Originally published by QSR Magazine
Taco Bell is announcing the expansion of their popular recycling program with TerraCycle to also collect and recycle any brand of sauce dipping cups, souffle cups/lids & coffee creamer pods. To make it official, the program has been renamed the Taco Bell Sauce Container US Recycling Program.
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Originally published on Nielsen News Center
In 2015, none of the 20 acting nominations at the Academy Awards went to diverse talent for the first time since 1998. One year later, the same thing happened, marking the first time since the six successive years between 1975 and 1981 that no person of color received a nomination in one of the Academy’s acting categories for two consecutive years. Since those two blank years, the number of diverse nominees has nearly tripled in the acting categories compared to the eight years before 2017 according to new research on diversity at the Oscars by Nielsen’s Gracenote.
The Inclusion Analytics and Studio System teams at Gracenote compared the Oscar nominations in the eight years from 2017 to 2024 with those from 2009 to 2016. In addition, the team looked at the full history of Academy Award wins and nominations for diverse talent.
There have been nearly three times as many acting nominations for diverse actors in the last eight years of the Oscars than there were for the eight years before 2017.
From 2017 to 2024, 44 acting nominations have been diverse with 11 of those nominees going on to win. One or two more Oscar wins for diverse actors can be expected at this year’s show.
In the eight years before 2017, 14 diverse actors received 15 Oscar nominations in the acting categories. Viola Davis was nominated twice. Only Octavia Spencer (The Help) and Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave) were diverse winners during this period.
There were less than half the number of diverse Oscar nominees from 2009 to 2016 than in the previous eight years, from 2001 to 2008, when 26 different diverse actors received 32 nominations and won eight Oscars.
This year, three of the five best supporting actress nominees are diverse women – America Ferrera (Barbie), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers).
This is the seventh time in Oscars history that three nominees in an acting category have been diverse after 2004 (best supporting actor), 2007 (best supporting actress), 2017 (best supporting actress), 2021 (best actor AND best supporting actor) and 2023 (best supporting actress).
With Da’Vine Joy Randolph looking likely to win best supporting actress at this year’s Academy awards after her successes at other awards shows, 2024 should be the fourth successive year with a diverse winner of an acting Oscar. This will extend an unprecedented streak of success for diverse actors at the Oscars.
Success for Randolph would also mean acting wins for diverse talent at six of the last eight years of the Oscars. This would also be unprecedented.
This year seven diverse actors have been nominated for Oscars. This is the fifth year with at least seven diverse nominees in the acting categories, with only one of those years (2007) occurring before the last eight years.
This year marks the third year in the last four with at least seven diverse acting nominees. The record is nine in 2021.
The increase in diverse acting nominees appears to have increased the interest in the Oscars show amongst diverse audiences.
Nielsen audience measurement data shows that more than 30% of viewers of the Oscars have been non-white for four of the last five shows. From 2013 to 2015, 25.5% to 26% of viewers were diverse.
Last year, when Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress and Ke Huy Quan won best supporting actor, over 8% of the audience were Asian, the highest percentage in the last 11 years.
One year earlier, when Will Smith and Denzel Washington were both nominated for best actor (and Smith won), 14.2% of the audience was Black compared to 8.5% to 9% from 2013 to 2016.
In 2019, 12.7% of the audience was Hispanic, the highest proportion of viewers from this group between 2013 and 2023. That year, Mexican/U.S. co-production Roma was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including best picture, best actress and best supporting actress, sharing the accolade of most nominated film with The Favourite.
The total audience increased by 11% between 2018 and 2019 but the Hispanic audience grew by 29%.
The 2020 awards show saw the lowest audience share of diverse audiences (including Hispanic/LatinX, Black, Asian or other ethnic/racial groups) of 28.3% since 2015. That year, only one diverse actor was nominated.
The highest interest was for the 2022 awards show when 33.6% of the audience was diverse according to Nielsen data.
Although the proportion of the audience represented by Black, Hispanic/LatinX, Asian and Pacific Islander viewers declined last year, the number of people from these groups watching has grown in the last two years, from 3.03 million to 5.6 million, an increase of 85%.
The number of Hispanic viewers has grown more than any other market segment since 2021, increasing by 95%.
About Gracenote
Gracenote is the content solutions business unit of Nielsen providing entertainment metadata, content IDs and related offerings to the world’s leading creators, distributors and platforms. Gracenote technology enables advanced content navigation and discovery capabilities ensuring consumers can easily connect to the music, TV shows, movies and sports they love while delivering powerful content analytics making complex business decisions simpler.
About Nielsen
Nielsen shapes the world’s media and content as a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their audiences—now and into the future. Nielsen operates around the world in more than 55 countries. Learn more at www.nielsen.com and connect with us on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram).
