Maurice B. Shaw’s Post

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠: 2024 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙆𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 3  𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙢 & 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 Kidney disease has profoundly impacted my family, and too many others are facing this same challenge. In the year ahead, thousands more will receive an unexpected diagnosis. I’m walking to support the National Kidney Foundation and their critical work: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝. 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝. I invite you to join me in making a difference. Come out and participate in the walk or consider a donation to support my efforts and help drive change for kidney health. The link to donate:https://lnkd.in/g36q3iet https://lnkd.in/g36q3iet

𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖’𝙨 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮: 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙖𝙨 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙐𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙨? As whole-home generators become essential for many Louisiana residents facing frequent hurricanes, state regulators are questioning whether the natural gas infrastructure can support the surge in demand. After Hurricane Francine left parts of Lafourche Parish without sufficient gas pressure to power their generators, the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, LOUISIANA, launched an investigation. The concern isn’t about gas supply, which remains abundant, but the capacity of older, smaller systems to handle the sudden spikes in usage during storms. Officials are exploring solutions such as upgrading infrastructure, improving communication between gas companies and homeowners, and even introducing new fees to fund system enhancements. This inquiry highlights the growing pressure on utilities to modernize and ensure reliability in the face of increasingly extreme weather driven by climate change and the rising reliance on home generators. The outcome could shape how Louisiana balances energy resilience and infrastructure investment. #EnergyResilience #LouisianaStorms #GasGenerators #UtilityInfrastructure #ClimateAdaptation #HurricanePreparedness https://lnkd.in/gPij96Ea

𝙐.𝙎. 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨, 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 2024'𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙛 In a remarkable shift towards digital infrastructure, U.S. data center announcements have more than tripled in the first half of 2024, surpassing total announcements from 2023. This boom, highlighted in a report by Wood Mackenzie, is driven by America's ambition to dominate the global artificial intelligence scene, prompting a race to secure land and energy for these digital hubs. Virginia, Texas, and Georgia have led with over 18GW of new data center capacity since January 2023. This expansion is not just in numbers; the size of individual data centers has also grown, adding an average of 8MW per month. While data centers support our digital lives—from cloud storage to AI development—the surge poses significant challenges to the U.S. power grid, with utilities handling over 100GW of pending connections. This rising demand raises concerns about the U.S.'s energy transition and infrastructure readiness, primarily as it competes with other high-power sectors like electric vehicles and manufacturing, stressing the importance of sustainable and reliable energy solutions. #DataCenters #AI #Infrastructure #EnergyTransition #DigitalEconomy https://lnkd.in/g5fDxyta

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨: 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 2024 The International Energy Agency (IEA)'s 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 2024 offers a comprehensive glimpse into the evolving dynamics of global energy, marked by meticulous research and an array of projected scenarios. Each scenario presents a different vision of the future, reflecting the complex interplay of policy decisions, economic trends, and technological advancements. Here’s a breakdown of what the future may hold: 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒍 𝑭𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒔: The report suggests that demand for oil, gas, and coal could peak before 2030, indicating a shift towards more sustainable energy sources. However, the timing of this shift is subject to changes in global policies and market responses. 𝑹𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑮𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅: Renewable energy capacity is projected to nearly triple by 2030. This growth depends on continued technological advancements and sustained investment, influenced by economic conditions and policy frameworks. 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆: The electrification of various sectors is expected to drive a significant increase in global electricity demand. This projection hinges on the pace of technological adoption and infrastructure development. 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑫𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚: The outlook redefines energy security to include traditional fuels and the accessibility of critical minerals for clean energy technologies. This expanded definition recognizes the growing importance of resilience in supply chains and technological diversity. While the WEO provides a detailed exploration of potential futures, it's important to remember that these are projections, not certainties. The scenarios are crafted under different assumptions and policy environments, highlighting paths we might take rather than predicting exact outcomes. This nuanced approach allows us to prepare for various possibilities, emphasizing the need for flexibility in policy-making and business strategies. As global conditions evolve, so will the pathways to a sustainable energy future. Staying informed and adaptable is crucial as we navigate these changes together. #EnergyOutlook2024 #SustainableFuture #RenewableEnergy #StrategicAdaptation https://lnkd.in/g5mDm5UD

𝙐𝙎 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙪𝙢 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙊𝙞𝙡 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨 The United States is gradually replenishing its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), purchasing an additional 6 million barrels of oil for delivery from February through May next year to the Bayou Choctaw site in Louisiana. This move follows the largest-ever SPR sale of 180 million barrels in 2022, which aimed to lower gasoline prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. The reserve had reached its lowest levels in about 40 years but has since been partially replenished, with over 56 million barrels repurchased at an average price of $76 per barrel. The SPR now holds approximately 382.6 million barrels, down from its peak of nearly 727 million barrels in 2009. The Department of Energy is exploring options to continue replenishing the reserve, including requesting additional funds from Congress and canceling future mandated sales. This effort highlights the importance of maintaining strategic reserves and the complexities involved in managing national energy resources. #Energy #StrategicPetroleumReserve #OilIndustry #EnergyPolicy #USGovernment #OilReserves #EnergySecurity #OilMarkets https://lnkd.in/gZxH8sCR

𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙡 Citi is grappling with challenges in adequately training its staff in risk management, compliance, and data roles, as highlighted in its internal assessments reported by Reuters. Operating under regulatory consent orders since 2020 from the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the bank has invested billions in overhauling its controls and systems. However, technical skills still need to be improved among employees, particularly in areas like data governance, analytics, and digital literacy. An internal analysis pointed out that existing training programs needed to address the skills needing enhancement sufficiently. Furthermore, a recent restructuring initiative led by CEO Jane Fraser, aimed at simplifying operations and reducing management layers, resulted in layoffs that reportedly included staff involved in regulatory compliance work. Citigroup asserts that it continues to invest heavily in talent and training, with about 13,000 people dedicated to its transformation project and thousands more supporting the effort across the organization. The bank is committed to resolving regulatory issues and fulfilling its obligations under the consent orders. This situation highlights the critical importance of continuous skill development and robust training programs in the financial industry, especially when navigating complex regulatory environments. Investing in employee competencies is essential for organizational resilience and regulatory compliance. #Citigroup #Banking #FinancialIndustry #RegulatoryCompliance #RiskManagement #EmployeeTraining #DataGovernance #CorporateRestructuring #ProfessionalDevelopment https://lnkd.in/ggZNRQVe

𝙀𝙍𝘾𝙊𝙏’𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 𝙀𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮: 𝘼 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨' 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 As Texas continues to face increasing electricity demands, ERCOT's latest report highlights the significant role of 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 (𝐃𝐑) and 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 (𝐄𝐄) in managing peak loads and enhancing grid stability. By implementing strategic demand response programs, such as smart thermostats, consumers can help reduce the strain on the grid during peak times. ERCOT estimates that temperature adjustments made through these programs could lower peak demand by as much as 3.5 𝐆𝐖. This underscores the importance of active consumer participation in programs like Austin Energy's Power Partner, which adjusts thermostats by up to 4°F to achieve energy savings. In addition to demand response, energy efficiency retrofits provide an essential long-term solution. With single-family homes making up 64% of Texas’ housing stock, these homes offer a significant opportunity for peak demand reduction through upgrades like 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐬 and enhanced 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. The report outlines how these retrofits can deliver sustainable energy savings, reducing both summer and winter peak loads. ERCOT’s analysis shows that energy efficiency measures are cost-effective in the long run. The average annual cost for these programs is projected at $92.4 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐖-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, making them a viable alternative to more temporary demand response solutions. These measures reduce energy consumption and offer lasting benefits for consumers and the grid. This report, conducted by Texas A&M University’s Energy Institute at the request of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), provides critical insights into how demand response and energy efficiency can work together to meet the state’s growing energy challenges. The study’s recommendations also call for more robust policy interventions, such as legislating energy efficiency retrofits and reforming the 4-𝐂𝐏 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦. Texas can improve its overall energy efficiency while easing grid stress during critical periods by encouraging residential participation through financial incentives and increasing market engagement. #ERCOT #EnergyEfficiency #DemandResponse #TexasEnergy #SmartGrid #Sustainability #TexasAM #PUC #EnergyInnovation https://lnkd.in/gzRXuQn4

𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙: 𝙍𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙄𝙜𝘼 𝙉𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙮 (𝙄𝙜𝘼𝙉) Dear Colleagues and Friends, I'm excited to personally invite you to an upcoming 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 hosted by the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀. This 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 event is a fantastic opportunity to: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 about the latest developments in the treatment and management of IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 with fellow professionals in the nephrology community 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 in in-depth discussions with experts in the field 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆: 𝑻𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 15, 2024  𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆: 6:00 𝑷𝑴 – 8:00 𝑷𝑴  𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑰𝑰𝑰 𝒃𝒚 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒇𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒖𝒄𝒌    6550 𝑩𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏, 𝑻𝑿 We are honored to have 𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐚 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐳𝐢 as our featured speaker. She will share valuable insights on IgAN, followed by an interactive Q&A session. 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓:https://lnkd.in/gR-zK_Ub   Please share this invitation with colleagues who might benefit from attending. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. I hope to see you there! https://lnkd.in/gR-zK_Ub

𝙊𝙋𝙀𝘾 𝘾𝙪𝙩𝙨 𝙊𝙞𝙡-𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙨 The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has made another downward adjustment to its oil-demand growth expectations. The latest forecast projects growth at 1.93 million barrels per day in 2024 and decreases to 1.64 million in 2025—down from earlier estimates. Despite this, demand remains robust, driven by strong air travel, road mobility, and solid industrial and construction activities. Notably, OPEC has revised its growth prediction for China downwards to 580,000 barrels per day this year. This comes as global oil prices have dipped, with Brent crude at about $77 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate at around $74, partly due to uncertainty over China's economic stimulus details. Amidst these market dynamics, geopolitical tensions continue to influence the sector, with recent concerns over potential disruptions from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. In response to shifting market conditions, OPEC and its allies plan to ease voluntary production cuts starting in December despite the potential for an oversupply next year. This move aims to regain market share even as global economic growth forecasts remain stable, with a slight uptick in U.S. growth projections for this year. #EnergySector #OilMarket #OPEC #EconomicGrowth #GlobalEconomy https://lnkd.in/gw74KfJe

𝙉𝘼𝙎𝘼'𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙨 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙨 In partnership with the nonprofit Carbon Mapper, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory has released the first methane and carbon dioxide detections from the newly launched Tanager-1 satellite. Using an advanced imaging spectrometer based on NASA JPL technology, Tanager-1 identified methane plumes in Pakistan and Texas and a carbon dioxide plume in South Africa. These findings are a significant step toward Carbon Mapper's goal of globally identifying and measuring greenhouse gas point-source emissions at the facility level. The data collected will be publicly available on the Carbon Mapper data portal, aiding in actionable efforts to mitigate climate change. #ClimateAction #GreenhouseGases #NASA #CarbonMapper #SatelliteTechnology https://lnkd.in/grSQSPZG