Tag: 3BL

It was late Thursday afternoon when FedEx received an urgent email from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as Hurricane Imelda threatened to make landfall on the Carolina coast.

The organization requested support to get a two-pallet, 425-pound shipment of 76 animal crates from its warehouse in Missouri to a disaster response staging area in South Carolina.

In less than 15 minutes, FedEx operations responded. The shipment was scheduled and then picked up Friday. It was delivered Sunday, right on time.

The crates were needed before Imelda to accelerate safe evacuation and sheltering of unowned shelter animals in harm’s way. By staging crates ahead of an expected storm, the ASPCA can rapidly move and house unowned companion animals and livestock from affected communities, helping to prevent overcrowded shelters, and ensure humane handling during transport and intake. Having the crates ready in advance also reduces critical delays once responders reach disaster zones, allowing them to quickly set up temporary holding areas and begin providing care as soon as conditions allow.

The ASPCA’s disaster response efforts are a testament to the organization’s commitment to animal welfare during emergencies. The ASPCA provides critical support in disaster zones across the country, including animal search and rescue, supply distribution, emergency operation management, and more. In addition to hurricanes, the ASPCA also responds to wildfires, tornadoes, and other natural and human-made disasters, ensuring that both shelter and owned animals receive the care and support they need when they are at their most vulnerable.

FedEx has provided financial and in-kind shipping services to the ASPCA for more than 10 years. 

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Originally published on GovTech.com

By Nikki Davidson

In 2024, the U.S. saw 27 weather and climate disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damage. The total number of destructive disasters was just one shy of 2023’s record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Whether the destruction comes from fire, tornado, flood or hurricane, they all have one thing in common: They stress infrastructure that provides digital connectivity. T-Mobile has launched several new tools aimed at helping first responders and governments improve their responses with tech.

While T-Mobile deploys to areas hit by disaster with community support teams that stand up Wi-Fi and device-charging trucks, the team has also launched tools like a dynamic 5G slice just for first responders, an expansive drone fleet and direct-to-cell satellite texting capabilities.

“I haven’t seen more advancements in technology like I’ve seen just even in the last year that are really changing the way we show up,” said Nicole Hudnet, the national adviser and ESF 2 lead for T-Mobile Emergency Response, in an interview with Government Technology.

NEW NETWORK SLICE PRIORITIZES FIRST RESPONDERS
T-Mobile has released what it describes as “the nation’s first 5G slice that prioritizes public safety.” It’s called T-Priority, a 5G network slice dedicated to first responders.

“It is a dynamic slice on the network,” said Hudnet, explaining that in times of congestion the network is expanded to allow first responders to stay connected while remaining network capacity for other customers scales down, giving first responders priority. “It can expand across that network, giving responders reliable data connectivity, low latency and faster speeds for that data communication that they need.”

In the video above, Hudnet shared how T-Priority was used to keep fire crews connected during the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in early 2025.

Hudnet noted that when working with the Los Angeles Fire Department, T-Mobile activated more than 350 devices with T-Priority, enabling first responders and command posts access to tools like AI-enabled mapping software and to livestream the view from drone technology.

DIRECT-TO-CELL SATELLITE TEXTING ENABLES EMERGENCY ALERTS
T-Mobile has also launched T-Satellite, a cellular service that provides connectivity for smartphones with direct-to-cell satellite texting capabilities in areas without traditional cell tower service.

The service was first activated directly in response to a crisis, when the FCC granted T-Mobile and Starlink a Special Temporary Authority to use SpaceX’s direct-to-cellular satellite technology to provide emergency texting and alerts in some areas impacted by Hurricane Helene’s destruction.

In the video above, Hudnet explained the impact the early launch had during the disaster.

“This was in the very early phases, we had no guarantee of the service. But, we said, ‘If we can get one message out, one is better than none,’ and we did see over a million people connected,” Hudnet said.

