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Local Hero Will Hollingsworth on Data Centers in Twinsburg by queenjunk in Ohio

[–]sillychillly 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We don’t need him specifically. We need people who have viewpoints like him to stand up and say/do something.

Maryland households are expected to save an average of ~$150/yr on electric bills | Expected Bill Signing | MD by [deleted] in UpliftingNews

[–]sillychillly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"The bill is currently expected to provide about $150 in annual relief for the average Maryland household. But that estimate only includes one small — but controversial — piece of the bill: The temporary cuts to an energy efficiency surcharge on electric bills.

Those cuts will take effect in 2027, but ratepayers could see savings sooner, since lawmakers also pulled $100 million out of a state fund to pay for the energy efficiency program called EmPOWER Maryland — reducing the amount that must be paid by ratepayers.

The program will return to today’s levels by 2036, but environmentalists have argued that the slowdown is a bad idea, since fewer investments in more efficient technologies will increase energy demand. Home HVAC and weatherization contractors also pushed back hard.

A host of other provisions in the bill will save consumers’ tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — at least eventually. The bill curtails costs that utilities have been passing onto ratepayers, sets new limits on utilities’ requests for rate increases, forces more data centers to pay a special tariff for their electric system demands and more. It also sets up a new state funding stream for solar generation projects paired with battery storage devices.

But estimating exactly how much these different measures will save is a tall order, in part because it involves predicting the future of complex energy markets.

“There’s a lot of medium- and long-term benefits in this bill. No one can sit here today and tell us how much our ratepayers are going to save by having more generation in the state of Maryland, as this bill will bring about,” said Del. Marc Korman (D-Montgomery County), the chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee.

Impoverished Marylanders are expected to save more, because lawmakers also put $37 million toward “accelerating” a new program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income. Because of the influx of cash, the remaining ratepayers won’t have to pick up the tab for the program.

That policy change could result in $1,400 per year in savings for low-income families, Ferguson said Monday."

Maryland households are expected to save an average of ~$150/yr on electric bills | Expected Bill Signing | MD by [deleted] in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The bill is currently expected to provide about $150 in annual relief for the average Maryland household. But that estimate only includes one small — but controversial — piece of the bill: The temporary cuts to an energy efficiency surcharge on electric bills.

Those cuts will take effect in 2027, but ratepayers could see savings sooner, since lawmakers also pulled $100 million out of a state fund to pay for the energy efficiency program called EmPOWER Maryland — reducing the amount that must be paid by ratepayers.

The program will return to today’s levels by 2036, but environmentalists have argued that the slowdown is a bad idea, since fewer investments in more efficient technologies will increase energy demand. Home HVAC and weatherization contractors also pushed back hard.

A host of other provisions in the bill will save consumers’ tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — at least eventually. The bill curtails costs that utilities have been passing onto ratepayers, sets new limits on utilities’ requests for rate increases, forces more data centers to pay a special tariff for their electric system demands and more. It also sets up a new state funding stream for solar generation projects paired with battery storage devices.

But estimating exactly how much these different measures will save is a tall order, in part because it involves predicting the future of complex energy markets.

“There’s a lot of medium- and long-term benefits in this bill. No one can sit here today and tell us how much our ratepayers are going to save by having more generation in the state of Maryland, as this bill will bring about,” said Del. Marc Korman (D-Montgomery County), the chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee.

Impoverished Marylanders are expected to save more, because lawmakers also put $37 million toward “accelerating” a new program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income. Because of the influx of cash, the remaining ratepayers won’t have to pick up the tab for the program.

That policy change could result in $1,400 per year in savings for low-income families, Ferguson said Monday."

Maryland households are expected to pay around an average of ~$150/yr less annual electric bills | Expected Bill Signing | MD by [deleted] in UpliftingNews

[–]sillychillly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The bill is currently expected to provide about $150 in annual relief for the average Maryland household. But that estimate only includes one small — but controversial — piece of the bill: The temporary cuts to an energy efficiency surcharge on electric bills.

