Tag: PR Newswire

HOUSTON, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Texas Southern University (TSU) Foundation announced that it raised $1.25 million for student scholarships at its annual Tiger Ball, held Saturday, April 5 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. More than 700 attendees, including TSU leadership, donors, faculty, staff, alumni, elected officials, community leaders, students, and friends—gathered to celebrate TSU’s commitment to academic excellence and student success. 

The event was led by TSU Foundation Chairman Dr. Frazier Wilson, TSU President Vice Admiral James W. Crawford III, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Tiger Ball Chair and TSU Foundation Trustee Argentina M. James, TSU Associate Vice President of Development & Alumni Engagement Charlie Coleman III, Student Government Association President Katelayn Vault, and KTSU Radio on-air personalities Donna Franklin and TSU Student Regent Taylor Getwood. Festivities began with a “Parade of Partners,” powered by the internationally recognized TSU Ocean of Soul Marching Band, highlighting the evening’s theme of collaboration and student achievement.  

During the program, Dr. Wilson spoke on the impactful legacy of TSU alumni and the importance of investing in TSU’s future.

“Texas Southern University truly is The Heart & Soul of Houston,’ and tonight we celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our 8,100 students across 11 colleges,” said Dr. Wilson. “Whether it is our debate team winning its fifth world championship in South Korea, consecutive student selections to the W.E.B. DuBois Fellowship at Harvard, pioneering work of Dr. Robert Bullard or alumni like Yolanda Adams, Gerald Smith, Megan Thee Stallion, and Michael Strahan, blazing trails in their respective fields, TSU’s impact resonates far beyond campus. From a 77% Thurgood Marshall Law School student bar five-year passage rate to a $610 million economic contribution to Houston, we stand united in empowering the next generation through the TSU Foundation’s student scholarship program.”

President Crawford outlined a bold vision for the institution, announcing the $1 million Tiger Ball fundraising goal and revealing that $800,000 had been raised by mid-evening.  

“As we reimagine TSU’s future, our priorities include strengthening mental health services for students, leveraging data analytics and intelligent automation to enhance support, expanding career development programs and exploring ways to reduce tuition while increasing financial support,” he said. “With the leadership of the TSU Board of Regents and the TSU Foundation, and through events like this—and donors like you—we are also committed to growing our research capacity and advancing toward Carnegie R1 status, ensuring that TSU continues to thrive.”  

In response to President Crawford’s call for additional support, a TSU alumni couple who intends to make long term impact pledged an initial gift of $250,000 to support student scholarships. The couple intends to make long term impact, focused on the student experience at TSU, pushing donations beyond the $1 million mark. That generosity sparked another $100,000 in on-the-spot contributions. 

A key highlight of the evening was the recognition of Challenge Office Products and Furniture Solutions as the presenting sponsor and Corporate Sponsor of the Year. The company contributed $100,000 in memory of its founders, Roy and Olivia Barbosa, demonstrating its longstanding commitment to student scholarships. This marks its third consecutive year as presenting sponsor.

“We are grateful to those who made the decision to invest in our students,” he said. “Likewise, we look forward to the difference these investments will make in their lives as students, and in their future. It’s more than money. They are cultivating dreams. This support will allow our students to achieve what they desire to achieve and what we all know they can achieve.” TSU President Crawford & TSU Foundation Chair Wilson 

Guests were also introduced to the TSU Foundation’s new executive director, Robin Tanya Humphries Watson, who brings two decades of nonprofit management and fundraising experience. The night concluded with a performance by Grammy Award–winning artist LeToya Luckett, who kept the ballroom energized with a medley of her greatest hits. 

Focusing on collaboration, celebration, and commitment to TSU’s next generation of leaders, this year’s Tiger Ball surpassed its fundraising goal and reaffirmed the university’s vision for a bold and innovative future. To support ongoing scholarship efforts, visit https://giving.tsu.edu/.  

Electronic Press Kit: Media Kit Link Photos, Student Video Vignettes, Evening Program. 

About the Texas Southern University Foundation
The Texas Southern University Foundation (TSUF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting Texas Southern University by securing, managing, and distributing philanthropic funds. Governed by a board of trustees, the TSU Foundation provides vital support for student scholarships, academic programs, and strategic initiatives, helping to advance TSU’s mission of excellence in education and service to the community.

About Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. As such, TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities with academic and research programs that address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. A distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas.

CONTACT: 
Tracy Clemons
TSU Marketing and Communications 
Office: 713-313-7371 
Cell: 832-986-9101 
Tracy.Clemons@tsu.edu 

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SOURCE Texas Southern University

Superspecs provides free protective eyewear to keep student-athletes safe as sports and recreation-related eye injuries continue to be the leading cause of blindness in children in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Superspecs, the only state-wide program of its kind to offer free protective eyewear to children ages 18 and younger, is gearing up Ohio’s youth athletes in honor of Sports Eye Safety Month. As a program created by the Ohio Ophthalmological Society, Superspecs provides baseball and softball helmets with face masks, fielders’ masks, goggles, career/technical eyewear and prescription sports goggles to thousands of children each year—all completely free of charge.

Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children, according to the Ohio Ophthalmological Society. Approximately 45,000 sports and recreation eye injuries occur each year with more than half of those incidents occurring to children.

“All student-athletes should be able to love the game they play and not be worried about access to the equipment that keeps them safe and focused, especially now as spring sports ramp up,” said Laura Rosenberg, Program Director. “Superspecs is here to make sure accessibility is not an issue and to stress the importance of eye safety.”

Superspecs has three primary programs focused on eye safety:

• Youth Sports – Soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball athletes can play more confidently using protective eye equipment, free of charge.
• Vocational – Students can focus on learning with their free eye safety wear in career/technical programs such as dental hygiene, heating and air technology, engineering and architectural design, welding and fabrication, auto body collision and repair, and auto services.
• Prescription Goggles – Free prescription sports goggles for qualifying children who wear glasses.

In 2024, Superspecs spent nearly $200,00 on 38,000 pieces of equipment that were distributed throughout all 88 counties in Ohio and worn by over 80,000 children.

If interested in participating in Superspecs, league administrators, parents and teachers can apply online. Multiple teams and classrooms requests can be completed in one easy application. For prescription goggles, qualified applicants can take the completed information to a local, participating provider to complete the order.

About Superspecs:
Superspecs, formerly Play Hard Don’t Blink, was created in 1999 by the Ohio Ophthalmological Society and has since outfitted more than two million Ohio children with protective eyewear. Superspecs is funded through the Ohio Department of Health’s Save Our Sight program and is the only program of its kind in the country. Interested schools, teams and individuals can learn more about Superspecs and how to receive free protective eyewear at www.superspecs.org.

Contact: Audrey Adair, Irvin PR
(614) 570-0111, audrey@irvinpr.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/superspecs-helps-ohio-gear-up-for-sports-eye-safety-month-302422423.html

SOURCE Superspecs

Advanced Absorption and Compact Designs Prove to Work Harder and Save Customers Money

DE PERE, Wis., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FyterTech Nonwovens, a leader in the sorbent industry is launching major enhancements to multiple product lines within their Spilfyter^® brand offerings. The team is proud to announce the launch of 20 new items in 5 categories of products which are all now available at your local industrial distributor, or you can learn more at www.fytertech.com.

The Spilfyter brand is launching new recycled rag rugs using post-industrial recycled fibers, produced in the De Pere, Wisconsin facility. The new recycled rag rugs have been reengineered to be 30% stronger and absorb 40% more liquids than the previous line-up offered. Available in both pad and roll forms, these provide diverse solutions to absorb oil, water, hydraulic fluid, coolant, solvents and more.

Also reengineered to be more absorbent than their previous line is the Spilfyter railroad mat line extension, which also uses post-industrial recycled fibers keeping materials out of landfills. These mats are designed specifically to fit inside and outside of rails, and to absorb hydrocarbons while repelling water. These new rolls use a poly backing to prevent oils from seeping into the ground to avoid costly spills and drips.

Slips, trips and falls make up over 21% of all workplace injury costs. The new Spilfyter Grab & Go^® pads provide convenient high visibility absorbent pads in a portable dispenser that can be deployed quickly. The bright yellow absorbent pads with a caution pattern calls attention to a spill so foot traffic can avoid a hazard on the floor until a proper clean-up can be executed. The dispenser can be hung strategically throughout facilities to allow teams to react quickly in the event of a drip or spill.

Containing spills or creating a leak barrier is a part of the slip and trip defense, and using socks should be a part of your spill control arsenal. The new Spilfyter SpilLock™ Sock is lab tested to deliver 50% more absorbency than a standard absorbent sock. SpilLock technology is designed to not only absorb more, but it locks in liquids to prevent drips to make clean-up a breeze. Made of post-consumer materials, the SpilLock socks absorb both water based and petroleum-based fluids making it a great universal solution.

Space is money, and Spilfyter reclaimed rags, both boxed and bagged solutions are now compressed to decrease the footprint by up to 50% saving freight and warehouse footprint while still being stackable. As always, the Spilfyter line of rags is derived of clothing that is graded and metal-scanned for safety to protect your assets.

“It was important to us to expand the range of Spilfyter products that rose to the top of our customer’s needs in the market,” said Christin Wam, vice president of marketing and new market development at FyterTech. “We are proud of our continued ability to vertically integrate our manufacturing capabilities, paired with the creativity that comes from our innovation team that drives these new products to better serve our customers.”

