Latest news with #StuartThompson
Winnipeg Free Press
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeggers eager to speak at city hall on proposed residential zoning changes
Sweeping changes meant to attract more homes to many Winnipeg lots are up for debate at city hall, with more than 50 residents expected to weigh in. A hearing began Monday morning to consider the changes, which would allow up to four housing units to be built on a single lot in most residential areas, and permit fourplexes up to 12 metres tall within 800 metres of high-frequency transit stops. The changes would remove requirements to complete a potentially time-consuming city application process and public hearing to get such proposals approved. Winnipegger Stuart Thompson said he fears the changes will have unwanted side effects. 'I recognize that we need the housing, but the main concern is the lack of a voice that we'll have after this goes through (due to the removal of required public hearings on many projects). These changes are going to be permanent,' Thompson said in an interview. 'I recognize that we need the housing, but the main concern is the lack of a voice that we'll have after this goes through (due to the removal of required public hearings on many projects).'– Winnipegger Stuart Thompson He said lot sizes near his home are typically about 40 feet wide. Under the new rules, building a triplex next door with limited side yards would create several problems, he said. 'It's going to be like looking at a giant stucco wall. If there are any windows along that wall, then they're looking down on me in my backyard. I've got no privacy. The height of the house will be creating excessive shade. I won't be able to plant anything in my yard. It's those types of impacts I really don't think they're seeing,' he said. By contrast, Michael Hems said he believes the major zoning changes would be a step in the right direction. 'We don't have the money to support our infrastructure that we already have (in Winnipeg), so we should really start thinking about stopping our outward sprawl,' Hems told the Free Press. The South Osborne resident said his neighbourhood offers a local example of 'density done right.' 'We just need to look into our mature communities and see these are streets that we can use as a model — a real good mix of housing for all types of people,' he said. 'I think these are moderate changes but changes that will get us in a better direction and allow a bit more flexibility for accommodating the housing needs of people in Winnipeg.'– Dylon Martin, spokesperson for pro-infill group Yes in My Backyard Winnipeg Dylon Martin, a spokesperson for the pro-infill group Yes in My Backyard Winnipeg, agreed. 'I think these are moderate changes but changes that will get us in a better direction and allow a bit more flexibility for accommodating the housing needs of people in Winnipeg,' said Martin. The city's official proponent for the change noted the major shift is aimed at streamlining construction to get homes built faster. 'The zoning changes… (aim to) make it easier to build housing in more locations. It is one tool out of many to address the housing supply in our country,' said John Kiernan, a former Winnipeg planning, property and development director, who now acts as a project co-ordinator for the city. Kiernan said the new zoning rules include restrictions that aim to balance the nationally imposed changes with local needs, including ensuring minimum sewage capacity and lot sizes for projects, as well as setting maximum building heights. 'It's very difficult to find housing in Winnipeg right now. There's a lot of pressure…. We need more housing built as quickly as possible.'– Mayor Scott Gillingham Mayor Scott Gillingham said he'll keep an 'open mind' on the hearing's outcome but the city must work to attract more home construction. 'It's very difficult to find housing in Winnipeg right now. There's a lot of pressure…. We need more housing built as quickly as possible,' said Gillingham. The city is also required to make significant zoning changes to qualify for hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding earmarked for Winnipeg, he noted. 'The federal government has put conditions on funding envelopes that they made available (to) the City of Winnipeg. Those include Housing Accelerator Funds, Canada Housing Infrastructure Funds and transit funds. The City of Winnipeg currently is in line for over $450 million worth of federal funding, but it's all subject to the city making the changes that… are being proposed in this hearing by our public service,' said Gillingham. During a recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, Prime Minister Mark Carney gave 'no indication' his government would remove any of the funding conditions, the mayor said. Related Articles Welcome to the neighbourhood — sort of An opportunity for growth City seeks policy ideas to promote affordable housing Councillor decries city decision to hold single in-person public hearing on contentious zoning-change proposal River buffer zones urged in new housing density rules City's proposed zoning rules on new housing 'strike a balance' Coun. Brian Mayes, who has expressed concerns about the loss of public feedback, said some positive adjustments have been made to the new rules. 