Trump's 50% copper import tariff said to include refined metal, Bloomberg reports
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
America's surprising new boom towns revealed: Buyers are flocking to them for low crime and cheap homes - but move fast before it's too late
Americans are moving around at impressive rates, but some cities and states are loving it more than others. The places profiting most from migration in the US are not necessarily major cities - instead, it's the suburbs that surround them.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Homeowners warned their property value can decrease by 5 percent if it is within 3 miles of a certain building
They're pitched as a green energy miracle - but for homeowners, giant solar farms may spell financial gloom. A sweeping new study from Virginia Tech has revealed that homes located within three miles of a utility-scale solar facility lose around 5 percent of their value shortly after installation, according to Cardinal News. But while suburban homeowners take the hit, farmers and landowners are cashing in. The same study found that agricultural and vacant land within two miles of a solar plant saw prices soar by nearly 19 percent - as developers scramble to lease land for future expansion. Researchers analyzed 8.8 million real estate deals near 3,699 industrial-scale solar facilities across the United States. These aren't rooftop panels - they're sprawling fields of ground-mounted panels stretching across hundreds of acres. The Virginia Tech-led team built a detailed model to determine the impact of proximity, visibility and terrain - even factoring in elevation to see whether solar sites were visible from nearby homes. Surprisingly, it wasn't the view that affected home values. Whether or not residents could see the solar farm, the price dip remained roughly the same. And the hit didn't last forever. Prices typically rebounded within 10 years - but the short-term impact could be devastating for those trying to sell soon after construction. Meanwhile, homes sitting on larger lots - more than five acres - were largely immune to the drop. Experts believe the agricultural value surge is due to land near existing solar sites being seen as prime real estate for expansion. Developers prefer building next to existing infrastructure, making adjacent farmland highly attractive. But the study authors warned this may drive up rents for tenant farmers, even as landowners reap the benefits. The findings come as Virginia ramps up its solar footprint following a 2020 law mandating Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power go carbon-free by 2045 and 2050, respectively. And while the research covers the entire country, the battle over where to build solar farms is raging fiercest in rural Virginia - where locals are torn between environmental goals and personal financial loss. The researchers stopped short of drawing sweeping conclusions, noting that the results vary by region and circumstance. Still, the data points to a clear trend: solar farms do impact nearby property values. The study was led by Zhenshan Chen, an assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech, along with lead author Chenyang (Nate) Hu, who recently earned his Ph.D. The team also included faculty members Wei Zhang, Xi He, Darrell Bosch, and Pengfei Liu of the University of Rhode Island. The full research was published in June in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Chen urged policymakers to get ahead of the issue and consider steering future development toward brownfields - previously developed, abandoned industrial land - instead of prime farmland. But building solar farms on brownfields comes at a price. While the EPA offers financial help for cleanup, many sites are still too expensive for developers to touch. The Virginia Tech findings echo a growing - and conflicting - body of research on the solar-real estate question. A Loyola University study last year found that homes near solar plants in the Midwest actually saw a bump in value - between 0.5 and 2 percent. But a 2023 analysis by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the University of Connecticut found that homes in six states lost 1.5 percent of their value when located near large solar sites. Meanwhile, a separate March study from Virginia Commonwealth University found that more than 30,000 acres of land in the state are now occupied by utility-scale solar projects. And cropland has taken the brunt of it. While cropland makes up just 5 percent of Virginia's total land, it accounts for 28 percent of land used for solar - sparking fears that farmers could be squeezed out as demand rises. Forests, by comparison, have been affected more proportionally - around 50 percent of solar sites were built on land that was previously wooded, mirroring Virginia's broader forest coverage. As the solar boom continues across America, the message is clear: these projects might help fight climate change - but they're reshaping the housing market in their shadow.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Direct train from LA to NYC to 'open next year' ahead of FIFA World Cup and will make journey faster than ever
A proposed high-speed rail line could soon connect Los Angeles to New York City in under 72 hours, with operations potentially launching in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and America's 250th anniversary. The proposal comes from AmeriStarRail, a Delaware-based transportation company, which submitted a detailed plan to Amtrak outlining the 'Transcontinental Chief' - a long-distance rail service that would repurpose existing Amtrak routes and infrastructure. The train would travel through major cities including Kansas City, Chicago, and Philadelphia, while also offering views of the Grand Canyon. Unlike traditional high-speed rail initiatives that require extensive new infrastructure, AmeriStarRail's groundbreaking proposal would utilize Amtrak's current fleet of coaches, sleepers, and dining cars, along with host railroads like BNSF, Norfolk Southern and New Jersey Transit. The high-speed rail line is not only designed to carry passengers, but also vehicles, buses, and even long-haul trucks. The proposed service plans to blend elements of Europe's truck transport trains with U.S. passenger rail operations, offering vehicle-boarding for truckers and travelers along with Amtrak-style accommodations and amenities. Different than other recently proposed plans to upgrade U.S. transit, the AmeriStarRail's proposal emphasizes that the 'Transcontinental Chief' project would be privately funded, requiring no new federal appropriations or legislation. 'The Transcontinental Chief will be a great opportunity for Amtrak to team up with the private sector to confront the challenges of its money-losing long-distance trains and create opportunities to usher in a profitable Golden Age of rail travel for passengers and truckers, with the ingenuity of free enterprise, as we celebrate our great nation's 250th birthday next year,' AmeriStarRail COO Scott Spencer said in the proposal submitted to Amtrak. A proposed high-speed rail line could soon connect Los Angeles to New York City in under 72 hours, with operations potentially launching in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and America's 250th anniversary. Pictured: Modern intercity passenger train Proposed route of the Transcontinental Chief train to Los Angeles to New York City in just in 72 hours File photo above of passengers on a sleep train AmeriStarRail COO Scott Spencer The company has also presented the proposal to President Donald Trump, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and members of Congress, Newsweek reported. 'AmeriStarRail's proposal to turn Amtrak's money-losing long-distance trains into profit makers has also been shared with President Trump, DOGE, USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy, the FRA and Members of Congress,' a spokesperson for AmeriStarRail said. According to the company, the service could begin by May 10, 2026 - just weeks before the U.S. co-hosts the World Cup and marks its semiquincentennial. 'Subject to operating agreements with the host railroads (BNSF, Norfolk Southern and New Jersey Transit) the Transcontinental Chief can start operations on National Train Day, Sunday, May 10, 2026 to begin serving tourists for America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup,' the private rail company spokesperson added. AmeriStarRail argues the plan offers a path toward expanding high-speed rail in the U.S. without the delays and costs associated with entirely new infrastructure. However, the project hinges on Amtrak's cooperation and requires agreements with multiple host railroads. There are also operational challenges, including right-of-way access, scheduling, and safety protocols. Amtrak has yet to respond to the proposal. File photo of passengers waiting to board an Amtrak train According to the company, the service could begin by May 10, 2026 - just weeks before the U.S. co-hosts the World Cup and marks its semiquincentennial. Pictured: Donald Trump speaks with Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, during a meeting at the White House ahead of the 2026 World Cup The new route would link Los Angeles (pictured) to New York in under 72 hours Getting from LA to NYC (pictured) is set to be quicker than ever if you don't want to fly If approved, the Transcontinental Chief would effectively replace Amtrak's existing Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian services. While the proposal is still in early stages, it adds to growing momentum for enhanced passenger rail in the U.S., including Brightline's West Coast expansion and ongoing developments in California's high-speed rail system. With the clock ticking toward 2026, AmeriStarRail hopes its transcontinental train can move from concept to track - delivering a new era of cross-country travel just in time for a historic year.
