Justin Gerdes

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-...

Agreed! This is a space I will continue to follow and report on going forward.

In-flight emissions will be much harder, of course. Beyond technology readiness, I suspect there will be issues of jurisdiction and federalism - i.e., for flights extending beyond California's borders.

It's a good question. My understanding is it's about the near-term urgency of reducing NOx and ozone in federal non-attainment areas of the state. Tackling airport operations on the ground and at the gate first, where solutions are well at hand, was the easier first step.

Colorado group looks to boost heat pumps with $200M federal grant It’s a rare example of a Biden-era climate grant moving forward under Trump — and could grow heat pump adoption across the Denver area.

"A group of governments in the Denver metropolitan area has managed to hold on to a nearly $200 million federal grant to unleash heat pumps in the region — and now it’s putting that money to work," reports @alisontakemura.bsky.social: www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea... 🔌💡

To See the Future of EVs, Visit Costa Rica The Central American country is the now the Americas’ EV leader.

"Fully electric vehicles made up around 15% of new sales in Costa Rica in 2024, compared to 8% in the U.S., making it the Americas’ EV adoption leader," writes @andrewmoseman.bsky.social: heatmap.news/electric-veh...

A glimpse of the future of aviation On the sidelines of the Biggest Little Air Show in San Carlos, California, Quitting Carbon got an up-close look at the B23 Energic all-electric plane.

Apropos this report, here's a glimpse of what that future of electric aviation could like like - from my visit to see the Bristell B23 Energic all-electric plane last year: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/a-glimpse-of...

Electric aircraft market tipped for steady ascent New report estimates up to 100,000 electric aircraft could be deployed by 2050, if supporting infrastructure and policies are delivered

A new report from research firm Berg Insight "predicts almost 100,000 electric aircraft could be in operation by mid-century, as commercial operators look to cut costs and emissions and the private aviation market expands." www.businessgreen.com/news/4525049... via @james-bg.bsky.social 🔌💡

Here’s how California plans to reduce emissions from aviation in the Golden State An early look at draft policies that could be brought to the California Air Resources Board in 2027 to reduce emissions from the aviation industry in the state.

ICYMI: An early look at draft policies that could be brought to the @airresources.bsky.social in 2027 to reduce emissions from the aviation industry in California: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/heres-how-ca... by me at Quitting Carbon 🔌💡

Energy Star gets full 2026 funding from Congress Despite the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate the program, it received $33 million as part of a fiscal 2026 funding bill signed by the president.

"Congress has fully funded the Energy Star program through fiscal year 2026 as part of a funding bill that President Trump signed into law Jan. 23. The administration tried to zero-out the program in early 2025." www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-... via Joe Burns 🔌💡

Coal plant owners say DOE ‘emergency’ order to run it violates Constitution By mandating the generator’s availability to operate, the order “constitutes both a physical taking and a regulatory taking” of property by the government without just compensation or due process, the...

"The owners of a Colorado power unit say the Department of Energy violated their Constitutional rights when it ordered them to continue running a coal-fired generator they had been planning for years to retire at the end of 2025." www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-eme... via @ethanhowl.bsky.social 🔌💡

#NEW: A federal judge rules that another offshore wind project, Sunrise Wind near New York, can resume construction.

This now means that all five wind farms paused by the Trump administration on Dec 22 have received preliminary injunctions.

Here’s how California plans to reduce emissions from aviation in the Golden State An early look at draft policies that could be brought to the California Air Resources Board in 2027 to reduce emissions from the aviation industry in the state.

Aviation is one of the most intractable climate puzzles to solve. So, it should be welcome news to policymakers everywhere that California regulators have stepped up to rein in emissions from the sector: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/heres-how-ca... by me at Quitting Carbon 🔌💡 #ClimateSky

Accountability for ICE and CBP However bad you think the corruption and misconduct at ICE and CBP is — the reality is far far worse.

“We as a nation must act to change the trajectory of immigration enforcement in our country. America cannot survive as a free society if ICE and CBP continue to operate as they have over the last year,” writes @vermontgmg.bsky.social: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...

The Trump administration just laundered its bogus energy affordability talking points through Politico’s White House team Despite extensive evidence to the contrary, the White House wants us to think it cares about energy affordability. Based on the Trump administration's actions over the past year, don’t believe the spi...

Indeed: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/the-trump-ad... 🔌💡