Diderot's Niece

Sometimes we agitate in state courts. [Utah trial court strikes down gerrymandered map.] Sometimes we go to federal court. LWV v DHS. Yes, we are nonpartisan. But when we defend the US Constitution, we are defending the backbone of this country—for all. bit.ly/4g5RcEq

USDA abruptly cancels rural energy grant application window It’s the latest setback for the longstanding REAP program, casting uncertainty over the future of a resource that helps farmers save on energy and install…

Shutting down REAP is so disheartening. This program has not been without its issues -- all solvable -- this action solves nothing. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...

Texas whooping cranes hit record population number, FWS says The Fish and Wildlife Service this week reported steady growth in the population of the rarest crane in the world.

Only posting good news today. Whooping crane population is up! www.eenews.net/articles/tex...

Duke Energy’s rate increase begins soon The rate increase will add about $8 to the average monthly bill or about $96 annually.

“It’s not a matter of us making more profit or anything like that,” explained Juech. “The prices that we pay are going up.” www.fox19.com/2025/05/20/d...

Sadly, I have the CD and no CD player.

Column | Gen Z users and a dad tested Instagram Teen Accounts. Their feeds were shocking. Meta promised parents it would shield teens from harmful content. Tests by young users and our tech columnist dad find it fails spectacularly in important ways.

For parents: "Gen Z users and a dad tested Instagram Teen Accounts. Their feeds were shocking."

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

No particular questions. I want a one-pager that explains 1) relationship between electric rates and electric bills; 2) role of investors and rate of return; 3) role of PUCs in approving rates; 4) the weirdness of customers paying after they have used the service. Too much for a one-pager?

Is this a normal EIA "analysis-in-brief" article? #EnergySky www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...

Hey #EnergySky, I am looking for the best plain language explainer on utility rate recovery and state utility regulation. I've been poking around, watching YouTube videos, &tc, &tc. Would love to find a visualization. HELP

Family wants answers after Sun City woman died when her power was shut off A Sun City woman's death set off a social media storm. An Arizona Corporation Commissioner got into a heated exchange with the family of an elderly woman who died after her power was shut off last yea...

Here is what the energy affordability crisis looks like close up. The official response correctly identifies the problem but doesn't offer much in the way of solutions.
www.fox10phoenix.com/news/family-...

Skyrocketing Utility Bills Nationwide Leave American Consumers Feeling Stressed, Powerless - PowerLines WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new poll from nonpartisan consumer education nonprofit PowerLines, conducted in partnership with Ipsos, finds that three in four (73%) Americans are concerned about electric and g...

"Three in five (60%) Americans say they are not familiar with the state or local regulatory body that determines their utility bills. In a separate open-ended question, around 9 in 10 respondents could not correctly name their specific regulatory body."

Time to make PUCs famous.

To be clear, government here refers to state or local government, since federal laws and programs only indirectly affect electricity costs -- although ending LIHEAP will affect people's ability to pay.

Rising utility bills have Americans worried As Trump’s policies threaten to raise utility bills, a new poll finds broad concern over costs — and little knowledge of the regulators that control rates.

When it comes to electric bills, a majority of Americans do NOT believe the government is sufficiently protecting electric consumers. Excellent coverage of new polling from @ipsosus.bsky.social and @powerlines.org. #EnergySky www.canarymedia.com/articles/uti...

"We're only one wildfire away from a bankruptcy." Wyoming Rural Electric Association's Shawn Taylor.

Forget this week's special elections -- here are the exciting races. The Georgia PSC elections are going to be at the top of the ballot in November, bringing issues swirling around rates and affordability into sharp focus. Coverage in the @georgiarecorder.com💡🔌https://bit.ly/4iYjilI

PSC chair grilled over Supreme Court chief justice's criticisms • Florida Phoenix Four months after Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muñiz blasted the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) for not providing enough information to justify a public utility rate increase, the cha...

If you haven't been following recent 'discussions' between the Florida legislature's and the Florida PSC, you are missing out. 💡🔌
floridaphoenix.com/2025/03/31/p...

Curious that some of the most interesting research I am seeing is coming from financial analysis.

Via @cnn.com: Also terminated was the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, according to Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association." LIHEAP provides about $4 billion to help millions ... with their heating and cooling bills.

Watch Borgen | Netflix A shocking turn of events puts Birgitte Nyborg in the Danish prime minister's seat as her country's first female leader in this landmark drama.

Anyone curious about Denmark's relationship to Greenland could watch Season 1, episode 4 of #Borgen (Netflix) as a quick explainer. bit.ly/3XFzjV7

Those photos!

Rivian achieved a gross profit in Q4 for the first time ever:

Ordinary humans discussing the PJM capacity market on the New Jersey Reddit page. #EnergySky www.reddit.com/r/newjersey/...

USDA awards $6B to rural clean power initiatives The funding will mostly go toward helping rural electric co-ops build solar, wind, and battery projects that will clean up the grid, create jobs, and save…

The USDA awards more than $6 billion in grants and loans to help rural, member-owned electric cooperatives build renewable energy and battery storage projects. 🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/pol...

Super interesting. There's more information in the WRI write-up than on the project site.

USDA Continues Historic Commitment, Partnering with Rural Communities on Clean, Affordable Energy

From the USDA: "More than one in five rural Americans will benefit from clean energy investments supported through the New ERA and PACE programs." USDA has awarded roughly 90% of IIJA funding for these programs. 🎉🎉 bit.ly/3WgsRmS

U.S. Railroading: What Sector's Future Power Suppliers Will Need to Know Among the elements of America's carbon-based industries and infrastructure being impacted by electrification, transportation exhibits, first, widespread

And then there is this: www.powermag.com/u-s-railroad...

U.S. Railroading: What Sector's Future Power Suppliers Will Need to Know Among the elements of America's carbon-based industries and infrastructure being impacted by electrification, transportation exhibits, first, widespread

If you are wondering about the prospects for electrifying rail transport, read this EXCELLENT commentary from Jim Hoecker and Michael Iden in Power Magazine. #EnergySky www.powermag.com/u-s-railroad...

I am having a debate with a friend over the pronunciation of radiator. He says people in New York and NJ pronounce it RAD-iator (rhymes with gladiator), not RAY-diator. Can this be true? I have never heard that. It sounds ridiculous. 💡🔌

"Rage farming." Perfect.

FERC Seeks Comment on Recovery, Reporting of Industry Dues, Expenses Docket No. RM22-5 Item E-2

www.ferc.gov/news-events/...