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The article discusses the increasing danger of heat waves in the United States and the importance of access to power for cooling during extreme heat. The number of heat-related deaths in the US has been rising, with over 2,300 deaths recorded in the hottest year on record. State officials are recognizing the need to keep electricity on during the summer, even in regions where heat has not historically been a major issue. The article also highlights the financial challenges faced by households in paying their energy bills and the potential deadly consequences of utilities shutting off power during extreme heat. Some states have implemented laws to prevent power shutoffs during heat advisories, but many states still lack such protections. The article emphasizes the need for state governments to ensure the safety of their citizens during extreme heat and calls for further discussion on this issue. [Extracted from the article]

The threat of a financial crisis still lingers in Japan as bad-debt burdens keep rising. The Nikkei remains uncertain despite a recent rebound from 18-year lows.

Salt caverns are being explored as a potential solution for storing solar and wind energy. The process involves using renewable power to produce hydrogen, which is then stored in underground caverns. This stored hydrogen can be used as a green substitute for fossil fuels in various applications. While the cost of creating salt caverns for storage is high, it is still more affordable than using batteries for similar storage purposes. Companies in the US and Europe have started investing in salt-cavern projects, driven by government subsidies for clean energy. [Extracted from the article]

The residential solar market in the United States is experiencing a decline, with installations projected to decrease by 13% nationwide. This trend is particularly evident in California, which has the largest residential solar market in the country. The decline is attributed to factors such as high interest rates, tight credit, and cuts to solar incentives. The state's oversupply of solar power during the day has led to new rules that significantly reduce compensation for rooftop solar owners, resulting in a drop in residential solar sales and layoffs in the solar industry. Despite these challenges, utilities and large-scale power developers are still deploying record amounts of solar, and the U.S. government offers tax credits for home solar installations. However, slower rooftop solar sales are observed in most states due to financing difficulties and rising interest rates. [Extracted from the article]

The Conservative Climate Caucus, founded by Republican Congressman John Curtis of Utah, is a growing group within the Republican Party that aims to get its members comfortable with thinking and talking about climate change. While the caucus acknowledges that the climate is changing and that human activity contributes to it, its members hold the belief that fossil fuels will still play a major role in global climate solutions. They advocate for lowering emissions rather than phasing out fossil fuels. The caucus has sponsored bills aimed at undoing the Biden administration's green policies, and its members have faced criticism from environmentalists. However, the caucus represents a positive evolution for Republicans on climate change compared to a decade ago. Younger conservatives are particularly concerned about climate change, and the caucus's educational approach has made it one of the largest caucuses in the House. Congressman Curtis, who is running for a Senate seat, walks a fine line between touting his environmental efforts and maintaining his conservative credentials. [Extracted from the article]

Chinese solar companies are expanding their operations in the United States, taking advantage of generous government subsidies. These companies, which dominate global solar production, are setting up or expanding panel factories in various locations across the US. China-based companies are responsible for nearly a quarter of the new solar-panel capacity announced since the introduction of production subsidies in 2022. While this rush of Chinese interest benefits the US economy and clean-energy goals, it also raises concerns about the country's dependence on China and potential threats to energy security. The Biden administration is navigating the challenge of simultaneously fighting climate change, expanding domestic manufacturing, and recapturing leadership in solar technologies. [Extracted from the article]

China currently dominates the global solar supply chain, controlling the majority of the manufacturing process for solar panels. This dominance is due to factors such as lower costs for electricity and labor, as well as the scale of China's operations. However, the US is now attempting to build its own solar manufacturing supply chain, supported by subsidies. This endeavor is challenging due to China's control over the production of key components like polysilicon, as well as the cost advantages it enjoys throughout the manufacturing process. The US is also faced with the task of training a workforce and establishing domestic suppliers. Ultimately, China can produce solar panels at a significantly lower cost than the US. [Extracted from the article]

In a push into the US auto-lending market, Toronto-Dominion Bank will buy Chrysler Financial Corp. from Cerberus Capital Management L.P. for $6.3 billion. With the exception of liabilities, Chrysler Financial's portfolio is valued at about $5.9 billion.

For its third fiscal quarter, Research in Motion Ltd. reports a 45% increase in profit to $911.1 million from $628.4 million a year earlier. Sales rose 40% to $5.49 billion. Article also discusses RIM's record shipments of smartphones and expected fourth-quarter earnings.

Canada rejected BHP Billiton's offer of $38.6 billion to buy Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, citing that the sale did not create a net benefit for the country. BHP has 30 days to try to reverse the decision.

Boosted by rising demand for fertilizers, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan's third-quarter profit jumped 62% to $402.7 million from $247.9 million a year earlier. Sales increased 43% to $1.58 billion. Potash Corp. expects per-share earnings of between $5.75 and $6 for full-year 2010.

In an effort to woo back customers to its BlackBerry line, Research in Motion Ltd. is launching new services and development tools to make it easier and more profitable for developers to create new applications for the smartphone.

A group of companies led by Chinese private-equity fund Hopu Investment Management Co. may launch a bid for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. to rival BHP Billiton's $38.6-billion hostile bid.

Starting in October, the United Arab Emirates will block e-mail, instant messaging, and Web-browsing services provided through Research in Motion Ltd.'s Blackberry smartphone. The UAE claims the services constitute a threat to national security, because the government is unable to monitor the electronic communications.

Byline: PETER SANDERS AND PHRED DVORAK; WSJ AVIATION Boeing Co.'s disclosure Tuesday of the latest in a string of delays for its 787 Dreamliner exposed flaws not only in the [...]

Byline: PHRED DVORAK AND JOANN S. LUBLIN Fuelled by outrage over big pay packages for executives of failed financial firms, Congress is moving toward including curbs on executive compensation in [...]

Byline: PHRED DVORAK; WALL STREET JOURNAL STAFF Carl Bass says an odd thing happened to him when he became chief executive officer of software maker Autodesk Inc. last year. 'My [...]

Byline: PHRED DVORAK; WALL STREET JOURNAL Janet Reardon wants to hire a senior engineer for her company's Los Angeles office - but first she has to send him to Canada. [...]

Companies have experienced mixed success in limiting executive pay. It is difficult to retain good executives when they are continually approached by rival firms promising ever higher pay packages.

Hong Kong carpet manufacturer Tai Ping Carpets International Ltd.'s globalization strategy appears to be working. Profits have increased, and the company generated most of its revenue from outside Asia for the first time last year. Although the company's headquarters are still in Hong Kong, its CEO, James Kaplan, is based in New York, with other top managers in New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Sharp Corp. of Japan is number one in the sale of flat-panel televisions world-wide. The consmer electronics company forecasts record sales and profits this fiscal year, the third year for record returns.

Sony Corp. of Japan is planning to cut costs, personnel and products and forecasting a sales boost of $8 billion in the next 2 1/2 years. Approximately seven percent of the workforce or 10,000 people will be layed off. A revised financial forecast for this year is a loss of 10 billion Yen ($90 million).

Sony Corp.'s top management restructuring has Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer and President Ryoji Chubachi announcing management strategy at the end of September. Amidst a downturn in consumer electronics revenue, financial projections predict more of the same. Shares remain at the pre-restructuring rate of approximately 3,900 Yen after an initial surge over the news of the top management shuffle.

Sony Corp. has appointed Howard Stringer Chief Executive Officer. One of his first duties was to reintroduce the Connect service, an online music download service similar to Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes store and an effort to bring cooperation between the United States and Japanese technology people within the consumer electronics giant.

Sony Corp.'s stock rose on the news that Sir Howard Stringer would become the new chief executive officer.

Sir Howard Stringer will face many challenges as the new chief executive officer of Sony Corp.

Sony Corp., recognizing decreased performance, has resigned Chief Executive Officer Nobuyaki Idei and appointed American Howard Stringer. A recognition that Sony Corp. needs to recharge its core 'raison d'etre' as it has been behind in new product developments of the Internet age.

Sony Corp. chairman and CEO Nobuyuki Idei plan to turn his job over to Howard Stringer, head of Sony' U.S. operations, in a move to shake up the company.

Bill Gates has suggested that Microsoft Corp. could benefit from a partnership with Sony Corp. if the two companies would join forces to market a product similar to Apple's iPod.

Sony has formed a new company called Connect Co. in order to develop and market digital music players.