Brian Depew
@briandepew.bsky.social
Rural | Progressive Populist | Against Poverty | For Climate Action
Center for Rural Affairs by day.
Center for Rural Affairs by day.
This analysis has fresh relevance this morning! Imagine adding in the cost of US military intervention on behalf of oil to the equation.
January 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM
This analysis has fresh relevance this morning! Imagine adding in the cost of US military intervention on behalf of oil to the equation.
Love the neighborhood approach. Makes me think about how small portable batteries could be layered in. A couple of neighborhood 2 kwh Bluetti batteries would open up layers of additional resilience. Charge them up at the solar house and run critical loads elsewhere.
January 3, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Love the neighborhood approach. Makes me think about how small portable batteries could be layered in. A couple of neighborhood 2 kwh Bluetti batteries would open up layers of additional resilience. Charge them up at the solar house and run critical loads elsewhere.
Which full size stove?
January 2, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Which full size stove?
It's so bad/hard. In places with low penetration rates and weaker policy it's even more difficult. I think people routinely give up. It's all so ridiculous because the technology is really quite simple.
December 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM
It's so bad/hard. In places with low penetration rates and weaker policy it's even more difficult. I think people routinely give up. It's all so ridiculous because the technology is really quite simple.
Ha! That's a list.
November 7, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Ha! That's a list.
And Rancho Gordo does not disappoint!
November 7, 2025 at 3:29 AM
And Rancho Gordo does not disappoint!
Remember how nuclear power boosters promised electricity generation "too cheap to meter"? Well...
November 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Remember how nuclear power boosters promised electricity generation "too cheap to meter"? Well...
Serious question. Is anyone working on making that happen? Seems like it is worth a concerted and organized effort. Some combo of public pressure on a handful of targets and behind the scenes discussion.
October 25, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Serious question. Is anyone working on making that happen? Seems like it is worth a concerted and organized effort. Some combo of public pressure on a handful of targets and behind the scenes discussion.
Collector's item. 😆
October 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Collector's item. 😆
Legitimate issues. Though the self-certification at CVS and elsewhere is something people should know about. You don't even have to say what condition makes you eligible, just that you are eligible. And the list includes "physical inactivity." I'm skeptical this could lead to a policy cancellation.
October 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Legitimate issues. Though the self-certification at CVS and elsewhere is something people should know about. You don't even have to say what condition makes you eligible, just that you are eligible. And the list includes "physical inactivity." I'm skeptical this could lead to a policy cancellation.
No where for rooftop. That's a lager utility scale price.
September 7, 2025 at 3:03 AM
No where for rooftop. That's a lager utility scale price.
Do you know how CVS is handling the new limiting guidance?
August 29, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Do you know how CVS is handling the new limiting guidance?
Ugh. So much this. Or even buying one.
July 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Ugh. So much this. Or even buying one.
New ducting bc heat pump requires larger? New ducting is a major detractor for me. Big undertaking. I've read mixed things on whether it's necessary.
July 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
New ducting bc heat pump requires larger? New ducting is a major detractor for me. Big undertaking. I've read mixed things on whether it's necessary.
SPP topping CAISO. Wouldn't have been my guess. Now imagine if solar was matched/balanced to the wind here.
July 1, 2025 at 12:14 AM
SPP topping CAISO. Wouldn't have been my guess. Now imagine if solar was matched/balanced to the wind here.
Dude. Sort out the cause and effect. Consider the structural analysis. Understand how policy ties in. Try not to insult clever and ambitious rural people along the way. I don't hold urban people responsible for hegemonic urban policy. Much narrower interests are at the root.
June 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Dude. Sort out the cause and effect. Consider the structural analysis. Understand how policy ties in. Try not to insult clever and ambitious rural people along the way. I don't hold urban people responsible for hegemonic urban policy. Much narrower interests are at the root.
Love your work on Volts, but not sure how saying things like "anyone clever or ambitious leaves for the city" is not also bigoted.
June 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Love your work on Volts, but not sure how saying things like "anyone clever or ambitious leaves for the city" is not also bigoted.
I have a theory that utility operators just like combusting stuff.
June 4, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I have a theory that utility operators just like combusting stuff.
Doesn't it seem like it would be terrible politics too?
May 21, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Doesn't it seem like it would be terrible politics too?
Ha/uff. I feel like so much political strategy - this and otherwise - has not adapted to the current reality. Still trying things that might have worked 15 years ago.
May 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Ha/uff. I feel like so much political strategy - this and otherwise - has not adapted to the current reality. Still trying things that might have worked 15 years ago.
Say more. I don't quite follow: "it would require mobilizing a different political base than the booster class with economic populism"
April 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Say more. I don't quite follow: "it would require mobilizing a different political base than the booster class with economic populism"