Since that first use case, T-Satellite has been used in more recent disasters, like the flooding in Central Texas in July.

“T-Satellite is really that flashlight in the dark,” said Hudnet, adding that T-Satellite connected as many as 93,000 people during the event.

A NEW FOCUS ON DRONE TECHNOLOGY
The flooding in Texas also prompted T-Mobile to increase its drone fleet by 50 percent to reach places more quickly when disasters occur.

The company is investing in heavy-lift drones that can travel for miles and carry up to 100 pounds to deliver supplies and drop in portable connectivity gear. They’ve also added specialty drones to their fleet, equipped with thermal and high-resolution cameras with lidar to locate people, map damage, guide crews and provide scene lighting.

Meanwhile, tethered drones can stay in the air up to 400 feet high, creating a temporary cell-coverage bubble about two miles wide.

According to Hudnet, the company’s drone team embedded with Texas Parks and Wildlife to assist with air operations, supporting search and recovery efforts and providing mapping assistance and airspace monitoring.

“It really improves that emergency response, whether it is providing surveillance over a community, being able to transmit that live feedback from a scene so that responders, when they can’t physically get to an area, they can send a drone into the area and be able to stream that back,” she said.

AN EMERGING FOCUS ON MANAGING CYBER INCIDENTS
T-Mobile frequently partners with agencies during their most challenging moments, but much of the work happens on “blue-sky days,” when the company plans and coordinates with state, local and federal partners. Hudnet asserted that the theme for disaster response in 2025 is the power of having a PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) communications plan in place.

“These relationships, especially at the state and local level, are so important to working with other stakeholders, whether that’s utilities and power helping us coordinate together to restore these communities together. They’re also helping us mitigate access issues, roadblocks, getting escorts into areas and getting us into areas where there are access concerns so we can restore quickly for those communities,” said Hudnet. “These relationships are absolutely paramount and pivotal to response in a community.”

Those relationships also come into play during critical cybersecurity incidents. T-Mobile has supported several agencies in the wake of major cyber attacks, when they’re often asked to ship in hot spots and routers, like when St. Paul, Minn., declared a state of emergency for a cyber attack this summer.

“While we did get them there quickly, that response is not immediate versus having that equipment onsite,” she said.

Published by Action Against Hunger.

Contact media@actionagainsthunger.org for inquiries.

The Transformative Power of Sustainable Food Systems 

Action Against Hunger is striving to create a world free from hunger for everyone, for good. Achieving this vision requires strong food systems that ensure access to nutritious food for all. Yet in today’s world, the goal can feel out of reach. Climate change is accelerating, inequity abounds, and poverty persists. Challenges like these have left 673 million people without reliable access to the food they need.

But what if we found a way to make food systems that are not only prepared to withstand hunger-causing challenges, but to help prevent them? Action Against Hunger is doing exactly that. Our approach to building food systems focuses on nourishing people, sustaining the planet, and creating fair opportunities for farmers, all of which promote food security for present and future generations. Around the world, our teams are working closely with local communities to create food systems that tackle hunger at the root so we can create a future where no one goes hungry.

Here are three case studies of Action Against Hunger’s work in building sustainable food systems.

3 Cases of Sustainable Food System-Building 

1. Western Province, Zambia

Zambia is struggling to boost food security in the face of a changing El Niño weather pattern. As climate change worsens, the crop-destroying dry season becomes longer and is followed by excessive flooding that depletes soil nutrients. In 2024, Zambia experienced its worst drought in over 40 years, a national emergency that impacted over nine million people – 2.04 million of whom were already severely food insecure.

Action Against Hunger is bolstering the climate resilience of Zambia’s food system with the power of one simple crop – the cowpea. The protein-packed legume is drought-resistant and able with withstand Zambia’s low-fertility soil. It even enriches the soil with nitrogen, combatting the damaging effects of climate change and helping other crops flourish. So far, Action Against Hunger has provided training to 1,545 smallholder farmers who are successfully harvesting cowpeas – about 108.85 Metric tons-worth in 2025 alone.

