Gigafact
Coverage of Gigafact in the Nexus archive.
- Fact brief: Does solar energy need subsidies to compete with fossil fuels?
Unsubsidized utility-scale solar is generally cheaper than new fossil fuel power plants, with a 2025 analysis showing a mean levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $58 per megawatt-hour for solar compared to $79 for natural gas and $128 for coal. The International Energy Agency reports solar is the cheapest new electricity source globally in most regions, though subsidies can further reduce costs.
- Did 2026 start as one of the deadliest years for Colorado motorcyclists in the past decade?
Fifteen motorcyclists died in Colorado during the first three months of 2026, the deadliest start since 2017, but fatalities dropped by 24% by June 1 compared to the previous year. Motorcycle deaths in Colorado have increased by 90% since 2011, with 21% of traffic fatalities involving motorcyclists despite comprising only 3% of vehicles.
- Has the water in Denver’s Sloan’s Lake killed fish?
Sloan’s Lake in Denver has experienced toxic blue-green algae blooms that killed thousands of fish, including a 2024 die-off of at least 2,000 fish. The lake’s shallow depth and rising temperatures due to climate change contribute to algae overgrowth, which harms fish by depleting oxygen or releasing toxins. Colorado Parks and Wildlife restocked the lake with 9,500 rainbow trout after the 2024 incident.