Keeping the Lights on in the Age of AI
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — New artificial intelligence data centers and increasing household energy use throughout the United States are stressing the nation's aging electric grid, notes Maureen Quinlan of The Pew Charitable Trusts' energy modernization project. She invites the public to learn more by listening to Pew's 'After the Fact,' podcast. The program recently traveled to Houston—the epicenter of the U.S. power industry—to talk with experts, journalists, and electricity providers about why investments in modernizing the grid are necessary for preventing higher energy bills for consumers, or worse, blackouts that leave communities in the dark.
The episode also explores how innovative solutions such as tapping into battery storage and microgrids could connect nearly 2,600 gigawatts of alternative energy capacity to the grid, which would double the nation's available power supply.
'After the Fact' episode guests include:
Carter Harms, officer, energy modernization project, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Pat Wood III, CEO, Hunt Energy, and member, Pew Distributed Energy Resources Advisory Council
Jennifer Hiller, energy reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Mark Parsons, senior vice president and head of Texas consumer energy, NRG Energy
Jim Nye, chief product officer at Vivint Smart Home, NRG Energy
For more information, visit Energy Modernization | The Pew Charitable Trusts (pew.org)
Contact: Matt Herbert, communications officer, mherbert@pewtrusts.org, 605-759-8911
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Toa Payoh fire: 7, including child and fireman, brought to hospital; gunman in Bangkok shooting 'had grudge', Thai police said: Singapore live news
In the latest update on the Toa Payoh fire, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on its Facebook page that seven people have been conveyed to hospital, including a child and a fireman. SCDF said, "Two persons from the affected unit on the 10th floor and three others from neighbouring units were assessed for smoke inhalation — one of whom also sustained burn injuries. All five were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In addition, a child from a neighbouring unit was assessed for smoke inhalation and conveyed to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. "During the firefighting operation, a firefighter experienced fatigue and felt unwell. He was conveyed to SGH as a precaution." The cause of the fire is under investigation. Earlier, a man who shot five people dead at Bangkok's Or Tor Kor market "had a personal grudge" against security guards there who he believed scratched his car, Thai police said. Four security guards and a stall holder were killed in the incident at the food market in northern Bangkok on Monday (28 July). The man's wife has a stall at the market and he shot himself dead in the head after walking away from the scene and sitting on a bench. Thailand's army accused Cambodia Tuesday (28 July) of violating an hours-old truce. The former said that clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting at their borders. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800km border. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Toa Payoh fire: 7, including child and fireman, brought to hospital In the latest update on the Toa Payoh fire, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on its Facebook page that seven people have been conveyed to hospital, including a child and a fireman. SCDF said, "Two persons from the affected unit on the 10th floor and three others from neighbouring units were assessed for smoke inhalation — one of whom also sustained burn injuries. All five were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In addition, a child from a neighbouring unit was assessed for smoke inhalation and conveyed to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. "During the firefighting operation, a firefighter experienced fatigue and felt unwell. He was conveyed to SGH as a precaution." The cause of the fire is under investigation. Raging fire in HDB flat in Toa Payoh put out by SCDF, 3 assessed for smoke inhalation and burn injuries and conveyed to SGH A fire broke out in a Housing and Development Board flat at Block 229, Toa Payoh Lorong 8 on Tuesday (29 July) afternoon. Videos on social media showed raging fire consuming the unit, which appeared to be on the 10th floor. In an update on Facebook, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said, "The fire in the 10th-floor unit has been brought under control with two water jets. "Firefighters conducted forcible entry into a unit on the 11th floor and are currently fighting a fire in the unit. "Three persons have been assessed for smoke inhalation and burn injuries, and conveyed to Singapore General Hospital." Bangkok shooting: Gunman who shot five people dead at food market 'had grudge', police say A man who shot five people dead at Bangkok's Or Tor Kor market "had a personal grudge" against security guards there who he believed scratched his car, Thai police said. Four security guards and a stall holder were killed in the incident at the food market in northern Bangkok on Monday (28 July). Two women were also injured The man's wife has a stall at the market. After allegedly shooting the victims, the man walked away from the scene and sat down on a bench before shooting himself dead with a handgun. For more on the Bangkok market shooting and aftermath, read here. DJ Koo, husband of late actress Barbie Hsu, said to visit her grave daily DJ Koo Jun-yup has gone viral on social media after a netizen confirmed