An important analysis by UC Berkeley's Aaron Smith shows that a proposed "Sustainable Aviation Fuel" (SAF) tax would mostly divert waste oils and fats from Renewable Diesel to SAF production, costing Californians billions with negligible climate benefits. energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/02/23/h...
Missed World Resources Institute #StoriesToWatch last week? You can now watch the whole recording including the live Q&A here: bit.ly/4rctpYp
A new Energy Institute at Haas working paper models how solar and batteries can use the existing grid to meet the needs of data centers. Research by Duncan Callaway, Emilia Chojkiewicz and Amol Phadke.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/a...
California Environmental Voters held a gubernatorial candidates forum last night. Watch on YouTube (first question starts at 13:35) www.youtube.com/live/OsLcWGl...
California continues to credit soy biofuels with emissions reductions through its LCFS despite clear evidence from studies by UC economists and the EU showing they have higher carbon emissions than petroleum. @carb-chair.bsky.social needs to fix this. agdatanews.substack.com/p/using-vege...
The EU is following the science and will phase out biofuels made from soybeans by 2030. When will California follow suit?
www.transportenvironment.org/articles/eu-...
If you think carbon dioxide removal is just about big Direct Air Capture machines, think again:
Companies Are Finding New Ways to Use Waste and Fight Climate Change www.wri.org/insights/bio...
How California Can Seize Momentum to Advance Carbon Dioxide Removal www.wri.org/insights/how...
@mattyglesias.bsky.social is just wrong when he claims: "Insisting on a majority of renewable electricity raises costs dramatically, slows the pace of electrification and ultimately leaves us further from a low-carbon future.” in the @NYTimes. True at 100%, but the opposite is true up to ~90%.
⚠️ How will #electrification impact US auto manufacturing workers?
NEW report by WRI & BW Research finds more than 65% of workers in OEMs and Tier 1 auto suppliers will face moderate disruption in their careers. 7% of workers will face significant disruption.
Learn more➡️ www.wri.org/research/us-...
I'm happy to have contributed to the British Medical Journal's annual climate issue. Thank you @howardfrumkin.bsky.social for connecting me.
Check it out here:
Why can’t we have nice things?
electrek.co/2025/11/02/n... New national law will turn large parking lots into solar power farms
Wind and solar are cheaper, faster, and cleaner than coal. That's why they now generate more electricity than coal in the US. Trump's policies to prop up coal will cost billions, increase deadly lung disease and accelerate climate change. They will slow, but not reverse, the ascendency of renewables
The Trump administration's policies to keep obsolete coal plants running won't revive the coal industry, but they will cost consumers billions, increase deadly lung diseases, and accelerate climate change. Fortunately, we have cheaper and faster clean energy choices. www.wri.org/insights/tru...
Curious how #AI is reshaping electricity demand? Or how smaller #EVs are the more sustainable choice?
The new WRI Polsky Energy Monthly newsletter covers these topics and much more.
Subscribe and follow the WRI Polsky Energy Center for monthly insights: bit.ly/3Kji8ox
@pkrugman.bsky.social nails the absurdity of Trump's love affair with coal. One additional fact worth noting: In 2024 wind and solar generated more electricity than coal in the United States.
Fossil Fuels and Fossilized Minds open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Wait, if coal is so cheap and clean, why does it need $625 million in subsidies and the repeal of clean air rules? Fact: Wind and solar generated more electricity than coal in the U.S. in 2024. Wind and solar will keep growing and coal will continue to decline. Trump may slow, but won't stop this.
I would rate the package at least "very good." It includes several significant improvements to the cap-and-trade (aka cap-and-invest) program, including deducting offsets from the cap, phasing out free allowances to gas utilities, and potentially reducing free allowances to other industries.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
This is good statement and a good initial list of foundations but there are many names missing, including conservative foundations. Every foundation should be able to stand up to oppose violence and support the First Amendment! medium.com/@uniteinadva...
NEW WRI INSIGHTS: Powering the US Data Center Boom: Why Forecasting Can Be So Tricky and What We Can Do About It
‼️ How much more electricity will the US need to support new data centers showing up around the country?
Read our NEW article to find out what needs to be done to manage eye-popping forecasts rising demand 📈➡️
www.wri.org/insights/us-...
We need more of this #RadicalPragmatism. It’s radical because even limiting warming to 2 degrees requires a radical change in our energy system. And being pragmatic is essential. We can quibble about the role of CDR, hydrogen and COPs, but this is at least 90% right. LFG!
Nice summary of the climate and energy package passed by the California legislature this week by Sam Uden, Net Zero California / Conservation Strategy Group www.netzerocalifornia.org/blog/state-l...
BIG NEWS 🚨📣 CA just passed landmark climate legislation strengthening #CapAndInvest! This bill will reduce pollution while generating critical money for climate action for the next 20 years, cementing CA’s climate leadership.
👉 Read our full statement here: go.nextgenpolicy.org/joe2
Add the electricity market regionalization and the wildfire mitigation finance measures and this is a huge win for climate policy and consumers.
A simple extension of California’s emissions cap to 2045 would have been significant but the legislature significantly improved the program in several ways. See thread by @dave.bzky.team for details.
This is a huge deal and deserves far more attention than it’s getting. While federal climate policy is being systematically crippled by Trump and Congress California—the 4th largest economy in the world is making real progress.
So impressed by Governor Newsom and his team as well as the legislative Leadership in both houses today. They have, collectively, found a way to get to yes on a whole series of energy legislation that taken individually would represent a massive accomplishment.
