Latest news with #JimSpencer
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Green Energy's Role In A World Where AI Data Centers Are Power Hungry
On a sunny afternoon in April, a massive power outage swept across the Iberian Peninsula. Millions were left in the dark while businesses closed, travelers were stranded, and communication lines were cut. The diagnostics are still pending, but this incident has sparked a conversation about which fuel sources are best suited to guide us as artificial intelligence and data centers experience rapid growth. Renewables are essential, and their ability to support AI and data center growth is improving due to advancements in energy storage, grid intelligence, and demand-side innovation. However, for the foreseeable future, we must integrate clean energy sources with natural gas to ensure reliability. While green power and nuclear energy will be the backbone over time, the most optimal approach is to combine them right now. 'Thanks to a massive increase in the adoption of renewables and utility-scale battery storage in the U.S., along with the emergence of grid-enhancing technologies, our grid is better equipped to handle these stressors than it was just 5 years ago,' says Jim Spencer, chief executive of Exus Renewables North America, in an email exchange. 'Renewables are essential for powering AI data centers to keep up with rapidly increasing demand, keep costs low, and drive the next wave of economic innovation.' Political partisans blame competing energy sources for previous power outages. Inevitably, advocates of traditional fuels emphasize that wind and solar energy only function when weather conditions allow, necessitating backup from batteries or natural gas, which incurs additional costs. In this context, renewables provided 70% of the energy during the Iberian Peninsula blackout. However, this outage cannot be attributed to wind and solar but rather to the grid's inability to respond quickly to unexpected issues. Two significant power losses occurred at substations in southwestern Spain, causing a sudden drop in power supply and affecting the grid's voltage and frequency—the heartbeat of the grid. According to Spencer, green energy is the cheapest and quickest to integrate into the network. It works effectively alongside additional support systems like batteries, demand response, and fast-starting natural gas generation. Indeed, battery costs have dropped by more than 85% since 2010, which has improved reliability. Renewables can be co-located next to modular data centers. 'We must understand commercial readiness and cost," relative to when data centers come online," adds Ron Schoff, director of R&D for EPRI, during a United States Energy Association virtual press event I participated in. 'Our big challenge is that data center demand is coming between now and the next two to three years," noting that the system must be able to respond to rapid changes in supply and demand for electricity. Consider Wind Harvest, which claims its turbines are technologically superior and designed to operate in the harshest conditions. Because its turbines continue functioning when others fail, they can generate electricity even during storms or grid stress, preventing blackouts and maintaining grid stability. The company states that its wind mills are unique because they are vertical and closer to the ground than conventional tall horizontal turbines. Because they rotate around a vertical pole, they can handle wind from any direction. They can also operate in gusty and choppy conditions, often near the ground, where other turbines struggle. 'No one has yet made a turbine that can handle the gusty, turbulent conditions near the ground,' says Kevin Wolf, CEO of Wind Harvest, during the press event. 'They didn't have the aeroelastic modeling. Our turbines can then be integrated into these wind farms, allowing for the establishment of an AI data center in California or other windy locations near the ground. We can utilize the wind when it blows and also when it is calm. This opens up an entirely new resource.' As it stands now, renewable energy must work with other fuels to meet AI data centers' urgent and high demands. These centers have enormous power requirements and cannot afford to go offline, necessitating high-quality and affordable battery storage or backup solutions, such as natural gas units that fire up instantly. Meanwhile, AI is advancing, and various clean energy technologies—including long-duration storage, clean hydrogen, and small modular nuclear reactors—are not yet scalable. This leaves natural gas and large nuclear plants to run 24/7 to power AI data centers. The Trump Administration promotes coal for this purpose, although it cannot compete without substantial subsidies or regulatory favors. Coal is also inflexible and slow to ramp up, making it a mismatch. 'In a global marketplace increasingly challenged by seemingly infinite power demand driven by AI, we need an all-of-the-above approach to energy generation that expands the definition of renewable energy. This means renewable power that's always on, locally deployable, and designed to scale. Organic waste streams hold untapped energy,' says Cornelius Shields, founder of Kore Infrastructure, in an interview. The utility sector aims to provide reliable power at the lowest rates possible. This commitment contradicts coal's qualities, which is not just dirtier but also more expensive than renewables or natural gas. Most U.S. coal plants are decades old, and retrofitting them is too costly. Utilities make long-term decisions based on 20–40-year cost projections, while coal's market prospects continue to decline. Energy consumption is set to soar over the next 5 to 10 years due to the push for decarbonization and electrification and the growth of AI and data centers. To meet this challenge, we need modern grid technologies that can expand the network's ability to handle the increased demand for electricity. At the same time, we must retire aging coal, nuclear, and natural gas plants that have been in service for four decades. Welcome, renewables, which are stepping up; solar and battery storage accounted for 81% of the electric generation capacity additions last year. Major AI companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta have committed to operating entirely on renewable energy. This initiative responds to investor and regulatory pressure to reduce emissions and improve environmental footprints. AI data centers can be co-located in renewable-rich regions, alleviating stress on the central network. Guess what? Roughly 260,000 megawatts of power are poised to join the U.S. grid—more than double the current output from power plants. And here's the reality: according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 95% of this power is generated from solar, wind, and battery storage. 