Latest news with #RENs
South Wales Argus
30-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Blaenau Gwent Council awarded £250,000 for nature project
The Nature Networks Fund has given the grant to Blaenau Gwent Council to help understand the value and connectivity of ecosystems across Gwent. The project will explore the benefits these ecosystems provide for both people and nature. The Nature Networks Fund is a collaborative programme between The Heritage Fund, Welsh Government, and Natural Resources Wales, set up to address ecological challenges. In partnership with Natural Resources Wales and other regional organisations, the council will create plans for resilient ecological networks. These plans will guide habitat improvements, nature recovery actions, and highlight the importance of environmental wellbeing. Helen Cunningham, cabinet member for place and environment, said: "We are committed to tackling the climate and nature emergencies declared by the council. "This support from the Nature Networks Fund, distributed by the Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, will enable us to work in partnership to make positive changes for people and nature here in Blaenau Gwent and across the region." Steve Morgan, head of southeast Wales operations at Natural Resources Wales, said: "This project will enable us to achieve significant acceleration towards building ecosystem resilience through a Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs) approach across Gwent, helping us better understand and maximise the fundamental role and value of nature and ecosystem services that underpin our wellbeing, prosperity, culture, and identity across our distinct landscapes and habitats. "The project also highlights the commitment in Gwent to working collaboratively and in partnership to support nature's recovery, contributing towards meeting our Corporate Plan Vision and Wellbeing Goals where biodiversity is protected, valued, restored, and wisely used so that nature and people genuinely thrive together in a way that is sustainable for future generations. "I look forward to seeing the successful progress of this project as it develops in contribution to our collective efforts in taking urgent action to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity at the pace and scale needed, building ecosystem resilience as a nature-based solutions approach to climate change and pollution, as well as enhancing opportunities and benefits for the health, wellbeing, and resilience of nature and people equitably and inclusively in Gwent." The Nature Networks Fund aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales's network of protected land and marine sites, supporting nature's recovery while actively encouraging community engagement. Improving the condition of these protected and connected sites will enable them to function better as nature networks. Nature networks are vital, resilient areas where habitats and species can thrive and expand. Restoring connectivity in these networks will prevent further declines in species and habitat condition, support nature recovery, and enhance capacity to adapt to the climate crisis. This fund will also support the active involvement of communities in and around protected sites. Strengthening engagement with nature has direct health and wellbeing benefits for people, as well as improving the resilience of the sites themselves. The protected sites network covers Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and other Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). For further information about protected areas of land and sea, visit the Natural Resources Wales website.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Willdan Group Inc (WLDN) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Finish with Robust Revenue ...
Contract Revenue: Increased 11% year over year to $566 million. Adjusted EBITDA: Increased 24% year over year to $56.8 million. GAAP EPS: Nearly doubled year over year to $1.58. Adjusted EPS: Increased 39% year over year to $2.43. Free Cash Flow: Generated $4.49 per share in 2024. Net Revenue: Increased 10% to $296 million. Gross Margin: Expanded to 35.8% from 35.2% a year ago. Interest Expense: Decreased 17% to $7.8 million. Net Income: $22.6 million, up from $10.9 million in 2023. Cash Flow from Operations: Generated $72 million in 2024. Total Liquidity: $124 million at the end of 2024. 2025 Financial Guidance: Net revenue expected between $320 million to $330 million; adjusted EBITDA between $63 million to $67 million; adjusted EPS between $2.70 to $2.85. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with WLDN. Release Date: March 06, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Willdan Group Inc (NASDAQ:WLDN) reported a strong finish to 2024, significantly exceeding Street consensus estimates and internal expectations. Contract revenue increased by 11% and adjusted EBITDA rose by 24% year over year. The company generated $4.49 per share of free cash flow, marking an outstanding result. Recent acquisitions have expanded Willdan's technical capabilities, particularly in the commercial data center market. Willdan successfully won all major recompetes in 2024, including a $330 million, five-year contract with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The new LADWP contract will not contribute significant revenue until the second half of 2025 due to ramp-up requirements. The fourth quarter of 2024 appeared flat compared to 2023 due to exceptional opportunities in the previous year, impacting year-over-year comparisons. Willdan has almost no direct work with the federal government, which limits exposure to federal funding opportunities. The company faces uncertainty regarding the future speed and scale of electric load growth, which could impact long-term planning. Despite strong performance, the company has no immediate plans to expand internationally, focusing solely on the U.S. market. Q: Can you comment on the linearity of the LADWP contract and any potential startup issues? A: Michael Bieber, President and CEO, explained that there are no major startup concerns as it is a recompete of a contract they have operated for many years. However, activity stopped in December, so they will need to ramp it back up in the spring. They expect the program to be linear, with roughly $65 million a year, and it will include more complex measures than before. Q: Can you explain the funding and administration of the Regional Energy Networks (RENs) contracts? A: Michael Bieber stated that the funding comes from a surcharge on electricity bills, similar to other energy efficiency programs in California. The RENs are made up of public entities and sometimes include investor-owned utilities (IOUs). These contracts are simpler and involve a wider range of services, including regulatory support and technical consulting. Q: How do you see the change in administration impacting your business activity? A: Michael Bieber noted that the change in administration has not significantly impacted their business. Their work is primarily driven by state and local governments, and federal funding cuts have had minimal impact. They have also implemented contract language to pass on supply chain escalations, mitigating potential tariff impacts. Q: Are there any government programs gaining more frequency or implementation recently? A: Michael Bieber highlighted increased demand for programs in California due to higher electricity consumption and similar trends in New York. Additionally, there is a rise in upfront study work to help customers navigate new load growth and data center demands. Q: Has artificial intelligence been integrated into your software, and what are the opportunities for expansion into Europe? A: Michael Bieber mentioned they are working on integrating AI into a new version of LoadSEER, expected in the first half of the year. This version will be more user-friendly for smaller utilities. Currently, they have no presence in Europe and are focused on opportunities within the United States. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
