The hottest Energy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

February 12, 2026

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy
  1. The administration is rolling back climate protections and promoting coal, reversing years of emissions progress and risking more pollution and extreme-weather costs.
  2. The executive branch is resisting congressional oversight and appears to be weaponizing information, shown by withheld files, confrontational hearings, and possible surveillance of lawmakers.
  3. Close ties between officials and wealthy private or foreign interests — including fundraising promises, business deals, and reports of intercepted conversations — raise serious conflicts of interest and national-security concerns.

The dream of deregulation - the grid part III

Construction Physics • 9812 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
💼 Business Energy
  1. Electric power in the US was historically monopolized by utility companies, but cracks in the system started to appear in the 1960s and 1970s.
  2. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 revolutionized the energy industry by creating a new class of independent power producers called Qualifying Facilities, leading to an increase in non-utility electricity generation.
  3. Deregulation of the electric power industry began in the 1990s and 2000s, with the unbundling of generation and transmission services, creation of new power suppliers like Exempt Wholesale Generators, and the establishment of Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations to introduce competition.

Border Crossings

Doomberg • 5582 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Energy
  1. The North American natural gas market is facing challenges like low prices and overproduction, leading to strategic production cutbacks by major players.
  2. The interconnected pipeline infrastructure among the US, Canada, and Mexico is facilitating significant natural gas exchanges, especially benefiting Mexico with its growing gas demand.
  3. Mexico's strategic position within NAFTA allows it to benefit from cheap energy imports from the US while also capitalizing on its own export opportunities to the US, contributing to its economic growth.

State of the Future! Part Deux

Let Us Face the Future • 714 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. The future of technology is all about connectivity between different sectors like energy, mining, and semiconductors. It's not just about one area, but how they all work together.
  2. Scaling AI is a big focus, and over the next few years, we'll see major advancements in AI models. These models will require massive amounts of power and new infrastructures to support them.
  3. For AI to be widely accepted, we need to prioritize security, privacy, and fairness. This means creating accessible and trustworthy systems for everyone.

Bari’s Picks of the Week: Life and Death

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 579 implied HN points • 22 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy
  1. Some doctors are trying to change how we define death. They want to include certain comatose patients in this definition, which could have serious consequences for their care.
  2. Not all reports on hunger in Gaza tell the full story. Many images of starving individuals show people with preexisting health issues, which complicates the narrative around the situation.
  3. A new nuclear start-up in Kentucky aims to help America produce its own enriched uranium to reduce dependency on foreign countries, especially amidst concerns about energy stability.
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3.4.7 What is “Free Space?”

Fields & Energy • 299 implied HN points • 15 May 24
🔬 Science Energy
  1. Free space is a place where electromagnetic waves can travel without any barriers. It has properties that support these waves, even if it seems empty.
  2. In history, scientists debated whether something could exist in a vacuum. They realized that the vacuum still has physical qualities, leading to the idea of the 'æther' as a medium for wave propagation.
  3. Modern physics shows that even a vacuum is rich in properties, meaning it's not truly empty. We should recognize that there's always something there, supporting energy and wave movement.

The AP1000 Loan Debacle

Gordian Knot News • 227 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy
  1. The loan to Westinghouse for nuclear plants could harm competition and make it harder for other companies to survive in the market. Taxpayer money is being used to support a major competitor, which is unfair to newcomers.
  2. The real issue in US nuclear power is a confusing and strict regulatory system that doesn't help the industry. Instead of fixing the regulations, the government is just making things worse by giving public money to Westinghouse.
  3. Standardizing nuclear plant designs might sound good, but the focus should really be on making regulations better. The AP1000 design isn't the best, and relying on it will create more problems for the nuclear industry.

Charge!

Doomberg • 9517 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy
  1. Readers question if political incompetence is intentional or accidental, hoping for a purposeful reason behind nonsensical policies.
  2. El gato malo's postulate suggests that politicians in power are selected for their fervor and ignorance in a corrupt system.
  3. Department of Energy Secretary Granholm's support for an all-electric military fleet by 2030 raises concerns about the seriousness and feasibility of such proposals.

Gaining Steam

Doomberg • 9401 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🌍 World Politics Energy
  1. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau expressed serious commitment to nuclear power for the country's future energy needs.
  2. Grassroots efforts led by groups like Canadians for Nuclear Energy have influenced political outcomes in favor of nuclear power.
  3. Support for nuclear energy is growing in the US as leaders recognize its necessity for significant decarbonization of the economy.

