Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ben Norris

Robbie Orvis @robbieorvis.bsky.social · 1d

Just a colossal self own ceding 21st manufacturing to other nations we compete with. Unbelievably short sighted.

Emily Pontecorvo @emilypont.bsky.social · 1d

Some additional info on the new list of axed DOE projects circulating.
- All 7 H2 Hubs
- All 13 IRA grants to convert at-risk auto plants to EV mfg
- 11 of 15 grants to speed domestic clean energy mfg in former coal communities
- 10 of 38 grants for battery materials
heatmap.news/politics/doe...

Trump to Axe All 7 Hydrogen Hubs, Bucking Bipartisan Law

A new list of Department of Energy grants slated for termination will hit clean energy and oil majors alike, including Exxon and Chevron.

heatmap.news

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · 2d

American Energy Impotence

Eric Roston @eroston.bsky.social · 2d

Oh:
- The US sold $80 billion in oil and gas abroad through July.
- China exported $120 billion in green technology over the same period.
By @akshatrathi.bsky.social
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

China Is Beating the US in the Battle for Energy Export Dominance

China’s exports of clean energy technology hit a record in August, with $20 billion shipped globally.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Hourly Videogame Box Art @vgboxart.bsky.social · 5d

PRISONER OF ICE

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Justin Baca @sunbaca.bsky.social · 6d

Am I doing this right? How does a middle-aged energy nerd do memes? #EnergySky

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Stephen Stapczynski @sstapczynski.bsky.social · 6d

GAS TURBINE SHORTAGE 🚨⚡

Orders for turbines for natural gas power plants are vastly outpacing supply, threatening the world’s ability to keep pace with rising electricity demand

🧵 Thread on how we got here and what it means for power-hungry nations

www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Electrek @electrek.co · 7d

FERC: Solar + wind made up 90% of new US power generating capacity to July 2025

Solar and wind accounted for 90% of new US electrical generating capacity added in the first seven months of 2025, according to data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In July, solar alone provided 96% of new capacity, making it the 23rd consecutive month solar has held the lead among all energy sources. more…

electrek.co

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Ana Unruh Cohen, PhD @anauc.bsky.social · 19d

💡 Good idea 💡
“Hyperscalers should pay for heat pumps, rooftop solar, and storage to get the capacity they need on the grid now, while setting us up for an affordable, reliable, and clean energy future.”

Rewiring America @rewiringamerica.bsky.social · 20d

Data centers need a lot of juice — but we’ve got the power 🔋

Our new analysis shows that U.S. households could provide enough capacity to meet 100% of the projected electricity demand growth from data centers.

Here's how (🧵): www.rewiringamerica.org/research/hom...

New report: Household upgrades could offset all new projected data center energy demand | Rewiring America

Our report, Homegrown Energy, finds household upgrades are the best, fastest solution for increasing energy demand.

www.rewiringamerica.org

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Ruth Zakarin @ruthz.bsky.social · 20d

An important reminder, trans people are much more likely to be killed than kill someone else. Trans people are over 4X more likely than cis people to be the victim of a violent crime: williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/ncvs-t...

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · 20d

Federal Cringe Commission

Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 20d

hey so this is insane

Brendan Carr confirming that the FCC is carrying out Project 2025 stuff via a gif on Twitter

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · 20d

Every regulatory lawyer knows the dumb guy who learns a statutory regulatory standard for the first time and then goes around invoking it like a magic spell. “Oh, you don’t like <worst policy idea you’ve ever heard>? Too bad it’s ‘just and reasonable’” 😏

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 20d

Extraordinarily corrupt. I watched FCC chair Brendan Carr's full interview on Hannity. Carr basically said straight out that coverage of Trump he deems overly hostile can be decreed contrary to the "public interest," and thus grounds for yanking licenses:

newrepublic.com/article/2006...

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · 22d

Looking forward to my favorite band LiNkiN_Park(1) playing their famous hit “Numb(Live)RARE.exe” at the next Fyre Festival

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 22d

LimeWire, which became popular in the 2000s, has been revealed as the buyer that paid $245,000 for the rights to the Fyre Festival. It’s unclear what exactly it plans to do with the embattled brand.

