1. How to build data centers without raising grid costs — and emissions

Learning: "Cost is not the primary barrier to building clean power today.

In fact, portfolios of new solar, wind, and batteries are cheaper than new gas-fired power plants in most of the country. Instead, the core barrier to getting clean power online — be it for data centers or other large-scale power buyers, or even just for utilities — is the limited capacity of the power grid itself."

Implication: "Utility holding company and major clean energy developer NextEra Energy announced last month that it was moving into building gas power plants with GE Vernova... CEOJohn Ketchum noted in an earnings call that gas-fired generation ​'won’t be available at scale until 2030 and then, only in certain pockets of the U.S.,' and that costs of those power plants have ​'more than doubled over the last five years due to the limited supply of gas turbines.' Renewables and batteries, by contrast, ​'are ready now to meet that demand and will help lower power prices.'
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2. An Austin startup that sells electricity and couples it with backup power has entered the Houston market.

Learning: "An Austin startup that sells electricity and couples it with backup power has entered the Houston market.

Base Power, which claims to be the first and only electricity provider to offer a backup battery, now serves the Houston-area territory served by Houston-based CenterPoint Energy. No solar equipment is required for Base Power’s backup batteries."

Implication: "The company is initially serving customers in the Cy-Fair, Spring, Cinco Ranch and Mission Bend communities, and will expand to other Houston-area places in the future.

Base Power already serves customers in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth markets."

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3. Damage to Houston skyscrapers from derecho winds "more severe" than hurricane

Learning: "A Florida International University study in Houston has concluded that damage from 'non-hurricane' events, such as a derecho wind storm, can cause more damage to tall buildings than hurricanes."

Implication: "The study also examined case studies from wind events on buildings elsewhere such as New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and also included wind tunnel simulation on a tall building model.

It acknowledged the economic and socio-economic of such events, such as resulting repair costs, or traffic impairments due to debris."

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4. Why AI chatbots are so unbearbly chatty

Learning: "No matter how much LLMs sound like a human, the truth is that they really don’t really understand language, despite being quite good at stringing words together. This proficiency in language can create the illusion of broader intelligence, leading to more elaborate responses. So basically, research shows what we suspected: LLMs are great at (making you think) they know the answer. Many people buy this illusion because they either simply want to believe or because they just don’t use critical thinking—something that Microsoft’s researchers discovered in a new study looking at AI’s impact on cognitive functioning."

Implication: "DeepSeek, the new kid on the block coming from China, keeps its answers much shorter and to the point. According to DeepSeek, the model’s answers are designed to be more direct and concise because its training prioritizes clarity and efficiency, influenced by data and reinforcement that favorites brevity. American models emphasize conversational warmth or elaboration, it claims, reflecting cultural and design differences."

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5. Houston unicorn startup named North American Company of the Year

Learning: "Houston-based geothermal energy startup Fervo Energy has been named North American Company of the Year by research and consulting firm Cleantech Group.

Implication: "Founded in 2017, Fervo is now a unicorn, meaning its valuation as a private company has surpassed $1 billion. The startup’s valuation is estimated at $1.4 billion. According to PitchBook data, the company raised $634 million in VC funding in Q4. Read more here."