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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Nuclear Power Startups Are Heating up in Southern California, with Radiant's Ultra-Portable Microreactors a Major Player
What if you could deliver a megawatt of energy anywhere in the world a cargo container could be shipped? For an El Segundo-based company, this sci-fi-sounding dream may be much more 'next Tuesday' than 'next planet.' Radiant, a startup that is repackaging and refining traditional nuclear technology into a portable microreactor, is on the home stretch to development and testing of its prototype reactor following a $165 million Series C funding round (bringing total raised capital to $225 million) and the hiring of key executives, including Dr. Rita Baranwal, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. Baranwal serves as Radiant's chief nuclear officer, and most recently worked at Westinghouse on their modular reactor program. The company also hired Mike Starrett as its first chief revenue officer. In fact, the company recently signed an agreement to build 26 microreactors, including 20 units for an as-yet-undisclosed customer. 'Our focus is on the portability of nuclear power because then you could put a reactor in a place where you would have never imagined possible in the past,' said Doug Bernauer, chief executive and founder of Radiant. 'We have ceramic-coated, poppy-seed-size fuel and helium coolant. That combination means you can't have a leak and you can't damage the environment – you can give people the option of picking a nuclear reactor generator over a diesel generator.' The company is on track to be the first to to develop and test its 1 megawatt (MW) Kaleidos microreactor at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, which is scheduled for next year. The research design and its construction is being conducted by a team that has grown to about 100 employees. Radiant is among five nuclear developers that were announced as recipients of high-assay, low-enriched uranium to fuel reactor demonstrations. These companies, and a handful of others, are racing to be first to market with nuclear microreactors, which offer a clean energy source that can be deployed for a variety of uses that typically rely on diesel generators. They produce about 100 to 1,000 times less electricity than conventional reactors and can operate independent of an electric grid. Use cases include backup generators at infrastructure sites, like hospitals to remote power needs in off-grid areas such as military bases, data centers, ships, desalinization plants and specific industrial facilities. The company expects its nuclear microreactor to be competitive with diesel generators where diesel fuel is priced at $6.50 per gallon. That price is above the average price for diesel in the United States, but it can be well below pricing for fuel in other countries and distant areas that rely on generators for power. Microreactors can provide a steady energy source at a consistent price and will include enough fuel for several years. Nuclear fuel can be replenished in a portable manner. More importantly, the design has a passive cooling system that uses helium gas rather than water to cool the reactor. It is meltdown-proof and leak-safe, ensuring protection of people and the surrounding environment. 'We needed to make sufficient design progress to show the Department of Energy that this small startup in Southern California deserves its portion of this precious material it holds for the industry,' said Tori Shivanandan, Radiant chief operating officer. 'Now we have the funding, we have fuel, and we have the team. We're finalizing the design and getting parts on order. I like to say we have our shot on goal.' That design has been years in the making. The company moved into its current building in El Segundo, a former Hughes Aerospace warehouse, about three years ago, vacating a former dance studio that it used as an office. Leveling up in square footage was essential, as the company was rapidly growing and needed space for hardware to be delivered and the team to expand. The new location was great because it offered access to Southern California's vast talent pool of engineers, but it was in rough shape. Early employees sat in the dark as they worked through building renovations that added heating and air conditioning. Even now, the company temporarily ran out of desks for additional staff and Shivanandan said that she planned to sit in the kitchen for several days until new desks arrived. The genesis of the company was from the desire to explore space and inhabit Mars. Bernauer moved to California in 2007 to work as an engineer at SpaceX. The company was headquartered in El Segundo at the time, and he worked on the Falcon 1 rocket, Falcon 9 rocket and other projects promoted by Elon Musk, such as Hyperloop and the Boring Company, before pivoting to Mars colonization plans. He investigated ways to power development on our neighbor planet, and nuclear power generation compared favorably to other power sources, like solar. However, there were no companies that provided an off-the-shelf solution to launch a small nuclear reactor into space. He originally tried to develop a nuclear program within SpaceX but eventually decided to create Radiant in 2019. 'I started researching nuclear on nights and weekends, looking at Wikipedia, and my curiosity lead down the path of who can do nuclear now, how quickly can they do it and what does it cost?' said Bernauer, who provided some of the initial company funding himself. 