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Dems Warn Pulte Against Major Intel Staff Cuts

2 weeks 2 days ago
Two leading Democrat lawmakers are warning President Donald Trump's acting director of national intelligence against implementing significant cuts "that are more appropriately left to a Senate-confirmed Director."

Fossil fuels fuel the AI boom: Microsoft and Chevron partner on massive Texas energy project

2 weeks 2 days ago


A major tech company has announced that it is coming to Texas with a new partnership with an energy giant in the Lone Star State.

On Monday, Chevron announced that it is partnering with Microsoft to develop a new data center campus, known as "Project Kilby," in Texas.

The project will scale to an estimated capacity of 2.67 gigawatts of capacity over time.

The two companies signed a 20-year power purchase agreement in anticipation of the planned, "co-located" power plant and data center.

Reuters reported that the facility is set to be built in Pecos, Texas, west of Midland.

RELATED: The AI gold rush could become an incumbent graveyard

BENOIT DOPPAGNE/BELGA MAG/AFP/Getty Images

"AI is reshaping the global economy, and abundant, affordable, reliable energy is essential to fueling that transformation," said Jeff Gustavson, Chevron president of New Energies, in a Monday press release. "Chevron is uniquely positioned to deliver power to customers with certainty, speed, and at a competitive cost, leveraging Permian natural gas and our proven execution capabilities. This project links Chevron's traditional strengths to emerging demand, creating differentiated value for our shareholders and the communities where we operate."

This agreement, the press release notes, is an important milestone leading up to the final investment decision, which is expected to be made at the end of this year. The "first power delivery is anticipated in 2028." The project will scale to an estimated capacity of 2.67 gigawatts of capacity over time.

The joint infrastructure appears to be designed, at least in theory, to avoid burdening residential neighbors with higher electricity rates, one of many oft-repeated objections to new data centers being built.

The press release claims that "Kilby is designed to deliver reliable, dispatchable electricity directly to Microsoft while aiming to mitigate impacts on the regional grid that consumers rely on," presumably by, at least in part, circumventing the main power grid in the state.

While proponents of the deal point to economic growth potential for the state and efforts to mitigate negative environmental impacts, critics say there may be some serious drawbacks to the plan.

For example, a Mother Jones article from last month noted that Microsoft may intend to take advantage of significant tax incentives that could cost the state heavily.

Greg LeRoy, the executive director of Good Jobs First, pointed out that Microsoft does not mention tax abatements in its pledge. "If they don't say, 'We will refuse tax abatements,' then they've got their fingers crossed behind their back," LeRoy told Mother Jones.

Oil & Gas Watch warned that the project may have significant environmental impacts, including a yearly output of over 13.8 million tons of greenhouse gases, a comparable annual output to that of nearly 3 million gas-powered vehicles.

This agreement comes less than two weeks after Governor Greg Abbott (R) directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to "take immediate steps to protect residential ratepayers from the costs of data center expansion."

In the letter, Abbott directed the PUC to "take action to require data centers to pay for all of their electric infrastructure costs to ensure that no residential ratepayer is burdened by those costs." Abbott added that these directives are building upon Senate Bill 6 and directed the PUC and ERCOT to submit a report by July 17 and to take action to reduce residential ratepayer transmission costs by July 31.

Project Kilby will primarily use natural gas power and plans to "use non-potable, brackish groundwater sources for power plant operations."

“Governor Abbott welcomes innovative projects that strengthen Texas’ economy while ensuring Texans are protected. The governor has been clear that data centers must operate in ways that reduce costs for residential electricity customers, do not drain water needed for our communities, and take into consideration the needs of our neighborhoods," Governor Abbott's press secretary, Eduardo Leal, told Blaze News in a statement.

Editor's note: This article has been edited after publication to include a statement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office.

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Cooper Williamson

Greenspan Playbook to Get a Replay under Warsh

2 weeks 2 days ago
Some of the late former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's most noted attributes as a central banker as well as what proved his greatest blind spot are about to get a replay under new Chairman Kevin Warsh.

Elon Musk is the first trillionaire, and the left hates it

2 weeks 2 days ago


Elon Musk’s unprecedented rise to a trillion-dollar net worth has sparked outrage from leftists, who believe it is unfair that one person should possess that much wealth. But BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere sees Musk’s accomplishment very differently.

“I look at that as an incredible achievement. I look at that as something that is amazing. He’s done a lot of amazing things. He’s an incredible person,” Stu says.

“He’s out there just generating wealth like no one has ever seen,” he continues, pointing out that the “left is pissed off about it” and leftists think it’s “terrible.”

And one article published by the Guardian is a perfect example of the left’s attitude towards Musk’s wealth.


“Is it bad that Elon Musk has a trillion dollars? Yes, and here’s why,” the headline reads.

“There’s really innovative thoughts here,” Stu jokes, “like ‘fiscal fairness’ is one of the reasons. So that’s really thoughtful. Second is — I thought this was interesting — ‘wastefulness.’”

Stu points out that the author, Ingrid Robeyns, lives in the U.K.

