Arclight
ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC is an infrastructure investment firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on assets essential to electrification and the energy transition, including power generation, renewables, transmission, and storage infrastructure.[1] Founded in 2001, the firm has deployed capital across power plants totaling over 65 gigawatts of capacity and 47,000 miles of electric and natural gas transmission lines, representing more than $80 billion in enterprise value.[1] With approximately $11 billion in assets under management as of 2025, ArcLight pursues opportunities in conventional and renewable energy sources, strategic natural gas infrastructure, and opportunistic projects to support grid reliability and decarbonization efforts.[2] Notable achievements include a 2025 acquisition of Advanced Power, enabling potential investments of up to $5 billion in over 20 gigawatts of new power capacity, and a $1 billion commitment from CPP Investments into its Alphagen platform for data center power solutions.[3][4] However, the firm has encountered controversies, including losses on a $190 million investment in the Limetree Bay refinery, which failed to restart and led to environmental and operational challenges in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as criticism from environmental groups for continued stakes in coal and gas assets despite sustainability rhetoric.[5][6][7]Technology
Arc Lamp
An arc lamp generates light through an electric discharge maintained across a gap between two electrodes, producing an intensely bright plasma arc. British chemist Humphry Davy first demonstrated this principle in 1807 by creating a sustained electric arc between two charcoal electrodes powered by a large battery of over 2,000 voltaic cells, yielding a four-inch arc of brilliant white light visible up to a mile away.[8][9] Early arc lamps required high-voltage direct current, typically 50-100 volts, to initiate and sustain the arc, with light output derived from the incandescence of electrode tips and ionized gas plasma reaching temperatures of 3,000–4,000 K.[10] The fundamental operation involves electrodes—often carbon rods—brought into contact to strike an arc, then separated by 1–5 mm; resistive heating vaporizes electrode material, forming a conductive plasma channel that conducts current and emits continuous spectrum light dominated by blue-white hues due to high carbon content.[11] Carbon arc lamps, the original type, operate in open air, consuming electrodes at rates of 1–2 mm per minute and necessitating manual trimming every 10–30 minutes to maintain arc stability and prevent flicker from uneven burning.[10] This maintenance, combined with ozone production and electrode dust, limited practicality until dynamo generators in the 1870s provided reliable power.[10] Principal variants include the open carbon arc for visible light applications and enclosed gas arc lamps, such as mercury arc types, which use low-pressure mercury vapor in a quartz tube to produce ultraviolet-dominant output for spectroscopy or disinfection, with efficiencies up to 20–30 lumens per watt in visible modes but requiring ballasts for AC operation.[12][13] Unlike carbon arcs, mercury variants avoid electrode erosion by containing the arc in vapor, though they emit hazardous mercury during failure.[14] Arc lamps powered early large-scale illumination, including Paris streetlights from 1878 using Yablochkov's brush arc (a parallel carbon rod design burning 100 meters per hour) and South Foreland Lighthouse in 1862, where a single 10-kW arc outshone 1,000 oil lamps.[10] They excelled in projectors and searchlights due to 10,000–50,000 lumen outputs but were displaced for general use by incandescent bulbs post-1880s, as arcs demanded constant adjustment, produced harsh glare, and inefficiently converted only 10–20% of input power to light.[11][10] Modern remnants persist in high-intensity niches like cinema xenon short-arc lamps, evolved from carbon designs, though LEDs now supplant mercury arcs in UV curing for longer life (10,000+ hours vs. 500–1,000).[14][15]Business and Infrastructure
ArcLight Capital Partners
ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC is a Boston, Massachusetts-based private equity firm specializing in energy infrastructure investments.[16] Founded in 2001 by Daniel R. Revers and Robb E. Turner, the firm targets power generation, pipelines, and related assets, with a stated emphasis on electrification infrastructure since inception.[17][18] As of 2023, it managed approximately $10 billion in assets under management and ranked among the largest power suppliers in the United States.[19] The firm has executed numerous investments across energy sectors, including realized holdings such as Arkoma Pipeline Partners, Atlantic Power Holdings, and Bayonne Energy Center.[20] In 2011, ArcLight closed its Fund V with $3.3 billion in commitments, marking a milestone after a decade of operations.[21] Its portfolio has historically included upstream extraction and fossil fuel-related assets, with 17 such companies noted as of July 2024.[19] Portfolio companies have faced financial distress amid commodity price volatility; for instance, Bruin E&P Partners, backed by ArcLight, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2020 with assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion.[22] Similarly, Limetree Bay refinery, acquired by ArcLight-led interests in 2016 for up to $3.5 billion in equity, entered bankruptcy in July 2021 following operational shutdowns and lender disputes.[23][24] In recent years, ArcLight has pursued opportunities in power development, including the July 2025 acquisition of Advanced Power, forming a partnership positioned to deploy over $5 billion in equity for more than 20 gigawatts of new capacity.[25] On October 2, 2025, the firm announced a $1.0 billion investment from CPP Investments into its Alphagen platform and appointed Angelo Acconcia as president to lead expanded infrastructure initiatives.[4] These moves align with broader claims of focusing on sustainable infrastructure, though independent assessments have rated the firm's climate risk management lowly, citing ongoing fossil fuel exposures.[19]Other Companies
ArcLight Consulting, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a national enterprise solutions firm specializing in Oracle Cloud implementation, optimization, and support for human capital management (HCM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, with over 15 years of experience as of 2025.[26][27] The company employs a proprietary methodology for project phases, including free rapid assessments, and serves clients seeking end-to-end business transformation.[26] ArcLight IT, a Massachusetts-based provider, delivers managed IT services, cybersecurity frameworks compliant with federal and state regulations, and infrastructure monitoring to small businesses in the Boston, Greater Boston, MetroWest, and Worcester regions.[28] Its team includes systems engineers, network architects, and field specialists focused on proactive maintenance and security-first approaches.[29][30] ArcLight Wireless functions as a provider of radio frequency (RF) systems engineering, network services, and technical outsourcing for wireless industry clients, maintaining ISO 17025 accreditation and recognition as a Global Certification Forum test organization.[31] The firm supports handset design, verification, and subject matter expertise deployment without disclosed founding or headquarters details.[32] Other entities, such as New Arclight—a platform connecting electrical contractors to U.S. distributors for parts quoting, job tracking, and invoicing integrated with QuickBooks—and ArcLight Analytics, focused on data visualization and policy evaluation, operate under similar naming but remain smaller-scale operations without prominent infrastructure ties.[33][34]Military
Operation Arc Light
Operation Arc Light was the code name for Strategic Air Command's deployment of Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers to conduct sustained aerial bombardment against communist forces during the Vietnam War, marking the first large-scale use of these strategic bombers in a conventional role.[35] [36] Initiated in response to escalating Viet Cong threats in South Vietnam, the operation focused on delivering massive ordnance loads to disrupt enemy troop concentrations, supply lines, and base areas, evolving from area saturation strikes to more precise tactical support for ground operations.[35] The first Arc Light mission launched on June 18, 1965, when 27 B-52F Stratofortresses from the 7th and 320th Bombardment Wings, staging from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam, targeted a Viet Cong jungle redoubt approximately 35 miles north of Saigon.[35] [36] Each aircraft carried mixtures of 750-pound and 1,000-pound general-purpose bombs, dropped in a box pattern to maximize coverage over suspected enemy positions.[35] The mission encountered immediate operational hazards, as two B-52s collided mid-air en route to the target, resulting in the loss of both aircraft and eight crew members, with no enemy action involved.[36] Missions typically involved flights of 18 to 54 bombers, each capable of delivering up to 30 tons of bombs after modifications to models like the B-52D ("Big Belly" configuration) and B-52G, which increased conventional payload capacity.[36] Strikes originated primarily from Guam, with later basing at U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in Thailand to reduce flight times and eliminate mid-air refueling needs; over the course of the war, B-52s flew more than 126,000 sorties from these locations.[35] [36] By late June 1965, monthly bomb tonnage reached approximately 8,000 tons, supporting U.S. and South Vietnamese ground efforts such as Operation Harvest Moon and the Ia Drang campaign.[35] Targets expanded beyond initial South Vietnamese base areas to include North Vietnamese infiltration routes like the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Mu Gia Pass in Laos (starting December 1965), the A Shau Valley, and positions around Khe Sanh during the 1968 siege.[35] [36] In the Khe Sanh operation, B-52s delivered over 60,000 tons of bombs across thousands of sorties, inflicting an estimated 15,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong casualties—predominantly from air strikes—and compelling enemy forces to withdraw, as noted by U.S. commander General William Westmoreland: "The thing that broke their backs was basically the fire of the B-52s."[35] [36] Annual sortie counts grew from 5,000 in 1966 to 9,700 in 1967, shifting by 1969 toward harassment interdiction to deny enemy sanctuary.