media reports that the Korean entertainer has been visiting late wife Barbie Hsu's resting place every day since her death. It has been almost six months since the Taiwanese actress died from influenza-related pneumonia while holidaying in Japan with her family. She was 48. World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro supposedly on shortlist of names vying for job as Singapore's national football coach On the list as Singapore's next national football coach is reportedly a World Cup winner, a former English Premier League assistant coach, and a former Liverpool player and Champions League winner, according to the Straits Times. According to the report, over 60 candidates have expressed interest in taking the hot seat since Japanese tactician Tsutomu Ogura resigned due to personal reasons on 24 June. Several sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told ST that numerous interviews have already been conducted by the FAS top brass, and an initial list of candidates has now been whittled down to around 15 names. They include Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy's World Cup-winning team in 2006. The 51-year-old's coaching curriculum vitae includes winning the Chinese Super League in 2019 with Guangzhou Evergrande. Find out more about the possible candidates who are in the running for the position of Singapore's national football coach. Efforts to restore road with sinkhole underway, BCA to launch independent investigation The sinkhole at Tanjong Katong Road South has been filled and testing is ongoing to prepare the stretch of road for use. Herman Ching, director of national water agency PUB's water reclamation (network) department, told reporters late on Monday (28 July) that the sinkhole was refilled early in the day with liquefied stabilised soil, which is made of soil, cement and water. When poured into the sinkhole, it will fill all the voids in a matter of hours and eventually form a 'competent soil-like material'. 'This material will provide the strength needed for road construction later,' he reportedly said. On PUB's Facebook page, it said that it's "conducting rigorous tests and scans to detect underground cavities and verify ground stability". It added that "the tests are: 1. ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scan, which uses radio waves to assess the subsurface layers; 2. probing, which involves drilling into the ground to detect the ground condition and presence of any voids; and 3. seismic scanning to record sound waves underground, to identify anomalies that might indicate voids." Meanwhile, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will carry out an independent investigation into the sinkhole that formed in Tanjong Katong Road South, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat. Fore more on the progress to rectify the sinkhole, read here. Ka-Soh to close Bukit Timah outlet, with last day on 28 September Heritage brand Ka-Soh Restaurant will be closing its last outlet in September, with the final day of operations at its Bukit Timah branch being Sunday, 28 September. Since 1939, Ka-Soh Restaurant has been serving Cantonese-style fish soup and classic zi char dishes. After the closure of Ka-Soh's Outram outlet and sister brand, Swee Kee Eating House, in 2021, their Bukit Timah store became their last outlet. However, the owners have decided not to renew their lease. As Ka-Soh Restaurant prepares to close, they have introduced new rules for diners. Consumers who drop by for lunch will be able to make reservations for both weekdays and weekends, but for the dinner crowd, only walk-ins will be accepted. The owners have also urged customers to leave their personal containers at home if they're planning to order take-away as it ensures an uninterrupted flow of service as each order is packed promptly. For more details on Ka-Soh's closure, read here. Owner of Tan's Tu Tu Coconut Cake dies at age 63 The owner of a popular kueh tutu store Tan Bee Hua has died aged 63. Her death was announced on the social media pages of Tan's Tutu Coconut Cake on Tuesday morning (29 July). "She always [loved] her job and took pride in perfecting her tutu kuehs to contribute to Singapore's rich food heritage. She will always live in our memories," the statement said. Thai army accuses Cambodia of breaking truce agreed in Malaysia on Monday Thailand's army accused Cambodia Tuesday (28 July) of violating an hours-old truce. The former said that clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting at their borders. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800km border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree reportedly said. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust." However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Facebook message on Tuesday morning that "the frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight". Read on to find out more about the ceasefire arrangements. In the latest update on the Toa Payoh fire, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on its Facebook page that seven people have been conveyed to hospital, including a child and a fireman. SCDF said, "Two persons from the affected unit on the 10th floor and three others from neighbouring units were assessed for smoke inhalation — one of whom also sustained burn injuries. All five were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In addition, a child from a neighbouring unit was assessed for smoke inhalation and conveyed to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. "During the firefighting operation, a firefighter experienced fatigue and felt unwell. He was conveyed to SGH as a precaution." The