Month: August 2023

Energized by Edison 
Originally published on August 21, 2023

By Casey Wian

B-Roll: SCE crews working to restore power during Hurricane Hilary. 
B-Roll: SCE’s Emergency Operations Center responds to Hurricane Hilary. 
Video: SCE President and CEO Steve Powell on CNN discussing storm response.

VIDEO CREDIT: JOSEPH FOULK

As Hurricane Hilary drenched Southern California Edison’s service area first as a tropical storm and then as a post-tropical cyclone, SCE field crews and emergency operations personnel responded comprehensively to keep power flowing to customers. There were scattered outages throughout SCE’s service area during the storm, peaking at about 44,000 out of SCE’s 5 million customers Sunday night.

“Our crews are busy out there working to safely restore power,” SCE President and CEO Steve Powell told CNN in a live interview early Monday morning. “The major center of the storm has gone through, and we were prepared.”

Since SCE activated its Incident Management Team on Friday, crews successfully restored power to nearly 400,000 customers. Some of the outages were not storm-related. As of Monday morning, fewer than 10,000 customers systemwide were without power.

Hilary resulted in daily rainfall records in several Southland cities, causing mudslides, flooding and road closures.

“We have in-house meteorologists who have tracked the storm for the last five days. They help make sure we know where the biggest impacts are going to be,” Powell said. “We can pre-position crews to be very responsive and ensure equipment is ready.”

In some areas, SCE doubled the number of crews available to respond to storm-related power outages. The company has been in continual contact with other utilities, county emergency departments, first responders and local officials throughout the Southland.

On Catalina Island, initial weather forecasts indicated potential sea swells of 12 to 18 feet. SCE warned all residents on the island, including critical care and Medical Baseline customers, of a possible power shutoff, and some evacuated the island as a precaution. As of Monday morning, no power shutoff was necessary.

If the storm wasn’t enough, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake centered out of Ojai occurred Sunday afternoon. There have been no reports of damage to any SCE systems or infrastructure nor reports of injuries.

California’s Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s electric grid, reported having sufficient resources to supply the grid with power throughout the storm.

“We invest in our grid so that it will be reliable, resilient and ready for whatever’s coming,” Powell said. “We are trying to protect our customers and ensure they stay safe.”

SCE expressed gratitude to its customers for their efforts to prepare for Hilary’s arrival and for the patience of those who lost power during the storm.

For more information on potential outages in your area, visit SCE’s outage center.

Storm Power Outage Safety Tips:

Watch for Downed Wires: Severe weather can cause power lines to fall. They can electrify puddles, wet grass and the surrounding area. Stay at least 100 feet away from a downed wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Stay away and call 911 immediately. A downed wire doesn’t always spark or hum. Always assume a downed wire is energized. Coming into contact with electrical wires can cause serious injury or even death.Watch Traffic Signals: If it’s necessary to drive, watch for traffic signals that may be out and approach those intersections as four-way stops. Remember that if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights should also be on.Safe Cooking and Heating: Do not use any equipment inside designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.Generator Safety: If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances into it using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.Food Safety: Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.Secure Trash and Debris: Make sure to secure trash and other items that have the potential of blowing or floating away.

To maintain American leadership in the global 5G economy, the wireless industry must keep deploying more spectrum for consumers. It’s as simple as that. At T-Mobile, we have a record of putting our spectrum to good use quickly, now covering 326 million Americans with 5G service, 285 million of whom are covered by Ultra Capacity 5G. But this year, the government has not been doing its part to keep the pipeline flowing and action is needed.

One year ago, the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) completed Auction 108. In that auction, T-Mobile spent $304 million on more than 7,000 2.5 GHz spectrum licenses to enhance our Ultra Capacity 5G network deployment. Unfortunately, we did not receive access to the spectrum we purchased before the FCC’s Spectrum Auction Authority expired. My predecessor, Neville Ray, publicly called attention to this issue back in April.

Congress allowed the FCC’s Spectrum Auction Authority to lapse in March 2023 for the first time in history. While we, along with four former FCC General Counsels, believe the FCC still has authority to either grant the licenses or issue us special temporary authority (STA) to use the spectrum, we also understand the FCC is concerned about getting its auction authority renewed – as it should be.

Earlier in August, we commemorated the 30th anniversary of the FCC’s spectrum auction authority. As FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, auctions are “…a big reason why the United States leads the world in wireless innovation.” Spectrum auctions are the only viable way to assign licenses to the benefit of consumers and the U.S. Treasury. T-Mobile fully supports the FCC getting that authority back as soon as possible and is working closely with CTIA and the others to accomplish that outcome.

While we wait for Congress to act, Americans are losing out on enhanced 5G broadband and economic development opportunities. According to a recent report from the Brattle Group, the 2.5 GHz licenses we can immediately put to work with our STA request would deliver $28 billion worth of new services to Americans. And the entire spectrum portfolio due to T-Mobile would generate $42 billion in consumer welfare.

Also at risk are the economic and innovation benefits brought by a competitive marketplace. While our competitors are deploying their mid-band spectrum assets, consumers are denied the immediate impact of T-Mobile doing the same with additional bandwidth at 2.5 GHz. That’s not good for competition.

Our outstanding 2.5 GHz licenses would improve high speed internet service for millions of American households, in all 50 states and Puerto Rico – improvements that could benefit veterans, tribal lands, and underserved communities, and help us to expand our in-home internet service that is bringing competition to cable. In fact, 61 of the nation’s 109 operational Historically Black Colleges and Universities are in locations that would be immediately enhanced with improved 5G data speeds, mobile, and home internet services were the FCC to issue T-Mobile’s licenses or grant access to the spectrum via STA.

And as we move through hurricane season and other emergencies, this spectrum could be extremely helpful to provide needed service and additional capacity. Additional 2.5 GHz spectrum helps to increase the capacity of the network, improving connectivity and service in such instances.

And we have gathered significant support from a wide range of consumer and public interest groups including Public Knowledge, the National Rural Education Association, Hispanic Federation, and the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition. These groups understand the importance of getting these licenses deployed.

With Congress returning to Washington shortly, reinstating auction authority needs to be an immediate priority. Experience has shown that auctions are the best means to assign spectrum that is so critical to our economy. Restoring this authority not only provides a path forward for a future spectrum pipeline, but also ensures the Auction 108 licenses we purchased can be deployed for the benefit of consumers. The longer we wait to deploy the spectrum, the more Americans —especially rural and underserved communities — needlessly wait and competition suffers.

Henkel believes education is the key to unlocking opportunity and supporting those efforts is part of delivering on our purpose of being pioneers for the good of generations. For 42 years now, the Henkel Scholarship Program has helped hundreds of children of Henkel employees pursue their career dreams. The program has provided more than $2.7 million in awards to over 870 students through Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals.

“I am honored and grateful to be chosen as a recipient for the Henkel Scholarship,” said Liz Napier, daughter of Bob Napier, Key Account Manager for Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “I will be starting at Washington and Lee University this year, and the money provided by the Henkel Scholarship helps my family pay for my education and allows me to focus on my education, studies abroad, and internship opportunities in the future.”

The 22 students receiving the scholarship this year embody Henkel’s purpose to be pioneers at heart for the good of generations. They have excelled in their educational endeavors and shown themselves to be leaders at school and in the community. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

Learn more about Henkel’s 2023 scholarship recipients here.

Published by Las Vegas Sands on May 8, 2023

LAS VEGAS /3BL/ – Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) announced it will contribute $100,000 through Sands Cares to Dress for Success ® (DFS) Southern Nevada. The commitment will support the organization’s core program and its free workforce development services for women who are unemployed and underemployed, as well as fund renovation of its Career Center and computer lab.

Sands’ Team Member resource group for women and their allies, EmpowHER, is consulting on and will provide volunteer support for the Career Center renovation effort.

DFS Southern Nevada is the local affiliate of the leading global nonprofit employment resource for women. The organization empowers women in Southern Nevada to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to thrive in work and in life. Since its founding in 2009, DFS Southern Nevada has helped more than 13,000 women of diverse backgrounds and experiences on their road to achieving economic independence.

“We are honored that Sands has become a key partner in our efforts to empower underserved women to plan and achieve economic independence, putting them and their families on a path to a better life,” Norma Intriago, executive director of DFS Southern Nevada, said. “This critical funding from Sands Cares funding will help us reach more women in Southern Nevada to let them know they are not alone and that they have support to sustainably transform their lives, as well as bolster our Career Center, ensuring we can offer these critical services for years to come.”

In March, Sands also supported DFS Southern Nevada with participation in the Your Hour, Her Power campaign, held in conjunction with Women’s History Month. The campaign encouraged individuals to donate one hour of their pay to help underserved women access programs, services and tools that can help them achieve economic advancement. Sands Team Members participated by sharing messages of inspiration and guidance through DFS Southern Nevada’s and the company’s social media channels.

“The vital support and resources that DFS Southern Nevada provides to its clients have the potential to change lives, not just for the women being served, but for their families and the community as a whole,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives for the company. “We have worked with DFS Southern Nevada for the past few years, but seeing the impact they make, the critical needs of underserved women in our community and the interest by our EmpowHER group to get involved, we elected to increase and amplify our partnership for 2023.”

The engagement with DFS Southern Nevada supports three of Sands Cares’ core focus areas: providing resources and mentorship to support workforce development, helping people facing hardship overcome challenges, and removing systemic barriers for diverse groups. In addition, the DFS Southern Nevada partnership encompasses Sands Cares’ three methods of engagement: philanthropic giving to support DFS Southern Nevada’s programs and services, capacity building to improve the Career Center as a resource for DFS Southern Nevada’s core service delivery and volunteer support through the EmpowHER Team Member resource group’s efforts with the Career Center.

To learn more about Sands Cares, visit https://www.sands.com/responsibility/communities/#our-program-sands-cares.

About Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Sands is the world’s preeminent developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts. Our iconic properties drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities for local businesses and community investment to help make our host regions ideal places to live, work and visit.

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao and Sands Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

Sands is dedicated to being a leader in corporate responsibility, anchored by our core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. Our ESG leadership has led to inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America. To learn more, visit www.sands.com.

About Dress of Success Southern Nevada

Dress for Success Southern Nevada is the local affiliate of the leading global nonprofit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, development tools, and professional attire to help women thrive in work and in life.

Since 2009, the organization has helped more than 13,000 women in Southern Nevada to achieve economic independence by providing a myriad of programs — including career development, job skills preparedness, mentorship and coaching, financial education, and professional attire.

Contacts:

Kristin Koca 
Sands 
702.923.9142 
Kristin.Koca@sands.com

Dawn Farahi 
OneSeven Agency

HAMILTON, Bermuda, August 29, 2023 /3BL/ – Family-owned spirits company Bacardi is launching a new initiative to introduce closed-loop packaging to the cruise industry this month, through a collaboration with Carnival Cruise Line ships and innovative circular economy technology company, ecoSPIRITS. 

The three-month long pilot will determine if re-usable containers – the ecoTOTE™ 3.0SC Cruise Edition, specifically developed by ecoSPIRITS for the maritime environment – can be used to serve BACARDĺ® rum on Carnival ships, in turn reducing single-use packaging by 95 percent. The concept will be tested on three ships operating from Miami: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Sunrise.

Each ecoTOTE replaces approximately four bottles of BACARDĺ® Superior rum, and each one is used, cleaned and refilled approximately 100 times, thereby creating a closed loop system. Within this pilot phase, approximately 9,400 bottles will be replaced thanks to the ecoSPIRITS system, thereby significantly reducing waste.

“We are continuously looking for opportunities to deliver our beautiful drinks in more sustainable packaging and formats, helping us build a greener future,” said Rodolfo Nervi, VP Global Safety, Quality & Sustainability for Bacardi. “Innovating in closed loop packaging has been a top priority for us for a number of years, so launching our very first ecoTOTE for BACARDĺ on a Carnival cruise ship and seeing the doors this trial will open, is an incredibly exciting step forwards in that journey.”

The award-winning rum was selected for the pilot because it is among the most-ordered spirits across the fleet and a staple of some of the craft cocktails most popular with Carnival guests. The rum will be transferred from ecoTOTE to serving format using ecoSPIRITS’ SmartPour™ technology. New silver and red BACARDĺ-branded SmartPours will be placed in select bars on the three ships for beverage team members to serve cocktails made with BACARDĺ Superior rum.

