PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
@tkovach.bsky.social
Climate dad to E, J, and C. Working on decarbonization and environmental justice in Cleveland. Founded the Cleveland Refugee Bike Project. Supports Juventus & Eintracht.
Opinions my own and probably wrong.
Opinions my own and probably wrong.
Pinned
When scheduling your next meeting, think:
Could this Zoom have been a phone call?
Could that phone call have been an email?
Could that email have been a text?
Could that text have been a skeet?
Could that skeet have been a thought?
Could that thought have not existed?
Could I simply cease to exist?
Could this Zoom have been a phone call?
Could that phone call have been an email?
Could that email have been a text?
Could that text have been a skeet?
Could that skeet have been a thought?
Could that thought have not existed?
Could I simply cease to exist?
If there's one thing military theory teaches it's that diversity is a weakness. That's why the US military consists of a single branch with nothing but rifle units
February 9, 2026 at 8:12 PM
If there's one thing military theory teaches it's that diversity is a weakness. That's why the US military consists of a single branch with nothing but rifle units
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
the absolute state of things, in one image
February 9, 2026 at 4:29 PM
the absolute state of things, in one image
A 2019 study broke out PM2.5-related mortality by cause of death and pollution levels.
Main finding?
"99.0% of the burden of death due to nonaccidental causes was associated with PM2.5 levels below standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency."
That's the standard EPA is trying to keep
Main finding?
"99.0% of the burden of death due to nonaccidental causes was associated with PM2.5 levels below standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency."
That's the standard EPA is trying to keep
February 9, 2026 at 4:22 PM
A 2019 study broke out PM2.5-related mortality by cause of death and pollution levels.
Main finding?
"99.0% of the burden of death due to nonaccidental causes was associated with PM2.5 levels below standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency."
That's the standard EPA is trying to keep
Main finding?
"99.0% of the burden of death due to nonaccidental causes was associated with PM2.5 levels below standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency."
That's the standard EPA is trying to keep
"Across the United States, the NO2 exposure of ∼22 million people would fall below the World Health Organization (WHO)'s long-term exposure guideline (10 µg/m3 or 5.2 ppbv) if they reduced or stopped cooking with gas or propane."
Integrating indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide exposures in US homes nationally by ZIP code
Abstract. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measured outdoors using satellites and ground-level stations across the United States are regularly used
academic.oup.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:31 PM
"Across the United States, the NO2 exposure of ∼22 million people would fall below the World Health Organization (WHO)'s long-term exposure guideline (10 µg/m3 or 5.2 ppbv) if they reduced or stopped cooking with gas or propane."
Columbus suburb sues to block Amazon data center’s six-acre array of 228 Bloom Energy fuel cells
Lawsuit aims to block Ohio Amazon data center’s 228 ‘fuel cells’ - Signal Ohio
As a 142-acre Amazon data center tries a new "fuel cell" approach to its massive power demands, a Columbus suburb is suing to stop it.
signalohio.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Columbus suburb sues to block Amazon data center’s six-acre array of 228 Bloom Energy fuel cells
“A lot of residents right now have been saying, ‘hey, my bills keep increasing, prices are all over the place.’ Well, now 30% of our energy is just locked in at a price for 25 years, so we can provide some stability."
West Dayton solar farm with 'refreshing' level of support should save city utility customers $42M
Gem City Solar will be the largest solar farm in Dayton and should help Dayton customers save on utility bills.
www.wyso.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:51 PM
“A lot of residents right now have been saying, ‘hey, my bills keep increasing, prices are all over the place.’ Well, now 30% of our energy is just locked in at a price for 25 years, so we can provide some stability."
"We also find striking effects on mortality: a 25% increase in the steady state flow of immigrants to the US would result in 5,000 fewer deaths nationwide."
Is Immigration Good for Health? The Effect of Immigration on Older Adult Mortality in the United States
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:41 PM
"We also find striking effects on mortality: a 25% increase in the steady state flow of immigrants to the US would result in 5,000 fewer deaths nationwide."
Remember when Trump claimed there's no offshore wind in China
World's first 20 MW offshore wind turbine powers grid in China
english.news.cn
February 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Remember when Trump claimed there's no offshore wind in China
Lindsey Vonn insisting she's ready for the Super G
February 8, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Lindsey Vonn insisting she's ready for the Super G
There's a corgi named Chappell Bone
February 8, 2026 at 7:57 PM
There's a corgi named Chappell Bone
Losing my house after taking the over on number of times a member of Team Ruff pees on the field during Puppy Bowl XXII
February 8, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Losing my house after taking the over on number of times a member of Team Ruff pees on the field during Puppy Bowl XXII
You're not ready for God Bless the U.S.A. (Reggaeton Version)
He just keeps rerecording different versions of his song that came out 42 years ago
February 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
You're not ready for God Bless the U.S.A. (Reggaeton Version)
The Muppets Violate Chatham House Rules
I'd watch a muppet show movie where the muppets infiltrate an academic conference.
February 7, 2026 at 3:57 PM
The Muppets Violate Chatham House Rules
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
Outrage after US Congress votes to slash $125m in funding to replace toxic lead pipes
Outrage after US Congress votes to slash $125m in funding to replace toxic lead pipes
Move will hit Michigan, Illinois, New York and other states with highest levels of lead drinking water pipes the hardest
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Outrage after US Congress votes to slash $125m in funding to replace toxic lead pipes
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
I'm told that the endangerment finding repeal package lands next week. I look at what that could mean for other climate rules, state action, and the future of U.S. climate policy.
And on Signal at jchemnick.01, for any tips on when, where, etc.!
www.eenews.net/articles/Her....
And on Signal at jchemnick.01, for any tips on when, where, etc.!
www.eenews.net/articles/Her....
Here’s what could happen when the endangerment finding dies
States, courts and Congress could be forced to fill the climate policy vacuum.
www.eenews.net
February 6, 2026 at 7:15 PM
I'm told that the endangerment finding repeal package lands next week. I look at what that could mean for other climate rules, state action, and the future of U.S. climate policy.
And on Signal at jchemnick.01, for any tips on when, where, etc.!
www.eenews.net/articles/Her....
And on Signal at jchemnick.01, for any tips on when, where, etc.!
www.eenews.net/articles/Her....
I've been going through Ohio Power Siting Board data.
For projects that already have OPSB approval, solar makes up 50% of total capacity, with gas at 40%.
For proposed projects, solar falls to 26%, with gas jumping to 71%, of which 38% is behind the meter for data centers.
opsb.ohio.gov
For projects that already have OPSB approval, solar makes up 50% of total capacity, with gas at 40%.
For proposed projects, solar falls to 26%, with gas jumping to 71%, of which 38% is behind the meter for data centers.
opsb.ohio.gov
Ohio Power Siting Board
opsb.ohio.gov
February 6, 2026 at 7:05 PM
I've been going through Ohio Power Siting Board data.
For projects that already have OPSB approval, solar makes up 50% of total capacity, with gas at 40%.
For proposed projects, solar falls to 26%, with gas jumping to 71%, of which 38% is behind the meter for data centers.
opsb.ohio.gov
For projects that already have OPSB approval, solar makes up 50% of total capacity, with gas at 40%.
For proposed projects, solar falls to 26%, with gas jumping to 71%, of which 38% is behind the meter for data centers.
opsb.ohio.gov
"Research shows that countries become significantly more democratic when oil production starts to decline. So when we talk about transitioning toward renewable energy, we’re not just talking about a climate solution. We’re talking about a potential path toward healing democracy as well."
Actually, I do know how to do this
In retrospect, paying attention to polluters may be one of the best ways to understand what’s currently happening in the United States.
open.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:51 PM
"Research shows that countries become significantly more democratic when oil production starts to decline. So when we talk about transitioning toward renewable energy, we’re not just talking about a climate solution. We’re talking about a potential path toward healing democracy as well."
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
So many have given to The Post Guild’s fundraising effort, and we are floored. But we also ask you to consider supporting the fundraiser for our international staff and staff in our bureaus who aren’t Guild eligible. They are absolutely vital to coverage. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:54 PM
So many have given to The Post Guild’s fundraising effort, and we are floored. But we also ask you to consider supporting the fundraiser for our international staff and staff in our bureaus who aren’t Guild eligible. They are absolutely vital to coverage. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
There are over 100 academic, non-profit, governmental, and journalistic research teams from all over the world already using MIGRATE to study topics across the health, environmental, and social sciences! If you are a researcher interested in data access, visit migrate.tech.cornell.edu. 8/9
MIGRATE
migrate.tech.cornell.edu
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
There are over 100 academic, non-profit, governmental, and journalistic research teams from all over the world already using MIGRATE to study topics across the health, environmental, and social sciences! If you are a researcher interested in data access, visit migrate.tech.cornell.edu. 8/9
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
MIGRATE is also useful for studying local migration trends. For example, it reveals dramatic rates of out-migration after wildfires in California that are invisible in previous Census datasets. 7/9
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
MIGRATE is also useful for studying local migration trends. For example, it reveals dramatic rates of out-migration after wildfires in California that are invisible in previous Census datasets. 7/9
The pettiness is astounding
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/c...
February 5, 2026 at 4:54 PM
The pettiness is astounding
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/c...
Per 2023 data from the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (which EPA is trying to eliminate), the largest single source of GHGs in the US is the James H Miller Jr power plant in Quinton, AL, which released 16.6 MMTCO2e.
Texas just authorized the planned GW Ranch plant to release 33 MMTCO2e annually.
Texas just authorized the planned GW Ranch plant to release 33 MMTCO2e annually.
"The planned hyperscale facilities of north and west Texas, if fully built out, could be among the largest emissions sources in both the country and the world, Bird said"
“I’d be hard-pressed to think of a bigger emitter"
“I’d be hard-pressed to think of a bigger emitter"
Huge Texas data centers will get their own gas power plants
The developer of one project, in Pecos County, calls it the largest power project in the U.S. Data centers are sparking a surge of gas power plant construction in Texas.
www.texastribune.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Per 2023 data from the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (which EPA is trying to eliminate), the largest single source of GHGs in the US is the James H Miller Jr power plant in Quinton, AL, which released 16.6 MMTCO2e.
Texas just authorized the planned GW Ranch plant to release 33 MMTCO2e annually.
Texas just authorized the planned GW Ranch plant to release 33 MMTCO2e annually.
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
Without the ability to move about freely, we don't have freedom at all. That is why desegregating public transit was one of the most important strategies of the Civil Rights Movement; and why we recognize February 4, Rosa Park's birthday, as Transit Equity Day.
February 4, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Without the ability to move about freely, we don't have freedom at all. That is why desegregating public transit was one of the most important strategies of the Civil Rights Movement; and why we recognize February 4, Rosa Park's birthday, as Transit Equity Day.
Reposted by PM2.5 Kills ~9 Million People Worldwide Annually
Truly remarkable news from China - solar power capacity will surpass coal power capacity this year.
The world's largest emitter, and likely where the world's climate fate will be decided, is now driving the global clean energy transition.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The world's largest emitter, and likely where the world's climate fate will be decided, is now driving the global clean energy transition.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
China’s Solar Power Capacity on Course to Surpass Coal This Year
China’s solar generating capacity is expected to surpass coal for the first time this year, according to the country’s top electricity industry group, marking a milestone in the country’s long-standin...
www.bloomberg.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Truly remarkable news from China - solar power capacity will surpass coal power capacity this year.
The world's largest emitter, and likely where the world's climate fate will be decided, is now driving the global clean energy transition.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The world's largest emitter, and likely where the world's climate fate will be decided, is now driving the global clean energy transition.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...