Nancy Skinner

That hum you're hearing behind Justin is the HVAC system keeping the batteries cool because they're charging from that solar energy and probably also the heat just from how hot it is outside. The sun was very strong when I visited. Yeah, let's move to the shade.

That hum you're hearing behind Justin is the HVAC system keeping the batteries cool because they're charging from that solar energy and probably also the heat just from how hot it is outside. The sun was very strong when I visited. Yeah, let's move to the shade.

Yeah, we put that question to Justin.

Yeah, we put that question to Justin.

Yeah, we put that question to Justin.

This new reliability in renewables is very attractive to tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon. They already use solar and wind power, but they have power-hungry data centers to feed things like artificial intelligence. So they're buying up battery storage, too.

This new reliability in renewables is very attractive to tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon. They already use solar and wind power, but they have power-hungry data centers to feed things like artificial intelligence. So they're buying up battery storage, too.

This new reliability in renewables is very attractive to tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon. They already use solar and wind power, but they have power-hungry data centers to feed things like artificial intelligence. So they're buying up battery storage, too.

In 2019, California had limited battery storage capacity. In April of last year, batteries could power 10 million homes for a period of time. Just six months later, that number grew to 13 million homes.

In 2019, California had limited battery storage capacity. In April of last year, batteries could power 10 million homes for a period of time. Just six months later, that number grew to 13 million homes.

In 2019, California had limited battery storage capacity. In April of last year, batteries could power 10 million homes for a period of time. Just six months later, that number grew to 13 million homes.

Justin's company, Arrivon, believes in grid-scale battery storage so much it's invested $2 billion in the space. They already have five facilities in California, including Cal Flats, and it's looking at six more.

Justin's company, Arrivon, believes in grid-scale battery storage so much it's invested $2 billion in the space. They already have five facilities in California, including Cal Flats, and it's looking at six more.

Justin's company, Arrivon, believes in grid-scale battery storage so much it's invested $2 billion in the space. They already have five facilities in California, including Cal Flats, and it's looking at six more.

So let's go to Texas. I'm going to hop out here and Darian, let you and Indicator co-host Waylon Wong pick it up after the break.

So let's go to Texas. I'm going to hop out here and Darian, let you and Indicator co-host Waylon Wong pick it up after the break.

So let's go to Texas. I'm going to hop out here and Darian, let you and Indicator co-host Waylon Wong pick it up after the break.

There's a third episode of the Indicator series all about what it takes to produce lithium batteries. You can find that at the link in our show notes. And if you want to hear about how this whole series came together, check out our next bonus episode for Planet Money Plus supporters. We take you inside our reporting and share some fun stuff that we just couldn't fit into the series.

There's a third episode of the Indicator series all about what it takes to produce lithium batteries. You can find that at the link in our show notes. And if you want to hear about how this whole series came together, check out our next bonus episode for Planet Money Plus supporters. We take you inside our reporting and share some fun stuff that we just couldn't fit into the series.

There's a third episode of the Indicator series all about what it takes to produce lithium batteries. You can find that at the link in our show notes. And if you want to hear about how this whole series came together, check out our next bonus episode for Planet Money Plus supporters. We take you inside our reporting and share some fun stuff that we just couldn't fit into the series.