So many red flags, and this brings up so many questions. U.S. gov’t asks court to dismiss NAACP lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI over use of unpermitted gas turbines — DOJ says Grok model running at Colossus 2 ‘supports mission-critical operations’
So many red flags, and this brings up so many questions. U.S. gov’t asks court to dismiss NAACP lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI over use of unpermitted gas turbines — DOJ says Grok model running at Colossus 2 ‘supports mission-critical operations’
Funny, there seems to be a push to build data centers when the federal government has identified 335 specific, large-scale brownfields and Superfund sites that are ideal candidates for retrofitting into sprawling AI and data center campuses. And the U.S. has over 450,000 “brownfield” sites, abandoned or underutilized industrial and commercial properties where redevelopment is complicated by past contamination. Faster to come online, cheaper construction costs, infrastructure already wired for them, and those communities probably already have people familiar with the sites wanting to go back. Makes you wonder what money is changing hands to make building new sites, especially in the hottest areas of the country, seem like a good idea.
The Decision Criteria: Why Old Factories Work Not every abandoned factory is a viable data center. Developers look for specific conditions when evaluating adaptive reuse:
Grid Connection: Proximity to high-voltage transmission lines or existing substations is critical, as powering AI racks requires massive amounts of electricity.
Footprint and Zoning: The site must have sufficient contiguous acreage for server warehouses and cooling facilities and be located in a municipality that zones the land for industrial use.
Brownfield Status: Federal initiatives, such as EPA guidelines and incentives for Superfund and Brownfield sites, make repurposing tax-advantaged and legally streamlined.
Just when you thought things could not get crazier. Speaker Dustin Burrows Lists Data Centers, Property Taxes and Annexing Slice of New Mexico Among 2027 Priorities
Toy Matinee’s Last Plane Out should be the official theme song for 2026 despite being released 36 years ago. It sounded alarmist then. Now it sounds like the evening news. Lyrics here
Since Trump is not going, California Gov. Newsom headed to Brazil next week for COP30 climate summit
Piloting Drones as a Reforestation Tool
Tree planting typically occurs two years after a fire. Alternatively, aerial drone seeding can occur a couple of months after a fire, once the seed vessels are ready and the winter rains arrive to water the seeds.
This Facebook post got me thinking there ought to be a way for people to convert their plastic containers to 3D printer filament. I did a bit of research since I couldn’t be the first to think of this. Here is what I found.
There are machines specifically designed to convert plastic containers—most commonly PET bottles—into 3D printer filament.
Some notable examples:
Filabot: A commercial solution that allows users to recycle various types of waste plastic, including failed 3D prints and some household plastics, into printer filament. It offers grinders and extruders for producing filament compatible with common 3D printers.
Filament Maker by Sustainable Design Studio: This machine is designed for home users, workshops, or schools. It includes a bottle cutting tool and can create filament from PET bottles efficiently, with detailed guides and plug-and-play assembly options.
PETFusion Machine: A compact, easy-to-use device (featured on Kickstarter) converts PET plastic bottles into 1.75mm filament for 3D printing. It automates bottle preparation, extrusion, and spool winding—making it accessible for hobbyists and professionals alike.
Polyformer: An open-source project that converts plastic bottles into 3D printer filament using a custom bottle cutter and extruder. It has been implemented globally, is financially accessible, and helps mitigate plastic waste by providing affordable filament.
3devo Filament Maker and Shredder: This professional-grade solution allows the creation of filament from shredded plastic waste, suitable for R&D, education, and custom filament engineering. It offers a full recycling workflow—from shredding to spooling—making it ideal for advanced users.
There are also DIY options and guides (e.g., on Instructables) for building your own system to turn PET bottles into filament using common 3D printer parts, a cutter, and a modified hotend.
Limitations: Most of these machines are optimized for PET bottles, not all types of plastic containers. The filament produced may not match the quality of commercial filament and may require tuning your 3D printer’s settings. Print quality can vary with homemade or recycled filament, but for prototyping and sustainable manufacturing, these solutions are effective.
For home use, open-source or kit options like Polyformer or PETFusion are popular and cost-effective, while professional setups (Filabot, 3devo) are preferred for larger-scale or precise needs.