[35] The operation faced challenges including target acquisition inaccuracies, risks of friendly fire due to poor ground-air coordination, and vulnerability to Soviet-supplied SA-2 surface-to-air missiles, which downed all 19 combat losses of B-52s (with 86 additional non-combat attrition, many from accidents).[36] Arc Light strikes extended to Cambodia in 1969 and culminated in the 1972 Operation Linebacker II, where 729 B-52 sorties over 11 days devastated Hanoi and Haiphong's military infrastructure, destroying 80% of North Vietnam's electrical power generation and contributing to the Paris Peace Accords.[36] While effective in providing overwhelming firepower—far exceeding tactical aircraft output—the campaign's broader strategic influence on North Vietnamese resolve remained contested, as operations wound down by April 1970 in South Vietnam before the final 1972 escalation.[35] [36]Entertainment
Cinema and Film Production
ArcLight Cinemas operated as a premium theater chain in the United States from 2002 until its permanent closure in 2021, emphasizing reserved seating, ad-free screenings, and a mix of mainstream blockbusters, independent films, and revivals. The chain, owned by Decurion Corporation, launched its flagship Hollywood location on March 22, 2002, integrating the iconic Cinerama Dome built in 1963 for curved-screen projections.[37] Additional venues opened in cities including Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, San Diego, and beyond California, totaling 15 theaters by 2020 with features like in-seat service, full bars, and curated programming that fostered a communal atmosphere for filmmakers and audiences.[38][39] The chain's model prioritized experiential quality over volume, with no pre-show commercials and staff trained to engage patrons knowledgeably, distinguishing it from multiplex competitors.[40] However, the COVID-19 pandemic's theater shutdowns from March 2020 onward proved insurmountable; on April 13, 2021, Decurion announced the cessation of all operations, citing unviable post-pandemic economics and industry shifts toward streaming, resulting in the loss of approximately 5,000 jobs across 11 owned locations.[41][42] In film production, arclights—carbon arc lamps generating intense white light via an electric discharge between graphite electrodes—served as a cornerstone technology from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Introduced commercially in the 1890s, they powered early studio lighting for Hollywood's silent films, enabling daylight-like illumination on sets despite their hazards, including toxic fumes, high heat (up to 3,500°C), and frequent electrode replacements every 30-60 minutes.[43][44] Arclights also drove projection systems, such as in IMAX's 15 kW xenon short-arc variants, delivering high-lumen output for large-format screens until phased out by safer tungsten-halogen and HMI lamps in the 1970s for reduced maintenance and flicker-free operation.[45] Their crisp, spectrum-rich light influenced the high-contrast aesthetics of classic cinema, though modern retro uses are limited to period recreations due to electrical demands exceeding 100 amps per unit.[46] Arclight Films, an independent production and sales entity established in Australia, has financed and distributed over 300 titles since the early 2000s, including Predestination (2014), Crash (2004), and The Bank Job (2008), often targeting international markets for theatrical, TV, and home video releases.[47] In 2023, its chairman Gary Hamilton partnered with musician Gene Simmons to form Simmons/Hamilton Productions for genre films like shark thrillers.[48] Arclight Productions, a U.S.-based studio, specializes in documentaries and branded content, earning Emmy nominations for works blending narrative storytelling with commercial partnerships.[49] These entities represent niche players amid broader industry consolidation, with sales-driven models adapting to streaming disruptions.[50]Comics and Fictional Characters
Arclight is the codename of Philippa Sontag, a mutant supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, primarily associated with the X-Men titles. Her mutant physiology allows her to absorb and amplify ambient kinetic energy within her body, which she can then release as concussive shockwaves capable of shattering concrete or disorienting opponents; this power also grants her enhanced physical strength and durability, enabling her to withstand significant trauma.[51][52] Sontag's origin traces to her service as a U.S. soldier in the Vietnam War during the 1960s and early 1970s, where exposure to combat horrors instilled deep psychological trauma and rage, later directed into extreme bodybuilding that sculpted her physique. After her powers activated, she was recruited by the geneticist Mister Sinister into the Marauders, a team of assassin mutants, where she adopted the Arclight moniker and embraced a sadistic combat style focused on close-quarters devastation.[51][52][53] Arclight debuted with a cameo in Uncanny X-Men #210 (October 1986), receiving a full appearance in issue #211 (November 1986), created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr. As a key Marauder, she featured prominently in the "Mutant Massacre" storyline (1986), where the team systematically exterminated hundreds of subterranean Morlocks under Sinister's directive, with Arclight's shockwaves contributing to the carnage against X-Men defenders like Colossus and Magneto.