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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Batteries
Batteries are taking on gas plants to power California's nights
California's record 10 gigawatts of grid batteries are finally pushing solar generation into post-sunset hours at a meaningful scale, new data shows.By Julian Spector .
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Electric vehicles
Anatomy of a failed EV startup
Zevvy, a startup that offered creative financing to democratize electric vehicle access, shut down recently. The firm's founder has a lot to say about why.By Julian Spector .
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Wind
US offshore wind needs American-made ships. The first is nearly ready
The century-old Jones Act requires domestic vessels to carry parts from U.S. ports to offshore wind sites. The first compliant ship, commissioned by utility Dominion Energy, has hit the water.By Julian Spector .
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Solar
California’s rooftop solar policies threaten progress on climate
NEM 3.0 rules have undermined California’s rooftop solar industry and could hamper the state's efforts to meet its climate targets.By Julian Spector .
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Solar
Texas got more electricity from solar than coal last month
Solar has out-produced coal in the state for the first time — a remarkable reminder of how quickly clean energy has grown in Texas.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
This California city is trading an old gas plant for a giant grid battery
Calpine’s billion-dollar, 680-megawatt project in Menifee will be one of the biggest batteries in the U.S. when it comes online this summer.By Julian Spector .
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Liquefied natural gas
As Europe shifts to clean energy, does it still need so much US LNG?
Gas exporters point to Europe's energy demand to justify building more LNG terminals, but Europe's clean energy transition could change that calculus.By Julian Spector .
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Energy storage
This Kentucky coal mine could transform into pumped-hydro grid storage
With $81M from DOE, Rye Development aims to build the first pumped-hydro project on the site of a former mine to bolster the grid and revitalize the local economy.By Julian Spector .
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Energy storage
Arizona just added its biggest grid battery yet, with another coming soon
The state is shoring up clean energy supply for a new Google data center during a record year nationally for energy storage installations.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
Utah developer quadruples battery storage to meet new electricity demand
As data centers and electrification increase power use across the country, it's a move that will likely become more common.By Julian Spector .
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