Alexander C. Kaufman
@alexckaufman.bsky.social
Reporter. I write about energy, climate, and geopolitics. I'm especially into nuclear power, minerals, geothermal, the grid, and Puerto Rico. Contact: www.alexanderckaufman.com | kaufman.nyc | Signal: Kaufman.11
This is an excellent point. Has anyone seen any good, balanced explainer of what the strategic value could be of annexing Greenland, which depends heavily on subsidies from its suzerain, when the U.S. military is already firmly entrenched there.
What is just crazy about this, aside from the need for this statement at all, is that Greenland already IS in the US sphere of influence. It's far cheaper for the US, in material, security, and reputational terms, to have Denmark continue administering Greenland and work within NATO on security.
Joint Statement of major EU/NATO countries on Greenland, together with Denmark:
January 6, 2026 at 1:38 PM
This is an excellent point. Has anyone seen any good, balanced explainer of what the strategic value could be of annexing Greenland, which depends heavily on subsidies from its suzerain, when the U.S. military is already firmly entrenched there.
Fatherhood changes you. I woke up an hour before my alarm and accidentally left for the airport so early I’m actually beating all the rush hour traffic and will probably end up sitting by the gate for like 90 minutes before boarding. And this is when I’m traveling alone.
January 6, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Fatherhood changes you. I woke up an hour before my alarm and accidentally left for the airport so early I’m actually beating all the rush hour traffic and will probably end up sitting by the gate for like 90 minutes before boarding. And this is when I’m traveling alone.
I have a short exclusive in the Substack this morning:
Holtec has submitted its license application to the NRC to build its first two 300-megawatt reactors in Michigan, Pioneer 1 and 2.
It's a major milestone toward building America's first SMRs.
kaufman.substack.com/p/holtec-mar...
Holtec has submitted its license application to the NRC to build its first two 300-megawatt reactors in Michigan, Pioneer 1 and 2.
It's a major milestone toward building America's first SMRs.
kaufman.substack.com/p/holtec-mar...
Holtec marks a major milestone toward building its first reactors
EXCLUSIVE: The nuclear developer submits a license application for its debut SMRs.
kaufman.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:48 PM
I have a short exclusive in the Substack this morning:
Holtec has submitted its license application to the NRC to build its first two 300-megawatt reactors in Michigan, Pioneer 1 and 2.
It's a major milestone toward building America's first SMRs.
kaufman.substack.com/p/holtec-mar...
Holtec has submitted its license application to the NRC to build its first two 300-megawatt reactors in Michigan, Pioneer 1 and 2.
It's a major milestone toward building America's first SMRs.
kaufman.substack.com/p/holtec-mar...
Landon Derentz, the White House National Security Council's energy chief during Trump 1.0, says it's "misguided to claim that" Venezuela's oil was the goal of toppling Maduro. Rather, he says it's "the enabler" of hemispheric domination, "not the prize." www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/v...
January 4, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Landon Derentz, the White House National Security Council's energy chief during Trump 1.0, says it's "misguided to claim that" Venezuela's oil was the goal of toppling Maduro. Rather, he says it's "the enabler" of hemispheric domination, "not the prize." www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/v...
Germany's Senate prez: “It was a left-wing extremist group that once again attacked our infrastructure and thereby threatened people’s lives—the lives of elderly people who may need ventilators, the lives of families with small children... this is no joke; this is a terrorist attack.”
We see already the third large-scale power outage in Berlin in three years due to an arson attack: 2024 (Tesla), 2025 (Adlershof), 2026 (Zehlendorf).
Now, 35k households without electricity and often heating for several days, during freezing temperatures.
www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/strom...
Now, 35k households without electricity and often heating for several days, during freezing temperatures.
www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/strom...
January 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Germany's Senate prez: “It was a left-wing extremist group that once again attacked our infrastructure and thereby threatened people’s lives—the lives of elderly people who may need ventilators, the lives of families with small children... this is no joke; this is a terrorist attack.”
Looking forward to the century’s Q2 results
January 1, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Looking forward to the century’s Q2 results
I love this piece so much.
