Dan Schroeder
@dvschroeder.bsky.social
Physicist, educator, number-cruncher. Cartoon by the great Cal Grondahl. physics.weber.edu/schroeder
Without discounting the importance of politics, I have to wonder what Iowa would even do with more wind power. Surely the bigger obstacle must be getting the power out of the middle of the country and to the distant population centers that can use it (also made difficult by politics). 🔌💡
February 10, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Without discounting the importance of politics, I have to wonder what Iowa would even do with more wind power. Surely the bigger obstacle must be getting the power out of the middle of the country and to the distant population centers that can use it (also made difficult by politics). 🔌💡
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
Have fun with that, Elon. A city on the Moon in ten years is somewhat less absurd than a city on Mars in twenty, but neither one is going to happen.
The tone here is interesting, though. Almost as if he heard someone criticizing his Mars plans recently…I wonder how that might have happened? 😁
The tone here is interesting, though. Almost as if he heard someone criticizing his Mars plans recently…I wonder how that might have happened? 😁
February 9, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Have fun with that, Elon. A city on the Moon in ten years is somewhat less absurd than a city on Mars in twenty, but neither one is going to happen.
The tone here is interesting, though. Almost as if he heard someone criticizing his Mars plans recently…I wonder how that might have happened? 😁
The tone here is interesting, though. Almost as if he heard someone criticizing his Mars plans recently…I wonder how that might have happened? 😁
Finally Utah begins to realize that all that talk about nuclear and geothermal power was a fantasy (and of course solar and batteries are off the table because that would be too woke). What they're actually gonna build is a load of new fossil gas power plants—and maybe restart the IPP coal units.
Novva CEO Wes Swenson said data centers are important for protecting “American data.”
“If anybody wants to criticize data centers, look in the mirror,” he said. “‘I want Netflix, I want Prime, I want Apple TV.’ … Nobody goes to the library anymore. Where do people think that all comes from?”
“If anybody wants to criticize data centers, look in the mirror,” he said. “‘I want Netflix, I want Prime, I want Apple TV.’ … Nobody goes to the library anymore. Where do people think that all comes from?”
Utah’s massive data centers can’t get the power they need, so they’re building their own
Utah’s headlong rush to build data centers to power the AI boom is likely to rely upon fossil fuels for the foreseeable future, raising concerns about the state’s already struggling air quality.
www.sltrib.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Finally Utah begins to realize that all that talk about nuclear and geothermal power was a fantasy (and of course solar and batteries are off the table because that would be too woke). What they're actually gonna build is a load of new fossil gas power plants—and maybe restart the IPP coal units.
Fusion (with PV) will surpass fission this year, then go on to surpass hydropower in a few more years, then...
It's fun to watch this race, even though the ranking isn't what really matters. The "losers" can still contribute to the global energy mix.
It's fun to watch this race, even though the ranking isn't what really matters. The "losers" can still contribute to the global energy mix.
Fusion vs fission. It's fusion for the win - with a bit of help from some solar panels, obviously.
February 8, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Fusion (with PV) will surpass fission this year, then go on to surpass hydropower in a few more years, then...
It's fun to watch this race, even though the ranking isn't what really matters. The "losers" can still contribute to the global energy mix.
It's fun to watch this race, even though the ranking isn't what really matters. The "losers" can still contribute to the global energy mix.
The people who "claimed the grid would not be able to function with more than 10%—and definitely not more than 20%—electricity coming from solar and wind" won't actually look foolish unless someone names them. Who were they? I'd sincerely like to know! 🔌💡
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish
Solar met the majority of electricity demand between 9am and 6pm in the past week as much of the country cranked air conditioners
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:39 AM
The people who "claimed the grid would not be able to function with more than 10%—and definitely not more than 20%—electricity coming from solar and wind" won't actually look foolish unless someone names them. Who were they? I'd sincerely like to know! 🔌💡
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
5 for 5
Windbag loses to wind, again. 🎁🔗
Judge Hands Trump a Fifth Loss in His Effort to Halt Offshore Wind Projects
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:49 PM
5 for 5
I agree with the final sentence here, though I'd say it's fine to keep doing lit searches—with or without help from chatbots—after you've begun writing up your work. It's never too late to seek out related work and make sure you're citing whatever references your readers will find most helpful.
