This week ComEd said that it’s furthering innovation in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood with the installation of renewable energy powered lights along the walkway to the Beethoven Elementary School. Bronzeville is home to the first “microgrid cluster” in the United States.

Denmark in many ways is the poster child for the generation mix of the future. It led the way for decades in wind generation. It has continued to set ever-more ambitious targets for renewable penetration. And it has shown in the real world how to make a grid work that includes a heavy presence of renewable assets. Along the way, though, it has faced many challenges.

This weekend at its “Earth Day Every Day Fair,” Green Mountain Power announced an energy vision to have a 100 percent carbon free energy supply by 2025 and 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. The utility said the move is among the most aggressive carbon targets for a utility of GMP’s size in the country.

According to a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), within the past month, the agency has dramatically revised its three-year forecast for changes in the U.S. electrical generating capacity mix. Sharp declines are foreseen for fossil fuels and nuclear power while accompanied by even stronger growth in renewable energy (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) than earlier projected.

Fossil fuels, long regarded for their high-energy return on investment, are not as efficient as once thought. In fact, their final yields are not much better than those of renewable options, according to a new study.

On Tuesday, July 23 at the HydroVision International keynote, Vice President Marla Barnes asked the audience to close their eyes and envision their next vacation. “Are you sitting on a beach? Are you packing your family into the car for a wild adventure? What do you see,” she asked.

Virginia’s energy office is exploring whether to align the state with a billion-dollar New York clean energy financing program.

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While today's smartphones are loaded with Google Maps or Apple Maps, they are merely quick solutions for traveling short distances. Believe it or not, getting a dedicated GPS device for your car or truck is still the best way to get to your destination safely and with ease. 

Companies like Garmin and TomTom specialize in safe car travel and update their maps and traffic reports whenever changes occur on the road. GPS devices also offer the peace of mind that you'll never get lost, even when you're in a new location — including remote areas. They can also help you find the nearest restaurants, shopping mall, rest area, and other locations that might be considered off-the-beaten-path.  Read more...

Bitcoin will “halve” for the third time next week, slowing down the discovery of new bitcoins and preventing disruptions from new miners. Read more...

Google's video chat app got new features this week. No, the other one. No, the other other one.

In a Friday blog post, Google announced some snazzy new features for Duo, one of its three video chat services. Let's get this out of the way early: Duo is the one that's mobile-friendly and resembles FaceTime more than Hangouts and Meet.

The new features make more sense with that in mind. Google added something called "Family Mode" to Duo, in which you can draw silly little doodles on the video feed, presumably to amuse the little ones on the call. There are also AR effects you can use on one-on-one calls on Android and iOS, similar to those available on Facebook's video calls. Read more...

'Hollywood' actor Samara Weaving lets us in on all of the movies and television she's been watching during quarantine.   Read more...

TL;DR: Give a meaningful gift during these difficult times with a Tribute Video Montage for $64.99, a 34% saving as of May 9.

A Zoom happy hour only goes so far.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate and send affection to your loved ones, regardless of the reason, check out Tribute Video Montage as an alternative to those wonky (and sometimes awkward) video calls. 

Sending a Tribute might just be one of the best morale-boosting presents you can send during these trying times. It's a way for friends and family to share their love and appreciation for someone they want to celebrate, whether for a major milestone, like a 50th anniversary or 30th birthday or just because. The platform is super easy to use and breaks a 10-hour process down to just 10 minutes. Read more...

Internet of Yum digs into all the things that make us drool while we're checking our feeds.

The famously sensitive strongman, actor Terry Crews, is screaming at the top of his lungs. In another time and place, you would be sure he was getting tortured. Which, essentially he is — just not as a form of punishment. Instead, the misery is all in the name of promotional entertainment, with Crews' self-inflicted tears generating views for the YouTube series Hot Ones.

Across the centuries, people have watched transfixed as others dare to eat disgusting, torturous, or sickening amounts of food. The specifics change with the venue, but it is a consistent form of entertainment.  Read more...

Americans have been receiving contradictory information about the coronavirus pandemic, so much so that it's become a joke. One example is face masks: In March, the World Health Organization advised people to not wear masks if they aren't sick or caretakers of the sick. 

But given that some coronavirus patients are asymptomatic, opinions of masks from top officials have shifted. The CDC and the media now advise you to wear a damn mask. And a new study may provide more evidence that masks can help beat the outbreak.

According to this study, if 80 percent of Americans wore masks, coronavirus infections would plummet, Vanity Fair reports. The title of the study makes the researchers' view clear: Universal Masking is Urgent in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Read more...

