Avi Zevin
@azevin.bsky.social
energy and climate law and policy. Partner at Roselle LLP (www.rosellellp.com). Until recently: Special Assistant to the President for Clean Energy Implementation, before that Deputy GC at US Department of Energy. in a band (currently on hiatus).
Between Changpeng Zhao and reporting on the Trump Admin trying to force WB to sell to Skydance, today was a bad day for America as a free market economy and a good day for gangster capitalism.
October 24, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Between Changpeng Zhao and reporting on the Trump Admin trying to force WB to sell to Skydance, today was a bad day for America as a free market economy and a good day for gangster capitalism.
Roselle partner @mfarmer.bsky.social outlines thoughts on DOE's start of a rulemaking process at FERC on large load interconnection.
This is MUCH better than the last time the Trump Admin kicked off a rule making process at FERC (in 2017 aimed at keeping piles of coal around)
This is MUCH better than the last time the Trump Admin kicked off a rule making process at FERC (in 2017 aimed at keeping piles of coal around)
Major development!: Department of Energy directs @ferc.gov
to consider an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on large load interconnection. THREAD with some key highlights:
to consider an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on large load interconnection. THREAD with some key highlights:
October 24, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Roselle partner @mfarmer.bsky.social outlines thoughts on DOE's start of a rulemaking process at FERC on large load interconnection.
This is MUCH better than the last time the Trump Admin kicked off a rule making process at FERC (in 2017 aimed at keeping piles of coal around)
This is MUCH better than the last time the Trump Admin kicked off a rule making process at FERC (in 2017 aimed at keeping piles of coal around)
Starbucks-obsessed 4 year old, who has never seen the movie but has suffered through the soundtrack on the rare occasion I get to pick what's on the radio:
"can you tell me a cake pop demon hunters story?"
"can you tell me a cake pop demon hunters story?"
September 9, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Starbucks-obsessed 4 year old, who has never seen the movie but has suffered through the soundtrack on the rare occasion I get to pick what's on the radio:
"can you tell me a cake pop demon hunters story?"
"can you tell me a cake pop demon hunters story?"
Share it here when you're ready. Definitely need more Approps law scholarship!
September 1, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Share it here when you're ready. Definitely need more Approps law scholarship!
and yet also a large part of recent cost increases is on the distribution side.
September 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
and yet also a large part of recent cost increases is on the distribution side.
Makes sense. Seems like then there is a way to highlight clean energy support while loudly opposing certain energy restrictions.
And maybe opens door to characterizing GOP anti-climate obsession (anti-solar/wind) as leading to cost increases for purely ideological reasons (GOP's version of "woke")
And maybe opens door to characterizing GOP anti-climate obsession (anti-solar/wind) as leading to cost increases for purely ideological reasons (GOP's version of "woke")
August 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Makes sense. Seems like then there is a way to highlight clean energy support while loudly opposing certain energy restrictions.
And maybe opens door to characterizing GOP anti-climate obsession (anti-solar/wind) as leading to cost increases for purely ideological reasons (GOP's version of "woke")
And maybe opens door to characterizing GOP anti-climate obsession (anti-solar/wind) as leading to cost increases for purely ideological reasons (GOP's version of "woke")
And to be clear, I'm talking about energy/climate qua IRA not opposition to fraking. Though of course that then raises the question of why anti-climate is "good" rather than like Senimas corporatist heterodoxy.
Feels like there's just a lot of handwaving on that issue in particular.
Feels like there's just a lot of handwaving on that issue in particular.
August 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
And to be clear, I'm talking about energy/climate qua IRA not opposition to fraking. Though of course that then raises the question of why anti-climate is "good" rather than like Senimas corporatist heterodoxy.
Feels like there's just a lot of handwaving on that issue in particular.
Feels like there's just a lot of handwaving on that issue in particular.
One piece that I'd love to see more discussion here is why "climate" and "energy" have been consistently thrown into the category of helpful to take heterodox positions. They're not social issues (or, I guess if they are that raises the second order question of what is social vs econ).
August 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
One piece that I'd love to see more discussion here is why "climate" and "energy" have been consistently thrown into the category of helpful to take heterodox positions. They're not social issues (or, I guess if they are that raises the second order question of what is social vs econ).
Very underdeveloped area of academic legal inquiry, imo. Looking forward
August 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Very underdeveloped area of academic legal inquiry, imo. Looking forward
Reposted by Avi Zevin
Turns out forcing old, uneconomic coal plants to remain online when the operator wanted to retire them is expensive. Keeping Campbell running in MI has cost $29 million over 5 weeks: www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
Consumers Energy spends millions keeping coal plant open per fed order
The utility expects the cost to be shared by customers in the north and central regions of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
www.detroitnews.com
August 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Turns out forcing old, uneconomic coal plants to remain online when the operator wanted to retire them is expensive. Keeping Campbell running in MI has cost $29 million over 5 weeks: www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
Um... Check my bio. I'm talking about chargers literally at the White House.
