Kristina Costa
@slashklc.bsky.social
Private citizen, former White House director for Inflation Reduction Act implementation
National security concerns raised by the Pentagon during the leasing and planning of offshore wind projects south of New England were also fully mitigated, because that’s part of what the much maligned NEPA process does: Balances legitimate competing uses for America’s public lands and waters.
3 of the 5 wind farms just halted are in New England 🔍
There were "no major military issues that came to the fore in New England,” Bill White told me in August.
He represented Mass. on a federally-led task force siting offshore wind farm areas. Here's the public record of the task force. 👇 🧵
There were "no major military issues that came to the fore in New England,” Bill White told me in August.
He represented Mass. on a federally-led task force siting offshore wind farm areas. Here's the public record of the task force. 👇 🧵
First Massachusetts Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting (Nov.19, 2009)
The first meeting was held to introduce the purpose of the task force and the intergovernmental members, explain the BOEM renewable energy leasing and environmental review process, as well as introduc...
www.boem.gov
December 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
National security concerns raised by the Pentagon during the leasing and planning of offshore wind projects south of New England were also fully mitigated, because that’s part of what the much maligned NEPA process does: Balances legitimate competing uses for America’s public lands and waters.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
10. In other words, in 2012 new production benefited domestic producers AND consumers. But today, new production only benefits producers. That's a fundamentally different policy and political environment. And note also that domestic consumption is basically flat for the last 20 yrs.
December 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
10. In other words, in 2012 new production benefited domestic producers AND consumers. But today, new production only benefits producers. That's a fundamentally different policy and political environment. And note also that domestic consumption is basically flat for the last 20 yrs.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
This is incredible (good news too): “After a 40% fall in 2024 in battery equipment costs, it’s clear we’re on track for another major fall in 2025…The economics for batteries are unrecognizable, & the industry is only just getting to grips with this new paradigm”
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/12/b...
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/12/b...
Batteries now cheap enough to make dispatchable solar economically feasible
Energy think tank Ember says utility-scale battery costs have fallen to $65/MWh outside China and the United States, enabling solar power to be delivered when needed.
www.pv-magazine.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This is incredible (good news too): “After a 40% fall in 2024 in battery equipment costs, it’s clear we’re on track for another major fall in 2025…The economics for batteries are unrecognizable, & the industry is only just getting to grips with this new paradigm”
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/12/b...
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/12/b...
In March, I was on an "Abundance" panel where I said that if Congressional Republicans repealed IRA credits for building clean energy at a time of skyrocketing demand, they were going to own the blame for rising energy bills. I think some people thought I was engaging in motivated reasoning. Welp!
December 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
In March, I was on an "Abundance" panel where I said that if Congressional Republicans repealed IRA credits for building clean energy at a time of skyrocketing demand, they were going to own the blame for rising energy bills. I think some people thought I was engaging in motivated reasoning. Welp!
We won’t have all the data for awhile yet but I’m predicting the 30C Alternative Fuel Refueling Credit is going to do way more to expand EV charging nationwide than any other program. (And could have done even more if not for arbitrary geographic restrictions imposed by Congress.)
I recently wrote about my experiences doing some shorter roadtripping from Atlanta in my Chevy Equinox EV, noting a marked improvement in EV charging infrastructure in the region.
Now it’s time to take things a step further...
🔌💡🔌🚗
nathanielhoradam.com/2025/08/24/i...
Now it’s time to take things a step further...
🔌💡🔌🚗
nathanielhoradam.com/2025/08/24/i...
I’ve now seen it with my own eyes, EV charging is rapidly improving in the Southeast
If you’ve read my previous posts detailing my EV purchasing decision, you may recall I don’t drive much on a day-to-day basis. But I love roadtrips, and at minimum I needed to feel comfortable cove…
nathanielhoradam.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 AM
We won’t have all the data for awhile yet but I’m predicting the 30C Alternative Fuel Refueling Credit is going to do way more to expand EV charging nationwide than any other program. (And could have done even more if not for arbitrary geographic restrictions imposed by Congress.)
