Latest news with #FrankDavis
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
As hydrogen hype meets reality in Newfoundland, companies eye markets closer to home
Frank Davis, an assistant vice-president with Pattern Energy, tells reporters that his company would be a competitive supplier of wind energy to Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, June 4, 2025, in St. John's, N.L. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie ST. JOHN'S — The global green hydrogen industry is lagging behind its own hype, but executives from six companies vying to build wind-powered hydrogen operations in Newfoundland and Labrador say it's too soon give up. They told an energy industry conference in St. John's, N.L., on Wednesday that it has been difficult to find big enough buyers — or 'offtakers' — to make the projects viable. But economic uncertainty in the United States could create opportunities in Canada, some said. And there may be a chance to supply wind power to the local grid in Newfoundland and Labrador. 'None of the audience, none of the members, should think for a second that, 'Oh boy, renewable energy in Newfoundland is on hold for a little while, while Europe figures out what it wants to do,'' said Frank Davis, an associate vice-president with Pattern Energy. 'My message to some of the folks in the room is, 'Get your engineering teams ready,'' said Jeff Murphy, vice-president of capital projects with North Atlantic. The race to launch a green hydrogen industry in Canada's easternmost province began in earnest in 2022 when Olaf Scholz, the former chancellor of Germany, visited western Newfoundland in 2022. He signed a memorandum of understanding with former prime minister Justin Trudeau to develop a transatlantic green hydrogen corridor, with the first shipments hoped to begin this year. That no longer seems possible. 'In 2021, 2022 the world thought everything was going to be running on hydrogen,' Karlis Povisils, with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, told reporters after the event. 'I think the hype has boiled off, and that's a healthy thing. The players that are left are the ones that are serious and committed.' The local green energy industry will ultimately rely largely on exports, Povisils said. But in the meantime, he has his eye on the local power grid in Newfoundland and Labrador. The province's Crown utility company is expected to post a call this year for companies interested in supplying the grid with wind-generated power. It's the most important 'near-term opportunity' on the horizon, Povisils said. Davis agreed. 'If Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro wants to be a buyer of wind energy, we'd certainly consider ourselves to be a low cost, very competitive supplier of that wind energy,' he told reporters. In western Newfoundland, World Energy GH2 remains the only company that has cleared the province's environmental assessment process. It is also exploring other options as the global market develops, including data centres and a 'renewable energy campus.' The idea is to invite industries to set up shop in Stephenville, N.L., and use clean power supplied by World Energy GH2, a spokesperson explained. 'We are under threat,' said Richard Hugh, the company's chief executive, referring to Canada's tense relationship with United States President Donald Trump. 'We do need to figure out how we capitalize on our position as a global superpower, and our global superpower currency is our renewable natural resources.' Hugh said the company has already invested more than $100 million into the project. Most of the companies have proposed erecting wind turbines in select areas across the island of Newfoundland to power plants to produce ammonia. That ammonia would then be shipped across the Atlantic to be converted to hydrogen and used for fuel. North Atlantic is looking at using liquid organic hydrogen carriers, which absorb and release hydrogen through chemical reactions, rather than ammonia, Murphy said. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the costs of shipping in order to attract buyers, he said. Buyers will move the project toward a final investment decision. 'We're trying to do something that no one's ever done before,' Murphy said. 'Moving large amounts of hydrogen across an ocean is hard and it's expensive, and we are working through those challenges.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Emmitsburg renews with Frederick County Sheriff's Office for police coverage
Emmitsburg will continue to have two full-time Frederick County Sheriff's Office deputies covering the town for fiscal year 2026, which begins on July 1. The deputies will cost the town $383,933 total, which includes salary, health insurance, retirement and vehicle costs, according to town documents. This represents an 8.89% increase compared to FY 2025, due largely to an expected 3% increase to the Uniformed Law Enforcement Pay Scale, a step increase for each of the two deputies and other associated benefits, according to the documents. Cathy Willets, the town manager, said the increase this time was about half of the previous year's increase. Mayor Frank Davis said last year was a contract year between Fraternal Order of Police lodges and the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, which accounted for much of the increase in FY 2025. 'Hopefully, we'll never see that again,' he said. Commissioner Cliff Sweeney said that he remembered being able to afford three deputies for the same price as two now, not too long ago. Willets said that in FY 2023, the town spent $233,000 for two deputies, which is $150,000 less than the deputies cost in FY 2026. Davis said that within the last year, the town conducted a study to look at alternatives, such as starting its own police department, but concluded that contracting with the sheriff's office was the most cost-effective approach. 'It's the best deal in town, believe it or not,' he said. Commissioner Amy Boehman-Pollitt agreed, noting the startup costs required to start a police department for the town, such as with vehicles and insurance. Ultimately, the plan and purchase was approved unanimously at the April 7 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FEMA cancels in-person National Fire Academy classes in Emmitsburg, disrupting travel, training