The project is still in its infancy, but benefits are already tangible: farmers’ crop yields have been boosted, the local community’s diet diversity and protein intake has improved, and soil health is restoring. Additionally, farmers are using other parts of the cowpea plant as fodder [animal feed], decreasing waste and maintenance costs. With crop yields and incomes rising, farmers in Zambia are paving the way for a more resilient food system that can withstand the trials of droughts and floods.

2. Malkadaka, Kenya

In Malkadaka Village, women faced major barriers to income. Gender norms excluded them from financial decision-making, while climate shocks devastated their community’s traditional pastoralist livelihood and left families without food or income. Determined to change this, a group of women turned to farming.

With Action Against Hunger’s support, they learned agroecological and climate-smart techniques such as water harvesting, soil conservation, and intercropping, which helped them build a thriving, sustainable garden. Families could finally access diverse, nutritious foods. Additionally, farmers were linked to markets where they could sell surplus harvests and generate income. Savings enabled the women to make purchases for basic needs and investments in small businesses and farm improvements, and a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) was established to improve financial resilience. For women like Shinda Yussuf, who had never had her own money before, the garden and VSLA supplied her with unprecedented security and independence.

By combining climate-smart farming with financial empowerment, women in Malkadaka are transforming their community’s food system. Their leadership is building resilience to climate change, nourishing their families, and creating equitable opportunities for future generations.

3. Satkhira, Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s coastal regions are under siege by climate change. Cyclones are striking with greater frequency and force, salinizing soil and water, destroying crops, and pushing families into hunger. In Satkhira, where most people depend on farming, repeated disasters have left land barren, and fear of the next disaster is ever-present.

Action Against Hunger is implementing an innovative way to strengthen Satkhira’s food system. Using artificial intelligence, our team monitors key indicators to predict cyclones and tidal surges. Communities receive warnings and enact Early Action Plans, so families are able to harvest and store crops, secure assets, and evacuate safely before disaster strikes.

When families return to their land, they have support in rebuilding their farms. Farmers are trained in agroecological techniques like raised garden beds, which lift crops above saline soils, and mulching, which improves water retention and replenishes nutrients. Women, who often bear the brunt of food insecurity, are also engaged in alternative livelihoods such as aquaculture, giving households more diversified and resilient incomes.

Harnessing the power of predictive technology and resilient farming practices, Satkhira demonstrates how sustainable food systems are able to withstand even the harshest climate shocks. Instead of each cyclone setting communities back further, they are able to prepare for and overcome the damage together.

Achieving a Hunger-Free Future Through Sustainable Food Systems 

Ending hunger is not just an aspiration: it is achievable. The incredibly resilient communities in Zambia, Keyna, and Bangladesh show that, even in dire circumstances, sustainable food systems can still be built. Through innovative thinking and collective effort, we can create food systems that nourish everyone today, while contributing to a better tomorrow.

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us about your career journey and what led you to join the Learning and Development team at GoDaddy.

I started my journey at GoDaddy as a Guide, helping customers and building connections every day. From there, I moved into a Supervisor role, where I got the chance to coach and support Agents more directly. But deep down, I always knew my heart was set on the Learning and Development team. That passion for education actually started before GoDaddy—back in my Sephora days as an Educational Lead. I fell in love with the way learning could transform not just results, but people’s confidence and growth and I knew GoDaddy had a real strength in this through L&D. Since then, my journey has been about combining my love for people, coaching, and creating meaningful learning experiences—and I’m grateful to be part of a team that helps employees grow and thrive.

What have you learned about yourself through the projects you’ve worked on?