July 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Um... Check my bio. I'm talking about chargers literally at the White House.
We had such a hard time again like 6 EV chargers. Good luck
The hall of mirrors at Versailles is about 8,000 sqft; the largest room in the palace, the Gallery of Great Battles, is like 16,000 sqft.
Trump announces that he’s having a 90,000 sq ft event space added to the White House
July 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
We had such a hard time again like 6 EV chargers. Good luck
Such a doctrinal perspective Madison. It's that the make-up of the Court that created Loper will lead to a different outcome.
July 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Such a doctrinal perspective Madison. It's that the make-up of the Court that created Loper will lead to a different outcome.
Reposted by Avi Zevin
Trump's electricity tax hike is bad. @costasamaras.com explains on KQED Forum www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
🔌💡
🔌💡
Why Your Energy Bill Has Gotten So Expensive (and What Can Be Done About It) | KQED
We explore the steps we can take to make California's electrical grid more sustainable.
www.kqed.org
July 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Trump's electricity tax hike is bad. @costasamaras.com explains on KQED Forum www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
🔌💡
🔌💡
Reposted by Avi Zevin
As someone with several papers cited, I can say that - at least for the sections I know most about - this "report" is full of selectively chosen studies, misrepresentations and half-truths, specious logic, and dated science
This is an embarrassment for the sterling reputation all of the real scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy. Shame on Chris Wright.
Ah ok - DOE just posted it - www.energy.gov/topics/climate
July 30, 2025 at 12:37 AM
As someone with several papers cited, I can say that - at least for the sections I know most about - this "report" is full of selectively chosen studies, misrepresentations and half-truths, specious logic, and dated science
This report is just a bunch of warmed over 10 years old climate skeptic talking points.
bsky.app/profile/blka...
bsky.app/profile/blka...
This Energy Department report is cited nearly two dozen times in the EPA's rollback of the endangerment finding and some of the claims are, well, let's look at a few of them
I can't imagine there will be any problems with this summary of climate science
July 30, 2025 at 12:15 AM
This report is just a bunch of warmed over 10 years old climate skeptic talking points.
bsky.app/profile/blka...
bsky.app/profile/blka...
This is an embarrassment for the sterling reputation all of the real scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy. Shame on Chris Wright.
July 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This is an embarrassment for the sterling reputation all of the real scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy. Shame on Chris Wright.
Saying otherwise is wrong. And saying otherwise by way of official government regulatory action is contrary to law.
July 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Saying otherwise is wrong. And saying otherwise by way of official government regulatory action is contrary to law.
But, for the record, greenhouse gases significantly contribute to dangerous climate change. Lowering US emissions will be meaningful to Americans and the world, directly and by way of what they mean for technological and international leadership.
July 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
But, for the record, greenhouse gases significantly contribute to dangerous climate change. Lowering US emissions will be meaningful to Americans and the world, directly and by way of what they mean for technological and international leadership.
There will be lots of debate today about climate action, and how it affects politics and whether Democrats should remain steadfast in their advocacy for it or instead focus on other things (or perhaps even actively disclaim the importance of action) as a path to political power.
July 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
There will be lots of debate today about climate action, and how it affects politics and whether Democrats should remain steadfast in their advocacy for it or instead focus on other things (or perhaps even actively disclaim the importance of action) as a path to political power.
One final note. The EO speaks of the importance of transmission (and specifically high voltage transmission). This is extremely correct. We need much more for data centers, reliability etc.
But it's quite ironic to highlight the importance of high voltage transmission today of all days.
But it's quite ironic to highlight the importance of high voltage transmission today of all days.
July 23, 2025 at 11:24 PM
One final note. The EO speaks of the importance of transmission (and specifically high voltage transmission). This is extremely correct. We need much more for data centers, reliability etc.
But it's quite ironic to highlight the importance of high voltage transmission today of all days.
But it's quite ironic to highlight the importance of high voltage transmission today of all days.
One nugget: I think this is the first time a specific threshold is set for the percent of federal $ that triggers NEPA (50%), though many questions remain for how one calculates this (particularly in the context of loans, tax credits, etc).
July 23, 2025 at 11:19 PM
One nugget: I think this is the first time a specific threshold is set for the percent of federal $ that triggers NEPA (50%), though many questions remain for how one calculates this (particularly in the context of loans, tax credits, etc).