Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Alex Barron

Nick Bednar @nicholasbednar.bsky.social · 5h

This editorial from @washingtonpost.com is disappointing because it is sloppy and misleading---if not factually wrong. As a piece by the Editorial Board (the voice of the paper), it threatens Washington Post's credibility and integrity. 1/15

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Government shutdowns wouldn’t happen if they caused more pain

Democratic leaders play a dangerous game as Trump threatens not to pay furloughed federal workers.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Barron

Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 4h

This is remarkable. The world added more solar and wind capacity in 2024 than we added demand. 100% of demand growth PLUS 9% to retire dirtier sources. Cheap energy keeps winning. ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 15h

Sign of the times:
"The Trump administration is considering not providing back pay to furloughed federal workers — despite a 2019 law signed by President Donald Trump that mandates it, writes Robin Bravender."

www.eenews.net/articles/whi...

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 15h

"Communities considering geothermal heat pump systems have been concerned about a long-term subsurface warming trend...Because of groundwater flow and winter shutoffs, we cannot identify any evidence of this trend [in this system]"
www.geosociety.org/GSA/Publicat...

GSA Today

GSA Today Science article G607A: Long-Term Monitoring of a Campus-Scale Geothermal Heat Pump System Using Distributed Temperature Sensing

www.geosociety.org

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Reposted by Alex Barron

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 2d

Yes heat pumps do work in old buildings. @trinityoxford.bsky.social founded in 1555 got a ground source heat pump fitted by Rendesco in 2024 when the photo with the drilling rig was taken.

Compare it to what it looks like today - the tourists taking photos have no idea what’s under the lawn.

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 2d

"Spain’s wind and solar growth has reduced the influence of expensive fossil generators on the electricity price by 75% since 2019.... As a result, Spain’s wholesale electricity price was 32% lower than the EU average in the first half of 2025." 🔌💡
ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

Decoupled: how Spain cut the link between gas and power prices using renewables | Ember

Spain has some of the lowest wholesale electricity prices in Europe, largely owing to the country’s strong solar and wind growth which reduced the influence of expensive coal and gas power on the elec...

ember-energy.org

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 5d

If anyone knows if I can still get one of these "About to Get Rail" t-shirts, please let me know. #transitanthem

bikepedantic @bikepedantic.bsky.social · 6d

And I will take any excuse to post this video filmed aboard @kcstreetcar.org, costarring basically every swaggy transit worker you’ve ever met (all of them) youtu.be/_Xa_lfMoDqI?...

Kemet the Phantom - Get Out (The Streetcar Song) - Official Video

YouTube video by King Kemet

youtu.be

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Reposted by Alex Barron

Kate Raworth @kateraworth.bsky.social · 6d

Big Doughnutty News.
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Reposted by Alex Barron

David Doniger @daviddoniger.bsky.social · 7d

EPA proposes weakening super-pollutant limits for rogue supermarkets and electronics firms. “This is not going to make potato chips or computer chips any cheaper,” said NRDC’s David Doniger.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/c...

Trump Administration Moves to Relax Rules on Climate Super Pollutants

www.nytimes.com

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

Congrats to @danielswain.bsky.social - we need more scientists making sure science is reaching the public. #scicomm

time.com/collections/...

time.com

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

Also known for their air travel fund! doi.org/10.1525/elem...

Carbon pricing approaches for climate decisions in U.S. higher education: Proxy carbon prices for deep decarbonization

Given the slow policy response by governments, climate leadership by other institutions has become an essential part of maintaining policy momentum, driving innovation, and fostering social dialogue. ...

doi.org

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

It covers the technical engineering stuff but also finance, change management, building the business case - basically everything where you would want to avoid reinventing the wheel.

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

At least in the first round AASHE and the organizers were looking for groups of people from institutions - so a mix of sustainability, facilities, operations, planning, etc.

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

I should also flag the upcoming 2026 AASHE decarb academy for you, @jeffmanuel.bsky.social, and anyone else following.

bsky.app/profile/alex...

Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 14d

You're working to decarbonize your campus, right? If you want a 6 month opportunity to get smart on decarbonization, the 2026 Campus Decarbonization Academy is worth checking out.

www.aashe.org/calendar/cam...

AASHE’s Campus Decarbonization Academy returns in 2026, and applications are now open! This six-month, cohort-based program offers actionable solutions to guide your institution through the complex process of decarbonization, with support from campus and industry experts every step of the way.

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

You can also check out @buildingdecarb.org's map here:
buildingdecarb.org/neighborhood...

Neighborhood-Scale Building Decarbonization Map

buildingdecarb.org

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

My lab helped compile a crude database of HEI projects here:
www.aashe.org/calendar/cam...

Campus Decarbonization Academy - The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

This 6-month long, cohort-based program, will empower higher education leaders to drive impactful decarbonization initiatives on their campuses.

www.aashe.org

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 7d

I am pleased to report that we are dropping a working paper related to this later this month. @johnsmillie42.bsky.social is correct, you could check out @ballstate.bsky.social and @miamiuniversity.bsky.social for their geo-exchange TENs.

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 8d

Al McGartland has been a huge force for improving policy analysis at EPA over the last half decade and I learned a ton from him during my time there.

Reposted by Alex Barron

Institute for Policy Integrity @policyintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Today, we welcome Al McGartland to the Institute for Policy Integrity as our new Economic Policy Director.

McGartland served as the Director of the National Center for Environmental Economics at EPA until retiring from the agency this fall.

Welcome, Al! 🎉

policyintegrity.org/news/press-r...

Press Releases

The Institute for Policy Integrity at NYU School of Law uses economics and law to support smart policies for the environment, public health, and consumers.

policyintegrity.org

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Reposted by Alex Barron

John Hanger @jrfhanger.bsky.social · 9d

Good morning with good news: Mckinsey Global Institute forecasts global EV sales will surge to "40%-59%" by 2030 from 22% in 2024!

Global EV sales are up 25% in the first 8 months of 2025, compared to same period in 2024.

They gain ~5 points/year.
www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-rese... #energysky

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 11d

Michigan’s governor replaces clean energy advocate on utilities board with ‘industry ally’

Critics say Gretchen Whitmer deposed Alessandra Carreon at the behest of state energy supplier DTE Energy

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Barron @alexrbarron.bsky.social · 11d

CT and MI in the news this past month for some (unwelcome for clean energy and strong regulation) changes at Public Utility Commissions
(the Supreme Court for state electricity rates and policy that no one has heard of)
boondoggle.substack.com/p/monopoly-u...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Monopoly Utilities Ousted America's Best Regulator

Bummer news for utility bills.

boondoggle.substack.com

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Reposted by Alex Barron

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 12d

In the US, even a “cheap” transit bus costs 2-3x more than in Asia or Europe -- and one agency may pay twice as much as another for nearly identical vehicles.

In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.

🧵

Why US Cities Pay Too Much for Transit Buses

A new paper argues that lack of competition, demand for custom features and “Buy America” rules have driven up costs for transit agencies in the US.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Alex Barron

John Walke @johndwalke.bsky.social · 11d

Just the U.S. Energy Secretary broadcasting to the world that he believes solar-powered electriciy abruptly stops “if the sun goes behind the cloud.”

David Doniger @daviddoniger.bsky.social · 12d

Secretary Wright said "Do you want your kid in an incubator and if the sun goes behind the cloud, the incubator stops?"

He needs to remember he is also the Secretary of Batteries.

Not just the Secretary of Gaslighting.
youtu.be/AXxZuulMoaA?...

Secretary Wright Joins CNN's Kate Bolduan – September 25, 2025

YouTube video by U.S. Department of Energy

youtu.be

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Reposted by Alex Barron

Building Decarbonization Coalition @buildingdecarb.org · 15d

📣 We’re looking for a Director of State Mobilization! If you are passionate about accelerating the transition to clean heating & cooling, and excited about collaborating with policymakers & other stakeholders to move states’ building decarbonization policies forward, let’s talk! 🔌💡 bit.ly/48srqbx

Photo of the 60+ person BDC team from their last offsite meeting. Tinted yellow. It says "We're hiring!" in the left hand corner.

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