Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Big tech companies have pulled back on PERM applications, often the first step to a green card.</li><li>Huge layoffs by Google, Amazon, Meta and other tech companies have made the process harder. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/big-tech">Big tech</a> companies have backed off <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-immigration-needs-reform-losing-workers-2023-3">green card</a> applications in a big way because the process has become tougher and there's less competition for talent.This situation is making it harder for foreign tech workers to stay in the US, and it may mean overseas candidates have to search far beyond Silicon Valley and New York City for jobs in the industry.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-requests-update-immigration-rules-hire-top-ai-talent-2024-5">Google</a> stopped so-called PERM applications in January 2023, the same month it laid off 12,000 employees. PERM is a certification process run by the Department of Labor. It aims to ensure that admitting foreign workers into the country doesn't impact US workers' job opportunities, wages, or working conditions. It's often the first step toward a green card.Earlier this year, Googlers were told the company wouldn't restart the PERM process until at least Q1 2025, according to a current employee with direct knowledge of the matter. A Google spokesperson declined to comment."Tech companies have been following Google's lead and taking their foot off the pedal in terms of green card applications," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benachcollopy.com/ava-benach/">Ava Benach</a>, founding partner of Benach Collopy, a leading immigration law firm in Washington DC. "Google has an outsized influence here," she added. "It has a reputation for treating workers well and leading on these things, so if Google stepped back, then this gives other tech companies cover to step back, too."<h2>Amazon and Meta moves</h2>Earlier this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-suspended-us-green-card-applications-foreign-workers-2024-4">Amazon</a> told employees it would continue to pause all new PERM filings through 2024, according to an internal announcement seen by Business Insider.Amazon said in the memo it had initially paused PERM applications in 2023 and decided to keep these suspended until the end of this year after reviewing "labor market conditions and immigrant requirements."While <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-plan-meta-make-money-from-ai-2024-4">Meta</a> continues to undertake green card sponsorships for international hires, the process has become painfully slow. Getting a green card through Meta is now taking "a year or more," a current employee with knowledge of Meta's hiring processes said.<h2>PERM is a lot harder now</h2>A wave of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-layoffs">job cuts</a> by Google, Amazon, Meta, and other tech companies has made the PERM process more complicated.Companies now have to demonstrate that laid-off employees are not qualified for the jobs intended for foreign workers. They also <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://bashyamglobal.com/blog/the-impact-of-layoffs-on-the-perm-process/">have to notify people</a> who were laid off in the past six months about job openings before filing PERM applications for foreign workers."With more US workers available for open positions, the labor market test fails and so the process becomes a waste of time and money for these tech companies," Benach explained. "If tech companies have done layoffs relatively recently, they also have to notify laid off workers of new positions that may be going to foreign workers," she added. "If some of these people say 'yes, I'm interested,' then you're out of luck with the green card application."Meta's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoff-angst-meta-employees-face-tough-reviews-reorgs-2024-3">multiple rounds</a> of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-vps-leave-ahead-of-thousands-more-layoffs-2023-5">mass layoffs</a> reduced the company's headcount by over 20%. The company is now <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-rehiring-workers-from-layoffs-2023-8">hiring again</a>, but it is having to work harder to explain to US Citizenship and Immigration Services why international workers are needed."It's hard to justify PERM after laying off people," the Meta employee told BI.<h2>Supply and demand</h2>Big tech companies may also be less willing to pursue green cards because of changes in supply and demand across the tech labor market.The industry went on a record hiring spree in the previous decade, and this only intensified during the pandemic boom. When big tech companies were fighting over a limited supply of tech talent, the PERM process was a useful weapon to wield."This is a cumbersome, arduous process that no one likes. It often happens when companies are competing intensely for talent," Benach explained. "Saying 'we'll do your green card for you,' is a great perk to attract the best tech employees.""So when, like now, there are more tech workers on the market, these companies don't have to do this as much," she added. "They are not all scrambling for talent anymore, or at least not as much."<h2>Alternatives for foreign tech workers</h2>What should foreign tech workers do if their current employer is taking too long with PERM applications, or has stopped the process entirely?Benach advises candidates to look outside of the Bay Area and New York City for tech jobs in the US. Many other employers across the country need people with science, technology, engineering, and math qualifications, she noted."It's not just Google and the other big Silicon Valley companies," Benach said. "Other companies in other parts of the country are in desperate need of tech workers."Labor market tests for the PERM process are by their nature local. And there are fewer tech workers in other parts of the country, with some people unwilling to move far for jobs. So this makes the green card process potentially easier outside of places like the Bay Area and NYC, she explained.<h2>Big Tech is trying alternatives, too</h2>In an email to BI, an Amazon spokesperson said the company is working with affected employees to find "alternative immigration pathways" to extend their stay in the US.To get around PERM hurdles, some companies are opting to classify international hires as applicants for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-guidance-on-national-interest-waivers">National Interest Waiver</a>, the Meta employee noted.An NIW application can be done without corporate sponsorship, so an employee can "self-petition" without a specific job offer in hand. This process classifies foreign candidates as people with specific skills and experience that would benefit the US if they became permanent residents.NIW applications jumped in 2023, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/reports/stem_related_petition_trends_eb2_and_o1a_categories_factsheet_fy23.pdf">data</a> from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.<h2>Google wants to change the roles</h2>Google is trying to fix PERM bottlenecks. On Wednesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-requests-update-immigration-rules-hire-top-ai-talent-2024-5">it filed a letter with the Department of Labor</a> arguing for changes that broaden the list of roles that can be fast-tracked to a green card.This "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/21/2023-27938/labor-certification-for-permanent-employment-of-foreign-workers-in-the-united-states-modernizing">Schedule A</a>" list focuses on jobs the Labor Department considers to be poorly supplied with talent. It hasn't been updated in 20 years, and Google argues the list hasn't evolved to meet the needs of the modern labor market.Google is in particular need of AI experts and the company says it will be hard to hire them all."We project that our need for AI Engineer roles, including Software Engineer, Research Engineer, and Research Scientist roles, will increase significantly in the coming years," Google wrote in the letter. "AI advancements offer incredible promise, but the lack of skilled professionals threatens to hinder their full potential."Are you a foreign tech worker struggling with a green card application? Get in touch:Contact Hugh Langley through the encrypted messaging apps <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://signal.org/download/">Signal</a> and <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://telegram.org/">Telegram</a> (<a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow">628-228-1836</a>) or via <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="mailto:hlangley@businessinsider.com">email</a>.Contact Kali Hays at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:khays@businessinsider.com">khays@businessinsider.com</a> or on <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://signal.org/download/">Signal</a> at 949-280-0267.Contact Eugene Kim, via Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a>) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a>).Reach out using a nonwork device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide</a> for other tips on sharing information securely.

