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☆ America's 10 best states for infrastructure, where you can rely on roads, bridges, airports, power, and internet
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

To rate each state's infrastructure, we look at roads, bridges, ports and airports. New in 2024, we evaluate so-called site readiness programs set up in many states to link companies with shovel-ready sites. The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama offers one of the more robust site readiness programs in the nation. Roads, bridges, and broadband are also in excellent shape in Tennessee. A respectable 24% of the state's power comes from renewable energy, putting it in the top half of states.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Gary Hershorn, Brad Lander, Kathy Hochul, Luke Sharrett, Liam Kennedy, Chicago —, Carl Sandburg, Minnesotans, Tim Walz, Nathan Howard, — Virginia, Caitlin O'Hara, Elijah Nouvelage Organizations: Infrastructure Law, CNBC, Law, Business, Empire, Hudson, Corbis, Census, Gov, Indiana, CSX Corp, Bloomberg, Getty, Crossroads of America, U.S . Surface Transportation, Hoosier State, of Energy, Street Foundation, Economic Development, Alabama, Tennessee Downtown, Istock, Volunteer State, Energy Department, Illinois Metra, Chicago, Railroads, Census Bureau, Surface Transportation, Traffic, Midway, Chicago Department of Aviation, Lincoln, Minnesota, Jimkruger, Minnesota's Department of Economic, The Utah Department of Transportation, Beehive State, Planners, Virginia, Amazon.com Inc, —, Washington Post, Georgia Passengers, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport Locations: States, York, Manhattan, New York City, New York, Ohio, Clarksville , Indiana, U.S, Indiana, Alabama, Trinity , Alabama, Yellowhammer State, Tennessee Downtown Nashville , Tennessee, Tennessee, Illinois, Chicago, Rudybalasko, Texas, Minneapolis , Minnesota, Mississippi, Minneapolis, Utah, Salt Lake City, Beehive, Farmington, Ashburn , Virginia, Northern Virginia, Arizona, Phoenix , Arizona, Atlanta , Georgia

☆ A California woman bought a vacant lot in Hawaii and discovered a $500,000 house was built on it without her permission
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A developer in Hawaii accidentally built a house on it instead of the neighboring lot. Reynolds bought a one-acre plot of land in Hawaiian Paradise Park, a nearly 15,000-person subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island, for $22,500 at a tax auction. Reynolds' lot is just two miles from the beach. He told BI that in Paradise Park, unless you're next to the ocean or the highway, every parcel looks indistinguishable. Related stories"There are 8,000 one-acre lots in Paradise Park," Kenny said.

Persons: Anne Reynolds, —, Anne, Reynolds, Trulia —, Doug Keown, Dana Kenny, Kenny, Peter Olson, James DiPasquale, I've, — I've, DiPasquale, they're Organizations: Service, BI, Savio Realty Ltd, Keaau Development, DiPasquale Locations: Hawaii, Paradise, California

HONOLULU (AP) — A woman who purchased a vacant lot in Hawaii was surprised to find out a $500,000 house was built on the property by mistake. But the company built one on Reynolds' lot. Photos You Should See View All 60 Images"There's a lot of fingers being pointed between the developer and the contractor and some subs,” Reynolds' attorney James DiPasquale said. Reynolds rejected the developer's offer for a neighboring lot of equal size and value, according to court documents. She has filed a counterclaim against the developer, saying she was unaware of the "unauthorized construction.”An attorney for PJ’s Construction told Hawaii News Now the developer didn’t want to hire surveyors.

Persons: —, She's, Annaleine, Anne ” Reynolds, PJ's, Reynolds, ” Reynolds, James DiPasquale, ” DiPasquale, Peter Olson, Construction's, Olson Organizations: Local, Keaau Development, Associated Press, PJ’s Construction, News Locations: HONOLULU, Hawaii, Paradise, Puna, California, ”, Honolulu

☆ Nissan, Fisker in advanced talks on investment, partnership, sources tell Reuters
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Nissan badge is attached to the grill of a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder on December 3, 2012 in Niles, Illinois. The deal could close this month, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the talks are ongoing and have not been finalized. Nissan would build its own electric pickup on the same platform, the source said. A Fisker spokesman said the company does not comment on speculation, while Nissan officials were not immediately available to comment. Fisker shares were off more than 43% on Friday, giving the company a market capitalization of about $222 million.

