Mitchell in Nest

Wisconsin-based company wins award for bringing jobs home Mitchell Metal Products, of Merrill, Wisc., received the first National Reshoring Award on Thursday, given in recognition of the company’s success bringing manufacturing back home to the United States. The award, given by The Reshoring Initiative and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), honors “a company that has […]

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EPA Repeals CPP

Official rollback seen as huge win for coal as renewables regroup This decision is one that most American citizens saw coming. Scott Pruitt and the Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday the official proposal for repeal of the Clean Power Plan. The plan which was a cornerstone of the Obama administration’s environmental efforts against climate change […]

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Import to Injury

ITC rules on solar panels; decision goes to Mr. Trump The International Trade Commission determined imported solar panels to be a threat to U.S. solar manufacturers in a 4-0 vote September 22. The ruling found that imports of cheap solar panels have “caused injury to domestic solar manufacturers”, and sets up a looming decision on […]

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Put Up Your Dukes

Environmental lawsuit competes with groundbreaking project for utility Strategic sweetener or coincidence? Or the everyday shuffle of news—both good and bad—for one of the country’s largest utilities? Whatever the case, Duke Energy dominated Wednesday and Thursday with polarizing headlines: the negative being a lawsuit and public outcry over its coal ash practices, the positive being […]

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Recovery Through Reconditioning

PEARL aids in Harvey’s aftermath by restoring vital electrical equipment As another part of the country braces for the impact of a second deadly hurricane this weekend, those in Texas and Louisiana along the Gulf Coast are only beginning to pick up the pieces and attempt to recover from Hurricane Harvey’s devastation. While this is […]

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Silica Valley

OSHA’s stricter ruling on dangerous dust to take effect soon Silica is no laughing matter when it comes to its potential long-term effects. The sand byproduct can cause severe lung cancer, silicosis, COPD, and kidney disease. A recent OSHA rule—set on June 23 of last year but due to take effect September 23, 2017 in […]

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Survey Says…

Study of power sources analyzes grid reliability A highly anticipated, heavily scrutinized study of the power grid was finally released Wednesday night by the Department of Energy, with surprising results. The study—which endured delays, controversial personnel, and even an unofficial draft leaked to the press a month ago, was widely expected to charge renewable energy […]

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Robotics Record

First half of 2017 is benchmark year for automation A ‘Robopocalypse’ is happening by the numbers…even if it may be an overblown theory in real life. The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) announced the results of its research on robotics and automation trends, sales, and growth Thursday, showing record tallies in the areas of robotics, […]

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Coalescence at FERC?

Commission’s new chair endorses compensation for coal plants The recently appointed chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission made an immediate push for coal plants to be compensated upon shutdown Tuesday, citing their history of contributions to the electric grid. Neil Chatterjee (right), who was appointed to be the federal agency’s chairman August 10 after […]

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Deep Cuts

Two national labs downsize in anticipation of DOE squeeze Two national labs are eliminating more than 500 staff positions as the government pushes for deep budget cuts at the Department of Energy. Staff cuts announced yesterday at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island marked the first anticipatory moves—and […]

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