Big Tech's big green card problem

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Andres Pico, a software engineer from Ecuador, navigated the US education system to land a job at Microsoft.</li><li>Pico faced challenges adapting to US standardized tests and sought scholarships to fund his education.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andres Pico, a 29-year-old software engineer in Seattle. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I grew up in a small beach town called Manta in Ecuador with my dad, mom, and two sisters. My dad always taught me that there was nothing I couldn't do.I became interested in computers and technology because of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/playstation-plus">PlayStation</a>. Sometimes, I couldn't finish a game because the dialogue and options were in English, so I became very motivated to learn computers and English.<h2 id="aea16f41-f4aa-4e6e-926f-62684543751d">After graduating from high school, I decided I wanted to pursue my education in the US</h2>To apply to a university in the US, you must pass either the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/do-colleges-require-standardized-testing-sat-admissions-what-it-means-2024-3">SAT or ACT</a>. I bought an ACT book and prepared for many months to ensure I could get a good score.I knew I couldn't attend college in the US without a scholarship, so I began investigating scholarships and programs. I found the University of South Florida in Tampa offered a scholarship for students from Latin American countries that would get me a student visa.I was awarded the scholarship, which allowed me to receive a stipend of $1,000 a year to cover textbooks and resident status for tuition purposes.<h2 id="1ea4606f-8ed1-484d-bf1a-b39e05b12a66">I began a bachelor's degree in computer engineering in 2012</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-and-uk-life-biggest-differences-after-moving-home-space-2024-7">Coming to the US</a> at 17 was very challenging. It was my first time leaving home, and there was a lot I didn't understand about the US. I had no close friends or family here for support or guidance.It was also very exciting, as it was an opportunity to push myself. It took some time to get used to classes in English. I studied hard from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.<h2 id="d640f046-61e6-4e77-9c39-669f1b3f751d">In my second semester, I found the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers</h2>The SHPE is a national organization that empowers Hispanics and offers mentorship programs in STEM. Classmates told me they offered free pizza. I'm really glad I was feeling hungry that day.They were welcoming and taught me the basics of the school system, how to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-this-is-an-excellent-resume-2013-11">create a résumé</a>, conduct interviews, and apply to grad school. It was a blessing to find them — suddenly, I had a community of people who wanted to help me succeed.<h2 id="e2632ea8-177e-49a0-b62a-e961cc3cb10a">A fellow student advised me to get as many internships as possible</h2>That was the best advice I received for navigating the US system. If I had just focused on the school material and not gained practical experience, I'm not sure I would've been able to find a job after graduating.I had multiple internships as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recruiter-how-filter-applications-software-engineering-job-post-atl-interview-2024-5">software engineer</a> with local companies in data centers and startups via student work permits. These internships allowed me to gain experience and earn some money.I was extremely fortunate to count on my dad's support to cover any difference between my earnings and expenses.<h2 id="f9d3935c-b09d-48b2-9bb8-dfcaa291a51f">I went on to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Virginia Tech</h2>I sought universities with good computer science programs and scholarships or assistantships. Virginia Tech had an amazing program and great tenured professors, and it offered me an opportunity as a TA, so the decision was obvious.My teaching assistantship paid for all my tuition and also paid me around $20,000 each semester.<h2 id="c9fdec8c-c770-4f06-a7af-8a6bb5f26c51">I started applying for jobs in 2017</h2>I must've applied for over 100 of them. When you apply, employers ask you if they'll need to sponsor you at some point in the future, as not every employer can cover the financial costs associated with the process when the time comes.I received four offers from Microsoft, Verizon, Deutsche Bank, and Disney. Microsoft had the best offer and was willing to sponsor my visa.<h2 id="a93721cf-c9e0-46f2-bd96-3071c98b4800">I started as a software engineer with Microsoft in 2018</h2>When I started my job at Microsoft in Seattle, I could work thanks to a student work permit that lasts one year after graduation and is granted to all F-1 visa students. While working on the student permit, your employer helps you apply for an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-lottery-changes-benefit-startups-hiring-immigrants-2024-2">H-1B</a> visa.I applied for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-green-card-applications-pause-2024-5">green card</a> after working on my H-1B visa for a year. By this point, I had lived in the US for about six years and created a whole life here, but the green card process was very painful.<h2 id="a2b4001a-c572-41e4-89cb-053b4e3c883a">The process makes life pretty horrible</h2>Having a work visa and going through the green card process are privileges, but it is very hard to separate the emotional component.There's no guarantee that you'll get to stay. If something goes wrong at any given time, you have to be ready to pack your bags and leave everything behind. I know some people who tried to get it three times and ran out of chances and had to return home.The first few years working were also difficult because I wasn't around anyone who looked like me. I wanted to grow and challenge myself, but at the same time, it made me wonder if I belonged, and doubt and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/managing-imposter-syndrome-when-you-are-the-boss-2021-10">imposter syndrome</a> crept in.Luckily, Microsoft paid for the attorneys in the green card process, and no cost came out of my pocket.<h2 id="1eb526a5-91be-4063-bec1-58a529e97297">I had to constantly review what they were putting on the application forms</h2>My key takeaway is that, even if you're working with lawyers, you still have to assume complete ownership of the application process and remember the lawyers supporting you, being human, can make mistakes.I was audited because some of the information that had been submitted was incorrect. It took me six to eight months to provide supplemental information and pass the audit.In 2022, I finally received my green card after three years.<h2 id="bd375841-9305-458d-bfb3-92ac255d1675">Last year, I decided to move into product management and took a new job at Starbucks</h2>In software engineering, you work on problems created by engineers for engineers. I wanted to learn how to build products that our customers actually love, so I ended up becoming a technical product manager.I love the US, I love the city I live in, and I love its people. I try to make it a better place by providing value through my career and volunteering in my local community.I even recently <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-couple-left-nyc-bought-vermont-house-slow-life-2024-9">bought a house</a> here — I don't have plans to move anywhere else.Want to share your story? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com.

I got my green card after working at Microsoft on an H-1B visa. The process was very painful, but I love the US and don't plan to leave.

