Dan Schroeder
@dvschroeder.bsky.social
Physicist, educator, number-cruncher. Cartoon by the great Cal Grondahl. physics.weber.edu/schroeder
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
Listening to @volts.wtf recent panel/podcast with @mliebreich.bsky.social , discussing his "Pragmatic Climate Reset", published in two parts at BNEF last September.
Michael mentioned his "simplest energy model ever" - just 4 parameters - and I decided to sketch up and add emissions and temps.
Michael mentioned his "simplest energy model ever" - just 4 parameters - and I decided to sketch up and add emissions and temps.
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Listening to @volts.wtf recent panel/podcast with @mliebreich.bsky.social , discussing his "Pragmatic Climate Reset", published in two parts at BNEF last September.
Michael mentioned his "simplest energy model ever" - just 4 parameters - and I decided to sketch up and add emissions and temps.
Michael mentioned his "simplest energy model ever" - just 4 parameters - and I decided to sketch up and add emissions and temps.
Great article about the move-fast-and-break-things faction of the nuclear revival movement. Centered in Silicon Valley but with connections to Utah and Idaho. 🔌💡
(I confess that after hitting the paywall and striking out at my university library I read this article on a possibly disreputable site.)
(I confess that after hitting the paywall and striking out at my university library I read this article on a possibly disreputable site.)
This is a phenomenal long read. The sort of article it's incredibly difficult to get permission and resources to write nowadays.
bloomberg ran an absolutely killer investigation this week into the Silicon Valley + Koch/Abundance forces running the show on nuclear deregulation this year:
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Great article about the move-fast-and-break-things faction of the nuclear revival movement. Centered in Silicon Valley but with connections to Utah and Idaho. 🔌💡
(I confess that after hitting the paywall and striking out at my university library I read this article on a possibly disreputable site.)
(I confess that after hitting the paywall and striking out at my university library I read this article on a possibly disreputable site.)
Finally some news about Utah's largest solar farm! 🔌💡
Says here it came online Sep 30 and they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov 5. Not sure why they waited a month to make the announcement.
685 MW DC, 525 MW AC
www.utahbusiness.com/press-releas...
Says here it came online Sep 30 and they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov 5. Not sure why they waited a month to make the announcement.
685 MW DC, 525 MW AC
www.utahbusiness.com/press-releas...
Paid a visit to Utah's nearly completed Faraday Solar Project. It'll be the largest solar farm in the state (>600MW) yet it's kinda under the radar, not yet listed at EIA or SEIA. Supposed to come online later this year and sell the power to Meta for its server farms. See alt-text for details. 🔌💡
November 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Finally some news about Utah's largest solar farm! 🔌💡
Says here it came online Sep 30 and they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov 5. Not sure why they waited a month to make the announcement.
685 MW DC, 525 MW AC
www.utahbusiness.com/press-releas...
Says here it came online Sep 30 and they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov 5. Not sure why they waited a month to make the announcement.
685 MW DC, 525 MW AC
www.utahbusiness.com/press-releas...
I can't say how much of this article is accurate, but I do know the Sierra Club never had a "singular focus on climate change".
The Club's historical mission was to "explore, enjoy, and protect" public lands. Later it took on public health issues and eventually climate—rather awkwardly.
The Club's historical mission was to "explore, enjoy, and protect" public lands. Later it took on public health issues and eventually climate—rather awkwardly.
November 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I can't say how much of this article is accurate, but I do know the Sierra Club never had a "singular focus on climate change".
The Club's historical mission was to "explore, enjoy, and protect" public lands. Later it took on public health issues and eventually climate—rather awkwardly.
The Club's historical mission was to "explore, enjoy, and protect" public lands. Later it took on public health issues and eventually climate—rather awkwardly.
Looks like both of the incumbents have lost to their challengers in the Ogden city-wide council races—despite endorsements from the mayor and what's left of the local paper. Hard to say exactly why, but I'm glad we'll have some younger voices adding fresh perspectives.
November 5, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Looks like both of the incumbents have lost to their challengers in the Ogden city-wide council races—despite endorsements from the mayor and what's left of the local paper. Hard to say exactly why, but I'm glad we'll have some younger voices adding fresh perspectives.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
November 3, 2025 at 4:55 AM
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Interesting patterns in this map of under-construction solar farms. 🔌💡 seia.org/research-res...
October 31, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Interesting patterns in this map of under-construction solar farms. 🔌💡 seia.org/research-res...
"For many 25-year-olds living in their childhood bedrooms, moving to a single-family house would be entirely out of reach. What they need to make progress in their personal and professional lives is a small apartment in the place where their career and social opportunities are located."
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:07 PM
"For many 25-year-olds living in their childhood bedrooms, moving to a single-family house would be entirely out of reach. What they need to make progress in their personal and professional lives is a small apartment in the place where their career and social opportunities are located."