Media Contact
Patricia Ratulangi
patricia.ratulangi@nielsen.com
Originally published on Nielsen News Center
In 2015, none of the 20 acting nominations at the Academy Awards went to diverse talent for the first time since 1998. One year later, the same thing happened, marking the first time since the six successive years between 1975 and 1981 that no person of color received a nomination in one of the Academy’s acting categories for two consecutive years. Since those two blank years, the number of diverse nominees has nearly tripled in the acting categories compared to the eight years before 2017 according to new research on diversity at the Oscars by Nielsen’s Gracenote.
The Inclusion Analytics and Studio System teams at Gracenote compared the Oscar nominations in the eight years from 2017 to 2024 with those from 2009 to 2016. In addition, the team looked at the full history of Academy Award wins and nominations for diverse talent.
There have been nearly three times as many acting nominations for diverse actors in the last eight years of the Oscars than there were for the eight years before 2017.
From 2017 to 2024, 44 acting nominations have been diverse with 11 of those nominees going on to win. One or two more Oscar wins for diverse actors can be expected at this year’s show.
In the eight years before 2017, 14 diverse actors received 15 Oscar nominations in the acting categories. Viola Davis was nominated twice. Only Octavia Spencer (The Help) and Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave) were diverse winners during this period.
There were less than half the number of diverse Oscar nominees from 2009 to 2016 than in the previous eight years, from 2001 to 2008, when 26 different diverse actors received 32 nominations and won eight Oscars.
This year, three of the five best supporting actress nominees are diverse women – America Ferrera (Barbie), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers).
This is the seventh time in Oscars history that three nominees in an acting category have been diverse after 2004 (best supporting actor), 2007 (best supporting actress), 2017 (best supporting actress), 2021 (best actor AND best supporting actor) and 2023 (best supporting actress).
With Da’Vine Joy Randolph looking likely to win best supporting actress at this year’s Academy awards after her successes at other awards shows, 2024 should be the fourth successive year with a diverse winner of an acting Oscar. This will extend an unprecedented streak of success for diverse actors at the Oscars.
Success for Randolph would also mean acting wins for diverse talent at six of the last eight years of the Oscars. This would also be unprecedented.
This year seven diverse actors have been nominated for Oscars. This is the fifth year with at least seven diverse nominees in the acting categories, with only one of those years (2007) occurring before the last eight years.
This year marks the third year in the last four with at least seven diverse acting nominees. The record is nine in 2021.
The increase in diverse acting nominees appears to have increased the interest in the Oscars show amongst diverse audiences.
Nielsen audience measurement data shows that more than 30% of viewers of the Oscars have been non-white for four of the last five shows. From 2013 to 2015, 25.5% to 26% of viewers were diverse.
Last year, when Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress and Ke Huy Quan won best supporting actor, over 8% of the audience were Asian, the highest percentage in the last 11 years.
One year earlier, when Will Smith and Denzel Washington were both nominated for best actor (and Smith won), 14.2% of the audience was Black compared to 8.5% to 9% from 2013 to 2016.
In 2019, 12.7% of the audience was Hispanic, the highest proportion of viewers from this group between 2013 and 2023. That year, Mexican/U.S. co-production Roma was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including best picture, best actress and best supporting actress, sharing the accolade of most nominated film with The Favourite.
The total audience increased by 11% between 2018 and 2019 but the Hispanic audience grew by 29%.
The 2020 awards show saw the lowest audience share of diverse audiences (including Hispanic/LatinX, Black, Asian or other ethnic/racial groups) of 28.3% since 2015. That year, only one diverse actor was nominated.
The highest interest was for the 2022 awards show when 33.6% of the audience was diverse according to Nielsen data.
Although the proportion of the audience represented by Black, Hispanic/LatinX, Asian and Pacific Islander viewers declined last year, the number of people from these groups watching has grown in the last two years, from 3.03 million to 5.6 million, an increase of 85%.
The number of Hispanic viewers has grown more than any other market segment since 2021, increasing by 95%.
About Gracenote
Gracenote is the content solutions business unit of Nielsen providing entertainment metadata, content IDs and related offerings to the world’s leading creators, distributors and platforms. Gracenote technology enables advanced content navigation and discovery capabilities ensuring consumers can easily connect to the music, TV shows, movies and sports they love while delivering powerful content analytics making complex business decisions simpler.
About Nielsen
Nielsen shapes the world’s media and content as a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their audiences—now and into the future. Nielsen operates around the world in more than 55 countries. Learn more at www.nielsen.com and connect with us on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram).