<div type="image" title="One Planet Banner Test" height="138" width="1100" msid="108470190" hostid="261" sizebytes="5076"></div>When Robert Howey joined the US Navy right after high school, he didn't expect to return home anytime soon.Howey, now 30, grew up in northwestern Georgia near Dalton, a small city known as the "carpet capital of the world." If he'd stayed in the area, he likely would have pursued a career in the carpet industry."That's one of the reasons why I wanted to leave," Howey told Business Insider.Howey spent four years as an aerographer's mate analyzing the conditions above and below the ocean. But after being stationed in Japan during the Fukushima earthquake in 2016, he realized the military wasn't his long-term career.He missed home and moved back to Dalton, where a job in carpet manufacturing was indeed the best-paying option. That was until 2018, when Howey heard about a new company moving into Dalton. A local staffing agency was recruiting for Qcells, a solar-panel manufacturing company owned by the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group."I didn't even know what a solar panel was," Howey, now a master training coordinator at Qcells, said. "In the beginning, it was just about getting a job where I could grow. Now I believe in the mission of completely clean energy."Howey is among the 1,800 employees Qcells has hired since opening a solar assembly plant in 2019. The company finished an expansion in October, and it plans to open another factory in Cartersville, about an hour south of Dalton, to make smaller parts of solar panels, including ingots, wafers, and cells. Those parts are currently being imported from South Korea and Malaysia.<div type="image" title="An employee at Qcells inspects a solar panel on the factory floor." height="3024" width="4032" msid="108470191" hostid="261" sizebytes="1120990"></div>Qcells is part of a broader transformation of Georgia's economy into a renewable-energy manufacturing hub, accelerated by tax breaks in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/read-heres-whats-in-the-manchin-deal-for-bidens-agenda-2022-7">Inflation Reduction Act</a> that President Joe Biden signed in August 2022. Since then, more than $15 billion worth of investment has been announced in the state – the second-largest amount behind North Carolina, <a target="_blank" href="https://e2.org/announcements/">according to E2</a>, a nonpartisan business group that advocates climate policy. Most of the money is for new battery plants to supply Georgia's growing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicles-ev-industry-only-sector-meet-climate-goals-2023-11">electric-vehicle sector</a>, while about $2.6 billion is set to go toward solar manufacturing, led by Qcells. E2 has estimated the projects could create 15,400 jobs statewide.All the activity has made Georgia a key testing ground for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-laws-us-infrastructure-invest-funding-2024-3">Biden administration's promise</a> that tackling the climate crisis would create <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-jobs-career-grow-pay-well-high-salary-2024">good-paying jobs</a> and help reshore American manufacturing. Though companies have announced billions of dollars' worth of investments, efforts to build a domestic supply chain of solar panels and electric vehicles are still in their infancy and face stiff competition from China.<h2>Aggressive recruitment</h2>Experts in economic and workforce development say it's no accident this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-climate-manufacturing-work-best-places-georgia-carolinas-2024-1">manufacturing is taking off in Georgia</a>.Bob Keefe, the executive director of E2, said southeastern states view economic development as "a blood sport." Attracting new companies is a priority for leaders in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and the states typically offer generous tax breaks.Keefe added that land and labor in the Southeast tend to be more affordable, in part because few workers are unionized. Many workers are also already skilled in manufacturing.Beyond Qcells, the German auto-parts maker Gedia opened a factory in Dalton to supply the burgeoning EV industry in Georgia and the broader Southeast. In nearby Cartersville, two South Korean conglomerates, SK On and Hyundai, are building a battery plant to supply the electric vehicles Hyundai plans to assemble at a massive new complex in Savannah; both sites are expected to open in 2025. India's Rayzon Solar, which makes solar panels, chose Atlanta for its first US factory. SolarCycle, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-global-leaders-climate-solutions-2023-11#pablo-ribeiro-dias-cofounder-and-cto-solarcycle-19">which reclaims old solar panels</a> to make new ones, in February announced plans for a glass factory.<div type="image" title="SK On and Hyundai's battery factory under construction in Cartersville, Georgia." height="1660" width="3590" msid="108470192" hostid="261" sizebytes="324146"></div>Pat Wilson, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, told BI that recruiting solar and electric-vehicle companies was strategic. Wilson said that on a trip to Germany his department organized with Gov. Brian Kemp shortly after he took office in 2019, executives they met with at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-unveils-mission-x-new-electric-hypercar-ev-electric-vehicle-2023-6">Porsche</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-ev-2030-electric-car-market-trends-2024-2">Mercedes-Benz</a> talked at length about electric vehicles.Qcells had already selected Dalton for its new solar-panel factory by the time Kemp was elected. Wilson said that was partly because of Georgia's decadeslong business relationship with South Korea, where the state established an office in 1985.Wilson said he met with SK On's officials several times before it looked to open a battery factory in the Southeast. SK On opened two battery plants in Commerce, Georgia, in 2018 and hired some 3,000 workers, though it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/9453dc6b-be15-4a54-8e26-fffdc7a3c9eb">recently laid off</a> more than 100 employees as automakers slowed EV investments, the Financial Times reported.Beyond the ties to South Korean conglomerates, Georgia invests more than $100 million dollars a year in workforce training, budget documents show. A state-funded program known as Quick Start can be tailored to the technical skills companies are looking for and offered for free to workers. Georgia's network of 22 technical colleges also partners with local companies to prepare students for work.Heidi Popham, the president of Georgia Northwestern Technical College, said the state agency that oversees that network of technical colleges developed an electric-vehicle-technician certificate, given the massive growth of that industry. She expects her college will offer that certification soon."The students in our automotive-technician program that work on the vehicles will have to have those skills," Popham told BI.<h2>China looms large</h2>Georgia's strategy in recruitment and workforce development is only part of the reason for the boom in renewable-energy-technology companies.In 2018, President Donald Trump <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-solar-tariffs-solar-panels-thousands-of-job-losses-2018-1">slapped tariffs on imports</a> of solar panels and cells, with the goal of helping US manufacturers compete with cheaper imports from China and Southeast Asia. The tariffs were requested by two American companies, including Suniva, which had once been the fastest-growing solar company in the US before filing for bankruptcy protection in 2017.Foreign companies shipping to the US, including Hanwha, were forced to reevaluate their supply chains."We have factories in Korea and Malaysia that were impacted by that duty," said Scott Moskowitz, the director of strategy and market intelligence at Qcells. "The US was our largest market, and we had long wanted to build a factory here. But that trade policy jump-started us making the investment."Qcells' latest expansion plans were buoyed by the Inflation Reduction Act. The law authorized big tax credits for companies making renewable-energy technologies, including solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, in the US.Those subsidies could increase if companies use what's known as domestic content: components of those technologies that are also sourced from the US. The Treasury Department is still working on final guidance for which components would qualify. An initial draft covers solar modules and cells but not wafers and polysilicon. In February, a dozen senators, including Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/24.02.28_Sen.-Ossoff-Domestic-Content.pdf">asked the Biden administration</a> to include wafers and polysilicon to help reshore more of the solar-panel supply chain.That change would benefit Qcells. Its parent company, Hanwha, invested in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kedglobal.com/energy/newsView/ked202311160013">polysilicon factory in Washington state</a>, reviving operations after a nearly five-year hiatus.Moskowitz said that though the law has spurred the most investment in US manufacturing in decades, these renewable supply chains still face headwinds, primarily from China. He added that China had compensated for its cratering <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-crash-real-estate-collapse-property-market-evergrande-bass-2024-2">real-estate sector</a> by rapidly investing in export-oriented manufacturing inside and outside its borders.According to BloombergNEF, China spent $676 billion on the green-energy transition in 2023, while the US spent $303 billion. The year prior, China spent $546 billion while the US spent $141 billion.As a result, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/renewable-energy-how-much-added-wind-solar-evs-2023-12">China dominates the renewable-energy supply chain</a>, from metals to polysilicon to solar components to batteries. The investment has also led to a global oversupply of solar panels and components that's sent prices plunging, and it's made <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-crush-tesla-elon-musk-american-ev-industry-2024-2#:~:text=BYD%20eclipsed%20Tesla%20in%202023,on%20threats%20from%20Chinese%20automakers.">China a major player in the EV market</a>.While the US doesn't import solar panels directly from China, the Biden administration <a target="_blank" href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/08/department-commerce-issues-final-determination-circumvention-inquiries">last year determined</a> that certain Chinese companies were shipping products through Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam. This allowed those companies to avoid tariffs, which the administration had waived for two years, through June 2024. According to S&amp;P Global, the US imported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/extreme-dependence-us-solar-panel-imports-boom-to-record-54-gw-in-2023-80448513">more than two-thirds of its solar panels</a> from Southeast Asia last year.The moves reflect the delicate balance the White House is trying to strike between meeting its climate and renewable-energy goals — which rely on imports — and bolstering a domestic manufacturing base.Moskowitz said that despite the difficult market conditions, Qcells was committed to its US expansion plans. The tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act are in effect for 10 years, which he said reduced some risk for the company. Qcells also has an eight-year supply deal with Microsoft, which is building out renewable-energy projects to power its operations.Once the Qcells factory in Cartersville is finished, the company said it will produce about 8.4 gigawatts of solar power capacity a year, or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.seia.org/us-solar-market-insight">about a fourth of what the US installed in 2023</a>.<h2>A new era in the carpet capital</h2>Qcells' arrival in Dalton marked a new era in Whitfield County, which was devastated by the Great Recession. The housing-bubble burst, rippled through the carpet industry, and cost the county <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailycitizen.news/news/local_news/carbondale-business-park-has-attracted-jobs-and-investment/article_3d4025a4-c81a-11ed-830d-e7ae46616883.html">more than 10,000 jobs.</a> The unemployment rate peaked at about 14% in early 2009 and the county's population, which had steadily grown for decades, plateaued. New housing construction halted.Carl Campbell, the executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority, said that while carpet makers like Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries survived, <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SMU13191403231400001">the industry never returned to prerecession employment levels</a> because of consolidation and automation.The decline led economic-development officials to try to diversify businesses in the area. Campbell said the local workforce already valued manufacturing because of the community's long history in carpet. This — combined with Dalton's proximity to Interstate 75, a freight-rail depot, and a generous 10-year property-tax abatement — helped close the deal with Qcells.Since Qcells opened its doors in 2019, Whitfield County's population has slowly started increasing, but not nearly as fast as Georgia's overall population, which grew by 1.7% between 2020 and 2022.Jevin Jensen, the chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, said part of the problem is a lack of housing. Each day, Jensen said, 30,000 people come to the county for work and then leave to go home."Surely some of those people want to live here but can't find a place they like or a place that's new," Jensen told BI. "We haven't had any new apartments in 20 years."<div type="image" title="Local residents stand outside Dalton Station, a new apartment complex in Dalton, Georgia." height="2841" width="3024" msid="108470193" hostid="261" sizebytes="694042"></div>But a lot can change in a year. Jensen said Dalton would have 1,200 new apartments by the end of 2024. In early February, he attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a chic new studio-apartment complex that's close to downtown and designed to appeal to young professionals. Amenities include a gym, a common area with a pool table, and cornhole on the patio.Afterward, Jensen gave BI a driving tour of three other developments around Dalton, including a multifamily apartment complex at an old jail site."The younger generation doesn't want to spend time on a remodel," Jensen said. "They want move-in-ready, mixed-use, with retail and restaurants in one area. We had nothing like that for young professionals."Howey, the Qcells employee, lives about 30 minutes outside the city, in Calhoun. He's noticed the new housing popping up in the area, along with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-investors-ev-truck-electric-charging-stations-2023-10">EV chargers.</a> When he sees solar panels atop the chargers, he feels pride in his job."We are helping power our vehicles and homes in a way that isn't going to kill our planet," Howey said.He's also a father to two stepchildren — he said he's glad they'll have more job opportunities than he did when he graduated."I think the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-panel-industry-electricity-generation-us-eia-tariff-prices-trade-2024-2">solar industry</a> has created a whole new atmosphere in the area," he said, "where people want to come here to succeed and move forward."This article is part of "<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/the-great-transition">The Great Transition</a>," a series covering the big changes across industries that are leading to a more sustainable future. For more climate-action news, visit BI's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-planet">One Planet</a> hub.

