Month: March 2025

The sites will be located in Madison, Sumter, Hernando and Jefferson counties and completed by summer 2026All together, they are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 25, 2025 /3BL/ – Duke Energy Florida submitted its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment (SoBRA) filing to the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), outlining plans for four solar energy sites the company is pursuing this year in order to deliver on its commitment to continue providing reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy for its customers.

In accordance with Duke Energy Florida’s settlement agreement – which was approved by the FPSC in August 2024 – the company is investing over $521 million to establish solar sites in Madison County (Sundance Renewable Energy Center), Sumter County (Half Moon Renewable Energy Center), Hernando County (Rattler Renewable Energy Center) and Jefferson County (Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center). All together, these sites are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes.

To date, the company has broken ground on the Sundance, Half Moon and Rattler renewable energy centers, all of which will be in service by January 2026. Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center is continuing through the permitting process with the goal of starting construction in the summer of 2025, allowing for it to come online by the summer of 2026. During construction, each solar site will create an average of 150 temporary jobs, and when completed, they will add nearly 300 megawatts of quiet, carbon-free energy to the electric grid.

At peak output, each of the four 74.9-megawatt solar sites 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.

“At Duke Energy Florida, we work every day to modernize and strengthen our generation fleet,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Solar energy is an innovative, cost-effective and clean solution we continue to implement on behalf of our customers all across the Sunshine State.”

Duke Energy Florida currently owns, operates and maintains a portfolio of more than 25 solar sites across the state that produce approximately 1,500 megawatts of energy. Between 2025 and 2027, the company plans to build 12 new solar sites – including these four – adding an additional 900 megawatts of energy to the electric grid. In fact, by the end of 2033, the company projects to have over 6,100 megawatts of utility scale solar generating capacity online.

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 energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

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 
X: @DE_AlyRaschid

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Abundant low-cost energy is foundational for President Trump’s program. Yet, while his initiatives to fast-track oil and gas development have grabbed the headlines, they’re only a part of the energy picture. We believe equity investors will continue to find good opportunities in renewable energy and particularly in the infrastructure for electricity transmission and storage.

Power Needs Are Growing

Power needs in the US and across the world are growing at a pace and scale that require multiple power generation solutions. Renewable energy projects are set to become a much larger part of the mix because of two key advantages: low costs and speed to market. Though recent policy changes in the US—and budget pressures across Europe—may temper that trend, they won’t stop it, in our view (Display).

The Need for Speed

Speed to market is an important consideration. In the US, for instance, AI is substantially increasing power demand at a time when significant amounts of coal-fired power generation are being retired: the vast majority of coal plants are too old and costly to run. Wind and solar are often the only viable replacements for two reasons: first, they can come onstream fastest; and second, even without subsidies, they are cost-competitive—when paired with battery storage—versus carbon-based alternatives. In addition, equipment costs are the lowest they’ve ever been, and the cost of producing clean power continues to fall across the globe. 

All else equal, a loss of government subsidies for renewables would make gas relatively more attractive. But wind and solar would remain viable just based on economics, in our view. We also believe the new US policies will likely be less damaging than feared for low-carbon solutions. In particular, we don’t expect a full repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which provides significant federal funding / tax incentives across renewables, other clean technologies and electricity transmission. (The IRA has created many jobs across the US, too.) State-level and utility spending will also likely remain robust, favoring utility-scale, commercial and industrial, and community projects.

Look Beyond Familiar Investment Opportunities

Of course, the path to renewable profits and returns hasn’t been smooth. For example, some renewable developers have been badly hurt by post-COVID interest-rate rises and cost inflation, and even at current share price levels we believe investors should be highly selective in this subsector. But the scale and breadth of developments in the power transition are often underestimated, in our view. We think these dynamics are creating major opportunities in electrification and energy efficiency.

Energy Infrastructure Needs Upgrading

Upgrading and reinforcing electricity grids will be a particularly important focus. In the US and across the developed world, grids are approaching or have exceeded their planned life but need to carry massively increased loads, especially considering AI-related power demands and the increasing need for grid resilience to mitigate climate, geopolitical and other risks.

The push for energy efficiency, the increase in data centers and local regulations are all driving electrification. 

Companies such as Prysmian (copper and fiber cables, systems and accessories), Hitachi (cables and transformers), Hubbell (cable distribution) and Schneider (“smart grid” solutions to improve grid reliability and flexibility) have all benefited from grid spending. Their markets have backlog visibility extending several years ahead. US policy changes that encourage reshoring will also benefit stocks involved in the push for electrification. But investors will need to be selective—not all component suppliers benefit from the same competitive advantages.

Watch Points for Investors

Investors in these industries should pay particular attention to companies’ operational efficiency metrics as well as identifying which regulations, tailwinds and headwinds are material for their prospective investments. 

Given the global nature of many of these businesses, it’s important to ensure that companies across the supply chain provide adequate data disclosures. Countries outside the US may have stringent sustainability requirements that require companies with supply chains in their jurisdictions to comply with local sustainability regulations. Offenders may face fines and greater difficulty raising capital.