Reposted by Kristina Costa
TODAY: Tune in at 5:30 p.m. CT to hear @slashklc.bsky.social, Susty Vibes's @dzennypha.bsky.social, Creo's Kobi Weinberg, and mHUB's Elizabeth Andrews discuss global lessons in urban climate resilience and Chicago's potential as a climate refuge. 📺⤵️ brnw.ch/21wXgh1
Built to Last: Creating Climate Resilient Communities
In the lead-up to COP30, Kristina Costa, Jennifer Uchendu, Kobi Weinberg, and Elizabeth Andrews discuss global lessons in urban climate resilience and Chicago's potential as a climate refuge.
brnw.ch
November 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
TODAY: Tune in at 5:30 p.m. CT to hear @slashklc.bsky.social, Susty Vibes's @dzennypha.bsky.social, Creo's Kobi Weinberg, and mHUB's Elizabeth Andrews discuss global lessons in urban climate resilience and Chicago's potential as a climate refuge. 📺⤵️ brnw.ch/21wXgh1
It’s almost as though these competitively awarded grants in a highly oversubscribed program were selected on the basis of merit and need, not politics or ideology. But that was in the olden times of (checks watch) less than a year ago.
Before catastrophic floods swept through the Alaska Native village of Kipnuk on Sunday, the EPA canceled a $20 million grant intended to protect the community from extreme flooding. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/c...
Before Alaska Flooding, E.P.A. Canceled $20 Million Flood Protection Grant
www.nytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:00 AM
It’s almost as though these competitively awarded grants in a highly oversubscribed program were selected on the basis of merit and need, not politics or ideology. But that was in the olden times of (checks watch) less than a year ago.
Programmatic review provides a faster permitting process, so this change will result in unnecessary delays for bringing new generation online.
In the Biden admin, responsibly expanding programmatic reviews was among many unsung reforms that brought federal permit times down by ~25% from 2022-2024.
In the Biden admin, responsibly expanding programmatic reviews was among many unsung reforms that brought federal permit times down by ~25% from 2022-2024.
This article explains that what happened to the Esmeralda seven projects: “the proponents and BLM agreed to change their approach for the Esmeralda 7 Solar Project in Nevada,” instead of programmatic review, developers can review individually. 🔌💡
www.reviewjournal.com/business/ene...
www.reviewjournal.com/business/ene...
Feds cancel review of Vegas-sized solar farm in Nevada desert
Esmeralda 7 in Nevada would have been among the nation’s largest solar projects. The Bureau of Land Management has listed the Nevada project as canceled since Thursday.
www.reviewjournal.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Programmatic review provides a faster permitting process, so this change will result in unnecessary delays for bringing new generation online.
In the Biden admin, responsibly expanding programmatic reviews was among many unsung reforms that brought federal permit times down by ~25% from 2022-2024.
In the Biden admin, responsibly expanding programmatic reviews was among many unsung reforms that brought federal permit times down by ~25% from 2022-2024.
Another day, another packet of evidence that the energy policy of this administration is a world-historic self-own that will leave the U.S. poorer and less competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Investors are the world are pouring more money into renewable energy than ever — even as they pull back on spending in the U.S.
Chart: Global investment in renewables hits record even as US falters
Over the first six months of this year, a total of $386 billion flowed to renewable-energy projects — 10% more than one year prior.
www.canarymedia.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Another day, another packet of evidence that the energy policy of this administration is a world-historic self-own that will leave the U.S. poorer and less competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
🚗⚡ EVs win everywhere
A new study shows that in every US county, electric vehicles now emit less greenhouse gas than petrol cars, no matter how you drive them.
🔗 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#SciComm #EVs #ClimateAction 🧪
A new study shows that in every US county, electric vehicles now emit less greenhouse gas than petrol cars, no matter how you drive them.
🔗 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#SciComm #EVs #ClimateAction 🧪
Greenhouse Gas Reductions Driven by Vehicle Electrification across Powertrains, Classes, Locations, and Use Patterns
We assess the cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of current (2025) light-duty vehicles (LDV) across powertrains, vehicle classes, and locations. We create driver archetypes (commuters, occasional long-distance travelers, contractors), simulate different use patterns (drive cycles, utility factors, cargo loads) and characterize GHG emissions using an attributional approach. Driven by grid decarbonization and improved electric vehicle efficiency, we are first to report electric vehicles have lower GHG emissions than gasoline vehicles in every county across the contiguous United States. On average, a 300-mile range battery electric vehicle (BEV) has emissions which are 31–36% lower than a 50-mile range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 63–65% lower than a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), and 71–73% lower than an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). Downsizing also reduces emissions, with a compact ICEV having 34% lower emissions than an ICEV pickup. We present the first evaluation of LDV emissions while hauling cargo, showing that carrying 2500 lbs. in a pickup increases BEV emissions by 13% (134 to 152 g CO2e/mile) compared to 22% (486 to 592 g CO2e/mile) for an ICEV. Emissions maps and vehicle powertrain/class matrices highlight the interplay between vehicle classes, powertrains, locations, and use patterns, and provide insights for consumers, manufacturers, and policymakers.
pubs.acs.org
September 1, 2025 at 8:24 AM
🚗⚡ EVs win everywhere
A new study shows that in every US county, electric vehicles now emit less greenhouse gas than petrol cars, no matter how you drive them.
🔗 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#SciComm #EVs #ClimateAction 🧪
A new study shows that in every US county, electric vehicles now emit less greenhouse gas than petrol cars, no matter how you drive them.
🔗 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#SciComm #EVs #ClimateAction 🧪
Their antipathy appears limited to the technologies that pose a near-term threat to an unnecessary gas expansion. Existing hydro has mostly already been uprated. SMR, conventional nuke, new hydro, marine kinetic energy sources will all take years to develop. Wind, solar, storage — not so much.
This announcement today from DOE affirms something that came up time and again at the POET/UMERC marine energy conference I attended last week. At least so far, Trump's antipathy for renewables has not been directed at hydropower and marine energy: www.energy.gov/eere/article... 🔌💡
Energy Department Celebrates National Hydropower Day, Advancing American Energy Dominance
In celebration of National Hydropower Day, DOE announced several actions that will help unleash American hydropower
www.energy.gov
August 25, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Their antipathy appears limited to the technologies that pose a near-term threat to an unnecessary gas expansion. Existing hydro has mostly already been uprated. SMR, conventional nuke, new hydro, marine kinetic energy sources will all take years to develop. Wind, solar, storage — not so much.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
Solar executives warn that Trump attack on renewables will lead to power crunch that spikes electricity prices — via @cnbc.com www.cnbc.com/2025/08/24/s...
Solar executives warn that Trump attack on renewables will lead to power crunch that spikes electricity prices
Renewable power executives say difficulty getting permits, rising costs due to tariffs and the end of key tax credits are making it tough to plan.
www.cnbc.com
August 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Solar executives warn that Trump attack on renewables will lead to power crunch that spikes electricity prices — via @cnbc.com www.cnbc.com/2025/08/24/s...
Reposted by Kristina Costa
Wow: “If you grow an acre of corn, it will produce 900 gallons of ethanol, which will get you about 25,000 miles for a Ford F-150...which is, not bad I guess. But let’s say we put solar on that same acre. It will produce enough electricity every year to drive my Lightning 550,000 miles.”
Forty Acres and a Sense of Hope
Sunshine on a Cloudy Week
substack.com
July 12, 2024 at 9:42 PM
Wow: “If you grow an acre of corn, it will produce 900 gallons of ethanol, which will get you about 25,000 miles for a Ford F-150...which is, not bad I guess. But let’s say we put solar on that same acre. It will produce enough electricity every year to drive my Lightning 550,000 miles.”
Highlighting synchronous compensators is good; unfortunately Bloomberg is again repeating the fallacy that the precipitating event of the Spain blackout was solar failing. Thermal generators went down first, and then Spain’s grid regs (which can also be revised!) took solar offline as a precaution.
The fix for solar power blackouts is already here — so why are so few countries investing in it?
@akshatrathi.bsky.social explains bloom.bg/3V9Ox2L
@akshatrathi.bsky.social explains bloom.bg/3V9Ox2L
August 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Highlighting synchronous compensators is good; unfortunately Bloomberg is again repeating the fallacy that the precipitating event of the Spain blackout was solar failing. Thermal generators went down first, and then Spain’s grid regs (which can also be revised!) took solar offline as a precaution.
Earlier today, Bloomberg published what appears to be updated 'commence construction' guidance for wind and solar projects seeking to claim tax credits under the GOP megabill. BLUF: We should take no comfort that it "could have been worse" and there is very little to celebrate. 🧵:
August 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Earlier today, Bloomberg published what appears to be updated 'commence construction' guidance for wind and solar projects seeking to claim tax credits under the GOP megabill. BLUF: We should take no comfort that it "could have been worse" and there is very little to celebrate. 🧵:
Literally lighting taxpayer dollars on fire, in pursuit of ignorance.
“The destruction of the satellites — which will be abandoned and allowed to eventually burn up in a fiery descent into Earth’s atmosphere — marks the latest step by the Trump administration to scale back federal climate science.”
The perfectly fine, already-paid-for satellites Trump wants to destroy in a fiery atmospheric reentry | CNN
NASA is planning to decommission premier satellite missions that gather information on planet-warming pollution and other climate vital signs beginning as soon as October, sources inside and outside o...
www.cnn.com
August 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Literally lighting taxpayer dollars on fire, in pursuit of ignorance.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
"It hasn’t attracted much attention, but a document filed by the Trump administration last week admits to something important: The Trump administration believes that it is going to make gasoline more expensive for Americans." — @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
heatmap.news/politics/tru...
heatmap.news/politics/tru...
Donald Trump’s Backdoor Gasoline Tax
Overturning the basis for America’s tailpipe emissions rules could actually raise prices at the pump — according to the Trump administration itself.
heatmap.news
August 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
"It hasn’t attracted much attention, but a document filed by the Trump administration last week admits to something important: The Trump administration believes that it is going to make gasoline more expensive for Americans." — @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
heatmap.news/politics/tru...
heatmap.news/politics/tru...
~17,000 Tribal homes in the U.S. still do not have electricity, including many in the Southwest. Off-grid solar and storage is by far the most cost-effective way to electrify these homes. Just needlessly, recklessly, pointlessly cruel to deny Tribal families access to power and refrigeration.
The Hopi Tribe in Arizona has to tell 650 households that the electricity they were getting through the $7 billion Solar for All program was canceled. "It feels like we stepped back 100 years," Hopi Chairman Tim Nuvangyaoma said of the government's broken promise. tinyurl.com/ym959wcu
August 11, 2025 at 3:43 PM
~17,000 Tribal homes in the U.S. still do not have electricity, including many in the Southwest. Off-grid solar and storage is by far the most cost-effective way to electrify these homes. Just needlessly, recklessly, pointlessly cruel to deny Tribal families access to power and refrigeration.
Sixth IRS commissioner in seven months unwilling to face jail time when directed to share confidential taxpayer data. Never thought I’d say this, but kudos to Billy Long.
Political appointees violating federal law at other agencies should probably take a good look in the mirror.
Political appointees violating federal law at other agencies should probably take a good look in the mirror.
🚨 WaPo EXCLUSIVE
Hours before Trump removed Billy Long as IRS commissioner, his agency clashed with the White House over sharing immigrants’ tax data.
Hours before Trump removed Billy Long as IRS commissioner, his agency clashed with the White House over sharing immigrants’ tax data.
IRS, White House clashed over immigrants’ data before tax chief was ousted
The Trump administration’s move to push out IRS Commissioner Billy Long came after the agency said it couldn’t release some information on taxpayers suspected of being here illegally.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 9, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Sixth IRS commissioner in seven months unwilling to face jail time when directed to share confidential taxpayer data. Never thought I’d say this, but kudos to Billy Long.
Political appointees violating federal law at other agencies should probably take a good look in the mirror.
Political appointees violating federal law at other agencies should probably take a good look in the mirror.
Renewables saving the day during record heat is THE story of the summer.