How Georgia became America's green-manufacturing capital 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Zendaya attended the 2024 Met Gala in a Maison Margiela gown covered in grapes.</li><li>She later changed into a vintage Givenchy gown and Alexander McQueen hat.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zendaya-met-gala-looks-ranked">Zendaya</a> has officially arrived at the 2024 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/met-gala">Met Gala</a>.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/met-gala-hosts-co-chair-list">co-chair of this year's ball</a>, the "Challengers" star stepped on the red carpet wearing a green-and-blue gown by John Galliano for Maison Margiela and styled by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/law-roach-celebrity-stylist-interview-2023-2">Law Roach</a>.The dress perfectly fits this year's dress code, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/met-gala-2024-theme-sleeping-beauties-reawakening-fashion-stylist-predictions-2023-11">"The Garden of Time,"</a> which focuses on the florals, utopian ideals, and dystopian undertones in J.G. Ballard's 1962 short story of the same name.It also matches the year's theme, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," as it's a nearly identical <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6pJelHADYe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">recreation of a 1999 Dior gown</a>.This version was custom-made for Zendaya with organza and lamé fabrics, and adorned with grapes and leaves across its bodice.The gown's semi-sheer material was also striped across the bottom and shaped into a mermaid silhouette.<div type="image" title="Zendaya attends the 2024 Met Gala." height="2000" width="1334" msid="109897072" hostid="261"></div>Zendaya wore the stunning gown with dramatic accessories, including a green fascinator. It featured a netted lining across her forehead and a black plume-style piece on top.She also wore bold red eye shadow, thick black eyeliner, thin eyebrows, and burgundy lipstick.For jewelry, she sported only one emerald ring and matching earrings.<div type="image" title="Zendaya attends the 2024 Met Gala." height="2000" width="1333" msid="109897076" hostid="261"></div>Days before the ball, Roach told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/02/style/law-roach-zendaya-met-gala.html">The New York Times</a> that they hadn't prepared an outfit — despite Zendaya being a co-chair this year."I haven't seen Zendaya's dress! We've been on two press tours — 'Dune 2' and 'Challengers' — and doing two Vogue covers," Roach told the publication. "The dress isn't even made. They won't fit until Saturday."But despite their last-minute planning, everything seems to have come together just fine.In fact, she even showcased a second look hours after arriving.<div type="image" title="Zendaya attends the 2024 Met Gala." height="1333" width="2000" msid="109900080" hostid="261" sizebytes="242152"></div>Zendaya stepped back onto the carpet in a gothic, black gown with a leather corset and massive skirt. Her 1996 Givenchy dress, designed by Galliano, also had wide off-the-shoulder sleeves and peplum-style waist pieces.For accessories, she donned a wide Alexander McQueen hat made in 2007 that was decorated with colorful roses.