On Friday night, Frank Davis, the mayor of Emmitsburg, received a phone call from an employee of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. The call was to let Davis know that FEMA was canceling all in-person classes at the National Fire Academy on Seton Drive, effective immediately. The academy, which opened in 1974, offers free specialized courses and advanced management programs to thousands of people across the country. Its classes are on its Emmitsburg campus, off-campus across the U.S., and online. Davis, a retired federal fire chief, said he was told on Friday that students at the campus would be sent home the next day. 'Unfortunately, I wasn't totally surprised. With the happenings all across the nation, I figured that we would be affected in some way,' he said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. 'I was hoping they'd forget about us, but they didn't. ... I was just hoping that it's very short-lived.' On Friday, FEMA sent an email to instructors and students that all in-person classes are canceled, but some virtual classes would continue, according to The Washington Post. FEMA sent another email to instructors saying that virtual classes that don't have an instructor and that don't need funds will continue. Davis said he's still trying to get a copy of the cancellation email. He said the FEMA employee he spoke to indicated the agency planned on keeping the classes suspended for several weeks. When The Frederick News-Post called the number listed online for the academy's superintendent on Monday, the voicemail message said the suspension of classes is 'legitimate,' any travel plans for those courses should be canceled, and further information will be forthcoming. On Feb. 20, reported that an annual Women in Fire training seminar slated for May 17 and 18 in Emmitsburg was canceled. FEMA's decision to suspend in-person classes comes amidst executive orders from the Trump administration aiming to dramatically cut down the federal workforce and federal spending. President Donald Trump has said he wants to get rid of FEMA and ordered in January the creation of a council to evaluate the agency. The executive order alleges the agency is inefficient, and there is 'political bias.' FEMA did not respond to requests for comment Monday about the cancellations and when the courses may resume. The National Fire Academy's courses cover topics such as fire investigation, hazardous materials, various areas of fire prevention, emergency medical services and emergency responses to terrorism. In fiscal year 2021, the academy trained over 98,700 students through more than 2,200 courses, according to the academy's website. As of Monday afternoon, the course catalog website showed that some on-campus and off-campus class sessions had been canceled, but not every course was marked as canceled. None of the online classes was marked as canceled. Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services Fire Chief Tom Coe said Monday afternoon that DFRS members registered for courses had not received cancellation emails. He said they suspect their classes may be scheduled far out enough that they haven't been canceled yet. U.S. Fire Administration spokesperson Teresa Neal did not respond to requests for comment Monday asking how many courses were canceled and how many are continuing. Bill Delaney, a spokesperson for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, did not respond to requests for comment on whether the course cancellations would impact the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend events in May. Marc Bashoor, a former fire chief in Maryland and emergency services director in West Virginia, told The Associated Press that the National Fire Academy isn't a luxury, but a necessity. He said the academy was about to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training. 'It is the one avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and with each other,' Bashoor said. 'If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy.' Davis echoed Bashoor's sentiments — he said the academy's courses are 'some of the top training for the national fire leaders from all across the country.' He said he was trained through the academy, and that training helped him have a successful fire service career. He said that if the suspension is short-term, there likely won't be significant consequences, but a long-term suspension could notably impact 'the nation's fire service.' For fire prevention professionals, it could impact their career development and their chances to move into higher professional roles. For volunteers, participating in academy courses may be the only training they receive. Davis also said the academy 'employs so many people, and the business communities would be affected in such a negative way.' 'Even the town would be affected because the academy is one of our largest water consumers, so that would affect the income to the town itself,' he said. Davis said he reached out to state and federal elected officials asking them to keep the town informed of any updates. U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney released a statement on Monday calling on FEMA to reverse the cancellations. 'From wildfires in California to residential structure fires in communities across the nation, my constituents and all Americans face an ongoing and dangerous threat to life and property,' she said in the statement. 'The Trump administration's order to pause lifesaving training in Emmitsburg not only flies in the face of a judge's most recent demand to resume all federal spending, but also weakens the level of preparedness for our first responders across the nation.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Brighton doctor speaks out on Ozempic: a wonder drug or weight-loss whirlwind?
