Michael Freeman
@michbfreeman.bsky.social
Offshore wind policy at Oceantic Network. Also insect art. Former entomologist I guess.
he/him/his, views are of my own creation
🏳️🌈🇺🇸🇩🇪
he/him/his, views are of my own creation
🏳️🌈🇺🇸🇩🇪
This Earth Day, you're going to see an Executive Order which will attempt to strip orgs which work on climate/nature of their c3 non-profit status. This affects a huge portion of non-profit orgs (including my entire career, obviously), not just those which are strictly climate or conservation orgs.
Trump May Target Environmental Nonprofits in Executive Orders - Inside Climate News
Environmental groups say they are preparing for the worst—and preparing to fight back.
insideclimatenews.org
April 22, 2025 at 4:12 AM
This Earth Day, you're going to see an Executive Order which will attempt to strip orgs which work on climate/nature of their c3 non-profit status. This affects a huge portion of non-profit orgs (including my entire career, obviously), not just those which are strictly climate or conservation orgs.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
This poppycock from EPA head Lee Zeldin. In other words, instead of setting and enforcing binding health and environmental standards as required by law, we’ll just ask the big polluters “pretty-please”(except when we don’t even do that) and call the result “clean.”
www.wsj.com/opinion/lee-...
www.wsj.com/opinion/lee-...
March 13, 2025 at 4:03 AM
This poppycock from EPA head Lee Zeldin. In other words, instead of setting and enforcing binding health and environmental standards as required by law, we’ll just ask the big polluters “pretty-please”(except when we don’t even do that) and call the result “clean.”
www.wsj.com/opinion/lee-...
www.wsj.com/opinion/lee-...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Misinformation campaigns have gotten a lot of mileage out of false claims that offshore wind kill whales.
Well, Trump's NOAA layoffs included dozens of scientists working to ensure wind and whales can coexist.
@fieseler.bsky.social has the scoop:
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...
Well, Trump's NOAA layoffs included dozens of scientists working to ensure wind and whales can coexist.
@fieseler.bsky.social has the scoop:
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...
Trump fires NOAA scientists helping whales and offshore wind coexist
Scores of employees working to ensure offshore wind has a low impact on whales, birds, and other wildlife were cut in a major round of layoffs at the…
www.canarymedia.com
February 28, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Misinformation campaigns have gotten a lot of mileage out of false claims that offshore wind kill whales.
Well, Trump's NOAA layoffs included dozens of scientists working to ensure wind and whales can coexist.
@fieseler.bsky.social has the scoop:
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...
Well, Trump's NOAA layoffs included dozens of scientists working to ensure wind and whales can coexist.
@fieseler.bsky.social has the scoop:
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Looks like the @waybackmachine.bsky.social has not archived all of NOAA’s digital library. Thanks for checking @katycroffbell.bsky.social!
Has anyone else taken on this science-saving job?
Has anyone else taken on this science-saving job?
I know it's not the CDC ... but has anyone backed up NOAA's digital library?
Created in 2013, it has *all* the scientific reports, journal articles, guidelines and other info authored or co-authored by NOAA. Think Deepwater Horizon reports, etc.
I'm concerned.
repository.library.noaa.gov/welcome
Created in 2013, it has *all* the scientific reports, journal articles, guidelines and other info authored or co-authored by NOAA. Think Deepwater Horizon reports, etc.
I'm concerned.
repository.library.noaa.gov/welcome
Welcome to the NOAA Institutional RepositorySearchSearchSearchhomehome
repository.library.noaa.gov
February 25, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Looks like the @waybackmachine.bsky.social has not archived all of NOAA’s digital library. Thanks for checking @katycroffbell.bsky.social!
Has anyone else taken on this science-saving job?
Has anyone else taken on this science-saving job?
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Your regular reminder that the US air & water pollution laws passed in the 60s & 70s -- and the elaborate federal bureaucracy created to administer them -- constitute one of the most successful gov't interventions in history. WILDLY successful. The envy of the world.
February 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Your regular reminder that the US air & water pollution laws passed in the 60s & 70s -- and the elaborate federal bureaucracy created to administer them -- constitute one of the most successful gov't interventions in history. WILDLY successful. The envy of the world.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
When the dismantlists talk about "trimming the fat" or "bloated" whatever relating to the federal government, remind them that there have been about the same number of federal employees since the 1960s.