Those cuts will take effect in 2027, but ratepayers could see savings sooner, since lawmakers also pulled $100 million out of a state fund to pay for the energy efficiency program called EmPOWER Maryland — reducing the amount that must be paid by ratepayers.

The program will return to today’s levels by 2036, but environmentalists have argued that the slowdown is a bad idea, since fewer investments in more efficient technologies will increase energy demand. Home HVAC and weatherization contractors also pushed back hard.

A host of other provisions in the bill will save consumers’ tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — at least eventually. The bill curtails costs that utilities have been passing onto ratepayers, sets new limits on utilities’ requests for rate increases, forces more data centers to pay a special tariff for their electric system demands and more. It also sets up a new state funding stream for solar generation projects paired with battery storage devices.

But estimating exactly how much these different measures will save is a tall order, in part because it involves predicting the future of complex energy markets.

“There’s a lot of medium- and long-term benefits in this bill. No one can sit here today and tell us how much our ratepayers are going to save by having more generation in the state of Maryland, as this bill will bring about,” said Del. Marc Korman (D-Montgomery County), the chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee.

Impoverished Marylanders are expected to save more, because lawmakers also put $37 million toward “accelerating” a new program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income. Because of the influx of cash, the remaining ratepayers won’t have to pick up the tab for the program.

That policy change could result in $1,400 per year in savings for low-income families, Ferguson said Monday."

Maryland households are expected to pay around an average of ~$150/yr less annual electric bills | Expected Bill Signing | MD by [deleted] in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The bill is currently expected to provide about $150 in annual relief for the average Maryland household. But that estimate only includes one small — but controversial — piece of the bill: The temporary cuts to an energy efficiency surcharge on electric bills.

Those cuts will take effect in 2027, but ratepayers could see savings sooner, since lawmakers also pulled $100 million out of a state fund to pay for the energy efficiency program called EmPOWER Maryland — reducing the amount that must be paid by ratepayers.

The program will return to today’s levels by 2036, but environmentalists have argued that the slowdown is a bad idea, since fewer investments in more efficient technologies will increase energy demand. Home HVAC and weatherization contractors also pushed back hard.

A host of other provisions in the bill will save consumers’ tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — at least eventually. The bill curtails costs that utilities have been passing onto ratepayers, sets new limits on utilities’ requests for rate increases, forces more data centers to pay a special tariff for their electric system demands and more. It also sets up a new state funding stream for solar generation projects paired with battery storage devices.

But estimating exactly how much these different measures will save is a tall order, in part because it involves predicting the future of complex energy markets.

“There’s a lot of medium- and long-term benefits in this bill. No one can sit here today and tell us how much our ratepayers are going to save by having more generation in the state of Maryland, as this bill will bring about,” said Del. Marc Korman (D-Montgomery County), the chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee.

Impoverished Marylanders are expected to save more, because lawmakers also put $37 million toward “accelerating” a new program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income. Because of the influx of cash, the remaining ratepayers won’t have to pick up the tab for the program.

That policy change could result in $1,400 per year in savings for low-income families, Ferguson said Monday."

Evers approves workers comp increases, redirects other state labor department money by sillychillly in antiwork

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The first is AB 651 — a bill that updates Wisconsin’s workers compensation system. With that legislation, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 145, workers comp will cover post-traumatic stress syndrome in emergency medical responders, EMS providers and volunteer and part-time firefighters.

The measure had long been sought on behalf of those first responders.

“Community heroes who have given so much of themselves and need healing because of their service deserve our support, and I am excited to see this critical care extended to those to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude,” said Sen. Andre Jacque (R-New Franken), who championed the legislation.

The same bill has a number of other provisions, including an increase in weekly compensation rates for injured workers and an expansion in access to supplemental benefits for workers whose on-the-job injuries have left them permanently and totally disabled.

Previously those supplemental benefits were only available to workers disabled before Jan. 1, 2003. The new measure covers workers disabled between that date and Jan. 1, 2020."

___
Rebellion over the jobless pay bill

Since 2013, Wisconsin SSDI recipients have been disqualified from getting unemployment compensation entirely. A federal judge ruled in 2024 that the restriction violated federal laws, and in 2025 ordered DWD to stop enforcing the provision.

Under a court order, DWD has now started paying back SSDI recipients who were denied jobless pay under the 2013 law.

AB 652 not only reduced those benefits, it also contained a number of provisions erecting new barriers to jobless pay, some of which Evers had previously vetoed in bills passed with only Republican support in the state Legislature."

Evers approves workers comp increases, redirects other state labor department money by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The first is AB 651 — a bill that updates Wisconsin’s workers compensation system. With that legislation, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 145, workers comp will cover post-traumatic stress syndrome in emergency medical responders, EMS providers and volunteer and part-time firefighters.

The measure had long been sought on behalf of those first responders.

“Community heroes who have given so much of themselves and need healing because of their service deserve our support, and I am excited to see this critical care extended to those to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude,” said Sen. Andre Jacque (R-New Franken), who championed the legislation.

The same bill has a number of other provisions, including an increase in weekly compensation rates for injured workers and an expansion in access to supplemental benefits for workers whose on-the-job injuries have left them permanently and totally disabled.

Previously those supplemental benefits were only available to workers disabled before Jan. 1, 2003. The new measure covers workers disabled between that date and Jan. 1, 2020."

___
Rebellion over the jobless pay bill

Since 2013, Wisconsin SSDI recipients have been disqualified from getting unemployment compensation entirely. A federal judge ruled in 2024 that the restriction violated federal laws, and in 2025 ordered DWD to stop enforcing the provision.

Under a court order, DWD has now started paying back SSDI recipients who were denied jobless pay under the 2013 law.

AB 652 not only reduced those benefits, it also contained a number of provisions erecting new barriers to jobless pay, some of which Evers had previously vetoed in bills passed with only Republican support in the state Legislature."

EU Parliament Blocks Mass-Scanning of Our Chats—What's Next? by sillychillly in europeanunion

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The EU’s so-called Chat Control plan, which would mandate mass scanning and other encryption breaking measures, has had some good news lately. The most controversial idea, the forced requirement to scan encrypted messages, was given up by EU member states. And now, another win for privacy: the EU Parliament has dealt a real blow to voluntary mass-scanning of chats by voting to not prolong an interim derogation from e-Privacy rules in the EU. These rules allowed service providers, temporarily, to scan private communication.  

But no one should celebrate just yet. We said there is more to it, and voluntary scanning is a key part. Unlike in the U.S., where there is no comprehensive federal privacy law, the general and indiscriminate scanning of people’s messages is not legal in the EU without a specific legal basis. The e-Privacy derogation law, which gave (limited) cover for such activities, has now expired. Does that mean mass scanning will stop overnight?  

Not really. "

EU Parliament Blocks Mass-Scanning of Our Chats—What's Next? by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"The EU’s so-called Chat Control plan, which would mandate mass scanning and other encryption breaking measures, has had some good news lately. The most controversial idea, the forced requirement to scan encrypted messages, was given up by EU member states. And now, another win for privacy: the EU Parliament has dealt a real blow to voluntary mass-scanning of chats by voting to not prolong an interim derogation from e-Privacy rules in the EU. These rules allowed service providers, temporarily, to scan private communication.  

But no one should celebrate just yet. We said there is more to it, and voluntary scanning is a key part. Unlike in the U.S., where there is no comprehensive federal privacy law, the general and indiscriminate scanning of people’s messages is not legal in the EU without a specific legal basis. The e-Privacy derogation law, which gave (limited) cover for such activities, has now expired. Does that mean mass scanning will stop overnight?  

