Rob
@robertferry.bsky.social
Climate policy, society, and the built environment. Architect, LEED AP BD+C. https://landartgenerator.org
Distributed solar is the most resilient and cost effective energy technology. 🎁
“The wind was like a tornado, and water came through every crevice,” Ms. Hue said. “But we didn’t lose any solar panels, and the next morning, the sun was shining bright and early,” she said. “We had our power back.”
“The wind was like a tornado, and water came through every crevice,” Ms. Hue said. “But we didn’t lose any solar panels, and the next morning, the sun was shining bright and early,” she said. “We had our power back.”
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Distributed solar is the most resilient and cost effective energy technology. 🎁
“The wind was like a tornado, and water came through every crevice,” Ms. Hue said. “But we didn’t lose any solar panels, and the next morning, the sun was shining bright and early,” she said. “We had our power back.”
“The wind was like a tornado, and water came through every crevice,” Ms. Hue said. “But we didn’t lose any solar panels, and the next morning, the sun was shining bright and early,” she said. “We had our power back.”
This is not how you increase domestic production. Qcells is doing its best to ramp up their Georgia plant, but first we arrest their workers and then we force them to furlough the remainder because we refuse to let them bring in raw materials.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
This is not how you increase domestic production. Qcells is doing its best to ramp up their Georgia plant, but first we arrest their workers and then we force them to furlough the remainder because we refuse to let them bring in raw materials.
Because humans are inherently a social species, once we collectively understood how alone we were in the vast universe, the whole of our civilization began acting like one sad teenager, wondering if the other civilizations notice us and will they maybe send probes to our house someday…
The Harvard Scientist, Kim Kardashian and the Comet That Probably Isn’t an Alien Spaceship
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Because humans are inherently a social species, once we collectively understood how alone we were in the vast universe, the whole of our civilization began acting like one sad teenager, wondering if the other civilizations notice us and will they maybe send probes to our house someday…
Do better @nytimes.com!
This too is suspect and should warrant an explainer: “while gas is cleaner than coal as a source of electricity…”
When you consider the 20-year global warming potential of even modest methane leaks in the supply chain, gas may be worse than coal.
This too is suspect and should warrant an explainer: “while gas is cleaner than coal as a source of electricity…”
When you consider the 20-year global warming potential of even modest methane leaks in the supply chain, gas may be worse than coal.
The claim that “emissions have come down” in this @nytimes.com @sominisengupta.bsky.social article on where we are ten years post-Paris is FALSE.
Global emissions were at an all-time high in 2024.
As it stands this claim is misinformation. They need to issue a correction!
Global emissions were at an all-time high in 2024.
As it stands this claim is misinformation. They need to issue a correction!
November 7, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Do better @nytimes.com!
This too is suspect and should warrant an explainer: “while gas is cleaner than coal as a source of electricity…”
When you consider the 20-year global warming potential of even modest methane leaks in the supply chain, gas may be worse than coal.
This too is suspect and should warrant an explainer: “while gas is cleaner than coal as a source of electricity…”
When you consider the 20-year global warming potential of even modest methane leaks in the supply chain, gas may be worse than coal.
The Security and Exchange Commision’s policies have become “a reckless game of regulatory Jenga” according to commissioner Caroline Crenshaw.
Opinion | Trump Is Pushing Us Toward a Crash. It Could Be 1929 All Over Again.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The Security and Exchange Commision’s policies have become “a reckless game of regulatory Jenga” according to commissioner Caroline Crenshaw.
While Americans are literally starving without access to SNAP Silicon Valley is going with hat in hand for our tax dollars to keep the AI bubble inflated?
BREAKING: OpenAI is requesting US government support to help guarantee financing for the massive investments in AI chips and data centers it needs for expansion, per Bloomberg.
November 6, 2025 at 9:50 AM
While Americans are literally starving without access to SNAP Silicon Valley is going with hat in hand for our tax dollars to keep the AI bubble inflated?
Fiji is leading the way to a beautiful clean energy and climate resilient future! 🇫🇯
🌞🌴Bula Vinaka! Please join us tonight at 6PM at Fiji Arts Council for a celebration of beautiful renewable energy. You will discover dozens of innovative ideas for how to weave energy into community for climate resilience. 🌏✨
November 5, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Fiji is leading the way to a beautiful clean energy and climate resilient future! 🇫🇯
The transition to 100% clean energy doesn't seem so insurmountable when you break it down like this!
If everyone on Earth at some point installed and maintained 15 solar modules (covering ~30 m2), that would equal about 50 TW of installed capacity.
Today there is 10 TW of electricity generation in the world, expected to grow to 30 TW by 2050. 50 TW would be about enough to electrify everything.
Today there is 10 TW of electricity generation in the world, expected to grow to 30 TW by 2050. 50 TW would be about enough to electrify everything.
Electricity generation capacity global 2010-2050| Statista
The global electricity generation capacity is expected to almost double in the next three decades, surpassing 31 terawatts by 2050.
www.statista.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The transition to 100% clean energy doesn't seem so insurmountable when you break it down like this!
This is great news and a rare display of bipartisanship on a clime related issue. Because at its core, Energy Star is just a common sense way to lower bills for consumers and everyone can get behind that messaging.
E.P.A. Retreats From Plans to End the Energy Star Program
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This is great news and a rare display of bipartisanship on a clime related issue. Because at its core, Energy Star is just a common sense way to lower bills for consumers and everyone can get behind that messaging.
It’s not awesome that the people we rely on to protect us are systemically damaging their brains over time. This news may also explain a lot of our social and political challenges in the United States.
How Gun Blasts From Indoor Shooting May Cause Brain Injuries
The Times tested the blast waves of several popular civilian guns at an indoor range and found that repeated firing could add up to potentially harmful exposure.
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
It’s not awesome that the people we rely on to protect us are systemically damaging their brains over time. This news may also explain a lot of our social and political challenges in the United States.
On the other hand, if long duration energy storage can improve its cost and efficiency, we may see a future where midday solar or overnight wind is no never at risk of curtailment. With demand staying constant (either for direct use or for storage) the price will never go to zero.
November 4, 2025 at 9:01 AM
On the other hand, if long duration energy storage can improve its cost and efficiency, we may see a future where midday solar or overnight wind is no never at risk of curtailment. With demand staying constant (either for direct use or for storage) the price will never go to zero.
“But today, these free market and fair competition foundations are under threat. Despite claiming to want clean energy to compete on a level playing field with fossil fuels, [the administration] has put their thumb on the scale in favor of their preferred technologies.”
Here’s Why Subsidy-Free American Solar Energy Dominates the Grid When We Let the Market Decide – SEIA
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy. Learn more at seia.org
seia.org
November 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
“But today, these free market and fair competition foundations are under threat. Despite claiming to want clean energy to compete on a level playing field with fossil fuels, [the administration] has put their thumb on the scale in favor of their preferred technologies.”
Floatovoltaics (solar on reservoirs) can be installed vertically too! In this way (facing east and west) they maximize morning and afternoon power generation and avoid overshadowing the water, keeping oxygenation high for aquatic habitat.
www.worldrecordacademy.org/2025/11/worl...
www.worldrecordacademy.org/2025/11/worl...
November 4, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Floatovoltaics (solar on reservoirs) can be installed vertically too! In this way (facing east and west) they maximize morning and afternoon power generation and avoid overshadowing the water, keeping oxygenation high for aquatic habitat.
www.worldrecordacademy.org/2025/11/worl...
www.worldrecordacademy.org/2025/11/worl...
If we could shift the burden of transmission and distribution maintenance to the tax base rather than the rate base solar power could finally help us achieve the aspiration of “too cheap to meter” during midday solar peaks. Anyone with a battery could extend that free energy across time.
Absolutely amazing: they've got so much solar in Australia that they need more people to use more of it, so the gov't has instructed energy retailers to offer *at least three hours of free power* during the middle of the day.
Meanwhile fossil-addled US struggles with an energy-price crisis ...
Meanwhile fossil-addled US struggles with an energy-price crisis ...
Energy retailers to be directed to offer free power three hours a day
Saying there is enough solar power for everyone in the daytime, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen will direct retailers to provide three hours of free power every day to consumers.
www.abc.net.au
November 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
If we could shift the burden of transmission and distribution maintenance to the tax base rather than the rate base solar power could finally help us achieve the aspiration of “too cheap to meter” during midday solar peaks. Anyone with a battery could extend that free energy across time.
