Shumita Basu

And this year, new battery installations are posed to almost double compared to 2024. Vox's Umair Irfan explained for us why this is such a big deal.

And this year, new battery installations are posed to almost double compared to 2024. Vox's Umair Irfan explained for us why this is such a big deal.

And this year, new battery installations are posed to almost double compared to 2024. Vox's Umair Irfan explained for us why this is such a big deal.

But battery-based energy storage is changing that, and fast. It allows electricity from solar and wind to be stored and used when needed. Or as backup power in emergencies when transmission lines are damaged. A big reason why this tech is advancing so quickly is because batteries have become a lot cheaper than they were a few decades ago. They're better at holding denser amounts of energy.

But battery-based energy storage is changing that, and fast. It allows electricity from solar and wind to be stored and used when needed. Or as backup power in emergencies when transmission lines are damaged. A big reason why this tech is advancing so quickly is because batteries have become a lot cheaper than they were a few decades ago. They're better at holding denser amounts of energy.

But battery-based energy storage is changing that, and fast. It allows electricity from solar and wind to be stored and used when needed. Or as backup power in emergencies when transmission lines are damaged. A big reason why this tech is advancing so quickly is because batteries have become a lot cheaper than they were a few decades ago. They're better at holding denser amounts of energy.

Erfan cited a few other reasons.

Erfan cited a few other reasons.

Erfan cited a few other reasons.

The other good news here is this type of energy storage is cleaner than traditional methods. The American power sector is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It's also getting old and in need of expensive repairs.

The other good news here is this type of energy storage is cleaner than traditional methods. The American power sector is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It's also getting old and in need of expensive repairs.

The other good news here is this type of energy storage is cleaner than traditional methods. The American power sector is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It's also getting old and in need of expensive repairs.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. House Republicans published their proposal to deliver on Trump's tax-cutting agenda with a bill that suggests substantial cuts for Medicaid.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. House Republicans published their proposal to deliver on Trump's tax-cutting agenda with a bill that suggests substantial cuts for Medicaid.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. House Republicans published their proposal to deliver on Trump's tax-cutting agenda with a bill that suggests substantial cuts for Medicaid.

Analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the plan would bring down spending by $715 billion over the next decade and, quote, reduce the number of people with health insurance by at least 8.6 million by 2034. Republicans plan to lower that number largely by tightening eligibility and work requirements. But internal divisions remain.

Analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the plan would bring down spending by $715 billion over the next decade and, quote, reduce the number of people with health insurance by at least 8.6 million by 2034. Republicans plan to lower that number largely by tightening eligibility and work requirements. But internal divisions remain.

Analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the plan would bring down spending by $715 billion over the next decade and, quote, reduce the number of people with health insurance by at least 8.6 million by 2034. Republicans plan to lower that number largely by tightening eligibility and work requirements. But internal divisions remain.

Some House Republicans said this proposal didn't go far enough, while Senator Josh Hawley warned in The New York Times that big cuts would be, quote, morally wrong and politically suicidal. In other news, Trump signed an executive order demanding drug companies lower their U.S. prices within 30 days.

Some House Republicans said this proposal didn't go far enough, while Senator Josh Hawley warned in The New York Times that big cuts would be, quote, morally wrong and politically suicidal. In other news, Trump signed an executive order demanding drug companies lower their U.S. prices within 30 days.