This week’s Current Climate, which every Monday brings you the latest news about the business of sustainability. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Recent years have seen unprecedented investment in battery and electric vehicle production capacity in the U.S., driven by Biden Administration policies and pressure to transition the auto industry away from CO2-spewing fossil fuels to clean electric powertrains. In fact, the White House tallies some $157 billion earmarked for battery and EV plants. But it’s an election year and if Biden doesn’t win a second term, and a demonstrably less climate friendly administration takes power in 2025, what happens to all that activity? Maybe not much. That’s because most of those investments, particularly for batteries and related materials, are pouring into red states.
In the latest move, a $3 billion joint venture by Cummins, Daimler and Paccar are putting their first battery plant in Mississippi, scaled to produce 21-gigawatt hours of batteries a year for trucks and commercial vehicles by 2027. That follows plans for multibillion-dollar facilities — and tens of thousands of new jobs — in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio and Kansas. At the end of the day, a lot of governors and members of Congress seem unlikely to just let all that activity — and future tax revenue — evaporate.
The Big Read
Climate Change Could Cut Months From Life Expectancy, Research Warns
Climate change could cut life expectancy by half a year, according to research published Thursday, illustrating another ominous consequence of human-driven global heating after scientists confirmed 2023 as the hottest year on record.
Read more here.
Sustainability Deals Of The Week
Batteries: Swedish manufacturer Northvolt announced it has signed $5 billion in financing to enable the expansion of its battery factory.
Boats: Tech startup Navier announced it’s going to use its electric hydrofoils to ferry employees of Stripe to and from Larkspur in the San Francisco Bay Area starting this March.
Electric Grid: The Biden Administration announced a new program distributing $3.46 billion for 58 electric grid projects across 44 different states.
The Big Transportation Story
Perfect Storm To Blame For Cold Weather EV Charging Woes, Study Says
EVs are booming, with more than 1.2 million purchased by U.S. drivers last year and gaining a record 8% or so share of the market. But as battery-powered cars and trucks move from California and states with milder weather, some shortcomings are being revealed. The arctic blast that’s put Midwestern and East Coast states into a deep freeze this month wreaked havoc for thousands of EV owners, including problems charging their vehicles and big drops in driving range as energy is diverted to keep battery packs warm. Lithium-ion cells are still in a Goldilocks phase, not happy if it’s too cold or too hot.
Read more here.
Other Sustainability News
Annual carbon emissions from bottom trawling—a popular fishing method used to capture seafood at the bottom of the ocean—is equivalent to around 40% of annual transportation emissions in the U.S., according to a new study.
The Energy Information Administration predicts that over the next two years, wind and solar energy will be the primary drivers of growth for new power generation in the U.S.
Over the past few years, the Great Salt Lake has been losing water, with some risk of drying up completely. Last week, the Utah legislature passed a strategic plan aimed at restoring it.
What Else We’re Reading This Week
Billionaire-backed futuristic city no longer shrouded in secrecy. Here are the details (Los Angeles Times)
Trump supporters expect a ‘battle’ against climate science in 2nd term (Politico)
Asking People to Use Less Electricity Works (Heatmap)
For More Sustainability Coverage, Click Here.
