Month: February 2025

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., February 18, 2025 /3BL/ – With all 10 of Duke Energy Florida’s Clean Energy Connection solar energy sites now fully operational, the company is celebrating delivering on its commitment – part of a 2020 filing with the Florida Public Service Commission – to provide nearly 750 megawatts of solar generation in Florida from 2022 to 2024.

“Solar development is critical to maintaining a modern, diverse and resilient electric grid,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “I look forward to building on the important work we’ve done in recent years as we continue to upgrade our generation fleet, ensuring we are providing reliable, affordable energy for our customers and the communities we serve – now and in the future.”

At peak output, each 74.9-megawatt Clean Energy Connection solar site will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 23,000 homes, while displacing 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal annually.

The 10 Clean Energy Connection solar sites also fostered – and continue to promote – economic development across the state, creating more than 1,500 temporary jobs during construction and contributing significant tax revenue to their respective counties.

The Clean Energy Connection solar sites are located throughout Florida, from Bay County down to Hardee County:

Bay Ranch Renewable Energy Center in Bay County (completed in April 2023)Bay Trail Renewable Energy Center in Citrus County (completed in September 2022)County Line Renewable Energy Center in Gilchrist County (completed in August 2024)Falmouth Renewable Energy Center in Suwannee County (completed in June 2024)Fort Green Renewable Energy Center in Hardee County (completed in June 2022)Hardeetown Renewable Energy Center in Levy County (completed in April 2023)High Springs Renewable Energy Center in Alachua County (completed in April 2023)Hildreth Renewable Energy Center in Suwannee County (completed in April 2023)Mule Creek Renewable Energy Center in Bay County (completed in March 2024)Winquepin Renewable Energy Center in Madison County (completed in December 2024)

Additionally, customers can subscribe to support a portion of the solar energy produced by the Clean Energy Connection sites, earning credits toward their electricity bills without having to install or maintain their own equipment. The monthly subscription fee helps cover the capital and operating costs of the sites and is conveniently added to a customer’s regular bill. For more information, please visit Duke Energy’s Clean Energy Connection website.

The Clean Energy Connection sites are now a part of Duke Energy Florida’s portfolio of more than 25 solar sites, which produce almost 1,500 megawatts of emission-free generation. An additional 12 new solar sites are planned between 2025 and 2027, adding another 900 megawatts of generation, and for the next 10 years, the company projects adding at least 450 megawatts of utility scale-solar energy per year.

Duke Energy Florida 

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy 

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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by Kevin Delaney

When Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program began in 2015, it represented a radical new concept: that a global technology company could bring together nations’ industry, government, and academic leaders to co-innovate solutions to major societal problems.

If anyone had doubts, they were soon dispelled.

Ten years on, CDA has brought positive change to 50 countries around the world, helping to transform everything from coffee farms in Tanzania and floating classrooms in the Amazon to energy grids in Spain, network infrastructure in Ukraine, and smart cities in India (to name but a few).

So, for Cisco, it’s an important anniversary and a time to celebrate all that CDA has accomplished — in AI, education, healthcare, sustainability, transportation, agriculture, cybersecurity, and more — along with the good it can continue to drive.

One reason for CDA’s success is the leadership of Guy Diedrich, Cisco’s senior vice president and global innovation officer.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to work with these countries around the world,” said Diedrich, who has been a prime mover behind CDA since its start. “We have created 1,600 individual digitization projects in every vertical imaginable. And the number of people that CDA has impacted is well into the tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions.”

Cisco’s technology and expertise underlie those 10 years of success. But Fran Katsoudas, Cisco’s EVP and chief people, policy, and purpose officer, also highlighted the role that human relationships have played.

“You have built trust with people around the world, and that is not easy to do,” Katsoudas stressed in congratulating CDA on its anniversary. “And your impact is not only good for Cisco from a business perspective, it’s amazing for the world.”

Building that trust starts at the top. And Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins called out the importance of engaging high-level government leaders in the early stages of each project.

“I have the benefit of having been involved when we created this program a decade ago, and it has been hugely powerful,” Robbins said. “It’s so logical. If we’re going to invest in a country, let’s align those investments with the priorities of the head of state in the country. It makes us a better citizen in that country. And it makes us more impactful.”

When doing good is good for business

Like Diedrich and Robbins, Chris Reeves — vice president of Cisco’s Digital Impact Office for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) — has been with CDA from the start. And he shared his thoughts on how the program has evolved during its 10 years, while, at its core, remaining the same.

“Over 10 years, the program’s changed and adapted to different waves of technology and changing geopolitical landscapes, and it’s adapted and grown,” Reeves said. “But I’m also proud that it has remained true to its original concept, which is to use technology to deliver better outcomes for communities, economic growth, and also potential growth for Cisco.”

Indeed, the CDA program has shown that positive change can be good for business.

