Latest news with #Richmond-based
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
PowerHouse Strengthens Core Leadership Portfolio with Dual Strategic Appointments
MCLEAN, Va., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerHouse Data Centers takes a decisive step in its bold growth plan with the appointments of John Adametz as Senior Vice President, Development & Construction, and Vardahn Chaudhry as Senior Vice President, Asset Management. The two executives bring distinct yet aligned expertise across digital infrastructure investments, operations and development that bolsters PowerHouse's commitment to responsible growth and delivering tailored solutions for hyperscale demands. With a development pipeline spanning more than 24 million square feet and 6.1 GW across six U.S. markets, PowerHouse continues to invest in leadership that can drive both speed to power and construction of data centers for hyperscale users across its portfolio. Adametz and Chaudhry are a part of the PowerHouse team, with combined expertise adding to our industry leading This collaborative leadership structure reflects a deliberate strategy that supports PowerHouse's model of delivering shovel-ready campuses that are engineered for hyperscale growth and sustained operational value. 'John and Vardahn bring a deep understanding of what it takes to not just build, but operate world-class data center campuses at scale,' said Doug Fleit, Co-founder and CEO of PowerHouse Data Centers. 'They know how to manage complexity, execute with discipline and most importantly—deliver value to our clients. This kind of experience matters when you're in an industry as fast pace and demanding as build-to-suite hyperscale data centers.' A Leadership Model Built for Scale and Stability Adametz brings more than 30 years of global, hands-on experience leading complex infrastructure projects with speed and precision. At Meta, he demonstrated his expertise in managing large-scale developments by leading partner strategy for leased capacity and design execution on multi-gigawatt campuses. Additionally, Adametz's 32-year tenure in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, where he led $8 billion annually in critical infrastructure planning, design, construction, and operations, highlights his ability to deliver high-impact projects in complex environments. At PowerHouse, Adametz will lead the daily development and construction operations. By focusing on scalable, resilient project delivery for Richmond-based projects as well as PowerHouse's broader portfolio, he will enhance the company's ability to meet the demands of hyperscale clients while ensuring long-term operational performance. Chaudhry's strong background in digital infrastructure investment and asset strategy positions PowerHouse to adapt and grow in a dynamic market. As Vice President of Investments at JBG SMITH, he managed an $85 million digital infrastructure and venture capital investment portfolio, including the establishment of a first-of-its-kind last-mile platform of fiber, data centers, small cell and spectrum assets—demonstrating his ability to develop new and flexible transaction structures, while executing strategic builds and acquisitions to drive long-term value. With earlier consulting experience at Accenture, he applies a data-driven, operational, and technical lens to meeting the evolving needs of hyperscalers. Chaudhry brings a unique perspective to PowerHouse, where he manages the entire lifecycle of the company's data center assets, from acquisition to implementation, working closely with partners and customers to deliver consistent, high-performing results. His strategic approach ensures PowerHouse not only meets current client needs but also stays ahead of emerging trends in cloud and AI infrastructure. A National Platform Backed by Expertise Together, Adametz and Chaudhry are key drivers of PowerHouse's commitment to building client-focused, sustainable and value-driven infrastructure solutions. Their combined skillset is instrumental to the company's innovation and competitive strategy. Both leaders will coordinate across regions and departments to ensure seamless execution and performance. Their partnership reflects PowerHouse's broader strategy: pair development precision with long-term asset value to deliver the kind of capacity hyperscalers rely on. Backed by AREP's oversubscribed $309 million Fund IV, PowerHouse is actively advancing large-scale, power-first campuses in Virginia, Kentucky and beyond—designed specifically for the AI and cloud workloads shaping tomorrow's infrastructure. About PowerHouse Data Centers PowerHouse Data Centers, fully owned and operated by American Real Estate Partners (AREP), is a pioneering developer and owner of next-generation data centers, providing sophisticated real estate solutions for hyperscalers that meet their market, data, utility, and space demands. Founded in 2021 with a primary focus on Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market, PowerHouse has strategically expanded into key markets across the United States. Today, PowerHouse is an established leader in world-class data center development with 86 data centers underway or in planning, representing more than 24 million square feet and 6.1 GW in six major markets. PowerHouse owns its land sites, offering flexible next-generation data center models, with unparalleled speed-to-market. As disruptors setting new industry standards, PowerHouse leverages proven leadership, technical expertise, and strategic partnerships to drive innovation. Drawing from valuable real estate and industry relationships, PowerHouse adeptly identifies and transforms land sites, delivering state-of-the-art BTS, powered shell, and full turnkey deployments at scale. PowerHouse's full suite of development services integrates asset strategy, fast-track approvals, infrastructure, on-site power procurement, and sustainable building practices into every project. Visit our newsroom for more information, and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE PowerHouse Data Centers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A smack in the face:' Vouchers holders fear federal housing cuts
Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond. (Photo courtesy of AIRVA Photography) As budget talks heat up in Washington, Southside Richmond resident Dana Wyatt is bracing for impact. After years of waiting for a housing choice voucher — a federally-funded program that operates like a rent coupon for qualifying tenants — she now fears she could lose it and once again become rent-burdened. This is because a series of White House budget requests sent to Congress in May proposes deep cuts for housing programs that Virginia has long relied on to help struggling renters, first-time homebuyers, and those who are unhoused and in need of shelter. Federal housing funds also support organizations that fight housing discrimination. 'It's like a smack in the face,' Wyatt said. Even after finally receiving her voucher last year, Wyatt found it didn't offer much 'choice' at all. She said multiple landlords turned her away, highlighting what she called the irony of the program's name. Her case is now being investigated by Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), a Richmond-based housing advocacy organization. She worries not just for herself, but for others who could lose critical safety nets if the federal government slashes its housing support to state and local agencies. That's a concern that U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, plans to raise with her congressional colleagues. If enacted, the Trump administration's budget would eliminate or reduce funding streams from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including Community Development Block Grants, the Fair Housing Initiative Program, and the vouchers that people like Wyatt depend on. The housing cuts are among other proposed changes to federal agencies like HUD, as Congress also explores cuts to Medicaid — which supports health insurance for low-income and disabled residents. The wishes from the White House are part of President Donald Trump's plan to reduce taxes across all income levels. McClellan emphasized that while Trump and his Republican allies in Congress may celebrate the tax cuts for the 'wealthiest few at the federal level,' states and localities will be forced to make up for lost federal funds — often by raising taxes themselves. 'It's all just going to flow downhill,' McClellan said. 'States and localities are going to have to raise taxes.' The budget proposals are moving on parallel tracks in Congress. While Trump's 'big beautiful bill' — a reconciliation package that includes Medicaid cuts — has passed the House and awaits Senate deliberation, his formal request, which includes housing aid cuts, is already under review in the Senate. During his 2024 reelection campaign, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, a sweeping policy blueprint published by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Still, the Foundation had praised Trump's first-term record and many of the current budget proposals mirror the project's recommendations. Chapter 15 of the project, which focuses on housing, calls for Congress to 'consider a wholesale overhaul of HUD that contemplates devolving many HUD functions to states and localities with any remaining federal functions consolidated to other federal agencies.' Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) spokesman Lance Warren called the requests from the Trump administration a 'radical reshaping of the social safety net.' In practical terms, Warren said, it would leave localities holding the bag on 'promises made' — from vouchers and downpayment assistance to homelessness services. 'The federal government is pulling the rug out from communities like ours even as they claim to be setting the table,' he said. Nearly 200,000 homes in Virginia receive some form of support from HUD, according to an analysis from the Virginia Housing Alliance. About 50,000 of those residents use vouchers like Wyatt's. Beyond programs for renters or first-time homebuyers, localities in Virginia also rely on federal funding to meet the temporary housing needs of residents. Nearly 6,000 Virginians receive housing and support in HUD-funded shelters. In the 2024 fiscal year, HUD allocated nearly $60 million for homelessness services in Virginia, while the state contributed about $30 million. Other streams of federal housing funding also enable housing organizations to work with vulnerable populations. Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick, director of HOME, expressed concerns about the long-term viability of some of them. 'HOME will be around to fight the fight, but we have partners around the country that are unsure what their outcomes are going to look like,' he said. To offset the $550,000 cut his organization is facing, Fitzpatrick explained that HOME has scaled back some office operations to trim costs. Laura Dobbs, a policy director with HOME, also shared anecdotes of clients served by the organization — assistance that could be jeopardized for others like them if HUD cuts come to fruition. For instance, she explained how HOME and Commonwealth Catholic Charities advocated for an unhoused military veteran who had been denied housing vouchers. From sleeping in a tent behind a movie theater to his legal battle to obtain a voucher, he's now celebrating a year living in his Richmond apartment, Dobbs said. Likewise, a Community Development Block Grant supported a fund through HOME that helped with downpayment assistance for a Black first-time home owner. Reports have indicated disparities in homeownership for people of color due to a variety of factors, including the lingering impact of historically racist housing policies. Though the individual was able to afford her monthly mortgage