Through the projects I’ve worked on, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve found that I thrive in that sweet spot where creativity meets structure—whether I’m welcoming new hires into our values, giving feedback to make learning content shine, or coaching on sales skills. I also discovered (thanks to StrengthsFinder here at GoDaddy!) that my natural “Woo” energy is one of my biggest strengths—it helps me connect with people, spark excitement, and make learning fun and approachable. And honestly, I’ve learned that the magic happens when I step outside my comfort zone—that’s where I grow the most, and where I get to support and inspire others to do the same.

How does GoDaddy’s culture support employee learning and growth?

One of the things I love most about GoDaddy is how much the culture embraces learning as part of everyday life. It’s never just about checking boxes or following a rigid path—it’s about curiosity, exploration, and growth. With the vast array of resources available through L&D and GoLearn—which boasts an impressive 60,000 courses—it’s truly difficult not to foster your own growth and development!

I’ve always felt encouraged to try new ideas, bring creativity into my work, and lean into opportunities that stretch me.

That kind of support makes it possible to grow not only as an employee, but as a person—and that’s what makes learning here feel exciting and meaningful.

Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in a career at GoDaddy?

If you’re thinking about a career at GoDaddy, my advice is simple: be curious, take chances, and show up as your true self. This is a place that celebrates individuality, so lean into your unique strengths and see where they take you. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, try new things, and build connections—those relationships and experiences are often the stepping stones to growth, fun, and success!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I truly treasure spending time with my family. My happiest moments come from making memories together and enjoying the little adventures of everyday life with my husband, our 3½-year-old daughter, and our two dogs. Since moving from the United States to Britain seven years ago, travel has become a big passion of mine. I love exploring new countries and places. I’m known among my friends for my love of cheese, and I also have a love for all things beauty (skincare, haircare, makeup) and being creative. I enjoy cross-stitching, playing video games, and finding fun ways to express myself.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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Originally published by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
By Patty Riddlebarger, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Entergy Corporation

Aug. 29, 2005, will forever be remembered as the day that changed the history of New Orleans, one of America’s most iconic cities. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, one of the costliest natural disasters to hit the United States, an economic line of demarcation laid bare the difference between hope and hopelessness and, in some cases, life and death.

Much of the suffering and devastation associated with Hurricane Katrina can be traced directly to the extreme poverty that far too many New Orleans residents struggle with daily.

As the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in the city during the disaster, our shareholders recognized our unique responsibility to act thoughtfully and decisively. Wayne Leonard, then-chairman and CEO of Entergy, emphasized this urgency by expressing, “If we rally for stronger levees, better flood protection, and marsh restoration, but don’t address the underlying causes of poverty that pervade our region, that would be the greatest tragedy of all.”

So, as the rebuilding began, our approach was focused on eliminating or reducing socio-economic inequities and improving the quality of life for our most vulnerable citizens.

Katrina was a once-in-a-lifetime moment to work with our community partners and create a New Orleans where neighborhoods are safe, businesses thrive, schools excel, and families achieve the dream of homeownership, all while fostering a culture of respect for the environment and celebration of diversity and inclusion. To that end, Entergy shareholders have invested some $95 million in philanthropic funds and more than $1.6 million in volunteer hours not just to rebuild, but to create a stronger, more resilient, and vibrant community that offers opportunity for all of its residents.

Affordable housing 

One of the most immediate needs post-Katrina was building or rebuilding affordable housing to enable families to return home. Entergy, with organizations like Volunteers of America, SBP USA, and Habitat for Humanity, partnered together to help build or rebuild 1,300 single or multi-family homes. We focused on supporting innovative partnerships that leveraged federal and other funding sources. Entergy provided critical seed funding to Volunteers of America that enabled it to hire a team with the financial expertise to utilize $80 million in new market tax credits and activate large-scale, multi-family housing initiatives.

Placing families on the path to economic stability 

An enduring lesson from Katrina was that when disaster strikes, the most vulnerable communities suffer most. To lessen the impact of future disasters, we took proactive steps to fortify low-income families for economic stability by implementing programs that not only increase household income but also facilitate savings, reduce debt, enhance credit ratings, and promote generational wealth through homeownership. In partnership with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Entergy launched the Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Project to help low-income individuals and families save money and build a strong financial foundation to recover and thrive.