'It boils down to the power grid,' says Jason Huang, CEO of TS Conductor, during the virtual press event. 'We do not have enough capacity in the power grid. There are plenty of bottlenecks. We have the next-generation advanced conductor available—ready to be deployed on a large scale to address that issue, in a way that brings you affordability.' Unfortunately, the blackout in the Iberian Peninsula is not an anomaly but rather a consequence of regulatory inadequacies, grid technologies, and extreme weather events. Adding electricity demand to these existing dynamics only heightens the challenges and opportunities, necessitating greater research and development in cutting-edge grid and energy technologies. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the clean energy supply can meet the real-time demands of data centers.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Alan Turing papers saved from shredder could fetch £150,000
Nicknamed the father of theoretical computer science, Alan Turing's influence on modern life continues to be felt in the age of artificial intelligence. But despite this legacy, a cache of his most important papers was nearly shredded – only to be saved at the last minute when their significance was recognised at a family event. At auction next month, the papers are expected to sell for as much as £150,000 in 13 separate lots. Among the collection is the wartime codebreaker's personal signed copy of his 1938 PhD dissertation, Systems of Logic Based on Ordinals, valued at between £40,000 to £60,000. Also featured is his paper On Computable Numbers, also known as Turing's Proof, which introduced the world to the idea of a universal computing machine in 1936. It has been described as the first programming manual of the computer age and also has a guide price of £40,000 to £60,000. The papers, known as offprints, were produced in very small numbers and distributed among fellow scholars, making these incredibly scarce survivors of a kind that rarely ever appear on the market. Jim Spencer, the director of Rare Book Auctions of Lichfield, Staffordshire, was asked to assess the papers, which were handed to him in a carrier bag, and he is now overseeing their sale. 'Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to find in that carrier bag. I opened it and thought 'good lord',' he said. 'Intensively researching and cataloguing these papers has left me feeling that Alan Turing was superhuman. For me, it's like studying the language of another planet, something composed by an ultra-intelligent civilisation.' Turing played a vital role in cracking the German Enigma code when he worked at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, which was crucial to the allied victory in the second world war. His theories have been credited with informing and shaping modern artificial intelligence. Spencer said he expected interest would be strong in Silicon Valley, where Turing's influence continues. Turing was later persecuted for being gay and took his own life in 1954 aged 41. The discovery of the papers was the result of a series of serendipitous events. After Turing's death, his mother, Ethel, gave his papers to his loyal friend and fellow mathematician Norman Routledge. Routledge kept the papers for the rest of his life, storing them in the loft of his home in Bermondsey, south London. Routledge died in 2013 and his sister recovered the documents during a clearout. She stored them in her attic where they remained until she moved into a care home. Her daughters then came across the papers but did not realise their significance and planned to put them through a shredder along with other documents. But last November they took them to a family reunion event and one relative suggested they seek an expert opinion. This was where Spencer came in. 'These seemingly plain papers – perfectly preserved in the muted colours of their unadorned, academic wrappers – represent the foundations of computer science and modern digital computing,' he said. The papers include The Chemical Basis of Morphogenesis, from 1952. Thisis described as Turing's lesser-known masterpiece of mathematical biology, and his last major published work. It has since become a basic model in theoretical biology. Turing's life ended in tragedy. Charged as a criminal, barred from GCHQ, banned from the US and forced to undergo chemical castration, he took his own life two years after his conviction. 'This injustice, and the fact he didn't survive to see his enormous influence and impact, makes these papers feel so special,' Spencer said. The sale takes place on 17 June.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SBA recognizes outstanding West Virginia small businesses