Meanwhile US population has increased by ~70% and GDP has increased 29-fold.
Meanwhile US population has increased by ~70% and GDP has increased 29-fold.
February 18, 2025 at 1:17 AM
When the dismantlists talk about "trimming the fat" or "bloated" whatever relating to the federal government, remind them that there have been about the same number of federal employees since the 1960s.
Meanwhile US population has increased by ~70% and GDP has increased 29-fold.
Meanwhile US population has increased by ~70% and GDP has increased 29-fold.
NOAA does so much more than just telling you if it’s going to rain tomorrow. This will be devastating for so many industries and communities.
A list of terms NOAA received that could run afoul of Trump orders: "climate change," "pollution" "natural resources" and terms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion - @npr.org's @alejandrabee.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @hansilowang.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...
Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency
Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.
www.npr.org
February 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
NOAA does so much more than just telling you if it’s going to rain tomorrow. This will be devastating for so many industries and communities.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
It feels like no one should have to say this, and yet we are in a situation where it needs to be said, very loudly and clearly, before it’s too late to do anything about it: The United States is not a startup. If you run it like one, it will break.
🔗 www.wired.com/story/the-us...
🔗 www.wired.com/story/the-us...
February 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
It feels like no one should have to say this, and yet we are in a situation where it needs to be said, very loudly and clearly, before it’s too late to do anything about it: The United States is not a startup. If you run it like one, it will break.
🔗 www.wired.com/story/the-us...
🔗 www.wired.com/story/the-us...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
By definition, numerical weather models require international data. The atmosphere knows no geopolitical boundaries: any model that begins and ends at its country’s border is unable to generate reliable predictions until after a weather system crosses its boundaries. Which defeats the purpose!
NOAA Employees Told to Pause Work With ‘Foreign Nationals’
An internal email obtained by WIRED shows that NOAA workers received orders to pause “ALL INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS.”
www.wired.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
By definition, numerical weather models require international data. The atmosphere knows no geopolitical boundaries: any model that begins and ends at its country’s border is unable to generate reliable predictions until after a weather system crosses its boundaries. Which defeats the purpose!
Reposted by Michael Freeman
As the ocean heats at unprecedented rates, gutting NOAA isn’t efficiency—it’s chaos. Coastal communities, jobs, and lives depend on its vital work. #ProtectNOAA #OceanHealth
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Doge staffers enter Noaa headquarters and incite reports of cuts and threats
Members reportedly sought access to IT systems at agency that Project 2025 has called ‘harmful to US prosperity’
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
As the ocean heats at unprecedented rates, gutting NOAA isn’t efficiency—it’s chaos. Coastal communities, jobs, and lives depend on its vital work. #ProtectNOAA #OceanHealth
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
So many studies, even those unrelated to classic right wing culture war nonsense, could be pulled for using any of these words. The book burning has come to NSF.
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
February 4, 2025 at 3:32 AM
So many studies, even those unrelated to classic right wing culture war nonsense, could be pulled for using any of these words. The book burning has come to NSF.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
On Monday, President Trump issued an Executive Order to halt offshore wind development in the U.S. until further notice.
This decision could have serious ripple effects on an industry that's supporting coastal communities and setting us on a path to protect the future of our ocean. 🧵⤵️
This decision could have serious ripple effects on an industry that's supporting coastal communities and setting us on a path to protect the future of our ocean. 🧵⤵️
January 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
On Monday, President Trump issued an Executive Order to halt offshore wind development in the U.S. until further notice.
This decision could have serious ripple effects on an industry that's supporting coastal communities and setting us on a path to protect the future of our ocean. 🧵⤵️
This decision could have serious ripple effects on an industry that's supporting coastal communities and setting us on a path to protect the future of our ocean. 🧵⤵️
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Physics does not care about our politics, and ultimately the world will continue to warm until we get global emissions of CO2 to (net) zero.
January 22, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Physics does not care about our politics, and ultimately the world will continue to warm until we get global emissions of CO2 to (net) zero.
Simultaneously declaring an energy emergency yet being picky about energy sources is the epitome of hypocrisy. The offshore wind industry brings thousands of good paying careers and is a necessary tool to combat climate change. We cannot simply drop it because one man thinks turbines are ugly.
President Donald Trump has ordered the federal government to stop all permits for wind energy projects, including all offshore wind development in the U.S. and wind projects on federal lands, @jael.bsky.social reports.
Trump Orders End to All Wind Energy Permits
The worst case scenario for the wind industry is here.
heatmap.news
January 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Simultaneously declaring an energy emergency yet being picky about energy sources is the epitome of hypocrisy. The offshore wind industry brings thousands of good paying careers and is a necessary tool to combat climate change. We cannot simply drop it because one man thinks turbines are ugly.
Misinformation is becoming increasingly rampant as clean energy, which shouldn’t be political to begin with, starts to show serious effort in decarbonizing our communities. Make sure you’re being a vigilant and skeptical reader!
As @oceanconservancy.bsky.social works hard to implement solutions to protect our ocean, we've seen how misinformation can impact both national and local policy decisions that affect you.
The good news? We can fight back against misinformation together. Dive in. oceanconservancy.org/blog/2025/01...
The good news? We can fight back against misinformation together. Dive in. oceanconservancy.org/blog/2025/01...
January 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Misinformation is becoming increasingly rampant as clean energy, which shouldn’t be political to begin with, starts to show serious effort in decarbonizing our communities. Make sure you’re being a vigilant and skeptical reader!
Hear hear 😉
For real though, we put a lot of work into this. Please read and keep all of this in mind as you start to hear a whole lot of nonsense about offshore wind.
For real though, we put a lot of work into this. Please read and keep all of this in mind as you start to hear a whole lot of nonsense about offshore wind.
With the incoming administration, there's going to be a lot of bullshit and misinformation about offshore wind floating around. Here is a well-documented summary of the best scientific information on the subject:
oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/u...
oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/u...
oceanconservancy.org
January 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Hear hear 😉
For real though, we put a lot of work into this. Please read and keep all of this in mind as you start to hear a whole lot of nonsense about offshore wind.
For real though, we put a lot of work into this. Please read and keep all of this in mind as you start to hear a whole lot of nonsense about offshore wind.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Here are the facts:
👎 Offshore drilling for fossil fuels is dirty, dangerous & pollutes our air and ocean.
👍 Harnessing the power of our ocean for clean energy alternatives can provide for communities and help us protect our ocean.
oceanconservancy.org/blog/2024/11...
👎 Offshore drilling for fossil fuels is dirty, dangerous & pollutes our air and ocean.
👍 Harnessing the power of our ocean for clean energy alternatives can provide for communities and help us protect our ocean.
oceanconservancy.org/blog/2024/11...
Drilling Into the Differences Between Offshore Oil Drilling and Offshore Wind - Ocean Conservancy
It’s no secret that offshore drilling is risky business. Offshore wind doesn't come with the risks from offshore oil drilling. Read more.
oceanconservancy.org
January 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Here are the facts:
👎 Offshore drilling for fossil fuels is dirty, dangerous & pollutes our air and ocean.
👍 Harnessing the power of our ocean for clean energy alternatives can provide for communities and help us protect our ocean.
oceanconservancy.org/blog/2024/11...
👎 Offshore drilling for fossil fuels is dirty, dangerous & pollutes our air and ocean.
👍 Harnessing the power of our ocean for clean energy alternatives can provide for communities and help us protect our ocean.
oceanconservancy.org/blog/2024/11...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
WATCH: Our own Senior Director for Climate Policy Anna-Marie Laura highlights the critical need to move *away* from dangerous fossil fuels *toward* responsible clean renewable energy like offshore wind.
The future of our ocean and planet depends on it.
The future of our ocean and planet depends on it.
January 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
WATCH: Our own Senior Director for Climate Policy Anna-Marie Laura highlights the critical need to move *away* from dangerous fossil fuels *toward* responsible clean renewable energy like offshore wind.
The future of our ocean and planet depends on it.
The future of our ocean and planet depends on it.
Any of these individually would be a huge blow to our toolbox of options to fight climate change. I am certain van Drew is listening, so we’ll likely be seeing some of these in print.
It’s too bad REACT doesn’t actually care about whales, or they’d do something about shipping and fishing gear 🙄
It’s too bad REACT doesn’t actually care about whales, or they’d do something about shipping and fishing gear 🙄
big scoop: i got my hands on a draft executive order ending offshore wind sent to the trump transition team
not only would it stop permits but includes a stop construction order and potentially rfk jr studying the health impacts of living near wind turbines
heatmap.news/plus/the-fig...
not only would it stop permits but includes a stop construction order and potentially rfk jr studying the health impacts of living near wind turbines
heatmap.news/plus/the-fig...
