Josh Lappen
@jlappen1.bsky.social
energy historian | postdoc at Notre Dame, PhD at Oxford | infrastructure, decarbonization, and landscapes | Angeleno | always on the lookout for a good fun fact
views my own, at best
views my own, at best
If you are coming here to say "you idiot transit should be free", may I please refer you to these immortal words
December 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
If you are coming here to say "you idiot transit should be free", may I please refer you to these immortal words
I really shouldn't feed the troll, but note that this is wrong on its face. This is not how the utility business structure works in the vast majority of the US!
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
December 2, 2025 at 2:05 AM
I really shouldn't feed the troll, but note that this is wrong on its face. This is not how the utility business structure works in the vast majority of the US!
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
Oh, now that we're on the brink, you sickos want more? Fine, have more!
December 2, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Oh, now that we're on the brink, you sickos want more? Fine, have more!
This is the future they're trying to take from you, people!!!
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
December 2, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This is the future they're trying to take from you, people!!!
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
I can't stop thinking about this photo...truly an awesome encapsulation of the political and aesthetic economy of early 20th c. Los Angeles. This is a 1939 shot of the MGM backlot in Culver City.
h/t Martin Turnbull
h/t Martin Turnbull
October 14, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I can't stop thinking about this photo...truly an awesome encapsulation of the political and aesthetic economy of early 20th c. Los Angeles. This is a 1939 shot of the MGM backlot in Culver City.
h/t Martin Turnbull
h/t Martin Turnbull
"Clean" is a massive stretch here, true only if you wrap your mouth directly around the ferry's exhaust vent.
The article acknowledges that SF's ferry H2 is grey - i.e. heavy CO2 emissions in manufacturing! The article doesn't mention how H2 gets to the ferry: via diesel truck.
The article acknowledges that SF's ferry H2 is grey - i.e. heavy CO2 emissions in manufacturing! The article doesn't mention how H2 gets to the ferry: via diesel truck.
September 3, 2025 at 11:16 PM
"Clean" is a massive stretch here, true only if you wrap your mouth directly around the ferry's exhaust vent.
The article acknowledges that SF's ferry H2 is grey - i.e. heavy CO2 emissions in manufacturing! The article doesn't mention how H2 gets to the ferry: via diesel truck.
The article acknowledges that SF's ferry H2 is grey - i.e. heavy CO2 emissions in manufacturing! The article doesn't mention how H2 gets to the ferry: via diesel truck.
I use this graph (created by Maricopa County ) when I lecture about climate and social systems. Multiple brutal feedback loops in overlapping action.
August 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I use this graph (created by Maricopa County ) when I lecture about climate and social systems. Multiple brutal feedback loops in overlapping action.
I say it's high time we bring back the little marching-band Discount Gremlin
July 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I say it's high time we bring back the little marching-band Discount Gremlin
Ok I have to issue a very important correction, and an apology to the Germans: The world's largest electric vehicle is the Bagger 293, which is both a bit larger and way more evil-looking than Big Muskie.
May 22, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Ok I have to issue a very important correction, and an apology to the Germans: The world's largest electric vehicle is the Bagger 293, which is both a bit larger and way more evil-looking than Big Muskie.
searching through a clip-art database and really wondering who's out there giving powerpoint presentations about dippel's oil...
May 15, 2025 at 7:43 PM
searching through a clip-art database and really wondering who's out there giving powerpoint presentations about dippel's oil...
this feels threatening...
May 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
this feels threatening...
a hummingbird harvesting spiderwebs for its nest as I sit here replying to emails
May 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
a hummingbird harvesting spiderwebs for its nest as I sit here replying to emails
man, even British mailer daemons have better manners
May 1, 2025 at 9:03 PM
man, even British mailer daemons have better manners
The Trump regime wants to hide the threat of climate change from the American people. I believe they're going to fail at that. I know I've never felt so motivated to shout about that threat as I do now.
Participating in the NCA was a great honor, and suspending it is a crime - but the work goes on!
Participating in the NCA was a great honor, and suspending it is a crime - but the work goes on!