What is the point of these LaTeX editors with a chatbot built in. To help search for references? If you aren't familiar with a reference, you shouldn't be citing it (if it even exists). And if you haven't thought carefully about how it relates to what you're doing, IT IS NOT REALLY A CITATION. 🧪
January 31, 2026 at 8:04 PM
I agree with the final sentence here, though I'd say it's fine to keep doing lit searches—with or without help from chatbots—after you've begun writing up your work. It's never too late to seek out related work and make sure you're citing whatever references your readers will find most helpful.
40 years ago this morning.
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.”
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.”
January 28, 2026 at 3:41 PM
40 years ago this morning.
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.”
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.”
They make it sound like this might actually happen! 🔌💡
Federal regulators approved a massive pumped storage project in Washington state. It could be America's first new pumped storage facility since 1995: www.canarymedia.com/articles/hyd...
A rare step forward for a US pumped hydro project
Rye Development got a federal permit for a massive grid megaproject in the Pacific Northwest. Construction will start once it finds buyers for the…
www.canarymedia.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:29 AM
They make it sound like this might actually happen! 🔌💡
Confusing situation. Centralia coal plant in WA has not been restarted, though it's in "cold standby" mode, able to be restarted. It's unclear to me whether the DOE order requires it to actually run or just be available to run, so I'm not sure whether this is "noncompliance". 🔌💡
Noncompliance with orders to pollute at great cost for no reason is the right move here. Glad to see at least one utility doing the right thing. I hope others follow with similar challenges to forced pointless greenhouse gas dumping.
www.kuow.org/stories/wash...
www.kuow.org/stories/wash...
Washington’s largest climate polluter shuts down despite federal order
The Pacific Northwest’s largest pollution source has shut down, and Washington state officials want to keep it that way.
www.kuow.org
January 17, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Confusing situation. Centralia coal plant in WA has not been restarted, though it's in "cold standby" mode, able to be restarted. It's unclear to me whether the DOE order requires it to actually run or just be available to run, so I'm not sure whether this is "noncompliance". 🔌💡
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind gets injunction against December 22 stop-work order, allowing construction to resume. That's now 3 for 3 of those projects that have had their day in court; 2 are still pending (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/c...
Judge in Virginia Hands Trump 3rd Setback This Week on Wind Farms
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind gets injunction against December 22 stop-work order, allowing construction to resume. That's now 3 for 3 of those projects that have had their day in court; 2 are still pending (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/c...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
25 years of Wikipedia
wikipedia25.org
January 15, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Trump-appointed judge allows New York's 810 MW Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction, pausing the Trump administration's December 22 order to stop work (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/c...
In a Setback for Trump, Judge Says N.Y. Wind Farm Can Resume Construction
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Trump-appointed judge allows New York's 810 MW Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction, pausing the Trump administration's December 22 order to stop work (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/c...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
The tide seems to be finally turning on global coal, as both China and India are now adding enough clean energy to reduce their coal generation: www.carbonbrief.org/...
January 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM
The tide seems to be finally turning on global coal, as both China and India are now adding enough clean energy to reduce their coal generation: www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
The increase in emissions was driven by a rise in coal electricity generation due to higher natural gas prices and growing power demand. Colder winter temperatures also drove higher space heating demand in buildings, pushing up direct emissions from fuel use in buildings.
January 13, 2026 at 4:18 PM
The increase in emissions was driven by a rise in coal electricity generation due to higher natural gas prices and growing power demand. Colder winter temperatures also drove higher space heating demand in buildings, pushing up direct emissions from fuel use in buildings.
This is a nice try.
I have quibbles. But rather than go into them, I oughta just take a crack at it myself. All on one page, eh? ... #iTeachPhysics
I have quibbles. But rather than go into them, I oughta just take a crack at it myself. All on one page, eh? ... #iTeachPhysics
Want to learn how to decipher one of physics' most useful tools? Check out our one-page primer on how to read Feynman diagrams: perimeterinstitute.ca/news/anatomy...
Anatomy of a Feynman Diagram | PI News
perimeterinstitute.ca
January 13, 2026 at 4:24 PM
This is a nice try.