'I was fully committed to making this thing happen.' Radiant is on target to construct its nuclear reactor and test it in 2026. With its recent round of funding, it anticipates that it has raised enough to carry it through construction of a prototype and testing in 2026 as well as the establishment of a larger scale manufacturing facility to ramp up production. At full capacity, the company expects to build about 50 microreactors per year. 'I was blown away by their capability and vision. The nuclear industry needed people from other sectors to come into nuclear because nuclear hadn't built anything new for a long time,' said Dr. Rachel Slaybaugh, partner at DCVC, the Palo Alto-based venture capital firm that led the Series C round. Slaybaugh is a trained nuclear scientist who taught at the University of California, Berkeley and previously served as an independent board member. 'Radiant has gone very fast with not very many resources.' There is a flurry of activity from established companies and startups looking to repackage nuclear energy at a variety of reactor sizes. At the smallest level, both startups and established nuclear companies are developing microreactors, which can be packaged and transported in a shipping container on a truck or even in an aircraft and deployed in a relatively short amount of time. Many of these companies are working with the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, which is where they will demonstrate and test microreactor designs. They are designed to use low-enriched uranium with higher concentrations of uranium-235 than the fuel used in conventional reactors. Companies developing microreactors include Torrance-based Antares, which opened a new 128,000-square-foot factory this year for research and development, component manufacturing, and assembly of its first microreactors. The company is targeting testing by 2027. It raised $30 million in Series A financing last year, co-led by Alt Cap and existing lead seed investor Caffeinated Capital, with participation from Rogue, Uncommon Capital, Shrug, Banter Capital, Box Group and Shine Capital. On a larger scale, small modular reactors are typically designed to be connected to an electric grid while providing 50 to 300 MW. TerraPower, a small modular reactor company that was founded by Bill Gates, is developing Natrium, a next-generation nuclear power plant. The Natrium reactor uses liquid sodium as a coolant rather than a traditional water-cooled reactor. Its first plant is a 345 MW facility that is currently under construction in Kemmerer, Wy., and includes a storage system that can boost output to 500 MW. It is being developed as part of a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. In June, TerraPower announced that it raised an additional $650 million in funding from both new investors, including NVentures, the venture capital arm of NVIDIA, and current investors, including founder Bill Gates and HD Hyundai, an industry leader in shipbuilding. Gates has invested $1 billion in the company. Not to be outdone, tech giants such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon have also signed agreements to explore advanced nuclear technology. While this technology is expanding and the next-generation plants are exploring safer ways to cool reactors, conventional reactors have been phased out in California, and there have been very few new reactors built nationwide, primarily due to the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and changing economics. In California, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station was permanently closed in 2013 due to issues with its steam generators. Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which is operated by PG&E, is the only conventional nuclear power plant in California and was in the process of being decommissioned, but a state decision to extend operations through at least 2030 is in place with the possibility of further extensions. Public perception is changing due to increased power demands and the fragile electric grid in the United States. In June, New York Governor Kathy Hochul directed the state's public electric utility to develop and construct an advanced nuclear power plant in Upstate New York with a capacity of one gigawatt of electricity. Furthermore, the nuclear industry has received boosts from the Trump administration, which signed several executive orders to advance nuclear power. Some Army installations could be powered by nuclear microreactors under a May 2025 executive order calling for deploying advanced nuclear reactor technologies. The order, citing national security concerns, directs the Army to establish a program utilizing the technology and requires operation of a nuclear reactor at a domestic military base or installation by Sept. 30, 2028. It is one of a series of orders that seeks to increase the amount of nuclear energy produced in the United States, which is estimated to produce only about 20% of its energy usage currently from nuclear sources. Those orders build on earlier projects. In 2022, the Defense Department awarded a $300-million contract to Lynchburg, Virginia-based BWX Technologies to develop a microreactor that could be transported by a C-17 cargo plane and set up to power a military base for several years before refueling. The U.S. military is a strong customer base for many aerospace and defense startups – and Radiant was selected as a finalist by the Defense Innovation Unit for a potential contract to have its reactor on a U.S. military base – Bernauer still has his eye towards the sky. 'What we have to do is get reactors operating for about five years and then take the thing apart and inspect it to see what's breaking and what's working well. From there, we can make extremely reliable reactors that can operate anywhere,' said Bernauer. 'I want to be able to eventually make the space reactor for Elon (Musk), but to do that, you need something highly reliable and transportable.'
