John Farrell
@johnffarrell.bsky.social
Distributed energy nerd | Anti-monopoly policy guy @ ILSR | Making clean power local + fair | 📍Minnesota dad energy 🔌💡
Can you put cankles on a ship? 🤣
Can’t wait to see the navy’s new fat and slow battleship fleet.
December 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Can you put cankles on a ship? 🤣
Can’t wait to see the navy’s new fat and slow battleship fleet.
December 23, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Can’t wait to see the navy’s new fat and slow battleship fleet.
Pretty good summary of the issues with Xcel Energy's plan to own batteries on customer property across their Minnesota service territory #batteries #utility #distributed
December 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Pretty good summary of the issues with Xcel Energy's plan to own batteries on customer property across their Minnesota service territory #batteries #utility #distributed
A helpful reminder that it is possible to use policy (tariffs, ending incentives) to kill a market (EVs in the U.S.), even when the product is far superior to what it is replacing.
Um... Global EV sales are up 21% year over year.
Europe is up 33% year over year.
Rest of world is up 48% year over year.🤯
The US is down 1% year over year.🤡
It's not really an "EV winter" if it's only snowing on our house.
A better title might have been "Gen Z, Why you no want Cybertruck?"
Europe is up 33% year over year.
Rest of world is up 48% year over year.🤯
The US is down 1% year over year.🤡
It's not really an "EV winter" if it's only snowing on our house.
A better title might have been "Gen Z, Why you no want Cybertruck?"
EV Sales Growth Is Slowing. Are Hybrids the Solution?
December 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A helpful reminder that it is possible to use policy (tariffs, ending incentives) to kill a market (EVs in the U.S.), even when the product is far superior to what it is replacing.
Public power = affordability.
"In 1974, the upstate [NY] town of Massena voted decisively to buy out its grid operator, Niagara Mohawk. After seven years...the town succeeded in taking control of the utility. Immediately, energy prices dropped between 20 and 26 percent"
"In 1974, the upstate [NY] town of Massena voted decisively to buy out its grid operator, Niagara Mohawk. After seven years...the town succeeded in taking control of the utility. Immediately, energy prices dropped between 20 and 26 percent"
December 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Public power = affordability.
"In 1974, the upstate [NY] town of Massena voted decisively to buy out its grid operator, Niagara Mohawk. After seven years...the town succeeded in taking control of the utility. Immediately, energy prices dropped between 20 and 26 percent"
"In 1974, the upstate [NY] town of Massena voted decisively to buy out its grid operator, Niagara Mohawk. After seven years...the town succeeded in taking control of the utility. Immediately, energy prices dropped between 20 and 26 percent"
Love this data viz of community #solar development in the U.S. Watch the incredible growth of this community-centered, bill-reducing approach to electricity production!
December 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Love this data viz of community #solar development in the U.S. Watch the incredible growth of this community-centered, bill-reducing approach to electricity production!
Reposted by John Farrell
1. New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control.
A Local Self-Reliance Agenda for New York City: ILSR's Memo to Mamdani |
The Mamdani administration has a crucial opportunity to reverse New York City's affordability crisis; this ILSR policy memo suggests strategies to do so.
ilsr.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
1. New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control.
Don't miss the campaign in New York to take over the utility that erroneously billed tens of thousands of customers!
December 17, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Don't miss the campaign in New York to take over the utility that erroneously billed tens of thousands of customers!
Where are public power campaigns active to change electric utilities from private to public hands? ILSR has the map (and you can tell us what we've missed!)
vist.ly/4iw4s
vist.ly/4iw4s
Public Power
Find out why communities campaign to municipalize or take over their investor-owned electric utilities and form public utilities.
ilsr.org
December 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Where are public power campaigns active to change electric utilities from private to public hands? ILSR has the map (and you can tell us what we've missed!)
vist.ly/4iw4s
vist.ly/4iw4s
Profit margins for CA utilities are too high. Fair profits could save households $455/yr. That's real money for groceries, rent, healthcare.
Watch @SierraClub's new explainer to see how @californiapuc can deliver savings. Then demand action by Dec. 18. 🔗
vist.ly/4ikyv
Watch @SierraClub's new explainer to see how @californiapuc can deliver savings. Then demand action by Dec. 18. 🔗
vist.ly/4ikyv
Affordable Energy for All Californians
The CA Public Utilities Commission has a responsibility to protect ratepayers, not shareholders. Tell the CPUC to cut profits and lower utility bills today. ...
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Profit margins for CA utilities are too high. Fair profits could save households $455/yr. That's real money for groceries, rent, healthcare.
