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Ross Macfarlane

@rossmacfarlane.bsky.social

7.9K followers 1.9K following 1.9K posts

Advocate for climate action, clean energy & democracy. Likes to play outside. Director with Sierra Club Foundation, Way to Rise, and Clean Energy Transition Institute and recently Director and Vice President with Sierra Club.

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · Apr 25

I wrote a piece for Earth Week about the need to keep bringing focus to the need for climate action at this time we are all being overloaded with issues that are appropriately demanding our attention. Appreciate any thoughts and sharing with anyone you think might be interested.

Don’t Look Away: The Climate Crisis Demands Our Attention

We live in a time of crisis overload. President Trump and his team are following his advisor Steve Bannon’s strategy to “flood the zone…

medium.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 8h

All of the lights are flashing red

Mark Lemley @marklemley.bsky.social · 3d

And this:
92% of the growth in the entire country this year has been data centers. And some of that is "circular deals" that dont involve actual money

fortune.com/2025/10/07/d...

Without data centers, GDP growth was 0.1% in the first half of 2025, Harvard economist says | Fortune

Is a U.S. without data centers a country without GDP growth?

fortune.com

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Reposted by Ross Macfarlane

Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 20h

This is not just funny, it's smart. We need more of this mockery that shows these thugs that we see their despicable fascism and give them the respect that they deserve.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 22h

ICYMI: “And now, a response from the leader of the frog resistance...” 🐸 🎵 #Colbert

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 15h

The logic behind the playful costumes and absurd humor in the Portland ICE protests. @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social

The Portland Chicken Has a Degree in Game Theory

Humor, Prep for No Kings, and Resistance Actions as “Coordination Games”

lucid.substack.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 15h

"When the dust settles, we’ll probably see a whole lot of books written about the fancy math games that convinced investors that two companies passing $100 billion back and forth were creating $200 billion in value instead of having a net financial impact of $0."

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 16h

Of course it is only hippies and worrywarts who think the AI fueled stock market is in bubble territory ... oh, wait.
www.ft.com/content/1cc6...

Bank results live: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Citi CEOs warn on markets reaching bubble territory

www.ft.com

Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 16h

Also, kudos to Dave for linking this fascinating post from @benjaminriley.bsky.social drawing the Enron connection to the circular financing that is propping up the AI Bubble (and too much of the current economy). buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com/p/enronai

EnronAI

What's past is prologue?

buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 16h

When even Open AI's Sam Altman is calling the current mania for AI a bubble, it's worth considering what kind of bubble it is, and whether it is something worth jeopardizing our last chance at a livable climate for. @davekarpf.bsky.social persuasively suggests this bubble has Enron vibes. 3/

It's Giving Enron

On the AI bubble, and the various echoes of the dotcom crash

davekarpf.substack.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 16h

His point that the current demand projections for data centers are likely signs of a speculative bubble is supported by recent analysis by @jeremyfisher.bsky.social @sierraclub.org 2/
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...

Fools Gold: When 700 Gigawatts of Data Centers Come Knocking

If the data center boom is a bubble, we may all end up paying the price with our climate and our electric bills.

www.sierraclub.org

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 16h

Worthwhile reading @billmckibben.bsky.social's piece today on AI, climate, and energy (well it's always worthwhile reading Bill!)
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billmckibben.substack.com/p/hey-grok-w...

Hey Grok, What's a Waste of Energy?

AI amidst the climate emergency

billmckibben.substack.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 17h

Cold. Blooded. Murder. The Supreme Court may have exempted the President from any legal culpability, but this immunity doesn't extend to those carrying out his illegal orders to assassinate people on the high seas on the flimsiest pretext.

U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ross Macfarlane

Clean & Prosperous Institute @cleanandprosperous.bsky.social · 18h

🔆Great clean energy news🔆

@pugetsoundenergy.bsky.social started construction on a new, utility-scale solar farm in WA - set to power 30K homes by 2026 & create 300 jobs. Solar is clean, abundant (even in the PNW), & vital to cutting pollution, reaching net-zero & meeting growing energy demand.

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Reposted by Ross Macfarlane

Cory Booker @corybooker.com · 18h

It is “the right of the people to peaceably assemble.”

