Corbin Hiar
@corbinhiar.bsky.social
Climate and business reporter at POLITICO's E&E News. Also a dad, cyclist, PEN Guild supporter and lapsed Minnesotan. https://www.politico.com/staff/corbin-hiar
Email: chiar@eenews.net | Signal: CorbinHiar.80
Email: chiar@eenews.net | Signal: CorbinHiar.80
Pinned
Corbin Hiar
@corbinhiar.bsky.social
· Nov 21
The Strange and Totally Real Plan to Blot Out the Sun and Reverse Global Warming
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat. The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
www.politico.com
NEW: A billionaire-backed global cooling startup is a few years away from potentially seeding the stratosphere with sunlight-reflecting particles.
This is the inside story of how Stardust is developing planet-altering tech that it hopes to sell to the US government. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
This is the inside story of how Stardust is developing planet-altering tech that it hopes to sell to the US government. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
January 4, 2026 at 2:36 AM
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
"They often shrug off the concerns of scientists who argue it’s inherently risky to fund the development of potentially dangerous technologies through wealthy investors who could only profit if the planet-cooling systems are deployed."
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Betting on climate failure, these investors could earn billions
Investment firms have put over $100 million into developing risky technologies that could cool the planet with unknown side effects.
share.google
December 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
"They often shrug off the concerns of scientists who argue it’s inherently risky to fund the development of potentially dangerous technologies through wealthy investors who could only profit if the planet-cooling systems are deployed."
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Honored to have both of the features I wrote for Politico Magazine this year featured on its list of the top 25 stories of 2025. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Secrets of Congress, Jeff Bezos Unbound and the Epstein Saga: 25 Wild Stories in 2025
Top stories from Politico Magazine from a rollercoaster year — and get you ready for 2026.
www.politico.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Honored to have both of the features I wrote for Politico Magazine this year featured on its list of the top 25 stories of 2025. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
“It would be definitely better if we lost all our money and this wasn’t necessary,” said a venture capitalist who's invested more than $1 million in a sunlight-limiting startup. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Betting on climate failure, these investors could earn billions
Investment firms have put over $100 million into developing risky technologies that could cool the planet with unknown side effects.
www.politico.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:22 AM
“It would be definitely better if we lost all our money and this wasn’t necessary,” said a venture capitalist who's invested more than $1 million in a sunlight-limiting startup. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Scoop: Twelve, a big tech-backed sustainable aviation fuel startup, has laid off 170 employees in less than a year — a total that accounts for nearly half its workforce.
The layoffs come as Trump-era tax changes have undercut its business model. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
The layoffs come as Trump-era tax changes have undercut its business model. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
E&E News: Green fuel company slashes workforce as tax credits dwindle
The layoffs at Twelve follow the reelection of President Donald Trump and the rollback of incentives that were designed to spur the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
subscriber.politicopro.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Scoop: Twelve, a big tech-backed sustainable aviation fuel startup, has laid off 170 employees in less than a year — a total that accounts for nearly half its workforce.
The layoffs come as Trump-era tax changes have undercut its business model. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
The layoffs come as Trump-era tax changes have undercut its business model. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
NEW: Sequoia Capital and other top venture capital firms are backing startups developing risky tech to cool the planet — with unknown side effects.
“These are trillion-dollar market opportunities,” one VC said. www.eenews.net/articles/betting-on-climate-failure-these-investors-could-earn-billions/
“These are trillion-dollar market opportunities,” one VC said. www.eenews.net/articles/betting-on-climate-failure-these-investors-could-earn-billions/
December 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
NEW: Sequoia Capital and other top venture capital firms are backing startups developing risky tech to cool the planet — with unknown side effects.
“These are trillion-dollar market opportunities,” one VC said. www.eenews.net/articles/betting-on-climate-failure-these-investors-could-earn-billions/
“These are trillion-dollar market opportunities,” one VC said. www.eenews.net/articles/betting-on-climate-failure-these-investors-could-earn-billions/
An epic energy markets tutorial: The vice chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition delivers a 49-post deconstruction of an op-ed that argued "liberals should support America's oil and gas industry."
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
An epic energy markets tutorial: The vice chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition delivers a 49-post deconstruction of an op-ed that argued "liberals should support America's oil and gas industry."
Another parallel: Crazy Eddie "scammed, stole and pulled switcheroos: instructing employees to clean off display models or returned goods, for example, and rebox them as brand-new. Sales tax was routinely left unpaid. Warranty claims were fabricated." www.nytimes.com/2022/08/09/b...
December 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Another parallel: Crazy Eddie "scammed, stole and pulled switcheroos: instructing employees to clean off display models or returned goods, for example, and rebox them as brand-new. Sales tax was routinely left unpaid. Warranty claims were fabricated." www.nytimes.com/2022/08/09/b...
Nothing says "fusion energy is a viable business and there isn't a stock market bubble" like a $6 billion merger between a Big Tech-backed fusion company that hasn't built a commercial plant and the president's media and crypto firm that lost $55 million last quarter.
"President Trump’s media company Trump Media & Technology Group agreed to merge with fusion-power company TAE Technologies in an all-stock deal worth more than $6 billion." Deal "intends to combine Trump Media’s access to capital and TAE’s fusion technology to supply power" for the AI boom.
Trump Media to Merge With TAE Tech in $6 Billion Deal
President Trump’s media company Trump Media & Technology Group agreed to merge with fusion power company TAE Technologies in an all-stock deal worth more than $6 billion.
www.wsj.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Nothing says "fusion energy is a viable business and there isn't a stock market bubble" like a $6 billion merger between a Big Tech-backed fusion company that hasn't built a commercial plant and the president's media and crypto firm that lost $55 million last quarter.
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
The huge bump in the stock price (+25%) strongly suggests investors had a very dim view of Truth Social ever turning a profit
Trump Media announces a $6b, all-stock merger to “create a company building fusion power plants to provide electricity for artificial intelligence.”
DJT Stock Soars. Trump Media Announces $6 Billion Merger With a Power Fusion Company.
The Truth Social parent agrees to merge with TAE Technologies in a $6 billion deal.
www.barrons.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The huge bump in the stock price (+25%) strongly suggests investors had a very dim view of Truth Social ever turning a profit
"Frankly there’s not a lot of interest from the industry, in light of lower oil prices and more attractive fields globally," said one person familiar with the Trump administration's Venezuela pitch. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump administration asking US oil industry to return to Venezuela — but getting no takers
The administration’s outreach to the industry, previously unreported, is the latest sign the White House is dreaming of a post-Maduro future for Venezuela.
www.politico.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:37 PM
"Frankly there’s not a lot of interest from the industry, in light of lower oil prices and more attractive fields globally," said one person familiar with the Trump administration's Venezuela pitch. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
A WSJ interview with Trump on the economy was interrupted multiple times by phone calls, including one from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, “who joined by speakerphone to discuss the administration’s plans for Washington, D.C., golf courses.”
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Exclusive | Trump Isn’t Certain His Economic Policies Will Translate to Midterm Wins
In an interview, he said his efforts to secure investments in the U.S. haven’t fully taken effect and “I cannot tell you how that’s going to equate to the voter.”
www.wsj.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
A WSJ interview with Trump on the economy was interrupted multiple times by phone calls, including one from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, “who joined by speakerphone to discuss the administration’s plans for Washington, D.C., golf courses.”
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
A display at the late Minnesota House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Leaders decided it should remain as a reminder of the impact of political violence.
‘Reminded of what we’ve lost’: Hortman tribute will be reminder to deescalate Capitol rhetoric
A display outside the Minnesota House of Representatives and at the late House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Legislative leaders have decided it should...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A display at the late Minnesota House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Leaders decided it should remain as a reminder of the impact of political violence.
Interesting profile of offshore wind's second-biggest critic, after President Trump.
Now that he's helped devastate the industry in the U.S., Stevenson appears to be reconsidering his anti-wind advocacy.
Now that he's helped devastate the industry in the U.S., Stevenson appears to be reconsidering his anti-wind advocacy.
In Feb 2023, I attended a climate skeptics conference in Orlando. I was the only reporter.
David Stevenson told me there that the offshore wind industry would “crumble” before it reached South Carolina. And that he was leading the opposition.
I followed him for 3 years and wrote this story.
David Stevenson told me there that the offshore wind industry would “crumble” before it reached South Carolina. And that he was leading the opposition.
I followed him for 3 years and wrote this story.
The man behind the fall of offshore wind
David Stevenson has solar on his roof and drives a hybrid. How did he become the leader of the movement that helped Trump crush offshore wind farms?
www.canarymedia.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Interesting profile of offshore wind's second-biggest critic, after President Trump.
Now that he's helped devastate the industry in the U.S., Stevenson appears to be reconsidering his anti-wind advocacy.
Now that he's helped devastate the industry in the U.S., Stevenson appears to be reconsidering his anti-wind advocacy.
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
Such a masterfully succinct and delightful little story comparing the number of press releases flying taxi startups put out versus the total hours the companies' vehicles have actually spent flying.
sherwood.news/business/air...
sherwood.news/business/air...
December 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Such a masterfully succinct and delightful little story comparing the number of press releases flying taxi startups put out versus the total hours the companies' vehicles have actually spent flying.
sherwood.news/business/air...
sherwood.news/business/air...
Wild story about a potentially compromised senior Pentagon adviser — and the Trump administration's apparent efforts to quash the piece. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I asked the Pentagon about Pete Hegseth's mentor. Then the threats started.
Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal.
www.motherjones.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Wild story about a potentially compromised senior Pentagon adviser — and the Trump administration's apparent efforts to quash the piece. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Coming soon: The Spanish-language Madrid Playbook.
¡Vamos POLITICO!
¡Vamos POLITICO!
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Coming soon: The Spanish-language Madrid Playbook.
¡Vamos POLITICO!
¡Vamos POLITICO!
Reposted by Corbin Hiar
Nothing to see here, just the largest renewable energy developer in the United States partnering with uh (check notes) ExxonMobil. www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/n...
NextEra working with Exxon to develop gigawatt data center for hyperscaler
NextEra plans to pitch the data center site to a hyperscaler. There is no signed agreement with a customer yet.
www.cnbc.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Nothing to see here, just the largest renewable energy developer in the United States partnering with uh (check notes) ExxonMobil. www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/n...
🚨☢️ "A structure designed to prevent radioactive leakage at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine is no longer operational after Russian drones targeted it earlier this year, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog has found." www.politico.eu/article/cher...
Chernobyl radiation shield has stopped working after Russian drone strikes, UN warns
The confinement facility “lost its primary safety functions” after a Russian drone strike in February, nuclear watchdog says.
www.politico.eu
December 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
🚨☢️ "A structure designed to prevent radioactive leakage at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine is no longer operational after Russian drones targeted it earlier this year, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog has found." www.politico.eu/article/cher...
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Viktor Orban recently said "that in the future 70% of the Hungarian energy will be produced by nuclear and 30% by solar."
At least on solar, Hungary is not far off from the prime minister's energy goal. singjupost.com/transcript-h...
At least on solar, Hungary is not far off from the prime minister's energy goal. singjupost.com/transcript-h...
December 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Viktor Orban recently said "that in the future 70% of the Hungarian energy will be produced by nuclear and 30% by solar."
At least on solar, Hungary is not far off from the prime minister's energy goal. singjupost.com/transcript-h...
At least on solar, Hungary is not far off from the prime minister's energy goal. singjupost.com/transcript-h...
When Tom Steyer ran for president, climate action was the centerpiece of his campaign. Now he doesn't mention it.
"He ran for president to raise climate as an issue," an adviser said. "But he's running for governor of California to become governor of California." www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
"He ran for president to raise climate as an issue," an adviser said. "But he's running for governor of California to become governor of California." www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Tom Steyer’s climate pivot signals new playbook for Dems
The billionaire environmental activist is leaning hard into economic populism.
www.politico.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
When Tom Steyer ran for president, climate action was the centerpiece of his campaign. Now he doesn't mention it.
"He ran for president to raise climate as an issue," an adviser said. "But he's running for governor of California to become governor of California." www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
"He ran for president to raise climate as an issue," an adviser said. "But he's running for governor of California to become governor of California." www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Describing an attraction that's outside the beltway as in Washington, D.C., seems like deceptive advertising.
(Relatedly, it's a stretch to call Washington Dulles International Airport a Washington airport.)
(Relatedly, it's a stretch to call Washington Dulles International Airport a Washington airport.)
December 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Describing an attraction that's outside the beltway as in Washington, D.C., seems like deceptive advertising.
(Relatedly, it's a stretch to call Washington Dulles International Airport a Washington airport.)
(Relatedly, it's a stretch to call Washington Dulles International Airport a Washington airport.)
Louisiana's governor claims without evidence that landowners challenging CO2 storage laws have been "hoodwinked by the radical left" and "manipulated into becoming the mouthpiece of the well known anti-oil and gas financiers Mike Bloomberg and George Soros" subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
E&E News: Landowners challenge laws that encourage carbon capture
Save My Louisiana asserts that state policies favoring CO2 pipelines and wells are unconstitutional.
subscriber.politicopro.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Louisiana's governor claims without evidence that landowners challenging CO2 storage laws have been "hoodwinked by the radical left" and "manipulated into becoming the mouthpiece of the well known anti-oil and gas financiers Mike Bloomberg and George Soros" subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...