Julian is a senior reporter at Canary Media, where he covers batteries and emerging technologies to store clean energy and unlock a carbon-free grid. He also reports on the clean hydrogen industry, and chases down clean energy breakthroughs in far-flung locales.
Prior to the launch of Canary Media in 2021, Julian covered the rise of the grid storage industry for much-loved industry news outlet Greentech Media. Previously he covered clean energy and transportation for CityLab at The Atlantic, and conducted grant-funded climate journalism in Bangladesh. His stories have appeared in The Guardian, HuffPost, Al Jazeera America, and other outlets. He speaks regularly at energy-related events and on podcasts. He graduated from Duke University and still misses Carolina barbecue, but enjoys investigating local cuisine wherever his reporting takes him.
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Geothermal
The smell of toasted rock could spell victory for geothermal energy
Deeper, hotter geothermal power could be key to the energy transition. Canary Media went on-site to see how one startup aims to achieve that using electromagnetic beams.By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy
Texas broke its solar, wind, and battery records in one spring week
Renewables and batteries are playing an increasingly crucial role for the state in the shoulder season, when coal and gas plants fall offline in large numbers.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
Facing headwinds, Ascend shifts plans for battery recycling in Kentucky
The lithium-ion battery recycler won’t make cathode active materials at its new facility, but it will produce cathode precursors and lithium carbonate.By Julian Spector .
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Hydrogen
These startups turn fossil gas into hydrogen, without all the emissions
Finland's Hycamite and other companies are splitting methane into solid carbon and hydrogen, a potential alternative for the troubled clean hydrogen market.By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy
Chart: Solar, batteries to lead US power plant construction in 2025
The country is set to build a record 63 gigawatts of new power this year as demand surges — and almost all of it will be carbon-free.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
Base Power offers Texans big backup batteries, no purchase necessary
The Austin-based startup handles everything from battery design to installation and maintenance. Then it makes money bidding the batteries into ERCOT energy markets.By Julian Spector .
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Energy storage
Kore Power has a new plan after canceling $1.2B battery plant in Arizona
Amid political chaos, the company ditched long-simmering efforts to build a factory from scratch. Now, it’s hunting for an existing plant where it can set up shop.By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy manufacturing
US solar manufacturing is finally thriving. Will Trump derail it?
The industry can now make 50 gigawatts of panels in the U.S. Solar cell factories are coming next, but may be hindered if Trump kills a key tax credit.By Julian Spector .
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Energy storage
Why we don't need to worry too much about the latest grid battery fire
Safety standards and industry practices have improved considerably since construction of the Moss Landing battery plant that recently burned up in California.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
Moss Landing, the world’s biggest grid battery, caught fire again
Vistra’s flagship energy-storage project in California turned into a towering inferno, forcing evacuations and raising fresh concerns about large battery installations.By Julian Spector .
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