Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
WEEK OF VICTORIES at the White House!
145% Tariffs on China
Bilateral with Netanyahu
L.A. Dodgers & Racing Champions
Gas and Energy Prices Down
Real Wages UP, Inflation DOWN
Companies Invest Billions
U.S. Coal EO
4 SCOTUS Wins
Watch Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s MAGA Minute!
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives voted to advance a budget that instructs Congress to make massive cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and other programs Americans rely on, while adding $14 Trillion in new debt over the decade. Congresswoman McCollum (MN-04) joined all Democrats and two Republicans in voting no on the measure.
Following the vote, Congresswoman Betty McCollum released the following statement:
“House Republicans are advancing an agenda that serves the wealthiest Americans at the expense of our nation’s working families. The Republican budget is a framework that instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut Medicaid by as much as $880 billion and cut SNAP by as much as $230 billion, yet it fails to save any money. The reality is that by giving away massive tax cuts for giant corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk, their budget burdens Americans with trillions of dollars in new debt.
“President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ fails to do anything to address the high cost of living or fix the economic mess created by the President’s trade war.”
Congresswoman McCollum emphasized that this budget is virtually the same as the original budget passed by the House of Representatives in February. Just like the first budget, the budget passed today by House Republicans would harm Minnesotans on Medicaid.
“Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans—about one quarter of our state—are covered by Medicaid. A cut of this magnitude would have severe consequences on health care access for the families, seniors, people with disabilities, and especially children who rely on this coverage. That includes 172,000 of my constituents here in the Fourth District, 90,000 of whom are children on CHIP. The health and well-being of our communities are under attack by this Republican majority.
“Here in the Fourth District, 54,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. SNAP Programs are particularly important to children as well as many seniors on a fixed income. I will continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services that Minnesotans rely on.”
###
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced the Repair Expenditures Support Infrastructure, Labor Investment, Energy Needs, and Creates Equity Act of 2025 (RESILIENCE Act of 2025). This bipartisan legislation will allow utilities to deduct repair costs from the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax and will ensure that these companies are treated fairly.
Click here for bill text.
“The Inflation Reduction Act picked winners and losers in energy production, and hard-working Americans suffered the most by having to pay more for everything, including utilities. The Resilience Act of 2025 would fix the unfair tax treatment of utilities under the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax by allowing regulated utilities to fully deduct repair expenditures. This bill would increase energy affordability for consumers and ensures tax fairness, ultimately creating a more resilient and reliable energy grid,” said Congresswoman Miller.
“EEI’s member electric companies make significant investments each year to maintain the energy grid and to make it stronger and more secure,” said EEI Interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn. “The current process for taxing these critical investments under the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax needlessly raises costs for electricity customers, threatens job creation, and undermines ongoing efforts to strengthen America’s energy security. We greatly appreciate Representatives Miller and Schneider’s leadership in developing this common-sense solution, which will help keep customer costs as low as possible while enhancing the reliability and resilience of the grid.”
“America’s natural gas utilities invest $37 billion each year in enhancing the safety and efficiency of natural gas distribution and transmission systems – these investments help us to deliver affordable, reliable, safe and cleaner natural gas and have lowered emissions from the natural gas distribution system by 70% since 1990. This bill from Reps. Miller and Schneider will help to remove an important barrier for this type of strategic investment in America’s energy future and will help our industry to maintain affordability for American families and businesses while fueling innovation and growth for a stronger future,”said George Lowe, AGA Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy.
“Storms can wreak havoc on our facilities and repairs are necessary to ensure reliable service. AEP spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on storm repairs and maintenance activities. Allowing these critical expenditures to be deducted from the minimum tax lowers rates for customers and frees up capital that we can invest in other areas of our operations,” said American Electric Power.
“We commend Representatives Miller and Schneider for introducing bipartisan legislation that will lower energy costs and create jobs for customers and communities nationwide, in addition to supporting grid upgrades to address growing energy demand for generations to come, putting regulated utilities on equal footing with non-regulated businesses. We look forward to engaging with Congress as this bill advances through the legislative process,” said Exelon.
“At FirstEnergy, we are committed to providing reliable electric service at the lowest price possible for the six million customers across our footprint, including 556,000 in West Virginia. Repair and maintenance are critical investments that ensure a reliable and resilient grid. We applaud U.S. Reps. Carol Miller and Brad Schneider’s bipartisan efforts to create a practical solution that allows electric companies to account for these expenses more efficiently, reducing base rates and strengthening our energy infrastructure,” said FirstEnergy.
“Nearly 250,000 IBEW members work for regulated utilities, and a repair adjustment protects their jobs and allows them to help build a strong economy. Without the inclusion of a repair’s adjustment, IBEW members who currently perform repairs and maintenance work at our nation’s utilities could be in real danger of losing their mission-critical jobs,” said IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed budget reconciliation instructions by 216-214. The budget directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Rep. Kelly sits, to cut Medicaid by $880 billion.
“The Republican budget betrays the American people. Republicans voted to slash Medicaid by $880 billion — the largest cut in history — which jeopardizes over 300,000 of my constituents’ healthcare. That’s almost half of the people living in the Second District. As grocery prices skyrocket, Republicans voted to cut food assistance by $230 billion, which would leave almost 190,000 of my constituents without reliable meals.
“Even more atrocious, Republicans passed this budget to make way for a $4.5 trillion tax cut for their billionaire friends. The top 0.1% would receive an average annual tax cut of $314,266 — compared to a few hundred dollars for working families. Even hardline conservatives who claim to care about the deficit bowed to President Trump and are paving the way for a $5 trillion debt limit increase. Republicans voted to enrich themselves, decimate our economy, and steal from hardworking Americans.”
Source: China State Council Information Office
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
The United States cannot act recklessly and the wheels of history cannot be reversed, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He said that the involvement of certain major country in unilateral bullying is one of the key factors contributing to the current international landscape marked by turbulence and chaos.
“Given that the United States is wielding the tariff stick recently, it is blatantly putting its own interests above the common interests of all countries and ignoring the multilateral trading system and established rules,” Wang added, noting that the international community should not sit by.
Wang said that China, as a responsible member of the international community, stands firm not only to defend its legitimate rights and interests but also to safeguard the common interests of the international community to ensure that humanity is not dragged back into a jungle world where might makes right.
China is willing to take the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) as an opportunity to firmly uphold the international system with UN at its core and the international order based on international law, and work together with other countries to jointly resist all retrogressive actions in the world, Wang said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
U.S. cannot act recklessly: Chinese FM
BEIJING, April 11 — The United States cannot act recklessly and the wheels of history cannot be reversed, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He said that the involvement of a certain major country in unilateral bullying is one of the key factors contributing to the current international landscape marked by turbulence and chaos.
“Given that the United States is wielding the tariff stick recently, it is blatantly putting its own interests above the common interests of all countries and ignoring the multilateral trading system and established rules,” Wang added, noting that the international community should not sit by.
Wang said that China, as a responsible member of the international community, stands firm not only to defend its legitimate rights and interests but also to safeguard the common interests of the international community to ensure that humanity is not dragged back into a jungle world where might makes right.
China is willing to take the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) as an opportunity to firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, and work together with other countries to jointly resist all retrogressive actions in the world, Wang said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, April 11 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Beijing on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in the face of rising unilateralism, power politics and bullying, the international community must present a unified voice.
Otherwise, Wang warned, the world will fall back into the law of the jungle, and most small and medium-sized countries will bear the brunt.
He said that the original intention of the United Nations (UN) was to maintain a just international order and safeguard the sovereign equality of all countries, so it should take the lead to make its position clear and play its due role.
As an important member of the UN system, the IAEA shoulders the important mission of safeguarding the basic norms governing international relations, promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing nuclear proliferation, Wang said.
He said China hopes that the IAEA will continue to uphold objectivity, neutrality and professionalism in properly handling issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue, U.S.-Britain-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation, and the ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water.
Grossi said that China is a force for stability in a volatile world since it firmly supports the status and role of the UN and its agencies.
The IAEA attaches importance to cooperation with China and appreciates China’s achievements in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Grossi said, expressing willingness to deepen cooperation with China in an all-round way and properly handle the Iranian nuclear issue and other relevant hotspot issues.
Pacific climate activists this week handed a letter from civil society to this year’s United Nations climate conference hosts, Brazil, emphasising their demands for the end of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy.
