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☆ Making the power grid 'smart' could save us all money and prevent blackouts. Chattanooga made the $280 million investment.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Chattanooga's utility built a $280 million smart grid, creating $2.7 billion in economic value. The local utility, called EPB of Chattanooga, spent $280 million to refurbish its power system with smart technologies to make a "smart grid." The traditional power grid carries electricity from a power plant to homes and commercial buildings. Smart grids can bring huge economic benefitsEven Congress knows the nation needs a smart grid. Though a smart grid requires a big up-front investment, it can save a lot of money down the line.

Persons: —, That's, Tiago Majuelos, Monika Skolimowska, Kevin Schneider, Schneider, Joshua Rhodes, David Wade, EPB, Wade, Taylor, David Swanson, We're Organizations: Infrastructure, Service, Chattanooga Smart, US Department of Energy, Wall Street, Getty, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, American Society of Civil Engineers, University of Texas, Department of Energy, C Electric Company, BI, Reuters, Nationwide Locations: Chattanooga , Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee, EPB, California, Austin, Hamilton County, Palm Springs , California, Columbia, Southern California

☆ NYC's EV revolution is riding on Uber and Lyft drivers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

For Uber and Lyft drivers, time is money, so widely accessible charging is key to the EV switch. A study by the US Department of Energy found that 1,000 fast chargers were needed for every 20,000 EV drivers on the road. A mad dash for EV licensesThe transition is getting an early test this year now that thousands more ride-hailing drivers have licenses. AdvertisementIn October, the Taxi & Limousine Commission opened applications for this gig work for the first time in five years — but for EV drivers only. In exchange, Uber drivers will get up to a 25% discount when they charge.

Persons: Manhattan, Tesla, Eric Adams, Bobby Familiar, Revel, Michael Replogle, David Do, Aeraj Qazi, Qazi, Guillermo Fondeur, Uber, he's, Fondeur, Adams, EVs, Con Edison, Flo, Replogle, it's, Josh Gold, Uber's, that's, Do, we've, Juliana Kaplan Organizations: EV, US Department of Energy, Business, NYC's Department of Transportation, Chargers, Taxi, Limousine Commission, TLC, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Rentals, Department of Transportation, DOT, LaGuardia Airport, Tesla, Gravity, Green, Initiative Locations: New York City, Queens, NYC, Canadian, Canada, EVs, Manhattan, America

☆ The most electric vehicle-friendly states, ranked
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

EV Charger Reviews evaluated the most electric vehicle-friendly states. They evaluated states based on factors including electricity costs and state tax credits. Maine was ranked the top state for EVs, followed by Colorado and Vermont. EV Charger Reviews used data from sources such as the US Department of Energy, the US Census Bureau, and the US Energy Information Administration to evaluate the EV factors in all 50 states. Each factor was assigned a numerical score and ranking, which helped determine the states' overall scores.

Persons: Maine Organizations: Colorado and, Service, US Department of Energy, Census Bureau, US Energy Information Administration Locations: EVs, Colorado, Colorado and Vermont

☆ ‘Oppenheimer’ finally opens in Japan, the only nation to experience horror of nuclear war
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Chris Lau | Moeri Karasawa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The three-hour biopic has broken several records since its release last year, becoming the highest-grossing movie set during World War II, according to Universal. As part of its promotional campaign, Universal sought the views of atomic bomb survivor Tomonaga Masao, who is the president of a Nagasaki-based “hibakusha” group — the name survivors call themselves. Oppenheimer’s invention was first used with devastating effect on August 6, 1945, when a US B-29 bomber named Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, another B-29, named Bockscar, dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The bombings finally prompted Japan to surrender, bringing an end to World War II.

