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TSMC’s $265B US Expansion: Four New Chip Fabs Planned

William Attardi on July 17, 2026

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co has expanded its investment in US chipmaking capacity, bringing the total planned amount to $265 billion. The chipmaker has earmarked another four fabrication plants as part of the $100 billion package, bringing TSMC’s total US capacity to 10 factories and two packaging facilities. The expansion comes as AI demand continues to stretch TSMC’s capacity, with the company reporting record quarterly profits and raising its capital expenditure forecast to between $60 billion and $64 billion. It comes five months after TSMC announced its first $100 billion investment increase, committing the company to building three additional fabrication plants, two packaging facilities, and a research lab in Phoenix, Arizona. TSMC’s $265B US Expansion: Four New Chip Fabs Planned

3M, Microsoft Partner to Advance AI Data Center Infrastructure

William Attardi on July 17, 2026

3M and Microsoft announced a strategic partnership focused on AI data center infrastructure and enterprise transformation. Microsoft’s Azure Cloud and AI Infrastructure will become the first announced hyperscale cloud provider to deploy 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) technology. 3M will also use Microsoft’s AI and digital platforms as part of its enterprise transformation across key business functions. Together, the companies will combine Microsoft’s digital and hyperscale infrastructure with 3M’s materials science and precision manufacturing to accelerate AI adoption and strengthen the physical networks required for the growth of cloud and AI workloads. 3M, Microsoft Partner to Advance AI Data Center Infrastructure

BAS: Five Global Trends That Will Define Your Strategy

William Attardi on July 17, 2026

Building automation is entering a smarter, more connected era, but outdated systems, rising energy costs and workforce gaps can quickly limit performance. This article explores five global trends shaping BAS and shows how AI, cloud-based platforms, integrated controls and intelligent retrofits can improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and protect long-term investments. Read it now to build a future-ready strategy before today’s limitations become tomorrow’s obstacles.

Amerlux ORDX5 Wet Locations Downlight

William Attardi on July 16, 2026

The Amerlux ORDX5 is a sealed downlight intended for open or uncovered canopies with direct exposure to the elements.  UL listed for Wet Locations the fixture provides up to 1577 lumens and can be configured with choice of beam spreads, CCT’s, and output.  A die-cast housing with powder coat finish protects from the elements above and allows direct connection to “liquid tight” flexible conduit often used in those applications.  It can also be used in exterior covered ceilings as well.  The fixture easily installs in metal ceilings (or canopies) as well as other ceiling materials with a thickness from .007” to 1.25”. ORDX5 – Amerlux – Commercial Interior Lighting Products Features & Benefits: Wattage 16W max; Lumen Output 1,577 max; Color Temp (CCT) 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K; Color Rendering Index (CRI) 80+, 90+.  Spec Sheet: LIT-E0206-ORDX5-062526.pdf

Making Daylight Savings Time (DST) Permanent

William Attardi on July 15, 2026

While this sounds amazing in the summer, the winter months would feel drastically different under permanent DST:

  • Before the change (Standard Time): Sunrise ~6:30 AM, Sunset ~6:10 PM.
  • After springing forward (DST): Sunrise ~7:30 AM, Sunset ~7:10 PM.
  • Pitch-Black Winter Mornings: In the dead of winter (December and January), standard sunrise is around 7:15 AM to 7:30 AM across much of the US. Under permanent DST, the sun wouldn’t rise until 8:15 AM or even 8:30 AM. Most people would commute and start their workday or school day in total darkness.
  • Slightly Brighter Winter Evenings: Instead of the sun setting at a gloomy 4:30 PM, you’d get daylight until about 5:30 PM.

Health experts are concerned how those daylight hours align with our circadian rhythms. GenAI

Meta Expands Louisiana Data Center Project With $50B Investment

William Attardi on July 13, 2026

Meta announced Monday that it is expanding its Richland Parish, Louisiana, data center to 5GW of compute capacity in a town that’s already seeing big returns for teachers, local businesses, and students. The data center expansion is an investment of more than $50 billion in the Richland Parish region — one of the largest investments in AI infrastructure in the world, build in America — supporting infrastructure projects, workforce development programs, and an energy agreement that is expected to save Entergy Louisiana customers more that $2 billion over 20 years, on top of the $650 million in savings for customers from the first agreement. Louisiana Delta Community College is receiving a $5 million donation from Meta to create scholarships to train local residents for critical data center jobs. All graduates from Richland Parish’s high schools, beginning with the class of 2026, will be eligible for full scholarships for any data center-related trade certificate or course.Meta Expands Lousiana Data Center Project With $50B Investment – tEDmag

Alloy LED Radialux™ 5.5 COB RGBTW Tape Light

William Attardi on July 13, 2026

New offering from Alloy LED seamlessly integrates dynamic RGB color-changing with tunable white light. Radialux 5.5 COB RGBTW Tape Light is a premium 5-channel LED tape light that combines dynamic color-changing (RGB) capabilities with tunable white light (2700K–6500K), all in a dot-free COB format. With seamless illumination and five-channel control, this tape light offers unlimited design flexibility for color-rich architectural accents, immersive environments, and high-end residential or commercial spaces. Designed for use with advanced controllers, the Radialux 5.5 COB can create vivid saturated colors, soft pastels, or perfectly balanced whites—all from a single light source. The Chip-on-Board (COB) construction delivers a smooth, continuous line of light with no visible diode gaps, even in direct view applications. Radialux™ 5.5 COB RGBTW Tape Light – Alloy LED

Wholesale Sales Surge in May as Electrical Products Stay Strong

William Attardi on July 12, 2026

U.S. wholesale sales posted another strong gain in May, led in part by continued strength in electrical products, even as inventory growth slowed, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest Monthly Wholesale Trade Report. Electrical wholesalers reported one of the strongest performances among durable goods sectors in May, with sales up 6.2% from April and 37.2% year over year. Inventories increased 22.2% from a year ago, while the inventory-to-sales ratio improved to 0.87 from 0.97 last May, indicating faster inventory turnover. Wholesale Sales Surge in May as Electrical Products Stay Strong – tEDmag

Sonepar Is Celebrating America’s 250th with Free Lighting Upgrades for 14 VFW Posts with Acuity Brands and Cooper Lighting

William Attardi on July 8, 2026

Sonepar has identified 14 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts across the country to receive free LED lighting upgrades as part of Sonepar’s Bright Lights Brighter Futures This year’s program is focused on VFW locations in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Energy-efficient LED lighting will help the VFW posts save money on utility bills, reduce energy consumption, and improve the appearance and safety of their buildings. Sonepar will cover installation costs, partnering with national electrical contractor PSG Energy Services to complete installation. Acuity Brands and Cooper Lighting are donating lighting fixtures and materials, while TerraCycle Regulated Waste will provide compliant lamp recycling services for old fixtures. The Good Stuff, Vol. 161 – tEDmag

Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War.  In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”