To keep up with California's unrelenting wildfire threat, some insurers are now turning to AI to predict fire risk with unprecedented, structure-by-structure detail.
Why it matters: This will allow them to cover homes in areas that they would otherwise have passed over — but potentially at the cost of hiking rates for those who can least afford it.
Atlanta is on track to break the city record for the most 90-degree days in one year, reports AccuWeather.
The big picture: Atlanta is one of several cities in the Southeast to have broken "multiple daily high-temperature records" this month. It's already had 83 days in 2019 in which the temperature was at least 90 degrees, threatening to break the record of 90 days set in 1980 and 2011. The steaming temperatures across a number of U.S. cities are raising cooling costs, as people are forced to use indoor air conditioning for longer than the standard cooling period from May 1 through Sept. 26, per AccuWeather.
Vermont farmers are using new technology to help them harvest maple syrup as temperature spikes from climate change impact harvesting season, reports CNBC.
Why it matters: Vermont produced $54.3 million worth of syrup in 2018 and it accounts for 38% of all maple syrup produced in the U.S. However, production could be pushed farther into northern Canada if temperatures continue to rise, according to CNBC.
The U.S. vehicle market could finally be going electric — and faster than you might think.
What's happening: While California and the Trump administration go to war over the state's right to set its own tailpipe emissions standards, large cities are taking steps to curb pollution and corporate giants like Amazon are launching their own green agendas.
One spillover from the aerial attacks against Saudi facilities: It could help propel U.S. crude exports to fresh highs and maybe even lift them to the 4 million barrels per day mark, S&P Global Platts reports.
Why it matters: U.S. crude exports have gone well over 3 mbd at times over the last year, but hitting 4 mbd — while just a number — would reinforce how the U.S. has become a major player in export markets.
Tesla's stock jumped 6% yesterday after publication of an email from CEO Elon Musk to staff stating that the electric automaker could hit 100,000 deliveries this quarter.
Why it matters: That would be the highest for any 3-month period, surpassing Q2's 95,200 tally.
