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Platte River Partners with Qcells to Bring Largest Solar Project to Northern Colorado

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Black Hollow Solar will have capacity for 257MW of power for the utility’s service region.

SEVERANCE, Colo., July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Platte River Power Authority (Platte River) and turnkey solutions partner Qcells USA Corp. (Qcells), broke ground on northern Colorado’s largest solar generation project on July 10.

“Black Hollow Solar represents a major milestone in our journey of working toward our noncarbon energy goals as outlined in the board-approved Resource Diversification Policy,” says Jason Frisbie, Platte River general manager/CEO. “We are proud that Black Hollow Solar, when completed, will bring the total amount of solar capacity in our portfolio to 309 MW, help replace the coal-fired generation we will be shutting down before the end of the decade and is by far the largest solar generation project in northern Colorado.”

The first phase of the project is expected to be complete in May of 2025 and will deliver approximately 367,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy annually to Platte River’s owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. Phase two of Black Hollow Solar will add an additional 107 MW of capacity in 2026, totaling 257 MW for this project. This is enough to power over 63,000 homes and will increase Platte River’s total solar capacity to 309 MW.

Colorado is a national leader in low-cost, renewable energy and we remain focused on protecting our air quality and environment while saving people money. This project will help us do that by expanding solar capacity in our state and helping Colorado reach our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040 while strengthening northern Colorado communities like Severance,” said Governor Jared Polis.

Per the agreement with Platte River, Qcells will provide turnkey solutions including project development, engineering, procurement and constructions services and will supply over 540,000 Qcells modules on the Black Hollow Solar project. The electricity generated will be sold to Platte River beginning in May 2025 under a long-term power purchase agreement.

Energy will be delivered to Platte River’s owner communities in Colorado’s north Front Range through a substation currently under construction, adjacent to Platte River’s existing transmission system.

“Qcells is pleased to have been selected by Platte River to develop and construct this exciting project and solidify our commitment to supporting Colorado’s low carbon energy future,” said IP Kim, Qcells president. “We are proud to provide energy solutions that support a partner like Platte River, promoting good stewardship of the community while also realizing the benefits this project brings as a clean source of sustainable energy for the next 25+ years for northern Colorado communities and to the growth of American energy.”

The site is located northeast of Black Hollow Reservoir, near the Town of Severance, CO and the infrastructure will utilize nearly 1,400 acres. Platte River and Qcells engaged with local authorities and stakeholders, including neighbors, state agencies, town councils and county leaders to identify this site. The location was selected after careful review of physical and environmental impacts, land-use constraints and stakeholder feedback.

As Platte River continues to replace coal-fired resources with renewable energy technology, the addition of Black Hollow Solar along with existing renewable resources will increase Platte River’s total noncarbon energy generation on an annual basis to 58% serving almost 75% of the utility’s four owner communities’ energy needs. Platte River is currently evaluating its next round of renewable energy projects including wind and battery storage to continue the pursuit of the utility’s and its owner communities’ noncarbon energy goals. Learn more about Platte River’s plans for a noncarbon future at prpa.org/future.

Qcells

Qcells USA provides complete utility-scale turnkey solutions through the entire project lifecycle from modules, solar and energy storage project development, and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to the US utility-scale market.

With a track record that includes 8.4 GW of sustainably produced module manufacturing capabilities in Georgia and nearly 2.7+ GW of under-construction and developed, constructed, and operating projects, Qcells USA is a dependable partner throughout the entire project lifecycle. Qcells USA is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm and a Top 7 business enterprise in South Korea.

For more information, visit qcellsusa.com and on LinkedIn.

Platte River Power Authority

Platte River Power Authority (Platte River) is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power generation and transmission utility that provides safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their distribution utility customers.

Media Contact

Nick Centera, Qcells, 1 619-750-5712, nick.centera@qcells.comus.qcells.com

Maia Jackson, Platte River Power Authority, 1 970-568-6678, JacksonM@prpa.orgwww.prpa.org

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Concerns Around Ethical Risks of Generative AI Remain High Amid Increased Adoption: ‘Deloitte State of Ethics and Trust in Technology’ Report

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Over half (54%) of professionals surveyed believe technologies like Generative AI pose the highest ethical risk compared to other emerging technologies

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — While widespread use of Generative AI (GenAI) has broadened awareness of its potential benefits, concerns about the risks its misuse poses to businesses and individuals remain top of mind, according to Deloitte’s third annual report on the “State of Ethics and Trust in Technology.” Among the over 1,800 professionals surveyed for 2024’s report, 46% of individuals believe cognitive technologies have the potential to create the most social good when used responsibly, up from 39% in 2023. However, like last year’s report, over half (57% in 2023 and 54% in 2024) of respondents also said that cognitive technologies like AI and GenAI present the most severe ethical risks compared to other emerging technologies, underscoring the sustained need for ethical guidelines to govern its use.

When it comes to the development of ethical guidelines for emerging technologies, just over one-quarter (27%) of respondents report their organizations have distinct ethical standards for GenAI. Report findings suggest organizations where ethical guidelines are absent or underutilized may continue to be exposed to risks and miss opportunities to enhance stakeholder trust and build social, reputational and financial value.

The study, led by Deloitte’s Technology Trust Ethics practice, surveyed over 1,800 business and technical professionals globally to understand how organizations value and implement ethical principles for emerging technologies. The practice interviewed 26 specialists and leaders across industries and within Deloitte to gather insights in support of the survey’s findings.

“The accelerated adoption of GenAI and other emerging technologies demands a collaborative approach among organizations, leaders, and professionals with diverse experiences and perspectives to define and implement appropriate ethical standards,” said Lara Abrash, chair, Deloitte US. “Future generations will look back on the decisions made today. It is important to honor the collective responsibility for those who will inherit the world shaped during this time.” 

Key findings

Safety first: In this year’s survey, 78% of respondents selected “safe and secure” as one of the top three ethical technology principles, a 37% increase from respondents in the previous year’s survey. When it comes to concerns around AI, respondents highlighted data privacy as the most significant, with 40% of respondents ranking data privacy as their top concern.

Organizations face challenges building trust among employees: Trust in one’s organization and its emerging technologies may be declining and more pronounced in younger generations. In 2023, 87% of millennial and 81% of Gen Z respondents reported buy-in to their organization’s ethical messaging; in 2024 those figures decreased to 77% and 65% respectively. Overall buy-in fell from 89% to 81%, indicating employees of all ages are aligned with their organizations but may decline if left unaddressed.

Reputation is top of mind: When asked to rank the potential negative outcomes to organizations if ethical standards are not followed for emerging technologies, respondents rated reputational damage (82%), financial damage (66%), and regulatory penalties (60%) as their top three concerns.

Trainings and tools outpace other ethics approaches: Investment in technology ethics training is on the rise, with 80% of respondents required to complete mandatory technology ethics training, an increase of seven percentage points since 2022. Furthermore, two-thirds (67%) of respondents reported their organization provides internal tools to familiarize employees with AI. However, diverse focus groups appear to be less utilized in enacting ethical technology standards with 36% of respondents indicating their organizations used diverse focus groups in the development of standards, the same response rate as last year.

“Widespread availability and adoption of GenAI may have raised respondents’ familiarity and confidence in the technology, driving up optimism about its potential for good,” said Beena Ammanath, executive director, Global Deloitte AI Institute and Trustworthy AI leader, Deloitte LLP. “The continued cautionary sentiments around its apparent risks underscores the need for specific, evolved ethical frameworks that enable positive impact. Designated ethics leaders, diverse working groups, trainings and internal AI tools are methods that should be applied concurrently to help increase the pace and success of ethical guidance efforts.”

Deloitte’s Technology Trust Ethics practice is part of the US Purpose & DEI Office and focuses on embedding ethical decision-making into the development and use of emerging technology, to build trust in those technologies and expand the equitable opportunities of a tech-savvy world to all people.

The practice developed a Technology Trust Ethics framework to help organizations assess the ethical implications of emerging technologies and guide responsible decision-making in the design, operation and governance of those technologies.

Methodology
Deloitte’s research included interviews in April and May 2024 with 26 executives and surveyed more than 1,800 business and technical professionals involved in developing, consuming or managing emerging technologies. Respondents represented industry sectors including technology, media and telecommunications; financial services; life sciences and health care; consumer; energy, resources and industrials; academia; government and public service; and nonprofit. The survey spanned the impact of Generative AI on organizations, the understanding of and value placed on ethical principles for emerging technologies, and mechanisms to implement ethical behavior throughout their organizations. 

About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 460,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the “Deloitte” name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

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Green Security Welcomes Anton Vishnyak as Chief Technology Officer to Fuel Growth

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Vishnyak to drive innovation in compliance and access management SaaS platform

CLEARWATER, Fla., Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Green Security LLC, a leading provider of SaaS healthcare compliance and access management solutions, announced today that it appointed Anton Vishnyak as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Vishnyak has more than a decade of experience building and scaling software engineering organizations.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anton to the Green Security team,” said Mickey Meehan, Chief Executive Officer of Green Security. “His expertise in technology strategy, coupled with his experience in managing high-performing engineering teams, will be pivotal as we continue to scale our platform and expand our offerings. Anton’s ability to engage with developers, architects, customers, and partners at all levels of detail will enhance our capacity to innovate and deliver exceptional service.”