More than 180 indigenous, youth, and environmental organisations from across the world have signed the letter, coordinated by the campaign organisation, 350.org.
A declaration of alliance between Indigenous peoples from the Amazon, the Pacific, and Australia ahead of COP30 has also been announced.
The “strongly worded letter” was handed to COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago and Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Marina Silva who attended the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL), or Free Land Camp, in Brasília.
“We, climate and social justice organisations from around the world, urgently demand that COP30 renews the global commitment and supports implementation for the just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy,” the letter states.
“This must ensure that solutions progressively meet the needs of Indigenous, Black, marginalised and vulnerable populations and accelerate the expansion of renewables in a way that ensures the world’s wealthiest and most polluting nations pay their fair share, does not harm nature, increase deforestation by burning biomass, while upholding economic, social, and gender justice.”
‘No room for new coal mines’
It adds: “The science is unequivocal: there is no room for new coal mines or oil and gas fields if the world is to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius — especially in critical ecosystems like the Amazon, where COP30 will be hosted.
“Tripling renewables by 2030 is essential, but without a managed and rapid phaseout of fossil fuels, it won’t be enough.”
350.org’s Fiji community organiser, George Nacewa, said it was now up to the Brazil COP Presidency if they would act “or lock us into climate catastrophe”.
“This is a critical time for our people — the age of deliberation is long past,” Nacewa said on behalf of the group that call themselves “Pacific Climate Warriors”.
“We need this COP to be the one that spearheads the Just Energy Transition from words to action.”
COP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), alongside their Maryland colleagues Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), renewed their efforts to create a unified Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The CNRA Act proposes to unite a series of voluntarily contributed park areas and iconic Bay properties under the operation of the National Park Service (NPS) in order to spur more federal resources for environmental conservation, celebrate the Chesapeake’s diverse cultural and economic history, foster sustainable and equitable access to the Bay, and support responsible economic growth in the region.
The legislation was first introduced in July 2023. An amended version of this legislation was approved in a bipartisan, unanimous vote by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in November 2024, followed the next month by its unanimous passage on the Senate Floor. As there was insufficient time to advance the legislation in the House of Representatives before the end of the previous Congress, the senators have reintroduced the legislation to establish the CNRA in the 119th Congress.
“The Chesapeake Bay is at the cultural heart of so many Virginia communities, and serves as an economic driver for the Commonwealth as a whole. The creation of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will not only help to preserve the rich history of the bay, but will ensure that it can be restored and protected for years to come,” said Warner.
“The Chesapeake Bay is deeply embedded in the history, ecology, and economy of Virginia and the entire region,” said Kaine. “Creating the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will help ensure that people can cherish the beauty of the Bay for generations to come.”
“The Chesapeake Bay is a natural and national treasure. Creating a unified CNRA will unlock more resources for its restoration, generate more prosperity for those whose livelihoods depend on it, and spotlight its unique story – encouraging greater public access to and enjoyment of everything the Bay has to offer. We built great momentum for the CNRA over the past two years, securing unanimous bipartisan approval by a key Committee and passing it on the Floor of the U.S. Senate. We will continue to build on this progress toward our goal of making our vision for the CNRA a reality, and bringing greater national recognition to the Bay we all cherish,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“It is past time that we officially establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area. We know the Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland but it is so much more — rich with history and wildlife, an economic driver for our state, and the home to our beloved blue crab. We must ensure the Chesapeake Bay receives the recognition and resources it needs so that we can enjoy this national treasure for years to come. Passing this legislation is a step forward,” said Senator Alsobrooks.
The CNRA will increase responsible public access to the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen the culture of stewardship across the region. Additionally, the CNRA will highlight the stories that often go untold – those of Indigenous peoples; free and enslaved Blacks; the role the Bay played in the earliest days of the Virginia and Maryland Colonies; its importance to the region’s economy; and the story of watermen and -women who are essential to the economic success and health of the Bay region.
The first historic sites of regional importance proposed to be in the CNRA network include the North Beach of Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia and the Burtis House, Whitehall, and Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Annapolis, Maryland. The CNRA will also utilize a collection of partnerships with states, localities, nonprofit organizations, and private entities to support public access to and restoration of nationally significant historic, cultural, or recreational Bay resources.
This designation will not impose any additional regulations on recreation, fishing, or other business activities in Chesapeake Bay waters, and the National Park Service’s authority will not supersede state authority on these matters.
Text of the legislation can be viewed here.
More details about this initiative can be viewed here.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
TORONTO, April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LNG Energy Group Corp. (TSXV: LNGE) (TSXV: LNGE.WT) (OTCQB: LNGNF) (FRA: E26) (the “Company” or “LNG Energy Group”) announced today that Jeff Agosta has resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company, effective immediately.
“We thank Jeff for his contributions to the Company. He has resigned to pursue other endeavours and we wish him the best of luck going forward,” commented Pablo Navarro, Chief Executive Officer of LNG Energy Group.
About LNG Energy Group
The Company is focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas exploration and production assets in Latin America.
For more information, please see below:
Website:
www.lngenergygroup.com
Investor Relations:
Angel Roa, Chief Financial Officer
Email: investor.relations@lngenergygroup.com
Telephone: +57-321-943-9396
Find us on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lng-energy-group-inc/
Instagram: @lngenergygroup
X: @LNGEnergyCorp
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa released the following statement after he voted against Congressional Republicans’ reckless budget resolution, H.Con.Res 14, which would establish the congressional budget for the federal government for Fiscal Year 2025.“In less than 100 days, President Trump and Republicans have created economic chaos. Trump’s tariffs are driving up costs, crashing the stock market, and squeezing the pocketbooks of Americans. Now, Republicans are gutting Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical lifelines with the biggest cuts in history. I voted against this reckless budget resolution because turning our backs on America’s safety isn’t leadership, it’s cruelty. I won’t stop fighting back.” said Congressman Costa.BACKGROUNDCongressional Republicans passed a budget resolution that unlocks the next step in the budget reconciliation process and will allow committees in both the House and the Senate to begin drafting legislation to meet their targets, but Republicans long ago leaked their menu of options.
Energy and Commerce Committee to cut at least $880 billion, which will lead to deep cuts to Medicaid – impacting 456,532 Medicaid enrollees in Costa’s district, and over 1.8 million enrollees in the San Joaquin Valley.
Agriculture Committee to cut at least $230 billion from nutrition assistance, which would cause over 131,000 people in Costa’s district to lose SNAP/food stamps.
Oversight and Reform Committee to cut at least $50 billion, which would endanger government employee retirement benefits and further cut the federal workforce.
Education and Workforce Committee to cut at least $330 billion targeting student loan programs, income-driven repayment, Pell grants, and school meals.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to claw back $10 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, preventing further investments in the San Joaquin Valley and California.
This also instructs the House Ways and Means Committee to approve tax cuts of $4.5 trillion over 10 years, while raising the deficit without accountability.
The Yale Budget Lab found that the bottom 40 percent of Americans would see their costs go up and 70 percent of the benefits from the Republican budget would go to the richest 5 percent. According to data from the House Budget Democrats, over 1.8 million people across the San Joaquin Valley depend on Medicaid – that’s larger than the state of West Virginia’s entire population.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
April 11, 2025
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring two bills that would protect schools and communities from mass gun violence while underscoring Americans’ constitutional right to own firearms for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes.
“The Second Amendment’s right to bear arms doesn’t preclude common-sense gun laws regulating high capacity assault weapons designed solely for mass casualties and warfare,” Wyden said. “Our children, our families, our communities deserve action and I won’t sit idly by while needless gun violence continues to terrorize students and shatter American lives. Our kids deserve a life free from fear of gun violence—we all do.”
The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act would regulate gas-operated semi-automatic firearms while underscoring the vital importance of Americans’ access to shotguns, rifles, and handguns.
The bipartisan Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act seeks to prohibit the sale of bump stocks and other devices or modifications that allow semi-automatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons.
In addition to Wyden, the GOSAFE Act was co-led by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and co-sponsored
by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
The BUMP Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev), was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), in addition to Wyden.
Text of the GOSAFE Act is here.
Text of the BUMP Act is here.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), (the “Company”), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation, smart cities, and energy security, today announced its operating results for the year ended December 31, 2024.