Watch @SierraClub's new explainer to see how @californiapuc can deliver savings. Then demand action by Dec. 18. 🔗
vist.ly/4ikyv
Watch @SierraClub's new explainer to see how @californiapuc can deliver savings. Then demand action by Dec. 18. 🔗
vist.ly/4ikyv
Billions in utility profits against 1 in 5 folks unable to pay the bills. Seems like it should be an easy choice for the @californiapuc
The @californiapuc is expected to decide SOON whether to grant utilities billions more in authorized profits 💰—while 1 in 5 CA families struggle to pay their energy bills💡💸. Here's what you need to know. 🧵
December 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Billions in utility profits against 1 in 5 folks unable to pay the bills. Seems like it should be an easy choice for the @californiapuc
🤮🤮🤮 @ronanfarrow.bsky.social lays out how captive utility customers across the U.S. are being compelled to finance Wall Street acquisitions by private equity. If you think your bill is high now, just wait until BlackRock owns your power company: vist.ly/4i65t
Ronan Farrow on Instagram: "How Wall Street turns your monthly bills into its debt payments.#News #Finance #WallStreet #Debt #Infrastructure #politics"
22K likes, 572 comments - ronanfarrow on November 8, 2025: "How Wall Street turns your monthly bills into its debt payments.#News #Finance #WallStreet #Debt #Infrastructure #politics".
www.instagram.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
🤮🤮🤮 @ronanfarrow.bsky.social lays out how captive utility customers across the U.S. are being compelled to finance Wall Street acquisitions by private equity. If you think your bill is high now, just wait until BlackRock owns your power company: vist.ly/4i65t
Why did we elect an old man with a memory this bad?
POLITICO: You pardoned the former president of Honduras even though he was convicted in a massive intl drug trafficking scheme. How is that 0 tolerance on drug trafficking?
TRUMP: Well I don't know him and I know very little about him other than people said it was like an Obama-Biden type set up
TRUMP: Well I don't know him and I know very little about him other than people said it was like an Obama-Biden type set up
December 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Why did we elect an old man with a memory this bad?
A sweeping investigation from ILSR reveals how Amazon is fleecing school and city budgets when independent suppliers could offer better deals: vist.ly/4hdfx
December 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
A sweeping investigation from ILSR reveals how Amazon is fleecing school and city budgets when independent suppliers could offer better deals: vist.ly/4hdfx
There's no better way to jack up gas prices than letting carmakers sell you shit that goes less distance for the same gallon.
Sean Duffy on slashing fuel economy standards: "This rule will actually allow you to bring back the 1970s station wagon. Maybe a little wood paneling on the side. We can bring back choice to consumers."
December 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
There's no better way to jack up gas prices than letting carmakers sell you shit that goes less distance for the same gallon.
Great question. Follow the money...
December 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Great question. Follow the money...
"Local #solar is a cornerstone of Austin's clean energy future" says publicly owned utility serving Austin, Texas. We need a lot more utilities, public and private, seeing the light!
December 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"Local #solar is a cornerstone of Austin's clean energy future" says publicly owned utility serving Austin, Texas. We need a lot more utilities, public and private, seeing the light!
Community solar on the march! Legislation advances with wide majorities in Ohio! h/t Ryan Kennedy @PVmagazine.
December 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Community solar on the march! Legislation advances with wide majorities in Ohio! h/t Ryan Kennedy @PVmagazine.
We've been saying it for years! h/t @chezident.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
We've been saying it for years! h/t @chezident.bsky.social
Reposted by John Farrell
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
What's the deal with balcony solar?
Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
www.volts.wtf
November 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
Yes. And then nationalize the utilities so that this progressive insurance doesn't allow utilities to continue socializing risk and privatizing profits.
Some CA legislator should propose a bill to move wildfire mitigation costs out of electricity bills & into the general fund. It's more honest (the whole state is affected), more progressive (electricity bills are *extremely* regressive), & would, at a stroke, lower CA electric bills.
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Yes. And then nationalize the utilities so that this progressive insurance doesn't allow utilities to continue socializing risk and privatizing profits.
I hope the Colorado Public Utilities Commission is planning to make Xcel Energy shareholders eat the breakdown costs. There was an extensive record to oppose building this plant in the first place.
Comanche 3, Colorado’s newest coal plant has already been broken down *two full years* since it began burning crushed rocks in 2010. Now it will be offline another year.
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I hope the Colorado Public Utilities Commission is planning to make Xcel Energy shareholders eat the breakdown costs. There was an extensive record to oppose building this plant in the first place.
My question for 2026: Will actual data center demand or speculative data center demand cause more harm to electricity consumers?
Today in Heatmap AM:
🪒 Canceled data centers shave 6 GW off Georgia demand
☀️ Solar supplies more California power as gas decreases: EIA study
🇨🇳 China connects new nuclear reactor to grid
Read all about it from @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/georgia-d...
🪒 Canceled data centers shave 6 GW off Georgia demand
☀️ Solar supplies more California power as gas decreases: EIA study
🇨🇳 China connects new nuclear reactor to grid
Read all about it from @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/georgia-d...
Canceled Data Centers Curb Georgia’s Projected Power Surge
On California solar eating gas, China’s newest reactor, and GOP vs. CCS
heatmap.news
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
My question for 2026: Will actual data center demand or speculative data center demand cause more harm to electricity consumers?
What If Utilities Just Made Less Money? A question that's right up there with "why do we regulate utilities like it's still 1920?"
What If Utilities Just Made Less Money?
California energy companies are asking for permission to take in more revenue. Consumer advocates are having none of it.
heatmap.news
November 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
What If Utilities Just Made Less Money? A question that's right up there with "why do we regulate utilities like it's still 1920?"