A week ago, Congress left town for the Presidents’ Day recess (another recess!) after funding most of the government except the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division (ICE). The reason: An impasse over ICE’s operations, following developments in Minneapolis as well as other cities. As always, this issue devolved into the blame game: Democrats said Republicans are putting the nation at risk by refusing reasonable changes to ICE’s behavior, while Republicans faulted Democrats for being unreasonable themselves by their willingness to shut down DHS, even though ICE already has $75 billion, and the Department also includes other important agencies like the Coast Guard, FEMA (disaster relief), and TSA (screeners and air traffic controllers), meaning air travel will be affected. Forget about who’s right or wrong. The bigger issue is that shutdowns may become the new normal. The longest one in history (43 d

Join Vineyard Team and the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance for an educational event that brings together wine industry professionals and energy partners for a half-day of sessions and networking focused on sustainable energy. THURSDAY, MARCH 14 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. SPRINGHILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT 900 EL CAMINO REAL, ATASCADERO REGISTER Itinerary: 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. …………….. Check-in, Coffee & Networking 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. …………….. Program Begins & Introductions 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. ……….….. Session 1: Energy Shift for the Wine Industry 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. …………. Session 2: Building Resiliency 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m......… Session 3: Leveraging Energy Sustainability 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. …………… Networking Lunch REGISTER SPEAKERS & TOPICS INCLUDE: Energy Shift for the Wine In

Join Vineyard Team and the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance for an educational event that brings together wine industry professionals and energy partners for a half-day of sessions and networking focused on sustainable energy. THURSDAY, MARCH 14 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. SPRINGHILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT 900 EL CAMINO REAL, ATASCADERO  REGISTER   Itinerary: 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. …………….. Check-in, Coffee & Networking 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. …………….. Program Begins & Introductions 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. ……….….. Session 1: Energy Shift for the Wine Industry 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. …………. Session 2: Building Resiliency 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m......… Session 3: Leveraging Energy Sustainability 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. …………… Networking Lunch  REGISTER      SPEAKERS &

In the realm of power generation, ensuring the reliability of backup systems is paramount. Companies like CD & Power understand the critical role generators play in maintaining operations during power outages. One essential practice in the realm of generator maintenance is load bank testing. Below, learn the significance of load bank testing for generators.  Understanding Load Bank Testing Load bank testing is a crucial procedure employed to evaluate the performance and reliability of a generator under various load conditions. This simulation mimics real-world scenarios, allowing operators to assess the generator’s capacity, cooling system, and overall functionality. While generators are designed to handle a range of loads, they often operate at less than optimal levels, leading to issues such as wet stacking and carbon buildup. Load bank testing serves as a proactive measure to address these concerns and ensure generators are ready for action when needed. The Why Behin

In an age where reliable power is essential for businesses and critical infrastructure, generator maintenance is the unsung hero that keeps the lights on when the grid fails. However, keeping your generator in top shape is not as simple as it might seem. Many generator owners make critical generator maintenance mistakes that can lead to costly breakdowns and downtime. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of preventative generator maintenance and discuss some common mistakes to avoid in generator upkeep.  The Importance of Preventative Maintenance Before diving into the common generator maintenance mistakes, let’s emphasize why preventative maintenance is crucial. Your generator is an investment in your power security, and neglecting its care can lead to disastrous consequences. Routine maintenance ensures that your generator is always ready to kick into action when needed, providing peace of mind and reliability. 7 Generator Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid Neglect

If you're no stranger to the compressed air and gas industry, you've probably crossed paths with industrial chillers (or process cooling chillers) at some point. These unsung heroes, while not directly related to compressed air, play a vital role in various industrial processes, from food and beverage to medical, plastics, and printing. What Exactly is an Industrial Chiller? At its core, think of an industrial chiller as your kitchen refrigerator's industrial cousin! These remarkable machines excel at moving heat from one place to another, safeguarding equipment, product quality, and applications. An industrial chiller houses a pumping system that circulates cooling water (or a water/glycol mixture) from the chiller to the process. This liquid is like the heat-absorbing superhero, whisking heat away from the process. Once it's done its job, the now-warm liquid heads back to the chiller, and the cycle begins anew! Industrial chillers consist of four key c

In industrial and hazardous environments, safety is paramount. Many industries handle flammable or explosive substances, making the risk of potential accidents a significant concern. When it comes to cooling equipment, such as chillers, the need for safety becomes even more critical. Enter the explosion-proof chiller – a specialized cooling solution designed to ensure maximum safety in hazardous locations. The Importance of Explosion-Proof Cooling Equipment In industries where safety is paramount, an explosion-proof chilling unit is more than just a cooling system; it's a vital safeguard against potential disasters. From hazardous environments with flammable substances to laboratories handling volatile materials, these specialized chillers play a pivotal role in protecting lives, assets, and operations. By ensuring compliance with industry regulations and offering robust safety features, explosion-proof coolers are a must-have for any organization committed to maintaining th

Afternoon Brief, March 10th

Less Fertilizer, Higher Prices Await Grape Growers: A 'perfect storm' of pandemic shutdowns, geopolitics and other factors have led to decreased product availability...

Wineries Success in the Face of Mass Consolidations, Shutdowns

The number of wine products continues to increase, distributors continue to decrease. What now? —Kathleen Willcox In 2020, the global wine market was valued at around $417.9 billion, with an […]

SAVING THE WORLD...ONE KEG AT A TIME  After a year-long hiatus due to COVID shutdowns, we are proud to bring back the KEGGY Awards & announce the 2021 winners! The KEGGY Awards were created in 2014 to recognize our partners for their commitment to sustainability by choosing to package their wine in reusable stainless steel kegs — a truly zero-waste package.   To date, more than 20 million bottles — and approximately 45 million pounds of waste — have been diverted from the landfill through the use of Free Flow’s reusable stainless-steel kegs. Each Free Flow keg holds the equivalent of 26 bottles of wine and will save 1,560 bottles from the landfill over its lifetime. Hahn Family Wines O’Neill Vintners The Wine Group    The Hess Collection Altos Las Hormigas Blackbird Vineyards         Crimson Wine Group Folio Fine Wine Partners     Michael David Winery Miner Family Winery       Vine