Alison F. Takemura

New York becomes first state to commit to all-electric new buildings The state finalized rules ensuring most new edifices will install electric heat pumps and stoves instead of gas appliances, lowering costs and improving…

Electrifying news! New York is the first state to adopt an all-electric building code prohibiting fossil fuels in new construction. A federal district court judge recently upheld the law requiring the standard, slamming a prior judgement on gas bans. My latest: www.canarymedia.com/articles/car...

⚡ Fellow Americans, we have a chance to use federal home energy and EV tax credits before they're gone. But the window of opportunity will soon slam shut. Dive into my latest guide to taking advantage of all of the federal incentives you can claim to get heat pumps, solar panels, and more:

Thanks, Jesse! Does the modeling capture something along the lines of "X number of heat pumps were forecast to be adopted because of IRA provisions; if repealed, that number would drop by Y”? (Also, feel free to DM me or drop me a line at takemura@canarymedia.com!)

SoCal rejects plan to phase down new gas furnaces and water heaters After an opposition campaign waged by SoCalGas and others, regulators tanked rules that would’ve encouraged, but not required, a transition to electric…

Air-quality regulators for SoCal rejected a plan to phase down new gas furnaces and water heaters.

It's a blow to efforts to clean up harmful, planet-warming emissions from buildings, @alisontakemura.bsky.social reports:

SoCal rejects plan to phase down new gas furnaces and water heaters After an opposition campaign waged by SoCalGas and others, regulators tanked rules that would’ve encouraged, but not required, a transition to electric…

After an opposition campaign waged by SoCalGas and others, regulators tanked rules that would’ve encouraged, but not required, a transition to electric heat pumps in Southern California.

Reporting by @alisontakemura.bsky.social:

Hi Jesse! Thanks so much for putting this info out there. Have you modeled the effect on heat-pump adoption (perhaps as a piece of the household energy expenditure modeling)? If not, do you know if anyone has?

200+ scientists are in the middle of a marathon livestream to show why weather and climate science is so important and needs all our help to continue.

It is here: wclivestream.com/watch

Gas stoves increase cancer risk, especially for kids, new study finds The appliances emit benzene, a potent carcinogen. Exposure varies depending on ventilation and other factors, but there’s no safe level.

“Gas stoves increase the chances of getting cancer, with nearly double the risk for kids than for adults.” !!

New study, story by @alisontakemura.bsky.social: www.canarymedia.com/articles/fos...

Trump’s all-out war on energy efficiency From targeting Energy Star to pausing more obscure rules, the Trump administration is derailing measures that help save money by reducing energy use.

The Trump admin’s moves threaten to upend decades of progress on making appliances do more with less energy.

Trump’s actions could undercut his own promise to halve energy bills during his first 18 months in office, @alisontakemura.bsky.social reports:

We Are Firefighters: A Talk About the Climate and the Trees This is a slightly edited version of a talk I gave at last Saturday's benefit concert by the adventurous and world-renowned Kronos Quartet for Oil Change International, a climate group on whose board ...

...if you add up the tiny fires in our internal combustion engines and our stoves and furnaces, in our coal and gas-fired power plants, in our container ships and airplanes, you see billions of small fires that add up to a conflagration, a world on fire.

We are here to put out the fire....

More than 80% of the world’s reefs hit by bleaching after worst global event on record An ashen pallor and an eerie stillness all that remains where there should be fluttering fish and vibrant colours in the reefscape, one conservationist says

She said “in a blink of my eyes” shallow reefs became white landscapes, with widespread death among staghorn corals used in restoration projects. Spectacular sea fans and soft corals died quickly. -- Graham Readfearn @theguardian.com

This made me tear up!

An Interview With A Fired U.S. Forest Service Hydrologic Technician | Defector As a child, Claire Sneed had a morbid fascination with natural disasters. In first grade, she followed NOAA’s online storm tracker. Later she witnessed Hurricanes Irene and Sandy sweep past her home i...

I spoke with Claire Sneed, a fired US Forest Service hydrologic technician, about what we lose when we dismantle national forests (clean water, avalanche warnings, usable trails, wildfire crews, happy beavers) and what we gain (more wildfires and rich Airbnbs)
defector.com/an-interview...

Community solar is winning over Republican lawmakers around the US In Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio, GOP legislators have sponsored bills to spur community solar, which allows more people to access cheap, clean power.

Republican state legislators are showing community solar some love: www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...

