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The AI Build-Out Is Becoming the Biggest Economic Bet in U.S. History by Konrad Putzier and Justin Lahart

William Attardi on September 28, 2026

 The AI build-out is on track to become the biggest economic bet in U.S. history, dwarfing the investments made to fund other huge U.S. infrastructure projects such as the railroads, the highway system and the plumbing for the internet. Total investment in data centers and related artificial-intelligence infrastructure is projected to total $10.3 trillion from 2025 to 2032, according to new estimates by economist Stijn van Nieuwerburgh published by the Brookings Institution. That is a staggering 3.6% of gross domestic product a year, on average. Never before has the U.S. economy been so dependent on the build-out of a single industry. The investment is transforming every corner of the economy, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and minting new billionaires. It is also creating significant risk, as much of it is built on debt. An abrupt slowdown could ignite shock waves throughout the U.S. economy.  The AI Build-Out Is Becoming the Biggest Economic Bet in U.S. History – WSJ 

DOE Invests Nearly $2B to Keep US Power Grids Working

William Attardi on September 26, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) today announced its intention to help fund 31 grid-improvement projects across 26 states. The projects will receive $5.25 billion in total, $1.9 billion in federal funding from DOE and $3.35 billion in recipient cost-share funding, to improve grid reliability and lower electricity costs for approximately 100 million Americans. A full list of selected projects is available here. DOE Invests Nearly $2B to Keep US Power Grids Working

Siemens Announces More Than $200 Million in U.S. Manufacturing Investments and 1,500 New Jobs

William Attardi on August 24, 2026

Building on its recent milestone of more than $1 billion invested in U.S. manufacturing over the past five years, Siemens announced a combined investment of over $200 million in new manufacturing facilities in Pendergrass, GA, and Grand Prairie, TX, that will expand its U.S. electrical infrastructure manufacturing footprint and create more than 1,500 jobs. More than $185 million of this investment is dedicated to a new 550,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility in Pendergrass, GA. The facility will produce critical low-voltage electrical infrastructure products and systems for the data center market, supporting America’s growth in AI infrastructure and cloud computing. Concurrently, Siemens is developing a $19 million Grand Prairie, TX, facility that will increase the capacity of its nearby flagship switchgear factory. Siemens Announces More Than $200 Million in U.S. Manufacturing Investments and 1,500 New Jobs | Electrical Wholesaling

Duke Energy Lays Out New Energy Plan for the Carolinas

William Attardi on August 18, 2026

South Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, attracting new residents, major employers, and billions of dollars in economic investment. Meeting the state’s energy needs requires a reliable energy system that can support thriving communities while keeping costs as low as possible for customers. The latest plan for South Carolina advances new generation, new energy storage and renewables opportunities, evaluates future nuclear generation options, maximizes energy efficiency and maintains flexibility to adapt as customer needs, technology and market conditions evolve. To explore more details of the Carolinas Resource Plan, visit duke-energy.com/CarolinasResourcePlan.  Duke Energy Lays Out New Energy Plan for the Carolinas

DOE Advances Investments in AI for Science

William Attardi on December 15, 2025

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)has announced over $320 million in investments to rapidly advance the Genesis Mission’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. These awards are in accordance with President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut and other DOE appropriations to advance “AI for science” initiatives at the DOE. The awards will begin building the integrated American Science and Security Platform, a discovery engine designed to double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering investments within a decade. To view the full list of projects and awards, please click here. DOE Advances Investments in AI for Science – electrifiED

 

GE Vernova Outlines $600M US Expansion

William Attardi on January 31, 2025

GE Vernova Inc. outlined a capital investment program for U.S. manufacturing and development operations totaling close to $600 million through 2027. It projected the investments would address issues involving energy affordability, national security, and manufacturing growth, and would prompt the creation of more than 1,500 new jobs. GE Vernova, which is the former General Electric portfolio of businesses that manufacture industrial and alternative energy systems, pegged the new U.S. investments as part of its broader, $9-billion global capital investment and research program. Among the planned U.S. investments:

  • Greenville, SC ($160 million)
  • Niskayuna, NY ($100 million)
  • Parsippany, NJ, Bangor, ME, Schenectady, NY ($50 million each)
  • Clearwater, FL, Charleroi, PA ($20 million each)
  • Also Pensacola, Grand Forks, Amarillo, Wilmington, Pittsburgh

Energy Giant Outlines $600M US Expansion | GE Vernova | American Machinist

The Creator of Baby Ruth Actually Sued Babe Ruth –The Baby Ruth candy bar was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1920 — the same year that baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a then-record 54 home runs. But the Great Bambino was irked that the company was selling a candy bar with such a similar name to his own without offering him any royalties. Rather than take the Curtiss Candy Company to court, the Sultan of Swat decided to make his own candy bar, and in 1926 he debuted Ruth’s Home Run bar. The Curtiss Candy Company responded by turning the tables and taking Ruth to court. They accused the slugger of trying to steal their trademark and capitalize on the success of their brand. In a 1931 deposition, Curtiss founder Otto Schnering insisted the candy was named after “Baby Ruth” Cleveland — the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.  He also attested that the company came up with the name in 1919 before the baseball player had become a household name and that the name was merely coincidental. While the validity of those claims is disputed to this day, the court nonetheless ruled in favor of the candy company, forcing Ruth to end his foray into the world of candy.