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The World’s Largest Energy Lender Has a New Head: Here’s How It Could Shape U.S. Policy by Pippa Stevens

William Attardi on February 24, 2026

Former Apollo executive Gregory Beard was recently tapped to run the Office of Energy Dominance Financing, the largest energy lender in the world, with some $289 billion in loan authority. Beard has only been at the helm for a few weeks, but he has big plans for the agency, including dispensing capital at a record rate. Under President Joe Bidenand his climate-focused administration, the agency was supercharged, acting as a green bank of sorts. Staff quadrupled, and the Inflation Reduction Act grew available funds by tenfold. But with the new administration, the office has changed course, shedding the green angle that President Donald Trump has called a scam. In addition to an official name change, the agency is now focused on six areas: nuclear; coal, oil, gas and hydrocarbons; critical materials and minerals; geothermal; grid and transmission; and manufacturing and transportation. The world’s largest energy lender has a new head: Here’s how it could shape U.S. policy

Meta to Build $10B AI Data Center in Northeast Louisiana

William Attardi on February 23, 2026

A transformational investment that cements the state’s status as a major innovation hub and puts this picturesque rural community on the leading edge of a global digital revolution. Meta projects the data center will support 500 or more direct new jobs in Richland Parish. Louisiana Economic Development (LED) estimates the project will result in the creation of more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the Northeast Region. The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on the 2,250-acre former Franklin Farm megasite that sits between the municipalities of Rayville and Delhi, about 30 miles east of Monroe. Meta to Build $10B AI Data Center in Northeast Louisiana – electrifiED

Meta and NVIDIA Announce Long-Term Infrastructure Partnership

William Attardi on February 23, 2026

The large-scale deployment of NVIDIA technology builds on our existing relationship and will support Meta’s build-out of data centers optimized for AI training and inference, as well as our core business. These advances will also deliver substantial improvements in performance per watt, supporting more efficient AI operations at scale. Meta has also adopted:

  • NVIDIA Confidential Computing for WhatsApp private messaging, enabling AI-powered capabilities across the messaging platform, while ensuring user data confidentiality and integrity.
  • NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform across its infrastructure footprint to provide AI-scale networking, delivering predictable, low-latency performance while maximizing utilization and improving both operational and power efficiency.

As part of this multi-generational collaboration, engineering teams across Meta and NVIDIA will optimize and accelerate state-of-the-art AI models across our core workloads to drive performance and efficiency for new AI capabilities used by billions around the world.

[News] Meta and NVIDIA Announce Long-Term Infrastructure Partnership – LEDinside

Can Better Lighting Unlock a Healthier, Higher-Performing Office? by Fabio Zaniboni

William Attardi on February 21, 2026

Outdated lighting can hurt employee performance—but replacing it with human-centric smart lighting systems can restore productivity while operating efficiently. Here’s how.

  • Traditional office lighting often causes eye strain and fatigue, negatively impacting employee performance and well-being.
  • Human-centric smart lighting systems mimic natural daylight, supporting circadian rhythms and improving sleep quality and alertness.
  • Data-enabled lighting provides real-time insights into space utilization, enabling more efficient energy use and workspace optimization.
  • Personalized lighting controls empower employees, enhancing their comfort and perceived productivity in hybrid work environments.
  • Adopting wellness-focused lighting aligns with standards like WELL and LEED, giving organizations a competitive edge in attracting top talent.

Can Better Lighting Unlock a Healthier, Higher-Performing Office? | Buildings

The Future is Now for AI

William Attardi on February 21, 2026

AI is expected to have as much impact on the business world as any of the largest technological trends, including the internet and personal computers. This e-book is a terrific primer on harnessing its powers. Channel Marketing Grouprecently collaborated with Charles Labow to publish an e-book on artificial intelligence, “The AI-Enabled Distributor.” It’s a must read for any executive in the electrical market who needs a solid overview of how distributors, manufacturers and representatives can use AI in their businesses. Along with analysis of the various AI models in use today, Labow includes contributions from several AI experts out in the field. Labow says, “The goal is not to convince you that AI is inevitable. You already know that. The goal is to help you think clearly about where it actually applies, where it does not, and what responsible leadership looks like in this moment.” The book is available for $39 through this PayPal link.

