its Little Leaf Farms Sesame Ginger Salad Kits By www.preparedfoods.com Published On :: Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Featuring Little Leaf Farms' fan-favorite Baby Crispy Green Leaf lettuce, the new Sesame Ginger Salad Kit includes Thai seasoned wonton strips, sliced almonds, toasted quinoa and sesame ginger dressing, delivering a convenient, fresh, flavor-packed meal ready to be enjoyed anytime. Full Article
its Mission Barns Raises $24M Series A to Scale Up its Cultivated Fat Technology, Build Pilot Production Facility By www.preparedfoods.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Apr 2021 05:00:00 -0400 Silicon Valley-based cellular agriculture company Mission Barns announced a $24M Series A to scale up its cultivated fat technology and build a pilot manufacturing plant in the Bay Area. Full Article
its KIND Snacks Savory and Seeds, Fruits & Nuts Bars By www.preparedfoods.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Individually wrapped and appropriate for grab-and-go snacks between meals, find these new bars on Amazon and in retailers nationwide for an SRP of $7.99-8.99. Full Article
its SunSip by Health-Ade Sodas with Benefits By www.preparedfoods.com Published On :: Sat, 17 Feb 2024 10:15:00 -0500 SunSip delivers nostalgic soda flavors while staying true to Health-Ade's mission to make gut health more accessible. Full Article
its Food processors can get big benefits from automating batch processing By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400 Automation of batch processing isn’t new, but as more companies move beyond the basics of automation, they are finding that new technology brings big rewards—as well as big challenges. Full Article
its Tech Update: Automated storage and retrieval systems offer challenges, benefits and new technology By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0400 With a market that is expected to reach $10.3 billion by 2027, food and beverage companies need to know the benefits and challenges of implementing AS/RS. Full Article
its How to Define Large-Format Tile and Its Subfloor Requirements By www.floortrendsmag.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:30:00 -0400 Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, solves the mystery of large-format tile terminology and explains how the established definition helped determine its subfloor requirements. Full Article
its Don’t Skip These Steps: How to Successfully Install Cementitious Backer Units Under Tile By www.floortrendsmag.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:00:00 -0400 Scott Carothers, academic director, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, walks us through the industry standards that are in place to help you achieve a successful cementitious backer unit installation under tile. Full Article
its In Dire Conditions, Emerson Donated its E3 Controller System to the Food Bank of Alaska By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 When COVID-19 began spreading across America, the Food Bank of Alaska in Anchorage quickly became overwhelmed. The organization had been making the best of outdated equipment in a remote location for many years, often dealing with breakdowns that led to significant losses of perishable food items. But, as the pandemic brought many longstanding issues to a head, it became clear that a permanent solution needed to be found. Full Article
its Flexible Packaging Flexes its Muscles with Recycling Pilot By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400 A single-stream mechanical recycling pilot demonstration produces the rFlex bale, a flexible packaging byproduct that could be used for future end markets and as a possible feedstock. Full Article
its Emser Tile Expands Its Material Bank Offering By www.floortrendsmag.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Sep 2021 17:23:56 -0400 Design professionals who rely on the service to search and sample materials will now find more than 130 Emser Tile collections on the site. Full Article
its Stampede Culinary Partners Triples its Sous Vide Cook Capacity in New Mexico By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Aug 2024 10:57:12 -0400 The new ovens at the Sunland Park location are state-of-the-art six-truck, dual-purpose ovens, meaning that they have the capability of both smoking and sous vide cooking. Full Article
its ProMach Launches Wine & Spirits Solutions Group By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:15:00 -0400 ProMach’s Wine & Spirits Solutions team is positioned to solve the unique challenges of processing and packaging traditional bottled products, small-format bottles and ready-to-drink (RTD) products in cans and single-serve bottles. Full Article
its Sustainable Plant of the Year: New Belgium Brewing Co. Hits the Spot By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:41:00 -0400 Finding a fun way to discuss carbon footprints in manufacturing and personal lifestyle requires a delicate balance, but New Belgium Brewing has found a way to strike the right note. Full Article