2024 and Recent Company Highlights:
Financial:
Operational:
“2024 was a year of tremendous expansion for Beam Global,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “It was a year in which we introduced more new e-mobility and energy security products in the last quarter of the year than we have done in the last decade. It was also a year in which we expanded geographically into markets with billions of potential new customers for Beam. We completed another acquisition in Serbia, which will make our products less expensive, more effective, and harder to compete with. We won new patents as we continued to build our intellectual property portfolio. Using our technological differentiation, we won new customers with unique requirements that we believe only we can fulfill. With these strategic moves and others, we created a platform for growth, which is unlike anything that we’ve had in the Company’s history. We have made dramatic improvements to our gross profitability and set the Company on a clear path to being cash-flow positive. We have sufficient cash and other working capital resources to allow us to continue to execute on our plans and we remain debt free while still having access to our $100 million line of credit which remains untapped. We believe that the Company retains excellent opportunities for growth in 2025 as a result of our geographic and product portfolio expansions, and in spite of political and economic uncertainty in the United States.”
2024 Financial Summary
Revenues
Beam Global’s revenues as of December 31, 2024, was $49.3 million compared to $67.4 million in 2023. Although there was a decrease year over year, this was a 124% increase over 2022 revenue of $22.0 million and twice any full year’s revenue in our history except 2023. Additionally, revenues derived from non-government commercial entities increased by 229% for the twelve months from 2023 to 2024 and were 38% of total revenues in 2024. We believe that the decrease in revenue is a result of order timing, uncertainty in the U.S. government’s zero emission vehicle strategy related to the presidential election. These matters have mainly impacted our larger federal customers, and we do not believe that they signify any fundamental reduction in global demand for our products. We have continued to invest in our sales resources with new hires in both the U.S. and Europe and we have further expanded our selling resources without costs through adding external resources who are paid only when they make sales.
Gross Profit
The Company reported a positive gross profit of $7.3 million, or 15% gross margin, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a gross profit of $1.2 million, or 2% gross margin in 2023. As a percentage of revenue, the full year margin improved by thirteen percentage points primarily because we have implemented cost improvements in late 2023 as a result of design changes to the EV ARCTM as well as operational improvements and positive margins generated from the acquisitions in Europe. The gross profit includes a non-cash negative impact of $2.4 million for depreciation and $0.7 million for amortization of intangible assets resulting from the AllCell acquisition. Without this non-cash expense, our gross profit for 2024 was $10.5 million, a 21% gross margin. The Company’s engineering teams have continued to implement design changes during 2024 which further reduce costs of the bill of materials and improve the product margins. We expect the Company’s revenue to grow in the future and our fixed overhead absorption to continue to improve.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $17.5 million in the prior year. The operating expenses in 2024 includes an increase of $3.8 million due to having a full year of operating expenses for the Serbian acquisitions and a non-cash positive impact of $0.4 million, without these, adjusted operating expenses increase for the year ended December 31, 2024 would be $1.6 million compared to the same period in 2023. The increase is mostly attributable to salaries and benefits of $0.7 million related to new hires in 2024, $0.4 million related to outside services, partially related to acquisitions, and $0.4 million related to marketing expenses.
Loss from Operations
Loss from operations was $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Backing out the non-cash items that included $3.7 million for depreciation and amortization, $3.3 million for stock-based compensation and $0.4 million for allowance for credit losses, offset by $4.7 million for change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities pertaining to the true-up of the earnout payment for the Amiga acquisition, the non-cash loss from operations was $8.9 million for 2024, compared to loss from operations of $11.8 million for 2023. The Non-GAAP loss from operations decreased 24% year over year due to increased gross profit of 13 percentage points in 2024 and management of operating expenses.
Cash
On December 31, 2024, we had cash of $4.6 million, compared to cash of $10.4 million at December 31, 2023. The cash decrease between December 31, 2023 and 2024 included cash payments for our acquisitions of $3.2 million. Net cash used for operating activities was $2.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 compared to $13.3 million for the same period in 2023.
We have historically met our cash needs through a combination of debt and equity financing and more recently through increasing gross profit contributions. Our cash requirements are generally for operating activities and acquisitions.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present Non-GAAP Loss from Operations which is non-GAAP financial measures, in this press release. We use Non-GAAP Loss from Operations in conjunction with GAAP measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies and to communicate with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. We believe Non-GAAP Loss from Operations is also helpful to investors, analysts and other interested parties because it can assist in providing a more consistent and comparable overview of our operations across our historical financial periods. Non-GAAP Loss from Operations has limitations as an analytical tool. Therefore, you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because of these limitations, you should consider Non-GAAP Loss from Operations alongside other financial performance measures, including net loss attributable to other GAAP measures. In evaluating Non-GAAP Loss from Operations you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as, or similar to, some of the adjustments reflected in this press release. Our presentation of Non-GAAP Loss from Operations should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by the types of items excluded from the calculations of Non-GAAP Loss from Operations. Non-GAAP Loss from Operations is not presented in accordance with GAAP and the use of these terms vary from others in our industry. Reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure has been provided in the financial statement tables included within this press release, and investors are encouraged to review this reconciliation.
Conference Call April 11, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. ET
Management will host a conference call on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. ET to review financial results and provide an update on corporate developments. Following management’s formal remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session.
Participants can register for the conference through the following link:
https://dpregister.com/sreg/10198405/fed880d536
PARTICIPANT CALL IN (TOLL FREE): 1-844-739-3880
PARTICIPANT INTERNATIONAL CALL IN: 1-412-317-5716
Please ask to join the Beam Global call.
A webcast archive will be available on our website (www.BeamForAll.com) following the call.
About Beam Global
Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Beam Global is headquartered in San Diego, CA with facilities in Chicago, IL and Belgrade and Kraljevo, Serbia. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Forward-Looking Statements
This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. These statements relate to future events or future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Beam Global’s actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Beam Global expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Media Contact
Andy Lovsted
+1-858-335-8465
Press@BeamForAll.com
Investor Relations
Luke Higgins
+1-858-799-4583
IR@BeamForAll.com
| Beam Global | ||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 4,572 | $ | 10,393 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $259 and $448 | 8,027 | 15,943 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,243 | 2,453 | ||||||
| Inventory, net | 12,284 | 11,933 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 27,126 | 40,722 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 13,704 | 16,513 | ||||||
| Operating lease right of use assets | 1,893 | 1,026 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 10,580 | 10,270 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 8,037 | 9,050 | ||||||
| Deposits | 119 | 62 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 61,459 | $ | 77,643 | ||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 8,959 | $ | 9,732 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 2,462 | 2,737 | ||||||
| Sales tax payable | 195 | 209 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue, current | 847 | 828 | ||||||
| Note payable, current | 63 | 40 | ||||||
| Deferred consideration | – | 2,713 | ||||||
| Contingent consideration, current | 93 | – | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | 696 | 615 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 13,315 | 16,874 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (F-14) | ||||||||
| Deferred revenue, noncurrent | 800 | 402 | ||||||
| Note payable, noncurrent | 199 | 160 | ||||||
| Contingent consideration, noncurrent | 216 | 4,725 | ||||||
| Other liabilities, noncurrent | 3,380 | 3,787 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities, noncurrent | 1,290 | 1,698 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | 971 | 455 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 20,171 | 28,101 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 authorized, none outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. | – | – | ||||||
| Common stock, $0.001 par value, 350,000,000 shares authorized, 14,835,630 and 14,398,243 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. | 15 | 14 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 147,072 | 142,265 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (104,643 | ) | (93,361 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) | (1,156 | ) | 624 | |||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 41,288 | 49,542 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 61,459 | $ | 77,643 | ||||
| Beam Global | |||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||
| ( In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||
| Year Ended |
|||||||
| December 31, |
|||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Revenues | $ | 49,336 | $ | 67,353 | |||
| Cost of revenues | 42,040 | 66,149 | |||||
| Gross profit | 7,296 | 1,204 | |||||
| Operating expenses | 18,953 | 17,465 | |||||
| Loss from operations | (11,657 | ) | (16,261 | ) | |||
| Other income (expense) | |||||||
| Interest income | 205 | 261 | |||||
| Other income (expense) | 110 | (36 | ) | ||||
| Interest expense | (34 | ) | (12 | ) | |||
| Other income | 281 | 213 | |||||
| Loss before income tax expense | (11,376 | ) | (16,048 | ) | |||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (94 | ) | 12 | ||||
| Net Loss | $ | (11,282 | ) | $ | (16,060 | ) | |
| Net foreign currency translation adjustments | (1,781 | ) | 624 | ||||
| Total Comprehensive Loss | $ | (13,063 | ) | $ | (15,436 | ) | |
| Net Income (loss) per share – basic/diluted | $ | (0.77 | ) | $ | (1.30 | ) | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding – basic/diluted | 14,621 | 12,345 | |||||
| Beam Global | ||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Loss from Operations to Non-GAAP Loss from Operations | ||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, In thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||
| December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
| GAAP Total Revenue | $ | 49,336 | $ | 67,353 | ||||||||
| GAAP Total COGS | 42,040 | 66,149 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted to exclude the following: | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 3,155 | 970 | ||||||||||
| Non-GAAP Total COGS | $ | 38,885 | $ | 65,179 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP Gross Profit | $ | 10,451 | $ | 2,174 | ||||||||
| Gross Margin % | 21 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||
| GAAP Total Operating Expenses | 18,953 | 17,465 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted to exclude the following: | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 558 | 581 | ||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation | 3,322 | 2,675 | ||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | 392 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Fair value of contingent consideration (1) | (4,675 | ) | 260 | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP Total adjustments | $ | (403 | ) | $ | 3,516 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP Total Operating Expenses | $ | 19,356 | $ | 13,949 | ||||||||
| GAAP Loss from Operations | $ | (11,657 | ) | $ | (16,261 | ) | ||||||
| Non-GAAP total adjustments | 2,752 | 4,486 | ||||||||||
| Non-GAAP Loss from Operations | $ | (8,905 | ) | $ | (11,775 | ) | ||||||
(1) Fair value of contingent consideration is non-cash. The Earnout Consideration is paid in the Company’s stock. See the financial statement notes included in prior quarterly and annual filings.
