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DOE Releases 2026 U.S. Energy and Employment Report

William Attardi on September 9, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the 2026 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER). The annual report highlights strong job growth across critical energy sectors at the heart of President Trump’s Energy Dominance agenda. America’s most reliable energy sectors are adding jobs and powering industries across the country. These critical sectors deliver the affordable, reliable, and secure energy that American families, businesses, and industries depend on. DOE Releases 2026 U.S. Energy and Employment Report – tEDmag

 

 

Supporters Hopeful as DOE and EPA Finalize Energy Star Transition Plan by Robert Freedman

William Attardi on September 9, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy’s success with its Better Buildings Initiative shows the agency knows how to make a public-private partnership like Energy Star work, an industry supporter says. The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Aug. 28 finalized a planto make DOE the lead agency on the federal government’s Energy Star program by this time next year. In what industry groups say is an encouraging sign, the document emphasizes the agencies’ commitment to ensuring the program has adequate funding and staffing, a concern since the Trump administration has tried cutting the program in its budget requests. Supporters hopeful as DOE and EPA finalize Energy Star transition plan | Facilities Dive

Canada Announces Counter-Tariffs Against the United States

William Attardi on September 9, 2026

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs against the United States’ tariffs on August 22 took effect at 12:01 a.m. today, covering approximately $27.6 billion of U.S.-origin goods at rates of 15%, 25%, or 50%. The measures apply only to goods originating in the United States; U.S. goods already in transit to Canada today are exempt. Among the electrical-related items (see the full listfor specific exclusions and details):

  • Copper wire:multiple refined-copper wire classifications carry a 50% tariff.
  • Aluminum wire:multiple aluminum and aluminum-alloy wire classifications carry a 50% tariff.
  • Aluminum stranded wire and cable that is not electrically insulated, including steel-core conductor, carries a 50% tariff.
  • Other insulated electric conductors rated at 1,000 V or lessunder tariff item 8544.49.00 carry a 25% tariff.
  • LED ceiling and wall luminaires, plus certain other LED luminaires, carry a 50% tariff.

Canada Announces Counter-Tariffs Against the United States – tEDmag

August Jobs Report Shows US Added 162,000 Jobs, Blowing Past Forecasts by Mary Cunningham

William Attardi on September 5, 2026

U. S. employers added162,000 jobs in August, more than double economists’ forecasts and signaling a sharp acceleration from hiring in July. The unemployment rate was 4.1% in August, unchanged from the previous month. The August jobs report could strengthen the case for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike at the central bank’s upcoming meeting, with the rate decision set for Sept. 16, economists said on Friday. However, the Fed is likely to place more emphasis on the forthcoming Consumer Price Index report, which will be released on Sept. 11. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh affirmed that the labor market was on a steady course last week during the Fed’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Warsh signaled that inflation, which is stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target, remains the central bank’s primary focus. August jobs report shows US added 162,000 jobs, blowing past forecasts

Chevron Expands Oil Position in Venezuela

William Attardi on September 3, 2026

The agreements set out provisions for Chevron’s joint ventures in Venezuela, including enhanced fiscal, commercial and legal terms intended to support durable and competitive long-term investments. As part of the agreements, Chevron has been assigned additional acreage in the Orinoco Belt, where the company has an established position. The enhancements underpin joint venture plans to invest over $7 billion over the next five years, more than doubling production to approximately 600,000 barrels a day compared to 2026. With total costs of less than $20 per barrel and a large resource base, Venezuela is a platform of differentiated oil growth under Chevron’s disciplined cash management model. Business News Today – tEDmag

Walmart Celebrates Major Milestone with 100 EV Fast-Charging Sites Nationwide

William Attardi on September 1, 2026

Walmart has reached a significant milestone by opening its 100th EV fast-charging site, enhancing accessibility for electric vehicle drivers across 20 states with fast, reliable charging options at their stores. Most Walmart EV charging locations feature 8 to 16 fast-charging stalls, with chargers capable of delivering up to 400 kW of power.  Walmart Celebrates Major Milestone with 100 EV Fast-Charging Sites Nationwide | EC&M

Oregon’s Popular Electric Vehicles Rebates are Back, But for a Limited Time Only

William Attardi on September 1, 2026

Oregonians shopping for an electric vehicle can once again get thousands of dollars from the state toward the cost, but they’ll have little more than two months to do so,  through Nov. 4. Clean Vehicle Rebate Program  The standard rebate is available regardless of income to Oregon residents, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. It offers $2,000 for a new all-electric vehicle, $1,500 for a new plug-in hybrid and $375 for a new zero-emission motorcycle. The “charge ahead” rebate offers more money to lower- and moderate-income households.To qualify, a household must earn no more than 400% of the federal poverty guideline — about $63,840 for an individual or $132,000 for a family of four in 2026. They can receive $7,500 for a new battery-electric vehicle or $5,000 for a new plug-in hybrid. Oregon EV rebate program is back. Who qualifies and how much you can get – oregonlive.com

NEMA Supports Securing U.S. Power Grid and Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing

William Attardi on August 28, 2026

NEMA supports measures that ensure our nation’s electric grid is secure, reliable, and resilient, particularly as demand for electricity continues to grow. In response to President Trump’s Bulk Power Executive Order 14420, NEMA leadership looks forward to working with the Administration to ensure the shared vision of a secure, reliable grid that delivers affordable electricity for Americans is realized, while balancing the near-term need to expand energy generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and efficiency.  The U.S. electrical manufacturing industry has invested more than $200 billion in domestic production since 2018, advancing manufacturing of components critical to our national security, economic growth, and energy future. The Executive Order’s emphasis on American-made energy infrastructure also reinforces the importance of industry-led programs like NEMA’s Make It American® program, which helps manufacturers demonstrate and verify their commitment to producing electrical products in the U.S. based on the current Build America, Buy America Act.  NAED supports the goal of securing America’s power grid from proliferating threats and supply-chain vulnerabilities. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration as it develops the rules needed to implement the order. NEMA Supports Securing U.S. Power Grid and Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing – NEMA

Amazon’s Toaster-Shaped Robotaxis Are Hitting the Road by Ellie Davis

William Attardi on August 24, 2026

The company is the first to charge for rides in its autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel, dashboard or pedals charging for rides across San Francisco and in Las Vegas. They can drive in either direction and hold up to four passengers who sit facing each other. Windows stretch across much of the sides. The vehicles are called Zoox and they come from a new entrant in robotaxis: Amazon.com AMZN. Amazon is betting it can become a major player in the growing robotaxi market, which Goldman Sachs expects to grow to nearly $19 billion in sales by 2030, from $376 million last year. It is a risky move. Alphabet’s Waymo, the early leader with roughly 4,000 vehicles operating in various cities, and Tesla provide stiff competition. Amazon bought Zoox in 2020 for $1.2 billion.  Amazon’s Toaster-Shaped Zoox Robotaxis Hitting the Road in San Francisco and Las Vegas – WSJ

AI Infrastructure Pushes Data Center Capex Forecast Above $3 Trillion by Nathan Eddy

William Attardi on August 24, 2026

Worldwide data center capital spending is projected to surpass $3 trillion by 2030 as hyperscalers, sovereign AI programs, and specialized cloud providers expand infrastructure to support growing AI workloads, according to a new report from Dell’Oro Group. The research firm said its 2030 capex outlook has nearly doubled since its January 2026 forecast, reflecting higher hyperscaler spending guidance, increased estimates for global data center power capacity, and rising commodity costs.  However, the cost of accelerators alone does not reflect the full expense of AI infrastructure. Operators also need servers to host the chips, specialized networking for AI clusters, and storage to support training and inference. Data Center Capex Forecast to Hit $3 Trillion

It’s Back to School – How Some of Our Most Acknowledged Universities Got Their Name – Who were the true visionaries who would donate half of their estate to sculpting the minds of the future. These stories are monuments to history and culture. Let’s take a stroll through academia’s memory lane and uncover the origins of these storied university names!

  1. Ah, Harvard! The Ivy League giant was once a small college in the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlement called New Towne. But where did “Harvard” come from? Enter John Harvard, a clergyman who, in 1638, decided to bequeath half his estate and his library (a whopping 400 books!) to the fledgling college. Grateful for this generous gift, they promptly named the institution after him.
  2. A gem of New Haven, Connecticut, Yale is another Ivy League powerhouse known for its prestigious law and drama schools. It owes its name to Elihu Yale, a wealthy merchant who, in 1718, donated a modest shipment of goods (including portraits, books, and textiles) to a struggling collegiate school. Those goods were auctioned off, raising a much-needed £562 –a small fortune at the time.
  3. Dartmouth is renowned for its beautiful rural setting, nestled in the picturesque town of Hanover, New Hampshire. It was named after the Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge, a British nobleman who supported the college’s founding –despite never actually setting foot in America!
  4. Brown, this Rhode Island Ivy University, known for its open curriculum and emphasis on student choice, was founded with a mouthful of a name – the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It was renamed in 1704 for Nicholas Brown, Jr., a prominent merchant whose family donated generously to the school.
  5. Perched atop a hill overlooking Ithaca, New York, Cornell is celebrated for its diverse academic programs and its stunning natural surroundings. Founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, this university was unique for its commitment to practical education, allowing students the freedom to choose their own course of study. It was a revolutionary notion at the time, which would guide a curricular reform across the country.
  6. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit and its close ties to the tech industry. But this California powerhouse has a touching origin story. Leland Stanford, Jr., the founder’s son, tragically died young from typhoid fever. His father Leland Sr., railroad magnate and former state governor, and his mother Jane, founded the university in his memory, ensuring his legacy lived on through the pursuit of knowledge.
  7. This North Carolina research giant, known for its strong medical and law schools, underwent a bit of a name change in its history. Originally called Trinity College, it was renamed Duke University in 1924 after James Buchanan Duke, a tobacco and electric power industrialist who founded the American Tobacco Company. He established The Duke Endowment, to which he donated throughout his life and left half his estate after his death.
  8. Nestled in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt is a renowned research university with a vibrant campus life. It owes its name to “The Commodore,” Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and railroad magnate, who provided the initial gift to establish the university.
  9. Texas businessman William Marsh Rice provided the initial funding for this Houston university, but did not live to see its opening. He was murdered by his valet as he slept, in a plot to forge the man’s will. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Rice University flourished through the years, becoming an institution known for its strong engineering and science programs.
  10. Who was Harvard named after? Origin of university names