The Boring Company is expected to purchase 1.3 acres of land near the Thomas & Mack Center from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Located on the corner of Tropicana Avenue and University Center Drive, the property, which currently serves as a parking lot, is expected to host a Vegas Loop station.
A land agreement is set for review at the meeting of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents on March 9. If approved, the Boring Company Loop station will “provide service from the UNLV campus to multiple destinations, which will likely include the convention center, Las Vegas Boulevard, and possibly Allegiant Stadium, Harry Reid International Airport, and LVMD,” as per a briefing paper on the proposed project.
NSHE documents suggest that The Boring Company initiated the land deal as part of its efforts to build out the Vegas Loop system. The Boring Company is determined to purchase the parcel of land at a fair price. “The sale price will be no less than the appraised value of the property, to be determined by a licensed real estate appraiser(s), in accordance with Board of Regents’ policies and procedures,” the document read.
The briefing paper on the Loop station also highlighted a key benefit for the proposed Vegas Loop station, particularly for UNLV students. “The location of a Vegas Loop station on the Property will provide students with another transportation option for accessing employment centers throughout the Las Vegas valley,” the paper read.
Provided that the proposal is approved, the purchase and sale agreement for the upcoming Vegas Loop station will be completed sometime in June. The ULNV station could serve as a connector to Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Convention Center once the Vegas Loop is built out further, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Sun.
The filing also noted that the Vegas Loop system has earned a gold standard award from the US Department of Homeland Security. This is an important designation, as the system requires Homeland Security approval for SEAR Level 1 events, as noted in a Las Vegas Review-Journal report. SEAR Level 1 represents the highest threat level classification for an event, such as the Super Bowl.
“Clark County and the City of Las Vegas voted unanimously to support the Vegas Loop transportation system. The Vegas Loop project also received a “gold standard” award from Homeland Security. The Vegas Loop stations and tunnels will have security cameras that will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system will serve as a personalized mass transit option consisting of 69 planned stations incorporated into a 65-mile tunnel system. As now envisioned, once fully operational, the Vegas Loop system will serve up to 57,000 passengers per hour at a sample fare rate of $6.00 to $12.00,” the document read.
The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop is expected to comprise 69 stations throughout Las Vegas Boulevard, downtown Las Vegas, and other notable locations. The Las Vegas Convention Center, which already hosts a working Loop system, is expected to serve as a central charging station for the Teslas used in the transportation network.
Below is the briefing paper for the Vegas Loop station.
BFF-12 by Maria Merano on Scribd
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Elon Musk
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
Tesla’s Megapack battery systems will be deployed as part of a 400MW AI data center campus in Uberlândia, Brazil. The initiative is described as one of Latin America’s largest AI infrastructure projects.
The project is being led by RT-One, which confirmed that the facility will integrate Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader industrial alliance that includes Hitachi Energy, Siemens, ABB, HIMOINSA, and Schneider Electric. The project is backed by more than R$6 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in private capital.
According to RT-One, the data center is designed to operate on 100% renewable energy while also reinforcing regional grid stability.
“Brazil generates abundant energy, particularly from renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, high renewable penetration can create grid stability challenges,” RT-One President Fernando Palamone noted in a post on LinkedIn. “Managing this imbalance is one of the country’s growing infrastructure priorities.”
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
“The facility will be capable of absorbing excess electricity when supply is high and providing stabilization services when the grid requires additional support. This approach enhances resilience, improves reliability, and contributes to a more efficient use of renewable generation,” Palamone added.
The model mirrors approaches used in energy-intensive regions such as California and Texas, where large battery systems help manage fluctuations tied to renewable energy generation.
The RT-One President recently visited Tesla’s Megafactory in Lathrop, California, where Megapacks are produced, as part of establishing the partnership. He thanked the Tesla team, including Marcel Dall Pai, Nicholas Reale, and Sean Jones, for supporting the collaboration in his LinkedIn post.
Elon Musk
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools.
Starlink is now powering Europe’s first commercial satellite-to-smartphone service, as Virgin Media O2 launches a space-based mobile data offering across the UK.
The new O2 Satellite service uses Starlink’s low-Earth orbit network to connect regular smartphones in areas without terrestrial coverage, expanding O2’s reach from 89% to 95% of Britain’s landmass.
Under the rollout, compatible Samsung devices automatically connect to Starlink satellites when users move beyond traditional mobile coverage, according to Reuters.
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools. O2 is pricing the add-on at £3 per month.
By leveraging Starlink’s satellite infrastructure, O2 can deliver connectivity in remote and rural regions without building additional ground towers. The move represents another step in Starlink’s push beyond fixed broadband and into direct-to-device mobile services.
Virgin Media O2 chief executive Lutz Schuler shared his thoughts about the Starlink partnership. “By launching O2 Satellite, we’ve become the first operator in Europe to launch a space-based mobile data service that, overnight, has brought new mobile coverage to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time,” he said.
Satellite-based mobile connectivity is gaining traction globally. In the U.S., T-Mobile has launched a similar satellite-to-cell offering. Meanwhile, Vodafone has conducted satellite video call tests through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile last year.
For Starlink, the O2 agreement highlights how its network is increasingly being integrated into national telecom systems, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialized hardware.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Starbase, TX included in $84.6 million coastal funding round
The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Elon Musk’s Starbase, Texas has been included in an $84.6 million coastal funding round announced by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham confirmed that 14 coastal counties will receive funding through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Grant Cycle 31 and Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) program Cycle 14. Among the Brownsville-area recipients listed was the City of Starbase, which is home to SpaceX’s Starship factory.
“As someone who spent more than a decade living on the Texas coast, ensuring our communities, wildlife, and their habitats are safe and thriving is of utmost importance. I am honored to bring this much-needed funding to our coastal communities for these beneficial projects,” Commissioner Buckingham said in a press release.
“By dedicating this crucial assistance to these impactful projects, the GLO is ensuring our Texas coast will continue to thrive and remain resilient for generations to come.”
The official Starbase account acknowledged the support in a post on X, writing: “Coastal resilience takes teamwork. We appreciate @TXGLO and Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for their continued support of beach restoration projects in Starbase.”
The funding will support a range of coastal initiatives, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, and water quality improvements.
CMP projects are backed by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, alongside local partner matches. CEPRA projects focus specifically on reducing coastal erosion and are funded through allocations from the Texas Legislature, the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax, and GOMESA.
Checks were presented in Corpus Christi and Brownsville to counties, municipalities, universities, and conservation groups. In addition to Starbase, Brownsville-area recipients included Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island, Willacy County, and the Willacy County Navigation District.
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
