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Brian Eckhouse

@brianreports.bsky.social
3.3K followers 1.2K following 80 posts

Head of Bloomberg’s power, weather and natural disasters Americas team | Dad/concierge to a loquacious toddler | New Yorker in Los Angeles | Thoughts on the Mets and bagels mine and mine alone

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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Scoop: The EPA is expected to formally rescind carbon pollution standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants as soon as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter. Tag team with @bloomberg.com’s Ari Natter and Jen Dlouhy. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
EPA Poised to Repeal Carbon Standards for Coal, Gas Power Plants
The US Environmental Protection Agency is expected to formally rescind carbon pollution standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants as soon as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Fusion is having a moment: Investors have poured more than $14 billion into the tech. But proving fusion works is only the first step. The bigger question is whether it can ever make power cheaply enough to compete. From me and @willwwade.bsky.social: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Fusion Gets $14 Billion Bet It’s More Than a ‘Science Project’
So far, scientists have pulled off energy-generating reactions only in laboratory settings, and the path there has been slow and costly. But companies say they’re getting rapidly closer to commercial ...
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Will Wade @willwwade.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
“We know it works. Now it’s a matter of scaling up.” Companies are racing to prove fusion technology can finally move beyond the lab and become an abundant clean power source. A deep dive into fusion energy, with @michellema.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Fusion Gets $14 Billion Bet It’s More Than a ‘Science Project’
So far, scientists have pulled off energy-generating reactions only in laboratory settings, and the path there has been slow and costly. But companies say they’re getting rapidly closer to commercial ...
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Asking a chatbot a quick question vs. having it build you a software app: the environmental gap between them can be 10,000x, according to new independent research from Vals AI. @shiringhaffary.bsky.social and I dug into what's driving it: www.bloomberg.com/news/article... (free gift link)
bloomberg.com
AI’s Environmental Impact Per Task Balloons With More Complexity
Benchmarker Vals AI finds that multi-stage tasks can require models to use exponentially more energy or water than simple queries do.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
How much water do data centers really use, why do they use so much, and is it a problem? I talked to researchers and industry experts to understand the true water footprint of the AI boom: Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Why Do Data Centers Use So Much Fresh Water?
The artificial intelligence boom has inspired one of the largest infrastructure build-outs seen in decades: Tech firms are investing billions into constructing the data centers powering AI. This has m...
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
By @johnainger.bsky.social
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
By @emilyforgash.bsky.social
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Wildfire smoke in NY. Flooding in Texas. Climate risk is turning insurance into a political fight. @leslieatlarge.bsky.social and I spoke with Jane Kim and Ben Allen, top contenders to regulate CA’s $15B home insurance market. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
California Rivals Have Starkly Different Plans to Remake Home Insurance
Ben Allen and Jane Kim are running to be the state’s next insurance commissioner. Both promise change, but not along the same lines.
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
By @johnainger.bsky.social
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
It’s def a “Turnstiles” type of morning
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
El Niño has arrived - and it's on track to be a big one. From transatlantic flight times to Panama Canal shipping delays, to the cost of a candy bar or even just a bottle of soap, its effects can pop up all over the economy. (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
El Niño Slams Into a Global Economy Unprepared for More Chaos
Scientists warn a blockbuster weather event risks pushing costs higher for everything from building materials to groceries.
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John Ainger @johnainger.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
⚡ The AI data center boom in the US is threatening to claim its biggest victim yet — the nation’s largest electric grid operator. ⚡ In an explosive speech, the FERC chair said it may have grown "too big to function." 🎁Gift link to our deep dive below 🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
AI Data Center Boom Risks Breakup of Biggest US Power Grid Operator
Soaring utility bills and sluggish bureaucracy are fueling calls to split up PJM Interconnection, which runs the grid in 13 states.
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Emily Forgash @emilyforgash.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Artificial intelligence data centers are on the verge of reaching their limits. That’s forcing a reckoning among hyperscalers, data center operators, chip makers and power equipment producers. As they scale up, they are having to reimagine how data centers are designed, built and powered. 🎁 link:
bloomberg.com
The Race to Rethink Data Centers for AI’s Power Surge
With energy demand already straining infrastructure, AI players are reimagining the data center from the ground up.
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Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
It's not just you: Groceries are getting more expensive. And that's before prices reflect the full effects of the Iran war and a strong El Niño on the horizon (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Americans Are About to Pay Even More at the Grocery Store
As Americans confront a surge in prices at the pump, another inflation wave is headed for the grocery store.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Everyone's talking about what it means for the data center boom. But with its deal to buy Dominion, NextEra is also picking up territory in states where extreme weather has caused more than $57 billion in damage over the last 5 years (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
bloomberg.com
NextEra’s Dominion Deal Expands Its Storm Risk
The utility giant is expanding into some of the US’ costliest weather zones.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Mark Chediak @mchediak.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Friday afternoon scoop 👇 About $50 billion in wind investments and 150,000 jobs are imperiled by the Trump administration’s effective halt to approvals for new onshore projects, according to a trade group report reviewed by Bloomberg News. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Wind-Permit Stall Is Threatening $50 Billion in US Developments
About $50 billion in wind investments and 150,000 jobs are imperiled by the Trump administration’s effective halt to approvals for new onshore projects, a trade group said.
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Mark Chediak @mchediak.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
NEWS -> SpaceX is planning to build a massive, 10-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin as part of Elon Musk’s ambition to power artificial intelligence data centers in space. #solar www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
SpaceX Aims to Build 10-Gigawatt Solar Factory Near Austin
SpaceX is planning to build a massive, 10-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin as part of Elon Musk’s ambition to power artificial intelligence data centers in space.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Talking Biz News @talkingbiznews.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
@wsj.com, @cbsnews.com, @bloomberg.com win New York Press Club awards in business journalism: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/w...
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Trump's new pick to lead FEMA is a familiar name: Cameron Hamilton. He's the former acting chief who got pushed out last year after telling Congress he didn't think FEMA should be abolished. Instead? He'd favored downsizing it "pretty radically," he later told me and @zhirji.bsky.social 🧵
Cameron Hamilton sitting at a desk speaking into a microphone
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Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Cameron Hamilton, Trump's new FEMA pick, has been on both sides of the question over whether the disaster agency should exist. With a rare second chance in Trump's admin, the question is whether the former NAVY seal will defend the agency or further weaken it: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Can Trump's New FEMA Pick Save the Beleaguered Disaster Agency?
Backers say Cameron Hamilton will bring direction to the agency, but critics question whether he has the experience for its top job.
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Will Wade @willwwade.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The Three Mile Island nuclear plant is poised for a comeback, driven by AI’s massive energy needs -- worked on this one for a long time www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
The AI Revival of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant
Microsoft’s vast power demands are bringing together two transformative—and risky—technologies.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Mark Chediak @mchediak.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
👋 The US residential #solar industry knew this year would be tough after President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill ended a lucrative homeowner tax break for buying panels. So far, it’s looking even worse than feared. My latest 👇 🎁 Link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
The Bust in US Home Solar Has Worsened After Trump Ends Subsidies
The US residential solar industry knew this year would be tough after President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill ended a lucrative homeowner tax break for buying panels.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
BREAKING: President Donald Trump’s task force for reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday recommended sweeping changes to how the federal government responds to natural disasters. Gift link for @bloomberg.com story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Trump FEMA Council Backs Sweeping Overhaul of Disaster Response
President Donald Trump’s task force for reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday recommended sweeping changes to how the federal government responds to natural disasters.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
John Ainger @johnainger.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
🚨 Job Klaxon 🚨 I’ve moved to the Bloomberg HQ in NYC to start a three-month job posting covering US grids, AI, data centers and more. Let me know if you're in town and want to grab a coffee, or simply to give me your best pizza/bagel/jazz bar recommendation. Back in Brussels in August.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The story of Fermi is in some ways the story of the AI moment: Co-founded by a former Texas governor and a brash entrepreneur, Fermi offered companies racing to build data centers the two things they crave most: open land and an astonishing amount of power.
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
By @laurenthal.bsky.social
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
FEMA said Wednesday it will fund up to $1 billion in disaster-resilient infrastructure under a grant program it had previously canceled and criticized as being wasteful. "Mitigation is back," said former FEMA National Advisory Council member Carrie Speranza. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
FEMA to Offer $1 Billion Through Embattled Disaster Mitigation Fund
The move comes after a judge ordered the agency to restore the program, which it had cancelled last year.
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Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Fervo Energy might be the one clean tech startup having a good time in Donald Trump's America. The company's commercial geothermal pilot came online in 2023, just as ChatGPT became a household name and the AI race took off in earnest. And geothermal tax credits have remained intact.
bloomberg.com
Geothermal Escapes Trump’s Renewable Crackdown, Boosts Fervo’s IPO Bid
Fervo Energy is also benefiting from AI’s ravenous electricity needs as it aims to go public later this year.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
weathersullivan.bsky.social @weathersullivan.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Record heat will bake Los Angeles and the Southwest melting precious snow and setting the stage for a fire summer. CA measures its snow on April 1 to set supplies for the coming year. We will see what is left. #climate #water #california www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Record March Heat to Scorch Los Angeles, US Southwest
An unusually early heat wave is set to grip Los Angeles and much of the Southwest, putting California’s already fragile snowpack, and therefore its water supplies, at risk.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
First ice, then fire: A big blaze at the edge of Florida's Everglades ecosystem has its roots in a recent deep-freeze event, compounded by extensive drought. Gift link 🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Deep Freeze and Drought Are Fueling a Massive Florida Wildfire
An area larger than Manhattan is on fire near the Everglades, sending plumes of smoke swirling across southern Florida.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
From California to Texas, electric utilities are struggling to manage mounting fire risk in a warming climate. They are spending more than ever before on lawsuits and settlements, as well as on preventative measures, such as undergrounding lines. 1/5
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Scoop: The Climate Prediction Center is being folded into other agencies overseen by the National Weather Service The change follows moves by the Trump administration to dismantle climate science programs By @weathersullivan.bsky.social & @laurenthal.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
US Climate Forecaster to Be Absorbed in Weather Agency Reshuffle
The US climate forecasting service will be absorbed into other federal departments as part of a re-organization announced to staff Thursday.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Why wasn't AI more helpful in predicting this week's giant snowstorm for New York and much of the Northeast? As one scientist put it, "there’s no perfect model yet -- that's the problem." Gift link 🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
AI Lost Out to Traditional Models in Forecasting NYC's Blizzard
Two days before New York's biggest snowstorm in a decade began, forecasters were still unsure how much snow would fall. One traditional US model had consistently predicted a major hit, while newer art...
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Mark Chediak @mchediak.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
New from me: Big investment banks are hesitant to offer so-called tax-equity financing to wind, solar and battery projects because of uncertainty over new restrictions on ownership ties to China. It's obstacle for the US renewable industry. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
US Clean Energy Deals Face Financing Risk as Big Banks Hold Back
JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley are among leading investment banks hesitating to provide a critical source of financing for US renewables projects.
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
By @michellema.bsky.social @laurenthal.bsky.social
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Brian Eckhouse @brianreports.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
By @mchediak.bsky.social
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Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
A year after the LA wildfires, the price tag for the costliest blazes in US history is still climbing. Who pays is uncertain. Our story on how risk and damage have spread beyond burned neighborhoods and the fight to limit losses and shift liability: www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
bloomberg.com
One Year After LA Fires, Recovery Is a Battleground
The price tag for the costliest blazes in US history is still climbing and disputes over who will pay are escalating.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Update: As it turns out, the meeting is not currently happening bsky.app/profile/did:...
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Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Cajun Navy groups may raise a few million dollars in a good year, collectively. As President Trump weighs major changes to FEMA - like shutting it down - some leaders say they wouldn't be able to replace it. Or simply aren't interested. As one put it: "We don't want to end up sucking like them."
