Getting climate, energy & environment news right.

To Make America Great, We Need Federal Permitting Reform
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To Make America Great, We Need Federal Permitting Reform

"With a modern permitting system in the United States, we can continue to be a dominant energy producer and capitalize on our carbon efficiency: energy produced in the U.S. is cleaner than nearly every other country in the world. We can reduce our reliance on countries like China for the critical minerals we need to create clean energy technologies like batteries and solar panels. We can modernize our energy infrastructure to strengthen our electric grid and integrate emerging technologies, like clean hydrogen. We can displace dirty energy sources by exporting American-made energy to our allies around the world."

This startup has a plan to clean up industry: electrified bricks
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This startup has a plan to clean up industry: electrified bricks

"Calectra is only just starting to put this concept to the test. With the pre-seed and grant funding in hand, Meskanen and Weger are working to grow their team by hiring a materials scientist and hardware engineers to help nail down the brick-material combinations and build a larger prototype of the system, in preparation for raising a round of seed funding."

The End of Chevron Deference Could Be Good for Free Trade
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The End of Chevron Deference Could Be Good for Free Trade

"The Supreme Court’s decision thus comes at a critical moment. The justices have empowered Congress to prevent or roll back trade decisions that are too ambiguous or illegal. Trade expert Alan Wolff has argued that Mr. Trump may not have authority to impose 10% across-the-board tariffs. Arguably, the post-Chevron environment permits legal challenges to some existing trade restrictions—say, on steel and aluminum tariffs or on restrictions of electric vehicles and components from allies with market economies. Rules covering restrictions on exports and imports of high-technology equipment and software could also be challenged, according to a Morgan Lewis analysis. Affected parties in both private and public sectors could file complaints."

Last Energy nabs $40M to realize vision of super-small nuclear reactors
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Last Energy nabs $40M to realize vision of super-small nuclear reactors

"The startup aims to eventually deploy thousands of its modular microreactors, though to date it has not brought any online. The first reactor might appear in Europe as soon as 2026, assuming Last Energy manages to meet its extremely aggressive construction, financial, and regulatory timelines — not a common occurrence in the nuclear industry. Venture capital heavyweight Gigafund led the round, which closed early this year but was revealed only today. The startup has raised a total of $64 million since its 2019 founding."

The Government’s Permitting Regime Is Choking the Economy
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The Government’s Permitting Regime Is Choking the Economy

"This isn't just good policy; it's a moral imperative. Permitting reform is about restoring a healthy power balance between government and individual and ensuring that America remains a place where innovation thrives, entrepreneurs succeed, and opportunity is universal. It's about reclaiming the principles that made this country great."

How oil-rich Arkansas became a hotbed of lithium mining
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How oil-rich Arkansas became a hotbed of lithium mining

"Exxon Mobil, for example, acquired 120,000 acres in the Smackover Formation in 2023 and aims to start producing battery-grade lithium by 2027. The company said it will produce enough lithium to supply the manufacturing more than 1 million EVs per year by 2030. Standard Lithium, which has operated in Arkansas since 2020, is also expanding its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) facility in El Dorado, thanks to a $100 million investment from Koch Strategic Platforms. DLE is touted as a more eco-friendly extraction method, using advanced filters to reduce energy and water usage."

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