Sustainability

First look: Renderings of the world’s largest factory for advanced silicon battery materials

by Lisa Stiffler on April 4, 2023April 5, 2023 at 8:51 am

Climate tech startup Group14 is building a factory that it says will be the world’s largest producer of advanced silicon battery material — an ingredient that makes conventional lithium ion… Read More

Deploying clean energy is urgent, but hard – here’s how one battery company is navigating the way

by Lisa Stiffler on March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 at 8:12 am

International scientists this month warned that urgent action is needed within a decade in order to avoid a global warming catastrophe, putting renewed pressure on climate tech companies to rapidly… Read More

Seattle-area county plans ‘world leading’ sustainable aviation fuel R&D center

by Lisa Stiffler on March 28, 2023March 29, 2023 at 6:24 am

Washington state wants to create a “world leading” research and development center focused on low-carbon, sustainable aviation fuels. The facility is planned for Snohomish County’s Paine Field — Boeing’s historic… Read More

New climate marketplace raises $6.1M to move clean energy cash into impactful projects

by Lisa Stiffler on March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 at 10:57 am

As international scientists are frantically raising alarms about climate change, corporations, public policy and tech innovation are coming together to potentially unleash a large-scale rollout of solar, wind, batteries and… Read More

Former oilfield engineers launch climate startup that uses ancient carbon-trapping technology

by Lisa Stiffler on March 20, 2023March 20, 2023 at 3:11 pm

Myno Carbon‘s leader calls his team “committed climate warriors.” But it wasn’t always that way. “You’ll have to forgive us for this, but we’re ex-oilfield people largely by background,” said… Read More

Google partners with Seattle startup to streamline clean energy deals, aiming to create new standard

by Lisa Stiffler on March 16, 2023March 16, 2023 at 2:44 pm

Slashing carbon emissions requires the rapid deployment of solar, wind and other renewable energy supplies. But the projects often require complicated, lengthy negotiations between clean energy developers and buyers to… Read More

Silicon Valley Bank was a climate tech booster making big promises

by Lisa Stiffler on March 15, 2023March 17, 2023 at 8:03 am

Before its collapse last week, Silicon Valley Bank was a champion of the growing climate tech sector. “As the bank of the innovation economy, and in alignment with our mission… Read More

Washington raises $300M in its first auction for carbon pollution permits – here’s what it means

by Lisa Stiffler on March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 at 7:46 am

The results are in for Washington’s first auction of carbon pollution permits. The cap-and-invest program brought in $300 million from many of state’s biggest emitters, including fossil fuel refineries and… Read More

Wildfire restoration startup DroneSeed creates parent brand, acquires California’s largest tree seed supplier

by Lisa Stiffler on March 7, 2023July 27, 2023 at 2:33 pm

DroneSeed, a Seattle startup using technology to help restore forests scorched by wildfire, announced Tuesday that it is now operating under a new parent brand called Mast Reforestation and has… Read More

Universal Hydrogen airplane during first flight

Video

Hydrogen-powered airplane aces its first experimental flight in central Washington

by Alan Boyle on March 2, 2023March 2, 2023 at 1:30 pm

A prototype aircraft with a hydrogen-fueled powertrain successfully completed an initial 15-minute flight today at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Wash., marking a significant step for zero-emission aviation.… Read More

Global experts urge increased research into geoengineering, a Hail Mary for climate change

by Lisa Stiffler on March 2, 2023March 2, 2023 at 10:58 am

Geoengineering is the in-case-of-emergency-break-glass response to climate change. It means taking action to alter the atmosphere to reflect the sun’s radiation and temporarily slow global warming. The controversial idea has… Read More

Big tech’s billions for climate: Here’s where Amazon and Microsoft are making their carbon bets

by Lisa Stiffler on March 1, 2023March 1, 2023 at 8:57 am

In January 2020, Microsoft announced its $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund, and six months later Amazon unveiled its $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund. An analysis of the investments made since… Read More

Seattle teen reveals how much carbon the ultra-rich emit from their private jets

by Lisa Stiffler on February 27, 2023March 2, 2023 at 12:02 pm

A Seattle teen is creating a bit of turbulence with a website tallying the carbon emissions of the ultra-rich traveling on private jets. Akash Shendure totaled up last year’s jet… Read More

Researchers find new upcycling technique to transform plastics into fuel

by Richard Yonck on February 27, 2023February 27, 2023 at 8:48 am

Each year, more than 390 million metric tons of plastics are produced globally, yet close to half are single-use varieties that can be economically challenging to recycle. Now, recent research… Read More

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Washington state chips in $250K for First Mode’s zero-emission proving grounds

by Alan Boyle on February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 at 9:38 pm

First Mode, the clean-energy company that was recently transformed from a Seattle startup into an Anglo American subsidiary, is getting a boost from Washington state. The Washington State Department of… Read More

Former senator Reuven Carlyle launches climate consulting and finance venture backed by $14M

by Lisa Stiffler on February 12, 2023February 12, 2023 at 9:36 pm

Reuven Carlyle, who last month retired from the Washington State Senate, is launching a startup that will provide a suite of services to help businesses reduce their climate impacts. The… Read More

As tech is rocked by layoffs, climate jobs and tools for landing them are on the rise

by Lisa Stiffler on February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 at 8:24 pm

There has never been a better time to get a job in climate tech. Nations and corporations are setting ambitious carbon goals. The U.S. government is enacting plans unleashing billions… Read More

Universal Hydrogen plane at Moses Lake airport

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Hydrogen-fueled plane begins taxi testing in preparation for first flight in Moses Lake

by Alan Boyle on February 7, 2023February 8, 2023 at 11:42 am

Universal Hydrogen says its hydrogen-fueled test aircraft has won a key certification from regulators and has completed its first taxi tests at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Wash.… Read More

Former Acumatica CEO gets aboard with electric boat maker in bid to help create a wave of change

by Kurt Schlosser on February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 at 10:51 am

The tagline for a Swedish electric boat company called X Shore, exhibiting one of its models at the 2023 Seattle Boat Show this week, is “The Power of Silence.” The… Read More

Green aviation company ZeroAvia expanding in Boeing’s backyard with hydrogen-electric tech

by Lisa Stiffler on January 30, 2023April 28, 2023 at 2:28 pm

ZeroAvia recently grabbed headlines for successfully flying the largest aircraft to date under hydrogen power. The startup’s main operations are in California and the United Kingdom — last week’s test… Read More

Go inside Group14, the $3B startup with a secret tech for better batteries

by Lisa Stiffler on January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 at 10:30 am

Across the highway from battery startup Group14 Technologies is the Maltby Cafe, a decades-old institution dishing up cinnamon rolls the size of dinner plates. The cafe’s exterior is plastered with… Read More

Hydrogen-powered motor on converted Dash 8 airplane

Video

Powered by hydrogen: Experimental plane revs up for testing in Central Washington

by Alan Boyle on January 23, 2023January 27, 2023 at 10:48 am

Is hydrogen the green aviation fuel of the future? An industry team led by California-based Universal Hydrogen is testing out that proposition amid the scrublands of central Washington state. Universal… Read More

Video

First look: Renderings of the world’s largest factory for advanced silicon battery materials

Deploying clean energy is urgent, but hard – here’s how one battery company is navigating the way

Seattle-area county plans ‘world leading’ sustainable aviation fuel R&D center

New climate marketplace raises $6.1M to move clean energy cash into impactful projects

Former oilfield engineers launch climate startup that uses ancient carbon-trapping technology

Google partners with Seattle startup to streamline clean energy deals, aiming to create new standard

Silicon Valley Bank was a climate tech booster making big promises

Washington raises $300M in its first auction for carbon pollution permits – here’s what it means

Wildfire restoration startup DroneSeed creates parent brand, acquires California’s largest tree seed supplier

Hydrogen-powered airplane aces its first experimental flight in central Washington

Global experts urge increased research into geoengineering, a Hail Mary for climate change

Big tech’s billions for climate: Here’s where Amazon and Microsoft are making their carbon bets

Seattle teen reveals how much carbon the ultra-rich emit from their private jets

Researchers find new upcycling technique to transform plastics into fuel

Washington state chips in $250K for First Mode’s zero-emission proving grounds

Former senator Reuven Carlyle launches climate consulting and finance venture backed by $14M

As tech is rocked by layoffs, climate jobs and tools for landing them are on the rise

Hydrogen-fueled plane begins taxi testing in preparation for first flight in Moses Lake

Former Acumatica CEO gets aboard with electric boat maker in bid to help create a wave of change

Green aviation company ZeroAvia expanding in Boeing’s backyard with hydrogen-electric tech

Go inside Group14, the $3B startup with a secret tech for better batteries

Powered by hydrogen: Experimental plane revs up for testing in Central Washington

Boeing wins $425M in NASA backing to demonstrate super-fuel-efficient airplane

Nest co-founder launches service to turn household food scraps into chicken feed for $33/month

Fast-growing battery materials startup Group14 embroiled in trade secret dispute

Tech plays key role as Washington state launches ambitious programs to curb carbon emissions

‘The billionaires are in charge’ – here’s who is spending the most on climate change efforts

How do you recycle plastic? Startups and scientists are trying to make it easier

Chevron leads $318M investment round for carbon capture company Svante as sector booms

Washington, Oregon join California in requiring all new vehicle sales to be EVs by 2035