LimeWire, the Former File-Sharing Service, Is Buying Fyre Festival Brand

The streaming service, which became popular in the 2000s, paid $245,000 for the festival naming rights. It’s unclear what exactly it plans to do with the embattled brand.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Robinson Meyer @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social · 27d

I wrote about the large number of incorrect or just plain weird claims from Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s X account.

It’s starting to influence how actual energy professionals perceive the Department of Energy, I argue:

heatmap.news/politics/chr...

Chris Wright’s Twitter Is Destroying His Credibility

You might even call the Energy Secretary ... Chris Wrong.

heatmap.news

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · 28d

This year’s RE+ has everything: 35,000+ attendees; a record-breaking number of exhibitors; Al Pacino’s brother handing out autographed photos of Al Pacino

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Zeke Hausfather @hausfath.bsky.social · Sep 9

The current administration has claimed renewables are making the grid less reliable. If that were the case, I'd expect states adding the most renewables over the past decade to have the largest increase in outages.

However, the opposite seems to be true!

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Fal Rising @falrising.bsky.social · Sep 7

Following the Hyundai raid, LG Energy Solution suspended most business trips to the US and directed employees to return home immediately. It comes less than two months since South Korea committed $350B in US investments, including a $26B Hyundai steel mill in Louisiana.

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Reposted by Ben Norris

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · Sep 6

More people in DC than in Wyoming or Vermont. Coming up on Alaska and North Dakota.

Per capita, we pay more federal income tax than any of the states. (Incl NY, CA, CT, etc.)

Voice in Congress: Zero.

Have never before felt as much DC-specific patriotism—across race and class—as now.

Free DC @freedcproject.bsky.social · Sep 6

This is what democracy looks like! A people united will never be defeated. We want federal forces out of DC NOW! #WeAreAllDC #FreeDC

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Sep 4

"Why is my utility bill so high?"

It might have something to do with unfettered natural gas exports being forced on allies with the full weight of the federal government!

Who are the "subsidy farmers" again?

www.utilitydive.com/news/-electr...

Rising natural gas prices expected to drive up electricity costs: IEEFA

Price volatility and sticker shock could trigger public backlash against utilities, an Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis expert says.

www.utilitydive.com

Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Sep 4

NEW: As America strives to meet skyrocketing energy demands, @SEIA has released a policy blueprint to chart the course for an affordable and reliable energy future.

Read more: seia.org/news/reliabi...

Solar and Storage Industry Releases Policy Agenda to Strengthen America’s Electric Grid with Solar and Storage – SEIA

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy. Learn more at seia.org

seia.org

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Sep 4

Smuggling fossil fuel policy proposals in packages acceptable to moderate/left-of-center types was always a recipe for failure.

www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

Democratic research finds voters prefer populism over ‘Abundance’

A progressive think tank and veteran Democratic strategists are scheduled to present their findings to congressional Democrats next week.

www.politico.com

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Sep 3

@crtpixel.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ben Norris

Bob Kopp @bobkopp.net · Sep 2

The Department of Energy hired five academics to raise doubts about climate change. 85+ climate experts (organized by @andrewdessler.com) reviewed their report. Our conclusion, detailed in 450 pages of analysis: it is biased, full of errors, and not fit to inform policy making.

DOEresponseSite

On July 29, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a report from its Climate Working Group (CWG). This report features prominently in the EPA's reconsideration of its 2009 Endangerment Finding...

sites.google.com

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Aug 29

Operation: Sbaitso

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Ari Peskoe @aripeskoe.bsky.social · Aug 28

Utilities' speech violates the First Amendment when its paid for by the public. New article by my colleague Eliza Martin shows that a 2018 Supreme Court case prevents utilities from charging ratepayers for advertising and political activity -- www.utilitydive.com/news/unconst...

Unconstitutional: Utilities are funding political speech with captive ratepayer funds

When ratepayers are forced to subsidize utility political activity through state-set rates, utilities and the state compel objecting ratepayers to fund a private company's political speech.

www.utilitydive.com

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Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Aug 26

(the ultimate Poll),

Ben Norris @bennorris.bsky.social · Aug 26

Texas "is on course to meet those electricity demands, but largely through advancements in solar technology and battery storage, which are significantly cheaper than natural gas power plants to install." Whoops!

www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/t...

Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years

Experts say the Texas Energy Fund is facing an energy market that makes new power plants more expensive and less profitable.

www.texastribune.org

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