FAIRMONT, (WBOY) — The West Virginia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrated its annual Small Business Awards celebration Wednesday at the Mollohan Research Center in Marion County, featuring 12 News Anchor Eric Minor as the emcee. SBA Regional Administrator Jim Spencer gave the keynote address. 'In West Virginia, there are over 115,000 small businesses,' said Spencer. 'One of the things we've talked about—if only ten percent of those small businesses created one new job this next year, that would be huge for the state of West Virginia. So, when you think about it, a lot of times in economic development, you want to go out and land the next 'big fish' and next big project, but we have the power in West Virginia to strengthen our economy just by one job at a time.' Advocates raise awareness for ovarian cancer in Fairmont The award winners included: SpaOasis in Fairmont, Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Hatfield Family Distillery in Charleston, Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year Paul Wissmach Glass Company in Paden City, Small Business Exporter of the Year and Mid-Atlantic Regional Winner Cathy Jo Higgins of The Developmental Advantage in Charleston, Small Business Person of the Year Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spencer named by Trump administration as new SBA Mid-Atlantic region administrator
bluefield — A local official is now working with the Trump Administration to assist with small business and entrepreneurship growth across the Mid-Atlantic region. Jim Spencer was recently named by U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler as the new SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. In his new position, Spencer will oversee SBA efforts in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Spencer most recently served as the executive director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority where he oversaw the development of a number of key projects, including Intuit's Downtown Prosperity Hub, the Omnis Building Technologies plant at Exit 1, the Bluefield Commercialization Station and most recently the 400 block demolition and rebuild project in Bluefield. Spencer said he is proud to work with the Trump administration and Loeffler to support small business growth, entrepreneurship and the SBA's recently announced Made in America manufacturing initiative, a campaign that is designed to restore American dominance and national security by empowering small manufacturers. 'Number one I never imagined in my career I would be allowed and afforded such a tremendous opportunity,' Spencer said. 'I'm on board and honored. It's a privilege to work with the five states and D.C. I believe in merit, hard work and dedication, and I think it shows that there are people that see some of the good efforts that have been done.' Spencer was sworn in as the new SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator on March 24. One of the primary goals of the U.S. Small Business Administration is to power the American dream of entrepreneurship. In his former role as executive director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority, Spencer was actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship in the region. On the federal level, the SBA seeks to empower entrepreneurship by providing job creators with the resources and tools they need to grow and expand their business. The agency also is actively involved with disaster recovery efforts, including the most recent federal disaster declaration for Southern West Virginia. 'I actually get daily briefings on that,' Spencer said of the current disaster declaration, adding that he was at the Disaster Recovery Center in McDowell County just earlier this month. The current disaster declaration stems from the Feb. 15 flood. But Spencer's primary goal as the new regional SBA administrator is to assist with small business and entrepreneurship growth in the Mid-Atlantic region. 'Each state has a district director, and that is sort of the leader on each of the states,' Spencer said. 'So those work with me. The goal with the SBA is we support existing businesses and work with entrepreneurship.' The Mid-Atlantic Region covers West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C. In his new role, Spencer will be working with each state, including West Virginia SBA District Director Karen Friel and Virginia SBA District Director Carl Knoblock. 'The Made in America initiative — I'm excited about that,' Spencer said of the recently announced manufacturing campaign, pointing to similarities to the Commercialization Station project that was launched in Bluefield several years ago. The Bluefield Commercialization Station was designed to serve as a mixed-use incubator for the Bluefield area. 'So when the President and Administratrator Kelly Loeffler came out with the Made in America initiative, our area had been focused on manufacturing for years,' Spencer said. 'It's very important for rural communities to be served. I think that is evidenced in them picking someone from a small community.' As part of the SBA's Made in America manufacturing initiative, Spencer said the SBA will be working to support President Trump's agenda to create good-paying jobs, secure U.S. supply chains and promote fair trade. The campaign specifically seeks to cut $100 billion in regulation; launch a Red Tape hotline to assist small business owners and manufacturers to share feedback and share onerous regulations for review; and to promote a skilled manufacturing workforce by partnering with agencies, trade schools and the private sector to create a pipeline of skilled workers to support manufacturing. Spencer said about 98 percent of American manufacturers are small businesses. 'Small business is the backbone of the American economy,' Spencer said. 'If you think about the importance of this — the majority of businesses in the United States are considered small businesses.' Spencer said his initial weeks on the job have been focused on individual calls with each of the states. He also hopes to make field visits to each of the states soon. 'We are doing individual calls with each state,' Spencer said of his initial outreach efforts as regional administrator. From there he plans to make field visits to the individual states. 'Well first off I'm getting ready to start traveling and I'm looking forward to traveling and listening to the other locations,' Spencer said. 'And we are doing round tables. So I'm interested and looking forward to when I can get out in the field. But also working with Maryland, Pennsylvania and also D.C. So I'm visiting those regions, and I want to be an asset to help those regions grow. I don't want to sit behind the desk.' Although he is now working for the federal government, and is currently stationed in Charleston, Spencer still lives in Bluefield. Spencer is excited about his replacement at BEDA, Sam Wolford, who is a former co-worker from his time in Tazewell County. 'It's an exciting time,' Spencer said. 'Sam and I worked together for about 20 years in Tazewell County. He is a top notch individual. Very smart and very talented. He and I have talked about projects and things like that and he and I have talked about coming out and hosting training.' Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PROGRESS 2025: New authority is pushing growth along King Coal corridor
