.7 and 0.4 points, respectively, while Europe contributes in the opposite direction with -0.2 points.
In October, all the Leading sector indicators increase, with Construction standing out for a gain of over 10 points, reaching a level that reflects a positive outlook.
Myanmar’s military authorities must immediately account for the whereabouts and wellbeing of two pro-democracy activists arrested in Yangon on Wednesday, Amnesty International said today.
Paing Phyo Min and Shein Wai Aung were arrested on 9 October and sent to an interrogation center, Amnesty International understands. Paing Phyo Min’s family has not been able to reach him, while Shein Wai Aung and his father, mother and sister have also been uncontactable.
As many as six additional people are also believed to have been arrested in raids.
“The Myanmar military must urgently account for the whereabouts and wellbeing of Paing Phyo Min and of Shein Wai Aung and his family. Unless they can be charged with an internationally recognized crime, they must be immediately and unconditionally released,” Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher Joe Freeman said.
“As leaders from The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet in Laos and discuss a way out of the crisis brought on by the 2021 coup, the Myanmar military continues to arbitrarily detain people and carry out repression across the country.”
Paing Phyo Min is known for his involvement with a group of young people performing Thangyat, a popular Myanmar traditional art form which fuses poetry, comedy and music to comment on social issues.
In 2019, Paing Phyo Min and other members of an activist group called the Peacock Generation were arrested after performing Thangyat dressed as soldiers. For this, he was sentenced to six years in prison.
In 2020, Amnesty International called for Paing Phyo Min’s release as part of its annual Write 4 Rights campaign, with many people writing letters to him to bolster his spirits. He was released in 2021 as part of a mass prisoner amnesty.
After the military coup, he and others took part in peaceful protests in Yangon, despite enormous risks following violent crackdowns.
Shein Wai Aung, a former student at Dagon University in Yangon, has been active in peaceful protests and in supporting political prisoners in Myanmar.
“Protesting in Myanmar today is not the same as it was before the coup. Anyone involved in any kind of dissent against the military faces long jail terms, torture and other ill-treatment, and even death in custody,” Joe Freeman said.
“In Myanmar’s prison system, there is little hope of fair treatment, no transparency, and extremely substandard conditions. Interrogation centers, where these two activists have likely been sent, are also notorious locations of abuse where torture has been used to extract information before charges are formally brought.”
Myanmar’s military has killed more than 5,000 civilians since seizing power in the coup on 1 February 2021. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in its latest report last month that at least 1,853 of those people have died in custody.
In the 2022 report ‘15 Days Felt Like 15 Years’, Amnesty International documented torture and other ill-treatment against people arbitrarily detained by the military and police after the coup.
There is a long-standing belief within cryptocurrency circles that ‘Uptober’ gives way to the Halloween effect—a period between the end of October and the end of May when markets trend higher.
To find out what Bitcoin’s price could be during Halloween 2024, Finbold interviewed five finance professionals and revealed that BTC is expected to, on average, hit $69,400 on the spookiest of holidays.
There is also some variance in the forecasts despite the general optimism, and the average of the upper bounds of the target ranges would see the cryptocurrency trade at $70,400 on Halloween and of the lowest at $59,400.
Furthermore, the most bullish individual target hopes for a BTC climb to $85,000 on October 31, while the lowest is worried about a drop to $35,000.
Therefore, Bitcoin’s price this Halloween is expected to be 101.16% higher than in October 2023.
Finance experts who participated in the survey include the CEO of Joy Wallet, the CEO of ForexMT4Indicators, HodlMaven’s owner and investment research manager at Gold IRA Investment Guy, and the founder of Stock Dork.
Bitcoin poised for a record Halloween price in 2024
Nonetheless, Bitcoin is likely to experience a strong October and is already at its highest ‘Uptober’ prices compared to every preceding year, save for 2021. Furthermore, as Andreja Stojanovic, the co-author of the research, pointed out:
“Should the average expert price target be reached, BTC would set a new record for its Halloween price as it would be $8,100 higher than three years earlier, almost twice as high as in 2023, and more than ten times higher than in 2017 or 2018.”
Finally, despite expert bullishness and market optimism, October may bring negative surprises for BTC.
Notably, recent Middle East expectations severely depressed the cryptocurrency’s price at the beginning of the month, and the danger of a further expansion of the war runs high.
Whenever a compelling new AI model emerges, I like to put it through its paces. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with the preview of OpenAI o1 (formerly known as Strawberry), an astonishing new LLM that’s capable of solving complex and layered problems, especially in math, science, and coding.
For businesses, o1 model and a slew of others in the works represent a clear opportunity. But they also reflect a less obvious challenge: as LLMs become more sophisticated, they’ll also become quickly commoditized, with not a lot of differentiation between them.
In other words, today’s breakthroughs will become tomorrow’s table stakes. This means companies should focus more on how they integrate these models with their own data and workflows, rather than seeing the models themselves as a unique competitive advantage. Embracing this shift in mindset is the way to ensure your business stays ahead.
Decoding the latest advance We have historically relied on size to improve the capabilities of LLMs—training them on more and more data, a process that is incredibly time- and resource-intensive.
OpenAI o1 introduces an entirely new scaling dimension, one in which a model can become significantly more capable by taking more time to “think” or reason before it responds. That means o1 can tackle problems step by step, much like how a human might approach challenging questions.
Ethan Mollick, professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, tried the o1 preview on a tough segment of a crossword puzzle and it performed quite well (though not flawlessly). Crossword puzzles trip up other LLMs because they can’t perform the iterative thinking that’s required: trying a word, scratching it out when it doesn’t fit, and cross-referencing clues to see how answers might fit together.
People across the business world are already experimenting with how o1 can handle tasks like responding to RFPs or performing risk assessments. It’s clear that we’ll look back and consider o1 to be one of the most pivotal advancements in generative AI.
So if o1 is such a breakthrough, why am I arguing that models will be commoditized? It comes down to competition. With so much energy and opportunity in the AI space, model developers are racing to exceed one another’s advances. We can expect to see more models, from more providers, with more capabilities on par with one another.
Technology and commoditization Think of another technology that was groundbreaking for its time: the television. Once a rare luxury made by only a few companies, TVs are now produced by many manufacturers, with excellent models widely available. About two decades ago, flat-screen TVs were coveted and expensive. Now it can cost as much to mount a TV on the wall as it does to buy the TV itself, and “flat-screen TV” has become a redundant phrase. We expect LLMs to follow a similar path to commoditization, but at a swifter pace.
What does this mean for businesses? Leaders have to look beyond the LLMs themselves and focus on creating a system around the models that will serve the unique needs of their organizations. Only by understanding AI systems more holistically will they be able to leverage them to innovate, create value, and maintain a competitive edge.
