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☆ Climate Action 15: 2024's Leading Innovators for a Sustainable Future
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

Editor's note: Business Insider's reporters and editors nominated leaders based on insights from past Climate Action honorees, expert sources, and reader submissions. Courtesy of Jayson RicamaraSaudi Arabia, with its hot desert climate and little fresh water, is one of the most difficult farming environments. AdvertisementIyris in October also launched a sustainable-farming pilot in Saudi Arabia with chemical and plastic manufacturers as well as companies including Red Sea Global, a luxury tourism developer. A UN climate panel estimated that harnessing wave energy could supply 20% more electricity than the world produced in 2022. The US is trying to shore up its own mining and manufacturing base to curb China's power, including in battery recycling.

Persons: Derya Baran, Iyris Derya Baran, Jayson Ricamara, Baran, SecondSky, who's, Inna Braverman, Braverman, David Leb, Charles Callaway, Environmental Justice Charles Callaway ., Callaway, Clara, Gretchen Cara Daily, Stanford University Gretchen Cara Daily, Daily, NatCap, Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama Navarro, José Raúl, Haiti —, Navarro, del, Reinhold Gallmetzer, Reinhold, Gallmetzer, Brazil's JBS, packer, Diane Gilpin, Smart Green Shipping Diane Gilpin, Gilpin, Drax, Roberta Tuurraq Glenn, Borade, Savok Glenn, Glenn, Cynthia Houniuhi, Houniuhi, it's, Arvind Kumar, Prasad, Rice, Kumar, Ari Matusiak, Gazur, Matusiak, —, Duncan McIntyre, McIntyre, Altenex, Ozane, Biden, It's, Delta, Liz Ricketts, Charlie Engman Ricketts, Ricketts, Ricketts didn't, Chao Yan, Princeton NuEnergy Chao Yan, Yan Organizations: Iyris, United Arab, King Abdullah University of Science, Technology, Red, Eco, UN, Eco Wave Power, Shell, Environmental Justice, Proctor Academy For Callaway, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Green Institute, Callaway, Natural, Stanford University, Stanford, Facility, Ministry, Environment, Panama's, UNESCO, US State Department, National Association for, Nature, Center, for, Carrefour, Nestlé, Smart Green Shipping, Scottish Enterprise, International Windship Association, Maritime Organization, Union, Alaska Arctic Observatory, National Weather Service, AAOKH, University of Alaska, Pacific Islands, University of, International Court of Justice, United Nations, Prasad Seeds, Labor, Prasad, International Rice Research Institute, Rewiring, Reduction, Communities, Highland Electric, Schools, Highland, Beverly Public Schools, Fortune, Edison International, Louisiana, US Department of Energy, Ozane, White, LNG, Vessel Project, Biden, Department of Energy, Kantamanto, London . Brands, McKinsey, Princeton, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Princeton NuEnergy, Energy, Laboratory, EV Locations: Jayson Ricamara Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Spain, Ukraine, Cherkassy, Israel, Gibraltar, Port of Los Angeles, Porto, Portugal, West Harlem, New York City, Clara Hale, Costa Rica, Belize, China, NatCap, Stanford, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Panama City, Brazil, Peru, Brazilian, , Norway's, Barrow, Furness, Alaska, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Utqiaġvik, Fanalei, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Asia, Saharan Africa, India, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Africa, Hyderabad, South, Southeastern Asia, Subhanpur, Rewiring America, Massachusetts —, Sulphur , Louisiana, Calcasieu, Vessel Project Louisiana, Accra, Ghana, New York, London, Kantamanto, Taiyuan, China's Shanxi, Argonne, South Carolina

This article is part of the Opinion series At the Brink,about the threat of nuclear weapons in an unstable world. It follows a decades-long freeze on designing, building or testing new nuclear weapons. The new buildings and cutting-edge machinery will eventually process the uranium needed to make the next generation of American nuclear weapons. Now there are an estimated 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world. It is undeniably true that the world is becoming more contentious, and nuclear weapons do deter our adversaries.

