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Google Announces $10M to the Manufacturing Institute to Develop AI Skills for the Manufacturing Workforce

William Attardi on April 15, 2026

Google. org’s funding will enable the Manufacturing Institute to develop two new courses for shop floor workers: AI 101 for Manufacturing and Advanced AI for Manufacturing Technicians. The $10 million funding will support the MI in developing AI skills training programs for manufacturing workers and expand employer-led apprenticeship programs via the MI’s Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME USA). The initiative is part of Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund that helps Americans learn AI skills at no cost in collaboration with workforce development and education organizations across the country. The U.S. is facing a significant manufacturing skills gap. By 2033, it’s projected that nearly 1.9 million manufacturing roles could go unfilled if the workforce is not equipped with the necessary technical skills. This builds on Google’s previous commitment to support infrastructure and skilled trades. Google recently announced a similar effort with the electrical training ALLIANCE to train electrical workers throughout the country.  Google announces $10M to the Manufacturing Institute to develop AI skills for the manufacturing workforce – Modern Materials Handling

Engineer Speed and Governance for AI-Era Delivery

William Attardi on April 14, 2026

AI increases developer throughput, but without engineered platforms it amplifies risk. This Harvard Business Review Analytic Services whitepaper sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS) shows how leading companies combine faster CI/CD, predictive observability, AI-assisted testing, and supply-chain governance to reduce defects, cut lead time, and lower incident noise. Learn concrete practices and the KPIs that show ROI so your team can scale AI responsibly on AWS. .

Key takeaways of learning:

  • Strategies to implement the four pillars of modern software development.
  • Paths to successful adoption of modern software practices.
  • Ways to balance innovation with security and governance.
  • Best practices for integrating AI into development processes.

Embracing modern software development practices in the AI era

NEMA Launches New Digital Storefront

William Attardi on April 3, 2026

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) announced the launch of the NEMA Standards & Publications Store, a new NEMA-owned and operated digital storefront that serves as the authoritative source for NEMA technical standards and related publications. The launch represents a significant step forward in NEMA’s commitment to making its industry-leading standards more accessible to the product designers and engineers, manufacturers, electricians, procurement officers, and other end users who depend on them. The new store offers a more seamless experience for discovering, accessing, and purchasing NEMA’s full retail catalog – encompassing more than 800 standards, technical documents, and guidance materials – while also connecting users to other NEMA programs such as the Make It American™ program and NEMA Academy. NEMA Launches New Digital Storefront – tEDmag

Washington Wire: Permitting, AI, ENERGY STAR, and MOU Activity

William Attardi on April 1, 2026

NAED’s Government Relations department is keeping our members updated about current happenings in D.C.  The latest Washington Wire is here, recapping permitting legislation, the White House’s new National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, a shift in leadership at ENERGY STAR®, and what NAED and its MoU partners are doing on Capitol Hill. Get the latest updates on important events taking shape in Washington, D.C.   Washington Wire: Permitting, AI, ENERGY STAR, and MOU Activity – tEDmag

US Department of Labor Launches ‘Make America AI-Ready’

William Attardi on March 30, 2026

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the launch of “Make America AI-Ready,” a free artificial intelligence literacy course that will help American workers learn the basics of AI simply by texting “READY” to 20202. The course is uniquely designed to deliver bite-sized learning content and daily challenges to users entirely over text message. Users can complete the course in seven days by engaging for just 10 minutes a day. The text message-based design is intended to be as accessible as possible to all Americans, including those without a laptop or with limited access to the internet. The content areas are:

  • Understand AI Principles: Understanding AI’s core concepts, capabilities, and limitations, creating the foundation for effective use.
  • Explore AI Uses: Directly exploring different AI tools and relevant use cases, and how AI can complement human expertise.
  • Direct AI Effectively: Understanding how to provide the right context to AI and how to create clear prompts that produce effective outputs.
  • Evaluate AI Outposts: Assessing AI-generated results for accuracy and relevance.
  • Use AI Responsibly: Using AI in ethical and secure ways, protecting critical information, and ensuring accountability for outcomes.

Learn more about the Make America AI-Ready initiative at dol.gov/ai-ready.

