Justin Gerdes
@justingerdes.bsky.social
I publish the Quitting Carbon newsletter. Subscribe: https://www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/. Former Managing Editor, Energy Monitor. Send story ideas or tips: [email protected] or Signal: JustinGerdes.85
Pinned
Justin Gerdes
@justingerdes.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Welcome to Quitting Carbon
Reporting and analysis on the projects, people, and policies advancing the energy transition.
Welcome to Quitting Carbon, a newsletter that will chronicle the most important story of our lives: human...
www.quittingcarbonmedia.com
Some personal news: I'm very excited to share that I'm launching a newsletter called Quitting Carbon, focused on the projects, people, and policies advancing the energy transition. Read more about what I'll be up to and subscribe! www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/welcome-to-q...
Weekend reading: Learn about a new plan to decarbonize industry in California - responsible for 20% of the state's emissions - in my Q&A with @industriouslabs.bsky.social's Teresa Cheng: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/california-h... 🔌💡
California has a new plan to decarbonize industry
Quitting Carbon checked in with Teresa Cheng, California director at Industrious Labs, to talk about passage of AB 1280 and the race to decarbonize manufacturing in the Golden State.
www.quittingcarbonmedia.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Weekend reading: Learn about a new plan to decarbonize industry in California - responsible for 20% of the state's emissions - in my Q&A with @industriouslabs.bsky.social's Teresa Cheng: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/california-h... 🔌💡
I love this from @vermontgmg.bsky.social on the magic of books: "Afterward, you’ll never be the same person you were before reading. What better bargain of self-improvement, happiness, and knowledge is there in the world?" www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/my-favorit...
November 29, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I love this from @vermontgmg.bsky.social on the magic of books: "Afterward, you’ll never be the same person you were before reading. What better bargain of self-improvement, happiness, and knowledge is there in the world?" www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/my-favorit...
"The world is clamoring for more electrons. It’s getting them from solar and wind. Between January and September, the two clean-energy sources grew fast enough to more than offset all new demand worldwide." www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle... @ember-energy.org data via @danmccarthy.bsky.social 🔌💡
Chart: Solar and wind are meeting — and exceeding — new power demand
Through September, the two clean-energy sources outpaced growth in power demand. That trend needs to accelerate for the world to phase out fossil fuels.
www.canarymedia.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
"The world is clamoring for more electrons. It’s getting them from solar and wind. Between January and September, the two clean-energy sources grew fast enough to more than offset all new demand worldwide." www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle... @ember-energy.org data via @danmccarthy.bsky.social 🔌💡
Recommendations from @regassistproj.bsky.social's @soxenaar.bsky.social and Tom Butler on ways to incentivize electrification of industrial heat: www.raponline.org/knowledge-ce... 🔌💡
Making electricity cheaper: Modernising taxes and levies to incentivise electrification of industrial heat
RAP experts Sem Oxenaar and Tom Butler look at the state of electricity and gas prices for industry and the impact of reducing taxes and levies.
www.raponline.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Recommendations from @regassistproj.bsky.social's @soxenaar.bsky.social and Tom Butler on ways to incentivize electrification of industrial heat: www.raponline.org/knowledge-ce... 🔌💡
"Germany’s government has agreed to push the EU to soften its 2035 deadline for new combustion engine car registrations, citing threats to jobs and industrial competitiveness." www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany... via @cleanenergywire.bsky.social's @benjwhereman.bsky.social
Germany to urge EU to soften 2035 combustion car deadline
www.cleanenergywire.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:06 PM
"Germany’s government has agreed to push the EU to soften its 2035 deadline for new combustion engine car registrations, citing threats to jobs and industrial competitiveness." www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany... via @cleanenergywire.bsky.social's @benjwhereman.bsky.social
New from @regassistproj.bsky.social: The Clean Heat Policy Tracker, "the world’s first global repository of national-level policies for decarbonizing heating." www.raponline.org/toolkit/clea... via @duncangibb.net and @richardlowes.bsky.social 🔌💡
Clean Heat Policy Tracker
Table of Contents Acknowledgements The Clean Heat Policy Tracker 2025 was designed and authored by Duncan Gibb and Richard Lowes (Regulatory Assistance Project/Clean Heat Forum). Chiara Delmastro (Int...