Zendaya attended the 2024 Met Gala in a dramatic gown covered in grapes &mdash; and then changed her outfit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>BI spoke to several experts about what to watch in 2024 for climate action.</li><li>AI has the potential to reduce emissions in manufacturing, agriculture, and the power sector.</li><li>High borrowing costs won't stop renewable energy projects.</li></ul>It's been a transformative year for climate action. Artificial intelligence burst into our collective conscience like never before. Globally, renewable-energy capacity and electric-vehicle sales <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaWVhLm9yZy9yZXBvcnRzL3dvcmxkLWVuZXJneS1vdXRsb29rLTIwMjMvZXhlY3V0aXZlLXN1bW1hcnk_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJmVtYWlsPWNib3VkcmVhdSU0MGluc2lkZXIuY29tJng9ODEyOGUyOWUzMDdkOGMyNjIyODcwYzQzZDJlODMxYTIyY2U1MDA5MjU1YTE1MGQ1NDcxNzAzNWU4Y2IwZDBhNg/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB983a0a5a">hit new records</a>. Yet <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS93aGF0LWNsaW1hdGUtY2hhbmdlLWNyaXNpcy1leHRyZW1lLXdlYXRoZXItaXMtY29zdGluZy15b3UtMjAyMy05P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09bmV3c2xldHRlciZlbWFpbD1jYm91ZHJlYXUlNDBpbnNpZGVyLmNvbSZ4PTgxMjhlMjllMzA3ZDhjMjYyMjg3MGM0M2QyZTgzMWEyMmNlNTAwOTI1NWExNTBkNTQ3MTcwMzVlOGNiMGQwYTY/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB71e74b83">extreme weather</a> was a reminder that decarbonizing the economy isn't moving fast enough.BI spoke to several experts about what they're watching in 2024. Here are the takeaways: <h2>AI is headed for another blockbuster year</h2>For the first time, AI was a focus of many sideline events at the UN summit in Dubai, known as COP28. It's already being used to monitor greenhouse-gas emissions by analyzing vast amounts of data from satellites, drones, and land-based sensors. Scientists are also using AI to predict extreme weather events more precisely.AI has the potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 5% to 10% by 2030, <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ3N0YXRpYy5jb20vZ3VtZHJvcC9zdXN0YWluYWJpbGl0eS9hY2NlbGVyYXRpbmctY2xpbWF0ZS1hY3Rpb24tYWkucGRmP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09bmV3c2xldHRlciZlbWFpbD1jYm91ZHJlYXUlNDBpbnNpZGVyLmNvbSZ4PTgxMjhlMjllMzA3ZDhjMjYyMjg3MGM0M2QyZTgzMWEyMmNlNTAwOTI1NWExNTBkNTQ3MTcwMzVlOGNiMGQwYTY/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB8d1efd26">a November report by Google and Boston Consulting Group</a> found. The cuts could come from the manufacturing, agriculture, and power sectors, but adoption is slow, said Alp Kucukelbir, the cofounder and chief scientist at Fero Labs, which develops machine-learning software for manufacturers. Kucukelbir coauthored <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaWNlZi5nby5qcC9wZGYvc3VtbWFyeS9yb2FkbWFwL0lDRUYlMjBBSSUyMENsaW1hdGUlMjBDaGFuZ2UlMjBNaXRpZ2F0aW9uJTIwUm9hZG1hcCUyMERSQUZUJTIwRk9SJTIwQ09NTUVOVCUyME9jdCUyMDMlMjAyMDIzLnBkZj91dG1fbWVkaXVtPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImZW1haWw9Y2JvdWRyZWF1JTQwaW5zaWRlci5jb20meD04MTI4ZTI5ZTMwN2Q4YzI2MjI4NzBjNDNkMmU4MzFhMjJjZTUwMDkyNTVhMTUwZDU0NzE3MDM1ZThjYjBkMGE2/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB9732a333">an AI climate framework with other academics</a> released at COP28 that outlined the opportunities, risks, and barriers to adoption."Any factory operating today is already digitized to the extent where you can bring in AI and empower the factory to improve the amount of recycled materials it's using, reduce waste, reduce energy consumption, and improve the yields of its production," Kucukelbir said. He's keeping tabs on how governments approach AI and whether they cover the potential benefits and education gap. There aren't enough workers with AI knowledge, a problem governments can help address. Kucukelbir noted that the US Department of Energy <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5lcmd5Lmdvdi9hcnRpY2xlcy9kb2UtbGF1bmNoZXMtbmV3LW9mZmljZS1jb29yZGluYXRlLWNyaXRpY2FsLWFuZC1lbWVyZ2luZy10ZWNobm9sb2d5P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09bmV3c2xldHRlciZlbWFpbD1jYm91ZHJlYXUlNDBpbnNpZGVyLmNvbSZ4PTgxMjhlMjllMzA3ZDhjMjYyMjg3MGM0M2QyZTgzMWEyMmNlNTAwOTI1NWExNTBkNTQ3MTcwMzVlOGNiMGQwYTY/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eBba5390ce">this month announced</a> a new office dedicated to AI and other emerging technology. <h2>Rising costs won't slow the green transition</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaWVhLm9yZy90b3BpY3MvaW52ZXN0bWVudD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImZW1haWw9Y2JvdWRyZWF1JTQwaW5zaWRlci5jb20meD04MTI4ZTI5ZTMwN2Q4YzI2MjI4NzBjNDNkMmU4MzFhMjJjZTUwMDkyNTVhMTUwZDU0NzE3MDM1ZThjYjBkMGE2/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB00df711e">Renewable-energy investment</a> hit record levels in 2023, but high interest rates created challenges for offshore wind projects. Last month, the Danish company Ørsted <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly9tYXJrZXRzLmJ1c2luZXNzaW5zaWRlci5jb20vbmV3cy9zdG9ja3MvYmlkZW5zLXdpbmQtcmV2b2x1dGlvbi1mYWNlcy1zZXRiYWNrLWFzLW1ham9yLXByb2plY3RzLWhhbHRlZC0xMDMyNzcwODc1P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09bmV3c2xldHRlciZlbWFpbD1jYm91ZHJlYXUlNDBpbnNpZGVyLmNvbSZ4PTgxMjhlMjllMzA3ZDhjMjYyMjg3MGM0M2QyZTgzMWEyMmNlNTAwOTI1NWExNTBkNTQ3MTcwMzVlOGNiMGQwYTY/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB81055bf3">canceled plans to build</a> two large offshore wind projects off the coast of New Jersey. But on Wednesday, Ørsted said it would move ahead with plans to build the world's largest wind farm in the North Sea after the UK increased financial support for the industry, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/4d3cc6d4-f479-4607-9574-63e320af80ff">The Financial Times reported</a>.James Sallee, a professor at UC Berkeley and an economist who studies energy and the environment, said the offshore wind industry is still new in the US, so projects are more costly and risky. The higher cost of borrowing money exacerbates that. Still, he doesn't expect higher interest rates to be a setback for the green transition. "There's a lot of momentum in standard solar and wind projects," Sallee said. "They're still the cheapest sources of new power in places where the natural resources are good. They will be in good shape. But some marginal projects, like big offshore wind, are at risk of being stopped."Some good news: Inflation is cooling, setting the stage for the Federal Reserve to <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9zdG9jay1tYXJrZXQtb3V0bG9vay1kaXNpbmZsYXRpb24tZmVkZXJhbC1yZXNlcnZlLXJhdGUtY3V0cy1nb2xkbWFuLXNhY2hzLTIwMjMtMTI_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJmVtYWlsPWNib3VkcmVhdSU0MGluc2lkZXIuY29tJng9ODEyOGUyOWUzMDdkOGMyNjIyODcwYzQzZDJlODMxYTIyY2U1MDA5MjU1YTE1MGQ1NDcxNzAzNWU4Y2IwZDBhNg/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eBb46a5ead">slash interest rates as many as five times</a> next year. <h2>Hot days ahead</h2>This year <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9sYXN0LXRocmVlLW1vbnRocy1vbi1lYXJ0aC13ZXJlLXRoZS1ob3R0ZXN0LW9uLXJlY29yZC0yMDIzLTk_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJmVtYWlsPWNib3VkcmVhdSU0MGluc2lkZXIuY29tJng9ODEyOGUyOWUzMDdkOGMyNjIyODcwYzQzZDJlODMxYTIyY2U1MDA5MjU1YTE1MGQ1NDcxNzAzNWU4Y2IwZDBhNg/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB65dec1bf">has been the warmest on record</a>. Climate scientists <a target="_blank" href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/33767751.10803/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWV0b2ZmaWNlLmdvdi51ay9hYm91dC11cy9wcmVzcy1vZmZpY2UvbmV3cy93ZWF0aGVyLWFuZC1jbGltYXRlLzIwMjMvMjAyNC1maXJzdC1jaGFuY2Utb2YteWVhci1hYm92ZS0xLjUtYy1zYXktY2xpbWF0ZS1zY2llbnRpc3RzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09bmV3c2xldHRlciZlbWFpbD1jYm91ZHJlYXUlNDBpbnNpZGVyLmNvbSZ4PTgxMjhlMjllMzA3ZDhjMjYyMjg3MGM0M2QyZTgzMWEyMmNlNTAwOTI1NWExNTBkNTQ3MTcwMzVlOGNiMGQwYTY/628bdf90094963f5ad0eef3eB0e0e63c6">predict 2024</a> will be another scorcher. The climate crisis, combined with the weather pattern known as El Niño that leads to warmer temperatures, is increasing the risk of disasters. BI will continue covering how these weather-related disasters are reshaping where people live and disrupting industries like insurance and agriculture.Please share your story with us.