its Former Spirits Industry Execs Launch Non-Alcoholic Beverage Company DioniLife By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:30:00 -0400 The company will focus exclusively on non-alcoholic adult beverages and aims to build a portfolio of products across beverage categories, both through internal development and acquisition. Full Article
its Straus Family Creamery to Install 'First of Its Kind' Electric Heat Pump Refrigeration By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:03:00 -0400 The project, which is being funded by the California Energy Commission, kicks off in September 2024 and is expected to span a two and a half year period. Full Article
its The Benefits of Refurbished Bottle Conveyors in Bottling By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500 The advantages of choosing refurbished or hybrid conveyors, especially when considering bottle conveyors, are numerous and extend beyond simple cost savings. Full Article
its How Ben & Jerry's successfully manages its plants By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Dec 2017 09:00:00 -0500 Ben & Jerry's company principles drive the operations and the floor workers at the company’s ice cream factory in St. Albans, Vt. Full Article
its Crystal Farms Puts its Wisconsin Community and Employees First By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 13:35:00 -0500 Situated between Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., on Interstate 94 in a 7,000-resident town called Lake Mills lies Crystal Farms Dairy Co.’s plant. Full Article
its Carry on is 5cm over stated limits- should I be worried? By www.flyertalk.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 08:32:45 GMT Im due to travel from AMS-DOH-SGN on QR this Sunday and have just noticed my Osprey Farpoint 40 is 5cm over the maximum length. All other dimensions are fine and Ive weighed my bag and its within the 7kg weight limit. Will QR measure the bag... Full Article Travel Products
its Increasing use in intelligent packing of fruits and vegetables to drive PBAT market By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Fri, 04 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500 The global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period 2021 to 2031 with an end value of $2 billion, according to a report by Transparent Market Research. Fruit and vegetable intelligent packaging using PBAT-based biodegradable mulch films is used to reduce food waste. The films provide increased oxygen and water vapor transfer rates in fruit and vegetable bags. Full Article
its Visual inspection system helps ensure brand quality for distillery that makes spirits from milk By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:05:10 -0500 Canada-based Dairy Distillery, a spirits producer that combines artisanal distilling techniques with a scientific process to transform milk into vodka, is using Pleora Technologies’ visual inspection system to help maintain brand quality standards and reduce errors that increase operating costs and slow production. Full Article
its Brazil's Rock Stars: How the World's Most Diverse Stone Industry Is Carving Its Future By www.floortrendsmag.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0500 Brazil, the world's fourth-largest natural stone producer and leading U.S. supplier, is intensifying efforts to expand its market presence through export incentives and education. Full Article
its Mars Announces New Leadership for its Food & Nutrition Regional Businesses By www.foodengineeringmag.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:34:19 -0500 Dusangh and Bakker will report to global president of Mars Food & Nutrition, Shaid Shah, and will begin these roles immediately. Full Article
its Lowe's Names Schluter Systems, Shaw Among its 2024 Vendor Partners of the Year By www.floortrendsmag.com Published On :: Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400 Lowe's Companies, Inc. announced its Vendor Partners of the Year, which recognizes a vendor's commitment to delivering quality products, innovation, value and service to Lowe's customers. Full Article
its Potential use and benefits of automation for traffic control in roadway construction By academicjournals.org Published On :: Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0100 This paper addresses the impact of using automated flagging devices in road construction instead of using construction workers. To examine the efficacy of automating this construction activity, a group of drivers with diverse characteristics/demographics was involved in the study. The diverse characteristics included gender, age, years of driving experience, and level of formal education (e.... Full Article
its Making women's shelters more conducive to family life: professionals' exploration of the benefits of nature. By ezproxy.scu.edu.au Published On :: Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0400 Children's Geographies; 08/01/2021(AN 152310093); ISSN: 14733285Academic Search Premier Full Article WOMEN'S shelters THEMATIC analysis FAMILIES PARENTS SOCIAL belonging PSYCHOLOGICAL well-being
its Children's independent mobility licence and its association with the built and social environment: a study across neighbourhood typologies in Kolkata. By ezproxy.scu.edu.au Published On :: Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0500 Children's Geographies; 12/01/2021(AN 153655052); ISSN: 14733285Academic Search Premier Full Article KOLKATA (India) INDIA BUILT environment SOCIAL context NEIGHBORHOODS GENDER SOCIAL cohesion SCHOOL children
its 'No one listens to us ... ' COVID-19 and its socio-spatial impact on children and young people in Germany. By ezproxy.scu.edu.au Published On :: Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400 Children's Geographies; 08/01/2022(AN 158427720); ISSN: 14733285Academic Search Premier Full Article GERMANY YOUNG adults COVID-19 INFRASTRUCTURE (Economics) DIGITAL divide HOME schooling
its Temporary youth mobility: motivations and benefits from a life-course perspective. By ezproxy.scu.edu.au Published On :: Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500 Children's Geographies; 12/01/2022(AN 160715503); ISSN: 14733285Academic Search Premier Full Article YOUNG adults YOUNG women PERCEIVED benefit MOTIVATION (Psychology) YOUNG men
its To scope or not to scope? The benefits and challenges of integrating scoping studies in rapid qualitative research and evaluation By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:41:13 +0000 Publication date: February 2025 Source: Evaluation and Program Planning, Volume 108 Author(s): Syka Iqbal, Macarena Chepo, Marc Hébert, Cecilia Vindrola-Padros Read the full article › The post To scope or not to scope? The benefits and challenges of integrating scoping studies in rapid qualitative research and evaluation was curated by information for practice. Full Article Meta-analyses - Systematic Reviews
its Grand Peaks buys rental complex near Boca Raton for $91M –– a slight discount from its last sale price By therealdeal.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 20:30:00 +0000 Grand Peaks bought a 448-unit apartment complex near Boca Raton for $90.9 million, marking a slight discount from its last sale price five years ago. Denver-based Grand Peaks scooped up The Seven at West Boca at 10235 Boca Entrada Boulevard in unincorporated Palm Beach County from Tampa-based American Landmark Apartments, according to records and real […] The post Grand Peaks buys rental complex near Boca Raton for $91M –– a slight discount from its last sale price appeared first on The Real Deal. Full Article Uncategorized Boca Raton Multifamily Multifamily Market Palm Beach County
its Morrison family’s firm pays $17M for apartment complex with workforce units near West Palm Beach By therealdeal.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:35:00 +0000 The Morrison family’s Sympatico Real Estate scooped up an apartment complex with some workforce units near West Palm Beach for $17 million. Sympatico bought the 56-unit Aviara Green at 2157 South Haverhill Road in unincorporated Palm Beach County from Delray Beach-based MAG Real Estate & Development, according to records and a news release from the […] The post Morrison family’s firm pays $17M for apartment complex with workforce units near West Palm Beach appeared first on The Real Deal. Full Article Multifamily Multifamily Market Palm Beach County Sympatico Real Estate West Palm Beach Workforce Housing
its States Should Spur Use of “Direct Pay” Tax Credits to Advance Clean Energy in Low-Income Communities By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:32:47 +0000 The post States Should Spur Use of “Direct Pay” Tax Credits to Advance Clean Energy in Low-Income Communities was curated by information for practice. Full Article Grey Literature
its The changing geography of homelessness in Australia (2001–21) and its structural drivers By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Sun, 03 Nov 2024 01:14:51 +0000 The post The changing geography of homelessness in Australia (2001–21) and its structural drivers was curated by information for practice. Full Article Grey Literature
its NIH study demonstrates long-term benefits of weight-loss surgery in young people By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:41:48 +0000 Young people with severe obesity who underwent weight-loss surgery at age 19 or younger continued to see sustained weight loss and resolution of common obesity-related comorbidities 10 years later, according to results from a large clinical study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The post NIH study demonstrates long-term benefits of weight-loss surgery in young people was curated by information for practice. Full Article News
its Coroner finds ‘pervasive deficits’ in Oranga Tamariki social work practice before Napier baby’s death By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Sat, 02 Nov 2024 03:29:05 +0000 In the months leading up to the unexpected death of a baby boy, Oranga Tamariki staff incorrectly handled several concerns reported to them relating to his family. The post Coroner finds ‘pervasive deficits’ in Oranga Tamariki social work practice before Napier baby’s death was curated by information for practice. Full Article News