The use of innovative technology in agriculture – agtech – has fundamentally disrupted conventional production techniques and market linkages in the Indian agricultural sector.

A strong and trusted partnership between a Wuhan based distributor of Australian beef and their Australian supplier ensured shipments continued during the worst of the pandemic crisis.

VideoMyJob is helping transform recruitment. With support from the Landing Pads program, the startup has exceeded its global growth targets well beyond expectations.

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report analyzes the privacy issues raised by COVID-19 contact-tracing apps. Also featured: An update on efforts to fight fraud tied to economic stimulus payments; John Kindervag on the origins of "zero trust."

The European Network and Information Security Agency [ENISA] has launched information security awareness videos in 23 European languages.

A strong and trusted partnership between a Wuhan based distributor of Australian beef and their Australian supplier ensured shipments continued during the worst of the pandemic crisis.

Austrade will provide weekly regional updates on the progression and impact of COVID-19 around the world, to support the international education sector as the situation continues to evolve. These reports are compiled using the latest on-the-ground information and advice.

A not-for-profit in the US is seeking expressions of interests from organisations, including academia, for their COVID-19 Health Coalition, to help preserve the healthcare delivery system and protect US populations.

When Ballarat-based Gekko Systems heard the local medical community was worried about access to ventilators needed to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the company sprang into action.

Thai universities have shifted all classes to online channels to help manage the spread of COVID-19. The Thai government imposed closures of all educational institutions until August, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Austrade will provide weekly regional updates on the progression and impact of COVID-19 around the world, to support the international education sector as the situation continues to evolve. These reports are compiled using the latest on-the-ground information and advice.

This page has information to help Australian exporters manage the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their business.

As manufacturers - including companies such as automakers that do not typically produce healthcare devices - race to help fill medical equipment shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, steps must be taken to ensure adequate security testing, says Fairuz Rafique of cybersecurity services firm EmberSec.

As manufacturers - including companies such as automakers that do not typically produce healthcare devices - race to help fill medical equipment shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, steps must be taken to ensure adequate security testing, says Fairuz Rafique of cybersecurity services firm EmberSec.

To ensure data is protected, business units must work closely with IT and security specialists to resolve data governance issues, says Sydney-based Prashant Haldankar, CISO at Privasec.

As manufacturers - including companies such as automakers that do not typically produce healthcare devices - race to help fill medical equipment shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, steps must be taken to ensure adequate security testing, says Fairuz Rafique of cybersecurity services firm EmberSec.

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report analyzes the privacy issues raised by COVID-19 contact-tracing apps. Also featured: An update on efforts to fight fraud tied to economic stimulus payments; John Kindervag on the origins of "zero trust."

The European Network and Information Security Agency [ENISA] has launched information security awareness videos in 23 European languages.

With more employees working remotely and a much heavier demand for telehealth services, entities need to consider extra, accelerated steps in keeping data and systems secure, says Martin Littmann, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic CISO, and Stephen Moore, a former security leader at Anthem.

As manufacturers - including companies such as automakers that do not typically produce healthcare devices - race to help fill medical equipment shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, steps must be taken to ensure adequate security testing, says Fairuz Rafique of cybersecurity services firm EmberSec.

To ensure data is protected, business units must work closely with IT and security specialists to resolve data governance issues, says Sydney-based Prashant Haldankar, CISO at Privasec.

As manufacturers - including companies such as automakers that do not typically produce healthcare devices - race to help fill medical equipment shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, steps must be taken to ensure adequate security testing, says Fairuz Rafique of cybersecurity services firm EmberSec.

The FDIC is clarifying its policy and supervisory approach related to facilitating payment processing services directly, or indirectly through a third party, for merchant customers engaged in higher-risk activities.

Malwarebytes Researchers Say Attacks Appear Related to Magecart
Cybercriminals are hiding malicious JavaScript skimmers in the "favicon" icons of several ecommerce websites in an effort to steal payment card data from customers, researchers at Malwarebytes say.

As manufacturers - including companies such as automakers that do not typically produce healthcare devices - race to help fill medical equipment shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, steps must be taken to ensure adequate security testing, says Fairuz Rafique of cybersecurity services firm EmberSec.

With more employees working remotely and a much heavier demand for telehealth services, entities need to consider extra, accelerated steps in keeping data and systems secure, says Martin Littmann, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic CISO, and Stephen Moore, a former security leader at Anthem.