'I think the document's come a long way from where we started. That doesn't mean I'm satisfied with where it is,' said Mayes (St. Vital). The councillor said he'd still like the city to require lots without back lanes to allow triplexes and fourplexes only if they are at least 20 metres wide, partly to allow more parking space. City staff recently made one change to the zoning proposal, which will prevent three- and four-unit builds on many residential lots that abut a river, following complaints that denser construction would reduce public access to waterways. The hearing was adjourned at about 5:15 Monday afternoon. It will resume Tuesday morning. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ABB launches BESS-as-a-service business model
This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. ABB announced last week that it will now offer a Battery Energy Storage Systems-as-a-service solution that allows companies to deploy battery storage without upfront investment, with ABB managing deployment, maintenance and optimization. 'The offer includes all hardware, software and lifecycle support,' ABB said in a Wednesday release, 'so businesses can focus on their core operations while improving energy efficiency, resilience and long-term sustainability.' ABB said it will offer BESS-as-a-service in partnership with GridBeyond, using GridBeyond's AI-driven platform to '[optimize] the performance of ABB's BESS-as-a-Service assets [and enable] real-time energy optimisation, demand-side response participation, and access to new revenue streams in global energy markets.' 'In addition, GridBeyond's platform will deliver accurate energy price forecasting to optimise energy storage operations enabling informed decision-making, allowing for strategic charging and discharging that aligns with market dynamics and prolong the life of batteries,' GridBeyond said in a Wednesday release. ABB said it designed BESS-as-a-service to be 'technology agnostic' and work with any type of battery technology. The company described the product as supporting a shift from capital expenditures, or upfront investments, to operational expenditures, or day-to-day costs. 'Customers tell us that while they want to deploy the latest technologies to improve energy security and reduce their emissions and costs, they face financial obstacles,' said Stuart Thompson, division president of ABB's Electrification Service Division. 'We see BESS-as-a-Service as not just a new offering but a strategic lever for the division's growth and innovation. We see significant potential to scale this globally.' GridBeyond said it and ABB will also collaborate with Tallarna, a climate tech and finance platform, which will '[bring] its data analytics software, insurance solutions, and financing expertise to de-risk BESS projects and provide visibility into the financial benefits of these initiatives.' Recommended Reading Electricity consumption is rising, driving solar, storage expansion: EIA
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
New signs posted at Blue Hole Creek warn of high lead levels
After recent water testing by the Mountain Watershed Association revealed that parts of Blue Hole Creek had lead levels exceeding 370 parts per billion, signs along the creek from the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources have gone up in popular spots to warn people of the danger. To put that 370 parts per billion number into perspective, the Mountain Watershed Association says that Flint, Michigan's water had just 12 parts per billion at the height of their crisis; even 12 parts per billion, however, is still dangerous. The federal government says no amount of lead in water is safe for humans or animals in any way. Stuart Thompson, an avid hiker, former trail volunteer, and ridge runner with the Department of Natural Resources, says he knows the trails around that creek well and is worried about the environment. "I am shocked, appalled, and sickened," Thompson said. "This place… It's as wild as you can get, pretty much in this part of the county. And for that to happen, that (water) is now fouled, probably permanently." Both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and DCNR say that this lead is not naturally occurring; there is an open investigation into how this water was contaminated. Many in the surrounding Middlecreek and Saltlick townships wonder if the lead contamination could be coming from points on the top of the mountain, such as lead-lined gas tanks at an old airfield or even lead from shells at a local shooting range. Thompson says whoever is causing this needs to be held accountable. "This needs to be investigated thoroughly by science and by people who know their stuff," said Thompson. "Do soil samples. I would think soil samples up the mountain, to measure the density of how much lead is here and here and here, you could probably pretty well funnel where it is coming from." If you find yourself near Blue Hole Creek, especially during Memorial Day weekend, observe the signs and heed the warnings. Be very cautious if you are swimming, and as the state says, under no circumstances should you be trying to drink this water.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ABB introduces Battery Energy Storage Systems-as-a-Service to simplify renewable energy adoption
