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Tag: Energy

DeepSeek says it built its chatbot cheap. What does that mean for AI’s energy needs and the climate?

Chinese artificial intelligence startup company DeepSeek stunned markets and AI experts with its claim that it built its immensely popular chatbot at a fraction of the cost of those made by American tech titans.

That immediately called into question the billions of dollars U.S. tech companies are spending on a massive expansion of energy-hungry data centers they say are needed to unlock the next wave of artificial intelligence.

Could this new AI mean the world needs significantly less electricity for the technology than everyone thinks? The answer has profound implications for the overheating climate . AI uses vast amounts of energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels, which causes climate change. Tech companies have said their electricity use is going up, when it was supposed to be ramping down, ruining their carefully-laid plans to address climate change.

“There has been a very gung ho, go ahead at all costs mentality in this space, pushing toward investment in fossil fuels,” said Eric Gimon, senior fellow at Energy Innovation. “This is an opportunity to tap the brakes.”

Making AI more efficient could be less taxing on the environment, experts say, even if its huge electricity needs are not going away.

DeepSeek’s claims of building its impressive chatbot on a budget drew curiosity that helped make its AI assistant the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apple’s iPhone this week, ahead of U.S.-made chatbots ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

“All of a sudden we wake up Monday morning and we see a new player number one on the App Store, and all of a sudden it could be a potential gamechanger overnight,” said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. “ It caused a bit of a panic. These were the hottest stocks in the world.”

DeepSeek’s app competes well with other leading AI models. It can compose software code, solve math problems and address other questions that take multiple steps of planning. It’s attracted attention for its ability to explain its reasoning in the process of answering questions.

Leading analysts have been poring through the startup’s public research papers about its new model, R1, and its precursors. Among the details that stood out was DeepSeek’s assertion that the cost to train the flagship v3 model behind its AI assistant was only $5.6 million, a stunningly low number compared to the multiple billions of dollars spent to build ChatGPT and other well-known systems. DeepSeek hasn’t responded to requests for comment.

The $5.6 million number only included actually training the chatbot, not the costs of earlier-stage research and experiments, the paper said. DeepSeek was also working under some constraints: U.S. export controls on the most powerful AI chips. It said it relied on a relatively low-performing AI chip from California chipmaker Nvidia that the U.S. hasn’t banned for sale in China.

Data centers consumed about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and that’s expected to increase to 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

It’s been axiomatic that U.S. tech giants must spend much more on building out data centers and other infrastructure to train and run their AI systems. Meta Platforms, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, says it plans to spend up to $65 billion this year, including on a massive data center complex coming to Louisiana.

Microsoft said it plans to spend $80 billion this year. And Trump last week joined the CEOs of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank to announce a joint venture that hopes to invest up to $500 billion on data centers and the electricity generation needed for AI development, starting with a project already under construction in Texas.

When there’s an innovative technology that’s useful to the general population and it’s affordable, people will use it, said Vic Shao, founder of DC Grid, which delivers off-grid, direct current power to data centers and electric vehicle charging stations.

That means data centers will still be built, though they may be able to operate more efficiently, said Travis Miller, an energy and utilities strategist at Morningstar Securities Research.

“We think that the growth in electricity demand will end up at the lower end of most of the ranges out there,” he said.

If DeepSeek’s claims hold true, some routine AI queries might not need a data center and could be shifted to phones, said Rahul Sandil, vice president and general manager for global marketing and communications at MediaTek, a semiconductor company. That would ease the computing need and give more time to scale up renewable energy sources for data centers.

Bloom Energy is one of the AI-related stocks that took a hit Monday. KR Sridhar, founder and CEO, said it’s imperative that the U.S. leads in AI because it can power data centers with clean energy, unlike other countries that still primarily rely on coal.

“We can continue to make it better and we will continue to make it better,” he said.

Rick Villars, an analyst for market research group IDC, said the DeepSeek news could influence how AI researchers advance their models, but they’ll still need plenty of data centers and electricity.

“We think this actually could boost and accelerate the time frame for when AI becomes much more embedded into our lives, in the work sense, the living sense and in health care,” Villars said. “So we still think the capacity is required.”

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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January 29, 2025
5 Healthy Breakfast Options To Boost Energy During Your Period

Periods are the most dreaded time of the month for any woman. From experiencing cramps and backaches to mood swings and food cravings, most of us go through it all. For some, heavy menstrual bleeding can also cause extreme tiredness and lethargy. We understand how exhausting this can be, ladies. But did you know you can avoid feeling this way by eating the right types of foods? Yes, the type of food you eat during periods has a direct impact on your overall health and how you feel. Certain foods have the ability to boost your energy, while others may have the opposite effect. Recently, hormone coach Poornima Peri took to her Instagram to share five healthy breakfast options that will help you feel energised and happy during your period. Check them out below:
Also Read: Say Goodbye To Period Bloating! 4 Everyday Foods To Ease Discomfort

Photo Credit: iStock

Here Are 5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas For That Time Of The Month:

1. Daliya With Ghee

Also known as broken wheat, dalia is a preferred choice for breakfast. What makes it great for period days? It’s the presence of fibre, complex carbohydrates, and B vitamins. According to Poornima, these aid in hormone detoxification, energy production, and preventing mood swings. Adding ghee to the dalia further makes it healthier, as it is rich in essential fat-soluble vitamins.

2. Besan Paratha With Curd

Besan paratha also makes for a great breakfast option to have during periods. She explains, “Besan provides plant-based protein for hormone production, whereas whole wheat offers sustained energy release.” When paired with curd, it makes for a perfect meal, as it adds probiotics for the gut-hormone connection. If you add ajwain to the dough, it can help reduce bloating and cramps.

