Lawrence Vulis
@lvulis.bsky.social
Climate Data Scientist working on natural hazards and climate risk in the property sector. Interested in the science of water, climate, cities, and landscapes, also dogs. Opinions are solely my own.
Pinned
Lawrence Vulis
@lvulis.bsky.social
· Feb 28
It's all so fucking dumb
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
big late breaking news: the market monitor for the largest energy grid in the u.s., covering much of the midwest and mid-atlantic, has called to block new data centers connections to the grid, saying current course of growth assures regular blackouts
No more PJM data centers unless they can be reliably served: market monitor
The PJM Interconnection’s market monitor urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to rule that large data centers can only come online if the grid operator can still meet reliability metrics.
www.utilitydive.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
big late breaking news: the market monitor for the largest energy grid in the u.s., covering much of the midwest and mid-atlantic, has called to block new data centers connections to the grid, saying current course of growth assures regular blackouts
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Germany has about 8GW of balcony solar.
That's more than Ireland's entire generating capacity.
That's more than Ireland's entire generating capacity.
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
What's the deal with balcony solar?
Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
www.volts.wtf
November 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Germany has about 8GW of balcony solar.
That's more than Ireland's entire generating capacity.
That's more than Ireland's entire generating capacity.
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
The FAA briefly halted flights into DCA following today’s shooting near the White House to allow a medevac helicopter to fly nearby.
Normal operations have now resumed, the FAA tells me, and inbound flights are coming out of holding patterns. No flights canceled.-CNN
Normal operations have now resumed, the FAA tells me, and inbound flights are coming out of holding patterns. No flights canceled.-CNN
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The FAA briefly halted flights into DCA following today’s shooting near the White House to allow a medevac helicopter to fly nearby.
Normal operations have now resumed, the FAA tells me, and inbound flights are coming out of holding patterns. No flights canceled.-CNN
Normal operations have now resumed, the FAA tells me, and inbound flights are coming out of holding patterns. No flights canceled.-CNN
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Ground stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (ATC)
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Ground stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (ATC)
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Suspension of flights heading to Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington for security reasons, no further details.
November 26, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Suspension of flights heading to Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington for security reasons, no further details.
Great #climaterisk episode here if you haven't listened. @keenanclimate.com has some good advice - adaptation communication isn't just on bluesky starter packs. Talk to people. Have found this super useful here in CA.
New #podcast is out now: The Federal Climate Retreat and the Rise of a New Adaptation Ecosystem 🌎
As federal climate leadership pulls back, a new ecosystem of adaptation services are stepping up! 🔧📊
Conversations with Climate.us, EcoAdapt, Georgetown Climate Center, Probable Futures🌟
🎧 Listen!
As federal climate leadership pulls back, a new ecosystem of adaptation services are stepping up! 🔧📊
Conversations with Climate.us, EcoAdapt, Georgetown Climate Center, Probable Futures🌟
🎧 Listen!
The Federal Climate Retreat and the Rise of a New Adaptation Ecosystem — AMERICA ADAPTS The Climate Change Podcast
The Federal Climate Retreat and the Rise of a New Adaptation Ecosystem. Ep. 241.
www.americaadapts.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Great #climaterisk episode here if you haven't listened. @keenanclimate.com has some good advice - adaptation communication isn't just on bluesky starter packs. Talk to people. Have found this super useful here in CA.
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
What's the deal with balcony solar?
Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
www.volts.wtf
November 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Going after the last 5% of electricity supply CO2 reduction without reducing transportation emissions is lunacy.
I worry about mining for EV batteries, too.
But we can have a better quality of life if we substitute private cars for bikes, transit, infill development
I worry about mining for EV batteries, too.
But we can have a better quality of life if we substitute private cars for bikes, transit, infill development
Good figure from a recent ESIG report showing how marginal abatement costs in the electric sector start out low but increase sharply as you approach zero emissions.
November 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Going after the last 5% of electricity supply CO2 reduction without reducing transportation emissions is lunacy.
I worry about mining for EV batteries, too.
But we can have a better quality of life if we substitute private cars for bikes, transit, infill development
I worry about mining for EV batteries, too.
But we can have a better quality of life if we substitute private cars for bikes, transit, infill development
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
I don’t think NYC and Baltimore are basically tied for demand, and I don’t believe any survey you cite (or, in this case, do not cite) showing that
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I don’t think NYC and Baltimore are basically tied for demand, and I don’t believe any survey you cite (or, in this case, do not cite) showing that
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
A reminder of why we cannot give up on climate policy:
www.eenews.net/articles/ris...
www.eenews.net/articles/ris...
Rising seas threaten thousands of hazardous US facilities
Most of the at-risk sites are clustered in just seven states: Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, California, New York and Massachusetts.
www.eenews.net
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A reminder of why we cannot give up on climate policy:
www.eenews.net/articles/ris...
www.eenews.net/articles/ris...
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Join us on 12/16 for a deep dive into one of the most immediate, practical opportunities to cut industrial climate pollution in the U.S. — electrifying low and medium temperature process heat!
Register here: bit.ly/industrial-e...
@leahstokes.bsky.social @whitehouse.senate.gov @heinrich.senate.gov
Register here: bit.ly/industrial-e...
@leahstokes.bsky.social @whitehouse.senate.gov @heinrich.senate.gov
November 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Join us on 12/16 for a deep dive into one of the most immediate, practical opportunities to cut industrial climate pollution in the U.S. — electrifying low and medium temperature process heat!
Register here: bit.ly/industrial-e...
@leahstokes.bsky.social @whitehouse.senate.gov @heinrich.senate.gov
Register here: bit.ly/industrial-e...
@leahstokes.bsky.social @whitehouse.senate.gov @heinrich.senate.gov
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
@cw3eScripps is now accepting applications for its Summer 2026 undergraduate internship program! Paid & lodging provided, to work with world class weather, water, climate scientists in La Jolla, CA!
cw3e.ucsd.edu/cw3e-interns...
cw3e.ucsd.edu/cw3e-interns...
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
@cw3eScripps is now accepting applications for its Summer 2026 undergraduate internship program! Paid & lodging provided, to work with world class weather, water, climate scientists in La Jolla, CA!
cw3e.ucsd.edu/cw3e-interns...
cw3e.ucsd.edu/cw3e-interns...
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
New explainer video: what are those future Union Station run-through tracks?!?
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
New explainer video: what are those future Union Station run-through tracks?!?
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Definitely not the driver this year but a fascinating paper I can’t wait to read.
bsky.app/profile/robc...
bsky.app/profile/robc...
While short term data is noisy, there's a long trend at work - the slowing of sunbird migration due to climate change, as this Fed paper shows: www.frbsf.org/wp-content/u...
www.frbsf.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Definitely not the driver this year but a fascinating paper I can’t wait to read.
bsky.app/profile/robc...
bsky.app/profile/robc...
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Strongest S&P Case-Shiller home price index gains nationally since February in the month of September (after my SA - their SA is bad). National prices +1.2% annualized, had fallen slightly MoM for March-July. This can get revised down but clear improvement.
November 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Strongest S&P Case-Shiller home price index gains nationally since February in the month of September (after my SA - their SA is bad). National prices +1.2% annualized, had fallen slightly MoM for March-July. This can get revised down but clear improvement.
ICYMI: Significant hailstorms have impacted southeast Queensland in #Australia; notably around the greater Brisbane metro region. Hailstones up to 14 cm (5.5 in) were recorded.
Insured losses minimally expected into the hundreds of millions (USD).
insurancecouncil.com.au/resource/ins...
Insured losses minimally expected into the hundreds of millions (USD).
insurancecouncil.com.au/resource/ins...
Insurance Catastrophe declared for SEQ hailstorms
The Insurance Council of Australia has declared an Insurance Catastrophe for the strong winds and damaging hail that impacted South East Queensland between Sunday 23 November to Monday 24 November.
insurancecouncil.com.au
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Update from EIA confirms a decline in natural gas use in California with 2025 data. www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
November 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Update from EIA confirms a decline in natural gas use in California with 2025 data. www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Have a disaster nerd in your life? Need a gift? A few ideas:
andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/my-2025-di...
andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/my-2025-di...
November 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Have a disaster nerd in your life? Need a gift? A few ideas:
andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/my-2025-di...
andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/my-2025-di...
From Friday - San Diego Gas and Electric bought a nighttime firefighting helicopter, never used it because of permitting issues, and ended up selling it to the county. Pretty expansive use of utility resources to tackle fire risk. #climaterisk www.kpbs.org/podcasts/san...
How immigration lawyer networks are succeeding
First, lawyers across the country are building informal mentoring networks to coordinate a legal resistance to mass deportations. Then, should SDG&E customers pay for the company’s firefighting progra...
www.kpbs.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 AM
From Friday - San Diego Gas and Electric bought a nighttime firefighting helicopter, never used it because of permitting issues, and ended up selling it to the county. Pretty expansive use of utility resources to tackle fire risk. #climaterisk www.kpbs.org/podcasts/san...
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Jebus, in just 2 or 3 years Pakistan has imported enough solar panels that, in some times in the coming year, panels will cover *all* the country's demand.
www.reuters.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Jebus, in just 2 or 3 years Pakistan has imported enough solar panels that, in some times in the coming year, panels will cover *all* the country's demand.
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
A geospatial model that incorporates geotechnical information at the local scale may improve the geospatial liquefaction model used by the USGS. Find out more in #SRL. ⚒️
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/srl/arti...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/srl/arti...
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
A geospatial model that incorporates geotechnical information at the local scale may improve the geospatial liquefaction model used by the USGS. Find out more in #SRL. ⚒️
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/srl/arti...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/srl/arti...
#climaterisk China has flat fossil fuel growth for 6quarters (Structural decline in FF demand). India had a flat quarter (mild weather). Even with hydro down YoY (EU), we are basically flat on FF electricity growth. It's happening guys.
NEW | Solar and wind have grown fast enough to meet ALL new electricity demand in the first three quarters of 2025, leaving fossil generation at a standstill.
Ember forecasts that 2025 could be the first year since Covid-19 without a rise in fossil power.
https://loom.ly/AK3Fn3I
Ember forecasts that 2025 could be the first year since Covid-19 without a rise in fossil power.
https://loom.ly/AK3Fn3I
November 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
#climaterisk China has flat fossil fuel growth for 6quarters (Structural decline in FF demand). India had a flat quarter (mild weather). Even with hydro down YoY (EU), we are basically flat on FF electricity growth. It's happening guys.
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
'plant has bidirectional aFRR capability, can rapidly curtail its output during periods of high generation, reducing systems’ reliance on fossil fuel plants for negative control energy. It can also rapidly respond and produce power at times of low generation, even during periods of negative pricing'
Germany’s first grid-balancing solar project might be a ‘paradigm shift’ for energy
A modestly sized solar PV project in central Germany might have just ushered in a new era of renewables’ relationship with the grid.
www.pv-tech.org
November 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
'plant has bidirectional aFRR capability, can rapidly curtail its output during periods of high generation, reducing systems’ reliance on fossil fuel plants for negative control energy. It can also rapidly respond and produce power at times of low generation, even during periods of negative pricing'
Reposted by Lawrence Vulis
Will the IBX "destroy" Middle Village by "BRING[ing] DRUGS" and "homeless" to the Queens enclave? Or will it be a "positive thing for [the] neighborhood" by helping residents "save a lot of time ... going to Mets games?"
It all depends on your outlook. buff.ly/lRe4zut
It all depends on your outlook. buff.ly/lRe4zut
Sunday Read: Middle Village Has a Love-Hate Relationship with the IBX - Streetsblog New York City
The IBX light rail project is collecting out a loud group of critics — and a wellspring of support in central Queens.
nyc.streetsblog.org
November 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Will the IBX "destroy" Middle Village by "BRING[ing] DRUGS" and "homeless" to the Queens enclave? Or will it be a "positive thing for [the] neighborhood" by helping residents "save a lot of time ... going to Mets games?"
It all depends on your outlook. buff.ly/lRe4zut
It all depends on your outlook. buff.ly/lRe4zut
This reads like a pkd novel.
The US now has the Thiel-Vance foreign policy, the Steve Witkoff foreign policy, the Jared Kushner foreign policy, the Marco Rubio foreign policy, and once in a blue moon the Donald Trump foreign policy... and Putin and Netanyahu plus Saudi, UAE & Qatar drive most of it.
November 23, 2025 at 2:49 AM
This reads like a pkd novel.