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GE Vernova Turbines Will Power Texas Wind Farms

GE Vernova Turbines Will Power Texas Wind Farms

Yahoo18-03-2025

GE Vernova said it has an agreement with global energy developer RWE to provide 109 of GE Vernova's 2.8-MW wind turbines for two projects in Texas. The new Honey Mesquite wind farm in Glasscock County, along with a repowering project at the Forest Creek wind facility near Big Spring, each will have GE Vernova turbines with 127-meter rotors. The company on March 18 said the deals for each site were booked last year, with delivery of the wind turbines for each project expected later this year. RWE said the projects will bring that company's rebuilt and repowered wind power generation capacity across the U.S. to more than 1 GW. The companies on Tuesday said the developments will support hundreds of construction jobs, in addition to advanced manufacturing jobs at GE Vernova's facility in Pensacola, Florida. GE Vernova said the nacelles and other equipment for the turbines will be produced at the Pensacola factory. "We are pleased to have an opportunity to support a leader in the wind industry and appreciate RWE's confidence in our business, our technology, and our people," said Scott Stalica, executive director, North American Commercial Operations for GE Vernova's Onshore Wind Business. "These projects are another example of how wind power can support the country's growing energy needs, while creating U.S. jobs and bolster energy security." Kevin Kroll, COO for RWE Clean Energy, said, "RWE's investments in West Texas symbolize our steadfast commitment to producing homegrown energy and strengthening U.S. manufacturing and supply chains through our partnerships with great American companies like GE Vernova. Together, we are contributing to American energy dominance and we are fostering continued economic opportunity and job creation in rural communities across the country." GE Vernova's Onshore Wind division has a total installed base of about 56,000 turbines, with about 120 GW of installed generation capacity worldwide. —Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.

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Details about Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sánchez's lavish Venice wedding spark outrage from locals: 'Holding their home hostage'
Details about Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sánchez's lavish Venice wedding spark outrage from locals: 'Holding their home hostage'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Details about Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sánchez's lavish Venice wedding spark outrage from locals: 'Holding their home hostage'

Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding to Lauren Sánchez has residents of Venice, Italy, worried about what the lavish affair will mean to their city, both logistically and environmentally. Bezos, the Amazon founder and one of the richest people in the world, is set to marry Sánchez on June 24 on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore. As VnExpress reported, the wedding is a high-end event, with many celebrities, politicians, and businesspeople on the guest list. For all of the publicity and news attention likely to be given to the wedding, there are also the couple's efforts to keep it relatively private. They have reportedly booked out five luxury hotels and reserved many, if not all, of Venice's water taxis, per the Daily Mail. Street closures and heightened security measures are also expected. Some locals believe the event will bring an economic windfall to Venice. But others are more skeptical, with some saying Bezos and Sánchez are "holding their home hostage." "It's going to be a great big nuisance," one tour guide told the Guardian. "I think most people are of the same opinion. We are exasperated by a whole series of problems related to overtourism and this is the umpteenth thing foisted on the city that we have to suffer." With such a high concentration of wealthy people arriving at Venice for the event, there also arise significant environmental concerns. In particular, many attendees are expected to travel to Italy on private jets — on which one flight can create more carbon pollution than the average person creates in an entire year. Others may stay on megayachts, which studies have found to be the largest polluters of any single item owned by the wealthy. This is especially troubling in Venice, which has been hit hard by pollution and a warming climate. Rising sea levels have exacerbated the problem of Venice's famed lagoon and canals frequently flooding the city. Partly in response, the city has put in an elaborate flood-gate system to combat rising tides, but each use costs more than $160,000 — and possibly closer to $300,000, as The Washington Post has reported. Bezos is also no stranger to backlash for his environmental habits. In particular, critics point to his $500 million yacht, Koru, that emits more than 7,000 tons of carbon each year, or about 450 times the average American's carbon footprint, according to calculations cited by the New York Post. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

AI at the Border: How Algorithms Grant or Deny Travel
AI at the Border: How Algorithms Grant or Deny Travel

Time Business News

timean hour ago

  • Time Business News

AI at the Border: How Algorithms Grant or Deny Travel

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Your passport is no longer your key to crossing a border—your data is. In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) systems will routinely determine whether a traveller is allowed to board a plane, pass through immigration, or set foot on foreign soil. What was once a matter of documents and visas is now an opaque calculation made by machines in milliseconds. Amicus International Consulting, a global authority in legal identity transformation, second citizenship, and secure travel planning, warns that AI has become the gatekeeper of global movement, often without public oversight, due process, or the ability to appeal. In a new global advisory titled 'AI at the Border: How Algorithms Grant or Deny Travel,' Amicus outlines how immigration and customs enforcement agencies are now deploying predictive AI tools to scan not only biometric data, but also digital behavior, financial transactions, and metadata footprints to calculate risk, intent, and eligibility. The result: a new form of silent surveillance that restricts travel before the journey even begins. From Facial Recognition to Predictive Risk: The AI Shift at Global Borders While AI has been used in airline logistics and fraud detection for over a decade, its integration into border enforcement is a more recent—and far more powerful—development. Immigration systems now use AI to: Assess risk scores based on travel history, duration of stay, prior visas, and associations based on travel history, duration of stay, prior visas, and associations Flag anomalies in behaviour at eGates and customs checkpoints in behaviour at eGates and customs checkpoints Predict visa overstays based on demographic, employment, and social media metadata based on demographic, employment, and social media metadata Deny boarding to individuals deemed 'security risks' by real-time data scoring systems to individuals deemed 'security risks' by real-time data scoring systems Trigger alerts for passengers who exhibit travel patterns similar to past offenders The traveller may never know that an algorithm made the decision. No questions are asked. No documents are rejected. A silent 'no' is issued—and the gate remains closed. 'Immigration officers still wear uniforms,' said a privacy strategist at Amicus. 'But it's AI systems that decide whether your name even reaches their desk.' Case Study 1: U.S. Citizen Denied Boarding in Singapore In 2024, a 27-year-old American citizen was denied boarding at Changi Airport en route to Dubai. Although he held a valid passport and confirmed e-visa, an airline-integrated AI system flagged his transaction patterns as 'suspicious.' A recent spike in anonymous cryptocurrency transactions, combined with a prior visit to Beirut, had triggered the system's behavioural threshold. He was denied boarding without explanation. Amicus helped file a data privacy request, revealing that the denial was issued by an algorithm operated by a third-party airline security vendor. The Systems Making the Decisions Amicus has identified the top AI tools now influencing border control decisions: 1. CBP's TVS (Traveler Verification Service) – United States Used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, TVS integrates biometric scans with watchlist databases and travel patterns to approve or deny entry—sometimes without human review. 2. EU's ETIAS Pre-Screening System – Europe The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) uses predictive algorithms to flag visa-exempt travelers based on AI-detected inconsistencies or affiliations. 3. China's Social Behavior Scoring Systems In China, AI-enhanced social credit systems assess travelers based on online conduct, travel behavior, and facial recognition—denying train or air travel access to those flagged by opaque metrics. 4. Private Airline and Hotel Risk Engines Major airline alliances now use predictive AI to screen passengers based on itinerary patterns, payment methods, and social graph data. Hotel chains do the same—sometimes refusing bookings based on flagged names. Silent Blacklists: No Appeal, No Explanation One of the most concerning aspects of AI-based travel denial is lack of transparency. There is often no formal notification of the denial reason. of the denial reason. The algorithm is considered proprietary , and its decision is final. , and its decision is final. Appeals processes are unavailable or buried in third-party vendor contracts. Data used may include old, incorrect, or incomplete information—with no mechanism for correction. Amicus notes that a growing number of travelers are being denied boarding or entry without ever being formally rejected by a human authority. Who Gets Flagged? Amicus has documented the most common reasons travelers are flagged by AI systems: Irregular layovers through known red-flag countries through known red-flag countries Multiple short-duration trips that resemble trafficking or espionage patterns that resemble trafficking or espionage patterns Payment with anonymous digital currencies Social media associations with known activists or journalists with known activists or journalists Prior visa overstays , even when resolved legally , even when resolved legally Use of VPNs or encrypted messaging apps during travel during travel Facial recognition mismatch due to aging, transition, or error Case Study 2: Trans Woman Flagged by Facial Recognition in the EU A transgender woman traveling under a legally changed passport was flagged at Frankfurt International Airport when her facial recognition scan failed to match historical biometric records. The system locked her into 'secondary verification,' which led to a temporary denial of entry. Only with legal representation and gender