Nuclear Plants should be Industrial Cathedrals

Gordian Knot News • 227 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. Nuclear power plants should be built strong and beautiful, like cathedrals, to last a long time and serve future generations well.
  2. Designing nuclear plants with large domes and easy access for maintenance can help ensure their reliability and longevity.
  3. It's important to consider the quality and maintainability of different nuclear plant designs, as some may be more cramped and prone to issues over time.

Strategic Reset: The 7 Interconnected Forces.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 49 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
💼 Business Energy
  1. Seven interconnected forces — AI, American aspiration, bio‑pharma, China, energy, demographics and immigration — are reshaping every industry and require a strategic reset. Look at how they interact because their combined effects determine politics, markets and the future of work.
  2. AI is accelerating faster than most expect and will affect every job and business, with especially big impacts in medicine, drug discovery and physical AI like robotics. Recent platform integrations and new models mean organizations need to act now, not later.
  3. The U.S. and China dominate global GDP and modern innovation, and China’s strength in manufacturing, research and cheap electricity gives it important advantages. Aging populations and low birthrates make immigration and automation key levers for future labor, markets and political choices.

More Than Meets the Eye

Doomberg • 8671 implied HN points • 31 May 23
📰 News Energy
  1. The Great Ice Storm of 1998 had devastating impacts on areas in lower Quebec, parts of New England, and the Northeast megalopolis.
  2. The US power industry is facing a growing supply chain crisis, particularly with a chronic shortage of transformers, risking grid reliability.
  3. Industry leaders are urging for a $1 billion appropriation to address the transformer shortage and accelerate production via the Defense Production Act.

The Great Reallocation

Renewable Revolution • 799 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy
  1. Renewable energy doesn't actually need a huge increase in investment compared to fossil fuels. As fossil fuel spending goes down, the overall increase in spending is only about 2% a year.
  2. Investing in renewables is expected to grow significantly, doubling in the coming years while fossil fuel investments will decline. This shift is possible because renewable technology costs are dropping.
  3. The transition to a cleaner energy system is doable without needing massive funds. The main challenge is making sure that investments focus on developing the right infrastructure and policies.

Frame of Reference

Doomberg • 7718 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🔬 Science Energy
  1. Fatal energy-related incidents occur due to the risks in harnessing, storing, and transporting energy.
  2. Despite tragedies, society often continues to utilize energy sources by weighing risks and benefits.
  3. The nuclear energy industry faces disproportionate fear and opposition compared to other energy sources.

America is Losing Blue Collar Jobs

Apricitas Economics • 80 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
💼 Business Energy
  1. Blue-collar employment is falling broadly across manufacturing, construction, transportation, mining, and utilities — roughly 65,000 industrial jobs lost in the past year and about 123,000 fewer trade jobs than the early‑2025 peak.
  2. Manufacturing has been shrinking for more than two years and now makes up less than 8% of the workforce, with big job losses in autos and electronics as demand for durable goods and consumer tech softens.
  3. Construction hiring has slowed sharply (residential trades have lost about 55,000 jobs), driven by the end of the COVID homebuilding boom, weaker energy and trucking activity, and policy choices like tariffs, immigration enforcement, and subsidy cuts that have worsened the decline.

3.4.6 Permittivity & Permeability

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 08 May 24
🔬 Science Energy
  1. Permittivity describes how a material can allow electric displacement, showing the relationship between electric field and displacement. It helps us understand how electric forces behave in different materials.
  2. Permeability relates to how materials respond to magnetic fields, defining the strength of magnetic interactions. It helps in understanding the magnetic forces within various materials.
  3. Both permittivity and permeability are key concepts that link electrical physics and mechanical physics. They provide important information about how electric and magnetic fields interact with materials.

Beyond Earth Technologies: Call to Action

Space Ambition • 799 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. Beyond Earth Technologies is looking for innovative projects that can help with living on other planets and also have real opportunities for business now.
  2. If you're a scientist or inventor working on things like energy, robots, or habitats, you can apply to join their program by January 31st.
  3. You can share this opportunity with friends who have great ideas, and it only takes a few minutes to apply.

Bitcoin Mining and the Electricity Grid: A Quiet Savior

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 21 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🔮 Crypto Energy
  1. Bitcoin miners are highly flexible electricity consumers that can quickly shut down when the grid needs power, joining demand-response programs and earning curtailment payments.
  2. They act like distributed batteries by soaking up excess or stranded renewable energy when supply is abundant and giving that capacity back during peak demand to help stabilize the grid.
  3. In storms and other emergencies miners can sharply reduce their computing power (hashrate) to free up gigawatts for homes and critical services, making mining a practical, market-driven grid backstop.

What I read this week...

