katie brigham
@kbrigham.bsky.social
climate tech reporter (aka ENERGY DOMINANCE reporter) at @heatmap.news | signal: katieb.40
📍 Seattle, WA
📍 Seattle, WA
Reposted by katie brigham
for instance, GPT-3 took 700,000 liters of water to train. That sounds like a lot! It is roughly the amount of water used to raise the amount of beef that *two* Americans eat in a year.
November 25, 2025 at 5:38 AM
for instance, GPT-3 took 700,000 liters of water to train. That sounds like a lot! It is roughly the amount of water used to raise the amount of beef that *two* Americans eat in a year.
as electricity costs climb, the economics of some decarb-focused technologies is shifting, potentially delaying adoption and putting some already-expensive and power-intensive solutions further out of reach
With Power Prices Surging, Can We Still Electrify Everything?
In some cases, rising electricity rates are the least of a company’s worries.
heatmap.news
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 AM
as electricity costs climb, the economics of some decarb-focused technologies is shifting, potentially delaying adoption and putting some already-expensive and power-intensive solutions further out of reach
looks like they finally read my essay 👀
November 12, 2025 at 11:26 PM
looks like they finally read my essay 👀
Reposted by katie brigham
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by katie brigham
Sizable Energy may have found the key to quickly deploying pumped-hydro storage — with the help of what looks like a giant donut floating in the sea.
This startup wants to build pumped hydro storage in the ocean
Sizable Energy raised $8M to build a demonstration plant that stores energy for long durations by pumping brine between inflatable reservoirs in the sea.
www.canarymedia.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Sizable Energy may have found the key to quickly deploying pumped-hydro storage — with the help of what looks like a giant donut floating in the sea.
as U.S. climate tech founders and funders face dwindling capital and policy whiplash, many are looking to europe, with its ambitious yet stable climate policies, as an attractive beachhead market
Climate Tech Pivots to Europe
With policy chaos and disappearing subsidies in the U.S., suddenly the continent is looking like a great place to build.
heatmap.news
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
as U.S. climate tech founders and funders face dwindling capital and policy whiplash, many are looking to europe, with its ambitious yet stable climate policies, as an attractive beachhead market
quino energy is developing a technology that it says will transform the long-studied flow battery industry. but with the U.S. market hesitant to invest in and deploy this type of novel battery tech, the startup is looking to india to build its largest demo plant to date
Quino Raises $10 Million to Build Flow Batteries in India
The company is betting its unique vanadium-free electrolyte will make it cost-competitive with lithium-ion.
heatmap.news
November 10, 2025 at 9:21 PM
quino energy is developing a technology that it says will transform the long-studied flow battery industry. but with the U.S. market hesitant to invest in and deploy this type of novel battery tech, the startup is looking to india to build its largest demo plant to date
read my colleague @jael.bsky.social's excellent piece about the one thing republicans and democrats are increasingly aligning on: hating data centers
The Data Center Backlash Is Swallowing American Politics
Activists on both the left and the right are pushing back against AI development.
heatmap.news
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
read my colleague @jael.bsky.social's excellent piece about the one thing republicans and democrats are increasingly aligning on: hating data centers
Reposted by katie brigham
“Given all the notes he struck during the campaign, it is revealing to consider those Mamdani left unplayed. One in particular stands out: Throughout the mayoral run, Mamdani rarely spoke about climate change — often doing so only when directly asked.” heatmap.news/politics/zoh...
Zohran Mamdani’s Muted Climate Politics
The self-described “ecosocialist” ran an ultra-disciplined campaign for New York City mayor. Once he’s in office, the climate issue could become unavoidable.
heatmap.news
November 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
“Given all the notes he struck during the campaign, it is revealing to consider those Mamdani left unplayed. One in particular stands out: Throughout the mayoral run, Mamdani rarely spoke about climate change — often doing so only when directly asked.” heatmap.news/politics/zoh...
Reposted by katie brigham
The Seattle mayoral election will be a nailbiter for sure. Incumbent Bruce Harrell is currently up 62k votes to challenger Katie Wilson's nearly 54k.
But as is typical for Seattle and its mail-in ballot reporting (there is no in-person voting in WA state), that leaves a lot of uncertainty. [1/n]
But as is typical for Seattle and its mail-in ballot reporting (there is no in-person voting in WA state), that leaves a lot of uncertainty. [1/n]
November 5, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The Seattle mayoral election will be a nailbiter for sure. Incumbent Bruce Harrell is currently up 62k votes to challenger Katie Wilson's nearly 54k.