cause of the fire is under investigation. A fire broke out in a Housing and Development Board flat at Block 229, Toa Payoh Lorong 8 on Tuesday (29 July) afternoon. Videos on social media showed raging fire consuming the unit, which appeared to be on the 10th floor. In an update on Facebook, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said, "The fire in the 10th-floor unit has been brought under control with two water jets. "Firefighters conducted forcible entry into a unit on the 11th floor and are currently fighting a fire in the unit. "Three persons have been assessed for smoke inhalation and burn injuries, and conveyed to Singapore General Hospital." A man who shot five people dead at Bangkok's Or Tor Kor market "had a personal grudge" against security guards there who he believed scratched his car, Thai police said. Four security guards and a stall holder were killed in the incident at the food market in northern Bangkok on Monday (28 July). Two women were also injured The man's wife has a stall at the market. After allegedly shooting the victims, the man walked away from the scene and sat down on a bench before shooting himself dead with a handgun. For more on the Bangkok market shooting and aftermath, read here. DJ Koo, husband of late actress Barbie Hsu, said to visit her grave daily DJ Koo Jun-yup has gone viral on social media after a netizen confirmed media reports that the Korean entertainer has been visiting late wife Barbie Hsu's resting place every day since her death. It has been almost six months since the Taiwanese actress died from influenza-related pneumonia while holidaying in Japan with her family. She was 48. DJ Koo Jun-yup has gone viral on social media after a netizen confirmed media reports that the Korean entertainer has been visiting late wife Barbie Hsu's resting place every day since her death. It has been almost six months since the Taiwanese actress died from influenza-related pneumonia while holidaying in Japan with her family. She was 48. World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro supposedly on shortlist of names vying for job as Singapore's national football coach On the list as Singapore's next national football coach is reportedly a World Cup winner, a former English Premier League assistant coach, and a former Liverpool player and Champions League winner, according to the Straits Times. According to the report, over 60 candidates have expressed interest in taking the hot seat since Japanese tactician Tsutomu Ogura resigned due to personal reasons on 24 June. Several sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told ST that numerous interviews have already been conducted by the FAS top brass, and an initial list of candidates has now been whittled down to around 15 names. They include Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy's World Cup-winning team in 2006. The 51-year-old's coaching curriculum vitae includes winning the Chinese Super League in 2019 with Guangzhou Evergrande. Find out more about the possible candidates who are in the running for the position of Singapore's national football coach. On the list as Singapore's next national football coach is reportedly a World Cup winner, a former English Premier League assistant coach, and a former Liverpool player and Champions League winner, according to the Straits Times. According to the report, over 60 candidates have expressed interest in taking the hot seat since Japanese tactician Tsutomu Ogura resigned due to personal reasons on 24 June. Several sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told ST that numerous interviews have already been conducted by the FAS top brass, and an initial list of candidates has now been whittled down to around 15 names. They include Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy's World Cup-winning team in 2006. The 51-year-old's coaching curriculum vitae includes winning the Chinese Super League in 2019 with Guangzhou Evergrande. Find out more about the possible candidates who are in the running for the position of Singapore's national football coach. Efforts to restore road with sinkhole underway, BCA to launch independent investigation The sinkhole at Tanjong Katong Road South has been filled and testing is ongoing to prepare the stretch of road for use. Herman Ching, director of national water agency PUB's water reclamation (network) department, told reporters late on Monday (28 July) that the sinkhole was refilled early in the day with liquefied stabilised soil, which is made of soil, cement and water. When poured into the sinkhole, it will fill all the voids in a matter of hours and eventually form a 'competent soil-like material'. 'This material will provide the strength needed for road construction later,' he reportedly said. On PUB's Facebook page, it said that it's "conducting rigorous tests and scans to detect underground cavities and verify ground stability". It added that "the tests are: 1. ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scan, which uses radio waves to assess the subsurface layers; 2. probing, which involves drilling into the ground to detect the ground condition and presence of any voids; and 3. seismic scanning to record sound waves underground, to identify anomalies that might indicate voids." Meanwhile, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will carry out an independent investigation into the sinkhole that formed in Tanjong Katong Road South, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat. Fore more on the progress to rectify the sinkhole, read here. The sinkhole at Tanjong Katong Road South has been filled and testing is ongoing to prepare the stretch of road for use. Herman Ching, director of national water agency PUB's water reclamation (network) department, told reporters late on Monday (28 July) that the sinkhole was refilled early in the day with liquefied stabilised soil, which is made of soil, cement and water. When poured into the sinkhole, it will fill all the voids in a matter of hours and eventually form a 'competent soil-like material'. 'This material will provide the strength needed for road construction later,' he reportedly said. On PUB's Facebook page, it said that it's "conducting rigorous tests and scans to detect underground cavities and verify ground stability". It added that "the tests are: 1. ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scan, which uses radio waves to assess the subsurface layers; 2. probing, which involves drilling into the ground to detect the ground condition and presence of any voids; and 3. seismic scanning to record sound waves underground, to identify anomalies that might indicate voids." Meanwhile, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will carry out an independent investigation into the sinkhole that formed in Tanjong Katong Road South, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat. Fore more on the progress to rectify the sinkhole, read here. Ka-Soh to close Bukit Timah outlet, with last day on 28 September Heritage brand Ka-Soh Restaurant will be closing its last outlet in September, with the final day of operations at its Bukit Timah branch being Sunday, 28 September. Since 1939, Ka-Soh Restaurant has been serving Cantonese-style fish soup and classic zi char dishes. After the closure of Ka-Soh's Outram outlet and sister brand, Swee Kee Eating House, in 2021, their Bukit Timah store became their last outlet. However, the owners have decided not to renew their lease. As Ka-Soh Restaurant prepares to close, they have introduced new rules for diners. Consumers who drop by for lunch will be able to make reservations for both weekdays and weekends, but for the dinner crowd, only walk-ins will be accepted. The owners have also urged customers to leave their personal containers at home if they're planning to order take-away as it ensures an uninterrupted flow of service as each order is packed promptly. For more details on Ka-Soh's closure, read here. Heritage brand Ka-Soh Restaurant will be closing its last outlet in September, with the final day of operations at its Bukit Timah branch being Sunday, 28 September. Since 1939, Ka-Soh Restaurant has been serving Cantonese-style fish soup and classic zi char dishes. After the closure of Ka-Soh's Outram outlet and sister brand, Swee Kee Eating House, in 2021, their Bukit Timah store became their last outlet. However, the owners have decided not to renew their lease. As Ka-Soh Restaurant prepares to close, they have introduced new rules for diners. Consumers who drop by for lunch will be able to make reservations for both weekdays and weekends, but for the dinner crowd, only walk-ins will be accepted. The owners have also urged customers to leave their personal containers at home if they're planning to order take-away as it ensures an uninterrupted flow of service as each order is packed promptly. For more details on Ka-Soh's closure, read here. Owner of Tan's Tu Tu Coconut Cake dies at age 63 The owner of a popular kueh tutu store Tan Bee Hua has died aged 63. Her death was announced on the social media pages of Tan's Tutu Coconut Cake on Tuesday morning (29 July). "She always [loved] her job and took pride in perfecting her tutu kuehs to contribute to Singapore's rich food heritage. She will always live in our memories," the statement said. The owner of a popular kueh tutu store Tan Bee Hua has died aged 63. Her death was announced on the social media pages of Tan's Tutu Coconut Cake on Tuesday morning (29 July). "She always [loved] her job and took pride in perfecting her tutu kuehs to contribute to Singapore's rich food heritage. She will always live in our memories," the statement said. Thai army accuses Cambodia of breaking truce agreed in Malaysia on Monday Thailand's army accused Cambodia Tuesday (28 July) of violating an hours-old truce. The former said that clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting at their borders. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800km border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree reportedly said. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust." However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Facebook message on Tuesday morning that "the frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight". Read on to find out more about the ceasefire arrangements. Thailand's army accused Cambodia Tuesday (28 July) of violating an hours-old truce. The former said that clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting at their borders. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800km border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree reportedly said. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust." However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Facebook message on Tuesday morning that "the frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight". Read on to find out more about the ceasefire arrangements.
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Wall Street futures rise as focus shifts to major earnings, Fed meeting
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Vitol staff handed record $10.6bn payout
Vitol handed a record $10.6bn to its senior employees through share buybacks last year after a period of unrivalled growth for the world's Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