Unlocking the real value of AI for business LLMs get a lot of attention in the media, but the real value of AI comes from how you steer, ground, and fine-tune these models with your business data and workflow. And those capabilities come from the full system that surrounds the LLM.
Consider the evolution of personal computers. At first the raw power of the CPU was the most critical factor. But as powerful CPUs became commodities, the value of the PC shifted to the overall system—the combination of hardware and software that met your needs. Today, we don’t judge a PC by the power of a single component; it’s the value of the entire package that differentiates one device from another.
The same goes for AI: the system is more powerful than any one part. An LLM on its own, no matter how impressive, won’t deliver truly valuable results until it’s grounded in your company’s specific knowledge. When a system like Copilot can draw from your work data—emails, files, meetings, etc.—it becomes much smarter about your business. The system performs better when you can steer it toward your goals and fine-tune it to adapt to your specific needs. Together, all these elements feed the advanced “thinking” that the LLMs can and will be doing.
Think about how this system would work for, say, a retailer. An LLM on its own can offer general ideas for training new employees for the sales floor. But AI is more powerful if it also knows the specifics of your business. A highly effective AI agent might create and deliver training modules for your new retail employees, with insight into your latest products, up-to-the-minute promotions, and specialized customer service techniques.
Summing it up LLMs are making incredible progress, and I’m delighted every day by what they can accomplish. But their true potential comes through when they’re applied to your unique business data and workflows. That way, they’ll solve more than puzzles—they’ll help untangle your thorniest business problems and reveal new opportunities for creating value.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the addition of seven primary counties and ten adjacent counties to the disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 23, giving more businesses and residents eligibility to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program.
The declaration covers Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Franklin, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Wakulla counties which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Bay, Broward, Calhoun, Clay, DeSoto, Flagler, Gadsden, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Liberty, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Polk, St. Johns, Sumter, Volusia in Florida; Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Thomas and Ware in Georgia.
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Sánchez. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 27, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.
Jennifer Becerra has nearly three decades of experience in education, both in the classroom and within the NASA community. Leading a team dedicated to fostering a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), she develops programs that inspire students and educators alike. Whether coordinating internships or organizing engagement events, Becerra creates educational opportunities to bring the excitement of NASA’s missions to life for students. As NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) student services manager at Johnson Space Center in Houston, her efforts aim to cultivate the next generation of explorers and build a stronger, more engaged future workforce.
Becerra’s responsibilities include overseeing intern recruitment, placement, and development. She leads the OSTEM Center Engagement to create impactful opportunities for students to connect with NASA’s mission and resources. Becerra also serves as the technical officer for NASA’s Teams II Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions Community Anchor grant program. She assists in managing funded projects that advance STEM education by supporting institutions that serve as local hubs for learning and space exploration. Becerra holds memberships in The National Science Teachers Association and the Science Teachers Association of Texas, further underscoring her dedication to empowering tomorrow’s innovators.
Becerra takes great pride in her work. One of her most fulfilling achievements is witnessing the spark of inspiration in students when they participate in events like astronaut graduation, the Artemis II crew announcement, or the OSIRIS-REx sample reveal. “Seeing their excitement and curiosity fuels our commitment to creating impactful experiences that encourage students to explore STEM fields,” she said. “We aim to inspire the next generation of explorers who may one day contribute to future NASA missions.”
Her upbringing on the Texas-Mexico border in Del Rio, Texas, deeply influences her sense of identity. She is an active member of Johnson’s Hispanic Employee Resource Group, which promotes cultural awareness and provides a platform to engage and educate the Johnson community about the richness and significance of Hispanic culture. “I aim to foster a more inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and celebrated,” she said. Becerra honors her culture in the workplace by embracing her authentic self every day and contributing to her team in meaningful ways.
An important lesson she has learned throughout her career is the power of collaboration. “I’ve realized that it takes a collective effort to achieve our goals,” said Becerra. “I’ve come to deeply appreciate and rely on the diverse experiences and perspectives my colleagues bring to our team.” Early in her career, Becerra faced imposter syndrome, but over time she overcame it by connecting with colleagues who shared her background. Today, she appreciates the inclusivity and collaboration within her teams.
Looking forward, Becerra is excited for the future of space exploration, especially the moment when the first woman steps onto the Moon. She hopes to inspire more girls to explore STEM and leave a lasting legacy with the Artemis Generation. “Passion drives fulfillment and long-term commitment, especially at NASA,” she said. “I encourage students to seize every opportunity, build strong connections with their teams, and embrace the sense of being part of something much greater than themselves.”
NASA has selected Metis Technology Solutions Inc. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to provide engineering services as well as develop and maintain software and hardware used to conduct simulations for aerospace research and development across the agency. The Aerospace Research, Technology, and Simulations (ARTS) contract is a hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract with an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity component and has a maximum potential value of $177 million. The performance period begins Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, with a one-year base period, and options to extend performance through November 2029. Under this contract, the company will support the preparation, development, operation, and maintenance of future and existing simulators, integration laboratories, aircraft research systems, simulation work areas, and aircraft research systems. The scope of work also will include the development, testing, and validation of advanced air traffic management automation tools, including, but not limited to, advanced concepts for aviation ecosystems. Work will primarily be performed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, as well as other agency or government locations, as needed. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
Origami, the ancient art of paper folding, is taking a futuristic turn with the work of Cynthia Sung at the University of Pennsylvania. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program award, “Computational Design for Robust Legged Robots,” Sung’s research blends the precision of engineering with the creativity of art to develop origami-inspired robots. These robots, built from thin, foldable materials, offer a fascinating glimpse into the future of robotics.
Origami-inspired fabrication and folding approaches can create robots that can transform their shape. For example, the CurveQuad robot recently developed by Sung’s lab is an origami-inspired robot that can fold, unfold, crawl and steer using one motor. Its design is based on curved-crease origami, providing the robot with remarkable agility despite its simplicity — it only has four folds. These robots can directly incorporate electronics, actuation and sensing into their flat body. Such robots could be deployed in swarms for exploration or inspection tasks, showcasing the scalability and cost-effectiveness of this technology.
Credit: Daniel Feshbach, Sung Robotics Lab
CurveQuad robot consisting of a thin PET body with 4 folds, a single motor for actuation, and a flexible PCB for control.
One of the exciting recent results from Sung’s work is the principle that any kinematic chain — a term used to refer to a series of links and joints that make up a robot’s arms and legs — can be constructed using origami techniques. Since origami fabrication is relatively fast and accessible, this means that in the future, full robots might be able to be designed and created within days or even hours, opening new possibilities for creating lightweight, flexible and safe robots, ideal for interacting with humans. The origami patterns are generated automatically, so a person does not need to be an origami artist or engineer; they only need to be able to describe the different joints of the robot that they want, and a design will come out. The potential applications are vast, from educational tools that make complex robotics concepts accessible for students to dynamic robots for exploring unstructured environments.