www.raponline.org
November 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
New from @regassistproj.bsky.social: The Clean Heat Policy Tracker, "the world’s first global repository of national-level policies for decarbonizing heating." www.raponline.org/toolkit/clea... via @duncangibb.net and @richardlowes.bsky.social 🔌💡
"These technologies are not risky or experimental. These are largely industrial heat pumps and thermal batteries, which is technology that is mature and proven," @industriouslabs.bsky.social's Teresa Cheng told me: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/california-h... 🔌💡
California has a new plan to decarbonize industry
Quitting Carbon checked in with Teresa Cheng, California director at Industrious Labs, to talk about passage of AB 1280 and the race to decarbonize manufacturing in the Golden State.
www.quittingcarbonmedia.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:28 PM
"These technologies are not risky or experimental. These are largely industrial heat pumps and thermal batteries, which is technology that is mature and proven," @industriouslabs.bsky.social's Teresa Cheng told me: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/california-h... 🔌💡
@elizouzts.bsky.social on "a growing trend in the clean-energy transition: midsize energy-storage units that are bigger than the home batteries typically paired with rooftop solar, but cheaper and quicker to build than massive utility-scale projects." www.canarymedia.com/articles/bat... 🔌💡
Small but mighty grid batteries take root in Virginia
As data centers strain the grid, developers turn to fast-to-build batteries to reduce reliance on inefficient gas plants and cut household bills.
www.canarymedia.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
@elizouzts.bsky.social on "a growing trend in the clean-energy transition: midsize energy-storage units that are bigger than the home batteries typically paired with rooftop solar, but cheaper and quicker to build than massive utility-scale projects." www.canarymedia.com/articles/bat... 🔌💡
"The problem for Elon Musk is not just his own cars and the Chinese carmakers. The problem for Elon Musk is also that the Europeans have caught up," Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the CAR think tank at the University of Duisburg-Essen, told @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/business/aut...
www.reuters.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"The problem for Elon Musk is not just his own cars and the Chinese carmakers. The problem for Elon Musk is also that the Europeans have caught up," Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the CAR think tank at the University of Duisburg-Essen, told @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/business/aut...
My latest at Quitting Carbon: I checked in with Teresa Cheng, California director at @industriouslabs.bsky.social, to talk about passage of AB 1280 and the race to decarbonize manufacturing in the Golden State: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/california-h... 🔌💡
California has a new plan to decarbonize industry
Quitting Carbon checked in with Teresa Cheng, California director at Industrious Labs, to talk about passage of AB 1280 and the race to decarbonize manufacturing in the Golden State.
www.quittingcarbonmedia.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My latest at Quitting Carbon: I checked in with Teresa Cheng, California director at @industriouslabs.bsky.social, to talk about passage of AB 1280 and the race to decarbonize manufacturing in the Golden State: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/california-h... 🔌💡
Reposted by Justin Gerdes
"Adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps collectively saved US households between $5.6 to $8.8 billion in 2023 alone."
"80% of users are satisfied with their heat pumps, and nearly 95% of EV owners are likely to consider purchasing another EV for their next vehicle."
"80% of users are satisfied with their heat pumps, and nearly 95% of EV owners are likely to consider purchasing another EV for their next vehicle."
New Brattle Report Finds Beneficial Electrification Delivers Billions in Savings to US Households Along with Significant Emissions Reductions - Brattle
Harnessing the benefits of electric technology over the last decade saved US households between $5.6 to $8.8 billion in 2023 alone and prevented more than
www.brattle.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
"Adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps collectively saved US households between $5.6 to $8.8 billion in 2023 alone."
"80% of users are satisfied with their heat pumps, and nearly 95% of EV owners are likely to consider purchasing another EV for their next vehicle."
"80% of users are satisfied with their heat pumps, and nearly 95% of EV owners are likely to consider purchasing another EV for their next vehicle."
