Roger Aines
@rogeraines.bsky.social
Carbon removal, photography, science communication. Check out the book Championing Science by Amy Aines and me. Most of my birds live in Livermore, California.
Pinned
Roger Aines
@rogeraines.bsky.social
· Jun 8
Creating an Environmental Legacy
How do individuals make big impact? A worked example from lead pollution.
open.substack.com
I set out to find examples of how major environmental successes have been achieved in the past - and started with lead pollution. Not really a thing any more, and the actions of Clair Patterson were catalytic. How did he do it? Interestingly, never in public.
open.substack.com/pub/rogerain...
open.substack.com/pub/rogerain...
Three horned owls this evening on my house and nearby trees! 🪶
November 16, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Three horned owls this evening on my house and nearby trees! 🪶
Reposted by Roger Aines
#Agrivoltaics moving into the mainstream in #Italy
Would be good to see some horticultural production in the mix, beyond sheep.
Italy awards 2 GW in agrivoltaic tender backed by #EU funds.
#agsky #energysky
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/12/i...
Would be good to see some horticultural production in the mix, beyond sheep.
Italy awards 2 GW in agrivoltaic tender backed by #EU funds.
#agsky #energysky
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/12/i...
Italy awards 2 GW in agrivoltaic tender backed by EU funds
Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) says 747 projects have been selected under the nation’s first agrivoltaic program, backed by €1.7 billion ($1.9 billion) from European re...
www.pv-magazine.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
#Agrivoltaics moving into the mainstream in #Italy
Would be good to see some horticultural production in the mix, beyond sheep.
Italy awards 2 GW in agrivoltaic tender backed by #EU funds.
#agsky #energysky
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/12/i...
Would be good to see some horticultural production in the mix, beyond sheep.
Italy awards 2 GW in agrivoltaic tender backed by #EU funds.
#agsky #energysky
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/12/i...
Reposted by Roger Aines
I only move the leaves off the driveway that'd get disturbed by cars anyway.... all the birds get their food from under the leaves, plus the bumblebees survive under there🥰
November 15, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I only move the leaves off the driveway that'd get disturbed by cars anyway.... all the birds get their food from under the leaves, plus the bumblebees survive under there🥰
Reposted by Roger Aines
New York officials signed a $32 million contract with Copper "to develop, pilot and produce 10,000 new energy-efficient induction stoves for use in New York City public housing facilities." www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro... 🔌💡
$32 Million Commitment Announced to Electrify Cooking Appliances in NYCHA Buildings Through Induction Stove Challenge - NYSERDA
The New York Power Authority (NYPA), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced that the next phase of the ...
www.nyserda.ny.gov
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
New York officials signed a $32 million contract with Copper "to develop, pilot and produce 10,000 new energy-efficient induction stoves for use in New York City public housing facilities." www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro... 🔌💡
Reposted by Roger Aines
A number of new estimates of current policy warming by 2100 have been released in recent months, including three prominent ones from UNEP, IEA, and CAT in the run-up to COP30.
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
November 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A number of new estimates of current policy warming by 2100 have been released in recent months, including three prominent ones from UNEP, IEA, and CAT in the run-up to COP30.
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
Reposted by Roger Aines
In my EI blog post today, I discuss the CA debate over how to return some of the cap and trade revenue to households and explain why I think a fixed rebate for every household the utility serves should be replace by a discount per-kilowatt-hour.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
Spreading the Cap-and-Trade Wealth
Last month, when Gov. Newsom signed a bill extending California’s cap and trade program to 2045, one section of the bill mandated changes in the “Climate Credit” that residential customers have bee…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
In my EI blog post today, I discuss the CA debate over how to return some of the cap and trade revenue to households and explain why I think a fixed rebate for every household the utility serves should be replace by a discount per-kilowatt-hour.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
Reposted by Roger Aines
Do this!
You can rake the leaves to the edges of the lawn if you want, or rake them into a bed where you have other plants or trees. Larvae of pollinators overwinter in those leaves. If you remove the leaves, you will also be removing the pollinators that help your plants reproduce.
You can rake the leaves to the edges of the lawn if you want, or rake them into a bed where you have other plants or trees. Larvae of pollinators overwinter in those leaves. If you remove the leaves, you will also be removing the pollinators that help your plants reproduce.
Alternatively you can leave the leaves. They provide habitat for ground dwelling pollinators
November 9, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Do this!
You can rake the leaves to the edges of the lawn if you want, or rake them into a bed where you have other plants or trees. Larvae of pollinators overwinter in those leaves. If you remove the leaves, you will also be removing the pollinators that help your plants reproduce.
You can rake the leaves to the edges of the lawn if you want, or rake them into a bed where you have other plants or trees. Larvae of pollinators overwinter in those leaves. If you remove the leaves, you will also be removing the pollinators that help your plants reproduce.
