14.8 C
New York
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Home Blog Page 7

Evan Brown, Govt Director of EDGE on the Oklahoma Division of Commerce

0


Evan Brown serves because the Govt Director of EDGE (Financial Growth Development and Growth) on the Oklahoma Division of Commerce. With earlier roles as Deputy Secretary of State and Deputy Director of Enterprise Growth and Legislative Director on the Division of Commerce, Evan brings a wealth of expertise in public service and financial technique. At EDGE, he leads initiatives to drive enterprise progress and develop financial alternatives statewide, with a powerful emphasis on attracting expertise firms to Oklahoma.
Evan has helped advance Oklahoma’s place as a aggressive hub for tech funding—highlighted by Google’s latest land buy for a future information middle, a key milestone within the state’s ongoing push to draw innovation and high-tech trade progress.

Let’s begin with the large information—Google has acquired land in Stillwater, Oklahoma for a future information middle campus. Are you able to inform us how this undertaking got here to life and what it means for the native and state financial system?

Google has known as Oklahoma house for over a decade, investing $4.4 billion in its information middle at MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, Oklahoma. The corporate has been a improbable associate with the state, each using lots of of Oklahomans and giving again to the area people the place it’s positioned. Google has additionally continued to put money into STEM training by awarding grants to varsities and different organizations, which additionally helps guarantee a gradual workforce pipeline for years to come back.

Oklahoma was particularly named as a beneficiary of the $20 billion overseas funding geared toward boosting AI and cloud expertise. What makes Oklahoma such a strategic location for this sort of improvement?

Oklahoma’s central location, inexpensive power prices and dedication to being probably the most business-friendly state within the nation make it good for any important funding. Our state is all the time open for enterprise, providing incentives and state-of-the-art infrastructure for brand new and increasing firms. Companies solely must name us, and we are going to present them precisely why Oklahoma is the fitting state for them to develop or develop.

In 2023, Oklahoma noticed 71 bulletins for brand new and increasing firms. What developments are you seeing within the varieties of companies selecting Oklahoma, and what’s driving this momentum?

Not solely is Oklahoma the right location for brand new expertise firms, however it is usually changing into a hub for nationwide protection. We’ve got 5 navy installations that the Division of Protection continues to put money into, and our workforce can also be engaged on a number of protection manufacturing initiatives that would deliver greater than 1,000 jobs and $1 billion in funding. We’ve got Lengthy Wave, an Oklahoma Metropolis-based firm, which was lately awarded a subcontract to assist develop the Navy’s new plane. The contract is for lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} over six years, and they’re including 150 new jobs. We’re additionally taking steps to onshore vital mineral manufacturing within the U.S., lowering the nation’s dependence on different international locations. In Stillwater, we now have USA Uncommon Earth, America’s first uncommon earth metallic manufacturing facility. They produced their first batch of magnets earlier this yr. There’s additionally Stardust Energy, a lithium refining firm, that broke floor on a $1.2 billion refinery in Muskogee earlier this yr.

Google’s resolution displays confidence in Oklahoma’s infrastructure. May you elaborate on what makes the state’s infrastructure notably well-suited for large-scale information facilities?

All of it comes all the way down to our inexpensive power and business-friendly insurance policies. Information facilities require a considerable amount of power, and proper now, we produce 60% extra power than we eat in Oklahoma. Communities even have the power to work instantly with these firms to give you designated energy era for information middle improvement or different initiatives.

With power prices practically 20% under the nationwide common and a #1 rating from CNBC for price of doing enterprise, Oklahoma is clearly aggressive. How are you leveraging these strengths in your financial improvement technique?

In Oklahoma, we produce 60% extra power than we eat, and that’s an enormous benefit when recruiting information facilities or different comparable high-energy-consuming companies. Our grid is dependable as a result of we’re members of the Southwest Energy Pull, so we don’t expertise the rolling blackouts you see in some elements of the nation. Our purpose is to be probably the most business-friendly state within the nation. We’re centrally positioned, we now have the furthest inland port within the nation, state management is dedicated to reducing pink tape, we now have inexpensive power, and we provide direct entry to state management.

