Earlier this week, the Biden’s administration urged the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, to increase output to help with rising gasoline prices that could threaten the global economic recovery. Biden’s call for more oil output from OPEC comes as gas pump prices have climbed this year for consumers as demand for petroleum products returns. The national average for a gallon of gas was $3.186 earlier this week, according to AAA, up $1 from over a year ago – creating increased concerns over inflation.
Meanwhile, Bill Gates’ investment initiative launched a $1.5 billion investment partnership with the Biden administration to boost clean energy technology. And today a group of House moderates threw a wrench in the Democrats’ economic agenda by threatening to block a multitrillion-dollar budget bill until party leaders enact the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure package.
Interested in reading more energy news? Check out our top five news stories for the week below!
5Wind-training site launches in Denver area
As wind energy expands in the U.S. – the industry will need more well-trained talent to meet their business needs. The Denver Post shares that Colorado could become a major training ground for wind-energy workers, with a new training center opening in Broomfield.
4Thermoelectric material converts heat to electricity
A new low-cost material can effectively convert heat that would otherwise be wasted, into electricity (and vice versa) without any emissions. Anthropocene Magazine explains how new technology has increased thermoelectric material efficacy more than 20 percent higher than the prior technology.
3Wrapping buildings in “jackets” can save energy
Buildings, apartments and homes can be massive sources of energy waste if not properly insulated. Scientific American reports that adding a thermally insulated façade, or jacket, to an existing wall can help to save energy and money.
2Microbattery small enough to be carried by insects and can store four times the energy density
Researchers have improved upon current state-of-the-art battery design technology by making use of protective casing that previously did nothing for electrical performance. New Atlas explains that this new tiny battery weighs as much as two grains of rice but has the energy and power density of a battery 100 times its size.
1One researchers scrap aluminum is another’s clean hydrogen fuel
Researchers at MIT have developed guidelines for making hydrogen fuel out of scrap aluminum. MIT News explains how an aluminum-water reaction could be the future of hydrogen generation.
