asa watten
@asawatten.bsky.social
economist. i think about energy technology innovation and climate policy. detroit/rustbelt stan currently exiled in new haven.
asawatten.net
asawatten.net
Using LLMs to annotate text for anything scientific requires a lot of human validation *every time.*
“They got a bot to churn out bot poetry. Then they judged how well the poems jailbroke the chatbots … by using other chatbots to do the judging!”
“They got a bot to churn out bot poetry. Then they judged how well the poems jailbroke the chatbots … by using other chatbots to do the judging!”
apparently this paper about adversarial poetry is marketing bullshit. sigh. pivot-to-ai.com/2025/11/24/d...
Don’t cite the Adversarial Poetry vs AI paper — it’s chatbot-made marketing ‘science’
Today’s preprint paper has the best title ever: “Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models”. It’s from DexAI, who sell AI testing and compliance ser…
pivot-to-ai.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Using LLMs to annotate text for anything scientific requires a lot of human validation *every time.*
“They got a bot to churn out bot poetry. Then they judged how well the poems jailbroke the chatbots … by using other chatbots to do the judging!”
“They got a bot to churn out bot poetry. Then they judged how well the poems jailbroke the chatbots … by using other chatbots to do the judging!”
Mild take: 'Electrons' is simply a popular metaphor and that's fine 🤓
Electricity is profoundly unintuitive for most of us. Like water flowing through pipes is helpful, but wrong.
Electricity is profoundly unintuitive for most of us. Like water flowing through pipes is helpful, but wrong.
In the bottom 0.1% of the massive mountain of errors, broken arguments and cotton-brained ignorance at play in this classic Yglesias work, but when you generate electricity, you aren't "making electrons", you are pushing them around!!!!!
The heart doesn't 'make blood' folks!!!
archive.ph/wip/XN3RL
The heart doesn't 'make blood' folks!!!
archive.ph/wip/XN3RL
December 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Mild take: 'Electrons' is simply a popular metaphor and that's fine 🤓
Electricity is profoundly unintuitive for most of us. Like water flowing through pipes is helpful, but wrong.
Electricity is profoundly unintuitive for most of us. Like water flowing through pipes is helpful, but wrong.
Reposted by asa watten
New in Nature Climate Change: @asawatten.bsky.social and I show how common marginal emissions methods can miss system effects and substitution. Using hourly, long-run modeling can materially alter emissions benefits, which we show for rooftop solar. Paper + summary 👇
October 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
New in Nature Climate Change: @asawatten.bsky.social and I show how common marginal emissions methods can miss system effects and substitution. Using hourly, long-run modeling can materially alter emissions benefits, which we show for rooftop solar. Paper + summary 👇
🚨Oh hey @bistline.bsky.social and I have a short piece in Nature Climate Change out today. It's a response to a great study on global rooftop solar, but it's *really* about the misuse of marginal emissions rates. Something we've been thinking a lot about. #energysky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Emissions reductions of rooftop solar are overstated by approaches that inadequately capture substitution effects - Nature Climate Change
Nature Climate Change - Emissions reductions of rooftop solar are overstated by approaches that inadequately capture substitution effects
www.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
🚨Oh hey @bistline.bsky.social and I have a short piece in Nature Climate Change out today. It's a response to a great study on global rooftop solar, but it's *really* about the misuse of marginal emissions rates. Something we've been thinking a lot about. #energysky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by asa watten
Good news / bad news on U.S. solar in the new LBNL report:
• Utility-scale solar >50% of 2024 nameplate additions
• But solar's average costs are up ~25% vs. 2022
Record build, rising costs. Two things can be true at once.
emp.lbl.gov/utility-scal...
• Utility-scale solar >50% of 2024 nameplate additions
• But solar's average costs are up ~25% vs. 2022
Record build, rising costs. Two things can be true at once.
emp.lbl.gov/utility-scal...
October 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Good news / bad news on U.S. solar in the new LBNL report:
• Utility-scale solar >50% of 2024 nameplate additions
• But solar's average costs are up ~25% vs. 2022
Record build, rising costs. Two things can be true at once.
emp.lbl.gov/utility-scal...
• Utility-scale solar >50% of 2024 nameplate additions
• But solar's average costs are up ~25% vs. 2022
Record build, rising costs. Two things can be true at once.
emp.lbl.gov/utility-scal...
Reposted by asa watten
📢 Just launched: Our REGEN energy systems model is now open source!
REGEN is a detailed and flexible energy systems modeling platform designed to explore a wide range of long-term scenarios. Check out the code, data, and documentation at the links below.
REGEN is a detailed and flexible energy systems modeling platform designed to explore a wide range of long-term scenarios. Check out the code, data, and documentation at the links below.
May 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
📢 Just launched: Our REGEN energy systems model is now open source!
