Justin Gerdes

This chart. Wow. reportearth.substack.com/p/the-washin... via @chriscmooney.bsky.social

Massachusetts, Nova Scotia announce partnership on offshore wind - The New Bedford Light The two governments have agreed to explore a bi-directional flow of energy and make use of the commonwealth’s ports, training and industry knowledge.

"Massachusetts and Nova Scotia signed an agreement Wednesday formalizing a partnership to develop offshore wind in their respective regions and share knowledge, workforce, ports and, potentially, the wind-generated energy itself." newbedfordlight.org/massachusett... by @aelennon.bsky.social 🔌💡

What I’m reading: California offshore wind ports funding, repowering solar farms with batteries, electric aviation update, a shortcut to electrify existing homes, and more Quitting Carbon is a 100% subscriber-funded publication. To support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation. Welcome back to another recap of highlights from...

Weekend reading: Every other Friday at Quitting Carbon I publish a roundup of energy transition developments you might have missed. Here's the latest issue: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... 🔌💡

A Groundbreaking Geothermal Heating and Cooling Network Saves This Colorado College Money and Water - Inside Climate News When a former oil and gas developer partnered with Colorado Mesa University on geothermal, the school saved millions and set a new standard for energy-efficient buildings.

"Since its geothermal buildout began in 2008, [Colorado Mesa University] has saved more than $15 million in energy costs, money it has passed on to students through lower tuition and more scholarship funding," reports @mckennapr.bsky.social: insideclimatenews.org/news/0702202... 🔌💡

What I’m reading: California offshore wind ports funding, repowering solar farms with batteries, electric aviation update, a shortcut to electrify existing homes, and more Quitting Carbon is a 100% subscriber-funded publication. To support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation. Welcome back to another recap of highlights from...

Weekend reading: Every other Friday at Quitting Carbon I publish a roundup of energy transition developments you might have missed. Here's the latest issue: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... 🔌💡

This is one reason why I publish Quitting Carbon on the @ghost.org platform: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com

In the story: "Importantly, capacity refers to the maximum amount of electricity a power plant can produce. Coal plants run closer to their maximum than wind or solar plants. So while coal capacity now trails renewable capacity, coal still accounts for about half of all power produced in China."

China to See Solar Capacity Outstrip Coal Capacity This Year

"In its latest projections, the China Electricity Council says that, by the end of 2026, wind and solar will account for nearly half of China’s power capacity." e360.yale.edu/digest/china... via @yalee360.bsky.social 🔌💡

Battery demand 'straps on a rocket' as rooftop solar passes its peak Even as Australia appears to have passed the peak of solar uptake, demand for batteries is seemingly headed into orbit.

"Australian households installed as many batteries in the final six months of 2025 as they did in the entire preceding five years, according to figures showing the boom in demand for storage devices." www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02... via Daniel Mercer and Isabel Moussalli 🔌💡

U.S. Judge Says Trump Cannot Halt Funding for Tunnel Project

"A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from suspending billions of dollars of funding for a rail tunnel under the Hudson River, pending future arguments in the case." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/n... via @nytpatrick.bsky.social and Chris Cameron

Remembering Lee Hamilton A man we need now

@rhodesben.bsky.social with a beautiful tribute to his former boss and mentor Lee Hamilton, who passed away this week: "If the United States of America were to have an ideal member of Congress designed in a laboratory, it would be Lee Hamilton." benrhodes1.substack.com/p/rememberin...

What’s driving up Maine’s energy bills? Natural gas. A new report finds more renewable energy could help make electricity more affordable, despite efforts to scapegoat clean power for rising costs.

"Natural gas, not solar panels and wind turbines, is the primary driver behind soaring power prices in Maine, according to a new report released this week by the state’s energy department," writes Sarah Shemkus: www.canarymedia.com/articles/fos... 🔌💡

What I’m reading: California offshore wind ports funding, repowering solar farms with batteries, electric aviation update, a shortcut to electrify existing homes, and more Quitting Carbon is a 100% subscriber-funded publication. To support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation. Welcome back to another recap of highlights from...

My latest at Quitting Carbon: California offshore wind ports funding, repowering solar farms with batteries, electric aviation update, a shortcut to electrify existing homes, and more highlights from what I've been reading: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... 🔌💡

PG&E Accelerating Home Electrification for Customers via SPAN Edge Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PGE) today announced a strategic collaboration with SPAN to deploy the company's SPAN Edge solution to help customers electrify their homes more affordably and effici...

PG&E will deploy SPAN Edge devices via its new PanelBoost program, "a grid-edge innovation initiative designed to reduce upgrade costs for customers adopting electric vehicles, heat pumps, induction cooking, and other high efficiency electric technologies." investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/... 🔌💡

California’s high-wire act to save money on power lines One of the energy policy “planes” that landed in the final days of last year’s legislative session had in its cargo hold a rough draft of a plan that aims to save billions of dollars on new power line...

@americancleanpower.bsky.social California's Wes Venteicher writes about a proposal in Senate Bill 254 in which "California wants to use public-private partnerships to cut financing costs for new transmission." www.cleanpowercalifornia.org/californias-... 🔌💡

California has abundant solar power. Here’s how factories can use it. High electricity costs in California have slowed industrial decarbonization in the state. New industrial rates and other fixes could change that, experts…

California state Sen. @joshbecker.bsky.social just introduced SB 943, which "proposes making changes to electricity rates to help manufacturers and large commercial companies switch to electricity for industrial heat," reports @mariagallucci.bsky.social: www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle... 🔌💡

Breaking: Washington Post gutting its climate team Clean energy dies in darkness. Courtesy of Jeff Bezos.

"The Post sent layoff notices to at least 14 climate journalists, newsroom sources told me, part of a massive round of cost-cutting that will see more than 300 journalists lose their jobs," reports @sammyroth.bsky.social: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington... #ClimateSky

The Washington Post Dies in Daylight Civic vandalism and the mutilation of a great paper.

"If a newspaper’s publisher makes a bunch of decisions that lose money, and then the owner keeps the publisher while firing the staff who puts out the paper—none of this is really about the money, is it?" writes @jvl.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/the-washin...

New York Lawmakers Want to Put Pipeline Spending on the Map New York utilities spend $1 billion a year replacing old gas pipes. New legislation would force them to reveal where that money is being spent.

"State lawmakers want gas companies to give New Yorkers more notice when they’re planning to dig up a gas line — and a chance to consider cheaper or cleaner alternatives," reports @colinreports.bsky.social: nysfocus.com/2026/02/04/l... 🔌💡

Faster and Cheaper: Lowest-Cost Solutions to Rapid Electricity Demand Report finds energy efficiency and demand flexibility can significantly offset the power needs of new data centers

New @aceee.org report: "Utility energy efficiency programs ... save energy for a median cost of only $21 per megawatt-hour, the report found. That’s less than half the cost of generating electricity with even the least expensive new gas-fired power plants." www.aceee.org/press-releas... 🔌💡

Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund

We at the @postguild.bsky.social are raising money for the hundreds of journalists the Post just laid off. This goes to the people who are hurting, not the Post. Or if you'd rather, go subscribe to an independent journalist. Support is hugely appreciated.

www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...

Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund

gofund.me/341dcfae8

Governor Newsom announces major high-speed rail milestone, track installation to begin | Governor of California

The California High-Speed Rail Authority completed its Southern Railhead Facility: "a major milestone that allows California to begin receiving and staging materials needed to install high-speed rail track and systems along the California high-speed rail corridor." www.gov.ca.gov/2026/02/03/g...

"Global proof point:" Big batteries overtake peaking gas generators in Australia's biggest state grids Australia emerges as "global proof point" of a major structural change in electricity grids around the world, with grid scale batteries overtaking peaking gas generation.

"Australia has emerged as a 'global proof point' of a major structural change in electricity grids around the world, with grid scale batteries overtaking peaking gas plant output in its three biggest state grids." reneweconomy.com.au/global-proof... via @gilesparkinson.bsky.social 🔌💡

Staff exodus, case gridlock: DOJ environment division under Trump 2.0 Lawyers who served under Republican and Democratic presidents — including Donald Trump during his first term — exited the division in droves last year.

"One year after President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, at least a third of the lawyers on staff at the Justice Department’s environment division have walked out the door ... kneecapping its power to keep polluters in check." www.eenews.net/articles/sta... by Pamela King

Scoop: New Bipartisan House Bill Would Keep President From Yanking Permits The FREEDOM Act aims to protect energy developments from changing political winds.

Legislation to be introduced in the House today "seeks to curb the executive branch’s power to claw back previously-granted permits, protecting energy projects of all kinds from whiplash every time the political winds change," reports @alexckaufman.bsky.social: heatmap.news/politics/fre... 🔌💡

I'm so sorry to hear this, Clare. We do indeed need readers to step up to support non-profit journalism and other independent media. I look forward to reading your work at its new home very soon!

Batteries clip the peaks as renewables meet nearly half of all demand in January, despite record heatwaves Despite the record heatwaves, renewables provided nearly 50 pct of grid demand in January, and big batteries kept the pricing down in the evening peaks.

"Renewables provided just over 49 per cent of electricity demand in Australia’s main grid in January, despite a series of sweltering heatwaves that swept across the country." reneweconomy.com.au/batteries-cl... via @gilesparkinson.bsky.social 🔌💡

FYI, fellow EV drivers: ChargePoint just sent an email announcing a new "Service Fee." "Starting in March, we will begin rolling out a Service Fee on certain paid charging sessions." www.chargepoint.com/service-fee-...