“The Country Digital Acceleration Program is proof that you can do good and do well,” Diedrich said. “You can benefit the world. You can lift up populations. You can work with societies to help them take advantage of new opportunities. And you can make money along the way.”

That kind of success, Diedrich believes, creates the potential for doing more good.

“Some people think that somehow if you’re making a profit, it diminishes your purpose,” he continued. “I think the exact opposite is true. If you can fulfill your purpose and drive revenue and provide value to the company, then it makes it sustainable. In fact, purpose and profit are not mutually exclusive. They’re completely compatible.”

A round of global applause

The spirit trust and cooperation infused the responses of CDA’s partners around the world, starting with Milan, Italy. With Cisco’s help, the city has driven a wide range of smart city, educational, health care, and transportation initiatives, along with creating a Cybersecurity Co-innovation Center.

Giuseppe Sala, Milan’s mayor, looks forward to many more years of collaboration.

“Over the past decade, CDA has made remarkable contributions to driving innovation and digital transformation in our city and across the globe,” he said. “Wishing continued success in shaping a more connected and sustainable future for all.”

As regards education, Diedrich stresses that every CDA initiative will include a skills component. So CDA is closely aligned with the Cisco Networking Academy, the largest company-led digital skills program of its kind.

Irais Barreto Canales, of Mexico’s Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Ministry, gave CDA high marks for its many initiatives to better Mexican society. But she called out two that were especially close to her heart.

“Digital Skills for Mexican Women of the 21st Century,” she explained, “is a program in which we have certified nearly 2,000 women in specialized courses representing over 600,000 training hours. The other one was the Digital Skills for Nurturing, which is about growing new companies. These are great examples of how our collaboration with Cisco has increased our digital skills.”

Another project showing the scope and reach of CDA and Networking Academy is the Senac Ferry School, which brings professional training to riverside communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

Born from a longstanding partnership between CDA and Senac — one of Brazil’s leading professional education institutions — the project provides access to technology, connectivity, and knowledge in remote areas. Courses in IT and other fields combine Cisco’s tech expertise with Senac’s educational infrastructure. It’s an initiative that develops essential job market skills, promotes citizenship, and expands opportunities in hard-to-reach regions.

“The people that Senac serves can now access the internet and can access Cisco courses,” said Anna Beatriz, director of professional education at Senac Brazil, “and this transforms lives. Technology courses and free connectivity weren’t accessible to these populations, but now they are.”

Smarter cities, schools, traffic, and more

At the same time, powerful new network solutions are giving Japanese schools a big boost. Cisco and CDA’s GIGA schools package includes Cisco and Meraki networking equipment to create a robust, futureproof network, enabling all-new experiences in K-through-12 education. Webex boards and Cisco Wi-Fi are part of what make learning more fun and effective.

Smart cities have been a keystone of CDA efforts from the start. In India, for example, CDA played a pivotal role in the country’s Smart Cities Mission. And cities like Vijayawada, Gandhinagar and Hyderabad featured Cisco solutions around Wi-Fi, security, smart parking, smart lighting, improvements in transportation, and additional command and control centers.

The Indian government is enacting a bold plan to create 100 smart cities across the country. And CDA looks forward to continued leadership in these efforts, improving connectivity, economic opportunity, sustainability, quality of life, and more.

Speaking of quality of life, in Australia, as in many countries, traffic is a serious issue. So, CDA partnered with Transport for NSW to take smart traffic management to next levels. This included deploying AI, Wi-Fi, and edge computing for real-time analysis of traffic patterns.

“The system is being used to manage congestion more efficiently, to improve the safety of our network, and to improve the customer experience,” said Chris Bennetts, head of technology and innovation, TfNSW. “The future is upon us. The next 3 to 5 years is going to be a game-changer.”

Looking to a future that’s more sustainable and equitable

The climate crisis affects us all, so energy grids and renewable energy are key focus areas for CDA.

“We’ve worked very closely with utility companies around the world to help them transform their networks,” said Reeves. “So, they’re digitally powered networks and they can respond to the distributed generation of carbon free energy and also the distributed usage of it, from things like autonomous vehicles. So, we’ve used Cisco’s technology to help the utility companies adapt as they’ve moved to more sustainable solutions.”

Among CDA’s partners is Ikusi, an advanced technology services company that has partnered with CDA on digitizing electricity grids. And Javier Aguilera, managing director of Ikusi Spain, shared some thoughts on working with Cisco and CDA.

“At Ikusi, we have had the privilege of participating in various projects with the Cisco CDA program,” he said. “The latest and most exciting of this is a pioneering project focused on the digitalization of electricity grids in Spain. The Cisco CDA program represents innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to driving digital transformation.”

CDA’s efforts in war-torn Ukraine show how it can respond in some of the most challenging conditions. In addition to its Medibus, a rolling healthcare center that has supported refugees, CDA has helped strengthen and secure Ukraine’s infrastructure while building important educational and skills resources — all of which will be critical as Ukraine anticipates its long struggle to rebuild.

