Greg Quetin
@grquetin.bsky.social
Scientist | Engineer | Cargo Bike Enthusiast. Romantic about the indelible nature of cities full of people living in every way imaginable. Day job - climate change, and the trees of it.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
I can't believe Seattle would elect someone with only 15 years experience organizing successful local legislation campaigns.
November 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I can't believe Seattle would elect someone with only 15 years experience organizing successful local legislation campaigns.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
"Much as granaries and refrigeration transformed food markets, storage will turn electricity from perishable to persistent, unlocking a new era of energy abundance."
Silos for Sunshine: we've mastered harvesting the sun, but storage is the gamechanger | Ember
The shift to renewables represents an agricultural revolution for energy, moving from searching and extracting scarce fuels to harvesting abundant sunlight in place.
ember-energy.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
"Much as granaries and refrigeration transformed food markets, storage will turn electricity from perishable to persistent, unlocking a new era of energy abundance."
I keep noodling on how to pitch low traffic neighborhoods in my town (Olympia, WA), but this video makes the best argument.
Bollards & one-way systems stop through traffic. Play signs tell drivers kids are in the street. Paving, build-outs & planting slow cars. People add benches, hang out, share drinks. The street becomes an extension of home - a social space, not a shortcut. This is what neighbourhoods should feel like
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I keep noodling on how to pitch low traffic neighborhoods in my town (Olympia, WA), but this video makes the best argument.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
I've had my ballot rejected for both messy signature and forgetting to sign. But it was easy to fix! So double check!
Wow it’s gonna be close. For real, check to make sure your ballot got counted: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/... Sometimes a messy signature is all it takes to get flagged.
King County Elections
Led by Director Julie Wise, King County Elections conducts accurate, secure, and accessible elections for King County's over 1.4 million registered voters.
info.kingcounty.gov
November 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I've had my ballot rejected for both messy signature and forgetting to sign. But it was easy to fix! So double check!
Reposted by Greg Quetin
Parents of young kids know how challenging the logistics are of carpooling with your kids’ friends, with car seats, etc.
Cargo bikes take that stress away, *especially* bikes that can fit multiple kids.
Cargo bikes take that stress away, *especially* bikes that can fit multiple kids.
November 7, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Parents of young kids know how challenging the logistics are of carpooling with your kids’ friends, with car seats, etc.
Cargo bikes take that stress away, *especially* bikes that can fit multiple kids.
Cargo bikes take that stress away, *especially* bikes that can fit multiple kids.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
Updating my plot of historical counting trends in Seattle mayor elections. We are back to pretty a pretty standard trajectory (which is promising for Katie Wilson).
November 6, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Updating my plot of historical counting trends in Seattle mayor elections. We are back to pretty a pretty standard trajectory (which is promising for Katie Wilson).
Dreaming of a (see also: 'all of the') neighborhood street(s) closed to cars, open to kids, with a bunch of string lights to fight off the PNW dark, and...you know...enough housing that there are just hoards of kids out trick or treating.
October 31, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Dreaming of a (see also: 'all of the') neighborhood street(s) closed to cars, open to kids, with a bunch of string lights to fight off the PNW dark, and...you know...enough housing that there are just hoards of kids out trick or treating.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
once again posting The Chart
October 31, 2025 at 12:46 PM
once again posting The Chart
I'm sure it is happening on some level already, but the idea of AI slop getting into (particularly printed) novels really bums me out, I'll be looking for books in the "certified non-AI" section of the last brick and mortar book store standing I guess.
October 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I'm sure it is happening on some level already, but the idea of AI slop getting into (particularly printed) novels really bums me out, I'll be looking for books in the "certified non-AI" section of the last brick and mortar book store standing I guess.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
We literally do disagree about this, though. Some politicians want to take food from children and some politicians don't. Pretending this "isn't political" just allows the child-starving ghouls to get away with it.
Tell people who supports the *political program* to feed children and who doesn't!
Tell people who supports the *political program* to feed children and who doesn't!
October 30, 2025 at 11:24 AM
We literally do disagree about this, though. Some politicians want to take food from children and some politicians don't. Pretending this "isn't political" just allows the child-starving ghouls to get away with it.
Tell people who supports the *political program* to feed children and who doesn't!
Tell people who supports the *political program* to feed children and who doesn't!
Reposted by Greg Quetin
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
Reposted by Greg Quetin
you know how i keep saying single stair buildings are workhorse of walkable urbanism the world over?
here are 174 homes on a 2.2 acre block in seattle.
(16) 4-5 story single stair buildings.
what do you think FAR is?
what about lot coverage?
unit distribution?
here are 174 homes on a 2.2 acre block in seattle.
(16) 4-5 story single stair buildings.
what do you think FAR is?
what about lot coverage?
unit distribution?
October 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
you know how i keep saying single stair buildings are workhorse of walkable urbanism the world over?
here are 174 homes on a 2.2 acre block in seattle.
(16) 4-5 story single stair buildings.
what do you think FAR is?
what about lot coverage?
unit distribution?
here are 174 homes on a 2.2 acre block in seattle.
(16) 4-5 story single stair buildings.
what do you think FAR is?
what about lot coverage?
unit distribution?
Reposted by Greg Quetin
The East Wing: Totally Demolished
Before 〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️After
Before 〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️After
October 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The East Wing: Totally Demolished
Before 〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️After
Before 〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️After
Seconded.
my unpopular urbanist take is 'complete streets' in urban areas are a complete failure - on safe streets, policy/governance, and climate
you cannot accommodate all modes and get positive outcomes related to climate, mobility, safe streets, and public health.
you cannot accommodate all modes and get positive outcomes related to climate, mobility, safe streets, and public health.
My unpopular urbanist opinion is that big, hyperfast two-wheelers are a menace and should be banned from bike lanes/paths (with enforcement).
These things endanger everyone riding a bike or legal e-bike. Worse, they deter some from even trying.
These things endanger everyone riding a bike or legal e-bike. Worse, they deter some from even trying.
October 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Seconded.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
Governor Newsom has a bill on his desk to hold utilities accountable, and get them to stop passing along their dark money campaigns to everyday Californians.
Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...
Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...
California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending
State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.
energyandpolicy.org
October 6, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Governor Newsom has a bill on his desk to hold utilities accountable, and get them to stop passing along their dark money campaigns to everyday Californians.
Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...
Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...
Best examples of affordable sidewalk maintenance/material/strategies out there? Any mid size cities got a good approach? Bonus points for not cutting down all the street trees.
October 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Best examples of affordable sidewalk maintenance/material/strategies out there? Any mid size cities got a good approach? Bonus points for not cutting down all the street trees.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
September 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
Reposted by Greg Quetin
Here's one of Barcelona's famous superillas, or superblocks, on Rocafort-Consell de Cent. All of this used to be asphalt and space for moving and storing cars. Now it's green, quiet, calm, and safe.
September 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Here's one of Barcelona's famous superillas, or superblocks, on Rocafort-Consell de Cent. All of this used to be asphalt and space for moving and storing cars. Now it's green, quiet, calm, and safe.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
Imagine your life without driving. We are joining organizations across Washington State to celebrate the #WeekWithoutDriving! Will you be participating by #AmtrakCascades or #SounderRail ? Check out our guide to rail and transit connections at www.aawa.us/week-without... Post your stories!
Connect between rail and transit during the Week Without Driving Monday, September 29 – Sunday, October 5, 2025
www.aawa.us
September 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Imagine your life without driving. We are joining organizations across Washington State to celebrate the #WeekWithoutDriving! Will you be participating by #AmtrakCascades or #SounderRail ? Check out our guide to rail and transit connections at www.aawa.us/week-without... Post your stories!
Reposted by Greg Quetin
There is no reason that Washington State can’t have this type of simple and well maintained multi-use path crisscrossing the entire state basically everywhere.
September 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
There is no reason that Washington State can’t have this type of simple and well maintained multi-use path crisscrossing the entire state basically everywhere.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
"Common decency stigmatizes people that do not participate in it—removes them from voluntary association. We indeed have to live with one another, but terms and conditions apply."
me on why Ezra Klein should be ashamed / why shame is Good Actually
www.bostonreview.net/articles/how...
me on why Ezra Klein should be ashamed / why shame is Good Actually
www.bostonreview.net/articles/how...
How Can We Live Together? - Boston Review
Ezra Klein is wrong: shame is essential.
www.bostonreview.net
September 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
"Common decency stigmatizes people that do not participate in it—removes them from voluntary association. We indeed have to live with one another, but terms and conditions apply."
me on why Ezra Klein should be ashamed / why shame is Good Actually
www.bostonreview.net/articles/how...
me on why Ezra Klein should be ashamed / why shame is Good Actually
www.bostonreview.net/articles/how...
Happy to be a part of this one, great work led by Eren Bilir. Careful, staring at future carbon cycle change for too long can be hazardous. eos.org/editor-highl...
Rising CO2 and Climate Change Reorganize Global Terrestrial Carbon Cycling - Eos
Rising CO2 and climate change are redistributing terrestrial carbon fluxes and reservoirs across latitudes and reducing carbon residence times globally.
eos.org
September 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Happy to be a part of this one, great work led by Eren Bilir. Careful, staring at future carbon cycle change for too long can be hazardous. eos.org/editor-highl...
Reposted by Greg Quetin
Even without climate change, prisons around the country have billions of dollars worth of deferred maintenance just to stop the walls from crumbling and keep the lights and the heat on. Now, climate change is turning already miserable conditions inside of prisons into life-threatening ones.
As Prisons Deal With Heat Waves, Climate Crisis Makes Abolition Even More Urgent
While the planet continues to warm, conditions in prisons, and specifically in solitary confinement, continue to worsen.
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Even without climate change, prisons around the country have billions of dollars worth of deferred maintenance just to stop the walls from crumbling and keep the lights and the heat on. Now, climate change is turning already miserable conditions inside of prisons into life-threatening ones.
Reposted by Greg Quetin
The Unbearable Inefficiency of Fossil Fuels
thinc.blog/2025/09/16/t...
thinc.blog/2025/09/16/t...
The Unbearable Inefficiency of Fossil Fuels
The highly respected energy focused think tank Ember is out today with a slide deck and update on where we are in the energy transition.Despite the efforts of the petrostates and global oligarchy t…
thinc.blog
September 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The Unbearable Inefficiency of Fossil Fuels
thinc.blog/2025/09/16/t...
thinc.blog/2025/09/16/t...
Reposted by Greg Quetin
They have targeted essentially every offshore wind project, including those very nearly completed or otherwise under construction, *except* one under the auspices of a Republican governor.
I find this remarkably grim.
My latest, with some info from inside BLM/DOI, on the assault on wind power. Please sign up, the newsletter is free!
My latest, with some info from inside BLM/DOI, on the assault on wind power. Please sign up, the newsletter is free!
The Attempted Murder of Offshore Wind Power
Hello, welcome to my relaunched newsletter, read more about the deal here and please subscribe!
On Friday, the Trump administration filed a motion in the US District Court in Baltimore requesting tha...
www.gravityisgone.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:07 PM
They have targeted essentially every offshore wind project, including those very nearly completed or otherwise under construction, *except* one under the auspices of a Republican governor.