Persons: “ Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Barbie ”, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Kogyo, Tomonaga Masao, Masao, Oppenheimer, ”, Hiraoka Takashi, ” Cillian Murphy, Melinda Sue Gordon, Enola Gay, Barbie, “, Rishu, he’s Organizations: CNN, British, Universal Pictures, Universal, Former Hiroshima, US Department of, Manhattan Project, Social, Warner Bros . Film Group, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Reuters Locations: American, Japan, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Nazi Germany, Tokyo, “ Hiroshima

☆ Electrification could overwhelm energy grids. Startups are betting on AI to make sure that doesn't happen
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Today's energy grids are unable to keep up with the intense demand being heaped upon them. Globally, energy projects struggle to overcome permitting hurdles. Making smart grids a realityData was transmitted across a national energy grid for the first time in 2016. Startups selling them are hoping to alleviate pressure from physical grid infrastructure and allow operators to do more with the infrastructure they have. Victoria McIvor, an advisor to energy startups who was formerly an investor at the European climatetech firm World Fund, imagines a future where energy tariffs dictate when energy-intensive appliances run.

Persons: Rajesh Swaminathan, it's, Andrés Dancausa, Dancausa, Swaminathan, Victoria McIvor, Timothy Barat, Barat, Duncan Turner, SOSV, Turner, McIvor Organizations: Infrastructure, Service, International Energy Agency, Paris, Investors, Khosla Ventures, US Department of Energy, Fund, Octopus Energy, Continuum Industries, Software Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Portuguese, Amsterdam, California, London, VCs, Scottish

☆ Archimedes’ death ray might have worked, teen science project suggests
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But one fabled device has left scientists speculating on its existence for hundreds of years — the death ray. For his 2022 science project, Sener recreated the Archimedes screw, a device for raising and moving water. Sener found the death ray to be one of the more intriguing devices — sometimes referred to as the heat ray. Archimedes’ death ray is more commonly speculated to have been an array of several mirrors or polished shields. Sener’s mom, Melanie, was not surprised by her son’s choice in science project.

Persons: Archimedes, Brenden Sener, Sener, ” Sener, Melanie Sener, Cliff Ho, Ho, ”, “, Thomas Chondros, Melanie, … He’s Organizations: CNN, London Public, Canadian Science Fair, Sandia National Laboratories, US Department of, National Nuclear Security Administration, Greece’s University of Patras, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University Locations: Greece, London , Ontario, Syracuse, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Chondros

☆ Scientists are building tunnels under South Dakota for a $3 billion experiment that could solve some of the universe's grandest mysteries
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Estimated to cost at least $3 billion, the project DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment), is led by scientists at the US Department of Energy's Fermilab. AdvertisementCavern excavation at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota began in 2017. The beam will then travel underground for 800 miles to the detectors at the South Dakota Sanford Underground Research Facility. The Sanford Underground Research Facility is located at a former gold mine. Stephen Kenny, Sanford Underground Research FacilityIn 1987, astronomers witnessed a bright supernova exploding closer than any had in about 400 years.

Persons: —, Mary Bishai, Reidar Hahn, Bishai, Matthew Kapust, Stephen Kenny, Maximilien Brice, Albert Einstein's, Jim Shultz, It's Organizations: Service, US Department of Energy's Fermilab, Sanford Underground Research, South Dakota Researchers, Fermilab, South Dakota Sanford Underground Research, CERN, Japan Proton Accelerator Research, PARC, European Organization for Nuclear Research, Scientific Locations: Illinois, South Dakota, Chicago , Illinois, Minnesota, Fermilab, South

☆ No, electric vehicle sales aren’t dropping. Here’s what’s really going on
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

(BNEF’s figures include plug-in hybrids, but the large majority are fully electric vehicles.) High pricesMost electric vehicles currently on sale in America are on the more expensive side of the automotive market. Power, referring to the Kia EV9 and Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicles. Besides raw numbers, the EV chargers that are currently available tend to rate low with consumers in terms of reliability, according to J.D.. Power surveys. Public chargers are more important to people who can afford neither an expensive vehicle nor a house with private parking.