“We are extremely proud to be working with both Bacardi and Carnival on this industry first for the cruise sector. Working with forward-thinking partners like this strengthens our collective focus on sustainable practices and our shared goal to eventually eliminate packaging waste across the industry,” said Zdenek Kastanek, Managing Director, ecoSPIRITS USA. “We could not be more delighted to be welcoming Bacardi to our portfolio of Climate Partners and, by launching in ecoTOTE format for the first-time onboard Carnival’s ships, it will send a clear message that circular packaging is the most sustainable solution for the cruise industry.”

The new collaboration will also support the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program. For each cycle of an ecoTOTE delivered as part of the pilot, a donation will fund the removal of more than two pounds of single-use plastic, glass and other man-made wastes removed from endangered marine environments.

Currently, Carnival recycles single-use glass items. Each ship in the fleet is outfitted with a recycling center, where crew members sort paper, plastic and glass recyclables. Last year, Carnival processed more than 11 million pounds of recyclables. 

“As we continue to work towards our sustainability goals, the collaborative work of our beverage team, ecoSPIRITS and Bacardi is a great example of thinking in ways that are truly out-of-the-box, or in this case – out-of-the-bottle, to develop new partnerships and practices that further our ongoing efforts,” said Zachary Sulkes, senior director of beverage operations at Carnival Cruise Line.

This latest announcement from Bacardi comes as the company continues to seek out all opportunities to reduce packaging waste across its portfolio which includes BACARDĺ rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, MARTINI® vermouth and DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky. The company is on track to achieve its target of removing all plastic from its secondary packaging and point of sale materials by the end of 2023, and last year made the pioneering move to remove the plastic pourer from its bottles in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Spain and Portugal.

To find out more about Bacardi and its ESG – Environmental, Social & Governance – commitments, including its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, visit https://www.bacardilimited.com/esg/.

ABOUT BACARDI LIMITED 

Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, D’USSÉ® Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT: eklam@bacardi.com – Erika Lam, Brand PR Director, BACARDĺ rum

ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America’s Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. For over 50 years, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently operates 25 ships and is in an exciting period of growth with the addition of two ships over the next two years.

MEDIA CONTACT: media@carnival.com

ABOUT ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 21 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas where almost 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by late 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change. For more information visit www.ecospirits.global.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sonya.Hook@ecospirits.global —Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager 

PLAINFIELD, Ind., August 29, 2023 /3BLMedia/ – Summer temperatures often mean customers are looking for ways to beat the heat and Duke Energy is working with local nonprofit agencies to distribute critical relief for residents in need. The Duke Energy Foundation is contributing more than $90,000 to 15 organizations across the state to help purchase and distribute fans to older adults and low-income households.

“Indiana summers can be extremely hot, with August bringing some of the warmest days of the year,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “A simple fan can make a difference in avoiding heat-related illnesses and provide our senior and low-income customers with some comfort when temperatures rise.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Area IV Agency on Aging and Community Action Programs – $8,000
 Good Samaritan Network – $5,000
 Heart of Indiana United Way – $2,500
 Henry County Community Foundation – $2,500
 Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation – $5,000
 Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County – $1,000
 Johnson County Senior Services – $5,000
 Ohio Valley Opportunities – $20,000
 Salvation Army, Princeton – $5,000
 Salvation Army, Shelbyville – $5,000
 South Central Community Action Program – $5,000
 United Way of Knox County – $5,000
 United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties – $10,000
 United Way of the Wabash Valley – $10,000
 Western Indiana Community Action Agency – $2,000

Financial Assistance

The effort is just one way Duke Energy supports its customers in need. Over the last five years, the company’s Share the Light Fund® has provided more than $2.4 million of financial assistance to Indiana customers struggling to pay their energy bills. Duke Energy works with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute funds to qualifying customers to help pay energy bills, deposits and reconnection/connection charges. Customers can receive up to a $300 credit annually on their account. Individuals should contact their local community action agency to see if they are eligible. Click here to find a listing of service providers by county.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/Foundation.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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