The SITES Program has been instrumental in figuring out industrial and mega websites throughout the state. How does this program work, and the way has it helped entice initiatives like Google’s?

SITES stands for Supporting Industrial Transformation and Financial Success. It’s our manner of partnering with communities throughout the state to proactively deal with infrastructure wants to fulfill the demand of present companies and firms seeking to set up operations in Oklahoma. Communities can apply if they’ve a website with infrastructure wants, and if chosen, we associate with the neighborhood to assist cowl a number of the prices of these enhancements. This reveals firms seeking to develop or transfer to Oklahoma that the state is dedicated to having a website prepared for them to get operations up and operating as rapidly as attainable. It additionally reveals Oklahoma communities that the state is dedicated to investing of their neighborhood and getting ready them for financial progress. It’s like if you’re searching for a brand new house. We would like the enterprise to see its potential spot, fall in love with the positioning and neighborhood, and be enthusiastic about transferring in.

How is Oklahoma getting ready its expertise pipeline—particularly in areas like tech and superior manufacturing—to fulfill the calls for of those new investments?

We’re dedicated to making sure each scholar who graduates highschool is college-ready or career-ready. We’ve got colleges just like the Aviation Academy in Norman, the place excessive schoolers can work in direction of their pilot license or technical certificates in aviation upkeep. We’re taking steps to develop internships and apprenticeship packages whereas additionally constructing partnerships between colleges and companies. Oklahoma has a terrific CareerTech system, which helps firms perceive the abilities they want and incorporates that info within the classroom.

Stillwater’s collaboration with a number of native companions was important to securing this undertaking. What classes can different cities or states study from this profitable public-private partnership?

We perceive the worth of private and non-private partnerships. Financial improvement isn’t carried out in a silo. It’s not state or neighborhood; it’s state partnering with communities to grasp their wants and needs for progress. We should deliberately put money into sturdy relationships throughout our state by means of elected officers and neighborhood companions to make sure we completely perceive the belongings. If we’re out pitching to an organization that Oklahoma is the place to be, we now have to grasp all of our belongings so we will help join a enterprise to the neighborhood that most closely fits their wants.

How do you see this Google funding shaping the way forward for financial improvement in Oklahoma? May it pave the best way for comparable tech-focused initiatives or firms to observe?

We perceive that the free market creates jobs, not the federal government. We don’t need to put our thumb on the dimensions and decide winners and losers. Due to our business-friendly insurance policies and benefits in power and different areas, we’ve created an setting the place entrepreneurs and companies can thrive. We get weekly calls from information facilities, uncommon earth companies, and different tech-focused firms fascinated about Oklahoma and probably discovering a neighborhood associate that may finest match their wants.

Trying forward, what’s your imaginative and prescient for Oklahoma’s function within the nationwide financial system, particularly as AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure proceed to develop?

Governor Kevin Stitt all the time says he needs to take Oklahoma to the world and convey the world again to Oklahoma. In 2024 alone, our workforce hosted 19 consulate representatives, two ambassadors, and a Crown Prince. We coordinated eight worldwide outbound missions to international locations like South Korea and Japan and assisted with six worldwide MOU agreements. We’re working to construct relationships instantly between Oklahoma and different international locations.

Microsoft’s huge purchase exhibits decarbonization potential of paper mills


Key takeaways

  • Microsoft has signed a deal for 3.7 million carbon elimination credit over a 12-year interval
  • Challenge developer CO280 will generate the credit by capturing emissions from pulp and paper mills
  • Many U.S. mills are located shut to appropriate geologic storage reservoirs

Might the pulp and paper business be remodeled into an engine for carbon elimination? That’s the tantalizing risk raised by a deal between Microsoft and CO280, a undertaking developer targeted on capturing and storing carbon dioxide emitted from pulp and paper mills.