3. Ragi Dosa

Most women usually have low iron levels. To boost them, consider having ragi dosa for breakfast. According to Peri, iron contains 3.9 mg of iron per 100 gm, which is higher than most grains. The natural fermentation process of the dosa batter further increases iron absorption by 20%. Eating ragi dosa for breakfast will help provide sustained energy without causing any sudden spikes in your blood sugar levels.

Photo Credit: iStock

4. Moong Dal Cheela

You can also enjoy delicious moong dal cheela for breakfast. The hormone coach explains that moong dal is an excellent source of protein, which supports hormone production. Furthermore, the high zinc content aids in reducing period pain and low glycaemic index prevents energy crashes. So, if you’re a fan of cheelas, make sure to try this one during your periods.

5. Paneer Bhurji With Multigrain Roti

Just like moong dal, paneer is also rich in protein, making it ideal for supporting hormone production. Poornima explains that paneer also contains some amount of calcium, which helps reduce PMS symptoms. Pairing paneer bhurji with multigrain roti ensures you consume diverse nutrients in one meal.
Also Read: 5 Reasons Cinnamon Is Your New Best Friend During Your Period

Watch the complete video below:

Which of these breakfast options will you try making during your period? Tell us in the comments!

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January 28, 2025
Hitchens In Khar Combines Craft Cocktails And Bites With Creative Energy

There’s a chic new cocktail bar in Khar West and it promises to delight lovers of literary and other arts. Hitchens – Cocktails and Ideas opened its doors in November 2024. It is founded by Rakesh Singh, a film producer, and Aparna Sud, an acclaimed production designer. The establishment is also supported by a collective of acclaimed creative entrepreneurs from literature, theatre, film, and art. The team tells us that they’ve tried to create a space that can promote intellectual curiosity and stimulating conversations while one feasts on delicious food and drink. Although it has been named after the iconic writer Christopher Hitchens, he’s not been the only source of inspiration.

Photo Credit: Hitchens

The walls of the first floor are adorned with quotes from Hitchens and other literary legends – designed to make patrons feel (metaphorically) ‘surrounded’ by great minds. This upper level is dedicated to live performances. There are plans to host various types of events that aim to foster community and spark dialogue, ranging from spoken word sessions to Urdu blues. Hitchens’ kitchen is helmed by Chef Gracian de Souza and supported by Chef Harsh Parikh. The food menu features modern European flavours with unique Asian influences. Chef Anurita Ghosh is in charge of the dessert section.

Hitchens’ remarkable bar program is the brainchild of mixologist Pawan Singh Rawat, whose celebrated career includes stints at award-winning bars in India and Shanghai. “The bar menu at Hitchens is a blend of powerful flavour combinations and unexpected ingredients. It is designed to surprise and challenge the palate,” Pawan says. The cocktail names are witty references to works by the bar’s eponym or particular intellectual/literary concepts.

Photo Credit: Hitchens

Signature drinks include the Foxhole Atheist (Gin, Pineapple, Kaffir, Watermelon, Citrus), 7 p.m. Feminist (Rum, Sugarcane, Jaggery, Absinthe, Sherry, Citrus) and The Editor’s Choice (Whisky, Umeshu, Sherry, Absinthe, Bitters). Each drink is thoughtfully designed to tell its own story, creating a unique and memorable experience for patrons. There’s also an array of creatively concocted zero-proof options. Highlights include A Hitch in Time (Beetroot, Apple, Shisho, Honey Shrub) and A Long Short (Papaya, Turmeric, Honey, Citrus, Seltzer).

Photo Credit: Hitchens

The food menu leans towards modern European fare, but the Asian touches to it expand the possibilities. “I like looking at old-school fare through a modern lens, and I don’t mean any of that molecular stuff. I’m more interested in elevating known classics with surprising and novel textures and flavours,” says Chef Gracian. Some of the must-try dishes include the juicy Jackfruit tostadas, the creamy Sweet potato gratin, the fiery Sambal tofu, the lip-smacking Market fish escabeche and the comforting Kerala mutton fry. Among the House specials, ‘Much Room of One’s Own’ featuring mushrooms cooked in three ways stood out to us. End your meal with indulgent mini Eclairs, a satisfying apple crumble or a shared plate of petit fours.

Photo Credit: Hitchens

The ambience is characterised by subtle aesthetic details that reveal themselves in stages and you discover a space that brims with creativity. Open the menu and you may be charmed by not only the names of dishes/ drinks but also with the bar bites being called “Foreshadowing” and the mains being titled “The Plot Thickens.” Look around and you can appreciate the captivating centrepiece of Hitchens (and the depictions of other authors) brought to life by artists Atharv Ghatulkar and Nagnath Mankeshwar. Greet the staff and you’ll see uniforms created by Bollywood costume designer Priyanjali Lahiriy. Even the bill folders include a whimsical touch.

Photo Credit: Hitchens

Hitchens is envisioned as an establishment that celebrates the joy of connection, the thrill of intellectual discovery, and the art of indulgence. It offers a stimulating blend of sophistication and accessibility. The team explains, “Christopher Hitchens believed that great ideas could not be born without the right setting. Here at Hitchens, we hope to give you the right setting. What you do with it – the man himself would agree – is up to you.”

Where: Hitchens, 494-486, 17th Road, Khar West, Mumbai.

Photo Credit: Hitchens

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January 27, 2025
Barcelona subway recycles energy from braking into power to charge electric cars

BARCELONA, Spain — The Barcelona subway grinds to a halt, the doors slide open and commuters pour out to go about their daily business.

Little do they know that as they do so, a burst of energy is sent up to street level to help charge an electric car.

Barcelona has put together a package of clean energy technologies to help public transportation go greener, while also doing its part to combat climate change and aid Europe’s difficult shift to the privately owned electric vehicle market.

Sixteen stations of Barcelona’s subway system are part of its new MetroCharge project, whereby the energy from the underground trains’ brakes is used to power the trains and the stations themselves, while the remainder is sent snaking through cables to the surface to power plug-in stations for privately owned vehicles.

Bernardo Espinoza, a 49-year-old engineer, commutes daily by subway. He also owns a hybrid car and had just found out that he had a new place to plug in.

“I am pleasantly surprised, because I have an electric car and am always looking for where to plug it in,” Espinoza said before catching the subway in a working-class area of southern Barcelona. “And if it is from energy from the metro’s brakes, then even better.”

Regenerative brakes have been in trains for decades and are also used in some cars. They consist of an electric motor which captures energy used in the braking action that would be lost as heat by conventional brakes. That energy can be immediately used to accelerate the vehicle or, in the case of the Barcelona subway system, sent along cables to supply electricity for the station or for electric car chargers.

Alvaro Luna, professor of electrical engineering at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia, said that the system is innovative in so far as it allows for recycled energy to be redirected to specific local uses — in this case powering electric cars parked nearby. That, he says, boosts efficiency.

“Since the recharging stations are installed nearby, the energy, instead of being put back into the general electric network, goes directly to the charging stations, and that allows the provider to potentially offer lower prices,” Luna said. “We can say that the innovation is one of urban planning, of being able to bring together energy uses within a city.”

Making better use of energy has become a key pillar of reducing rising global temperatures. Last year, countries at U.N. climate talks and the members of the Group of 20 industrialized and emerging-market nations agreed to double energy efficiency by 2030.

Jordi Picas, head of systems for TMB, Barcelona’s subway, said that the public company estimates that it can recover the 7.3 million euros ($7.6 million) spent on MetroCharge, which includes European Union funding, in four years thanks to reduced energy costs.

The system, which also includes solar panels, provides all the energy needs of 28 of the 163 subway stations, from the lights to the elevators and ventilation systems, and saves 6% of the total energy spent by the metro, according to Picas. An average of 2.3 million people take the Barcelona metro on any given workday.

This clever program comes while doubts are emerging about the speed and cost of the EU’s green transition as the 27-member bloc seeks to eliminate combustion engines and remain a world leader in standards for environmental protection.

Spain, like other Mediterranean countries, is feeling the burn of climate change, experts say, with the frequency of prolonged droughts and extreme weather events like the recent devastating floods in Valencia set to increase over the coming years.

In 2021, Spain’s government rolled out an ambitious electric car plan backed by the EU’s post-pandemic transition funds. The public incentives have succeeded in encouraging private investment like last week’s announcement by Chinese battery maker CATL and carmaker Stellantis to build a lithium battery factory in Zaragoza. The plan also included help for consumers.

But Spain hasn’t been immune to the stumbles in the industry across Europe as the EU moves toward tariffs on Chinese EVs to try to help continental carmakers catch up.

Spain, with its wide expanses for a Western European country, faces the extra challenge of deploying recharging stations. Spain has 37,000 charging points, below the goal of 100,000 the government had set for now in 2021, according to ANFAC, the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers.

So while the Barcelona subway concept can help chart a course for urban planners, there is still a lot of work to do.

Ángel García said that he agreed with the spirt of the initiative while plugging his hybrid taxi into a charging point fed by the Barcelona subway.

But he also said that the government should do more to help shoppers buy electric cars because “people don’t really go for electric cars here.”

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Hernán Muñoz contributed to this report.

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December 18, 2024
Financial and community hurdles slow geothermal energy development in Southeast Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Providing round-the-clock energy, using minimal space and considered a clean source of power — geothermal energy seems like an ideal option for countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, where the potential is high, and governments are seeking to transition away from highly polluting fossil fuels.

Yet most of the potential of geothermal energy, created by harnessing heat produced by the earth from underground reservoirs of hot water to power turbines that generate electricity, remains untapped in these countries and across the world — as financial, regulatory and community roadblocks have stalled growth.

More readily available financing and domestic regulatory changes are starting to address these barriers, but experts say more should be done to unlock the vast clean energy source trapped just beneath the Earth’s surface.

Countries with high geothermal potential — such as the United States, Indonesia and the Philippines — are usually located close to tectonically active regions where hot water or steam is naturally carried to the Earth’s surface through volcanic activity, or can be accessed by shallow drilling.

“We’re essentially standing on our own sun, which we can get clean, reliable energy from,” said Marit Brommer, CEO of the International Geothermal Association based in Germany.

Experts also laud geothermal plants for their ability to operate continuously to meet the minimum level of power demanded around-the-clock, unaffected by weather, with long lifespans and minimal maintenance.

As countries shift towards renewable and cleaner energy, geothermal use is expected to grow: In Southeast Asia, geothermal power generation is expected to increase tenfold from 2020 to 2050, reaching 276 million megawatt-hours, according to the International Energy Agency.

With their steaming volcanoes and bubbling lakes, Indonesia and the Philippines — two archipelagic Southeast Asian countries located on the seismically active “Ring of Fire” — are the second and third-largest users of geothermal energy in the world, with some of the highest geothermal energy potential. The U.S. is number one.

Yet Indonesia uses less a tenth of its gargantuan reserves, making up 6% of its power supply. In the Philippines, about 8% of geothermal capacity has been developed, constituting 14.6% of the country’s energy use, the country’s largest source of renewable energy.

Both countries plan to expand use of geothermal energy as they transition away from fossil fuels: Indonesia aims to increase the share of geothermal power generation by at least 8% by 2030, making it the second-largest renewable energy source after hydropower. The Philippine government is targeting several projects to boost geothermal capacity by adding nearly 1.5 gigawatts, nearly doubling its current use.

But the exploratory stage of geothermal development — when companies do tests and drilling to confirm the size, temperature, pressure, and potential production rates of sites — is expensive and risky. That makes it hard to attract finance for development, said Shigeru Yamamura, an energy specialist at the Asia Development Bank.

“That’s the most difficult part of developers, because (financially) they cannot take 100% of the exploration risk themselves,” Yamamura told The Associated Press.

Climate finance for geothermal development is limited for most Southeast Asian nations, accounting for only 9% of finance available for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — a political and economic bloc of ten states in the region, which includes Indonesia and the Philippines.

A 2024 ASEAN energy report said “blended finance” using both public and private sources, grants and green bonds could help bridge the gap.

The Philippine government has announced green energy auction schemes for geothermal energy and is preparing a “smart green grid plan” that prioritizes renewable energy — vital to enable private developers to get financing from banks. This signals progress in policy support for investment, Yamamura said.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has focused on geothermal as part of the country’s energy transition. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources says it’s working to shorten permitting times and considering ways to increase rates of return on investments in geothermal projects. The state electric utility, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, also said it’s committed to ramping up geothermal energy development.

The World Bank is providing a $150 million loan to scale up Indonesian investments in geothermal energy by reducing the risks of early-stage exploration. The Green Climate Fund and the Clean Technology Fund are providing a $127.5 million.

Even when finance is secured, community pushback can slow development.

In Indonesia, residents of villages have protested projects, citing safety and environmental concerns: Several geothermal sites in Indonesia have had deadly gas leaks in the past five years.

Some Indonesian communities don’t understand what geothermal energy is and how they could benefit from its development, said Timothy Ravis, a doctoral student in global development at Cornell University.

Protests at geothermal sites in the Philippines have led at least one company to pay royalties to Indigenous groups worried about land degradation caused by geothermal development.

Governments and businesses should work to gain the consent of communities near projects to help ensure they succeed, said Brommer.

“We need to show that this development benefits all people, not just a company,” she said. “It’s not about being a good neighbor, it’s about being the best neighbor and really working with communities to respect their concerns.”

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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December 2, 2024
The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say

NEW YORK — Distant, ancient galaxies are giving scientists more hints that a mysterious force called dark energy may not be what they thought.

Astronomers know that the universe is being pushed apart at an accelerating rate and they have puzzled for decades over what could possibly be speeding everything up. They theorize that a powerful, constant force is at play, one that fits nicely with the main mathematical model that describes how the universe behaves. But they can’t see it and they don’t know where it comes from, so they call it dark energy.

It is so vast it is thought to make up nearly 70% of the universe — while ordinary matter like all the stars and planets and people make up just 5%.

But findings published earlier this year by an international research collaboration of more than 900 scientists from around the globe yielded a major surprise. As the scientists analyzed how galaxies move they found that the force pushing or pulling them around did not seem to be constant. And the same group published a new, broader set of analyses Tuesday that yielded a similar answer.

“I did not think that such a result would happen in my lifetime,” said Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, a cosmologist at the University of Texas at Dallas who is part of the collaboration.

Called the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, it uses a telescope based in Tucson, Arizona to create a three-dimensional map of the universe’s 11-billion-year history to see how galaxies have clustered throughout time and across space. That gives scientists information about how the universe evolved, and where it might be heading.

The map they are building would not make sense if dark energy were a constant force, as it is theorized. Instead, the energy appears to be changing or weakening over time. If that is indeed the case, it would upend astronomers’ standard cosmological model. It could mean that dark energy is very different than what scientists thought — or that there may be something else altogether going on.

“It’s a time of great excitement, and also some head-scratching and confusion,” said Bhuvnesh Jain, a cosmologist at the University of Pennsylvania who is not involved with the research.

The collaboration’s latest finding points to a possible explanation from an older theory: that across billions of years of cosmic history, the universe expanded and galaxies clustered as Einstein’s general relativity predicted.

The new findings aren’t definitive. Astronomers say they need more data to overturn a theory that seemed to fit together so well. They hope observations from other telescopes and new analyses of the new data over the next few years will determine whether the current view of dark energy stands or falls.

“The significance of this result right now is tantalizing,” said Robert Caldwell, a physicist at Dartmouth College who is not involved with the research, “but it’s not like a gold-plated measurement.”

There’s a lot riding on the answer. Because dark energy is the biggest component of the universe, its behavior determines the universe’s fate, explained David Spergel, an astrophysicist and president of the Simons Foundation. If dark energy is constant, the universe will continue to expand, forever getting colder and emptier. If it’s growing in strength, the universe will expand so speedily that it’ll destroy itself in what astronomers call the Big Rip.

“Not to panic. If this is what’s going on, it won’t happen for billions of years,” he said. “But we’d like to know about it.”

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Associated Press video journalist Mary Conlon reported from New York.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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November 20, 2024
US to tighten restrictions on energy development to protect struggling sage grouse

BILLINGS, Mont. — President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday proposed tighter restrictions on oil, solar and wind energy development across more than 6,500 square miles of federal land in the U.S. West to protect a declining bird species.

However, it is doubtful the changes would survive under President-elect Donald Trump.

Greater sage grouse — chicken-sized birds known for an elaborate mating ritual— were once found across much of the U.S. West. Their numbers plummeted in recent decades because of energy exploration, wildfires, disease and other pressures.