Reposted by Roger Aines
A historic turning point for clean heating in Europe: For the first time, in the first half of 2025 sales of heat pumps in Germany have surpassed those of gas boilers.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
November 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A historic turning point for clean heating in Europe: For the first time, in the first half of 2025 sales of heat pumps in Germany have surpassed those of gas boilers.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
Reposted by Roger Aines
The jury — which feasted on sandwiches for lunch on Thursday, according to a person familiar with jury lunches
BREAKING: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EATS A LOSS IN 'SANDWICH GUY' CASE AS JURORS FIND DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jury acquits D.C. 'sandwich guy' charged with chucking a sub at a federal agent
Sean Dunn faced single misdemeanor offense after federal grand jurors refused to indict him on the felony charge sought by prosecutors.
www.nbcnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The jury — which feasted on sandwiches for lunch on Thursday, according to a person familiar with jury lunches
One of the great joys of a small pond here in Northern California is that the big birds like it too. Even owls at night, but this Cooper's hawk is a regular 🪶
November 6, 2025 at 7:03 PM
One of the great joys of a small pond here in Northern California is that the big birds like it too. Even owls at night, but this Cooper's hawk is a regular 🪶
Reposted by Roger Aines
The world might be pulling back on climate truth: but I'm stepping it up.
How? I'm adding new videos, deep dives & behind-the-scenes stories to Talking Climate.
Why? Because climate honesty and hope matter more than ever right now.
Join me on Patreon: bit.ly/47pCLaf
Or Substack: bit.ly/4ntfvhJ
How? I'm adding new videos, deep dives & behind-the-scenes stories to Talking Climate.
Why? Because climate honesty and hope matter more than ever right now.
Join me on Patreon: bit.ly/47pCLaf
Or Substack: bit.ly/4ntfvhJ
October 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The world might be pulling back on climate truth: but I'm stepping it up.
How? I'm adding new videos, deep dives & behind-the-scenes stories to Talking Climate.
Why? Because climate honesty and hope matter more than ever right now.
Join me on Patreon: bit.ly/47pCLaf
Or Substack: bit.ly/4ntfvhJ
How? I'm adding new videos, deep dives & behind-the-scenes stories to Talking Climate.
Why? Because climate honesty and hope matter more than ever right now.
Join me on Patreon: bit.ly/47pCLaf
Or Substack: bit.ly/4ntfvhJ
Reposted by Roger Aines
Higher education has some work to do on climate action. We found that the median reduction in direct (Scope 1) emissions is only ~9% - with over a third of U.S. colleges and universities actually reporting Scope 1 emissions higher than in their baseline year.
scholarworks.smith.edu/env_facpubs/35
scholarworks.smith.edu/env_facpubs/35
October 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Higher education has some work to do on climate action. We found that the median reduction in direct (Scope 1) emissions is only ~9% - with over a third of U.S. colleges and universities actually reporting Scope 1 emissions higher than in their baseline year.
scholarworks.smith.edu/env_facpubs/35
scholarworks.smith.edu/env_facpubs/35
Note that my alma mater Carleton College has done this in FREAKING MINNESOTA. The pipes run deep under the quadrangle where they pour water for a winter outdoor ice rink.
Simple calculation by @carleton.edu was payoff in about decade, independent of the GHG benefits.
I’m very proud of them.
Simple calculation by @carleton.edu was payoff in about decade, independent of the GHG benefits.
I’m very proud of them.
Carbon neutrality doesn’t always lead to decarbonization. But who is decarbonizing? We looked at >600 US colleges and universities and found 7 that have decarbonized direct (Scope 1) emissions by at least 50% (usually with ground source heat pump networks). This is possible folks! 1/6
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Note that my alma mater Carleton College has done this in FREAKING MINNESOTA. The pipes run deep under the quadrangle where they pour water for a winter outdoor ice rink.
Simple calculation by @carleton.edu was payoff in about decade, independent of the GHG benefits.
I’m very proud of them.
Simple calculation by @carleton.edu was payoff in about decade, independent of the GHG benefits.
I’m very proud of them.
Reposted by Roger Aines
Today in 1949, A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold was first published.
That book had an enormous impact on how I think about land and helped create the idea of a “land ethic.”
That book had an enormous impact on how I think about land and helped create the idea of a “land ethic.”
October 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Today in 1949, A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold was first published.
That book had an enormous impact on how I think about land and helped create the idea of a “land ethic.”
That book had an enormous impact on how I think about land and helped create the idea of a “land ethic.”
Reposted by Roger Aines
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 Roger Aines
Reposted by Roger Aines
California condor range expanding into the Bay Area and Santa Cruz Mountains, further south into Santa Barbara County too. 🪶 www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/20/f...
October 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
California condor range expanding into the Bay Area and Santa Cruz Mountains, further south into Santa Barbara County too. 🪶 www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/20/f...