Source: WTO
Headline: Goods Council addresses trade concerns and future work, elects new Chair
Trade concerns
The CTG reviewed 35 specific trade concerns (STCs), four of which were raised at the Council for the first time. The new trade concerns were (in alphabetical order):
European Union – Proposal for a Regulation on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-gas), Amending Directive
India – Measures That May Have Unintended Results Equivalent to Quantitative Restrictions
Philippines – Export Restrictions on Minerals in Their Raw Form
United States – Reciprocal Tariffs and Other Tariff Measures
On the first item, the United States and Japan raised concerns regarding the development and implementation of the EU regulation in question.
On the second item, Thailand expressed concern regarding delays in the issuance of standard marks and import licenses in India for certain products, including wood-based boards and viscosity fibres.
On the third item, Japan and the United Kingdom raised concerns regarding a bill in the Senate of the Philippines which they said would impose export restrictions on raw minerals.
On the fourth item, China raised concerns regarding the recent tariff measures announced by the United States. China said that the tariffs ran counter to WTO rules and undermined the multilateral trading system, and it called upon all WTO members to stand together in safeguarding the rules-based system. Twenty members took the floor to comment. Many expressed concerns about the negative economic impact of the tariffs and their compatibility with WTO rules. Many also stressed the importance of resolving trade disputes through dialogue and cooperation within the WTO framework.
The United States delivered a separate statement on its tariff duties announcements of 2 and 9 April under “other business”. It said that, on 2 April, US President Donald Trump had declared a national emergency under domestic law due to the extraordinary threat to US national and economic security arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual US goods trade deficits. The United States said it was not altering or abrogating its WTO tariff bindings or commitments, but rather was taking action it considered necessary for the protection of its essential security interests, and was maintaining the measure pursuant to the essential security exception in the WTO Agreement.
China replied that it regretted that the US measures had introduced uncertainty into the global economy; there were no winners in the trade war, China said, adding that it was essential to resolve this issue within a cooperative framework. No other member took the floor.
Trade concerns previously raised in the CTG have covered a wide range of measures relating to trade in goods across the WTO membership, including non-tariff barriers, environmental policies, import taxes, import/export restrictions, national security, halal certification, subsidy schemes, export controls, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, discriminatory domestic taxes, administrative procedures, and trade-disruptive and -restrictive measures.
They have also encompassed a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, semi-conductors and semi-conductor-manufacturing equipment, and food products, as well as specific products, such as critical minerals, electric vehicles, electric batteries, liquors, air conditioners, apples and pears, cheese, pulses, cosmetics and tyres.
The full agenda of the meeting is available here.
Appointment of officers to the subsidiary bodies of the Council for Trade in Goods
Regarding the election of chairs for the CTG’s 14 subsidiary bodies, the outgoing CTG Chair, Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, reported on the process and informed members that consultations would continue with a view to finding consensus. Once this was reached, the new Chair would reconvene the meeting to address this agenda item only.
Future work of the Goods Council
The Chair reported on the 25 February informal dedicated session on managing trade concern discussions, at which members further discussed ideas and proposals that had been put forward by delegations, as well as on the second informal session on digital tools used in the CTG and its subsidiary bodies, which was held on 7 April.
The CTG then considered a draft Decision on the recording of the resolution of trade concerns. The Decision would allow for the recording of positive resolutions, based on the existing practices of the Committees on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Discussions will continue.
Secretariat report on status of notifications
The WTO Secretariat presented a new report on the status of regular/periodic and one-time only notifications in the goods area by members to the CTG. Transparency is a fundamental WTO principle, requiring members to notify various elements of their trade-related measures and policies to the WTO.
The report reveals an overall submission rate of 77.2 per cent for covered notification requirements, with a higher compliance rate of 82.3 per cent for one-time notifications, and a lower rate of 68.9 per cent for regular/periodic notifications. Detailed submission rates for least-developed country (LDC) members were also provided.
Several members took the floor to thank the Secretariat for the report and the analysis contained therein.
Other issues
The United States raised what it considered to be systemic concerns that the WTO Secretariat was not properly informing and consulting with members prior to undertaking certain activities that are relevant to members’ work in the CTG and its subsidiary bodies. The United States called for a collaborative effort among members to create formal guidance and ensure that the Secretariat remained member-driven, including seeking approval, where appropriate, before engaging in such activities.
Nineteen members took the floor to comment. In the exchanges, many members reflected the value that they placed on the technical work of the Secretariat, with a shared concern for improving its transparency and communication with WTO members, while balancing the need for efficient Secretariat operations. Several members expressed concerns about any requirement that the Secretariat obtain member approval before undertaking knowledge activities.
Replying on behalf of the WTO Secretariat, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard highlighted the launch of a comprehensive transparency portal for members and ongoing efforts to keep them informed about Secretariat activities and to seek their views. The Secretariat remains committed to serving all members impartially and transparently, while continuously improving its services, based on member feedback, DDG Ellard added.
Election of the Chair
At the conclusion of the meeting, members elected Mr. Gustavo Nerio Lunazzi of Argentina as Chair of the Goods Council for the upcoming work year.
The outgoing Chair, Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, noted that the Goods Council meeting had, as usual, taken place in room W of the WTO, the same room in which General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiators forged the multilateral trading system that members know today, and in which the first important GATT meetings took place. Whenever delegates walk into this room, she said, they should remember that they are walking through history, and have a responsibility not only to preserve, but also to enhance and adapt the legacy of our predecessors to new challenges.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 295 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 4 through April 10.
Among the new cases, Mexican national Jorge Alberto Garcia-Drue was encountered at the Frio County Jail in Pearsall after he was arrested for allegedly refusing to provide accurate identification. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement Removal Operations agents determined that Garcia-Drue was an alien illegally present within the United States and that he had been previously removed from the country. A review of his criminal history revealed that he had also been convicted on Dec. 10, 2014 of harboring illegal aliens and aiding and abetting. For that conviction, Garcia-Drue was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
In El Paso, agents responded to an address on April 3. A criminal complaint alleges that one of the agents recognized an alarming amount of smoke inside the residence. Responding to the smoke, agents entered the home and noticed that two cell phones were burning inside a toilet. At the same time, an agent noticed a broken skylight in the bathroom was broken and believed someone had escaped through the roof. Two individuals were then located and apprehended on the roof of the house. The individuals were identified as Victor Adolfo Gonzalez-Serrano and Alberto Antonio Barrera-Soria. Back inside the residence, the criminal complaint indicates that agents located air mattresses, bags full of trash, and wet clothing and shoes. 17 additional people were located inside the residence. The home had been used as a stash house, allegedly managed by Gonzalez-Serrano and Barrera-Soria, who both stated they were being paid to harbor and care for the illegal aliens. Barrera-Soria has been deported two times—most recently on July 23, 2024. He, along with Gonzalez-Serrano and a third defendant, Diego Axel Barrera-Granados, who alleged that he had been smuggled into the U.S. to transport illegal aliens, are Mexican nationals in the United States illegally and have been charged with bringing in and harboring aliens.
