Green to Black

Strange (Sea)bed Fellows: Trump’s Thirst for Minerals Threatens International Ocean Protections

Henry Palmer — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:13:04 +0000

Newly updated U.S. regulations have made it far easier for American companies to obtain the rights to mine on the seafloor. According to an article by Sachi Kitajima Mulkey published in the New York Times on January 22nd, as the U.S. works to reduce its reliance on Chinese batteries, seafloor mining has emerged as a potential catalyst for this desired independence. Companies like The Metals Company promise the U.S. rich deposits of metals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese, but this regulatory change has not been without scrutiny. Created by the United Nations in 1994, the International Seabed Authority has protected much of the Pacific seafloor from such mining activities, as studies show mining subjects local marine ecosystems to damage with recovery times spanning decades. Despite being in the UN, the U.S. is not a member of this group and is thus not required to comply with its regulations, so, despite environmental concerns raised by Democrats, Trump is pressing on the accelerator hard. In April of 2025, Trump signed an executive order that authorized the U.S. to issue permits that allow companies to mine in international waters. The full effect of this order is yet to be seen, as “many contractors supporting the industry are based in one of the 170 countries that have committed to following the international body’s rules” (Mulkey). The Metal Company seems confident in the validity of these permits; however, as they just recently submitted a new application for permits to greatly increase the area of seafloor they are hoping to mine. This will be an interesting industry to keep an eye on, both in the coming year as permits are granted and in years to come, as battery makers in China have already begun straying away from cobalt and nickel, meaning the U.S. is likely to follow.

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Study Identifies Most Competitive and Sustainable Regions for AI Servers in the U.S.

Henry Palmer — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 01:42:59 +0000

The United States is experiencing a booming demand for generative AI models, despite the threat the hot technology poses for the planet should it remain reliant on fossil fuels. A study recently published in Nature Sustainability explores potential net-zero pathways to mitigate the environmental burden of artificial intelligence servers in the U.S. According to the study by Xiao, Nerini, et al., generative AI server deployment in the US is largely unmitigated, creating a collision course with climate goals. Through the use of bottleneck-based modelling, the authors predict that the environmental burden of AI servers could reach a 44 Mt CO2-equivalent and a water footprint exceeding 1 billion cubic meters by 2030. Those in favor of the AI boom often point towards the technology’s ability to aid in the discovery of climate solutions; however, the study finds that the scale of AI’s computational demand is greatly outpacing the rate of U.S. grid de-carbonization. This makes corporate net-zero goals and promises largely unattainable without “highly uncertain carbon offset and water restoration mechanisms.” The roadmap provided by the study prioritizes optimal siting of servers in regions like the Midwest that experience low-carbon and low-water-stress, instead of the current trend of building data centers in water-scarce regions like Nevada and Arizona. When combined with accelerated grid de-carbonization and key technologies like advanced liquid cooling, a sustainable and competitive foundation for future AI growth may not be out of reach. Following the outlined environmental incentives also aligns with for-profit interests, as placing facilities in regions rich in renewable energy and water protects operations from the volatile utility costs commonly associated with resource scarcity. By following the roadmap outlined in the study, companies can lower their operating expenses in the long term, while simultaneously creating an environmentally-friendly, future-proof foundation for their AI investments.

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Nuclear Expansion in the UK: What Sizewell C Means for Energy Investors

Henry Palmer — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:37:33 +0000

For the first time since 1995, a new nuclear power plant is set to be built in England. Sizewell C, a giant power station under construction in Eastern England, intends to generate electricity for six million homes, but the massive scope of the project has resulted in sizable opposition. According to an article by Stanley Reed for The New York Times, Sizewell C is pushing forward despite opposition from groups like “Stop Sizewell C” and a massive $51 billion price tag, thanks to proponents including the British government and managing director Julia Pyke. Those in favor of the project argue Sizewell C is essential for providing England with a stable “base load” power that unsteady renewables can’t guarantee. Sizewell C could ensure long-term energy security for the region while phasing out fossil fuels; Critics, however, are skeptical about the claimed cost-effectiveness and proposed decades-long timeline, pointing to the high costs that will be passed on to consumers. This project has significant implications for nuclear energy as a whole. If Sizewell C is successful, it could provide breathe life into the nuclear industry in the West more broadly and secure a role for nuclear power in a stable, de-carbonized grid with a viable financing and construction model. Conversely, if the plant suffers the same major delays and cost overruns as similar projects, it could become a costly distraction that reinforces the global trend of faster and cheaper renewables.

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Slick Speech: California, Exxon Mobile, and the Battle Over Emissions Reporting

Henry Palmer — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:35:30 +0000

Exxon Mobil is the largest non-government company in the international energy industry, accounting for around 3% of the world’s oil. As a result, the use of their products causes substantial pollution, pollution that the State of California wants calculated and reported to the public. According to an article published this week in The New York Times by Karen Zraick, Exxon is not happy about these mandated reports, which differ from reports required in the past that measured only corporate emissions, not emissions further produced by consumers using a corporation’s products. The company is suing California for violation of free speech over this request for use calculations. Exxon claims that California’s Climate Accountability Package policy is meant to publicly shame big businesses, and an approach that would reward more efficient companies is needed. Tara Gallegos, a spokeswoman for California Governor Gavin Newsom, has confidence that the law will be upheld as previous similar suits have been dismissed, but results likely won’t be reached for many months. This lawsuit has significant implications. If Exxon wins, it could undermine similar climate efforts in other states and weaken the push for corporate climate transparency, meaning policymakers and investors may lack the ability to assess the true environmental impact of major polluters. If California’s laws are upheld, however, it may accelerate a global trend towards greater corporate accountability as other states follow its lead, fundamentally altering how energy giants operate in a world that won’t budge in its fight against climate change.

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In the Loop: Turning Food Waste into Food Product

Henry Palmer — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 23:11:18 +0000

A third of all the world’s emissions are a byproduct of the agriculture industry, with wasted food responsible for eight percent. The United States alone produces 60 million tons of food waste each year, much of which is still perfectly edible. An article by Michelle Rochniak published in The Cool Down earlier this month discusses how the company Loop Mission is working to combat this massive yet largely undiscussed issue. Loop saves around 140 tons of food destined for landfills each week, turning would be CO2 bombs into juices, craft beets, energy bites, wellness shots and more. Founder David Côté states that there is still so much innovation to be done in the food waste sector, and with America generating almost $220 billion dollars worth of food waste every year, there is certainly tons of untapped potential. Navigating the potential legal roadblocks that come with selling food nearing its expiration date is the only major barrier between entrepreneurs and billions of environmentally beneficial profits. With America showing no sign of an incoming culture shift away from consumerism and excess, companies like Loop may be our best strategy for combatting food waste.

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Mr. Newsom Goes to Denmark

Henry Palmer — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:25:10 +0000

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken the next step in differentiating California from the Trump Administration, signing an agreement with Denmark regarding climate, technology, and cybersecurity. An article by Laura Klivans recently published in KQED notes that California is separating itself from the rest of the United States, choosing to focus its economic strategy on green energy, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. This directly challenges the current fossil-fuel-focused economic plans of the federal government, furthering America’s already massive political divide. The article outlined the contents of the agreement: the goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, the intent to collaborate on cybersecurity issues, and the sharing of knowledge on various new technologies and sustainability breakthroughs. With the climate crisis surging forward and the federal government refusing to engage, California has just proven that individual states have the opportunity to tackle climate-related issues on their own. Newsom has not hidden his aversion to President Trump, and perhaps if more states follow California in utilizing their agency, something traditionally supported by the Republican Party, the tides may shift in America’s fight against climate change.

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Windfalls or Windfails: What Trump’s Continued Attacks on Clean Energy Might Mean for Investors

Henry Palmer — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:24:24 +0000

“Wind is a national security threat” is a statement likely never uttered by anyone prior to Trump. Under this odd pretense his administration is currently poised to throw away billions of dollars and the infrastructure powering 350,000 American homes in just one of their recent attacks on offshore wind farms. A recent article for the New York Times by Brad Plumer and Karen Zraick outlines the clash between the Trump administration and Orsted, a Danish energy company. Orsted is currently suing over what they claim to be the unlawful halt of their Rhode Island offshore wind farm. Developers at Orsted are rightfully angry as they have already put $5 billion into the project and would be subject to another billion in penalties if they cannot complete it. In addition to money already invested, they stand to lose billions in future revenue. This is not president Trump’s first attack on wind energy. Earlier this year in April his administration ordered Empire Wind, another multi-billion dollar farm off the coast of New York, to close despite receiving the necessary permits from the Biden administration. Currently, Trump has little power to legally stop projects that have already received permits. With the rising presence of the national guard in cities across the country, however, there may come a time when stop-work orders are backed by force rather than the law. It may be a risky investment, but with Orsted’s stock price reaching record lows last month following the order, the upside of investing in wind farms during these turbulent and unpredictable times may be too great to pass up.

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Here Comes the Sun: Africa’s Energy Needs Offset China’s Overproduction of Solar

Henry Palmer — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:34:35 +0000

In the past year, China has continued to export massive amounts of solar equipment to Africa, shipping 15 gigawatts of capacity to various nations. This nearly doubles the 20 gigawatts installed in 2023. This surge tells two compelling stories that investors and climate watchers should heed. An article published in The New York Times by Somini Sengupta outlines how China is solving two problems at once. Chinese overproduction of solar panels has crashed prices and created a surplus that they desperately need to offload before technology advances. At the same time, Africa has over 600 million people who lack access to electricity, presenting an enormous demand for the excess supply. I recently touched on China’s push into the Latin American automotive markets, and this is quite similar. While Western companies are focused on oversaturated markets, China is continuing to capture the needs of the developing world in the ongoing energy transition. From large markets like South Africa and Nigeria to Sierra Leone and Chad, China is capitalizing on an entire continent hungry for energy. Looking through a climate lens, two-thirds of African energy investments are still funneled into fossil fuels, but cheap Chinese solar has the ability to change the tides. This trend is likely to continue, meaning the question is simply how quickly the excess panels can find their way to African grids and start changing lives.

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Big Oil’s Curious Call for Continued Regulation

Henry Palmer — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:02:59 +0000

Historically, major corporations have celebrated deregulation, but the proposed repeal of the 2009 “endangerment finding” by the Environmental Protection Agency has faced unexpected opposition. According to an August 19th NPR article by Michael Copley, many large corporations and industry groups, such as the American Petroleum Institute, representing oil and gas companies, are opposing the rollback. This has created an unusual dynamic where the interests of the Republican Party are not in alignment with those of American Industry. Many companies are in favor of federal oversight of climate regulations because it provides legal protection from climate-related lawsuits, predictable long-term investment environments, and the prevention of chaotic and diverse state regulations. Traditionally, Republican administrations have taken business concerns into account when determining regulations, but Trump’s administration currently appears to be driven more by its ideological opposition to environmental protection than corporate preferences. For investors, deregulation may create significant risk in energy and industrial stocks due to the legal uncertainties it presents. While predicting an exact outcome is difficult, long-term infrastructure investments will certainly become harder to evaluate, and larger companies that operate across state lines will face complex legal challenges, making financial planning more difficult. Public hearings on the EPA’s proposal are scheduled for this week, and depending on the results, we may be witnessing a notable departure from typical environmental debates and stances.

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Oil-Producing Nations thwart Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

Henry Palmer — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 23:25:35 +0000

In early August, for the sixth time, over 170 United Nations countries gathered in Geneva to discuss plastic regulations. A timely opinion pieces in the New York Times by author Oliver Franklin-Wallis examines the harmful effects of our world’s plastic infatuation and delineates the reasons why limiting these consequences draws more opposition than one would assume. According to estimates shared in the article, there are over 16,000 chemical additives known to be used in plastic production, with at least 4,200 of these already confirmed as toxic. Combined with the fact that plastics degrade slowly as they age, this is creating what Franklin-Wallis refers to as a “slow-release bomb” affecting us all. So who would oppose the regulation of chemicals proven to cause a laundry list of problems including increased risk of cancer, respiratory disorders, infertility, heart disease, and developmental disorders? The plastics industry, obviously. They aren’t acting alone either; countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and the United States opposed the treaty proposed at a previous meeting in South Korea because of the potential ramifications to the oil industry. The meeting closed on August 15 without a deal, but with plastic production estimated to triple by 2060, now is the time for the world’s governing bodies to prove they truly care more about the health of their citizens than the profits lining their pockets.

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