The tech large will buy 3.7 million tons of elimination credit from CO280 over a 12-year interval, the developer introduced right now.

The deal follows a smaller contract introduced in December with Frontier, a coalition of corporations that funds early-stage carbon elimination tasks. Help from these two heavyweight backers of carbon elimination will assist CO280 broaden an present pilot retrofit of a Gulf Coast mill to seize round 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide, mentioned Jonathan Rhone, co-founder and CEO of CO280. He wouldn’t share a exact value, however mentioned that the credit would price lower than $200 per ton.

The method has the potential to be “carbon unfavorable” as a result of the feedstock utilized in pulp and paper mills — small-diameter timber and waste biomass from timber operations — comprises carbon captured by photosynthesis. A few of that carbon makes its method to the cardboard packaging, tissue and different paper merchandise mills produce, however a majority results in “black liquor,” a waste materials burned within the mill to generate warmth.

CO280 sends the gases from that combustion by way of a liquid solvent that captures CO2. After a biomass steam boiler heats the solvent to launch the CO2, the system pipes the fuel round 40 miles to a website the place it’s saved underground in a geologic reservoir.

The corporate declined to reveal the exact location of the retrofitted mill.

‘Pleased coincidence’

CO280 has greater than 10 tasks in improvement, in keeping with Rhone. After the primary Gulf Coast undertaking activates in 2029, he estimated that the corporate would add a “couple of million tons” of elimination capability yearly.

CO280 declined to specify the price of the retrofit. Rhone mentioned that it’s within the “a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars}.”

The corporate’s speedy growth can be made doable by what Rhone described as a “joyful coincidence”: Many U.S. pulp and paper mills are based mostly on the Gulf Coast, an space that’s already being focused for carbon elimination tasks as a result of it has good choices for geologic storage. Which means there’s present infrastructure for importing and burning biogenic carbon in a area the place the emissions could be saved. Add carbon seize to the equation, and a strong elimination possibility turns into accessible. U.S. pulp and paper mills emit near 90 million tons of CO2 yearly, in keeping with CO280.

“Pulp and paper indubitably goes to be a serious participant within the carbon elimination area,” mentioned Joe Sagues, a researcher at North Carolina State College who research the elimination potential of the business.

Questions on the method

The long-term affect of those retrofits has been questioned, nonetheless. In a submit printed this February, researchers on the non-profit CarbonPlan famous that the last word targets of carbon elimination are to cope with residual emissions from industries that may’t be decarbonized and to attract down extra carbon from the environment. The researchers checked out services that produce ethanol from corn and noticed that even after retrofits of carbon seize tools, the method as a complete stays a web emitter. In that case, embedding elimination within the business can cut back emissions however gained’t ship on the aim of drawdown.

‘A good level to make’

CO280’s first Gulf Coast retrofit will match this sample in that it’s going to seize solely round half of the ability’s biogenic emissions. However ethanol retrofits are more difficult to make carbon-negative, mentioned Sagues: rising corn produces emissions, fossil fuels are used to make the ethanol and the big quantities of biogenic carbon are emitted when ethanol is utilized in autos. In pulp and paper mills, many of the emissions come from biogenic black liquor and could possibly be captured as retrofits unfold. In concept, the business has a long-term path to unfavorable emissions that ethanol lacks.

“I feel it’s a good level to make,” mentioned Rhone of the CarbonPlan critique. Current monetary incentives, together with the comparatively excessive value of elimination credit and federal tax incentives, present a basis for getting began, he added. Extra expansive seize methods can then comply with if the economics work.  “In the end the aim is to get to utterly web zero mills, however these are advanced tasks,” mentioned Rhone.