A 2015 agreement shepherded by the Obama administration kept the birds off the endangered species list, by imposing limits on where and when development could occur across their 270,000-square mile range.

Now officials with the Interior Department want to make the protections even stronger. Their plan would eliminate loopholes that allowed development in areas considered crucial to the bird’s long-term survival. New solar and wind projects would be excluded, and oil and gas exploration could only occur from drilling platforms located outside the protected areas.

Trump has pushed to open more public lands to energy development in line with his mantra to “drill baby drill.” During his first administration, officials attempted to scale back the Obama-era sage grouse protections, but they were blocked in court.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said Friday’s proposal would boost sage grouse while allowing development on some government lands to continue. She said the plan was based on the best science to protect the bird.

“For too long, a false choice has been presented for land management that aims to pit development against conservation,” Haaland said in a statement.

Yet the agency’s attempt to find a middle ground fell flat with environmentalists, industry representatives and Republican elected officials.

Most of the land at issue — about 4,700 square miles — is in Nevada and California, according to government documents. Affected parcels also are in Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Montana and the Dakotas.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon lamented what he called the administration’s “extreme indifference” to his state. The Republican governor said new layers of federal regulation would hinder practical solutions for the grouse.

“We have shown how to successfully manage this bird and do so in a way that allows for protection of core habitat alongside responsible development,” Gordon said.

Environmentalists, meanwhile, said officials had squandered a chance to put in place meaningful protections that could halt the grouse’s slow spiral towards extinction. They noted that loopholes allowing development would remain in place across nearly 50,000 square miles of public lands.

“It’s death by a thousands cuts,” said Greta Anderson with Western Watersheds Project, an environmental group involved in previous sage grouse lawsuits. “The Biden administration could have stopped the cutting, and it didn’t. The fact that it’s less bad doesn’t mean it’s not bad.”

Federal officials predicted only minimal economic impacts. They said energy companies already steer clear of sage grouse habitat, where there are limits on when and where work can be done near breeding areas. Those companies can still find opportunities on other public lands, the officials said.

That was disputed by an energy industry representative. Kathleen Sgamma with the Western Energy Alliance said the Biden administration already had limited leasing in sage grouse habitat.

“So they’ve denied access and then say companies are avoiding them anyway,” Sgamma said. “That’s disingenuous.”

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management will accept protests against Friday’s proposal until Dec. 9. Final decisions on changes to the agency’s land management plans will be made after the protests are resolved.

A related proposal to help sage grouse would block for 20 years new mining projects on more than 15,625 square miles in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. That proposal was part of the 2015 Obama-era protections. It was canceled under Trump then restored by a court.

An analysis of the mining ban will be published by the end of the year, according to the Interior Department.

Greater sage grouse once numbered in the millions across all or portions of 11 Western states. Populations have dropped 65% since 1986, according to government scientists.

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November 8, 2024
Amazon, Google make dueling nuclear investments to power data centers with clean energy

Amazon on Wednesday said that it was investing in small nuclear reactors, coming just two days after a similar announcement by Google, as both tech giants seek new sources of carbon-free electricity to meet surging demand from data centers and artificial intelligence.

The plans come as the owner of the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear power plant said last month it plans to restart the reactor so tech giant Microsoft can buy the power to supply its data centers. All three companies have been investing in solar and wind technologies, which make electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions. Now they say they need to go further in the search for clean electricity to meet both demand and their own commitments to cut emissions.

Nuclear energy is a climate solution in that its reactors don’t emit the planet-warming greenhouse gases that come from power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and gas. The demand for power is surging globally as buildings and vehicles electrify. People used more electricity than ever last year, placing strain on electric grids around the world. Much of the demand also comes from data centers and artificial intelligence.

The International Energy Agency forecasts that data centers’ total electricity consumption could reach more than 1,000 terawatt hours in 2026, more than doubling from 2022. Estimates suggest one terawatt hour can power 70,000 homes for a year.

“AI is driving a significant increase in the amount of data centers and power that are required on the grid,” Kevin Miller, Amazon Web Services’ vice president of global data centers, told The Associated Press, adding: “We view advanced new nuclear capacity as really key and essential.”

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said she’s thrilled Amazon is the latest to “BYOP” or “bring your own power” to the buildout of data centers. Granholm spoke at an event for Wednesday’s announcement at Amazon’s second headquarters in Virginia. Virginia’s governor and two U.S. senators also attended.

The United States aims to reach 100% clean electricity by 2035. Granholm said small modular reactors are a “huge piece of how we’re going to solve this puzzle,” a way to phase out fossil fuel power while responding to the increasing electricity demand from data centers and new factories. She said her department will provide $900 million to deploy more of these reactors.

Small modular reactors are a type of nuclear reactor that can generate up to roughly one-third the amount of power of a traditional reactor. Developers say small reactors will be built faster and at a lower cost than large power reactors, scaling to fit needs of a particular location. They aim to start spinning up electricity in the early 2030s, if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives permission to build and operate their designs and the technology succeeds.

If new, clean power isn’t added as data centers are developed, the U.S. runs the risk of “browning the grid,” or including more power that isn’t made from clean sources, said Kathryn Huff, a former U.S. assistant secretary for nuclear energy who is now an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The reactors are currently under development, with none currently providing power to the electric grid in the U.S. Big investors can help change that, and these announcements could be the “inflection point” that makes scaling up this technology truly possible, Huff said.

Jacopo Buongiorno, professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, echoed that, saying the industry needs customers who value the reliability and carbon-free attributes of nuclear and are willing to pay a premium for it at first, until a number of the next-generation reactors are deployed and the cost comes down.

On Monday, Google said it was signing a contract to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors that Kairos Power, a nuclear technology company, plans to develop.