documentation assistance from Amicus was she allowed to proceed. The AI system had no protocol for legally transitioned individuals—treating her face as fraudulent. Digital Trails That Define Permission Every click, search, and swipe now feeds into machine learning systems used by immigration authorities and airline security divisions. Examples include: Hotel reservation metadata suggesting visits to political regions suggesting visits to political regions Mobile app geolocation indicating presence near protest areas indicating presence near protest areas Flight booking time-of-day data (e.g., booking last-minute at 3 a.m.) (e.g., booking last-minute at 3 a.m.) Email headers or Wi-Fi networks linking travelers to flagged individuals linking travelers to flagged individuals Search history related to asylum, political topics, or VPN guides Amicus emphasizes that travel risk scoring is now an extension of one's digital identity. Solutions Offered by Amicus International Consulting To help individuals stay mobile while maintaining privacy and legality, Amicus offers: 1. Algorithmic Travel Risk Audit A full review of a client's known and unknown data exposure—including biometric flags, payment trails, visa patterns, and online associations. 2. Second Citizenship and Clean Profile Passports Acquisition of passports from jurisdictions with minimal treaty-sharing or AI integration, allowing clean re-entry into global mobility systems. 3. AI Deconfliction Protocols Legal structuring of alternate travel routes, visa applications, and lodging that avoids data tripwires known to trigger algorithmic alerts. 4. Biometric and Identity Reinforcement Assistance for clients with altered appearance, transitioned gender, or changed legal status to update global biometric databases lawfully. 5. Emergency Border Legal Intervention In the event of algorithmic denial or unexplained refusal, Amicus provides documentation, appeals procedures, and diplomatic coordination. Case Study 3: Whistleblower Flagged in Qatar In 2025, a European financial analyst who leaked offshore tax evasion documents tried to board a flight to Southeast Asia via Doha. AI systems detected multiple matches between his digital fingerprint and a leaked whistleblower database from 2020. He was detained for questioning by local security. Amicus coordinated with international human rights lawyers and provided new travel credentials from a second jurisdiction, enabling his relocation to a safe zone. The Ethics of Delegating Human Rights to Machines As more countries and corporations hand over decision-making power to AI, Amicus raises critical concerns: Can a machine detect the nuance of asylum claims? Is an algorithmic rejection subject to international human rights law? Do individuals have a right to see and contest the data used against them? Without clear standards or legal oversight, AI may become judge, jury, and gatekeeper of global mobility. The Future of Travel: Prediction Over Permission By 2030, experts predict that more than 80% of international travelers will pass through AI-governed entry systems, where: Border guards act only after AI gives clearance Entire nationalities may be soft-banned without announcement Emotional AI detects 'stress indicators' and flags 'pre-criminal' behavior Entry refusals are issued based on digital footprint, not paperwork 'Borders are becoming firewalls,' said an Amicus strategist. 'And you're the packet being inspected.' Final Guidance: Stay One Step Ahead of the Machine Amicus recommends that individuals—especially journalists, dissidents, whistleblowers, LGBTQ+ travellers, and privacy advocates—take proactive steps: Secure a backup passport under a clean legal identity under a clean legal identity Scrub metadata from prior documents, emails, and bookings from prior documents, emails, and bookings Use legal digital separation tools for personal and travel identity for personal and travel identity Map travel routes through low-AI-risk jurisdictions Never assume your freedom to move is guaranteed About Amicus International Consulting Amicus International Consulting specializes in second citizenship, legal identity transformation, biometric risk mitigation, and strategic global movement solutions. Operating in over 30 jurisdictions, the firm protects at-risk individuals from algorithmic profiling, surveillance traps, and unlawful travel denial. Contact InformationPhone: +1 (604) 200-5402Email: info@ Website:

Letter: Republicans try to distract us while inflating national debt
Letter: Republicans try to distract us while inflating national debt

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Letter: Republicans try to distract us while inflating national debt

The federal debt is $36.2 trillion. If that amount were divided among every American we'd each owe $106,000. The Congressional Budget Office reports that the tax and spending bill passed by House Republicans could add $2.4 trillion to our debt. The U.S. treasury is spending more than $1 trillion a year on debt repayment. The word 'insanity' comes to mind. Putting ordinary Americans on the hook to pay for billionaires' tax cuts is cruel and un-American. It is now evident what President Donald Trump means when he says 'Make America great again.' It's a return to the time of the robber barons during the Gilded Age. The gold paint, gold fabrics and gold-plated fixtures in the Oval Office should erase any doubt. With an administration surrounded by billionaires, will history repeat itself? We have a soaring national debt and an administration enamored with accumulating wealth. Is this what people voted for? Does another Great Depression await the U.S.? This administration appears to be flooding the media with one distraction after another in order to hide our real problems. Jeanette Winkler Ruscombmanor Township

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