The tax incentives embrace a tax credit score for carbon storage referred to as 45Q, which was launched within the first Trump administration and strengthened as a part of the Inflation Discount Act (IRA), in addition to assist from the Division of Power. The Trump administration has not made its place on carbon elimination clear, however the business has watched nervously as key members of the DoE’s Workplace of Fossil Power and Carbon Administration, which oversees a number of elimination initiatives, departed after the election.

XPENG Rolls Out International Software program Replace



Join CleanTechnica’s Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott’s in-depth analyses and excessive stage summaries, join our each day e-newsletter, and/or observe us on Google Information!


GUANGZHOU — XPENG, a number one high-tech sensible mobility firm, has introduced the worldwide rollout of its newest over-the-air (OTA) software program replace, XOS 5.6. This newest improve builds on XPENG’s legacy of clever driving innovation, delivering enhanced security, customized experiences, and demanding optimizations for international customers.

A Legacy of Clever Evolution

Designed to ship a superior consumer expertise, this OTA improve underscores the corporate’s engagement to its customer-focused values. Since its first synchronized international OTA in August 2024 (XOS 5.2), which launched Apple CarPlay to drivers throughout Europe, the Center East, and Southeast Asia, XPENG has redefined the sensible mobility panorama. January 2025’s XOS 5.4 replace additional raised the bar with the AI Guard security system, multilingual voice controls, and Customized OS 2.0, drawing excessive acclaim from the customers.

XOS 5.6 OTA Replace: Enhancements and New Options

XOS 5.6 OTA showcases XPENG’s dedication to listening to our customers and persistently enhancing their experiences. With continued enhancements within the pipeline for future releases. XPENG is forging forward, setting new paradigms for the clever electrical car trade globally, heralding an thrilling new period for its homeowners.

Driver Help Enchancment

The upgraded Adaptive Cruise Management (ACC) now considerably reduces sudden deceleration, whereas Lane Centering Management (LCC) consists of Sensible Digital camera Calibration. This new characteristic routinely adjusts cameras to reinforce lane-keeping accuracy, tremendously enhancing lane centering management. These developments make driving safer and extra steady.

New X-combo Options

XPENG’s x-Combo Sensible State of affairs System now combine extra sensing capabilities, together with pace, vary, and cabin/exterior temperatures. Customers can automate actions like enabling Sentry Mode or adjusting security alerts primarily based on customized triggers, akin to car pace thresholds.

With Combo Codes, drivers can now discover a library of pre-configured sensible eventualities—starting from optimized charging routines to customized cabin presets—by merely coming into a singular code within the X-Combo interface. Moreover, the Sharing Inheritance characteristic permits customers to generate QR codes or hyperlinks through the XPENG cellular app (v2.37.0+), enabling seamless sharing of their favourite Combos with mates or the broader XPENG neighborhood.

One Extra Factor: Smarter Charging Station Search in Europe

Drivers can now filter charging stations by community operators and plug sorts, whereas new pricing and website quantity particulars allow higher price and availability assessments. The modern layer management characteristic visually highlights close by charging factors on maps, simplifying cease choice. Moreover, XPENG’s refined algorithm ensures extra environment friendly charging station integration for prolonged journeys.

The options are presently out there in key European markets, together with France, Germany, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Czech, Croatia, Hungary, Eire, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Latvia, with enlargement to further nations deliberate for future updates.

XOS 5.6 exemplifies XPENG’s mission to evolve mobility by way of user-driven refinements. As we refine security, personalization, and connectivity, relaxation assured: extra groundbreaking updates — each inside and past OTAs — are accelerating your method.

About XPENG

Based in 2014, XPENG is a number one Chinese language AI-driven mobility firm that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Sensible EVs, catering to a rising base of tech-savvy shoppers. With the speedy development of AI, XPENG aspires to develop into a world chief in AI mobility, with a mission to drive the Sensible EV revolution by way of cutting-edge expertise, shaping the way forward for mobility.

