Underground Energy Storage & Trump’s AI Plan Secrets
▼ Summary
– Texas startup Quidnet Energy successfully tested storing energy for six months by pumping water underground.
– The company’s approach adapts traditional pumped hydropower storage to enable cheaper, long-duration energy storage in new locations.
– The White House’s AI Action Plan aims to clarify Trump’s previously vague AI policy goals through specific measures.
– Key plan elements include cutting environmental rules for data centers and restricting funding to states with strict AI regulations.
– Less-publicized details in the plan provide insights into the administration’s broader AI strategy direction.
A Texas energy startup has successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking method for storing renewable energy underground for extended periods. Quidnet Energy recently completed tests showing their modified pumped hydro system can retain power for up to six months by injecting water deep beneath the earth’s surface. While conventional pumped hydro storage has existed for decades, this innovative approach could make long-term energy storage viable in locations where traditional methods aren’t practical.
The company’s technology works by using excess electricity to pump water into underground rock formations during periods of low demand. When energy needs increase, the pressurized water is released to generate power through turbines. This solution addresses one of renewable energy’s biggest challenges, storing surplus generation for use when the sun isn’t shining or wind isn’t blowing.
Meanwhile, recent policy developments suggest significant changes coming to America’s artificial intelligence landscape. The administration’s newly unveiled AI Action Plan outlines several controversial measures that could reshape how the technology develops nationwide. Beyond the more publicized elements like relaxing environmental regulations for data centers, the proposal contains less-discussed provisions with potentially far-reaching consequences.
Key aspects include financial penalties for states implementing strict AI oversight laws and requirements that government contractors develop algorithms without “ideological bias”, a vaguely defined standard that’s already sparking debate. The plan also prioritizes rapid infrastructure expansion while reducing what it describes as unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. Industry analysts note these policies could accelerate AI deployment but may also lead to legal challenges regarding federal overreach and free speech concerns.
Both stories highlight how technological progress often involves balancing innovation with practical considerations. Whether it’s storing clean energy underground or navigating the complex policy landscape surrounding artificial intelligence, these developments demonstrate how solutions to modern challenges frequently require creative thinking across multiple disciplines. The coming months will likely reveal whether these approaches deliver on their promises or encounter unexpected obstacles.
(Source: Technology Review)