Persons: Melissa Durkee’s, Adalie, —, Warren Air Force Base Missiles Ellsworth Air Force Base Pantex Plant Minot Air Force Base Dyess Air Force Base Lockheed Martin Tinker, Todd Weeks, Weeks, you’re, Eric Helms, Helms, it’s, ”, aren’t, Robin Darnall, she’s, “, can’t, Northrop Grumman, Nunn, Walter Schweitzer, Mr, Schweitzer, Robert Oppenheimer, didn’t, Jay Coghlan, Charles McMillan, Greg Mello Organizations: U.S, Preston Veterans ’ Memorial, Dynamics, U.S . Navy, Preston Veterans ’, The Times Naval Base Kitsap Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Northrop Grumman Nevada National Security, Air Force Base Malmstrom Air Force Base Sandia National Laboratories Los Alamos National Laboratory, Warren Air Force Base Missiles Ellsworth Air Force Base Pantex Plant Minot Air Force Base Dyess Air Force Base, Warren Air Force Base Missiles Ellsworth Air Force Base Pantex Plant Minot Air Force Base Dyess Air Force Base Lockheed Martin Tinker Air Force Base Offutt Air Force Base Kansas City National Security, Chaffee, Air Force Base Whiteman Air Force Base, Security, Laboratory Naval Submarine Base, Bay Northrop, Newport News Shipbuilding General Dynamics Electric, Submarines, Submarines Connecticut Rhode Island, Submarines Connecticut Rhode Island Virginia General Dynamics Electric, General Dynamics, Columbia, Engineering, Republican, Democratic, Office, General Dynamics Electric, Navy, NASCAR, Manhattan, Reactor, The Energy Department, National Nuclear Security Administration, Energy Department, National Nuclear Security, Fort, Missiles Wyoming North Dakota, Missiles Wyoming North Dakota Colorado Nebraska Montana America’s, The Air Force, Minuteman III, Air Force, Warren Air Force Base, Sentinel, Banner, Soviets, Air Force Base, McCurdy, Pentagon, Montana Farmers Union, Mexico South, Environmental Protection Agency, Los Alamos, Nuclear Watch, Alamos County, Atomic, Los Alamos Study, United States Locations: Preston, Conn, New England, America, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, United States, Savannah, Manhattan, Washington, Submarines Connecticut, Submarines Connecticut Rhode Island Virginia, Narragansett, Rhode Island, Quonset, R.I, Groton, Soviet Union, Rhode Island , Connecticut, Virginia, Columbia, Tennessee, Oak Ridge, Tenn, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Texas, Fort Knox, Missiles Wyoming North Dakota Colorado, —, Wyoming , Nebraska , Colorado , Montana, North Dakota, Plains, F.E, Wyoming, Nebraska, Banner County, Great Falls, Mont, Mexico, Mexico South Carolina, New Mexico, Los Alamos, N.M, Savannah River, S.C, Colorado, Rocky, Alamos, Nuclear Watch New Mexico, Santa Fe

☆ Stellantis sues UAW in US federal court over strike threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Chrysler parent Stellantis filed a federal lawsuit against the United Auto Workers, saying the union has violated its contract by threatening to strike over the company’s delays in planned investment. The automaker filed the suit on Thursday asking the US District Court in the Central District of California to declare the decision by UAW Local 230 in Los Angeles to take a strike authorization vote violates terms of the contract reached last fall. Stellantis seeks to hold the UAW and the local union chapter liable for any potential revenue loss and other damages resulting from lost production due to any strike. On Thursday, a supermajority of UAW members at Stellantis’ Los Angeles Parts distribution center voted to request strike authorization if the company and union can’t settle a grievance over planned company investments. “The UAW acted in bad faith by disregarding this language, filing sham grievances, and calling a strike authorization vote to pressure Stellantis to proceed with planned investments,” the company said in the lawsuit.

Persons: Stellantis, Shawn Fain, Fain, ” Fain, Carlos Tavares, “ Organizations: CNN, Chrysler, United Auto Workers, Court, Central District of, UAW Local, UAW, Los Angeles Parts, can’t, Stellantis, The Energy Department, Plant Locations: Central District, Central District of California, Los Angeles, Belvidere , Illinois, Belvidere, Indiana, Kokomo

☆ The US is dismantling nuclear warheads to power next-gen reactors
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This fuel is set to power the next generation of America’s nuclear reactors — small, modular power stations that are easier and cheaper to build. They require far less upkeep and physical space than the aging fleet of large nuclear power plants. “In order to meet our energy security needs and our climate goals, we do need significantly more nuclear energy deployed.”The nuclear power industry is increasingly looking to smaller reactors, which run on HALEU. The uranium for conventional reactors is enriched up to 5% and HALEU is uranium enriched between 5-20%. Highly enriched uranium is anything more than 20% and is used in weapons or naval submarines.

Persons: —, Michael Goff, Bill Gates, ”, Jeff Navin, “, hasn’t, Benjamin Rasmussen, Jeff Chamberlin, Goff, Dan Leistikow, Josh Jarrell, Leistikow, Centrus, TerraPower’s Navin, ” Navin Organizations: CNN, Manhattan Project, National Nuclear Security, US, Energy, of Nuclear Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, Department of Energy, New York Times, United, US Energy Department, Miller, Centrus Energy, Idaho National Laboratories, Idaho National Labs, Energy Department, DOE Locations: Oak Ridge , Tennessee, Oak Ridge, Tenneseee, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Idaho, Wyoming, Kemmerer , Wyoming, Congress

☆ Halliburton confirms a cyberattack forced it to take its systems offline
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Halliburton confirmed on Friday that it was hit by a cyberattack that forced the major oilfield services company to take systems offline. The company said the investigation is “ongoing” and its response includes restoring systems and assessing the damage. The company did not immediately respond to a request for further comment about whether its operations have been disrupted. The Energy Department told CNN on Thursday that there were no signs that energy services had been impacted. Halliburton previously would say only that it was experiencing an “issue” without confirming or denying a Reuters report it was cyber-related.

Persons: CNN — Halliburton, Halliburton, ” Halliburton, “ Organizations: CNN, Halliburton, FBI, Energy Department, Infrastructure Security Agency, The Energy Department

☆ These 10 U.S. states are America's best-prepared for climate change and extreme weather
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Some states are particularly vulnerable to climate risks, but these ten states are most ready for what Mother Nature has in store. 2024 Infrastructure Score: 276 out of 425 points (Top States Grade: A+) Climate Extremes Index: 14.9% Properties at risk: 96% Renewable energy: 24% 8. 2024 Infrastructure Score: 189 out of 425 points (Top States Grade: C-) Climate Extremes Index: 22.12% Properties at risk: 34% Renewable Energy: 77% 2. While a large percentage of Idaho properties are susceptible to climate risk, the danger of flooding is relatively minimal. 2024 Infrastructure Score: 195 out of 425 points (Top States Grade: C) Climate Extremes Index: 16.54% Properties at Risk: 90% Renewable Energy: 78% 1.

Persons: Jeremy Porter, Pete Buttigieg, Maria Lehman, Nature, Marli Miller, Justin Sullivan, Wolfgang Kaehler, Matt McClain, Randy Olson, Forester John Erixson, Kirby Lee, Jared Polis, Mario Tama, Rushmore, Idaho Neil Lincoln, Brownlee, Robert Gauthier, William, Marcia Lee, David Becker Organizations: First Street Foundation, Infrastructure Law, Transportation, CNBC, American Society of Civil Engineers, First, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Department of Energy, Oregon Solar, UCG, Getty, Oregon Department of Energy, Washington, Cedar, Bio Energy Washington, Lightrocket, Washington Department of Commerce, Clean Energy Fund, New, Washington Post, Energy, Nebraska, Nebraska Forest, Colorado, University of Colorado, California, Energy Department, Dakota, Idaho Power, Los Angeles Times, Idaho Locations: Louisiana, States, Oregon, Valley , Oregon, Arizona, Phoenix , Arizona, Maricopa County, Phoenix, King, King County , Washington, United States, New Mexico, Mora , NM, Nebraska, Loup, Taylor , Nebraska, Boulder , Colorado, Palm Springs , California, California, Texas, South Dakota, Cavan, Iowa, Idaho, Nevada, Las Vegas