“Our partnership with CDA is a pivotal investment in Ukraine’s and the world’s digital future,” said Valeriya Ionan, deputy minister for Eurointegration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. “While words cannot fully express our gratitude, our projects speak for themselves. We’re looking forward to the next 10 years.”

Those next 10 years are on the minds of all who are involved in the CDA program. In supporting a future that’s more sustainable, equitable, and connected, CDA is just getting started.

“I’m sure this success story will go on because the disruptive technologies are changing fast than ever before,” concluded Oliver Tuszik, president of Cisco’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA). “And no matter in which country we are, they’re all looking for help from a reliable partner like Cisco.”

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International Olympic Committee news

The Medical and Scientific Department of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been restructured and renamed the Health, Medicine and Science (HMS) Department, as of 6 January 2025. This change coincides with the Department’s new Director, Dr Jane Thornton OLY, taking up her role, and reflects the IOC’s continued leadership in sports medicine and science.

The new title reinforces the Department’s core mission: to protect and promote the health of athletes. “The addition of the word ‘health’ in our title marks an important and positive evolution,” said Dr Thornton. “The new title emphasises the focus on athletes and the central importance of protecting and promoting optimal health and well-being, both in sport and through sport.”

The Department’s work will focus on key health issues impacting athletes and the Olympic Movement, including injury and illness prevention, clean sport, safeguarding, mental health and well-being, medical services and research, emerging global public health topics, and promoting the health benefits of lifelong physical activity.

Duluth, MN, February 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Sofidel is proud to announce that it has been named the recipient of the 2024 Governor’s International Trade Award for Foreign Direct Investment. Simone Giacomelli, representing Sofidel, accepted the award on behalf of the company during a ceremony last week. Sofidel extends its sincere gratitude to Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota Trade Office, and all those who helped make this prestigious recognition possible.

“We are truly honored to receive this award,” said Giacomelli. “It’s a testament to our commitment to sustainable growth, high-quality products, and community investment. This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with the state of Minnesota and the ongoing support we receive from local partners.”

Sofidel’s dedication to the U.S. market has been evident over the past decade, with significant investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and the creation of stable, long-term jobs. In November 2024, the company further solidified its U.S. presence with the acquisition of Clearwater Tissue Division, expanding its ability to serve customers nationwide.

One of the company’s most exciting projects is its ongoing expansion in Duluth, where Sofidel is adding a new production line for kitchen towels and bath tissue, along with a fully automated warehouse. The project, which began in the fall of 2024, is slated for completion by mid-2026. The Duluth expansion underscores Sofidel’s continued commitment to Minnesota and the city of Duluth.

This expansion aligns with Sofidel’s shared vision with the state and city to foster sustainable economic growth, create rewarding opportunities for local workers, and strengthen the local manufacturing sector.

As Sofidel continues to grow in Minnesota, the company remains focused on fostering innovation, sustainability, and economic prosperity for the communities it serves.

About Sofidel

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,800 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development. For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.
 

CINCINNATI, February 18, 2025 /3BL/ – For the third year in row, Fifth Third (NASDAQ: FITB) has been named among America’s top-performing companies on the issues most important to consumers as measured by JUST Capital and CNBC.

Fifth Third ranked 5th among the banks evaluated, and 33rd overall among 940 companies evaluated.

“We are honored to be acknowledged by JUST Capital for our leadership in several areas that are critical to our stakeholders,” said Tim Spence, chairman, CEO, and president of Fifth Third. “We’re a relationship bank, and since our founding 166 years ago, we have operated our business to meet the needs of our shareholders, customers, communities, and employees.”

For the annual “America’s Most Just Companies” rankings, JUST Capital collects and analyzes corporate data to evaluate the 1,000 largest public U.S. companies across 20 issues identified through comprehensive, ongoing public opinion research on Americans’ attitudes toward responsible corporate behavior.

The JUST Capital 2025 Rankings of America’s Most JUST Companies and JUST 100 list celebrates top-performing Russell 1000 companies that are demonstrating leadership in responding to the needs of the American people. Compared to their Russell 1000 peers, companies in the JUST 100 on average:

Pay 10.6 percentage points more of their workers a family sustaining living wage (75.1%).Disclose a nationwide lowest minimum wage that is $1.95 higher.Provide 16.4 more hours of career development training per employee.Offer 2 more weeks of paid parental leave for both primary caregivers and secondary caregivers.Are 2.3 times more likely to disclose offering subsidized or backup dependent care provisions.4.7 times more likely to disclose not selling users’ data to advertisers or marketing companies.Are 2.3 times more likely to disclose having an apprenticeship program.Emitted 48% less metric tons of CO2 per revenue dollar.

Fifth Third’s corporate governance and responsibility are consistently recognized as among the best in the nation. Recent accolades include: World’s Most Admired Companies 2025 by Fortune, and World’s Most Ethical Companies® 2024 by Ethisphere.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.