“I’d say it’s a free country, but she’s in the U.K., where they’re arresting people with opposite opinions,” he says.

“There’s a lot of interesting choices being made by that wonderful nation and the people in it. And we don’t get to control it because it’s their country, not ours, first of all. But secondly, because we’re not them. Like you control your own life. I wish people could get a little bit more sense on that one,” he continues.

Robeyns explained in her article that Musk’s wealth creates “harms.”

“Extreme wealth concentration undermines democracies,” Stu reads.

“He’s made more millionaires than pretty much anybody else,” he says, explaining that Musk has taken employees from the “lowest levels of the food chain” at his company and turned them into millionaires.

“She then says, by the way, 'it comes with massive greenhouse gas emissions and environmental harm,’” he adds.

“I guarantee you that Tesla has done more with the electric cars to protect the environment than Ingrid does after any meal she’s ever had,” co-host Dave Landau chimes in.

“And there are emissions that she provides. … If you’re in the same room, you’ll know about them,” Stu adds, laughing.

Want more from Stu and Dave?

To enjoy more of Stu and Dave's lethal blend of wit, humor, and insightful commentary subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

BlazeTV Staff

Socialist House Candidate Running on 'Trans Bill of Rights': 'Horrific' to Protect Children from Genital Mutilation Surgery

2 weeks 2 days ago

Melat Kiros, a socialist congressional candidate challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's 1st Congressional District, believes there is a need for a "Trans Bill of Rights," considering it "horrific" to protect children from gender mutilation surgery.

The post Socialist House Candidate Running on ‘Trans Bill of Rights’: ‘Horrific’ to Protect Children from Genital Mutilation Surgery appeared first on Breitbart.

Hannah Knudsen

3 masked teen thugs try to rob man on Chicago bus. But the 54-year-old isn't about to hand over his property without a fight.

2 weeks 2 days ago


When a trio of masked teens tried to rob a man aboard a Chicago bus Saturday night, the 54-year-old fought back, police told CWB Chicago.

Chicago police told the outlet the man was riding a northbound Ashland bus near 57th Street around 11:22 p.m. when the three males approached him and demanded his property while aboard the bus.

'This will continue to happen all over the city. Can't stand at the bus stop. Can't ride the CTA bus. Can't ride the train.'

Investigators told CWB Chicago the trio began taking items from the man, including a chain necklace that was later recovered from one of the suspects.

A witness told WGN-TV in the station's video report that the suspects were "talking about shooting him, blowing his brains out."

But the man soon decided he wasn't going to give up his stuff without a fight.

Police told the outlet the man reached into his bag, pulled out a “sharp object,” and fought with the robbers.

The suspects battered the victim before fleeing the bus, and CWB Chicago reported that officers initially were dispatched after a bus panic alarm generated a “person with a knife” call.

But as the investigation unfolded, police learned the three ski mask-wearing teenagers targeted the passenger who fought back, the outlet said.

CWB Chicago said police recovered a knife at the scene.

More from the outlet:

Then came the plot twist: While officers were sorting out what happened on the bus, 911 operators received another call from the 5600 block of South Justine Street from a caller reporting that his 13-year-old little brother had been stabbed in the hand.

When officers arrived, they quickly connected the dots. According to a police report, the wounded 13-year-old, his older brother, and another individual at the Justine location turned out to be the robbers. Police also recovered the victim’s chain necklace at the scene.

RELATED: Plucky elderly man who uses a walker fights back in brutal fashion when much younger male unleashes attack on him with wrench

Police told CWB Chicago that Chicago Fire Department personnel treated the victim, who suffered a cut on his hand, and then took him to St. Bernard Hospital; he was listed in good condition.

Two of the alleged robbers suffered what police said were minor injuries, and paramedics also treated them the outlet said, adding that the three suspects were arrested and charges were pending as of Sunday morning.

A number of commenters reacting to the station's video report about the incident were up in arms:

  • "The mayor will give the 3 criminals the key [to] the city for such bravery," one commenter wrote sarcastically.
  • "Every law-abiding citizen should invest in a [Firearm Owners Identification Card], firearm training, and the [Concealed Carry License]," another commenter said. "Stay ready for the Devil."
  • "A 54-year-old man taking on three young punks and only having a laceration on his hand ... bravo!!!" another commenter wrote. "And glad they caught and arrested the three thugs; just too bad they will be released, if they aren't already, due to [Illinois Democrat Gov. JB] Pritzker's absurd Safe-T Act."
  • "In a future plea deal, charges of assault with bodily harm and aggravated robbery will be reduced to fare evasion — probably," another commenter predicted.
  • "This will continue to happen all over the city," another commenter lamented. "Can't stand at the bus stop. Can't ride the CTA bus. Can't ride the train."

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Dave Urbanski

Clive Davis, Music Exec Who Reshaped US Sound, Dies at 94

2 weeks 2 days ago
Clive Davis, a former corporate lawyer who became one of the most influential figures in American rock and pop music as he fostered the careers of Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and other stars, died on Monday at the age of 94, The New York Times ‌reported, citing his family.