On April 7, Border Patrol agents apprehended an individual east of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that, during processing, the individual was receiving multiple phone calls and texts, causing suspicion that an alien smuggling scheme was ongoing. The apprehended individual allegedly consented for agents to use his cell phone and, when a USBP agent answered an incoming call, the agent posed as an illegal alien to coordinate a pickup. This led agents to Luis David Castro, who arrived at an agreed upon location and believed he was going to pick up an illegal alien for smuggling. He’s charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Castro is a felon convicted in 2016 for aggravated robbery with 2023 conviction for burglary of a building.
Guatemalan national Julio Pop-Tiul was arrested in El Paso on April 7 for illegal re-entry, having been previously removed from the U.S. on May 13, 2024. A criminal complaint alleges that Pop-Tiul is a twice-convicted felon and admitted affiliation with the 18th Street Gang. He was convicted in Los Angeles, California in 2019 for assault with a deadly weapon and in 2021 for taking a vehicle without consent.
In Del Rio, Mexican national Jose Alfredo Almendarez-Alvarez was arrested by USBP agents for being an alien illegally present in the U.S. Almendarez-Alvarez was deported in October 2024 through Laredo. A convicted felon, he was sentenced in Huntsville in 2023 to two years’ confinement for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Other arrests this past week in the Del Rio sector include Mexican nationals Jose Eufracio-Plata, Isaias Gomez-Cruz, and Antonio Manuel Vazquez-Rodriguez. Eufracio-Plata was just deported March 7 for the third time and has four felony convictions, including two for illegal re-entry and two related to marijuana possession. Gomez-Cruz was apprehended April 3 near Carrizo Springs. Gomez-Cruz was most recently deported for the fifth time on March 3 following a conviction for illegal re-entry on Feb. 26. His criminal record includes two DWI convictions and a conviction for reckless driving. Vazquez-Rodriguez was deported March 14 through Laredo and was convicted in September 2024 for evading arrest. He was also convicted for the same offense in March 2023. Lastly, Mexican national Eduardo Gaspar-Santos was arrested April 2 after being previously deported Dec. 6, 2024. Gaspar-Santos was convicted in November 2024 in Lewisville for assault causing bodily injury.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Source: NASA
The NASA Science Activation program’s GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME) project is forging powerful connections between career technical education (CTE) programs and real-world science, inspiring students across the United States to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
GME is a collaborative effort between NASA scientists, educators, and schools that brings NASA Earth science and the GLOBE Program into classrooms to support hands-on, inquiry-based learning. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is an international science and education program that provides students and the public with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, contributing meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system.
By connecting students directly to environmental research and NASA data, GME helps make science more relevant, engaging, and applicable to students’ futures. In CTE programs—where project-based and work-based learning are key instructional strategies—GME’s integration of GLOBE protocols offers students the chance to develop not only technical skills, but also essential data literacy and professional competencies like collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. These cross-cutting skills are valuable across a wide range of industries, from agriculture and advanced manufacturing to natural resources and public safety.
The real-world, hands-on approach of CTE makes it an ideal setting for implementing GLOBE to support STEM learning across industries. At Skyline High School in Oakland, California, for example, GLOBE has been embedded in multiple courses within the school’s Green Energy Pathway, originally launched by GLOBE partner Tracy Ostrom. Over the past decade, nearly 1,000 students have participated in GLOBE activities at Skyline. Many of these students describe their experiences with environmental data collection and interactions with NASA scientists as inspiring and transformative. Similarly, at Toledo Technology Academy, GME is connecting students with NASA science and renewable energy projects—allowing them to study how solar panels impact their local environment and how weather conditions affect wind energy generation.
To expand awareness of how GLOBE can enhance CTE learning and career preparation, WestEd staff Svetlana Darche and Nico Janik presented at the Educating for Careers Conference on March 3, 2025, in Sacramento, California. This event, sponsored by the California chapter of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), brought together over 2,600 educators dedicated to equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in an evolving job market. Darche and Janik’s session, titled “Developing STEM Skills While Contributing to Science,” showcased GLOBE’s role in work-based learning and introduced new federal definitions from the Carl D. Perkins Act (Perkins V) that emphasize:
Interactions with industry professionals
A direct link to curriculum and instruction
First-hand engagement with real-world tasks in a given career field
GLOBE’s approach to scientific data collection aligns perfectly with these criteria. Janik led 40 educators through a hands-on experience using the GLOBE Surface Temperature Protocol, demonstrating how students investigate the Urban Heat Island Effect while learning critical technical and analytical skills. By collecting and analyzing real-world data, students gain firsthand experience with the tools and methods used by scientists, bridging the gap between classroom learning and future career opportunities.
Through GME’s work with CTE programs, students are not only learning science—they are doing science. These authentic experiences inspire, empower, and prepare students for careers where data literacy, scientific inquiry, and problem-solving are essential. With ongoing collaborations between GLOBE, NASA, and educators nationwide, the next generation of STEM professionals is already taking shape—one real-world investigation at a time.
GME is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC54A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
This Week: President Trump signs Executive Orders aimed at achieving the Administration’s goal of American Energy Dominance with a renewed focus on coal, and Interior gets to work to make them happen; Interior announces the disbursement of more than $13 million in grants to support the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas; Interior releases updated oil and gas reserve estimates for the Gulf of America’s Outer Continental Shelf; Secretary Burgum holds his first All Hands meeting at Interior’s historic Yates Auditorium; U.S. Geological Survey crews are deployed to monitor flood impacts after storms dumped heavy rain across portions of the southeast and Midwest; it’s been guiding mariners to safety for more than a century and a half, now it’s our social media Picture of the Week! Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X!
http:/www.facebook.com/usinterior
http:/www.instagram.com/usinterior
http:/www.x.com/Interior
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canada Energy Partners Inc. (NEX:CE.H) (the “Company”) announces that on February 5, 2025 the British Columbia Securities Commission (the “BCSC”) granted a partial revocation (the “Partial Revocation”) of a failure-to-file cease trade order (“FFCTO”) previously issued by the BCSC on September 4, 2024. The Partial Revocation permits the Company to complete a private placement transaction for the purpose of finalizing its annual financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2024, interim financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis and certification of interim filings for the periods ended July 31, 2024 and October 31, 2024, as well as provide funding for certain operational, filing and debt expenses.
On April 10, 2025, the BCSC issued a variation order (the “Variation Order”) to:
Pursuant to the Partial Revocation and Variation Order, the Company intends to complete the Private Placement of up to 25,000,000 Common Shares of the Company at a price of $0.01 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to $250,000.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Private Placement as follows:
| Description | Estimated Amount |
| Accounting, audit and legal fees associated with the preparation and filing of the relevant continuous disclosure documents, as well as the preparation of the materials for the annual meeting, Private Placement and application for the partial revocation order and full revocation | $45,000 |
| Filing fees associated with obtaining the partial revocation order and full revocation order, including fees payable to the applicable regulators, including the BCSC | $20,000 |
| Legacy accounts payable, including accounting and legal fees, consulting fees and outstanding transfer agent fees | $160,000 |
| Unallocated Working capital | $25,000 |
No proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to fund payments to non arms’ length parties or to persons conducting Investor Relations Activities within the meaning of the Policy 1.1 – Interpretation of the TSXV.
The Company may pay finders’ fees of up to 10% cash on a portion of the Private Placement as disclosed in representation 4(n) of the Partial Revocation, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and policies of the TSXV.
All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory four month plus one day hold period. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including acceptance from the TSXV.
Prior to completion of the Private Placement, each proposed placee will receive a copy of the FFCTO, the Partial Revocation and the Variation Order, and will be required to provide an acknowledgement to the Company that all of the Common Shares issued in connection with the Private Placement, will remain subject to the FFCTO until such order is fully revoked, and that the granting of the Partial Revocation by the BCSC does not guarantee the full revocation of the FFCTO in the future.
For more information, please contact:
CANADA ENERGY PARTNERS INC.
