Latest news with #Cantwell
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork firm behind plan for massive wind farm deep in the Aussie Outback
DP Energy, which is headquartered in Buttevant, plans to develop Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park, a major renewable energy development located approximately 40 km southeast of Julia Creek in McKinlay Shire, Queensland. The work will combine 197 wind turbines with an installed capacity of up to 1,400 MW and supported by battery energy storage systems (BESS) of around 500 MW / 2000 MWh. The project represents a significant opportunity to contribute to Queensland's renewable energy targets and Australia's broader net-zero goals. DP Energy has been operating for 30 years and has enabled 1 GW of renewable energy generation through 21 significant infrastructure projects worldwide. Currently, DP Energy has a 4.5 GW pipeline of renewable energy projects across Ireland, the UK, Australia and Canada. Hugh Cantwell, DP Energy Australia's Head of Development, said: 'Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park is perfectly positioned to tap into North Queensland's incredible wind resources, resulting in long‑term economic benefits for the region. 'With strong, consistent winds, ample land, and direct access to new transmission infrastructure, it will power both the grid and local growth for decades to come,' he said. The company has several upcoming Irish projects in the pipeline including Lyra wind farm and Aries wind farm, both located in Mayo, could generate up to 100MW and 50MW respectively. Other domestic works include additional early-stage wind farms and projects involving non-grid dependent renewable solutions for large energy users. ADVERTISEMENT DP Energy recently signed a memorandum of understanding with a large Irish utility generator to use green hydrogen as a clean power fuel for electricity generating stations. 'From the outset, our priority is genuine collaboration with local communities, First Nations, and all levels of government. Early, open dialogue means Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park will be designed with community insights at its core, delivering results that will create lasting value for all stakeholders,' Mr Cantwell concluded.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Key senator makes bipartisan plea to Trump to invest in weather and early warning networks
A prominent senator is calling on President Donald Trump to reverse course on his proposal to slash the budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, making a case for America to be a world leader in the weather forecasting space instead. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington and the ranking member of the Senate commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, is advocating that the administration work with Congress to pursue bipartisan investments and outlined her plans in a letter addressed to Trump sent Monday. The letter spells out five recommendations to improve America's weather forecasting infrastructure, such as collecting far more observations and modernizing alert systems. The letter comes in the wake of devastating flash floods in Texas on the night of July 4 that killed more than 130 people. It also is being sent at a time when the Trump administration has reduced staffing at the National Weather Service and proposed even more significant cuts, such as eliminating NOAA's research arm and shutting down its many research centers. These labs contribute to forecast, technology and warning improvements. CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. All told, the Trump White House's budget proposal would shave off about $1.7 billion from the NOAA budget, about a 27% cut from current levels. Cantwell does not push back against the cuts in the letter but rather pitches an investment plan to try to appeal to the administration's desire to make America the leading nation again in many areas. 'We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the world's best weather forecasting system that would provide Americans with much more detailed and customized alerts days instead of minutes ahead of a looming extreme weather event,' Cantwell wrote. A noteworthy omission from the letter is any reference to climate change and the relationship between climate change and extreme weather events. The administration has taken a host of actions to rollback climate regulations and stifle climate science research at multiple agencies. The Texas floods have raised questions about NWS readiness for extreme weather events in the wake of staff cuts. The agency is scrambling to hire about 150 forecasters to fill the most critical gaps left by layoffs, early retirements and other incentives the Trump administration offered people to leave government service. Even with 150 new hires, who will take time to train, the NWS will still be more thinly staffed than at the start of the Trump administration. unknown content item - The letter endorses next generation weather satellites, radars and new hurricane hunter aircraft to replace the current aging fleet, along with computing capabilities to catch up with, and eventually pass, the superior accuracy of European forecast centers. It also puts an emphasis on modernizing weather alert systems — a key topic in the wake of the disaster in Texas. Notably, it also endorses putting more money, not less, into 'basic and applied research.' Cantwell is in step with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle on the Senate Commerce Committee, who rejected most of the administration's proposed cuts in an initial fiscal year 2026 spending bill. House appropriators did the same, although the Trump administration has indicated it may seek other ways to restrict funding for agencies such as NOAA. 'Americans should have the best weather system. Why not?' Cantwell said on CNN this morning.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sen. Maria Cantwell urges 'once-in-a-lifetime investment' in national weather system programs
In the aftermath of the flooding that hammered Texas' Hill Country, Sen. Maria Cantwell on Sunday urged the White House to make critical investments in the country's weather forecasting and alerts system. But unlike other top Democrats, the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee overseeing the National Weather Service isn't pointing fingers at the Trump administration's response. "What the real question is, is what can we do to improve the weather forecasting of this nation?" Cantwell (D-Wash.) told CBS' Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation." "To use science, to use better assets, to really do a once-in-a-lifetime investment to upgrade the system so that we could have given people in Kerrville more time, more warning and the same for tornadoes and hurricanes and fires." Cantwell told Brennan she plans on sending a letter to President Donald Trump detailing five recommendations, including several supported by key Republican colleagues, to build out a more sustainable early warning system. But the Trump administration has seemed likely to go the other way. An April memo from the Office of Management and Budget signaled White House plans to break up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which houses NWS, as part of its push to slash government spending. "This is a national responsibility," Cantwell said. "And I think of, you know, if you want your snow shoveled, yeah, you want the mayor to show up, but if you want accurate weather information, it's not community to community. It's a national system, and we share that with the local people and help them best respond." The flooding has killed at least 120 people in Texas. And 173 more were still listed as missing as of Sunday morning. Top Democrats — including Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — have indicated that staffing cuts at the NWS could have worsened the preparedness for the floods. And Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken heat for a measure requiring her sign-off on FEMA expenditures over $100,000 that experts say has slowed down recovery efforts. Cantwell said she'd support a Government Accountability Office review into the federal response. But she appeared much more focused on moving on rather than looking back. "What we want is to make sure that we understand what happened, but doing blame gaming isn't going to bring people back," she told Brennan.
