Funding US batteries, and Elon Musk’s Twitter deal is nearing completion

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 vitality and local weather. Now, we’re beginning to see a few of that cash really get handed out.

The Division of Vitality introduced about $2.8 billion in grants to firms working to make battery supplies and parts within the US final week, becoming a member of what looks as if 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 amenities are in a deceptively small a part of the battery provide chain—and danger stealing focus from different essential, early levels of the provision chain too. Learn the complete story.

—Casey Crownhart

Casey’s story is from The Spark, her new weekly publication overlaying all issues vitality 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 elimination on farmland. Learn the complete story.
• How hydrogen and electrical energy can clear up heavy business. “Arduous-to-Clear up Sectors” is a time period that’s more and more bandied round relating to applied sciences designed to deal with 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 a large 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 as we speak’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 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 large number 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, 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 warfare in Ukraine has accelerated the swap to cleaner vitality. (New Scientist $)
+ The US company accountable for creating 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 guess. (Economist $)

5 China’s entrepreneurs are going through powerful selections
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 suffering from energy outages 5 years later. (The Verge)
+ How Google alerted individuals 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
Consultants hope it may show the existence of darkish matter. (Quanta Journal)