Is there really a drug that makes you lose weight effortlessly? Enter Ozempic, the buzz-worthy medication everyone's talking about. Originally intended to manage type 2 diabetes, it has now become the unexpected darling of the weight-loss world. But is it as magical as it sounds? Let's dive in and find out why this drug might be revolutionising weight management – and why you might soon find yourself asking your doctor for it. What's the Big Deal with Ozempic? Imagine a drug that dampens down your appetite to the point where finishing your plate becomes a challenge. For anyone who's struggled with dieting, this sounds like science fiction. But Ozempic, or semaglutide, works in a fascinating way: it tricks your brain into thinking you're full. It does this by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone our gut releases after eating, which slows down digestion and tells the brain, 'We're good, no need for more food.' The results are impressive enough to make even the most sceptical doctors, like me, take notice. But is it really the miracle cure that many are hoping for? (Image: Argus) Dr Frank Davis The High-Stakes Hype: Can It Change the NHS? Here's where the conversation turns serious: with obesity straining healthcare systems worldwide, a drug like Ozempic could be transformative. If more people could achieve significant, sustainable weight loss, conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and joint issues might decrease. Could Ozempic save the NHS billions by reducing obesity-related healthcare costs? Potentially. But there's a catch: the drug is expensive, and with its skyrocketing popularity, there's already a supply issue. Diabetic patients, who genuinely need it to manage blood sugar, are finding it harder to access. And with prescriptions extending to those seeking weight loss alone, we must ask – who should be at the front of the line? How Does Ozempic Feel? The Mind Control Trick One of the most intriguing aspects is how Ozempic changes people's relationship with food. Patients describe feeling full after just a few bites, even those who have always struggled with portion control. It's like having a switch flipped in your brain. Suddenly, that extra slice of pizza or dessert doesn't beckon. But how does it do this? By slowing down how quickly your stomach empties and altering hunger signals sent to the brain, Ozempic manages to take willpower out of the equation. Will It Help You Fit Into That Party Dress? Yes, if it works for you, Ozempic might just get you into that elusive outfit before the Christmas party. But is it worth the potential side effects? Some users experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain – not exactly what you want as you sip your festive cocktails. In rarer cases, there's a risk of pancreatitis, a severe and painful condition. The reality is, if you want the benefits, you need to commit. Ozempic isn't a quick fix; it's intended for ongoing use. Stop taking it, and the weight usually creeps back on. It's like a high-stakes game where the cost isn't just the prescription but potentially a long-term dependency. Will my Doctor Prescribe It? If your BMI classifies as overweight or obese, and you have related health concerns like high blood pressure or joint pain, you're more likely to be considered for the prescription. You shouldn't solely look for a prescription as a short cut to lose weight and your doctor will want to know that you've tried losing weight in the traditional ways. Doctors are cautious for a reason. Medications like Ozempic come with a spectrum of considerations: side effects, long-term safety, and ethical dilemmas about who benefits most when supply is limited. My advice? Have an honest conversation with your doctor about your goals and health history. The Social Phenomenon: Is Everyone Secretly on It? It's not hard to wonder if that friend who looks inexplicably slimmer or the celeb who turned heads at their latest appearance might be using Ozempic. The drug has gained such widespread use that it's not a stretch to assume it's behind some of the dramatic transformations we see. But that doesn't mean it's for everyone or that it's the only answer. Why Bother With Diets Now? This question is valid, especially when a medication can shift the weight battle in your favour. But even with Ozempic, lifestyle changes matter. The best long-term results come from combining the drug with balanced eating and exercise. While Ozempic can help start the process, maintaining a healthy weight is still a holistic endeavour. Final Thoughts Ozempic is a game-changer, no doubt. But it's not a silver bullet. It offers hope for sustainable weight loss and could revolutionize approaches to obesity and related diseases. However, like any wonder drug, it should be used with eyes wide open and under medical supervision. For now, consider it an exciting tool – not the entire toolbox – for weight management.
