The US is on a local weather tech spending spree. Over the previous 12 months, federal motion has put aside tons of of billions of {dollars} for power and local weather. Now, we’re beginning to see a few of that cash really get handed out.
The Division of Power introduced about $2.8 billion in grants to firms working to make battery supplies and elements within the US final week, becoming a member of what looks as if an limitless stream of bulletins from firms constructing EV and battery manufacturing within the US over the previous a number of months.
However whereas that is an thrilling first step to getting extra batteries constructed within the US, these deliberate amenities are in a deceptively small a part of the battery provide chain—and danger stealing focus from different essential, early levels of the availability chain too. Learn the complete story.
—Casey Crownhart
Casey’s story is from The Spark, her new weekly e-newsletter overlaying all issues power and local weather. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.
Delve again into a few of Casey’s most up-to-date points:
- Why scientists wish to assist crops seize extra carbon dioxide. Casey sat down with Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist on the College of California, to listen to extra about her new plan to make use of superior genetics for carbon removing on farmland. Learn the complete story.
- How hydrogen and electrical energy can clear up heavy trade. “Onerous-to-Resolve Sectors” is a time period that’s more and more bandied round in terms of applied sciences designed to sort out the local weather disaster. However what does the time period imply, precisely? Learn the complete story.
- Inside a battery recycling facility. Casey took a visit to Reno, Nevada, to go to an enormous new battery recycling facility from Redwood Supplies earlier than it opens its doorways. Learn the complete story.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you immediately’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Elon Musk is edging nearer in the direction of shopping for Twitter
If the deal closes on Friday, he’ll develop into extra highly effective than ever. (NYT $)
+ In his idiosyncratic vogue, Musk arrived at Twitter HQ with a sink. (WP $)
+ He seems to have modified his thoughts about reducing jobs. (Bloomberg $)
+ Right here’s how the deal has unfolded over the previous 10 months. (Insider $)
2 Meta is a multitude proper now
Fb’s not wanting wholesome, and it’s nonetheless ready for the metaverse to catch on. (NY Magazine $)
+ Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse gamble will maintain dropping cash. (Bloomberg $)
+ He doesn’t appear to thoughts that an excessive amount of, nonetheless. (Insider $)
+ Meta’s market worth has plunged by greater than $65 billion. (The Guardian)
3 Our urge for food for fossil fuels is predicted to peak by 2035
The struggle in Ukraine has accelerated the swap to cleaner power. (New Scientist $)
+ The US company accountable for creating fossil fuels has a radical new job. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
4 Recycling EV batteries is undoubtedly difficult
Devoted gigafactories could possibly be our greatest wager. (Economist $)
5 China’s entrepreneurs are going through robust decisions
They’ll keep in an more and more hostile China, or danger it abroad. (WSJ $)
+ A professional-China group is clumsily making an attempt to unfold US election disinfo. (Wired $)
+ How the false rumor of a Chinese language coup went viral. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
6 Puerto Rico’s energy grid by no means absolutely recovered from Hurricane Maria
Residents are nonetheless affected by energy outages 5 years later. (The Verge)
+ How Google alerted individuals to an earthquake earlier than it occurred. (Wired $)
+ Predicting—and making ready for—the worst. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
7 A mysterious particle appeared following an area explosion
Specialists hope it may show the existence of darkish matter. (Quanta Journal)