As CTO, Vishnyak will lead the company’s technology strategy and oversee software solution development, reinforcing Green Security’s position in healthcare access management, compliance and safety.

“I am excited to join Green Security and help drive its next growth phase,” said Anton Vishnyak. “Green Security’s commitment to safeguarding healthcare facilities through advanced software solutions resonates strongly with me. We have an impressive team, and I look forward to working closely with them on enhancing our technology offerings and continuing to set new standards for automated access compliance solutions.”

Vishnyak’s impressive career includes roles as Head of Engineering at Venice Music where he created the first AI manager for recording artists, VP of Software Engineering at ATLAS Lift Tech where he led the development of a hospital patient monitoring system to prevent Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI) – saving hospitals millions of dollars yearly in litigation and worker compensation costs (patent pending), and the CTO position at b8ta, where he led the creation of a patented innovative retail platform that powered over 35 stores in addition to joint ventures with Macy’s, Toys’R’Us and international b8ta locations in the Middle East and Japan.

Furthermore Vishnyak led development of an enterprise platform that powered contract negotiation and benchmarking required by modern hospital procurement departments at purchased services tech firm Conductiv (formerly Medpricer), and led the development of a retail design platform used by Apple to manage their worldwide non-owned store retail displays and an inventory/rep scheduling platform powering Stryker and J&J distributors across their sales and surgical visits at Mobitor Corporation.

Vishnyak is the company’s third executive hire this summer, following the appointment of Mickey Meehan to Chief Executive Officer and Rhonda Harms to Chief Financial Officer.

About Green Security LLC

Green Security is a leading provider of enterprise access compliance and safety solutions for the healthcare providers, creating a safe and secure visitor environment, while efficiently managing visits from more than 120,000 approved vendors representatives across more than 130 healthcare systems representing more than 1,500 facilities across the United States. Their innovative platform automates vendor background checks and access management, ensuring only authorized personnel can enter healthcare facilities. By elevating security standards and streamlining processes, Green Security empowers healthcare organizations to protect patients, staff, and facilities while maintaining operational efficiency.

Media Contact

Kim Peterson, Green Security, 1 (720) 316-4517, Kim.Peterson@kp-communications.com, https://www.greensecurityllc.com/ 

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Open XR Optics Forum Releases Management Requirements White Paper

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Open XR Optics Forum is excited to announce the publication of its Management Requirements White Paper. With 17 authors of 13 forum member companies, this pivotal document provides an in-depth evaluation of the management interface and API requirements essential for advancing the development and adoption of next generation advanced pluggable transceivers, including Open XR optics products and services.

Key Highlights:

Relevance to Next-Generation Pluggable Transceivers: The white paper’s findings are crucial for managing all next-generation advanced pluggable transceivers, ensuring seamless integration and interoperability across multi-vendor environments.Focus on Multivendor Integration: Emphasizing the importance of decoupling host and module functionalities, the white paper lays the groundwork for a multivendor operational environment and seamless automation of Open XR Optics networks.Alignment with Industry Standards: The document ensures that Open XR management requirements are reflected in API and data model definitions, aligning closely with existing industry standards to facilitate smooth network evolution.Future Steps: Recommendations for further evaluation and standards activities include analyzing potential gaps in the OpenConfig definition and propose extensions to OpenConfig to support XR Optics functionality.

The Open XR Optics Forum continues to drive innovation and standardization to better enable the wide scale deployment of coherent pluggable transceiver technology in a variety of host devices across a variety of network applications. This white paper is a testament to the collaborative efforts and dedication of our member companies and contributors.

For more information and to download the white paper, visit Open XR Optics Forum at www.openxropticsforum.org.

About Open XR Optics Forum
Open XR Optics Forum was founded to foster collaboration between its members to facilitate the adoption and accelerate the growth of network architectures leveraging intelligent point-to-point and point-to-multipoint coherent pluggable transceivers. Members will work to ensure the products and services developed align with existing standards and operational models by driving the standardization of network interfaces and electro-mechanical hardware interfaces, demonstrating interoperability, establishing multi-sourcing potential, and developing and publishing new specifications as needed. This will accelerate the wide adoption and deployment of XR optics’ innovative technology by a broad spectrum of network operators in a wide variety of applications. Open XR Optics Forum membership is intended for network operators, network equipment vendors, and component suppliers.

Media Contact
Engage PR for Open XR Optics Forum
Jeannette Bitz
jbitz@engagepr.com 

 

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