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U.S. Universities Are Building a New Semiconductor Workforce

Cars That Think

TSMC), which was already building a $12 billion fab in Arizona , upped the investment to $40 billion with a second plant. In addition to building two cutting-edge chip factories on a 4-square-kilometer megasite that could hold six more fabs, the company has pledged $50 million to 80 higher-education institutions in the state.

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Volkswagen inaugurates 9.5 MW solar park at Chattanooga plant in US; key element of VW Group’s strategic sustainability targets

Green Car Congress

MW solar park at Chattanooga is owned and operated by Silicon Ranch; VW has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement. Volkswagen inaugurated its largest solar facility in the world—also the largest solar facility operated by an automaker in the US—at its plant in Chattanooga, TN, which produces the Passat model for North America.

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US DOE Offers Abengoa Solar a Conditional Commitment for $1.45B Loan Guarantee for Concentrating Solar Power Plant

Green Car Congress

billion loan guarantee to Abengoa Solar, Inc. The loan will support the construction and start-up of Solana, a 250 net megawatt (MW) concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Arizona—the largest CSP plant worldwide to-date. The plant will be located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, near Gila Bend, Arizona.

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Video Friday: RACER Heavy

Cars That Think

Github ] Generation 7 of ‘Phoenix’ robots include improved human-like range of motion. Design iteration significantly decreases build time. Paper ] Charge Robotics is building robots that automate the most labor-intensive parts of solar construction.

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Heat Pumps—The Well-Tempered Future of A/Cs

Cars That Think

During heat waves in Phoenix, Arizona, while some people fry eggs on sidewalks , Matt Heath, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) service manager at AC by J , is on the front line, helping maintain air conditioners in people’s homes. Up north there is a tipping point that they’re trying to get to,” Conlan says. “Up

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Ford begins production of 2012 Focus Electric at Michigan Assembly, C-MAX models on deck

Green Car Congress

Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; With the new electrified vehicles and the new Focus ST performance model also coming in 2012, Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant is the first facility capable of building a full array of vehicles—gas-powered, EcoBoost, electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid—all on the same production line. Portland, Ore.;

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Punching above its weight

Electric Auto Association

“They’ve all been incredibly important to building our chapter in terms of inspiration, organizational effort, and effective visioning.” If you want to have an in-depth discussion about EVs, solar installation, or anything environmental, you don’t need the usual 5-minute pre-conversation.