download casino games Jaffa Power (Image credit Eco Wave Power) The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and the municipal company Atarim, in collaboration with and , launched Israel’s first pilot station for generating electricity from sea waves at Warehouse 2 at the Jaffa Port. This project is a step towards a greener future. Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is leading the charge in fighting . By embracing innovative technologies, the city is taking bold action to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable environment. This new facility is proof of their commitment. The launch marks a significant step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing sustainable energy, reinforcing Tel Aviv’s status as a global innovation leader. The event will begin with a formal inauguration by investors, strategic partners, and senior energy officials, followed by remarks from Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai and the official unveiling of the station. Developed by the Israeli company Eco Wave Power, the station was built in collaboration with EDF Renewables Israel, supported by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Energy and Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality. The power station is recognized as “pioneering technology” by the Ministry of Energy. For the first time, electricity generated from sea waves will power Israel’s national grid—a historic milestone in the country’s renewable energy progress. Located at the Atarim Blue Economy Innovation Hub in Jaffa Port, this pioneering facility operates alongside other advanced marine technologies. Eco Wave Power is a NASDAQ-listed company (ticker: WAVE) holding 18 patents for innovative wave energy technologies. In addition to the Jaffa pilot station, the company is planning projects in the Port of Los Angeles with Shell and in Porto, Portugal, where its first commercial station will be built. The company’s technology connects floaters to existing marine structures like breakwaters and piers. These floaters rise and fall with the waves, powering a hydraulic motor and generator located onshore. The system includes smart controls that lift the floaters out of the water during storms to prevent damage.

Week 13 of the college football season has already begun, and several games this weekend have implications for the College Football Playoff. One factor that could affect the College Football Playoff rankings is the occurrence of upsets. Last weekend, five of the seven ranked teams that lost were defeated by unranked opponents. Notably, the then-No. 6 BYU Cougars (9-1) were beaten by the Kansas Jayhawks (4-6). The Jayhawks have the chance to play spoiler once again as they face the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (8-2) on Saturday. The Buffaloes enter this matchup in control of their postseason fate. If they win their remaining games, they will secure a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game and have a shot at the College Football Playoff. © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images On the " Paul Finebaum Show ," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum warned that the Buffaloes might be at risk of an upset against Kansas. "I think Colorado has a tricky game on Saturday against Kansas," Finebaum said. A loss could jeopardize Colorado's playoff chances. If Colorado loses and BYU also loses to the No. 21 Arizona State Sun Devils (8-2), Colorado would fall to fourth in the Big 12, assuming the other favorites win. The Buffaloes will face the Jayhawks at 3:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be on Fox. Related: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders Makes Big Pre-Draft Decision

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Share Tweet Share Share Email The utility industry is facing a unique challenge: how do you secure increasingly complex systems while keeping operations running smoothly? In his recent article “ From Sensors to Servers: Security Risks for Utilities ” on SecureWorld, Manav Mittal , an expert in implementing technologies in utility industry, highlights a key issue—vulnerabilities exist everywhere in utility infrastructure, from field sensors to centralized servers. These gaps create opportunities for cyberattacks and addressing them is no longer optional. Modern utilities rely on connectivity to optimize their operations. SCADA systems, IIoT devices, and communication networks now work seamlessly to keep operations efficient, and data driven. But this growing interconnectivity also expands the attack surface. A small weakness at one point—like an insecure sensor or a vulnerable data transmission—can quickly cascade through the entire system. Manav puts it simply: “The gap between physical sensors and enterprise servers is often where security vulnerabilities hide.” Closing that gap is critical