Month: February 2026

Originally published on PSEG NewsRoom

NEWARK, N.J., February 9, 2026 /3BL/ – PSE&G’s latest Clean Energy Future-Energy Efficiency (CEF-EE) report demonstrates continued savings for customers across New Jersey. From program implementation beginning in October 2020 through September 2025, nearly 480,000 customers participated in PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs. Collectively, that participation is delivering more than $900 million in annual customer savingsⁱ.

These savings reflect a broad range of energy efficiency offerings designed to help customers use less energy and better manage utility costs. Offerings include energy assessments, appliance and HVAC rebates, lighting solutions, equipment upgrades and energy efficiency products available through the PSE&G Marketplace, giving customers multiple ways to take action based on their needs and preferences.

Additional program highlights include:

• More than 105,000 home energy assessments completed
• Nearly 350,000 smart thermostats sold via PSE&G Marketplace
• Approximately 150,000 rebates claimed for upgrades to energy-efficient appliances
• Approximately $940 million in rebatesⁱⁱ delivered to help offset the cost of energy-saving upgrades and products
• More than 30,000 appliances recycled through the PSE&G recycling program

Business Customers Benefit
Energy efficiency plays an important role for PSE&G’s business customers across New Jersey, serving organizations of all sizes. We offer a range of solutions that support businesses in improving operational efficiency and managing energy use and utility costs. These programs also provide incentives that help offset the cost of energy efficiency upgrades and give businesses greater flexibility to reinvest resources into other operational priorities.

Approximately 20,000 businesses have implemented more than 32,000 projects to help improve energy efficiency and manage energy use as part of our energy efficiency programs. Among those small businesses, approximately 2,000 have participated through our Direct Install Programⁱⁱⁱ, resulting in nearly $25 million in annual utility bill savings^iv to those customers.

One example is St. Joseph’s Health, which is undertaking energy efficiency projects at its facilities in Paterson and Wayne, New Jersey. Supported by PSE&G incentives, these projects are expected to help reduce energy use and manage operating costs over time. “Every dollar we’re not spending on energy is a dollar we can put back into patient care,” said Scott Reilly, director of maintenance and engineering at St. Joseph’s Health.

Program Impact and Affordability
Across both residential and business customers, participation in PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs has also contributed to energy and environmental outcomes. To date, customers have achieved approximately 3.1 million megawatt hours of electric savings annually, enough to power about 453,000 homes^v each year. Natural gas savings are approximately 80 million therms per year. Combined, these efforts are helping to avoid approximately 2.3 million tons of carbon emissions avoided annually, equivalent to removing more than 500,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road for one year^vi.

As affordable energy remains a concern, growing regional demand for electricity will continue to put pressure on the energy system. PSE&G stands ready to work with the state on near- and long-term solutions, including energy efficiency, as well as additional power generation and transmission and distribution solutions to support reliability and help maintain stable energy costs.

“Energy efficiency is one of the tools we use to help customers reduce energy use and manage their utility costs,” said Lauren Thomas, vice president of Clean Energy Solutions – Customer Solutions at PSE&G. “Maintaining affordability and enhancing the customer experience remain central to this work. The investments we make through these programs largely flow back into New Jersey, supporting local businesses, contractors and trade allies while delivering value for customers.”

In addition to customer and business impacts, energy efficiency investments also support workforce development across New Jersey. Through PSE&G’s sponsored Clean Energy Jobs Program these efforts have helped place more than 7,300 individuals into clean energy careers^vii, supporting the skilled workforce needed to deliver energy efficiency projects and serve customers across the state.

PSE&G aims to be a trusted energy advisor, providing customers with resources and tools to help better manage utility costs and make more informed decisions about energy use. For more information on PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs, visit homeenergy.pseg.com for residential customers or bizenergy.pseg.com for business customers.

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PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation’s largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne® Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 24 consecutive years. In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction for residential electric service in the East among large utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 17 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).

Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding anticipated or expected energy savings, cost saving and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance. There can be no assurance that such energy and costs savings and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance will be realized in the amounts described and / or in the timeframes anticipated. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management but are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include, without limitation: the ability to implement our energy efficiency business strategy, and customer adoption of our energy efficiency offerings. All forward-looking statements made in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

ⁱ Retail bill savings are based on rate class averages for residential and small commercial customers.

ⁱⁱ The figure reflects one-time rebates provided to help offset the upfront costs of energy-saving upgrades and products for residential and business customers. The rebate amount is not included in the annual customer savings.