April 29, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The Trump regime wants to hide the threat of climate change from the American people. I believe they're going to fail at that. I know I've never felt so motivated to shout about that threat as I do now.
Participating in the NCA was a great honor, and suspending it is a crime - but the work goes on!
Participating in the NCA was a great honor, and suspending it is a crime - but the work goes on!
I see your Disco Worm and raise you Party Snail (Calliostoma annulatum)
March 7, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I see your Disco Worm and raise you Party Snail (Calliostoma annulatum)
🤔I wonder if there's anything new about the relationship between SpaceX and FAA lately that might be worth mentioning...I seem to recall something, hazily...
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/b...
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/b...
March 7, 2025 at 1:53 AM
🤔I wonder if there's anything new about the relationship between SpaceX and FAA lately that might be worth mentioning...I seem to recall something, hazily...
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/b...
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/b...
A belated photo from an after-work protest last week. Rallies and protests aren't sufficient, but they are necessary! A woman leaned out of her car window to shout to me that she didn't believe anyone cared until she saw this 300-person crowd. This is how we build capacity to force a change.
February 24, 2025 at 9:46 PM
A belated photo from an after-work protest last week. Rallies and protests aren't sufficient, but they are necessary! A woman leaned out of her car window to shout to me that she didn't believe anyone cared until she saw this 300-person crowd. This is how we build capacity to force a change.
This is not only very stupid - it's also the exact same logic that led Merrick Garland to slow-walk Trump's prosecution. These people have stepped on this rake again and again and again over, since at least 2000. There are only a few remaining ways to explain their refusal to learn...
February 17, 2025 at 9:54 PM
This is not only very stupid - it's also the exact same logic that led Merrick Garland to slow-walk Trump's prosecution. These people have stepped on this rake again and again and again over, since at least 2000. There are only a few remaining ways to explain their refusal to learn...
A good ex of how far US train service has to go: My train from San Jose to LA - the only train of the day - is cancelled. Amtrak offers no alternative for anyone at the 9 stops S of Oakland. If you want a refund, you've got to request one yourself. If you want to fly, there are dozens of options.
January 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A good ex of how far US train service has to go: My train from San Jose to LA - the only train of the day - is cancelled. Amtrak offers no alternative for anyone at the 9 stops S of Oakland. If you want a refund, you've got to request one yourself. If you want to fly, there are dozens of options.
Taking gas out of burn zones and high-fire-risk neighborhoods removes a flammable, explosive fire risk - one that likely played a role in making the LA fires worse. There's evidence of gas fires all over the place - in coming months, we'll hopefully learn more about the role gas played. (8/12)
January 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Taking gas out of burn zones and high-fire-risk neighborhoods removes a flammable, explosive fire risk - one that likely played a role in making the LA fires worse. There's evidence of gas fires all over the place - in coming months, we'll hopefully learn more about the role gas played. (8/12)
app.watchduty.org/i/41039
Castaic is the 4th-largest pumped-hydro energy storage facility in N America and a crucial part of LA's electric system. As I wrote during a previous round of fires, climate-exacerbated disasters are making decarbonization harder.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
Castaic is the 4th-largest pumped-hydro energy storage facility in N America and a crucial part of LA's electric system. As I wrote during a previous round of fires, climate-exacerbated disasters are making decarbonization harder.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
January 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
app.watchduty.org/i/41039
Castaic is the 4th-largest pumped-hydro energy storage facility in N America and a crucial part of LA's electric system. As I wrote during a previous round of fires, climate-exacerbated disasters are making decarbonization harder.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
Castaic is the 4th-largest pumped-hydro energy storage facility in N America and a crucial part of LA's electric system. As I wrote during a previous round of fires, climate-exacerbated disasters are making decarbonization harder.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
Recently replaced my laptop battery, for extremely obvious reasons. Looking forward to having this high-fire-danger ravioli out of my home
January 16, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Recently replaced my laptop battery, for extremely obvious reasons. Looking forward to having this high-fire-danger ravioli out of my home