Month: August 2025

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a joint collaboration, PaintCare and the Albany Parking Authority were joined on Monday, Aug. 4 by elected officials, local dignitaries and industry stakeholders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Quackenbush Garage, where the organizations unveiled their new community mural. The project seeks to raise awareness of paint stewardship and local recycling efforts happening throughout the Capital Region. Local freelance illustrator and muralist, Quill Harrison, created the mural artwork, incorporating recycled paint collected by PaintCare for recycling.

During the event, remarks were made by Mike Johnson, American Coatings Association CEO; Andrew Radin, PaintCare NY Program Manager; Sean Palladino, Albany Parking Authority’s Executive Director; and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

Attendees also included Chief City Auditor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, representatives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Empire State Development, the Downtown Albany BID, Discover Albany, and the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA).

“We’re thrilled to be in Albany today as we unveil this outstanding community mural, alongside the artist and our wonderful local partners. The mural showcases the paint and coatings industry’s spirit of collaboration and innovation,” said Mike Johnson, CEO at American Coatings Association. “The fact that it uses some of the paint collected in our PaintCare program underscores the importance of a responsible, circular approach to sustainability.”

“Projects like this demonstrate how reused paint and strong local collaboration can create something truly beautiful for the entire community,” said Andrew Radin, New York Program Manager at PaintCare. “We’re proud to partner with the Albany Parking Authority and love seeing how public art can transform shared spaces. Quill and the Albany Center Gallery did an exceptional job designing this one-of-a-kind mural, and we’re thrilled to see the community come together to celebrate it and the important message it sends to the region.”

Conveniently situated near popular restaurants and businesses, the Quackenbush Garage is a central hub to the downtown Albany area. Over the last decade, the Albany Parking Authority has been expanding its public art collection, featuring dozens of art installations, with the mural being its most recent addition. While Quill painted this latest mural, PaintCare had launched a dedicated webpage to showcase progress.

“Selecting local artist Quill Harrison for the mural design and execution is another example of how we’re committed to supporting the City of Albany,” said Sean Palladino, Executive Director, Albany Parking Authority. “Downtown Albany features many thriving restaurants and businesses that bring people to our parking facilities. We’re proud to create a space that celebrates local art and programs like PaintCare, while bringing the people of Albany together.”

Senator Patricia Fahy said, “I want to congratulate and thank Capital Region artist Quill Harrison for their work on downtown Albany’s newest public mural. Public art is a public good that helps to beautify our communities, breathe life into our neighborhoods, and supports our local arts community at a time it’s needed most. I couldn’t be more excited to see this new piece adorn downtown Albany, the core of our Capital Region, and I encourage everyone to stop by Quackenbush Garage to see now just this addition, but the plethora of public art that helps make Albany appealing to visitors and residents alike.”

Assemblymember Gabriella Romero said, “I’m proud to join PaintCare and the Albany Parking Authority for the unveiling of a new mural at the Quackenbush Garage. This mural is a powerful example of how public art can raise awareness about environmental issues like paint recycling. Community engagement through local art projects like this is essential to promoting both sustainability and the work of local artists. Congratulations to our talented local artist, Quill Harrison, on this outstanding achievement!” 

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said, “This mural is more than just a vibrant addition to our city; it’s a powerful statement on sustainability. By turning what would be waste paint into art, we are leading by example and showing the power of paint stewardship. I would like to thank the artist Quill Harrison, PaintCare, and the Albany Parking Authority for their work to bring this mural to life. Public art like this brings people together, transforms everyday spaces, and reminds us of the local creativity that makes Albany so special.”

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “The new public art that has taken shape throughout Park Albany’s garages and lots not only spurs additional creativity and an opportunity to collaborate with our local artists, but invigorates our historic architecture and makes Albany’s newest neighborhood a vibrant hub of connectivity that attracts new residents, visitors, and businesses alike. This new partnership with PaintCare not only helps bolster the vibrancy of Downtown Albany but highlights the importance of sustainability and recycling, even through public art. I commend Park Albany, PaintCare, and our local artist, Quill Harrison, for highlighting the importance of public art and being committed to fostering an environment to help create more of it in the years to come.”

City of Albany Chief City Auditor Dr. Dorice Applyrs said, “I’m thrilled to see Albany’s newest work of art come to life. Especially beautifully imagined and brought to the wall by the incredibly talented Quill Harrison, one of the Capital Region’s very own. For years, the Albany Parking Authority has been reimagining how we experience downtown, using public art to infuse the city with energy and color. I want to extend a huge thanks to PaintCare for their unwavering support of creative expression, sustainability, and community partnerships. This mural is more than just a stunning welcome to downtown—it’s a reminder of what’s possible when we come together with purpose and creativity.”

