Ben Kodres-O'Brien
@bkodres93.bsky.social
PhD Candidate — history of technology, electricity, political economy
b-reviews.substack.com
b-reviews.substack.com
For all of the focus on TVA's efforts to bring cheap power to rural and domestic consumers, before (and during, and after) WWII, the vast majority of TVA's power went to industry at even lower rates. Much that went to municipalities was also industrial load (e.g. 50% in Tulepo).
December 31, 2024 at 5:01 PM
For all of the focus on TVA's efforts to bring cheap power to rural and domestic consumers, before (and during, and after) WWII, the vast majority of TVA's power went to industry at even lower rates. Much that went to municipalities was also industrial load (e.g. 50% in Tulepo).
A syllabus for US Energy History (made fr job apps). Leans towards political and economic history—and electricity—w/ far too much reading. H/t to @arielron.bsky.social, amongst others.
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
December 17, 2024 at 4:25 PM
A syllabus for US Energy History (made fr job apps). Leans towards political and economic history—and electricity—w/ far too much reading. H/t to @arielron.bsky.social, amongst others.
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
Helpful “class” analysis of the US election
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
November 27, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Helpful “class” analysis of the US election
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
Great @arunabhghosh.bsky.social paper on ubiquity of small hydropower in China.
US electricity history folks can learn from it: California (prior to Boulder/Hoover Dam) and the Carolinas at the turn of the 20th C are case in point. Call it "medium" hydropower.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
US electricity history folks can learn from it: California (prior to Boulder/Hoover Dam) and the Carolinas at the turn of the 20th C are case in point. Call it "medium" hydropower.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 22, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Great @arunabhghosh.bsky.social paper on ubiquity of small hydropower in China.
US electricity history folks can learn from it: California (prior to Boulder/Hoover Dam) and the Carolinas at the turn of the 20th C are case in point. Call it "medium" hydropower.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
US electricity history folks can learn from it: California (prior to Boulder/Hoover Dam) and the Carolinas at the turn of the 20th C are case in point. Call it "medium" hydropower.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Some charts that point to the agglomeration of electrochemical manufacturers and hydroelectricity in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century.
November 18, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Some charts that point to the agglomeration of electrochemical manufacturers and hydroelectricity in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century.
Great econ primer on US presidential election trends. *Relative* decline in econ security -> grievance -> blame others -> Republican shift.
In the coming weeks, @tghilarducci will be extending this...
In the coming weeks, @tghilarducci will be extending this...
November 13, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Great econ primer on US presidential election trends. *Relative* decline in econ security -> grievance -> blame others -> Republican shift.
In the coming weeks, @tghilarducci will be extending this...
In the coming weeks, @tghilarducci will be extending this...
Oh great, we’re doing this one again
cc @DougJBalloon
cc @DougJBalloon
November 13, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Oh great, we’re doing this one again
cc @DougJBalloon
cc @DougJBalloon
Striking charts
November 10, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Striking charts
This is, by the way, Trump's likely attorney general. It would be folly, as both @EdwardGLuce and @FukuyamaFrancis agree, to ignore Trump's intentions for retribution and revenge.
November 13, 2024 at 7:57 AM
This is, by the way, Trump's likely attorney general. It would be folly, as both @EdwardGLuce and @FukuyamaFrancis agree, to ignore Trump's intentions for retribution and revenge.
Another underrated take.
(Obviously, as @freedaaron says in his next tweet that follows this one, there is fundamental change desired and needed.)
(Obviously, as @freedaaron says in his next tweet that follows this one, there is fundamental change desired and needed.)
November 13, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Another underrated take.
(Obviously, as @freedaaron says in his next tweet that follows this one, there is fundamental change desired and needed.)
(Obviously, as @freedaaron says in his next tweet that follows this one, there is fundamental change desired and needed.)
Melinda Cooper’s article (now book chapter) on the California tax revolt—compare to the Onion.
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Melinda Cooper’s article (now book chapter) on the California tax revolt—compare to the Onion.
"The higher the voltage, the lower the current."
Yes, because V=IR. Am I going insane?
from Beta Engineering
Yes, because V=IR. Am I going insane?
from Beta Engineering
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
"The higher the voltage, the lower the current."
Yes, because V=IR. Am I going insane?
from Beta Engineering
Yes, because V=IR. Am I going insane?
from Beta Engineering
Great non-electoral readings lately from some political-economy-focused folks:
"Hyperpolitics in America" @AntonJaegermm
"Great Power Politics" @adam_tooze
"What Was Bidenomics? @andrewelrod...
"Hyperpolitics in America" @AntonJaegermm
"Great Power Politics" @adam_tooze
"What Was Bidenomics? @andrewelrod...
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Great non-electoral readings lately from some political-economy-focused folks:
"Hyperpolitics in America" @AntonJaegermm
"Great Power Politics" @adam_tooze
"What Was Bidenomics? @andrewelrod...
"Hyperpolitics in America" @AntonJaegermm
"Great Power Politics" @adam_tooze
"What Was Bidenomics? @andrewelrod...
Americans want low prices, low inflation, and low interest rates.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/17/voters-wont-thank-kamala-harris-for-the-state-of-the-economy
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/17/voters-wont-thank-kamala-harris-for-the-state-of-the-economy
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Americans want low prices, low inflation, and low interest rates.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/17/voters-wont-thank-kamala-harris-for-the-state-of-the-economy
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/17/voters-wont-thank-kamala-harris-for-the-state-of-the-economy
The Chartbook post on renewable electricity development in the US is well done.
@adam_tooze can you share the criteria for the red highlights in the chart on states without sizable current renewable shares or solar momentum? I can't reverse engineer...
@adam_tooze can you share the criteria for the red highlights in the chart on states without sizable current renewable shares or solar momentum? I can't reverse engineer...
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
The Chartbook post on renewable electricity development in the US is well done.
@adam_tooze can you share the criteria for the red highlights in the chart on states without sizable current renewable shares or solar momentum? I can't reverse engineer...
@adam_tooze can you share the criteria for the red highlights in the chart on states without sizable current renewable shares or solar momentum? I can't reverse engineer...
"... today’s dissonance between industrial and macroeconomic policy is new and intense. It forms an anti-paradigm that adds materially to the uncertainty haunting the world economy."
Very welcome critique from the global perspective of @adam_tooze...
Very welcome critique from the global perspective of @adam_tooze...
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
"... today’s dissonance between industrial and macroeconomic policy is new and intense. It forms an anti-paradigm that adds materially to the uncertainty haunting the world economy."
Very welcome critique from the global perspective of @adam_tooze...
Very welcome critique from the global perspective of @adam_tooze...
“there was never any prospect that surging troops would contain conflict when you’ve given the primary aggressor in regional war a blank check + billions in weapons + diplomatic cover at the UN and in international society.”
...
...
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
“there was never any prospect that surging troops would contain conflict when you’ve given the primary aggressor in regional war a blank check + billions in weapons + diplomatic cover at the UN and in international society.”
...
...
Here it is with a stick (zoom in)
November 13, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Here it is with a stick (zoom in)
A bald eagle lives in this cell tower, one block away from my apartment. Frequently see it fly back to the tower carrying massive sticks to build out the nest.
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
A bald eagle lives in this cell tower, one block away from my apartment. Frequently see it fly back to the tower carrying massive sticks to build out the nest.
Fun media sphere we live in
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Fun media sphere we live in
Another fun map (i love maps like @GovTimWalz @Tim_Walz does)
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Another fun map (i love maps like @GovTimWalz @Tim_Walz does)
While ethanol has lower carbon intensity than gasoline at the point of combustion, the RFS has on the whole been a terrible climate policy, largely because it has encouraged carbon-intensive cropland expansion for little besides ethanol-destined corn (and soybeans).
November 13, 2024 at 8:09 AM
While ethanol has lower carbon intensity than gasoline at the point of combustion, the RFS has on the whole been a terrible climate policy, largely because it has encouraged carbon-intensive cropland expansion for little besides ethanol-destined corn (and soybeans).
When we talk about the persistence of "organic" energy in the fossil fuel era in the US, ethanol made from corn (and the oodles of natural-gas-based fertilizer that go into growing it) present an amazing case study. @VisualizeEnergy @arielronid
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
When we talk about the persistence of "organic" energy in the fossil fuel era in the US, ethanol made from corn (and the oodles of natural-gas-based fertilizer that go into growing it) present an amazing case study. @VisualizeEnergy @arielronid
The National Archives—end consumer of the petrochemical industry.
November 13, 2024 at 8:09 AM
The National Archives—end consumer of the petrochemical industry.
When academics talk about “materiality” they typically wander into a metaphorical theoryland hall of mirrors but what they should actually talk about is how all of these things (and many other things) are made.
November 13, 2024 at 7:58 AM
When academics talk about “materiality” they typically wander into a metaphorical theoryland hall of mirrors but what they should actually talk about is how all of these things (and many other things) are made.