August 7, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Renewables saving the day during record heat is THE story of the summer.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
@ramez.bsky.social:
"Wow. 12 GWs of natural gas plants have unplanned outages in Texas right now, more than twice the amount the grid is supposed to be able to handle. Batteries keeping the lights on as we speak."
"Wow. 12 GWs of natural gas plants have unplanned outages in Texas right now, more than twice the amount the grid is supposed to be able to handle. Batteries keeping the lights on as we speak."
August 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
@ramez.bsky.social:
"Wow. 12 GWs of natural gas plants have unplanned outages in Texas right now, more than twice the amount the grid is supposed to be able to handle. Batteries keeping the lights on as we speak."
"Wow. 12 GWs of natural gas plants have unplanned outages in Texas right now, more than twice the amount the grid is supposed to be able to handle. Batteries keeping the lights on as we speak."
Yesterday Real World: Boston cast member / acting NASA head Sean Duffy said he wants to build a nuclear plant... on the moon.
Vogtle cost $30B without having to escape Earth's gravity.
Average cost of a resi system that can bring your grandma's power bill to zero = $15-$25k
Make it make sense.
Vogtle cost $30B without having to escape Earth's gravity.
Average cost of a resi system that can bring your grandma's power bill to zero = $15-$25k
Make it make sense.
Scoop: EPA is preparing to cancel $7 billion in grants intended to help low- and moderate-income families install solar panels www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/c...
E.P.A. Moves to Cancel $7 Billion in Grants for Solar Energy
www.nytimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Yesterday Real World: Boston cast member / acting NASA head Sean Duffy said he wants to build a nuclear plant... on the moon.
Vogtle cost $30B without having to escape Earth's gravity.
Average cost of a resi system that can bring your grandma's power bill to zero = $15-$25k
Make it make sense.
Vogtle cost $30B without having to escape Earth's gravity.
Average cost of a resi system that can bring your grandma's power bill to zero = $15-$25k
Make it make sense.
The remarkable work EPA regulations have achieved over 50 years to improve air quality and public health in the U.S. being steadily undone by climate-fueled wildfire disasters both here and in Canada.
Argument mostly resolved by this super interesting and depressing figure:
doi.org/10.31223/X57...
Clearly we're in a new normal. Open question - do we know yet whether the new normal is more like 2020/21 or more like 2023? I suspect the latter, since Canada is so darn big & it keeps burning. /end
doi.org/10.31223/X57...
Clearly we're in a new normal. Open question - do we know yet whether the new normal is more like 2020/21 or more like 2023? I suspect the latter, since Canada is so darn big & it keeps burning. /end
August 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The remarkable work EPA regulations have achieved over 50 years to improve air quality and public health in the U.S. being steadily undone by climate-fueled wildfire disasters both here and in Canada.
Reposted by Kristina Costa
Between Musk & the Trump administration, Media Matters has been squeezed to the brink. In settlement discussions, lawyers for X demanded the organization hand over all its cash and shut down — all because MM reported ads appeared on X next to antisemitic content. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...
Under Siege From Trump and Musk, a Top Liberal Group Falls Into Crisis
www.nytimes.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Between Musk & the Trump administration, Media Matters has been squeezed to the brink. In settlement discussions, lawyers for X demanded the organization hand over all its cash and shut down — all because MM reported ads appeared on X next to antisemitic content. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...
Going to staple this to the forehead of every Wall Street type who keeps claiming without evidence that this administration is interested in pursuing serious permitting reform. This is an unprecedented and unnecessary amount of new bureaucracy, all to raise transaction costs on disfavored sectors.
Interior issues new memo in response to anti-wind/solar Executive Order that requires any of 69 types of decisions/actions to go to the Office of the Secretary.
This is the way you stall and kill projects. Intentionally red-tape projects to death.
This is the way you stall and kill projects. Intentionally red-tape projects to death.
July 17, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Going to staple this to the forehead of every Wall Street type who keeps claiming without evidence that this administration is interested in pursuing serious permitting reform. This is an unprecedented and unnecessary amount of new bureaucracy, all to raise transaction costs on disfavored sectors.