Source: Government of India
Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 6:31PM by PIB Delhi
Click here for more detail:- India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Hits 200 GW Milestone
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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Saurabh Kalia
(Release ID: 2064758) Visitor Counter : 40
Source: Government of India
Union Minister Sh. Gadkari Urges Swift Action to Reduce ₹22 Lakh Crore Fossil Fuel Import Cost
Biofuel is key to India’s energy self-reliance, boosting the agricultural economy, and ensuring prosperity for our farmers: Sh. Nitin Gadkari
Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 6:33PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, today reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing ethanol blending and biofuel initiatives at the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024, themed “Fuelling the Future – Securing India’s Green Growth Goals”. The event took place in New Delhi.
Highlighting the success of ethanol blending in India, Shri Gadkari noted that ethanol blending in petrol has surged from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, with a target to reach 20% by 2025. Research is underway to explore blending 15% ethanol in diesel as well, as part of the government’s strategy to reduce fossil fuel dependency.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister emphasized the creation of an ethanol ecosystem, which includes the establishment of 400 ethanol pumps by Indian Oil Corporation in four states—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Discussions with leading automakers ongoing, with plans to launch flex-engine cars that run on ethanol. Similarly prominent manufacturers of two-wheelers are preparing to launch ethanol-powered bikes once the infrastructure is ready, he added.
“We are fast-tracking efforts to increase ethanol production and distribution in these four key states,” said Shri Gadkari. He further added that these initiatives align with India’s broader biofuel goals, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable energy solutions.
Shri Gadkari also discussed the importance of leveraging waste-to-energy technologies, especially in the production of bio-CNG from rice straw, which has proven viable across 475 projects, with over 40 already operational in states like Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The conversion ratio of rice straw to CNG stands at approximately 5:1 in tonnes. Union Minister called for further research into efficient biomass sources and cost-effective transportation of biomass.
Addressing the environmental challenge of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, Shri Gadkari praised Indian Oil’s Panipat plant, which is converting agricultural waste (parali) into biomass. “At present, we are able to process one-fifth of the parali, but with proper planning, we can significantly reduce the seasonal air pollution caused by stubble burning,” he said.
Research by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on bio-bitumen production also promises to reduce India’s dependence on imported bitumen, further contributing to the country’s green growth agenda.
Shri Nitin Gadkari stressed the urgency of reducing India’s annual fossil fuel import worth ₹22 lakh crore, particularly amidst global geopolitical uncertainties. “Biofuel is key to India’s energy self-reliance, boosting the agricultural economy, and ensuring prosperity for our farmers,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing the transformative potential of the biofuel sector in expanding the role of farmers from “Annadata” (food-giver) to “Urjadata” (energy-giver), “Indhandata” (fuel-giver), and ultimately, “Hydrogen-Data” (Hydrogen-giver). The Minister congratulated CII on organising the summit.
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(Release ID: 2064761) Visitor Counter : 18
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:30PM by PIB Delhi
The renewable energy sector is set to dominate the Indian power industry in the coming years, stated Shri Prashant Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. He was speaking at the Brainstorming Conclave organized by the Central Electricity Authority on the Indian Power Sector Scenario by 2047 in New Delhi. He mentioned that RE capacity, which was 76 GW in 2014, is now almost 210 GW, and achieving 500 GW by 2030 is within reach.
Shri Prashant Kumar Singh highlighted that a major part of this growth in RE will come from the solar sector. Solar capacity has surged from a mere 2.6 GW in 2014 to an impressive 91 GW today, with projections indicating it could reach close to 300 GW by 2030. Initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar and PM KUSUM are driving this demand, complemented by rapid advancements in manufacturing capabilities. Solar power module manufacturing, which stood at 2 GW in 2014, has surged to 60 GW and is expected to surpass 100 GW by 2030.
He also highlighted the excellent growth of the solar cell manufacturing sector from 1 GW in 2014 to an estimated 8-10 GW today. By the end of March 2025, it is projected to reach 20 GW, with a target of over 70 GW by 2030. Between 2014 and 2023, investments in the RE sector have totalled ₹8.5 lakh crore. At the recent ReInvest event of MNRE, financial institutions, including public sector banks, pledged ₹25 lakh crore in support of RE projects through 2030.
Secretary Shri P.K. Singh also emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the Green Hydrogen Mission in the RE sector. He urged the industry to collaborate on advancing the Green Hydrogen sector in the country. India has set a target of 7.7 metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, alongside establishing 15 GW of electrolyser capacity. Shri Singh also noted advancements in research and development, highlighting the National Physical Laboratory’s development of a reference solar cell—a significant milestone for the sector.
The Brainstorming Conclave by the Central Electricity Authority on the Indian Power Sector Scenario by 2047 was inaugurated today by Union Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Power & New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Y. Naik also addressed the event. The conclave involves policymakers, government leaders, ministers, senior officials from Central and State Governments, industry experts, distinguished guests, and other stakeholders. The event aims to provide a unique platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration towards a sustainable and resilient power sector.
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(Release ID: 2064829) Visitor Counter : 33
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
A panel discussion on Chapter 2 of our latest Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) with:
– Mario Catalan, Deputy Division Chief, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF
– Andrea Deghi, Financial Sector Expert, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF
– José de Gregorio, Dean of the School of Economics and Business at the University of Chile, and former Governor of the Central Bank of Chile and former Minister of Economy, Mining, and Energy in Chile
– Moderator: Jeanna Smialek, Reporter, New York Times
Source: Government of India
One nation, one standard to ensure coherence and synergy among stakeholders working towards unified standards framework: Shri Joshi
Bureau of Indian Standards commemorates World Standards Day
Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 3:17PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi during his keynote address on World Standards Day in New Delhi today said that Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services. He said the well-being of consumers depend on the access to quality products while the growth and profitability of the industry is directly linked to the demand for these high-quality goods. This is a holistic approach acknowledging the interdependence of the consumers and producers fostering the robust quality ecosystem, he said.
Shri Joshi emphasised PM Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for the country to be recognised for its best quality and for India to strive to make itself synonymous with the world standards. He said that the BIS should focus on quality as India’s economy is rapidly growing along with its contribution in global trade. He stressed that the BIS has a huge role to play in enriching economic growth, enhancing the ‘Made in India’ label and establishing Brand Bharat at a global level.
The Minister said that under the guidance of Hon’ble PM, the new BIS Act of 2016 will further strengthen ease of doing business and will provide a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Praising the BIS for their relentless efforts in standardisation of products, Shri Joshi said that today more than 22,300 standards are in force and 94% of Indian standards are being harmonised with ISO and ISE standards. Shri Joshi mentioned that today 174 QCOs of 732 products have been notified for compulsory BIS certification, while till 2014 there were only 14 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) of 106 products.
The Union Minister said that enhancing public awareness about standards is essential for empowering the consumers. The Minister said that the challenge for the government is to generate widespread interest and awareness among citizens in the standards programmes being undertaken by BIS. We have to set a standard where awareness is created among consumers to verify ISI and BIS certification before buying any product, that is the challenge for us, he said.
Shri Joshi said that India, currently being the fifth largest economy in the world, should focus on improving standards as they serve as the backbone of the society, ensuring the safety, quality and trust in the product and the service. Standards work as catalysts for technical development, industrial growth and well-being of the society. They facilitate both domestic and international trade contributing both for economic growth and environmental sustainability, he noted.
Shri Joshi said that for businesses, standards improve processes, systems, reduce waste and customer satisfaction supported through the compatibility with other markets while for consumers standards ensure reliability, consistency and safety of the products and interoperability.
During his address, he also applauded other standard development organisations (SDOs) like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) operating across sectors. He further stated that the concept of one nation and one standard becomes paramount ensuring the coherence and synergy among stakeholders working towards the unified standards framework.
During the event, Shri Joshi launched BIS Care App 3.0. BIS CARE app is a one stop utility platform to empower consumers. It not only provides means to verify genuineness of BIS certified products and Hallmarked Jewelries, but it also facilitates lodging of complaints against sub-standard products and misuse of BIS Standard Marks. The brand-new upgrade of BIS CARE App to version 3.0 comes with a new set of features specifically aiming to increase visibility of relevant information for stakeholders pertaining to Standards and Certification.
Shri Joshi also launched a film on the Standards Promotion Activities of BIS along with a Quality Quest Game for consumers to enhance their knowledge on quality. To mark World Standards Day, he released Reference Handbooks to disseminate information regarding important national standards and also comic books developed by BIS to be distributed to Standards Clubs across the country.
The event was also graced by the Union Minister of State, Shri B.L. Verma, alongside Secretary of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary, Shri Bharat Khera, Director General of BIS, Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari. Key stakeholders from government, industry, and academia were also present on the occasion.
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(Release ID: 2064652) Visitor Counter : 108
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
October 14, 2024
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $37 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead and copper water pipes across Oregon that have been known to cause serious health issues.
“The science is clear – there is no safe level of lead in drinking water,” Wyden said. “I am very grateful to see more than $37 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensure that Oregonians always have access to clean drinking water in our schools, homes, and places of work. This funding proves that investing in infrastructure means investing in the health and wellbeing of Oregonians for generations to come.”
“Oregonians in every corner of the state should be able to turn on their tap without fear of lead contamination in their drinking water,” Merkley said. “These federal funds will allow for the replacement of lead pipes around the state and improve our water infrastructure systems—a top concern I hear about in the town halls I hold in every county in Oregon. I’ll continue to do all I can ensure every community in Oregon and across the U.S. has reliable access to safe, clean drinking water.”
The federal investment is through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and is intended to help replace all lead water pipes from Oregon’s water supply within the next 10 years.