Since 2006, the IDA Project has resulted in $58 million in asset purchases, transforming lives across Southeast Louisiana. More than 430 individuals, primarily single mothers, have become first-time homeowners.

Transforming public education 

Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans public schools ranked as the second-lowest performing school districts in Louisiana, with 83% of students in failing schools. Since 2005, our shareholders have invested $30 million in education in Orleans Parish. Today, there are zero failing schools across the parish. Although much work remains to be done, New Orleans students are better prepared for lifelong success today compared to pre-Katrina. Our strategic investments are targeted to organizations that deliver a data-driven approach to metrics that matter—attendance, behavior, growth in academics, and trauma-informed wrap-around services and supports. Our strategic partners have included New Schools for New Orleans, Teach for America, KIPP New Orleans, The Posse Foundation, College Beyond, College Track, First Line Schools, and Start the Adventures in Reading.

Providing high-quality childcare for low-income families 

Katrina destroyed 75% of childcare centers in Orleans Parish. With post-storm waiting lists of 16-to-1, the lack of childcare was a major obstacle in the city’s recovery. Entergy and our partners focused attention and resources on the issue through advocacy to draw down state and federal funding resources. Working with organizations like the Ready Louisiana Coalition, Success by Six, the Campaign for Grade Level Reading, and the Louisiana Public Policy Institute, these advocacy efforts culminated in the creation of $42 million in annual funding from municipal and state resources to provide early care and education for low-income families in Orleans Parish. 

Greening New Orleans by creating 130+ miles of bike lanes and walkways 

Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans had fewer than 11 miles of bike lanes. Although the city was awarded millions of dollars to resurface damaged roads through the federal Submerged Roads Program, the funding was restricted to capital uses only. Through a unique public-private partnership between the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Public Health Institute, a grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation underwrote five years of salary expenses for the transportation engineer who designed and oversaw the creation of more than 130 miles of bike lanes and pedestrian pathways.

Restoring our urban forest 

The flood waters that covered 80% of Orleans Parish wreaked havoc with the city’s urban forest, destroying some 200,000 trees and resulting in New Orleans’ designation as the most de-forested urban center in the nation. Since Hurricane Katrina, Entergy has partnered with Nola Tree Project, Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (S.O.U.L.), Sankofa, Lafitte Greenway, and other nonprofits to restore many of the trees that were lost during the storm.

Investing in our future workforce through workforce development 

The presence of a skilled and ready workforce ranks among the most important factors for site selection when companies are seeking to expand or relocate. To that end, Entergy has partnered with the state, colleges and universities, and nonprofit partners to develop programs that create pathways to employment in high-demand, living-wage jobs. As the first corporate partner for STEM NOLA, we are fueling the imagination and dreams of 30,000 students in Louisiana each year by providing hands-on STEM learning opportunities.

Looking ahead 

As we reflect on 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, we recognize the significant strides that have been made and understand that our work is far from complete. This blog honors our employees and community partners whose dedication and efforts have forged a path toward a brighter future for New Orleans.

Together, we continue to power life in the communities we’re privileged to serve, working tirelessly to achieve unprecedented progress that deserves celebration and recognition.

Continue reading here.

October 3, 2025 /3BL/ – Lenovo today announced its AA+ rating on the 2025 Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index, the index’s second-highest rating. Within its industry, Lenovo achieved the highest score in the environmental and social areas. This index is based on a robust process that includes consideration of the results from a sustainability assessment undertaken by Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA), an independent and professional assessment body, using its proprietary sustainability assessment and rating framework. 

Companies are evaluated on seven subjects under the categories of Environmental, Social, and Governance: Corporate Governance, Human Rights, Labor Practices, The Environment, Fair Operating Practices, Consumer Issues, and Community Involvement and Development. The methodology behind the sustainability assessment is reviewed annually to incorporate developments within the evolving ESG landscape, with reference to both international and local protocols. The assessment framework is designed to capture both general and industry-specific criteria across the three E, S and G core aspects; each rated equally as a base, with additional industry-specific materiality factors applied.  

Continued inclusion in the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index demonstrates Lenovo’s long-term commitment to driving a smarter, more sustainable future for all. Lenovo is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative and is innovating to provide more energy-efficient products and solutions to its customers. Lenovo is also focused on contributing to the circular economy by integrating recycled materials into its products [1] and increasing the ease of repairability [2].

In social achievements, Lenovo fosters a culture of inclusion and mutual respect in its global workforce and extends these values to communities around the world. It has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign, Workplace Pride, and Disability:IN for its inclusive workplace practices. Since 2020, Lenovo has invested nearly US $100 million towards providing access to technology and STEM education for those who need it most.

In addition to recognition from the Hang Seng Sustainability Index, Lenovo has recently received Platinum Recognition from EcoVadis, an AAA rating from MSCI ESG Ratings, and the Gold Award from the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) for Best Corporate Governance and ESG. Additionally, Lenovo was recently ranked #8 in Gartner’s Top 25 Global Supply Chain, with an ESG Score of 9/10 and retained the top spot in Gartner Asia/Pacific Supply Chain Top 10 for fourth year. These achievements underscore Lenovo’s commitment to transparent, credible progress across environmental, social and governance programs.

Learn more about Lenovo’s ESG performance on  Lenovo StoryHub and in Lenovo’s FY 2024/25 ESG Report.  

[1] In 2024, Lenovo’s use of plastics containing recycled content was approximately 12 million kilograms (gross) with a net CL PCC of approximately 6.2 million kilograms.

[2] Lenovo provides users of many of its laptop and desktop products with the resources necessary to repair their own devices, as well as offering repair support and service options for many systems

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

• Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program has enabled evaluation of 42 sites and triggered 5,400 new jobs and $2 billion in capital investment in Ohio and Kentucky since the program began in 2010
• Three high-potential industrial sites were selected for the 2025 program

CINCINNATI, October 3, 2025 /3BL/ – Duke Energy selected three properties in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky for inclusion in its 2025 Site Readiness Program, which prepares high-potential business and industrial sites for economic development investments and markets them nationwide to companies looking to start, expand or relocate their operations.

Bringing investment and jobs to Ohio and Kentucky: Since 2010, Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program has evaluated 42 sites in Ohio and Kentucky. Twenty companies have selected and committed to growing on sites that have been through the program.

Those companies are bringing over $2 billion capital investments and 5,400 new jobs for Ohio and Kentucky. Examples of companies include Coca-Cola, Carvana, Shape Corp. and Niagara Bottling.

About the program: The Duke Energy Site Readiness Program sparks economic growth by helping communities understand what steps to take in order to make their sites more competitive. In turn, this results in new jobs and a new tax base.

Under the program, Duke Energy works with consultant Site Selection Group and local engineering firm Bayer Becker. It also partners closely with REDI Cincinnati and BE NKY Growth Partnership, as well as with local community governments and other utilities.

What they’re saying

Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky: “Economic development is vital to the future growth and prosperity of our region. Our Site Readiness Program is one example of the proactive economic development initiatives that Duke Energy pursues to help spark investment in the communities we serve. We appreciate our collaboration with local partners and developers as we work to bring more jobs to the region and make Greater Cincinnati a place in which people want to work and live.”

Kimm Lauterbach, president and CEO of REDI Cincinnati: “Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program not only speeds up economic development opportunities but also ensures that our communities are equipped to compete with sites that are ready to be utilized. We appreciate Duke Energy’s ongoing investment and leadership in enhancing the economy of the Cincinnati region.”

Duke Energy has selected three properties in Ohio and Kentucky for inclusion in its 2025 Site Readiness Program to enhance these sites for business and industrial development:

1. Frick Family Farms in Monroe, Ohio (Butler County)
    
2. Union Ren Farms in Middletown, Ohio (Warren County)
    
3. Commonwealth Commerce Center in Northern Kentucky (Pendleton County)

For 21 consecutive years, Duke Energy’s economic development efforts have been recognized by Site Selection magazine in the publication’s annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development.” In 2024 alone, the company helped recruit $548 million in new capital investment and over 1,000 jobs across Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 910,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 560,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

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

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

Contact: Matt Martin
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DukeEnergyOH_KY

View original content here.

At Gen, giving back to the communities where we live and work is part of who we are. Recently, our Genovators — a grassroots, employee-led group driving innovation and engagement — stepped outside the office and into their local communities.

In Prague, our Genovators rolled up their sleeves at MetroFarm, spending the day helping with sustainable farming activities, connecting as a team, and supporting an organization dedicated to greener urban living.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, Genovators volunteered at the DSPCA, one of Ireland’s leading animal welfare charities. The team contributed their time to support the DSPCA’s mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in need.

These volunteer efforts highlight the passion of our people and our commitment to making a positive impact — from sustainability and the environment to animal welfare and beyond.

Our Approach to Responsible Manufacturing and Mining

Chemours is committed to the environment and our communities, and we strive to manufacture responsibly at our sites and to be good stewards of the land we operate on. We focus on two key areas: reducing our fluorinated organic chemical (FOC) process emissions at our manufacturing facilities, and restoring and conserving land where we mine raw materials for our Titanium Technologies business.

Safeguarding and restoring natural habitats helps increase the availability of clean water in watersheds, provides protection from the impacts of severe weather events, and enhances natural CO2 sequestration processes. We’re integrating nature into our corporate sustainability strategy and are actively working to enhance nature and ecosystem resilience across our sites using the Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) guidance.

Air and Water FOC Emissions Abatement

We have and continue to make significant investments in state of-the-art emissions control technologies at our manufacturing sites. We are committed to eliminating 99% or more of our FOC process emissions to air and water across our manufacturing sites globally by 2030. This goal’s 2018 baseline is based upon a comprehensive inventory of FOC process emissions.

The FOC Air and Water Technology Team develops technology solutions and refines our FOC implementation roadmap to achieve our 2030 goal. The team also tracks and reports annual progress toward reducing these emissions, including site-specific initiatives that incorporate known abatement technologies and cutting-edge research to explore innovative methods or closed-loop manufacturing options to make further progress. At each manufacturing site, we followed a standardized approach to report emissions data, using both measured data and calculated estimates when measured data was not available.

Mining Operations

Chemours is the only U.S. producer of titanium and zirconium minerals and one of only two domestic producers of rare earth minerals. Our Titanium Technologies business segment operates mineral sands mining and separation operations in Florida and Georgia to supply our TiO2 pigment manufacturing facilities with mineral feedstock and to recover and sell other valuable mineral products. While mining affects hundreds of acres per year, the impact is temporary as the mine pits are successively opened then refilled with sand tails, and the land is continually reclaimed.

We are committed to leaving each mining site in a condition comparable to its pre-mine condition. Through continuous reclamation, we work to re-establish the soil and plant vegetation in mined areas after mineral extraction is complete, which in turn, allows native wildlife to quickly return. Building on our current process of stakeholder engagement and state and federal compliance, we also work to pursue and apply responsible mining principles. In 2024, we maintained Responsible Care® 14001 certifications for our Georgia and Florida mineral operations, which helps us to assess a range of social and environmental impacts within our operations, with a focus on land and water management and biodiversity.

Manufacturing Sites

At our manufacturing sites, we continue to serve the surrounding communities by installing drinking water infrastructure ranging from in-house treatment systems to public water connections. At our Fayetteville Works manufacturing site in North Carolina, we’ve invested around $160 million in our off-site program and installed permanent replacement drinking water solutions for over 7,100 residents as of December 31, 2024.

We also seek opportunities at or near each site and work with partners to enhance or restore the local habitat. Efforts range from identifying and relocating protected plant and animal species to improving the habitats located on adjacent or nearby lands.

Chemours partners with Tandem Global (formerly Wildlife Habitat Council), whose certification program is the only voluntary sustainability standard designed for broad-based nature enhancement and conservation education activities on corporate landholdings. The certification recognizes meaningful wildlife habitat management, conservation education programs, and community outreach initiatives through an objective, third party evaluation.

Chemours’ Tandem Global programs are led by our sites and engage employee volunteers for many initiatives. Programs can include managing wildlife, creating or improving habitats, providing conservation education, or a combination of all three.

2024 Actions Toward Responsible Manufacturing and Mining

Continued Progress on FOC Emissions Reductions

We continue to make progress against our 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment goal, eliminating an additional 292 MT of FOC process emissions across our sites in 2024. Since 2018, we’ve reduced our FOC process emissions by 76%, or 1,253 MT.

We continue to invest in technologies and install projects to reduce FOC emissions, which include HFC-23 and HCFC22 emissions, at multiple facilities, and are evaluating the effectiveness of this work through direct measurement and refined engineering estimates of emissions sources. In 2024, we completed a project to recover and recycle HCFC22 emissions at our Louisville Works site in Kentucky and implemented improvements at several of our manufacturing sites including the Dordrecht Works and Washington Works sites. For our Dordrecht Works site in the Netherlands, 2024 was the first full year of demonstrating a series of projects to reduce FOC air emissions by 80% from baseline permitted values. These projects have performed as expected and have achieved target performance.

Our work toward reducing air FOC process emissions continues with 15 active projects underway globally. We continue to advance our understanding of water technologies and explore emerging technologies to further advance our progress toward our 2030 FOC emissions reductions goal. All reporting metrics surrounding our FOC emissions follow U.S. EPA’s interim guidance for PFAS destruction and disposal, which was issued in April 2024.

Assessing Nature and Biodiversity Impacts

In partnership with Tandem Global, we completed nature and biodiversity assessments at our sites in line with TNFD and UNEP guidance. As part of this work, we also launched the Power of ChemisTREE program, which exemplifies our commitment to renewing habitats and fostering conservation across our operational sites and in the communities where we work. Our Nature Team continues to work with Tandem Global to create a comprehensive framework that will establish and align priorities with our corporate vision and enable our manufacturing sites to further their nature efforts.

We continue to be industry leaders in addressing biodiversity concerns related to mineral extraction. In the normal course of mine planning, we conduct intensive field surveys to identify sensitive plant and animal species and develop comprehensive plans to mitigate potential impacts. We also sponsor and support research to better understand the natural succession of wetlands re-established on mined lands, the population dynamics of gopher tortoises and avian communities around our mines, and invertebrate populations on reclaimed lands.

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CNH brand, New Holland, has unveiled the evolution of its T7 tractor range and reinforced its leadership in alternative fuels with an expanded sustainable product portfolio.

With the launch edition bearing New Holland’s Blue Power livery, the T7.270 Methane Power CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) tractor, unveiled at Agritechnica 2023, now officially joins the New Holland range, taking the brand’s alternative fuel technology further up the power scale, to benefit a broader range of farmers. Initially the tractor can be ordered in Europe from the end of 2025, with the first deliveries in spring 2026.

“The T7.270 Methane Power is ideal for biodigester operators running haulage tractor fleets,” said Darragh Mullin, New Holland T7 Long Wheelbase Global Product Manager.

The T7 Methane Power tractor can run on biomethane derived from livestock manure, supporting on-farm sustainability. In partnership with Bennamann, New Holland enables farms to capture, process and refine fugitive methane for use as fuel. This closed-loop system reduces emissions, cuts fertilizer use, and can even achieve a negative carbon footprint.

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