Andy Zhang
@zhangstaz.bsky.social
Working on building electrification, energy efficiency, and climate at the Public Advocates Office in the California Public Utilities Commission. Opinions are my own.
To paraphrase the CEO of Norges: AI is only good when it agrees with me.
October 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
To paraphrase the CEO of Norges: AI is only good when it agrees with me.
Reposted by Andy Zhang
This isn’t actually a thread of different posts. It’s all just different cultivars of a single post
October 7, 2025 at 1:10 AM
This isn’t actually a thread of different posts. It’s all just different cultivars of a single post
Just caught up on this. Compelling argument from @adamposen.bsky.social here.
You have to see the whole board. Trump's policies are a regime shift from the US as insurance provider to protection racket, creating The New Economic Geography.
It isn't just about any one tariff or Fed official - the implications are far broader
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
It isn't just about any one tariff or Fed official - the implications are far broader
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The New Economic Geography
Who profits in a post-American world?
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Just caught up on this. Compelling argument from @adamposen.bsky.social here.
Worst news ever
Vegetable and legume consumption fell to its lowest level in 35 years in 2024, according to USDA's Economic Research Service.
(Availability is a proxy for domestic consumption.)
ers.usda.gov/data-product...
(Availability is a proxy for domestic consumption.)
ers.usda.gov/data-product...
June 26, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Worst news ever
Whenever I read “Postcapitalism” by Paul Mason, it’s just so prescient.
March 11, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Whenever I read “Postcapitalism” by Paul Mason, it’s just so prescient.
Paul Mason still being absurdly relevant.
March 6, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Paul Mason still being absurdly relevant.
Reposted by Andy Zhang
what makes this even cooler is that Meta will let ads through for effectively anything
1. Meta removed a Facebook ads criticizing Elon Musk's efforts to seize Americans' private information through DOGE.
A notice from Meta said the ads violated its rules on "Unacceptable Business Practices."
A notice from Meta said the ads violated its rules on "Unacceptable Business Practices."
Meta removes Facebook ad criticizing Musk
Meta removed an advertisement earlier this month criticizing Elon Musk’s use of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to seize Americans' private information.
www.muskwatch.com
February 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
what makes this even cooler is that Meta will let ads through for effectively anything
It is absolutely insane that the existential threat of AMOC collapse has this headline.
January 14, 2025 at 1:15 AM
It is absolutely insane that the existential threat of AMOC collapse has this headline.
Reposted by Andy Zhang
"Policymakers need to decide when to let the rising seas or expanding deserts take over land where people used to be and build new, affordable housing for those people in safer areas." - @markgongloff.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
California Fires Expose a $1 Trillion Hole in US Home Insurance
Homeowners in increasingly risky areas can’t obtain adequate coverage as insurers flee the state to avoid losses.
www.bloomberg.com
January 8, 2025 at 6:21 PM
"Policymakers need to decide when to let the rising seas or expanding deserts take over land where people used to be and build new, affordable housing for those people in safer areas." - @markgongloff.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Andy Zhang
the two things I believe most strongly in this world are that public services should be wholly replaced by the private sector and that the government should intervene instantly the second I personally feel a little bit scared
January 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
the two things I believe most strongly in this world are that public services should be wholly replaced by the private sector and that the government should intervene instantly the second I personally feel a little bit scared
Unlike households?????
December 24, 2024 at 8:35 PM
Unlike households?????
Public Advocates Office analysis shows that rates crisis has gotten worse again in Q3 2024. Another 85k people in arrears since May and average amount owed increased by $74. Shits real bad.
www.publicadvocates.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cal-...
www.publicadvocates.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cal-...
December 6, 2024 at 4:28 AM
Public Advocates Office analysis shows that rates crisis has gotten worse again in Q3 2024. Another 85k people in arrears since May and average amount owed increased by $74. Shits real bad.
www.publicadvocates.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cal-...
www.publicadvocates.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cal-...
Energysky, need some help w/ this one. How is a plant going online in 2028 increase EPS starting this year? Is MSFT prepaying for some of the energy? Is it because they are ratebasing the nuke restart CAPEX? Vaporware claims? Like this makes 0 sense to me.
December 5, 2024 at 1:38 AM
Energysky, need some help w/ this one. How is a plant going online in 2028 increase EPS starting this year? Is MSFT prepaying for some of the energy? Is it because they are ratebasing the nuke restart CAPEX? Vaporware claims? Like this makes 0 sense to me.
Guys, when I said this, I didn't mean it literally.....