its ‘It should incense us all’: Rough sleeping in London hits new record high By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Sat, 02 Nov 2024 08:24:44 +0000 The stats showed 4,780 rough sleepers were counted by frontline workers on the streets between July and September this year, up 18% on the same period last year, 13% higher than the previous quarter and the highest quarterly figure on record. The post ‘It should incense us all’: Rough sleeping in London hits new record high was curated by information for practice. Full Article News
its A Pregnant Teenager Died After Trying to Get Care in Three Visits to Texas Emergency Rooms By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:07:55 +0000 It took three ER visits and 20 hours before a hospital admitted Nevaeh Crain, 18, as her condition worsened. Doctors insisted on two ultrasounds to confirm “fetal demise.” She’s one of at least two Texas women who died under the state’s abortion ban. The post A Pregnant Teenager Died After Trying to Get Care in Three Visits to Texas Emergency Rooms was curated by information for practice. Full Article News
its Long-term benefits of weight-loss surgery in young people By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 04:53:30 +0000 Young people with severe obesity who underwent weight-loss surgery at age 19 or younger continued to see sustained weight loss and resolution of common obesity-related comorbidities 10 years later, according to results from a large clinical study. The post Long-term benefits of weight-loss surgery in young people was curated by information for practice. Full Article News
its Research Intern 2021 - Devices, Circuits & Systems, Interns/Students, Cambridge, UK, Research By careers.peopleclick.com Published On :: Tuesday, September 8, 2020 5:04:17 PM EDT Research Internships 2021 – DCSArm is the industry's leading supplier of microprocessor technology providing efficient, low-power chip intelligence making electronic innovations come to life. Through our partners, our designs power everything from coffee machines to the fastest supercomputer in the world. Do you want to work on technology that enriches the lives of over 70% of the world’s population? Our internship programme is now open for applications! We want to hear from curious and enthusiastic candidates interested in working with us on the future generations of compute.About Arm and Arm ResearchArm plays a key role in our increasingly connected world. Every year, more than 20 billion products featuring Arm technology are shipped. Our engineers design and develop CPUs, graphics processors, complex system technologies, supporting software development tools, and physical libraries.At Arm Research, we develop new technology that can grow into new business opportunities. We keep Arm up to speed with recent technological developments by pursuing blue-sky research programmes, collaborating with academia, and integrating emerging technologies into the wider Arm ecosystem. Our research activities cover a wide range of fields from mobile and personal computing to server, cloud, and HPC computing. Our work and our researchers span a diverse range from circuits to theoretical computer science. We all share a passion for learning and creating.About the devices, circuits and systems group and our workWe are looking for interns to join our Devices, Circuits and Systems Research team; we want to hear from candidates interested in delivering post-Moore scaling and pushing compute past the limits of power, cost, and performance. Our research activities cover a wide range of chip design challenges such as:Delivering power to multi-GHz processorsCrafting performant and energy-efficient systems with emerging post-Moore memory and switching devices3D stackingDesigning microwatt sub-threshold microcontrollersRealising 1 cent disposable printed electronicsPrototyping battery-less sensor nodes. Full Article
its Intern, Research - Devices, Circuits, and Systems, Interns/Students, Austin (TX), USA, Research By careers.peopleclick.com Published On :: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 1:58:29 PM EDT rm is the industry's leading supplier of microprocessor technology providing efficient, low-power chip intelligence making electronic innovations come to life. Through our partners, our designs power everything from coffee machines to the fastest supercomputer in the world. Do you want to work on technology that enriches the lives of over 70% of the world’s population? Our internship program is now open for applications! We want to hear from curious and enthusiastic candidates interested in working with us on the future generations of compute. About Arm and Arm Research Arm plays a key role in our increasingly connected world. Every year, more than 20 billion products featuring Arm technology are shipped. Our engineers design and develop CPUs, graphics processors, complex system technologies, supporting software development tools, and physical libraries. At Arm Research, we develop new technology that can grow into new business opportunities. We keep Arm up to speed with recent technological developments by pursuing blue-sky research programs, collaborating with academia, and integrating emerging technologies into the wider Arm ecosystem. Our research activities cover a wide range of fields from mobile and personal computing to server, cloud, and HPC computing. Our work and our researchers