Scoop: The Draft Order that Offshore Wind Opponents Sent to Trump
If even only a few of these ideas are enacted, it would be a harbinger of doom for wind energy in America.
heatmap.news
January 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Any of these individually would be a huge blow to our toolbox of options to fight climate change. I am certain van Drew is listening, so we’ll likely be seeing some of these in print.
It’s too bad REACT doesn’t actually care about whales, or they’d do something about shipping and fishing gear 🙄
It’s too bad REACT doesn’t actually care about whales, or they’d do something about shipping and fishing gear 🙄
Safer streets, less congestion, and importantly, lower emissions 🥰
this is incredible stuff. most state DOTs would spend tens of billions on highway expansions to try and see numbers like this (that wouldn’t even pan out anyway thanks to induced demand lol)
January 14, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Safer streets, less congestion, and importantly, lower emissions 🥰
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Last week @mshellenberger.bsky.social shared a “documentary” arguing offshore wind will drive right whales extinct + Trump can stop it.
I reviewed the film. 🧵
First he makes a brash causal conflation. All whale deaths of all causes for a whole coastline = wind makes right whales extinct.
I reviewed the film. 🧵
First he makes a brash causal conflation. All whale deaths of all causes for a whole coastline = wind makes right whales extinct.
January 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Last week @mshellenberger.bsky.social shared a “documentary” arguing offshore wind will drive right whales extinct + Trump can stop it.
I reviewed the film. 🧵
First he makes a brash causal conflation. All whale deaths of all causes for a whole coastline = wind makes right whales extinct.
I reviewed the film. 🧵
First he makes a brash causal conflation. All whale deaths of all causes for a whole coastline = wind makes right whales extinct.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Why the UCP is fighting renewables in every way possible.👇 Noticed how windy it’s been lately? And no snow 😢covering solar panels.
www.ecowatch.com/energy-price...
www.ecowatch.com/energy-price...
Energy Prices Drop Below Zero in UK Thanks to Record Wind-Generated Electricity - EcoWatch
Record wind-generated electricity across Northern Ireland and Scotland pushed Britain’s power prices below zero.
www.ecowatch.com
December 28, 2024 at 5:36 PM
Why the UCP is fighting renewables in every way possible.👇 Noticed how windy it’s been lately? And no snow 😢covering solar panels.
www.ecowatch.com/energy-price...
www.ecowatch.com/energy-price...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Great reporting from @wbur.org about how Leonard Leo is bankrolling opposition to offshore wind in Maine, and how fishermen in the state are borrowing from the tried and true right-wing misinformation playbook.
With right-wing backing, New England offshore wind opponents gain strength
The New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association, better known as NEFSA, is a rising star in the anti-offshore wind movement. Tax documents show it's largely funded by a nonprofit affiliated with d...
www.wbur.org
December 23, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Great reporting from @wbur.org about how Leonard Leo is bankrolling opposition to offshore wind in Maine, and how fishermen in the state are borrowing from the tried and true right-wing misinformation playbook.
A new study out of UW on leading causes of global whale mortality. Spoiler alert: it’s not wind turbines, it’s shipping! Protections designed to prevent collisions are present in fewer than 10% of whale movement hotspots, and 40% of all shipped goods are fossil fuels. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Ship collision risk threatens whales across the world’s oceans
After the near-complete cessation of commercial whaling, ship collisions have emerged as a primary threat to large whales, but knowledge of collision risk is lacking across most of the world’s oceans....
www.science.org
December 9, 2024 at 12:58 AM
A new study out of UW on leading causes of global whale mortality. Spoiler alert: it’s not wind turbines, it’s shipping! Protections designed to prevent collisions are present in fewer than 10% of whale movement hotspots, and 40% of all shipped goods are fossil fuels. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
"If a woman doesn't look woman enough to a Republican, they want to be able to inspect your genitals to use a bathroom? It's disgusting.
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
November 21, 2024 at 2:44 AM
"If a woman doesn't look woman enough to a Republican, they want to be able to inspect your genitals to use a bathroom? It's disgusting.
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC