The Biden administration has finalized regulations restricting U.S. investments in sensitive high-tech sectors in China, citing national security concerns. The Treasury Department announced Monday that these new rules, set to take effect on January 2, 2024, will prevent U.S.-based firms, citizens, and permanent residents from investing in advanced technology areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing within China. The regulations, derived from an executive order issued by President Biden in August, aim to prevent American capital and expertise from advancing technologies that could potentially be used against U.S. security interests. Under the rules, investors will also be required to notify the Treasury of investments in certain lower-level technologies, which may still pose potential risks to national security, such as legacy semiconductor technologies. “Artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum technologies are essential for developing next-generation military, intelligence, surveillance, and cybersecurity applications,” stated Paul Rosen, Treasury Assistant Secretary for Investment Security. “This final rule is a targeted approach to ensure U.S. investments are not leveraged to advance key technologies that could be used to threaten our national security.” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded critically to the finalized rules, condemning the regulations as a move toward “anti-globalization” and “de-sinicization.” Beijing…
Comcast Corporation today released its 2024 Green Bond Report, detailing the allocation of proceeds from its inaugural green bond issued in February 2023. A total of $995 million in net proceeds were invested in green buildings, circular economy initiatives, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy projects. These investments align with Comcast’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. “We’re proud to have offered investors the opportunity to support greener operations at Comcast that ultimately benefit people and the planet,” said Sara Cronenwett, Senior Vice President of Corporate Environmental Sustainability at Comcast. Comcast has made significant strides in reducing its environmental impact, achieving a more than 30% reduction in market-based, enterprise-wide Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 to year-end 2023. Key projects funded by the green bond include: Comcast’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and create a more sustainable future.
The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network (CNMI SBDC) at the Northern Marianas College, in partnership with the Commonwealth Women’s Association (CWA), recently awarded certificates to participants who successfully completed the 2024 Women’s Entrepreneurship Project Cohort 4. This year’s program, designed to foster a focused learning environment, limited enrollment to the first 30 registrants. All participants who attended all four sessions received certificates of completion. The four-day training series covered a range of essential topics for aspiring female entrepreneurs. Sessions included: The program fostered active participation, with sessions often extending to accommodate participant questions. Fatima Celis, Vice President of locally-owned Rice to Meat You, a catering business that prepares and delivers pre-packaged platters and food plates, shared her praises on the sessions presented by First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of Guam and CEDA, “For small businesses looking to expand, it was very helpful for us to find this type of training where we could come to one place to hear from banks on what small businesses need to know about the loan process and what we also need to do if we want to improve our financials to receive that approval.” Frank Celis, President and Co-owner of Rice…
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Nashville District is pleased to announce significant progress on the flood risk management project for the city of Cleveland, Tennessee. This collaborative effort aims to reduce flooding risks in the South Mouse and Fillauer Branch watersheds. The project, a result of a 2017 feasibility study, combines structural and non-structural measures. Structural measures include detention structures and channel modifications, while non-structural measures encompass property buyouts and elevations. “The collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and our city has laid the foundation for a safer and more resilient community,” said Cleveland City Engineer Brian Beck. “These flood mitigation efforts address long-standing vulnerabilities, protect our residents, and pave the way for future growth. We look forward to the continued progress as we work together to safeguard our neighborhoods from the challenges of severe weather.” Construction Underway on Key Channel Modifications In April 2024, a contract was awarded to Wilamut Construction Company, LLC for the Ocoee Channel Modification and Clearwater Channel Modification. These modifications involve channel excavation, grading, and installation of drainage structures to increase water flow capacity and reduce flood risks. Completion is expected by April 2025. Project Details: These modifications address the…
The Department of the Interior has announced significant strides in expanding geothermal energy on public lands, an abundant clean energy resource with tremendous potential to help the country meet the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. The Department announced that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved the Fervo Cape Geothermal Power Project in Beaver County, Utah, which will use innovative technology to generate up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of baseload power that, if fully developed, is enough to supply over 2 million homes. With this approval, the BLM has now approved nearly 32 gigawatts of clean energy projects on public lands, including 42 projects approved under the Biden-Harris administration. The BLM is also proposing a new categorical exclusion to facilitate geothermal energy resources confirmation on public lands. These actions come as the BLM hosted the biggest geothermal lease sale in more than 15 years. “Geothermal energy is one of our greatest untapped clean energy resources on public lands,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Dr. Steve Feldgus. “Today’s actions are part of the Department’s work to deliver on new opportunities, new technologies, and new solutions in geothermal energy that support…
The Frisco City Council has approved a Master Development Agreement that provides up to $113.4 million in funding for the development of The Mix, a vibrant mixed-use project in the city. The Mix, located at the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and Dallas Parkway, will feature 2 million square feet of new Class-A office space, 375,000 square feet of retail space, two hotels, townhomes, urban living units, a large park, and over 16 acres of open space. The agreement provides performance-based grants from the City of Frisco, the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC), and the Frisco Community Development Corporation (FCDC) to support Phase 1 infrastructure, including property remediation and an underground parking garage. Incentives will be paid to The Mix Partners, LLC upon completion of specific milestones, including: The $113.4 million agreement includes a $10 million reimbursement-based infrastructure grant, approved by the Frisco EDC board, to accelerate the construction timeline for the upscale grocer and ensure permanent occupancy before disbursement. “This is a significant milestone for The Mix and the city of Frisco,” said Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney. “The project will bring new opportunities for growth and enhance the quality of life for residents.” “Frisco EDC is proud to play…
Strategic Real Estate Partners has announced plans to develop a major data center campus in Palmetto, Georgia. The proposed project, known as Project Peach, would span 320 acres and include up to eight buildings totaling 2.1 million square feet. The development would be a significant addition to Atlanta’s already thriving data center market. The city has become a hub for technology companies and cloud providers, attracting major players like Microsoft, CoreSite, and QTS. Strategic Real Estate Partners, a local commercial real estate firm, has submitted a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The DRI process is designed to review and approve large-scale developments that have a significant impact on a region. While specific details about the project are limited, Strategic expects to complete the data center campus by 2036. The company has not disclosed whether it has a specific end user in mind for the development. The proposed data center campus in Palmetto would join several other major projects currently underway in the Atlanta area. Microsoft and T5 are also developing data center campuses in the nearby region. The development of Project Peach highlights the continued growth and expansion of the data center…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the final recipients of the Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP), a $75 million competitive grant program designed to support underserved and very small businesses in key sectors of the economy. SBOP aims to connect these businesses with the financing and technical assistance they need to participate in critical supply chains, such as electric vehicle manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, construction, transportation, and clean energy generation. “By increasing access to capital and making historic investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and manufacturing, we have spurred record-breaking small business growth over the last three years,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “Since taking office, I have been proud to work to expand access to opportunity by investing in the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. This funding from the Small Business Opportunity Program will build on this momentum by allowing tens of thousands of entrepreneurs from historically underserved communities to access the technical assistance they need in order to hire more employees, grow their businesses, and advance innovation.” “More than 19 million new small business applications have been filed during the Biden-Harris Administration and we’re working to support these entrepreneurs and connect them…
United Airlines has announced a groundbreaking partnership with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet to its entire fleet. This transformative move will provide passengers with the same seamless connectivity they enjoy on the ground, from gate to gate. United Airlines, a pioneer in aviation innovation, has consistently sought to elevate the travel experience for its customers. This partnership with SpaceX is a testament to that commitment. By offering Starlink Wi-Fi, United is setting a new standard for in-flight connectivity, ensuring passengers can stay connected and productive throughout their journey. Starlink, SpaceX’s advanced satellite network, delivers high-speed internet access anywhere in the world, including remote locations unreachable by traditional means. This partnership will enable United to provide passengers with a reliable and consistent internet connection, regardless of their flight destination. With Starlink, passengers can enjoy a wide range of activities, including live streaming, productivity tools, gaming, and e-commerce. Whether you need to work remotely, stay entertained, or stay connected with loved ones, Starlink will provide the connectivity you need. United expects to have Starlink installed on its entire fleet within the next few years. This ambitious rollout will ensure that all United passengers can benefit from this cutting-edge technology. “Everything you…
SmartThings has introduced a new Matter Bridge integration, simplifying the smart home experience by enabling seamless connectivity between its platform and IKEA’s smart home devices. The Matter Bridge integration allows IKEA shoppers to effortlessly connect their IKEA smart devices to the SmartThings platform. Users can import their existing IKEA smart home setups into SmartThings with just a few clicks, providing a unified view of their smart home devices on Map View available on Samsung TVs, Family Hub, tablets, and smartphones. This integration expands possibilities for users, particularly those with a mix of smart devices from different ecosystems. By connecting IKEA devices with SmartThings, users can create additional automations and control a broader range of smart devices from a single platform. A key advantage of the Matter Bridge is the ease of transition between multiple ecosystems. Instead of manually adding and configuring each device for both ecosystems, users can seamlessly import their existing IKEA setup into SmartThings. The integration also allows users to maintain their preferred setups while enjoying the unique features of the IKEA DIRIGERA hub, such as directly binding a remote to a light or shade for improved responsiveness and user experience. Users can also benefit from dynamic control,…
