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Platte River Partners with Qcells to Bring Largest Solar Project to Northern Colorado

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Black Hollow Solar will have capacity for 257MW of power for the utility’s service region.

SEVERANCE, Colo., July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Platte River Power Authority (Platte River) and turnkey solutions partner Qcells USA Corp. (Qcells), broke ground on northern Colorado’s largest solar generation project on July 10.

“Black Hollow Solar represents a major milestone in our journey of working toward our noncarbon energy goals as outlined in the board-approved Resource Diversification Policy,” says Jason Frisbie, Platte River general manager/CEO. “We are proud that Black Hollow Solar, when completed, will bring the total amount of solar capacity in our portfolio to 309 MW, help replace the coal-fired generation we will be shutting down before the end of the decade and is by far the largest solar generation project in northern Colorado.”

The first phase of the project is expected to be complete in May of 2025 and will deliver approximately 367,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy annually to Platte River’s owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. Phase two of Black Hollow Solar will add an additional 107 MW of capacity in 2026, totaling 257 MW for this project. This is enough to power over 63,000 homes and will increase Platte River’s total solar capacity to 309 MW.

Colorado is a national leader in low-cost, renewable energy and we remain focused on protecting our air quality and environment while saving people money. This project will help us do that by expanding solar capacity in our state and helping Colorado reach our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040 while strengthening northern Colorado communities like Severance,” said Governor Jared Polis.

Per the agreement with Platte River, Qcells will provide turnkey solutions including project development, engineering, procurement and constructions services and will supply over 540,000 Qcells modules on the Black Hollow Solar project. The electricity generated will be sold to Platte River beginning in May 2025 under a long-term power purchase agreement.

Energy will be delivered to Platte River’s owner communities in Colorado’s north Front Range through a substation currently under construction, adjacent to Platte River’s existing transmission system.

“Qcells is pleased to have been selected by Platte River to develop and construct this exciting project and solidify our commitment to supporting Colorado’s low carbon energy future,” said IP Kim, Qcells president. “We are proud to provide energy solutions that support a partner like Platte River, promoting good stewardship of the community while also realizing the benefits this project brings as a clean source of sustainable energy for the next 25+ years for northern Colorado communities and to the growth of American energy.”

The site is located northeast of Black Hollow Reservoir, near the Town of Severance, CO and the infrastructure will utilize nearly 1,400 acres. Platte River and Qcells engaged with local authorities and stakeholders, including neighbors, state agencies, town councils and county leaders to identify this site. The location was selected after careful review of physical and environmental impacts, land-use constraints and stakeholder feedback.

As Platte River continues to replace coal-fired resources with renewable energy technology, the addition of Black Hollow Solar along with existing renewable resources will increase Platte River’s total noncarbon energy generation on an annual basis to 58% serving almost 75% of the utility’s four owner communities’ energy needs. Platte River is currently evaluating its next round of renewable energy projects including wind and battery storage to continue the pursuit of the utility’s and its owner communities’ noncarbon energy goals. Learn more about Platte River’s plans for a noncarbon future at prpa.org/future.

Qcells

Qcells USA provides complete utility-scale turnkey solutions through the entire project lifecycle from modules, solar and energy storage project development, and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to the US utility-scale market.

With a track record that includes 8.4 GW of sustainably produced module manufacturing capabilities in Georgia and nearly 2.7+ GW of under-construction and developed, constructed, and operating projects, Qcells USA is a dependable partner throughout the entire project lifecycle. Qcells USA is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm and a Top 7 business enterprise in South Korea.

For more information, visit qcellsusa.com and on LinkedIn.

Platte River Power Authority

Platte River Power Authority (Platte River) is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power generation and transmission utility that provides safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their distribution utility customers.

Media Contact

Nick Centera, Qcells, 1 619-750-5712, nick.centera@qcells.comus.qcells.com

Maia Jackson, Platte River Power Authority, 1 970-568-6678, JacksonM@prpa.orgwww.prpa.org

LinkedIn

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SOURCE Qcells

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Super Famicom Style Comes to PS5 and PC with Killscreen’s SFC-1 Controller

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Killscreen™ launches SFC-1, a Super Famicom-inspired custom controller for PC and PS5 featuring retro 16-bit styling, multicolor face buttons, and optional performance upgrades including TMR Anti-Drift Thumbsticks, Omron powered Mecha Triggers™, and mechanical face buttons.

LARGO, Fla., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Killscreen™ today announced the launch of SFC-1, a new custom performance controller inspired by the Japanese Super Famicom and the 16-bit era of gaming. Built for PC and PlayStation 5 players, SFC-1 brings the unmistakable visual style of classic Japanese gaming hardware into a modern performance controller.

With SFC-1, we wanted to capture a little bit of that Super Famicom feeling and bring it forward for PC and PS5.

SFC-1 features a retro SFC-inspired aesthetic with a soft gray body, graphite directional controls, and multicolor face buttons in blue, green, red, and yellow. The design draws from the Japanese Super Famicom console and controller — 16-bit hardware many players in the U.S. first discovered through magazines, import shops, and collector culture.

“Growing up, the Super Famicom always felt like this mysterious, cooler version of the system we got in the U.S.,” said Erik at Killscreen. “The gray body, the colored buttons, the shape of the console — it had this completely different energy. It felt like hardware from another world. With SFC-1, we wanted to capture a little bit of that feeling and bring it forward for PC and PS5.”

Beyond its retro-inspired design, SFC-1 is available with Killscreen’s premium performance upgrade options, including TMR Anti-Drift Thumbsticks for improved precision, durability, and long-term resistance to stick drift. Players can also configure SFC-1 with Mecha Triggers™, featuring high-performance Omron microswitches for shorter, faster trigger pulls, and mechanical face buttons for crisp, tactile inputs.

SFC-1 is designed for players who want a unique custom controller with a clear connection to gaming history, without giving up modern performance options. Like all Killscreen controllers, SFC-1 can be configured from a clean standard build to a competition-focused setup, giving players the ability to choose the controller that fits how they play.

The release continues Killscreen’s growing line of retro-inspired modern gaming hardware, following previous controllers that reimagine classic PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo-era design cues for today’s players.

The SFC-1 Super Famicom-inspired PS5 controller is available now exclusively at killscreen.io.

Key Features

Retro SFC-inspired aesthetic — Classic 16-bit color styling with multicolor face buttons inspired by the Japanese Super Famicom console and controller.TMR Anti-Drift Thumbstick upgrade option — Built for improved precision, durability, and long-term resistance to stick drift.Mecha Triggers™ upgrade option — High-performance Omron microswitch triggers with shorter, faster pulls designed for quicker response in competitive play.Mechanical face button upgrade option — Crisp, tactile button inputs with a more responsive mechanical feel.Configurable performance-focused build options — Available in standard or upgraded configurations depending on how players want to build their controller.Full PC + PS5 compatibility — Designed for PlayStation 5 and compatible PC gaming setups.

About Killscreen

Killscreen™ is a premium gaming hardware company focused on custom performance controllers for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players. Combining distinctive industrial design with competition-focused upgrade options, Killscreen builds next-generation controllers engineered for precision, speed, durability, and personal expression.

For more information, visit For more information, visit Killscreen custom performance controllers.

Media Contact

Maya, Killscreen LLC, 1 212-457-1776, pr@killscreen.io, https://killscreen.io

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/super-famicom-style-comes-to-ps5-and-pc-with-killscreens-sfc-1-controller-302804993.html

SOURCE Killscreen LLC

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AKA Foods Launches AKA Label Studio, a Free Food Labelling Tool for FDA and EU/UK Markets

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AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AKA Foods, a European food technology company, today launched AKA Label Studio, a free food labelling tool that produces compliant labels for the US (FDA) and Europe (EU/UK) markets. The product is available immediately at no charge, with no usage tier, no usage cap and no credit card required.

AKA Label Studio is built for food product developers, QA leads, regulatory teams and consumer packaged goods brands. Comparable nutrition and regulatory labelling software typically costs between $500 and $1,500 per user per year. AKA Label Studio is the company’s first free product and an entry point to the wider AKA Studio platform, the AI-powered R&D system used by AKA Foods’ paying customers.

Built by AKA Foods’ in-house food R&D team

AKA Label Studio was developed by the same in-house food R&D team behind AKA Studio. The product includes a Feedback bar on every page, where users can submit requested features. AKA Foods has committed to building the most-requested capabilities and publishing what it ships.

“We have spent two years building a professional food labelling tool inside AKA. Today we are making it available to the food industry free of charge. The food professionals who use it will tell us what to build next.”
David Sack, CEO and co-founder, AKA Foods

Product features

AKA Label Studio supports FDA and EU/UK compliance from a single tool, with a two-click market switch. It automatically detects the US Big 9 and the 14 EU-regulated allergens, includes a compliance review workflow and a live regulatory radar covering FDA and EFSA sources. Recipe versions, lab results and multi-recipe reports are included. Labels export as print-ready PNG, SVG or PDF.

“AKA Label Studio is a full implementation of food labelling functionality. It has been built to the same standard as the rest of the AKA Studio platform used by our paying customers.”
Shahar Rosentraub, Chief Product Officer, AKA Foods

AKA Studio integration

AKA Studio integrates formulation science, sensory data and institutional knowledge into a single AI-powered R&D system for food product development. The platform was named in the FoodTech 500 and received the Fi Europe Innovation Award 2025. Users of AKA Label Studio see references to AKA Studio inside the product, with an upgrade path to a paid licence.

AKA Label Studio is available immediately at www.aka-food.com. Registration requires an email and a phone number for verification.

Media contact
Olga Sukhman, AKA Foods
417131@email4pr.com
+1 888 301 5010

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aka-foods-launches-aka-label-studio-a-free-food-labelling-tool-for-fda-and-euuk-markets-302804708.html

SOURCE AKA Foods

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In HelloNation, Plumbing Expert Manny Valdez Explains What a Plumbing Estimate Should Include

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The article outlines how Southern Arizona homeowners can review a plumbing estimate to understand scope, permits, and warranty coverage before work begins.

ORO VALLEY, Ariz., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should homeowners expect to see in a written plumbing estimate before approving a plumbing repair or installation? HelloNation recently published an article that explains what Southern Arizona homeowners should review in a plumbing estimate before any project begins.

The article features insights from Plumbing Expert Manny Valdez of Acclaimed Drain and Plumbing Solutions LLC. The HelloNation article explains that a plumbing estimate should function as a clear roadmap for the repair or project, outlining the scope of work, permit requirements when applicable, and plumbing warranty coverage.

According to the article, transparency is one of the most important elements of a written plumbing estimate. Homeowners should be able to clearly understand the work being performed and the total cost of the project before the job begins. This clarity helps prevent misunderstandings between the homeowner and the plumber.

The article also notes that a detailed plumbing estimate should identify what is not included in the project. Because many plumbing estimates use flat-rate pricing, homeowners may receive a single price for the job without separate breakdowns for labor, materials, or equipment. Reviewing exclusions and asking questions helps homeowners understand the full scope of the work.

Local conditions can also influence how plumbing repairs are handled in Southern Arizona plumbing systems. Hard water is common throughout the region and can cause mineral buildup and corrosion in pipes and fixtures over time. The article explains that a thorough plumbing estimate should describe how the plumber plans to address the underlying cause of the problem rather than simply replacing damaged components.

The scope of work should also be clearly defined within the plumbing estimate. Homeowners should confirm which areas of the home will be serviced and what specific plumbing issues will be addressed. This level of detail allows homeowners to compare estimates more accurately and ensures the project targets the intended problem.

Permit requirements are another important consideration discussed in the article. Certain plumbing installations or repairs may require city or county permits. A detailed plumbing estimate should clarify whether the licensed plumber will obtain the permit or whether the homeowner is responsible for arranging it.

Warranty coverage is also a key part of the estimate review process. The article explains that homeowners should receive a clear explanation of the plumbing warranty, including its duration and any limitations. A written list of exclusions should also be provided so homeowners understand what may not be covered after the repair is completed.

Communication during the estimate process plays a major role in homeowner plumbing decisions. Reliable professionals take time to explain the estimate, answer questions, and provide realistic timelines for the project. This communication helps homeowners understand what to expect throughout the repair process.

Experience with regional plumbing conditions is another factor homeowners should consider when reviewing an estimate. Homes in Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley often face challenges related to hard water, aging infrastructure, and desert climate conditions. A Tucson plumber or Oro Valley plumber familiar with these conditions may provide estimates that reflect practical solutions designed to last.

Referrals and online reviews may also support the evaluation process. Feedback from previous clients can help homeowners determine whether a Marana plumber or other local professional typically completes projects within the estimated scope and timeframe.

The article concludes that reviewing a plumbing estimate carefully helps homeowners protect their investment and reduce the risk of unexpected costs. By confirming the scope of work, permit responsibilities, and plumbing warranty coverage, homeowners can make informed decisions and prepare for successful repairs.

What a Written Plumbing Estimate Should Include for Southern Arizona Homeowners features insights from Manny Valdez, Plumbing Expert of Oro Valley, Arizona, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-plumbing-expert-manny-valdez-explains-what-a-plumbing-estimate-should-include-302805396.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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