The Shining City Upon a Hill

[Phil B.]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

US Military Ship Moves Toward Port, Gets Startling Response When Asking Permission to Dock

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

[bsm2]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

Biden has confirmed more federal judges at this point in his tenure than any president since JFK.

[SalesServiceGuy]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

The cost of installing solar panels on homes and businesses just got cheaper, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act

Solar power is booming in Germany as Russia turns down the gas


People on the frontlines of Europe's gas crisis are scrambling to get solar panels for their homes and businesses as they confront a "perfect storm" that's sending energy prices to record levels.

In the first six months of this year, Germany saw a 22% jump in the installation of solar systems, compared with the same period last year, according to data shared with CNN Business by the German Solar Association. This included residential and commercial uses, from small installations on private rooftops to large solar farms, the group said.

For companies in the renewable energy industry, that has created a major rush in sales — and an additional strain on supply chains.

Demand for solar power was already on the rise in Europe's biggest economy, as energy prices surged, policy incentives were introduced and adoption of the technology became more mainstream. But more recently, consumers have also faced ever higher utility bills, scorching temperatures, and renewed anxiety over whether they'll be able to keep the heat on this winter.

Since it invaded Ukraine six months ago, Russia has sharply reduced its supply of gas to Germany and other EU countries. Just last week it announced an unscheduled closure of its Nord Stream 1 pipeline later this month for maintenance, sending spot natural gas prices to a new record high.
For many households, the biggest fear is that Russia will turn off the tap completely this winter. The German government has already set in motion a crisis management plan that could see rationing to businesses if that happens.

"This [demand] has only gotten stronger with the war against Ukraine, which is happening on our doorstep," David Wedepohl, managing director of the German Solar Association told CNN Business.

"This is something that's very much on people's minds."

German officials have responded to the crisis by calling on consumers to save energy. Some municipalities have already reacted by pulling back on basic needs such as lights, showers and heating.

Jim Gordon, the CEO of Smartflower, said the geopolitical turmoil had also pushed more people to make the switch to solar. The company provides sunflower-shaped solar power devices to corporate campuses, universities and homes.

"Our business is booming because there's a perfect storm of elements converging that are really lifting solar energy," .

"People are concerned about energy security," he said. "An autocratic dictator can turn the valve on a gas pipeline and shut off energy, but nobody can control the sun."

Soaring sales


Schneider Electric (SBGSF), a European industrial and energy giant, says demand for its solar-powered heating systems in Germany have "almost doubled" so far this year compared to the same period in 2021.

The company's sustainability arm, which advises businesses on clean energy procurement, has also reached "an all-time peak" in consultancy requests, according to Konstantin Elstermann, the firm's vice president of home and distribution.

Similarly, Sonnen, a German solar battery provider, has seen its orders "more than double in comparison to last year," because of an "increased desire for [people] running their homes with renewable energy," said CEO Oliver Koch.

Koch said his team had noted "an additional uptick in demand since the end of February," when the war began, and was "continuously expanding our production capacity to keep pace with demand."
Demand is so high, Smartflower is now expecting to quadruple its sales in Germany this year, according to managing director Robert Sawyer.

"We've done more business in the first six months of 2022 in Germany than we did in all of 2021," Sawyer said, adding that sales in the country had doubled so far this year.

Supply chain hurdles

Such booms don't come without challenges, however.

The industry is currently facing severe labor shortages, said Elstermann from Schneider Electric.
"Some electricians are booked up three to six months in advance,".

"This bottleneck almost surpasses the current shortage of raw materials and production capacity. We know that the supply problems due to the pandemic are temporary, but the shortage of skilled workers remains," Elstermann said.

Wedepohl said the industry was racing to address the problem. Many electricians who left their jobs over the past decade have been "reentering" the market, while roofers are also being called on to help with installations, he added.

"A lot of installers are out there putting out extra shifts, training people, bringing new people on," he said. "It is a challenge, but it is definitely a moment that we hope we can rise to."

The sustainability question


For now, Germany has resorted to firing up its coal power plants to reduce its gas consumption — and ensure the country keeps the lights on.

But Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made it clear the government isn't happy about it.

"It is bitter that we now have to temporarily use some power plants that we had already shut down because of Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine. But it's only for a little while," he said in a message last month.

Similar conversations are taking place across Europe.

This year, the United Kingdom also announced a push for other power sources, including wind and nuclear energy. And for some consumers, alternatives to gas heating, such as wood-burning fireplaces, have become more popular.

This month, Austrian climate minister Leonore Gewessler called for more green energy projects to help the country wean itself off Russian gas.

"We need to get ourselves off this dependence — cubic meter per cubic meter, windmill per windmill, PV installation per PV installation," referring to the units used in building solar and wind energy capacity.

"Because we see that our dependency on fossil fuels is used as a weapon in a war," Gewessler said.
"Winter is coming," said Wedepohl, noting that most homes in Germany were heated with gas. "Europeans ... are also in this pretty collectively."

[Phil B.]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

EBT Down Nationwide, People Furious as Welfare Cards Stop Working

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

[Phil B.]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

Top Budget Group Calculates Up to $1 Trillion Price Tag for Biden's Student Loan Cancellation Program

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

[Phil B.]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

He Just Admitted Helping FBI Rig the 2020 Election - Patriot United News

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

[bsm2]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

He Just Admitted Helping FBI Rig the 2020 Election - Patriot United News

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

Only fools believe this BS
Congratulations

[BBM]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

If you are so willing to help the so called less fortunate Have your business forgive $2000 for companies that owe money to your business and lets see how your customers react . Just to let you know these billionaires worked many days and nights sacrificing alot of things to get into the position they are in . They create millions of jobs which in turn create tax payers and shareholders like me and you .