The news highlights “the technologies that we’re going to need to achieve round the clock clean energy, not only for Google but for the world,” Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of energy and climate, told the AP.

With Kairos, Google said it expects to bring the first small modular reactor online by 2030, with more to come through 2035. The deal is projected to bring 500 megawatts of power to the grid. For context, Google consumed more than 24 terawatt hours of electricity last year, according to the company’s annual environmental report. One terawatt is equal to 1,000,000 megawatts.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s announcements Wednesday included working with utility Dominion Energy to explore putting a small modular reactor near its existing North Anna nuclear power station in Virginia. It’s investing in reactor developer X-energy for its early development work, and collaborating with regional utility Energy Northwest in central Washington to put four of the X-energy reactors there.

Combined, the three announcements could account for more than 5,000 megawatts of power by the late 2030s with the possibility of more. All of that is still likely only a small fraction of the company’s total energy consumption, a figure that Amazon does not report publicly.

New reactor designs pair well with industrial applications because they can be built on a small footprint and generate reliable power, with some able to provide high-temperature heat too, at the site, said Doug True, chief nuclear officer at the industry trade association, Nuclear Energy Institute.

“It seems like a really good fit to support those facilities, and for a lot of different applications depending upon the amount of power that’s needed by the customer,” he said.

Both Amazon and Google have committed to using renewable energy to address climate change. By 2030, Google has pledged to meet net-zero emissions, and run carbon-free energy every hour of every day on every grid where it operates. It says it has already matched 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases on an annual basis. However, the company has fallen short on decreasing its emissions.

Amazon has said it would match all of its global electricity consumption with 100% renewable energy by 2030, and recently announced it met that goal early in 2023. Though the company has matched its consumption as far as purchases of an equivalent amount of renewable energy, that does not necessarily mean it is using that to power its operations.

Amazon saw its electricity emissions drop 11%, but direct emissions — known as Scope 1 — increased 7%, according to its 2023 sustainability report. The company is also targeting net zero-carbon by 2040.

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Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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October 16, 2024
Hormone Imbalance is Ruining Your Energy, Mood, and Life
Toxins, stress, trouble sleeping, medications – all of these things can disrupt our hormones and the consequences of being unbalanced have disastrous knock-on effects for both men and women.

Here are some tell-tale signs that you have a hormone imbalance:
- You’re often tired and lethargic
- You have mood swings and are often irritable
- Your libido isn’t what it used to be
- You have trouble with your weight
- You have trouble sleeping
- You struggle to concentrate
- You’re often anxious
Many people suffer from these symptoms and just shrug it off as a side-effect of everyday life. What if it’s not though? What if there are simple natural remedies that can revitalize you and get your hormones rebalanced and alive and kicking? It’s time to reclaim your health.

Healthy Energy Checklist

If you’re often feeling lethargic and/or suffering from some of the above symptoms then you need to take a step back and assess the basic aspects of your life.

How’s your diet? Are you eating balanced meals that provide you with the nutrition and fuel that you need to focus?

Are you regularly exercising and moving your body so that you’re flushing blood throughout your body and keeping your aerobic and anaerobic mechanisms ticking over?

If the answer is no to one of these aspects, fix that first and then reassess how you are feeling.

If the answer is yes then you probably need to look at your hormone balance. Life is too short to be feeling low and you owe it to yourself to reclaim your youth and vibrancy.

Health hormones are one thing that you want to get right as naturally as possible. The use of synthetic hormones or manmade pharmaceuticals introduces too many unwanted side effects.

It’s all too easy to assume that all of our challenges are modern ones and that they require modern solutions but there are thousands of years of wisdom that we shouldn’t ignore. Ancient peoples from all around the world discovered the power of natural herbs and medicines that offer incredible benefits.

The amazing thing is that now we know more about them, we can combine the best of all of these ancient herbs and formulate powerful combinations that our ancestors could only dream of.

Not enough people know about this, but you’re about to!

The Natural Solution: Discover the Power of Life-Changing Herbs

More and more people are waking up to the limitations and side effects of over-the-counter modern medicines and instead are exploring herbal medicines that have been used for millennia.

One company making inroads in hormone balance is Lost Empire Herbs.

Lost Empire Herbs brings a modern twist to ancient herbal formulations with products such as Stag Swag for men and Athena Woman’s Formula for women.

But what exactly is in these products and why are they so life-changing?

Swag Stag: The Ultimate Hormone Health Formula for Men

Issues such as low testosterone and vitality are increasingly common in men as they age. We all know that men possess higher levels of testosterone than women, but what exactly does this hormone do?

Unfortunately, modern lifestyle factors such as stress, processed foods, and environmental toxins can cause havoc on testosterone levels leading to exhaustion, weakness, and depression.

This is where Lost Empire Herbs’ Swag Stag remedy can come in: Swag Stag is formulated specifically for me to aid in their natural production of testosterone, energy, and performance.

One of the key ingredients in this solution is Elk Antler, a highly regarded ingredient that’s rich in IGF-1, a compound that supports muscle recovery, regeneration, and widespread energy levels. Elk Antler has been used for centuries for its illustrious regenerative properties.

Additionally, the formulation contains the following key ingredients:
- Pine Pollen: Known for its natural ability to boost testosterone, pine pollen is crammed with phytoandrogens which are plant hormones that mimic the effects of testosterone in the body. Pine pollen helps increase energy, improve muscle mass, and enhance libido.
- Cistanche: Found in the desert, Cistanche has wide-reaching benefits ranging from anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and memory improvement. Moreover, Cistanche is reported to show stimulation of growth hormone and a reduction of impotence.
Remember, exercising and hitting the gym are only part of the equation for vitality. Your diet and getting your hormonal balance in order are essential parts of the health equation too.

Athena Women’s Formula: Extraordinary Hormone Support for Women

It’s well known that hormone imbalance in women can cause all sorts of issues from weight gain to premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Women have a whole host of challenges when it comes to hormone health and this varies throughout a woman’s life as the menstrual cycles begin and end with menopause.

Nature to the rescue again?

Athena Women’s Formula by Lost Empire Herbs comes with a packed powerful blend of herbs designed to support women through every stage of life and improve hormone imbalance in women.

What makes Atena Women’s Formula so powerful and effective?

It’s all about combining the potency of natural herbs that complement each other in balancing hormones, increasing energy, and promoting overall well-being. Here’s some more information about these herbs:
- Dong Quai: Otherwise known as female ginseng, this ancient Chinese herb grows in the cool high mountains of East Asia. Traditionally, the herb has been used to improve blood health, regulate the immune system, and relieve pain. However, women in particular can benefit from the super-herb as it has been found to alleviate issues such as PMS, menopause, and period cramps. It’s no wonder then that they call it female ginseng!
- Shatavari: Shatavari is an adaptogenic herb that’s said to help the body cope with physical and emotional stress. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and it’s been used to alleviate all sorts of ailments from ulcers to kidney stones to depression. Moreover, Shatavari regulates the production of natural hormones in women and balances levels of estrogen.
- Goji Berries: Goji berries are everywhere in the wellness industry these days and with good reason, these incredible tiny berries are used to manage a whole host of health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and fever. Goji berries are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, and fiber.
- Schisandra Berries: These purple-red berries have been used across Russia and Asia for generations due to their magnificent health benefits. Schisandra Berries is said to have positive effects on Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, and depression. Additionally, studies have shown that they’re super effective in alleviating symptoms of menopause.
- Pine Pollen: Pine pollen has been used in medicine for thousands of years. Anti-aging properties and antioxidants, pine pollen is an effective natural herb that makes for an excellent addition to this fine formula.
Lost Empire Herbs

Now that you know more about these amazing products, let’s talk a little more about the company behind them.

Lost Empire Herbs is dedicated to empowering individuals to take control of their health through the power of nature. Founded by three brothers, this family business was armed with the idea of “performance herbalism”.

The purpose of Lost Empire Herbs is to harness the potential of high-performance humans through the use of potent herbal extracts gathered from throughout the world. If you haven’t gathered by now, their primary focus is on hormone health which as we know now is an underappreciated factor of how we feel in everyday life. We need our hormones in check now more than ever before in a world full of hormone-disrupting toxicity that may be present in our food, our water, our industries, and throughout our lives.

Their herbal formulations are backed by independent third-party lab testing, with stricter standards than government agencies, which are posted available for anyone to see on their website.

All sales are backed by a 365-day money-back guarantee where a customer doesn’t have to return anything. They’re so confident in the power of their herbal remedies that if a customer does not experience a noticeable difference in their health, they do not pay.

Lost Empire Herbs specializes in potent extracts including spagyrics, utilizing the lost art of legitimate laboratory alchemical processes. Their website features detailed education, from modern science to ancient wisdom, not just to help people use the herbs but to live an overall holistic and healthy lifestyle.

Their commitment to quality goes beyond the herbs as they have great customer service too. They’ve even got a phone number where you can call and talk to a real person, not just a robot.

They offer a wide range of powders, capsules, and tinctures to support many health and performance needs. An online quiz helps guide even a complete herbal newbie to find something that can likely support you best.

Reclaim Your Hormone Health

Modern-day times throw a whole heap of challenges at us and the last thing that we need is to feel lethargic, anxious, and irritable.

Life’s just too short to not be on top of our A-game so you owe it to yourself to be on top of your hormonal balance.

In this article, we recommended two products by Lost Empire Herbs due to the intricate attention to detail that they have utilized in their formulations and their commitment to rigorous testing, a money-back guarantee, and excellent customer service.

Reading this article might just have changed your life.

Are you ready to reclaim your hormone health?

* In partnership with our friends at Lost Empire Herb* Photo courtesy of Lost Empire Herb

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

* The information available on ewellnessmag.com, including text, graphics, and other materials is for informational purposes only. Reliance on any information in ewellnessmag.com is at the user’s own risk. Sponsored product placement may appear in the article. The visitor of this website acknowledges that the information available on or through ewellnessmag.com is not and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Copyright © 2024 Brawo Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
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September 30, 2024
Energy Vault and SOM – Reshaping Sustainable Architecture
Energy Vault & SOM partner to revolutionise building design with integrated gravity energy storage, accelerating carbon payback and sustainable urban development.

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) have announced an exclusive global partnership that promises to reshape the landscape of sustainable architecture and energy storage.

This collaboration aims to integrate cutting-edge gravity energy storage systems (GESS) into building designs, potentially revolutionising the way we approach energy efficiency in urban environments.

A Meeting of Innovators

Energy Vault, the sustainable energy storage solutions company, has partnered with SOM, the firm behind the Burj Khalifa and One World Trade Center. This pairing brings Energy Vault’s gravity energy storage technology with SOM’s engineering and design expertise.

Robert Piconi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Vault, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Our strategic partnership with SOM opens a new multi-billion-dollar market segment for Energy Vault focused on the future of sustainability in new building design and energy efficiency.”

The alliance is spearheaded by SOM Partners Adam Semel and Scott Duncan, alongside Structural Engineer Bill Baker, renowned for his innovative approach to complex structural challenges.