Great reporting from Bryan!
Utah has no contribution limits, but Ogden enacted limits after a scandal in 2007, when Mayor Godfrey and his allies solicited contributions to a "nonprofit" from banks, hospitals, other businesses, even the Governor's office, then laundered the money into campaigns.
Utah has no contribution limits, but Ogden enacted limits after a scandal in 2007, when Mayor Godfrey and his allies solicited contributions to a "nonprofit" from banks, hospitals, other businesses, even the Governor's office, then laundered the money into campaigns.
Read my latest story investigating how a political action committee tried to funnel $14K in campaign donations from an Arizona Christian nationalist pastor to an Ogden City Council candidate in a scheme to circumvent campaign contribution limits.
Records show a PAC funneled $14K in campaign donations from an Arizona Christian nationalist pastor to an Ogden City Council candidate in a scheme to get around campaign contribution limits.
www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/pac-routed-1...
www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/pac-routed-1...
October 31, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Great reporting from Bryan!
Utah has no contribution limits, but Ogden enacted limits after a scandal in 2007, when Mayor Godfrey and his allies solicited contributions to a "nonprofit" from banks, hospitals, other businesses, even the Governor's office, then laundered the money into campaigns.
Utah has no contribution limits, but Ogden enacted limits after a scandal in 2007, when Mayor Godfrey and his allies solicited contributions to a "nonprofit" from banks, hospitals, other businesses, even the Governor's office, then laundered the money into campaigns.
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
Good accurate coverage of the new @berkeleylabemp.bsky.social and Brattle Group report on rising electricity prices in the NYT.
(Here’s a new drinking game: drink every time you see “spike” and “skyrocket.”)
🔌💡
Gift link-
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
(Here’s a new drinking game: drink every time you see “spike” and “skyrocket.”)
🔌💡
Gift link-
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
Why the Price of Electricity Is Spiking Around the Country
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Good accurate coverage of the new @berkeleylabemp.bsky.social and Brattle Group report on rising electricity prices in the NYT.
(Here’s a new drinking game: drink every time you see “spike” and “skyrocket.”)
🔌💡
Gift link-
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
(Here’s a new drinking game: drink every time you see “spike” and “skyrocket.”)
🔌💡
Gift link-
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
The federal government recently offered up thousands of acres for coal mining across Utah. But recent coal mining leases have failed to attract viable offers. So why is no one betting on coal, despite the Trump administrations push to boost the industry?
Despite Trump admin’s best efforts, interest in coal mining in Utah and across the West is falling flat
The federal government recently offered up thousands of acres for coal mining across Utah. But recent coal mining leases have failed to attract viable offers. So why is no one betting on coal, despite the Trump administrations push to boost the industry?
www.sltrib.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The federal government recently offered up thousands of acres for coal mining across Utah. But recent coal mining leases have failed to attract viable offers. So why is no one betting on coal, despite the Trump administrations push to boost the industry?
Wow. A lot of people I admire seem to have a visceral hatred for Bill Gates.
I read the whole memo and I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Lots of it is obviously correct. So what if you don't agree with every nuance?
I read the whole memo and I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Lots of it is obviously correct. So what if you don't agree with every nuance?
October 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Wow. A lot of people I admire seem to have a visceral hatred for Bill Gates.
I read the whole memo and I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Lots of it is obviously correct. So what if you don't agree with every nuance?
I read the whole memo and I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Lots of it is obviously correct. So what if you don't agree with every nuance?
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
One of the cartoons in my new book 'Physics for Cats' which is out now in the UK, USA, Canada, France, Spain and Germany. Order from your local bookshop or online: www.tomgauld.com/
October 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
One of the cartoons in my new book 'Physics for Cats' which is out now in the UK, USA, Canada, France, Spain and Germany. Order from your local bookshop or online: www.tomgauld.com/
☢️ 🔌💡 🧵
world-nuclear-news.org/articles/san...
VC Summer might get a second shot at 2 AP1000's after an abandoned boondoggle in the 2010's, and TerraPower passes another milestone toward construction permit. Another review still pending for Dec 2025.
interestingengineering.com/energy/terra...
VC Summer might get a second shot at 2 AP1000's after an abandoned boondoggle in the 2010's, and TerraPower passes another milestone toward construction permit. Another review still pending for Dec 2025.
interestingengineering.com/energy/terra...
Santee Cooper selects Brookfield to take on VC Summer
Eight years after construction of two AP1000 reactors at the VC Summer site in South Carolina was abandoned, Santee Cooper has announced it is in negotiations with Brookfield Asset Management about th...
world-nuclear-news.org
October 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
☢️ 🔌💡 🧵
Night sky photos and video with red sprites! (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/s...
Take a Look at Rare Photos of Red Lightning in New Zealand
www.nytimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Night sky photos and video with red sprites! (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/s...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
The three-way convergence approaches!