Credit: Wei-Hsi Chen, Sung Robotics Lab
An example of a robot arm generated by Sung’s lab software. It is a scaled-down version of the PUMA 6-dof arm (one of the old industrial manipulator arms commonly seen in manufacturing settings).
Supported by an NSF Engineering Design and System Engineering award, Sung and her team are expanding this work to incorporate actuators, sensors and control. They are also building intuitive design tools on top of the underlying algorithms to make the design process easier for non-roboticists. By clicking and dragging robot parts on a computer screen, designers can creatively explore different kinematic chains and directly convert them into an origami pattern they can test in real life. Using this software, the team collaborates with The Arts League to create robots, activities and workshops for the students, artists and the general community to learn more about robotics.
Three-link origami robots
Credit: Diedra Krieger, University of Pennsylvania
Three-link origami robots designed for workshops. The robots “slither” on marker legs, drawing patterns on the ground that change with the robot’s control input.
Origami robots are not just restricted to indoor environments and classroom activities. Another intriguing project supported by an NSF Dynamics, Control and Systems Diagnostics award involves underwater robots with origami-inspired designs that can change body shape to take in and expel water, creating a jet to propel itself forward, much like squids do. These robots offer unique opportunities because they are affordable, easy to make and sturdy, ideal for moving efficiently underwater.
Credit: Zhiyuan Yang and Dongsheng Chen, Sung Robotics Lab
Origami robot swimming. A motor on the inside pulls on a tendon to compress the magic ball and release it, creating a jet in the back that propels the robot forward.
“We used the magic ball origami pattern, which can change between an ellipsoidal (low volume) and spherical (high volume) shape. A special mechanism helps the robot contract to take in water, and the magic ball’s natural mechanics help it return to its original shape, creating a propulsion system that allows them to swim efficiently. The potential applications include environmental monitoring and underwater exploration,” Sung said.
Origami-inspired robot that swims via jet propulsion
Credit: Zhiyuan Yang and Dongsheng Chen, Sung Robotics Lab
Origami robot swimming. A motor on the inside pulls on a tendon to compress the magic ball and release it, creating a jet in the back that propels the robot forward.
Origami-inspired robots are bringing us incredible advancements, from self-folding and unfolding robots to those that can dissolve or change forms. Sung’s work advances robotics and inspires new thinking about materials and design. These innovations open up a wide range of applications, such as exploring unpredictable terrains in outer space, where the flexibility and adaptability of origami robots can be critical. The journey from simple paper folds to complex robotic systems exemplifies the power of foundational research, a key driver of NSF’s mission.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy will lead the agency’s delegation at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) from Monday, Oct. 14, to Thursday, Oct. 17, in Milan. During the congress, NASA will discuss its Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy, emphasizing the agency’s efforts to advance microgravity science, technology, and exploration. The agency also will highlight its commitment to space sustainability and several missions, including initiatives that support NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach and the Artemis Accords. NASA will amplify the following talks happening at the congress through its YouTube Channel:
Monday, Oct. 14
7:45 a.m. EDT (1:45 p.m. CEST): One-to-One with Heads of Agencies featuring Nelson.
12:15 p.m. EDT (6:15 p.m. CEST): Host Plenary on Responsible and Sustainable Space Exploration for Moon to Mars featuring Melroy.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
9 a.m. EDT (3 p.m. CEST): A New Era in Human Presence featuring Melroy.
A full agenda for this year’s IAC is available online. Members of the media registered for IAC will have three opportunities to meet with NASA leaders. To register, media must apply through the International Astronautical Federation website. Opportunities include:
Monday, Oct. 14
5:30 p.m. CEST (11:30 a.m. EDT): NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Lisa Campbell, president, CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and Teodoro Valente, president, Italian Space Agency, to discuss the 3rd Annual Heads of Agency meeting of the Artemis Accords Signatories.
Tuesday, Oct. 15
5 p.m. CEST (11 a.m. EDT): NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to discuss the agency’s international partnerships in the Artemis era.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
5 p.m. CEST (11 a.m. EDT): NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station and acting director of Commercial Spaceflight to discuss NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy
In addition to the events outlined above, NASA will have an exhibit featuring the first sample of the asteroid Bennu to appear publicly in a non-museum setting, as well as information on the Artemis campaign, NASA’s future in low Earth orbit, and several upcoming science and technology missions. NASA also will host subject matter expert talks throughout the week at its exhibit. NASA will provide photos and updates about its participation in the International Astronautical Congress from its @NASAExhibit account on X. For more information about NASA participation at IAC, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-at-iac -end- Amber JacobsonHeadquarters, Washington240-298-1832amber.c.jacobson@nasa.gov
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke on October 8th with new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to underscore the enduring U.S. commitment to the NATO Alliance.
The Secretary welcomed Secretary General Rutte to his new position and both look forward to a positive and productive relationship.
Secretary Austin discussed U.S. priorities for NATO and the upcoming NATO Defense Ministerial. These include implementing the agreements that leaders have made at recent NATO Summits, continuing to strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts, maintaining robust support for Ukraine, and boosting the transatlantic defense industrial base.
Secretary Austin and Secretary General Rutte exchanged views on NATO’s work to support Ukraine, which will help keep Ukraine in the fight and build a bridge to Ukraine’s future membership in NATO. They also discussed ongoing instability in the Middle East and NATO’s commitment to continue its advisory and capacity-building mission in Iraq.
Headline: FEMA Extends Renewal Period for Flood Insurance Policyholders in Seven States Affected by Helene
FEMA Extends Renewal Period for Flood Insurance Policyholders in Seven States Affected by Helene
Flood insurance policyholders can receive advance payments to receive up to $20,000 for their recovery
WASHINGTON – FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program is taking immediate actions to help policyholders throughout the seven states recently affected by Helene.
While renewal dates have passed for some National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in states affected by Helene may be able to take steps that will renew their policy and receive immediate help.
Policyholders who received flood damage from Helene should be sure to ask their insurance agent or company about advance claims payments to help start their recovery. Advance payments may be available of up to $20,000 prior to a visit from an adjuster.
Certain policyholders in seven states impacted by Helene now have a limited opportunity to renew their policies without a consequence of a lapse in coverage. Policyholders in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia who had flood damage now have until Nov. 26, 2024, to renew their policies, an increase from the standard 30-day renewal grace period.
“I am deeply committed to helping our policyholders prioritize financial resources to help speed their recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction,” said Jeff Jackson, the interim Senior Executive of the program. “By extending the grace period for renewing policies, we are giving our policyholders some breathing room and demonstrating that the National Flood Insurance Program stands with them at time of tremendous heartache and difficulty.”
