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Tag: Power Outages

  • Fish found on transformer after New Jersey power outage — officials suspect bird dropped it

    Fish found on transformer after New Jersey power outage — officials suspect bird dropped it

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    Officials say a New Jersey power outage a week ago was due to an unlikely culprit — a fish

    SAYREVILLE, N.J. — A power outage that cut electricity to a New Jersey community a week ago was due to an unlikely culprit — a fish that was apparently dropped by a bird and landed on a transformer, officials said.

    Sayreville police said Jersey Central Power and Light Company workers working on the Aug. 12 outage that cut power to a large area of Lower Sayreville found a fish on the transformer in the New Jersey community southwest of New York’s Staten Island.

    “We are guessing a bird dropped it as it flew over,” police said on their Facebook page. In a later post, they had a bit of fun, asking readers to remember the fish as “the victim in this senseless death,” dubbing him “Gilligan” and calling him “a hard working family man” and “a father to thousands.”

    The suspect, they said, “was last seen flying south” — and readers were urged not to try to apprehend him because “although he isn’t believed to be armed he may still be very dangerous.”

    Jersey Central Power and Light Company spokesperson Chris Hoenig said animals — usually squirrels — are a common cause of power outages but “fish are not on the list of frequent offenders.” He said an osprey was probably to blame for the outage that affected about 2,100 Sayreville customers for less than two hours.

    Hoenig said the Sayreville area has a large presence of ospreys, which were on the state’s endangered species list until less than a decade ago. The company has a very active osprey and raptor protection program that includes surveys and monitoring of nests and relocating nests that are on their equipment or too close to power lines, he said.

    Hoenig told CNN the company appreciates the patience of customers during the outage — but also has sympathy for the suspected avian that lost its lunch.

    “If you’ve ever dropped your ice cream cone at the fair, you know the feeling,” he said.

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  • Closure of 3 Southern California power plants likely to be postponed, state energy officials decide

    Closure of 3 Southern California power plants likely to be postponed, state energy officials decide

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    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Temperatures in many California cities are cooling down this week, but a debate is simmering on how to generate enough electricity to power the state through extreme weather events while transitioning away from a reliance on fossil fuels.

    The California Energy Commission voted Wednesday to extend the life of three gas power plants along the state’s southern coast through 2026, postponing a shutoff deadline previously set for the end of this year. The vote would keep the decades-old facilities — Ormond Beach Generating Station, AES Alamitos and AES Huntington Beach — open so they can run during emergencies.

    The state is at a greater risk of blackouts during major events when many Californians simultaneously crank up their air conditioning, such as a blistering heat wave.

    “We need to move faster in incorporating renewable energy. We need to move faster at incorporating battery storage. We need to build out chargers faster,” commissioner Patricia Monahan said. “We’re working with all the energy institutions to do that, but we are not there yet.”

    The plan, put together by the state’s Department of Water Resources, still needs final approval from the State Water Resources Control Board, which may vote on the issue next week. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation last year creating an energy reserve the state could use as a last resort if there is likely to be an energy shortage. The law allowed the Department of Water Resources to fund or secure power sources in those instances.

    The commission acknowledged it was a difficult decision. Environmentalists say the state needs to transition to more short- and long-term solutions that will help it move away from fossil fuels and to rely more on renewable energy sources like solar and wind. They’re also concerned about the health impacts associated with pollution from gas plants.

    Few people spoke in support of keeping the plants open during about three hours of public comment.

    Neither GenOn, the company running the Ormond Beach plant, nor AES, which runs the Alamitos and Huntington Beach plants, responded to email requests for comment on the vote.

    At Wednesday’s meeting, activists said residents cannot be sure the state will not decide to again extend the life of these plants in another three years. Siva Gunda, the commission’s vice-chair, said the state should better prepare a strategy for ending operations of the plants by 2026.

    The three plants were originally set to shut down in 2020 under state regulations aimed at power plants that suck up ocean water to cool down their equipment. Many similar power plants have already shut down to comply with those rules.

    The Ormond Beach plant is located in a largely Latino, low-income part of Oxnard, a city about 54 miles (87 kilometers) west of Los Angeles, next to agricultural fields that border homes. Oxnard residents who testified at the meeting said they are concerned about respiratory illnesses associated with pollution from gas facilities, as well as odors and noises coming from the plant.

    “We are tired of fighting for our human right to breathe clean air,” said Oxnard resident and activist Sofi Magallon.

    Newsom said earlier this year that the state would have enough water in its reservoirs from intense periods of snow and rain this past winter to revive hydroelectric plants, which reduces the chances of electricity outages during heat waves.

    Emissions from the three plants dramatically increased during a record-breaking September heat wave, according to a report released by Regenerate California, a coalition of environmental groups. That included pollution from carbon and smog-forming nitrogen oxides. The report also cites data from the state showing that several gas plants didn’t generate as much electricity as expected during the heat wave.

    “They’re not providing the energy that we’re relying on them for. They’re overpromising and underdelivering,” said Ari Eisenstadt, an energy equity manager with the California Environmental Justice Alliance. “That makes them a pretty bad investment.”

    California has made strides in recent years to move toward renewables. In 2021, more than 37% of the state’s electricity came from renewable sources, up nearly 3% from the previous year, according to the Energy Commission. The state has set out to remove as many carbon emissions from the atmosphere as it emits by 2045.

    But environmentalists still want California to speed up its transition toward renewables like solar and wind. In the meantime, the state should spend “much more ambitiously” to fund programs incentivizing people to reduce their energy use, so resources are not strained during extreme heat, said Teresa Cheng, a campaigner with Sierra Club.

    That includes a statewide program to pay people to conserve energy during peak electricity times.

    During last September’s heat wave, Newsom issued something called a Flex Alert, which asked Californians to use less energy during the evenings in part by setting their thermostats to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) or higher. The result was a dramatic reduction in reliance on the grid, Cheng said.

    Cheng said the state keeps depending on being able to use gas plants as a crutch.

    “As long as we have these gas plants online, we never really have to invest in clean energy solutions,” Cheng said.

    ___

    Sophie Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on Twitter: @sophieadanna.

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  • US Buyers of Dory Power Battery Generators Eligible for 30% Federal Tax Credit

    US Buyers of Dory Power Battery Generators Eligible for 30% Federal Tax Credit

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    Clean battery-powered electric generators for indoor backup.


    CLEVELAND, July 31, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Dory Power, a leading US manufacturer of portable battery generators, is pleased to announce that purchasers of their B5000 and B7000 Battery Generators in the United States are now eligible to receive a significant tax credit of 30% when filing their tax returns. This tax credit can be claimed by completing the IRS Form 5695, providing substantial savings for individuals and households investing in clean and efficient power solutions.

    With the increasing demand for reliable and sustainable power solutions, Dory Power Battery Generators have gained widespread recognition for their cutting-edge technologies and exceptional performance. Dory Power’s Battery Generators are designed and manufactured for reliable, uninterruptible and portable power supply, catering to a wide range of applications such as outdoor adventures, emergency preparedness, and off-grid living. With their advanced lithium-ion battery technologies and robust performance, Dory Power Battery Generators have been widely adopted by households, hospitals, medical labs, restaurants, law firms, universities, etc., across the United States.

    The Dory B5000 and B7000 battery generators are the most powerful portable battery generators on the market, able to supply an impressive 3-5 days of reliable emergency backup power to households during power outages, ensuring uninterrupted operation of critical devices. These high-performance generators can effortlessly support essential appliances like refrigerators, furnaces, microwave ovens, medical devices, Wi-Fi routers, lights, computers, and TVs, providing peace of mind to homeowners facing unexpected electricity disruptions. 

    With their advanced technology and large battery capacity, the Dory B5000 and B7000 battery generators have been engineered to deliver reliable and uninterrupted power supply, keeping households connected and functional, even in the face of extended blackouts. Whether it’s during severe weather events, grid failures, or unforeseen circumstances, these cutting-edge battery generators from Dory Power are the ideal solution for maintaining normalcy and convenience in everyday life.

    Dory Power remains committed to providing cutting-edge energy solutions while empowering individuals and families in the United States to make sustainable choices. The availability of the 30% federal tax credit further strengthens the value proposition of Dory Power Battery Generators as an efficient and environmentally friendly power source.

    Source: Dory Power company

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  • Unexplained outage at Chase Bank leads to interruptions at Zelle payment network

    Unexplained outage at Chase Bank leads to interruptions at Zelle payment network

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    An unexplained outage at Chase Bank led to interruptions for users of the Zelle payment network, who took to social media to complain

    FILE – A Chase bank branch is seen through glass on Jan. 11, 2016, in New York. An unexplained outage at Chase Bank Tuesday, July 25, 2023, has led to interruptions for users of the Zelle payment network, who took to social media to complain. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

    The Associated Press

    An unexplained outage at Chase Bank led to interruptions for users of the Zelle payment network, who took to social media to complain.

    Zelle said on Twitter that its network is functioning normally and pointed a finger at Chase, saying the bank was experiencing trouble with payment processing.

    “The rest of the Zelle network is up and running,” it tweeted. “Chase is one of our partner banks, and as such, is in full control of the Zelle feature in their app.”

    Chase issued a statement noting that it was “working to restore full service to account transfers, Zelle payments and bill payments,” but offered no details regarding the cause of the service outage or its expected duration. According to DownDetector, a site that collects user outage reports, both services experienced service problems starting around 10 a.m. EDT on Tuesday.

    The problem remained unresolved 12 hours later, although DownDetector data suggested that its severity had tapered off significantly.

    “Our customers can continue to use all other digital banking features as normal,” Chase said in its statement.

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  • An Arizona woman died after her power was cut over a $51 debt. That forced utilities to change

    An Arizona woman died after her power was cut over a $51 debt. That forced utilities to change

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    PHOENIX — Stephanie Pullman died on a sweltering Arizona day after her electricity was cut off because of a $51 debt.

    Five years later, the 72-year-old’s story remains at the heart of efforts to prevent others in Arizona from having their power cut off, leaving them without life-saving air conditioning in temperatures that have topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on every day this month.

    “Stephanie Pullman was the face of the fight that helped put the disconnect rules in place for the big, regulated utilities in Arizona,” said Stacey Champion, an advocate who pushed for new regulations. “But we need more.”

    Arizona Public Service, known as APS, disconnected Pullman’s power in September 2018 at a time when outside temperatures in her retirement community west of Phoenix reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41.6 Celsius). Just days before, a $125 payment was made toward Pullman’s past-due bill of $176.

    Her body was found inside her home during a subsequent wellness check.

    The medical examiner’s office said Pullman died from “ environmental heat exposure ” combined with cardiovascular disease after the shutoff.

    Like many older residents of Phoenix-area retirement communities, Pullman was a native Midwesterner, living alone after moving from Ohio, where her family remains.

    Details about Pullman’s life are sketchy because her family cannot discuss the case under a private legal settlement with APS.

    “I can’t talk,” Pullman’s son, Tim Pullman, said when reached by telephone in Ohio.

    Champion said the family also suddenly stopped talking to her after the 2019 settlement.

    APS didn’t address the settlement when contacted last week, but said in a statement it “is here to help customers and we are making sure they stay connected during the summer months.”

    Pullman’s death prompted Champion and others to demand new rules to prevent shutoffs. The case raised awareness about extreme heat dangers, and it did spark change.

    “People are now more cognizant that low-income people can lose the power in their home at any time,” said Phoenix attorney Tom Ryan, a consumer advocate familiar with the Pullman case. “Couldn’t someone have spared her the $51?”

    In 2019, the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates most of the state’s utilities, issued a moratorium on summertime shutoffs by APS and other power companies it oversees.

    Last year, the commission permanently banned electricity cutoffs during the hottest months.

    Electric utilities can choose to pause disconnections from June 1 through October 15, or pause them on days forecasted to be above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius). APS; Tucson Electric Power, which serves Arizona’s second largest city; and UniSource, which provides power in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties, chose the date-based option.

    “There will be no disconnections for past due residential accounts through mid-October,” with late fees waived during that period, APS confirmed. “We urge customers who are struggling with overdue bills to contact us so we can work with them to get their account in good standing and try to keep balances from continuing to build.”

    APS is the principal subsidiary of publicly traded Pinnacle West Capital Corp., and has about 1.2 million customers. It gives a discount of up to 25% on energy bills for people who qualify, like a family of three with a gross monthly income under $4,143, or a single person in a home with a gross monthly income of up to $2,430.

    Arizona’s second largest provider of electricity, Salt River Project, or SRP, is known as a power and irrigation district rather than a utility and has around 1.1 million customers. It additionally supplies water in parts of metro Phoenix. As a community based, not-for-profit district, SRP is not overseen by the state commission but is governed by a publicly elected Board and Council.

    SRP says it halts shutoffs during excessive heat warnings issued by the National Weather Service. But Champion noted that people have died on hot days without such warnings.

    Amid the current heat wave, SRP announced Friday it was halting all cutoffs for nonpayment for residential and commercial customers through July, and would not disconnect for failure to pay anyone on its economy price plan for customers with limited income through August.

    “SRP’s priority is to maintain reliable and affordable power for our customers, and we understand the significance of keeping customers in service during Arizona’s hot summer days,” the utility said in a response to a query. “We value our customers’ safety and have programs in place to assist those in need.”

    “We urge customers who are having difficulty paying their bill for any reason to contact us as quickly as possible so we can offer solutions to help them avoid a worsening financial situation,” the company said in a separate statement.

    Gov. Katie Hobbs sent a letter to Arizona’s power companies on Friday, demanding that they spell out in writing their plans during the current hot spell for disconnections of service, how they will handle possible grid outages, and how they will react in the event of an emergency outage.

    Champion said she thinks state legislation would help ensure stricter rules against power company shutoffs, but nothing is before the state Legislature.

    Within Phoenix city limits, an ordinance requires landlords to ensure that their air conditioning units will cool to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) or below and that evaporative coolers bring the temperature down to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). Both types of cooling units must be kept in good working order.

    Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, reported Wednesday that as of July 15, there were 18 heat-associated deaths confirmed this year going back to April 11. Another 69 deaths remain under investigation.

    Just four of the heat-associated deaths confirmed in 2023 occurred inside. Three involved non-functioning air conditioners and one that had access to electricity but wasn’t turned on.

    Maricopa County confirmed 425 heat-associated deaths for 2022 during the region’s hottest summer on record, more than half of them occurring in July. Eighty percent of the deaths occurred outside.

    Like Pullman, most of the 30 people who died indoors in the county last year were isolated and had mobility issues or medical problems. One was an 83-year-old woman with dementia who died in a home with an air conditioner that had not been switched on. She was living alone after her husband entered hospice care.

    There have long been utility assistance programs for homeowners and renters across the state, but advocates say efforts to protect people from shutoffs in America’s hottest big metro increased after Pullman died.

    Local governments and nonprofit agencies often pay utility bills without a requirement for repayment and the Arizona Department of Economic Security also helps with bills.

    Efforts to help repair and replace faulty cooling systems were also ramped up.

    Maricopa County in April used federal funds to allocate another $10 million to its air conditioner replacement and repair program for people who qualify, bringing total funding to $13.7 million.

    In greater Phoenix and several rural Arizona counties, older low-income people can get free repair or replacement of air conditioners through the Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program, run by the nonprofit Foundation for Senior Living. Last summer, it helped about 30 people get new air conditioners or repairs.

    Demonstrating the dangers for older people, two sisters were rescued from their home in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise earlier this month after police found them sweltering in 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45.5 Celsius) with a faulty cooling system.

    “I don’t like the heat over here,” Paula Martinez, 93, told Fox 10 news. The officers took her and her sister Linda, 87, to a senior center to cool off and bought a new air conditioner with the department’s community grant funds.

    Surprise Police Sgt. Richard Hernandez said he and fellow officers still remember Pullman’s death in a community just 5 miles (8 kilometers) away.

    “There certainly is more awareness now then there used to be,” said Hernandez. “We kept saying, ‘If we had only known, maybe we could have helped.’”

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  • Iraq moves toward easing its energy crisis with $27B TotalEnergies deal, but challenges remain

    Iraq moves toward easing its energy crisis with $27B TotalEnergies deal, but challenges remain

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    BAGHDAD — A multibillion-dollar agreement signed with France’s TotalEnergies could help resolve Iraq‘s longstanding electricity crisis, attract international investors and reduce its reliance on gas imports from neighboring Iran, a point of tension with Washington.

    The $27 billion agreement signed in Baghdad on Monday after years of negotiation marks the largest foreign investment in Iraq’s history. It could even help combat climate change by reducing oil flares, and relieve some of the stress on Iraq’s dwindling waterways through a new desalination plant.

    But that’s only if the parties implementing the agreement can overcome the endemic corruption and political instability that has undermined Iraq’s oil sector for more than two decades.

    The Gas Growth Integrated Project focuses on bolstering the country’s oil-rich but underdeveloped Basra province. TotalEnergies would take on a 45% stake in the Basra Oil Company, with Iraq holding 30% and Qatar’s state-owned petroleum company taking the other 25%.

    It would recover natural gas from three oil fields and use it to generate electricity. Because Iraq lacks the necessary infrastructure, that gas is currently being burned off into the atmosphere. The World Bank estimates Iraq flares around 16 billion cubic meters of gas per day.

    The project also includes the construction of a seawater treatment plant that would relieve the pressure on Iraq’s water resources, and a solar power plant to be built with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power that would supply the local grid.

    Iraq is an OPEC member with some of the world’s largest oil reserves. But its electricity grid has suffered from decades of mismanagement and damage from various conflicts. Power outages are common, especially in the scorching summer months, forcing many Iraqis to rely on diesel generators or suffer through temperatures that exceed 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

    Iraq also relies heavily on gas imports from Iran, with which it has had close ties since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The U.S. has been forced to grant some exceptions to the sanctions it maintains on Iran over that country’s disputed nuclear program. Budgetary shortfalls and surging demand have meanwhile forced Iran to reduce the supply in recent years, compounding Iraq’s woes and fueling violent protests.

    Iraq’s energy problems stem from its troubled politics.

    The power-sharing arrangement set up in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion divides the state and its institutions along religious and ethnic lines. Sectarian-based political parties bicker over ministries, install loyalists at top positions and dispense public sector jobs to their supporters. The system breeds widespread corruption, inefficiency and political gridlock.

    ExxonMobile, which saw a similar multi-project deal fall through after years of negotiations, announced in 2021 that it would be selling its shares from the West Qurna 1 oil field. London-based BP is spinning off development of the Rumaila field, Iraq’s largest.

    Iraq signed an initial contract with TotalEnergies in 2021, but political disputes delayed the final signing for another two years.

    TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné nevertheless struck an upbeat tone at the signing ceremony, saying the agreement would boost Iraq’s economy and create jobs, with Iraqis making up at least 80% of the project’s workforce.

    “It’s a very strong signal, not only to TotalEnergies to encourage to invest, but also to all other foreign investment,” he said in a statement. The company did not respond to several requests for additional comment.