Attention: Grant Hall, President
Email: ghall@canadaenergypartners.com
Direct Phone: (520) 668 4101
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate” and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur, including, without limitation, estimated revenues. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements about the closing of the Private Placement and the intended use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, TSXV approval of the Private Placement. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by law.
Source: Greenpeace Statement –
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA (April 11, 2025)–In response to a reported 3,500 barrels of oil spilling from the Keystone pipeline this week in North Dakota, Sushma Raman, Interim Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, said: “We know fossil fuels are unhealthy at every stage of their life-cycle. There is no failsafe way to transport oil and gas, and the risks unfairly fall on the people who live near the route, while the company reaps the benefits. The Keystone spill – the latest in a long history of spills – shows exactly why we need to protect protest, free speech, and the right to speak up against harm. Everyday people, public watchdogs, and advocacy groups have a right to raise their voices and criticize a corporation when their health and livelihoods are on the line.
“Yet this type of ordinary advocacy is exactly what is under attack in the more than $660M jury verdict against Greenpeace entities in a lawsuit brought by pipeline company Energy Transfer. Oil companies know that protest works – which is why they’re trying to make the stakes so high no one will be willing to take the risk,” Raman said.
Contact: Lindsay Bigda, Communications Director, Democracy Resilience Program, Greenpeace USA, [email protected]
Source: European Parliament
Under the Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines[1], an impact assessment is required for initiatives that are likely to have significant economic, environmental or social impacts or which entail significant spending, and where the Commission has a choice of policy options. Policy communications, action plans or strategies do not usually require impact assessments.
Most legislative proposals under the European Green Deal[2] were subject to comprehensive impact assessments, and public consultations, in accordance with the Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines.
The impact assessments were published together with the proposals they accompany and are available on Commission webpages[3] as well as on the Have Your Say portal[4].
When, due to political imperatives, the timing did not allow for the preparation of an impact assessment, the reasons and available evidence were set out in the explanatory memoranda of the proposals. This was the case for the emergency energy measures presented against the backdrop of the energy crisis[5].
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
Issued by Home Energy Scotland
The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) is due to end on Monday 30 June 2025.
If your electricity meter uses RTS, it must be replaced. If the meter isn’t replaced, your heating could end up always on, never on, or turning on and off at unsuitable times for you. Luckily, we have a guide on the next steps to take.
RTS is a system that uses radio signals to control when certain electricity meters switch between peak and off-peak rates. It’s commonly used in homes with electric storage heaters, panel heaters, wet electric heating, and immersion heaters.
If you have a RTS meter, your energy supplier should contact you to arrange a smart meter upgrade before the RTS switch-off. If you haven’t heard from them, it’s important that you get in touch as soon as possible to book an appointment.
Without an upgrade, your heating and hot water may not work properly, and your electricity costs could increase. For more details — including how to check if you have an RTS meter and what to do if your supplier can’t install a smart meter yet — check out our comprehensive guide below.
11 Apr 2025
Source: International Monetary Fund
The Fiscal Monitor is prepared twice a year by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department. Its projections are based on the same database used for the World Economic Outlook (WEO) and the Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR). The fiscal projections for individual countries have been prepared by IMF desk economists, and, in line with the WEO guidelines.
Watch the press briefing with:
** The press briefing will be available on this page on April 23, 2025 **
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 11, 2025
Kies refused to recuse himself from potential conflicts of interest throughout his time in office
Warren: “If confirmed as the top tax official at the Treasury Department, you will play a big role in handing out more tax cuts, including tax cuts to your former clients.”
Video of Exchange (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Mr. Kenneth Kies, nominee for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Department of the Treasury, on his background as a tax lobbyist for large corporations and pushed him to commit to recusing himself from any matters that would impact the financial interests of his former clients while he is in office.
As Treasury’s top tax official, Kies would be responsible for developing and implementing tax policy and programs, negotiating tax treaties, and providing analysis for domestic and international tax policy decisions. However, as Senator Warren highlighted during the hearing, Kies’ former clients stand to gain billions under the upcoming Republican tax bill. If confirmed, Kies’ office at the Treasury Department would oversee the implementation of these tax laws and could potentially include tax loopholes that benefit these large corporations he once lobbied for.
So far, Kies has only committed to not working on matters that involve his former clients for one year. When asked if he would commit to recusing himself from matters that would affect the financial interests of his former clients for the duration of his employment, Kies refused to provide a straight answer.
This week, Senator Warren sent a letter to Kies urging him to mitigate the glaring conflicts of interest created by his background as a tax lobbyist for large corporations and his extensive investments in corporations that lobby the Treasury on tax policy.
“Donald Trump cares about one group of people and one group of people only: himself and his billionaire friends, so it’s no surprise that he has nominated a highly paid corporate tax lobbyist to run tax policy for the American people,” said the senator. “We need a government that works for working people, not just massive corporations, their CEOs, and their lobbyists, and that’s what’s going to happen under Mr. Kies’ watch.”
Transcript: Hearing to examine the nominations of William Kimmitt, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, and Kenneth Kies, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.Senate Finance CommitteeApril 10, 2025
Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In 2017, Donald Trump gave $2 trillion in tax cuts, mostly to billionaires and billionaire corporations, and now he’s back for round two, this time a whopping $7 trillion in tax breaks for his rich donors.
Now, Mr. Kies, you’ve been a corporate lobbyist for nearly 30 years, successfully arranging tax breaks for Wall Street, Big Tech, Big Oil, and Big Pharma—you’ve helped them all. And if confirmed as the top tax official at the Treasury Department, you will play a big role in handing out more tax cuts, including tax cuts to your former clients. So, I just want to run through how this would work. Mr. Kies, you’ve lobbied for Microsoft for years. Microsoft and other big tech companies are now demanding tax breaks to incentivize research that they would do anyway, but the real kicker is they want those tax breaks, called R&D expensing, to be retroactive, incentivizing them to make research decisions they made years ago. And Republicans have said, ‘Sure, why not.’
Mr. Kies, do you know how much your client, Microsoft, stands to gain from just this one tax break?
Mr. Kenneth Kies: No, Senator Warren.
Senator Warren: Well, if the Trump administration delivers what tech lobbyists are clamoring for, Microsoft would get $11 billion to incentivize investments it made years ago. That’s from Microsoft’s own annual reports. By the way, that is nearly as much as the federal government spends an entire year on child care for all of our babies. One company, your client, $11 billion. So, let’s try another one, Mr. Kies.
You’ve also lobbied on behalf of Pfizer, one of the biggest drug companies out there. President Trump has proposed slashing the tax rate for corporations even further, from 21% to 15% Mr. Kies, do you know how much your client Pfizer stands to gain from cutting the corporate tax rate to 15%?
Mr. Kies: Okay, Senator Warren, Pfizer is not my client. I closed my business on March 14. None of those companies are my clients. My client—
Senator Warren: I’m sorry, your former client.
Mr. Kies: Okay, former client.
Senator Warren: Pfizer, the one you lobbied for.
Mr. Kies: And Pfizer was a client over 10 years ago.
Senator Warren: Do you know how much they stand to make?
Mr. Kies: No.
Senator Warren: $4 billion from the Trump corporate tax cut. But there is more. The Republicans in Congress will set out the general rules for this tax giveaway, but your office at the Treasury Department will write the rules to implement those laws. When that happens, lobbyists will line up around the block to ask you for even more tax loopholes, which you know about firsthand, because you did exactly that after the first Trump tax giveaway. Now, you’ve committed not to work on matters involving your clients, or your former clients, for only one year. That means on day 366, while you are still in your job, you can go right back to handing out loopholes that could boost the bottom lines of Microsoft or Pfizer or any other of your former and future clients.
Mr. Kies, the American people would like to know that when you draw a government paycheck, you will be working just for them, not for your past and future clients. So, will you commit to recusing yourself from matters that would affect the financial interests of your former clients for the entire time that you are in office?
Mr. Kies: So, Senator Warren, you and I had a very polite discussion about this when we met, and I advised you at that time, which is what I will tell you in public. I will comply with the terms of the ethics letter, which was written by career experts on ethics. And I would also reference you to the Bloomberg article, today, in which Scott Amey, the general counsel of the Project on Government Oversight, said the following: This is someone, me, who is taking government ethics very seriously—
Senator Warren: Very seriously—
Mr. Kies: And was making attempts—
Senator Warren: I appreciate that, but I’m running out of time here.