REGEN is a detailed and flexible energy systems modeling platform designed to explore a wide range of long-term scenarios. Check out the code, data, and documentation at the links below.
REGEN is a detailed and flexible energy systems modeling platform designed to explore a wide range of long-term scenarios. Check out the code, data, and documentation at the links below.
Reposted by asa watten
New Energy Institute Blog Post: Winners and Losers from Interregional Transmission - by Lucas Davis
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/w...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/w...
April 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New Energy Institute Blog Post: Winners and Losers from Interregional Transmission - by Lucas Davis
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/w...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/w...
I’m for some things and against others
April 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I’m for some things and against others
Reposted by asa watten
In the Energy Institute blog this week, Meredith Fowlie has an excellent explainer about what the IRA is really likely to cost per ton of GHG reduction based on a new paper from EPRI.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
#EnergySky
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
#EnergySky
Are Clean Electricity Tax Credits a Bad Deal?
Only when you ignore environmental benefits and electricity bill impacts. U.S. electricity demand is on the rise. A data center boom, a possible renaissance in domestic manufacturing, and a push to…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:38 AM
In the Energy Institute blog this week, Meredith Fowlie has an excellent explainer about what the IRA is really likely to cost per ton of GHG reduction based on a new paper from EPRI.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
#EnergySky
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
#EnergySky
My working paper with @bistline.bsky.social is the subject of today's @ucenergyinstitute.bsky.social blog post by Meredith Fowlie. Honored!
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
Are Clean Electricity Tax Credits a Bad Deal?
Only when you ignore environmental benefits and electricity bill impacts. U.S. electricity demand is on the rise. A data center boom, a possible renaissance in domestic manufacturing, and a push to…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
March 31, 2025 at 3:07 PM
My working paper with @bistline.bsky.social is the subject of today's @ucenergyinstitute.bsky.social blog post by Meredith Fowlie. Honored!
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/a...
BTC is a computation treadmill.
Jensen's paradox (⬆️efficiency=>⬆️demand) is weak for many things (cars, lights) bc demand is inelastic. Not so for crypto mining!
Makes sense. Miners mine until marginal cost=marginal benefit. ⬆️eff=>⬇️mc=>⬆️mining=>⬇️mb. An EPRI brief: www.epri.com/research/pro...
Jensen's paradox (⬆️efficiency=>⬆️demand) is weak for many things (cars, lights) bc demand is inelastic. Not so for crypto mining!
Makes sense. Miners mine until marginal cost=marginal benefit. ⬆️eff=>⬇️mc=>⬆️mining=>⬇️mb. An EPRI brief: www.epri.com/research/pro...
March 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
BTC is a computation treadmill.
Jensen's paradox (⬆️efficiency=>⬆️demand) is weak for many things (cars, lights) bc demand is inelastic. Not so for crypto mining!
Makes sense. Miners mine until marginal cost=marginal benefit. ⬆️eff=>⬇️mc=>⬆️mining=>⬇️mb. An EPRI brief: www.epri.com/research/pro...
Jensen's paradox (⬆️efficiency=>⬆️demand) is weak for many things (cars, lights) bc demand is inelastic. Not so for crypto mining!
Makes sense. Miners mine until marginal cost=marginal benefit. ⬆️eff=>⬇️mc=>⬆️mining=>⬇️mb. An EPRI brief: www.epri.com/research/pro...
It's important to cover all the bases
March 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
It's important to cover all the bases
Reposted by asa watten
As expected, the Trump team is already deleting climate info from government websites. In anticipation, our team at Urban Ocean Lab created a permanent archive of 100+ key resources and published a permanent archive: www.urbanoceanlab.org/resource-hub 👩🏽💻
January 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
As expected, the Trump team is already deleting climate info from government websites. In anticipation, our team at Urban Ocean Lab created a permanent archive of 100+ key resources and published a permanent archive: www.urbanoceanlab.org/resource-hub 👩🏽💻
Reposted by asa watten
Check out my new working paper with amazing ND grad students Bill Kakenmaster and Ben Francis
We show, among other things, that climate attribution among R House candidates depends on district-level climate vulnerability and fossil fuel employment reliance
osf.io/preprints/os...
We show, among other things, that climate attribution among R House candidates depends on district-level climate vulnerability and fossil fuel employment reliance
osf.io/preprints/os...
January 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Check out my new working paper with amazing ND grad students Bill Kakenmaster and Ben Francis
We show, among other things, that climate attribution among R House candidates depends on district-level climate vulnerability and fossil fuel employment reliance
osf.io/preprints/os...
We show, among other things, that climate attribution among R House candidates depends on district-level climate vulnerability and fossil fuel employment reliance
osf.io/preprints/os...
Waste of paint! Guernica has stopped exactly ZERO wars.
December 26, 2024 at 5:21 PM
Waste of paint! Guernica has stopped exactly ZERO wars.