Wyden and Merkley have long been champions for more resources to address aging water infrastructure. In May, Wyden and Merkley announced $5.5 million to replace aging water delivery infrastructure in communities across Oregon. In addition, the senators have supported water pollution monitoring and wastewater upgrade projects for communities and tribes across Oregon. As chair of the Energy and Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water and Power, Wyden helped lead a coordinated set of hearings last year on drinking water issues to identify the federal and state jurisdictional areas that prevent addressing aging water infrastructure.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Selin, Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University
Rumors and lies about government responses to natural disasters are not new. Politics, misinformation and blame-shifting have long surrounded government response efforts.
When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, for example, rumors and misinformation both originated from and were spread by government, news and individual user accounts on social media. And after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, rumors about the storm were so widespread that even CNN’s live coverage of the event was inaccurate.
Those rumors don’t usually come from former presidents. Yet in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, former President Donald Trump spread falsehoods about the federal government’s response to the disaster. Misinformation on the topic became so widespread that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, set up a webpage to debunk the rumors spawned by Trump.
President Joe Biden responded angrily, calling the falsehoods that Trump and his followers spread “reckless, irresponsible” and “disturbing.” He also suggested Trump’s claims undermined the rescue and recovery work being done by local, state and federal authorities.
Disaster relief often becomes political because so many people are affected – and because there is a lot of media coverage surrounding hurricanes, floods and other major weather events. Additionally, relief requires a lot of money and coordination by high-profile elected officials.
The rhetoric around federal emergency management is made only more complicated because most people do not know that much about the federal law that governs disaster relief. Indeed, even state and local officials find navigating the details of the law and accompanying regulations difficult.
And finally, the law’s design and the timing of hurricane season can lead to politicization. Elected officials – politicians – are always involved in coordinating government response efforts, adding a layer of politics to disaster relief. The fact that hurricane and election seasons coincide only heightens the politics of such relief.
The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended and now known as the Stafford Act, is the law that governs how the federal government responds to natural disasters and other emergencies.
But the act does not guarantee federal assistance to the communities affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters.
Instead, the governor of an affected state or the chief executive of an affected tribal government must ask the president for a disaster declaration. The request can be made before or after a storm hits but must show that the disaster is of such a severity and magnitude that the state, local or tribal governments cannot respond on their own.
Responding to such requests, Biden issued declarations covering eight states before and after Helene. He also issued a declaration for the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida in response to Milton.
After the president issues a declaration, the federal government can begin to assist state, local and tribal governments. This includes coordinating all disaster relief assistance – from evacuations to recovery – provided by federal agencies, private organizations such as the Red Cross, and state and local governments.
Federal assistance can be financial or logistical. It covers everything from help repairing roads and restoring utility services to providing assistance and services, such as temporary housing, legal services and crisis counseling, to the people who have been affected by the disaster.
The number of federal agencies and employees involved in disaster relief is astounding. For example, thousands of federal personnel from FEMA, the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation are helping respond to Helene and Milton.
Several state and local officials also play key roles after a disaster declaration. Each state’s governor or tribe’s chief executive serves as the leading official for coordination of state and federal efforts. That person also designates an officer to serve as a liaison between the federal government and the state or tribe. And in each affected community, a local elected official leads the response on the ground. This is usually a city or town’s mayor.
Implementation of the Stafford Act requires cooperative, healthy relationships between the president, federal agencies and state, local and tribal governments.
When done well, government disaster response is a prime example of what’s called “federalism” in action. Federalism involves the sharing of power between the national and state governments. The framers of the United States Constitution created this system of shared power so that the national government could solve coordination and capacity problems among the states, and the state governments could respond to the nuances of local circumstances.
In response to state government requests in the wake of Hurricane Helene, for example, Biden directed federal efforts to help those most affected. The federal government’s response has so far included working with over 450 state and local officials to ensure that those affected by the hurricane have everything from housing assistance to financial support for medical and funeral expenses.
The very things that the framers designed the federalist constitutional system to do, however, can create opportunities for political manipulation. The Stafford Act creates a system of emergency management that is highly decentralized and responsive to local needs.
But that decentralization also means that, because of their different perspectives, the officials involved in disaster response prioritize different things, which can lead to conflict.
For example, various officials involved in the response to Hurricane Helene have advocated for federal resources such as money and personnel to go toward restoring utilities, law enforcement, fire, health, communications and transportation services. How can the national government possibly choose between all of these necessary services?
Everything is made more complicated because, as studies have shown, on average, the officials in charge of making such decisions – elected officials and their appointees – have less experience in government than the career civil servants who work on a daily basis with the people affected by natural disasters.
As a result, the Stafford Act’s decision to place elected officials and their appointees in charge of emergency management could reduce the quality of government response.
Elected officials’ different political leanings add another wrinkle. Debates over disaster response often reflect larger political debates such as those over the size and role of government.
The history of the Stafford Act provides an illustrative example. Traditionally, disaster relief was the responsibility of state and local government. But a series of natural disasters, including the Alaska earthquake in 1964 and hurricanes Betsy in 1965 and Camille in 1969, were so large in scale that the federal government had to step in and help.
In the aftermath of Camille, accusations of racial discrimination in the relief process and partisan squabbling over who was to blame for the ineffectiveness of the government’s response to the disaster mounted. Media and congressional attention on government mismanagement of the relief effort created a window for the expansion of the federal government’s role in the process and ultimately led to the passage of the first version of the Stafford Act.
Fast-forward 35 years and many of the same issues – racial discrimination, government mismanagement and politicization of relief – arose in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Media and congressional attention led to legislation that amended the Stafford Act and restructured FEMA and how the federal government responds to state and tribal requests for assistance.
Trump’s lies are from the same playbook – false claims about money being diverted to migrants and that relief efforts are being used only to help areas where Democrats live.
Yet the devastation left by Helene and Milton do raise questions about local and federal coordination in preparation for and response to natural disasters and has led to calls for Congress to pass reforms to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness in government responses to natural disasters. Whether this reform is possible in such a contentious political climate remains an open question.
Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government.
– ref. Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide – https://theconversation.com/why-femas-disaster-relief-gets-political-especially-when-hurricane-season-and-election-season-collide-241092
Source: US State of North Carolina
Headline: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
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An unprecedented response to damage caused by Hurricane Helene continues in Western North Carolina. State, federal and local response workers are working around the clock to surge assistance into the region.
Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and will resume door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.
“State, federal and local response workers, including FEMA, are working around the clock to bring assistance to western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that significant misinformation online contributes to threats against response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be a priority. At my direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is helping partners like FEMA to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure their safety and security as they continue their important work.”
North Carolina National Guard and Military Response
Approximately 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.
National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.
FEMA Assistance
More than $96 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 160,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 4,600 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
1,000+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.
The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.
Help from Other States
More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 135 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.
Beware of Misinformation
North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.
Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution
Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.
Shelters
A total of 13 shelters are open in Western North Carolina supporting over 560 people.
Storm Damage Cleanup
If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.
Power Outages
Across Western North Carolina, approximately 19,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.
Road Closures
Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region.
NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for those traveling in the region. North Carolinians can visit DriveNC.Gov for the latest roadway conditions. NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.
Fatalities
Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.
Volunteers and Donations
Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is difficult. Consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:
Additional Assistance
There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.
If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.
For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.
If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.
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Source: US State of North Carolina
Headline: Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene
Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene
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Residents in 25 western counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) which will begin on Oct. 18, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today. D-SNAP is open to individuals and households not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. NCDHHS estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for up to $120 million in D-SNAP benefits.
“We are making up to $120 million available to more than 150,000 individuals to buy food for their families — an essential step on the road to recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We are committed to using every tool to support the recovery of our friends, families, and fellow North Carolinians in western NC — now and for the long haul.”
NCDHHS received federal approval to begin phase one of the program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture beginning on Oct. 18, 2024. People can start applying for assistance three days before the program starts during online pre-registration beginning Oct. 15 and will have seven days from the start of the program to apply. The application period will close on Oct. 24, 2024.
Eligible households will be notified within three days of completing the application and receive a one-time benefit on a special debit card (called an Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, income and disaster losses. While there are income eligibility standards, a number of considerations are taken into account. Individuals above these limits may still be eligible dependent on disaster expenses, so we encourage everyone who needs support to purchase food to begin their application by calling the DSNAP Virtual Call Center at 1-844-453-1117.
The benefits are good for up to nine months. Benefit cards will be available for pick up at the D-SNAP locations in each county or you can get the EBT card mailed to you overnight at the address you specify on your application.
To be eligible, a person must:
Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone, when possible, by calling the D-SNAP call center at 1-844-453-1117. The D-SNAP call center will be open at the following hours:
Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone on their assigned day by last name but will not be turned away if they apply any time during the application period.
Residents can also use the online ePASS Pre-Registration Tool, which will open on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and close on Thursday, Oct. 24. Once the pre-registration is completed, applicants will be issued a confirmation number and will need to call 1-844-453-1117 between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 to complete the interview part of the application.
