Isak Kvam
@isakkvam.bsky.social
MN writer interested in climate, decarb, and wild places. Comms for Fresh Energy. DM me bird and typewriter photos. Posts are mine, my own, my precious. 🔌💡
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Isak Kvam
@isakkvam.bsky.social
· Nov 9
Hey climate folks! Brief intro: I’m an energy/climate writer in MN currently working at Fresh Energy in St. Paul. Here are a few of the best stories I’ve written in 2024:
Reposted by Isak Kvam
It’s cliché to call the Boundary Waters a refuge, but it certainly was mine when I was a kid.
An Elegy for My Boundary Waters - Racket
It’s cliché to call the Boundary Waters a refuge, but it certainly was mine when I was a kid.
racketmn.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
It’s cliché to call the Boundary Waters a refuge, but it certainly was mine when I was a kid.
local hero: “It seems like we should do something rather than simply doing nothing until the perfect solution arrives."
racketmn.com/local-bike-h...
racketmn.com/local-bike-h...
Local Bike Hero Illuminates Minneapolis's Midtown Greenway as City Stalls - Racket
Plus soybean woes, food news, and, sure, let's talk about the campus pisser trend in today's Flyover news roundup.
racketmn.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
local hero: “It seems like we should do something rather than simply doing nothing until the perfect solution arrives."
racketmn.com/local-bike-h...
racketmn.com/local-bike-h...
One of the biggest Midwest energy stories of the year. Absolutely bonkers that many states are purposefully working to make us all pay *more* for dirtier, less reliable energy.
minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/23/r...
minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/23/r...
Red states move to stop transmission lines that would give relief to Minnesota ratepayers • Minnesota Reformer
The proposed lines could pay for themselves more than three times over.
minnesotareformer.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
One of the biggest Midwest energy stories of the year. Absolutely bonkers that many states are purposefully working to make us all pay *more* for dirtier, less reliable energy.
minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/23/r...
minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/23/r...
Skeptical MN town is learning to love solar: Pelican Rapids will save $180,000 over 40 years, no up-front money down, will start making money in 2 years. Too bad Congress gutted the IRA & IIJA that helps small towns save money with cleaner energy!
www.startribune.com/these-rural-...
www.startribune.com/these-rural-...
These rural Minnesota towns were clean energy skeptics. Now they’re installing solar
They’re taking advantage of federal tax credits before programs phase out and expect to save thousands of dollars in annual energy bills.
www.startribune.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Skeptical MN town is learning to love solar: Pelican Rapids will save $180,000 over 40 years, no up-front money down, will start making money in 2 years. Too bad Congress gutted the IRA & IIJA that helps small towns save money with cleaner energy!
www.startribune.com/these-rural-...
www.startribune.com/these-rural-...
My latest: Isle Royale NPS operations staff are using e-bikes to tend to trails and buildings because they're nimble, quiet, and efficient. Plus, they won't have to boat in diesel for loud, polluting service vehicles.
fresh-energy.org/isle-royale-...
fresh-energy.org/isle-royale-...
Isle Royale National Park operations staff ditch diesel for e-bikes - Fresh Energy
The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation collaborated with Isle Royale, Quality Bicycle Products, Spokengear Cyclery, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to bring cargo e-bikes ...
fresh-energy.org
September 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
My latest: Isle Royale NPS operations staff are using e-bikes to tend to trails and buildings because they're nimble, quiet, and efficient. Plus, they won't have to boat in diesel for loud, polluting service vehicles.
fresh-energy.org/isle-royale-...
fresh-energy.org/isle-royale-...
@adnroy.bsky.social can I get a spider ID for central MN?
September 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
@adnroy.bsky.social can I get a spider ID for central MN?
Getting so tired of feeds and algorithms that I'm dusting off an ol' RSS feed like it's 2012
September 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Getting so tired of feeds and algorithms that I'm dusting off an ol' RSS feed like it's 2012
I feel like a large climate philanthropy could spark a lot of change by just offering suuuuper low-interest loans to homeowners to switch to electric as soon as possible. Is that a thing?
September 9, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I feel like a large climate philanthropy could spark a lot of change by just offering suuuuper low-interest loans to homeowners to switch to electric as soon as possible. Is that a thing?
We're paying more for dirtier energy.
NEW: i took a look at new research from @oilchange.bsky.social which finds that taxpayers are on the hook for an additional $4 billion per year in fossil fuel subsidies thanks to the one big beautiful bill:
US Taxpayers Will Pay Billions in New Fossil Fuel Subsidies Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill
A report finds that President Trump’s flagship legislation will grant $40 billion in new subsidies to the oil and gas industry over the next decade.
www.wired.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM
We're paying more for dirtier energy.
On the one hand, I'm with other climate folks in being happy that current gas turbine manufacturing can't meet current gas turbine demand. On the other hand, I'm so sad about high gas turbine demand.
www.utilitydive.com/news/mitsubi...
www.utilitydive.com/news/mitsubi...
September 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
On the one hand, I'm with other climate folks in being happy that current gas turbine manufacturing can't meet current gas turbine demand. On the other hand, I'm so sad about high gas turbine demand.
www.utilitydive.com/news/mitsubi...
www.utilitydive.com/news/mitsubi...
I still think paying more for dirtier energy is bad policy.
September 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I still think paying more for dirtier energy is bad policy.
Told my wife 'it sure is windy' and started tapping on my phone and she immediately asked if I was checking the electrical grid on my phone again. Dear reader, ...
September 5, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Told my wife 'it sure is windy' and started tapping on my phone and she immediately asked if I was checking the electrical grid on my phone again. Dear reader, ...
Lol'ing at a random photo of David Byrne having a (black!) coffee 45 years ago being used in this article
Latte-swilling ‘performative males’: why milky drinks are shorthand for liberal
Latte-swilling ‘performative males’: why milky drinks are shorthand for liberal
Americans are fretting over a type of man who drinks matcha and expresses alternative masculinity – but the ‘latte liberal’ stereotype has existed for decades
www.theguardian.com
September 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Lol'ing at a random photo of David Byrne having a (black!) coffee 45 years ago being used in this article
I feel like Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine — who are basically cool, outdoorsy cousins — should form a clean energy, clean heat, clean water alliance. MN and MI have more ambitious clean energy laws, but Maine is years ahead with its heat pump adoption. A loon for a logo. Make it happen
September 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I feel like Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine — who are basically cool, outdoorsy cousins — should form a clean energy, clean heat, clean water alliance. MN and MI have more ambitious clean energy laws, but Maine is years ahead with its heat pump adoption. A loon for a logo. Make it happen
Loved writing about MVTA, MN's 2nd-largest transit agency, is electrifying their bus fleet, starting with five electric mini-buses. PLUS, you can see their electric bus in-person at the MN State Fair outside the Eco building!
fresh-energy.org/minnesotas-s...
fresh-energy.org/minnesotas-s...
Minnesota's second-largest transit agency begins switching buses to net zero - Fresh Energy
MVTA is using five electric mini-buses as it charts a path to net zero. Learn how these electric buses are lowering emissions in Minnesota.
fresh-energy.org
August 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Loved writing about MVTA, MN's 2nd-largest transit agency, is electrifying their bus fleet, starting with five electric mini-buses. PLUS, you can see their electric bus in-person at the MN State Fair outside the Eco building!
fresh-energy.org/minnesotas-s...
fresh-energy.org/minnesotas-s...
Important to double-check your headlines don't have an unintended meaning
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Fresh from byelection victory, Pierre Poilievre says Conservatives will focus on crime
The Tory leader revived his "jail not bail" campaign slogan Wednesday, calling for the repeal of Liberal government laws on bail reform and the removal of mandatory minimum sentences for
www.thestar.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Important to double-check your headlines don't have an unintended meaning
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
New electric utility dropped
www.reuters.com/legal/transa...
www.reuters.com/legal/transa...
Black Hills, NorthWestern merge to form $15.4 billion utility to meet surging demand
Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy said on Tuesday they would merge, creating a $15.4 billion regulated electric and natural gas utility better equipped to invest in grid infrastructure and meet rising U.S. power demand.
www.reuters.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
New electric utility dropped
www.reuters.com/legal/transa...
www.reuters.com/legal/transa...
This is so wild. The Trump Administration ordered a retiring coal plant in Michigan to stay open. Coal is dirty and expensive. It's costing ratepayers $1 million a DAY. And now FERC is saying everyone in the Midwest must chip in to help with its extreme costs.
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-do...
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-do...
FERC approves cost allocation paths for power plants DOE ordered to run past shutdown dates
The decisions affect Consumers Energy and Constellation Energy, as well as ratepayers in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and PJM Interconnection footprints.
www.utilitydive.com
August 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is so wild. The Trump Administration ordered a retiring coal plant in Michigan to stay open. Coal is dirty and expensive. It's costing ratepayers $1 million a DAY. And now FERC is saying everyone in the Midwest must chip in to help with its extreme costs.
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-do...
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-do...
Reposted by Isak Kvam
We use nearly 40M acres of cornfields to grow ethanol. Nearly 40M acres of solar farms (with some batteries) could easily power the country, even if we all drove EVs and used AI. www.nytimes.com/2023/06/06/o...
Opinion | The Climate Solution That’s Horrible for the Climate (Published 2023)
www.nytimes.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
We use nearly 40M acres of cornfields to grow ethanol. Nearly 40M acres of solar farms (with some batteries) could easily power the country, even if we all drove EVs and used AI. www.nytimes.com/2023/06/06/o...
I met Nicole last year and have had their all-electric roasted coffee and can confirm it's very good
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...
Meet Minnesota’s electric coffee roasting pioneers
Minneapolis-based Coffeewomple is one of the first U.S. roasters to use a commercial-scale electric coffee roaster, navigating higher costs for climate…
www.canarymedia.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I met Nicole last year and have had their all-electric roasted coffee and can confirm it's very good
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...
$29 million in 5 weeks.
Turns out forcing old, uneconomic coal plants to remain online when the operator wanted to retire them is expensive. Keeping Campbell running in MI has cost $29 million over 5 weeks: www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
Consumers Energy spends millions keeping coal plant open per fed order
The utility expects the cost to be shared by customers in the north and central regions of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
www.detroitnews.com
August 1, 2025 at 5:46 PM
$29 million in 5 weeks.
New ecosystem dropped
This surprisingly relaxing footage is from SIX MILES under the ocean – and it’s the deepest ecosystem yet discovered
July 31, 2025 at 8:49 PM
New ecosystem dropped
In Minnesota, buildings are the fastest-growing source of climate pollution. Hats off to New York for proactive, forward-looking policy like this 👏👏
www.canarymedia.com/articles/car...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/car...
New York becomes first state to commit to all-electric new buildings
The state finalized rules ensuring most new edifices will install electric heat pumps and stoves instead of gas appliances, lowering costs and improving…
www.canarymedia.com
July 31, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In Minnesota, buildings are the fastest-growing source of climate pollution. Hats off to New York for proactive, forward-looking policy like this 👏👏
www.canarymedia.com/articles/car...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/car...