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a16z-backed Base Power is offering cheaper electricity to the power grid that needs it most

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Energy storage startup Base Power began selling its massive home battery systems to residents of Illinois yesterday, Canary Media reported. Crucially, it’ll be the startup’s first foray into the grid territory operated by PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid operator by territory, and one that has particularly struggled to cope with an onslaught of new data centers.

Beyond Illinois, PJM’s territory includes Northern Virginia, one of the densest data center regions on the planet. That density, coupled with a paucity of new generating sources, has caused wholesale electricity prices in PJM to nearly double over the past year. The power crunch has gotten so bad that AEP, one of the region’s largest utilities, has threatened to leave the market.

Base Power launched two years ago in Texas to build a virtual power plant centered around residential batteries. Base’s batteries, starting at 25 kilowatt-hours, are bigger than many of its competitor’s, and rather than sell the batteries, it requires customers to buy electricity from it. In Illinois, its rates are 25% below utility ComEd’s.

The startup’s timing has also been impeccable. Base is currently operating more than 500 megawatt-hours of battery storage in Texas, charging when electricity prices are cheap and dispatching them when the grid needs it most. 

Its entry into the PJM grid comes at a time when the operator has come under scrutiny for bungling its handling of rising electricity demand. PJM had paused applications for new generating sources starting in 2022, only reopening the queue in April. Unlike Base, its timing couldn’t have been worse — electricity demand has skyrocketed in the last four years.

Base’s rollout has gathered pace since October, when it announced a $1 billion round led by Addition. That round followed closely on the heels of a $200 million round which Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Valor Equity Partners led in April 2025.

Historically, PJM has been slow to adopt new technologies like distributed energy storage, but Base’s residential focus helps it do an end-run around the sclerotic grid operator.

“We are deploying capacity behind the meter at the residential home, where an interconnection already exists, so we don’t wait in the interconnection queue,” Zach Dell, Base Power’s founder and CEO, told Canary Media.

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Super Falcons Crush Egypt 6-2 to Reach WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Finals

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The Super Falcons of Nigeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a commanding 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final group-stage match, holding on to their title credentials with an impressive attacking display.

The 10-time African champions wasted little time asserting their dominance, opening the scoring through Asisat Oshoala, who calmly converted from the penalty spot after sending the Egyptian goalkeeper the wrong way.

Nigeria continued to dictate proceedings and doubled their advantage through Gift Monday, who made an immediate impact after coming off the bench in the first half.

However, Egypt reduced the deficit just before the break after converting a penalty to keep themselves in the contest.

The Super Falcons responded emphatically after halftime. Substitute Uchenna Kanu restored Nigeria’s two-goal cushion in the 57th minute, finishing off an excellent move created by Rinsola Babajide, who tormented the Egyptian defence throughout the encounter.

With the game firmly under their control, Nigeria continued to press forward and were rewarded with another penalty in the closing stages. Christy Ucheibe confidently dispatched the spot-kick in the 81st minute to make it 4-1.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade then got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, extending the lead to 5-1 before substitute Joy Omewa completed the rout in the 90+8th minute, finishing brilliantly after being set up by Ajibade.

Although Egypt managed to score twice, they were unable to cope with Nigeria’s relentless attacking play, as the Super Falcons showcased their squad depth with substitutes making decisive contributions throughout the contest.

Babajide capped off an outstanding individual performance by claiming the Woman of the Match award after providing two assists and consistently stretching the Egyptian backline with her pace, cretivity and delivery.

The comprehensive victory sees Nigeria advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Cameroon in what promises to be another heavyweight African encounter.

Should the Super Falcons progress, they will meet the winner of the quarter-final between South Africa and Morocco in the last four.

The result further reinforces Nigeria’s status as one of the favourites for the title as they continue their quest for an 11th WAFCON crown, with Justin Madugu’s side displaying both attacking firepower and the depth needed for a successful tournament run.

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SHIFT Initiative Trains Plateau Artisans in Financial Literacy and Business Management – Your Hub for News, Events & Entertainment

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Artisans and entrepreneurs in Plateau State have received practical financial literacy and business-management training through a one-day empowerment programme delivered by the SHIFT Initiative in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Goals Project Support Unit, Plateau State.

The training was led by SHIFT Initiative’s Executive Director, Ulan V. Jatau, PhD, alongside members of the organisation’s team.

Participants were taken through practical sessions covering budgeting, bookkeeping, record-keeping, digital finance, modern business management and sustainable entrepreneurship.

The programme was designed to bridge the gap between vocational competence and business sustainability. While many artisans have valuable technical skills, inadequate knowledge of financial management can make it difficult to track income, control expenditure, reinvest profits and plan for expansion.

Through the sessions, participants learned how to make informed financial decisions, separate personal and business finances, monitor profitability and develop stronger structures for long-term growth.

Beneficiaries were selected from across Plateau State’s 17 local government areas and also received equipment and financial assistance under the wider empowerment programme.

Dr. Jatau and the SHIFT team emphasised that meaningful empowerment must combine tangible resources with knowledge. Providing business tools can improve immediate productivity, but financial discipline and management capacity are necessary to ensure those businesses remain viable.

The programme further demonstrated SHIFT Initiative’s role in supporting grassroots enterprise development through practical education, mentorship and community-focused capacity building.

By providing artisans with both knowledge and support, the initiative is helping strengthen local businesses, improve livelihoods and create opportunities for sustainable economic growth across Plateau State.

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