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Nahhhh....We should make grandma the greatest energy abitrager ever...We are really gonna be in profit if grandma buys $50k worth of batteries and let (*insert megacorp) recreate Enron Energy Services.
December 3, 2024 at 5:33 PM
Guys, when I said this, I didn't mean it literally.....
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
In moments like this, it is important to remind ourselves what the fundamental purpose of having a financial sector is: to coordinate resources between sectors of the economy to create greater prosperity. Many finance corpos have completely lost the plot.
I see I’ve arrived at the “Reddit is promoting an investment vehicle that allows me to be agnostic about whether climate change is real” circle of hell
November 25, 2024 at 5:55 AM
In moments like this, it is important to remind ourselves what the fundamental purpose of having a financial sector is: to coordinate resources between sectors of the economy to create greater prosperity. Many finance corpos have completely lost the plot.
Reposted by Andy Zhang
Depressing: Fossil fuel emissions projected to be almost 8% higher in 2024 than in 2015, the year the Paris climate agreement was signed.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 20, 2024 at 10:14 AM
Depressing: Fossil fuel emissions projected to be almost 8% higher in 2024 than in 2015, the year the Paris climate agreement was signed.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Asking the energy folk out there...Does anybody know a good source for tracking the volume of corporate+energy aggregator PPA volumes in the US? Seems difficult to find a single source that has consistent updates.
November 17, 2024 at 6:51 AM
Asking the energy folk out there...Does anybody know a good source for tracking the volume of corporate+energy aggregator PPA volumes in the US? Seems difficult to find a single source that has consistent updates.
For utilities regulation, it is that a lot of information depends on the assumption of good faith acting on the part of utilities. Utility regulators do not have complete info and often rely on the utilities’ representations of reality.
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
In drilling, whether for a geothermal well or oil and gas or other, the well is only a few inches in diameter. I think most people picture something several feet or dozens of feet wide and are always surprised by the actual answer.
In drilling, whether for a geothermal well or oil and gas or other, the well is only a few inches in diameter. I think most people picture something several feet or dozens of feet wide and are always surprised by the actual answer.
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
About 70% of the energy in the fuel used in an internal combustion engine becomes waste heat. Or, more pithily: 70% of what you pay at the pump goes out your tailpipe.
About 70% of the energy in the fuel used in an internal combustion engine becomes waste heat. Or, more pithily: 70% of what you pay at the pump goes out your tailpipe.
November 16, 2024 at 3:06 AM
For utilities regulation, it is that a lot of information depends on the assumption of good faith acting on the part of utilities. Utility regulators do not have complete info and often rely on the utilities’ representations of reality.
As Kevin Anderson said it best: Methane is a transition fuel to 4C of warming.
Shout out to the United States, where gas, the transition fuel, is now emitting as much as coal did in the early 2010s
robbieandrew.github.io/GCB2024/
robbieandrew.github.io/GCB2024/
November 14, 2024 at 4:21 AM
As Kevin Anderson said it best: Methane is a transition fuel to 4C of warming.
Cryptobros are now conveniently forgetting their argument that bitcoin=inflation hedge. Either inflation is predicted to be sky high under Trump or bitcoin isn’t an inflation hedge. Can’t have it both ways.
November 7, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Cryptobros are now conveniently forgetting their argument that bitcoin=inflation hedge. Either inflation is predicted to be sky high under Trump or bitcoin isn’t an inflation hedge. Can’t have it both ways.
If US federal leadership is unable to lead on climate/reproductive rights/equity/etc, then California must, and will, do it.
November 6, 2024 at 7:29 AM
If US federal leadership is unable to lead on climate/reproductive rights/equity/etc, then California must, and will, do it.
Napoleon woulda loved instant cup noodles.
every day, I too grieve the fact that Kurt Cobain never experienced GPS
October 25, 2024 at 4:24 AM
Napoleon woulda loved instant cup noodles.
Not so fun climate fact: 211,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent 410A is only ~180 tonnes of refrigerant.
(repost cuz i put lbs instead of tonnes lol)
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
(repost cuz i put lbs instead of tonnes lol)
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The Biden Administration Is Fighting Smugglers of a Potent Greenhouse Gas
Since the start of this fiscal year alone, Customs and Border Protection agents have confiscated 211,000 metric tons of planet-warming chemicals.
www.bloomberg.com
September 17, 2024 at 5:07 PM
Not so fun climate fact: 211,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent 410A is only ~180 tonnes of refrigerant.
(repost cuz i put lbs instead of tonnes lol)
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
(repost cuz i put lbs instead of tonnes lol)
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...