Former OfferUp and Auth0 CEOs lead secretive new EV charging startup

A secretive new Seattle-area startup called Juicer Energy is aiming to turn residential properties into public EV charging stations. The company’s leaders include former OfferUp CEO Nick Huzar and former Auth0 CEO Jon Gelsey. GeekWire spotted a filing that reveals a new investment round for the startup. Read more.

Microsoft will no longer serve as an observer on the OpenAI board, despite a multi-billion dollar investment that gives the Redmond company a major financial stake in the for-profit entity of the artificial intelligence pioneer. The decision comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of investments in AI companies by tech giants. Read more.

DoorDash and Uber are chomping at the bit for regulatory action in Seattle. The tech companies recently sent letters to the Seattle City Council, urging them to pass legislation that revises a minimum wage standard for food delivery drivers implemented in January. Read more.

Amazon said it shrank its carbon footprint by 3% last year — but hinted at challenges ahead for its clean energy ambitions. Tech companies are struggling to reconcile their ambitious climate targets with surging energy demands created by the increased use of artificial intelligence. Read more.

• In other energy news: Microsoft inked a deal to buy 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide removal credits in what’s being called the largest single carbon removal agreement ever.

Meet the brains behind the Seattle area’s climate tech ecosystem. We’re spotlighting some of the leaders who stand out because of their drive, dedication and innovative strategies for combating climate change and bolstering the sector’s community.

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• Microsoft is making major changes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service with price increases across existing tiers. (Windows Central)

• Amazon Web Services released a new tool called App Studio that uses generative AI to help create enterprise software apps. (TechCrunch)

• Microsoft averted a European Union antitrust investigation with a $21.7 million deal to settle a complaint about its cloud computing licensing practices. (Reuters)

• The Seattle City Council approved an amended land use code that will allow developers to convert some downtown office space to residential use. (KOMO News)

• Jeff Bezos and Amazon are among the investors in a robotics startup led by Carnegie Mellon University professors. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• A group of Bellevue middle school students who built a rocket lander were winners in a NASA challenge encouraging kids to pursue engineering and space careers. (The Seattle Times)

• The 5G Open Innovation Lab, based in Bellevue, Wash., launched a new business unit called KhasmX. (5G Open Innovation Lab) 

• Amazon Web Services surpassed its goal of offering free cloud skills training to more than 31 million people. (Amazon)