Residents can also apply for D-SNAP in-person at any of the following locations listed below. The D-SNAP sites listed below will be open at the following hours:
Alexander County Department of Social Services
Alexander County DSS Office
604 7th St. SW
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Alleghany County
Emerson Black Building
1375 US Hwy 21 N
Sparta, NC 28675
Ashe County Department of Social Services
Main Ashe DSS Office
150 Government Circle, Suite 1400
Jefferson, NC 28640
Avery County
Avery County Library (Basement)
150 Library Road
Newland, NC 28657
Buncombe County Department of Social Services
Main Buncombe County DSS Office
40 Coxe Ave.
Asheville, NC, 28801
Burke County Department of Social Services
Burke County DSS Office
700 E Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655
Caldwell County
Former Walgreens Building
621 Harper Ave.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Catawba County Department of Social Services
Catawba County DSS Office
3030 11th Ave Drive
Hickory, NC 28602
Clay County Department of Social Services
Clay County DSS Office
119 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
Cleveland County
Cleveland County Schools Bus Garage
300 Kemper Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Gaston County Department of Social Services
Main Gaston County DSS Office
330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, NC 28052
Haywood County
Haywood County DSS Office
157 Paragon Pkwy #300
Clyde, NC 28721
Henderson County
Living Waters Baptist Church
1284 Sugarloaf Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Jackson County
Jackson County DSS Office
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
Lincoln County Department of Social Services
Lincoln County DSS Office
1136 East Main St.
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Macon County Department of Social Services
183 Holly Springs Plaza
Franklin, NC 28734
Madison County Department of Social Services
Madison DSS Office
5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1
Marshall, NC 28753
McDowell County
McDowell County YMCA Gym: Bottom Level
348 Grace Corpening Drive
Marion, North Carolina 28752
Mitchell County Department of Social Services
Mitchel County DSS Office
347 Longview Drive
Bakersville, NC 28705
Polk County Department of Social Services
231 Wolverine Trail
Mill Spring, NC 28756
Rutherford County Department of Social Services
Isothermal Community College (ICC) Foundation Performing Arts Center
286 ICC Loop Road
Spindale, NC 288160
Transylvania County Library
212 South Gaston St., “Rogow Room”
Brevard, NC 28712
Watauga County Department of Social Services
Watauga County DSS Office
132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C
Boone, NC 28607
Wilkes County Department of Social Services
Wilkes County DSS Office
304 College St.
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Yancey County
Burnsville Town Center
6 South Main St.
Burnsville, NC 28714
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Residing in 28719:
Qualla Boundary
Qualla Boundary
1526 Acquoni Road
Cherokee, NC
Jackson
Jackson County DSS Office
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
While people in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in 28719 are encouraged to apply in their county of residence, they can also apply in person at any of the counties approved to implement D-SNAP. NCDHHS will post information on locations and hours of the sites in each county at www.ncdhhs.gov/dsnap.
Please know there may be long wait times. County officials will do everything they can to process applications as quickly as possible.
People who may have a disability or are physically unable to go in-person appling for help can complete this form in English or Spanish and send an authorized representative in their place.
NCDHHS is working with USDA on adding two additional counties through phase two of the D-SNAP implementation at a later date. Once approved, NCDHHS will share additional information.
For information regarding Hurricane Helene and additional resources and flexibilities in place, please go to www.ncdps.gov/Helene and www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.
###
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Los habitantes de 25 condados del oeste y la Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee afectados por el huracán Helene pueden solicitar ayuda para comprar alimentos a través del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria para Desastres (D-SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés) que comenzará el 18 de octubre de 2024, anunció hoy el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés). D-SNAP está abierto a personas y hogares que actualmente no reciben beneficios de Servicios de Alimentación y Nutrición y que se vieron afectados por el huracán Helene. El NCDHHS estima que más de 150,000 personas solicitarán hasta $120 millones de dólares en beneficios de D-SNAP.
“Haremos $120 millones de dólares disponibles a más de 150,000 individuos para comprar comida para sus familias — un paso esencial en el camino a la recuperación de la devastación del huracán Helene”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Kody H. Kinsley. “Estamos comprometidos a apoyar la salud y el bienestar de las personas afectadas en todos los rincones del oeste de Carolina del Norte, ahora y a largo plazo”.
El NCDHHS recibió la aprobación federal para comenzar la fase uno del programa del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos a partir del 18 de octubre de 2024. Las personas pueden comenzar a solicitar asistencia tres días antes del inicio del programa durante la preinscripción en línea a partir del 15 de octubre y tendrán siete días desde el inicio del programa para aplicar. El plazo de la aplicación se cerrará el 24 de octubre de 2024.
Los hogares elegibles serán notificados dentro de los tres días posteriores a completar la solicitud y recibirán un beneficio único en una tarjeta de débito especial (llamada transferencia electrónica de beneficios, o tarjeta EBT, por sus siglas en inglés) para ayudar a comprar alimentos. La cantidad exacta dependerá del tamaño del hogar, los ingresos y las pérdidas por desastres. Aunque existen requisitos de ingresos, se tomarán en cuenta varias consideraciones. Los individuos con límites de ingreso superiores podrían calificar dependiendo de sus gastos debido al desastre, así que animamos a todos los que necesiten ayuda para comprar alimentos a comenzar la aplicación por medio de llamar al centro de llamadas virtuales de D-SNAP al 1-844-453-1117.
Los beneficios son válidos hasta por nueve meses. Las tarjetas de beneficios estarán disponibles para recogerse en las ubicaciones de D-SNAP en cada condado o puede recibir la tarjeta EBT por correo durante la noche en la dirección que especifique en su aplicación.
Para ser elegible, una persona debe:
Se alienta a los habitantes a solicitar D-SNAP por teléfono, cuando sea posible, llamando al centro de llamadas de D-SNAP al 1-844-453-1117. El centro de llamadas de D-SNAP estará abierto las siguientes horas:
Se alienta a los habitantes a solicitar D-SNAP por teléfono en su día asignado según la primera letra de su apellido, pero no serán rechazados si solicitan en cualquier momento durante el período de solicitud.
Los habitantes también pueden utilizar la herramienta de preinscripción en línea ePASS, que se abrirá el martes 15 de octubre cerrará el martes 22 de octubre . Una vez que se complete la preinscripción, a los aplicantes se les emitirá un número de confirmación y deberán llamar entre el 18 y el 24 de octubre al 1-844-453-1117 para completar la entrevista que es parte de la solicitud.
Los habitantes también pueden aplicar para D-SNAP en persona en cualquiera de los siguientes lugares que se enumeran a continuación. Los sitios D-SNAP que se enumeran a continuación estarán abiertos a las siguientes horas:
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Alexander
Oficina del DSS del condado Alexander
604 7th St. SW
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Condado Alleghany
Edificio Emerson Black
1375 US Hwy 21 N
Sparta, NC 28675
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Ashe
Oficina principal del DSS de Ashe
150 Government Circle, Suite 1400
Jefferson, NC 28640
Condado Avery
Biblioteca del condado Avery (sótano)
150 Library Road
Newland, NC 28657
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Buncombe
Oficina principal del DSS del condado Buncombe
40 Coxe Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Burke
Oficina del DSS del condado Burke
700 E Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655
Condado Caldwell
El edificio que anteriormente era un Walgreens
621 Harper Ave.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Catawba
Oficina del DSS del condado Catawba
3030 11th Ave Drive
Hickory, NC 28602
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Clay
Oficina del DSS del condado Clay
119 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
Condado Cleveland
Estacionamiento de autobuses de las escuelas del condado Cleveland
300 Kemper Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Gaston
Oficina principal del DSS del condado Gaston
330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, NC 28052
Condado Haywood
Oficina del DSS del condado Haywood
157 Paragon Pkwy #300
Clyde, NC 28721
Condado Henderson
Iglesia Bautista Living Waters
1284 Sugarloaf Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Condado Jackson
Oficina del DSS del condado Jackson
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Lincoln
Oficina del DSS del condado Lincoln
1136 East Main St.
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Macon
183 Holly Springs Plaza
Franklin, NC 28734
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Madison
Oficina del DSS de Madison
5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1
Marshall, NC 28753
Condado McDowell
Gimnasio de la YMCA del condado McDowell (Planta baja)
348 Grace Corpening Drive
Marion, North Carolina 28752
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Mitchell
Oficina del DSS del condado Mitchel
347 Longview Drive
Bakersville, NC 28705
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Polk
231 Wolverine Trail
Mill Spring, NC 28756
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Rutherford
Centro de Artes Escénicas de la Fundación del Colegio Comunitario Isothermal
(ICC – Foundation Performing Arts Center)
286 ICC Loop Road
Spindale, NC 288160
Biblioteca del condado Transilvania
212 South Gaston St., “Cuarto Rogow”
Brevard, NC 28712
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Watauga
Oficina del DSS del Condado Watauga
132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C
Boone, NC 28607
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Wilkes
Oficina del DSS del condado Wilkes
304 College St.
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Yancey
Centro de Burnsville (Burnsville Town Center)
6 South Main Street
Burnsville, NC 28714
Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee habitantes del código postal 28719:
Límite de Qualla
Límite de Qualla
1526 Acquoni Road
Cherokee, NC
Condado Jackson
Oficina del DSS del condado Jackson
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
Si bien se alienta a las personas en los condados de Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transilvania, Watauga, Wilkes y Yancey y a los miembros de la Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee que viven en el código postal 28719 a aplicar en el condado de su domicilio, también pueden aplicar en persona en cualquiera de los condados aprobados para implementar D-SNAP. El NCDHHS publicará información sobre las ubicaciones y horarios de los sitios en cada condado en http://www.ncdhhs.gov/fns.
Tenga en cuenta que puede haber largos tiempos de espera. Los funcionarios del condado harán todo lo posible para procesar las solicitudes lo más rápido posible.
Las personas que puedan tener una discapacidad o no puedan ir físicamente a solicitar ayuda en persona pueden completar este formulario en inglés o español y enviar un representante autorizado en su lugar.
El NCDHHS está trabajando con el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) para agregar dos condados adicionales a través de la fase dos de la implementación de D-SNAP en una fecha posterior. Una vez aprobado, NCDHHS compartirá información adicional.
Para obtener información sobre el huracán Helene y los recursos y flexibilidades adicionales existentes, visite http://www.ncdps.gov/Helene y http://www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.
###
De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las regulaciones y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo la identidad de género y la orientación sexual), credo religioso, discapacidad, edad, creencias políticas o represalias o repercusiones por actividades anteriores en defensa de los derechos civiles.