The extension applies to policies with policy expiration dates beginning Aug. 28, 2024, as follows:
If the policy term ended on:
The grace period would have ended:
But now runs until:
Aug. 28, 2024
Sept. 26, 2024
Nov. 26, 2024
Sept. 26, 2024
Oct. 25, 2024
Nov. 26, 2024
Oct. 15, 2024
Nov. 13, 2024
Nov. 26, 2024
Nov. 1, 2024
Nov. 30, 2024
Nov. 30, 2024
Nov. 15, 2024
Dec. 14, 2024
Dec. 14, 2024
Policyholders whose policy renewal date is within this range should contact their agent or insurance company.
For example, if the original policy expiration date was Aug. 28, 2024, the policy may be renewed on or before Nov. 26, 2024. Holders of active policies can file claims for damage received from Helene if premium is paid.
Other Actions to Help Policyholders
The program has extended the proof of loss requirement for policyholders who suffered flood damage from Hurricane Helene from the standard 60 days to 120 days from the date of loss.
FEMA also authorized its Write Your Own insurance company partners and the direct to pay claims based on the adjuster’s report without requiring policyholders to sign a proof of loss. When a policyholder seeks additional payment for any reason or disagrees with the adjuster report, they may still submit a signed proof of loss to the insurer along with supporting documentation, such as a contractor’s estimate, bills, receipts, photographs and other related documents.
Anyone affected by Helene who has a National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance policy and has suffered flood damage should begin filing their claim now. Evacuated policyholders can still start their claim and provide specifics later once local officials say it’s safe to return home.
Policyholders who wish to take advantage of the grace period should contact their agent or insurance company. Those who don’t have their insurance agent or company’s contact information should call 877-336-2627 for assistance.
To learn more about how to file a flood insurance claim visit floodsmart.gov.
On October 7-8, 2024, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante chaired the inaugural plenary meeting of the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) in Honolulu, HI. National Armament Directors, and similarly positioned senior leaders, joined him from all PIPIR member nations in both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. The engagement was hosted by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
PIPIR is a multi-lateral forum of allies and partners aimed at strengthening defense industrial resilience to promote continued regional security, economic security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. It serves as a platform to accelerate defense industrial base (DIB) cooperation by reducing barriers to production, creating new sustainment hubs, and addressing supply chain constraints.
“From day one, Secretary Austin has driven success through teamwork,” Dr. LaPlante said. “Today’s security environment demands closer collaboration with our allies and partners. PIPIR will help strengthen our collective ability to produce and sustain warfighting capability in the Indo-Pacific, and the National Armaments Directors are uniquely positioned to drive action in these areas.”
During this inaugural plenary meeting, participants adopted a Core Vision Statement, which establishes strategic principles to guide collaboration on defense industrial resilience. The agreement of a Core Vision Statement builds upon the Statement of Principles for Indo-Pacific Defense Industrial Base Collaboration endorsed by 13 nations, including by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue held in May 2024.
Members also announced the creation of workstreams, each tasked with identifying key projects appointed leadership for each, and discussed plans to operationalize project activities. The four workstreams are Sustainment, Production, Supply Chain Resilience, and Policy and Optimization. Participants underscored the need to deliver material solutions that enhance shared defense industrial resilience. They also emphasized the importance of forging closer partnerships with industry and committed to creating a standing industrial advisory board with whom to consult. PIPIR will include other advisors as necessary to address the complexity and challenges of the DIB.
The day prior to the plenary session, INDOPACOM hosted the PIPIR delegation at Camp Smith to provide the command’s regional perspective and discuss the implications and role of multi-lateral industrial partnerships for their mission.
The establishment of PIPIR directly supports DoD’s implementation of the National Defense Industrial Strategy and Regional Sustainment Framework, which emphasize the importance of strengthening international defense production and sustainment relationships.
The imaging spectrometer aboard the Carbon Mapper Coalition’s Tanager-1 satellite identified methane and carbon dioxide plumes in the United States and internationally. Using data from an instrument designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the nonprofit Carbon Mapper has released the first methane and carbon dioxide detections from the Tanager-1 satellite. The detections highlight methane plumes in Pakistan and Texas, as well as a carbon dioxide plume in South Africa. The data contributes to Carbon Mapper’s goal to identify and measure greenhouse gas point-source emissions on a global scale and make that information accessible and actionable. Enabled by Carbon Mapper and built by Planet Labs PBC, Tanager-1 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Aug. 16 and has been collecting data to verify that its imaging spectrometer, which is based on technology developed at NASA JPL, is functioning properly. Both Planet Labs PBC and JPL are members of the philanthropically funded Carbon Mapper Coalition. “The first greenhouse gas images from Tanager-1 are exciting and are a compelling sign of things to come,” said James Graf, director for Earth Science and Technology at JPL. “The satellite plays a crucial role in detecting and measuring methane and carbon dioxide emissions. The mission is a giant step forward in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.” The data used to produce the Pakistan image was collected over the city of Karachi on Sept. 19 and shows a roughly 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometer-long) methane plume emanating from a landfill. Carbon Mapper’s preliminary estimate of the source emissions rate is more than 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms) of methane released per hour. The image collected that same day over Kendal, South Africa, displays a nearly 2-mile-long (3-kilometer-long) carbon dioxide plume coming from a coal-fired power plant. Carbon Mapper’s preliminary estimate of the source emissions rate is roughly 1.3 million pounds (600,000 kilograms) of carbon dioxide per hour. The Texas image, collected on Sept. 24, reveals a methane plume to the south of the city of Midland, in the Permian Basin, one of the largest oilfields in the world. Carbon Mapper’s preliminary estimate of the source emissions rate is nearly 900 pounds (400 kilograms) of methane per hour. In the 1980s, JPL helped pioneer the development of imaging spectrometers with AVIRIS (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer), and in 2022, NASA installed the imaging spectrometer EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), developed at JPL, aboard the International Space Station. A descendant of those instruments, the imaging spectrometer aboard Tanager-1 can measure hundreds of wavelengths of light reflected from Earth’s surface. Each chemical compound on the ground and in the atmosphere reflects and absorbs different combinations of wavelengths, which give it a “spectral fingerprint” that researchers can identify. Using this approach, Tanager-1 will help researchers detect and measure emissions down to the facility level. Once in full operation, the spacecraft will scan about 116,000 square miles (300,000 square kilometers) of Earth’s surface per day. Methane and carbon dioxide measurements collected by Tanager-1 will be publicly available on the Carbon Mapper data portal. More About Carbon Mapper Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating timely action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Its mission is to fill gaps in the emerging global ecosystem of methane and carbon dioxide monitoring systems by delivering data at facility scale that is precise, timely, and accessible to empower science-based decision making and action. The organization is leading the development of the Carbon Mapper constellation of satellites supported by a public-private partnership composed of Planet Labs PBC, JPL, the California Air Resources Board, Arizona State University, and RMI, with funding from High Tide Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, and other philanthropic donors. News Media Contacts Andrew Wang / Jane J. LeeJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-379-6874 / 818-354-0307andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov / jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov 2024-136
On June 10, 2023, the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 acquired this image of Mount Taranaki, a snow-capped mountain in New Zealand that is ringed by a dark green forest. Two older and extinct volcanoes, Kaitake and Pouakai, lie to the northwest of its peak. Learn more about Mount Taranaki. Image Credit: NASA/Wanmei Liang, USGS
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center in Tazewell, Va. will Open on Oct. 11
Disaster Recovery Center in Tazewell, Va. will Open on Oct. 11
BRISTOL, Va.– A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be opening in Tazewell County at the County Administration Building at 197 Main Street in Tazewell, Va. Friday, Oct. 11, at 8 a.m.
