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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EV charging
In a first, electric Ford F-150 trucks are powering homes in Baltimore
Plenty of utilities are talking about using EV batteries as grid assets. Baltimore Gas & Electric is actually doing it.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
An optimist’s guide to the EV battery mining challenge
The electric vehicle transition is going to require a lot of mining and materials — but possibly a lot less than everyone thinks, a new report argues.By Julian Spector .
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Food and farms
Meati is turning fungi into climate-friendly steaks. Will diners bite?
The sustainable food startup just raised another $100 million to try and break through a tough market for alternative meats.By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy
UK's Octopus Energy plans to ramp up Texas presence with new investment
The clean energy startup recently raised new funds at a $9B valuation. It’s using that financial firepower to expand its retail energy innovations in Texas.By Julian Spector .
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Utilities
This coal-heavy rural co-op utility is buying its first solar plants
Colorado-based Tri-State will soon serve half its customers’ electricity needs with renewable energy, thanks to new Inflation Reduction Act policies.By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy
Duke Energy wants to help Big Tech buy the 24/7 clean energy it needs
The utility’s new proposal would let large corporate customers fund novel technologies like long-duration storage and advanced nuclear as they try to decarbonize.By Julian Spector .
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Fossil fuels
The US oil and gas industry is emitting less carbon than it used to
American oil and gas companies have cut back on methane emissions even as production reached record heights, a new analysis shows.By Julian Spector .
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Green steel
Now Form Energy is using its battery tech to clean up iron and steel
The energy storage startup is adapting its iron-air battery technology to make low-carbon iron, a key input for decarbonizing the steel industry.By Julian Spector .
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Solar
TVA's local solar program is about to get its biggest project yet
The huge public utility has built little solar capacity so far. Now the region's local power companies are driving a buildout with help from developer Silicon Ranch.By Julian Spector .
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Energy storage
How Texas became the hottest grid battery market in the country
Battery developers love the freewheeling ERCOT system, and all the new energy storage is helping to bolster the grid. But will the good times last?By Julian Spector .
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