USA Today
5 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Which way should your ceiling fan spin? Do this to beat the summer heat
With temperatures soaring, it's safe to say we're in the thick of a serious summer scorcher. Cranking up the air conditioner has become essential, but staying cool can result in higher energy bills. To keep costs in check, the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program suggests setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during warm weather. Another tip? Follow the 20-degree rule: don't set your thermostat more than 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Still sweating it out indoors? Before you reach for that thermostat, here are a few other ways to chill out without breaking the bank. Using ceiling fans are effective at keeping you cool and lowering energy costs Using fans is one way to cool down your home without consuming as much energy as you would using an air conditioner. Fans work by creating a wind chill effect. They blow air across your skin, helping sweat evaporate, and that evaporation is what cools your body down. Unlike air conditioners, fans don't cool the entire room, they cool the person using them. The more moisture that evaporates, the cooler you feel. What way should your fan blades spin in the summer? Set your fan blades to rotate counterclockwise. That direction creates a downdraft, pushing cooler air down from the ceiling and creating a breeze that makes you feel more comfortable, even if the actual room temperature doesn't change. It's a simple switch that can make a big difference on hot days. Using a ceiling fan lets you bump your thermostat up by 4 degrees without sacrificing comfort, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. More ways to beat the heat: Should your window fan blow in or out? Here's how to cut cooling costs Using a window fan? The U.S. Department of Energy says to do this Using a window fan to beat the heat? The U.S. Department of Energy has some smart tips: If that's not an option, try using separate fans on each level to keep the air moving. Extreme heat kills more than 700 people a year. Here's who's most at risk When temperatures climb, high humidity makes things feel even worse. Moisture in the air makes it harder for sweat to evaporate, which means your body can't cool down as easily. For some groups, the heat is more than just uncomfortable. It can be dangerous. Each year, more than 700 people in the U.S. die from extreme heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most vulnerable include young children, people with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly and outdoor workers. The CDC also warns that certain medications can increase the risk of dehydration or make you more sensitive to the sun. If you're on a prescription, it's important to talk with your doctor about heat safety. Essential tips to beat the heat Although it's still early in the season, here are some tips and tricks to help you beat the heat this weekend and beyond as temperatures climb. Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@
USA Today
6 days ago
- Health
- USA Today
80 years later, victims of ‘first atom bomb' will soon be eligible for reparations
More Americans are now eligible for compensation for health problems linked to radiation exposure from the atomic weapons program. A bright, blinding light flashed above New Mexico's Jornada del Muerto desert at 5:30 a.m. on July 16, 1945. The thunderous roar that followed jolted 14-year-old Jess Gililland awake on the porch of his family's ranch 27 miles away. Gililland didn't know it yet, but the U.S. Army had just detonated the world's first-ever nuclear weapon. In the hours and days after the blast, radioactive dust would begin to coat roofs, clotheslines, crops, animals and the ground near Gililland's family home. As the years passed, almost all his family members and neighbors became sick, often with rare forms of cancer. The federal government never warned them about the bomb test, never evacuated them after the blast, or advised them about the potential health consequences of nuclear fallout. Those who lived downwind of the atom bomb say they've never received much recognition – until now. Eight decades after the Manhattan Project's Trinity Test, generations of New Mexicans' who've suffered health problems from the nuclear fallout will soon be eligible to receive compensation. A measure in the recently enacted Republican tax bill expands the pool of Americans eligible for a program that compensates people who have health problems linked to radiation exposure from the atomic weapons program, including uranium miners and downwinders. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, first passed in 1990, previously only applied to people in certain parts of Nevada, Utah and Arizona, but didn't include those who were potentially impacted by the Trinity Test in New Mexico, or living on Navajo lands in Arizona, among other areas. For people in New Mexico's Tularosa Basin, the money will make a world of difference, Gililland's 71-year-old daughter, Edna Kay Hinkle, said. 'The people around here, a lot of them are really poor. They couldn't afford gas to go to Las Cruces or Albuquerque (to get treatment),' said Hinkle, who has also battled multiple types of cancer. 'There's people that it means millions, multi-millions, to them.' The Trinity Test's secret fallout Scientists chose to conduct the Trinity Test at the Alamogordo Bombing Range for the area's relative seclusion and predictable winds, which they believed would limit the spread of radiation over populated areas, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of History and Heritage. Army officers pinpointed where thousands of people lived within the 40-mile radius of the test site and prepared emergency evacuation plans. But they never used them. After the test, the military described the giant blast people saw as an accident involving ammunition and pyrotechnics. The federal government didn't reveal the real cause, even to those in the area who had watched the mushroom cloud, until a month later, when the nation dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. By then, those living near the test site had already ingested the radiated material. In a 2015 letter, a man named Henry Herrera, who was 11 years old at the time of Trinity, recounted watching a cloud of black ash fall across his town, including on the clothing his mother had hung outside to dry in the hours after the explosion. 'This filth landed all over our town (and) covered our village with radiation,' wrote Herrera, who passed away in 2022 at age 87. 'Our water was contaminated because all we had was rainwater from the cistern and ditch water. … Everything we consumed was filled with radiation.' The government publicly downplayed the potential consequences of the nuclear bomb test for people living in the Tularosa Basin, despite internal concerns. Five days after Trinity, physicist Stafford Warren wrote a letter to Army Gen. Leslie Groves explaining that high levels of radiation were found 'near a lot of houses.' Warren suggested future tests be conducted 150 miles away from any populated area. Hundreds of thousands of people lived within the 150-mile radius of Trinity. Years later, a health care provider named Kathryn Behnke wrote to Warren from Roswell, New Mexico, explaining that there were 'about 35 infant deaths' in the city in the month after the atomic test. Warren's medical assistant denied that there might be a connection to the testing in his response back to Behnke. But unpublished data from the New Mexico Health Department showed that infant deaths increased by 38% in 1945, compared with 1946, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Radioactive fallout from the test had landed in high densities across New Mexico and Nevada. Fallout from the more than 100 other nuclear tests the government conducted in the years after reached 46 of the 48 contiguous states, along with Mexico and Canada, according to a 2023 study published by researchers at Princeton University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Thousands eligible for compensation The exact number of people eligible for nuclear-weapons-related radiation compensation across the nation remains unknown. But Tina Cordova, who cofounded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, said she estimates upward of 10,000 people have had health impacts related to the Trinity Test. The village of Tularosa alone could generate 'thousands of claims out of a town that has consistently had a population of around 3,000,' Cordova said, noting that generations of people who've moved away still have lingering health problems. Thousands more across other states could be eligible, too. Between 1951 and 1958, the United States conducted 188 nuclear tests out West. At the military's Nevada Test Site, 65 miles north of Las Vegas, dozens of nuclear tests were conducted underground each year between 1963 and 1992, according to the Department of Defense. During roughly the same time frame, nearly 30 million tons of uranium ore were extracted from Navajo Nation lands to build nuclear weapons. An estimated 4,000 Navajo labored in more than 1,000 mines, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said. Others lived in close proximity. Today, hundreds of abandoned uranium mines remain on the tribe's land and may still be polluting water sources and exposing residents to harmful radiation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Nygren called the expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act a 'victory' for the Navajo. Much like Trinity downwinders, those living on tribe lands were for decades not eligible for compensation. The original act only included people in specific counties across Arizona, Nevada, and Utah who were present when the atomic testing took place and who developed specific types of cancer. The expansion passed in the Republican tax bill extends benefits to include all downwinders in Utah, New Mexico and Idaho, and more living in Nevada, Arizona, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alaska. Uranium miners in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas will also be covered. Bernice Gutierrez, a downwinder who was born in Carrizozo, New Mexico, eight days before the Trinity Test, believes money from the program could be an 'economic boom' for communities that have long suffered from radiation-related health impacts. But she and other downwinders have said there is still more work to be done. The RECA reauthorization leaves out people in some parts of Nevada, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Guam, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington state. The extension is also set to expire in two years, leaving concern that some won't be able to apply in time, Gutierrez said. 'Can you imagine 80 years worth of illness and death in New Mexico?' And we have a two-year time frame in which to gather all these applications?' said Gutierrez, who has more than 40 family members who've experienced what they believe to be radiation-related sicknesses. 'It just doesn't end for us' Downwinders are only eligible for compensation if they lived in one of the affected areas when tests were being conducted between 1945 and 1962. Otherwise, if an eligible person has already passed away, their families may be able to file a claim to receive up to $25,000. The National Cancer Institute in 2020 said it found no evidence transgenerational health effects occurred as a result of the test. The study also said there remain 'great uncertainty in the estimates of radiation doses and number of cancer cases possibly attributable to the test.' But Cordova and other downwinders believe the radiation from the blast mutated their ancestors' DNA, making their children and grandchildren more susceptible to cancers and other diseases. Five generations of Cordova's family have had cancer, dating back to 1955. Her 24-year-old niece was the latest to be diagnosed this year. 'It just doesn't end for us.' Cordova said. 'I always say we bury somebody, and someone else is diagnosed. And that is true and has been true in my family forever.' One of her cousins was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor several decades ago, and traveled around the country to find treatment. He died in October of compounding health problems. Two months later, Cordova said her brother was diagnosed with cancer. 'This is a legacy that we will carry forever. Our bodies bear the remnants of the Trinity bomb.'
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
How to reduce business energy costs (without cutting corners)
U.S. small businesses spend an average of $1,500 per month (or $18,000 a year) for business energy costs like electricity and natural gas, according to EnergyBot. The good news? You could save on the cost of electricity for any business by up to 30% (or $5,400 annually) through smart energy-saving strategies, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Over time, these savings can add up to tens of thousands of dollars - freeing up budget for business investments that can help fuel your growth. Some upgrades might even help lower your business insurance costs. And you don't have to sacrifice comfort to make it happen. NEXT shares 14 energy-saving tips to cut your electricity costs - with ideas for every budget and timeline. Quick wins: No-cost ways to lower your energy bill You don't have to spend a dime to start saving. These low-effort changes can begin reducing your business energy bills right away - and every little bit adds up. "Getting people on board helped," says Danilo Coviello, CEO of Espresso Translations. "Now it's second nature to shut off all unused equipment before the end of the day." That slight shift reduced their electricity bill by 5% over time. Here are a few more quick wins, recommended by the Department of Energy, that can immediately impact your business's energy costs. 1. Encourage energy-saving habits to reduce business energy costs Encourage your team to turn off lights, shut down unused equipment and put computers in sleep mode when unused. Small reminders near light switches or shared workstations can help reinforce the habit - and turn it into a routine. These small behavior shifts can reduce energy usage and lower electricity bills without new equipment. 2. Go paperless where you can Shifting to digital systems can reduce paper, ink and electricity usage, making your business more efficient. If you're not ready to go fully paperless, simple changes like double-sided printing or using digital forms for internal processes can still cut costs. 3. Shift energy use to off-peak hours Many electricity providers and local utility companies offer better energy rates during off-peak times. Running high-energy equipment - like industrial printers, kitchen appliances or production machines - outside peak hours can help you save on business electricity without cutting productivity. 4. Adjust your thermostat seasonally Adjusting settings based on the square footage of your workspace and your actual energy needs can improve efficiency. According to the DOE, turning your thermostat down by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for just eight hours a day during colder months can save you up to 10% per year on heating. Program it to ease up overnight or while your space is empty to save without feeling the chill. 5. Use natural light and window treatments In warmer months, use blinds or curtains to block out heat from direct sunlight and reduce your need for air conditioning. In colder weather, do the opposite - open the shades during the day to let sunlight naturally warm your space. Smart upgrades: Low-cost fixes with a high return on investment Implementing these upgrades takes more time and money but can deliver significant returns. A professional energy audit, for example, costs around $440, according to Angi. But it can help cut your small business's energy costs by up to 30% a year, says the DOE. That kind of upfront investment can lead to long-term savings that benefit your bottom line. 6. Bring in a professional energy auditor to reduce energy costs A certified energy auditor can uncover where you're losing efficiency, how much energy consumption each system contributes and whether you're overpaying based on your rate plan. While you can start with a DIY energy audit, hiring a pro gives you access to specialized tools and recommendations that can uncover hidden inefficiencies. 7. Maintain and inspect equipment When machines or systems wear down, they often use more energy - this is especially concerning if you're on a fixed-rate electricity plan, where waste leads directly to higher costs. Scheduling regular inspections helps ensure everything is running efficiently and safely. Not sure where to start? Your equipment manual can usually guide you on recommended maintenance timelines. 8. Seal air leaks to reduce heating and cooling waste This is one of the most cost-effective energy solutions for older buildings. Even small gaps around windows, doors or walls can force your HVAC system to work overtime. Add weatherstripping to seal drafty doors and windows and use caulk to fill cracks in walls, floors or ceilings. These simple fixes can help keep warm or cool air inside - and energy bills down. 9. Swap in smart power strips Smart power strips help cut "phantom" energy usage - the electricity your devices still draw even when turned off. Unlike standard strips, these automatically stop power flow to idle equipment, helping you reduce waste and lower your monthly energy bills. 10. Upgrade to LED lighting to reduce commercial energy use LEDs use up to 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, according to the Small Business Administration. That switch offers both cost savings and measurable reductions in your business's carbon footprint. Danilo Coviello of Espresso Translations saw the impact firsthand: "Our electricity bill has dropped about 12% within two months. It's the kind of immediate savings that accumulate, and the installation was prompt." High-impact investments: Long-term energy efficiency Some energy-saving improvements take more time and money upfront - but they can unlock major long-term savings. With today's changing energy market, locking in long-term energy savings through upgrades can offer more predictability and control. Many of these upgrades may also qualify for tax credits, rebates or local incentives, depending on your business location. If you're ready to make bigger moves, these ideas can help lower your energy bill for years to come. 11. Improve insulation to maintain indoor comfort Poor insulation drives up energy consumption, so this step is especially important for businesses on commercial electricity rates. Good insulation keeps warm or cool air inside - so your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard. That means lower energy use, better temperature control and potential savings year-round. If you're renovating, consider upgrading insulation while replacing siding or roofing. Choosing the right type for your building and climate can make a big difference. 12. Upgrade outdated appliances and systems Old or inefficient equipment often uses more electricity, gas or water to get the job done. Replacing equipment with Energy Star-certified models can improve energy efficiency by up to 20%, reports the DOE. 13. Explore renewable energy options like solar If your business electricity rates are high due to usage or energy supplier pricing, solar can offer a long-term way to stabilize your costs. Many states offer tax credits or rebates to help offset the upfront investment. Not ready for a full install? Explore green energy options through community or shared energy sources. 14. Use smart technology to automate energy savings Smart thermostats, lighting systems and plugs can automatically adjust based on occupancy, time of day and your selected electricity plan - so you're not wasting power when it's not needed. Many also allow for remote control from a phone or laptop, making it easy to manage energy use even when you're off-site. For example, a smart thermostat can reduce heating or cooling when no one's around, while occupancy sensors can turn lights off in empty rooms. These small upgrades take the guesswork out of saving - and help you avoid waste without lifting a finger. How energy upgrades may help lower insurance costs Energy-efficient upgrades don't just reduce your utility bills - they can also help lower risk, which may influence your business insurance costs. By optimizing your energy supply and reducing peak demand, you're not just saving on energy - you're lowering business risks, too. Many improvements that cut energy use also make your building safer, more secure or less prone to damage. For example: Upgraded HVAC systems are less likely to overheat or fail, reducing fire risk or insulation and weatherproofing can protect against water damage, fire exposure or temperature-related technology, such as leak detectors, smoke alarms or motion-activated lighting, can help detect problems early and prevent costly incidents. From an insurance perspective, these changes can reduce the likelihood of commercial claims and operational downtime - potentially leading to better rates on commercial property insurance. While these upgrades don't guarantee lower premiums, they may help improve your overall risk profile in the eyes of insurers. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Trump's shortcut rulemaking is shortchanging all of us