span a diverse range from circuits to theoretical computer science. We all share a passion for learning and creating. About the devices, circuits and systems group and our work We are looking for interns to join our Devices, Circuits and Systems Research team; we want to hear from candidates interested in delivering post-Moore scaling and pushing compute past the limits of power, cost, and performance. Our research activities cover a wide range of chip design challenges such as: Delivering power to multi-GHz processors Crafting performant and energy-efficient systems with emerging post-Moore memory and switching devices 3D stacking Designing microwatt sub-threshold microcontrollers Realising 1 cent disposable printed electronics Prototyping battery-less sensor nodes Full Article
its “The Soul Recognizes Itself in Somebody Else”: The Healing Value of Forgiveness among Formerly Incarcerated People in the Profession Practice of Peer-Support By ifp.nyu.edu Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 06:32:17 +0000 The Prison Journal, Ahead of Print. The present study focuses on perceptions of forgiveness among formerly incarcerated people engaged in peer-support roles, based on their lived experience and referred to as wounded healers. Participants were 26 men and women with a history of addiction, trauma, and incarceration who are employed in formal peer-support positions and […] The post “The Soul Recognizes Itself in Somebody Else”: The Healing Value of Forgiveness among Formerly Incarcerated People in the Profession Practice of Peer-Support was curated by information for practice. Full Article Journal Article Abstracts
its Woogmaster’s Italy-Inspired Outdoor Furniture Is a Retreat Itself By design-milk.com Published On :: Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:00:34 +0000 Designed by Woogmaster Studio for Walters Wicker, the Avant and Varenna series are inspired by idyllic outdoor living in Italy's picturesque coastlines + villas. Full Article Home Furnishings Main Alex Woogmaster furniture home furnishings outdoor outdoor furniture outdoor furniture collection outdoor furnitures seating Walters Wicker Woogmaster Studio
its Lawsuits Allege Deceit and Greenwashing by Oregon’s Largest Gas Utility By www.portlandmercury.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0700 NW Natural talks up its climate strategy, but new legal challenges say the company has spent years lying about the environmental impact of natural gas. by Taylor Griggs For years, environmental advocates have said NW Natural attempts to obfuscate the negative climate and health impacts of natural gas utilities in order to remain dominant in the market. NW Natural, Oregon’s largest gas utility operation, has responded to such allegations with fierce resistance, promoting its service as more climate-friendly than electric alternatives and talking up plans to go greener in the future. But two lawsuits filed against NW Natural earlier this month put a spotlight on its alleged greenwashing practices, arguing the company has knowingly disenfranchised customers and contributed to the climate crisis. The first lawsuit, filed on October 7, adds NW Natural to Multnomah County’s existing legal challenge against several other oil companies for their role in perpetuating the deadly 2021 heat dome event. Just two days later on October 9, two NW Natural customers filed a class action suit against the company for falsely representing a program it says will offset the carbon emissions caused by customers’ natural gas use. Many Oregonians rely on gas heat appliances, whether to heat their homes or power their stoves, and nearly all of them have NW Natural as their service provider. NW Natural serves more than two million people across Oregon and southwest Washington, and is the only gas utility company serving Multnomah County. Proponents of natural gas say gas utilities are economical, efficient, and reliable in the case of power outages. But scientists and environmental experts say there are major downsides, too. Residential and commercial energy use accounts for about 20 percent of Oregon’s carbon emissions—the second largest category after transportation—and natural gas combustion accounts for a sizable portion of those emissions. Methane leaks from gas appliances also have a major climate impact, with gas stoves in particular emitting planet-warming greenhouse gasses even when they’re not in use. And if the environmental harm wasn’t enough, recent studies also show gas stoves are worse for human health than previously thought, with clear connections to carcinogenic pollutants. Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves has also been shown to lead to tens of thousands of cases of childhood asthma. As experts have sounded the alarm on all the impacts of gas utilities, environmental advocates and lawmakers have ramped up efforts to move Oregonians away from natural gas. The Portland Clean Energy Fund, for example, has invested tens of millions of dollars in deep energy retrofit projects, which will replace fossil fuel-reliant heating and cooling systems with electric systems. The program has invested millions more into building new, energy-efficient housing and commercial buildings. In resisting being pushed out of the market, the recent lawsuits say NW Natural has duped customers and pushed false propaganda about natural gas and the environment. Environmental advocates hope the legal challenges will have a practical impact on the company’s bottom line and enlighten the public. Part of NW Natural’s public outreach strategy has been its sponsorship of community events, including those hosted by environmentally-minded organizations. In an effort to limit the gas utility’s greenwashing message, environmental advocates want local groups to cut ties with NW Natural, or think twice before accepting a future sponsorship deal. “NW Natural has a captive audience that trusts what their natural gas utility is telling them,” Carra Sahler, an attorney and director of Lewis and Clark Law School’s Green Energy Institute, tells the Mercury. “The more we can do to encourage skepticism, the better, and the easier it will be for people to make a switch [to electrify their homes] and to feel good about making that switch.” County lawsuit alleges a history of greenwashing Multnomah County’s amended lawsuit says NW Natural’s carbon and methane emissions have been “a cause of enormous harm” to the county and its residents. But, the lawsuit says, you wouldn’t know that by listening to the gas utility company’s public messaging. The county’s lawsuit states NW Natural has emitted at least 72.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in the last few decades, but has “deceived the public by claiming its product is safe, clean, and environmentally friendly.” The lawsuit provides several examples of the company’s alleged deceitful practices. Some particularly egregious instances include attempts to influence children and the Oregon education system. In 2021, NW Natural offered activity booklets to schools containing colorful drawings and activities for children promoting natural gas. The company also tried to use a front organization to host a training session for teachers about renewable gas, offering a $200 stipend to each teacher who attended. The training was canceled after public backlash. An image in NW Natural's school activity book, included in the county's lawsuit. multnomah county attorney The misinformation from NW Natural got so bad, state agencies had to step in. Earlier this year, NW Natural distributed a newsletter to its customers containing misinformation about Oregon’s Climate Protection Program policy. The newsletter said the climate policy would not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but would result in a 14 percent rate hike for all NW Natural customers. In response, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality made a statement disavowing NW Natural’s campaign against the state policy. “In summary, NW Natural has routinely misrepresented to the public the climate impacts of extracting, transporting, storing and burning their product while over-estimating the costs of transitioning to renewables or reducing their pollution in an effort to frighten customers and discourage policy makers from using their authority to protect the public,” the Multnomah County lawsuit states. Sahler commends the county for including NW Natural in the big oil lawsuit. “NW Natural is a trusted provider of warmth in homes, part of the local fabric... It’s exciting to see the county taking action—it’s brave to take on one more fossil fuel interest, especially a local one,” she told the Mercury. “Multnomah County's lawsuit appropriately lumps Northwest Natural in with the other big fossil fuel companies that we know are problematic, and it helps people understand what we're dealing with here.” David Roy, NW Natural’s director of communications, told the Mercury the company is “disappointed the County is spending resources on litigation instead of on developing effective emission reduction policies that work for County residents and businesses.” “We will continue to pursue pathways that allow Oregonians, including low- and moderate-income customers, to have access to two energy systems—electric and gas—for their homes and businesses,” Roy said. “NW Natural will vigorously contest these claims should they come to court. Regarding the Multnomah County action, we believe adding the company to the suit at this later date is an attempt to divert attention from legal and factual flaws in the case.” Class action suit says customers were deceived about carbon offsets While Multnomah County’s lawsuit hones in on misleading claims and practices, the class action lawsuit specifically targets NW Natural’s Smart Energy program, an additional monthly fee available to customers, ostensibly to offset the carbon emissions associated with their natural gas use. Upon further investigation, however, NW Natural sends this carbon offset surcharge to industrial dairy farms for questionable “manure digesters,” which generate energy from methane-producing livestock waste. The complaint says the relationship between “carbon offset” funds, like NW Natural’s Smart Energy program, and the industrial dairies may incentivize the expansion of factory farming and enable further livestock waste