Fred Stafford
@fredstaffordcs.bsky.social
STEM professional, socialist, @jacobin, @catalyst_theory, @thenation, @TheBTI contributor. @damagemag editor. Interested in decarb, tech, power sector, labor.
Substack: www.publicpowerreview.org
Email: [email protected]
Substack: www.publicpowerreview.org
Email: [email protected]
Pinned
Fred Stafford
@fredstaffordcs.bsky.social
· Apr 28
1/ NEW from me & @matthuber.bsky.social from the new Damage Magazine print issue, Responsibility:
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
It's election day in New York City. Should he win, writes @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani will have the chance to buck the left's increasingly nonsensical stance against nuclear energy development.
Read more in this piece from our Ideas section ⤵️:
Read more in this piece from our Ideas section ⤵️:
Zohran Mamdani Should Embrace Nuclear
The New York mayoral frontrunner has an opportunity to shift the left’s increasingly nonsensical position on a critical carbon-free energy source.
heatmap.news
November 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
It's election day in New York City. Should he win, writes @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani will have the chance to buck the left's increasingly nonsensical stance against nuclear energy development.
Read more in this piece from our Ideas section ⤵️:
Read more in this piece from our Ideas section ⤵️:
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Really good op-ed by @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social on why Zohran Mamdani should embrace nuclear power.
heatmap.news/ideas/zohran...
heatmap.news/ideas/zohran...
Zohran Mamdani Should Embrace Nuclear
The New York mayoral frontrunner has an opportunity to shift the left’s increasingly nonsensical position on a critical carbon-free energy source.
heatmap.news
November 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Really good op-ed by @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social on why Zohran Mamdani should embrace nuclear power.
heatmap.news/ideas/zohran...
heatmap.news/ideas/zohran...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
I've been profoundly depressed seeing so many leftists either joke about or celebrate the murder of someone for political speech. Glad to see this political clarity from @benburgis.bsky.social and Meagan Day in @jacobinmag.bsky.social.
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
September 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I've been profoundly depressed seeing so many leftists either joke about or celebrate the murder of someone for political speech. Glad to see this political clarity from @benburgis.bsky.social and Meagan Day in @jacobinmag.bsky.social.
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
Some thinkers on the left have convinced everyone there's nothing to see here, the ideas expressed in Abundance are just neoliberalism rebranded, etc.
They're wrong. Read our review essay to understand what left critics miss, what problems they conspicuously refuse to recognize.
They're wrong. Read our review essay to understand what left critics miss, what problems they conspicuously refuse to recognize.
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
Abundance for the 99 Percent
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
jacobin.com
August 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Some thinkers on the left have convinced everyone there's nothing to see here, the ideas expressed in Abundance are just neoliberalism rebranded, etc.
They're wrong. Read our review essay to understand what left critics miss, what problems they conspicuously refuse to recognize.
They're wrong. Read our review essay to understand what left critics miss, what problems they conspicuously refuse to recognize.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Recommend @matthuber.bsky.social @leighphillips.bsky.social @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social in @jacobinmag.bsky.social as a key intervention on abundance. Both private market interests + an NGO-govt-legal bureaucracy hinder abundance. Class struggle must overcome both to deliver a plentiful future.
August 7, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Recommend @matthuber.bsky.social @leighphillips.bsky.social @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social in @jacobinmag.bsky.social as a key intervention on abundance. Both private market interests + an NGO-govt-legal bureaucracy hinder abundance. Class struggle must overcome both to deliver a plentiful future.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
A really nice engagement with our Abundance piece (in the context of a stale/toxic debate).
"I’ve seen so much online discourse devolve into purity tests, tactical pessimism, and knee-jerk hostility. This piece cuts through that." stephnakhleh.substack.com/p/jacobins-s...
"I’ve seen so much online discourse devolve into purity tests, tactical pessimism, and knee-jerk hostility. This piece cuts through that." stephnakhleh.substack.com/p/jacobins-s...
Jacobin's socialist case for abundance
With notes and astonishments from a reader who expected to disagree
stephnakhleh.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 1:18 PM
A really nice engagement with our Abundance piece (in the context of a stale/toxic debate).
"I’ve seen so much online discourse devolve into purity tests, tactical pessimism, and knee-jerk hostility. This piece cuts through that." stephnakhleh.substack.com/p/jacobins-s...
"I’ve seen so much online discourse devolve into purity tests, tactical pessimism, and knee-jerk hostility. This piece cuts through that." stephnakhleh.substack.com/p/jacobins-s...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
"Those of us... who come from the Left and remain connected to industrial labor — can tell you plainly: it’s both unaccountable markets *and* an unaccountable NGO-academia-legal bureaucratic class that are stalling public progress."
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
Abundance for the 99 Percent
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
jacobin.com
August 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"Those of us... who come from the Left and remain connected to industrial labor — can tell you plainly: it’s both unaccountable markets *and* an unaccountable NGO-academia-legal bureaucratic class that are stalling public progress."
Reposted by Fred Stafford
I was confused by the wholesale Left rejection of "Abundance" both bc it's central to the general socialist project & bc the book itself has valuable insights.
So here finally is our sympathetic/critical review of the book & its critics (w @leighphillips.bsky.social & @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social).
So here finally is our sympathetic/critical review of the book & its critics (w @leighphillips.bsky.social & @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social).
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
Abundance for the 99 Percent
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
jacobin.com
August 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I was confused by the wholesale Left rejection of "Abundance" both bc it's central to the general socialist project & bc the book itself has valuable insights.
So here finally is our sympathetic/critical review of the book & its critics (w @leighphillips.bsky.social & @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social).
So here finally is our sympathetic/critical review of the book & its critics (w @leighphillips.bsky.social & @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social).
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
Abundance for the 99 Percent
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
jacobin.com
August 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
@fredstaffordcs.bsky.social knocks it out of the park with this. The NYPA nuclear announcement should be celebrated as one of the most critical experiments in rebuilding state capacity in the country. The way we win is with big public investment at all scales:
jacobin.com/2025/07/hoch...
jacobin.com/2025/07/hoch...
Atomic Abundance and Its Enemies
Wrangling over the construction of nuclear power in New York State has revealed the priorities of some of the state’s biggest environmental lobbies. For them, creating bureaucratic procedures they can...
jacobin.com
July 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
@fredstaffordcs.bsky.social knocks it out of the park with this. The NYPA nuclear announcement should be celebrated as one of the most critical experiments in rebuilding state capacity in the country. The way we win is with big public investment at all scales:
jacobin.com/2025/07/hoch...
jacobin.com/2025/07/hoch...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
2. Decarbonization as a longterm goal = eventually need to replace the gas (nuclear, geothermal, gas+CCS, hydrogen). That something’s big competitor is precisely the solar/storage/gas combo. Establishing the clean alternative to gas probably requires reshaping market rules favoring solar/gas today.
June 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
2. Decarbonization as a longterm goal = eventually need to replace the gas (nuclear, geothermal, gas+CCS, hydrogen). That something’s big competitor is precisely the solar/storage/gas combo. Establishing the clean alternative to gas probably requires reshaping market rules favoring solar/gas today.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
For more neoliberal center-left Abundance stans:
1. Private independent solar power producers’/asset managers’ interests are not going to be neatly aligned with clean, reliable energy abundance. Be warned.
1. Private independent solar power producers’/asset managers’ interests are not going to be neatly aligned with clean, reliable energy abundance. Be warned.
June 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
For more neoliberal center-left Abundance stans:
1. Private independent solar power producers’/asset managers’ interests are not going to be neatly aligned with clean, reliable energy abundance. Be warned.
1. Private independent solar power producers’/asset managers’ interests are not going to be neatly aligned with clean, reliable energy abundance. Be warned.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Part of me has been feeling the time is approaching for a reckoning with the implicit solarmaxxing of both much of the Abundance movement *and* its critics.
The next 10 yrs is when these political groups must grapple deeply with the grid and power markets. 🧵
The next 10 yrs is when these political groups must grapple deeply with the grid and power markets. 🧵
Certainly agree there’s ample untapped room in most regions to get to the first ~30% of electricity from solar. Appreciate Brian Potter's big caveats that his analysis didn’t cover transmission/distrib or power markets—indeed 2 key factors.
My thoughts:🧵
www.construction-physics.com/p/can-we-aff...
My thoughts:🧵
www.construction-physics.com/p/can-we-aff...
June 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Part of me has been feeling the time is approaching for a reckoning with the implicit solarmaxxing of both much of the Abundance movement *and* its critics.
The next 10 yrs is when these political groups must grapple deeply with the grid and power markets. 🧵
The next 10 yrs is when these political groups must grapple deeply with the grid and power markets. 🧵
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Scoop on @latitudemedia.bsky.social: Utah is betting on a new developer to revive its nuclear dreams a year and a half after the NuScale deal collapsed.
Holtec is setting up a permanent hub in the state to train a workforce and deploy projects to build its SMR-300 reactor across the Mountain West.
Holtec is setting up a permanent hub in the state to train a workforce and deploy projects to build its SMR-300 reactor across the Mountain West.
May 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Scoop on @latitudemedia.bsky.social: Utah is betting on a new developer to revive its nuclear dreams a year and a half after the NuScale deal collapsed.
Holtec is setting up a permanent hub in the state to train a workforce and deploy projects to build its SMR-300 reactor across the Mountain West.
Holtec is setting up a permanent hub in the state to train a workforce and deploy projects to build its SMR-300 reactor across the Mountain West.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
1/ NEW from me & @matthuber.bsky.social from the new Damage Magazine print issue, Responsibility:
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
April 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
1/ NEW from me & @matthuber.bsky.social from the new Damage Magazine print issue, Responsibility:
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Great new piece from @matthuber.bsky.social @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social in @damagemag.bsky.social
Are we optimizing for GW of wind/solar by 2030, CO2 by 2050, or degrees C by 2100? Rather we strive for a society more fair, just, free + prosperous, now + in the future.
damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
Are we optimizing for GW of wind/solar by 2030, CO2 by 2050, or degrees C by 2100? Rather we strive for a society more fair, just, free + prosperous, now + in the future.
damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
Won’t Somebody Please Think of the Grid?
Liberals and the Left tend to ignore the importance of a reliable electricity system, pushing visions of rooftop solar and 100% renewables out of line with the reality of our electrical grid. A respon...
damagemag.com
April 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Great new piece from @matthuber.bsky.social @fredstaffordcs.bsky.social in @damagemag.bsky.social
Are we optimizing for GW of wind/solar by 2030, CO2 by 2050, or degrees C by 2100? Rather we strive for a society more fair, just, free + prosperous, now + in the future.
damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
Are we optimizing for GW of wind/solar by 2030, CO2 by 2050, or degrees C by 2100? Rather we strive for a society more fair, just, free + prosperous, now + in the future.
damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
1/ NEW from me & @matthuber.bsky.social from the new Damage Magazine print issue, Responsibility:
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
April 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
1/ NEW from me & @matthuber.bsky.social from the new Damage Magazine print issue, Responsibility:
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE
THINK OF THE GRID?
Now online for all to read. 🧵 damagemag.com/2025/04/28/w...
Good thread 👇
I don't know exactly what the changes were and I don't know if SCE is really hiding anything here, I just know what it's like working at a utility and this level of scrutiny is frankly a terrifying notion
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Secret changes Edison imposed after Eaton fire remain shrouded in mystery
Southern California Edison changed how crews ground idle transmission towers just days after the Eaton fire, but they won't say what was changed.
www.latimes.com
April 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Good thread 👇
Reposted by Fred Stafford
A generation of liberals have abandoned the core financial tool that America's flagship public power system uses to grow, seeking privately procured renewables instead. For America and for its own decarbonization, it's time for TVA to go nuclear again. www.thenation.com/article/envi...
The Case for Public Nuclear Power
With additional funding, the Tennessee Valley Authority could provide union jobs, kick-start American industrial production, and help the world go green.
www.thenation.com
November 12, 2024 at 11:31 AM
A generation of liberals have abandoned the core financial tool that America's flagship public power system uses to grow, seeking privately procured renewables instead. For America and for its own decarbonization, it's time for TVA to go nuclear again. www.thenation.com/article/envi...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
Democrats have spent a lot of political capital to restart Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan.
The Environmental Law and Policy Center, based in Chicago, is trying their hardest to slow it down. Why?
www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2506/...
The Environmental Law and Policy Center, based in Chicago, is trying their hardest to slow it down. Why?
www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2506/...
www.nrc.gov
April 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Democrats have spent a lot of political capital to restart Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan.
The Environmental Law and Policy Center, based in Chicago, is trying their hardest to slow it down. Why?
www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2506/...
The Environmental Law and Policy Center, based in Chicago, is trying their hardest to slow it down. Why?
www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2506/...
Reposted by Fred Stafford
I want to preface by saying that broadly I agree with Tyler's aim that if the datacenters can connect to the grid with a far greater amount of volumetric sales than infrastructure upgrades that they drive, then they can be greatly beneficial to all ratepayers and the costs of the system.
February 17, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I want to preface by saying that broadly I agree with Tyler's aim that if the datacenters can connect to the grid with a far greater amount of volumetric sales than infrastructure upgrades that they drive, then they can be greatly beneficial to all ratepayers and the costs of the system.
Unpopular post below but it needs to be pointed out to all the liberals rightfully angry that Trump and GOP are futzing with TVA in a way that may - emphasis on *may* - be precursor to breaking it up somehow. Your fav industry has been ready for it.
As fate of TVA hangs in the air, consider one group that might be licking their chops at prospect of breaking it up: the renewables industry & cheerleading enviro nonprofits.
In recent report on TVA, industry group ACORE floated privatization of TVA transmission as good for renewables. 11/
In recent report on TVA, industry group ACORE floated privatization of TVA transmission as good for renewables. 11/
April 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Unpopular post below but it needs to be pointed out to all the liberals rightfully angry that Trump and GOP are futzing with TVA in a way that may - emphasis on *may* - be precursor to breaking it up somehow. Your fav industry has been ready for it.
Reposted by Fred Stafford
As fate of TVA hangs in the air, consider one group that might be licking their chops at prospect of breaking it up: the renewables industry & cheerleading enviro nonprofits.
In recent report on TVA, industry group ACORE floated privatization of TVA transmission as good for renewables. 11/
In recent report on TVA, industry group ACORE floated privatization of TVA transmission as good for renewables. 11/
April 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM
As fate of TVA hangs in the air, consider one group that might be licking their chops at prospect of breaking it up: the renewables industry & cheerleading enviro nonprofits.
In recent report on TVA, industry group ACORE floated privatization of TVA transmission as good for renewables. 11/
In recent report on TVA, industry group ACORE floated privatization of TVA transmission as good for renewables. 11/
Reposted by Fred Stafford
traveling in and reporting on the Nordics has really soured me on American style subcultural bohemian leftism. actually existing egalitarian institutions rely on a lot of dutiful, virtuous, boring ass bureaucrats
April 2, 2025 at 11:22 PM
traveling in and reporting on the Nordics has really soured me on American style subcultural bohemian leftism. actually existing egalitarian institutions rely on a lot of dutiful, virtuous, boring ass bureaucrats
Reposted by Fred Stafford
TVA has submitted SEC filing about this 2nd Board member departure and about the lack of quorum. They summarize what this means below.
If GOP called on TVA to do something new with nuclear, then they cannot do any such thing until Trump appoints and Senate confirms someone. 9/
If GOP called on TVA to do something new with nuclear, then they cannot do any such thing until Trump appoints and Senate confirms someone. 9/
April 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
TVA has submitted SEC filing about this 2nd Board member departure and about the lack of quorum. They summarize what this means below.
If GOP called on TVA to do something new with nuclear, then they cannot do any such thing until Trump appoints and Senate confirms someone. 9/
If GOP called on TVA to do something new with nuclear, then they cannot do any such thing until Trump appoints and Senate confirms someone. 9/