Persons: Fisker Organizations: Nissan, Nissan Pathfinder Locations: Niles , Illinois, United States, Fisker's, Alaska, Mississippi, Tennessee

☆ 23andMe is low on cash and its stock is worth pennies. The CEO wants another chance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Just three years ago, DNA testing company 23andMe was the golden child of Wall Street and Silicon Valley. In 2018, 23andMe agreed to a five-year exclusive drug development partnership with GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline). Genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, is facing the possibility of delisting from NASDAQ. Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesSo far, the partnership between GSK and 23andMe has produced more than 50 new drug targets. But drug discovery is a very long process and it can be anywhere from 10 to 15 years on average from target discovery to an FDA-approved drug.

Persons: New York CNN —, 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, ” Wojcicki, “, Susan Wojcicki, Sergey Brin, Kyle Grillot, Wojcicki, they’ve, ”, we’re, “ We’ve, Steven Mah, TD Cowen, Mah, they’re, Justin Sullivan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nasdaq, CNN, Stanford, Palo Alto High School, YouTube, Google, 23andMe Inc, Bloomberg, Time Magazine, P Biotech ETF, GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, NASDAQ, Big Pharma, it’s Locations: New York, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles , California, U.S, London, Sunnyvale , California, United States

HOMEWOOD, Ala. (AP) — A man fleeing police caused the Alabama car crash that injured Gayle Manchin, head of an economic development partnership of the federal government and 13 state governments and the wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, along with a colleague of hers, authorities said Wednesday. Gayle Manchin is the co-chair of the commission. “She is now in West Virginia continuing to recover with support from her family. The chase wound through Homewood and surrounding areas and ended when the fleeing car struck the SUV carrying Gayle Manchin and Land, al.com reported. Joe Manchin was the governor of West Virginia from 2005 until 2010, when he was elected to the Senate.

Persons: Gayle Manchin, . Sen, Joe Manchin, Guy Land, John Carr, al.com, Tradarryl Rishad, Boykins, Jim Justice, Joe Biden Organizations: ., Police, Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC, UAB, Homewood Police, Homewood, West Virginia Board of Education, Republican Gov, Appalachian Regional, Senate Locations: HOMEWOOD, Ala, Alabama, Homewood, Birmingham, West Virginia, Appalachia

☆ Gonorrhea Is Becoming Drug Resistant. Scientists Just Found a Solution.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Apoorva Mandavilli | More About Apoorva Mandavilli | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

About half of infected people show no symptoms, but in others gonorrhea can lead to painful joints and burning urination. It has become resistant to azithromycin and is increasingly resistant to another antibiotic called ceftriaxone, which is now the standard of care. Based on previous research, the drug is unlikely to be as effective in the throat and rectum, said Dr. Marrazzo. In studies, zoliflodacin appears to be effective against a wide range of resistant strains of gonorrhea. The partnership’s agreement minimizes that chance: The nonprofit plans to manage how the drug is distributed, and to see that it is used only to treat gonorrhea.

Persons: gonorrhea, ”, Manica Balasegaram, “ I’ll, that’s, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Jeanne Marrazzo, Marrazzo, zoliflodacin, Margaret Koziel Organizations: Global, Research, Development, Pharmaceutical, European Union, Therapeutics, Princeton University, National Institute of Allergy Locations: American

A nonpartisan business group that advocates for clean energy estimates that 403,000 jobs will be created by the 210 major energy projects announced since the Inflation Reduction Act took effect in mid-2022. Battery storage is expected to support 48,000 jobs, and solar is expected to support 35,000, both annually for five years. “As community colleges develop a rhythm for training the type of workers these companies need, that’s going to enhance the appeal of our workforce and state as a business location to more and more these clean energy companies," he said. Although investments in clean energy are “on hyperdrive,” other factors were supporting the clean energy labor transition before the IRA, said Joseph Kane, a researcher at the Brookings Institution nonprofit research organization. Labor shortages in the clean energy sector, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and electrical work are notable, said Thomas Kwan, director of sustainability research at Schneider Electric, an energy management and industrial automation company.