To reinforce the shopper expertise, XPENG develops its full-stack superior driver-assistance system (ADAS) expertise and clever in-car working system in-house, together with core car techniques such because the powertrain and electrical/digital structure (EEA). Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG additionally operates key places of work in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Amsterdam. Its Sensible EVs are primarily manufactured at its services in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
XPENG is listed on the New York Inventory Alternate (NYSE: XPEV) and Hong Kong Alternate (HKEX: 9868).

For extra data, please go to https://www.xpeng.com/.

Contacts:
For Media Enquiries:
XPENG PR Division
E-mail: pr@xiaopeng.com
Supply: XPENG Motors

Whether or not you will have solar energy or not, please full our newest solar energy survey.




Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Wish to promote? Wish to recommend a visitor for our CleanTech Speak podcast? Contact us right here.


Join our each day e-newsletter for 15 new cleantech tales a day. Or join our weekly one if each day is simply too frequent.


Commercial



 


CleanTechnica makes use of affiliate hyperlinks. See our coverage right here.

CleanTechnica’s Remark Coverage




Constructing a common robotics platform with BOW

0


In Episode 191 of The Robotic Report Podcast, co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre interview Nick Thompson, co-founder of and CEO of BOW, together with Daniel Camilleri, founder and chief know-how officer of BOW.

Headshot of nick thompson.

Nick Thompson, co-founder and CEO of BOW.

BOW is a College of Sheffield spinout designing a robotics platform that goals to simplify the event of robotic functions.

Thompson and Camilleri focus on the challenges within the robotics business, the options of the BOW software program improvement package (SDK), and the corporate’s enterprise mannequin.

The dialog additionally touches on partnerships, integration with the Robotic Working System (ROS), and the way forward for robotics, significantly in relation to synthetic intelligence and task-oriented improvement.

headshot of Daniel Camilleri.

Daniel Camilleri, co-founder and CTO of BOW.

Present timeline

  • 8:30 – Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the week’s information
  • 27:00 – Mike and Gene interview the BOW administration crew.

Information of the week

TARIFF Survey is now dwell

How will tariffs influence your robotics enterprise?

The Robotic Report desires to learn the way elevated tariffs may have an effect on your robotics enterprise. Please reply the questions on modifications in materials prices, provide chains, pricing, and your general enterprise outlook.

Your suggestions might be printed in an upcoming article or podcast. In the event you choose we don’t use your identify in upcoming content material, simply tell us.

6 results tariffs may have on the warehouse automation market

From a slowdown in funding to modifications in e-commerce product flows worldwide, Rueben Scriven, a analysis supervisor at Work together Evaluation, appears at potential penalties. Not all of them are unhealthy — third-party logistics suppliers (3PLs) and warehouse automation suppliers would possibly expertise elevated demand, as retailers and provide chains put money into effectivity and resilience.

Serve Robotics begins autonomous deliveries in Dallas

Serve Robotics Inc. final week introduced the launch of its service within the Dallas-Fort Value metropolitan space. The corporate mentioned the strategic enlargement, in continued partnership with Uber Eats, represents a serious milestone in its plan to deploy AI-powered supply robots throughout the U.S. by the tip of 2025.

Zoox expands autonomous automobile testing to Los Angeles

Zoox Inc. this week introduced that it’s beginning street-mapping operations in Los Angeles as step one to deploying its robotaxis within the coming years.

The corporate plans to quickly start mapping missions in Los Angeles, paving the way in which for autonomous trials later this summer season. This preliminary mapping section is an important step in preparation for autonomous trials, which Zoox mentioned it expects to start later this summer season.

BRINC raises $75M in funding for emergency response drones 

BRINC Drones Inc. has raised $75 million in new funding. The Seattle-based firm mentioned it plans to make use of the capital to speed up the event and manufacturing of its emergency-response drones.

BRINC claimed that its methods allow drones to be deployed immediately to first-responder conditions whereas police and hearth groups are en route. The corporate mentioned the brand new funding will allow it to fulfill rising demand from public security companies, advance analysis and improvement for next-generation drone know-how, and broaden its workforce to assist continued progress and innovation.