There's no slowing the green transition in 2024

New Delhi, India's top oil firm IOC on Monday unveiled the nation's first <keyword id="18906554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen-powered-bus" source="Orion">green hydrogen-powered bus</keyword> that emits just water as it takes the lead in bringing out unrivaled tools to replace fossil fuels. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will produce close to 75 kg of hydrogen by splitting water using electricity from renewable sources. This hydrogen will be used to power two buses which will ply across the national capital region for trial runs. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, flagging off the buses, said hydrogen will be India's transition fuel for moving away from fossil fuels. IOC's R&amp;D Centre at Faridabad is producing green hydrogen for the pilot run. Four cylinders with a capacity of 30 kg can run the buses for 350 km. It takes 10-12 minutes for the four tanks to fill. Hydrogen when burnt emits only water vapour as a by-product. With three times the energy density and the absence of harmful emissions, hydrogen shines as a cleaner, more efficient choice to meet the energy requirement. As much as 50 units of renewable electricity and 9 kg of deionized water are needed for the production of one kilo of green hydrogen. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for fuel cells. Puri said by the end of 2023, IOC will scale up the number of buses to 15. IOC will undertake operational trials of 15 fuel cell buses powered by green hydrogen on the identified routes in Delhi, Haryana, and UP. Under this programme, the first set of 2 fuel cell buses was launched on Monday. "Our government has ambitious plans on clean and green energy. India has taken many steps towards low carbon development- through emerging fuels like hydrogen and bio-fuels and shall account for 25 per cent of global incremental energy demand growth over the next two decades," Puri said. Upon the launch of the two buses, a cumulative mileage of more than 3 lakh kilometers will be covered for long-term assessment of performance and durability of the new technology. India has one of the largest synchronous grids in the world, capable of handling intermittent renewable energy and it has achieved 'One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency'. "With the low cost solar, synchronous grid, large demand and engineering, India will be a global champion in production and exports of hydrogen and is set to emerge as the hub for green hydrogen," he said. Puri said recently the world's first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype was launched that encompasses both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain that offers higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies. Hydrogen is deemed as the fuel for the future with immense potential to help India meet its decarbonization targets. The global demand for hydrogen is expected to increase by four to seven times to 500-800 tonne by 2050. Domestic demand is expected to increase by four times, from the current 6 tonne at present to 25-28 tonne by 2050. Oil and gas PSUs shall produce around 1 million tonne per annum of green hydrogen by 2030. "This green <keyword id="14355451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydrogen-powered-bus" source="Orion">hydrogen-powered bus</keyword> is going to transform the face of city transport in the country. I shall be closely monitoring the project and wish you all the very best for successfully executing this project of national importance," he added. "The success of this project can catapult India from being a net importer of fossil energy to becoming a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy; and provide global leadership to other countries in terms of technology transfer while becoming a large green hydrogen producer and supplier of manufacturing parts."