[54][52] She has since appeared in over 50 issues, often clashing with X-Men teams, and has been depicted as dying multiple times—such as during the 1993 "X-Tinction Agenda" crossover—only to be resurrected via Sinister's cloning technology, underscoring the Marauders' expendable nature in Marvel's mutant lore.[51][55] In broader fictional contexts beyond comics, Arclight manifests in Marvel's animated and live-action adaptations, though with variations; for instance, in the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand, she appears as a mute Brotherhood of Mutants member with amplified shockwave abilities, portrayed by Omahyra Mota, diverging from her comic verbosity and military history. No other prominent comic book characters bear the Arclight name across major publishers, positioning Sontag's iteration as the archetype for the alias in superhero fiction.[51]Music
"Arclight" is a song by the Irish rock band The Fat Lady Sings, released in 1989 as part of their debut album Twist.[56] The track, produced by Mike Roarty and the band, features lyrics evoking themes of elevation and intensity, with lines such as "Shine like an arclight / Sing like a bird might sing / When he was higher than heaven."[57] [58] It gained recognition as a notable Irish rock single, with live performances documented into the 2010s.[59] Arclight is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Julian Lage, released on March 11, 2016, by Mack Avenue Records.[60] Featuring Lage's trio with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wollesen, the album comprises 11 tracks blending original compositions and covers, including "Harlem Blues" by W. C. Handy.[61] Recorded in Brooklyn, New York, it emphasizes melodic jazz improvisation and received acclaim for its tight ensemble work and spontaneous energy.[62]Gaming and Software
RuneScape Weapon
Arclight is a demonbane weapon in Old School RuneScape, functioning as a charged upgrade to the Darklight sword and serving as a foundational item for subsequent demonbane enhancements like Emberlight.[63][64] It provides defensive reductions against specific demonic foes, such as 10% per hit against tormented demons.[65] Players create Arclight by infusing Darklight with ancient shards at an altar, granting it initial charges that enable its demonbane properties; depletion previously caused reversion to Darklight, but a 23 October 2024 update introduced an "Inactive" state retaining base stats without the effect.[64] The same update allows partial recharging: one shard yields 333 charges, two yield 666, and three yield 1,000, improving flexibility over the prior all-or-nothing system.[64] A March 2025 quality-of-life adjustment fixed infusion percentage display issues during charging.[66] Arclight supports special attacks inherited from Darklight and has been integral to Slayer tasks involving demons, historically as a primary option before broader demonbane compatibility was added on 28 July 2021.[67][68] Fully charged, it serves as a prerequisite for forging Emberlight at level 74 Smithing using a Tormented Synapse, introduced in the 10 July 2024 While Guthix Sleeps quest rewards.[69] A proposed level 77 slash variant, Firelight, would similarly require a fully charged Arclight, as polled by Jagex.[70]Minecraft Server Implementation
Arclight constitutes a server software for Minecraft that embeds a Bukkit implementation within modding frameworks, primarily Forge, via Mixin-based code injection to enable concurrent operation of Bukkit plugins and Forge mods.[71] This hybrid approach addresses the incompatibility between traditional plugin servers like Spigot or Paper and mod loaders, which separately support either plugins or mods but not both natively.[71] Developed by IzzelAliz and distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3, Arclight facilitates enhanced server customization by merging the extensive plugin ecosystem with modded content such as custom blocks, mobs, and mechanics.[71] The software targets Minecraft versions 1.20 and 1.21, operating on common mod loaders to inject Bukkit API functionality into the modded server core.[71] Core implementation relies on Mixin, a library for bytecode manipulation, to hook plugin events and commands into the Forge environment without requiring modifications to existing mods or plugins.[71] Compatibility extends to most Bukkit/Spigot plugins and Forge mods, though certain advanced or loader-specific features may encounter conflicts, necessitating testing for stability in production environments.[71] To deploy an Arclight server, administrators download the version-specific JAR file from the official distribution site and initiate it using Java with the commandjava -jar arclight.jar nogui, where the nogui parameter suppresses the console GUI for headless operation.[71] Server configuration mirrors standard Bukkit setups, involving edits to server.properties for world settings, ports, and permissions, alongside placement of plugin JARs in a plugins directory and mods in the mods folder.[71] Detailed guidance on advanced setup, including permission systems, economy integrations, and troubleshooting mod-plugin interactions, resides in the project's dedicated wiki.[72] Java runtime environment version 17 or higher is required, aligning with Minecraft's post-1.17 demands.[71]