Waymo begins formally mapping Japan

Waymo LLC plans to gather information in Tokyo with take a look at rides operated by human drivers, in response to Reuters. That is the primary time the Alphabet Inc. self-driving unit and 2025 RBR50 Robotic of the Yr winner will function its vehicles on public roads outdoors the U.S., after conducting assessments in a number of cities.


SITE AD for the 2025 Robotics Summit registration.
Register now so you do not miss out!


Podcast sponsored by Enidine

Established in 1966, Enidine is a premier provider of extremely engineered merchandise to increase tools life, enhance consolation, and enhance security and reliability all through international industrial finish markets.

Enidine’s engineering crew has designed customized vitality absorption, vibration isolation, and noise attenuation options for all kinds of difficult functions, together with automated storage and retrieval methods (ASRS) and manufacturing facility automation.
Its big range of progressive elements has confirmed to be important to clients’ success.

Study extra by going to www.enidine.com/en-us.

ios – Process code being known as twice for revenuecat code


I’ve the next code. The self.buy code contained in the Process {} is being known as twice. Although the remainder of the code above is known as as soon as. Can somebody please assist?

@MainActor func purchaseProduct(productId: String, plan: String, supply: String, vc: UIViewController) async -> Bool {
    
Purchases.shared.getOfferings { (choices, error) in
            if let choices = choices {
                for providing in choices.all {
                    let packages = providing.worth.availablePackages
                    if let indexOfItem = packages.firstIndex(the place: { $0.storeProduct.productIdentifier == productId }) {
                        let bundle = packages[indexOfItem]
                        
                        Purchases.shared.buy(bundle: bundle) { (transaction, customerInfo, error, userCancelled) in
                            if customerInfo?.entitlements["premium"]?.isActive == true {
                                Process {
                                    await self.buy (vc: vc, productId: productId, product: productId, transaction: transaction?.transactionIdentifier ?? "")
                                }
                            } else if userCancelled {
                                DispatchQueue.major.async {
                                    Amplitude.sharedInstance.observe(
                                        eventType: "payment_cancelled",
                                        eventProperties: [
                                            "PlanId": productId,
                                            "UserId": WUser.sharedInstance.userId,
                                            "Source": source
                                        ]
                                    )
                                    if (self.loadingIndicator != nil) {
                                        self.loadingIndicator.removeFromSuperview()
                                    }
                                }
                            } else if error != nil {
                                DispatchQueue.major.async {
                                    Amplitude.sharedInstance.observe(
                                        eventType: "payment_failed",
                                        eventProperties: [
                                            "PlanId": productId,
                                            "UserId": WUser.sharedInstance.userId,
                                            "Source": source,
                                            "ErrorObject": String(describing: error),
                                            "Error": error?.localizedDescription
                                        ]
                                    )
                                }
                            } else {
                                DispatchQueue.major.async {
                                    Amplitude.sharedInstance.observe(
                                        eventType: "payment_failed_no_error",
                                        eventProperties: [
                                            "PlanId": productId,
                                            "UserId": WUser.sharedInstance.userId,
                                            "Source": source
                                        ]
                                    )
                                    
                                    if (self.loadingIndicator != nil) {
                                        self.loadingIndicator.removeFromSuperview()
                                    }
                                    showMessageWithTitle("Error", "We have been unable to course of your buy.", .error)
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            } else {
                DispatchQueue.major.async {
                    Amplitude.sharedInstance.observe(
                        eventType: "payment_failed",
                        eventProperties: [
                            "PlanId": productId,
                            "UserId": WUser.sharedInstance.userId,
                            "Source": source,
                            "Error": "Error fetching packages"
                        ]
                    )
                    
                    if (self.loadingIndicator != nil) {
                        self.loadingIndicator.removeFromSuperview()
                    }
                    showMessageWithTitle("Error", "We have been unable to course of your buy.", .error)
                }
            }
        }