[bsm2]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

If you are so willing to help the so called less fortunate Have your business forgive $2000 for companies that owe money to your business and lets see how your customers react . Just to let you know these billionaires worked many days and nights sacrificing alot of things to get into the position they are in . They create millions of jobs which in turn create tax payers and shareholders like me and you .

Guess your should work for min wage and kiss your owners ass that you have a job so you can pay his taxes.

[BBM]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

Or find someone to work for that appreciates you and not bitch and complain about someone elses success . Thats the problem with democrats there is always someone else to blame .

[Copier Addict]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

If you are so willing to help the so called less fortunate Have your business forgive $2000 for companies that owe money to your business and lets see how your customers react . Just to let you know these billionaires worked many days and nights sacrificing alot of things to get into the position they are in . They create millions of jobs which in turn create tax payers and shareholders like me and you .

Thanks for making my point.
Students also work hard to better themselves so why don't they deserve the same breaks as these billionaires? Why is it that you are okay with giving financial breaks to people who are already financially stable, but it's a crime to help out people who may actually be struggling?

[SalesServiceGuy]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

Honda and LG Energy Solution to build $4.4 billion EV battery plant in U.S.

• Honda Motor and LG Energy Solution plan to invest $4.4 billion to build a battery plant for electric vehicles in the U.S.
• The facility is expected to begin mass production of advanced lithium-ion battery cells by the end of 2025.
• It’s the latest in a slew of automakers announcing plans to invest in American production of battery cells for electric vehicles.

Honda Motor and LG Energy Solution said Monday they plan to invest $4.4 billion to build a new battery production plant for electric vehicles in the U.S.

The announcement marks the latest plans by automakers to invest in American production of battery cells for electric vehicles, as the industry works to to meet stricter regulations and accelerate production of such zero-emissions cars and trucks. Others have included General Motors, Ford Motor, Rivian Automotive and Hyundai Motor.

Honda and LG Energy said their plant is expected to begin mass production of advanced lithium-ion battery cells by the end of 2025. The facility will be built and operated by a joint venture between the companies, which is expected to be established this year.

Many of the battery plant investments by automakers follow the stricter sourcing guidelines that are part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (formerly the North American Free Trade Agreement) and, more recently, the Inflation Reduction Act. Both increased requirements for domestically sourced parts and materials for vehicles to avoid tariffs or be eligible for financial incentives.

Honda and LG Energy Solution did not announce a location for the multibillion-dollar plant, but automakers have largely been announcing battery production near their assembly operations. Honda currently has large manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Alabama and Indiana.

The new plant will aim to have an annual production capacity of approximately 40 gigawatt hours,
which is in line with plants announced by other automakers.

Earlier this year, Japan-based Honda said it plans to release 30 electric vehicles globally and produce about 2 million EVs a year by 2030.

Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution, called the new plant “another milestone” for the South Korea-based company, which also has joint ventures with GM, Hyundai and Jeep-maker Stellantis.

“Aligned with our longstanding commitment to build products close to the customer, Honda is committed to the local procurement of EV batteries which is a critical component of EVs,” said Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe in a release.

LG Energy Solution is a spinoff from LG Chem.

... 100s more US jobs!

[BBM]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

[QUOTE=copier addict;2201513]Thanks for making my point.
Students also work hard to better themselves so why don't they deserve the same breaks as these billionaires? Why is it that you are okay with giving financial breaks to people who are already financially stable, but it's a crime to help out people who may actually be struggling?[/QUOT


If you notice they call this a loan forgiveness not a tax cut . Let me explain it this way . When a tax cut is giving you are not GETTING MONEY you are paying a smaller percentage of money of your tax rate .In forgiveness you are ripping up a loan in which money has already been GIVEN TO YOU that you willingly signed for to say you will pay it back . A TAX CUT leads to business being able to hire more employees expand there business buying equipment creating more profit for the company to pay more to the employee via salary and bonuses and create increase revenues for stockholders . If Biden was to lower the interest rates on these LOANS i would be all for it but making everyone (including the people that paid there loan off WHO ALSO WERE STRUGGLING) end up footing the bill is just wrong . Alot of those billionaires failed and made bad decisions at one point in there life and almost all will tell you that made them a better and stronger person .

[Copier Addict]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

[QUOTE=BBM;2201602]

Thanks for making my point.
Students also work hard to better themselves so why don't they deserve the same breaks as these billionaires? Why is it that you are okay with giving financial breaks to people who are already financially stable, but it's a crime to help out people who may actually be struggling?[/QUOT


If you notice they call this a loan forgiveness not a tax cut . Let me explain it this way . When a tax cut is giving you are not GETTING MONEY you are paying a smaller percentage of money of your tax rate .In forgiveness you are ripping up a loan in which money has already been GIVEN TO YOU that you willingly signed for to say you will pay it back . A TAX CUT leads to business being able to hire more employees expand there business buying equipment creating more profit for the company to pay more to the employee via salary and bonuses and create increase revenues for stockholders . If Biden was to lower the interest rates on these LOANS i would be all for it but making everyone (including the people that paid there loan off WHO ALSO WERE STRUGGLING) end up footing the bill is just wrong . Alot of those billionaires failed and made bad decisions at one point in there life and almost all will tell you that made them a better and stronger person .

So, where is your disgust for all the republicans who had their PPP loans forgiven? Come on!! Call them out too. Those freeloaders who had hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars forgiven. And this was the entire loan including the interest. The student loan forgiveness is only up to $20,000.

You are right that tax breaks for billion dollar companies SHOULD lead to higher wages, but, all they lead to is stock buy backs and executive bonuses. Trickle down theory is bullshit. It has never worked, and it will never work.

[Phil B.]

Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill

302 Moved

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk