A Chicago electrician spent six sweltering hours trapped inside a narrow compartment atop a 130-foot gas station sign in Wilmington, Illinois, and recorded goodbye messages for his wife and children when he feared he might not make it down alive. AJ Gow and a co-worker were servicing a towering truck stop sign along Interstate 55 […] The post Chicago electrician trapped 130 feet up in gas station sign recorded farewell messages for his family appeared first on American Almanac .
A Chicago electrician spent six sweltering hours trapped inside a narrow compartment atop a 130-foot gas station sign in Wilmington, Illinois, and recorded goodbye messages for his wife and children when he feared he might not make it down alive. AJ Gow and a co-worker were servicing a towering truck stop sign along Interstate 55 on July 21, using a telescopic boom lift to reach the top. When the co-worker climbed down to grab water and a battery-powered fan, the lift malfunctioned. It would not go back up. Gow was stranded more than 130 feet in the air, alone, inside a compartment just 16 inches wide, too cramped to stand fully upright. Local firefighters responded, but their tallest ladders reached only about 100 feet. The sign pole…Open
America's answer to hotter summers has overwhelmingly been more air conditioning, and engineers are now looking for ways to keep people cool without driving up electricity demand. Why it matters: The need for cooling is surging. The issue isn't just how to generate more electricity — it's how to use less of it and ease demand when grids are most strained. Between the lines: A July study finds that keeping buildings cool without relying solely on AC will be critical for adapting to climate change. - AC is already nearly ubiquitous in the U.S., but that doesn't mean its electricity consumption has peaked. - "The market is saturated, but the use of air conditioning or the energy consumption for air conditioning will increase because…
America's answer to hotter summers has overwhelmingly been more air conditioning, and engineers are now looking for ways to keep people cool without driving up electricity demand. Why it matters: The need for cooling is surging. The issue isn't just how to generate more electricity — it's how to use less of it and ease demand when grids are most strained. Between the lines: A July study finds that keeping buildings cool without relying solely on AC will be critical for adapting to climate change. - AC is already nearly ubiquitous in the U.S., but that doesn't mean its electricity consumption has peaked. - "The market is saturated, but the use of air conditioning or the energy consumption for air conditioning will increase because…Open
More than a week after severe storms and flooding devastated parts of northwest Indiana, tens of thousands of residents in Gary remain without power. NewsNation's Laura Ingle spoke with resident Adrianna Harris about conditions on the ground, including extreme heat, limited access to food and medicine, and ongoing recovery challenges. Rapper and activist Trae tha Truth joined the conversation to discuss relief efforts, distributing meals, supplies and other essentials to families affected by the outages and flooding. "Jesse Weber Live" brings a fresh, fast-paced, and often unexpected take on the day’s headlines, diving into the biggest stories through the lens of legal expertise.
Solar energy and batteries are making it easier for utilities to meet surging electricity demand during extreme heat , but prolonged high temperatures are exposing other vulnerabilities in the grid. Why it matters: Electricity demand rises as air conditioners work harder in extreme heat, while high temperatures can make parts of the system less efficient and put additional stress on equipment. The big picture: Climate change is extending periods of extreme heat just as electrification and data centers add new loads, leaving parts of the grid working harder for longer. Between the lines: Michael Webber, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, tells Axios that grid operators face a "triple whammy" under…
Solar energy and batteries are making it easier for utilities to meet surging electricity demand during extreme heat , but prolonged high temperatures are exposing other vulnerabilities in the grid. Why it matters: Electricity demand rises as air conditioners work harder in extreme heat, while high temperatures can make parts of the system less efficient and put additional stress on equipment. The big picture: Climate change is extending periods of extreme heat just as electrification and data centers add new loads, leaving parts of the grid working harder for longer. Between the lines: Michael Webber, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, tells Axios that grid operators face a "triple whammy" under…Open