to ensuring both security and reliability. One of the biggest challenges utilities faces is their reliance on aging systems that were built for reliability, not security. Many field sensors and edge devices, which play critical roles in gathering data, are deployed in remote locations and are easy targets for tampering. If attackers gain control of just one sensor, it can serve as an entry point into the larger system. From there, they can exploit vulnerabilities in communication networks were data flows between sensors and servers. If these pathways aren’t properly encrypted or segmented, it’s like leaving the door wide open for attackers to intercept or manipulate the information. At the heart of it all are centralized servers running SCADA systems. These servers manage critical processes like power generation, water distribution, and gas pipelines. A single breach at this level could have catastrophic consequences. We’re talking about potential power outages, disruptions to essential services, and real risks to public safety. Manav’s insights shine a light on this interconnected reality: vulnerabilities in one part of the system don’t stay isolated—they can ripple across the entire infrastructure, creating widespread impacts. So, what’s the solution? According to Manav, modernizing SCADA systems and adopting a holistic approach to security are essential. First, utilities need to upgrade legacy systems. Many SCADA platforms still in use today were designed decades ago, long before cyberattacks became a widespread concern. Modern SCADA solutions now come equipped with critical security features like encrypted communication, role-based access controls, and automated patching. These upgrades are a necessary step to reducing vulnerabilities and ensuring systems are protected against evolving threats. Visibility is another key focus area. Utilities can’t fix what they can’t see. Manav emphasizes the importance of real-time monitoring tools that allow organizations to detect unusual activity—like unauthorized logins or data anomalies—early. When utilities can track the flow of data from sensors to servers, they gain a clearer picture of their systems and can respond proactively to any threats. Without this kind of end-to-end visibility, attackers can operate unnoticed until it’s too late. Securing communication networks is equally critical. The data flowing between field devices and enterprise servers is often where attackers strike. Utilities need to ensure these pathways are protected with modern encryption standards, updated communication protocols, and network segmentation. This makes it significantly harder for attackers to intercept or manipulate sensitive information and prevents a breach in one part of the system from spreading to others. Manav also highlights the importance of breaking down silos between IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) teams. Traditionally, these two environments have operated separately, but as SCADA systems bridge the gap between IT and OT, collaboration becomes essential. By aligning security policies, improving communication, and implementing unified threat detection solutions, utilities can strengthen their overall security posture without disrupting operations. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Cyberattacks on utilities don’t just compromise data; they disrupt essential services that people rely on every day. We’ve already seen real-world examples where breaches caused widespread power outages or water supply disruptions. These aren’t just hypothetical risks—they are very real threats that can impact public safety, economic stability, and trust. Modernizing SCADA systems and securing infrastructure across all levels isn’t just about preventing attacks. It’s about ensuring resilience—building systems that can withstand threats and recover quickly, no matter what happens. Manav Mittal’s article makes it clear that utilities can’t afford to take a piecemeal approach to security. Every layer of the system—from sensors to communication networks to centralized servers—needs attention. A holistic, proactive strategy is the only way to stay ahead of cyber threats. By upgrading legacy systems, improving visibility, securing communication pathways, and fostering collaboration between IT and OT teams, utilities can close security gaps and ensure the reliable delivery of essential services. This challenge may seem daunting, but the opportunities are enormous. Modernized, secure systems don’t just reduce risks—they improve operational efficiency and build trust with the communities’ utilities serve. By acting now, utilities can prepare for a future where cyber resilience isn’t just a goal; it’s a standard . Related Items: Bridging Gaps , Securing Utilities Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Bridging Gaps in Patient Care: The Transformative Power of Blockchain Solutions Comments

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Procter & Gamble “stays the course”, say Deutsche Bank, Jefferies analystsUS stocks extended their rally on Monday, led by the , which surged 440 points and closed at a record. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite also gained. The small-cap Russell 2000 jumped 1.7% to an all-time high. Investors cheered President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary, former hedge fund manager Scott Bessent. The pick of Bessent sparked a sell-off in the US dollar, Treasury yields, and gold as Wall Street expects him to pursue pro-market policies that help spur economic growth and limit inflation. The former global macro investor is seen as a pro-market, stabilizing force that could counter some of Trump's plans that could stoke inflation or further balloon the deficit. Bond yields dropped as investors saw Bessent's nomination as lowering the potential for a spike in inflation in 2025 and beyond. The 10-year Treasury yield plunged 14 basis points to 4.268%. "The choice of Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary seems to have allayed major fiscal concerns," economist James Reilly of Capital Economics said. Reports say Bessent to Trump earlier this year, which was received favorably. The plan refers to three targets: cut the budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product by 2028, spur annual GDP growth to 3% via deregulation, and produce an additional 3 million barrels of oil per day. He has also floated the idea of gradually implementing tariffs to avoid causing a sudden, painful spike in inflation. "Bessent as Treasury Secretary lends substantial economic and market credibility to the cabinet," Fundstrat's head of research Tom Lee said, adding that his role will be a positive for market dynamics heading into 2025. Meanwhile, it's a busy week for economic data despite the shortened holiday week. Investors will get initial jobless claims, a third-quarter GDP revision, and personal consumption expenditures data on Wednesday morning, as the stock market is closed on Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving. Economists expect initial jobless claims to come in at 215,000, and third-quarter GDP growth to be 2.8%, while PCE inflation data is expected to be the same as last month at 0.2% on a month-over-month basis. Read the original article onAirX Climate Solutions Acquires Powrmatic USA

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has crashed dollars for Customs duty clearance in less than 24 hours The CBN reduced the rate from N1,588 to N1,533.26 per dollar as of Saturday, December 7, 2024. The development comes as the naira has been accelerating against the US dollar in the past days in the new Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) PAY ATTENTION: Got a Minute? Complete Our Quick Survey About Legit.ng Today! Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has adjusted the exchange rate for customs duty in Nigeria’s ports following the accelerated recovery of the Nigerian currency. The naira has been on an upward swing against the US dollar since last week as the CBN launched the new foreign exchange trading platform. CBN crashes dollar for importers by N55 Data from the Nigeria Customs Service trade portal shows that the apex bank adjusted the exchange rate for cargo clearance from N1,588.29 to N1,533 per dollar, representing a reduction margin of N55. Read also CBN crashes dollar for importers to clear goods as naira records massive gains in 24 hours PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow The development means importers will pay N55 less from Friday to apparent goods from Nigerian ports. The move follows the excellent performance of the Nigerian currency in the newly launched Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) by the CBN. Information from NFEM shows that the naira appreciated N1,533 per dollar from N1,567 per dollar as of Thursday, December 5, 2024. The naira rises in official and black markets The naira also appreciated in the parallel segment of the foreign exchange market from N1,725 to N1,570 as sellers struggled to sell foreign currencies. Findings show that the CBN's recently launched platform boosted market performance by allowing market transparency. Experts predict new rates for the naira Experts have lauded the CBN’s initiative, saying the naira is now finding its value via the new platform. Senior banker and economist Janet Ogochukwu disclosed that the new platform enabled the naira to perform well against major currencies, defying the dire predictions against it. Read also New exchange rate: Dollar crashes by over N100 against Nigerian currency “I think the new system has been seen as transformative in shaping the true value of the naira. Now, we are seeing the true rates in which the local currency can trade,” she said. According to her, the move has defied naysayers who predicted the worst for the naira. She said that if the move is sustained, the naira could revert to N1,300 by January 2025. Dollar supply in the official market surges Legit.ng earlier reported that dollar supply in the foreign exchange market rose by 61.9% yearly in the past 11 months from $26.6 billion. Recent data on quarterly transactions in the FX market indicates that dolly supply stood at $12.64 billion in the first nine months of 2024, compared to $10.24 billion in the year's second quarter. The decline continued in the third quarter when turnover dropped by 0.87% to $10.15 PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng

Brian Travis wasn’t the type of dad you would often hear at his children’s events, but he was the guy you’d always see. Whether he was tracking stats in the back row of the bleachers at a baseball game or dancing on stage in a rockstar outfit for a father-daughter dance, Travis was always there for his family. “He lived for family and his kids,” said Mindy Travis, Brian’s wife. Even in his final days, Brian Travis gave his all. After he died Dec. 5 — 12 days after the 48-year-old Lincoln man went into cardiac arrest — his family donated his organs. The community rallied around the Travis family for the donation as hundreds of people, including teammates, coaches and friends, filled the hospital hallway during an honor walk that same day at Bryan East Campus. “I didn’t know how much impact that he had or we had on people,” Mindy said. Kara Cordell, spokeswoman for Live On Nebraska, said that honor walks occur every time a family undergoes an organ donation. The final tribute includes the donor's caregivers and loved ones lining the hallways of the hospital as the donor is transported to the operating room. "Legacy is important to donor families," Cordell said. "Whether in front of a small group of staff members or with dozens of people present, the significance of the donor's life and their impact on others is recognized and celebrated." Cordell said the walk brings pride and comfort to those saying goodbye to their loved ones, whether it's friends, coworkers or others close to the family. Organ donations aren't common, Cordell said, because donor candidates must be in a hospital and on ventilation prior to the organ donation surgery. In Nebraska, there have been 111 successful organ donation cases this year. Of those, only five have been at Bryan East. Outside of the hospital, hockey sticks were set out by those who knew Travis through the Lincoln Junior Stars, where his son Matthew plays hockey. The online tribute “Sticks out for Brian” was circulated on social media. “You don’t know how many people care or have your back,” Mindy said. “It’s been overwhelming, but I’m grateful because I don’t know how to do this without them.” Mindy and Brian’s relationship was built on support, love and their contrasting personalities, she said. Despite Mindy’s independent nature after losing both her parents at a young age, Brian was steadfast in her life. “I’m pretty strong-willed and hard-headed, and I would push to see if he would break,” Mindy said. “He never would and I could never understand why he stayed with me.” Brian was the parent who read to their three kids each night and could be counted on for helping with any crafts. “He would always make the kids and I homemade Valentine cards,” Mindy said. “He did that when we dated as well. My birthday card was always homemade.” Mindy first met Brian in Columbia, Missouri, while attending college. After he proposed on a bike trail, the two got married and moved to Nebraska in 2003. After 11 years of living in Kearney, the family moved to Lincoln, where they would raise their sports-loving family of five. Brian and Mindy were determined to make it to every event, whether it was track meets, hockey games or dance recitals. He even participated in both their daughters' dance recitals several times. “He would go and learn the steps, and then secretly, he would practice them downstairs,” Mindy said. “He did it because his kids wanted him to do it, and he took pride in their sports.” His love for children wasn’t limited to his own. Mindy said Brian treated other kids as if they were his, offering unwavering support to the families around him. Dave Quevedo and his wife, Joey, met the Travis family nearly 10 years ago as their children grew up playing flag football, baseball and hockey together. Mindy and Joey would run the events together and Brian could often be found chalking lines and helping with warmups. “We were always together at different events because of our boys,” Dave Quevedo said. “Brian was always around.” Brian was the kind of parent to keep track of each player’s stats and which opponents their team would be going up against. He’d sit toward the back with his paper book during the baseball games until the stats were digitized and kept electronically. “He probably actually got to enjoy the games at that point,” Quevedo said. In addition to working in insurance at Continental Western Group, Brian became a pedicab driver in 2018 to supplement the family’s income. He would often donate plasma to ensure they could make ends meet and to provide the best opportunities for his family. For years, Quevedo would watch his best friend work hard to make sure he could always provide the best for his family. “He was that amazing human,” Dave said. “It sucks. Why are the good ones the ones that are dying so young?” On the evening of Nov. 23, Brian was working as a pedicab driver around downtown Lincoln after the Nebraska-Wisconsin volleyball game. It was at about 9:30 p.m. when he collapsed at the Embassy Suites hotel. Bystanders performed CPR and his heart was shocked twice, but he never woke up. Mindy still doesn’t understand what happened to Brian, who seemed healthy and had a very active lifestyle. In the weeks after his death, it’s been difficult for her to come home expecting to see her upbeat husband and not seeing him there. The Quevedos are just a few of their close friends making sure Mindy and her children never feel alone. In November, Joey Quevedo started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses. “It’s so hard for me to accept help,” Mindy said. “I’m good at giving it, so to receive it is so hard for me because it makes me feel guilty.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar warned against "some forces" in and outside the country which are "unable to digest India's progress" and looking to divide the country. He urged people to be together in "neutralizing every anti-national narrative." While speaking at an event in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Wednesday, VP Dhankhar mentioned, "There are some forces in the country and outside which are unable to digest India's progress. There is a well-planned effort going on to disintegrate the country, divide the country and insult its institutions. We must neutralize in togetherness every anti-national narrative." "One thing is very clear, it cannot be said that India is a nation with potential, that stage is behind us. India is on the rise, and as I said that rise is unstoppable," the VP continued. Earlier on Tuesday, INDIA bloc parties submitted a no-confidence motion at the Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody's office, seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Upper House, Vice President Dhankhar for allegedly conducting the proceedings of the Council of States in "extremely partisan manner." "All parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States. It has been a very painful decision for the INDIA parties to take, but in the interests of parliamentary democracy, they have had to take this step. The motion has just been submitted to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also accused Dhankhar of behaving like a "spokesperson of the government for his next promotion." He alleged that the "biggest disrupter" in Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself. "He (RS chairman) does schooling like a headmaster... From the opposition side, whenever important issues are raised as per rules - the chairman doesn't allow to have a discussion in a planned manner. Time and again opposition leaders are stopped from speaking. His (RS Chairman) fidelity is towards the ruling party instead of the Constitution and constitutional tradition," Mr Kharge alleged. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Featured Video Of The Day Parliament Pandemonium: Smaller Parties Voice Drowned In The Din ? Jagdeep Dhankhar Mallikarjun Kharge "Compelled To Take Step, Chairman Biggest Disruptor In Rajya Sabha": M Kharge Explained: Historic No-Trust Vote Against Rajya Sabha Chair, And The Numbers Parliament Winter Session Highlights: Chaos In Rajya Sabha Again, House Adjourned Till Tomorrow Amid Techie Suicide Case, Top Court Lays Down 8 Factors For Deciding Alimony "Like Beast...": What Techie's Wife Claimed, What He Said In Suicide Note "I Started Saving For Your Car": Atul Subhash's Letter To 4-Year-Old Son Out On Bail, Rape Accused Murders Victim, Throws Body Parts In River: Cops US President-Elect Donald Trump Is Time Magazine's "Person Of The Year" Trump Invites China's Xi Jinping To Attend Inauguration Next Month: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world . MORE Trending News Amid Techie Suicide Case, Top Court Lays Down 8 Factors For Deciding Alimony "Like Beast...": What Techie's Wife Claimed, What He Said In Suicide Note Rahane, Shaw Combine To Smash World Record In Historic Chase For Mumbai "I Started Saving For Your Car": Atul Subhash's Letter To 4-Year-Old Son Picture Of The Day: Kareena, Ranbir, Alia Pose With Narendra Modi Prithvi Shaw Shuts Down 'Fitness' Critics With Quickfire Knock In Big Chase 'My Niece, Nikita Singhania, Has All Answers': Uncle On Techie's Suicide Why Luigi Mangione Killed UnitedHealthcare CEO: A Chronic Back Pain Link During Meeting With Kapoors, PM Recounts Hearing Raj Kapoor Song In China "Apology Not Accepted": J Scindia After Trinamool MP Comments On His Looks Punjab Named 7th Best Food Region In The World, Other States Also On List "You Didn't Bring...": PM To Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan On Taimur, Jeh Bengaluru Techie Suicide: FIR Against Atul Subhash's Wife, In-Laws Video Shows Crowded AC Coach Of Poorva Express, Railway Seva Responds Not Country's "Moral Guardian": Harish Salve On Supreme Court's Role World Chess Championship: Gukesh Misses Big Chance As Ding Draws Game 13 "Torture Is Also A Kind Of Murder": Parents Of Bengaluru Techie After His Suicide 'Welcome' Actor Invited To UP Event, Then Tortured For 12 Hours Amid Atul Subhash Suicide Shocker, Supreme Court's Big Remark On Dowry Cases Shaheen Scripts History, Becomes First Pakistan Player In History To...Paul Finebaum Puts College Football Playoff Contender on Upset AlertPep Guardiola admits he is questioning himself after Man City lose to Juventus

ATLANTA — Georgia tax collections rose by 2.3% last month compared with November of last year, the state Department of Revenue reported Wednesday. The revenue agency brought in $2.38 billion in November, an increase of $52.9 million over the same month last year. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Cardlytics reports that card-linked cash-back offers represent a strategic stocking stuffer for smart shoppers navigating the expensive holiday landscape. Click for more. Holiday spending hacks: How to unwrap savings without sacrificing festive cheerMan accused in the burning death of a woman on a New York subway appears in courtMacy’s announced Monday that a single employee was responsible for so many accounting irregularities that the company was forced to delay its quarterly earnings report, which the retailer had planned to release Tuesday. The company recently discovered the unnamed employee intentionally hid as much as $US154 million ($A236m) in expenses over the course of nearly three years, prompting the retailer to conduct an independent forensic accounting investigation. The employee, whom Macy’s said was no longer with the company, “intentionally made erroneous accounting accrual entries” to hide small package delivery expenses. Macy’s did not say why the employee hid the expenses. Although the questionable expenses were a small fraction of the $US4.36 ($A6.7) billion in delivery expenses Macy’s recognised between the fourth quarter of 2021 through its most recent period, Macy’s found that the errors were significant enough to delay reporting its full quarterly earnings until December 11. Still, the company said there was “no indication that the erroneous accounting accrual entries had any impact on the company’s cash management activities or vendor payments”. So far, the company’s investigation points just to the one former employee. Investigators have not found any other employees who may have participated in the creation of the fake accounting entries. “At Macy’s Inc, we promote a culture of ethical conduct,” Macy’s CEO Tony Spring said in a statement. “While we work diligently to complete the investigation as soon as practicable and ensure this matter is handled appropriately, our colleagues across the company are focused on serving our customers and executing our strategy for a successful holiday season.” Accounting issues will do little to soothe investors who have sent Macy’s stock down nearly 20 per cent this year. The accounting problem “raises the question as to the competence of the company’s auditors,” Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail, told CNN. “Such things create more nervousness for investors who are already concerned about the company’s performance.” Macy’s released a preliminary earnings report Monday and revealed that quarterly sales slipped 2.4 per cent to $US4.7 ($A7.23) billion because of weakness in its digital channels and cold weather categories as the country experienced its warmest fall on average. The retailer’s decline in sales is “to be expected given that the middle-market isn’t great, and that Macy’s is far from being on the front foot across all of its stores. But it still underlines the fact the company is in overall decline,” Saunders said. The company has identified hundreds of stores it plans to close as part of a turnaround plan. The stores the company plans to keep open performed somewhat better but their sales still fell. Bloomingdale’s fared better — sales at those higher-end stores rose 1.4 per cent. Bluemercury sales rose 3.2 per cent. The 165-year-old retailer in July rejected talks with private investors attempting to take over the company and opted to pursue its own strategy to remake the chain. Shares of Macy’s (M) fell nearly 3 per cent at the open.

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Chiefs are no longer relishing close wins as the stress of the postseason push begins to mount(TNS) — Crawford Central School Board members officially pulled the plug Monday on a major infrastructure project meant to generate years of energy savings for taxpayers while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, just 13 years after it began operation, the Biomass District Heating System is set to be disassembled and sold for parts while taxpayers continue footing the bill for the plant’s construction at a rate of about $181,000 per year for another 12 years. Board members on Monday voted unanimously in favor of an addendum to the original agreement that will allow Crawford Tech to convert the biomass building to classroom space once the high-pressure steam system has been removed. With the notable exception of the ongoing debt payments, the move brings to an end a multimillion-dollar effort at alternative energy production. “I think it’s time to move on,” board President Kevin Merritt said after the meeting. “It was costing us more money to operate the biomass than if we just went back to natural gas.” While the choice to pursue the biomass did not pay off, Merritt declined to point fingers at his predecessors on the board. “It’s not a fault of the people that made the decision back when they started it,” he said. “Things just didn’t materialize to what was expected or anticipated from the original agreement. Gas prices were supposed to skyrocket. They never did.” First conceived 16 years ago, the biomass plant proposal came in direct response to natural gas prices that had remained high for several years before spiking even higher for much of 2008. Looking back, the plan still sounds like a good one, Matt Barnes, a certified energy manager with Erie -based Rabe Environmental systems, suggested in separate presentations to board members at Crawford Central and Crawford Tech earlier this year: Find a cheaper source of fuel and use it to heat the Meadville Area Senior High-Meadville Area Middle School complex, Crawford Tech and the Meadville Area Recreation Complex (MARC). “It was extremely high,” Barnes said of the cost of natural gas when the plant was being planned, “making the viability of the biomass a good, cost-effective source of energy at the time. I believe the district made a good-faith decision to build and operate the plant but would not have been able to predict the amount that natural gas prices would have dropped over the subsequent years.” A biomass plant burns renewable and biodegradable energy sources, such as switchgrass or wood chips, to generate heat or electricity, and the possibility of an energy fuel with a stable and relatively low price that was readily available in the region proved appealing to federal and state officials at the time as well. According to Meadville Tribune reporting at the time, Crawford Central secured $3.6 million in financing for a project that ultimately cost about $3.2 million. The financing included $1.1 million in state and federal grants and a $2.4 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. After multiple refinancings and years of payments going almost exclusively toward interest, nearly $2.3 million in total debt remains: $2.1 million of the original principal and $230,300 in interest. Based on a 2008 agreement, payments are split between the three entities that partnered on the biomass project: Crawford Central is responsible for 42 percent; the authority that oversees the MARC, 34 percent; and the Career and Technical Center, 24 percent. However, since at least 2016, Crawford Central has paid the MARC’s share in an agreement reached after the district slashed its annual funding for the facility. Since Crawford Tech receives its funding from Crawford Central, Conneaut and PENNCREST school districts, with the districts splitting the annual budget based on the percentage of students they send to the school, Crawford Central ends up funding nearly 85 percent of the debt payments. Board members at the time had no way of knowing it, but when natural gas climbed to $12.69 per 1 million British thermal units (Btu) in June 2008, it was by far the highest price that natural gas would reach for the next 16 years. As demand plummeted in the wake of the Great Recession, the price fell to $5.82 per 1 million Btu by the end of 2008, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the statistical and analytical agency for the U.S. Department of Energy. Increased production has kept prices low in the years since. In fact, since 2008, the price has climbed over $5 per 1 million Btu in just 21 of 190 months. In the last two years, the monthly average price has fluctuated between $5.53 and $1.49 per 1 million Btu. In retrospect, the dropoff in price was so steep — and so perfectly timed following the decision to proceed with the biomass — it appears “almost comical,” Crawford Central Business Manager Austin Stofferahn told board members in September. As the plant neared completion in late 2011, district officials were still projecting that it would save taxpayers $1.5 million over 25 years. Thirteen years later, the savings estimate seems naive. Operating the biomass last winter cost at least $61,000 more than heating with natural gas-fueled conventional boilers would have cost, according to a report from Barnes. Stofferahn’s skepticism regarding savings extended even further. “I’d almost be willing to bet that the savings were extremely minimal, even from the first year, second year, third year,” he told the board in September. “After that, I’d be willing to bet there was no savings.” In addition to lower fuel costs, the biomass plant was originally projected to generate its own electricity, which would be used to offset the cost of operating the plant. That never happened, according to Merritt. According to a presentation on the biomass plant this spring, electricity for the facility cost $32,000 last winter. “The electric generator — that went offline shortly after it started,” he said. “Nobody ever repaired it.” Like the savings projections, the original agreement between the school district, the recreation complex and Crawford Tech seems naive from today’s vantage point. “Biomass has historically been a stable, low-cost energy source and modern equipment to burn biomass for hot water heat is reliable, efficient and clean,” the 2008 agreement stated. Despite that optimism, reliability has been an issue for Crawford Central’s biomass plant almost from the start. The plant began operating in the winter of 2011-12. By the summer of 2013, Crawford Central was raising taxes and slashing its annual funding to the MARC, largely as the result of state funding cuts to education that resulted from the Great Recession. Following an outpouring of community concern to save the MARC, Crawford Central slashed but continued its annual funding for the MARC. Doug Lang, one of the leaders of the effort to save the MARC, told The Meadville Tribune at the time, “Now that we’ve stabilized things, we can get on with trying to market the MARC to the community, which should lessen the financial burden on all the community — and figuring out how to make the biomass work right.” By the middle of the decade, Crawford Central was replacing 10 to 15 of the steel tubes at the heart of the plant due to corrosion each year. In 2021, that number jumped to 40, resulting in $52,000 in repairs. By the end of last winter, the biomass was no longer being used to heat the MARC due to a ruptured hot water supply line that occurred about a month before the end of the October to April heating season, according to Matt Tarr, director of buildings and grounds for Crawford Central. In addition, a feasibility study revealed early this year that the biomass boiler’s refractory material, the heat-resistant brick lining in the interior of the boiler, was failing and needed to be replaced. The news came just before the retirement of the longtime district employee who was the only person qualified to operate the plant. Repairs needed to get the plant running for this fall were estimated at $240,000, but to convert it from high pressure steam to hot water, find appropriate staffing and address other long-term concerns would likely have cost more than $500,000, according to the HHSDR consultants who conducted the study. The original biomass agreement also called for the formation of a Biomass Operating Committee with members from the board for each of the partner entities. It’s not clear if such a committee ever met, according to Merritt, who was elected to the Crawford Central board in 2019. While the biomass plant will soon be disassembled, the partnering entities behind its construction continue to work together. Crawford Central still sends students to Crawford Tech, of course, and continues to lease the use of the MARC’s facilities. The decision to let Crawford Tech use the biomass building for classes will require extensive renovations following the removal of the biomass equipment. It also comes after Crawford Tech earlier this year purchased the former location of Integrity Complete Auto Repair for $545,000 in a move also intended to enable the school to expand its classes. Like their counterparts on the Conneaut and PENNCREST boards, Crawford Central members also approved the Integrity purchase; at the time, Crawford Central members were still determining their plans for the future of the biomass. Merritt, who chairs the joint committee that oversees Crawford Tech in addition to presiding over the Crawford Central board, said that “ultimately we could probably use both” buildings. Discussions earlier this year called for the school’s automotive technology and diesel technology classes to be moved to the Integrity location. The biomass building has been touted as a possible location for welding classes. Crawford Central efforts in recent months to persuade Conneaut and PENNCREST, its partners in the technical school, to pick up an increased share of the biomass debt payments proved unsuccessful. Recent meetings have suggested a possible fraying of the partnership between the school district and the MARC. Where the district once contributed as much as $260,000 to the MARC’s budget each year and sent all of its fourth graders to the facility for swim lessons, today it pays $45,000 and has not offered swim lessons in nearly a decade. The addition of the MARC’s share of the biomass debt payments brings the total annual contribution to about $105,000, still well short of what it was paying 15 years ago. At the school board’s work session last week, several members questioned an agreement that would continue the district’s annual payments to the MARC at the same rate, with Merritt saying he couldn’t support the arrangement and another saying he “actually started laughing” as he read the contract. Like Merritt and other current Crawford Central board members, Aaron Rekich, the executive director of the MARC, was not involved in the development of the biomass plants and its early years of operation, but he was optimistic about the working relationship between the district and the complex despite what he characterized as recent confusion regarding both the expenses associated with the annual facilities usage agreement and the evolution of the biomass. “There was an agreement back when this first started that we’re trying to iron out and figure out exactly where the information is. Apparently right now there’s a lot of miscommunication on what happened back when the biomass was made and why they’re paying for the bonds,” Rekich said. “We’ll end up putting something together and talking to (Superintendent) Jenn Galdon about it.”

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