Persons: CNN — Tesla, ”, Tyson Jominy, Kia, Corey Cantor, Jim Farley, Farley, Jominy, Tesla, Carlos Tavares, Valdez Streaty, “, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Ford, Cox Automotive, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Kia, J.D, ” Ford, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, US Department of Energy, DOE, EV, BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Benz, Stellantis, Dodge, Leasing Locations: United States, America, California, Canada, New York

☆ Is electric vehicle ownership bipartisan?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Alex | Leeds Matthews | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The data doesn’t include each voter with an electric vehicle, but it does offer some insight into political attitudes among consumers. Currently, the most widely available electric vehicles options are luxury brands, while mainstream consumers have more limited options. “We’re also seeing that things are really changing over time… That speaks to the fact that the economic and pollution benefits of electric vehicles don’t obey political boundaries.”Still, public opinion research suggests interest in electric vehicles has some partisan roots, even if the landscape may be changing. A 2023 Gallup poll found that 71% of Republicans would not consider buying an electric vehicle, compared with 17% of Democrats. More than one-third of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were registered in California, according to data from the US Department of Energy in 2022.

Persons: ”, David Kieve, Donald Trump, “, Stewart Stropp, Brett Williams, ” Williams, “ We’re, Kentucky —, Joe Biden, Williams, ” Kieve, Biden Organizations: Environmental Defense Fund, Republicans, Environmental Defense, Gallup, JD, Center for Sustainable Energy, Pew, Republican, Trump, US Department of Energy, EDF Locations: California, North Dakota, Kentucky

☆ AtmosZero wants to decarbonize industrial steam. Check out the 14-slide pitch deck it used to raise $21 million.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA startup that wants to help decarbonize industrial steam has raised $21 million in a Series A round. Colorado-based AtmosZero, launched in 2022, has developed a drop-in replacement for fossil fuel boilers that are used to produce steam. Steam is used in a variety of industrial processes, from beer to papermaking, and in district heating. Most steam applications need temperatures of between 100 degrees Celsius to 225 degrees Celsius, Salvi said. AtmosZero's first product can achieve 165 degrees Celsius, with the company eyeing 200 degrees Celsius in the coming years.

Persons: —, Ashwin Salvi, we're, Salvi, There's, AtmosZero Organizations: Service, Business, New Belgium Brewing Company, US, Ventures, Constellation Technology Ventures, Constellation Energy, Energy Impact Partners, Starlight Ventures, US Department of, Decarbonization Locations: Colorado, Europe, Amsterdam

☆ Biden pauses approval of new LNG export projects in win for climate activists
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

President Joe Biden paused pending approvals of exports from new liquefied natural gas projects on Friday, a move cheered by climate activists that could delay decisions on new plants until after the Nov. 5 election. Biden said in a statement: "During this period, we will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America's energy security, and our environment." "We are committed to strengthening energy security here in the U.S. and with our allies," Granholm said. The last review of LNG export projects was in 2018 when export capacity was 4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd). But the commission's panel of three regulators, which almost always approves LNG projects, could approve it as soon as February, which would then put its approval in the hands of the DOE.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Biden, Granholm, Ben Jealous, Sempra, CP2 Organizations: US Department of Energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Energy, Companies, U.S, Sierra, Sempra Infrastructure, Commonwealth LNG, Venture, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Venture Global Locations: Washington ,, Europe, Asia, U.S, wean, Russia, Ukraine, Louisiana, Alaska, Calcasieu, United States, Germany

☆ Millions of Americans will soon be able to turn their roofs into a lucrative side hustle
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-07 | by ( Kartik Menon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

People on the traditional grid could see lower costs, greater grid reliability, and less volatile energy prices. And the rate of residential installation is booming: A record 700,000 homeowners installed arrays in 2022, according to the trade group Solar Energy Industries Association. Henglein and Steets/GettyAnother option for homeowners is peer-to-peer energy trading. Users buy and sell electricity with any counterparty, whether it's a neighbor or the broader electricity market. There are, of course, concerns about the reliability of solar energy.