La información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos de comunicación para obtener información sobre el programa (braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) deben contactar a la agencia estatal o local en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas o con problemas de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA a través del Servicio de Retransmisión/Relé Federal al (800) 877-8339.
Para presentar una queja por discriminación, el demandante debe completar un Formulario AD-3027, Formulario de queja de discriminación de programa del USDA, que se puede obtener en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, desde cualquier oficina del USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992 o escribiendo una carta dirigida al USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre, dirección y número de teléfono del demandante, así como una descripción escrita de la supuesta acción discriminatoria con el suficiente detalle para informar al subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre la naturaleza y la fecha de una supuesta violación de los derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completo o la carta debe enviarse a:
Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
In the afterglow of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is worth remembering that athletic feats are not the only endeavors that resonate across international borders.
Shifting to clean energy means addressing some of the most difficult technical challenges the world has faced—making collaboration key. It means investing in our future leaders and providing them opportunities to encounter new ideas, develop new skills, and become globally aware scientists.
“Tackling the global threat of climate change will require a unified global effort, yet effective international collaboration remains as challenging as it is important,” said Steven Hayden, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) microscopist and postdoctoral-researcher liaison. “Diversity is a critical human strength. By exposing our postdocs—tomorrow’s leaders—to a variety of worldviews and collaborative methods, we foster the global community necessary to secure our collective future.”
At NREL, investing in postdocs and early-career researchers as global leaders starts by supporting them in attending international convenings, conferences, and summer schools. These are venues where they build professional networks, discover job opportunities, exchange ideas, and act as NREL ambassadors to the global energy research community.
This summer, NREL postdocs and early-career staff participated in multiple events around the globe, including in Italy, Indonesia, Singapore, and stateside in Golden, Colorado, just down the road from NREL’s South Table Mountain Campus. In some cases, postdocs were competitively selected to attend.
In Indonesia, RD20, an initiative among Group of 20 (G20) countries and regions to strengthen international collaborations among leading energy-research institutes, hosted its second annual summer school in summer 2024.
“This is an opportunity for graduate students, postdocs, and early-career researchers to get exposure to and even get involved with international research and development collaboration,” said NREL Associate Laboratory Director Bill Tumas, who sits on the RD20 action committee. “These events enable the next generation of our scientific workforce to gain an appreciation for the diversity of solutions and approaches for clean energy technologies.”
Four NREL postdocs and early-career researchers participated in the RD20 organization’s summer school in 2024. The next summer school will be held at NREL in 2025.
“We do world-class research, but going to the summer school made me realize that an integral piece of world-class research is interacting with the world,” said NREL postdoc Alex Hill, reflecting on his experience at the RD20 summer school. “I think that is something I want to try to take forward in my research: How can I engage community stakeholders more in the day-to-day operations of what I do?”
Postdoc Diego Soetrisno, another RD20 summer school participant, said that the opportunity reinforced the value of contextualizing one’s own fundamental research amid an ongoing global exchange of ideas.
“I did my Ph.D. doing really fundamental work, but there’s a gap between my fundamental work and context with the larger picture,” Soetrisno said. “This summer school experience has given me more understanding of the really large picture of decarbonization technology. But it is also trying to bring my work in context with other people’s work. Without that communication, my work would not be able to really influence other people.”
Below are short descriptions and lists of participants in international convenings this summer. Congrats to this year’s participants!
The Electronic Processes in Organic Materials Gordon Research Conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science by having participants present cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk, and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.
NREL participants:
The 2024 RD20 summer school was titled “Diversity of Knowledge on Decarbonization in Just Energy Transition Mechanism,” providing an opportunity for young researchers from G20 countries to deepen their knowledge and skills in the field of decarbonization. Event themes were broad, ranging from life-cycle assessments, circular economy, and smart grids to biomass resources, energy storage, and hydrogen production and utilization.
NREL participants:
The International School for Materials for Energy and Sustainability 2024—another annual event—brought together Ph.D. students and postdocs to review and actively discuss/debate state-of-the-art and future perspectives for materials as they can be applied to energy generation and storage for a sustainable global energy infrastructure.
NREL participants:
Learn about internships and postdoctoral positions at NREL.
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 13 OCT 2024 6:25PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (I/C) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh today hosted a luncheon interaction with students from Jammu & Kashmir. These children are in Delhi under Bharat Darshan programme of Government of India, which is being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Dr Jitendra Singh was impressed with their inquisitiveness, observation skills, IQ level and advised them to imbibe new technologies, learn about new StartUp avenues and get acquainted with new developments in different segments of society, especially science and technology, biochemistry, artificial intelligence and space technology. He urged students to use their smartphones to attain information and knowledge.
He spoke about different schemes of the Government of India, including Pradhanmantri Vishwakarma Yojana, which would help them in acquiring and enhancing the skill of their forefathers.
The Minister informed them about women-run self help groups in J&K who are working on doubling apple yield and increasing the shelf life of these. He also informed about the Purple Revolution benefitting the youth of J&K who not only grow lavender but also distil perfume and oil out of it thereby earning handsomely.
Dr Jitendra Singh asked children to request their teachers to reach them with new perspectives and incorporate new ideas in their teachings. He also requested J&K Police officers, part of the troupe, to organise such workshops for the teachers that would be beneficial for the students.
There were around 70 students along with seven officials of the J&K Police. Around half of them are from the families of those who were killed in action. These students first went to Bengaluru where they visited among others Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bengaluru. The tour began on October 09, 2024. They are travelling by air and will fly back tomorrow.
*****
NKR/DK
(Release ID: 2064529) Visitor Counter : 54
Source: Government of India
India’s Bioeconomy grew more than $150 billion in 2023; expected to achieve $300 billion by 2030: the Minister
Posted On: 13 OCT 2024 6:20PM by PIB Delhi
Making yet another stride towards making India a global leader in economy and a frontline player in ensuring greener and cleaner planet, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (I/C) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated India’s first Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers in at Jejuri in Pune from New Delhi today. The facility has been built by Praj Industries.
Addressing the audience, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “This ‘First-of-its-kind Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers in India’ is a pioneering effort in developing indigenously integrated technology for the production of Polylactic Acid (PLA) bioplastic. This marks a pivotal development for India’s commitment to sustainable solutions. This demonstrates India’s resolve to transition from fossil-based plastics to eco-friendly alternatives, crucial for addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.”
Speaking about India’s advancement in the field of science and technology, he said, “India has emerged as a highly alluring destination on a global scale, propelled by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary endeavour to establish the country as “Atmanirbhar”. Our Bioeconomy has grown more than $150 billion in 2023, and is expected to achieve $300 billion by 2030.”
The emphasis on Green Growth in the Union Budget (2023-2024); Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy and ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)’ launched by the PM in October 2022. This will also enable dual goals of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make-in India’ with a foundational focus on biosafety, ethics and inclusive growth. He emphasised that the Union has approved the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy of DBT. The BioE3 Policy is an important step forward towards sustainable growth in the backdrop of climate change, depleting non-renewable resources and unsustainable waste generation.
Dr Jitendra Singh further said, “India now ranks 12th in the world in biotech and 3rd in Asia-pacific. We are the largest vaccine manufacturer and the 3rd largest Startup ecosystem,” adding, the Biotech ecosystem in the country is emerging at a rapid pace with the setting up of 95 bio incubators and increasing numbers of Biotech Startups. The Biotech Startups have experienced remarkable growth, increasing from just about 50 in 2014 to over 8,500 in 2023. The rise of Biotech Startups is pivotal for our future economy. These efforts place India at the forefront of the global bioplastics movement, showing the world how biotechnology can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Speaking about the partnerships between industry, academia, and government, he said, it is crucial for translating innovative ideas into real-world solutions and fostering innovation through research and development. This facility symbolises a new chapter for India’s bioeconomy. It showcases our ability to lead in technological innovation and offers a sustainable pathway to reducing Environmental impact. He concluded by saying, “It is time for broader synergy among all professions to achieve the “Amrit Kaal” goals over the next 25 years for advancements in the biotechnology sector which underscores India’s potential as a global player in the field.
*****
NKR/DK
(Release ID: 2064526) Visitor Counter : 69
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 13 OCT 2024 6:25PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (I/C) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh today hosted a luncheon interaction with students from Jammu & Kashmir. These children are in Delhi under Bharat Darshan programme of Government of India, which is being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Dr Jitendra Singh was impressed with their inquisitiveness, observation skills, IQ level and advised them to imbibe new technologies, learn about new StartUp avenues and get acquainted with new developments in different segments of society, especially science and technology, biochemistry, artificial intelligence and space technology. He urged students to use their smartphones to attain information and knowledge.
He spoke about different schemes of the Government of India, including Pradhanmantri Vishwakarma Yojana, which would help them in acquiring and enhancing the skill of their forefathers.
The Minister informed them about women-run self help groups in J&K who are working on doubling apple yield and increasing the shelf life of these. He also informed about the Purple Revolution benefitting the youth of J&K who not only grow lavender but also distil perfume and oil out of it thereby earning handsomely.
Dr Jitendra Singh asked children to request their teachers to reach them with new perspectives and incorporate new ideas in their teachings. He also requested J&K Police officers, part of the troupe, to organise such workshops for the teachers that would be beneficial for the students.
There were around 70 students along with seven officials of the J&K Police. Around half of them are from the families of those who were killed in action. These students first went to Bengaluru where they visited among others Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bengaluru. The tour began on October 09, 2024. They are travelling by air and will fly back tomorrow.
*****
NKR/DK
(Release ID: 2064529) Visitor Counter : 54
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Sediment that accumulates in the seagrasses, mangroves and marshes can be analysed to help indicate changes in the environment over periods of time, ranging from the past few years to millions of years ago. The capacity of vegetated coastal ecosystems to sequester and store carbon in their sediments can be measured by nuclear and isotopic techniques.
The IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco use these elements to determine the rates at which organic carbon accumulates in marine sediments using sediment core samples from vegetated coastal ecosystems. Sediment cores are collected by using long plastic tubes that during sampling are able to preserve the layers of sediment accumulated over time.
The naturally occurring radioactive isotope lead-210 (210Pb), in combination with some artificial radionuclides such as caesium-137 (137Cs) are used to determine the sedimentation rates in the sediments at timescales of decades – up to around 100 years, a period during which human induced impacts on the environment have dramatically increased.
These techniques encompass radiochemical separation and measurements by alpha and gamma spectrometry adapted to each isotope. This is then combined with the measurement of organic carbon contents and its isotopes along the sedimentary record by mass spectrometry methods to assess the organic carbon stocks and burial rates.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
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Alexander Novak held a meeting on the current economic situation
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting within the framework of the incident on the current situation in the economy. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Labor, the Bank of Russia, as well as the scientific and expert community.
“Overall, our economy is developing better than expected: GDP growth for the first eight months of this year was 4.2%, industrial production – 4.5%, including manufacturing – 8.1%. The unemployment rate remains at historical lows and was 2.4% in January – August,” noted Alexander Novak.
The meeting examined the main development trends and possible risks for the Russian economy, taking into account the task of forming a supply-side economy and the need to achieve national goals.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
The Cluster includes 12 facilities, with a combined solar generation capacity of 254 MW and energy storage capacity of 594 MWh, and produces over 50% of the clean electricity in Israel’s newly deregulated power market
Distributed generation facilities located in northern and southern Israel strengthen the energy and economic security of the agricultural communities involved in the Cluster
TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enlight Renewable Energy (“Enlight”, “the Company”, NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT.TA), a leading renewable energy platform, announces that it has completed the COD of its Solar and Storage Cluster (“the Cluster”) in Israel. The Cluster is comprised of 12 installations located in the northern and southern regions of the country, with a combined solar generation capacity of 254 MW and energy storage capacity of 594 MWh. Portions of the Cluster began commercial operation in 2023 and grid connections continued throughout 2024; this gradual COD process has been completed today.
The entire output of the Cluster will be sold to Enlight’s supplier division, which markets the electricity direct to customers in Israel’s newly deregulated power market. This includes signing corporate PPAs with large industrial clients such as Soda Stream and Applied Materials, as well as sales to households and small businesses through a joint venture with Electra Power, in which Enlight owns a 35% stake. The Cluster’s generation volumes currently account for 50% of all clean power produced under the new regulatory framework.1
The Cluster is expected to generate revenue of $34-36 million and EBITDA of $24-26 million in the first full operating year, before taking into account the additional margin generated by Enlight’s supplier division. The transition to a deregulated electricity market combined with the low production costs of renewable energy enables the Company to provide its customers with clean power at competitive prices, while at the same time yielding attractive returns for Enlight and its partners. Cluster installations have been built in cooperation with numerous agricultural communities in Israel, and partnership in the projects increases these regions’ energy and economic security.
Gilad Peled, General Manager of Enlight MENA, commented, “Today we completed the commencement of full commercial operations at the largest group of renewable energy facilities operating in Israel’s deregulated power market. The Cluster will generate attractive returns for Enlight, while creating a stable and vital source of income for our partners in the agricultural communities of Israel.”
1 Based on Company estimates and publicly available information.
About Enlight Renewable Energy
Founded in 2008, Enlight develops, finances, constructs, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects. Enlight operates across the three largest renewable segments today: solar, wind and energy storage. A global platform, Enlight operates in the United States, Israel and 10 European countries. Enlight has been traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 2010 (TASE: ENLT) and completed its U.S. IPO (Nasdaq: ENLT) in 2023. Learn more at http://www.enlightenergy.co.il.
Contacts:
Yonah Weisz
Director IR
investors@enlightenergy.co.il
Erica Mannion or Mike Funari
Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
+1 617 542 6180
investors@enlightenergy.co.il
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectations relating to the Project, the PPA and the related interconnection agreement and lease option, and the completion timeline for the Project, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “forecasts,” “aims” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to site suitable land for, and otherwise source, renewable energy projects and to successfully develop and convert them into Operational Projects; availability of, and access to, interconnection facilities and transmission systems; our ability to obtain and maintain governmental and other regulatory approvals and permits, including environmental approvals and permits; construction delays, operational delays and supply chain disruptions leading to increased cost of materials required for the construction of our projects, as well as cost overruns and delays related to disputes with contractors; our suppliers’ ability and willingness to perform both existing and future obligations; competition from traditional and renewable energy companies in developing renewable energy projects; potential slowed demand for renewable energy projects and our ability to enter into new offtake contracts on acceptable terms and prices as current offtake contracts expire; offtakers’ ability to terminate contracts or seek other remedies resulting from failure of our projects to meet development, operational or performance benchmarks; various technical and operational challenges leading to unplanned outages, reduced output, interconnection or termination issues; the dependence of our production and revenue on suitable meteorological and environmental conditions, and our ability to accurately predict such conditions; our ability to enforce warranties provided by our counterparties in the event that our projects do not perform as expected; government curtailment, energy price caps and other government actions that restrict or reduce the profitability of renewable energy production; electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including the effects of climate change, could adversely affect wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission system constraints and the possibility that we may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards; our dependence on certain operational projects for a substantial portion of our cash flows; our ability to continue to grow our portfolio of projects through successful acquisitions; changes and advances in technology that impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our projects or upsets the expectations underlying investments in our technologies; our ability to effectively anticipate and manage cost inflation, interest rate risk, currency exchange fluctuations and other macroeconomic conditions that impact our business; our ability to retain and attract key personnel; our ability to manage legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk across our global corporate structure; our ability to protect our business from, and manage the impact of, cyber-attacks, disruptions and security incidents, as well as acts of terrorism or war; the potential impact of the current conflicts in Israel on our operations and financial condition and Company actions designed to mitigate such impact; changes to existing renewable energy industry policies and regulations that present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to renewable energy projects; the reduction, elimination or expiration of government incentives for, or regulations mandating the use of, renewable energy; our ability to effectively manage our supply chain and comply with applicable regulations with respect to international trade relations, tariffs, sanctions, export controls and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws; our ability to effectively comply with Environmental Health and Safety and other laws and regulations and receive and maintain all necessary licenses, permits and authorizations; our performance of various obligations under the terms of our indebtedness (and the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that we guarantee) and our ability to continue to secure project financing on attractive terms for our projects; limitations on our management rights and operational flexibility due to our use of tax equity arrangements; potential claims and disagreements with partners, investors and other counterparties that could reduce our right to cash flows generated by our projects; our ability to comply with tax laws of various jurisdictions in which we currently operate as well as the tax laws in jurisdictions in which we intend to operate in the future; the unknown effect of the dual listing of our ordinary shares on the price of our ordinary shares; various risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel; the costs and requirements of being a public company, including the diversion of management’s attention with respect to such requirements; certain provisions in our Articles of Association and certain applicable regulations that may delay or prevent a change of control; and other risk factors set forth in the section titled “Risk factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and our other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.
These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Source: US State of California
ABX2-1 protects consumers from avoidable gas price spikes that pad big oil profits
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today after ABX2-1 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and co-sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom, ABX2-1 would stabilize California’s oil market by ensuring refineries have adequate fuel reserves to avoid supply shortages that hike gas prices and harm consumers.
“Californians have been paying too much for gas, while year after year, oil companies report record profits at their expense. Let’s be clear – the price spikes consumers see at the pump are profit spikes for big oil,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Enough is enough. ABX2-1 will save Californians billions of dollars and reduce opportunities for Big Oil to manipulate the market.”
“Price spikes have cost Californians billions of dollars over the years, and we’re not waiting around for the industry to do the right thing — we’re taking action to prevent these price spikes and save consumers money at the pump,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Now, the state has the tools to make sure they backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance so there aren’t shortages that drive up prices. I’m grateful to our partners in the Senate and Assembly for acting quickly to push this forward and help deliver relief for Californians.”
“This landmark legislation is a win for consumers, and a win for accountability in the state’s gasoline market,” said Assemblymember Gregg Hart, D- Santa Barbara. “ABX2- 1 will save working California families billions at the gas pump. This common sense solution has received broad public support because consumers know that when gas prices spike in California, the oil industry unfairly profits.”
“ABX2-1 was the subject of an extensive amount of scrutiny, testimony and participation by Members of the Legislature in over 18 hours of hearings. I am proud of the work done by our Assembly Policy Chair, Assemblymember Petrie-Norris, and my colleagues and Joint Authors Assemblymember Hart and Senator Skinner on this critical issue,” said Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar Curry, D-Winters. “This bill clearly states that no regulations will move forward unless there is a tangible benefit to California gas consumers, and that the safety of our refinery workers and the public is paramount in any action taken by the State. Our work is not done when the Governor signs ABX2-1. We owe it to all Californians to remain actively engaged in the regulatory process to assure those goals and values are met.”
California’s oil market is uniquely vulnerable to manipulation from oil companies. California’s isolated fuel market makes it so supply disruptions including planned maintenance outages can dramatically impact prices. Because nearly all in-state supply comes from a handful of refineries, a single refinery outage could drastically reduce refining capacity. This volatility places an undue burden on California consumers, especially consumers with fixed or limited incomes.
To stabilize California’s oil supply and prevent price spikes, ABX2-1 requires refineries to maintain adequate reserves and properly plan for refinery shutdowns. ABX2-1 would authorize the California Energy Commission to adopt regulations requiring refiners to maintain minimum inventory levels and establish effective penalties to ensure the law is enforceable and Big Oil follows the rules. The Commission can only adopt these regulations if it determines that they will lead to lower average retail prices, increase the fuel supply, and reduce price instability for consumers.
Attorney General Bonta is steadfast in his commitment to protect consumers at the pump and hold bad actors accountable. This month, Attorney General Bonta urged California residents who purchased gas in Southern California in 2015 to submit a claim for a payment under the state’s $50 million settlement with gas trading firms for tampering with and manipulating prices for California gasoline. Last year, Attorney General Bonta co-sponsored SBX1-2, which increases transparency in the oil industry to help identify causes of price irregularities. Authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), co-sponsored by Governor Newsom, and approved by a supermajority in both the Senate and Assembly, SBX1-2 created a dedicated independent watchdog to root out market manipulation and price gouging by oil companies. The law went into effect on June 26, 2023.
Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2
The Bendigo Writers Festival will return from August 15 to 17, 2025, following the standout success of the 2024 event.
More than 6,300 attendees enjoyed 77 sessions and events across nine venues this year during the three-day event from August 16 to 18.
The packed program featured literary giants such as Alexis Wright, Kate Grenville, Thomas Mayo, Kerry O’Brien, Bruce Pascoe, and Kate Forsyth.
Gastronomic delights included Caroline Parker’s Edible Weed Walk of Rosalind Park, A Seat At Kon And Sia’s Table lunch event, and An Evening With Julie Goodwin dinner, all of which sold out.
The festival’s opening gala, Up Close and Possibly Way Too Personal interview with Annabel Crabb, was also moved from The Capital to Ulumbarra Theatre to accommodate demand.
Manager Bendigo Venues & Events Julie Amos said the City was delighted by the response to the 2024 festival.
“The Bendigo Writers Festival is a highlight of our region’s events program each year, bringing together a veritable feast of writing and storytelling,” Ms. Amos said.
“This year, the festival returned to its August timeslot, with a new brand, look and feel, and new events including the Big Top with local artists and performers and the Djaara Arts Market.
“We were also pleased to make the festival more accessible, with AUSLAN interpretation available for select sessions, as well as taking the show on the road with events in Boort, Elmore and Heathcote.
“The breakdown of our figures has revealed that 50 per cent of attendees were from the Greater Bendigo community. It’s a terrific endorsement to see such strong local support for the event.
“40 per cent came from regional Victoria and Melbourne combined, with many visitors staying for two nights or more.
“Thank you to La Trobe University, Bendigo Venues & Events staff and volunteers, our wonderful business and community partners, including our book shop partner Bookish, and of course those who attended the event, for making the 2024 Bendigo Writers Festival such a huge success.
“We’re excited to start planning next year’s event, so add August 15 to 17, 2025 to your calendar now.”
Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency
500 households in the 2515 postcode in New South Wales are set to be electrified, in a new project announced today by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and partners Brighte, Rewiring Australia and Endeavour Energy.
ARENA is providing $5.4 million in funding for the “Electrify 2515 Community Pilot” to support the electrification of 500 homes in the north Illawarra 2515 area, providing insights on how Australia could benefit from an electrified future.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said this project would also provide significant insight into the contribution of home electrification to grid stability while also reducing energy costs for consumers.
“Flexible demand at a residential level is expected to be critical as homes electrify. By undertaking electrification in a managed way, we can reduce the need to upgrade our electricity network and reduce costs for all electricity consumers.”
The main objective of the pilot is to accelerate the energy transition in homes to understand the impact on consumers and the network. This will be done by installing efficient electric appliances and other consumer energy resources (CER) including heat pump space and water heaters, home batteries, and rooftop solar that will be optimised by a home energy management system (HEMS).
By studying the installation journey closely, the pilot will generate insights into consumer behaviour and decision-making when purchasing and using CER to better understand how to scale and commercialise home electrification.
Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell said the pilot aimed to create the electric future in a real community today. “This project will allow us to learn locally so we can scale nationally, generating critical insights for consumers, tradespeople, industry and policymakers on how to rapidly and effectively scale electrification across Australia.
“We’re excited about the role we can play to demonstrate the power of homes brought to their full potential, lighting a pathway for every Australian community to electrify more easily and fast-forward to a smart, electric future.”
One of the bigger barriers to the commercialisation and widespread adoption CER is upfront cost. The funding provided by ARENA will help to support the purchase of CER for pilot participants taking part in the research program led by Rewiring Australia.
The Electrify 2515 Community Pilot will test the impacts of electrification within a community and within the constraints of Endeavour Energy’s local electricity network. This is expected to allow the sharing of valuable insights on the impacts of residential electrification.
Full list of project partners:
ARENA Strategic Priority: Optimise the Transition to Renewable Electricity
Australia’s electricity system is rapidly evolving. Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of new bulk electricity supply, and significant numbers of Australian households and businesses continue to install rooftop solar and other distributed energy technologies. Grid-scale innovations are also driving the transition, including increased use of grid-scale batteries.
New demand loads for green metals, manufacturing and fuel production, coupled with the electrification of transport and broader industry. Will create unprecedented demand for renewable energy over the next decade. We need to ensure the grid is equipped to support this additional demand and high penetration of renewables.
Further technical and commercial innovation, as well as market reforms, will be critical to ensure the electricity system can transition efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively.
ARENA is currently focused on supporting projects in this priority area that help deliver the following objectives:
Learn more at ARENA’s website.
ARENA media contact:
Source: National Security Agency NSA
The Morrison Center, constructed on the National Security Agency (NSA)/Central Security Service (CSS) Washington East Campus, has received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification — the first project on the campus to earn the designation.
“The Morrison Center demonstrates that innovative design, functionality, and environmental stewardship can coexist harmoniously to create exceptional spaces for the benefit of both people and the planet,” said Randy Westfall, chief of Installations & Logistics (I&L).
Recent awards bestowed upon one of NSA’s newest buildings is further cementing NSA’s Military Construction (MILCON) team as a leader in sustainable and innovative builds.
“Obtaining LEED Gold is a notable achievement, demonstrating that our next-generation operational mission space has been built with attention to both the workforce space and the larger environmental impact of our expansion,” said Jeffrey Williams, the environmental engineer responsible for East Campus sustainability.
Williams noted that the accolades not only highlight the building’s outstanding design and functionality, but also demonstrate NSA’s commitment to environmental stewardship and efficient resource management. “The Morrison Center boasts state-of-the-art insulation, high-performance windows, and efficient HVAC systems to minimize energy consumption and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
LEED certification is the premier, globally recognized symbol of sustainable building design and construction. While all the buildings on East Campus are built to be LEED Silver, the Morrison Center is the first NSA-owned building to achieve LEED Gold, according to Williams. This certification signifies that the Morrison Center meets stringent criteria for energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development, he said.
The facilities throughout the building feature low-flow fixtures to significantly decrease water usage, as well as use of water from the reclaimed water system in industrial sources, promoting responsible resource management, Williams explained. The structure prioritizes the health and well-being of its occupants by incorporating ample daylight, superior air quality control, and ergonomic design principles, he said.
Additionally, the facility incorporates lush green spaces for storm water management integrated into the East Campus design, along with a rooftop garden and outdoor gathering areas. According to Williams, this was done to foster a connection with nature and provide a serene environment away from the mission tempo.
Finally, during the construction — managed by U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) Baltimore District East Campus Integrated Program Office — materials were sustainably sourced. From construction to interior finishes, the building utilizes locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials with recycled content, minimizing the impact on natural resources, Williams said.
Under LEED, an evaluated project scores points across six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environment quality (IEQ), and design innovation. Certification is achieved by documenting compliance with requirements in each category.
“The higher the degree of compliance, the higher the certification level,” Williams said. “Achieving LEED Gold demonstrates a high degree of attention to the sustainable aspects of the building’s construction.”
The certificate marks the latest significant recognition captured by the state-of-the-art building since it opened late last year. The Morrison Center, which serves as the new home for the National Security Operations Center and the Director, also won the Association of General Contractors Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering and Collaboration Award and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) Intelligence Community (IC) Facilities Program of the Year.
The Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering and Collaboration Award is a highly coveted honor presented annually to construction projects that demonstrate excellence and achieve success by implementing the principles of partnering.
According to MILCON Chief Matt Boren, construction of the 843,000-square foot facility was successful due to six guiding principles established early on: putting the mission first, safety, operational readiness/schedule, quality, teamwork, and team experience.
“This project showcases partnering at its finest,” Boren said. “Collaboration and communication among stakeholders and the team’s commitment to a ‘mission first’ mindset resulted in a facility of exceptional quality that will play a vital role in protecting our national security for decades to come.”
The IC Facilities Program of the Year award recognizes buildings that demonstrate excellence in facility management, maintenance, and operations. The Morrison Center surpassed other facilities projects in the IC by implementing cutting-edge technologies and systems that optimize energy consumption, enhance occupant comfort, and streamline maintenance processes, Boren said.
By employing intelligent building automation, advanced energy management systems, and efficient waste management strategies, the facility showcases a commitment to operational efficiency and sustainable practices, Boren said.
The Morrison Center is a testament to the possibilities of sustainable architecture and design, according to Westfall.
“The receipt of these awards solidifies NSA’s position as a trailblazer in the IC,” Westfall said. “By combining architectural ingenuity, operational excellence, and environmental leadership, this extraordinary structure has set new benchmarks for sustainable building practices.”
As I&L looks to the future of the East Campus, the Morrison Center stands as an inspiration for architects, developers, and facility managers worldwide, Westfall explained.
MILCON is already applying the lessons learned in collaboration and design to create future structures on East Campus.
“Both the Chiari Center and the Kenny Center are being constructed with the goal to further establish the East Campus as the global state-of-the-art IC campus,” Westfall said.