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 18h

They are who we thought they were -- Young Republicans' leaked messages reveal blatant racism, antisemitism, and sexism. @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Ross Macfarlane

Ryan C. Smith @rcsmitheco.bsky.social · 19h

This is some encouraging stuff and reminds us of one crucial reason why renewables are unstoppable:

The tech is already well out of the bag and easy to replicate. Trump trying to halt that flow is even more futile than early modern European monarchs trying to ban the printing press.
#Greensky

Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 19h

As federal funding for clean technologies collapses, some organizations major organizations seek to fill the gaps. 1/
@heatmap.news @katiebrigham.bsky.social heatmap.news/climate-tech...

The Climate Tech Coalition Boom

Some of the industry’s biggest names are joining forces to keep the momentum moving forward.

heatmap.news

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 19h

"Whether it will all be enough to accelerate or even sustain much-needed momentum in climate tech funding is impossible to predict. But at least the private sector seems to agree that, in this moment, good old teamwork is worth one heck of a try." 4/

Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 19h

Also encouraging to see the All Aboard Coalition, led by TED talk convener Chris Anderson and featuring heavyweights like @khoslaventures.bsky.social, seeking to raise $300 m for "missing middle" cleantech financing. 3/

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 19h

key example: the $150 million fund launched by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, oneworld Alliance, and major airlines to scale sustainable aviation fuels. 2/
www.oneworld.com/news/oneworl...

oneworld alliance, airlines and Breakthrough Energy Ventures

oneworld alliance, airlines and Breakthrough Energy Ventures launch investment fund to advance and commercialize Sustainable Aviation Fuel technologies

www.oneworld.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 19h

As federal funding for clean technologies collapses, some organizations major organizations seek to fill the gaps. 1/
@heatmap.news @katiebrigham.bsky.social heatmap.news/climate-tech...

The Climate Tech Coalition Boom

Some of the industry’s biggest names are joining forces to keep the momentum moving forward.

heatmap.news

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 20h

Top executive from JP Morgan warns that US needs renewables to meet soaring energy demand from tech sector. @bloomberg.com

JPMorgan Says US Needs Renewables to Meet Rising Energy Demand

JPMorgan says the US needs renewables to power growth in its tech industry. In an interview with Bloomberg Television this morning, the bank’s global head of sustainable solutions Chuka Umunna said it...

www.bloomberg.com

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 20h

Despite the policy headwinds and the Trump team throwing every obstacle possible in their path, renewable energy projects dominate new power generation in US. @michael-thomas.bsky.social
newsletter.cleanview.co/p/the-us-add...

The US Adds Another 3.6 GW of Clean Energy Capacity

A summary of recently built power projects in the US

newsletter.cleanview.co

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 20h

Trump Admin broadens its war on renewable energy with cancellation of the huge Esmerelda 7 Project in Nevada. @canarymedia.com

Canceled solar megaproject reveals new Trump-era threat to renewables

The Esmeralda 7 development would have been the largest solar farm in the U.S. But it was sited on federal land, so it needed an OK from the Trump admin.

www.canarymedia.com

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Reposted by Ross Macfarlane

Anat Shenker-Osorio @anatosaurus.bsky.social · 1d

A unifying color (and/or symbol) has been integral to movements against fascism across places and times. It allows us to know we are indeed a very big we. And to telegraph to others our beliefs in freedom and fairness, prosperity and peace. It makes us a team folks want to join.

Bright yellow background with No Kings written at the top left, below a crown Xed out in red. Below that the words: Saturday, October 18th. Wear yellow. Show up. Show out. nokings.org
Lower right a sign reading "Rejecting Kings Since 1776" and an arm holding it up on a stick.

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 1d

What a start for the Mariners!

Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 1d

Republican leaders beginning to push back against Trump's moves bashing solar. Utah Governor Spencer Cox: "This is how we lose the AI/energy arms race with China.” @heatmap.news

Republicans Balk at Trump’s Solar Cuts

On Corpus Christi’s drought, China’s Scottish factory, and no more ships to give

heatmap.news

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Ross Macfarlane @rossmacfarlane.bsky.social · 1d

My sister lives literally two blocks from the ICE facility and has had no disruptions in her daily life (although she does have a birds-eye view of the flood lights on top of the building, and got to observe the brave naked bicyclists in the cold and rain yesterday). 2/