Semel emphasised the partnership’s potential, saying, “This partnership with Energy Vault is a commitment not only to accelerate the world’s transition away from fossil fuels but also to explore, together, how the architecture of renewable energy can enhance our shared natural landscapes and urban environments.”

The G-VAULT™ Family: Redefining Energy Storage

At the heart of this partnership lies Energy Vault’s G-VAULT™ family of sustainable solutions.

These systems combine proven energy storage principles with modern engineering and an AI-enabled software orchestration platform. The result is a flexible, low cost infrastructure asset for power delivery without energy storage medium degradation.

The G-VAULT product suite has expanded beyond the original EVx™ platform to include several new designs:

EVu: The Skyscraper of Energy Storage

The EVu represents a significant leap forward in integrating energy storage into urban architecture.

This superstructure tower design, reaching heights of over 300 metres and potentially up to 1,000 metres, can house multi-GWh of gravity-based energy storage. The innovative hollow structure not only powers the building itself but can also meet the energy needs of adjacent buildings.

One of the most groundbreaking aspects of the EVu design is its potential to achieve carbon payback within an unprecedented 3-4 years. This accelerated timeline marks a significant milestone in sustainable building design and operation.

EVc: Reinventing Pumped Hydro Storage

The EVc introduces a modular water-based system that enables the deployment of large-scale pumped hydro energy storage within tall building structures.

This cylindrical design is optimised to withstand environmental factors such as wind and seismic events, making it a versatile solution for various urban settings.

EVy: Harnessing Natural Topography

By applying Energy Vault’s core gravity technology to existing slopes and topography, EVy offers energy storage with minimal environmental impact.

This approach reduces the need for man-made structures, potentially achieving ultra-low-cost capital expenditures by eliminating the construction of fixed-frame structures.

EV0: The Future of Pumped Hydro

The EV0 system retains all the technical and economic benefits of traditional pumped hydro storage whilst eliminating the negative consequences associated with concrete production and disruption to existing wildlife ecosystems.

This “modular pumped hydro” system utilises a unique, low-cost fabric vessel called the “Water Tree” to store water in pre-manufactured modules, allowing for rapid deployment.

A Global Impact

Energy Vault’s growing portfolio of GESS deployments has already made significant inroads into global markets. In 2023, the company announced the commissioning of the world’s first EVx™ gravity storage system in China, the largest energy storage market globally. Additional projects totalling 3.7 GWh have been announced in China through license and royalty agreements.

The company has also expanded its reach into the African market, signing a new license and royalty agreement for its gravity technology portfolio with grid partners in South Africa.

This 10-year agreement is expected to result in multi-GWh of long-duration Energy Vault GESS deployments across the 16-country Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

SOM’s Commitment to Sustainability

For SOM, this partnership represents an extension of its longstanding commitment to innovation in sustainability.

The firm has been at the forefront of developing sustainable building practices, from researching new materials to industry leadership as a carbon-neutral company.

Recent examples of SOM’s dedication to sustainability include:
- The carbon-absorbing Urban Sequoia project, presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP)
- Development of a bio-based, carbon-neutral alternative to concrete in partnership with Prometheus Materials
- A new standalone service assessing whole-life carbon emissions for buildings and portfolios
The Future of Sustainable Architecture

The partnership between Energy Vault and SOM represents a significant step forward in the integration of renewable energy technologies into architectural design.

By combining Energy Vault’s innovative gravity energy storage systems with SOM’s expertise in structural engineering and design, this collaboration has the potential to transform the way we think about energy efficiency in urban environments.

As cities around the world grapple with the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable development, solutions like those proposed by Energy Vault and SOM offer a glimpse into a future where buildings not only consume energy more efficiently but also actively contribute to energy production and storage.

The success of this partnership could pave the way for a new generation of buildings that are not just aesthetically pleasing and functionally efficient but also serve as critical components of a more sustainable and resilient urban energy infrastructure.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Energy Vault and SOM marks a significant milestone in the quest for sustainable urban development. By combining innovative energy storage technology with world-class architectural design, this partnership has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach energy efficiency in buildings.

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change and the need for renewable energy solutions, partnerships like this one offer hope for a more sustainable future.

The integration of gravity energy storage systems into building design not only promises to reduce carbon emissions but also to create a new paradigm for urban energy management.

With projects already underway in China and Africa, and the potential for global expansion, the impact of this partnership could be felt in cities around the world. As we look to the future, the work of Energy Vault and SOM may well come to define the next generation of sustainable urban architecture.

Salon Privé

Salon Privé Magazine is the quintessence of luxury lifestyle journalism, renowned for its sophisticated portrayal of the opulent world since its inception in 2008. As a vanguard of high-end living, the magazine serves as an exclusive portal into the realms of haute couture, fine arts, and the aristocratic lifestyle. With over a decade of expertise, Salon Privé has established itself as the definitive source for those who seek the allure of luxury and elegance.

The magazine’s content is crafted by a cadre of experienced journalists, each bringing a wealth of knowledge from the luxury sector. This collective expertise is reflected in the magazine’s diverse coverage, which spans the latest in fashion trends, intimate glimpses into royal lives, and the coveted secrets of the affluent lifestyle. Salon Privé’s commitment to quality is evident in its thoughtful collaborations with industry titans and cultural connoisseurs, ensuring that its narratives are as authoritative as they are enchanting.

With accolades that include being voted the number one luxury lifestyle magazine in the UK, Salon Privé continues to be at the forefront of luxury journalism, offering its discerning readership a guide to the finest experiences the world has to offer. Whether it’s the grandeur of global fashion weeks, the splendor of exclusive soirées, or the pursuit of wellness and beauty, Salon Privé Magazine remains the emblem of luxury for the elite and the aspirants alike.