Sustainability

Amazon scraps 95% of the plastic air pillows used in delivery packaging in North America

by Lisa Stiffler on June 20, 2024June 20, 2024 at 3:12 pm

Amazon on Thursday announced that it has eliminated 95% of the inflated plastic pillows that it uses to cushion goods being shipped to its customers. It’s now largely using recycled… Read More

Climate tech funding dip poses threat for capital-intensive startups — but it’s not time to panic

by Gillian Dohrn on June 20, 2024June 20, 2024 at 7:42 am

In a webinar Tuesday on the future of climate tech, Alan Neuhauser of Axios kicked off the questions by asking what it means to succeed in a burgeoning market where… Read More

Climate projects land $75M to boost environmental justice, job training in Washington state

by Gillian Dohrn on June 19, 2024June 19, 2024 at 1:18 pm

The Washington State Department of Commerce and the City of Seattle this week allocated close to $75 million in funding for community-led clean energy projects and climate-related job training programs.… Read More

Seattle entrepreneurs are building autonomous robots to deliver hassle-free EV charging

by Lisa Stiffler on June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 at 10:32 am

The founders at Autev envision a future where EV drivers simply park their vehicles in a garage, open an app and enter a parking space number. When they return, their… Read More

Nuclear power company backed by Bill Gates breaks ground in Wyoming on first facility

by Lisa Stiffler on June 10, 2024June 11, 2024 at 8:19 pm

Nuclear company TerraPower broke ground Monday on its commercial power plant, located near a soon-to-be-retired coal power plant in Kemmerer, Wyo. The company’s Natrium reactor could become the first sodium-cooled,… Read More

OpenAI reportedly in talks with Helion Energy to ‘buy vast quantities’ of fusion power

by Lisa Stiffler on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024 at 2:30 pm

The Seattle-area fusion company Helion Energy is talking with OpenAI about a deal in which the AI company “would buy vast quantities of electricity to provide power for data centers,”… Read More

Seattle startup with unique approach to carbon reductions lands $2.5M

by Lisa Stiffler on May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 at 3:59 pm

Seattle-based Climate Vault Solutions, a startup working to reduce carbon emissions, has raised $2.5 million in new investments. The business launched last year and takes a somewhat unusual approach to… Read More

News Brief

Washington state grants $40M to programs installing electric heat and cooling systems

by Lisa Stiffler on May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 at 10:34 am

The Washington State Department of Commerce on Thursday announced nearly $40 million in grants for local programs that are helping homes and businesses shift from fossil fuel heat to electric… Read More

This Spokane startup catches carbon dioxide at the source, before it escapes to the environment

by Lisa Stiffler on May 30, 2024May 31, 2024 at 8:30 am

CarbonQuest wants to take a bite out of carbon emissions at its source — before the greenhouse gases escape into the environment and heat up an ever-warming planet. The Spokane,… Read More

Tidal Vision, a startup turning crab shells into a green industrial chemical, is raising fresh cash

by Lisa Stiffler on May 17, 2024May 17, 2024 at 10:53 am

Tidal Vision, a green chemistry company founded by a former Alaska fishing boat captain, is raising more investment to fuel growth. A new SEC filing reveals $46.7 million in fresh… Read More

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What the U.S. can learn from Nordic countries on climate: Seattle summit draws global leaders

by Lisa Stiffler & Todd Bishop on May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 at 11:34 am

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a climate stalwart who based his past presidential run on the issue, traces his passion for clean energy in part to a trip he made to… Read More

Microsoft’s carbon footprint keeps growing as AI drives data center expansions

by Lisa Stiffler on May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 at 9:31 am

In 2020, Microsoft made an ambitious commitment to make its operations carbon negative within a decade, removing more carbon from the environment than it emits each year. But four years… Read More

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As AI use surges, tech companies race to secure clean energy and preserve climate goals

by Lisa Stiffler on May 13, 2024May 23, 2024 at 2:11 pm

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving new demand for cloud computing infrastructure operated by tech giants including Amazon and Microsoft, which are investing billions of dollars each year… Read More

Antarctic ozone hole visualized through climate data

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Climate science mission led by University of Washington wins backing from NASA

by Alan Boyle on May 7, 2024May 7, 2024 at 5:01 pm

NASA has selected four proposals for climate science missions, including an effort led by a University of Washington researcher, to go forward for further study with millions of dollars in… Read More

Amazon rolls out fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks to decarbonize more of its transportation network

by Kurt Schlosser on May 7, 2024May 8, 2024 at 7:08 am

Amazon is bulking up its fleet of electric vehicles beyond the delivery vans that many customers are accustomed to seeing in their neighborhoods. The company announced Tuesday that it has… Read More

Tribal company and Oregon battery startup create unique partnership in pursuit of clean energy

by Lisa Stiffler on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 at 2:03 pm

A startup developing long-duration batteries is teaming up with a Pacific Northwest tribe to build innovative energy storage devices. Puyallup Tribal Enterprises has signed an exclusive manufacturing deal with Portland,… Read More

This startup just raised funding to turn wood pulp into sustainable, biodegradable plastics

by Lisa Stiffler on April 29, 2024April 30, 2024 at 9:34 am

A Vancouver, B.C.-based startup making biodegradable plastics out of wood pulp has raised up to $5 million from Brazil’s Suzano Ventures, the investment arm of a manufacturing giant turning farmed… Read More

Founders with unique backgrounds unite over climate concerns and launch new venture fund

by Lisa Stiffler on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 at 10:03 am

SNØCAP, a new climate-focused venture capital fund, is launching with $5 million to invest in startups. The team has a somewhat unusual target for its investments, aiming for startups making… Read More

ZeroAvia opens manufacturing facility in Washington, will start selling clean aviation parts

by Lisa Stiffler on April 25, 2024April 26, 2024 at 7:26 am

Clean aviation company ZeroAvia this week celebrated a new 136,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Everett, Wash., and announced it will be selling components of its hydrogen-electric airplane engines to other commercial… Read More

Intrepid Oregon Fund launches with $4M from the state to invest in climate and tech startups

by Lisa Stiffler on April 25, 2024April 24, 2024 at 11:07 pm

Portland Seed Fund managers announced the launch of the Intrepid Oregon Fund, which has $4 million to invest in early-stage startups working on climate tech as well as healthcare, medical… Read More

Washington state launches program to cut costs of new and used EVs for low-income residents

by Lisa Stiffler on April 24, 2024April 24, 2024 at 10:21 am

Washington leaders on Tuesday announced a $45 million program aiming to make electric vehicles more affordable for the state’s low-income residents. The Washington EV Instant Rebates Program will provide rebates… Read More

Initiative to axe carbon emissions law could ‘slam the brakes’ on Washington’s climate tech sector

by Lisa Stiffler on April 18, 2024April 18, 2024 at 9:08 am

Washington is leaning into the fight against climate change. Seattle-area tech giants Microsoft and Amazon have set ambitious carbon reduction targets and invested millions to meet those goals. The state… Read More

Amazon, Microsoft back campaign against initiative that would defund climate efforts in Washington

by Lisa Stiffler on April 17, 2024April 18, 2024 at 10:48 am

More than 100 companies, tribal groups, union organizations, environmental nonprofits and political groups are backing a campaign to defeat a November ballot initiative that would scuttle Washington state’s most impactful… Read More

Video

Amazon scraps 95% of the plastic air pillows used in delivery packaging in North America

Climate tech funding dip poses threat for capital-intensive startups — but it’s not time to panic

Climate projects land $75M to boost environmental justice, job training in Washington state

Seattle entrepreneurs are building autonomous robots to deliver hassle-free EV charging

Nuclear power company backed by Bill Gates breaks ground in Wyoming on first facility

OpenAI reportedly in talks with Helion Energy to ‘buy vast quantities’ of fusion power

Seattle startup with unique approach to carbon reductions lands $2.5M

Washington state grants $40M to programs installing electric heat and cooling systems

This Spokane startup catches carbon dioxide at the source, before it escapes to the environment

Tidal Vision, a startup turning crab shells into a green industrial chemical, is raising fresh cash

What the U.S. can learn from Nordic countries on climate: Seattle summit draws global leaders

Microsoft’s carbon footprint keeps growing as AI drives data center expansions

As AI use surges, tech companies race to secure clean energy and preserve climate goals

Climate science mission led by University of Washington wins backing from NASA

Amazon rolls out fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks to decarbonize more of its transportation network

Tribal company and Oregon battery startup create unique partnership in pursuit of clean energy

This startup just raised funding to turn wood pulp into sustainable, biodegradable plastics

Founders with unique backgrounds unite over climate concerns and launch new venture fund

ZeroAvia opens manufacturing facility in Washington, will start selling clean aviation parts

Intrepid Oregon Fund launches with $4M from the state to invest in climate and tech startups

Washington state launches program to cut costs of new and used EVs for low-income residents

Initiative to axe carbon emissions law could ‘slam the brakes’ on Washington’s climate tech sector

Amazon, Microsoft back campaign against initiative that would defund climate efforts in Washington

Bill Gates really digs his visit to a hydrogen startup, filling a pothole with carbon-trapping asphalt

Nearly 1 in 5 new cars registered in Washington state last year were EVs or plug-in hybrids

Carbon, weeds and toxics are in the crosshairs for GeekWire Awards sustainability finalists

This energy startup wants to make utility data more accessible — and spur creation of new companies

University student entrepreneurs pitch planet-protecting ideas in annual ‘Environmental Innovation Challenge’

A boost for fusion power: With new law, Washington state leaders signal support for sector’s next steps

Protesters block entrances at Amazon HQ, objecting to planned use of fossil fuels in Oregon