Persons: Localvolts, Kartik Menon, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Business Insider's, Solar Energy Industries Association, Solar Investment Tax, US Department of Energy, Goldman Locations: Localvolts, editorial.standards@insider.com, California , Texas, Florida, California, Arcadia, Washington, DC, Australia, Texas

☆ California's Salton Sea could hold enough lithium for 375 million batteries — more than the total number of vehicles currently on US roads
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Jennifer Solis | Nevada Current | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US Department of Energy released an analysis estimating how much lithium is under the Salton Sea. Salton Sea has the potential to produce an estimated 375 million lithium batteries for electric vehicles — more than the total number of vehicles currently on US roads, according to the analysis commissioned by the Department of Energy. It's the most comprehensive analysis to date quantifying the domestic lithium resources in California's Salton Sea region. AdvertisementIf the Salton Sea lithium can be extracted, it could give the US the ability to produce domestically sourced lithium, ending the nation's dependence on rival countries for a supply of the metal. AdvertisementThe state of California is also leaning into the development of lithium extraction in the Salton Sea.

Persons: DOE's Lawrence, Biden's, Jeff Marootian, George Rose, Gavin Newsom, Thacker Organizations: US Department of Energy, Service, Department of Energy, DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, DOE, California State, California Gov, US Fish and Wildlife Service Locations: Nevada's Thacker, Salton, Niland , California, California, Saudi Arabia, Nevada, In Nevada, Esmeralda County

☆ See inside a 3D-printed tiny home being built to help address LA's housing crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Woodbury University School of Architecture's students and faculty are 3D printing a tiny home. AdvertisementLos Angeles could soon welcome its first permitted 3D-printed tiny home being built by an unexpected team. AdvertisementWoodbury University School of Architecture's 3D-printed tiny home will be topped with solar panels, according to its rendering. Woodbury University School of ArchitectureWhen finished, the unit will be Los Angeles' first permitted 3D-printed home , according to Woodbury's architecture school. Woodbury University School of ArchitectureBut nobody's lining up to move in despite its desirable location less than a 10-minute drive from Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Persons: —, Brittany Chang Organizations: Woodbury University School, Service, Futures, Solar, Architecture, US Department of, Woodbury University School of, Woodbury University School of Architecture, Solar Futures, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Business, Woodbury University, University of Maine's Locations: Los Angeles, Woodbury, Burbank , California

☆ From Nvidia to Meta, these 9 companies are hiring the most generative AI talent
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Companies are actively hiring workers with generative AI skills. Advertisement"We were surprised to see the proliferation of generative AI skills being required in jobs that are not developing these technologies," Kane said. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty ImagesMeta has released a number of AI projects, including AI chatbots and Ray-Ban Smart Glasses. AdvertisementAmazon's is currently hiring for a generative AI data scientist to work on the AWS team. It's currently hiring for an advanced AI research scientist and responsible AI advisor.

Persons: —, Layla O'Kane, Kane, Mark Zuckerberg, JOSH EDELSON, PNNL, Artur Widak, Anthropic, It's, there's Organizations: Meta, Service, Getty, Capital, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, AWS, Accenture, Nvidia, Microsoft Locations: AFP, Asia

☆ Why we don't have fusion power plants yet, and what it'll take to get clean, limitless energy to market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Two experts explain how long it could take until fusion power plants are possible. Fusion plants could theoretically produce almost 4 million times as much energy as burning coal or oil — with none of the carbon emissions. It's what Andrew Christlieb, who is part of a US Department of Energy fusion project at Michigan State University, calls "step zero." The US Department of Energy's Fusion Energy Sciences program has a $763 million budget for 2023, which could grow to over $1 billion next year. Achieving commercial fusion power in two decades won't be quick enough to address many countries' goals of adapting clean energy and limiting global warming by 2035.

