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The Energy of the Future: Maryanna Betterly

As an energy studies minor, Maryanna shares how coupling the minor with her major in mechanical engineering has given her a more holistic perspective on the energy transition. Her passion for this work was cemented after experiencing climate change personally when her hometown in Pennsylvania was hit with its first tornado.

September 22, 2026

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Your electric bill shouldn’t be so high. Here’s how to fix it.

MIT Deputy Director Christopher Knittel discusses the effect of Massachusetts’ flawed electricity pricing system on incentives to electrify.

June 23, 2023 In the media The Boston Globe

MIT unveils a megawatt motor for electric aircraft

MIT aeroengineers, led by Professor Zoltán Spakovszky (Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics), are working on significantly shrinking the carbon footprint of aviation by creating a 1-megawatt electrical motor for commercial airliners.

June 23, 2023 In the media IEEE Spectrum

America needs clean electricity. These states show how to do it.

Decarbonizing the energy sector is necessary to avoid the worst climate change projections. MITEI Principal Research Scientist Jennifer Morris advocates for the adoption of nuclear energy in the United States, but says that the right incentives will be necessary to make it more appealing.

June 23, 2023 In the media The Washington Post

What is carbon capture? Some say it will help save the world, for others it’s a dangerous distraction

MITEI Senior Research Engineer Howard Herzog discusses what carbon capture is and what role it can play in addressing climate change: “There’s no silver bullet here, but it’s a tool in our portfolio.”

June 23, 2023 In the media CNN

Can Boston’s energy innovators save the world?

Boston is quickly becoming an energy powerhouse in no small part due to the research and startups coming from MIT. Boston Magazine highlights the work of Dennis Whyte (Plasma Science and Fusion Center), Yet-Ming Chiang (Department of Materials Science and Engineering), and startups like Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Quaise Energy, and Form Energy.

June 23, 2023 In the media Boston Magazine

Scientists are trying to pull carbon out of the ocean to combat climate change

T. Alan Hatton (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Kripa Varanasi (Department of Mechanical Engineering) discuss their process for removing CO2 from ocean water, aided by the ocean’s ability to pull greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

June 23, 2023 In the media Scientific American

Clean energy sector debates impact of GOP efforts to repeal tax credits

MITEI Deputy Director Chris Knittel weighs in on GOP efforts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits, saying it hurt both Democrat and Republication jurisdictions and these impacts will vary based on the type of tax credit.

June 23, 2023 In the media The Hill

Panel addresses technologies needed for a net-zero future

Critical needs for curbing greenhouse gases include non-fossil fuel aviation, buildings, electric grids, industrial processes, and the potential of fusion power

June 7, 2023 MITEI