Regardless of political party, presidential administrations have traditionally abided by the bedrock American principles of transparency and accountability when it comes to federal agency rulemaking. The Trump administration is defying these principles. President Trump is rolling back longstanding protections using unlawful shortcuts that shortchange the public's right to provide input and understand how that feedback has shaped federal agency decisions. Enacted soon after the end of World War II, the Administrative Procedure Act outlines steps that federal agencies must take when they issue or amend regulations, also known as rules. Critically, this process includes soliciting and then responding to significant comments from the public, especially when those rules affect people's rights and responsibilities under federal law. The Trump administration has jettisoned this established approach to rescind bedrock legal protections for everyday Americans in the dark of night, with almost no explanation. President Trump signaled his plan to skirt established processes for rulemaking in a presidential memorandum issued on April 9, 'Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations.' The memorandum accurately recognizes that a federal agency may use an expedited approach under the Administrative Procedure Act if it has 'good cause' to find that the usual process would be 'impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest.' Indeed, the Administrative Conference of the United States has recognized that expedited processes, such as direct final rules, are appropriate in some instances, such as when the proposed rule changes are noncontroversial. It further underscores the importance of public engagement whenever there is truly 'good cause' to use an expedited approach. However, the Trump administration is abusing this process by using expedited processes for changes that are clearly controversial. For example, in May, the U.S. Department of Energy issued four direct final rules related to nondiscrimination protections in federally assisted programs or activities pertaining to general programs, new construction requirements, nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education and regarding nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in sports. This means that entities that receive federal funds from the Department of Energy will not have to provide interpretation and translation services when needed. They will not need to eliminate architectural barriers that make buildings inaccessible, nor will they be prohibited from engaging in activities that perpetuate the effects of discrimination. These direct final rules are part of a broader rollback of longstanding civil rights protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other laws, which Trump previewed in his misguided and deceptively titled executive order on Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy. The Department of Energy's direct final rules on nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs or activities fail the laugh test under the Administrative Procedure Act. As a comment recently filed with the Department of Energy by more than 40 law professors explains, 'The use of direct final rules in these contexts contravenes the clear language of the Administrative Procedure Act, ignores long-established procedures on notice and comment rulemaking, and undermines the role of public participation in government rulemaking.' Reinforcing this point, another comment filed by nearly 30 civil rights, environmental justice and environmental organizations, together with supporting individuals, underscores how the administration's approach 'violates the procedural mandates of the Administrative Procedure Act and subverts nondiscrimination principles that benefit all Americans.' In the end, the number of comments the Department of Energy received on its nondiscrimination direct final rules speaks volumes: 19,421 comments regarding nondiscrimination (general provisions), 20,711 comments regarding new construction requirements related to nondiscrimination, 9,293 comments regarding nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education and 21,264 comments regarding nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in sports. So what's the harm in allowing the Department of Energy and other federal agencies in the Trump administration to bypass established procedures? The harm is to all of us — the American public. According to the Attorney General's Manual on the Administrative Procedure Act from 1947, the law seeks to ensure that federal agencies keep the public informed and engage them in rulemaking through uniform processes that are subject to judicial review. These goals remain as true today as they did nearly 80 years ago. As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we must remember our founding principles — that a government by the people and of the people must also be accountable to the people. We cannot let the Trump administration shortchange these goals. Sharmila Murthy is a professor of Law and Public Policy at Northeastern University who previously worked at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