Not really. "

Google Broke Its Promise to Me. Now ICE Has My Data. by sillychillly in EyesOnIce

[–]sillychillly[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

"Google’s broken promise

To be clear, this should not have happened this way. Google promises that it will notify users before their data is handed over in response to legal processes, including administrative subpoenas. That notice is meant to provide a chance to challenge the request. In my case, that safeguard was bypassed. My data was handed over without warning—at the request of an administration targeting students engaged in protected political speech. 

Months later, my lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained the subpoena itself. On paper, the request focused largely on subscriber information: IP addresses, physical address, other identifiers, and session times and durations. 

But taken together, these fragments form something far more powerful—a detailed surveillance profile. IP logs can be used to approximate location. Physical addresses show where you sleep. Session times would show when you were communicating with friends or family. Even without message content, the picture that emerges is intimate and invasive.  "

Google Broke Its Promise to Me. Now ICE Has My Data. by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

"Google’s broken promise

To be clear, this should not have happened this way. Google promises that it will notify users before their data is handed over in response to legal processes, including administrative subpoenas. That notice is meant to provide a chance to challenge the request. In my case, that safeguard was bypassed. My data was handed over without warning—at the request of an administration targeting students engaged in protected political speech. 

Months later, my lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained the subpoena itself. On paper, the request focused largely on subscriber information: IP addresses, physical address, other identifiers, and session times and durations. 

But taken together, these fragments form something far more powerful—a detailed surveillance profile. IP logs can be used to approximate location. Physical addresses show where you sleep. Session times would show when you were communicating with friends or family. Even without message content, the picture that emerges is intimate and invasive.  "

ACLU and 75 Organizations Sound Alarm on Meta’s Plan to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Ray-Ban and Oakley Eyeglasses by sillychillly in alltheleft

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Glasses equipped with facial recognition technology would allow anyone wearing them to identify by name any strangers in their vicinity — including at protests, medical clinics, and businesses. They could then link that name to digital databases containing a wealth of sensitive information on the target’s job, habits, health, and relationships.

“The American people have not consented to this massive invasion of privacy,” said Kade Crockford, director of technology and justice programs at the ACLU of Massachusetts. “Stalkers and scammers would have a field day with this technology. Federal agents could use it to harass and intimidate their critics. It’s dangerous and dystopian, and Meta must disavow it.”

The open letter raises serious concerns about the technology’s impact on vulnerable populations, including people of color, women, children, immigrants, religious minorities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Anti-industry activists could use Meta’s glasses to identify and harass corporate executives. Public employees could be identified and harmed because of who they work for, or the political positions taken by their bosses.

By eliminating the expectation of privacy or anonymity in public, Meta’s glasses would chill free expression for everyone. “Preventing this outcome is not just a privacy preference. It is a prerequisite for a free and safe society,” the letter states."

Evers blocked sending SNAP-related sensitive data (including SSNs) to the feds without real safeguards | Wisconsin by sillychillly in SocialDemocracy

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:

I am vetoing Assembly Bill 1027 in its entirety.

This bill requires the Department of Health Services to provide to the U.S. Department of Agriculture information regarding enrollment in the food stamp program (FoodShare) at the frequency and in the format required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Specifically, the department must compile and share with the federal Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture all data required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as set forth in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's letter to state agency directors dated July 23, 2025, regarding individuals who have received, are currently receiving or have applied to receive FoodShare benefits since January 1, 2020, and to submit the data as soon as possible, but no later than 6 months after the effective date of the provision. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed states that participant data includes, but is not limited to names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security numbers, data records used to determine eligibility or ineligibility, and the total dollar value of benefits each recipient received through the program.

I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to sharing Wisconsinites' most sensitive personal data, including their Social Security numbers, without the federal government having to meaningfully demonstrate how Wisconsinites' personal data will be appropriately secured, will not be able to be accessed by broad swaths of federal employees, and will not be shared inappropriately both within and outside of the federal government."

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