Caroline Spears
@spears.bsky.social
Join us to support climate champions at www.ClimateCabinet.org. That being said, this is my personal account.
Fun Fact - the Georgia seat that flipped last night is the majority maker seat in the state house. If everything more Dem than this seat were to flip, the chamber would flip.
December 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Fun Fact - the Georgia seat that flipped last night is the majority maker seat in the state house. If everything more Dem than this seat were to flip, the chamber would flip.
👀
Don't look now, but based on early returns Democrats have a shot at flipping a legislative seat in Georgia tonight... The results from Athens are gigantic for their candidate. More momentarily.
December 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
👀
Climate policy 🤝 thinking about the Roman Empire
This is very exciting news, not only because it's cool and interesting and could represent a major leap forward for modern construction technology, but also because it opens the door to a brutalism revival www.scientificamerican.com/article/pomp...
Pompeii Time Capsule Reveals Why Ancient Romans Were Such Incredible Builders
Lime granules trapped in ancient walls show Romans relied on a reactive hot-mix method to making concrete that could now inspire modern engineers
www.scientificamerican.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Climate policy 🤝 thinking about the Roman Empire
Reposted by Caroline Spears
LOOK AT THIS TOOL
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I NEEDED THIS TOOL WHEN I WAS POLICY DIRECTOR AT A STATE ENERGY AGENCY
LOOK AT IT
YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT, NEW PROBLEMS THAN I DID! NO MORE OLD PROBLEMS! ONLY INFORMATION!
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I NEEDED THIS TOOL WHEN I WAS POLICY DIRECTOR AT A STATE ENERGY AGENCY
LOOK AT IT
YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT, NEW PROBLEMS THAN I DID! NO MORE OLD PROBLEMS! ONLY INFORMATION!
You can use this new tool to answer questions like:
“What kinds of Climate Risk & Adaptation bills were intro'ed in AZ last year?”
“Which bills in MI's most recent session focused on Building Electrification?”
“Did IL pass any ESG laws in 2025?”
“What kinds of Climate Risk & Adaptation bills were intro'ed in AZ last year?”
“Which bills in MI's most recent session focused on Building Electrification?”
“Did IL pass any ESG laws in 2025?”
Climate Bill Tag Explorer - Climate Cabinet Education
Explore Climate Cabinet's database of climate bills in state legislatures across the country, broken down by category.
climatecabineteducation.org
December 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
LOOK AT THIS TOOL
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I NEEDED THIS TOOL WHEN I WAS POLICY DIRECTOR AT A STATE ENERGY AGENCY
LOOK AT IT
YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT, NEW PROBLEMS THAN I DID! NO MORE OLD PROBLEMS! ONLY INFORMATION!
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I NEEDED THIS TOOL WHEN I WAS POLICY DIRECTOR AT A STATE ENERGY AGENCY
LOOK AT IT
YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT, NEW PROBLEMS THAN I DID! NO MORE OLD PROBLEMS! ONLY INFORMATION!
Reposted by Caroline Spears
Want to feel hopeful about climate action? Look to local politics.
75% of the commitments that the US made at the Paris climate agreement can be reached entirely without federal support.
I dug into this for @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
75% of the commitments that the US made at the Paris climate agreement can be reached entirely without federal support.
I dug into this for @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Inside the climate group working everywhere but DC: ‘You can still have huge wins’
Climate Cabinet supports candidates in state and city races as the federal government ignores the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Want to feel hopeful about climate action? Look to local politics.
75% of the commitments that the US made at the Paris climate agreement can be reached entirely without federal support.
I dug into this for @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
75% of the commitments that the US made at the Paris climate agreement can be reached entirely without federal support.
I dug into this for @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Caroline Spears
Another month of US transit data is just in, & DC's WMATA remains the fastest-growing major US transit agency, with ridership up 10% compared to last year!
King County Metro (Seattle, +7%) & SEPTA (Philly, +5.3%) have performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit have lost riders🧵
King County Metro (Seattle, +7%) & SEPTA (Philly, +5.3%) have performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit have lost riders🧵
December 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Another month of US transit data is just in, & DC's WMATA remains the fastest-growing major US transit agency, with ridership up 10% compared to last year!
King County Metro (Seattle, +7%) & SEPTA (Philly, +5.3%) have performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit have lost riders🧵
King County Metro (Seattle, +7%) & SEPTA (Philly, +5.3%) have performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit have lost riders🧵
Reposted by Caroline Spears
“Just a handful of races determine chamber control,” @spears.bsky.social said, “And when chambers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Virginia flipped, those chambers actually then passed 100% clean energy policies.”
Could not be more proud to be a part of this team at @climatecabinet.org.
Could not be more proud to be a part of this team at @climatecabinet.org.
Inside the climate group working everywhere but DC: ‘You can still have huge wins’
Climate Cabinet supports candidates in state and city races as the federal government ignores the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:10 PM
“Just a handful of races determine chamber control,” @spears.bsky.social said, “And when chambers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Virginia flipped, those chambers actually then passed 100% clean energy policies.”
Could not be more proud to be a part of this team at @climatecabinet.org.
Could not be more proud to be a part of this team at @climatecabinet.org.
Reposted by Caroline Spears
Tennessee special election: Dems continue a special election overperformance of around +10 this year. In 2017, this was around +7. Turnout was very high: Rs turned out their base to win and avoid a Georgia PSC-level rout.
December 3, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Tennessee special election: Dems continue a special election overperformance of around +10 this year. In 2017, this was around +7. Turnout was very high: Rs turned out their base to win and avoid a Georgia PSC-level rout.
Climate solutions 🤝 household bills
The affordability crisis is real and it is driven by transportation, utility bills, and insurance.
Check out this new @clicabedu.bsky.social analysis by @nickarnoldaz.bsky.social showing how these costs are affecting every legislative district in Arizona. climatecabineteducation.org/az-affordabi...
Check out this new @clicabedu.bsky.social analysis by @nickarnoldaz.bsky.social showing how these costs are affecting every legislative district in Arizona. climatecabineteducation.org/az-affordabi...
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Climate solutions 🤝 household bills
Reposted by Caroline Spears
The House Energy Committee chairman in MA, who is attempting to roll back the state's climate mandates, received $4,100 in campaign contributions in a single day from energy industry lobbyists: (1/)
commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/energ...
commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/energ...
Energy industry pads key lawmaker’s campaign coffers as major bill advances - CommonWealth Beacon
Cusack's legislation would lower the amount of renewable energy the utilities would be required to purchase and cut the state’s energy efficiency initiative, which is funded through the utilities’ rat...
commonwealthbeacon.org
November 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The House Energy Committee chairman in MA, who is attempting to roll back the state's climate mandates, received $4,100 in campaign contributions in a single day from energy industry lobbyists: (1/)
commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/energ...
commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/energ...
Great news from Allegheny County Council -- who have moved to match Air Quality Permitting fees to the impact of air pollution on residents. Additional funding goes directly to the County Health Department.
triblive.com/local/valley...
triblive.com/local/valley...
Allegheny County Council approves increases to air-quality permit fees
Allegheny County Council on Tuesday moved forward with an air quality permit fee schedule that, officials say, will promote public health and relieve financial pressure on the county health department...
triblive.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Great news from Allegheny County Council -- who have moved to match Air Quality Permitting fees to the impact of air pollution on residents. Additional funding goes directly to the County Health Department.
triblive.com/local/valley...
triblive.com/local/valley...
@eleanorklib.bsky.social out with the story of the week.
Texas cannot use its new congressional map for the 2026 election and will instead need to stick with the lines passed in 2021, a three-judge panel ruled Tuesday.
November 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
@eleanorklib.bsky.social out with the story of the week.
The climate policy story of the year: ILLINOIS
Stop me if you've heard this one, but damn, I just recorded a banger of a pod. Everybody jabbers on about California and New York, but right in the middle of the country, Illinois—fossil-heavy, union-dense Illinois—is taking huge, courageous, progressive strides on energy.
November 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
The climate policy story of the year: ILLINOIS
Reposted by Caroline Spears
Clean Energy accounted for all electricity growth this year. Gas/Coal were basically a wash and will be for years to come for electricity generation.
We need to ramp up batteries because they are 90% cheaper than distribution grid upgrades which is the main reason we have rate increases.
We need to ramp up batteries because they are 90% cheaper than distribution grid upgrades which is the main reason we have rate increases.
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Clean Energy accounted for all electricity growth this year. Gas/Coal were basically a wash and will be for years to come for electricity generation.
We need to ramp up batteries because they are 90% cheaper than distribution grid upgrades which is the main reason we have rate increases.
We need to ramp up batteries because they are 90% cheaper than distribution grid upgrades which is the main reason we have rate increases.
Ugh, right after Illinois passed the best climate legislation of the year, too. Very disappointing.
So.....did no one else notice that Pennsylvania just dropped RGGI?
November 14, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Ugh, right after Illinois passed the best climate legislation of the year, too. Very disappointing.
Reposted by Caroline Spears
Thanks Caroline, excited to be teaming up with you on this! States have the power!
November 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Thanks Caroline, excited to be teaming up with you on this! States have the power!
Launched today: the State Economic Power Project! This dives into cost of living + climate, on 2 pillars: (1) household budgets and (2) state budgets. Thank you Sarah Bloom Raskin, @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social @kostyack.bsky.social @advitt.bsky.social
climatecabineteducation.org/state-econom...
climatecabineteducation.org/state-econom...
State Economic Power Project Resources - Climate Cabinet Education
Check this page for policy resources related to insurance regulation, disaster recovery policy, and more.
climatecabineteducation.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Launched today: the State Economic Power Project! This dives into cost of living + climate, on 2 pillars: (1) household budgets and (2) state budgets. Thank you Sarah Bloom Raskin, @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social @kostyack.bsky.social @advitt.bsky.social
climatecabineteducation.org/state-econom...
climatecabineteducation.org/state-econom...
Thanks Dave!!
If you want to be in the thick of the action & really make a difference on climate, you're not going to find a better job/org than this.
HELLO. REALLY SPECIAL JOB ALERT at @climatecabinet.org
We’re looking for a Senior Development Director. Maybe it is you. Maybe it is someone you know.
Details here 👇👇👇
We’re looking for a Senior Development Director. Maybe it is you. Maybe it is someone you know.
Details here 👇👇👇
November 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Thanks Dave!!
Extremely normal discourse about the Texas Railroad Commission, an elected office that regulates oil and gas in the state and is up for election in 2026.
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Extremely normal discourse about the Texas Railroad Commission, an elected office that regulates oil and gas in the state and is up for election in 2026.
Today in AI testing 🤖
I sent ChatGPT and Claude the same set of 10 blurry photos of people who have RSVP'd to our Climate + Affordability policy launch this Thursday. I asked them both to create a .csv of registrants.
💥ChatGPT got 5 registrants. Claude got.... 156 💥
I sent ChatGPT and Claude the same set of 10 blurry photos of people who have RSVP'd to our Climate + Affordability policy launch this Thursday. I asked them both to create a .csv of registrants.
💥ChatGPT got 5 registrants. Claude got.... 156 💥
November 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Today in AI testing 🤖
I sent ChatGPT and Claude the same set of 10 blurry photos of people who have RSVP'd to our Climate + Affordability policy launch this Thursday. I asked them both to create a .csv of registrants.
💥ChatGPT got 5 registrants. Claude got.... 156 💥
I sent ChatGPT and Claude the same set of 10 blurry photos of people who have RSVP'd to our Climate + Affordability policy launch this Thursday. I asked them both to create a .csv of registrants.
💥ChatGPT got 5 registrants. Claude got.... 156 💥
Reposted by Caroline Spears
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
So, there were some elections. How'd they go?
I talk with Caroline Spears about the stunning results in key state and local races and the lessons for 2026.
www.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
Last week’s election was big: from Georgia to Allegheny County, Dave Roberts and I broke it down on @volts.wtf. 3 big themes: 📊 Turnout: who showed up & who didn't 💸 Affordability (we have real solutions, folks) and 🍃Tea Leaves on what this means for 2026
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
So, there were some elections. How'd they go? | Volts
A conversation with Caroline Spears of Climate Cabinet.
transcripts.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Last week’s election was big: from Georgia to Allegheny County, Dave Roberts and I broke it down on @volts.wtf. 3 big themes: 📊 Turnout: who showed up & who didn't 💸 Affordability (we have real solutions, folks) and 🍃Tea Leaves on what this means for 2026
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
To be honest with you, I understand about 20% of this tweet. But that's because Micheal's the transit and housing expert! You should follow him.
One of the first things the new NITA board needs to do is convert the UPN into to regional rail. Built a third track, add infill stations at Irving Park Road, Belmont, Fullerton, and Halsted/Division, and put up some wires! This line needs CalTrain levels of investment with development levels.
Slightly insane that there's a 500 foot, 460 unit highrise going up literally on Goose Island chicagoyimby.com/2025/11/firs...
November 6, 2025 at 11:24 PM
To be honest with you, I understand about 20% of this tweet. But that's because Micheal's the transit and housing expert! You should follow him.