No. 117: Hybrids Take Flight

When it comes to carbon emissions, there are few steps you can take that are more valuable than reducing your air travel. Flight is terrible for the environment. Fortunately, a slew of companies have lined up to innovate in aviation, from new body designs to alternative fuels – and this week, NASA has awarded a couple of new contracts to produce hybrid-electric aircraft.

Elsewhere, I have a lead on a series of climate tech internships for 2025 – yes, it's time to think about those already – and one of my favorite volunteer opportunity platforms makes a return as this week's resource. If you're ready to take action, let's dive in.

~ Greg

What we're reading

NASA has awarded new contracts to develop hybrid-electric aircraft designs with the goal of developing a zero-emission aircraft by 2050. (Fast Company)

• The awards are part of NASA’s Advanced Aircraft for Sustainable Aviation (AACES) 2050 program, which aims to accelerate sustainable air travel.
  • This time around, the contracts have gone to a company called Electra that has produced a prototype with limited capacity – a demonstrator aircraft that's far smaller than what you'd imagine for a national airline.
  • They're testing the prototype then planning to launch a larger aircraft that can hold nine people. That might seem small, but private planes are about as awful as it gets for carbon emissions, and the number of private jet flights is increasing.
• Back when I was in college, our local aerospace engineering department was experimenting with hybrid aircraft. At one point, I was introduced to a local startup trying to build electric aircraft.
  • It baffled me at the time because of the limitations. The technology has come a long way since then, particularly in terms of battery storage.
  • Electra's aircraft uses a turbine generator to power multiple electric motors and propellers, reducing fuel and boosting efficiency.
• NASA has also backed designs from JetZero, Georgia Tech, Pratt & Whitney, and Aurora Flight Sciences. The names may not be familiar to you, but what strikes me is the variety. Pratt & Whitney is part of the largest aerospace and defense company in the world, RTX, and then you have startups and research labs getting awards as well.
  • In addition to writing this newsletter, I work for Collins Aerospace, another RTX business. You can see why I might have an interest in sustainable aviation.
• Obviously this technology has a long way to go, but it's exciting to see companies innovate in this area. Air travel has a remarkable impact on our carbon emissions, and the sooner we abate it, the better.

Job of the week

This one goes out to all the interns – believe it or not, it's already time to start thinking about internships in 2025.

LanzaTech is offering multiple internships next year, and their tech is really cool. You've probably heard of carbon capture, but what's really interesting here is that they recycle the carbon instead of storing it. For example, their polyester product has been used in clothing from REI and Adidas, and their ethanol product is used to make jet fuel.

You can find more than internships on their website, but if you're looking to get your start in social impact, be sure to check out their listings for a People Intern, Global IT Intern, and Project Finance and Corporate Development Intern.

Community roundup

• COP29 kicked off this week, but a bunch of world leaders are skipping out. The event is also drawing criticism from climate activists for being hosted in Azerbaijan, a major oil exporter. (Washington Post)
  • It probably didn't help that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, called oil and gas a 'gift of god' and attacked reporting on his country's emissions as 'fake news'.
  • Something good will likely come out of this COP – incremental progress is incremental after all – but the optics of this annual event haven't been great at a time when we really need a united front.
• A number of ballot initiatives focused on the environment succeeded last week. California is setting up a $10 billion climate resilience bond, Colorado got more money to fund water projects, and Washington retained its landmark climate legislation. (The Hill)
• Delaware state senator Sarah McBride is set to become the first openly trans member of Congress. (NBC News)
• People are reacting to election results by stockpiling emergency contraceptives and inundating phone banks that provide mental health care.
• Scientists released two studies on a new genomic test designed to identify pathogens that are particularly challenging to detect. It could be useful when a patient presents severe symptoms and initial tests return negative results. (NBC News)
• A health department in Idaho has joined a growing number of health departments that are ending COVID-19 vaccination programs, citing vaccine misinformation. (USA Today)
• School voucher programs were rejected by voters in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado. (ProPublica)
  • This surprised me since we've seen a lot of momentum on the school choice front over the past 10 years.

Hot job opportunities

• Marketing Manager – Nitricity – San Francisco, CA
• Retail Sales Manager - East Coast – Prime Roots – New York, NY
• Office Administrator – Qnergy – Ogden, UT
• People Operations Lead – rePurpose Global – New York, NY
• Senior Accountant – Catchafire – Remote
• Deputy Director – Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative – Remote
• Senior Climate Scientist – Environmental Defense Fund – Remote
• Director of Recruiting – Hanson Bridgett – San Francisco or Los Angeles, CA
• Business Systems & Applications Manager – Urban Remedy – Richmond, CA
• Sales Development Representative – KickUp – Remote

Resource of the week

If you're like me, you may be wondering 'how can I help?' this week, and it can be difficult to know where to start. I have a few options to take that first step.

You might be surprised by the diversity of volunteering opportunities near you. If you hop over to Google and search "climate volunteering near me" you'll get a bunch of hits. Try it with whatever mission resonates with you: conservation, healthcare, education, human trafficking, animal care, and more. Chances are you're closer to a group of like-minded people than you think.

If you're looking for something even easier, I've been a fan of Catchafire for a while now. They help connect nonprofits to volunteers with professional experience, and commitments range from a one-hour phone call to 50-hour projects. You can take a look at their list of projects here – you'll probably find one that resonates with you.

Test your knowledge

Last week, I dug up a classic documentary series and asked you who narrated it. Naturally – pun very much intended – it was David Attenborough who narrated Planet Earth.

I'm testing your metaphorical talents this week – it's a fun one:

Forests are major contributors to our climate, but there’s one that stands out as the “lungs of the Earth.” Which forest is it?

Email me your guess, and I'll send one lucky winner a couple of One Work stickers!

I had my first dim sum this week in Seattle’s International District. I thought dim sum was the name for the dumplings, but it’s more like tapas where dumplings and many other offerings come on small plates. Today I learned. You can find me on LinkedIn and Threads.