Media Contact: Cj Wam, Vice President – Marketing [cwam@fytertech.com](mailto:cwam@fytertech.com)

About FyterTech Nonwovens

FyterTech Nonwovens, headquartered in De Pere, Wisconsin, is one of the world’s largest vertically integrated sorbent manufacturers, dedicated to providing innovative fluid control solutions like absorbents and wipers across industrial, commercial, medical, and environmental applications. FyterTech offers a wide range of spill containment products through its Spilfyter^®, SpilfyterMED^®, Sustayn^®, and Essentials™ brands. FyterTech products are designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold in more than 60 countries and 6 continents. For additional information, please visit www.fytertech.com.

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SOURCE FyterTech Nonwovens

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — R.H. Boyd is proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund scholarships and grants. Since its establishment, R.H. Boyd has awarded over $1,000,000 to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing higher education, as well as community organizations dedicated to providing opportunities for advancement.

The Endowment Fund was created to uphold the legacy of Dr. Richard Henry Boyd, who was born during a time when Black literacy was outlawed. His unwavering commitment to education, faith, and empowerment paved the way for generations to thrive. Today, R.H. Boyd continues his mission by investing directly in students and community-driven initiatives that promote growth, innovation, and opportunity.

Scholarships are available to students enrolled in accredited undergraduate and graduate programs who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. Grants are awarded to organizations whose work aligns with R.H. Boyd’s mission, including programs that support:

• Educational advancement through literacy
• Health and wellness awareness
• Spiritual development
• Technology expansion
• Creative arts initiatives

We encourage all eligible students and nonprofit organizations to apply before April 15, 2025. A full list of eligibility requirements, submission details, and downloadable applications can be found at www.rhboyd.com/endowment.

Support the Mission
We welcome donations to the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible and go directly toward funding student scholarships and nonprofit grants that uplift and empower communities. To make a difference today, visit www.rhboyd.com/endowment.

Join Us at the 2025 Legacy Ball
We also invite you to join us at the fourth annual Legacy Ball on June 14, 2025, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee. This elegant evening celebrates community excellence while raising essential funds for the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund. During the event, past scholarship and grant recipients will share how these awards have transformed their lives and careers.

Visit www.legacyball.org for ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities, and event details. Your participation directly impacts students and organizations striving for a brighter future.

About R.H. Boyd
R.H. Boyd is a historic and innovative publishing, printing, and media company based in Nashville, Tennessee, with a legacy of producing high-quality, culturally relevant literature and media since 1896. Family-operated for over five generations, R.H. Boyd continues to champion education, faith, and community empowerment through its publications, events, and philanthropic efforts.

Emmanuel LeGrair
marketing@rhboyd.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rh-boyd-family-endowment-fund-opens-applications-for-2025-scholarships-and-grants-302422312.html

SOURCE R.H. Boyd

PG&E Builds Upon Risk-Informed Safety Actions That Prevented Major Wildfires in 2023 and 2024

OAKLAND, Calif., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Building upon proven layers of protection that ensured no major wildfires resulted from the company’s equipment in 2023 and 2024 and infused with technological innovation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today shared its robust, risk-informed strategy to continue that progress in light of an ever-changing climate. 

PG&E’s 2026-2028 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), submitted to California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety), details the company’s relentless actions to construct, maintain and operate its system to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires and help keep its customers and hometowns safe. The plan fully integrates high-tech tools and solutions including inspecting assets with drones, using artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts and installing sophisticated sensors that can detect vibrations, sounds and light that could indicate potential anomalies on an electric circuit that could lead to an ignition. 

PG&E’s WMP outlines critical layers of protection that work together to reduce wildfire ignition risk and strengthen PG&E’s electric grid in Northern and Central California locations where risk is most severe. These measures include strengthening 570 miles of overhead powerlines and poles; putting nearly 1,100 more miles of powerlines underground; using drones to get a bird’s-eye view of electric assets; benefitting from a mature network of weather station and high-definition cameras with AI; trimming trees and more. 

When wildfire risk is elevated, these efforts are bolstered with highly-effective operational mitigations such as Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS), and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) that protect customers.   

“Our system is safer today than it was yesterday, and it will be even safer tomorrow. Our Wildfire Mitigation Plan employs multiple layers of protection we’re using to stop catastrophic wildfires in our hometowns. The combination of tools, technology and the expertise of our coworkers is working to mitigate risk, reduce ignitions and prevent catastrophic wildfires,” said PG&E Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer Sumeet Singh.  

“Our focus on improving customer experience related to our wildfire mitigation efforts is unwavering,” Singh said. “We want — and we know our customers deserve — a future where both, safe and reliable service, is a reality. We are working every day to make that possible.”  

Technology for Today and Tomorrow
Even as capabilities such as wildfire cameras, weather stations and our 24/7/365 Hazard Awareness & Warning Center (HAWC) mature and become more beneficial, PG&E continues to seek out innovative technologies in the wildfire space. For example, the utility is in the early stages of building real-time monitoring to obtain more dynamic insights into the state of electric assets in light of weather volatility. 

The WMP introduces multiple new technology solutions that are being tested, evaluated and, in some cases, deployed in concert with proven wildfire risk reduction programs, including the following:  

• Gridscope devices. Gridscope pilot deployment started in 2023 and expanded in 2024 with more than 10,000 Gridscope devices now in use across 900 circuit miles (or approximately 3.5% of miles in areas with the highest fire risk) These pole-mounted sensors can detect vibrations, sounds and light that could indicate potential anomalies that could lead to an ignition. In July 2024, during a record-setting heat wave, an electric troubleshooter who traveled to a location identified via a Gridscope alert found vegetation smoldering on an energized line. The line was de-energized, averting an ignition and possible wildfire. PG&E’s evaluation of the devices continues as wider deployment is considered. 
• Early Fault Detection (EFD). It’s like the power grid’s version of the check-engine light in your car. Thanks to PG&E’s new radio frequency (RF) monitoring technology, a growing network of EFD sensors on power poles provide a comprehensive understanding of emerging equipment hazards such as damaged conductor strands or vegetation encroachment that would otherwise be challenging to detect. Promising early results have led PG&E to consider expanding deployment of advanced RF technology. These purposeful investments in technology could change the paradigm of utility asset management. 
• Aerial Span Inspections. This new inspection tool gets added eyes-on-risk on equipment in areas of extreme wildfire risk. Leveraging aerial inspections in 2024 (220,000 poles) and 2025, the span inspections will entail a review of a streamlined, specialized set of photos tailored to identify conditions on equipment that pose the highest risk, including locations mid-span (between poles). These inspections will take place in the middle of the established three-year inspection cycle and be piloted in 2026-2028. 

Proven Layers of Protection  
The WMP highlights layers of protection that have proven to be effective in reducing wildfire risk. Using these tools, no major wildfires resulted from the company’s equipment in 2023 and 2024.  

• Undergrounding powerlines in high fire-risk areas is a permanent protection that reduces the ignition risk from overhead electric distribution lines. PG&E plans to underground 1,077 miles of powerlines between 2026 and 2028.  
• Overhead System Upgrades such as installing covered conductor, strengthened poles, and wider crossarms will provide long-term ignition risk reduction by improving how the grid is constructed and operated. The WMP calls for making these overhead upgrades across 190 circuit miles each year of 2026, 2027 and 2028, resulting in 570 miles over three years. 
• Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings protect 1.8 million PG&E customers living and working in areas with elevated or extreme wildfire risk. In 2024, these settings contributed to more than 72% reduction in California Public Utilities Commission-reportable ignitions when enabled on primary distribution lines, compared to the 2018-2020 average. More than half of customers protected by EPSS did not experience a power outage while EPSS was enabled in 2024.  

PG&E recognizes that outages on EPSS-enabled circuits, when they do occur, are an inconvenience. Through the end of 2024, the average duration of outages on an EPSS-enabled circuit decreased 17% from the prior two-year average. PG&E also will install additional sectionalizing devices and animal/avian protection equipment to further reduce the impact of EPSS outages.  

• Vegetation Management programs continue to evolve using a data-driven, risk-informed approach to help reduce both outages and potential ignitions caused by vegetation contacting PG&E’s equipment.   
• Inspections and Repair Efforts are informed by risk models and are part of comprehensive monitoring and data collection programs providing insight into changing environmental hazards around assets to inform mitigation actions.   
• Situational Awareness Improvements include enabling artificial intelligence to process wildfire camera data and provide automated wildfire notifications. PG&E will continue using state-of-the-art weather forecasting and a comprehensive monitoring and data collection network that uses high-definition wildfire cameras and weather stations to help detect, prevent, and respond to the risk of wildfires.  
• Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. PG&E’s experienced meteorologists use cutting-edge weather models to forecast risk on a granular basis and factor in vegetation in proximity to overhead electrical lines. In recent years, PG&E’s use of PSPS has evolved and been refined in terms of the size and duration of events. In 2023, three PSPS outages affected 5,000 customers. With 2024’s more severe weather, PG&E initiated six PSPS events protecting 50,000 customers in 23 counties.    

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/three-year-wildfire-mitigation-plan-builds-upon-proven-layers-of-protection-includes-nearly-1-100-miles-of-undergrounding-and-further-integration-of-new-technologies-302422274.html

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

PG&E Builds Upon Risk-Informed Safety Actions That Prevented Major Wildfires in 2023 and 2024

OAKLAND, Calif., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Building upon proven layers of protection that ensured no major wildfires resulted from the company’s equipment in 2023 and 2024 and infused with technological innovation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today shared its robust, risk-informed strategy to continue that progress in light of an ever-changing climate. 

PG&E’s 2026-2028 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), submitted to California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety), details the company’s relentless actions to construct, maintain and operate its system to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires and help keep its customers and hometowns safe. The plan fully integrates high-tech tools and solutions including inspecting assets with drones, using artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts and installing sophisticated sensors that can detect vibrations, sounds and light that could indicate potential anomalies on an electric circuit that could lead to an ignition. 

PG&E’s WMP outlines critical layers of protection that work together to reduce wildfire ignition risk and strengthen PG&E’s electric grid in Northern and Central California locations where risk is most severe. These measures include strengthening 570 miles of overhead powerlines and poles; putting nearly 1,100 more miles of powerlines underground; using drones to get a bird’s-eye view of electric assets; benefitting from a mature network of weather station and high-definition cameras with AI; trimming trees and more. 

When wildfire risk is elevated, these efforts are bolstered with highly-effective operational mitigations such as Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS), and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) that protect customers.   

“Our system is safer today than it was yesterday, and it will be even safer tomorrow. Our Wildfire Mitigation Plan employs multiple layers of protection we’re using to stop catastrophic wildfires in our hometowns. The combination of tools, technology and the expertise of our coworkers is working to mitigate risk, reduce ignitions and prevent catastrophic wildfires,” said PG&E Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer Sumeet Singh.  

“Our focus on improving customer experience related to our wildfire mitigation efforts is unwavering,” Singh said. “We want — and we know our customers deserve — a future where both, safe and reliable service, is a reality. We are working every day to make that possible.”  

Technology for Today and Tomorrow
Even as capabilities such as wildfire cameras, weather stations and our 24/7/365 Hazard Awareness & Warning Center (HAWC) mature and become more beneficial, PG&E continues to seek out innovative technologies in the wildfire space. For example, the utility is in the early stages of building real-time monitoring to obtain more dynamic insights into the state of electric assets in light of weather volatility. 

The WMP introduces multiple new technology solutions that are being tested, evaluated and, in some cases, deployed in concert with proven wildfire risk reduction programs, including the following:  

• Gridscope devices. Gridscope pilot deployment started in 2023 and expanded in 2024 with more than 10,000 Gridscope devices now in use across 900 circuit miles (or approximately 3.5% of miles in areas with the highest fire risk) These pole-mounted sensors can detect vibrations, sounds and light that could indicate potential anomalies that could lead to an ignition. In July 2024, during a record-setting heat wave, an electric troubleshooter who traveled to a location identified via a Gridscope alert found vegetation smoldering on an energized line. The line was de-energized, averting an ignition and possible wildfire. PG&E’s evaluation of the devices continues as wider deployment is considered. 
• Early Fault Detection (EFD). It’s like the power grid’s version of the check-engine light in your car. Thanks to PG&E’s new radio frequency (RF) monitoring technology, a growing network of EFD sensors on power poles provide a comprehensive understanding of emerging equipment hazards such as damaged conductor strands or vegetation encroachment that would otherwise be challenging to detect. Promising early results have led PG&E to consider expanding deployment of advanced RF technology. These purposeful investments in technology could change the paradigm of utility asset management. 
• Aerial Span Inspections. This new inspection tool gets added eyes-on-risk on equipment in areas of extreme wildfire risk. Leveraging aerial inspections in 2024 (220,000 poles) and 2025, the span inspections will entail a review of a streamlined, specialized set of photos tailored to identify conditions on equipment that pose the highest risk, including locations mid-span (between poles). These inspections will take place in the middle of the established three-year inspection cycle and be piloted in 2026-2028. 

Proven Layers of Protection  
The WMP highlights layers of protection that have proven to be effective in reducing wildfire risk. Using these tools, no major wildfires resulted from the company’s equipment in 2023 and 2024.  

• Undergrounding powerlines in high fire-risk areas is a permanent protection that reduces the ignition risk from overhead electric distribution lines. PG&E plans to underground 1,077 miles of powerlines between 2026 and 2028.  
• Overhead System Upgrades such as installing covered conductor, strengthened poles, and wider crossarms will provide long-term ignition risk reduction by improving how the grid is constructed and operated. The WMP calls for making these overhead upgrades across 190 circuit miles each year of 2026, 2027 and 2028, resulting in 570 miles over three years. 
• Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings protect 1.8 million PG&E customers living and working in areas with elevated or extreme wildfire risk. In 2024, these settings contributed to more than 72% reduction in California Public Utilities Commission-reportable ignitions when enabled on primary distribution lines, compared to the 2018-2020 average. More than half of customers protected by EPSS did not experience a power outage while EPSS was enabled in 2024.  

PG&E recognizes that outages on EPSS-enabled circuits, when they do occur, are an inconvenience. Through the end of 2024, the average duration of outages on an EPSS-enabled circuit decreased 17% from the prior two-year average. PG&E also will install additional sectionalizing devices and animal/avian protection equipment to further reduce the impact of EPSS outages.  

• Vegetation Management programs continue to evolve using a data-driven, risk-informed approach to help reduce both outages and potential ignitions caused by vegetation contacting PG&E’s equipment.   
• Inspections and Repair Efforts are informed by risk models and are part of comprehensive monitoring and data collection programs providing insight into changing environmental hazards around assets to inform mitigation actions.   
• Situational Awareness Improvements include enabling artificial intelligence to process wildfire camera data and provide automated wildfire notifications. PG&E will continue using state-of-the-art weather forecasting and a comprehensive monitoring and data collection network that uses high-definition wildfire cameras and weather stations to help detect, prevent, and respond to the risk of wildfires.  
• Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. PG&E’s experienced meteorologists use cutting-edge weather models to forecast risk on a granular basis and factor in vegetation in proximity to overhead electrical lines. In recent years, PG&E’s use of PSPS has evolved and been refined in terms of the size and duration of events. In 2023, three PSPS outages affected 5,000 customers. With 2024’s more severe weather, PG&E initiated six PSPS events protecting 50,000 customers in 23 counties.    

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/three-year-wildfire-mitigation-plan-builds-upon-proven-layers-of-protection-includes-nearly-1-100-miles-of-undergrounding-and-further-integration-of-new-technologies-302422274.html

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

PG&E Builds Upon Risk-Informed Safety Actions That Prevented Major Wildfires in 2023 and 2024

OAKLAND, Calif., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Building upon proven layers of protection that ensured no major wildfires resulted from the company’s equipment in 2023 and 2024 and infused with technological innovation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today shared its robust, risk-informed strategy to continue that progress in light of an ever-changing climate. 

PG&E’s 2026-2028 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), submitted to California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety), details the company’s relentless actions to construct, maintain and operate its system to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires and help keep its customers and hometowns safe. The plan fully integrates high-tech tools and solutions including inspecting assets with drones, using artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts and installing sophisticated sensors that can detect vibrations, sounds and light that could indicate potential anomalies on an electric circuit that could lead to an ignition. 

PG&E’s WMP outlines critical layers of protection that work together to reduce wildfire ignition risk and strengthen PG&E’s electric grid in Northern and Central California locations where risk is most severe. These measures include strengthening 570 miles of overhead powerlines and poles; putting nearly 1,100 more miles of powerlines underground; using drones to get a bird’s-eye view of electric assets; benefitting from a mature network of weather station and high-definition cameras with AI; trimming trees and more. 

When wildfire risk is elevated, these efforts are bolstered with highly-effective operational mitigations such as Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS), and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) that protect customers.   

“Our system is safer today than it was yesterday, and it will be even safer tomorrow. Our Wildfire Mitigation Plan employs multiple layers of protection we’re using to stop catastrophic wildfires in our hometowns. The combination of tools, technology and the expertise of our coworkers is working to mitigate risk, reduce ignitions and prevent catastrophic wildfires,” said PG&E Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer Sumeet Singh.  

“Our focus on improving customer experience related to our wildfire mitigation efforts is unwavering,” Singh said. “We want — and we know our customers deserve — a future where both, safe and reliable service, is a reality. We are working every day to make that possible.”  

Technology for Today and Tomorrow
Even as capabilities such as wildfire cameras, weather stations and our 24/7/365 Hazard Awareness & Warning Center (HAWC) mature and become more beneficial, PG&E continues to seek out innovative technologies in the wildfire space. For example, the utility is in the early stages of building real-time monitoring to obtain more dynamic insights into the state of electric assets in light of weather volatility. 

The WMP introduces multiple new technology solutions that are being tested, evaluated and, in some cases, deployed in concert with proven wildfire risk reduction programs, including the following:  

• Gridscope devices. Gridscope pilot deployment started in 2023 and expanded in 2024 with more than 10,000 Gridscope devices now in use across 900 circuit miles (or approximately 3.5% of miles in areas with the highest fire risk) These pole-mounted sensors can detect vibrations, sounds and light that could indicate potential anomalies that could lead to an ignition. In July 2024, during a record-setting heat wave, an electric troubleshooter who traveled to a location identified via a Gridscope alert found vegetation smoldering on an energized line. The line was de-energized, averting an ignition and possible wildfire. PG&E’s evaluation of the devices continues as wider deployment is considered. 
• Early Fault Detection (EFD). It’s like the power grid’s version of the check-engine light in your car. Thanks to PG&E’s new radio frequency (RF) monitoring technology, a growing network of EFD sensors on power poles provide a comprehensive understanding of emerging equipment hazards such as damaged conductor strands or vegetation encroachment that would otherwise be challenging to detect. Promising early results have led PG&E to consider expanding deployment of advanced RF technology. These purposeful investments in technology could change the paradigm of utility asset management. 
• Aerial Span Inspections. This new inspection tool gets added eyes-on-risk on equipment in areas of extreme wildfire risk. Leveraging aerial inspections in 2024 (220,000 poles) and 2025, the span inspections will entail a review of a streamlined, specialized set of photos tailored to identify conditions on equipment that pose the highest risk, including locations mid-span (between poles). These inspections will take place in the middle of the established three-year inspection cycle and be piloted in 2026-2028. 

Proven Layers of Protection  
The WMP highlights layers of protection that have proven to be effective in reducing wildfire risk. Using these tools, no major wildfires resulted from the company’s equipment in 2023 and 2024.  

• Undergrounding powerlines in high fire-risk areas is a permanent protection that reduces the ignition risk from overhead electric distribution lines. PG&E plans to underground 1,077 miles of powerlines between 2026 and 2028.  
• Overhead System Upgrades such as installing covered conductor, strengthened poles, and wider crossarms will provide long-term ignition risk reduction by improving how the grid is constructed and operated. The WMP calls for making these overhead upgrades across 190 circuit miles each year of 2026, 2027 and 2028, resulting in 570 miles over three years. 
• Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings protect 1.8 million PG&E customers living and working in areas with elevated or extreme wildfire risk. In 2024, these settings contributed to more than 72% reduction in California Public Utilities Commission-reportable ignitions when enabled on primary distribution lines, compared to the 2018-2020 average. More than half of customers protected by EPSS did not experience a power outage while EPSS was enabled in 2024.  

PG&E recognizes that outages on EPSS-enabled circuits, when they do occur, are an inconvenience. Through the end of 2024, the average duration of outages on an EPSS-enabled circuit decreased 17% from the prior two-year average. PG&E also will install additional sectionalizing devices and animal/avian protection equipment to further reduce the impact of EPSS outages.  

• Vegetation Management programs continue to evolve using a data-driven, risk-informed approach to help reduce both outages and potential ignitions caused by vegetation contacting PG&E’s equipment.   
• Inspections and Repair Efforts are informed by risk models and are part of comprehensive monitoring and data collection programs providing insight into changing environmental hazards around assets to inform mitigation actions.   
• Situational Awareness Improvements include enabling artificial intelligence to process wildfire camera data and provide automated wildfire notifications. PG&E will continue using state-of-the-art weather forecasting and a comprehensive monitoring and data collection network that uses high-definition wildfire cameras and weather stations to help detect, prevent, and respond to the risk of wildfires.  
• Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. PG&E’s experienced meteorologists use cutting-edge weather models to forecast risk on a granular basis and factor in vegetation in proximity to overhead electrical lines. In recent years, PG&E’s use of PSPS has evolved and been refined in terms of the size and duration of events. In 2023, three PSPS outages affected 5,000 customers. With 2024’s more severe weather, PG&E initiated six PSPS events protecting 50,000 customers in 23 counties.    

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

PITTSBURGH, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — “I wanted to create a new solar energy collector that would better blend in with the natural outdoor landscape,” said an inventor, from West Delray Beach, Fla., “so I invented the SILENT ENERGY SOLAR TREE. My unique design in solar energy collection would be not only functionally more efficient, and effective, but also more visually pleasing. By using a volume based rather than an area-based approach for solar energy collection.”

The invention provides an improved solar energy collection system. In doing so, it offers a more effective and natural-looking alternative to currently popular rooftop solar energy systems. As well as would provide a higher-power output with a smaller footprint in comparison to a traditional flat panel solar cell-based system. As a result, it provides an enhanced visual appearance, and it could harvest more solar energy. The invention features an environmentally friendly, attractive, and modular design that is easy to install, expandable, and mobile. Thus, it is ideal for homes and urban areas where space is limited.

The original design was submitted to the Fort Lauderdale sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 23-FJK-496, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp’s Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. 

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SOURCE InventHelp

BEIJING, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On the occasion of World Health Day 2025, Power Construction Corporation of China (“POWERCHINA” or “the Company”) is celebrating the recent construction and handover of multiple hospitals in Laos and Peru. This initiative underscores POWERCHINA ‘s consistent commitment to building a global health community through concrete actions.

Themed “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” this year’s World Health Day calls on governments and the healthcare community to accelerate efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being. POWERCHINA’s recently completed construction and handover of multiple hospitals in Peru and Laos directly address these goals by providing comprehensive support for local healthcare systems, ranging from infrastructure development and the expansion of medical resources to technology transfer and talent training, with a particular emphasis on contributing tangible efforts toward improving long-term health and well-being for mothers and children.

Since entering Laos in 1996, POWERCHINA has leveraged its technical expertise to deliver high-quality projects, boosting the economy and national development. The opening of Luang Prabang Hospital has enhanced healthcare in northern Laos and exemplifies China–Laos health cooperation. It is the first Chinese government aid project POWERCHINA helped to construct and hand over in Laos. Construction began in September 2022 and was completed in July2024. The project includes 5,918 square meters of new construction and 8,308 square meters of renovations, featuring surgery and cardiovascular buildings, apartments, and sewage treatment facilities. Dr. Phouvana, hospital director, noted the hospital’s dedicated toilet and barrier-free passage benefit women and babies, while independent operating rooms ensure female patients’ privacy.

Huancayo Libertad Hospital, located at 3,259 meters above sea level, is the third hospital officially handed over by POWERCHINA in Peru and the largest modern facility in the area. Spanning 13,000 square meters, it consists of a five-story main building and four one-story auxiliary structures. The hospital features 42 beds, a comprehensive operating room, a delivery room, outpatient and emergency care areas, laboratories, and advanced medical equipment. Serving 120,000 residents, it created over 200 medical jobs and significantly improves local healthcare. Dr. José Chávez praised its obstetric equipment and neonatal intensive care unit. San Ignacio Hospital, the only comprehensive hospital in northern Cajamarca, spans 7,599 square meters with four floors and 40 beds. Benefiting 150,000 residents, the projects are of great significance for ensuring the level of basic medical services in cities and promoting the development of urban medical systems. Local resident Juan Calderón highlighted the hospital’s convenience, reducing long travel times for care.

In addition to the recently completed hospital projects in Peru and Laos, POWERCHINA is also constructing hospitals in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Colombia. These projects have significantly enhanced local healthcare services, created jobs, and advanced infrastructure, demonstrating China’s active role in global health governance and humanitarian cooperation. By providing modern facilities, expanding medical resources, and enhancing emergency and inpatient care, POWERCHINA is aligned with the World Health Organization’s call for global cooperation to improve maternal and infant health by improving accessibility and bolstering public health resilience. POWERCHINA’s ongoing efforts will continue to contribute to a more equitable and accessible global health system, inspiring confidence and progress.

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SOURCE PowerChina

Dial®, the #1 Teacher recommended antibacterial hand soap*, continues to support teachers and students in classrooms across the country through national partnership with U.S. Soccer

STAMFORD, Conn., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Henkel’s Dial® brand, a trusted brand for over 75 years, is proud to announce its new ‘Clean Sheet’ program partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation. As part of this program, Dial® will donate an initial $50,000 to DonorsChoose, an education nonprofit that supports public school teachers and students nationwide, and for every clean sheet in a U.S. Senior National Team soccer match, Dial® will donate an additional $5,000 for a total contribution of $100,000 over the next year.  Dial® hopes to engage soccer fans as they cheer on the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams while giving back to the teachers who do so much for students around the country.

“Preventing the opposing team from scoring any goals, delivers a ‘clean sheet’ match for the winning team. This is a mark of defensive excellence and is a significant achievement for both the goalkeeper and the entire defensive line, demonstrating the power of teams,” said Phil Schaffer, Corporate Senior Vice President of Henkel Consumer Brands North America. “Like the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Henkel’s success is also driven by our passion for team play, which is why we are so excited to not only celebrate with the fans, but also to give something back to the community through education grants to engage and inspire the future generation.”

A longtime goal and brand mission of Dial® is to give educators the tools they need to teach the next generation and foster healthier communities by providing resources that support clean skin and proper hygiene practices now and in the future. To help continue Dial® ‘s brand mission to support educators and future generations, the brand has once again partnered with DonorsChoose to support its new ‘Clean Sheet’ program.

“Henkel is a proud partner of the U.S. Soccer Federation, and we at Dial® are thrilled to take the partnership further with the launch of our ‘Clean Sheet’ program,” said Allison Feldman, VP of Marketing – Personal Care at Henkel.  “For years, a primary goal for the Dial® brand has been to support charitable organizations that focus on helping their local communities. Donations as a result of the ‘Clean Sheet’ program will enable us to show our commitment to local communities and support future generations to chase their goals.”

Announced in November 2024, Henkel’s multi-year portfolio partnership with U.S. Soccer is designed to help to grow the game, elevate performance, and inspire the next generation of players. In addition to the Clean Sheet program, through the partnership, Henkel is also the presenting partner of U.S. Soccer’s Young Player of the Year Awards and community youth soccer clinics, and a supporting partner of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. The partnership marks Henkel’s first-ever portfolio deal and will leverage a range of its more than 30 popular brands in North America, to promote the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, as well as the Youth and Extended National Teams, during the most exciting, unprecedented time for the sport in the United States over the next several years.

For more information on Henkel’s partnership with U.S. Soccer and Dial’s ‘Clean Sheet’ program, please visit henkel-northamerica.com.

*antibacterial liquid and foaming

About Dial®

America’s trusted brand for 75 years, Dial® delivers clean, healthy feeling skin for you and your family with products for Women, Men, and Kids. From bar soap, body wash, and hand soap, our products provide a wide variety of cleansing benefits for our consumers. See www.dialsoap.com for full details.

About Henkel in North America

Henkel’s portfolio of well-known brands in North America includes all®, Purex® and Persil® laundry detergents, Snuggle® fabric softeners, Dial® soaps, Schwarzkopf® hair care, as well as Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives. With sales close to 6.5 billion US dollars (6 billion euros) in 2024, North America accounts for 28 percent of the company’s global sales. Henkel employs around 8,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com and on Twitter @Henkel_NA.

About DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 6.3 million people and partners have contributed $1.7 billion to support over 3 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org.

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SOURCE Dial