Media Contact
Patricia Ratulangi
patricia.ratulangi@nielsen.com
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 25, 2024 /3BL/ – Qualcomm Incorporated announced the shortlisted startups for Qualcomm Make in Africa 2024, as well as the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. The Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, now in its second year, aims to work with and support the development of Africa’s emerging technology ecosystem by providing mentorship, education, and training programs with a focus on 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT. This year, Qualcomm received an overwhelming response, with approximately 250 applications from 30 countries.
Highlights:
Startup cohort announced for 2024 Qualcomm Make In Africa startup incubation program featuring technologiesAnnouncement of the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, supporting startups in scaling their societal and market impact. Development of L2Pro Africa website content nears completion, providing free online training on intellectual property protection.
As the first initiative of its kind in Africa, Qualcomm Make In Africa is an equity-free mentorship program that identifies promising early-stage startups keen on applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware. These startups have demonstrated exceptional potential in applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions. The selected startups will receive free mentorship, business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting intellectual property. The 2024 cohort includes the following startups (listed in alphabetical order):
Aurora Health from Kenya provides AI-based cardiovascular health care toolsCropScan from Kenya uses solar-powered smart farming IoT devicesCure Bionics from Tunisia makes smart 3D printed prosthetic arms DevisionX from Egypt provides AI-based low-code computer vision tools Kalio from Cameroon is building AI tools for Agricultural IoT Kitovu from Nigeria provides tools and software for smart agricultural warehouse management NextAI Studios from Kenya builds AI-based emotion detection into toys for children’s mental healthcare RIM Nextgen from Kenya, uses smart tools for monitoring propane consumption Sparcx from South Africa uses AI for enhancing radar signal processing Vizmerald from Tunisia, is working on AI-based textile industry inspection
Qualcomm is also proud to announce the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. This fund, provided by Qualcomm through its Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ Initiative, aims to support startups in scaling their societal and market impact. Ecorich Solutions Limited, a female-founded organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, will be awarded funding to help scale the impact of their smart organic food composter. Wireless Reach funding will support Ecorich to address the dual challenge of organic waste management and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, with the goal of reducing environmental pollution, improving crop yields for farmers, and mitigating waste-related health risks for communities. The other nine startups from the 2023 cohort will also receive valuable stipends to continue fueling their growth. These startups have showcased innovative uses of wireless technology to address pressing needs in their communities.
In addition, Qualcomm is excited to highlight the progress of the L2Pro Africa IP e-learning Platform, a free online training program designed to empower startups, SMEs, and researchers in Africa to protect, secure, and maximize their innovations. This program has been created in collaboration with Adams and Adams, Africa’s leading intellectual property (IP) law firm. The education content has been updated with individual filing procedures for patents, industrial designs, and trademarks in the countries of Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda and within the two African patent organizations, ARIPO and OAPI. These step-by-step descriptions of per-country filing requirements empower inventors to interact effectively with IP professionals such as an IP attorney and their respective IP offices.
”I am thrilled with the overwhelming response to the Africa Innovation Platform this year,” said Alex Rogers, President, QTL & Global Affairs, Qualcomm Incorporated. “The quality and diversity of the applications received reflect the immense talent and potential within Africa’s technology ecosystem. We are excited to work with the shortlisted startups and provide them with the necessary resources and support to drive innovation and create a positive impact in their communities.”
“We applaud Qualcomm for launching the second year of its Innovate in Africa Platform, which not only equips the upcoming generation of African entrepreneurs with expertise in pivotal areas like AI/ML, healthcare, agri-tech, smart cities, and communications but also empowers them to safeguard their intellectual property through the complimentary L2ProAfrica program.”, said John Omo, secretary general, African Telecommunications Union (ATU).
Mr. Omo also emphasized that the ATU remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. “Our youth innovation program, among other initiatives, plays a crucial role in cultivating the talents and aspirations of Africa’s young visionaries,” he affirmed. “We are ready to collaborate with additional partners to realize this objective.”
For more information about Qualcomm Make in Africa, please visit https://www.qualcomm.com/company/locations/africa/qualcomm-make-in-africa.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Our proven solutions drive transformation across major industries, and our Snapdragon® branded platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences. Building on our nearly 40-year leadership in setting industry standards and creating era-defining technology breakthroughs, we deliver leading edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.
Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm and Wireless Reach are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm and Snapdragon products mentioned within this press release are offered by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
Qualcomm and Snapdragon are registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 25, 2024 /3BL/ – Qualcomm Incorporated announced the shortlisted startups for Qualcomm Make in Africa 2024, as well as the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. The Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, now in its second year, aims to work with and support the development of Africa’s emerging technology ecosystem by providing mentorship, education, and training programs with a focus on 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT. This year, Qualcomm received an overwhelming response, with approximately 250 applications from 30 countries.
