French Riots

Cost of diesel heightens frustrations to breaking point Prices of fuel in Europe are peaking to a crescendo of public frustration. In Paris, tear gas and water cannons were enlisted to disperse protesters after a second week of demonstrations against the rising costs of fuel, namely of the diesel variety. Violence erupted on the Champs-Elysées […]

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PG&E Updates

Federal judge demands answers about utility’s role in wildfire Updating a previous item, California’s primary utility is facing increased scrutiny connected to the “Camp Fire” wildfire that is devastating a large portion of the state. A federal judge overseeing PG&E’s criminal probation from the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion is demanding answers from the utility […]

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Climate Report

Contents shock public, arouse political scrutiny The U.S. released a federal climate report November 23, outlining detailed projections that racked the nerves of much of the country and planet. Those paying attention to renewable energy and climate change in recent years are likely aware of many of the statistics, but the report, which was backed […]

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PG&E

Embattled utility yet again faces scrutiny for wildfires California’s primary utility is facing increased scrutiny connected to the “Camp Fire” wildfire that is devastating a large portion of the state. An NBC News report Tuesday suggested that the company may have known about a recurring issue that potentially triggered the fire. Sources in the report […]

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Headwinds

Fury, frustration, even tears from proposed Seneca Wind project in Ohio Wind farms can be immensely beneficial as a renewable energy source. But local turnouts like those at this week’s continuing debate in Tiffin, Ohio show that they are sometimes viewed as an imposition to residents. Around 500 residents were reported to have shown up […]

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Optimatics Joins Suez

Water infrastructure company to help digital transition To help in its transition to all-digital infrastructure, a major player in the water industry has enlisted the services of Optimatics, an annual WEFTEC exhibitor. Following the acquisition of a minority stake alongside Emerald Technology Ventures in 2017, Suez acquires the entire share capital of Optimatics via Suez […]

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Hurricane Michael

3rd most powerful hurricane ever to make landfall on U.S. mainland Another dangerous hurricane hits the U.S. mainland this week, as Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday night, hitting the Florida panhandle with winds just 2 miles per hour shy of being a Category 5 storm. As is customary with storms of such degree, evacuations were […]

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Battery Breakthrough

Zinc batteries said to enable carbon-free energy storage Lithium-ion batteries have a bold new challenger in the emerging energy storage market. During the One Planet Summit in New York City Wednesday, Patrick Soon-Shiong, chairman of NantEnergy and founder of that company’s research arm NantWorks, proclaimed a breakthrough in battery storage. Soon-Shiong unveiled that newly cultivated […]

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Kopp Shop

Buffalo native, 77, brought us the surge protector When it comes to successful inventions, a recorded lineage of hits and misses exists in consumer electronics. Practicality is the name of the game; and safety can often be the genesis of that requirement. Harold P. Kopp, who passed away last month at age 77, put a […]

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High Voltage Hipots

New portable AC hipot released from upstate N.Y. company Upstate New York-based company High Voltage, Inc., a test equipment manufacturer that produces over half its inventory for the export market, announced the release of a new CE marked portable AC hipot this week. The new portable can be used for testing switchgear, vacuum interrupters, and […]

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