“Ultimately, for me, it was giving Iowan consumers a choice,” said Iowa state Rep. Hans Wilz, a Republican, in a March interview on why he introduced a #communitysolar bill.

Gutting clean energy incentives would drive up electric bills Rising energy costs are a problem in the U.S. Ending Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and ramping up fossil fuels would make it even worse.

Why keep the federal #cleanenergy tax credits? To lower electricity bills. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...: NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum told The New York Times at CERAWeek, adding that ​“if you take renewables and storage off the table, we’re going to force electricity prices to the moon.”

How to eliminate carbon emissions from world’s buildings To become climate-friendly, buildings need heat pumps, energy-efficiency measures, cleaner construction, and tech that makes their power use more flexible.

From @alisontakemura.bsky.social, here's how to decarbonize every building everywhere — just not all at once:

Rural Texans speaking up for a diverse, reliable energy grid — one that includes solar + batteries + gas + nukes + wind...

Text on graphic: ProPublica Wins Two National Magazine Awards. General Excellence:
News, Sports and Entertainment category. Public Interest:
“Life of the Mother” series.

We're honored to receive National Magazine Awards in both General Excellence and Public Interest this year: propub.li/3RPtlgM

"No print or digital magazine had a greater impact on public policy and our national debate than did ProPublica in 2024," judges commented.

Congrats to all the winners!

SoCal regulators weigh weakened rules for emissions-free appliances Though the new proposal would still help clean up the region’s smog-filled air, it stops short short of mandating heat pumps and banning appliances that…

SoCal regulators are weighing a new proposal that would help clean up the region’s smog-filled air, but stop short of mandating heat pumps and banning appliances that emit NOx.

Reporting by @alisontakemura.bsky.social

Canary Media News Team Join the conversation

Follow our journalists for uncompromised reporting on the clean energy transition: go.bsky.app/Emn2LcZ

California unveils first state plan to unleash heat pumps The new blueprint aims to help California reach its goal of deploying 6 million heat pumps by 2030, a target it is currently lagging behind.

The California Heat Pump Partnership announced the nation’s first statewide blueprint for deploying heat pumps, a critical tech for decarbonizing buildings and improving public health.

Reporting by @alisontakemura.bsky.social

Even Donald Trump’s Historical Role Model Had Second Thoughts About Tariffs President William McKinley was a steadfast protectionist—until a depression and a G.O.P. wipeout.

“Commercial wars are unprofitable. A policy of good will and friendly trade relations will prevent reprisals. Reciprocity treaties are in harmony with the spirit of the times, measures of retaliation are not"

Who said this? William McKinley, Trump's role model.

www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...

I loved learning about how electricity rates can be redesigned so that they make energy bills with a heat pump lower, and yet don't cause other customers' bills to go up. There's some clever math afoot in this study from @aceeedc.bsky.social.

This map shows where to swap out industrial boilers for heat pumps From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, ditching small industrial boilers for heat pumps could help clear smoggy skies.

From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, ditching small industrial boilers for heat pumps could help clear smoggy skies, @alisontakemura.bsky.social reports.

This map shows where swapping out boilers for heat pumps could benefit communities:

EU to unveil ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ to cut CO2, boost energy security The bold plan aims to revitalize and decarbonize heavy industry, reduce reliance on gas, and make energy cheaper, cleaner, and more secure. But does it…

I have another big story up on @canarymedia.com this a.m. on the EU's looming Clean Industrial Deal.

The documents include plans to ease gas prices, slash electricity taxes and establish a 40% "Buy European"

But skeptics say the EU is going to have a tough time. www.canarymedia.com/articles/pol...

For one Minnesotan, a new heat pump brings comfort and savings Even in one of the coldest cities in the U.S., Kathy Palmer’s heat pump helps displace gas heating, lowers heating bills, and makes her home more…

Even in one of the coldest cities in the U.S., Kathy Palmer’s heat pump helps displace gas heating, lowers heating bills, and makes her home more comfortable.

Learn more in @alisontakemura.bsky.social's latest #ElectrifiedLife column: www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea...

How to get the most out of your electric vehicle in the winter Your EV will probably perform just fine in the cold, but these tips will help make sure you maximize your car’s range when it’s frosty outside.

Your EV will probably perform just fine in the cold, but these tips from @alisontakemura.bsky.social will help make sure you maximize your car’s range when it’s frosty outside: