Alan Ohnsman
Forbes journalist covering autonomous vehicles, robotaxis, and advanced transportation; frequent reporting and analysis on AV companies and ecosystem.
Musk Abandons California, SpaceX IPO May Boost State Taxes
NEW: Elon Musk quit California after years of attacking its taxes, politics and business climate, moving SpaceX to Texas. But its IPO, the biggest fiscal event of his career, could hand the state he trashed a giant tax windfall https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/06/09/spacex-left-california-its-ipo-payday-did-not/
Data Centers Power the Surge in Clean Energy
In the latest Current Climate newsletter: ☀️ Data centers are increasingly unpopular, but they have one silver lining: they're underpinning the green energy growth 🔋A highly valued home battery startup ⚡ Ex-Meta CTO is betting on clean energy technology https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/06/08/data-center-silver-lining-theyre-powering-clean-energy-growth/
Robot Trucks, Electric Tugboats, and Chinese‑Free Solar Rise
The latest Current Climate newsletter looks at: 🚛How robot trucks can help cut fuel consumption ⛴️Surging diesel prices are kickstarting an electric tugboat market 😎 Boom times for a solar panel maker that doesn’t use Chinese components https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/06/01/robot-trucks-can-help-cut-fuel-consumption/
Iran Oil Shock Accelerates Electric Tugboat Market
NEW: The Iran war oil Shock is helping kickstart a market for electric tugboats ⛴️ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/06/01/how-the-iran-war-oil-shock-is-helping-launch-a-market-for-electric-tugboats/
Energy Storage Surge Powers Clean Transport, Subsidy Reliance
In the latest Current Climate newsletter: 🔋 Boom times for energy storage batteries 🚛 Tesla’s ongoing reliance on California subsidies ⚡️ A deal to supply clean hydrogen, generated underground, to power buses and trucks https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/05/26/boom-times-for-energy-storage-batteries/
Musk Slams California yet Depends on Its Subsidies
NEW: Elon Musk trashes California and subsidies. He needs both for Tesla’s Semi to succeed https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/05/19/california-hater-elon-musk-needs-the-states-subsidies-to-launch-teslas-semi/
Offshore Wind Avoids Fire and Oil Spill Hazards
You know what offshore wind farms don't do? Catch on FIRE 🔥 — or spill millions of gallons of oil 🤦♂️ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-11/oil-platform-fire-california
Energy Security Fuels Agrivoltaics and E‑bike Boom
In the latest Current Climate newsletter: ☀️Solar on the farm: the benefits of agrivoltaics ⚡️Energy security is driving the clean energy transition 🚲 Trek Bicycle’s John Burke on the booming e-bike market, supply chain disruption https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/05/11/integrating-solar-on-the-farm/
AI and Lasers Reshape the Post‑oil Economy
In the latest Current Climate: ☀️ Planning for the end of the oil age 🤖 Mariana Minerals is mining for copper with AI-powered robots 🌽 Carbon Robotics CEO Paul Mikesell on using weed-killing lasers instead of chemicals for healthier farming https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/05/04/planning-for-the-end-of-the-oil-age/
Tesla Veteran Leads World’s First AI‑run Copper Mine
New: This Tesla veteran is running a copper mine with AI-powered robots Mariana Minerals, led by CEO Turner Caldwell, is operating the world’s first autonomous mine, extracting and refining copper in Utah to meet surging demand for the costly metal https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/04/27/this-tesla-veteran-is-running-a-copper-mine-with-ai-powered-robots/
AI Uncovers Hidden Geothermal Energy Potential
In the latest Current Climate newsletter: ♨️Finding hidden geothermal power with AI 🚀How SpaceX’s IPO could leave Tesla eating rocket dust 🌳World Economic Forum's Jack Hurd on the need for better forest management in a warming world https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/04/27/finding-hidden-geothermal-power-with-ai/
SpaceX IPO Threatens Tesla’s Valuation and Narrative
NEW: Battle of the Musk meme stocks A splashy IPO from Elon Musk’s SpaceX could siphon attention, capital and narrative momentum from a Tesla story already straining to justify its valuation https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/04/23/spacexs-ipo-could-leave-tesla-eating-rocket-dust/
War, Tech, and Elite Views Shape Climate Future
In the latest Current Climate newsletter: 🌊 Warming oceans, a hot year and ‘elite’ beliefs 🤖 Should urbanists should embrace robotaxis? ☀️ How the Iran war may impact the renewable energy transition https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/04/20/warming-oceans-a-hot-year-and-elite-beliefs/
Coastal Republicans Back Offshore Wind Despite Trump Opposition
In this week's Current Climate newsletter: 🌬️Trump hates offshore wind. Republicans in coastal states don’t 🔋A Google spinout is using AI to create better batteries 🌿MIT’s Kate Brown on the environmental impact of grassy lawns https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/04/13/trump-hates-offshore-wind-coastal-republicans-dont/
Tackling Microplastics, Safer Nuclear, Massive Battery Recycling Deal
In the latest Current Climate: 🫗Cracking down on microplastics in drinking water ⚛️A cheaper, safer form of nuclear power 🔋A $1.1 billion deal to get nickel and lithium from a “black mass” of recycled battery waste https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/04/06/a-move-to-crack-down-on-microplastics/