ⁱⁱⁱ The PSE&G Small Business Direct Install Program is designed to deliver comprehensive, cost-effective, energy efficiency equipment for eligible PSE&G business customers, with 12-month individual facility electricity average peak demand usage of less than 300 kW peak demand or less than 40,000 therms.

^iv Retail bill savings are based on rate class averages for small commercial customers.

^v Based on the median annual consumption of PSE&G’s residential customers.

^vi Vehicle equivalency is based on EPA conversion factors.

^vii The Clean Energy Jobs Program placement numbers are reported through December 2025 to reflect the most current available data.

CONTACT:

Media Relations
Anide Eustache
862-370-5500
anide.eustache@pseg.com

Mile High United Way and KeyBank are teaming up once again to help Coloradans file their taxes at no cost during the annual Super Refund Saturday event, scheduled for February 21 at the Tigria Community Center in Aurora, Colorado.

The event, running from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., brings together KeyBank employees and volunteers from Mile High United Way’s Tax Help Colorado program to assist low- to moderate‑income individuals and families. The goal is to ensure eligible taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal benefit that can significantly boost refunds for qualifying workers.

Appointments for the free tax‑preparation services can be booked through Tax Help Colorado’s website. Participants do not need to be KeyBank customers to receive assistance.

Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero said the partnership continues to play a critical role for families who rely on their tax refund as a major source of annual income. “For many of these families, their refund check is the biggest check they receive all year,” Benero said. She emphasized that the collaboration helps ensure residents get the refunds they are owed.

KeyBank Colorado Market President Chris Picardi called Super Refund Saturday a cornerstone of the bank’s community commitment. “We are once again excited to work with Mile High United Way to support our neighbors with free tax preparation services,” he said.

The EITC provides financial relief to working individuals and families meeting certain income and filing requirements. To receive the credit, eligible taxpayers must file a return—even if they are not required to do so otherwise. Income thresholds vary depending on filing status and number of children.

Organizers encourage attendees to bring required documents, including a state‑issued photo ID, Social Security cards or ITIN letters, W‑2 and 1099 forms, unemployment statements if applicable, childcare payment documentation, and bank account information for direct deposit. Those filing jointly should bring documentation for both spouses.

Super Refund Saturday aims to make the tax‑filing process accessible and less confusing while helping Coloradans retain refunds that often make a substantial difference in their household budgets.

Originally published by Mastercard

The power of data

In today’s digitized world, data is everywhere – it provides insights into behavior and actions, informs decision-making, and drives innovation. When handled in a responsible, trusted manner, data can unlock improved experiences for both consumers and small businesses. One way this is achieved is through open finance, which enables the secure, consented sharing of financial data.

With its use of alternative data to build a more holistic picture of an individual’s or small business’s financial health, open finance helps drive inclusion for those that historically may have lacked access to diverse financial services.

At the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, our Mastercard Strive USA program is helping a growing number of small businesses get capital, go digital, and grow know-how and networks. Since 2022, the program has:

• Delivered business support services to more than 1.97 million small businesses^[1]
• Enabled the deployment of $47+ billion in loans via more than 700 community institutions^[2]

Small businesses continue to be the backbone of our economy employing nearly half of the American workforce, 70% of new jobs created since 2019^[3], and representing 43.5% of America’s GDP^[4]. The need to efficiently reach and support small businesses is greater than ever, especially as many continue to face challenges in accessing capital and achieving growth. A recent study by Goldman Sachs states that more than 75% of surveyed small businesses are worried about access to credit^[5].

One powerful avenue to bridge this gap is through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). With over 1,400 CDFIs across the US^[6] including community development banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital funds - CDFIs specialize in serving underserved communities by providing access to credit and business coaching – from financial health to support like marketing and accounting.

In recent years, the critical role of CDFIs has come to the forefront. From helping small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate-related disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, CDFIs have acted as first responders for acute economic crises. In fact, CDFIs deployed billions in federal relief to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). One analysis found that more than 25%^[7] of loans made by CDFIs went to businesses in high poverty areas, more than double the share of loans made by the nation’s top 50 banks^[8].

While capital is critical fuel to help small businesses grow, so too is long term relationship building – maintaining and deepening that relationship over time delivers benefits to both the CDFI and the entrepreneur. To increase stickiness, CDFIs can leverage open finance to help small businesses with the personalized insights they seek to continue to operate and scale. Our research shows that 85% of entrepreneurs are looking for customized financial recommendations^[9] derived from their business data which CDFIs, with their proximity and trusted relationships, can deliver effectively.

