Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Prof. Bob Howarth

Auke Hoekstra @aukehoekstra.bsky.social · 1h

New study looks into stabilizing 100% renewable energy systems over multiple bad weather years.

It concludes that the best approach is a little more overcapacity (e.g. 3.5% extra) as that is much cheaper than excess seasonal storage.

Christian Breyer @christianonre.bsky.social · 1d

1/ New research @lut.fi presents the first global analysis of inter-annual storage for #100RE systems in 145 regions doi.org/10.1016/j.ap.... Strategic generation overcapacity is a significantly more cost-effective solution than building massive storage.

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Reposted by Prof. Bob Howarth

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 53m

Fossil fuel industry is behind the UK's CCS push, but while oil & gas firms are pro-CCS in public they're sceptical in private 😈 revealing the wider "strategy to lock in a policy model based primarily on incentives and subsidies without regulatory accountability or science-based emission reductions"

InfluenceMap @influencemap.bsky.social · 2h

📢 🚨New Report - How the UK oil and gas industry spent 15 years pushing for subsidies & incentives for Carbon Capture and Storage rather than regulatory accountability or science-based emissions reductions; maintaining a funding pipeline for a technology yet to deliver on its promises 👇

The UK Oil and Gas Industry's Advocacy on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

New analysis from InfluenceMap suggests that for more than 15 years, the oil and gas industry has systematically pushed the UK government to adopt a costly, emissions-intensive energy policy agenda de...

influencemap.org

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Reposted by Prof. Bob Howarth

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 14h

If you want the longer version of this: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

The Electricity Crisis with Costa Samaras

Podcast Episode · Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast · 09/23/2025 · 56m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Prof. Bob Howarth

Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 14h

The government’s own data rebuts Trump Admin claims that wind and solar are driving up electricity prices, Politico reports share.google/RTIXPPQMXrTH...
“[T]he data say pretty much the opposite” of Trump & Secretary Wright’s claims.

Among the 22 states that drew higher-than-average shares of their power from wind and solar, 17 had below-average electricity prices in June, according to EIA data.

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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 14h

AG Bondi, here’s that correction you requested.

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NowThis Impact @nowthisimpact.bsky.social · 13h

Stop blaming windmills — it’s AI. No, literally: AI is why our power bills are up.

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Clare Fieseler, PhD @fieseler.bsky.social · 18h

Not sure people realize how INSANELY DRAINING data centers will be on our planet.

If you imagine data centers as their own country, they'll rank fourth in global electricity use by 2035 — outranked only by China, India, and the U.S.

Read this in @bloomberg.com👇

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 12h

Two things to keep in mind as you watch clips of Pam Bondi today in the Senate:

1. As Florida AG, she dropped her investigation of fraud at Trump University after Trump gave $25K to her election campaign.

2. She was Trump's second choice for federal AG after Matt Gaetz.

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Hawkeye8 @hawkeye8.bsky.social · 14h

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Hawkeye8 @hawkeye8.bsky.social · 14h

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Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 23d

UK govt infatuation with nuclear power continues. Plans for Small Modular Reactors in places around UK

No SMR has ever been built in the West. Those that have been tried have faced the familiar issues of escalating costs and delays

A 🧵about this nuclear agreement

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK and US unveil nuclear energy deal ahead of Trump visit

Key among the plans is a proposal to build up to 12 advanced modular nuclear reactors in Hartlepool.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Prof. Bob Howarth @profbobhowarth.bsky.social · 16h

Good news. Of course this may only apply to Massachusetts at the moment? And the Supreme Court will weigh in. In the meanwhile though, since I was born in Boston, I am relieved to know I am still a citizen.

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Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 21h

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day?

Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚

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Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 19h

It's not just that they're going to strike down a law against conversion therapy, it's that they're going to do it on behalf of made-up claims from a straw plaintiff who can't honestly show the law affected her at all

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 19h

One thing about American's widespread distrust and disapproval of the Supreme Court is that mainstream news coverage mostly doesn't dwell on stuff like standing, so people don't even begin to grasp how rigged the Court truly is www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Supreme Court Live Updates: Justices Seem Set to Rule Against Colorado’s Ban on Conversion Therapy

www.nytimes.com

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 17h

very cool that if you are working on behalf of right-wing culture warriors, you no longer need standing to have your claim adjudicated by the supreme court

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 19h

It's not just that they're going to strike down a law against conversion therapy, it's that they're going to do it on behalf of made-up claims from a straw plaintiff who can't honestly show the law affected her at all

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 19h

One thing about American's widespread distrust and disapproval of the Supreme Court is that mainstream news coverage mostly doesn't dwell on stuff like standing, so people don't even begin to grasp how rigged the Court truly is www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

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Leah Stokes @leahstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Governor Newsom has a bill on his desk to hold utilities accountable, and get them to stop passing along their dark money campaigns to everyday Californians.

Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

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

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🎃 Fiona "Fi" Webster 🎃 @fiona-webster22.bsky.social · 1d

This is close to outright treason. Saying you're going to end rule of law in America if a judge doesn't rule your way is a serious threat against the US.

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 1d

Australia's grid operator has a clear line of sight to 100% renewables. There's nothing unknown or exotic required.

It'll be fun when the first large/major economies start hitting the goal. Too bad the US is likely to be at the rear of the pack.

As coal fades, Australia looks to realize dream of 100% renewable…

The country’s grid operator says shifting from coal to clean power is not only possible but inevitable. The work there could provide a road map for other…

www.canarymedia.com

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Prof. Bob Howarth @profbobhowarth.bsky.social · 1d

A conservative legal scholar suggests there may be some justice, albeit delayed, for those in Trump admin who undertake illegal actions. www.rawstory.com/hegseth-hague/

Hegseth and Rubio warned about possible 'secret sealed warrants' ambush

Donald Trump may not be the only one in his administration held to account if the International Criminal Court in The Hague decides to take up accusations against the American president.In a column fo...

www.rawstory.com

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Gov. Bob Ferguson @governorferguson.bsky.social · 1d

Voters upheld the Climate Commitment Act by a landslide last year.

Today, the Supreme Court shot down a legal challenge.

As the federal government is abandoning critical climate protections, Washington's leadership is needed now more than ever. This is an important win.

Supreme Court shoots down challenge to WA carbon market

A natural gas power plant in Grays Harbor County had sued over the state's keystone climate policy.

www.seattletimes.com

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Peter Gleick @petergleick.bsky.social · 1d

"Let me look right into the camera and lie to your face."

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Mike Johnson: "Let me look right into the camera and tell you very clearly: Republicans are the ones concerned about healthcare. Republicans are the party working around the clock everyday to fix healthcare. This is not talking points for us: we've done it."

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Justin Mikulka @justinmikulka.bsky.social · 1d

Shell is so heavily invested in the "LNG or bust" strategy we should not expect anything resembling truth out of them on the topic.

Oilfield Witness @oilfieldwitness.bsky.social · 1d

This is the CEO of Shell.

"Sawan described LNG as one of the most effective tools for lowering global emissions"

This is completely detached from science and reality.

Shell positions LNG as key focus for the next decade

CEO Wael Sawan sees surging demand for liquefied natural gas as key to cutting global emissions and boosting performance. | MobilityPlaza

www.mobilityplaza.org

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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 1d

The FAA is delaying flights at Newark and Denver airports because they haven’t got enough air traffic control. Burbank has zero ATC from 4.30-10pm.

Lots of controllers who aren’t being paid during the government shutdown are calling in sick.

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Robert Mackey @robertmackey.bsky.social · 1d

The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America

A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland

www.theguardian.com

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Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 1d

FAA reports staffing issues at airports as government shutdown continues

No air traffic controllers were expected at the tower at Hollywood Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles area, and the Denver and Newark airports were experiencing delays due to shortages
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

FAA reports staffing issues at airports as government shutdown continues

No air traffic controllers were expected at the tower at Hollywood Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles area, and the Denver and Newark airports were experiencing delays due to shortages.

www.nbcnews.com

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