Jennifer Hiller and Eric Niiler of The Wall Street Journal tell their readers that new EPA emission rules, which come as power demand surges, will force coal plants to adopt costly technology or close. They write: The Biden administration on Thursday issued sweeping new rules that crack down on power-plant pollution and could force many of the country’s coal plants to shutter unless they undertake costly upgrades. The rules, which will almost certainly be challenged in court, mandate strict controls on carbon-dioxide emissions at existing coal plants and newly built natural-gas plants. … [Read more...]
Rising Importance of Copper Could Force Largest Mining Deal on Record
Julie Steinberg of The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.K.-listed mining giant Anglo-American AAL and its chairman say the proposal undervalues the company, clearing the way for a potential bidding war. He writes: Anglo American AAL 3.54% on Friday rejected a $39 billion takeover proposal from rival BHP, saying the bid “significantly undervalues” the company and setting the stage for a potential bidding war. London-listed Anglo American said the unsolicited proposal, which was made earlier this month and which became public this week, features an unattractive structure that is too … [Read more...]
Powering Data Centers with a Volcano
Tom Dotan and Asa Fitch of The Wall Street Journal tell their readers why the AI industry’s thirst for new data centers can’t be satisfied. They write: The frenzy to build data centers to serve the exploding demand for artificial intelligence is causing a shortage of the parts, property and power that the sprawling warehouses of supercomputers require. The lead time to get custom cooling systems is five times longer than a few years ago, data center executives say. Delivery times for backup generators have gone from as little as a month to as long as two years. [...] “The data-center … [Read more...]
Direct-To-Consumer – Mastering the Tricky Nuts and Bolts of Retail Logistics
Liz Young of The Wall Street Journal reports that suppliers are stepping up efforts to reach shoppers and are having to mount costly new supply chains built to the task. She writes: Apparel makers including Levi Strauss, Skechers and Canada Goose are trying to get closer to their customers. Doing that will require nailing the nuts and bolts of retail logistics. The stalwarts of department-store sales are taking the strategic step into direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, reasoning that the investment is needed to kick growth into a higher gear and potentially reset the future of their … [Read more...]
New Home Sales See Biggest Jump Since December 2022
Aarthi Swaminathan of MarketWatch reports that new-home sales are up nearly 9%, boosted by strength in the Northeast. He writes: The numbers: Sales of newly built homes in the U.S. rose in March, posting the biggest increase since December 2022. Home buyers snapped up new homes, pushing sales to the highest level since September 2023, just before the 30-year mortgage rate began its trek to 7%. U.S. new-home sales rose 8.8% to an annual rate of 693,000 in March, from a revised 637,000 in the prior month, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. [...] What are they saying? “It is … [Read more...]
South China Sea Disputes are Blocking Oil and Gas Development
Philip Heijmans of Bloomberg tells his readers that tensions are soaring, but Southeast Asian nations are struggling to push back on Beijing’s contested claims and the ability to tap the energy resources their growing economies need. He writes: This was supposed to be the year that Vietnam reaped the benefits from one of its largest natural gas discoveries. An estimated 150 billion cubic meters of the fuel, enough to power a city the size of Hanoi for decades, was discovered 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Vietnam’s central coast in 2011. If all had gone to plan, the “Blue Whale” project led … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Ports Overflowing from Red Sea Disruptions
Robert Wright of the Financial Times is reporting that operators of Mediterranean ports warn of overflowing storage yards in the latest threat to the supply chain. He writes: Container ports around the western Mediterranean are nearing full capacity, raising the risk of higher inventory costs and component shortages for Europe’s retailers and manufacturers in the latest challenge to the region’s supply chains. Port executives said they were dealing with overflowing storage yards and waits for vessels to berth following Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which has led to cmda surge in … [Read more...]
UK Invests in Shipping Technologies Such as AI, Robotics, and Autonomous Vessels
Bojan Lepic of Splash247.com tells his readers about the announcement of a $9.85m funding boost for The Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund in the UK. Lepic writes: UK Maritime Minister Lord Davies of Gower has announced an £8m ($9.85m) funding boost to kickstart feasibility studies for smart shipping technologies such as AI, robotics, and autonomous vessels. The Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund, launched today in Southampton could result in innovations which will boost the economy and support coastal communities. The winning projects for these funds will also require match funding, … [Read more...]
US Shale Sheltering Oil Price Surges
Myles McCormick and Jamie Smyth of the Financial Times report how Middle East turmoil no longer poses such a threat to the world’s thirstiest petrol consumers. They write: In 1973 and 1979 war in Israel and turmoil in Iran twice ruptured the oil market, triggering an inflationary surge that sapped western economies and unseated a US president. In the decades since, the possibility that new strife in the Middle East could deliver another administration-ending jump in oil and petrol prices has hung like a spectre over the White House. In the decades since, the possibility that new strife … [Read more...]
U.S. vs. China: China Has Over Two Hundred Times the Ship Building Compacity
Lauren Williams of DefenseOne reports that China is winning the shipbuilding numbers game—and that’s a problem. Williams writes: “The [People’s Liberation Army] navy has been on a historic trajectory these last 25 years, and while we are, I am, confident that we would prevail in combat,” Adm. Samuel Paparo, Jr., commander for U.S. Pacific Fleet, told senators Thursday. “We are not overmatched, but I don't like the pace of the trajectory.” [...] China’s Navy has 79 more ships than the U.S., said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, including 30 it added in the past year—half of which … [Read more...]
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