Clean energy supply chain

Clean energy supply chain

The year the US doubled down on critical minerals

Trump took unusual steps in 2025 to strengthen American control over a supply chain crucial to many industries — and to the clean energy transition.

By Tik Root, Grist, Anita Hofschneider, Rebecca Egan McCarthy . 26 December 2025
Clean energy supply chain

Trump’s push to mine deep-sea battery metals draws ire from allies

At U.N. talks in Jamaica, allies blasted the U.S. bid to unilaterally mine the high seas. Some made an unusual move to side with America’s economic foe: China.

By Clare Fieseler . 12 August 2025
Clean energy manufacturing

Chart: The clean-energy manufacturing boom is going bust

Since Trump took office, nearly $28 billion worth of investment in U.S. cleantech factories has been paused, canceled, or otherwise delayed.

By Dan McCarthy . 1 August 2025
Energy storage

Amid tariff uncertainty, US grid battery industry faces an uphill climb

Domestic battery manufacturing and deployments have been growing fast — but Trump’s tariff wars and looming budget cuts threaten to derail progress.

By Jeff St. John . 13 May 2025
Solar

Why one major solar developer isn’t worried about tariffs

Tennessee-based Silicon Ranch pulled in a $500 million equity investment this month, betting on its ability to build solar farms despite political headwinds.

By Julian Spector . 24 April 2025
Solar

Solar recycling startup looks to build $90M facility in Florida

OnePlanet uses a novel process to salvage copper, silicon, and aluminum from broken solar panels. It aims to bring its first full-scale plant online in 2027.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 22 April 2025
Policy & regulation

Trump’s tariffs undermine his energy and manufacturing goals

Solar and wind power might not suffer as much as batteries and EVs. But Trump’s tariff regime will still harm the nascent U.S. cleantech industry, experts say.

By Jeff St. John . 7 April 2025
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 . 5 March 2025
Clean energy supply chain

The clean energy metals caught in the crosshairs of US-China trade war

Gallium and germanium are key to some clean energy tech. China blocked exports of the metals to the U.S. in December, leaving the country searching for a new source.

By Maddie Stone . 11 February 2025
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 . 7 February 2025