Politico
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Sen. Maria Cantwell urges 'once-in-a-lifetime investment' in national weather system programs
Cantwell told Brennan she plans on sending a letter to President Donald Trump detailing five recommendations, including several supported by key Republican colleagues, to build out a more sustainable early warning system. But the Trump administration has seemed likely to go the other way. An April memo from the Office of Management and Budget signaled White House plans to break up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which houses NWS, as part of its push to slash government spending. 'This is a national responsibility,' Cantwell said. 'And I think of, you know, if you want your snow shoveled, yeah, you want the mayor to show up, but if you want accurate weather information, it's not community to community. It's a national system, and we share that with the local people and help them best respond.' The flooding has killed at least 120 people in Texas. And 173 more were still listed as missing as of Sunday morning. Top Democrats — including Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — have indicated that staffing cuts at the NWS could have worsened the preparedness for the floods. And Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken heat for a measure requiring her sign-off on FEMA expenditures over $100,000 that experts say has slowed down recovery efforts. Cantwell said she'd support a Government Accountability Office review into the federal response. But she appeared much more focused on moving on rather than looking back. 'What we want is to make sure that we understand what happened, but doing blame gaming isn't going to bring people back,' she told Brennan.
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Weekend's Thomond Park events set to give €15m boost to Mid-West
The Mid-West region's economy is set for a €15m boost as Limerick prepares to play host to 'high-profile' acts over the weekend. Thomond Park's stadium director, John Cantwell, said the figures are expected to surpass those brought by last year's summer gigs. The shows in 2024 by Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini, and Liam Gallagher brought a €13.5m boost to the local economy. The Wolfe Tones will be playing twice — Friday and Sunday —while The Script will be performing their only 2025 Irish date on the Saturday. Mr Cantwell said 29,000 concert-goers are expected to attend each day this weekend amid soaring temperatures. 'It'll be up on last year and what the results of the economic impact will be tremendous for the city, the county, and the Mid-West region," he said. A view of the crowd for the Wolfe Tones at Electric Picnic last year. 'Those three concerts from last year delivered in the region of €13.5m, which is phenomenal. "Around €8.8m of this was direct expenditure from visitors coming to Limerick, so that's all brand new for Limerick. "It's fantastic to be able to say that. These concerts can't be taken for granted." Mr Cantwell said it takes a 'lot of hard work' to get promoters on board. 'There are lots of venues, stadiums, green fields, and it takes hard work and a lot of co-operation for the promoters to take the risk. People need to attend if we want to keep going.' Thwarted by lack of accommodation Mr Cantwell said the main issue organisers face is the lack of accommodation in Limerick. 'That's one thing that does hit us straight in the face. Prices (for accommodation) are expensive, there are not enough bedrooms, there's not enough development in Limerick,' he said. He said if more people from Limerick and the surrounding regions attend, it would 'really get those numbers up' and convince the promoters that playing in Limerick is 'cost-effective'. 'The promoters, MCD, love Limerick, they love the people. The council are brilliant, all the local authorities are playing ball. It's just we need accommodation, and at the right price. Concerts are dear enough. 'We are trying to get people to come to big international acts locally and save them the expense of travelling to Dublin. We're doing our very best to put Limerick on the map in a cost-effective way.' As Liam Gallagher played in Limerick last year and following on from Oasis' comeback, one could wonder if Thomond Park may have been on the cards. 'Well, it's a pity, if we were bigger, we'd definitely be in the conversation,' he laughed. 'But we do our very best to bring acts, and we've been doing this since 2009. "We started with Elton John, Rod Stewart, and we're proud to be able to say we've had Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Pink, and Ed Sheeran. Who else is gonna bring these things to Limerick?'