Roberts Court Shuts Door on Tariffs But Leaves Room for Trump to Prevail

William Attardi on February 21, 2026

In a 6–3 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that IEEPA does not grant the president authority to impose tariffs. The ruling struck down the tariffs at issue in the case. The U.S. Supreme Court may have struck down President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but the fight is far from finished. While the Court closed one legal door, it left several others wide open – and the president has already signaled that he intends to step through them. Importantly, however, the court did not hold that the president lacks tariff authority altogether. Rather, it concluded only that IEEPA is not a valid statutory foundation for such measures. The opinion left intact the president’s ability to rely on other trade statutes enacted by Congress. The message was unmistakable: the court’s ruling will not mark the end of the administration’s tariff strategy.  Roberts court shuts door on tariffs but leaves room for Trump to prevail | Just The News

Top 25 Changes to the 2026 National Electrical Code by Mike Holt

William Attardi on February 21, 2026

Breaking down the key revisions and updates every electrical professional needs to know for this Code cycle. Key Highlights

  • The 2026 NEC features more than 3,900 public inputs, leading to substantial reorganizations, new Articles, and enhanced clarity for electrical professionals.
  • Key updates include expanded GFCI protection requirements, new rules for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), and revised service disconnect location and marking standards.
  • New provisions address the integration of sustainable technologies, such as electric vehicles and energy management systems, reflecting industry trends and future demands.
  • Preparations for the 2029 NEC include structural revisions and increased emphasis on engineered designs for complex systems, ensuring ongoing safety and compliance.

The 2026 NEC also previews structural revisions anticipated for the 2029 edition.     Top 25 Changes to the 2026 National Electrical Code | EC&M

Roelands Plant Farms Selects Sollum Technologies for a 12-Acre Expansion in Vine Crop Propagation

William Attardi on February 17, 2026

Sollum Technologies is pleased to share that Roelands Plant Farms, one of the largest and most trusted propagators in Ontario, has selected Sollum’s advanced dynamic LED lighting solution for a 12-acre expansion at its Lambton Shores facility. The company specializes in the high-performance propagation of vine crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Together, they observed plant responses, adjusted strategies and ensured that the lighting aligned with the day-to-day challenges of propagation by responding to changing conditions, and by adjusting the spectrum, intensity, timing and daily light integral (DLI) with unmatched precision and in real time. The results confirmed that lighting plays a decisive role in establishing strong healthy plants prior to transplanting, and that Sollum’s advanced dynamic control supports uniformity, vigor and predictable growth conditions across trays. [News] Roelands Plant Farms Selects Sollum Technologies for a 12-Acre Expansion in Vine Crop Propagation – LEDinside

AI Analytics Step In as Energy Standards Tighten and Resources Shrink by Laurie Gilmer

William Attardi on February 17, 2026

Meeting energy and emissions reduction targets, particularly as they become more stringent, can be tough for many facilities. Between the need to operate efficiently, emerging BEPS requirements and balancing limited resources, facilities teams need help identifying where improvements can be made. Enter AI analytic tools, which can analyze building automation data, energy use patterns and even weather data to identify operational inefficiencies, make recommendations for optimizing setpoints and start-up times and identify inconsistencies in performance data. This leads to efficient overall system operations. Advances in AI for facilities……have become part of the toolkit that helps managers meet their goals of having efficient, safety and compliant facilities that meet the needs of the people who occupy them. AI Analytics Step In as Energy Standards Tighten and Resources Shrink – Facilities Management Insights

ABC: Nonresidential Construction Adds Solid 27,900 Jobs in January

William Attardi on February 12, 2026

The construction industry added 33,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 44,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%. Nonresidential construction employment expanded by 27,900 positions, with gains in 2 of the 3 subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added 25,100 jobs, while nonresidential building added 3,600 new positions. Heavy and civil engineering lost 800 jobs in January. The construction unemployment rate was 6.9% in January. Unemployment across all industries decreased to 4.3% and is 0.3 percentage points higher than one year ago. ABC: Nonresidential Construction Adds Solid 27,900 Jobs in January

Telling Time – 12-hour time is a very ancient system that traces back to the Mesopotamian empires. They had a cultural fixation with the number 12, used a base-12 numerical system, and divided up most things into 12ths whenever possible – including day and night. The 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night system spread throughout Europe and the Middle East and has defied multiple attempts to change it over the centuries. Also, for anyone curious as to why there was such a love of the number 12, it was because that was how they counted on their hand. Look at your hand. Notice how each of your fingers minus your thumb has three easily identifiable parts to it. They used to count by using their thumb to count each part of the finger, much in the same way we count to 10 using our fingers today. So, 12 was the max you could count on one hand.