Chamath Palihapitiya • 1198 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
💼 Business Energy
  1. Citadel is searching for math geniuses among a huge pool of interns
  2. India's first indigenous 700 MWe nuclear plant in Gujarat is operational
  3. There's a growing interest in tapping into the clean energy source beneath the Earth

What’s a Datacenter?

Technically • 25 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. Datacenters are the physical homes for thousands of servers that power everyday apps and critical services, so keeping them running reliably is essential.
  2. They’re tightly controlled, standardized facilities with strict access rules, dense racks of servers, and heavy cooling systems that create hot and cold aisles.
  3. Big datacenter investment is driving economic growth, but new projects often spark local opposition over environmental impact, utility strain, and property concerns.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #54

Faster, Please! • 548 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. AI has made big progress by solving complex math problems at an international competition without human help. This shows how smart AI can get and how it might help in research.
  2. Japan is building a new nuclear reactor, its first since a big disaster in 2011. This move is part of a plan to rely less on energy imports and use more nuclear power.
  3. Public opinion in Japan is changing, allowing for a gradual increase in nuclear energy use. The government wants nuclear power to provide more electricity to reduce energy costs.

Henry Huiyao Wang: Why China-Canada trade and global cooperation are now ripe for progress

Pekingnology • 52 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy
  1. China and Canada are moving to deepen practical economic and strategic ties, with tariff deals on electric vehicles and canola, an energy dialogue, security cooperation, and a renewed currency-swap arrangement.
  2. Both countries publicly recommit to multilateralism and plan to work together on UN and WTO reform and on plurilateral initiatives to support Global South development.
  3. A pragmatic "selective engagement" approach, backed by business interest and large diaspora links, creates a window to boost trade, investment, travel and people-to-people exchanges while balancing other partnerships.

What the What?

Nova Terra News • 279 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🔬 Science Energy
  1. Nova Terra's EcoBlox are sustainable building blocks that are free of cement, fireproof, and made from waste materials.
  2. The EcoBlox are 4x stronger than traditional adobe, climate-friendly, mold-resistant, and earthquake-resistant.
  3. The production of EcoBlox involves using sand and clay fines from rock quarries, and the company is collaborating with partners like NREL and West Gate for innovation.

Shrinking the Tent

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1697 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy
  1. Some climate activists are creating echo chambers on social media, blocking people they disagree with. This limits discussion about different views on climate issues.
  2. There is a growing concern that climate activism is becoming too exclusive and not practical enough to be effective in real-world situations.
  3. A focus on strict ideological purity is hurting the climate movement, making it harder to bring in new supporters and make meaningful progress.

What I read this week...

chamathreads • 1022 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. The article discusses various topics like fertility rates, drug prices, and the presidential diet.
  2. There's a mention of Microsoft betting on fusion power, Andreessen Horowitz and the changing tech landscape, and the financial status of tech workers.
  3. Updates on AI predicting pancreatic cancer, America's high drug prices, corporate acquisitions of primary care practices, and more.

Top Links 805 AI's mega-scale. The Diderot effect and China's Southeast Asian mega projects.

Chartbook • 472 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. AI is growing rapidly and needs a lot of energy to operate effectively. It's important to consider the environmental impact of this technology.
  2. The Diderot effect shows how buying one new thing can lead to wanting more things, which can influence consumer behavior.
  3. China is investing heavily in large projects in Southeast Asia, which could change the region's economy and infrastructure significantly.

Guilt by Association

Doomberg • 6508 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🔬 Science Energy
  1. Old practices of thrift are now merchandised as 'upcycling.'
  2. Utilizing byproducts from manufacturing and petrochemical industry is both necessary and economical.
  3. High oil prices incentivize more oil drilling, leading to oversupply and lower natural gas prices in the US.

3.4.5 Faraday’s Law & Electromagnetic Waves

Fields & Energy • 219 implied HN points • 01 May 24
🔬 Science Energy
  1. Faraday's Law shows that a changing magnetic field can create an electric field. This means electricity and magnetism are like partners that can influence each other.
  2. When electric and magnetic fields change together, they can create electromagnetic waves, which is how light travels. It's like a dance between the two fields that lets energy move through space.
  3. In history, scientists like Faraday and Maxwell noticed that light might be connected to electromagnetism. They found evidence that light behaves like an electromagnetic wave, leading to important discoveries about how we understand light and energy.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #50

Faster, Please! • 548 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. Truck unloading is getting faster and safer with robots that can move packages quickly and reduce physical strain on workers.
  2. Google's new offline robot can perform complex tasks, showing how adaptable and capable modern AI technology has become.
  3. New York is building a nuclear power plant to provide clean energy, reflecting a push for faster and more reliable energy solutions.