But as is typical for Seattle and its mail-in ballot reporting (there is no in-person voting in WA state), that leaves a lot of uncertainty. [1/n]
But as is typical for Seattle and its mail-in ballot reporting (there is no in-person voting in WA state), that leaves a lot of uncertainty. [1/n]
Reposted by katie brigham
🗳️ It's election day on Tuesday! This may be an an off-off-cycle year, but there are still a handful of important races for the climate.
@emilypont.bsky.social points out a handful for you to pay attention to tomorrow ⤵️:
@emilypont.bsky.social points out a handful for you to pay attention to tomorrow ⤵️:
The Climate Races to Watch on Tuesday
It’s an off-off-cycle election year, but there are still a handful of key elections going on in Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia.
heatmap.news
November 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🗳️ It's election day on Tuesday! This may be an an off-off-cycle year, but there are still a handful of important races for the climate.
@emilypont.bsky.social points out a handful for you to pay attention to tomorrow ⤵️:
@emilypont.bsky.social points out a handful for you to pay attention to tomorrow ⤵️:
Reposted by katie brigham
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
Reposted by katie brigham
scooplet: Palmetto, the solar/battery/HVAC “neo-utility” that has expanded during the Trump admin, is buying The Cool Down, a sustainability and lifestyle news site founded by alums of Bleacher Report and Yahoo News. a purchase price wasn’t disclosed. heatmap.news/energy/palme...
Scoop: Palmetto Is Buying ‘The Cool Down’
The North Carolina-based clean energy company has been on an expansion tear, even as the Trump administration has axed support for renewables.
heatmap.news
November 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
scooplet: Palmetto, the solar/battery/HVAC “neo-utility” that has expanded during the Trump admin, is buying The Cool Down, a sustainability and lifestyle news site founded by alums of Bleacher Report and Yahoo News. a purchase price wasn’t disclosed. heatmap.news/energy/palme...
data center load growth is 👻spoooooooooky👻 for ratepayers, but utilities are bending over backwards to say you won't be footing the bill for grid infra upgrades... tbd whether that's actually going to be the case by @zeitlin.bsky.social
Who Will Pay for Data Centers’ Energy? Not You, Utilities Say.
Utilities are bending over backward to convince even their own investors that ratepayers won’t be on the hook for the cost of AI.
heatmap.news
October 31, 2025 at 10:07 PM
data center load growth is 👻spoooooooooky👻 for ratepayers, but utilities are bending over backwards to say you won't be footing the bill for grid infra upgrades... tbd whether that's actually going to be the case by @zeitlin.bsky.social
Reposted by katie brigham
In the span of a year, Canadian company Deep Sky turned a vacant lot in Alberta into a DAC Hub, with 5 Direct Air Capture systems installed from 5 different companies, and more to come. I went to check it out and find out how they moved so fast.
heatmap.news/carbon-remov...
heatmap.news/carbon-remov...
The DAC Hub Dream Is Alive in Canada. I Went to See It.
Deep Sky is running a carbon removal bake-off on the plains of Alberta.
heatmap.news
October 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
In the span of a year, Canadian company Deep Sky turned a vacant lot in Alberta into a DAC Hub, with 5 Direct Air Capture systems installed from 5 different companies, and more to come. I went to check it out and find out how they moved so fast.
heatmap.news/carbon-remov...
heatmap.news/carbon-remov...
Reposted by katie brigham
People and the government are making it harder to build clean energy
huge: new york’s largest battery project has been canceled.
would’ve stored enough energy to power more than half a million homes.
why’d it die? a protest movement in NYC against battery storage, backed by curtis sliwa & national GOP politicians.
my latest for @heatmap.news #greensky
would’ve stored enough energy to power more than half a million homes.
why’d it die? a protest movement in NYC against battery storage, backed by curtis sliwa & national GOP politicians.
my latest for @heatmap.news #greensky
New York’s Largest Battery Project Has Been Canceled
Fullmark Energy quietly shuttered Swiftsure, a planned 650-megawatt energy storage system on Staten Island.
heatmap.news
October 29, 2025 at 4:47 AM
People and the government are making it harder to build clean energy
so much IS happening these days
it DOES make sense to take a break for green tea
🙏🙏🙏
it DOES make sense to take a break for green tea
🙏🙏🙏
My take on the World Series? I support Shohei Ohtani’s role as global ambassador for Oi Ocha. I’m a regular Ito En drinker and I agree with Ohtani’s take: “So much is happening these days. It makes sense to take a break for green tea.”