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ABB today announced the launch of its new Battery Energy Storage Systems-as-a-Service (BESS-as-a-Service) – a flexible, zero-CapEx solution designed to accelerate the shift to clean, resilient and affordable energy. BESS-as-a-Service is the first in a range of next generation service models being developed by ABB to remove the barriers to clean technology adoption and accelerate industries' transition to net zero. With demand for energy storage expected to surge, ABB's BESS-as-a-Service offers companies a turnkey path to energy independence and sustainability. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a sixfold increase in global storage capacity by 20301, with commercial and industrial systems alone expected to surge nearly tenfold to 560 GWh – underscoring the critical role of battery energy storage in enabling cleaner, more resilient power systems2. Requiring no upfront capital investment, BESS-as-a-Service enables companies spanning a wide range of industries – from data centers to transport and logistics to commercial buildings – to benefit from advanced energy storage through a quarterly service fee. The offer includes all hardware, software and lifecycle support, with ABB managing deployment, maintenance and optimization so businesses can focus on their core operations while improving energy efficiency, resilience and long-term sustainability. Designed to be technology-agnostic, BESS-as-a-Service works with any type of battery technology, giving customers the flexibility to take advantage of the latest innovations without being tied to a single system. BESS-as-a-Service is underpinned by performance guarantees, as well as coverage for maintenance costs and energy trading brokerage fees. By managing all aspects of energy market participation, ABB enables customers to effortlessly reap immediate financial benefits from selling excess energy. Stuart Thompson, Division President, at ABB's Electrification Service Division, said: 'In today's volatile energy market, businesses need reliability and cost predictability above all else. Customers tell us that while they want to deploy the latest technologies to improve energy security and reduce their emissions and costs, they face financial obstacles. By shifting from capital expenditure to a more predictable operational expenditure approach, ABB's BESS-as-a-Service enables businesses to immediately strengthen their energy security, slash peak demand charges, and generate new revenue streams. We see BESS-as-a-Service as not just a new offering but a strategic lever for the Division's growth and innovation. We see significant potential to scale this globally, especially as more industries seek flexible, low-risk pathways to decarbonization.' ABB is currently conducting feasibility assessments with prospective customers to ensure immediate financial benefits before the deployment of BESS-as-a-Service. This evaluation is a prerequisite for installation, ensuring that customers can achieve net financial advances from day one. Feasibility studies to date have centred on the following segments: 'With BESS-as-a-Service, we are redefining the economics of clean energy adoption – delivering the flexibility and financial returns businesses need to decarbonize with confidence. It allows businesses to adopt advanced energy solutions without the financial strain of large capital investment and empowers them to take control of their energy needs, strengthen their resilience and unlock new value from their assets,' Thompson said. To learn more about BESS-as-a-Service, visit ABB Electrification is a global technology leader enabling the efficient and reliable distribution of electricity from source to socket. With more than 50,000 employees across 100 countries, we collaborate with our customers and partners to solve the world's greatest challenges in electrical distribution and energy management. As the energy transition accelerates and electricity demands grow, we are electrifying the world in a safe, smart and sustainable way. At ABB, we are 'Engineered to Outrun', and we are passionate about helping our customers and partners do the same. 1 Batteries and Secure Energy Transition, World Energy Outlook Special Report, International Energy Agency, 2024 2Global Energy Storage Market Outlook Update: Q1 2025, Wood Mackenzie Attachments Media Relations ABB +41 43 317 71 11 [email protected] Investor Relations ABB +41 43 317 71 11 [email protected]