Interested in learning more about joining NSA’s mission? Visit NSA.gov/Careers for more information.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Green, Research Fellow, Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University
Multinational concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment has come under fire, with an ABC Four Corners investigation saying its unprecedented market power is open to abuse.
The report follows concerns about the introduction of dynamic pricing – where ticket prices change according to demand – to the Australian concert market. A parliamentary inquiry into the live music sector is also underway.
Industry luminaries such as Peter Garrett and Michael Chugg told the ABC that Australia’s music scene is under threat, echoing the concerns of frustrated bands and fans. Live Nation issued a statement ahead of the program, calling it inaccurate and unbalanced.
So what is Live Nation and how is market concentration affecting our music scene?
Live music is one of our most popular forms of cultural participation, engaging almost half of Australians over 15. In the decade before COVID, ticket buying and revenue for contemporary music doubled.
Ticket revenue doubled again in the year 2022–23 to well above pre-pandemic levels. How can such growth be squared against widespread talk of a sector in crisis, with venues closing and festivals cancelled?
This is because the growth is top-heavy. Overall figures have been boosted by an influx of stadium concerts by international superstars such as Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. Rising revenue outpaced attendance growth by almost three to one, with average ticket prices rising 47.4% to A$128.21. Market power is increasingly concentrated in a few corporate hands, notably Live Nation Entertainment.
Live Nation began in the United States as a concert promoter. Traditionally, a promoter funds and arranges live events, negotiating with artists, their agents, venues and ticketing services. But Live Nation has integrated many such components into its operations. Now, everything from artist management to venues and merchandise can be done in-house.
In 2010, the US Department of Justice allowed the merger of Live Nation with major ticketing company Ticketmaster. The resulting entity, Live Nation Entertainment, has since acquired a growing set of interests internationally.
Live Nation’s acquisitions over the past decade in Australia include:
Secret Sounds Group, which promotes Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival in addition to touring, sponsorship, PR and artist management businesses (the acquisition excluded Secret Sounds record labels and venues)
Moshtix, billed as Australia’s leading provider of general admission tickets for unreserved or standing-room events
Mellen Events, a leading Western Australian concert promoter
Kicks Entertainment, which operates Spilt Milk festival
Face to Face Touring, a regional promoter with events including Red Hot Summer, SummerSalt and By the C.
Live Nation Entertainment also acquired venues, leasing Melbourne’s Palais Theatre for 30 years from 2017 and Festival Hall. The group purchased Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul in 2022 and opened Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall (2020) and Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall (2022) in partnership with local entities.
Ticketmaster is the authorised ticketing agency for Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and for Australian tours promoted by Live Nation. These include concerts by Oasis, Green Day, P!nk and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Live Nation has also acquired several Australian booking agencies, including Village Sounds, which represents Bernard Fanning, Courtney Barnett and Vance Joy.
The only competitors are TEG (which owns Ticketek) and AEG-Frontier. Music industry stakeholders are concerned about the oversized influence of these three “corporate giants”.
For consumers, a lack of competition can mean higher prices. Dynamic pricing made headlines, but Four Corners also alleged there were a range of “hidden fees” in the price of tickets ordinarily sold by Ticketmaster and Ticketek.
Artists are at a disadvantage when negotiating with a mass of connected businesses that are often owned by one entity and which sometimes includes their own agent.
South Australian rock band Bad//Dreems told the ABC they were left with just $9,000 from a tour that grossed $100,000.
Veteran promoter Michael Chugg complained major artists were being overpaid, skewing the sector to the detriment of local musicians. While Australian promoters, including Chugg and the late Michael Gudinski, have a history of consolidating interests and crowding out competition, they also had skin in the Australian music game. Live Nation is a publicly listed company with duties to its shareholders, including US hedge funds and Saudi royalty.
Midnight Oil singer and former politician Peter Garrett said this meant there was “no loyalty” to Australian artists. A multinational promoter with a shareholder-driven approach might be more likely to cancel a festival after weak opening sales, instead of weathering short-term losses to preserve the brand and relationships.
That cancellation might even consolidate demand for the company’s upcoming headline tours. But opportunities are lost for Australian artists, businesses and culture.
Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke told Four Corners he has put Live Nation on notice and warned the company not to use its power in an anti-competitive way. But he did not commit to legislative change.
In the United States, the Department of Justice and dozens of states have sued Live Nation for antitrust, seeking “to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s monopoly and restore competition for the benefit of fans and artists”.
Australian courts currently have no power to break up monopolies without new legislation. However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can investigate and prosecute misuse of market power, as alleged by some in this case.
Fair trading authorities in the United Kingdom and Europe are examining Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing in the wake of the Oasis ticket-pricing controversy. However, Burke said surge pricing is something consumers have always dealt with, and “not something we’re looking at, at the moment”.
Governments could also regulate more transparency in ticket fees, as well as the rights of artists, who sit uncomfortably between employees and small businesses. Their union, MEAA’s Musicians Australia, is currently advocating about these matters.
Those passionate about Australia’s live music scene fear that if the sector isn’t better regulated, it’ll soon be too late to save it.
Ben Green receives research funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australasian Performing Right Association.
Sam Whiting receives funding from RMIT University and the Winston Churchill Trust.
– ref. Are market giants endangering Australia’s live music scene? Industry veterans and local artists are worried – https://theconversation.com/are-market-giants-endangering-australias-live-music-scene-industry-veterans-and-local-artists-are-worried-241244
Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Headline: Media release: Opposition’s pledge to include gas in Capacity Investment Scheme welcomed – Australian Energy Producers
Opposition’s pledge to include gas in Capacity Investment Scheme welcomed
Australian Energy Producers welcomes the Federal Opposition’s plan to include gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) to help secure urgently needed investment in gas power generation capacity.
Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the announcement sent a strong signal about the critical, long-term role of gas in Australia’s energy mix and would redress a policy failure of omitting gas from the scheme.
“The energy market operator recently highlighted that the National Electricity Market will need an additional 13 GW of new gas power generation to be built by 2050 as part of the least-cost transition, underscoring the increasingly important role of gas for Australia’s energy security,” she said.
“Australia urgently needs investment in new gas supply and infrastructure, and the CIS is an important lever to support this necessary investment.”
“Amid an increasingly difficult regulatory and investment environment in Australia, the Coalition has recognised the critical role of gas and the need for more supply to ensure reliable and affordable energy for households and businesses.”
Today’s announcement complements Coalition commitments to address the regulatory barriers to new gas supply, unlock key gas basins, and to reinstate annual acreage releases.
“Australia needs energy policies that provide certainty around project approvals and regulatory stability to restore investor confidence,” she said.
“The deliberate exclusion of gas from the current CIS was a mistake that needs correcting to incentivise the significant investment needed to ensure Australians have reliable and affordable energy.
“This is not a measure that needs to wait until the next federal election – it is a conversation that state and federal energy ministers should be having today.”
Media Contact: Brad Thompson on 0401 839 227
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Monday further trimmed forecasts for global oil demand growth this year and next, marking the organization’s downward revision for the third consecutive month.
In its monthly oil market report for October, OPEC projected a global oil demand growth of 1.93 million barrels per day (bpd) for 2024, down 106,000 bpd from the growth of 2.03 million bpd expected last month.
OPEC attributed the adjustment to “actual data received combined with slightly lower expectations for the oil demand performance in some regions.”
Despite the third successive downward revision, OPEC said this year’s world oil demand growth is “still well above the historical average of 1.4 million bpd seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For next year, the oil-producer group cut its 2025 global oil demand growth estimate to 1.64 million bpd from last month’s assessment of 1.74 million bpd.
OPEC twice lowered its forecasts for global oil demand growth in 2024 and 2025 in its monthly market reports published in August and September. Until August, OPEC had maintained its global oil demand growth forecasts of 2.25 million bpd this year and 1.85 million bpd next year since they were first made in July last year.
Last month, eight member countries of OPEC+, a group comprising OPEC and its allies, announced an extension of their voluntary oil production cuts by two months until November. The countries will start to gradually phase out these output cuts from December.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China and Africa are poised for extensive collaboration in the realm of renewable energy, as the continent’s abundant resources align with China’s advanced expertise in wind and solar power technologies, said experts recently.
This partnership not only guarantees energy security but also propels Africa toward green, low-carbon practices and sustainable development, yielding a host of mutually beneficial outcomes, they said.
Currently, the African economy is undergoing sustained growth with a continuous rise in energy demand. According to the Continental Power System Masterplan currently being developed by the African Union Development Agency, Africa’s electricity consumption may reach 3,842 terawatt-hours by 2040.
The International Renewable Energy Agency predicts that by 2030, nearly a quarter of Africa’s energy demand can be met by new energy sources.
While Chinese companies have implemented hundreds of renewable energy projects in Africa, aiding African nations in mitigating energy shortages and achieving sustainable development, experts said that the localization of technology and production, as well as green finance and talent development can further deepen and broaden China-Africa renewable energy cooperation.
Lu Junling, chief economist at China’s National Energy Administration, said that energy cooperation between China and Africa aligns with the mutual interests of both parties, offering a solid foundation and promising prospects. He advocated for enhanced practical cooperation facilitation for future China-Africa energy projects, emphasizing the importance of exchanging energy project information, creating collaboration opportunities and maximizing the role of energy think tanks to realize more cooperative outcomes.
“Now is an opportune moment for clean energy collaboration between China and Africa. Further efforts are needed to advance the cooperation mechanisms between the two regions, help with planning research and policy alignment, foster deeper technological innovation cooperation, and explore tailored green projects that benefit communities,” said Li Sheng, head of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.
A recent report on China-Africa renewable energy cooperation, jointly prepared by the CREEI and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, an economic program of the African Union, underscores Africa’s significant potential in renewable energy development, while highlighting the need for improvements in production and consumption levels. In 2022, renewable energy accounted for a modest 9.67 percent of its total energy consumption.
Regarding production, Africa’s total installed power generation capacity reached 252.8 gigawatts in 2023, with fossil fuels remaining the primary electricity source, constituting about three-quarters of total installed capacity. Among renewable energy sources, hydropower (excluding pumped storage) had an installed capacity of 37.1 GW, representing 3 percent of global hydropower capacity, while wind and solar power capacities were 8.7 GW and 13.5 GW, respectively, each accounting for less than 1 percent globally.
However, over the past five years, Africa’s total installed capacity of renewable energy, excluding pumped storage, has grown by 23.2 percent, a substantial 16.8 percentage points higher than the growth rate of fossil fuel power generation capacity (6.4 percent) during the same period.
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
October 4, 2024
No. 058
The General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) concluded on September 30. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely thanks the diplomatic allies, like-minded countries, and friends from around the world who expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in the UN and refuted China’s deliberate misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758 in various ways, both in the chamber and on the sidelines of the event.
High-level government officials from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies Paraguay, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Eswatini, Tuvalu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Belize spoke up for Taiwan at the UN General Debate and Summit of the Future. Officials from the Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, and Saint Lucia explicitly pointed out that UNGA Resolution 2758 did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN system. Following similar remarks in 2022, US President Joe Biden again used his speech to the UN General Debate to spell out the United States’ commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Australia mentioned the Taiwan Strait for the first time at the UN General Debate, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stating that Australia had consistently pressed China on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
At a US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing held a few days before the UN General Debate, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell criticized China for using UNGA Resolution 2758 as a diplomatic tool to suppress Taiwan’s status. In response to a question in parliament, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp openly acknowledged that the resolution had nothing to do with Taiwan. Following a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA held by the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers and the European Union high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, the chair of the meeting released a statement reaffirming the importance of cross-strait peace and stability to international security and prosperity as well as supporting Taiwan’s international participation.
Joint statements expressing a high regard for cross-strait peace and stability were issued after other recent high-level meetings, including the Quad leaders’ summit, the seventh high-level meeting of the EU-US Dialogue on China, the US-Japan summit meeting, the UK-US Strategic Dialogue, the Japan-Australia Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations, the Republic of Korea-New Zealand bilateral meeting, and the Lithuania-US Strategic Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific.
In terms of legislative branches, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China passed a model resolution on UNGA Resolution 2758 on July 30 for its members’ reference. The Australian Senate, the Dutch House of Representatives, and the Guatemalan Congress have since adopted motions in support of Taiwan based on the model resolution. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies also approved a resolution backing Taiwan’s international participation, demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan.
Speaking for the first time on the sidelines of the UNGA at the annual summit of the New York-based nonprofit organization Concordia through prerecorded remarks, President Lai Ching-te told the UN family that Taiwan would strive to maintain regional peace and stability and urged the international community to support Taiwan’s participation. Ambassador Alexander Tah-ray Yui, Representative to the United States, held a discussion with former US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach on cross-strait peace and security and Taiwan’s campaign to participate in the UN. During the UNGA, Taiwan cohosted a seminar in New York with the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework. The event underscored Taiwan’s resolve to contribute to the global community.
MOFA also appreciates the unwavering support of the Legislative Yuan. A cross-party delegation of legislators—including Ngalim Tiunn, Wu Tsung-hsien, and Wu Chun-cheng—visited New York during the UNGA to provide guidance and take part in related activities. The group powerfully conveyed the strong desire of the Taiwanese people to be part of the UN system.
Through an international publicity and new media campaign, the government effectively communicated Taiwan’s demands for UN participation to all quarters. An op-ed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, letters to the editor from Taiwan’s overseas missions, and interviews with Taiwanese ambassadors and representatives appeared 455 times in mainstream international media outlets. These included the Diplomat, the Hill, the Washington Times, National Review, and the New York Sun in the United States; Modern Diplomacy and the European Business Review in the European Union; the National Post in Canada; Le Figaro in France; Norrbottens-Kuriren in Sweden; La Razón in Spain; De Telegraaf and Nederlands Dagblad in the Netherlands; Euractiv in Greece; Rzeczpospolita in Poland; La Verità and Le Formiche in Italy; the Sankei Shimbun in Japan; the Chosun Ilbo in the Republic of Korea; the Philippine Star in the Philippines; the Hindustan Times and the Tribune in India; the Jerusalem Post in Israel; La Razón in Peru; the Eswatini Observer in Eswatini; La Nación in Paraguay; O Tempo in Brazil; Jelen in Hungary; and the Daily News in Thailand.
The short promotional film IC You received more than 25.4 million views—again breaking the record for Taiwan’s annual campaign. During the UNGA, MOFA and its overseas missions released 2,922 posts about Taiwan’s bid on social media platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads. The posts were seen over 48.378 million times and received an unprecedentedly warm response. A short animation video, UNity through Peace: Chip in with Taiwan, was shown on a large billboard in New York City’s iconic Times Square. The advertisement featured elements including semiconductor circuits and Taiwan’s contributions to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The video conveyed Taiwan’s strengths in IC technology, highlighted its image as a responsible member of the global community, and broadened worldwide recognition and support for Taiwan’s call for international participation.
MOFA reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. The resolution therefore has nothing to do with Taiwan and cannot serve as the basis for precluding Taiwan from the UN system and other international organizations. Taiwan is determined, willing, and able to contribute to the global community. Continuing to exclude Taiwan from multilateral endeavors will not only be a loss to humanity but also detrimental to realizing the SDGs. To uphold the UN principle of leaving no one behind, MOFA again calls on the UN to stop bowing to pressure from China and swiftly allow Taiwan’s full participation. (E)
Source: Allens Insights
In our latest update, we examine the progress of new and existing rule change requests to the AEMC across the month of September, as well as take a closer look at the AER’s draft gas ring-fencing decision guide.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:
“Last week Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd announced by way of a departmental press release that he was making road signs in parts of west Belfast. When this was reported in Friday’s News Letter the DUP’s Keith Buchanan, who sits on the infrastructure committee, was quoted as questioning the decision citing the cost given other budgetary pressures on the Department.
“I am therefore both surprised and disappointed that having lodged a petition in the Assembly Business Office first thing on Monday morning on the issue, 24 hours later the only signature on it is my own. Should 30 MLAs sign the petition, Minister O’Dowd’s decision would be referred to the Executive where a cross community vote would have to be held on the matter.
“No one can claim to be ignorant of the petition as my office emailed all Unionist MLAs yesterday morning in the following terms:
Dear friend,
I am writing to draw your attention to the fact that Timothy Gaston has this morning lodged a petition in the business office to refer the Minister for Infrastructure’s decision to install bi-lingual traffic and road markings in parts of Belfast. Significantly, not only was this matter not brought to the executive but due process appears to have gone completely out the window with no record of an equality impact assessment.
We believe that this sets a dangerous precedent and that it is both significant and controversial. I note press commentary from other Unionists which suggests they agree. This email is being sent to all Unionist members to alert them to the fact that the petition is now in the business office. Timothy would obviously appreciate your support for it – and indeed his motion of No Confidence in the First Minister and Minister Murphy.
Yours,
Sammy Morrison, PA to Timothy Gaston MLA
“It would appear that while some are happy to issue press releases on this issue, they are not prepared to use the mechanisms of the Assembly and Executive to actually do something of substance about it. That said, I would be delighted to be proved wrong by a queue of MLAs signing the petition today.”
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001977/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nicolás González Casares (S&D)
The EU is a pioneer in regulating artificial intelligence. However, although the legislation itself warns of the energy required by this technology, it does not include provisions on this aspect of its development. AI requires significant quantities of energy to function and the International Energy Agency estimates that the total demand from the use of artificial intelligence and data centres could double between 2022 and 2026. Big companies with investments in AI are trying to buy zero-emission electricity at above-market rates to obtain decarbonised electricity.
In view of this:
Submitted: 8.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Magnus Brunner has been Austria’s federal minister for finance since December 2021. Prior to this role, he served as a state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology from 2020 to 2021. From 2018 to 2020, Brunner was vice-president of the Federal Council of Austria, after having served as a member of this institution from 2009 to 2020. Additionally, he served on the Municipal Council of the Höchst Municipality from 2000 to 2004. From 2009 to 2020 Brunner was a member of the Federal Council of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. Brunner’s earlier professional experience includes serving as the political director of the Austrian Economic Association (2002-2005), as well as holding the position of head of corporate development, communication and strategic development at the Austrian energy company Illwerke VKw Group (2006). He was also on the Board of the Austrian energy company OeMAG (2007-2020). Born in 1972, Brunner is a graduate of King’s College London (LLM), the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna (where he obtained a PhD in law). This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.
Source: European Parliament
Dan Jørgensen has most recently served as Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Global Climate Policy. His role has been to oversee Denmark’s international development initiatives and global climate policies, including co-facilitating COP28 climate negotiations and co-chairing a number of working groups and alliances. Jørgensen is a member of the Social Democratic Party in Denmark, which is affiliated to the S&D group in the European Parliament. He has been a member of the Danish parliament since 2015 and previously served as Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, where he co-facilitated COP26 and COP27 negotiations and served as chair of the International Energy Agency’s Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions. Jørgensen was a Member of the European Parliament (2004-2013), where he served as vice-chair of the Committee on Environment, president of the Animal Welfare Intergroup and head of the Danish delegation of Social Democrats (2009-2013). Born in 1975, Jørgensen holds a master’s degree in political science from Aarhus University. His professional career also includes academic positions as adjunct professor and external lecturer. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.
