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Every night some 74,000 gallons (280,000 liters) of water are frozen at Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. The hospital used to get all of its air conditioning from a conventional system found in most U.S. buildings, but now 27 tanks of ice sustain a network of cold-water pipes keeping operating rooms at safe temperatures and patients comfortable. This type of thermal energy storage, also known as ice batteries, is being added to buildings in the U.S. for its ability to provide cool air without releasing planet-warming emissions. These systems cut electricity usage and lower the strain on the grid. With rising temperatures and the growing demand for electricity in the U.S., ice thermal energy storage offers a sustainable option for cooling buildings. Trane Technologies, a company that makes heating and cooling equipment, says it has seen a growing demand for this technology over the past few years. Its ice batteries are mostly used in schools as well as commercial and government buildings. Nostromo Energy, another company that makes ice batteries, is pursuing customers among energy-intensive data centers that have high cooling demands. Smaller systems are also made for homes by companies such as Ice Energy. Tanks of ice thaw to create air conditioning Ice thermal energy storage technology varies between manufacturers, but each follows a similar concept: At night, when electricity from the grid is at its cheapest, water is frozen into ice that thaws the next day to cool the building. The ice chills water that is circulating through pipes in the building, absorbing heat from the rooms and creating a cooling effect. Air cooled by the system is then pushed through vents. Norton Audubon Hospital uses a Trane ice battery system. Trane said its ice batteries are often used alongside traditional air conditioning, and the ice-based cooling is used to lower energy costs during peak demand times. The traditional AC components are typically left in place or downsized when ice batteries are added. The stored ice doesn’t require energy to thaw, which reduces the strain on the grid and minimizes the buildings electricity usage, ultimately lowering monthly bills. Storing energy for further uses is where were going with the future of the grid, said Ted Tiffany, senior technical lead at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. He said access to air conditioning is a major public health need that is being exacerbated by a warming planet, and ice batteries are a sustainable way to address health risks associated with extreme heat. Energy costs at Norton Audubon were $278,000 lower for the first year the ice battery system was in operation after it was installed 2018. The hospital estimates that the system and other energy-saving measures have saved it nearly $4 million since 2016. The technology has been awesome for us, said Anthony Mathis, a Norton Healthcare executive who oversees sustainability. He said he receives inquiries from other building operators about the technology and thinks more facilities will adopt it as awareness grows. Using ice to meet growing energy demands Experts on sustainable energy say ice thermal energy storage is among the options commercial buildings can use to reduce electricity demand or store excess energy. Some commercial buildings use lithium batteries, which can store excess solar or wind energy that are available intermittently. Dustin Mulvaney, environmental studies professor at San Jose State University, said ice batteries are a sensible option for health care settings and senior homes because lithium batteries can pose a fire risk. Manufacturers also see opportunities in data centers, which are increasing in number to support artificial intelligence and have high energy and cooling needs. A December report from the Department of Energy found that data centers consumed more than 4% of the electricity in the country in 2023 and that number could grow up to 12% by 2028. Data centers are very energy-hungry and about 30% to 40% of their energy use is for cooling thats where a solution like ours could really help, said Yoram Ashery, CEO of Nostromo Energy. Nostromo Energy said it is discussing deals to install its systems with several large data center operators, but declined to provide further details. Its ice battery technology is also used at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. California is currently the biggest market for this technology because the grid there uses a lot of solar power during the day but switches to polluting energy sources such as natural gas after the sun sets. Ice batteries can be used for air conditioning in the late afternoon and evening instead of drawing from the grid. A lot of utilities are really interested in this type of load-shifting technology, said Joe Raasch, chief operating officer at Ice Energy, another ice thermal energy storage company. He said summer is typically the most expensive time for utilities to operate because of the air conditioning demand. Its really great technology that the grid really needs because so much of the future electric load is driven by cooling, said Raasch. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Isabella O’Malley, Associated Press
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LeBron James had another decision to announce. Turns out, it was an ad. The Los Angeles Lakers star teased that he would have something to say Tuesday. The decision reference is a nod to how he announced in July 2010 that he was joining the Miami Heat. It was supposed to come out at noon Eastern, but Hennessy the cognac brand that James has been partners with for some time made the announcement public about 90 minutes ahead of schedule. James’ training schedule for the day changed, the brand said, necessitating the change in release plans. This fall, I’m going to be taking my talents to Hennessy V.S.O.P, James said in the clip. Even the wording he used in that announcement mirrored how he announced that he was joining the Heat 15 years ago with his infamous take my talents to South Beach line. Hennessy announced that it would be releasing a limited edition orange bottle featuring James’ name on the label and his signature crowning gesture a nod to his King James moniker. Where the first moment marked a pivotal career move, this second decision celebrates a creative reunion and shared cultural legacy, Hennessy said in the release announcing the move. James teased the campaign by posting on X that he would be making the decision of all decisions.” The short video shows him walking toward a chair, then taking a seat opposite another man seated a few feet away mildly reminiscent of the setup for his first decision when he sat opposite broadcaster Jim Gray for a televised announcement of the news that he was joining the Heat. Social media went wild with speculation after the Monday post, as would be expected. James the NBA’s all-time leading scorer turns 41 in December and is not only the NBA’s oldest current player but also is about to set a record by appearing in his 23rd season in the league. He is not under contract past this season, which prompted obvious wondering if this would be how he announces a retirement plan. Ticket prices for the Lakers final regular season game in April soared on Monday on secondary markets, with fans willing to spend big money just in case James does decide that this season is his last. There were also many guesses on social media correct ones, it turned out that the latest decision would be James participating in an ad campaign of some sort. I like my decision, James says at the end of the ad.
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E-Commerce
Theres a double whammy hitting the U.S. alcohol industry lately: Americans are drinking less, while foreigners have soured on our exported spirits amid higher tariffs. Those dynamics have worsened a crisis thats already seen some distilleries go out of business this year and thousands of jobs eliminated. Exports of U.S. spirits to Canada plunged by 85% in the second quarter from a year ago, marking the steepest declines among four key markets, according to data released Monday by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DSCUS). Overall, exports of American spirits fell 9% in the second quarter as U.S. spirits makers pay the price of persistent trade tensions. Particularly problematic for U.S. spirits makers is the double-digit decline in exports to each of four key markets that represent 70% of total exports by value: the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. After a record year for U.S. spirits exports in 2024, this steep slump in exports in the second quarter is very troubling for U.S. distillers, Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the spirits council, said in a statement. Theres a growing concern that our international consumers are increasingly opting for domestically produced spirits or imports from countries other than the U.S., signaling a shift away from our great American spirits brands.” This data shows the extent of the effect of Canadas retaliatory tariffs on U.S. spirits, along with the decision by liquor stores in many provinces to yank American brands from their shelves altogether. While Canada did remove its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. spirits last month, drinkers there may have found other options that are more appealing to their palettes. In April, for example, sales of U.S. spirits plummeted 68%, though sales of Canadian and other imported spirits rose about 3.6% each, according to DSCUS. TARIFFS RIPPLE THROUGH WHISKEY COUNTRY The spirits industry has emerged as a perhaps unlikely victim of President Donald Trumps aggressive tariff policy that he embarked on this spring. And thats reverberating through the heart of Americas whiskey country, where the international market has become especially crucial especially as Americans have cut back on consumption. Tennessee led the country with spirits exports of $934 million in 2024, followed by Kentucky with $751 million, according to DSCUS. The plummet in exports is only part of the problem for American whiskey distillers. Through April of this year, whiskey distillers had produced 78 million proof gallons, a 28% decrease from the same period last year and the lowest level since 2019, according to figures from the Treasury Departments 2025 monthly national statistics report and reporting by The Lexington Herald Leader. Whats more, American whiskey inventories have tripled since 2012, according to DSCUS, which means these distillers are sitting on a lot of product. Combined, these factors have spelled trouble. Big conglomerates like Brown-Forman, which owns Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve, have slashed jobs by double digits or, in the case of Diageo, halted production altogether at two of its whiskey distilleries in Tennessee and Texas. Kentucky Owl, which is owned by Stoli Group, filed for bankruptcy protection. Whats more, brands that might not be household namesUncle Nearest, Limestone Farms Distillery, Garrard County Distillery, and Luca Marianohave also faced problems ranging from bankruptcy to shutting down production to lawsuits related to millions of dollars in debts. AMERICANS ABSTAINING Another factor upending the spirits industry is that Americans are laying off booze like never before. Only 54% of U.S. adults say they consume alcohol, according to an annual poll released in August, the lowest level since Gallup began tracking drinking habits in 1939. The decline has been especially steep recently: In 2022, 67% of Americans reported drinking alcohol. Slowing demand for alcohol domestically means that its critically important that U.S. distillers have the certainty of zero-for-zero tariffs with key export markets, Swonger said. The spirits council is urging President Trump to reconsider his tariff stancesomething elected politicians from affected states havent been so universally vocal about. TARIFFS AND POLITICS While Kentuckys top leadersDemocratic Governor Andy Beshear, along with Republican Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paulcame together in a rare act of bipartisanship in March to push back on Trumps tariffs, the same hasnt happened in Tennessee. Republican Governor Bill Lee backed Trumps tariff policy in the spring and hasnt been quoted on the impact to his states spirits industry more recently. In a 25-year span, the U.S. has seen the number of distillers explode from about 60 to more than 3,100 today in whats been an amazing growth story, Swonger tells Fast Company. And the industry thrives best with a zero-for-zero tariff policyzero tariffs on imports, zero tariffs on exportssomething the council is hopeful President Trump will be able to achieve once again with key trading partners, while furthering his goals to reduce the trade deficit. That might seem counterintuitive because tariffs on imported spirits could theoretically provide U.S. distillers with a competitive advantage, Swonger says. But the current 15% tariff imposed on imports of all spirits from the European Union, for example, has a ripple effect on restaurants, retailers, distributors, bartenders, and consumers. We want to compete for taste, he adds. The council is optimistic that Trump will successfully navigate trade talks to alleviate the uncertainty and lack of predictability currently facing the industryincluding in a highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this week. Thos talks might help ease the iciness thats seen many state-owned liquor stores in various Canadian provinces continue to abstain from carrying American spirits altogether. Thats unfortunate, Swonger says of the current dynamic. The emotions in Canada are high, and we hope the prime minister and president have a good meeting.
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