Highlights:
Startup cohort announced for 2024 Qualcomm Make In Africa startup incubation program featuring technologiesAnnouncement of the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, supporting startups in scaling their societal and market impact. Development of L2Pro Africa website content nears completion, providing free online training on intellectual property protection.
As the first initiative of its kind in Africa, Qualcomm Make In Africa is an equity-free mentorship program that identifies promising early-stage startups keen on applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware. These startups have demonstrated exceptional potential in applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions. The selected startups will receive free mentorship, business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting intellectual property. The 2024 cohort includes the following startups (listed in alphabetical order):
Aurora Health from Kenya provides AI-based cardiovascular health care toolsCropScan from Kenya uses solar-powered smart farming IoT devicesCure Bionics from Tunisia makes smart 3D printed prosthetic arms DevisionX from Egypt provides AI-based low-code computer vision tools Kalio from Cameroon is building AI tools for Agricultural IoT Kitovu from Nigeria provides tools and software for smart agricultural warehouse management NextAI Studios from Kenya builds AI-based emotion detection into toys for children’s mental healthcare RIM Nextgen from Kenya, uses smart tools for monitoring propane consumption Sparcx from South Africa uses AI for enhancing radar signal processing Vizmerald from Tunisia, is working on AI-based textile industry inspection
Qualcomm is also proud to announce the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. This fund, provided by Qualcomm through its Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ Initiative, aims to support startups in scaling their societal and market impact. Ecorich Solutions Limited, a female-founded organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, will be awarded funding to help scale the impact of their smart organic food composter. Wireless Reach funding will support Ecorich to address the dual challenge of organic waste management and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, with the goal of reducing environmental pollution, improving crop yields for farmers, and mitigating waste-related health risks for communities. The other nine startups from the 2023 cohort will also receive valuable stipends to continue fueling their growth. These startups have showcased innovative uses of wireless technology to address pressing needs in their communities.
In addition, Qualcomm is excited to highlight the progress of the L2Pro Africa IP e-learning Platform, a free online training program designed to empower startups, SMEs, and researchers in Africa to protect, secure, and maximize their innovations. This program has been created in collaboration with Adams and Adams, Africa’s leading intellectual property (IP) law firm. The education content has been updated with individual filing procedures for patents, industrial designs, and trademarks in the countries of Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda and within the two African patent organizations, ARIPO and OAPI. These step-by-step descriptions of per-country filing requirements empower inventors to interact effectively with IP professionals such as an IP attorney and their respective IP offices.
”I am thrilled with the overwhelming response to the Africa Innovation Platform this year,” said Alex Rogers, President, QTL & Global Affairs, Qualcomm Incorporated. “The quality and diversity of the applications received reflect the immense talent and potential within Africa’s technology ecosystem. We are excited to work with the shortlisted startups and provide them with the necessary resources and support to drive innovation and create a positive impact in their communities.”
“We applaud Qualcomm for launching the second year of its Innovate in Africa Platform, which not only equips the upcoming generation of African entrepreneurs with expertise in pivotal areas like AI/ML, healthcare, agri-tech, smart cities, and communications but also empowers them to safeguard their intellectual property through the complimentary L2ProAfrica program.”, said John Omo, secretary general, African Telecommunications Union (ATU).
Mr. Omo also emphasized that the ATU remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. “Our youth innovation program, among other initiatives, plays a crucial role in cultivating the talents and aspirations of Africa’s young visionaries,” he affirmed. “We are ready to collaborate with additional partners to realize this objective.”
For more information about Qualcomm Make in Africa, please visit https://www.qualcomm.com/company/locations/africa/qualcomm-make-in-africa.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Our proven solutions drive transformation across major industries, and our Snapdragon® branded platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences. Building on our nearly 40-year leadership in setting industry standards and creating era-defining technology breakthroughs, we deliver leading edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.
Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm and Wireless Reach are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm and Snapdragon products mentioned within this press release are offered by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
Qualcomm and Snapdragon are registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
April 25, 2024 /3BL/ – The Ray, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing net-zero transportation and energy infrastructure, has released its highly anticipated 2023 annual report—State of The Ray 2023. This comprehensive report highlights the organization’s remarkable achievements over the past year and its commitment to driving sustainable infrastructure across America.
With over 55 strategic partnerships, The Ray has solidified its position as a leader in nonprofit initiatives in the transportation sector. Collaborating closely with state Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies, the organization has successfully implemented turnkey installations, showcasing its efficiency in unlocking the future of sustainable infrastructure.