Created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association, PaintCare was established to help manage leftover paint in states that enact paint stewardship laws. Following New York passage of its stewardship law in 2019, the organization now has more than 350 recycling drop-off sites across New York State, including over 50 within the Capital Region. To learn more about PaintCare and find a local paint drop-off site, visit: paintcare.org/NY.

About Albany Parking Authority 
The Albany Parking Authority is responsible for managing parking in The City of Albany, NY, including on-street meters and several garages and surface lots centrally located near Albany’s greatest attractions like the MVP Arena, the Palace Theatre, and the Egg. For nine years, the Albany Parking Authority has partnered with multiple community organizations and over 30 artists to grow their public art collection with the focus on improving walkability and economic development within New Yorks Capital City.

About PaintCare
PaintCare is committed to making it easy and convenient for households, businesses, and institutions to recycle postconsumer (leftover) paint in states with paint stewardship laws. A nonprofit organization created by paint companies, PaintCare sets up drop-off locations for leftover paint, arranges for recycling and proper disposal, and conducts public education. More than 77 million gallons of paint, stain, and varnish have been managed by PaintCare in 10 states and the District of Columbia. 

Media Contacts:
Hannah Vattikonda, The Martin Group: 585-506-8324

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SOURCE PaintCare

The new structure creates two independent businesses, with BrightNight focusing on the US market and Yanara focusing on APAC markets.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BrightNight, the next-generation power and digital infrastructure company built to deliver clean and dispatchable solutions, today announced the spin-off of its Asia Pacific (APAC) business, which will now operate as a standalone entity under the name Yanara.

The move is aimed at creating two high-growth companies, each with its regional focus and operational flexibility to accelerate market expansion and deliver greater value to customers and investors.

BrightNight will concentrate solely on its U.S. business and the execution of its 35 GW renewable power projects pipeline. Yanara will now independently lead the APAC operations, with projects and offices in India, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

“This is the natural next step for two dynamic, rapidly growing companies,” said Martin Hermann, Founder and CEO of BrightNight. “Our business has grown significantly in both the U.S. and APAC markets, and this spin-off allows each entity to scale with greater speed and focus. BrightNight will continue to deliver on its extensive 35-gigawatt power project portfolio in the U.S., while Yanara builds on its impressive momentum across Asia Pacific.”

Management and ownership structure

As a result of the spin off, BrightNight and Yanara will have separate management teams, ownership structures and investor bases. BrightNight will continue to be led by CEO and Chairman Martin Hermann and supported by investors including Infrastructure at Goldman Sachs Alternatives and Martin Hermann himself.

Yanara will continue to be led by Jerome Ortiz, formerly CEO of BrightNight APAC, and will continue to be majority-owned by Martin Hermann, along with its strategic partnership with ACEN in India and the Philippines. Martin will continue in his role as Chairman of Yanara.

ABOUT BRIGHTNIGHT

BrightNight is a next-generation power and digital infrastructure company, purpose-built to serve the evolving needs of utilities, data centers, and commercial and industrial (C&I) customers.

BrightNight designs, develops, and operates large-scale energy and infrastructure sites that integrate utility-scale renewables, advanced gas generation, battery energy storage, and power-optimized hubs for digital infrastructure. BrightNight’s industry-leading 35 GW portfolio of best-in-class power projects is concentrated in the fastest-growing energy markets and data center hubs across the U.S.

BrightNight’s customer focus and proprietary AI platform – PowerAlpha^® – enable it to deliver industry-leading economics, performance, and uptime.

To learn more, visit www.brightnightpower.com

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SOURCE BrightNight

General Matter Signs Lease to Revive Dormant Paducah Enrichment Site

PADUCAH, Ky., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — General Matter is bringing uranium enrichment back to the United States, starting at the site where the U.S. enrichment industry was born.

General Matter, the American uranium enrichment company, proposed a plan in coordination with the Department of Energy, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the local Paducah community to build a commercial uranium enrichment facility at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky.

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant was the first location where the U.S. industrialized enrichment technology, enabling the eventual widespread adoption of commercial nuclear power.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant step in the Department’s fulfillment of Secretary Wright’s vision of ensuring reliable, affordable, and secure energy for all Americans,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly.

This proposed enrichment facility will produce the fuel needed for the next generation of nuclear energy, central to America’s aspirations in AI, manufacturing, and other critical industries. The plant will also offset a large percentage of foreign imports from adversarial countries, saving the U.S. approximately $500M per year. In addition, it will bring significant economic benefits to the Paducah community, employing 140 people in well-paid, locally sourced jobs. The plant will be the anchor for over $1B in potential investment in the local area, and will catalyze the growth of the nuclear and manufacturing industries in Paducah and broader Western Kentucky.

“I want to congratulate the team at General Matter on this major step toward what would be the largest economic investment ever for Western Kentucky,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “This lease reflects Kentucky’s leadership in nuclear energy and our strong partnerships at the federal and local levels, as well as in the private sector. I am looking forward to being back in Paducah soon to celebrate the next key milestone for this exciting and historic project.”

“Sooner or later, I think America will understand that domestic use of nuclear energy is the way forward,” shared U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell during his remarks at the announcement ceremony. “All of you here deserve a round of applause for creating the kind of environment that would attract the plants of the future. I’m looking forward to witnessing what happens. Like I said, this is a big deal.”

“This is great news for Paducah, McCracken County, and the entire western Kentucky region,” added U.S. Senator Rand Paul. “I look forward to continuing to support the community as this project moves forward and to seeing new job opportunities and investment take root on this site and throughout the Commonwealth.”

“What a great day for West Kentucky, and what a great day for America,” said U.S. Congressman James Comer during his remarks at the announcement ceremony. “I’ve been in Congress almost nine years. This is the first time in my nine years that I’ve been at an event where both U.S. Senators, the U.S. Representative, and the Governor are all in attendance to celebrate the same thing.” Congressman Comer continued: “You can’t have economic development without energy, and that’s what we’re here to see today.”

“Seventy-five years ago, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission selected Paducah to help lead the nation’s original enrichment efforts,” said General Matter CEO Scott Nolan. “We are proud to return to and reactivate this historic site to power a new era of American energy independence, and we thank our partners in Kentucky and at the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Nuclear Energy for supporting us in this landmark investment in American nuclear infrastructure.”

General Matter is the first privately-funded American company to develop uranium enrichment technology. The company was selected by the DOE as an awardee in both its LEU and HALEU enrichment acquisition programs, and it plans to be enriching uranium at the Paducah site by the end of the decade.

Enrichment is a safe, proven process that involves only separation processes, and zero nuclear or chemical reactions. Strict safety and environmental standards would be followed during development and operation, under oversight from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the licensing process.

About General Matter: General Matter is enriching uranium in America to reshore domestic nuclear fuel capacity and power the American energy production needed to lead in AI, manufacturing, and other critical industries. General Matter is backed by Founders Fund, the first institutional investor in SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril. The company brings together a team of American experts and engineers, recruited from across the U.S. with deep backgrounds in nuclear, tech, and government. General Matter focuses on speed, accountability, and transparency to deliver real progress in clean energy and national security. Their work is designed to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign fuel and power America’s future.

For more information on General Matter, visit generalmatter.com.

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SOURCE General Matter

Not Your Tragedy, Not Your Inspiration 

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment (GADIM) is proud to launch its newest project, PropsNoMore.org. Focusing on authentic disability representation, media skills training, and accessible education, Props No More aims to create a world in which disabled people are not just represented in the media, but are the media creators.

For far too long, people with disabilities have been used as props in storytelling. Disabled characters often exist solely to support the emotional journey, moral growth, or redemption arc of nondisabled characters—rather than being portrayed as full, complex individuals with agency and purpose of their own. These portrayals shape public attitudes, fuel stigma, and erase real disabled voices from the screen.

Props No More seeks to end this pattern by promoting authentic disability representation, offering media skills training, and advancing accessibility in all forms of media. With a global audience of media makers, journalists, and advocates- the website offers a downloadable toolkit of recommendations for representing disability on screen, disability language style guide, and upcoming educational videos on how to create media that is accessible for everyone. Further, a feature length documentary on disabled media makers is in post-production and is expected to be released in 2026.

“The misrepresentation of disabled people in media has dire consequences,” said Beth Haller, Co-Director of GADIM, who leads the Props No More project. “Because audiences are flooded with these negative characterizations and believe them. Even more significant is that these inaccurate portrayals can have a devastating impact on disabled people’s self-identity, if they wrongly believe that they are inferior to nondisabled people.”

To learn more, visit our website at PropsNoMore.org or follow us on social media @PropsNoMore.

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SOURCE Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment

• Decentralised EV charging startup empowers local hosts and fleets to monetize unused spaces with smart chargers, starting with high-traffic commercial locations in the DMV area.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DeCharge, a decentralised EV charging infrastructure network, today announced its official U.S. launch, bringing its community-powered charging model to American drivers and businesses. DeCharge enables anyone, from small business owners to parking lot operators, to host EV chargers and earn revenue, helping solve the critical shortage of public charging infrastructure.

DeCharge brings global innovation to local communities through its decentralised, AI-powered energy model. The company recently raised $2.5M in seed funding to build an autonomous EV charging network. Its U.S. rollout begins with pilot deployments in the DMV area, New York, and California. Over the next 12 months, DeCharge aims to onboard 1,000+ hosts across 10 states and launch pre-orders for its next-gen, community-owned fast chargers.

Mohan Kuldeep Ponnada, Founder & CEO of DeCharge said, “EV adoption is skyrocketing across the US, but infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. Our vision is to decentralize energy access and create an open network where anyone can earn by powering the future of mobility. The U.S. launch marks our commitment to accelerating EV infrastructure growth through community and commercial partnerships in high-demand regions like the DMV area and high-usage areas in California.”

DeCharge transforms everyday spaces like small business lots and fleet depots into clean energy hubs. Its host‑powered model offers transparent pricing, real-time payments, and zero-capex rollouts, ideal for commercial fleets and last-mile operators. With flexible revenue sharing, hosts maintain control and enjoy long-term earnings. Blockchain integration ensures secure, instant transactions. DeCharge’s flagship Beast 7.4kW chargers are easy to deploy, allowing hosts to set pricing. EV drivers can locate and use chargers via the upcoming DeCharge app and web portal.

About DeCharge

DeCharge is a decentralized EV charging network built to empower communities and businesses to monetize their space by hosting EV chargers. Through smart hardware, IoT-based energy payments, and tokenized incentives, DeCharge is building the future of distributed energy and mobility infrastructure.

For more information, contact ashish@decharge.network and visit www.decharge.us or follow us on Twitter/X (@DeCharge__).

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2744467/DeCharge_EV_Charging.jpg

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SOURCE DeCharge

MONTICELLO, Miss., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Atlas-SSI, Inc. (“Atlas-SSI” or the “Company”), North America’s premier provider of water management solutions, announced today the strategic acquisition of WTR^® Engineering (“WTR”), a trusted leader with over 100 years of expertise in mechanical water filtration. This acquisition enhances Atlas-SSI’s ability to provide comprehensive and robust water management solutions across diverse industries, including municipal, industrial, utility, and commercial sectors.

WTR Engineering is widely recognized for its expertise in identifying and solving complex water filtration issues, such as raw water intakes for industrial plants, condenser protection for power plants, and headworks challenges in sewage treatment facilities. The company’s experienced team specializes in providing economical, reliable, and customized equipment solutions, from initial greenfield project concepts to upgrades and turnkey installations.

“This acquisition is another milestone in our growth strategy, strengthening our position as the leading end-to-end water management solutions provider in North America,” said Paul Lewis, CEO of Atlas-SSI. “Integrating WTR’s century-long expertise and innovative solutions with our existing portfolio expands our capabilities and allows us to better serve our customers’ evolving needs.”

Atlas-SSI will leverage WTR’s deep technical knowledge and proven track record to enhance its product offerings, including the Talon Rake^®, traveling water screens, fish-friendly screens, debris handling equipment, wastewater headworks, and stormwater management systems. Additionally, this acquisition provides Atlas-SSI with enhanced capabilities, further solidifying its role as an industry leader in sustainable water management.

“Joining Atlas-SSI represents an exciting opportunity for WTR to reach new markets and customers,” said Ryan Holbrook from WTR Engineering. “Together, we will continue to deliver innovative and reliable solutions, ensuring optimal performance and environmental sustainability for our customers.”

Atlas-SSI remains committed to delivering advanced water management solutions that protect mission-critical assets, preserve water ecosystems, and promote sustainability by reducing environmental impact through innovative technologies and practices.

About Atlas-SSI
Atlas-SSI is North America’s leading full-service provider of water management solutions, protecting mission-critical assets and water ecosystems through its comprehensive portfolio of screens, gates, barriers, wastewater treatment equipment, and related services. Atlas-SSI’s certified field service and dive teams deliver nationwide capabilities for turnkey installations, inspections, maintenance, and service support.

For more information, visit atlas-ssi.com.

Media Contacts

Henry Watson
Atlas-SSI, Inc.
info@atlas-ssi.com

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SOURCE Atlas-SSI, Inc