payments, the upfront cost required to purchase a home had been a barrier until she was able to access down payment assistance through HOME. This is because HOME's Investment Partnership program both supports first-time homebuyers and localities' efforts to build or preserve affordable housing units. Localities also utilize Community Development Block Grants for a variety of infrastructure projects, ranging from maintaining existing public housing units to creating other types of affordable housing. While federal lawmakers like McClellan continue to push for or against the Trump administration's proposed funding cuts, Virginia's state lawmakers are bracing for the potential fallout. Last month, Gov. Glenn Youngkin carved out $900 million from Virginia's budget surplus as a 'cushion' for uncertainties at the federal level. Meanwhile, members of the legislature's appropriations committees have pondered whether they will need to reconvene for a special session later this year to address federal funding shortfalls — or if those issues will dominate the 2026 legislative session. It's possible lawmakers will focus on how to allocate the surplus Youngking withheld during negotiations over the most recent state budget. A member of the House of Delegates Appropriations committee, Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, is working to determine what he and his colleagues might need to address. 'What's troubling is that even before this potential cut was announced, we were in a housing crisis at all levels,' he added. Though local governments have direct influence over housing supply and affordability through tools like zoning codes and development approvals, state lawmakers from both parties have explored what levers they can pull to support or encourage local efforts. Many of those proposals, however, did not survive this legislative session — either failing in committee or falling to Youngkin's veto pen. Wyatt, the Richmond resident, is flustered by the proposal from the White House but remains hopeful that her state and local officials can keep their promises to constituents like herself. 'I just hope that everything turns out okay,' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Supreme Court leaves in place state bans on some semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity gun magazines
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear arguments in a significant Second Amendment challenge to Maryland's ban on certain semi-automatic weapons, a move that leaves the state's law in place. Maryland's ban, enacted after the deadly 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, prohibits the sale or ownership of certain semi-automatic weapons such as AR- and AK-style rifles. The law was challenged by David Snope, a state resident who wants to purchase those rifles for self-defense and other purposes. The Supreme Court also declined to hear a challenge to Rhode Island's ban on high-capacity gun magazines, leaving that law in place. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented from the court's decision not to hear the pair of cases. The 2022 Rhode Island law prohibits the possession of large-capacity feeding devices or magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It requires owners of such devices to either modify them to fit the 10-round limit, sell them to a firearms dealer, remove them from Rhode Island or hand them over to law enforcement. The law required such action to be taken within 180 days of its passage, after which time violators faced up to five years in prison. Meanwhile, in the Maryland case involving automatic rifles, the Richmond-based federal appeals court upheld Maryland's law over the summer, finding that the guns at issue are 'dangerous and unusual weapons' and therefore are not covered by the Second Amendment's protections. The majority also concluded that there were historical analogues to the Maryland statute that were adopted by state legislatures across the country in the 19th and 20th century. US Circuit Judge Harvie Wilkinson, who was named to the bench by President Ronald Reagan, wrote for the court that 'we decline to wield the Constitution to declare that military-style armaments which have become primary instruments of mass killing and terrorist attacks in the United States are beyond the reach of our nation's democratic processes.' In dissent, US Circuit Judge Julius Richardson, a Trump nominee, wrote that the majority opinion 'disregards the Founders' wisdom and replaces it with its own.' Following the Supreme Court's blockbuster 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which struck down a strict requirement in New York that residents show cause to obtain a carry permit, the justices have largely avoided major guns cases. In July, for instance, the court declined to take up a challenge to a similar ban on assault-style weapons in Illinois. The decisions have had the practical effect of leaving the gun prohibitions in place amid a fierce debate playing out in lower courts over exactly what the Supreme Court meant by requiring firearm laws to be 'consistent with this nation's historical tradition.' Last year, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law that prohibits Americans who are the subject of certain domestic abuse restraining orders from owning a weapon, despite the fact that no identical law existed at the time of the nation's founding. Thomas said in a solo dissent on Monday that the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals had erred in upholding the Maryland law. The prohibition, Thomas wrote, could not be squared with the 2022 decision in Bruen, which he authored, that said the nation's gun laws must have a connection to history to survive constitutional scrutiny. 'It is difficult to see how Maryland's categorical prohibition on AR–15s passes muster under this framework,' Thomas wrote in dissent. This story has been updated with additional details.