CDFIs support small businesses in meaningful ways that drive growth, but the institutions themselves face significant challenges including staffing, high acquisition costs, thin operating margins, and high customer turnover. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s 2023 CDFI Survey, three out of four CDFIs^[10] saw an increase in demand for products and services over the past year, and a similar percentage expects demand to continue increasing. The data shows that it is essential for CDFIs to embrace digital solutions that provide real-time insights and streamline service delivery – helping them meet the growing demand from entrepreneurs in a cost-effective and scalable way.

Unlocking insights to drive inclusion

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) is a CDFI headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and has been a community lender for more than 35 years. It has grown from a local lender to a national support organization for hundreds of CDFIs across the country by building and delivering digital platforms that enable liquidity through participation programs, direct lending, and technology services to the community development finance industry. Specifically in recent years, it has received generous support from Mastercard Strive USA, among other funders, to build and enhance digital technology solutions that help CDFIs across the U.S. reach and better serve the small businesses in their communities.

To help address the technical, staffing, and financial constraints CDFIs face, CRF Insights was launched as an interactive dashboard for CDFIs to view real-time data and insights about their small business customers. These insights can help business coaches and lenders develop tailored advisory services to position their customers for success with the potential to improve reporting outcomes and enhance portfolio management processes. CRF Insights leverages Mastercard’s Open Finance, powered by Finicity, a Mastercard company, which provides secure, consented data to provide a more complete view of a small business’ financial health.

When a business uses Mastercard’s open finance integration with CRF Insights, it can retrieve up to two years of transaction data in a matter of seconds. This near real-time process replaces the painstaking manual collection of statements and data input with a safe, streamlined technology service. CDFIs, business support organizations, and small businesses all benefit from the streamlined process and additional insights that come from the open finance integration of CRF Insights.

Enabling the consented data via open finance (where users consent to which accounts to link and which data to share) helps enrich CRF Insights – fueling a structured and normalized view that offers CDFIs a more comprehensive view of the success of the small businesses they support. According to Accompany Capital, a NYC-based CDFI that has been using CRF Insights to support their lending and portfolio management efforts since the pilot launch in Spring of 2024, “Insights’ open-finance capabilities can provide a streamlined approach to accessing borrowers’ complete financial picture from a shared point of view, enabling the organization to structure better outcomes for the clients they serve and avoid collections whenever possible. This data-driven approach empowers the team to proactively restructure loans, when necessary, support borrower re-engagement, and align internal teams around a shared understanding of the client’s financial position.”

This is just one example of how open finance can be a game-changer for financial inclusion, allowing small businesses to unleash the power of their data to access innovative and improved financial experiences.  

A partnership rooted in trust

Mastercard has long been committed to protecting financial data for consumers and small businesses guided by our data and tech responsibility principles, which encapsulate the foundational promises that we extend to our work with customers and partners. Trust and transparency are key to a digital economy that works for all. This is at the center of our global approach to open finance and will continue to be.

Our partnership with CRF, a Mastercard Strive USA partner, unlocks the possibility to offer more insights to CDFIs to better meet the needs of their customers across the US, helping small businesses thrive today, and in the future. To date, CRF has injected more than $3.6 billion^[11] to stimulate job creation and economic development across the U.S. and, alongside its CDFI partners, has deployed federal funding with our support in NY, NJ, IL, CA, NV and several other states. CRF’s programmatic approach is responsible for $1.2 billion of this deployment to more than 25,000 businesses since 2020^[12]. The organization plans to build upon these efforts and aims to launch several state/regional small business loan programs in the coming years. As our relationship evolves, we look forward to the continued partnership with CRF to deliver access to innovations, capital, and support to small businesses across the US that enables them to thrive.

Continue reading here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.
 

^{[1] DAI, Mastercard Strive USA: Small Business Reach & Capital Deployed, 2022-2024.
[2] DAI, Mastercard Strive USA: Small Business Reach & Capital Deployed, 2022-2024.
[3] Source: https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/small-business-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-post-covid-expansion
[4] Source: See the data behind America’s small businesses. | U.S. Chamber of Commerce
[5] Source: Small Businesses are Facing a Credit Crunch | Goldman Sachs
[6] Source: CDFI Fund- CDFI Fund Annual Report Fiscal Year 2024
[7] Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10028688/pdf/10.1177_08912424231163485.pdf
[8] Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10028688/pdf/10.1177_08912424231163485.pdf
[9] Source: Open Banking Solutions for Small Businesses
[10] Source: 2023 Federal Reserve CDFI Survey | Richmond Fed
[11] Source: CRF Data 2025
[12] Source: CRF Data 2025}

International Olympic Committee news

With seven days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Annalena Baerbock, issued a solemn appeal urging all Member States to uphold the Olympic Truce. This is a longstanding tradition ensuring safe passage for athletes and officials attending the Olympic Games. President Baerbock welcomed the leadership of Olympic athletes in promoting peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal.

Key facts

• 30 January marks the first day of the Olympic Truce period for Milano Cortina 2026.
• UNGA President Annalena Baerbock issued a solemn appeal calling on all UN Member States to support and uphold the Truce.
• President Baerbock recalled that the Olympic Games bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events as a means to promote peace and mutual understanding.

The appeal emphasises that: “The Olympic Truce proves that, even in times of division, humanity can still find common ground through sport, and that through friendly competition we can rise above our divisions and reaffirm our common humanity.”

The appeal recalls the unique role of the Olympic Games in bridging divides: “The Games will bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding, the rule of law and goodwill among nations and peoples — goals that are also part of the founding values of the United Nations.”

“I solemnly appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Truce,” President Baerbock said.

Read the complete text of the solemn appeal here

The Olympic Truce

The tradition of the “Olympic Truce”, or “Ekecheiria”, was established in Ancient Greece to allow safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to revive the concept of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic Games, with a view to protecting, as far as possible, the interests of the athletes and sport in general, and to harness the power of sport to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation more broadly.

Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly expressed its support for the Olympic Truce ideal and for the IOC’s mission by adopting, every two years – one year before each edition of the Olympic Games – a resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”.

The Olympic Truce Resolution for Milano Cortina 2026 was adopted on 19 November 2025 by the 80^th Session of the UNGA in New York. The resolution calls on Member States to observe the Olympic Truce from seven days before the start of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games (6 to 22 February 2026) until seven days after the end of the Paralympic Winter Games (6 to 15 March 2026), ensuring safe passage and participation for athletes and officials.

February 9, 2026 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, is proud to announce that Reuben Trane will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) as a member of the 2026 class. This distinguished honor recognizes Trane’s legacy as a pioneering engineer whose vision and technological breakthroughs in heating, air conditioning and climate control transformed modern living, working and built environments.

Reuben Trane co-founded The Trane Company in 1913 with his father, James, and sister, Stella in La Crosse, Wisconsin. A mechanical engineer and prolific inventor, he is widely credited with advancing the HVAC industry through innovations such as the 1926 convector radiator, the coil which revolutionized building heating.

Under his leadership, The Trane Company grew from a small family business into a global leader in sustainable climate solutions. His commitment to ingenuity, engineering excellence, and high‑quality design continues today and shapes the culture and mission of Trane Technologies.

“Reuben Trane was ahead of his time—a visionary whose innovations have improved the comfort, health, and productivity of millions,” said Mauro Atalla, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies. “His induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame honors his pioneering contributions, which continue to influence who we are as a company. We proudly build on his legacy every day as we create bold solutions for a sustainable future.”

Reuben Trane will be formally inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame on May 7, 2026. His great‑great‑grandson, Reuben Trane IV, a current Trane Technologies HVAC Systems Development Engineer, will accept the honor on his behalf.

This recognition places Trane among an esteemed group of inventors whose contributions have advanced industries, strengthened global infrastructure, and significantly enhanced quality of life worldwide. Among this distinguished group is Frederick McKinley Jones, who was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007. Jones invented the first portable air‑cooling unit for trucks in 1938 and co‑founded Thermo King two years later. Now part of Trane Technologies, Thermo King is the global leader in sustainable transport climate‑control solutions.

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About Trane Technologies
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit www.tranetechnologies.com.

About the National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is the premier nonprofit organization in America dedicated to recognizing inventors and invention, promoting creativity, and advancing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. Founded in 1973 in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Hall of Fame is committed to not only honoring the individuals whose inventions have made the world a better place, but to ensuring American ingenuity continues to thrive in the hands of coming generations through its national, hands-on educational programming and collegiate competitions focused on the exploration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For more information, visit invent.org. To nominate an inventor for Induction, visit invent.org/nominate.