EBR-1, world's first nuclear power plant, near Atomic City, ID, 1951. Image: Argonne Nat'l Lab
Q1. Earlier in the week, President Biden announced a freeze on approvals for new plants to export liquified natural gas (LNG). The move does not impact existing plants. Biden said the aim is to decrease America's energy costs by keeping more gas at home, and to address climate change concerns.
Critics say the freeze stifles a great American industry, and hurts our allies in Europe.
Over the past decade the US went from exporting no gas (12m cu ft in 2013) to leading the world in LNG exports (400,000m cu ft 2023), including filling in much of the 130,000m shortfall in Europe when Russian imports were shut off there.
How much natural gas would you like to see the US export in the coming years relative to how much it exports now?
Critics say the freeze stifles a great American industry, and hurts our allies in Europe.
Over the past decade the US went from exporting no gas (12m cu ft in 2013) to leading the world in LNG exports (400,000m cu ft 2023), including filling in much of the 130,000m shortfall in Europe when Russian imports were shut off there.
How much natural gas would you like to see the US export in the coming years relative to how much it exports now?
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Much more
18%
24%
12%
36%
21%
2%
13%
12%
24%
17%
18%
More
14%
17%
11%
21%
15%
9%
23%
11%
12%
16%
14%
Same as now
21%
20%
23%
16%
21%
25%
14%
20%
22%
26%
21%
Less
21%
15%
27%
10%
15%
31%
23%
23%
19%
20%
21%
Much less
15%
14%
14%
7%
16%
21%
17%
23%
11%
11%
15%
Don't know
10%
10%
10%
9%
10%
10%
10%
9%
11%
9%
10%
Don't care
1%
0%
1%
0%
1%
1%
0%
2%
1%
0%
1%
Q2. Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced $623m in grants to states, local governments, and tribes to help build electric vehicle charging stations.
The money will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 EV charging ports.
What do you think of this grant?
The money will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 EV charging ports.
What do you think of this grant?
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
I like it, want more
43%
37%
48%
5%
42%
74%
39%
50%
39%
44%
43%
Like it, but no more
10%
10%
11%
6%
9%
15%
24%
10%
7%
8%
10%
Don't like it
39%
46%
34%
83%
40%
4%
20%
36%
48%
43%
39%
Don't know
5%
5%
5%
4%
7%
5%
13%
0%
5%
4%
5%
Don't care
2%
3%
2%
3%
3%
2%
4%
4%
1%
1%
2%
Q3. The Biden administration is set to lend $1.5 billion for what what would be the first restart of a shuttered US nuclear reactor. The operator of the Palisades, MI plant said it would be decommissioned without the loan. The Biden administration believes nuclear power is essential for its goals to decarbonize the grid by 2035 and the economy by 2050
There are 93 operating reactors in the US, supplying 20% of the nation's electricity. Fifteen have closed since 2013 amid competition from cheaper power from natural gas and renewables, and the Energy Department has warned that as many as 45 more are at risk of closing due to economic factors.
What do you think of this loan?
There are 93 operating reactors in the US, supplying 20% of the nation's electricity. Fifteen have closed since 2013 amid competition from cheaper power from natural gas and renewables, and the Energy Department has warned that as many as 45 more are at risk of closing due to economic factors.
What do you think of this loan?
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
I like it, want more
51%
64%
38%
48%
60%
52%
73%
51%
45%
45%
51%
Like it, but no more
12%
8%
18%
10%
9%
15%
11%
7%
15%
15%
12%
Don't like it
24%
19%
29%
29%
20%
20%
12%
26%
24%
29%
24%
Don't know
12%
8%
16%
11%
9%
14%
4%
14%
15%
10%
12%
Don't care
1%
1%
0%
2%
2%
0%
0%
2%
1%
0%
1%
In September 2023, it was reported that a Nevada mine found the largest reserve of lithium in the world. The 40 million metric tonnes is half the previously known world supply.
EV batteries are estimated to require 350k tonnes of lithium per year by 2030.
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