Persons: It's, Andrew Christlieb, Christlieb, Michael Livingston, PPPL, Jean, Paul Pelissier, it's, Jason Laurea, Lawrence, Jonathan Menard, Menard, Bill Gates, Sam Altman Organizations: Service, Ignition, NIF, US Department of Energy, Michigan State University, Royal Society, Reactor, REUTERS, European Union, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Princeton Plasma Physics, US Department of Energy's Fusion Energy Sciences, Fusion Industry Association, Tech Locations: PPPL, Saint, Durance , Southern France, US, China, Russia, Lawrence Livermore, Princeton

☆ $100 billion property giant Prologis sealed a huge EV charging station deal. It hints at a new opportunity for real estate investors.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Daniel Geiger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Late last year, it installed 38 chargers for electric trucks operated by Maersk at two sites in the Los Angeles area. There were 1.8 million conventional medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles operating in the state in 2021, according to data from the California Air Resources Board. Arnold said electric charging sites might be more lucrative than traditional industrial outdoor storage properties. The EV-charging business' chicken-and-egg problemOne of the biggest constraints to the development of charging sites is the availability of power. PDS operates about 320 diesel rigs, Gillis said, but because of the rules, will purchase "20 to 30 electric trucks" a year to steadily electrify its fleet.

Persons: Henrik Holland, John O'Leary, O'Leary's, Holland, Crawford Arnold, Arnold, Southern California Reuters Arnold, Vernon, Rivian, Gage, Zeina, Azzi, she'd, Jim Hurless, Hurless, Michael Bresnahan, Bresnahan, Elon Musk, Tesla, Greg Pearson, Pearson, Frank Schulz, Marijan Murat, Jim Gillis, Gillis, Emil Abdelshehid, We're, Nikola, Moshe Cohen, Cohen Organizations: Shell, Prologis, Maersk, Daimler Truck North, Mercedes, Freightliner, Government, California Air Resources Board, US Department of Energy, IOS, Investors, Shipping, Southern California Reuters, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, Colorado ., Chateau Energy Solutions, Tesla, Klabin, Getty, Los, Pacific Drayage Services, Los Angeles Department of Water, PDS, Volvo, Inc Locations: Southern California, Danish, Los Angeles, Long, Los Angeles County, Torrance, Daimler Truck North America, California, Vernon, of Long Beach, Newark , New Jersey, Texas, New York City, New Jersey, Colorado, Inland, Fontana, San Bernardino, Brooklyn

☆ China restricts exports of graphite as it escalates a global tech war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“At the moment both China and Western countries are engaged in a tit for tat, highlighting how protectionist measures often spread. China, which dominates the world’s production and processing of graphite, says export permits will be needed, starting in December, for synthetic graphite material — including high-purity, high-strength and high-density versions — as well as for natural flake graphite. China was the world’s leading graphite producer last year, accounting for an estimated 65% of global production, it said. Gallium, germanium restrictionsThe export curbs were announced as China faces pressure from multiple governments over its commercial and trade practices. In July, Beijing imposed export restrictions on gallium and germanium, two minerals essential for making semiconductors.

Persons: ”, Stefan Legge, carmakers, Ivan Lam Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of Commerce, Administration, Customs, “, University of St, Institute for Energy Research, EV, International Energy Agency, Geological Survey, Counterpoint Research, US Department of Energy Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, University of St Gallen, Switzerland, Washington, DC, Europe, Asia, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Can hydrogen be green? The debate heats up as the White House pours $7 billion into hydrogen hubs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The White House is spending $7 billion to spur "clean" hydrogen. The goal is to spur the production of "clean" hydrogen, because the way it's currently produced is a dirty business. Anna Menke, the task force's senior hydrogen-hubs manager, said she wants the debate to move away from green versus blue hydrogen because each technology has its pros and cons. Korgel noted that the federal definition of "clean" hydrogen has been evolving, but should be more clear soon. The Internal Revenue Service has to decide what "clean" hydrogen is eligible for a tax credit worth up to an estimated $100 billion over its lifetime.