"South Australia’s growing fleet of big batteries has hit a stunning new milestone – grabbing a world-leading 40% share of instantaneous demand in the evening peak on Tuesday in Australia’s most advanced renewable grid," reports @gilesparkinson.bsky.social: reneweconomy.com.au/big-batterie... 🔌💡
reneweconomy.com.au
November 26, 2025 at 4:57 AM
"South Australia’s growing fleet of big batteries has hit a stunning new milestone – grabbing a world-leading 40% share of instantaneous demand in the evening peak on Tuesday in Australia’s most advanced renewable grid," reports @gilesparkinson.bsky.social: reneweconomy.com.au/big-batterie... 🔌💡
"A big bipartisan permitting reform deal may be in the offing in Washington. But getting it done will require taking away one of Donald Trump’s favorite toys: The power to mess with solar and wind permits," reports @jael.bsky.social: heatmap.news/politics/per... 🔌💡
Trump Is the Biggest Wild Card in Permitting Reform
Congress is motivated to pass a bipartisan deal, but Democrats are demanding limits on executive power.
heatmap.news
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 AM
"A big bipartisan permitting reform deal may be in the offing in Washington. But getting it done will require taking away one of Donald Trump’s favorite toys: The power to mess with solar and wind permits," reports @jael.bsky.social: heatmap.news/politics/per... 🔌💡
"Unfortunately, a decade into the revelations of how social media is poisoning us, government and the social media platforms are actually unwinding the very few safeguards they’ve ever put into place," writes @vermontgmg.bsky.social: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-very-b...
November 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
"Unfortunately, a decade into the revelations of how social media is poisoning us, government and the social media platforms are actually unwinding the very few safeguards they’ve ever put into place," writes @vermontgmg.bsky.social: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-very-b...
@schiff.senate.gov is "crafting first-of-its-kind data center legislation aimed at protecting consumers and the electric grid from the energy demands of artificial intelligence," reports Nico Portuondo: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene... 🔌💡
E&E News: Schiff eyes bill to guard against data center impacts
The California senator wants to rein in Big Tech’s power-hungry data-center boom with new safeguards.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:17 AM
@schiff.senate.gov is "crafting first-of-its-kind data center legislation aimed at protecting consumers and the electric grid from the energy demands of artificial intelligence," reports Nico Portuondo: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene... 🔌💡
"This week, five of the region’s states launched a $450 million effort to warm more of the homes in the often-frigid region with energy-efficient, low-emission heat pumps instead by burning fossil fuels," reports Sarah Shemkus: www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea... 🔌💡
New England kicks off $450M plan to supercharge heat pump adoption
The program aims to use federal funds awarded under the Biden administration to deploy more than 500,000 heat pumps in the chilly region over the next few…
www.canarymedia.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
"This week, five of the region’s states launched a $450 million effort to warm more of the homes in the often-frigid region with energy-efficient, low-emission heat pumps instead by burning fossil fuels," reports Sarah Shemkus: www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea... 🔌💡
An in-depth analysis of all the key outcomes at COP30 in Belém from the team at @carbonbrief.org: www.carbonbrief.org/cop30-key-ou... #ClimateSky
COP30: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Belém - Carbon Brief
A voluntary plan to curb fossil fuels, a goal to triple adaptation finance and new...
www.carbonbrief.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM
An in-depth analysis of all the key outcomes at COP30 in Belém from the team at @carbonbrief.org: www.carbonbrief.org/cop30-key-ou... #ClimateSky
"Soaring electricity prices are triggering a wave of power shutoffs nationwide, leaving more Americans in the dark as unpaid bills pile up," reports @abha-b.bsky.social: wapo.st/3Xb0mXI 🔌💡
More Americans are getting their power shut off, as unpaid bills pile up
Average electricity costs have risen 11 percent since January, more than three times the rate of inflation.