    The state-run Iraqi News Agency said work would begin “in a matter of days,” with the Oil Ministry expecting tangible results in three years.

    Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad said the ministry has been trying to launch such projects for over a decade but was held back by political gridlock, the COVID-19 pandemic and the war against the Islamic State extremist group, which at one point controlled much of northern and western Iraq.

    “Now there is political will to speed up implementing these kinds of projects,” he said.

    Bachar El-Halabi, an energy markets analyst at London-based Argus, says the megaproject “gives the country a breather” after recent years saw some oil majors pull out of Iraq.

    “This should, in theory, help decrease Iraq’s dependency on Iranian gas imports, which remains a sticky point between Baghdad and Washington,” he said.

    Marc Ayoub, an energy policy expert at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, a Washington-based think tank, said the project could face challenges down the line.

    “The political climate in Iraq is sensitive and could change at any moment,” he said.

    The size of the project, and the involvement of a major multi-national company, means “there would be less room for corruption,” he added. “But you never know. There’s always risk.”

    ___

    Chehayeb reported from Beirut.

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  • Dory Power Adopts Payment Plan for Its Battery-Powered Electric Generators

    Dory Power Adopts Payment Plan for Its Battery-Powered Electric Generators

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    Press Release
    •

    Jul 1, 2023 11:00 EDT

    Clean battery-powered electric generators for indoor backup


    CLEVELAND, July 1, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Following overwhelming customer response and the growing demand for reliable backup power solutions, Dory Power is delighted to announce an expansion of its payment plan for the highly acclaimed Dory portable battery generators and uninterruptible power supplies. This expansion aims to ensure that even more individuals and families have access to a convenient and affordable means of addressing power outage issues during the summer season.

    Power outages can be disruptive and frustrating, particularly during the sweltering summer months when the need for electricity is paramount. The Dory-branded battery generators have gained significant popularity for its ability to seamlessly provide continuous power supply, allowing users to stay connected and comfortable even when the grid fails. The adopted payment plan offers customers increased flexibility and convenience when purchasing this essential power backup solution.

    The payment plan is designed to fit a variety of budgets, allowing customers to choose from flexible monthly installment options that suit their financial situation. By spreading out the purchase cost, the payment plan makes it easier for customers to acquire the Dory-branded battery generators without compromising their budgetary constraints.

    To take advantage of the payment plan, interested customers can visit shop.dorypower.com. The website provides detailed information about the product, available payment options, and an easy-to-use interface for a seamless purchasing experience. The payment plan can be easily taken by selecting “Pay in monthly installments” during the checkout. Dory Power continues to uphold its commitment to outstanding customer service, with a dedicated support team ready to assist customers with any inquiries or concerns.

    As power outages become an increasingly prevalent issue, Dory Power remains steadfast in its mission to offer innovative energy solutions that empower individuals and communities. The expansion of the payment plan represents a significant step towards ensuring that individuals across various financial backgrounds can safeguard their power needs, enjoying uninterrupted electricity during critical moments.

    Source: Dory Power company

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  • The Reddit blackout, explained: Why thousands of subreddits are protesting third-party app charges

    The Reddit blackout, explained: Why thousands of subreddits are protesting third-party app charges

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    WASHINGTON — Thousands of Reddit discussion forums have gone dark this week to protest a new policy that will charge some third-party apps to access data on the site, leading to worries about content moderation and accessibility.

    “Reddit is killing third-party applications (and itself),” multiple subreddits wrote in posts seen on the platform’s homepage this week.

    The new fees are part of broader changes to Reddit’s API, or application programming interface, that the company announced recently.

    Organizers of the blackout, which began Monday, say Reddit’s changes threaten to end key ways of historically customizing the platform — which relies heavily on the work of volunteer moderators. Subreddit “mods” often use tools outside of the official app to keep their forums free of spam and hateful content, for example, as well as improve accessibility.

    Nearly 9,000 subreddits went dark this week and more than 4,000 remained dark on Friday, including communities with tens of millions of subscribers like r/music and r/videos — according to a tracker of the boycott. While some returned to their public settings after 48 hours, others say they will stay private indefinitely, until Reddit meets their demands.

    But Reddit, a subsidiary of New York-based Advance Publications, is not changing course. CEO Steve Huffman says that supporting high-usage third-party developers to access its data is too expensive. The company also notes that the new fees will only apply to eligible apps that require high usage limits, and the majority of API users will not have to pay for access.

    Here’s what you need to know.

    WHAT IS API? AND HOW IS REDDIT CHANGING ACCESS TO THIRD-PARTY APPS?

    In short, an API allows computer programs to communicate with each another. Third parties have used Reddit’s free API access in the past, for example, to request data and build apps that work with the platform.

    But Reddit announced it would be changing its API access polices earlier this year. Starting July 1, Reddit plans to charge third-party apps requiring higher usage limits.

    “Running a product like reddit is expensive,” Huffman told The Associated Press, pointing to the millions of dollars Reddit spends on supporting high-usage, third-party apps. “I would like to be a self-sustaining company — it means we’re defensible…. and it that we can endure into the future. So that’s what we’re working towards.”

    Not all third-party apps will be charged, as the policy is based on usage levels, and some noncommercial, accessibility-focused apps can also continue with free access, the company said. Reddit also noted that API access will remain free for moderator tools and bots.

    WHY ARE SUBREDDITS PROTESTING THIS CHANGE?

    Reddit’s API changes have caused outrage — as many Redditors say they are concerned about losing long-used third-party resources. Popular third party apps, including Apollo and Reddit Is Fun, have already announced plans to shut down at the end of the month due to costs of the API changes — with Apollo developer Christian Selig estimating fees would total about $20 million a year.

    Reddit’s backbone of volunteer moderators who rely on these and similar apps will likely feel the brunt of the impacts, experts note.

    “While Reddit has promised that moderation tools will not be affected by changes to the API, many moderators rely on third party apps and access to data archives to effectively do their work,” Sarah Gilbert, postdoctoral associate at Cornell University and Citizens and Technology Lab research manager, said in a statement — later pointing to how risks of moderator burnout and essential retention.

    Gilbert added that API access helps moderators keep communities safe and “more quickly respond to spam, bigotry, and harassment.” Third-party apps are also important for screen readers, she said, as the official Reddit app is not accessible for people who are visually impaired.

    WHEN WILL THE REDDIT BLACKOUT END?