Persons: Joe Biden, it's, Robert Howarth, Howarth, Anna Menke, Menke, Brian Korgel, Biden, Korgel Organizations: Service, Cornell University, Air Task Force, US Department of Energy, Energy Institute, University of Texas, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Sempra Infrastructure, Internal Revenue Service Locations: Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest, Appalachia, Austin, Gulf

“Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict – by accident, intention, or miscalculation – is a terrible risk. New Construction at Russia's Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site, June 22, 2023. Lop Nur nuclear test site. “The Chinese test site is different than the Russian test site,” Lewis said. Both countries keep their strategic nuclear arsenals on “hair-trigger” alert, meaning that nuclear weapons can be launched on short notice.

Persons: Jeffrey Lewis, James Martin, ”, Cedric Leighton, “, Vladimir Putin, ” Lewis, Lewis ’, António Guterres, ” Guterres, Dmitry Medvedev, Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Sergei Shoigu, Lewis, we’ve, Leighton, they’d, ” Leighton, Nur, Hans Kristensen, Kristensen, Israel –, Dyess, Frederic J . Brown, Fiona Cunningham, Yang Kun, ” Daryl Kimball, Kimball, Michael Frankel, James Scouras, George Ullrich, Soviet Union –, Russia –, We’re Organizations: CNN, James, James Martin Center, Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, US, US Air Force, Atomic Scientists, Soviet Union, United Nations, Russia’s Security, Russian Defense Ministry, Planet Labs PBC, Middlebury, Science and Global Security, Novaya, Middlebury Institute, China Observer, China’s Foreign Ministry, Planet Labs, Nevada National Security, National Security Administration, US Department of Energy, Office, National Security Council, International Monitoring, Federation of American Scientists, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Columbia, Northrop Grumman's Air Force, Getty, Control Association, ACA, NGO, PLA, Nuclear, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arms Control Association, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Soviet Locations: Russia, United States, China, Xinjiang, Nevada, . China, Moscow, Washington, Ukraine, Soviet, Belarus, Minsk, Novaya Zemlya, Zemlya, Soviet Union, Lop Nur, Japan, Lop, Beijing, Stockholm, United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Ellsworth, Palmdale , California, AFP, Yuli County, Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Baltimore, Russian, Hiroshima

☆ US Department of Energy to put $12 billion into electric vehicle manufacturing, following Biden's goal of spurring EV sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The US Department of Energy said Thursday it plans to fuel the auto industry’s transition to electric vehicles with $12 billion in loans and grants. Hard on the heels of President Joe Biden’s goal to spur the sale of EVs in the United States, the Energy Department will provide $2 billion in grants and $10 billion in loans to support the conversion of US automaker and supplier facilities into manufacturing centers for hybrid and electric vehicles. The program aims to build or refurbish factories in communities with existing auto manufacturing facilities and to bolster the domestic EV supply chain. The Energy Department also said it plans to invest a separate $3.5 billion to boost US production of advanced batteries and battery materials to support the country’s transition to electric vehicles and clean energy. It also noted that light duty vehicles, the average cars Americans drive, account for 58% of those emissions.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, “, Jennifer Granholm, ”, Shawn Fain Organizations: New, New York CNN, US Department of Energy, Energy Department, ”, The Energy Department, United Auto Workers union, Biden Administration, UAW, Congressional Locations: New York, United States

☆ Electric cars are breaking sales records, but here’s why they’re not replacing gas cars anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Christopher Hickey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More shoppers are choosing electric vehicles so far this year than ever, according to vehicle sales data from Cox Automotive. While EV sales have been growing healthily for the past couple of years, that trend has accelerated this year. The electric vehicle market is entering into a transition period, she said. The average electric vehicle price in July was $53,469, according to Kelley Blue Book, versus an average price of $48,334 across all vehicles. But the number of charging stations still lags behind what is needed to support a wider-scale adoption of electric vehicles.

