Tara Connolly

Tara Connolly

@taraconnolly.bsky.social

All things energy transition, climate justice and safe streets in the EU. Formerly at Greenpeace, Friends of The Earth and Global Witness. Now working at @beyondfossilfuels. Irish immigrant in Brussels.

15,017 Followers 3,471 Following 381 Posts Joined Oct 2023
4 days ago

“Seeking alternative gas suppliers is a distraction from the real solutions. Only by ramping up investments in homegrown renewable energy & energy savings can Europe get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster & get electricity prices under control” @taraconnolly.bsky.social @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social

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2 weeks ago
Netanyahu Calls Iran Strikes Necessary To Prevent War He Just Started

Netanyahu Calls Iran Strikes Necessary To Prevent War He Just Started

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1 month ago

Anyone have a best-practice guide to fossil fuel subsidy definitions?

It seems EU Member States still don't have a fully agreed definition.

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1 month ago
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🇪🇺 has swapped one risky energy dependency for another by trading Russian fossil gas for US LNG, locking itself into a geopolitical trap.
The solution? Wind and solar overtook fossil fuels in the EU electricity mix in 2025, says @taraconnolly.bsky.social
www.brusselstimes.com/promoted/194...

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1 month ago
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EU will seek to cut US energy reliance after Trump’s Greenland threats The bloc’s energy chief said U.S. president’s threats were a “wake-up call” to find new sources of gas.

This really is the lesson that Europe refuses to learn.

2014 (RU invades Crimea): EU sets pathetically 2030 low renewables and energy savings targets.

2024 (RU invades UKR again): EU pivots to US gas

2026 (US threatens EU): EU pivots to Qatari gas 🤦‍♀️

www.politico.eu/article/eu-w...

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3 months ago

I'm not entirely sure why ENTSO-E thinks we don't need major changes in the upcoming grids package, especially after reading this @auroraer.bsky.social research published last Friday.

One key finding: grid congestion has risen 26% over the last 4 years.

cms-production.auroraer.com/wp-content/u...

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3 months ago
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Europeans are waking up this morning to find the new US National Security Strategy (quietly) released. And what it has to say on Europe could not be clearer. On the „stark prospect of civilizations erasure“ for example. 👇

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3 months ago

Shocking.

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3 months ago
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Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings

Lol, Zillow tried to rate the climate risks facing individual properties. The real estate industry *hated* it, precisely because it worked -- it made selling risky properties more difficult. So they rebelled & Zillow caved.

Don't look up!

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3 months ago

I have to keep reminding myself this is a Labour government.

What an incredible disappointment.

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3 months ago

Thanks Sam!

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3 months ago

Calling all civil society contacts 📣

The Belgian government has just slashed funding for NGOs. While climate NGOs are affected, those working on human rights and conflict are being severely impacted.

If you have contacts to potential funders, please get in touch so I can pass them on.

Thanks!

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3 months ago

Calling all civil society contacts 📣

The Belgian government has just slashed funding for NGOs. While climate NGOs are affected, those working on human rights and conflict are being severely impacted.

If you have contacts to potential funders, please get in touch so I can pass them on.

Thanks!

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3 months ago

Good morning! A reminder that the deadline for this is coming up.

If you don't feel you fully fit the criteria, don't hesitate to get in touch. We are open to suggestions :)

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3 months ago

We're witnessing a wealth transfer from households to energy companies in Europe through a little known subsidy - capacity markets. It's up to the Commission and national governments to get a grip on these mechanisms that cost EUR11bn in 2024 alone.

www.acer.europa.eu/sites/defaul...

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3 months ago

Calling all researchers and communications agencies! Beyond Fossil Fuels has two exciting tenders out to help us shine a light on the role of Distribution System Operators in the energy transition 🕵‍♀️ ☀️

The deadline for submissions is 29 November ⌛

beyondfossilfuels.org/about-us/wor...

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3 months ago

Calling all researchers and communications agencies! Beyond Fossil Fuels has two exciting tenders out to help us shine a light on the role of Distribution System Operators in the energy transition 🕵‍♀️ ☀️

The deadline for submissions is 29 November ⌛

beyondfossilfuels.org/about-us/wor...

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3 months ago
Black text on a yellow background - This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing.
Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin.
We need more stories about us and our culture.
You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.

“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”

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4 months ago
igure 1.14 ⊳ Average electricity system cost by component and scenario in
Europe, the United States and China, 2024-2035
IEA. CC BY 4.0.
The transformation of electricity systems entails a shift in cost structure, from fuel and
operational expenses towards upfront investments in clean technologies and infrastructure
Notes: MWh = megawatt-hour; MER = market exchange rate; O&M = operation and maintenance. CPS =
Current Policies Scenario; STEPS = Stated Policies Scenario; NZE = Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario. Gridrelated costs include capital recovery

Wow - this is a good one. In most regions, power grid system costs are the worst in the fossil-fuel-explosion scenario - in Europe and China, it's cheapest in the 'net zero' scenario

> grid costs are way lower than costs saved on fuel purchasing!!

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4 months ago

It is *obscene* that that beast wearing the skin of a man called Elon Musk was just awarded a trillion dollar pay-package after he personally signed the death warrant of hundreds of thousands of innocents earlier this year.

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4 months ago

The bar is so low!

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4 months ago
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Five staples fuelling UK food inflation as climate risks rise, study finds Findings challenge narrative that food price growth is being driven by higher taxes and wage costs

40% of UK food price inflation is being driven by climate factors.

What was that you were saying about "abundance" again?

www.ft.com/content/ced8...

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4 months ago

Yep, agreed.

He backs climate when it suits him eg building out renewables but in the article he complains about the passenger cap on Dublin Airport and describes it as "throttling flights".

Those aren't the comments of someone who really cares about the climate.

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4 months ago
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John Collison of Stripe: Ireland is going backwards. Here’s how to get it moving The Stripe co-founder looks at how the State can get out of the government-by-agency corner into which it has painted itself

Absolutely no surprise that the Irish media gifted this much space to Collison, who already has significant influence over Irish politics.

But we really should be asking ourselves why they think he's more deserving of this article than anyone else.

www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

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5 months ago

Hope your trip went smoothly!

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5 months ago

Wow! How long did that take?

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5 months ago
Blurred photo of the Dublin Port passenger terminal.

Tháinig mé! After 12 hours this photo is the best I can do, zooming away from the port with my dad.

It's sooo good to be home.

Thanks everyone who followed along! I hope it was entertaining and even a bit useful 😊

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5 months ago
Photo of lounge area with blue seats and carpets with round wooden tables. Photo out the window of Holyhead with grey skies.

The great thing about ferries is you have so much space to spread out. Even better as a foot passenger, you get on before everyone else so you can find your favourite spot.

This lounge has comfy seats, decent tables, plugs and of course wifi.

The view might be grey but it looks a lot like home!

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5 months ago
Photo of a large room with rows of green seats.

A Ryanair worthy waiting area...but only 5m later we're on the bus and 5m after that we've arrived at the ferry.

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