Madalsa
@madalsa.org
Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology. I study and teach carbon-constrained energy systems. via Stanford, IIT Bombay. Views mine, many interests.
https://madalsa.org/
https://madalsa.org/
Pinned
Madalsa
@madalsa.org
· Nov 7
I'm hiring PhD students to start in Fall 2026!
Current research interests include energy affordability, integrating hyperscale demand in our electricity grids, and advancing sustainable mobility
Apply by Jan 15, 2026: www.rit.edu/study/sustai...
More info at madalsa.org
Current research interests include energy affordability, integrating hyperscale demand in our electricity grids, and advancing sustainable mobility
Apply by Jan 15, 2026: www.rit.edu/study/sustai...
More info at madalsa.org
Reposted by Madalsa
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
February 1, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
Reposted by Madalsa
Put another way, we could get rid of corn ethanol, switch 30% of the freed-up farmland to solar to generate 100% of US electricity, and use the other 70% of the freed-up land for whatever we want.
February 1, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Put another way, we could get rid of corn ethanol, switch 30% of the freed-up farmland to solar to generate 100% of US electricity, and use the other 70% of the freed-up land for whatever we want.
Reposted by Madalsa
To meet its current consumption levels with renewable energy, the United States would need the area equivalent to what’s currently used for maple syrup.
February 1, 2026 at 10:06 PM
To meet its current consumption levels with renewable energy, the United States would need the area equivalent to what’s currently used for maple syrup.
Reposted by Madalsa
Put a third way, growing corn for ethanol to move combustion vehicles around uses ~100 times more land than making solar electricity to move electric vehicles around.
February 1, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Put a third way, growing corn for ethanol to move combustion vehicles around uses ~100 times more land than making solar electricity to move electric vehicles around.
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
read this essay by rebecca solnit as you listen to the unreleased boards of canada ep (skeet below) and celebrate that connection, art, and sharing it is all we have
read this essay by rebecca solnit as you listen to the unreleased boards of canada ep (skeet below) and celebrate that connection, art, and sharing it is all we have
What technology takes from us – and how to take it back | Rebecca Solnit
The long read: Decisions outsourced, chatbots for friends, the natural world an afterthought: Silicon Valley is giving us life void of connection. There is a way out – but it’s going to take collectiv...
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:00 AM
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
read this essay by rebecca solnit as you listen to the unreleased boards of canada ep (skeet below) and celebrate that connection, art, and sharing it is all we have
read this essay by rebecca solnit as you listen to the unreleased boards of canada ep (skeet below) and celebrate that connection, art, and sharing it is all we have
i didnt think i could experience joy on the internets anymore
Someone in the Boards of Canada fandom paid thousands of dollars for the copies of rare, tape-only early 1990s tunes ("A Few Old Tunes") — and uploaded new high-quality rips of them today:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=k-e1...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=k-e1...
Boards of Canada - A Few Old Tunes (1996)
YouTube video by Sam
m.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:41 AM
i didnt think i could experience joy on the internets anymore
Reposted by Madalsa
Part 2: m.youtube.com/watch?v=qCM2...
Boards of Canada - Old Tunes Vol. 2
YouTube video by Sam
m.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Part 2: m.youtube.com/watch?v=qCM2...
New gas power plant -- behind the meter, only to service datacenter -- on the site of coal-fired power plant in Homer City PA, will generate 4.4 GW of power, as much as peak winter demand of Scotland.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
January 31, 2026 at 4:22 PM
New gas power plant -- behind the meter, only to service datacenter -- on the site of coal-fired power plant in Homer City PA, will generate 4.4 GW of power, as much as peak winter demand of Scotland.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Massachusetts's Electric Power Division is hiring for an energy analyst. Ratemaking + electrification + reliability. Super cool job!
www.mass.gov/alerts/the-e...
www.mass.gov/alerts/the-e...
www.mass.gov
January 31, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Massachusetts's Electric Power Division is hiring for an energy analyst. Ratemaking + electrification + reliability. Super cool job!
www.mass.gov/alerts/the-e...
www.mass.gov/alerts/the-e...
I’m not sure what’s happening at Anthropic but between picking fights with pentagon, Dario’s blog, and now publishing this result, I think they might be trying to position themselves as The Responsible AI developer.
Anyway sending this to my class.
Anyway sending this to my class.
The latest from Anthropic: using Anthropic's products makes you worse at your job
How AI assistance impacts the formation of coding skills
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
www.anthropic.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:05 AM
I’m not sure what’s happening at Anthropic but between picking fights with pentagon, Dario’s blog, and now publishing this result, I think they might be trying to position themselves as The Responsible AI developer.
Anyway sending this to my class.
Anyway sending this to my class.
Reposted by Madalsa
A new study from Anthropic finds that gains in coding efficiency when relying on AI assistance did did not meet statistical significance; AI use noticeably degraded programmers’ understanding of what they were doing. Incredible.
The latest from Anthropic: using Anthropic's products makes you worse at your job
How AI assistance impacts the formation of coding skills
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
www.anthropic.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:47 PM
A new study from Anthropic finds that gains in coding efficiency when relying on AI assistance did did not meet statistical significance; AI use noticeably degraded programmers’ understanding of what they were doing. Incredible.
i love this piece. It's creative in its question, brave in its attempt (an almost narrative essay in a science magazine? yes please!), and so, so well-written
New from @gruberte.bsky.social and I in @science.org: The energy transition is at risk, and energy models are missing the threat. Fossil energy networks from oil to coal to gas have minimum viable scales of operation, and those thresholds are closer than we think:
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
💡🔌
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
💡🔌
Fossil energy minimum viable scale
Unseen infrastructural threats to safety and decarbonization may arise as fossil energy systems are phased out
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:43 PM
i love this piece. It's creative in its question, brave in its attempt (an almost narrative essay in a science magazine? yes please!), and so, so well-written
Reposted by Madalsa
A strange but true finding about NYC congestion pricing:
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Congestion Pricing’s Unexpected Winners: Suburban Drivers
NYC’s controversial toll program hasn’t just sped up trips inside Manhattan, a new paper finds. It’s easing traffic in outer boroughs and neighboring counties.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 PM
A strange but true finding about NYC congestion pricing:
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Reposted by Madalsa
Stop Guessing, Start Planning.
Ever look at a single snow forecast and think, "But what are the actual odds?"
The Probabilistic Precipitation Portal is a resource to help you get ahead of the storm by moving beyond a single number to give you the full picture. www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/Prob_Precip/
👇
Ever look at a single snow forecast and think, "But what are the actual odds?"
The Probabilistic Precipitation Portal is a resource to help you get ahead of the storm by moving beyond a single number to give you the full picture. www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/Prob_Precip/
👇
NWS Probabilistic Precipitation Portal
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov
January 29, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Stop Guessing, Start Planning.
Ever look at a single snow forecast and think, "But what are the actual odds?"
The Probabilistic Precipitation Portal is a resource to help you get ahead of the storm by moving beyond a single number to give you the full picture. www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/Prob_Precip/
👇
Ever look at a single snow forecast and think, "But what are the actual odds?"
The Probabilistic Precipitation Portal is a resource to help you get ahead of the storm by moving beyond a single number to give you the full picture. www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/Prob_Precip/
👇
Reposted by Madalsa
Current* conditions near Hamilton, ON:
January 29, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Current* conditions near Hamilton, ON:
Reposted by Madalsa
This is notable to me because I've heard from some other lawyers that they're not worried about AI hallucinations because they only use the premium Westlaw or Lexis versions. Supposedly, they are limited to the real case databases
This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations
This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations
January 28, 2026 at 5:54 PM
This is notable to me because I've heard from some other lawyers that they're not worried about AI hallucinations because they only use the premium Westlaw or Lexis versions. Supposedly, they are limited to the real case databases
This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations
This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations
17%-33% hallucinations in premium law databases. That's a massive number.
It's once again time to trot out this research that shows Lexis and Westlaw still hallucinate case law 17% - 33% of the time.
dho.stanford.edu/wp-content/u...
dho.stanford.edu/wp-content/u...
January 28, 2026 at 7:19 PM
17%-33% hallucinations in premium law databases. That's a massive number.
Reposted by Madalsa
We’re getting so many journal submissions from people who think ‘it kinda works’ is the standard to aim for.
1. The thing about science that these jokers don't understand is that science cannot be vibe-coded.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
“The idea is to put ChatGPT front and center inside software that scientists use to write up their work in much the same way that chatbots are now embedded into popular programming editors.
It’s vibe coding, but for science.”
It’s vibe coding, but for science.”
January 28, 2026 at 5:58 AM
We’re getting so many journal submissions from people who think ‘it kinda works’ is the standard to aim for.
Reposted by Madalsa
As the world quickly approaches 1.5C, researchers have a call in Nature to rethink the utility of temperature targets – and to potentially replace them with more actionable and precise targets around clean energy:
As we breach 1.5 °C, we must replace temperature limits with clean-energy targets
Nature - Actionable goals are needed to guide the world towards what needs to happen most quickly: shifting economies to clean energy sources.
www.nature.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:14 PM
As the world quickly approaches 1.5C, researchers have a call in Nature to rethink the utility of temperature targets – and to potentially replace them with more actionable and precise targets around clean energy:
Reposted by Madalsa
66% of recent increases in UK energy bills has come from wholesale gas prices, say @ukerc.bsky.social - 17% from grid charges, 13% from extra policy costs
Despite gas accounting for 1/3 of generation, its price drives cost of electricity up to 90% of the time
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Despite gas accounting for 1/3 of generation, its price drives cost of electricity up to 90% of the time
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Wholesale gas costs blamed for rises in household energy bills
Energy prices have eased since the height of the energy crisis in 2022-23 but pressure is still on the Government to tackle high bills
www.independent.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 9:04 AM
66% of recent increases in UK energy bills has come from wholesale gas prices, say @ukerc.bsky.social - 17% from grid charges, 13% from extra policy costs
Despite gas accounting for 1/3 of generation, its price drives cost of electricity up to 90% of the time
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Despite gas accounting for 1/3 of generation, its price drives cost of electricity up to 90% of the time
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Madalsa
On the theme of, "American planners regulate the wrong things," we should have much stricter regulations on noise-proofing apartments. It's the sort of issue regulation is meant to handle: it's difficult for most consumer to assess it before making a decision, and it really impacts qualify of life.
4-plex going up a few blocks from me. Gonna see about getting a showing when it's done. If we can see 2 adjacent units at the same time I'll bring a lil Bluetooth speaker to test the acoustic performance between units.
There aren't offset studs between units, so I figure it will perform poorly.
There aren't offset studs between units, so I figure it will perform poorly.
December 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM
On the theme of, "American planners regulate the wrong things," we should have much stricter regulations on noise-proofing apartments. It's the sort of issue regulation is meant to handle: it's difficult for most consumer to assess it before making a decision, and it really impacts qualify of life.
Reposted by Madalsa
Yes, EU CBAM pushing Indian steel producers toward greener production processes.
I only wish people would stop referring to #CBAM as a tariff. Tariffs treat foreign and domestic producers differently, while a CBAM levels the playing field. More like a VAT.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/gre...
I only wish people would stop referring to #CBAM as a tariff. Tariffs treat foreign and domestic producers differently, while a CBAM levels the playing field. More like a VAT.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/gre...
New EU carbon tariff pushes India toward green steel
Europe’s pioneering tax on polluting imports presents India’s coal-reliant steelmakers with a choice: Decarbonize or risk losing customers.
www.canarymedia.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Yes, EU CBAM pushing Indian steel producers toward greener production processes.
I only wish people would stop referring to #CBAM as a tariff. Tariffs treat foreign and domestic producers differently, while a CBAM levels the playing field. More like a VAT.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/gre...
I only wish people would stop referring to #CBAM as a tariff. Tariffs treat foreign and domestic producers differently, while a CBAM levels the playing field. More like a VAT.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/gre...
Weird company to have, but yes. The yearly tradition in my civics class was to watch the parade -- especially fun after they added the K9 elite dog unit -- and then read the fundamental rights and duties section of the Indian Constitution. Knowing Habeas Corpus in grade 6 is a good thing.
India, North Korea, China and France -- really the only countries that can put together a military parade worth having. The camels are a fantastic touch.
Long live India.
Long live the friendship between Europe and India.
🇪🇺🇮🇳
Long live the friendship between Europe and India.
🇪🇺🇮🇳
January 26, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Weird company to have, but yes. The yearly tradition in my civics class was to watch the parade -- especially fun after they added the K9 elite dog unit -- and then read the fundamental rights and duties section of the Indian Constitution. Knowing Habeas Corpus in grade 6 is a good thing.
"Rochester is a clear leader. The city plows all 878 miles of sidewalks whenever it snows four inches or more. The Democrat and Chronicle reports that the city farms the job out to private contractors, many of whom are farmers, whose work is at a lull during the winter months."
Reminder that some US cities have teams clearing sidewalks -- not just roads -- when a major snowstorm strikes. Yours could, too.
More Cities Are Taking Responsibility for Clearing Sidewalks of Snow — Streetsblog USA
Rochester, Burlington, Minneapolis, Duluth and Syracuse have either started clearing sidewalks or are moving in that direction.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 26, 2026 at 4:04 AM
"Rochester is a clear leader. The city plows all 878 miles of sidewalks whenever it snows four inches or more. The Democrat and Chronicle reports that the city farms the job out to private contractors, many of whom are farmers, whose work is at a lull during the winter months."
Reposted by Madalsa
Snow is nature's urban planner: It can show us what parts of the roadway drivers don't use — and what can be reclaimed for pedestrians.
Post your photos and videos of all the #sneckdowns you see and tag us and @mayor.nyc.gov so today's winter wonderland can inspire better streets year-round!
Post your photos and videos of all the #sneckdowns you see and tag us and @mayor.nyc.gov so today's winter wonderland can inspire better streets year-round!
January 25, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Snow is nature's urban planner: It can show us what parts of the roadway drivers don't use — and what can be reclaimed for pedestrians.
Post your photos and videos of all the #sneckdowns you see and tag us and @mayor.nyc.gov so today's winter wonderland can inspire better streets year-round!
Post your photos and videos of all the #sneckdowns you see and tag us and @mayor.nyc.gov so today's winter wonderland can inspire better streets year-round!