Persons: Cox, That’s, ”, Stephanie Valdez, Streaty, Chevrolet Bolt, Rivian, BEV, “ We’ve, ” Valdez, Price, Kelley, “ Organizations: Cox Automotive, EV, Streaty, CNN, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Tesla, Volkswagen, Valdez, US Energy, Ford, EV considerers, US Department of Energy, Alliance, Automotive, Quarterly, California Energy Commission, AAI, District of Columbia, California Air Resources Board Locations: Valdez, California

☆ Brilliant Planet: Growing and burying algae in the Sahara is the latest solution for the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Tom Page | Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Algae absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide and emits oxygen via photosynthesis, and has been doing so since before the first land plants ever existed. “Nature-based solutions are a great way of removing carbon,” Taylor told CNN, arguing that deserts are an under-utilized environment. Many carbon capture solutions have been proposed, the most headline-grabbing being direct air capture. “There are enormous desert regions in the country that might be converted for carbon capture and storage projects,” she added. courtesy Brilliant PlanetTaylor hopes the tangible, weighable algae flakes will make Brilliant Planet’s model attractive.

Persons: Adam Taylor, Taylor, “, ” Taylor, ”, You’re, Halldor Kolbeins, Fatna Ikrame El Fanne, El Fanne, Robert Höglund, Höglund, ” Höglund Organizations: CNN, US Department of Energy, Getty, Climate, “ Locations: London, Akhfenir, Morocco, Sahara, Reykjavik, Iceland, AFP, Climate Morocco, Namibia, Manhattan

☆ The US government will hand out up to $1.2 billion for companies to suck greenhouse gases out of the air
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Once built, facilities in Texas and Louisiana will suck carbon dioxide pollution from the air. Removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is crucial to reversing the effects of climate change. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. How direct air capture differs from carbon capture technologyUnlike carbon capture technology, which captures carbon as its being produced by a facility before it reaches the atmosphere, direct air capture acts like a giant air purifier, separating carbon that is already in the air and pumping it underground or into rocks for permanent storage. The Texas site believes it could store up to 3 billion metric tons of CO 2 in saline formations under the hub.

Persons: Biden, Energy Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Harris, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Biden Administration, US Department of Energy, DOE, Energy, South, South Texas DAC, Infrastructure Law, DAC, Clean, Biden Locations: Texas, Louisiana, Cypress, Calcasieu Parish , Louisiana, South Texas, Kleberg County , Texas

☆ How a US government program advocated using nuclear explosions for construction, farming radioactive crops, and blasting holes in the moon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Most focused on the potential for nuclear explosions to quickly excavate areas for construction projects at lower costs than conventional explosives. (Hamblin is the author of the book "The Wretched Atom: America's Global Gamble with Peaceful Nuclear Technology.") Fly the radioactive skiesUS officials also hoped nuclear energy could be used for transportation. Nicknamed the "pan-atomic canal," nuclear explosions would have carved a sea-level waterway through Nicaragua, Panama, or Colombia, per Forbes. Corbis via Getty ImagesFor Hamblin, the concept of "peaceful nuclear explosions" fell out of favor in the mid-70s.

Persons: Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, Jacob Hamblin, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Alex Wellerstein, Hamblin, you've, Dr Leonard Reiffel, Alaska's Cape Thompson, Edward Teller, detonations, Rio, Iran —, —, Corbis, Wellerstein, Marshall, we're Organizations: Service, White, Nevada . U.S . Department of Energy Office, Scientific, Atomic Energy, UN, United Nations, IAEA Imagebank, United, US Atomic Energy Commission, Technology, Institute of Radiation, Google, NASA, Sputnik, Air Force, U.S . Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, AEC, of Energy, Popular Mechanics, New York Times, Carryall, US Department of Energy, Forbes, Atomic Energy Commission, Getty, IAEA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Suez, Nevada ., United Nations, New York, Hitachiomiya, Japan, Soviet Union, Nevada, Alaska's Cape, inconveniently, Israel, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia, Pacific, Farmington , New Mexico, Rulison , Colorado, Rio Blanco, , Colorado, Iran, Mercury , Nevada, USA, Cuba, Vietnam, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada —, Marshall

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