Chinese hackers target US infrastructure with unprecedented persistence
Recent warnings from the National Security Agency (NSA) highlight an ongoing cyber threat posed by the persistence of Chinese hackers. In a cybersecurity advisory issued with other federal agencies, the NSA singled out a Beijing-backed hacker network known as “Volt Typhoon” for targeting and infiltrating American critical infrastructure.
“The [advisory] focuses on PRC-sponsored cyber actor, Volt Typhoon, targeting IT networks of communications, energy, transportation, water, and wastewater organizations in the U.S. and its territories,” the NSA said in a statement. “The authoring agencies recognize the reality that the PRC has already compromised these systems. In some cases, the cyber actors have been living inside IT networks for years to pre-position for disruptive or destructive cyberattacks against operational technology in the event of a major crisis or conflict with the United States.”
Chinese hacking groups like Volt Typhoon actively targeted vital sectors of U.S. infrastructure, including electric grid operators, water systems and shipping ports. The groups’ tactics involve gaining and maintaining access to these networks for long periods. Some instances of continuous access lasted up to five years. This prolonged presence provides the hackers with the capability to execute potentially devastating cyberattacks at their discretion. These attacks also threaten the stability and functionality of resources relied upon by everyday Americans.
“If and when China decides the time has come to strike, they’re not focused just on political and military targets,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “We can see from where they position themselves across civilian infrastructure, that low blows aren’t just a possibility in the event of a conflict, low blows against civilians are part of China’s plan.”
Despite the gravity of their activities, Volt Typhoon’s methods do not always use cutting-edge technology. Rather, the group relies on persistent hacking attempts, exploiting vulnerabilities that may be accessible to relatively-skilled hackers, not just experts.
The vulnerability of U.S. infrastructure cybersecurity is made worse by its fragmented and decentralized nature.
Several entities and individuals are responsible for operating different components of critical infrastructure. Therefore, coordination efforts to combat cyber threats are often insufficient. This fragmentation is particularly evident in sectors such as the water system where 150,000 individual, independently-managed operations make up the system. This is a trend found across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors in the country.
In response to these ongoing threats, federal agencies are urging infrastructure operators to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. Recommendations include implementing multi-factor authentication and conducting regular reviews of network activity logs to detect and prevent unauthorized access.
US Energy Dept. announces billions for projects to cut industrial emissions
The industrial sector in the United States is reportedly responsible for a fourth of the country’s emissions. Now, the Biden administration is spending the largest amount ever on industrial decarbonization projects to fight climate change.
The Department of Energy announced it is putting $6 billion in federal funds toward efforts to eliminate up to 14 million metric tons of industrial pollution annually, the equivalent of taking about 3 million gas-powered vehicles off of the road, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
The funding for the projects reportedly comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $6 billion will consist of 33 projects across 20 states. The companies involved range from producers of iron, steel, aluminum, concrete, cement and food and beverage.
For example, one plan involves setting up a zero-carbon aluminum casting plant in West Virginia, using low-emission furnaces that are reportedly powered by hydrogen. The company that was awarded the funding uses aluminum to produce things like cars and planes.
Funding from the Energy Department will also be used for projects like replacing two electric furnaces. This particular project alone is expected to eliminate 1 million tons of greenhouse gases each year.
Another project at a cement plant in Indiana is getting money for an underground carbon capture facility, which will reportedly keep 2 million tons of CO2 from escaping into the Earth’s atmosphere each year.
The Biden administration claims the $6 billion plan will do more than cut emissions, it will also create and support union jobs, giving a charge to U.S. competitiveness.
The U.S. aluminum industry has fallen behind other countries in recent years. In 2000, the U.S. was reportedly the No. 1 producer of aluminum. Now, it’s reportedly ninth in production of aluminum.
The ultimate goal for the aluminum companies participating in these projects is to shift production to 100% clean energy.
Spying probe finds comms equipment on Chinese cranes at US ports
Chinese-made cargo cranes at U.S. ports have sparked concern following a congressional investigation that unveiled potential national security risks, according to The Wall Street Journal. The probe revealed communication equipment on these cranes that doesn’t align with standard operations, prompting worries about possible clandestine data collection. Some of these components include cellular modems capable of remote access.
Though it’s typical for cranes to feature modems for remote monitoring, it appears that certain U.S. ports utilizing cranes manufactured by China-based ZPMC hadn’t requested this capability. Investigators found over a dozen modems on crane components and another inside a port’s server room.