12-month world totals as of August 2025:
Nuclear 9.0%
Wind 8.7%
Solar 8.3%
Thanks to @ember-energy.org for the data update! 🔌💡☢️🌬️🌞
12-month world totals as of August 2025:
Nuclear 9.0%
Wind 8.7%
Solar 8.3%
Thanks to @ember-energy.org for the data update! 🔌💡☢️🌬️🌞
October 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The three-way convergence approaches!
12-month world totals as of August 2025:
Nuclear 9.0%
Wind 8.7%
Solar 8.3%
Thanks to @ember-energy.org for the data update! 🔌💡☢️🌬️🌞
12-month world totals as of August 2025:
Nuclear 9.0%
Wind 8.7%
Solar 8.3%
Thanks to @ember-energy.org for the data update! 🔌💡☢️🌬️🌞
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
The hierarchy problem (finetuning) of the Standard Model of particle physics is often presented as the question 'why the weak scale is so much smaller than the Planck scale'
But there is also a geometric interpretation that can be understood with little maths (but a lot of physics)
🧵1/11
But there is also a geometric interpretation that can be understood with little maths (but a lot of physics)
🧵1/11
October 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The hierarchy problem (finetuning) of the Standard Model of particle physics is often presented as the question 'why the weak scale is so much smaller than the Planck scale'
But there is also a geometric interpretation that can be understood with little maths (but a lot of physics)
🧵1/11
But there is also a geometric interpretation that can be understood with little maths (but a lot of physics)
🧵1/11
Incisive comparison of US and China nuclear industries: "...the United States is betting too heavily on technological breakthroughs instead of focusing on the financing, skills and infrastructure needed to build plants, as China has." 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How China Raced Ahead of the U.S. on Nuclear Power (Gift Article)
The United States was once the undisputed leader in atomic energy. Now it is trying to catch up.
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Incisive comparison of US and China nuclear industries: "...the United States is betting too heavily on technological breakthroughs instead of focusing on the financing, skills and infrastructure needed to build plants, as China has." 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The annual thread guaranteed to leave you both smarter and delighted. With a couple of new zingers this year! ☀️🔌💡
Time for 2025 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread. If you like these, you might like the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon. A 30% discount code WSQ0437 is valid on publisher website until end of November 2025.
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
Solar Power Finance Without the Jargon
www.worldscientific.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The annual thread guaranteed to leave you both smarter and delighted. With a couple of new zingers this year! ☀️🔌💡
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
C. N. Yang has died at age 103. Nobel Laureate for his work on parity nonconservation with T. D. Lee, he conceived non-Abelian gauge theories (now central in our efforts to describe the fundamental interactions) with Robert Mills.
October 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM
C. N. Yang has died at age 103. Nobel Laureate for his work on parity nonconservation with T. D. Lee, he conceived non-Abelian gauge theories (now central in our efforts to describe the fundamental interactions) with Robert Mills.
Utah is going big on *talking about* small-scale nuclear energy. No evidence yet that anything will come of it.
October 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Utah is going big on *talking about* small-scale nuclear energy. No evidence yet that anything will come of it.
I continue to be baffled by the the housing initiatives coming from the Utah governor's office. Last year Cox's housing advisor (Steve Waldrip, featured in this story) endorsed an ordinance in my city to prohibit new housing construction in commercial zones (where the vacant land is).
ICYMI, Gov. Cox's office has released a BIG plan on Utah's housing crisis. It notes the problems we're all facing and offers some solutions (if lawmakers can fund it): www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
October 16, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I continue to be baffled by the the housing initiatives coming from the Utah governor's office. Last year Cox's housing advisor (Steve Waldrip, featured in this story) endorsed an ordinance in my city to prohibit new housing construction in commercial zones (where the vacant land is).
Really nice interactive map of US solar capacity and generation by state: emp.lbl.gov/capacity-and...
🔌💡
🔌💡
October 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Really nice interactive map of US solar capacity and generation by state: emp.lbl.gov/capacity-and...
🔌💡
🔌💡
Is there an #EnergySky expert who can explain how this kind of closed-loop geothermal system is supposed to extract heat from more than a narrow volume of rock immediately adjacent to the pipe? Do you need a lot of groundwater already circulating through the rock? Is this a stupid question?
Neighboring an area that’s becoming the heart of geothermal technology in Utah, a unique development is moving forward, seeking to produce 100 megawatts of energy without using water-based tools — when fully operational.
Unique, waterless geothermal system moving forward in Utah • Utah News Dispatch
Rodatherm Energy’s project in Millard and Beaver counties promising a new, waterless geothermal technology is moving forward.
utahnewsdispatch.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Is there an #EnergySky expert who can explain how this kind of closed-loop geothermal system is supposed to extract heat from more than a narrow volume of rock immediately adjacent to the pipe? Do you need a lot of groundwater already circulating through the rock? Is this a stupid question?