The center is located at:
Tazewell County
County Administration Building
197 Main Street
Tazewell, VA 24651
Hours of operation:
Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Disaster survivors can visit any DRC to receive assistance. Additional DRCs will be opening in the coming weeks throughout southwest Virginia.
Survivors do not have to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. You can call 800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free telephone line operates seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. You can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA App on your phone.
The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is Dec. 2, 2024.
If you have received a letter from FEMA about your application status, visit a DRC to learn more about next steps. DRC staff can help you submit additional information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue to process your application and answer any questions you may have.
FEMA staff member at a Disaster Recovery Center in Damascus, Va. assists a survivor on Oct. 7, 2024 (FEMA photo by Nicholas Monteleone)
FEMA has set up a rumor response webpage to clarify our role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response.
For more information on Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit vaemergency.gov, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Facebook page , fema.gov/disaster/4831 and facebook.com/FEMA.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3.
To apply for FEMA assistance, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, or download and apply on the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages). Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.
How Modeling Feedback Loops Informs Analysis and Decisions Across Decarbonization Technologies
NREL researchers Swaroop Atnoorkar (right), Shubhankar Upasani (center), and Guilherme Castelao look at data analysis. Photo by Agata Bogucka, NREL
“When you look at renewable energy, not everything is linear,” said Swaroop Atnoorkar, an analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “Technologies often operate in complex systems with many moving parts in the background.”
Atnoorkar relies on understanding the intricacies of clean energy systems in her research on biofuel economics and supply chains. Research like hers is a vital step in understanding how each decision made with any given technology could impact its evolution.
But how do researchers examine the relationships between various factors within a given system, how they could change, and how those changes ultimately lead to different behaviors in the system over longer periods of time? And what exactly does this type of research inform?
The answers to those questions may lie within a sophisticated modeling method known as system dynamics.
Brief History of System Dynamics
Since its creation in the 1950s by Jay W. Forrester, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, system dynamics has become a tried-and-true method for understanding the behaviors of complex systems in terms of stocks, flows, and the feedback loops that connect them.
A simplified and generic example of a system dynamics model illustrates the complex interactions that could occur within a biofuel supply and production chain, featuring a feedstock, conversion pathway, and biofuel supply module. Graphic by Liz Craig, NREL
Think of this relationship like planting crops such as corn. The growth of corn in the field—a flow—is controlled by feedback processes including watering and nutrient availability. When the stock of corn is harvested, other feedback loops control the decomposition of residues and the return of nutrients to the soil.
At the time Forrester developed it, system dynamics research was applied to corporate managerial questions at General Electric’s plants. Studying corporate managerial problems remained its primary application through the 1960s, until researchers broadened its uses to examine other larger-scale societal questions. Initially, these simulations of stock-flow feedback structures were conducted with command-line programs, visualized with hand-drawn diagrams, and showed how internal management decisions impacted the dynamics of inventory and human resource systems. Now, its applications include examining everything from public health to renewable energy systems.
“Many of the early users of system dynamics knew its potential was far greater than its original business management use,” said Bobby Jeffers, acting laboratory program manager in NREL’s Energy Systems Integration directorate. “We are always trying to answer the question: ‘What are the feedback loops that really take hold of the system and cause it to go on some trajectory?’ We’re trying to encourage virtuous cycles that build on themselves while finding dampening cycles that allow things to grow sustainably.”
Jeffers specializes in system dynamics research. He and other researchers at NREL, like Atnoorkar, now use computer modeling to explore the complex relationships between various elements of system structures.
NREL program manager Bobby Jeffers leads a session during a workshop put together by the Energy Security and Resilience Program Office. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL
Snapshot of System Dynamics at NREL
Atnoorkar is among the newer members of the research team working to find new ways to approach biofuel development at NREL.
For the last decade, much of the work being done to gain insights into the biofuel market has utilized NREL’s Bioenergy Scenario Model (BSM), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The System Dynamics Society Award-winning model tracks biofuel deployment and the effects of various influences on the biofuel market, such as changes in consumer demand, government policies, and land availability for feedstock. It dynamically models these elements as part of the U.S. domestic biofuels supply chain.
“Factors like oil prices, biofuel demand, and the costs of resources are always fluctuating—sometimes unpredictably—and changes in each one creates different outcomes, especially at the national scale,” Atnoorkar said.
NREL and BETO have historically used BSM to develop deployment strategies for advanced biofuels. Currently, it helps researchers like Atnoorkar develop insights into U.S. biofuels market growth and examine potential barriers to broader expansion of biofuel technologies. Among those technologies are those that create sustainable aviation fuels.
System dynamics research at NREL helps inform development and policies surrounding sustainable aviation fuel that is used at airports across the United States. Photo from Getty Images
“Many airports nowadays have sustainability goals, and they want to determine if those goals are feasible,” Atnoorkar said. “While the BSM does analysis for potential biofuels supply at the national scale, the analysis we do at the regional scale can also help ports and airports make decisions about their biofuel sourcing.”
To that end, the system dynamics research being done at NREL has ultimately helped inform policy strategies surrounding low-carbon fuel standards. A major part of that research is the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge—a plan set forth by DOE, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies that aims to spur the expansion of commercial SAF production technologies.
Critically, the SAF Grand Challenge is targeting at least a 50% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and ramping up SAF supply to meet 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050.
“The BSM is now being used to investigate how we could reach those goals and what kinds of roadblocks may need to be overcome,” said Emily Newes, the NREL Strategic Energy Analysis Center’s Integrated Modeling and Economic Analysis Group manager.
