The US is on a local weather tech spending spree. Over the previous yr, 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 like an infinite 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 services are in a deceptively small a part of the battery provide chain—and danger stealing focus from different essential, early phases of the availability chain too. Learn the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
Casey’s story is from The Spark, her new weekly e-newsletter overlaying all issues power and local weather. Enroll 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 elimination on farmland. Learn the total story.
- How hydrogen and electrical energy can clear up heavy trade. “Arduous-to-Remedy Sectors” is a time period that’s more and more bandied round in the case of applied sciences designed to sort out the local weather disaster. However what does the time period imply, precisely? Learn the total story.
- Inside a battery recycling facility. Casey took a visit to Reno, Nevada, to go to a large new battery recycling facility from Redwood Supplies earlier than it opens its doorways. Learn the total story.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Elon Musk is edging nearer in direction of shopping for Twitter
If the deal closes on Friday, he’ll turn out to be extra highly effective than ever. (NYT $)
+ In his idiosyncratic trend, Musk arrived at Twitter HQ with a sink. (WP $)
+ He seems to have modified his thoughts about chopping 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 trying wholesome, and it’s nonetheless ready for the metaverse to catch on. (NY Magazine $)
+ Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse gamble will maintain shedding cash. (Bloomberg $)
+ He doesn’t appear to thoughts that an excessive amount of, nevertheless. (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 battle in Ukraine has accelerated the change to cleaner power. (New Scientist $)
+ The US company in control of growing fossil fuels has a radical new job. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
4 Recycling EV batteries is undoubtedly difficult
Devoted gigafactories could possibly be our greatest wager. (Economist $)
5 China’s entrepreneurs are dealing with robust decisions
They will keep in an more and more hostile China, or danger it abroad. (WSJ $)
+ A professional-China group is clumsily attempting to unfold US election disinfo. (Wired $)
+ How the false rumor of a Chinese language coup went viral. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
6 Puerto Rico’s energy grid by no means totally recovered from Hurricane Maria
Residents are nonetheless tormented by energy outages 5 years later. (The Verge)
+ How Google alerted folks to an earthquake earlier than it occurred. (Wired $)
+ Predicting—and getting ready for—the worst. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
7 A mysterious particle appeared following an area explosion
Specialists hope it may show the existence of darkish matter. (Quanta Journal)
