America’s only rare earths mine heard from anxious companies soon after China responded to President Donald Trump’s tariffs this month by limiting exports of those minerals used for military applications and in many high-tech devices. “Based on the number of phone calls we’re receiving, the effects have been immediate,” said Matt Sloustcher, a spokesperson for MP Materials, the company that...
PJM-Google AI partnership aims to speed up generator interconnection
PJM announced a multiyear collaboration agreement with Google and Tapestry, with the aim of further streamlining the grid operator’s planning process for connecting new generation resources. The goal is to significantly cut processing times for reviewing new interconnection applications, allowing large volumes of requests to be processed quickly. Officials have specifically warned about threats to reliability...
Trump Looks to Boost Use of Technology to Speed Up Permitting
President Donald Trump signed a directive April 15 aimed at bolstering the use of technology in the permitting process for infrastructure developments, part of a broader administration effort to cut red tape and speed the approval of new projects. The memorandum directs executive departments and agencies to make “maximum use of technology in environmental review and permitting...
Researchers unveil breakthrough solution to colossal issue facing wind power: ‘Innovation is key to closing the loop’
Researchers have devised and tested a way to mix old wind turbine blades with asphalt and cement concrete for more resilient road surfaces, expanding recycling options for the sector. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, there were 117 gigawatts of wind power installations around the globe in 2023, which was a 50% increase over the previous...
How Manufacturing and Sustainability are Shaping the Future of Resilient Businesses
We’re in an era where organizations, now more than ever, are focused on the resilience of their business. With the resurgence of manufacturing in the US, companies are turning to diversification and truly embracing the idea of reindustrialization. Hurdles such as geopolitical risks, potential supply chain disruptions, and economic uncertainty have companies leaning even further...
‘Global race for AI dominance’ could start at Eastern WA nuclear site
The Department of Energy wants to hear from developers interested in building data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure at 16 sites nationwide, one of them in Richland. DOE issued a “request for information” last week to assess industry interest and gather information on potential technology and economic considerations. It also wants information on locating new...
a16z backs Base Power in $200M round for home backup batteries
In less than a year, Base Power has grown from a stealthy startup to one of the largest battery fleets in Texas. Now the company has raised $200 million to fund a rapid expansion, including dozens more megawatt-hours of battery storage and plans for a domestic battery factory. The Series B round was led by...
Breakthrough material converts sunlight into heat, can lead to energy-efficient buildings
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in solar energy technology by creating a novel material capable of directly converting sunlight into heat with unprecedented efficiency. The development centers on thin films of a specific titanium oxide phase, Ti₄O₇, and could lead to advances in areas ranging from energy-efficient buildings to clean water and sustainable fuel...
Speeding Electric Transmission Deployment by Co-locating Along Highways
The nation’s electric grid has not kept pace with economic and societal advancement. As energy demand surges, expanding our transmission capacity has become an urgent priority.
AI Recycling Robot Boosts Waste Sorting Efficiency at UMass
A new AI-powered recycling solution is streamlining waste operations and improving material recovery at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Developed by alumni-founded startup rStream, the mobile system uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to automate sorting, helping institutions address common inefficiencies in traditional recycling programs. Automated Waste Sorting Using AI and Computer Vision The rStream trailer...