Selectivity Is Key

Some of the early optimism around clean energy companies has dissipated, and new US policies may have a negative impact in specific areas. That said, the power transition is still very much underway and continues to offer a wide range of opportunities. 

For investors, the keys to success will be thorough analysis and continued vigilance. That means investors must focus not only on the business models and fundamentals of their selected companies, but also how the businesses are affected by the evolution of regulation and government policies.

References to specific securities discussed are not to be considered recommendations by AllianceBernstein L.P.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations, and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams and are subject to change over time.

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Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 25, 2025 /3BL/ – SCS Global Services, a pioneer in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, today announced that VFLP California achieved Bee Better Certified™ status through SCS’ auditing services. The certification verifies the comprehensive pollinator conservation practices implemented at the company’s Burns Ranch operation in Stockton, California, which produces premium blueberries for Driscoll’s.

The Bee Better Certified program is the only third-party certification that specifically focuses on pollinator health and biodiversity conservation on farms. Developed by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation with support from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the program requires growers to dedicate a portion of their land to pollinator habitat and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.

“VFLP California’s achievement represents exactly the kind of agricultural leadership we need to protect our vital pollinator populations,” said Alex Judd, Program Manager for Sustainability at SCS Global Services. “Their comprehensive approach to creating pollinator habitats within a productive blueberry operation demonstrates that economic and ecological goals can be successfully aligned. This certification recognizes their exceptional efforts to implement science-based conservation practices that benefit both their operation and the surrounding ecosystem.”

The certification process involved a thorough assessment of Burns Ranch’s agricultural practices, including evaluation of dedicated pollinator habitats, integrated pest management strategies, and implementation of buffer zones to protect sensitive ecological areas. By achieving certification, VFLP California has demonstrated its leadership in addressing pollinator decline while maintaining productive agricultural operations for one of the world’s leading berry brands.

The certification also positions VFLP California to meet major retailers’ sustainability requirements. Walmart announced last year that by 2025, 100% of floral and fresh produce sold in its stores will be sourced from suppliers with third-party certifications such as Bee Better Certified™, making this achievement strategically valuable for VFLP’s market position as a Driscoll’s producer.

For more information about the Bee Better Certified program administered by SCS, visit https://www.scsglobalservices.com/services/bee-better-certified

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About SCS Global Services  
SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, currently celebrating its 40th year of services. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.  SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com 

Media Contact: 
Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

BELLEVUE, Wash., March 25, 2025 /3BL/ – T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced its latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients, each set to receive up to $50,000 in funding from T-Mobile to support local development projects to revitalize their communities.

Since kicking off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021, the Un-carrier has provided more than $16 million in Hometown Grants to 375 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico. Hometown Grants has sparked more than 150,000 volunteer hours, bringing people together to uplift their communities in big ways.

“When we started Hometown Grants nearly four years ago, we knew T-Mobile could make a real difference in small towns across the country, but the impact has exceeded all expectations,” said Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group. “With this latest round of grants, communities will be able to fund everything from new fire hose technology to expanded food pantry space — creating important, life-changing improvements for the people who call these towns home.”

Here are the next 25 Hometown Grant recipients and their projects:

Attalla, Ala.: Build a dedicated walking trail at District 2 to foster a sense of community, encourage physical activity and combat health issues related to sedentary lifestyles.Calexico, Calif.: Install new fire hose technology at the Calexico Fire Department, allowing more water to be put on a fire while exerting less resistance to the firefighter applying the water.Alachua, Fla.: Revitalize a pocket park in the heart of Alachua’s historic downtown district, creating a vibrant community gathering space and an outdoor venue for cultural events and performances.Comer, Ga.: Renovate the Perch Community Center, offering a more inviting and useful gathering place for a local Farmers Market and community events.Eastman, Ga.: Update Eastman City Park, including resurfacing outdoor courts, providing a place for the community to play basketball, pickleball and tennis without risking injury.Mount Vernon, Iowa: Renovate the Bijou Theatre’s indoor and exterior space, adding an outdoor reception and screening area and updating the front façade and more, just in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the community.Covington, Ind.: Expand and relocate Marilyn’s Village, adding an enhanced café and a new thrift store, creating more opportunities for adults with disabilities to gain vocational training, foster community connection and provide affordable resources to families.Winfield, Kan.: Create The Patio at WPL (Winfield Public Library), an outdoor intergenerational play, learning and connection space designed to provide a safe, accessible, welcoming and connection-building environment for all of Winfield.Slidell, La.: Transform an unkempt green space in Olde Towne Slidell into the Carey Street Pocket Park, adding a vibrant community space to gather, relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the park’s landscape.Kingston, Mass.: Update Kingston Public Library lobby, replacing 27-year-old furnishings and making the space ADA compliant, providing a welcoming, accessible space to patrons.Tupelo, Miss.: Transform the Link Centre Black Box by relocating its primary access to ground level and renovating adjacent restrooms for ADA compliance, while integrating safety upgrades, enhanced lighting, and assistive technology to expand community accessibility and security.Drew, Miss.: Design and install seven freedom markers, honoring historical sites and people involved in the Civil Rights movement in Drew, Mississippi.Guymon, Okla.: Transform Dale Park into a vibrant, safe and engaging community space with new playground equipment, seating, drinking fountains and improved lighting, providing a much-needed recreational area for Southside Guymon, enhancing community health, cohesion and safety.Durant, Okla.: Plant trees and landscaping along Durant’s Main Street District to increase economic vitality, support wildlife and reduce heat islands.Silverton, Ore.: Expand the Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA) food pantry and community resource space by supporting their relocation to a larger, fully accessible facility that will provide essential services, new programs, and space for community partners to better serve neighbors in need.Bradford, Pa.: Revamp the Historic Downtown District Microgrant program, adding connectivity upgrades, new equipment and professional marketing and promotional activities for participating small businesses to continue to be a vital part of the local economy.Hershey, Pa.: Enhance and modernize the learning spaces at Vista Autism Services with upgraded classroom designs, improved walls, cabinetry, flexible seating options, new furniture, and optimized storage solutions.Hanahan, S.C.: Revitalize a vacant city-owned parcel into a vibrant hub for the Hanahan Farmers Market, enhancing community engagement, supporting local businesses and providing an accessible space for residents to connect and enjoy the town center.Sabinal, Texas: Enhance the Veterans Memorial Live Oak Park by installing a playground to maintain the physical health of the community and provide a recreational area for children to play.Zapata, Texas: Transform the Teen Tech Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Zapata County, with updates to paint, furnishings and new technology to engage more teens and tweens in the Club every day after school and throughout the day during the summer.Springville, Utah: Install the Art Loops, an interactive public art experience connecting the Springville Museum of Art, Springville Library, and Civic Center, with installations and activities, fostering community connection, enhancing walkability and pedestrian experience, strengthening Springville’s “Art City” identity, and revitalizing the downtown area.Brattleboro, Vt.: Expand HatchSpace’s workforce development and trades training programs by adding a workshop classroom and outfitting the digital fabrication lab with a high-tech laser cutter to further enhance the current roster of education programs.Vashon, Wash.: Install the Nikkei Public Art Memorial at Ober Park to commemorate and honor the 111 Nikkei residents who were forced to leave Vashon and be imprisoned in internment camps.Chippewa Falls, Wis.: Continue to transform the former Masonic Lodge by adding an outdoor learning and development space for the Chippewa Falls Boys & Girls Club by adding fencing, and member friendly representations to electrical equipment and introducing raised garden beds to feed youth in the community.Fayetteville, W.Va.: Build a permanent outdoor pavilion to serve as a year-round gathering space for community events, educational programs, volunteer activities and field trips, enhancing accessibility, promoting local food systems and fostering stronger community connections.

T-Mobile teams up with Main Street America — a nonprofit organization that works to advance shared prosperity, create resilient economies and improve quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation — to bring Hometown Grants to life.

Grant applications are reviewed based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations.

“T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program is bringing critical resources to small towns and rural communities across America,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO, Main Street America. “These investments are transforming local landscapes and creating new opportunities for growth and connection.”

T-Mobile’s Commitment to Championing Rural Communities

T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants commitment goes beyond community development programs. The Un-carrier has awarded nearly $4 million to small businesses through Hometown Grants to support projects like revitalizing farmers markets, launching business incubators and improving main streets.

Beyond Hometown Grants, T-Mobile is focused on many initiatives to make sure no community, big or small, gets left behind. The Un-carrier’s Project 10Million offers free internet connectivity and mobile hotspots to eligible student households to help close the digital divide. And T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights is a competition that’s gearing up for its second year to give one deserving high school a football field makeover valued at $2 million. Learn more about Friday Night 5G Lights and pre-register now for the next round at FridayNight5GLights.com.

As the country’s largest and fastest 5G network, T-Mobile is all about small towns and rural areas. Plus, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Business Internet give homes and businesses across the country access to reliable and affordable broadband options. And for those in even the most rural areas, T-Mobile Starlink is on a mission to eliminate mobile dead zones in areas unreachable by traditional cell towers.

For more information about T-Mobile’s commitment to small towns, visit www.t-mobile.com/hometowngrants. And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here.

Register for the free T-Mobile Starlink Beta here.

Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news.

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About Main Street America 
Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through our signature Main Street Approach™ framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center® in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $107.62 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,675 buildings, create 782,059 new jobs, and start 175,323 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Learn more about Main Street America here.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Not available in all areas. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Project 10Million: Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup. Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data of national Speed Score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for 2H 2024. See T-Mobile Starlink details at T-Mobile.com. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at T-Mobile.com.

About T-Mobile 
T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com

Media Contact 
T-Mobile US, Inc. Media Relations 
MediaRelations@t-mobile.com

Investor Relations Contact 
T-Mobile US, Inc. 
Investor.Relations@t-mobile.com 
https://investor.t-mobile.com