    Some subreddits participating in this week’s blackout returned to Reddit in 48 hours, but others say their protest isn’t over.

    Numerous subreddits have signaled that they planned to stay private until Reddit meets their demands — which include lowering the API charges for high usage, third-party developers so that popular apps can stay alive.

    But Huffman said he is holding firm. He also said that the subreddits currently participating in the blackout are “not going to stay offline indefinitely” — even if that means finding new moderators.

    The company’s response to the blackout has fueled further outrage among protest organizers.

    “We continue to ask reddit to place these changes on pause and explore a real path forward that strikes a balance that is best for the widest range of reddit users,” read a Thursday night post on subreddit dedicated to moderator coordination.

    Beyond Reddit, Twitter ended free API access earlier this year, in a move that also sparked outrage.

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  • Long-awaited Vietnam energy plan aims to boost renewables, but fossil fuels still in the mix

    Long-awaited Vietnam energy plan aims to boost renewables, but fossil fuels still in the mix

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    JAKARTA, Indonesia — Power outages are leaving Vietnamese homes and businesses without power for hours at a time, as a prolonged drought and high temperatures strain the fast-growing economy’s capacity to keep up.

    A long-anticipated plan meant to fix the energy crunch and help achieve ambitious climate change goals will offer some relief but may not go far enough in weaning the country off of fossil fuels, experts say.

    The need for progress is evident.

    Streetlights have been turned off in some major cities and businesses have been told to cut energy use. Amid severe drought, two out of the three largest hydroelectric reservoirs in Vietnam have almost completely stopped operating.

    “It is a big headache for us,” said Nguyen Thanh Tam, deputy director of Hoa Long printing company in Hanoi. “We need power to operate the machines.”

    The national energy plan, called Power Development Plan 8 or PDP8, aims to more than double the maximum power Vietnam can generate to some 150 gigawatts by 2030. That’s more than the capacity of developed countries like France and Italy, though well below Japan’s 290 GW.

    It calls for a drastic shift away from heavily-polluting coal, expanding use of domestic gas and imported liquefied natural gas or LNG, which will account for about 25% of total generating capacity, while hydropower, wind, solar and other renewable sources will account for nearly 50% by 2030.

    “This plan showcases Vietnam’s macroeconomic growth ambitions — with robust plans to expand its generation capacity and the associated power sector infrastructure required to cater to the country’s growing energy demand,” said Kanika Chawla chief of staff at Sustainable Energy for All, the United Nations’ sustainable energy unit.

    While Vietnam’s new energy plan mandates that no new coal-fired power plants will be built after 2030 as the country transitions to cleaner fuels, total generation capacity from coal power will still rise by 2030, contributing some 20% of total energy production — down from the current 30.8%.

    By 2050, Vietnam will stop using coal for power generation, switching all coal plants to using biomass and ammonia, according to the plan.

    The continued reliance on fossil fuels and burning biomass such as rice husk and residue from sugar cane farms, as well as the switch to build new infrastructure for gas-powered plants, has experts worried.

    In July 2022, Vietnam enshrined in law a pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Late last year the Group of Seven advanced economies promised to provide $15.5 billion to help it end its reliance on coal-fired power plants as a part of a Just Energy Transition Partnership or JETP. Such projects have offered similar incentives to South Africa and Indonesia. Vietnam pledged to phase out coal power by 2040 at the United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow in 2021

    “While coal remains part of the energy mix, it is a marked shift from the coal dependence that Vietnam sees today,” said Chawla. “A definite phase down in share of energy mix and future emissions, in line with the JETP, even as absolute quantities of thermal power are largely unchanged.”

    Vietnam has also drawn criticism for cracking down on environmental campaigns. The German government has warned that the recent detention of prominent environmental campaigner Hoang Thi Minh Hong, the fifth activist to be arrested in the past two years, could endanger a recent multi-billion-dollar deal to help the country phase out coal use.

    The gradual shift away from coal won’t wean Vietnam from fossil fuels, given its goal of expanding use of LNG — cooled natural gas that is made predominantly of methane whose production and transportation leaks contribute to global warming.

    Demand for LNG — itself viewed as a legacy industry to be phased out — has soared with disruptions to natural gas supplies from Russia due to the war in Ukraine. That means higher prices and less secure supplies.

    “If implemented, it would make it one of the largest gas users in the region,” said Aditya Lolla, Asia program lead at independent energy think tank Ember. “Any disruption to gas supply, even if they emanate due to reasons outside of Vietnam’s control, may potentially push the country back to coal if alternate renewable energy capacity is not ramped up soon.”

    Financing is another challenge since the plan calls for spending nearly $135 billion on new power plants and electricity grids from now until 2030.

    Investors favor renewable energy sources, said Trang Nyguyen, leader of Climateworks Centre’s Southeast Asia team.

    “It’s good that the plan gives clarity for investors. However, a big risk is that LNG assets will become stranded, as it is happening now with coal. How to mobilize enough investments in something that may not be viable in the next decade or so is a challenge that I see,” she said.

    Vietnam, which has rapidly industrialized and made electricity available to nearly its entire population, has made huge strides in expanding use of renewable energy. It fueled half of the country’s electricity output in 2022, up from just a quarter a decade earlier. But upgrades to the power grid haven’t kept up.

    What’s needed is a revamp of the entire power system, “with a plan to develop and integrate renewables into the power system holistically,” Lolla said, noting the plan will likely result in short-term electricity rate hikes, even though it will stabilize prices and the power supply in the longer term.

    “PDP8’s emphasis on expansion and modernization of the grid also helps as it means fewer outages, enhanced grid stability and overall improved energy reliability for households and businesses,” he said. “First and foremost, it means increased access to clean energy and reduction in emissions for the consumers.”

    ___

    Associated Press video journalist Hau Dinh contributed from Hanoi, Vietnam.

    ___

    Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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  • Chase says online banking issue now resolved after bug causes double transactions and fees

    Chase says online banking issue now resolved after bug causes double transactions and fees

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    Customers of Chase’s online banking services have seen double transactions, fees and payments in their accounts

    ByKEN SWEET AP Business Writer

    FILE – Chase Bank ATMs are shown, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in New York. Customers of Chase’s online banking services were seeing double transactions, fees and/or payments in their accounts, with the situation not immediately being resolved as of late morning on Friday, June 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

    The Associated Press

    NEW YORK — Customers of Chase’s online banking services saw double transactions, fees and payments in their accounts on Friday, in a glitch that was not fixed until late in the day.

