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Toxic chemicals in EV battery production raise health concerns
As the demand for electric vehicle batteries grows, communities near production sites worry about toxic chemical exposure and health risks.
In short:
- EV batteries use PVDF, a polymer made by companies previously linked to dangerous chemical emissions.
- Residents near these plants, such as in New Jersey and Georgia, report health issues and ongoing legal battles over contamination.
- Experts warn that new manufacturing methods may still produce harmful byproducts, posing ongoing risks.
Key quote:
"For 45 years we’ve lived in it, bathed in it, cooked with it, drank it.’"
— Richard Bond, local citizen who lives downriver of Solvay Specialty Polymers
Why this matters:
While the transition to EVs is celebrated for its promise of reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, the environmental and health impacts of battery production are raising alarms.
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Credit: Vlad Tchompalov/Unsplash
Tesla's turbulent shift: Can Musk power through the transition?
A recent analysis indicates Tesla, renowned for its electric vehicles, may be shifting focus from car manufacturing to becoming a key player in energy storage and electricity supply.
In short:
- Chinese competitor BYD surpassed Tesla as the biggest global seller of EVs. Other competitors like Ford, Hyundai and Rivian are also catching up in the U.S. market.
- As Tesla's EV's lose a share of the market, the company is diversifying from its EV roots to focus more on energy solutions like battery storage and electric grids.
- Despite current challenges in its car business, Tesla's energy sector profits surged by 140% from last year.
- With products like Megapacks and Powerwalls, the company aims to dominate the clean energy market.
Why this matters:
Tesla's strategic pivot could make it a central figure in the transition to renewable energy, impacting how electricity is delivered and stored. Their technological advancements in energy solutions might set the stage for broader adoption of clean energy.
What is the role of electric vehicles in the push for environmental justice?
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Image by Chris LeBoutillier from Pixabay
Biden’s paradox: Can a green grid coexist with industrial surge?
Utilities are planning record investments in renewable energy and battery storage. But an increasing number are also proposing thousands of megawatts of new natural-gas-fired generation that works against their plans to achieve net-zero goals.
An EV slowdown? Battery makers are cool with that
The news that big auto companies like General Motors and Ford Motor are slowing their electric vehicle rollouts has one group a bit relieved: battery-makers.
Xcel gets $70 million for Colorado clean energy storage
The U.S. Department of Energy granted $70 million to Xcel Energy to help build clean energy storage batteries in Colorado and Minnesota, cementing the financing for groundbreaking technologies the state’s largest utility needs.
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Image by Emilian Robert Vicol from Pixabay
This start-up is storing clean energy in sand. Here’s how
A cadre of start-ups are building batteries that can store renewable energy in natural materials such as sand, salt and rock.
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
A renewable energy battery plant will rise in US where a steel mill once stood
Communities hope good new jobs will come from Biden’s historic climate investment in cities like Weirton, West Virginia, reports Dharna Noor in The Guardian.
In a nutshell:
A pioneering energy storage company is constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant on the site of a former West Virginia steel mill, made possible by incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden. Form Energy, led by a former Tesla executive, is set to produce iron-air batteries capable of storing electricity for up to 100 hours. The $760 million project, located in Weirton, aims to rejuvenate the once-thriving steel community with 750 well-paying jobs, offering a beacon of hope for deindustrialized regions while raising questions about unionization and sustainable economic revival.
Key quote:
“I think in order for West Virginia to fully benefit from the clean energy economy, it has to be very focused on rebuilding the labor movement in the state and making it stronger,” Ted Boettner of the Ohio River Valley Institute said.
The big picture:
By repurposing contaminated sites, the risk of exposure to harmful pollutants and toxins is reduced, potentially mitigating respiratory and other health issues associated with polluted environments. As green energy companies establish themselves in regions previously burdened by the legacy of contamination, they often create job opportunities that focus on cleaner technologies, contributing to improved air quality and overall community well-being.
Read the article at The Guardian.
On the topic of achieving a just transition to clean energy, check out Misbath Daouda's conversation with EHN's senior editor Brian Bienkowski for theAgents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast. Daouda discusses the importance of incorporating community input, knowledge and advocacy at every step of clean energy research and policy. She asks: "When we talk about fair transitions, we really put communities at the center, and try to understand: What does fair even mean to them?"
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