US Department of Labor Launches ‘Make America AI-Ready’ – electrifiED

2026 Lighting Resource Guide by Jim Lucy

William Attardi on March 30, 2026

Electrical Wholesaling’s 2026 picks for where to go when you need to learn more about lighting, from A-Z. With all of the technological changes in lighting over the past few years, getting the latest available information on products and trends is critical. The associations, government resources, publications, websites and universities listed below are EW’s updatedpicks for the best lighting education, information on trends and new products, and networking / educational opportunities at lighting industry events. The 2026 Lighting Resource Guide also offers some insight into one the fastest-growing new resources in the lighting market — NEMRA’s new Lighting Division. In just over a year it has already attracted more than 150 lighting reps and manufacturers. Congratulations to the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA) for the foresight to develop this important resource. 2026 Lighting Resource Guide | Electrical Wholesaling

Climate Intuition: Demand Is Here, Time to Build the Grid of Tomorrow

William Attardi on March 27, 2026

Electric grids worldwide are undergoing a transformation as surging electricity demand from data centers and electrification collides with aging, risk-prone infrastructure. This creates both national security imperatives and investment opportunities for grid resilience. Activities that harden, expand and modernize the grid are becoming increasingly attractive investment opportunities and policy priorities globally. Key takeaways: Grid Resilience: Neglected No More

  • Electricity demand is surging, driven by data centers and electrification. To meet it, grid infrastructure will need to be built and upgraded over the next decade.
  • The aging grid is a national security risk. Decades-old equipment is more likely to fail and is vulnerable to extreme weather, cyber risks and geopolitical threats, making it easier for adversaries or disasters to cause widespread outages if not addressed.
  • This also presents a massive investment opportunity. Globally, about $5.8 trillion is forecast for grid upgrades between 2026–2035, with roughly $700 billion for digital grid tech; the U.S. alone expects investments of about $1 trillion over the coming decade.
  • Policies and permits are key to success. While governments are pushing modernization, long siting and approval timelines can slow progress and affect costs for consumers.

EV Charger Rebate Trends for 2026 by BriteSwitch

William Attardi on March 11, 2026

2025 was a complicated year for the EV industry. EV sales fell sharply in Q4, and for those in the charging business, the headlines may have felt unsettling. But vehicle sales and the charging business are telling two very different stories. The US added 17% more charging ports, and utilization continues to climb. Electrek reported 141 million charging sessions in 2025, a 30% increase over the previous year. There are more EVs on the road than ever, and drivers are using public charging stations more frequently. Rebates still play a crucial role in building up the EV charging infrastructure in North America, and they’re as strong as ever. We break down the five biggest EV charger rebate trends shaping 2026:

Signify Launches Brighter Lives, Better World 2030

William Attardi on March 11, 2026

Signify launched Brighter Lives, Better World 2030, a new program designed to expand the reach of impactful, energy and resource-efficient lighting to improve lives, save energy, and preserve resources. The program is supported by new initiatives that support customer sustainability ambitions. Focusing on customers’ most pressing challenges, Brighter Lives, Better World 2030 responds to rising demand for efficient, connected and electrified solutions. Addressing increasing demand for electricity1 and volatile pricing, resource scarcity and the need for healthier, safer, more resilient and livable environments – the program transforms the potential of light into meaningful impact. Progress on Signify’s Brighter Lives, Better World 2030 program will be reported on a quarterly basis, in line with the company’s financial results. Signify Launches Brighter Lives, Better World 2030 – tEDmag

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.

The Statue of Liberty was made with copper but due to oxidation, it turned green.

When the “Lady in the Harbor” first arrived in New York in 1886, she didn’t look like the mint-green icon we know today. In fact, for the first twenty years of her life, she stood as a towering, metallic beacon of reddish-gold. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from France to America. To build her, Bartholdi chose copper for three practical reasons:

  • Malleability:It could be hammered into elaborate, thin sheets.
  • Weight:Copper is lighter than stone or bronze, making it easier to ship 350 individual pieces across the Atlantic.
  • Durability:It was strong enough to survive a 27-day ocean voyage and the harsh winds of the harbor.

When she was unveiled on October 28, 1886, her skin—made of 300 copper sheets roughly the thickness of two pennies—shone with a bright, metallic brown luster. The transformation from “penny-colored” to “patina-green” wasn’t planned. Bartholdi actually expected the statue to age into a deeper, darker red. However, the unique environment of New York Harbor—a mix of salt air, moisture, and industrial pollution—triggered a process called oxidation.

The Timeline of Change:

  1. 1886–1900:The bright copper dulled into a dark, muddy brown.
  2. 1903:The first hints of a light green crust, or “patina,” began to appear.
  3. 1906:The color change was so controversial that Congress nearly stepped in. They appropriated $62,000 to paint the statue back to its original color, but the public protested, calling the idea “sacrilege.”
  4. 1910–1920:The statue was a patchy mix of brown and green until 1920, when the oxidation was complete, leaving her entirely teal.

While we now view the green color as iconic, it actually serves a vital structural purpose. The layer of verdigris (the green patina) acts as a protective shield. It seals the copper underneath, preventing the metal from further corrosion and weathering.  By the time the color fully changed, a new generation of immigrants had arrived in America seeing a green statue.