🤔 For direct current systems the entire concept of a circuit breaker is radically different than for AC.
“A DC breaker must actively and forcefully kill the arc. This requires a more robust and complex design, often including specialized components like magnetic blowout coils and arc chutes.”
“A DC breaker must actively and forcefully kill the arc. This requires a more robust and complex design, often including specialized components like magnetic blowout coils and arc chutes.”
November 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
🤔 For direct current systems the entire concept of a circuit breaker is radically different than for AC.
“A DC breaker must actively and forcefully kill the arc. This requires a more robust and complex design, often including specialized components like magnetic blowout coils and arc chutes.”
“A DC breaker must actively and forcefully kill the arc. This requires a more robust and complex design, often including specialized components like magnetic blowout coils and arc chutes.”
Reposted by Rob
"The future is still being written. Through choices in policy, investment, education, and care for one another and the Earth, we can still create a turning point. It begins by embracing our shared humanity and recognizing the profound interconnectedness of all life on the planet"
The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink
We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer
academic.oup.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:37 AM
"The future is still being written. Through choices in policy, investment, education, and care for one another and the Earth, we can still create a turning point. It begins by embracing our shared humanity and recognizing the profound interconnectedness of all life on the planet"
Pick one:
A. Waste $billions to keep burning carbon while destroying the habitable climate of planet Earth and risking supply constraint price shocks.
B. Save $billions and transition to solar and wind while protecting the future of life on Earth and increasing energy access and reliability.
A. Waste $billions to keep burning carbon while destroying the habitable climate of planet Earth and risking supply constraint price shocks.
B. Save $billions and transition to solar and wind while protecting the future of life on Earth and increasing energy access and reliability.
Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds
Reduction comes from energy generated from windfarms and lower cost of gas owing to lower demand
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Pick one:
A. Waste $billions to keep burning carbon while destroying the habitable climate of planet Earth and risking supply constraint price shocks.
B. Save $billions and transition to solar and wind while protecting the future of life on Earth and increasing energy access and reliability.
A. Waste $billions to keep burning carbon while destroying the habitable climate of planet Earth and risking supply constraint price shocks.
B. Save $billions and transition to solar and wind while protecting the future of life on Earth and increasing energy access and reliability.
Our biggest challenge right now is that almost no institutional investor or politician understands how rapidly things are changing (how soon oil and gas investments will be stranded) and this lack of awareness means the transition will be way more economically painful & chaotic than it needs to be.
This was a great conversation that provides a well founded and hopeful case for the inevitability of the energy transition. It might not seem like it right now, but we are well into implementation of the new system.
It reminds me of how early in a loan it seems like all you are paying is interest.
It reminds me of how early in a loan it seems like all you are paying is interest.
Michael Liebreich on a
Podcast Episode · Volts · 10/31/2025 · 43m
podcasts.apple.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Our biggest challenge right now is that almost no institutional investor or politician understands how rapidly things are changing (how soon oil and gas investments will be stranded) and this lack of awareness means the transition will be way more economically painful & chaotic than it needs to be.
This was a great conversation that provides a well founded and hopeful case for the inevitability of the energy transition. It might not seem like it right now, but we are well into implementation of the new system.
It reminds me of how early in a loan it seems like all you are paying is interest.
It reminds me of how early in a loan it seems like all you are paying is interest.
Michael Liebreich on a
Podcast Episode · Volts · 10/31/2025 · 43m
podcasts.apple.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
This was a great conversation that provides a well founded and hopeful case for the inevitability of the energy transition. It might not seem like it right now, but we are well into implementation of the new system.
It reminds me of how early in a loan it seems like all you are paying is interest.
It reminds me of how early in a loan it seems like all you are paying is interest.
Only the second two methods are grounded in the biophysical realities of planet Earth. The first unit of measurement (dollars) should be somehow pegged to the others but it isn’t at all. Its only structural mandate is to grow indefinitely, which we all can recognize is a fantasy.
There are different ways to measure the global economy
- 112 trillion dollars
- 600 exajoules of primary energy, 400 in final energy
- 107 billion tons of natural resources
www.materialflows.net/visualisatio...
- 112 trillion dollars
- 600 exajoules of primary energy, 400 in final energy
- 107 billion tons of natural resources
www.materialflows.net/visualisatio...
November 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Only the second two methods are grounded in the biophysical realities of planet Earth. The first unit of measurement (dollars) should be somehow pegged to the others but it isn’t at all. Its only structural mandate is to grow indefinitely, which we all can recognize is a fantasy.
Given the experience with inflation under COVID stimulus I wonder if UBI would be sustainable without price controls or monetary redesign, assuming we could enact the tax structure necessary to pay it. Would universal basic services (public housing, healthcare, education, etc.) be less inflationary?
Some AI boosters also nominally support UBI, which seems quite radical until you realize that they'll never, ever submit to being taxed in order to pay for it. They roll out job destroying technologies while using UBI as a fig leaf to evade responsibility for the devastation they leave behind.
November 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Given the experience with inflation under COVID stimulus I wonder if UBI would be sustainable without price controls or monetary redesign, assuming we could enact the tax structure necessary to pay it. Would universal basic services (public housing, healthcare, education, etc.) be less inflationary?
KSA is building solar power infrastructure that can deliver $0.01/kWh electricity.
“The kingdom is aware that fossil fuels, the source of its fabulous wealth, are on their way out. Its leaders want to have a modern electro-state in place when the pumps fall idle.”
“The kingdom is aware that fossil fuels, the source of its fabulous wealth, are on their way out. Its leaders want to have a modern electro-state in place when the pumps fall idle.”
With China's Help, Saudi Arabia is Deploying Solar Power Faster than any Country in History
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) - Jeffrey Beyer and Stephen Gitonga of the UN Development Program present an overview of Saudi Arabia's full court press to get 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2...
www.juancole.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:42 AM
KSA is building solar power infrastructure that can deliver $0.01/kWh electricity.
“The kingdom is aware that fossil fuels, the source of its fabulous wealth, are on their way out. Its leaders want to have a modern electro-state in place when the pumps fall idle.”
“The kingdom is aware that fossil fuels, the source of its fabulous wealth, are on their way out. Its leaders want to have a modern electro-state in place when the pumps fall idle.”
"A lot of the energy from light in a solar cell is wasted as heat—which itself is also a form of energy," says Dr. Ben Carwithen, a postdoctoral researcher at UNSW's School of Chemistry.
"We're finding ways to take that wasted energy and turn it into more electricity instead."
"We're finding ways to take that wasted energy and turn it into more electricity instead."
Sunlight split in two: Organic layer promises leap in solar power efficiency
In the race to make solar energy cheaper and more efficient, a team of UNSW Sydney scientists and engineers have found a way to push past one of the biggest limits in renewable technology.
techxplore.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
"A lot of the energy from light in a solar cell is wasted as heat—which itself is also a form of energy," says Dr. Ben Carwithen, a postdoctoral researcher at UNSW's School of Chemistry.
"We're finding ways to take that wasted energy and turn it into more electricity instead."
"We're finding ways to take that wasted energy and turn it into more electricity instead."
"Much as granaries and refrigeration transformed food markets, storage will turn electricity from perishable to persistent, unlocking a new era of energy abundance."
In the future we will look back on the oil & gas era the way we look at hunting and gathering.
In the future we will look back on the oil & gas era the way we look at hunting and gathering.
Silos for Sunshine: we've mastered harvesting the sun, but storage is the gamechanger | Ember
The shift to renewables represents an agricultural revolution for energy, moving from searching and extracting scarce fuels to harvesting abundant sunlight in place.
ember-energy.org
November 1, 2025 at 8:08 PM
"Much as granaries and refrigeration transformed food markets, storage will turn electricity from perishable to persistent, unlocking a new era of energy abundance."
In the future we will look back on the oil & gas era the way we look at hunting and gathering.
In the future we will look back on the oil & gas era the way we look at hunting and gathering.
How much more could Harris have possibly moved to the center? She denounced all her progressive positions from the 2020 primary (alienating the base), campaigned with Dick Cheney, embraced fracking, deportation (“do not come”), and Netanyahu.
Not so obvious then…
Not so obvious then…
November 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
How much more could Harris have possibly moved to the center? She denounced all her progressive positions from the 2020 primary (alienating the base), campaigned with Dick Cheney, embraced fracking, deportation (“do not come”), and Netanyahu.
Not so obvious then…
Not so obvious then…