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Isak Kvam

@isakkvam.bsky.social

280 followers 540 following 340 posts

MN writer interested in climate, decarb, and wild places. Comms for Fresh Energy. DM me bird and typewriter photos. Posts are mine, my own, my precious. 🔌💡

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Nov 9

Hey climate folks! Brief intro: I’m an energy/climate writer in MN currently working at Fresh Energy in St. Paul. Here are a few of the best stories I’ve written in 2024:

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 16d

local hero: “It seems like we should do something rather than simply doing nothing until the perfect solution arrives."
racketmn.com/local-bike-h...

Local Bike Hero Illuminates Minneapolis's Midtown Greenway as City Stalls - Racket

Plus soybean woes, food news, and, sure, let's talk about the campus pisser trend in today's Flyover news roundup.

racketmn.com

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 19d

TL;DR: Fossil fuel interests want to force us to keep paying them more for dirty, less reliable electricity. Our own electric grid says it "would increase costs to customers ... by replacing an efficient, regional solution with a piecemeal one," that is "haphazard and unrealistic."

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 19d

One of the biggest Midwest energy stories of the year. Absolutely bonkers that many states are purposefully working to make us all pay *more* for dirtier, less reliable energy.
minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/23/r...

Red states move to stop transmission lines that would give relief to Minnesota ratepayers • Minnesota Reformer

The proposed lines could pay for themselves more than three times over.

minnesotareformer.com

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 20d

Once you cut through the politics of clean energy, this is what many of the decisions boil down to, imo: "Strand, the Pelican Rapids council member who initially fought against the proposal, said he couldn’t find a good reason to vote against it in the end."

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 20d

Skeptical MN town is learning to love solar: Pelican Rapids will save $180,000 over 40 years, no up-front money down, will start making money in 2 years. Too bad Congress gutted the IRA & IIJA that helps small towns save money with cleaner energy!
www.startribune.com/these-rural-...

These rural Minnesota towns were clean energy skeptics. Now they’re installing solar

They’re taking advantage of federal tax credits before programs phase out and expect to save thousands of dollars in annual energy bills.

www.startribune.com

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 23d

Climate 🤝 National Parks
One of my fav. stories I've worked on for a while

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · 23d

My latest: Isle Royale NPS operations staff are using e-bikes to tend to trails and buildings because they're nimble, quiet, and efficient. Plus, they won't have to boat in diesel for loud, polluting service vehicles.
fresh-energy.org/isle-royale-...

Isle Royale National Park operations staff ditch diesel for e-bikes - Fresh Energy

The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation collaborated with Isle Royale, Quality Bicycle Products, Spokengear Cyclery, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to bring cargo e-bikes ...

fresh-energy.org

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 10

Thank you! That does look very similar. Which app did you use?

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 10

@adnroy.bsky.social can I get a spider ID for central MN?

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 9

feeds with algorithms*

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 9

Getting so tired of feeds and algorithms that I'm dusting off an ol' RSS feed like it's 2012

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 9

I mean it's basically just green loans and I know this is kind of everywhere but has any org made it their big flashy centerpiece?

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 9

I feel like a large climate philanthropy could spark a lot of change by just offering suuuuper low-interest loans to homeowners to switch to electric as soon as possible. Is that a thing?

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 9

The U.S. now gives the fossil fuel industry $34 billion a year. They've enjoyed federal subsidies for over a century.

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 9

We're paying more for dirtier energy.

molly taft @mollytaft.com · Sep 9

NEW: i took a look at new research from @oilchange.bsky.social which finds that taxpayers are on the hook for an additional $4 billion per year in fossil fuel subsidies thanks to the one big beautiful bill:

US Taxpayers Will Pay Billions in New Fossil Fuel Subsidies Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill

A report finds that President Trump’s flagship legislation will grant $40 billion in new subsidies to the oil and gas industry over the next decade.

www.wired.com

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

On the one hand, I'm with other climate folks in being happy that current gas turbine manufacturing can't meet current gas turbine demand. On the other hand, I'm so sad about high gas turbine demand.
www.utilitydive.com/news/mitsubi...

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

A lot of people don't know this but the Salem Witch Trials were actually an abbreviation of the Sailor Moon Witch Trials

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

I still think paying more for dirtier energy is bad policy.

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

And averaged out through the year, Minnesota's electricity is already halfway decarbonized: fresh-energy.org/minnesotas-e...

Minnesota’s electricity is now 50% carbon-free — here’s what that means - Fresh Energy

As Minnesota rapidly transitions to clean electricity, our fuel mix and emissions have declined. Learn about Minnesota, the Midwest’s, and MN electric utilities’ electricity!

fresh-energy.org

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

Some people's hobby is looking up flight information for planes that pass by. Mine is checking fuel sources on different areas of the grid for fun.

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

Anyways, MISO as a whole is >50% carbon-free today. But in my neck of the woods, the MN/ND/SD subregion is about 62% wind and 14% nuclear, so >75% carbon-free.

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 5

Told my wife 'it sure is windy' and started tapping on my phone and she immediately asked if I was checking the electrical grid on my phone again. Dear reader, ...

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Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 4

I'm going to say "Lots of bricklaying today" when ordering a cappuccino next time

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 4

Lol'ing at a random photo of David Byrne having a (black!) coffee 45 years ago being used in this article

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Sep 4

Latte-swilling ‘performative males’: why milky drinks are shorthand for liberal

Americans are fretting over a type of man who drinks matcha and expresses alternative masculinity – but the ‘latte liberal’ stereotype has existed for decades

www.theguardian.com

Isak Kvam @isakkvam.bsky.social · Sep 3

I feel like Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine — who are basically cool, outdoorsy cousins — should form a clean energy, clean heat, clean water alliance. MN and MI have more ambitious clean energy laws, but Maine is years ahead with its heat pump adoption. A loon for a logo. Make it happen