Mr. Kies: Well, I would encourage you to read the article.
Senator Warren: I will take this as a no, and the fact that you say it’s okay with the Trump administration that on day 366, you will be handing out tax loopholes to clients that you took in millions of dollars from. And that you’ve made no pledge not to go back and make them your clients again in the future. That may be okay with the Trump administration. I don’t think it’s okay with the American people.
Donald Trump cares about one group of people and one group of people only: himself and his billionaire friends, so it’s no surprise that he has nominated a highly paid corporate tax lobbyist to run tax policy for the American people. We need a government that works for working people, not just massive corporations, their CEOs, and their lobbyists, and that’s what’s going to happen under Mr. Kies’ watch.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
04.10.25
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today voted for a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to overturn a Biden-era Department of Energy (DOE) rule that would have effectively banned the most affordable tankless water heater options, forcing consumers to pay an extra $450 for alternatives. The Biden-era rule raised the energy efficiency standards for new tankless water heaters by 11 to 15 percent, resulting in the removal of roughly forty percent of the existing market for tankless water heaters.
“We voted to overturn the Biden administration’s overly stringent standards for tankless water heaters that would have removed the most affordable options from the market,” said Hoeven. “Americans should be able to choose the water heater that works best for their budget and their home, not forced to use a more expensive alternative.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced the Revising and Enhancing Project Authorizations Impacted by Review (REPAIR) Act to protect the permitting process for U.S. energy, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure projects from frivolous lawsuits.
“Critical domestic energy, natural resource, and manufacturing projects have been blocked by activist litigation for far too long, forcing the U.S. to rely on countries like China for resources available in our own backyard,” said Risch. “The REPAIR Act would close judicial loopholes and eliminate years of unnecessary litigation that have hindered our ability to harness our own natural resources.”
“Off-shore energy projects face stiff headwinds in America,” said Crapo. “As we move toward greater American energy independence, the REPAIR Act would reduce the threat of frivolous lawsuits during the permitting and review process for new projects that can tie up proposals for years. Advancing this bill is an important step in furthering President Trump’s domestic energy agenda.”
“Green activist groups have a pattern. They manipulate the legal system to keep infrastructure and energy projects in legal purgatory,” said Cassidy. “Let’s end this and get the project moving again. It’s the only way to unleash American energy!”
The REPAIR Act makes many vital changes to the judicial review of an approved permit by ensuring all laws related to permitting have the same review process, scope of adjudication, rules for standing, and statute of limitations. The bill removes the ability to file a suit based on the National Environmental Policy Act, instead focusing lawsuits on the statute for which the permit was issued. In the case of a judicial remand or other court action, the REPAIR Act establishes a mediation process that allows the project developer and the permit-issuing agency to directly address the challenge and enable the project to move forward. Additionally, the bill increases transparency in ongoing court challenges to permits to highlight the unnecessary delays caused by the judicial process.
The legislation is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Petroleum Institute, ClearPath, the National Mining Association, and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Toledo, Ohio — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting it review whether a recent order issued by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright that seeks to accelerate project execution might actually lead to more cost overruns, project delays and failures, and waste, fraud, and abuse at America’s national labs.
“We write to you today to raise concerns regarding the Department of Energy’s recent Secretarial Order titled ‘Strengthening National Laboratory Efficiency and Mission Execution,’ announced by Secretary Wright on March 27, 2025. The stated purpose of the Secretarial Order is to remove ‘red tape’ and accelerate mission execution. While the objective of enhancing efficiency is a laudable one,” Kaptur and Murray write, “the approach outlined in this order, curtailing oversight and regulatory processes, presents significant risks that warrant thorough evaluation.”
“Specifically, we are concerned that reducing oversight, rather than strengthening it, could lead to greater cost overruns and project delays, ultimately undermining the very mission objectives that this order intends to support,” they add.
Kaptur and Murray note that DOE oversees a wide range of sensitive, complex programs that require robust oversight to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent waste, delays, and hazards: “The Department is responsible for an extensive range of activities, including managing nuclear facilities, clean energy initiatives, and critical infrastructure. Each of these areas requires detailed oversight, rigorous financial controls, and transparent decision-making processes to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively. Reducing these safeguards in the name of efficiency could expose these programs to a higher risk of financial mismanagement and project failure, as we have seen with past projects where inadequate supervision led to significant delays and budget overruns.”
Kaptur and Murray conclude by requesting GAO review the implications of Secretary Wright’s order: “Given these concerns, we respectfully request the GAO to review the potential implications of this Secretarial Order on the Department of Energy’s major programs and projects. Specifically, we ask that your office evaluate whether the removal of key oversight measures could increase the likelihood of cost overruns that cost Americans taxpayers and whether these changes provide sufficient safeguards to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer interests.”
The full letter is available by clicking here and reading below:
April 11, 2025
The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro
Comptroller General of the United States
Government Accountability Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
Dear Mr. Dodaro,
We write to you today to raise concerns regarding the Department of Energy’s recent Secretarial Order titled “Strengthening National Laboratory Efficiency and Mission Execution,” announced by Secretary Wright on March 27, 2025. The stated purpose of the Secretarial Order is to remove “red tape” and accelerate mission execution. While the objective of enhancing efficiency is a laudable one, the approach outlined in this order, curtailing oversight and regulatory processes, presents significant risks that warrant thorough evaluation. Specifically, we are concerned that reducing oversight, rather than strengthening it, could lead to greater cost overruns and project delays, ultimately undermining the very mission objectives that this order intends to support.
This new policy seeks to expedite the Department’s ability to carry out its projects and initiatives by scaling back existing government controls, particularly those related to procurement, contracting, and oversight. While streamlining processes can indeed be beneficial in certain contexts, the absence of proper federal oversight mechanisms often leads to unintended consequences—cost overruns, inefficiencies, and failures to meet project timelines. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has consistently highlighted the importance of strong project management and oversight in federal projects, particularly in areas as complex and high-stakes as those under the purview of the Department.
The Department is responsible for an extensive range of activities, including managing nuclear facilities, clean energy initiatives, and critical infrastructure. Each of these areas requires detailed oversight, rigorous financial controls, and transparent decision-making processes to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively. Reducing these safeguards in the name of efficiency could expose these programs to a higher risk of financial mismanagement and project failure, as we have seen with past projects where inadequate supervision led to significant delays and budget overruns.
GAO’s body of work underscores the importance of maintaining a balance between the need for speed and the need for accountability. And the Department’s own tracking confirms the risk. For example, 53 percent – representing over $24 Billion – of the Department’s total project portfolio is currently at risk or expected to breach its performance baseline. Without sufficient oversight, there is a higher likelihood that projects will not meet their cost estimates or will fail to be completed within the allocated timelines. These issues can be especially pronounced in large-scale, long-term projects, where the absence of regular evaluations and assessments creates opportunities for waste, fraud, and abuse.
Furthermore, an “accelerated mission execution” culture risks prioritizing expediency over quality, safety, and long-term sustainability. For instance, the rush to move projects forward without adequate risk assessments or regulatory reviews could expose the Department to safety hazards, environmental risks, and long-term maintenance burdens that are costly to correct down the line. This risk is heightened given the high-hazard activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which involve nuclear weapons and radiation safety, and the Office of Environmental Management, which include addressing the cleanup and safe disposal of radioactive waste.
Given these concerns, we respectfully request the GAO to review the potential implications of this Secretarial Order on the Department of Energy’s major programs and projects. Specifically, we ask that your office evaluate whether the removal of key oversight measures could increase the likelihood of cost overruns that cost Americans taxpayers and whether these changes provide sufficient safeguards to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer interests.
We look forward to your insights on this matter and any recommendations your office might provide to mitigate these risks.
Sincerely,
# # #
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
China is making remarkable progress in nuclear energy and is a strong supporter of the IAEA’s mission to ensure that nuclear technology serves peace and development, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said while meeting China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. They also exchanged on China’s commitment to multilateralism and non-proliferation.
During a week-long visit to China, Mr Grossi has met with several high-level officials, signed agreements and visited nuclear and energy facilities and institutions as well as the prestigious Peking University.
China operates 58 civil nuclear reactors and has almost 30 new builds in progress. This represents nearly half of all power reactors currently under construction worldwide.