☆ Consumers Should Control Their Electric Meter Data - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Michael E. Murray | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The meter at your home or apartment recording your electricity consumption is one of the portals to a clean energy future — and to consumers spending considerably less on their power bills. But to get to that future, those meters must be able to provide up-to-the-minute data to you, your utility company, the plug-in devices in your home and the growing array of businesses that can analyze the data and help you save on your electricity bills. For that to happen, though, your energy data must be available in a standard format. The Biden administration had the chance to accelerate that transition last fall when it awarded a little more than $1 billion in “smart grid grants” to nearly three dozen electric utilities to improve the efficiency of the power grid. As a condition of the grants, the Energy Department should have required those utilities to provide electric meter data in a “portable” format so the information could move easily among different software applications, platforms and services.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Energy Department

☆ 10 states with America's worst infrastructure, and most to gain from billions in federal dollars
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

To evaluate each state's infrastructure, our Top States study considers not just roads, bridges, ports and airports. The state broadband office notes that it is the nation's ninth-largest allocation per capita. The state's power grid is among America's least reliable, according to U.S. Department of Energy data. The severe weather means power outages are frequent as well. Since then, the power outages have persisted, making Maine's grid among the worst in the nation.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Seth Martindale, Rusty, Dan Koeck, Doug Burgum, Biden, Mark Miller, Suzanne Kreiter, Jim Justice, Senators Joe Manchin, Shelley Moore Capito, Mississippi Brenda Gavin, Elnora Ross, Michael Democker, Robert Gauthier, We're, Lauren Owens Lambert, Logan —, stoplights, Brianna Soukup, Lance King Organizations: Companies, Business, CNBC, Infrastructure Law, Arkansas Turrell, Arkansas Broadband Office, Law, Arkansas Economic Development Corporation, North Dakota, Washington Post, Peace Garden State, U.S . Department of Energy, Power Company, Dakota Utilities, Montana Bison, Getty, Industrial, Rte, Boston Globe, Census, U.S . Department of Transportation, West Virginia, Gov, U.S, Senators, West Virginia Coal Association, Justice, Manchin, Virginia Economic, First Street Foundation, Hawaii, Los Angeles Times, Afp, Boston Regional Airport, Spirit Airlines, Orlando, Logan, JetBlue, White Mountain Cable, Portland Press, Portland Press Herald, Central Maine Power, Power, Energy Department, Maine Locations: States, Arkansas, Arkansas Turrell Arkansas, Turrell Arkansas, Underwood, Peace, North Dakota, Minnesota, Dakota, Buffalo, Yellowstone, Montana, Massachusetts, Canton, Bay State, Boston, Kanawha, Poca, West Virginia, Winfield, Putnam County, Mountain State, Virginia, Mississippi, Louin , Mississippi, Gulf, BroadbandNow, Lahaina , Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, Western Maui, Hampshire, Hampton , New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire, New England, Maine, Epsom , New Hampshire, Brighton, Woodford Street, Portland, Alaska, Dalton, Coldfoot , Alaska

☆ Biden Administration Will Release 1 Million Barrels of Gasoline
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it would sell off one million barrels of gasoline over the coming weeks from a strategic reserve in the Northeast, a move it said was designed to keep gasoline prices in check for consumers ahead of the July 4 holiday. The sale of the government-owned stock was mandated by Congress in the spending bill it passed in March, and will culminate in the closure of the reserve, which has facilities in the New York Harbor area and Maine. The gasoline will be allocated in quantities of 100,000 barrels, which will be sold through a competitive bidding process, and was “structured to maximize its impact on gasoline prices” by timing it between Memorial Day and Independence Day, the Energy Department’s announcement said. “The Biden-Harris administration is laser-focused on lowering prices at the pump for American families, especially as drivers hit the road for summer driving season,” Jennifer M. Granholm, the secretary of energy, said in the statement. In practical terms, the move is unlikely to have a significant impact on gasoline prices, as even one million barrels — or around 42 million gallons — amounts to only a fraction of the total gasoline used in the United States, or even in the Northeast, in a single day.

Persons: “ The, Harris, ” Jennifer M, Granholm Organizations: Biden, Congress, New, Day, Energy, “ The Biden Locations: Northeast, New York Harbor, Maine, United States

☆ The market tries to extend its winning streak. Here's what working for and against stocks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Jerome Powell, Jim Cramer's, Stanley Black, Decker, Cramer, Jim, That's, there's, Nelson Peltz, Peltz, We've, we'll Organizations: CNBC, Federal, Logitech, After West Texas, Energy Department, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Susquehanna, Disney, Developers, Apple, Wynn Resorts, Arista Networks, Rivian, Occidental Petroleum, Bros, Reddit, Emerson Electric, Jim Cramer's Charitable Locations: FirstSource, After, Macao, Las Vegas, Occidental, Lyft

☆ Energy Dept. Aims to Speed Up Permits for Power Lines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brad Plumer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration on Thursday finalized a rule meant to speed up federal permits for major transmission lines, part of a broader push to expand America’s electric grids. The pace of construction for high-voltage power lines has sharply slowed since 2013, and building new lines can take a decade or more because of permitting delays and local opposition. The Energy Department is trying to use the limited tools at its disposal to pour roughly $20 billion into grid upgrades and to streamline approvals for new lines. Under the rule announced on Thursday, the Energy Department would take over as the lead agency in charge of federal environmental reviews for certain interstate power lines and would aim to issue necessary permits within two years. Currently, the federal approval process can take four years or more and often involves multiple agencies each conducting their own separate reviews.

Persons: Biden Organizations: The Energy Department, Energy Department

☆ Consumers may soon get access to a share of $8.8 billion in Inflation Reduction Act home energy rebates
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The IRA splits $8.8 billion in total rebate funding between two programs: the Home Efficiency Rebates program and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program pays consumers a maximum amount of money for buying specific technologies and services, Saul Rinaldi said. Home Efficiency Rebates program Conversely, the Home Efficiency Rebates program is technology-neutral, Saul Rinaldi said. Larger rebates flow to those who cut more energy, Saul Rinaldi said. In this way, the Home Efficiency Rebate's value can technically exceed that of the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program, Zelmar said.

Persons: Zelmar, Jan, Biden, Kara Saul Rinaldi, Saul Rinaldi Organizations: Energy Department, AnnDyl, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban Locations: Arizona , California , Colorado , Georgia, Hawaii , Indiana , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Mexico , Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Oregon , Indiana, New Mexico

More than two years later, only four states — Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Hawaii — have opened stations funded by the program. The Biden administration says the federal charging program is on track. The grants will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 charging ports. But even some of the government’s own experts say 500,000 public chargers won’t be enough to meet Biden’s ambitious climate goals. The availability of charging stations is key to persuading Americans to buy EVs.

Persons: Liam Sawyer, Sawyer, ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Shailen Bhatt, “, ” Bhatt, “ We’re, ″, Gabe Klein, Bhatt, Tesla, Mike DeWine, DeWine, Preeti Choudhary, Loren McDonald, you’re, ” ___ Daly, John Organizations: —, Ford, Allegheny National Forest, Pilot Travel, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Democrat, Transportation, Walmart, Joint Office of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Alternative Fuels Data, Energy Department, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Energy, Institute, University of Chicago ., Republican Gov, Ohio, Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission, “ Locations: Ohio, Indianapolis, Pennsylvania, Columbus , Ohio, London , Ohio, — Ohio, New York , Pennsylvania, Hawaii, U.S, Maine , Vermont, Colorado, Puerto Rico, America, California, Washington, St, Detroit, AP.org

☆ U.S. Approves $1.5 Billion Loan to Restart Michigan Nuclear Plant
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Ivan Penn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to provide a $1.52 billion loan guarantee to help a company restart a nuclear power plant in Michigan — the latest step in the government’s effort to revive the nation’s reactors. The loan guarantee is conditional on the facility receiving regulatory approvals and fulfilling other requirements. But many of the country’s nuclear reactors, including the Palisades plant, are at or near the end of their lives and need major upgrades. And few U.S. companies have built new nuclear plants in recent decades because doing so is incredibly expensive and time consuming. Holtec bought the Palisades plant in 2022 in order to close the facility but later campaigned to reopen the plant with the backing of the Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

Persons: Holtec, Gretchen Whitmer Organizations: Biden, Energy Department, Holtec, Michigan, Democrat Locations: Michigan, Covert Township, Mich, Lake Michigan, Kalamazoo

☆ Biden administration softens EV mileage rule in a win for automakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The original Biden administration proposal would have lowered such "petroleum-equivalent fuel economy" ratings for EVs by 72% in 2027. The industry cheered the Energy Department announcement. Automakers, auto dealers and the UAW called the original EPA plan unrealistic. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club had urged EV mileage rating reductions after the Energy Department left them unchanged for two decades. "The automakers' free ride is over," he said, adding that changes "will curtail automakers' use of phantom credits they used to keep selling gas-guzzlers."

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, John Bozella, Tesla, Pete Huffman Organizations: Detroit, Biden, Department of Energy, Reuters, U.S, Republican, Energy Department, Ford, Alliance, Automotive, United Auto Workers, General Motors, Chrysler, Traffic, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, GM, Volkswagen, UAW, National Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Energy Locations: New York City, United States, Michigan, fleetwide, U.S, NRDC

☆ Energy Department Offers $2.3 Billion Loan to Boost Lithium Production
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Energy Department is moving forward on a deal to provide a $2.3 billion loan to Lithium Americas Corp. in an effort to shore up domestic supplies of a mineral vital for the production of electric vehicles. If finalized, the loan would help finance the construction of a lithium carbonate processing plant at Thacker Pass in Nevada. The United States, however, has lagged behind other countries in producing the metal. Only 1 percent of the lithium used in the United States is harvested domestically, according to the Energy Department. Lithium carbonate from Thacker Pass could support the production of batteries for up to 800,000 electric vehicles a year, according to the Energy Department.

Organizations: Energy Department, Lithium Americas Corp, Administration Locations: Thacker, Nevada, North America, United States, Australia, Chile, China, Argentina

☆ Nuclear War: The Rising Risk, and How We Stop It - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( W.J. Hennigan | W.J. Hennigan Writes About National Security For Opinion. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The United States estimates Russia has a stockpile of up to 2,000 tactical nuclear warheads, some small enough they fit in an artillery shell. But the detonation of any tactical nuclear weapon would be an unprecedented test of the dogma of deterrence, a theory that has underwritten America’s military policy for the past 70 years. Possessing nuclear weapons isn’t about winning a nuclear war, the theory goes; it’s about preventing one. If Mr. Putin dropped a nuclear weapon on Ukraine — a nonnuclear nation that’s not covered by anyone’s nuclear umbrella — what then? Many in the administration believed the Kremlin’s dirty bomb ploy posed the greatest risk of nuclear war since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

Persons: Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Lloyd Austin, Russia Sergei Shoigu, Britain Ben Wallace, Defense Turkey Hulusi Akar, Sebastien Lecornu, General Austin, Mark Milley, Biden, Putin’s, William J, Burns Organizations: United, of American, NATO, Defense, State, Defense Turkey, National Defense, Defense Minister American, Russian, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Moscow, White House, State Department, The Energy Department, Strategic Command, ’, Pentagon, Unmute Defense, Central Intelligence Agency Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Kharkiv, Kherson, Russian, U.S, Crimean, Moscow, Poland, China, India, Turkey

☆ China, Xi Jinping Plan to Crush Elon Musk, Tesla, and the US EV Industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

If China EV Inc. were allowed to enter the US today or next year, the legacies would be gutted." The year Musk tittered at the idea of Chinese EVs overtaking Tesla, the country produced only 5,000 electric cars. It has more trade barrier protection from a China Auto Inc. onslaught, but it may not work forever. AdvertisementWe want to maintain an auto industry in the US — that's essential for jobs, national security, and for other sectors of the economy. Sure, Chinese EV makers are lean and mean, but they've never had to deal with international markets before.

Persons: Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Le, haven't, carmakers, Jim Farley, Tesla, Xi, Andy Wong, Xi Jinping, Li Auto, BYD, Trump, Mary Lovely, Joe Biden's, Biden, it's, Lovely, they've Organizations: Tesla, Bloomberg TV, America's, GM, Ford, Sino, EV, China EV Inc, ascendance, Chery, US, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Companies, SAIC, Energy Department, China Auto Inc, Peterson Institute, United Auto Workers, White, Auto Locations: Chinese, China, Beijing, Japan, Europe, North America, Brussels, Washington, Hungary, Mexico, Canada, America

☆ It might be the year to upgrade your home's heating and cooling system and get a big discount
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Electric heat pumps are also more efficient at heating and cooling homes than systems powered by oil and propane. Heat pumps move hot and cold air from indoors to outdoors, rather than burn fuel, and can save the average US homeowner an estimated $500 a year. Cutting the up-front costs of buying and installing heat pumps is a key way to increase sales. "There's a lot of outdated information about heat pumps out there." AdvertisementMcIlwain said Maryland was working to put more information online, including a database of contractors, electricians, and manufacturers trained on heat pumps.

Persons: Maine —, Serena McIlwain, Joe Biden, Jay Apperson, Sage Briscoe, Emily Levin, McIlwain Organizations: Service, Wednesday, Business, Energy Information Administration, Maryland Department of, Heat, Management, Rewiring, Energy Department, state's Department of Locations: Maine, Maryland, California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , Oregon, Rhode, States, Rewiring America, Massachusetts, California, New York, Hawaii, New Mexico, Rewiring, NESCAUM

☆ How the U.S. Became the World’s Biggest Gas Supplier
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Brad Plumer | Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Became the World’s Biggest Gas SupplierTop exporters of liquefied natural gas 12 billion cubic feet per day U.S. Qatar 10 Australia 8 6 Russia 4 Malaysia 2 2014 2023 12 billion cubic feet per day United States Qatar Australia 10 8 6 Russia 4 Malaysia 2 2014 2023 Source: S&P Global Note: Data reflects annual average liquefied natural gas exports by country. But climate activists worry that soaring exports of liquefied natural gas could make global warming worse. In the early 2000s, natural gas was relatively scarce at home, and companies were spending billions of dollars to build terminals to import gas from places like Qatar and Australia. In the mid-2000s, U.S. drillers perfected methods to unlock vast reserves of cheap natural gas from shale rock. The process of making and shipping liquefied natural gas adds complexity and cost, but if the difference between U.S. natural gas prices and overseas prices is big enough, it is profitable.

Persons: Biden, Fracking, ”, Kenneth Medlock, —, Ben Cahill Organizations: U.S, drillers, Cheniere Energy, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University, “, Asia, Department of Energy, Energy Department, . Energy, Energy Information Administration, Clearview Energy Partners, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: U.S, Qatar, Australia, Russia, Malaysia, United States Qatar Australia, United States, Japan, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Texas , Louisiana, Maryland, Georgia, Mexico

☆ Your energy costs could become a lot more unpredictable
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

For more than a decade, Americans could rely on cheap natural-gas prices to heat their homes and power businesses. Prices shot up exponentially, and homeowners, renters, and businesses are still seeing the ripple effects on their utility bills — even though natural-gas prices have since fallen. Just six years later, the US surpassed Qatar to become the world's leading exporter of natural gas. Slocum added that natural-gas exports put upward pressure on prices, citing recent reports by the US Energy Information Administration and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . The higher costs between 2021 and late 2023 are due to the energy crisis in Europe and "cannot explicitly be linked" with greater US gas exports, the spokesperson said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tyson Slocum, Goldman Sachs, Slocum, Mike Sommers Organizations: Service, Business, LNG, US Energy Information Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory, American Petroleum Institute, CNBC, Energy, Consumer Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Texas, New Mexico, Qatar

☆ Joe Biden is not coming for your gas stove
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Your gas stove is safe. The US Energy Department announced new energy efficiency standards for ovens and stoves, and the big takeaway is: Not much is changing. The department assured that the vast majority of gas stoves on the market – 97% – already meet the standards. Trumka had confirmed to CNN that “everything’s on the table” when it comes to gas stoves, but stressed that any ban would apply only to new gas stoves, not existing ones. “I can tell you the last thing that would ever leave my house is the gas stove that we cook on.”CNN’s Matt Egan contributed to this story.

Persons: ”, Andrew deLaski, Richard Trumka Jr, Trumka, ” Trumka, it’s, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, “, ” CNN’s Matt Egan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Biden, Consumer Product Safety, US Energy Department, DOE, Energy Department, US Consumer Product Safety, CNN, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumers, Democratic, Twitter Locations: New York, West Virginia

Why did Biden delay consideration of LNG export terminals? Biden's action would not affect those projects, but could delay a dozen or more LNG projects that are pending or in various stages of planning. A public comment period after that will likely delay any decisions on pending LNG projects until after the November election. Environmentalists hailed Biden's decision, saying LNG exports not only pollute communities and add to the climate crisis but also raise energy prices for U.S. families and businesses. A single proposed LNG export terminal in Louisiana would produce about 20 times the greenhouse gas emissions of Willow, activists say.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, ”, Vladimir Putin, Ali Zaidi, Jennifer Granholm, ″ Zaidi, Granholm, Biden's, Abigail Dillen, Sen, Ed Markey, Mike Sommers, Mitch McConnell, Israel's, “, “ Biden, ″, Bill McKibben, Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Industry, Republicans, Russia, U.S, Energy Department, Energy, Seven, American Petroleum Institute, U.S . LNG, GOP Locations: United States, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, Alaska, U.S, Russia, Louisiana, Texas, Calcasieu, Coast, Kentucky, Gaza, Willow

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is delaying consideration of new natural gas export terminals in the United States, even as gas shipments to Europe and Asia have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A proposed LNG export terminal in Louisiana would produce about 20 times the greenhouse gas emissions of Willow, McKibben noted. “We need to have an even greater understanding of the (global energy) market need, the long-term supply and demand of energy resources and the environmental factors,'' she said. Symons called the gas project "bad for our nation, bad for our health and bad for our economy.'' "The true irony is this policy would hurt the climate and lead to increased (greenhouse gas) emissions, as it would force the world to pivot to coal'' instead of natural gas, Hynes said.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, “, MAGA, Donald Trump, Bill McKibben, it’s, McKibben, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Vladimir Putin, Mike Sommers, Sommers, ”, ‘ ’ Granholm, we’re, Jeremy Symons, Symons, Shaylyn Hynes, Hynes, Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Energy Department, Industry, Russia, Energy, American Petroleum Institute, U.S . LNG, Environmental Protection Agency, Venture, LNG Locations: United States, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, Alaska, Paris, Louisiana, U.S, Calcasieu, Gulf, Cameron Parish, Virginia

☆ A Huge Win for Activists Puts Climate on the 2024 Agenda
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In delaying the approval process for CP2, the White House is directing the Energy Department to consider all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project — not just its construction. That could include emissions associated with drilling for and transporting the fuel, a change would also affect other pending natural gas terminals. But that can only happen if President Biden is re-elected. Energy politicsThe politics of climate change are a big factor in the White House making this move. “They are not going to support this president unless he makes a bold move.”Slow walking the approval process of CP2 is just what activists like Ozane were looking for.

Persons: Biden, Coral, Donald Trump, ”, ” Ozane Organizations: Energy Department, Energy, Republican Locations: Alaska, West Virginia, Gulf

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