IndianOil unveils India's first green hydrogen-run bus that emits just water

<keyword id="19895799" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="australia" source="keywords">Australia</keyword> named a 13-player squad for a two-match Test series against the West Indies, kicking off on January 17. Australia also named a 13-player squad with <keyword id="19942563" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="steve-smith" source="keywords">Steve Smith</keyword> as the skipper of the Baggy Greens. Young all-rounder <keyword id="19999898" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cameron-green" source="keywords">Cameron Green</keyword> has found his way back to the Test squad, while <keyword id="20133433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="matthew-renshaw" source="keywords">Matthew Renshaw</keyword> has also been added to the mix as a possible cover for David Warner, who recently retired from red-ball format. Renshaw was given a nod to be included in the Test squad ahead of the likes of Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft. Ahead of the first Test, Chair of Selectors George Bailey confirmed Green would feature in the playing XI. Bailey also confirmed that Renshaw (Brisbane Heat) and <keyword id="19948028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scott-boland" source="keywords">Scott Boland</keyword> (Melbourne Stars) will play for their respective Big Bash League franchises before joining the squad for the first Test. "Cameron Green will come into the playing XI for the Test in Adelaide in a squad also containing Scott Boland and Matthew Renshaw," Bailey said, as quoted from cricket.com.au "We have selected a team we believe contains the best six batters in the country. Scott Boland and Matt Renshaw will join the squad prior to the first Test after playing for the Melbourne Stars (Jan 15) and Brisbane Heat (Jan 13) in the BBL," Bailey added. With Renshaw acting as Warner's cover, there is also a possibility of the Australian team resorting to Steve Smith in the opening slot. The veteran batter expressed his interest in taking on the role of opener after the conclusion of the third Test in Sydney. After the conclusion of the two-match Test series, Australia will play a three-match ODI series against the Caribbean team. While Pat Cummins will be leading the team in Test format, Steve Smith will take charge in the ODI series as the World Cup-winning captain will be rested. Australia Test Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head (vc), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc Australia ODI Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Adam Zampa. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sony-inzone-h5-review-lightweight-gaming-headphones-for-your-pc-and-ps5/articleshow/106670882.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sony-inzone-h5-review-lightweight-gaming-headphones-for-your-pc-and-ps5/articleshow/106670882.cms" target="_blank">Sony Inzone H5 review – lightweight gaming headphones for your PC and PS5</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/rog-phone-8-phone-8-pro-gaming-smartphones-are-now-lighter-more-powerful/articleshow/106656807.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/rog-phone-8-phone-8-pro-gaming-smartphones-are-now-lighter-more-powerful/articleshow/106656807.cms" target="_blank">ROG Phone 8, Phone 8 Pro gaming smartphones are now lighter, more powerful</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/moto-g34-5g-is-the-latest-affordable-5g-smartphone-with-a-large-battery/slidelist/106659727.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/moto-g34-5g-is-the-latest-affordable-5g-smartphone-with-a-large-battery/slidelist/106659727.cms" target="_blank">Moto G34 5G is the latest affordable 5G smartphone with a large battery</a>

Steve Smith gets nod to take over opening duties from David Warner in Test cricket

Discover the joy of growing your own green chillies at home with this comprehensive step-by-step guide. Whether you're a gardening enthusiast or a spice lover, cultivating green chillies in your own backyard can be a rewarding experience. From selecting the right seeds to providing proper care, this guide covers everything you need to know. Learn about the essential tools and materials required, along with helpful tips on watering, fertilizing, pest control, and harvesting. Embrace the beauty of nature and the satisfaction of homegrown produce as you embark on this exciting journey of growing your own green chillies. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to <keyword id="17885119" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="grow-green-chillies-at-home" source="Orion">grow green chillies at home</keyword>, along with the things required and some tips to keep in mind Things required: <ul><li><keyword id="1167411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-chilli" source="Orion">Green chilli</keyword> seeds</li><li>Pot or container with good drainage holes</li><li>Well-draining potting mix</li><li>Watering can or spray bottle</li><li>Fertilizer suitable for vegetable plants</li><li>Sunny location receiving 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily</li></ul><h3>Step 1</h3>Select the right seeds: Choose high-quality green chilli seeds that are suitable for your climate and desired level of spiciness. You can purchase seeds from a nursery or collect them from fresh green chillies. <h3>Step 2</h3>Prepare the container: Select a pot or container that has drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape. Ensure the container is at least 12 inches deep and wide to provide enough space for root growth. <h3>Step 3</h3>Prepare the potting mix: Fill the container with a well-draining potting mix. You can make your own mix by combining equal parts of garden soil, compost, and sand or perlite. This will provide a fertile and well-draining medium for the chilli plants. <h3>Step 4</h3>Plant the seeds: Plant 2-3 chilli seeds about half an inch deep into the potting mix. Space them out evenly to allow room for growth. Gently cover the seeds with soil and press it down lightly. <h3>Step 5</h3>Provide proper care: Place the container in a sunny location where the chilli plants can receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day. Water the seeds immediately after planting and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. <h3>Step 6</h3>Fertilize the plants: Once the seedlings have established and are about 4-6 inches tall, start fertilizing them. Use a balanced fertilizer formulated for vegetable plants and follow the package instructions for application rates. Fertilize the plants every 2-3 weeks to provide them with essential nutrients. <h3>Step 7</h3>Watering and maintenance: Monitor the moisture level of the soil regularly and water the plants whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot. Prune the plants occasionally to encourage bushier growth. <h3>Step 8</h3>Pest and disease control: Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids or whiteflies and promptly address any infestations. Use organic pest control methods or consult a gardening expert for advice. Monitor the plants for any signs of diseases and take appropriate measures if necessary. <h3>Step 9</h3>Harvesting: Green chillies generally mature within 60-80 days, depending on the variety. Harvest the chillies when they reach the desired size and color. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the chillies from the plant, leaving a small portion of the stem intact. Tips to keep in mind while growing green chillies at home: <ul><li>Choose a sunny spot: Green chillies thrive in full sunlight, so ensure your plants receive ample sunlight throughout the day.</li><li>Adequate watering: Water the plants regularly but avoid overwatering. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.</li><li>Fertilize appropriately: Use a balanced fertilizer to provide essential nutrients to the plants. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer package for proper application.</li><li>Pruning: Regularly prune the plants to encourage branching and more abundant fruit production.</li><li>Pest control: Monitor the plants for pests and take proactive measures to control them. Use organic pest control methods whenever possible.</li><li>Harvesting: Harvest the chillies when they reach the desired size and color. Regular harvesting promotes continuous fruiting.</li></ul>

