Joshua D. Rhodes
@joshdr83.bsky.social
Energy | Research Scientist @utaustin.bsky.social & @columbiauniversity.bsky.social | CTO @ideasmithsLLC | Electric Commissioner @austintexasgov | husband | dad | views my own
September 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
What do real landowners and local officials think about wind and solar projects? We asked them in our last report that focused on Texas:
txrenewables.net
See below for what they said.
txrenewables.net
See below for what they said.
August 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
What do real landowners and local officials think about wind and solar projects? We asked them in our last report that focused on Texas:
txrenewables.net
See below for what they said.
txrenewables.net
See below for what they said.
“We’re in an energy crunch,” said Joshua Rhodes, an electricity expert and research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. “We should be doubling down on everything we can build right now. Making things more expensive is antithetical to that.”
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Texas Shows How Trump’s Anti-Green Moves Threaten a Red Economy
The state faces an energy crunch, but Trump’s budget bill will hurt renewable power — Texas’ fastest growing electricity source.
www.bloomberg.com
August 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“We’re in an energy crunch,” said Joshua Rhodes, an electricity expert and research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. “We should be doubling down on everything we can build right now. Making things more expensive is antithetical to that.”
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
It's AI vs. Al for cheap power
“Ultimately, this is about energy,” said Matt Meenan, VP of external affairs for the Aluminum Association.
“I think we’re going to have a hard time becoming fully self-sufficient for primary Al in the U.S.”
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
“Ultimately, this is about energy,” said Matt Meenan, VP of external affairs for the Aluminum Association.
“I think we’re going to have a hard time becoming fully self-sufficient for primary Al in the U.S.”
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
US aluminum producers need cheap, clean power. That may be tough to…
Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium want to build the nation’s first smelters in decades, but must compete with data centers for a limited…
www.canarymedia.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:53 PM
It's AI vs. Al for cheap power
“Ultimately, this is about energy,” said Matt Meenan, VP of external affairs for the Aluminum Association.
“I think we’re going to have a hard time becoming fully self-sufficient for primary Al in the U.S.”
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
“Ultimately, this is about energy,” said Matt Meenan, VP of external affairs for the Aluminum Association.
“I think we’re going to have a hard time becoming fully self-sufficient for primary Al in the U.S.”
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
On why the cheapest form of energy does well in Texas:
“[Texas] set up its markets to be cut-throat,” says Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at [UT Austin]
By contrast, in many other parts of the US, there is no competition at all, says Rhodes.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/80aac07...
“[Texas] set up its markets to be cut-throat,” says Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at [UT Austin]
By contrast, in many other parts of the US, there is no competition at all, says Rhodes.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/80aac07...
Why Texas’s ‘cut-throat’ approach to net zero is paying off
Trump’s anti-green agenda has put him on an unlikely collision course with supporters in the state
www.telegraph.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
On why the cheapest form of energy does well in Texas:
“[Texas] set up its markets to be cut-throat,” says Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at [UT Austin]
By contrast, in many other parts of the US, there is no competition at all, says Rhodes.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/80aac07...
“[Texas] set up its markets to be cut-throat,” says Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at [UT Austin]
By contrast, in many other parts of the US, there is no competition at all, says Rhodes.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/80aac07...
Reposted by Joshua D. Rhodes
Oh hey, IdeaSmiths CTO @joshdr83.bsky.social did this analysis!
The short version: voting to attack wind and solar is a vote to raise electricity prices and escalate chances of outages and shortfalls.
The short version: voting to attack wind and solar is a vote to raise electricity prices and escalate chances of outages and shortfalls.
Another study backs my argument last night that Cruz and Cornyn are voting to raise electricity prices for Texans with their attack on clean energy.
PRESS RELEASE: Renewables and Storage Will Save Texans $115 Billion Over the Next 15 Years - Texas Energy Buyers Alliance
Austin, Texas (February 10, 2025) — A Texas Energy Buyers Alliance (TEBA) report released today shows that if the Texas Legislature passes laws that slow or
txenergybuyers.com
June 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Oh hey, IdeaSmiths CTO @joshdr83.bsky.social did this analysis!
The short version: voting to attack wind and solar is a vote to raise electricity prices and escalate chances of outages and shortfalls.
The short version: voting to attack wind and solar is a vote to raise electricity prices and escalate chances of outages and shortfalls.
Engineer mountain was just calling out to me!
June 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Engineer mountain was just calling out to me!
Reposted by Joshua D. Rhodes
It’s official: Texas bills targeting solar and wind power are dead.
Here's a recap of the arguments that worked, as the renewable energy industry tries the same appeals to lobby against Trump's "big, beautiful bill." www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Here's a recap of the arguments that worked, as the renewable energy industry tries the same appeals to lobby against Trump's "big, beautiful bill." www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Renewable energy survived Texas attacks. Its future now depends on Trump.
Texas bills targeting solar and wind power are dead, so the state’s flourishing renewable energy industry remains alive and well — for now.
www.houstonchronicle.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:13 PM
It’s official: Texas bills targeting solar and wind power are dead.
Here's a recap of the arguments that worked, as the renewable energy industry tries the same appeals to lobby against Trump's "big, beautiful bill." www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Here's a recap of the arguments that worked, as the renewable energy industry tries the same appeals to lobby against Trump's "big, beautiful bill." www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Reposted by Joshua D. Rhodes
Investing in US technology and US supply chains delivers benefits that reach far and wide.
"I'm a husband, father, and softball coach, and welding puts food on the table, smoked ribs on the grill." – Lee Evans, Welder, Grenzebach, Newnan, GA.
Learn more: bit.ly/43vszfW
#AmericasSolarCompany
"I'm a husband, father, and softball coach, and welding puts food on the table, smoked ribs on the grill." – Lee Evans, Welder, Grenzebach, Newnan, GA.
Learn more: bit.ly/43vszfW
#AmericasSolarCompany
June 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Investing in US technology and US supply chains delivers benefits that reach far and wide.
"I'm a husband, father, and softball coach, and welding puts food on the table, smoked ribs on the grill." – Lee Evans, Welder, Grenzebach, Newnan, GA.
Learn more: bit.ly/43vszfW
#AmericasSolarCompany
"I'm a husband, father, and softball coach, and welding puts food on the table, smoked ribs on the grill." – Lee Evans, Welder, Grenzebach, Newnan, GA.
Learn more: bit.ly/43vszfW
#AmericasSolarCompany
Happy Texas Sine Die to those who celebrate!
June 2, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Happy Texas Sine Die to those who celebrate!
“The same sun that heats up buildings, that drives air conditioning, that drives peak (electricity) demand in Texas, is the same sun that's producing electricity for solar panels,” said Joshua Rhodes
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
How will the ERCOT grid hold up during this week's Texas heat wave?
Electricity demand is expected to set an all-time May record this week, according to forecasts from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
www.houstonchronicle.com
May 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
“The same sun that heats up buildings, that drives air conditioning, that drives peak (electricity) demand in Texas, is the same sun that's producing electricity for solar panels,” said Joshua Rhodes
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
“The electricity grid is looking to grow with new loads, like AI and data centers…” “Building new [infrastructure] takes time and money. ->, “it would be good to continue to be efficient in places where we can, [Rhodes] said.
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Federal Energy Star label program, which helped curb electricity demand, said to be on chopping block
The Trump administration reportedly plans to cut the program, just as electricity demand is rising in the United States due to the rise in data centers and AI.
www.marketplace.org
May 13, 2025 at 9:00 PM
“The electricity grid is looking to grow with new loads, like AI and data centers…” “Building new [infrastructure] takes time and money. ->, “it would be good to continue to be efficient in places where we can, [Rhodes] said.
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Reposted by Joshua D. Rhodes
Sometimes it feels like it's just us, but it's not.
While Virginia is holding on to the title of data center capital of the world, this industry has the ability and incentive to go where the power is, not just where the initial infrastructure was laid.
While Virginia is holding on to the title of data center capital of the world, this industry has the ability and incentive to go where the power is, not just where the initial infrastructure was laid.
Super cool map showing electricity, data, and datacenter infrastructure from NREL has been updated:
www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy2...
www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy2...
May 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Sometimes it feels like it's just us, but it's not.
While Virginia is holding on to the title of data center capital of the world, this industry has the ability and incentive to go where the power is, not just where the initial infrastructure was laid.
While Virginia is holding on to the title of data center capital of the world, this industry has the ability and incentive to go where the power is, not just where the initial infrastructure was laid.