NREL Integrated Modeling and Economic Analysis Group Manager Emily Newes leads the teams studying supply chain and policy questions for aviation and maritime biofuels. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Newes works extensively with the system dynamics models informing potential biofuel deployment, specifically the SAF Grand Challenge and biofuels for maritime applications. These models are answering questions about how changes in everything from the resources needed to build refineries to the different types of potential feedstocks ultimately affect the policies and decisions being made.
“It helps inform us about what barriers there could be so that we can help find solutions—either through policy or the industry—to overcome them,” Newes said.
System dynamics models are also informing NREL’s research in battery energy storage. A key modeling framework used in this space is the Lithium-Ion Battery Resource Assessment, or LIBRA, model. LIBRA is vital in NREL’s work in understanding the supply chain of lithium-ion batteries, which have become a key component to a future with more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road.
“When we’re talking about the needs for manufacturing in this country and globally, you can’t just look at one technology at a time,” NREL’s supply chain analytics lead Maggie Mann said. “When we talk about batteries, we’re looking at how much cobalt, nickel, and lithium are needed to manufacture them, as well as the demand for those same materials for other technologies.”
NREL’s system dynamics modeling examines supply chains for raw materials like the lithium used in electric vehicle batteries. Photo from Getty Images
Mann was on the team that pioneered and developed the LIBRA model. It gives users the means to examine the long-term effects of changes in the battery supply chain for multiple EV battery types, consumer electronics, and utility-scale storage systems.
Through examining elements such as the costs, raw materials, and changing policies at both the domestic and international scales, LIBRA is providing invaluable insights into the U.S. battery recycling supply chain. Those insights then inform manufacturing and industry practices as well as policy decisions in the clean energy sector.
Along with the LIBRA model, supply chain researchers at NREL, like Mann, are also developing the Recursive Integrated Networks for Growth (RING) model, which supports NREL’s Mapping, Modeling, and Analysis Consortium (MMAC). This model, designed specifically for DOE’s Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) office, calculates how each output can be cycled back into the supply chain itself. What does that mean?
“Say you want to look at how many batteries are manufactured, then go through their life, hit the end of their life, and you want to recycle them, so the raw materials and battery components go back into manufacturing,” Mann said. “System dynamics can allow for those types of recursive calculations and help us look out 10 to 12 years to see the total demand for manufactured batteries minus the raw materials that are recycled.”
Both the RING and LIBRA models help researchers answer the critical question of “How much could recycling batteries affect the amount of new material we need to produce?” Each model helps inform the decisions behind battery production and policies through 2050 and quantify the impact that recycling can have on decreasing the United States’ dependence on foreign resources.
NREL Decision Support Analysis Group Manager Maggie Mann presents about her research to a group at the Coordinating Research Council’s Sustainable Mobility Workshop. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL
How Is System Dynamics Evolving at NREL?
Much of the research Atnoorkar, Jeffers, Mann, Newes, and others do in supply chains is centered around system dynamics. Because of their broad lenses, models like BSM, LIBRA, and RING are often used to develop strategies for new technology deployment.
In the case of BSM, bioenergy’s large, comprehensive nature makes it tougher to focus on smaller-scale system dynamics. That is why the team is working to modify it for limited-case, regional scenarios, using a new BETO-funded model called the Regional Bio-Economy Model (RBEM).
“The main structure is the same,” Atnoorkar said. “But with RBEM, we are able to focus on biorefinery investment decisions in specific regions, such as marine biofuel production in coastal areas or aviation biofuel production in the immediate area around a major airport.”
RBEM will enable researchers to examine the logic behind the feedback loops in those smaller systems. The team aims to publicly release this model in the next year or two.
And while Atnoorkar and Newes are helping with the development of RBEM, Jeffers says NREL could look to system dynamics as a unique lens to broaden the scope of NREL’s research into a low-carbon energy system future.
“I think we lead the world in showing what a decarbonized energy system could look like,” Jeffers said. “But system dynamics can help us realize this future by giving us a means to think about all the complex elements of economic, social, and environmental systems that influence the pathway to affordable, resilient, and secure decarbonization.”
Students receiving instruction in an advanced manufacturing lab at Palo Alto College, one of the community colleges in the Alamo Colleges District, which is among this year’s Baldrige Award recipients.
Credit: Alamo Colleges District
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that five organizations will receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s only presidential award for performance excellence. Among the recipients of the newly redesigned national quality award are a pair of two-time winners.
The Baldrige Award was redesigned earlier this year to focus on organizational resilience. The new criteria are intended to help organizations adapt, innovate and thrive in a dynamic environment where change and disruption are constant. To win the award, in addition to demonstrating organizational resilience, recipients also must show long-term success through favorable performance levels and trends, comparisons to competitors and appropriate benchmarks, and relevant metrics.
“The 2024 Baldrige Award recipients are role-model organizations that are helping us address some of our nation’s most critical needs, and they demonstrate the resilient spirit of the American people,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These five awardees are bettering the lives of American workers, strengthening our infrastructure, and improving the quality of life in communities across the nation. Each awardee demonstrates how the Baldrige process makes it possible for any type of organization to achieve excellence on behalf of the people and communities they serve.”
The 2024 honorees and some of their achievements are:
Alamo Colleges District(ACD) (Texas)provides affordable or tuition-free education to eligible students in an effort to help end poverty, enhance economic and social mobility, and meet workforce demands. Founded in 1945, the district includes five community colleges in the San Antonio area.In 2018, ACD won the Baldrige Award in education, and it now becomes the first higher education institution to win twice.
Chickasaw Nation Department of Health(CNDH) (Oklahoma) provides many types of inpatient, outpatient and population health services across a 13-county service area in southern Oklahoma. CNDH received a five-star (highest) rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, placing it among the top 10% nationally among health care organizations so rated. CNDH also ranks within the top 10% nationally both for patients’ willingness to recommend it and for low workforce turnover.
The City of Henderson(Nevada), founded in 1953 and named a “city of destiny” by President John F. Kennedy, ranks in the top 10% nationally for police and fire services, emergency preparedness, parks and overall city services. Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded it a “What Works Cities Gold Certification” for data-driven, well-managed local governance. Nearly 100% of the city’s employees indicate that they like the kind of work they do.
Freese and Nichols Inc.(Texas) is a privately owned engineering, planning and consulting firm with offices in 12 states. Its projects range from water supply reservoirs and wastewater treatment plants to state highways and flood risk reduction programs. In 2010, Freese and Nichols Inc. won the Baldrige Award in the small business category, and it now becomes the first two-time engineering firm winner. The firm showed total revenue growth from $200 million in 2019 to $325 million in 2023.
Northeast Delta Dental (New Hampshire) provides prepaid dental insurance coverage and benefits to employers (including associations and union groups) and to individuals. Founded in 1961, Northeast Delta Dental comprises the Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Northeast Delta Dental’s “March to a Million” journey to a million covered lives has insured 1,091,563 people out of a population of 3 million, with a retention rate of 99%.
Additionally, several organizations were designated as finalists for the award and received site visits from the Baldrige examiners. These organizations were: the City of Pharr, Texas; the Community Hospital Association of McCook, Nebraska; the Nor-Lea Hospital District, New Mexico; and Southcentral Foundation, Alaska.
The Baldrige judges may offer special recognition to finalists for having impact in areas of importance to their organizations, the nation or both. This year, the judges recognizeSouthcentral Foundationfor best practices in its integrated health care system, workforce development, and data and information management approaches.
Baldrige Award recipients will be recognized during a formal ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland, in the spring of 2025. The ceremony will be followed by the Quest for Excellence Conference, where Baldrige Award recipients and other leading organizations share best practices and innovations that can help any organization improve.
The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is a public-private partnership within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is dedicated to promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology. The program has fostered the adoption of proven leadership, management and operational best practices, and supported a global community that values people, organizational learning, continuous improvement and striving for sustained excellence.
The program is funded in part through user fees. Key partners include the nonprofit Alliance for Performance Excellence, a network of Baldrige-based regional and state award programs, and the Baldrige Foundation, which provides advocacy but does not have a role or influence in the annual Baldrige Award process.
Form EIA-861, Annual Electric Power Industry Report, and Form EIA-861S (the shortform) collect data from distribution utilities and power marketers of electricity. This survey is a census of all United States electric utilities. The short form is intended for smaller bundled-service utilities and has less detailed responses. This survey collects more data than the monthly counterpart, Form EIA-861M. Data are the individual surveys responses and are included in the files described below.
Our survey page contains the current survey form, instructions, respondent portal, and frequently asked questions. Data from these files can be found throughout our publications, usually in aggregated form in our Electric Power Annual (EPA) report; State Electricity Profiles (SEP); Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price (ESR) report; Electricity Data Browser; and in some Today in Energy articles.
Please refer to our Guide to EIA Electric Power Data and send any questions to InfoElectric@eia.gov.
In 2012, we created Form EIA-861S to reduce respondent burden and to increase our processing efficiency; that year, about 1,100 utilities initially reported on this form instead of Form EIA-861. In 2020, the number of utilities increased to about 1,700 utilities. We reformatted the files for the years 1990–2011, but we didn’t change or update any data files. We reformatted the files to make them easier to understand and to match the format and titles of the current files.
Frame
Surveys: Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S
Time frame: 2016 to present
Description: The data contain a complete list of all respondents from both forms and which files they have data in.
Advanced Metering
Surveys: Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S
Time frame: 2007 to present
Description: The data contain number of meters from automated meter readings (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) by state, sector, and balancing authority. The energy served (in megawatthours) for AMI systems is provided. Form EIA-861 respondents also report the number of standard meters (non AMR/AMI) in their system.
Historical Changes: We started collecting the number of standard meters in 2013. The monthly survey collected these data from January 2011 to January 2017.
Balancing Authority
Surveys: Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2012 to present
Description: The data contain the list of balancing authorities and the states they operate in.
Delivery Companies
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2020 to present
Description: The data contain revenue, sales, and customer count by sector from utilities that deliver energy in Texas.
Demand Response
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2013 to present
Description: The data contain energy demand response programs by state, sector, and balancing authority. We collect data for the number of customers enrolled, energy savings, potential and actual peak savings, and associated costs.
Distribution Systems
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2013 to present
Description: The data contain the number of distribution circuits and circuits with voltage optimization by state.
Dynamic Pricing
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2013 to present
Description: The data contain the number of customers enrolled in dynamic pricing programs by state, sector, and balancing authority. Respondents check if one or more customers are enrolled in time-of-use pricing, real time pricing, variable peak pricing, critical peak pricing, and critical peak rebates.
Energy Efficiency
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2013 to present
Description: The data contain incremental energy savings, peak demand savings, weighted average life cycle, and associated costs for the reporting year and life cycle of energy efficiency programs.
Mergers
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2007 to present
Description: The data contain information on mergers and acquisitions.
Net Metering
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2001 to present
Description: The data contain cumulative installation count and capacity of generators that are net metered by technology, state, sector, and balancing authority. If available, the energy sold back to the grid is also reported. Technology types include photovoltaic (standard, virtual less than 1 megawatt, and virtual 1 megawatt or greater), wind, and other. Storage systems that are paired with net-metered photovoltaic (PV) are also captured. We make a state-level adjustment for missing PV capacity and to convert state total capacity to AC units for those respondents who report data in DC units; we use 0.8256 as a conversion factor to change DC to AC. For other energy sources, we have not established imputation procedures.
Historical Changes: Initially, data contained only the customer count. In 2007, energy displaced was added (later renamed to energy sold back). We added capacity of systems in 2010, and we divided this category by technology type: PV, wind, and other. In 2016, we added a question to the survey about whether the megawatts reported for the PV systems were in AC or DC units). Also in 2016, the survey divided PV to include virtual systems and storage systems paired with PV. Starting in 2020, Form EIA-861S respondents were imputed.
Non-Net Metering Distributed
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2010 to present
Description: The data contain cumulative values of generators that are not net metered and are under 1 megawatt in size (and not reported on Form EIA-860). Installations, total capacity, capacity owned, and capacity backup are reported in aggregate by state, sector, and balancing authority. Capacity is also reported by technology, state, sector, and balancing authority. Technology types include combustion turbine, internal combustion engine, fuel cells, hydroelectric, photovoltaic (PV), steam turbine, storage, wind, and other. Form EIA-861S respondents do not provide non-net-metering distributed data. A state-level adjustment is made for missing PV capacity and to convert state total capacity to AC units for those respondents who report data in DC units; we use 0.8256 as a conversion factor to change DC to AC, which uses the responses from the net-metering schedule. For other energy sources, we have not established imputation procedures.
Historical Changes: This schedule was referred to as distributed generation, and we renamed it to prevent double counting from net-metered systems (2016). Data on dispersed systems (systems not connected to the grid) were collected up to 2015. In 2016, we added data on fuel cells. Starting in 2016, these data were broken out by sector, and an adjustment to convert state total capacity to AC units for those respondents who report data in DC units; we use 0.8256 as a conversion factor to change DC to AC. Starting in 2020, Form EIA-861S respondents were estimated.
Operational Data
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 1990 to present
Description: The data contain aggregate operational data for the source and disposition of energy and revenue information from each electric utility.
Reliability
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2013 to present
Description:The data contain information on non-momentary electrical interruptions. If collected, utilities report the system average interruption duration index (SAIDI), the system average interruption frequency index (SAIFI), and the conditions under which these metrics are collected. We allow respondents to use IEEE standards or any other method. We created a short video to describe what is collected.
Sales to Ultimate Customers
Surveys: Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S
Time frame: 1990 to present
Description: The data contain revenue, sales (in megawatthours), and customer count of electricity delivered to end-use customers by state, sector, and balancing authority. A state, service type, and balancing authority-level adjustment is made for non-respondents and for customer-sited respondents.
Historical Changes: In 2003, we created the transportation sector and removed the other sector. We made this change to separate the transportation sales and reassign the other activities to the commercial and industrial sectors as appropriate. Non-transportation customers previously reported under other, including street and highway lighting, are now included in the commercial sector. Previously, we referred to this file as retail sales.
Sales to Ultimate Customers, Customer-Sited
Time frame: 2002 to present
Description: The data contain revenue, sales (in megawatthours), and customer count of electricity delivered to end-use customers by state, sector, and balancing authority. These data aren’t collected on Form EIA-861; however, they are included in the state adjustments totals in the sales to ultimate customers file.
Service Territory
Surveys: Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S
Time frame: 2001 to present
Description: The data contain names of counties and states in which the utility has equipment to distribute electricity to ultimate customers.
Short Form
Surveys: Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S
Time frame: 2001 to present
Description: The data contain revenue, sales (in megawatthours), and customer count of electricity delivered to end-use customers, by state and balancing authority. Respondents answer whether they have net metering, demand side management, and time-based programs.
Utility Data
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 1990 to present
Description:The data contain information on a utility’s North American Electric Reliability (NERC) regions of operation. The data also indicate a utility’s independent system operator (ISO) or regional transmission organization (RTO) and whether that utility is engaged in any of the following activities: generation, transmission, buying transmission, distribution, buying distribution, wholesale marketing, retail marketing, bundled service, or operating alternative-fueled vehicles.
Historical Changes: In 2010, we added the independent system operator (ISO) and regional transmission organization (RTO) regions.
Demand-Side Management (DSM)
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2001 to 2012
Description: The data contain energy efficiency incremental data, energy efficiency annual data, load management incremental data, load management annual data, annual costs, and the customer counts of price response and time response programs by sector.
Historical Changes: In 2007, we added the customer counts of price response and time response programs.
Green Pricing
Survey: Form EIA-861
Time frame: 2001 to 2012
Description: The data contain revenue, sales, and customer count by sector and state.
Historical Changes: Initially, data contained only the customer count. In 2007, revenue and sales were added.
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Patria (Nasdaq:PAX) announced today that it will release financial results for the third quarter 2024 on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and host a conference call via public webcast at 9:00 a.m. ET.
For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, there will be a webcast replay on the Shareholders section of Patria’s website at https://ir.patria.com/.
Patria distributes its earnings releases via its website and email lists. Those interested in firm updates can sign up to receive Patria press releases via email at https://ir.patria.com/ir-resources/email-alerts.
About Patria
Patria is a global alternative asset manager and industry leader in Latin America, with over 35 years of history, combined assets under management of $40.3 billion, and a global presence with offices in 13 cities across 4 continents. Patria aims to provide consistent returns in attractive long-term investment opportunities as the gateway for alternative investments in Latin America. Through a diversified platform spanning Private Equity, Infrastructure, Credit, Real Estate, Public Equities and Global Private Markets Solutions strategies, Patria provides a comprehensive range of products to serve its global client base. Further information is available at http://www.patria.com.
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amalgamated Financial Corp. (“Amalgamated” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: AMAL) today announced that its third quarter 2024 financial results will be released before market open on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The Company will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day to discuss the financial results.
Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-407-9716 (international callers please dial 1-201-493-6779) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the website at https://ir.amalgamatedbank.com/.
A replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed both online and by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (international callers please dial 1-412-317-6671). The pin to access the telephone replay is 13748697. The replay will be available until October 31, 2024.
About Amalgamated Financial Corp.
Amalgamated Financial Corp. is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a bank holding company engaged in commercial banking and financial services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amalgamated Bank. Amalgamated Bank is a New York-based full-service commercial bank and a chartered trust company with a combined network of five branches across New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, and a commercial office in Boston. Amalgamated Bank was formed in 1923 as Amalgamated Bank of New York by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, one of the country’s oldest labor unions. Amalgamated Bank provides commercial banking and trust services nationally and offers a full range of products and services to both commercial and retail customers. Amalgamated Bank is a proud member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values and is a certified B Corporation®. As of June 30, 2024, our total assets were $8.3 billion, total net loans were $4.4 billion, and total deposits were $7.4 billion. Additionally, as of June 30, 2024, our trust business held $34.6 billion in assets under custody and $14.0 billion in assets under management.
HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today its distribution payment frequency will change from quarterly to monthly payments beginning in November 2024.
As outlined in the table below, the Company declared a monthly distribution of $0.08 per share payable in November 2024, December 2024 and January 2025. This monthly distribution amount is equivalent to the $0.24 per share quarterly distribution paid by KYN on October 7, 2024.
The Board of Directors and management understand how important distributions are to the Company’s investors and believe this change to KYN’s distribution policy will make it an attractive choice for investors who desire more frequent distribution payments.
Payment of future distributions is subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. It is the Company’s intention to declare monthly payments each month beginning with the monthly distribution payment expected to be made in February 2025.
Record Date / Ex-Date
Payment Date
Distribution Amount
Return of Capital Estimate
11/15/24
11/29/24
$0.08
0%(1)
12/16/24
12/31/24
$0.08
75%(2)
1/15/25
1/31/25
$0.08
75%(2)
(1) This estimate is based on the Company’s anticipated earnings and profits. The final determination of the tax character of distributions will not be determinable until after the end of fiscal 2024 and may differ substantially from this preliminary information. (2) This estimate is based on the Company’s anticipated earnings and profits. The final determination of the tax character of distributions will not be determinable until after the end of fiscal 2025 and may differ substantially from this preliminary information.
Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: KYN) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The Company’s investment objective is to provide a high after-tax total return with an emphasis on making cash distributions to stockholders. KYN intends to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of Energy Infrastructure Companies. See Glossary of Key Terms in the Company’s most recent quarterly report for a description of these investment categories and the meaning of capitalized terms.
The Company pays cash distributions to common stockholders at a rate that may be adjusted from time to time. Distribution amounts are not guaranteed and may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio holdings and market conditions.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale is not permitted. Nothing contained in this press release is intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or consider any investor’s specific objectives or circumstances. Before investing, please consult with your investment, tax, or legal adviser regarding your individual circumstances.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This communication contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These and other statements not relating strictly to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at http://www.kaynefunds.com or http://www.sec.gov. Actual events could differ materially from these statements or our present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Kayne Anderson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Company’s investment objectives will be attained.