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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Liquefied natural gas
The US is exporting huge amounts of natural gas. Will it cost Americans?
The country must produce record levels of gas to keep pace with surging LNG exports, or the mismatch in supply and demand could spike domestic energy prices.By Julian Spector .
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Solar
Tesla launches its own solar panel as its EV business falters
Will its latest design, being built in Buffalo, New York, buck the downturn in rooftop solar — and Tesla auto sales?By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy manufacturing
US solar manufacturing in 2026: What the heck to expect
Companies are adding factory capacity across the whole supply chain, even as new tariffs and national security concerns loom on the horizon.By Julian Spector .
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Hydropower
A rare step forward for a US pumped hydro project
Rye Development got a federal permit for a massive grid megaproject in the Pacific Northwest. Construction will start once it finds buyers for the electricity.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
A Texas data center will open sooner thanks to an offline grid battery
While Eolian makes important upgrades to a 100-megawatt battery, the company will lend that grid connection to help CyrusOne’s data center get up and running.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
PJM’s power-starved grid will finally get a big battery this year
Elevate Renewables just acquired a major energy storage project near Virginia’s “Data Center Alley” and plans to get it running by this summer.By Julian Spector .
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Emissions reduction
US carbon emissions rose in 2025 as coal produced more power
The new data bucked the general trend of declining emissions, as booming electricity demand and higher natural gas prices gave coal a temporary opening in the market.By Julian Spector .
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Long-duration energy storage
A novel long-duration storage project is coming to the California desert
Hydrostor’s 4-gigawatt-hour project received state approval last month. Construction could start this year — so long as the startup can nail down more customers.By Julian Spector .
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Clean energy
Is the US headed toward an electricity crisis of its own making?
Trump administration policies and AI needs are fueling a growing mismatch between energy supply and demand. That’s a huge problem, but there may be a way out.By Julian Spector .
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Batteries
Ford is retreating from EVs — but embracing grid batteries
Amid its $20B EV failure, the storied automaker will retool a Kentucky plant to try and break into the booming energy storage sector.By Julian Spector .
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