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AI Is Outpacing America’s Power Grid. Nuclear Must Become a National Priority by Mark Whitney

William Attardi on March 6, 2026

Nuclear energy is an immediate, national strategic imperative. Advanced nuclear technologies, including smaller, faster-to-build reactors, deliver reliable, scalable and zero-carbon power. Unlike wind or solar, nuclear operates 24/7, which is exactly what hyperscale AI data centers require. The early movers are acting:

The message is clear: secure dependable, carbon-free power now, or face capacity shortages and rising costs. AI is outpacing America’s power grid. Nuclear must become a national priority. | Utility Dive

Paramount Wins Bidding War for Warner Discovery After Netflix Drops Out by Joe Flint

William Attardi on February 27, 2026

Netflix says it wouldn’t match Paramount’s revised offer for storied entertainment company. Earlier this week, Paramount submitted its revised bid of $31 a share, or about $81 billion. Pending regulatory approval, Paramount will own not only Warner Bros. and HBO, but also many popular cable networks including CNN, TNT, TBS and Food Network. The deal would represent a ground shift for the entertainment industry, which is trying to adapt to seismic shifts in audience habits and technology. If Paramount’s transaction ultimately closes, it will add CNN to a portfolio that already includes CBS News, likely raising concerns from media watchdogs. David Ellison has revamped CBS News since taking over Paramount. He installed Bari Weiss, the provocative founder of the digital news and opinion outlet the Free Press, as editor in chief and has said he wants CBS News “to speak to that 70% of the audience that would really define themselves at center-left to center-right.” Paramount Skydance Wins Warner Bros. Discovery Bidding War – WSJ

DOE Allots $171.5 Million to Expand US Geothermal Energy

William Attardi on February 27, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a funding opportunity of $171.5 million to support next-generation geothermal field-scale tests for both electricity generation and exploration drilling to support characterization and potential confirmation of promising geothermal prospects. The activities enabled by this opportunity will help advance geothermal technology, innovation, and exploration, in turn supporting the potential for geothermal energy to provide affordable, reliable, around-the-clock domestic electricity to Americans nationwide. Although the United States leads the world in geothermal electricity capacity with about four gigawatts, DOE analysis shows the potential for at least 300 gigawatts of reliable, flexible geothermal power on the U.S. grid by 2050. DOE Allots $171.5 Million to Expand US Geothermal Energy – electrifiED

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

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

 

What Are Stablecoins and How Do They Work?

Stablecoins are less volatile than other cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin) and due to crypto assets’ inherent instability, stablecoins are growing in popularity with both crypto and traditional markets. Stablecoins are a type of crypto asset, but one that offers a way to bridge the gap between fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar and cryptocurrencies. Because they are price-stable digital assets that behave like fiat but maintain the mobility and utility of cryptocurrency, stablecoins are a novel solution to crypto volatility: price stability is built directly into the assets themselves.  There are four primary stablecoin types, identifiable by their underlying collateral structure: fiat-backed, crypto-backed, commodity-backed, and algorithmic stablecoins.  What Are Stablecoins and How Do They Work? | Gemini