The Geopolitical Monopoly Board: Venezuela, Ukraine, Iran, Cuba, Greenland, Canada, Taiwan, Somalia, Minnesota and The Blob

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 45 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy
  1. Criminal networks in Latin America are increasingly moving into legitimate businesses, which could make it easier to earn money legally and help clean up regional economies.
  2. Exposed problems with Venezuelan voting systems are being used as evidence that outside actors manipulated elections, fueling claims that Western intervention shaped color revolutions and raising the risk of wider geopolitical conflict and resource-control moves.
  3. Allegations of large-scale fraud tied to Somali-run businesses in Minnesota claim billions were paid out and sent abroad, prompting federal investigations, political fallout, and broader concerns about systemic corruption and weakened trust in institutions.

Price controls cause chaos

Economic Forces • 18 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy
  1. Capping prices removes the profit signal that normally redirects supply, so small cost differences can produce all-or-nothing shipments and sudden, unpredictable flips in who gets goods.
  2. The welfare damage from misallocating scarce goods is much larger than the textbook Harberger triangle; when goods go to the wrong places the total loss can be at least double and up to an order of magnitude larger.
  3. Price controls tend to provoke more intervention (like rationing or quotas) but those fixes are also fragile and compound chaos, producing queues, quality cuts, black markets, and unstable allocations.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #30

Faster, Please! • 1188 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Energy
  1. New advancements in nuclear fusion research are making it more likely to achieve clean energy from nuclear fusion, which could be a big step for sustainable energy.
  2. Uber and Lyft are shifting from developing self-driving cars to using other companies' technologies for driverless taxis, aiming to be platforms for this emerging market.
  3. AI technology is being used in innovative ways, like interpreting speech through throat vibrations, which can help people with speech difficulties.

Europe in the Element of Crisis

World Game • 6 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Energy
  1. The EU is an unfinished political project that lives in a constant state of crisis, and many see upheavals as the engine that pushes European integration forward.
  2. The debate now centers on prognosis rather than principle: many critics have become euro-pessimists who doubt the EU's resilience and trust nation states more in emergencies, while supporters treat crises as necessary tests and opportunities for deeper unity.
  3. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine exposed Europe’s key vulnerabilities—overreliance on NATO/US for security and dependence on Russian energy—and has forced Europe to improvise, build strategic independence, and prepare to act more on its own.

Top Links 786 Coal and the climate crisis. European auto dividens. Pitching for Gaza work. Hot Money. Metaphysical authority in Pakistan.

Chartbook • 429 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy
  1. Coal has been a major contributor to climate change, responsible for over 30% of CO2 emissions since the Industrial Revolution. It's important to understand how this affects the environment.
  2. There are interesting developments in the European auto industry that are worth exploring. Keeping up with these changes can give insight into how cars will evolve in the future.
  3. There's ongoing work related to Gaza that needs support and attention. Learning about these efforts can help raise awareness and possibly lead to action.

Hello!

Kibao • 119 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy
  1. Kibao means 'a lot' in Swahili and also refers to a notice board. The author writes about various topics like energy, climate, tech, and Africa.
  2. The author offers a unique perspective as an African, scientist, policy wonk, feminist, and former stand-up comedian, bringing fresh insights to a range of subjects.
  3. The author welcomes feedback and comments from readers, aiming to engage in discussions and learn from others.

Yes, Biden broke a promise. And it's okay.

The Land Desk • 432 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Energy
  1. Biden has made some questionable decisions regarding public lands and energy, but he has also protected certain lands from fossil fuel energy development.
  2. Biden did not fulfill his promise to end oil and gas drilling on public lands, but he has taken significant actions to protect certain federal lands and reduce emissions.
  3. Judging politicians solely on promises kept or broken may not be productive; evaluating their policies and actions is more important.

The Emergence of Duck Curves in Europe

GEM Energy Analytics • 319 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy
  1. Solar energy in Europe has grown a lot in recent years. By the end of 2024, solar power capacity will nearly double, helping to meet electricity needs.
  2. Duck curves are becoming more common, showing that solar energy creates cheaper electricity prices in the afternoon. This trend is seen in countries like Greece, Germany, and Spain.
  3. The impact of solar energy isn't just in Europe; places like Australia are seeing similar effects. As solar use increases, it changes the price dynamics in electricity markets.

Chinese Hydropower - Large and Underappreciated

Syncretica • 648 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
💰 Finance Energy
  1. China has the largest hydropower sector globally, with a significant impact on power generation worldwide.
  2. Hydropower output is heavily influenced by weather conditions, with recent rainfall improvements expected to boost Chinese hydropower production.
  3. The strong growth in Chinese hydropower output is likely to lead to a decrease in fossil fuel imports and a reduction in thermal power generation.