How to grow Green Chillies at home

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Singapore is trying to fight rising temperatures partly by making its buildings greener, literally.</li><li>This involves covering rooftops and vertical facades with gardens.</li></ul>As the world heats up — and the urban <a href="https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect#:~:text=%22Urban%20heat%20islands%22%20occur%20when,heat%2Drelated%20illness%20and%20mortality." target="_blank" rel="noopener">built environment makes things worse</a> — Singapore is at the leading edge of efforts to cool cities.The hot and humid city-state is among the most densely populated in the world, and it's seeing its temperatures <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrQ9zjvmD6k" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rise particularly quickly</a>. The country approaches this task in various ways — from designing buildings to facilitate airflow to painting rooftops with reflective coats. One central strategy is to literally make the city greener by covering rooftops and the facades of buildings with plants.Cities often suffer from the <a href="https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/urban-heat-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urban heat-island effect</a>, when the built environment makes cities hotter than neighboring rural areas. Buildings and asphalt absorb heat, while cars and other vehicles emit even more heat, and a lack of greenery in cities exacerbates the issues. Plants cool buildings and cities by absorbing sunlight, creating shade, and releasing water that cools the air. Of course, they also absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the climate crisis. Under its Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme, Singapore pays property owners up to 50% of the cost of installing green rooftops and facades. This amounts to up to $200 a square meter for roofs and $500 a square meter for vertical plantings, <a href="https://skyrisegreenery.nparks.gov.sg/incentive-scheme/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the government</a>.The greenery also reduces buildings' carbon footprint and saves property owners on air conditioning and other energy costs. And the green buildings can attract tourists looking to <a href="https://www.alajode.com/ecotourism-in-singapore/#7-8-explore-singapore%E2%80%99s-green-buildings-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patronize eco-friendly businesses</a>. <div type="image" title="Singapore's three-towered Marina Bay Sands Hotel has plantings on its balconies." height="640" width="1280" msid="103790582" hostid="261" sizebytes="114272"></div>Many of these plant-covered structures have received international attention. One skyscraper that opened in Singapore last year has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/capitaspring-singapore-skyscraper-biophilic/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 80,000 trees and plants</a> on it. The city-state's Nanyang Technological University has <a href="https://projects.archiexpo.com/project-23031.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been celebrated</a> for its green roofs. And <a href="https://www.archivibe.com/kampung-admiralty-by-woha-wins-world-building-of-the-year-award-at-world-architecture-festival-2018/#:~:text=Architecture%20Festival%202018-,Kampung%20Admiralty%20by%20WOHA%20wins%20World%20Building%20of%20the,at%20World%20Architecture%20Festival%202018&amp;text=Our%20congratulations%20goes%20to%20WOHA,their%20Kampung%20Admiralty%20in%20Singapore!" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a mixed-used complex with extensive green roofs won</a> the 2018 World Architecture Festival's award for building of the year. This is all part of Singapore's decadeslong effort to <a href="https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/a7fac49f-9c96-4030-8709-ce160c58d15c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">become the "Garden City."</a> Its <a href="https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/targets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Plan 2030</a> sets out a series of ambitious environmental goals, including doubling the rate at which trees are planted between 2020 and 2030, making at least <a href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/34976/SGB.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of its buildings green</a>, and creating 200 hectares of green roofs by 2030. Singapore is also investing in a network of "green corridors," streets lined thickly with trees that also help to provide shade and moisture, naturally air conditioning the city. Some <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/03/health/green-roofs-singapore-buses-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public buses</a> have even adopted green roofs.Singapore is not the only place investing heavily in planting more greenery to reduce temperatures and boost energy efficiency. The city of Basel, Switzerland, has been incentivizing green roof construction since the 1990s, and as of 2019, it had <a href="https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/metadata/case-studies/green-roofs-in-basel-switzerland-combining-mitigation-and-adaptation-measures-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more green roof space per capita</a> than any place on earth. Toronto <a href="https://www.canadianarchitect.com/canadian-precedent-spurs-green-roof-legislation-for-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed a law in 2009</a> requiring that buildings of a certain size have green roofs.

Why so many buildings in Singapore are covered in plants

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Coal billionaire Gautam Adani is building the world's largest power plant, and it's all renewable.</li><li>Adani's nephew, who's in charge of the project, says there's "no choice" but to go big on green energy.</li></ul>The largest power plant in the world is under construction, and it'll produce enough clean energy to fuel entire countries like Belgium, Chile, or Switzerland.It will cover 200 square miles — nearly the size of Chicago.Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) is building the solar and wind power plant in a salt desert in the western Indian state of Gujarat. AGEL is the clean energy unit of the Adani Group, the biggest coal miner and importer in India founded by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-gautam-adani-indian-industrialist-billionaire-wealth-elon-musk-2022-12">billionaire Gautam Adani</a> in 1988. Adani is currently the second richest person in Asia, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/top-10-richest-people-asia/88245/1">according to Forbes</a>.The Adani Group has promised to dump $70 billion into clean energy by 2030 — including $20 billion on this project alone — as India tries to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/19/business/india-adani-green-energy-plant-climate-intl-hnk/index.html">CNN reported</a>."There is no choice for India but to start doing things at a previously unimagined size and scale," Sagar Adani, the 30-year-old nephew of Gautum Adani and the executive director of AGEL, told CNN.India — the <a target="_blank" href="https://climatepromise.undp.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/india">third-largest energy consumer in the world</a>, 73% of which comes from coal — has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2070, two <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/us-long-term-strategy.pdf">decades later than the US has pledged</a>. India also hopes to get half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.And AGEL's massive new plant could be a major step in making that happen.The project, expected to be finished in five years, will create 15,200 green jobs and produce enough clean energy to power 16 million Indian homes, AGEL <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adanigreenenergy.com/newsroom/media-releases/Adani-Green-Energy-operationalizes-1000-MW-of-the-30000-MW-Khavda-renewable-energy-park">said in a press release on its website</a>.As India develops, Sagar Adani told CNN he hopes his country does not burn through as much fossil fuel as other countries did during their developments."If India does what China did, if India does what Europe did, if India does what the US did, then we are all in for a very, very bleak climatic future," Sagar Adani told the outlet.However, AGEL's plant and green energy commitments are still built on profits from coal production.The Adani Group's coal mining operations make up at least 3% of the world's coal-based carbon dioxide emissions, and the group makes 62% of its revenue from fossil fuel, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-09-09/world-s-third-richest-billionaire-adani-pivots-from-coal-mogul-to-green-champion?sref=yaJhKSOh">Bloomberg reported</a>.

You Searched For "green cover" and got 11 results

Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

Insider Inc.

Big Tech's big green card problem

Hugh Langley,Kali Hays,Eugene…

I got my green card after working at Microsoft on an H-1B visa. The process was very painful, but I love the US and don't plan to leave.

Elle Hardy

How Georgia became America's green-manufacturing capital

Catherine Boudreau

Zendaya attended the 2024 Met Gala in a dramatic gown covered in grapes and then changed her outfit

Amanda Krause

There's no slowing the green transition in 2024

Catherine Boudreau

IndianOil unveils India's first green hydrogen-run bus that emits just water

PTI

Steve Smith gets nod to take over opening duties from David Warner in Test cricket

ANI

How to grow Green Chillies at home

Shagun Chaudhary

Why so many buildings in Singapore are covered in plants

Eliza Relman

Billionaire Gautam Adani got rich off coal. Now his company is building a green energy plant the size of Chicago.

Grace Eliza Goodwin

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides