One new project. A multitude of opportunities.

As seen in The Oakland Press

July 19th, 2026

One new project. A multitude

of opportunities.

by Ken Morris

I continue to enjoy the Fourth of July parades with high school bands, marching veterans and my grandkids’ favorite, the fire engines. I noticed that this year’s parade was a bit longer than usual. Undoubtedly because it’s an election year and anyone running for any position wanted to get their names front and center.

Looking back at our nation’s history, our technological and engineering achievements have been incredible. From railroads connecting the Atlantic and Pacific to the ongoing operations of such projects as the Tennessee Valley Authority and Hoover Dam.

The dream of two brothers at Kitty Hawk has led to air travel, and all the airports and auxiliary industries that support it. Locally, the Mackinac Bridge is just one of the modern marvels that has helped make the U.S. such a great nation.

Do you know how difficult it is to get major projects like these approved in today’s world? Bureaucratic red tape is out of control. Higher safety standards and stringent environmental concerns must be addressed. And perhaps the biggest roadblock of all is local opposition.

By now everyone has heard that AI will significantly change how we live. And although we may ultimately benefit, people don’t want AI data centers near them. These centers are massive and require enormous amounts of electricity. The construction and disruption are such that nobody wants them in their neighborhood.

You’ve probably heard of the acronym NIMBY, which means not in my back yard. But it seems the citizens have taken an even stronger stance. Because NIMBY has turned into BANANA. Build Absolutely Nothing Anytime Near Anything.

Clearly, a significant part of our population doesn’t want anything built around them. Not data centers. Not airports. Not even home construction. Of course, they want the benefits of technology. They just want it developed somewhere else.

I bring this up in a financial column because, as investors, we need to be cognizant of any hurdles facing new or existing companies introducing new products or technologies. Investing in new ideas can be exciting, but it requires patience and due diligence.

It’s nearly impossible for a new idea to hit the ground running. If you don’t have time or patience, your investment dollars might be better served elsewhere. But while you are investigating, you could discover an investment related to the company you’re considering.

Take data centers for example. Might the company doing its environmental research be a good investment? Who is providing the electricity? An SMR, perhaps (Small Modular Reactor)? Who is pouring the concrete? And whose chips are they buying? They’re going to need millions, maybe billions!

Regardless of the project, when it’s been approved, it’s likely to open the door to many more opportunities. Maybe even better ones. Or less risky. Sooner or later, we get beyond the screams of BANANA, and something somewhere gets the green light. Research that something and somewhere and you may uncover some excellent investment opportunities.

I believe the U.S. will continue to take the lead in technological development. Our visitors who came for the World Cup were amazed at things we take for granted. With the development of AI there will be unimaginable changes in the years to come. I’m confident these changes can be done in an environmentally friendly manner and will ultimately benefit us all.