production. “Independent research demonstrates that, at best, the climate benefits of manure digestion are not well studied and remain unclear,” the lawsuit says. “At worst, emissions reductions are significantly overstated.” Nicolas Blumm, one of the plaintiffs in the Smart Energy case, tells the Mercury he signed up for the program shortly after becoming a NW Natural customer. Since he didn’t have much of a choice about his gas utility system, he wanted to be as eco-friendly as possible while doing it. Blumm said the additional payment for the Smart Energy program was small—last January, he paid about $5 extra on his gas bill—so he didn’t think about it much. But once he realized where the money was going, he felt taken advantage of. The Smart Energy lawsuit points out that “corporate claims regarding sustainability and lower climate impact are particularly difficult for consumers to verify” and “climate-conscious consumers are particularly vulnerable to climate-related ‘greenwashing.’” “People deserve to have a chance to be honestly informed,” Blumm said. “I don’t think you should have to dig through and make sure every dollar you’re giving NW Natural is going exactly where they say it is. If they say the program is going to make your service carbon neutral, that’s how it should be.” NW Natural in the community In addition to the two lawsuits, NW Natural recently faced a blow from the Oregon Public Utilities Commission (OPUC). Last week, OPUC ordered the company to phase out gas subsidies by 2027. These subsidies are also known as line extension allowances, which gas utility companies including NW Natural charge existing customers in order to pay for expanding natural gas infrastructure to connect new customers to the service. Line extension allowances have been criticized by renewable energy advocates as environmentally damaging and economically burdensome for customers. But Roy, the NW Natural communications director, told the Mercury the company is “disappointed with the Commission’s decision,” and believes its subsidy proposal “supports the state’s goals for increased housing and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.” Advocates hope the recent news about NW Natural will lead to change in the community’s relationship with the company. While many consumers don’t have a choice about whether or not they can pay NW Natural for their monthly gas utility service, local organizations have more flexibility. NW Natural frequently sponsors or co-sponsors events across the region, ranging from county fairs to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) annual Sunday Parkways open streets events. At these events, the utility company often sets up a booth to share information about natural gas, which environmental advocates say is often misleading. PBOT Communications Director Hannah Schafer told the Mercury the bureau is “aware of the concerns” and hasn’t made sponsorship decisions for the 2025 Sunday Parkways season. Sahler, the attorney, told the Mercury, considering the harm burning natural gas has caused to the planet and to human health, she wants to see local leaders draw a line in the sand. “Fossil fuel companies are like tobacco companies. You wouldn’t have a tobacco company at [events like Sunday Parkways],” Sahler said. “At some point it has to be unacceptable to support a business that is poisoning us.” Full Article News Environment
its A 'Wicked' mistake: Mattel apologizes for printing a porn site on its doll packaging By www.npr.org Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:46:03 -0500 Mattel is pulling its Wicked dolls from some store shelves because of a misprint directing shoppers to a pornographic site. Meanwhile, resellers are listing the products on eBay for up to $500. Full Article
its Israel's EL Al Airlines Turns Profits by Continuing to Fly By www.npr.org Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 20:06:13 -0500 Israel's airlines are generating a windfall as international carriers cancel or limit flights due to security concerns. Flying in or out of Israel has become a logistical challenge since the war in Gaza erupted. Full Article
its Minnesota-inspired Cuban American Youth Orchestra launches its first tour By minnesota.publicradio.orghttps Published On :: Sun, 19 May 2019 19:00:00 -0500 Eleven members of the Minnesota Orchestra will join 25 young U.S. musicians in Cuba for the inaugural tour of an organization inspired by the 2015 Minnesota Orchestra visit to Havana. Full Article
its This 'Greatest Hits' album is real. Its artist is fiction By minnesota.publicradio.orghttps Published On :: Sat, 25 May 2019 09:50:00 -0500 Laura Barnett wrote a novel about an aging singer-songwriter sizing up her life in 16 tracks. Then she approached musician Kathryn Williams, who created the book's original soundtrack. Full Article
its This lawyer is fighting defamation lawsuits that can silence sexual assault victims By www.mprnews.org Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000 Since the start of the #MeToo movement, many accused abusers have filed defamation charges against their accusers in retaliation, advocates say. Law professor Victoria Burke wants to change that. Full Article