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Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
A DHS spokesperson said workers who publicly signed the Katrina Declaration "were wrongly and without authorization reinstated by bureaucrats acting outside their authority." As one whistleblower lawyer put it: "I've never seen a retraction on a retraction like this." Story w/ @zhirji.bsky.social
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Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
In a reversal from this morning, FEMA puts whistleblowers back on leave after reinstating them Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
FEMA Puts Whistleblowers on Leave Shortly After Reinstating Them
Days after reinstating a group of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees who raised concerns about the government’s disaster preparedness, federal officials have placed those whistleblowers bac...
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
PG&E, National Grid and other big utilities are using AI models to pick out relatively cheap, targeted fixes that cut the risk of sparking a deadly fire -- think individual poles to replace and trees to trim back. Story w/ @joewertz.bsky.social (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Massive Wildfire Liabilities Push Utilities to Use AI to Stop Blazes
Power companies are turning to tech firms that can spot fragile trees and map high-risk areas before fires start.
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Scoop: Tesla co-founder JB Straubel's battery recycling firm Redwood Materials laid off dozens of staff, as the company shifts its focus to energy storage and critical minerals. This comes a month after Redwood raised $350 million for an over $6 billion valuation. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Tesla Co-Founder Straubel’s Battery Startup Redwood Fires Dozens
Tesla Inc. co-founder JB Straubel’s battery recycling firm Redwood Materials Inc. cut dozens of jobs as the startup scales back some of its ambitious projects to refocus on tapping into demand for gri...
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Reposted by Brian Eckhouse
Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Outgoing FEMA leader David Richardson told @bloomberg.com he "agreed to be the acting administrator through hurricane season when others wouldn’t." As season ends, "I can now leave for other opportunities." From @zhirji.bsky.social, Myles Miller + me: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
FEMA Chief Resigns After Six Months, Criticism Over Floods
The Trump administration’s top official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, David Richardson, resigned on Monday after about six months on the job.
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Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Two of the world’s biggest data center developers have projects in Nvidia's hometown that may sit empty for years because the local utility isn’t ready to supply electricity. We called the developers and utility in question to find out why: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Data Centers in Nvidia’s Hometown Stand Empty Awaiting Power
The fate of two facilities in Santa Clara, California, highlights a major challenge for the US tech sector and indeed the wider economy.
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Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
After Hurricane Beryl devastated Jamaica’s grid last year, officials at the island’s sole utility vowed to fortify it. But the company’s initiatives were only in the planning + early implementation stages when Hurricane Melissa hit. Story @bloomberg.com, gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Jamaica’s Grid Was Not Ready for Hurricane Melissa
The massive storm underscores the challenges in keeping up with the quickening pace of climate change.
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Michelle Ma @michellema.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Arbor Energy was founded as a carbon removal company that uses waste biomass to create electricity and remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Now, the company is pivoting to generating carbon-free electricity with natural gas, supported by a $55M Series A. Our story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Rocket Tech Is Poised to Generate Clean Power for Data Centers
Founded by SpaceX alumni, Arbor Energy’s technology runs on natural gas and uses carbon capture.
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Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
NEW: Weather models were performing worse ahead of a devastating storm in Alaska compared to a year ago. As one scientist @ecmwf.int put it, "the fact that all the models mis-captured this event tells us something." From me + @joewertz.bsky.social (gift link): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Deadly Alaska Storm Hit After a Month of Wider Forecast Errors
Scientists say outages at federal monitoring sites in the state may have contributed to confusion over the storm’s predicted track.
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Stephen Stapczynski @sstapczynski.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
GAS TURBINE SHORTAGE 🚨⚡ Orders for turbines for natural gas power plants are vastly outpacing supply, threatening the world’s ability to keep pace with rising electricity demand 🧵 Thread on how we got here and what it means for power-hungry nations www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
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Ari Natter @arinatter.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
SCOOP: The Trump administration canceling billions of dollars earmarked for hydrogen projects in California and the Pacific Northwest as it seeks to pressure Democrats in shutdown fight. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Trump Set to Cancel West Coast Hydrogen Hubs Amid Shutdown Fight
The Trump administration is planning to cancel billions of dollars earmarked for hydrogen projects in California and the Pacific Northwest as part of its first tranche of funding cuts following the go...
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