ZPMC, a state-owned Chinese company, declined to comment on the matter.
Worries regarding ZPMC’s cranes have escalated in recent years, prompting the Biden administration to invest in replacing them with U.S.-manufactured alternatives. This decision comes amid concerns of potential disruption and espionage.
The investigation is focusing on ZPMC and potential threats associated with Chinese-manufactured equipment at U.S. ports.
Gravity Mobility unveils nation’s fastest EV chargers in New York City
Gravity Mobility, a Google-backed EV infrastructure startup, has introduced some of the fastest electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the country to New York City. The company unveiled 24 of its 500-kilowatt chargers in Midtown Manhattan this week, with plans to expand nationally in the future.
“Automakers love to tout their EVs’ top driving speed, but what matters more than anything for drivers is how fast a car can charge,” said Moshe Cohen, the CEO and founder of Gravity Inc. “Our technology that can provide a car with 40 miles of range in just a minute of charging. With these speeds, we can push the entire industry to vehicles with faster-charging batteries.”
With a charge rate of 2,400 miles of range per hour, these devices are capable of fully powering up an average EV battery in under five minutes. Most public fast chargers typically require anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to achieve a similar result. The increased speed of Gravity Mobility’s chargers comes from the strength of their electrical output, which surpasses that of traditional fast chargers by over 40%.
Despite this increased power, the chargers themselves are compact, measuring only about the size of a carry-on suitcase. This stands in contrast to the gas station-sized pillars commonly associated with EV charging stations.
“Gravity’s Distributed Energy Access Points function as EV chargers but are capable of much more,” the company said in a statement. “They directly interface with other sources and uses of power and augment electrical grids, flexibly stabilizing and allocating power to prevent costly new demand spikes and eliminating the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.”
Gravity Mobility has ambitious plans to roll out thousands more of its high-powered chargers across the country in the coming years. Their ultimate goal is to rival Tesla’s extensive Supercharging network, which accounted for more than half of all fast chargers built in the U.S. through the first half of last year.
“In terms of infrastructure, we’re literally at a turning point where the new equipment that we’re launching across sites throughout the five boroughs for ourselves and for everyone is going to give everyone, meaning any car manufacturer, an experience that is as good as a supercharger at Tesla or better,” Cohen said.
While competing with a company that currently dominates over 60% of the nation’s fast chargers may seem like a daunting task, Gravity Mobility has some advantages. With chargers offering twice the power cap of those on Tesla’s network, this startup has the potential to revolutionize the EV industry and emerge as a major player in the market.
“Gravity’s innovative charging technology is a market changer that will allow the public in one of the largest and busiest cities in the world the ability to ‘charge and go’ more quickly thereby providing a more enjoyable driving experience,” said Richard Kauffman, the chair of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
White House probes Chinese smart cars, cites national security concerns
The White House announced on Thursday, Feb. 29, that the U.S. is launching an investigation into whether Chinese “smart cars” are a national security risk, according to Reuters. The probe could also lead to restrictions due to concern over “connected” car technology, according to the Biden administration.
The U.S. Commerce Department will be handling the investigation. U.S. officials are concerned because vehicles “collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers.” In addition, the White House said that the vehicles use “cameras and sensors to record detailed information on U.S. infrastructure.”
The Commerce Department warns that Chinese-made vehicles have the potential to be “piloted or disabled remotely.” The probe will also look into self-driving vehicles, according to Reuters.
The investigation comes as the world sees a surge in the popularity of high-tech vehicles from Chinese automakers like BYD. However, President Joe Biden said it’s too early to declare what actions might be taken, according to a White House statement.
China isn’t saying much about the probe by the White House. However, Chinese officials reportedly said that it’s unfair to target a specific country.
China is also reportedly dominating the EV battery supply chain. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the U.S. is trying to find a way to build a China-free supply of EV batteries.
This is not the first time U.S. officials have sounded alarm bells over Chinese-manufactured cars. In November, a bipartisan group of lawmakers raised concerns over Chinese companies testing autonomous vehicles in the U.S., potentially gathering sensitive data.
Now, Biden has joined the chorus of those concerned over security.
“Why should connected vehicles from China be allowed to operate in our country without safeguards?” Biden said.
The Commerce Department said there will be a 60-day window for public comment, after which it will consider any new rules that need to be made. U.S. companies are not immune to the rules, according to the department. U.S. automakers must submit details on their assembled fleet within the country and will be asked to disclose where they license their software.
The investigation into smart cars comes a week after the Biden administration announced plans to replace Chinese-manufactured cranes at national ports. The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is investing billions of dollars into the project in hopes of preventing China from hacking into the cranes systems.
Energy Dept. unveils $366M plan for rural, tribal clean energy
Some homes in the United States are poised to receive electricity for the first time. This is part of a $366 million initiative spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE), which aims to introduce clean energy projects to rural and tribal communities across the nation.
“President Biden firmly believes that every community should benefit from the nation’s historic transition to a clean energy future, especially those in rural and remote areas,” U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said.“Thanks to the President’s Investing in America agenda, DOE is helping revitalize communities across America—ensuring thriving businesses, reliable access to clean energy, and exciting new economic opportunities, now and for generations to come.”
The Energy Department’s plan entails the installation of various clean energy infrastructure such as solar panels, hydropower facilities, microgrids, electric vehicle chargers, and more in areas with populations of 10,000 or fewer. Covering 17 distinct clean energy projects across 20 states and 30 tribal communities, the initiative hopes to address the longstanding disparity in energy access and affordability faced by these underserved regions.
“Overall, these projects are going to create more affordable and more reliable energy resources for the communities they’ll be serving,” Granholm said. “They’ll lower families’ energy bills and at the same time create good-paying jobs in their communities.”
According to federal government estimates, energy costs in rural and remote areas are approximately 33% higher than the national average. Meanwhile, an estimated 17,000 homes on tribal lands currently lack access to electricity, forcing residents to allocate significant portions of their annual incomes towards securing power.
About one-fifth of homes in the Navajo Nation and over a third of Hopi Indian Tribe homes do not have access to electricity. Nearly a third of homes that have electricity on Native American reservations in the U.S. report monthly outages.
“Many tribal communities, tribal nations generally pay higher than average rates for electricity,” said Wahleah Johns, the DOE head of Indian energy policy and programs. “They face a high energy burden and energy poverty.”
Among these planned projects, one aims to provide power to over 300 homes on tribal lands that have never before had access to electricity. Another initiative in New Mexico is projected to save residents up to $700 annually on their energy bills. In Alaska, a new hydroelectric system is set to replace a 70-year-old wooden dam, mitigating the local community’s complete dependence on diesel fuel.
These endeavors stem from the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to allocate 40% of federal clean energy investments to individuals residing in underrepresented and disadvantaged communities. However, some of these clean energy plans have faced pushback.
Native American tribes in Nevada and Arizona have been raising concerns about the protection of their lands and sacred sites amidst the renewable energy expansion. Additionally, recent regulatory decisions have granting Native American tribes enhanced authority to impede hydropower projects on their land have further complicated the landscape.
“For the most part, the renewable energy developers are repeating the mistakes that fossil fuel developers have made over the years,” said Marion Werkheiser, founding partner of Cultural Heritage Partners. “They’re not engaging with tribes early as potential partners and information sources during their planning process, and they are basically deferring their own relationship with tribes to the federal government.”
These developments have sparked apprehension about potential legal battles between tribal nations and the federal government in response to this latest Energy Department announcement.
EPA says soot rule will save thousands of lives, but cost businesses millions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to cut down on the dangers posed by soot inhalation, which can lead to health issues such as asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and more. In an effort to prevent these potential medical complications, the agency has announced stricter guidelines for allowable levels of soot in the air, lowering the annual standard by 25%.
“The Biden administration is taking life-saving action to protect people and rein in deadly pollution,” said Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice. “The science is crystal clear. Soot, otherwise known as fine particle pollution, is a killer. It is driving heart disease, our asthma epidemic, and other serious illnesses.”
According to the EPA, the implementation of these new regulations, expected to be completed by 2032, could prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths annually. Researchers have also highlighted that lower-income communities stand to benefit the most from this initiative, which could potentially save Americans $46 billion in health care costs.
“This final air quality standard will save lives and make all people healthier, especially within America’s most vulnerable and overburdened communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Cleaner air means that our children have brighter futures, and people can live more productive and active lives, improving our ability to grow and develop as a nation.”
However, achieving these benefits will require significant investments. The industrial sector is now facing an annual bill of close to $600 million in order to comply with the EPA’s air pollution requirements. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has cautioned that approximately 20% of counties nationwide would need to adjust their soot levels to meet the requirements.
Concerns have been raised that businesses in these areas might opt to relocate their operations to other nations with less stringent environmental standards, posing a threat to American manufacturing jobs.
“The cost of complying with this regulation would fall predominantly on the private sector,” said industry groups in a letter to the White House. “It would hinder the ability of our member companies to create jobs, innovate and invest. Lowering the current standard so dramatically would create a perverse disincentive for American investment. The proposed standard would reduce GDP by nearly $200 billion and cost as many as 1 million jobs through 2031.”
This could hamper Biden administration’s goal of promoting domestic production, particularly in sectors where technology is predominantly manufactured abroad. The EPA’s move to tighten soot regulations may limit the impact of legislation aimed at incentivizing the establishment of new electric vehicle battery plants, computer chip factories, and infrastructure projects.
“This is throwing up roadblocks to building the very infrastructure we need to create that cleaner economy of the future,” said Marty Durbin, senior vice president for policy at the Chamber of Commerce. “Manufacturing is going to be affected.”
Despite these economic concerns, the EPA asserts that the problem may not be as widespread as projected by the Chamber of Commerce. According to data from their air monitors, the agency believes only 52 U.S. counties would exceed the 2032 soot limit level.
$7.5B EV charging network plan has 1 station in 2 years — but momentum is growing
The first NEVI charging station, located at the Pilot Travel Center along Interstate 70 near Columbus, Ohio, features four fast-charging ports capable of charging an EV up to 80% in approximately 40 minutes.
Ohio’s second phase plans to add 25 more charging locations along major highways. The state will be receiving a total of $140 million in NEVI funds over the next five years.
This site is currently priced at 59 cents per kilowatt-hour.
“It’s a little high, definitely higher than the average for Electrify America in this part of the country,” Ben said on his Youtube channel, which focuses on energy content. “I haven’t checked to see if they charge a session fee; a lot of other EVgosites do charge a 99-cent session fee. But this is EVgo eXtend, so they may have their own pricing structure, and I’m thinking they may not actually charge a fee. If it works, if it’s reliable, if it’s fast, from my perspective, I’m willing to pay a little bit of a premium for that.”
National challenges and background
While Ohio showcases the NEVI initiative’s potential, the broader national goal of achieving 500,000 EV chargers by 2030 faces challenges. Currently, the United States has approximately 180,000 EV chargers, significantly short of the 2030 target.
Gabe Klein, the executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, emphasizes the goal of installing four charging ports every 50 miles along highways as the foundation of a nationwide charging network.
Ohio Department of Transportation
The NEVI initiative aims to provide funds to each state for fast chargers along federal highways, but delays have occurred due to the need for staffing and standards creation.
States manage NEVI funds after plan approval, allowing them to delegate construction and operation to private firms. However, construction permitting and the overall building process can take months to over a year, compounded by the Build America, Buy America Act requiring infrastructure materials to be domestically sourced.
EV trends
Despite challenges, Pennsylvania is set to unveil its first NEVI-funded charger, and six additional states have contracted for initial charging sites. Furthermore, 15 states, along with Puerto Rico, are actively seeking bids from the private sector. Klein expressed pride in the initiative’s development pace, emphasizing the focus on building an equitable, user-friendly, and reliable EV charging network.
While EV investments in the U.S. have surged, with over $85 billion allocated for vehicles, batteries, and chargers since Biden took office, global EV sales rose from 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022. The transition to electric vehicles continues to gain momentum, with EV battery sales increasing by 20% in the past year.
US electric school bus adoption hits new high, detractors debate practicality
More electric school buses are set to hit American roadways than ever before, jumping by more than 200% since the start of 2022. There are now electric school bus commitments in 49 states, simulated by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rebate program, which awarded over $900 million for thousands of these vehicles across the nation.
“This investment will transform how millions of students get to school each and every day. It will help clean the air we breathe, protect public health and tackle the climate crisis,” said Michael Regan, administrator of the EPA. “These efforts will help build a better America by sending a strong signal to the industry and communities that zero-emission vehicles, they are the future.”
This initiative is part of the $5 billion earmarked within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models by 2026. The EPA projects that come 2027, nearly one-third of all school buses will be electric.
To keep up with growing demand, Blue Bird — one of the nation’s oldest school bus manufacturers — is investing millions in a new Electric Vehicle Build-up Center. The company hopes this new facility will help increase their production capacity from four electric buses per day to 20. Doing so would ultimately allow Blue Bird to output around 5,000 of these vehicles annually, more than quadrupling the number it currently has in operation.
“Based on the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alone we anticipate thousands of additional electric school bus orders valued at an estimated $1 billion over five years,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our new EV Build-up Center reflects Blue Bird’s steadfast commitment to school districts across the U.S. and Canada to meet increasing demand and deliver clean, safe and reliable student transportation when they need it.”
Experts say there are a number of potential benefits from this coming transition to electric school buses. A study by the World Resources Institute found that electrifying the full school bus fleet in the United States by 2030 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the roads.
Because electric school bus motors create no tailpipe emissions, they reduce students’ exposure to dangerous air pollutants. That keeps students safe from the serious physical dangers of diesel exhaust pollution.
Electric School Bus Initiative
“Because electric school bus motors create no tailpipe emissions, they reduce students’ exposure to dangerous air pollutants,” the Electric School Bus Initiative said. “That keeps students safe from the serious physical dangers of diesel exhaust pollution. Reducing students’ exposure to air pollution from school buses has been shown to have positive and significant effects.”
Each electric school bus produces less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of their diesel or propane-powered counterpart. They also offer reduced health risks when compared to the over 40 toxic air contaminants that exhaust fumes from diesel buses contain.
“Diesel engine exhaust is carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer,” said the American Lung Association. “Clean, electric school buses are better for kids’ health. School bus electrification is an important part of making the air healthier for everyone, especially children.”
Electrifying bus fleets also can save school districts money in the long-run, at an average of $6,000 every year on operational expenditures. Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland Electric Fleets — a company contracting services for electric school buses — said the maintenance costs are “probably about a third of the cost of a combustion engine vehicle.”
However, opponents of the movement say a mass adoption of electric school buses still is not practical. While the cost of maintaining these buses is less than those with combustion engines, their upfront expense is three to four times higher, coming with a price tag of around $350,000 to $450,000.
“If I have to replace my entire fleet of buses, and let’s say the most expensive bus I have is $160,000, to replace everything with a bus that’s going to cost $400,000, that’s huge, that’s really significant to our budget,” said Mellissa Mulvey, a school superintendent in western New York.
Additional concerns include the range of the batteries, which are capped at around 100 miles, making longer commutes or field trips difficult with an electric school bus. Newer models are being developed with batteries that will allow them to travel greater distance in an effort to alleviate some of these fears.
“If somebody handed me an endless amount of money and said ‘electrify your entire fleet tomorrow,’there will be some routes that would be challenging to electrify today,” said Boston School District’s Deputy Director of Transportation Jacqueline Hayes. “But we’re pretty confident that technology is going to get there in the next five years.”
Meanwhile, rural communities have also voiced opposition due to the scarcity of EV chargers and the toll electric school buses would take on their local power grid. The EPA has said it will prioritize funding for these rural districts and others that are most in need of assistance.
EPA will prioritize applications that will replace buses serving low-income, rural and Tribal communities.
Environmental Protection Agency
“EPA will prioritize applications that will replace buses serving low-income, rural and Tribal communities,” the EPA said in a statement. “Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty also will be prioritized if their application focuses on clean school buses serving those communities.”
Officials hope that those government funds will help clear these hurdles, making charging technology more widely available and reducing the costs faced by school districts. Solving this issue comes with a ticking clock, as more and more states are now setting deadlines to mandate the purchase of only electric school buses going forward.
41 workers rescued from a collapsed tunnel in India after 17 days
More than six hours after breaking through rock and debris, rescuers initiated the evacuation of 41 construction workers trapped for 17 days in a collapsed 3-mile tunnel in the Uttarakhand state of India. Ambulances, with lights flashing, awaited at the tunnel’s mouth to transport the laborers approximately 20 miles to the nearest hospital.
Despite receiving essential supplies through a pipe, previous attempts to dig a rescue tunnel using high-powered drilling machines faced numerous setbacks. The workers had been trapped in the tunnel since its collapse on Nov. 12, following a landslide.
The evacuation involved pulling each worker, one at a time, on wheeled stretchers through a narrow pipe. The trapped workers, who endured repeated setbacks in the rescue operation, had plenty of space in the tunnel and received food, water and other necessities.
“I am feeling very excited that after so many days of waiting my brother is about to come out …whatever (joy) I am feeling now, after they actually get out, it will be something else altogether,” said Devender Kishku, a relative of trapped tunnel worker.
Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, expressed relief and happiness on X, formerly twitter, after the successful rescue of all workers from the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi.
“I am very happy that all the 41 trapped workers have come out and their lives have been saved,” Gadkari said in the video.
He commended the well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, highlighting it as one of the most significant recent rescue operations.