“It's like expecting a trumpet to play a drum line — it's just not going to work. It's not the right tool. But if you put all the tools together, then you can get an orchestra,” Rhodes said.
via @clairehao.bsky.social @houstonchronicle.com
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
via @clairehao.bsky.social @houstonchronicle.com
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Texas GOP moves closer to killing the state's renewable energy boom
The bills would require nearly every solar and wind farm in the state to back up their electricity output with natural gas power plants or a fleet of batteries.
www.houstonchronicle.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:57 AM
“It's like expecting a trumpet to play a drum line — it's just not going to work. It's not the right tool. But if you put all the tools together, then you can get an orchestra,” Rhodes said.
via @clairehao.bsky.social @houstonchronicle.com
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
via @clairehao.bsky.social @houstonchronicle.com
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Super cool map showing electricity, data, and datacenter infrastructure from NREL has been updated:
www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy2...
www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy2...
May 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Super cool map showing electricity, data, and datacenter infrastructure from NREL has been updated:
www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy2...
www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy2...
Been out for a bit to welcome this new addition to our family, really excited to be a dad! He is doing great, just working on what sleep means now ;)
April 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Been out for a bit to welcome this new addition to our family, really excited to be a dad! He is doing great, just working on what sleep means now ;)
ICYMI: amazing and timely map by Billy Roberts at NREL showing electricity and data infrastructure across the US!
April 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
ICYMI: amazing and timely map by Billy Roberts at NREL showing electricity and data infrastructure across the US!
Rhodes: “And that can make a big difference for a rancher or a landholder to have that revenue. … A lot of landowners talked about wind and solar being like a drought-proof crop. It doesn’t have to rain to still get paid.”
yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/03/Clea...
yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/03/Clea...
Clean energy is powering local economies in Texas » Yale Climate Connections
Wind, solar, and battery storage projects are generating billions in tax revenue for communities, a University of Texas study finds.
yaleclimateconnections.org
March 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Rhodes: “And that can make a big difference for a rancher or a landholder to have that revenue. … A lot of landowners talked about wind and solar being like a drought-proof crop. It doesn’t have to rain to still get paid.”
yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/03/Clea...
yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/03/Clea...
Reposted by Joshua D. Rhodes
A huge jump in the ERCOT solar peak generation record today at 12:20 pm.
New record = 26,321 MW
Old record = 25,015 MW - set just 10 days ago.
Note: Solar share of total generation was 56.3% when the record was set. Crazy!
Source: www.gridstatus.io/records/erco...
#energysky
New record = 26,321 MW
Old record = 25,015 MW - set just 10 days ago.
Note: Solar share of total generation was 56.3% when the record was set. Crazy!
Source: www.gridstatus.io/records/erco...
#energysky
March 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
A huge jump in the ERCOT solar peak generation record today at 12:20 pm.
New record = 26,321 MW
Old record = 25,015 MW - set just 10 days ago.
Note: Solar share of total generation was 56.3% when the record was set. Crazy!
Source: www.gridstatus.io/records/erco...
#energysky
New record = 26,321 MW
Old record = 25,015 MW - set just 10 days ago.
Note: Solar share of total generation was 56.3% when the record was set. Crazy!
Source: www.gridstatus.io/records/erco...
#energysky
Can you believe these wind turbines? 🤣
March 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Can you believe these wind turbines? 🤣
“AI is not going to wait for 2030 to come. It is going to be won or lost in the next few years,” Rhodes said. “And the things you can build today are wind, solar and storage.”
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
Is wind energy really driving up electricity rates in Texas? What experts say
Trump officials slammed wind energy during CERAWeek comments in Houston this week, claiming it has driven up electricity costs for consumers.
www.houstonchronicle.com
March 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM
“AI is not going to wait for 2030 to come. It is going to be won or lost in the next few years,” Rhodes said. “And the things you can build today are wind, solar and storage.”
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...
March 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Figure 1: Figure showing the percent net electricity imports (imports less exports) as a percentage of regional annual demand for regions that border Canada. Note that positive values denote imports.
data: www.eia.gov/electricity/...
data: www.eia.gov/electricity/...
March 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Figure 1: Figure showing the percent net electricity imports (imports less exports) as a percentage of regional annual demand for regions that border Canada. Note that positive values denote imports.
data: www.eia.gov/electricity/...
data: www.eia.gov/electricity/...
Reposted by Joshua D. Rhodes
Another sentiment check on our neighbors to the North
torontosun.com/news/provinc...
torontosun.com/news/provinc...
March 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Another sentiment check on our neighbors to the North
torontosun.com/news/provinc...
torontosun.com/news/provinc...