Reposted by Roger Aines
During the government shutdown, California is recruiting many former federal employees. Applications peaked in May at 314 but have largely kept up, numbering 239 in September, @cvonka.bsky.social reports: www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
'I have no regrets': Ex-federal officials flock to California
California officials are using the government shutdown to recruit more federal workers.
www.politico.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
During the government shutdown, California is recruiting many former federal employees. Applications peaked in May at 314 but have largely kept up, numbering 239 in September, @cvonka.bsky.social reports: www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Roger Aines
The IEA’s Renewables 2025 report shows that the world added around 2,500 GW of renewables between 2010 & 2023, more than the combined power generation capacity of the EU & US in 2023. Thirty-eight countries cut their reliance on coal & gas by >10%; eight by >30% www.carbonbrief.org/iea-renewabl...
IEA: Renewables have cut fossil-fuel imports for more than 100 countries - Carbon Brief
More than 100 countries have cut their dependence on fossil-fuel imports and saved hundreds of billions of dollars by continuing to invest in renewables
www.carbonbrief.org
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The IEA’s Renewables 2025 report shows that the world added around 2,500 GW of renewables between 2010 & 2023, more than the combined power generation capacity of the EU & US in 2023. Thirty-eight countries cut their reliance on coal & gas by >10%; eight by >30% www.carbonbrief.org/iea-renewabl...
IEA analysis via Carbonbrief.org shows reduction in imported fossil fuels for 100 countries.
Climate sure, but the balance of payments are better "...saved more than $1.3tn between 2010 and 2023 that would otherwise have been spent on fossil fuels from overseas"
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-renewabl...
Climate sure, but the balance of payments are better "...saved more than $1.3tn between 2010 and 2023 that would otherwise have been spent on fossil fuels from overseas"
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-renewabl...
October 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
IEA analysis via Carbonbrief.org shows reduction in imported fossil fuels for 100 countries.
Climate sure, but the balance of payments are better "...saved more than $1.3tn between 2010 and 2023 that would otherwise have been spent on fossil fuels from overseas"
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-renewabl...
Climate sure, but the balance of payments are better "...saved more than $1.3tn between 2010 and 2023 that would otherwise have been spent on fossil fuels from overseas"
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-renewabl...
While we are discussing useful things (or not) done by the U.S.: 1/4 of our tobacco production is shipped to China.
wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtra...
wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtra...
October 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
While we are discussing useful things (or not) done by the U.S.: 1/4 of our tobacco production is shipped to China.
wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtra...
wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtra...
Reposted by Roger Aines
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 5:27 PM
In a classic conflict of environmental outcomes, I find myself cheering for sunny days that fully charge my batteries, while bemoaning the lack of rain to sustain my native plants. All moderated by my love of fall hummingbirds enjoying my Mexican sage.
The world is not simple but there is joy. 🪶
The world is not simple but there is joy. 🪶
October 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
In a classic conflict of environmental outcomes, I find myself cheering for sunny days that fully charge my batteries, while bemoaning the lack of rain to sustain my native plants. All moderated by my love of fall hummingbirds enjoying my Mexican sage.
The world is not simple but there is joy. 🪶
The world is not simple but there is joy. 🪶
Reposted by Roger Aines
When we address climate change and biodiversity loss, we increasingly focus on the "co-benefits" for people.
But what if we flipped it and put people first? And *then* worked to address climate and biodiversity issues?
It might be a compelling way forward...
drawdown.org/news/interna...
But what if we flipped it and put people first? And *then* worked to address climate and biodiversity issues?
It might be a compelling way forward...
drawdown.org/news/interna...
International team calls for a people-first approach to achieving humanitarian, climate, and biodiversity goals
To solve the world’s three biggest challenges, we need to use human well-being as a lens for setting priorities.
drawdown.org
October 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
When we address climate change and biodiversity loss, we increasingly focus on the "co-benefits" for people.
But what if we flipped it and put people first? And *then* worked to address climate and biodiversity issues?
It might be a compelling way forward...
drawdown.org/news/interna...
But what if we flipped it and put people first? And *then* worked to address climate and biodiversity issues?
It might be a compelling way forward...
drawdown.org/news/interna...
This is the way technology has real impact. It solves the problem of 24/7 industrial heat from on-site PV. 10 years from now it is going to be like iPhones - how did we ever live without it?
Geologists reverent of hot rocks. Get them hot, they stay hot until you run water through. See below 😀.
Geologists reverent of hot rocks. Get them hot, they stay hot until you run water through. See below 😀.
Rondo Energy begins commercial operations of the world's largest industrial heat battery — 100 MWh — capable of converting low-cost electricity from wind & solar into heat at >1000°C and supply constant heating needs for industrial processes. 🔌💡
share.google/rniuYqTcGHfo...
share.google/rniuYqTcGHfo...
'World’s largest' industrial heat battery is online and solar-powered
Rondo Energy launches the world's largest industrial heat battery in California, delivering 24/7 steam and heat powered by renewables.
share.google
October 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
This is the way technology has real impact. It solves the problem of 24/7 industrial heat from on-site PV. 10 years from now it is going to be like iPhones - how did we ever live without it?
Geologists reverent of hot rocks. Get them hot, they stay hot until you run water through. See below 😀.
Geologists reverent of hot rocks. Get them hot, they stay hot until you run water through. See below 😀.