GoKawiil
Tech News
Amazon has agreed to support Constellation Energy's efforts to expand power generation at its Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Maryland, including exploring the addition of new reactors. The move follows Amazon's earlier decision to scrap a planned data center deal in the state.
Star Catcher is developing a constellation of satellites designed to collect solar energy in orbit and transmit it to other spacecraft. The system aims to supply power directly to satellites rather than requiring each to rely solely on its own solar panels.
Utilities disconnected electricity to more than 173,000 households across 10 states in July, a month that ranked as the hottest on record in the United States. The shutoffs occurred as many customers faced rising energy bills alongside dangerous heat conditions.
Amazon has released an updated Fire TV Stick 4K with a slimmer design, a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, 8GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support. It runs Amazon's Vega operating system with Alexa+ built in, uses Direct Power to draw power from a TV's USB port, and ships with a redesigned remote featuring an asymmetric shape and a customizable button. The device is priced at $59.99, available now in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and the UK, with a $29.99 Prime promotional price in the US and further market rollout expected by end of October.
Green Mountain Power (GMP) is using networked home batteries and software as a 'virtual power plant' to manage electricity demand instead of relying on traditional power plants. GMP says about half of the households enrolled in its battery programme also have solar panels installed.
The US Energy Information Administration reported that solar power generated 47,147 gigawatt-hours in May, surpassing coal's 45,119 gigawatt-hours and outproducing wind as well. It marks the first month solar has exceeded both coal and wind in national electricity generation.
Amazon has discounted the limited-edition Anker Prime Power Bank Black Myth: Wukong Edition by $50, to $149.99 from its $199.99 list price. The device is a Black Myth: Wukong-themed version of Anker's Prime 20K power bank, offering a 20,100mAh battery, up to 220W total output across three ports, TSA-friendly design, and two-way fast charging.
Tom's Hardware evaluated 13 portable chargers spanning 5,000 mAh single-port units at 22W up to 25,000 mAh multi-port models delivering 220W. Prices ranged from the Cuktech CP12 (10K/20W) at $24.99 to the Anker Prime (A110B) 20K/220W at $129.99, with some units charging fully in four to six hours and others faster. The units differed in included cables, displays versus simple LED indicators, and physical design.
MIT Technology Review announced it has finalized its fourth annual Climate Tech Companies to Watch list, set to publish on October 6. The list narrows a broad set of global companies down to 10 selected for their impact on emissions, public safety or health, spanning energy storage, nuclear power and transportation.
Android Authority's C. Scott Brown compiled a list of five current Motorola phones he says buyers should skip, starting with the $1,500 Razr Ultra (2026). He argues the device offers only minor upgrades over last year's model, such as a bigger battery and brighter display, while carrying the same software support commitment of three OS updates and four years of bug fixes.
A Florida resident has filed a legal request seeking to stop OpenAI from releasing further AI models until safety concerns are addressed. The filing argues that AI agents from the company pose risks to critical infrastructure, such as water systems and power grids, if left unchecked.
At this year's New York Climate Week, much of the climate tech industry's attention centered on the AI data center boom, with founders and investors pivoting toward energy infrastructure to power AI. PitchBook data cited shows climate tech venture funding has risen for four straight quarters, topping $14 billion in Q1 2025, driven largely by grid infrastructure, built environment, and dispatchable energy deals tied to data center construction. Some founders at the event expressed concern that this focus is overshadowing other promising climate tech sectors.