Mr Grossi began his visit at the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, which has some of the country’s most advanced nuclear technologies. This includes a high-pressurized water nuclear reactor and a commercial small modular reactor (SMR).
At Hainan Changjiang NPP—home to some of China’s most advanced nuclear tech, including Hualong One & ACP100 SMR Linglong One. Clear example of how 🇨🇳 is scaling up nuclear energy with safety & innovation.@IAEAorg is committed to supporting China’s remarkable progress on nuclear. pic.twitter.com/31YkmgBMuY
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 8, 2025
What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? | IAEA
Later, Mr Grossi addressed nuclear power plant personnel and students from the region at a special event where a SMR user requirements document was presented. The document outlines the specific needs and expectations for SMRs, covering design, safety, licensing, and other relevant aspects.
“China is making strong progress in SMR deployment,” said Mr Grossi. “This event marks an important step toward safe and effective implementation.”
Meeting the new Chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), Shan Zhongde, Mr Grossi added, “China plays a leading role across the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology — from power to medicine, food and more.”
Mr Grossi also discussed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative technologies with the President from China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Shen Yanfeng, signing an arrangement with China Nuclear Power Engineering to apply AI and other innovative technology to boost performance at nuclear facilities.
Mr Grossi spoke with Liu Zhenmin, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change about how China is investing in nuclear to help power its growing economy and decarbonize.
China is investing in nuclear to help power its growing economy and decarbonize—complementing renewables like solar & wind with a stable, low-carbon source.
Good exchange w/ 🇨🇳 Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin. @IAEAorg will continue supporting China in these efforts. pic.twitter.com/1h1HlR1yvS— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 9, 2025
During a visit to China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) on Friday, Mr Grossi also exchanged with SPIC Chairman Liu Mingsheng on clean, smart and innovative energy generation. SPIC owns a number of nuclear power plants under construction and in operation.
On the last day of his visit, Mr Grossi visited China Huaneng Group (CHNG) in Beijing, one of the largest state-owned electricity companies in China. CHNG has participated in projects such as the Shidao Bay and Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plants.
“Huaneng Group is central to China’s energy transition — showcasing the value of a diversified low-carbon energy mix including nuclear,” he said.
As China expands its nuclear energy programme, the country continues to strengthen its cooperation with the IAEA in nuclear safety. On Wednesday, Mr Grossi met with Dong Baotong, the Administrator of the National Nuclear Safety Administration of China and agreed on increased cooperation between the IAEA and China in this area.
China is supporting the IAEA’s initiatives to use nuclear techniques and technologies to help boost energy security, enhance global health and grow better food.
Mr Grossi met with the Director of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Luo Zhaohui to discuss these priorities.
China is committed to international development and I’m grateful for support to @IAEAorg initiatives in areas like energy, health or agriculture.
Pleased to agree with 🇨🇳 @cidcaofficial’s Luo Zhaohui to boost cooperation & bring the benefits of nuclear science where most needed. pic.twitter.com/UAoPiyAeHE— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 10, 2025
While at CAEA, Mr Grossi signed a new Country Programme Framework with China and an arrangement with CAEA to strengthen education and training in the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology via a Chinese university consortium at the authority.
He also discussed education during an exchange with China’s Education Vice Minister Xu Qingsen.
“The IAEA works closely works closely with Chinese universities — and we’ll do more — to train the next generation of professionals,” he said. Mr Grossi expressed his gratitude to China for its support to the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, which provides scholarships and internships to women master’s students studying STEM subjects.
IAEA Director General Rafael Marano Grossi spoke with students at Peking University. Photo: IAEA
During a visit to Peking University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, Mr Grossi gave a keynote presentation and had the chance to talk to students in the School of International Studies. He spoke about the IAEA’s work, from energy to security, and the role of effective multilateralism in addressing global issues.
China, a member of the IAEA since 1984, is involved in around 100 IAEA technical cooperation projects – spanning national, regional and interregional activities.
Source: The White House
The trade policies of the past several decades have failed this nation, its workers, and our communities.
Twenty years ago, The New York Times Editorial Board responded to the January 2005 trade deficit of $58.3 billion by writing an editorial entitled “Dangerous deficits.” Deficits are certainly dangerous; former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker said trade deficits were to blame for the Great Recession.
The Times wrote in 2005: “At $58.3 billion, the U.S. trade deficit for January exceeded everyone’s worst expectations… The trade deficit is the single most important factor in measuring the extent to which the United States lives beyond its means.”
Since then, our trade deficit has more than DOUBLED. The U.S. trade deficit in January totaled a whopping $131.4 billion.
The impact has been seen everywhere.
Since 1990, manufacturing employment has decreased by 59% in New York and decreased by 35% in Ohio.
The loss of these jobs killed innocent Americans and destroyed towns. Multiple studies show the loss of jobs due to bad trade deals led to an increase in drug overdoses.
However, liberal commentators have lost interest in fixing this problem. In fact, they are offended at the suggestion that industry should return to America.
Chris Matthews was inexplicably stunned on MSNBC and asked, “What are we going to do? Have more lumber made in the United States now!?” Yes, we are. President Donald J. Trump even signed an executive order to expand American timber production.
Likewise, Nia Malika-Henderson on CNN ridiculously asked, “Is it worth it to upend the global economy for HVAC jobs?” Apparently, Nia Malika-Henderson thinks preserving low-wage jobs in China is more important than creating high-wage jobs in America.
The loss of American industry means we struggle to build ships, medicine, and other essential goods. This is a national security emergency.
Fortunately, we are already seeing progress in reshoring American industry. President Trump remains undeterred in his mission to Make America Wealthy Again.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)
Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) introduced the Small Modular Reactor Commercialization Act of 2025 (SMRCA) to secure the United States’ preeminent position in commercializing and industrializing grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
“We want the United States to be the nuclear energy manufacturing powerhouse of the world,” said Congressman Baird. “To get there, we must ensure the U.S. is uniquely poised to attract top SMR companies and get them to build their factories here. Last year, Congress passed the ADVANCE Act to support the initial deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. This legislation builds on the ADVANCE Act to tackle the next question of how our nation can compete on truly commercializing and manufacturing this technology at-scale.”
“I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Congressman Baird to make America the global leader in advanced nuclear manufacturing,” said Congressman Harrigan. “Small modular reactors are the future of clean, reliable power, and the country that builds them at scale will set the rules. This legislation ensures that country is the United States.”
The Small Modular Reactor Commercialization Act of 2025 addresses the U.S. SMR industrialization competitiveness through:
The 500MWe figure threshold encompasses all Small Modular Reactor designs currently undergoing pre-application or licensing activities with the NRC. The threshold also adheres to the definition of an Advanced Reactor set forth in the ADVANCE Act—whereby, it is below the lowest electrical output of a previous generation reactor in operation on December 27, 2020 (519 MWe).
Representatives Pat Harrigan (NC-10) and Claudia Tenney (NY-24) joined Congressman Jim Baird in the introduction of this legislation.
###
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
WASHINGTON, April 11 – After President Donald Trump and Elon Musk arbitrarily fired every worker in the office that helps working class families with children and seniors on fixed incomes stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), alongside 30 Senate colleagues, today sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding that the administration reinstate those workers and ensure they can continue administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Joining Sanders on the letter are Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
“Last year, LIHEAP provided over 6 million American households with the assistance they needed to heat their homes during extremely cold winters and to keep air conditioners running in the soaring heat. Without this bipartisan program, Americans throughout the country would be forced to make the unacceptable choice between putting food on the table, paying for prescription drugs, or heating their homes in the winter,” Sanders and the senators wrote. “In the richest country in the history of the world, no one should be forced to make that unacceptable decision.”
For almost 45 years, LIHEAP has helped families around the nation with the costs of home energy bills. Rising energy costs have made this assistance even more important for working families, seniors and people with disabilities. According to the Census Bureau, more than 23 percent of households report that they were unable to pay their energy bills in full last year.
“The administration has a legal and moral obligation to disburse LIHEAP funds to states and to uphold the program’s promise to help families keep the heat and air condition on,” Sanders and the senators continued. “Therefore, we urge you to immediately reinstate all of the LIHEAP staff that were terminated, reopen the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) that administers this program, and disburse all of the LIHEAP funds that Congress has appropriated. Being able to heat your home in the freezing cold and keep the air condition on in the extreme heat is not a luxury. It is a matter of life and death.”
Read the text of the letter here.