I like art. It makes me think and feel things. I don't expect single works to have measurable effects on opinions. But! In the case of don't look up it did (in a non-peer-reviewed RCT). Which is cool and leaves more questions..
I somehow missed this study, which examines the impact of the Netflix film "Don't Look Up" on climate behaviours and mental states using a few different methods
Confirms a critique many of us had: it may have been a cathartic watch, but it definitely wasn't change-making
rare.org/research-rep...
Confirms a critique many of us had: it may have been a cathartic watch, but it definitely wasn't change-making
rare.org/research-rep...
December 26, 2024 at 3:53 PM
I like art. It makes me think and feel things. I don't expect single works to have measurable effects on opinions. But! In the case of don't look up it did (in a non-peer-reviewed RCT). Which is cool and leaves more questions..
I may be too literal
November 16, 2024 at 10:25 PM
I may be too literal
Reposted by asa watten
I didn’t realise BlueSky has no algorithm (so you see what’s actually there) - and that you can choose your own filters for feeds.
This one’s lovely: people you follow but post infrequently, so it boosts quieter, interesting types. I’ve added it to my feeds and it’s great.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
This one’s lovely: people you follow but post infrequently, so it boosts quieter, interesting types. I’ve added it to my feeds and it’s great.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
August 30, 2024 at 7:40 AM
I didn’t realise BlueSky has no algorithm (so you see what’s actually there) - and that you can choose your own filters for feeds.
This one’s lovely: people you follow but post infrequently, so it boosts quieter, interesting types. I’ve added it to my feeds and it’s great.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
This one’s lovely: people you follow but post infrequently, so it boosts quieter, interesting types. I’ve added it to my feeds and it’s great.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Are low-cost car rental companies just a scam to get folx to buy overpriced insurance?
The hours of waiting in line, agents who disappear for 20 min in the middle of checking u out feel designed to wear u down when they threaten financial ruin. And u don't need it if u have almost any credit card.
The hours of waiting in line, agents who disappear for 20 min in the middle of checking u out feel designed to wear u down when they threaten financial ruin. And u don't need it if u have almost any credit card.
September 9, 2024 at 2:58 PM
Are low-cost car rental companies just a scam to get folx to buy overpriced insurance?
The hours of waiting in line, agents who disappear for 20 min in the middle of checking u out feel designed to wear u down when they threaten financial ruin. And u don't need it if u have almost any credit card.
The hours of waiting in line, agents who disappear for 20 min in the middle of checking u out feel designed to wear u down when they threaten financial ruin. And u don't need it if u have almost any credit card.
Reposted by asa watten
Remember when Howard Dean ended his political career by making a weird noise
May 30, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Remember when Howard Dean ended his political career by making a weird noise
If any researchers need an IV for lack of confidence in government, may I suggest: time since jury duty summons..
May 21, 2024 at 6:05 PM
If any researchers need an IV for lack of confidence in government, may I suggest: time since jury duty summons..
Reposted by asa watten
Today at EIA, we released the Wholesale Electricity Market Portal: www.eia.gov/electricity/...
It gathers hourly and sub-hourly electricity production, demand, interchange, and price data from seven U.S. electricity markets.
It’s a great example of how we’re making data easier to access. 🔌💡
It gathers hourly and sub-hourly electricity production, demand, interchange, and price data from seven U.S. electricity markets.
It’s a great example of how we’re making data easier to access. 🔌💡
April 10, 2024 at 1:01 AM
Today at EIA, we released the Wholesale Electricity Market Portal: www.eia.gov/electricity/...
It gathers hourly and sub-hourly electricity production, demand, interchange, and price data from seven U.S. electricity markets.
It’s a great example of how we’re making data easier to access. 🔌💡
It gathers hourly and sub-hourly electricity production, demand, interchange, and price data from seven U.S. electricity markets.
It’s a great example of how we’re making data easier to access. 🔌💡
Thoughts after attending Yale Generative AI Sociology workshop today:
Think researcher degrees of freedom is a problem now? Just you wait.
Think researcher degrees of freedom is a problem now? Just you wait.
April 5, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Thoughts after attending Yale Generative AI Sociology workshop today:
Think researcher degrees of freedom is a problem now? Just you wait.
Think researcher degrees of freedom is a problem now? Just you wait.
New paper at Regional Science and Urban Economics
How is rooftop solar capitalized in home prices?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Here's a brief 🧵
🔌💡 📈📉
How is rooftop solar capitalized in home prices?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Here's a brief 🧵
🔌💡 📈📉
April 4, 2024 at 1:19 PM
New paper at Regional Science and Urban Economics
How is rooftop solar capitalized in home prices?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Here's a brief 🧵
🔌💡 📈📉
How is rooftop solar capitalized in home prices?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Here's a brief 🧵
🔌💡 📈📉