Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Third Act Maryland

Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 10h

This energy event is going to be, in a word, lit.
Join us
events.zoom.us/ev/At4Eo8n6b...

Powering Forward: Defending and Delivering Clean Energy in Every Community

events.zoom.us

10 44

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 13h

We Have Friends Everywhere

Families fight to survive while billionaires get richer. Dictators take, people protect. WE decide, not dictators. Oct 18: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=t...

#NoKings #NoKingsBaltimore #NoKingsDC @thirdactorg.bsky.social

Illustration of a crown with a red X through it. The crown is yellow outlined in black. Below it is large black text reading We have friends everywhere. No kings. October 18. nokings.org. In the background are the names of numerous cities, all run together, separated by bullets, and printed in gray as a wallpaper effect.

2 2

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 1d

Informative overview of the Future of Gas proceedings in MD and how the MD Public Service Commission is carrying out the process (tinyurl.com/yc2jh2pr). #climatechange #climatecrisis #climatejustice @jamiedemarco.bsky.social

Chair Hoover on the Future of Gas in Maryland

In February of 2023 the Maryland People’s Counsel initiated a docket at the Public Service Commission to consider the future of gas in Maryland.

demarcoadvocacy.substack.com

1 1 1

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 2d

Icymi: Informative intro video to Drawdown Explorer, an "all-encompassing platform using the best available data to provide decision-makers with actionable intelligence on the most effective climate solutions."

Introducing Drawdown Explorer: The world's most comprehensive platform for climate solutions

YouTube video by Project Drawdown

www.youtube.com

2

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 2d

"for the first half of 2025 renewable energy produced more electricity than coal. ... covered all the growth in demand for electricity so far this year, with room to spare." "fossil fuel emissions for producing electricity plateaued—even fell slightly ..."

Something extraordinary just happened

But of course there's a but. Or two.

billmckibben.substack.com

5 3

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 3d

Not a new sandwich spread, PJM, an organization most people have never heard of, is the largest power grid operator in the U.S. Learn why PJM is driving up your electricity prices. Thursday, Oct. 9, 6 pm ET.

Electric Grid and Fossil Fuels: Join the webinar

I just signed up for an extremely important and interesting webinar about fossil fuels in our regional electric grid on Thursday, October 9 at 6pm ET. Join me!

act.chesapeakeclimate.org

2 3

Reposted by Third Act Maryland

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 3d

News that shocks no one: Carbon offsets do nothing for climate.

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says

Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

www.theguardian.com

21 370 930

Reposted by Third Act Maryland

lani ritter hall @laniritterhall.bsky.social · 5d

"Every citizen has a role to play in helping democratic movements succeed. Opposition figures need courage to unify and lead. Judges, business executives, lawyers and journalists need courage to withstand intimidation."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | This Is What Autocrats Dread

www.nytimes.com

2 4 3

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 6d

Also seen at this morning's #TeslaTakedown Rockville MD.
Our favorite aunt, Tifa, approves this message.

At TeslaTakedown in Rockville MD, a man holding a sign that is a takeoff of the iconic Uncle Sam I Want You poster, with Join Antifa instead of Join U.S. Army.

1 9

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 6d

#TeslaTakedown Rockville MD still happening (week 33 +/-)! We're still here, because all you amazing and inspiring people still show up, whether the sun shines or not, as we continue to build and strengthen community. This morning, we tried to give the "shy" drivers some encouragement. 😆

1 10

Reposted by Third Act Maryland

Dr. Jonathan Foley @globalecoguy.bsky.social · 8d

Webinar alert!

The Drawdown Explorer, containing detailed analysis and actionable insights on 140+ solutions, is live and free for all!

Tune into our upcoming webinar where Jonathan Foley, exec. director of Project Drawdown, will guide us through the platform.

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Introducing Drawdown Explorer: The world’s most comprehensive platform for climate solutions. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about...

Join Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, for the launch of Drawdown Explorer. This revolutionary, open-access online platform provides detailed, up-to-date intelligence on ove...

us02web.zoom.us

1 10 22

Reposted by Third Act Maryland

Madame LaCrooz @madamelacrooz.bsky.social · 10d

916-445-2841

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 10d

I'm also hearing that Newsom is considering vetoing AB 1167, a fantastic bill that would bar the state's utilities from using ratepayer money for political lobbying.

A veto would be a *disastrous* signal to send at this point. Raise your voice, Californians. Tell Newsom to have a spine.

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

13 38

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 10d

Make Solar Ubiquitous. Sign the Petition Today!

We just broke social media norms by using a big word in our headline. Now let's break bureaucratic norms.

Tell your local leaders you want solar . . . er . . . everywhere.

Sign the petition today: qrco.de/sun-day-petition

#SolarEnergy

5 6

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 11d

How Did Solar Power Get Cheap? Part II

(note: all quotes are from Nemet’s How Solar Energy Became Cheap unless otherwise noted.)

tinyurl.com

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 11d

Post-Sun Day (sunday.earth), seems appropriate to read how it came to be: compact, fascinating history of solar power, w/ many lessons learned--or not. From 2+ yrs ago, so a bit dated, esp. about China; but basic story remains amazing and transformative implications hopeful.

How Did Solar Power Get Cheap? Part I

Solar photovoltaics (PV) have become one of the cheapest sources of electricity. Lazard’s estimate of unsubsidized levelized cost of energy (LCOE)

tinyurl.com

1 1 4

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks to MD PSC (www.psc.state.md.us), gas corporations can no longer unfairly charge existing customers big $ to add new customers--saves customers $1B in hidden fees & helps reduce the $1.3B in annual health costs due to gas burning equipment in MD.

A win for Maryland gas utility customers - Maryland Matters

Natural gas customers will save $1 billion over the next decade under a new Maryland policy that puts that cost where it belongs, writes Emily Scarr, on the utilities, which now earn $3 from existing ...

marylandmatters.org

2 6

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 12d

Would be interesting and useful to track these numbers over time and to know how many of the % reactions are or are becoming part of Erica Chenoweth's 3.5% (tinyurl.com/yjbcd6sm).

The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world

Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.

tinyurl.com

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 12d

More sampling last Friday at @indivisiblehocomd.bsky.social's Gorman Rd/I-95 banner drop in MD. 1-hr period, 10 samples @ of # vehicles/min and # reactions/min (honking, flashing lights, hand waving), both directions I-95: avg ~100 vehicles/min, reactions ~14% southbound and ~10% northbound.

1 2 7

Reposted by Third Act Maryland

Doctors For Camp Closure (D4CC) @docs4campclosure.bsky.social · Aug 31

Avelo Airlines contracts with ICE to deport people abducted from their homes & communities. We join a nationwide movement to say NO! We are calling on Gov Moore to (easily & legally) end Maryland’s contract with Avelo. Sign the petition here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/go... #AveloOutOfBWI

2 5

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 16d

"Actionable intelligence for the most effective science-based climate solutions"; a useful guide to focusing efforts on what works *today*.

Project Drawdown launches Drawdown Explorer, the world’s most comprehensive climate solutions platform

The Drawdown Explorer provides actionable intelligence for the most effective science-based climate solutions

drawdown.org

2 5

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 18d

Solar: The sky's the limit
sunday.earth
@jamiedemarco.bsky.social

Something New is Happening With Solar

A special episode in celebration of Sun-Day

open.substack.com

1 6

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 18d

Here's the recording of the public briefing for the NASEM report: tinyurl.com/42majvhc

2

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 18d

Sun Day in Baltimore was a huge success and lots of fun! Music, art, food, and everything you ever wanted to know about solar energy, the best way to power the world. A big thank you to our partners Civic Works and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

@thirdactorg.bsky.social #SolarEnergy

4 14

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 18d

Some good news; also for Maryland's offshore wind projects.

1 5

Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 19d

"But everywhere there were kids out enjoying the spectacle. Our great hope is that they’ll grow up in a world where it seems utterly obvious to power the planet with clean energy from the sun, instead of filling the air (and their lungs) with the smoke from humanity’s fires."

Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 19d

Headed to bed, but here's a prelim report on today's gorgeous Sun Day
billmckibben.substack.com/p/the-sun-sh...

The Sun Shone Across America

Rhetorically, anyway

billmckibben.substack.com

2 5