A newly created economic development authority is hoping to be proactive when it comes to promoting growth along the King Coal Highway corridor in Southern West Virginia. The Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority held its first meeting last December on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington. The group met again this past February in Putnam County and their next meeting is scheduled for April, according to Jim Spencer of Buefield, who is serving as the authority chairman. 'The meetings are every other month,' Spencer said of the authority, whose primary objective is to look for opportunities for economic development and growth along the King Coal Highway corridor, which is West Virginia's routing of the future Interstate 73/74/75. The authority is composed of 15 members representing Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Spencer, who also serves as the executive director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority, was elected in December as the chairman of the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority. Leasha Johnson, who works for the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, was elected as the highway authority's vice chairman. Spencer said the group is working to identify several areas of focus for economic development and growth, including John Nash Boulevard in Bluefield. However, it may take another meeting or two before many of the priority sites along the entire length of the highway corridor are identified. 'I think you will see that,' Spencer said of future plans taking shape. The Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority was created by the West Virginia Legislature in 2024. Senate Bill 354, which passed during the 2024 regular legislative session and was signed into law by then Gov. Jim Justice, set the new authority into motion. Originally called the West Virginia Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority, the group opted to change its name to the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Corridor Authority (CAHEDA). The authority filed papers with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office as a 501©3, not-for-profit organization on November 18, 2024. It is the first time in several years that a state recognized committee associated with the King Coal Highway has been actively meeting. The last committee associated with the King Coal Highway was the King Coal Highway Authority, which was disbanded several years ago due to a lack of state funding. In addition to the authority itself being discontinued, the King Coal Highway Authority office was closed and its executive director retired when state funding was no longer available to support the position and office. The purpose of the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority is not to promote or assist with the actual construction of the highway. That's the job of the West Virginia Department of Highways, Spencer said. Instead the authority's goal is to simply promote economic development and growth along the future corridor of the King Coal Highway. A section of the future I-73/74/75 routing is already open to traffic in Bluefield extending from John Nash Boulevard to Airport Road. Construction also will begin soon on a new $58 million contract that involves the development of a new 2.5 mile stretch of the King Coal Highway near Bluefield that will take the interstate corridor from Airport Road toward Littlesburg Road, near Bluewell. A third project that will extend the the King Coal Highway from Littlesburg to Montcalm is currently under environmental review by the West Virginia Department of Transportation. In terms of Mercer County, Spencer said in an earlier interview areas that will be examined for potential economic development projects include John Nash Boulevard in Bluefield as well as land that is jointly owned by the cities of Bluefield and Princeton near Kee Dam, not far from the current section of the King Coal Highway that is now open to traffic. Members of the new authority, in addition to Spencer, include former Senator Bob Pylmale, Welch Mayor Harold McBride, who is representing the McDowell Economic Development Authority; Leasha Johnson with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority; David Lieving with the Wayne County EDA; Christy Laxton with the Wyoming County EDA; Jason Roberts with Region 1 Planning and Development Council; Chris Chiles with the Region 2 Planning and Development Council; Tim Burgess representing West Virginia Business and Industry; Heather Vanater, a utility company EDA representative; Marvin Woodie, who is representing manufacturing; James Owrey, who is representing energy; Nancy Ritter, who is representing aviation and air mobility; Terry Sammons, who is representing energy, mining and law; and former Senator Chandler Swope, who is serving as a at-large member. The King Coal Highway is a four-lane highway that will extend approximately 95 miles through Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming and Wayne counties along or near currently existing US 52 from US 119 near Williamson to Interstate 77 in Bluefield. In the bigger picture, the final Interstate 73/74/75 routing will run from Detroit, Mich., to Myrtle Beach, S.C., opening up a large swath of southern West Virginia to interstate access. — Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