    Numerous Chase customers had posted on social media that their rent or bill payments were taken out of their accounts twice and reported hold times with customer service approaching more than an hour. The New York-based bank is one of the country’s largest financial institutions with millions of online customers.

    Transactions over Zelle, the bank’s own peer-to-peer payment service, were also impacted with Chase customers.

    Chase said late Friday that the bank had “resolved the underlying issue” and was in the process of issuing refunds or reversing transactions for customers.

    Online banking services, while usually reliable, sometimes spectacularly fail or have temporary outages that tend to spook their customers. Banks typically will resolve an error in their services within hours, and no customer is liable for any errors in their accounts that occur when these happen.

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  • Authorities assess damage after sidewalk sinkhole on New Mexico bridge; 2 pedestrians rescued

    Authorities assess damage after sidewalk sinkhole on New Mexico bridge; 2 pedestrians rescued

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    Authorities are assessing the damage after a sidewalk sinkhole developed on a bridge in New Mexico, resulting in the rescue of two pedestrians

    LOS LUNAS, N.M. — Authorities on Sunday were assessing the damage after a sidewalk sinkhole developed on a New Mexico bridge, resulting in the rescue of two pedestrians.

    Los Lunas police said the city’s Main Street bridge over the Rio Grande remained closed due to the sinkhole under a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge.

    Several media reports Saturday night said the bridge partially collapsed, but authorities said that was not accurate.

    New Mexico Department of Transportation officials were on the scene Sunday trying to determine the extent of the sidewalk damage, which is a main road in Valencia County.

    Los Lunas Fire Chief John Gabaldon said a water line had to be shut off to prevent more problems if a pipe running through the sinkhole broke.

    Gabaldon didn’t immediately know how many homes were affected by the water outage.

    Los Lunas is about 24 miles (38.6 kilometers) south of Albuquerque.

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  • Puerto Rico governor unveils solar energy plans in address

    Puerto Rico governor unveils solar energy plans in address

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    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Gov. Pedro Pierluisi announced new solar energy initiatives on Tuesday during his annual state of the territory address, a speech viewed by many as critical as he fights plummeting ratings amid growing discontent over costly electric bills, government corruption and slow-moving hurricane reconstruction.

    The more than hourlong speech and ceremony at the U.S. territory’s seaside Capitol was powered entirely by generators to avoid any potential interruptions given the ongoing instability of the island’s crumbling power grid.

    The frail grid has been a priority for Pierluisi’s administration, which oversaw the privatization of the operation of the island’s generation, transmission and distribution of power in widely criticized moves given persistent outages.

    On Tuesday evening, Pierluisi announced that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency approved microgrid projects to supply 100% of power to the neighboring islands of Vieques and Culebra, which are popular with tourists.

    He also announced $100 million in federal funds for a new voucher program targeting the middle class to finance up to 30% of the costs of installing battery-backed solar systems in their homes.

    Pierluisi has pledged that Puerto Rico will ramp up from 3% to 40% renewable energy by the end of 2025, and 60% by 2040.

    The governor also addressed concerns over ongoing government corruption, with 10 Puerto Rican mayors prosecuted by federal authorities in recent years.

    He urged the legislature to approve pending bills aimed at cracking down on corruption.

    “Zero tolerance and zero impunity,” Pierluisi said.

    He also highlighted ongoing hurricane reconstruction efforts targeting hospitals, homes, roads, schools and other infrastructure that were battered by hurricanes Maria and Fiona.

    Pierluisi noted his administration has so far helped more than 7,400 families of the 12,000 still awaiting aid for homes damaged by Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4 storm that struck the island in September 2017, razing the power grid and destroying or damaging hundred of thousands of homes.

    Further damage was caused by Hurricane Fiona, a Category 1 storm that hit Puerto Rico’s southwest region in September 2022, sparking an island-wide blackout.

    Pierluisi also unveiled a preliminary $31 billion budget, which still has to be approved by legislators and a federal control board that oversees the island’s finances. Puerto Rico announced in 2015 that it was unable to pay its more than $70 billion public debt load and then filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in history in 2017.

    Pierluisi touted his administration’s achievements during the address, which comes as he prepares to run for a second term next year in what many consider will be a highly competitive race.

    “It’s obvious that the campaigning began,” said Rafael Hernández, speaker of Puerto Rico’s House and a member of the main opposition Popular Democratic Party. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

    José Luis Dalmau, president of Puerto Rico’s Senate and also a member of the main opposition party, said he was puzzled by the descriptions of Pierluisi’s achievements given the multiple challenges that many on the island of 3.2 million people with a 45% poverty rate still face.

    “It’s clear that the governor lives in another Puerto Rico,” he said.

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  • ‘What can we do?’: Millions in African countries need power

    ‘What can we do?’: Millions in African countries need power

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    JOHANNESBURG — From Zimbabwe, where many must work at night because it’s the only time there is power, to Nigeria where collapses of the grid are frequent, the reliable supply of electricity remains elusive across Africa.

    The electricity shortages that plague many of Africa’s 54 countries are a serious drain on the continent’s economic growth, energy experts warn.

    In recent years South Africa’s power generation has become so inadequate that the continent’s most developed economy must cope with rolling power blackouts of eight to 10 hours per day.

    Africa’s sprawling cities have erratic supplies of electricity but large swaths of the continent’s rural areas have no power at all. In 2021, 43% of Africans — about 600 million people — lacked access to electricity with 590 million of them in sub‐Saharan Africa, according to the International Energy Agency.

    Investments of nearly $20 billion are required annually to achieve universal electrification across sub-Saharan Africa, according to World Bank estimates. Of that figure nearly $10 billion is needed annually bring power and keep it on in West and Central Africa.

    There are many reasons for Africa’s dire delivery of electricity including ageing infrastructure, lack of government oversight and a shortage of skills to maintain the national grids, according to Andrew Lawrence, an energy expert at the Witwatersrand University Business School in Johannesburg.

    A historical problem is that many colonial regimes built electrical systems largely reserved for the minority white population and which excluded large parts of the Black population.

    Today many African countries rely on state-owned power utilities.

    Much attention has focused in the past two years on the Western-funded “Just Energy Transition,” in which France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union are offering funds to help poorer countries move from highly polluting coal-fired power generation to renewable, environmentally-friendly sources of power. Africa as a region should be among the major beneficiaries in order to expand electricity access on the continent and improve the struggling power grids, said Lawrence.

    “The transition should target rural access and place at the forefront the electrification of the continent as a whole. This is something that is technically possible,” he said.

    The Western powers vowed to make $8.5 billion available to help South Africa move away from its coal-fired power plants, which produce 80% of the country’s power.

    As a result of its dependence upon coal, South Africa is among the top 20 highest emitters of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the world and accounts for nearly a third of all of Africa’s emissions, according to experts.

    South Africa’s plan to move away from coal, however, is hampered by its pressing need to produce as much power as possible each day.

    The East African nation of Uganda for years has also grappled with power cuts despite massive investment in electricity generation.

    Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has grappled with an inadequate power supply for many years, generating just 4,000 megawatts though the population of more than 210 million people needs 30,000 megawatts, say experts. The oil-rich but energy-poor West African nation has ramped up investments in the power sector but endemic corruption and mismanagement have resulted in little gains.

    In Zimbabwe, electricity shortages that have plagued the country for years have worsened as the state authority that manages Kariba, the country’s biggest dam, has limited power generation due to low water levels.

    Successive droughts have reduced Lake Kariba’s level so much that the Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which provides Zimbabwe with about 70% of its electricity, is currently producing just 300 megawatts, far less than its capacity of 1,050 megawatts.

    Zimbabwe’s coal-fired power stations that also provide some electricity have become unreliable due to aging infrastructure marked by frequent breakdowns. The country’s solar potential is yet to be fully developed to meaningfully augment supply.

    This means that Harare barber Omar Chienda never knows when he’ll have the power needed to run his electric clippers.

    “What can we do? We just have to wait until electricity is back but most of the time it comes back at night,” said Chienda, a 39-year-old father of three. “That means I can’t work, my family goes hungry.”

    In Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, restaurant owner Favour Ben, 29, said she spends a large part of her monthly budget on electricity bills and on petrol for her generator, but adds that she gets only an average of 7 hours of power daily.

    “It has been very difficult, especially after paying your electricity bill and they don’t give you light.” said Ben. “Most times, I prepare customers’ orders but if there is no light (power for a refrigerator), it turns bad the next day (and) I have lost money for that.”

    Businesses in Nigeria suffer an annual loss of $29 billion as a result of unreliable electricity, the World Bank said, with providers of essential services often struggling to keep their operations afloat on generators.

    As delegates gathered in Cape Town this month to discuss Africa’s energy challenges, there was a resounding sentiment that drawn-out power shortages on the continent had to be addressed urgently. There was some hope that the Western-funded “Just Energy Transition” would create some opportunities, but many remained skeptical.

    Among the biggest critics of efforts to have countries like South Africa to transition quickly from the use of coal to cleaner energy is South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe.

    He is among those advocating that Africa use all sources available to it to produce adequate power for the continent, including natural gas, solar, wind, hydropower and especially coal.

    “Coal will be with us for many years to come. Those who see it as corruption or a road to whatever, they are going to be disappointed for many, many years,” said Mantashe. “Coal is going to outlive many of us.”

    ___

    AP journalists Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe; and Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed.

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  • Oakland airport, 50K in Bay Area lose power due to fire

    Oakland airport, 50K in Bay Area lose power due to fire

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    OAKLAND, Calif. — A power substation fire temporarily caused outages at the Oakland International Airport and left 50,000 customers around the east San Francisco Bay Area without electricity Sunday, Oakland fire officials said.

    The Oakland Fire Department responded to a fire on Pacific Gas & Electric property in the early afternoon and found a transformer on fire, an unidentified spokesman for the Oakland Fire Department said in a video posted on Twitter. The fire has been extinguished.

    The fire caused power outages in Oakland and Alameda. Pacific Gas & Electric’s website estimated power would be restored by mid-evening. Spokespeople did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.

    The Oakland International Airport, which serves about 170 flights a day, lost power for nearly two hours, spokesman Robert Bernardo told the San Francisco Chronicle. A few security lines remained open for screening, KNTV reported. Social media posts showed large crowds of people gathered at airport baggage claim.

    The power outage also halted some public transportation to the airport and snarled traffic on other roadways.

    Airport officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

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  • Kennedy Airport fixes power outage that canceled flights

    Kennedy Airport fixes power outage that canceled flights

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    NEW YORK — Work crews have fixed a power outage at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport that forced some flights to be canceled or diverted, officials said Saturday.

    Repairs were made overnight and full power was restored in Terminal 1, which handles some of the airport’s international flights, said the airport’s operator, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

    The outage began Thursday when an electrical panel failure caused a small fire, authorities said. Dozens of flights were canceled and some were diverted to other airports. An Air New Zealand flight was forced to return to Auckland after flying two-thirds of the way across the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a 16-hour trip that ended where it began.

    “I thought it was a bad Ambien dream,” said passenger Rosemary Armao, an adjunct journalism professor who was sleeping when her friend awoke her to say the plane was heading back to Auckland.

    Although full power was restored to Terminal 1, flight activity was limited Saturday morning, the Port Authority said. Terminal 1 was open for 26 of the scheduled 64 arrivals and departures originally scheduled for Saturday, while 18 flights were to be handled at other terminals and 10 were canceled, officials said.

    “Concessions will be operating with reduced menu options as activity resumes in Terminal 1 and the private terminal operator will have additional customer service staff in place to assist passengers,” the Port Authority said in a statement.

    “Customers are encouraged to continue to check with their carriers for the latest flight information. All other terminals at JFK are operating normally,” it said.

    Officials said safety and security systems were fully functional and other building systems were being tested and brought back online.

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  • Kennedy Airport fixes power outage that canceled flights

    Kennedy Airport fixes power outage that canceled flights

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    NEW YORK — Work crews have fixed a power outage at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport that forced some flights to be canceled or diverted, officials said Saturday.

    Repairs were made overnight and full power was restored in Terminal 1, which handles some of the airport’s international flights, said the airport’s operator, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

    The outage began Thursday when an electrical panel failure caused a small fire, authorities said. Dozens of flights were canceled and some were diverted to other airports. An Air New Zealand flight was forced to return to Auckland after flying two-thirds of the way across the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a 16-hour trip that ended where it began.

    “I thought it was a bad Ambien dream,” said passenger Rosemary Armao, an adjunct journalism professor who was sleeping when her friend awoke her to say the plane was heading back to Auckland.

    Although full power was restored to Terminal 1, flight activity was limited Saturday morning, the Port Authority said. Terminal 1 was open for 26 of the scheduled 64 arrivals and departures originally scheduled for Saturday, while 18 flights were to be handled at other terminals and 10 were canceled, officials said.

    “Concessions will be operating with reduced menu options as activity resumes in Terminal 1 and the private terminal operator will have additional customer service staff in place to assist passengers,” the Port Authority said in a statement.

    “Customers are encouraged to continue to check with their carriers for the latest flight information. All other terminals at JFK are operating normally,” it said.

    Officials said safety and security systems were fully functional and other building systems were being tested and brought back online.

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  • Power outage cancels, diverts flights at Kennedy Airport

    Power outage cancels, diverts flights at Kennedy Airport

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    NEW YORK — A power outage in a terminal of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport stretched into a second day Friday after forcing some flights to be canceled or diverted, including one that was turned around and sent back to New Zealand after nearly making it to the U.S.

    The airport operators said in a tweet late Thursday that Terminal 1, which handles some of the airport’s international flights, would remain closed Friday “due to electrical issues.”

    The outage was caused by an electrical panel failure that led to a small fire, which was quickly extinguished, authorities said.

    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs New York’s major airports, said it was working to accommodate affected flights at JFK’s four other active terminals.

    The agency did not provide any estimate of how many flights were canceled or diverted, but thousands of travelers were likely affected.

    Yahayra Hunt and her husband were sent to a hotel near the airport after their flight to Rome was canceled Thursday. They’re part of a group of 16 people who booked an 11-day tour to Italy and Israel.

    Hunt, 46, said members of her group were told Friday that their flight to Italy wouldn’t take place until Monday.

    “Being stuck in a hotel during your vacation is not fair at all,” said Hunt, who owns a beauty salon in North Carolina.

    Some planes were forced to return to their points of origin.

    Kelly Shea, who owns a travel agency in Indianapolis, said she heard from clients Thursday who spent eight hours on a flight from Milan … to Milan.

    The clients, a couple who had gone to the Venice Carnival, were flying home to Indiana through New York when the plane turned around. When they returned to the Milan airport, the couple told Shea that the ticket counter was “chaos,” with people screaming.

    “And of course, by the time they got up to the counter, there were no more seats left on the next flight,” Shea said. “So I immediately tried to put them on the flight the next day, but my computer system already showed big zeros.”

    Shea said the best she could do was book a return flight for them on Sunday, three days after they were supposed to be back in Indiana.

    An Air New Zealand flight was two-thirds of the way across the Pacific Ocean when it had to make a U-turn and head back to Auckland. The flight landed back in New Zealand after more than 16 hours in the air.

    Air New Zealand said through a spokesperson that the flight turned back because diverting it to another U.S. airport could have stranded it where it couldn’t make planned connections with other scheduled passengers. Passengers on the diverted jet were booked on other flights.

    Terminal 1 at Kennedy opened in the late 1990s. It is scheduled to be replaced by a new, $9.5 billion terminal now under construction. Groundbreaking was initially supposed to happen in 2020 but was delayed until last summer by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    ___

    Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia.

    ____ This story has been corrected to show that the Port Authority said it was working to accommodate flights at other terminals, not other airports.

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  • Power outage cancels, diverts flights at Kennedy Airport

    Power outage cancels, diverts flights at Kennedy Airport

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    NEW YORK — A power outage in a terminal New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport stretched into a second day Friday after forcing some flights to be canceled or diverted, including one that was turned around and sent back to New Zealand after nearly making it to the U.S.

    The airport operators said in a tweet late Thursday that Terminal 1, which handles some of the airport’s international flights, would remain closed Friday “due to electrical issues.”

    The outage was caused by an electrical panel failure that led to a small fire, which was quickly extinguished, authorities said.

    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs New York’s major airports, said it was working to accommodate affected flights at JFK’s four other active terminals.

    Some planes were forced to return to their points of origin.

    An Air New Zealand flight was two-thirds of the way across the Pacific Ocean when it had to make a U-turn and head back to Auckland. The flight landed back in New Zealand after more than 16 hours in the air.

    Terminal 1 opened in the late 1990s. It is scheduled to be replaced by a new, $9.5 billion terminal now under construction. Groundbreaking was initially supposed to happen in 2020 but was delayed until last summer by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Port Authority said it was working to accommodate flights at other terminals, not other airports.

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  • Austin’s city manager fired over widespread power outages

    Austin’s city manager fired over widespread power outages

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    AUSTIN, Texas — Austin’s city manager was fired Wednesday in the wake of outrage over a slow and fumbled response to a winter storm power outage that left thousands of people without electricity for a week or longer in the Texas capital.

    The 10-1 vote by the Austin City Council to remove Spencer Cronk, the city’s top executive, came in the face of growing calls for accountability after an ice storm this month knocked out power to more than 170,000 customers. Frustration in the nation’s 11th-largest city boiled as Austin officials publicly offered little information and gave residents no estimates on how long repairs would take.

    Cronk, who had been in the job since 2018, was the city’s first executive to lose his job over the prolonged outages. He will receive about $463,000 in severance.

    The council appointed Jesús Garza, who has previously served as Austin’s city manager, to take Cronk’s job on an interim basis.

    The ice storm toppled trees and power lines across the city of more than 1 million residents, causing outages and damage on a scale that Austin officials compared to a hurricane or tornado. Slow restoration efforts left thousands of people dealing with school closures, malfunctioning traffic lights and the financial pinch of spoiled groceries and hotel bills. Power was not fully restored in Austin until nearly two weeks after the outages began.

    Cronk had apologized for “any shortcomings in our response” and vowed that the city would implement changes to better respond to future disasters.

    His office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Thursday.

    Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat who took office in January, put in motion meetings that plunged Cronk’s job into jeopardy. In Austin, the city manager is appointed by the mayor and city council, and operates like the chief executive officer of a business.

    Austin Energy, the city-run power provider, brought in additional utility crews from across Texas to help tackle the vast number of outages.

    For thousands of Austin residents, it was the second time in three years that a February winter storm knocked out their power for days. Although Texas’ catastrophic blackouts in 2021 were the result of a different failure — an ice storm pushing the state’s electric grid to the brink of collapse — the different reason was of little comfort to Austin residents.

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  • Austin’s city manager fired over fumbled response to storm power outage that left thousands without electricity for days

    Austin’s city manager fired over fumbled response to storm power outage that left thousands without electricity for days

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    Austin’s city manager fired over fumbled response to storm power outage that left thousands without electricity for days

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