Persons: “, Bob Keefe, Mateo Jaramillo, ” Jaramillo, Christopher Chung, ”, Chung, Joseph Kane, Kane, Thomas Kwan, Kwan Organizations: Environmental Entrepreneurs, EV, Economic Development, of, Brookings Institution, Labor, Schneider Electric, AP Locations: U.S, Weirton , West Virginia, West Virginia, of North Carolina, North Carolina

Ford UK Chair Lisa Brankin was scathing: "Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. Britain was the first major economy to create a legally binding 2050 net zero target and emissions have fallen almost 50% since 1990 as coal power plants closed and offshore wind power took off. The government's own independent adviser on climate action said in June that Britain was not doing enough to hit its mid-century target. Ford said it had spent 430 million pounds ($532 million) on its UK development and manufacturing facilities, with "further funding planned for the 2030 timeframe". His party has trailed the opposition Labour Party in polls for over a year.

Persons: Suella Braverman, Andy Bailey, Handout, Rishi Sunak, Lisa Brankin, Sunak, We're, Ford, Chris Skidmore, Kate Holton, Elizabeth Piper, William James, Susanna Twidale, Muvija, Nick Carey, Sachin Ravikumar, Gareth Jones, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Economic, REUTERS, Sunak's Conservative Party, Ford, Conservative, BET, Times Radio, European Union, BMW, Volkswagen, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Sunak

The logo for Occidental Petroleum is displayed on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., April 30, 2019. The DAC technology is in early stages of commercialization and will require multibillion-dollar investments to prove it can work economically and generate profits. President Joe Biden's administration views DAC technology as a tool to help meet a goal of neutralizing emissions by 2050, if it can be commercialized and applied at industrial scale. While carbon capture is applied to emissions produced at industrial facilities, DAC actively removes CO2 from the air. Some of that money will fund Occidental's 30 proposed DAC plants in Kleberg Country, Texas.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, " Roth, Joe Biden's, Vicki Hollub, Sourasis Bose, Shilpi Majumdar, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Occidental Petroleum, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Carbon Engineering Ltd, Occidental, Low Carbon Ventures, U.S . Department of Energy, Congress, Carbon Engineering, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Texas, Louisiana, Country , Texas, Occidental, Bengaluru

☆ A historically Black neighborhood in Chicago is harnessing a first-of-its-kind microgrid, raising a new standard for sustainable energy in disenfranchised areas.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood has a microgrid, which can operate independently if necessary. A microgrid, a smaller version of the city's electrical power grid, went live last year in the iconic South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville. It's this kind of energy reform, said William Davis, the executive director of the Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, that should "start in the hardest-hit areas." Solar panels on several neighborhood buildings are also contributing power to the microgrid, integrating the zero-carbon energy into Chicago's grid system. Together, the microgrid and energy initiatives represent progress in a community that might have otherwise been overlooked, Davis said.

Persons: Bronzeville, Jesse Owens, Louis Armstrong, Joe Biden, William Davis, Zheng, it's, Yami Newell, It's, Davis Organizations: Service, Congress, Heritage Area, Development Partnership, Illinois Institute of Technology, Black Metropolis Deemed, Department of Energy Locations: Chicago's Bronzeville, Bronzeville, New York, New Jersey, Texas

☆ Australia taps global partners in landmark critical minerals strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, June 20 (Reuters) - Australia, one of the world's biggest suppliers of raw minerals, unfurled a landmark strategy on Tuesday that outlines how it will work with investors and international partners to build a critical minerals processing industry for the energy transition. Supplier of nearly half of the world's lithium, Australia is a significant producer of rare earths, cobalt, copper, graphite, manganese and other minerals key to the global energy transition. The Grattan Institute, a think tank, estimates the critical minerals industry could add more than $400 billion to Australia's economy by 2050, a bigger contribution than the coal industry, Australia's no.2 export, today. The government is considering policies that would enabledomestic supply of Australian critical minerals for Australian projects, it said, although any future approach must be tailored to the needs of Australia and the global context. This comes as international companies secure ownership and supply of Australian minerals, particularly lithium and rare earth elements, meaning Australian processors and manufacturers may struggle to access supplies of Australian minerals in future.

Persons: Madeleine King, Melanie Burton, Chizu Organizations: MELBOURNE, Labor, Grattan Institute, European Union, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Taiwan, United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, India

☆ The world’s most eco-conscious airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Elissa Garay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most sustainability experts will scoff at the idea of “sustainable” and “airlines” in the same sentence. In 2022, an Airbus wide-body Beluga XL transport aircraft was filled with Sustainable Aviation Fuel" (SAF) for the first time. WiderøeNorway-based Widerøe, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, says it is on track to become one of the world’s first fully emissions-free airlines. Alaska AirlinesAlaska Airlines has invested heavily in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty ImagesWhile most major global airlines are targeting 2050 for net-zero carbon emissions, Alaska Airlines intends to meet that target as soon as 2040.

Persons: ”, Pedro Piris, Sola Zheng, Sina Schuldt, Nicolas Jammes, ” Akbar Al Baker, “, Zheng, –, that’s, it’s, Beata Zawrzel, Fabrizio Gandolfo, Nicolas Economou, Bauer, Griffin, It’s Organizations: CNN, Environmental Defense Fund, International Council, Clean Transportation, Commercial, International Air Transport Association, UN, Airbus, Beluga XL, Sustainable Aviation, Qatar Airways, SAF, European Union, Google, Environmental Defense, Airlines, United Airlines United, Aerospace, United, Flight Fund, Widerøe Norway, Widerøe, Royce, SAS SAS, Scandinavian, SAS, Wizz, Wizz Air, Etihad Airways Etihad, Getty, Etihad Airways, United Arab Emirates, Boeing, Etihad, Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines, Aviation Fuels, AaronP, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada Canadian, Air Canada Locations: Europe, Denmark, Sweden, ICCT, Scandinavia, Norway, Canada

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden attends the groundbreaking of the new Intel semiconductor manufacturing facility in New Albany, Ohio, U.S., September 9, 2022. But all that new construction has a real estate problem. That would be a problem for the Biden administration, which has pushed through legislation to fuel the developments. A White House official said it was a "high-class problem" to have, adding: "Folks are finding places to build. The governors of South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina have each proposed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on readying industrial sites in the coming years.

☆ UK review of 'golden' visas for millionaires finds links to corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The government first commissioned the visa's review in 2018 after the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. Russian oligarchs and newly-minted Chinese entrepreneurs have flocked to London over the past two decades, snapping up everything from opulent homes to soccer clubs. Under the programme, foreigners who invested 2 million pounds in assets in Britain could apply for permanent residency after five years in the country. Investing 10 million pounds allowed an application after two years. In total, more than 12,000 golden visas have been granted, including more than 2,500 to Russians, according to government data.

☆ She says she was fired in retaliation. Hearst Magazines says she was insubordinate. Here's how Delish's hit YouTube show 'Budget Eats' came crashing down.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Steven Perlberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

Produced by the Hearst-owned food brand Delish, "Budget Eats" was the kind of digital success story that traditional magazine giants crave. As Xie worked her day job developing recipes, "Budget Eats" was morphing from a pandemic experiment to a bonafide hit. A career recipe developer at work, the "Budget Eats" Xie doesn't even measure out ingredients. "It felt like she was afraid that putting 'Budget Eats' from her kitchen onto this cable network might dilute the honesty," Lennon-Simon said. As for "Budget Eats," Delish recently posted what is presumably the last episode.

☆ Child workers found throughout Hyundai-Kia supply chain in Alabama
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

Hyundai and Kia now have dozens of suppliers in Alabama, according to the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, a business group. The agency, they said, hired underage workers while they worked there. “It was my first job in the United States and this is not what you would expect to see here.”Six other former workers told Reuters they, too, saw underage workers at Ajin’s two factories in Cusseta. Herrera said he raised concerns about the underage workers with managers at SMART, but was brushed off. The officials, wearing shirts that bore Hyundai logos, inspected the assembly line even as underage workers labored there, Herrera said.

☆ Octopus Energy creates JV with Italian solar and wind farm developer Nexta
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Britain's Octopus Energy Group said on Wednesday it was creating a joint venture (JV) with Italian solar and wind farm developer Nexta Capital Partners to produce 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of new onshore wind and solar farms in Italy by 2025. The move will help Italy, which depends on Russia for around 25% of its imported gas, in its plans to expand in renewables energy and reduce such reliance. Octopus Energy said the investment will be through its recently launched 220 million euro arm, Octopus Energy Development Partnership (OEDP), which invests in early stages of green power builds and is managed by Octopus Energy Generation. "This (1.1 GW) could power 1.2 million homes, avoiding a potential 950,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Octopus Energy Generation manages 3 gigawatts of renewable energy assets across Europe worth 4.4 billion euros ($4.3 billion).

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