October 29, 2025 at 4:39 AM
so much IS happening these days
it DOES make sense to take a break for green tea
🙏🙏🙏
it DOES make sense to take a break for green tea
🙏🙏🙏
as Washington takes a hammer to clean energy policies and funding, investors spy an opportunity to scoop up undervalued or underperforming projects and companies with solid fundaments
The Climate Tech M&A Boom Is Beginning
With Trump turning the might of the federal government against the decarbonization economy, these investors are getting ready to consolidate — and, hopefully, profit.
heatmap.news
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
as Washington takes a hammer to clean energy policies and funding, investors spy an opportunity to scoop up undervalued or underperforming projects and companies with solid fundaments
Reposted by katie brigham
Today, @heatmap.news published The Aftermath, a masterful series from @jeva.bsky.social on how the US is learning to live with wildfires, incl. stories on improving evacuations, contemplating relocation, lessons from hotshots, and fires that never made headlines heatmap.news/the-aftermath
The Aftermath
How to live with wildfires
heatmap.news
October 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Today, @heatmap.news published The Aftermath, a masterful series from @jeva.bsky.social on how the US is learning to live with wildfires, incl. stories on improving evacuations, contemplating relocation, lessons from hotshots, and fires that never made headlines heatmap.news/the-aftermath
absolutely fascinating look into the promise, complexities, and deep concerns surrounding Stardust Solutions - the most well-funded solar geoengineering effort out there by @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
NEW: The startup Stardust Solutions has raised $60M to develop the “technological building blocks” of solar geoengineering by 2030.
The for-profit firm, which hopes to patent its proprietary particle, says it won’t deploy until governments authorize it.
My exclusive: heatmap.news/climate-tech...
The for-profit firm, which hopes to patent its proprietary particle, says it won’t deploy until governments authorize it.
My exclusive: heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Exclusive: Stardust Solutions Raises $60 Million to Build a Solar Geoengineering System by 2030
A U.S. firm led by former Israeli government physicists, Stardust seeks to patent its proprietary sunlight-scattering particle — but it won’t deploy its technology until global governments authorize s...
heatmap.news
October 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
absolutely fascinating look into the promise, complexities, and deep concerns surrounding Stardust Solutions - the most well-funded solar geoengineering effort out there by @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
👀👀👀
via @alexckaufman.bsky.social's AM newsletter
via @alexckaufman.bsky.social's AM newsletter
October 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
👀👀👀
via @alexckaufman.bsky.social's AM newsletter
via @alexckaufman.bsky.social's AM newsletter
let's make it way easier than this to get rooftop solar!! here's @alexckaufman.bsky.social on a new report that outlines how states can do just that heatmap.news/energy/solar...
October 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
let's make it way easier than this to get rooftop solar!! here's @alexckaufman.bsky.social on a new report that outlines how states can do just that heatmap.news/energy/solar...
Reposted by katie brigham
Google plans to buy most of the power produced by the country’s first commercial carbon-capture natural gas plant in Decatur, Illinois, @zeitlin.bsky.social reports: heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Google Is Backing the First Commercial Carbon Capture Power Plant in the U.S.
That means it’s also buying natural gas — but by storing the emissions, the company says, it can still meet its climate goals.
heatmap.news
October 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Google plans to buy most of the power produced by the country’s first commercial carbon-capture natural gas plant in Decatur, Illinois, @zeitlin.bsky.social reports: heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Reposted by katie brigham
Given all the investments at various levels of the energy sector, it's surprising that water hasn't attracted the same kind of excitement from climate-tech investors.
Looks like that's changing. Good story by @kbrigham.bsky.social
heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Looks like that's changing. Good story by @kbrigham.bsky.social
heatmap.news/climate-tech...
October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Given all the investments at various levels of the energy sector, it's surprising that water hasn't attracted the same kind of excitement from climate-tech investors.
Looks like that's changing. Good story by @kbrigham.bsky.social
heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Looks like that's changing. Good story by @kbrigham.bsky.social
heatmap.news/climate-tech...
water tech investor Tom Ferguson thinks worries over data centers’ water use are overblown. i talked with him about why — and what kinds of challenges and innovations in water tech he’s actually excited about
The Water Tech Investor Not Super Worried About Data Centers
Tom Ferguson, founder of Burnt Island Ventures, has bigger concerns.
heatmap.news
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
water tech investor Tom Ferguson thinks worries over data centers’ water use are overblown. i talked with him about why — and what kinds of challenges and innovations in water tech he’s actually excited about