Wellesley College

• WELLESLEY, Mass., April 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wellesley College today will announce the launch of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center for Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy , designed to prepare the next generation of citizens and civic leaders.
• Named for the 1969 Wellesley graduate who went on to serve as U.S. secretary of state (2009–2013), U.S. senator from New York (2001–2009), and first lady of the United States (1993–2001), the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center is designed to empower Wellesley students from all disciplines with the skills they need to live a civic life.
• Wellesley College President Paula A. Johnson will introduce the new center today during a summit at the College, " Renewing Democracy: Women Leading the Way ."
• In prepared remarks for the summit, President Johnson noted, "At a time when democracy is challenged, the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center will play a vital role in preparing the next generation of civic innovators and citizen-leaders that our world and our democracy needs.

• When finished, it will cover the size of 48 football fields, employ 4,000 people and produce enough advanced batteries to supply half a million electric cars per year.
• The Kansas battery plant highlights the challenges ahead as the U.S. scales up production of clean energy technologies and weans itself off fossil fuels.
• It also illustrates the potential for this industry to accelerate the transition to renewable energy nationwide.

The clean tech manufacturing boom

• The challenge: These battery factories, and the electric vehicles they equip, are going to require a lot of electricity.
• Producing enough battery cells to store 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity – enough for 2 to 4 miles of range in an EV – requires about 30 kWh of manufacturing energy, according to a recent study.
• Combining that estimate and our tracking, we project that in 2030, battery manufacturing in the U.S. would require about 30 billion kWh of electricity per year, assuming the factories run on electricity, like the one in Kansas.

Battery belt’s huge solar potential

• Our tracking found that three-fourths of the battery manufacturing capacity is locating in states with lower-than-average renewable electricity generation today.
• However, we have also been tracking which battery companies are committing to powering their manufacturing operations with renewable electricity, and the data points to a cleaner future.
• LG has committed to sourcing 100% renewable solar and hydroelectricity for its new cathode factory in Tennessee.
• More corporate commitments can help strengthen demand for the deployment of wind and solar across the emerging battery belt.

What that means for US electricity demand

• Manufacturing all of these batteries and charging all of these electric vehicles is going to put a lot more demand on the power grid.
• Although natural gas dominates electricity generation, in 2023 renewables supplied more electricity than coal for the first time in U.S. history.
• The government forecasts that in 2024, 96% of new electricity generating capacity added to the grid would be fossil fuel-free, including batteries.

Looking ahead

• The big lesson here is that the challenge in Kansas is not the battery factory – it is the increasingly antiquated electricity grid.
• That means investing in modernizing, expanding and decarbonizing the electric grid is as important as building new factories or shifting to electric cars.

James Morton Turner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: WOOF) today announced it has appointed Holly May as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective February 4.
• "Holly brings an impressive track record of driving comprehensive HR strategies that align with business objectives and deliver transformational growth.
• May brings extensive expertise, and two decades of experience in human resources building innovative programs, policies and practices.
• Prior to joining Petco, May served as EVP & Global Chief Human Resources Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA).

• NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Collective Audience, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAUD), a leading provider of digital consumer acquisition solutions, has appointed Elisabeth DeMarse as independent member of its board of directors.
• "We welcome Elisabeth’s extensive executive and board experience at both private and public companies,” stated Suen.
• She has helped transform and grow several companies, including AppNexus which was acquired by AT&T for $1.7 billion.
• AppNexus, a global technology company with a cloud-based software platform powers and optimizes the programmatic sale and purchase of programmatic advertising.