My last story of the year for @heatmap.news is… about my rock band @ekkoastral.bsky.social
Our tour this fall profoundly changed my view of the energy transition and climate action
I went long and personal about what I now think needs to change
Our tour this fall profoundly changed my view of the energy transition and climate action
I went long and personal about what I now think needs to change
I Toured America With My Band. It Changed How I Understand the Energy Transition.
Reflections on a rock ’n’ roll road trip.
heatmap.news
December 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I love this piece so much.
The largest power station on Long Island — National Grid’s gas- and oil-fired Northport Power Plant — is also one of the oldest.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited in September to tout the administration’s plan to keep aging fossil facilities open and build a new gas pipeline into the suburb.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited in September to tout the administration’s plan to keep aging fossil facilities open and build a new gas pipeline into the suburb.
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The largest power station on Long Island — National Grid’s gas- and oil-fired Northport Power Plant — is also one of the oldest.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited in September to tout the administration’s plan to keep aging fossil facilities open and build a new gas pipeline into the suburb.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited in September to tout the administration’s plan to keep aging fossil facilities open and build a new gas pipeline into the suburb.
“The levelized cost of building a solar project in New York far exceeds the expected revenue from selling solar power, says a NYPA plan, with project success potentially depending on the sale of renewable energy credits at a satisfactory price.”
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/24/n...
LCOE for NY solar is now back up around $100 while projected merchant revenues are at $50 😬
LCOE for NY solar is now back up around $100 while projected merchant revenues are at $50 😬
December 26, 2025 at 8:51 PM
“The levelized cost of building a solar project in New York far exceeds the expected revenue from selling solar power, says a NYPA plan, with project success potentially depending on the sale of renewable energy credits at a satisfactory price.”
One wonders how this role he’s playing serves the voters of Louisiana who elected him as their governor.
Greenland Envoy Gov. Jeff Landry: "Look, the United States has always been a welcoming party. We don't go in there trying to conquer anybody and trying to take over anybody's country. We say, 'Listen. We represent liberty. We represented economic strength. We represent protection.'"
December 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
One wonders how this role he’s playing serves the voters of Louisiana who elected him as their governor.
Reposted by Alexander C. Kaufman
NEW in Heatmap AM:
🚫 Trump orders pause on all offshore wind construction
🔋 Feds green light 217-mile transmission line
💸 Google buys energy infrastructure developer intersect for $5B
Catch up on the latest with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-off...
🚫 Trump orders pause on all offshore wind construction
🔋 Feds green light 217-mile transmission line
💸 Google buys energy infrastructure developer intersect for $5B
Catch up on the latest with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-off...
Trump Halts Construction on All Offshore Wind Projects
On Google’s energy glow up, transmission progress, and South American oil
heatmap.news
December 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
NEW in Heatmap AM:
🚫 Trump orders pause on all offshore wind construction
🔋 Feds green light 217-mile transmission line
💸 Google buys energy infrastructure developer intersect for $5B
Catch up on the latest with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-off...
🚫 Trump orders pause on all offshore wind construction
🔋 Feds green light 217-mile transmission line
💸 Google buys energy infrastructure developer intersect for $5B
Catch up on the latest with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-off...
Reposted by Alexander C. Kaufman
EXCLUSIVE: I received a copy of the letter sent to developers today halting construction on all 5 offshore wind farms being built in America.
What’s new here is the close “coordination” with the “Department of War” in determining the “risk” poised by these wind farms. And the threat to “cancel.”
What’s new here is the close “coordination” with the “Department of War” in determining the “risk” poised by these wind farms. And the threat to “cancel.”
‘Bonkers': DOI letter halts all five in-progress offshore wind farms
Construction will be paused for 90 days as Trump's Department of War and Interior Department coordinate to evaluate supposed "national security" risks.
www.canarymedia.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:31 AM
EXCLUSIVE: I received a copy of the letter sent to developers today halting construction on all 5 offshore wind farms being built in America.
What’s new here is the close “coordination” with the “Department of War” in determining the “risk” poised by these wind farms. And the threat to “cancel.”
What’s new here is the close “coordination” with the “Department of War” in determining the “risk” poised by these wind farms. And the threat to “cancel.”
Reposted by Alexander C. Kaufman
Breaking news: Trump is citing “national security” to halt all active work on offshore wind projects
Five giant energy projects, countless jobs at risk
My story explains how the argument has legal weaknesses and comes from an anti-wind policy doc I reported in January
Five giant energy projects, countless jobs at risk
My story explains how the argument has legal weaknesses and comes from an anti-wind policy doc I reported in January
Trump Uses ‘National Security’ To Freeze Offshore Wind Work
The administration has already lost once in court wielding the same argument against Revolution Wind.
heatmap.news
December 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Breaking news: Trump is citing “national security” to halt all active work on offshore wind projects
Five giant energy projects, countless jobs at risk
My story explains how the argument has legal weaknesses and comes from an anti-wind policy doc I reported in January
Five giant energy projects, countless jobs at risk
My story explains how the argument has legal weaknesses and comes from an anti-wind policy doc I reported in January
Reposted by Alexander C. Kaufman
In today’s Heatmap AM:
🤝 New York and Ontario sign advanced nuclear partnership
♻️ Redwood Materials brings battery recycling online
🪨 13 states start geothermal power alliance
Start your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/new-york-...
🤝 New York and Ontario sign advanced nuclear partnership
♻️ Redwood Materials brings battery recycling online
🪨 13 states start geothermal power alliance
Start your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/new-york-...
New York Partners With Ontario on Advanced Nuclear
On Redwood Materials’ milestone, states welcome geothermal, and Indian nuclear
heatmap.news
December 22, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In today’s Heatmap AM:
🤝 New York and Ontario sign advanced nuclear partnership
♻️ Redwood Materials brings battery recycling online
🪨 13 states start geothermal power alliance
Start your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/new-york-...
🤝 New York and Ontario sign advanced nuclear partnership
♻️ Redwood Materials brings battery recycling online
🪨 13 states start geothermal power alliance
Start your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/new-york-...
Interesting considering Italy just took in Europe’s trial balloon delivery of green steel from China.
Italy assigns 1.1 GW in PV auction open to projects with ‘non-Chinese’ modules #energysky -- via pv magazine global:
Italy assigns 1.1 GW in PV auction open to projects with ‘non-Chinese’ modules
The procurement exercise, the second solar auction under Italy's Fer X incentive scheme and first to exclude the use of Chinese solar modules, cells and inverters for projects above 1 MW in size, concluded with a final average price of €0.06637/kWh.
www.pv-magazine.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Interesting considering Italy just took in Europe’s trial balloon delivery of green steel from China.
There’s probably something to be said for the fact that two fusion companies are worth more than companies doing battery recycling or next-gen geothermal, but what that is depends on what kind of timeline you believe in for fusion.
December 21, 2025 at 12:13 AM
There’s probably something to be said for the fact that two fusion companies are worth more than companies doing battery recycling or next-gen geothermal, but what that is depends on what kind of timeline you believe in for fusion.
It’s so funny that Saudi Arabia’s oil company stylizes its name in all lowercase like, are you trying to sell hydrocarbons or go on a rant about how Zohran is a sellout for wanting to build more housing??
December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
It’s so funny that Saudi Arabia’s oil company stylizes its name in all lowercase like, are you trying to sell hydrocarbons or go on a rant about how Zohran is a sellout for wanting to build more housing??
I don’t usually comment on stuff like this but I just watched his TPUSA speech from yesterday and it is kind of shocking to see Vivek Ramaswamy give a far more full-throated condemnation of calling the Second Lady racial slurs than her own husband, the vice president of the United States has given.
December 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I don’t usually comment on stuff like this but I just watched his TPUSA speech from yesterday and it is kind of shocking to see Vivek Ramaswamy give a far more full-throated condemnation of calling the Second Lady racial slurs than her own husband, the vice president of the United States has given.
One more little scoop to close out the week:
EXCLUSIVE:
Japan's legacy next-generation nuclear company Zettajoule is bringing gas-cooled microreactors to a university in Texas.
@alexckaufman.bsky.social has the story:
heatmap.news/energy/zetta...
Japan's legacy next-generation nuclear company Zettajoule is bringing gas-cooled microreactors to a university in Texas.
@alexckaufman.bsky.social has the story:
heatmap.news/energy/zetta...
Exclusive: Japan’s Tiny Nuclear Reactors Are Headed to Texas
The fourth-generation gas-cooled reactor company ZettaJoule is setting up shop at an unnamed university.
heatmap.news
December 19, 2025 at 10:13 PM
One more little scoop to close out the week:
Reposted by Alexander C. Kaufman
In Heatmap AM’s Friday edition:
🧑💻 Trump’s social media company merges with fusion energy business
✅ House passes NEPA reform with anti-wind energy provisions
🕵️♀️ Energy Department watchdog opens investigation
Wrap up your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-med...
🧑💻 Trump’s social media company merges with fusion energy business
✅ House passes NEPA reform with anti-wind energy provisions
🕵️♀️ Energy Department watchdog opens investigation
Wrap up your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-med...
Trump’s Media Company Strikes ‘Flabbergasting’ Fusion Deal
On permitting reform passing, Oklo’s Swedish bet, and GM’s heir apparent
heatmap.news
December 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In Heatmap AM’s Friday edition:
🧑💻 Trump’s social media company merges with fusion energy business
✅ House passes NEPA reform with anti-wind energy provisions
🕵️♀️ Energy Department watchdog opens investigation
Wrap up your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-med...
🧑💻 Trump’s social media company merges with fusion energy business
✅ House passes NEPA reform with anti-wind energy provisions
🕵️♀️ Energy Department watchdog opens investigation
Wrap up your week with @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/trump-med...
My latest for @sherwood.news on the weirdest tie-up of the year: Truth Social and the holy grail of clean energy.
"almost certainly the oddest merger of the year"
@alexckaufman.bsky.social digs into the Trump Media deal to become... a nuclear fission company?
as one analyst put it, "good luck on this one"
sherwood.news/tech/inside-...
@alexckaufman.bsky.social digs into the Trump Media deal to become... a nuclear fission company?
as one analyst put it, "good luck on this one"
sherwood.news/tech/inside-...
Inside Trump Media’s head-scratching $6 billion merger to become a nuclear fusion company
“TAE is swinging for the fences for a grand slam,” one analyst told us, but the odds are against it.
sherwood.news
December 18, 2025 at 11:28 PM
My latest for @sherwood.news on the weirdest tie-up of the year: Truth Social and the holy grail of clean energy.
I’m not supposed to talk publicly about it but @technologyreview.com’s secret crystal ball technology has really upped our game.
I selfishly asked @alexckaufman.bsky.social to write this because I wanted to know what's been going on with atmospheric water generation. And then mid-reporting, Omar Yaghi won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Which was...um...totally our plan all along. www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/17/1...
This Nobel Prize–winning chemist dreams of making water from thin air
Omar Yaghi thinks crystals with gaps that capture moisture could bring technology from “Dune” to the arid parts of Earth.
www.technologyreview.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I’m not supposed to talk publicly about it but @technologyreview.com’s secret crystal ball technology has really upped our game.
My latest for @sherwood.news:
this @alexckaufman.bsky.social story is super cool
Inside Oklo’s audacious plan to turn leftover weapons-grade plutonium into a nuclear bridge fuel
sherwood.news/tech/inside-...
Inside Oklo’s audacious plan to turn leftover weapons-grade plutonium into a nuclear bridge fuel
sherwood.news/tech/inside-...
Inside Oklo’s audacious plan to turn leftover weapons-grade plutonium into a nuclear bridge fuel
“There’s enough energy in nuclear waste to power the country for 150 years, and every year we produce enough for another four years,” the CEO...
sherwood.news
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
My latest for @sherwood.news:
My nephew who was born when I was in college listening to Crystal Castles is now sending me remixes of their songs. L’dor, v’dor.
December 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
My nephew who was born when I was in college listening to Crystal Castles is now sending me remixes of their songs. L’dor, v’dor.