I have quibbles. But rather than go into them, I oughta just take a crack at it myself. All on one page, eh? ... #iTeachPhysics
I have quibbles. But rather than go into them, I oughta just take a crack at it myself. All on one page, eh? ... #iTeachPhysics
More from the NYTimes on the Trump administration's order to stop work on all five under-construction offshore wind farms. $25 billion in investments is at stake. Court hearings start Monday and rulings could come soon (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/c...
Billions at Stake in the Ocean as Trump Throttles Offshore Wind Farms
www.nytimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:40 AM
More from the NYTimes on the Trump administration's order to stop work on all five under-construction offshore wind farms. $25 billion in investments is at stake. Court hearings start Monday and rulings could come soon (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/c...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
Old windmill, new windmill. Whiteside, NM.
January 5, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Old windmill, new windmill. Whiteside, NM.
Maybe this is a good time to remember that data on "proven oil reserves"—while not totally meaningless—can be misleading. The definition isn't very consistent from one country to another. Also, in 1980, US proven oil reserves were 5 billion tons and since then we've produced 21 billion tons. 🔌💡
January 4, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Maybe this is a good time to remember that data on "proven oil reserves"—while not totally meaningless—can be misleading. The definition isn't very consistent from one country to another. Also, in 1980, US proven oil reserves were 5 billion tons and since then we've produced 21 billion tons. 🔌💡
Developers of Revolution Wind and Empire Wind join Dominion (developer of CVOW) in suing Trump Administration over December 22 order to stop construction work (gift link). 🔌💡 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/c...
Offshore Wind Projects Challenge Trump Administration’s Order to Stop Work
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Developers of Revolution Wind and Empire Wind join Dominion (developer of CVOW) in suing Trump Administration over December 22 order to stop construction work (gift link). 🔌💡 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/c...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
Dominion is now the 3rd developer to file suit against the Trump Regime's attempts to revoke federal leases for #offshorewind projects.
The industry is not backing down. Nor are we. #YestoWind
www.offshorewind.biz/2025/12/29/u...
The industry is not backing down. Nor are we. #YestoWind
www.offshorewind.biz/2025/12/29/u...
US Offshore Wind Developer Sues Gov't Over Stop-Work Order
Dominion Energy has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s stop-work order issued on 22 December that directed all major US offshore wind projects under construction to pause w...
www.offshorewind.biz
January 2, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Dominion is now the 3rd developer to file suit against the Trump Regime's attempts to revoke federal leases for #offshorewind projects.
The industry is not backing down. Nor are we. #YestoWind
www.offshorewind.biz/2025/12/29/u...
The industry is not backing down. Nor are we. #YestoWind
www.offshorewind.biz/2025/12/29/u...
Reposted by Dan Schroeder
A List of Predictions Made in 1926 About 2026
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January 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM
A List of Predictions Made in 1926 About 2026
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Reposted by Dan Schroeder
So that's Washington, Michigan, Indiana, and Colorado at least with zombie coal plants forced to stay open
Trump administration orders Colorado coal plant to stay open for resiliency, ignores that the clunker is already broken down + requires millions of consumer money to fix
bigpivots.com/oh-the-irony...
bigpivots.com/oh-the-irony...
Oh, the irony of Craig No. 1! - Big Pivots
Trump orders Craig coal unit planned for retirement to stay open. But it so happens the unit is broken. Ludicrous says Polis team. Sierra Club challenges basis for emergency declaration.
bigpivots.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:40 PM
So that's Washington, Michigan, Indiana, and Colorado at least with zombie coal plants forced to stay open
Peak oil! 🔌💡
Good morning. How about 2000 words about the state of the US oil industry?
"Hamm admitted the Bakken is 'tapped out.' The reason he is buying shale assets in other countries is because the reality is that the U.S. oil industry is tapped out."
"Hamm admitted the Bakken is 'tapped out.' The reason he is buying shale assets in other countries is because the reality is that the U.S. oil industry is tapped out."
Lessons from the Bakken
The New York Times recently profiled Harold Hamm, Continental CEO Resources chairman emeritus and noted how Hamm is advising Trump to go all in on fossil fuels. This should surprise no one as Harold H...
powering-the-planet.ghost.io
December 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Peak oil! 🔌💡