One of the most significant milestones for The Ray in 2023 was the implementation of a regional staff strategy. This strategic move was made possible by a generous grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, enabling The Ray to accelerate net-zero transportation and make renewable energy and electrification more accessible and affordable nationwide. The Ray’s national expansion reinforces its commitment to expediting project implementation—to change the facts on the ground—by drawing closer to a multi-state network of transportation partners and paving the way for regional collaboration.
In a testament to its impact, The Ray was named a capacity builder by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in 2023 for the Thriving Communities Program. Alongside partners Arcadis, InfraStrategies, and Beverly Scott Associates, The Ray was awarded $5.1 million to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building to 15 networked communities. These communities, located near key transportation hubs, will receive support in advancing transportation projects that align with community-driven economic development, health, environment, mobility, and access goals.
“Transportation is an engine of sustainable growth and prosperity in America, at the state and local level,” said Harriet Anderson Langford, Founder and President of The Ray. “At The Ray, we are expanding nationally to help our agency partners overcome barriers to move forward.”
The State of The Ray 2023 showcases the organization’s dedication to advancing net-zero transportation and energy infrastructure. With its strategic partnerships, innovative initiatives, and commitment to sustainability, The Ray is poised to shape the future of transportation in America.
About The Ray:
The Ray is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity and net-zero highway testbed, located on 18 miles of Interstate 85 between LaGrange, Georgia, and the Georgia-Alabama state line. This stretch of interstate is named in memory of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a Georgia native recognized as a leader in green business when he challenged his company, Interface, Inc., to pursue a zero environmental footprint. Our mission is to reimagine how we connect our communities, our lives, and the world in a way that is safer, more responsive to the climate, more regenerative to the environment, and more capable of creating economic opportunity through innovative ideas and technologies that will transform transportation infrastructure. The Ray Highway is paving the way for a zero carbon, zero waste, zero deaths highway system that will build a safer and more prosperous future for us all. Learn more at www.TheRay.org.
Media Contact
Dallen McLemore, Communications Specialist, The Ray
229.449.6168 | dallen@theray.org | @TheRayHighway
April 25, 2024 /3BL/ – The Ray, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing net-zero transportation and energy infrastructure, has released its highly anticipated 2023 annual report—State of The Ray 2023. This comprehensive report highlights the organization’s remarkable achievements over the past year and its commitment to driving sustainable infrastructure across America.
With over 55 strategic partnerships, The Ray has solidified its position as a leader in nonprofit initiatives in the transportation sector. Collaborating closely with state Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies, the organization has successfully implemented turnkey installations, showcasing its efficiency in unlocking the future of sustainable infrastructure.
One of the most significant milestones for The Ray in 2023 was the implementation of a regional staff strategy. This strategic move was made possible by a generous grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, enabling The Ray to accelerate net-zero transportation and make renewable energy and electrification more accessible and affordable nationwide. The Ray’s national expansion reinforces its commitment to expediting project implementation—to change the facts on the ground—by drawing closer to a multi-state network of transportation partners and paving the way for regional collaboration.
In a testament to its impact, The Ray was named a capacity builder by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in 2023 for the Thriving Communities Program. Alongside partners Arcadis, InfraStrategies, and Beverly Scott Associates, The Ray was awarded $5.1 million to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building to 15 networked communities. These communities, located near key transportation hubs, will receive support in advancing transportation projects that align with community-driven economic development, health, environment, mobility, and access goals.
“Transportation is an engine of sustainable growth and prosperity in America, at the state and local level,” said Harriet Anderson Langford, Founder and President of The Ray. “At The Ray, we are expanding nationally to help our agency partners overcome barriers to move forward.”
The State of The Ray 2023 showcases the organization’s dedication to advancing net-zero transportation and energy infrastructure. With its strategic partnerships, innovative initiatives, and commitment to sustainability, The Ray is poised to shape the future of transportation in America.
About The Ray:
The Ray is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity and net-zero highway testbed, located on 18 miles of Interstate 85 between LaGrange, Georgia, and the Georgia-Alabama state line. This stretch of interstate is named in memory of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a Georgia native recognized as a leader in green business when he challenged his company, Interface, Inc., to pursue a zero environmental footprint. Our mission is to reimagine how we connect our communities, our lives, and the world in a way that is safer, more responsive to the climate, more regenerative to the environment, and more capable of creating economic opportunity through innovative ideas and technologies that will transform transportation infrastructure. The Ray Highway is paving the way for a zero carbon, zero waste, zero deaths highway system that will build a safer and more prosperous future for us all. Learn more at www.TheRay.org.