Business Journals
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Dominion CEO: Trump tariffs could add $500M to cost of gigantic Va. offshore wind farm
Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. says the cost of its massive Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project could balloon by as much as $500 million if the Trump administration's tariffs remain in place through the project's targeted late-2026 completion date. So far, the project — which is being billed as the country's largest offshore wind farm — has incurred $4 million in tariff-related expenses, Dominion CEO Bob Blue said last week on the company's first-quarter earnings call.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norfolk radio visionary Bob Sinclair Sr., owner of Sinclair Communications, dies at 79
Broadcasting titan Bob Sinclair Sr. shaped the world of radio in Hampton Roads. The longtime owner of Norfolk-based Sinclair Communications died on April 20 at 79. His son, Bob Sinclair Jr., and longtime employees carry on his legacy. 'He loved the radio business,' said Sinclair Jr., whose father named the station BOB-FM for his only son. Sinclair Sr. is credited for the company's growth from a single Norfolk station to five. His father, John Sinclair, founded the company in 1966. Today, the Sinclair portfolio includes AM 790 WNIS, 93.7 BOB-FM, US 106.1, 96X and WTAR (96.5 FM and 850 AM). Sinclair's nine radio stations in Austin, Texas, are managed under Waterloo Media. Sinclair Sr. was a visionary, trailblazer, risk-taker and the driving force behind the company, said Julianne Worden, general sales manager and program director for WNIS/WTAR. She worked for him for more than half her life. She said he transformed the world of radio for her and countless others. 'It's hard to imagine a world without him, but his words and stories will live with us always,' Worden said. Despite a five-year bout with cancer, Sinclair Sr. remained committed to the company's day-to-day operations and was actively involved throughout his life. 'A lot of people said he was one-of-a-kind; he had a presence when he was around,' said Sinclair Jr., who joined the company in 2003 and is general manager for the Norfolk stations. Office manager Julinda Britt recalled how Sinclair Sr. revolutionized workplace culture by relaxing the dress code, allowing staff to bring children to work and by calling all employees by their first names. Britt was Sinclair's first local employee when she joined the family business 47 years ago. 'He switched from country music to talk radio and the rest is history,' Britt said. Honey Radio (WHNE) swapped its country music format for news and information and became WNIS in 1979. Sinclair Sr. had moved to Norfolk in 1976 to manage the station while overseeing two other Richmond-based stations. The West Virginia native had earned his bachelor's degree in history from Harvard University before joining his father's company. Sinclair Sr., who later moved to the Austin area, made radio fun but challenging, exciting yet predictable and a welcome refuge, said Ginger Power, a national sales manager who began her career with the company 35 years ago. 'He was larger than life and lived life to the fullest till the very end,' she said. Tony Macrini, morning talk show host on WNIS, joined the station in 1991. 'I will forever be in his debt,' Macrini said on the air last week. 'He hired me and took a chance when nobody else would.' Luciana Varverud also feels gratitude to the man who offered her a job right after she graduated from Old Dominion University in 1999. Varverud, now FM sales manager, said he gave many employees the chance to develop their careers. 'He was a lot more than a boss; he was a mentor and someone I looked up to,' she said. 'He is going to be missed tremendously.' Steve Burton, president of Chesapeake-based Equity 1, has done a radio show on WNIS about financial advising for the past 21 years and credits Sinclair for helping his business grow. 'He was a solid guy who always treated me well,' Burton said. Virginia Beach-based Wave Riding Vehicles was the first advertiser when 96X was launched in 1993. Manager Dave Lewis recalled his company's co-founder Les Shaw encouraging him to get on the air as an advertiser — 'pronto!' 'Bob — and Les — were two of the most successful, eccentric and passionate people about their businesses that I've ever had the privilege to work with,' Lewis said. 'With what WRV was doing with surfing, Big Bob and the 96X crew were doing on radio with music.' Dave Morgan, director of engineering, and Dave Thompson, IT manager and engineer, have a combined 59 years working for Sinclair and both attest to his ongoing devotion. The duo expressed that they will remember him for his kindness, work ethic and perseverance. 'He was a pillar in my life,' Thompson said. Referencing the 1967 song 'There is a Mountain' by Donovan, Morgan said, 'He was the mountain, and now the mountain's gone.' In his free time, Sinclair Sr. enjoyed sailing, golf and travel, often hitting the links at both well-known and isolated courses. He journeyed to more than 100 countries and all seven continents, even penning a book, 'Around the World in 80 Minutes.' He is survived by his wife, Lisa Heath, and four children, a stepdaughter and eight grandchildren. Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836,