wapo.st
November 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
"Soaring electricity prices are triggering a wave of power shutoffs nationwide, leaving more Americans in the dark as unpaid bills pile up," reports @abha-b.bsky.social: wapo.st/3Xb0mXI 🔌💡
Wyoming and Basin Electric recently took a step toward building the first new coal-fired power plant in the U.S. more than a decade: cowboystatedaily.com/2025/10/27/w... via @davidcsdreporter.bsky.social h/t @alexckaufman.bsky.social 🔌💡
Wyoming, Basin Electric Take Step Toward First New Coal Plant In Over A Decade
Wyoming and Basin Electric took a step Monday toward building the first new coal-fired power plant in more than a decade. Adding a second unit to the Dry…
cowboystatedaily.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Wyoming and Basin Electric recently took a step toward building the first new coal-fired power plant in the U.S. more than a decade: cowboystatedaily.com/2025/10/27/w... via @davidcsdreporter.bsky.social h/t @alexckaufman.bsky.social 🔌💡
Reposted by Justin Gerdes
My latest at Quitting Carbon: Electrification programs advance in California and New York City, research roundup, and more highlights from what I've been reading: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... 🔌💡
What I’m reading: Electrification programs advance in California and New York City, research roundup, and more
Quitting Carbon is a 100% subscriber-funded publication. To support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation.
Welcome back to another recap of highlights from...
www.quittingcarbonmedia.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:03 AM
My latest at Quitting Carbon: Electrification programs advance in California and New York City, research roundup, and more highlights from what I've been reading: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... 🔌💡
EIA: Between January and August 2025, utility-scale solar generation in California totaled 40.3 BkWh, nearly double the 22.0 BkWh over the same period in 2020. Meanwhile, natural gas supplied 45.5 BkWh of electricity, 18% less than during the same period in 2020: www.eia.gov/todayinenerg... 🔌💡
November 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM
EIA: Between January and August 2025, utility-scale solar generation in California totaled 40.3 BkWh, nearly double the 22.0 BkWh over the same period in 2020. Meanwhile, natural gas supplied 45.5 BkWh of electricity, 18% less than during the same period in 2020: www.eia.gov/todayinenerg... 🔌💡
"The cost of running coal plants rose 28 percent from 2021 to 2024, nearly double the rate of inflation over that time, forcing consumers to pay $6 billion in unnecessary energy bills," writes @energyinnovation.org's @silviomarcacci.bsky.social: thepowerline.substack.com/p/coals-not-... 🔌💡
Coal’s Not Coming Back
19th century technology can’t compete economically with 21st century clean energy
thepowerline.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 AM
"The cost of running coal plants rose 28 percent from 2021 to 2024, nearly double the rate of inflation over that time, forcing consumers to pay $6 billion in unnecessary energy bills," writes @energyinnovation.org's @silviomarcacci.bsky.social: thepowerline.substack.com/p/coals-not-... 🔌💡
"This was the week from hell for environmental policy in the United States,” Vermont Law and Graduate School's Pat Parenteau told @maxinejoselow.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:58 AM
"This was the week from hell for environmental policy in the United States,” Vermont Law and Graduate School's Pat Parenteau told @maxinejoselow.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
Weekend reading: Electrification programs advance in California and New York City, and noteworthy reports and studies you might have missed in a research roundup: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... via Quitting Carbon🔌💡
What I’m reading: Electrification programs advance in California and New York City, research roundup, and more
Quitting Carbon is a 100% subscriber-funded publication. To support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation.
Welcome back to another recap of highlights from...
www.quittingcarbonmedia.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Weekend reading: Electrification programs advance in California and New York City, and noteworthy reports and studies you might have missed in a research roundup: www.quittingcarbonmedia.com/what-im-read... via Quitting Carbon🔌💡
"What’s going to be more telling is when they have a new, updated mission of the Office of Electricity or a new, updated mission of the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.” - a source told @alexckaufman.bsky.social about DOE's new reorganization: heatmap.news/energy/depar... 🔌💡
11 Takeaways from the DOE’s Big Reorganization
Here’s what stood out to former agency staffers.
heatmap.news
November 22, 2025 at 12:56 AM
"What’s going to be more telling is when they have a new, updated mission of the Office of Electricity or a new, updated mission of the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.” - a source told @alexckaufman.bsky.social about DOE's new reorganization: heatmap.news/energy/depar... 🔌💡