Media Contact
Dallen McLemore, Communications Specialist, The Ray
229.449.6168 | dallen@theray.org | @TheRayHighway
PARIS and BOSTON, April 25, 2024 /3BL/ – TotalEnergies, a global integrated energy company, and Vanguard Renewables, a U.S. leader in farm-based organics-to-renewable natural gas production and a portfolio company of a fund managed by BlackRock’s Diversified Infrastructure business, have signed an agreement to create an equally owned joint venture to develop, build, and operate Farm Powered® renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the United States. The signing took place in New York on April 12th 2024 in the presence of Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies and Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock.
TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables will advance 10 RNG projects into construction over the next 12 months, with a total annual RNG capacity of 0.8 TWh (2.5 Bcf). The three initial projects in this agreement are currently under construction in Wisconsin and Virginia, each with a unit capacity of nearly 75 GWh (0.25 Bcf) of RNG per year.
Beyond these first 10 projects, the partners will consider investing together in a potential pipeline of about 60 projects across the country for a total capacity of 5 TWh (15 Bcf) per year.
TotalEnergies is pleased to partner with BlackRock and its portfolio company Vanguard Renewables, to accelerate the development of food biowaste processing into renewable natural gas in the United States. By expanding into this fast-growing market, our joint venture will create value for both companies while benefiting the food and farming sectors as well as providing a ready-to-use solution to industrial companies willing to decarbonize their energy supply. This joint venture is a new step for TotalEnergies in achieving its objective to produce 10 TWh of renewable natural gas by 2030.
Olivier Guerrini, Vice President, Biogas at TotalEnergies
Vanguard Renewables, a key RNG player in the United States
Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, Vanguard Renewables was founded in 2014 and has a workforce of approximately 260. The company currently operates 17 organics-to-renewable energy facilities with an annual capacity of more than 440 GWh (1.5 Bcf) of RNG. Looking beyond 2024, Vanguard Renewables plans to commission over 100 RNG projects by the end of 2028.
In July 2022, Vanguard Renewables was acquired by BlackRock, through a fund managed by its Diversified Infrastructure business (“BlackRock”). BlackRock has partnered with Vanguard Renewables’ management team to build upon the company’s market-leading track record to drive the next phase of its growth to support the nationwide expansion of its anaerobic digester projects from coast to coast. BlackRock will remain the majority shareholder of Vanguard Renewables.
We are thrilled to welcome TotalEnergies as a strategic partner, building on our mission of developing farm-based organics-to-renewable natural gas projects across the United States. This collaboration validates Vanguard’s leadership position in the RNG space in the U.S. and brings together our expertise with TotalEnergies’ extensive experience in large-scale energy development, safety procedures, and global partnerships. These 10 RNG projects, jointly undertaken by TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables as co-investment partners, further reinforce our commitment and ability to deliver on our mission of harnessing the power of waste to decarbonize our planet.
Neil H. Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Vanguard Renewables
TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables, a robust partnership
The joint-venture will benefit from the expertise of both companies:
Thanks to its experienced teams and development platform, Vanguard Renewables will contribute to the JV its ready-to-build projects at scale. It will also manage feedstock supply, the assets, operations, and renewable natural gas sales.Leveraging its strong position in the European market, especially in France and Poland, TotalEnergies will bring to the JV its industrial expertise, providing technical support on the design and engineering of the facilities, and on the plant’s operational performance.
TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables will market the RNG through long-term purchase agreements with buyers actively engaged in decarbonization of their industrial processes.
This exciting partnership brings together TotalEnergies’ global experience in scaling and operating renewable gas assets with Vanguard Renewables’ market-leading position in the United States, extensive operational history and customer relationships, and robust project portfolio. With TotalEnergies as a strategic partner, Vanguard Renewables will be positioned to achieve even stronger growth and continued success.
Doug Vaccari, Managing Director, Diversified Infrastructure, BlackRock
Transforming food waste and decarbonizing the production of major US brands
The first 10 projects are based on a model of waste materials recovery from the food and beverage industries, supplemented with dairy manure from dairy farms. The anaerobic digesters will be built on the dairy farms themselves, which will then recover and manage the digestate (a byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process) as a low-carbon and nutrient dense fertilizer.
To feed its digesters, Vanguard Renewables has established a major network of leading food industry brands across the US and the groundbreaking Farm Powered Strategic Alliance, which gives Alliance members preferred access to recycle their organic waste generated from manufacturing or retail activities and the potential opportunity to purchase the renewable energy generated at a Vanguard Renewables’ facility. The Alliance’s members include multi-national corporations across several verticals, including leading food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
In anticipation of the Company’s growing portfolio of anaerobic digesters Vanguard Renewables has expanded its food and beverage diversion services and its organics solutions team to provide service throughout the contiguous United States.
The transaction completion is subject to customary conditions precedent.
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About Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables, based in Weston, Massachusetts, is a national leader in developing food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company owns and operates on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and currently operates manure-only digesters in the south and west for Dominion Energy. Vanguard Renewables plans to expand nationwide to more than 100 anaerobic digestion facilities by 2028. Vanguard Renewables is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste, generating renewable energy, and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms via Farm Powered® anaerobic digestion. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of funds managed by BlackRock.
To learn more visit vanguardrenewables.com
TotalEnergies and biogas
TotalEnergies is a leading company in the European biogas segment with production capacity of 1.1 TWh. The Company aims to become a major player in this segment across several key markets, particularly in Europe and the United States by joining forces with leading partners such as Clean Energy and Veolia, to reach its objective of producing 10 TWh of biomethane by 2030. It is active across the entire value chain, from project development to marketing of this renewable gas and its byproducts, including biofertilizers and bioCO2.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.
Cautionary Note
The terms “TotalEnergies”, “TotalEnergies company” or “Company” in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies’ financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
PARIS and BOSTON, April 25, 2024 /3BL/ – TotalEnergies, a global integrated energy company, and Vanguard Renewables, a U.S. leader in farm-based organics-to-renewable natural gas production and a portfolio company of a fund managed by BlackRock’s Diversified Infrastructure business, have signed an agreement to create an equally owned joint venture to develop, build, and operate Farm Powered® renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the United States. The signing took place in New York on April 12th 2024 in the presence of Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies and Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock.
TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables will advance 10 RNG projects into construction over the next 12 months, with a total annual RNG capacity of 0.8 TWh (2.5 Bcf). The three initial projects in this agreement are currently under construction in Wisconsin and Virginia, each with a unit capacity of nearly 75 GWh (0.25 Bcf) of RNG per year.
Beyond these first 10 projects, the partners will consider investing together in a potential pipeline of about 60 projects across the country for a total capacity of 5 TWh (15 Bcf) per year.
TotalEnergies is pleased to partner with BlackRock and its portfolio company Vanguard Renewables, to accelerate the development of food biowaste processing into renewable natural gas in the United States. By expanding into this fast-growing market, our joint venture will create value for both companies while benefiting the food and farming sectors as well as providing a ready-to-use solution to industrial companies willing to decarbonize their energy supply. This joint venture is a new step for TotalEnergies in achieving its objective to produce 10 TWh of renewable natural gas by 2030.
Olivier Guerrini, Vice President, Biogas at TotalEnergies
Vanguard Renewables, a key RNG player in the United States
Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, Vanguard Renewables was founded in 2014 and has a workforce of approximately 260. The company currently operates 17 organics-to-renewable energy facilities with an annual capacity of more than 440 GWh (1.5 Bcf) of RNG. Looking beyond 2024, Vanguard Renewables plans to commission over 100 RNG projects by the end of 2028.
In July 2022, Vanguard Renewables was acquired by BlackRock, through a fund managed by its Diversified Infrastructure business (“BlackRock”). BlackRock has partnered with Vanguard Renewables’ management team to build upon the company’s market-leading track record to drive the next phase of its growth to support the nationwide expansion of its anaerobic digester projects from coast to coast. BlackRock will remain the majority shareholder of Vanguard Renewables.
We are thrilled to welcome TotalEnergies as a strategic partner, building on our mission of developing farm-based organics-to-renewable natural gas projects across the United States. This collaboration validates Vanguard’s leadership position in the RNG space in the U.S. and brings together our expertise with TotalEnergies’ extensive experience in large-scale energy development, safety procedures, and global partnerships. These 10 RNG projects, jointly undertaken by TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables as co-investment partners, further reinforce our commitment and ability to deliver on our mission of harnessing the power of waste to decarbonize our planet.
Neil H. Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Vanguard Renewables
TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables, a robust partnership
The joint-venture will benefit from the expertise of both companies:
Thanks to its experienced teams and development platform, Vanguard Renewables will contribute to the JV its ready-to-build projects at scale. It will also manage feedstock supply, the assets, operations, and renewable natural gas sales.Leveraging its strong position in the European market, especially in France and Poland, TotalEnergies will bring to the JV its industrial expertise, providing technical support on the design and engineering of the facilities, and on the plant’s operational performance.
TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables will market the RNG through long-term purchase agreements with buyers actively engaged in decarbonization of their industrial processes.
This exciting partnership brings together TotalEnergies’ global experience in scaling and operating renewable gas assets with Vanguard Renewables’ market-leading position in the United States, extensive operational history and customer relationships, and robust project portfolio. With TotalEnergies as a strategic partner, Vanguard Renewables will be positioned to achieve even stronger growth and continued success.
Doug Vaccari, Managing Director, Diversified Infrastructure, BlackRock
Transforming food waste and decarbonizing the production of major US brands
The first 10 projects are based on a model of waste materials recovery from the food and beverage industries, supplemented with dairy manure from dairy farms. The anaerobic digesters will be built on the dairy farms themselves, which will then recover and manage the digestate (a byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process) as a low-carbon and nutrient dense fertilizer.
To feed its digesters, Vanguard Renewables has established a major network of leading food industry brands across the US and the groundbreaking Farm Powered Strategic Alliance, which gives Alliance members preferred access to recycle their organic waste generated from manufacturing or retail activities and the potential opportunity to purchase the renewable energy generated at a Vanguard Renewables’ facility. The Alliance’s members include multi-national corporations across several verticals, including leading food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
In anticipation of the Company’s growing portfolio of anaerobic digesters Vanguard Renewables has expanded its food and beverage diversion services and its organics solutions team to provide service throughout the contiguous United States.
The transaction completion is subject to customary conditions precedent.
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About Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables, based in Weston, Massachusetts, is a national leader in developing food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company owns and operates on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and currently operates manure-only digesters in the south and west for Dominion Energy. Vanguard Renewables plans to expand nationwide to more than 100 anaerobic digestion facilities by 2028. Vanguard Renewables is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste, generating renewable energy, and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms via Farm Powered® anaerobic digestion. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of funds managed by BlackRock.
To learn more visit vanguardrenewables.com
TotalEnergies and biogas
TotalEnergies is a leading company in the European biogas segment with production capacity of 1.1 TWh. The Company aims to become a major player in this segment across several key markets, particularly in Europe and the United States by joining forces with leading partners such as Clean Energy and Veolia, to reach its objective of producing 10 TWh of biomethane by 2030. It is active across the entire value chain, from project development to marketing of this renewable gas and its byproducts, including biofertilizers and bioCO2.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.
Cautionary Note
The terms “TotalEnergies”, “TotalEnergies company” or “Company” in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies’ financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Our people making a difference is a series featured throughout Owens Corning’s 2023 Sustainability Report.
Although he has only been with Owens Corning for about six years, Paul Ferrara has traveled quite a bit throughout the company’s U.S. operations. Beginning as an intern at a plant in Starr, South Carolina, Paul also participated in a development program in Denver, Colorado, acted as an interim EHS Leader in Compton, California, and served as EHS Lead in Kansas City, Kansas. Now in Ocala, Florida, Paul has been instrumental in bringing Owens Corning’s recently acquired OC Lumber™ plant up to Owens Corning safety standards. With a broad-based understanding of Owens Corning operations, Paul brings considerable insight into his role, some of which he shares here.
On recognizing the need for mutual trust in the plant
It doesn’t matter what position you’re in. You could be the Plant Leader, facilities, maintenance, or an entry-level position — it doesn’t matter. We’re all just trying to work, come home safe, see our families, and enjoy life. Everyone wants to have a quality of life. If we as a company can give that to them, everything else will fall into place. That’s been proven. Building trust with the employees is the number one thing. If you’re open with them, they’ll be open with you. So I just talk with them, and when you work as a team, that trust just ends up flowing, and without that, the programs won’t do anything.
On balancing classroom-based instruction with practical training
For our first safety training in Ocala, we actually went offsite. We got breakfast, snacks, drinks — the normal things you do at a safety training. And before we even talked about incident reporting and PPE and all that, we asked about their perception of safety. But we also need the floor focus, not just in a classroom. In a classroom, they walk out, it might be gone, but out on the floor, seeing it in person, you really get the feel of what safety is when those OC Lumber™ boards are coming out. So it’s important to walk them through that and spend time with people one-on-one. Someone might get it in 10 minutes. It might take someone else three days to understand what’s going on, and that’s OK. If we put our time into our people, it will be way better for us in the long run.
On the support provided by Owens Corning leadership
I think the best thing about Owens Corning is that we’re trying to improve, even though we’re considered world class. If we said we’re good where we’re at, we would slip. Companies that don’t innovate, fail. They become stuck in their ways. We’re always trying to figure out how we can change, especially with new initiatives like the Safer Together campaign. All of those are great because we’re trying to get to the people and make it resonate with them. My Plant Leader is very supportive, boots on the ground. He’s out there with me analyzing everything, and from a safety leader standpoint, that’s huge. You can’t really do anything unless you have that buy-in at every level.
