Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Saad Asad

@realsaadasad.bsky.social

860 followers 1.4K following 870 posts

Comms @cayimby.bsky.social. Advocacy at YIMBY Dems of SD. Previously Product Marketing @ U.S. Digital Response. Tweets on housing, climate change, and San Diego/California politics

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 28m

America invented nuclear power and solar panels but China now exports clean energy tech to developing countries at 9-to-1.

That means fewer choices, supply chain risks, and one government controlling who gets affordable energy.

We need export banks that can compete.

Powering the Future

Powering the Future makes the economic, geopolitical, and climate case for a stronger government role in commercial diplomacy, international investment, and export strategy. The report identifies…

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 2h

Your phone, car, and house all need copper. Demand is doubling but America takes decades to approve new mines while China controls most processing.

Result: higher prices for you, fewer jobs here, more dependence on China.

Fix the red tape!

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 16h

Housing policy is climate policy.

🔗 : buff.ly/iHHPFub

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 19h

San Diego's $3.8B Terminal 1 cuts carbon 30% through smart design—steel bracing saved $58M while reducing emissions. Underground fuel systems replace trucks, drought plants save 38K gallons monthly.

San Diego International Airport's new Terminal 1 has sustainable features that cut carbon emissions by 30%

Cara Nager, the manager of environmental programs at the airport, explained the significant impact of certain design choices.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

SD County averages 130 excess deaths yearly from wildfire smoke, despite low exposure compared to other CA counties.

Stanford study projects 480-590 deaths/year by 2050 under climate warming scenarios.

Researchers link wildfire smoke to hundreds of excess deaths each year in San Diego County by 2050

California could see 4,500 more deaths a year than today and San Diego County could see hundreds more deaths each year.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

MSNBC?? I thought I was just on local nbc

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks to all who came out to the SB 79 Victory Party today! We couldn't have passed SB 79 without local grassroots across the state.

Thank you to @bikesd.bsky.social for hosting!

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

CA universities face $17B maintenance backlog, housing shortage. AB 48 proposes voter bond for fixes + dorms.

Question: why did maintenance get deferred? Bond shifts cost to taxpayers when universities have revenue capacity.

Does another education bond stand a chance with voters? California colleges hope so

California lawmakers consider a state proposition to fund billions in building projects and student housing for colleges and universities.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

CA auctioned geothermal drilling rights for first time in decade - all 13 parcels got bids. Unlike solar/wind, geothermal works 24/7. New drilling tech makes it less risky.

Could solve the 'what happens when sun doesn't shine' clean energy problem.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

Indigenous farmers in San Diego bring traditional knowledge to climate solutions—like understanding soil health through generations of observation.

Modern science is finally catching up to what Native communities knew about land stewardship.

buff.ly/SGsa8dc

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

See you all tonight!

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 2d

Don't miss out on the San Diego celebration of SB 79 tomorrow, 6-8 pm at Coronado Brewing off Morena!

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 2d

Our @RepScottPeters pushes bill to restart Afghan refugee resettlement after Trump shut it down Day 1.

Thousands of vetted US military allies stranded in third countries despite prior approval.

Honoring promises to people who risked lives for America isn't partisan.

Scott Peters, allies push bill to restart Afghan refugee relocation

Among other requirements, the Enduring Welcome Act would require the State Department to reopen its office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, which was shuttered last month.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 2d

Don't miss out on the San Diego celebration of SB 79 tomorrow, 6-8 pm at Coronado Brewing off Morena!

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 3d

Aviation tax could fund climate programs but tourism groups claim it would devastate poor countries.

Turns out tourism losses equal just 0.05% of tax revenue—making compensation easy and cheap.

Mitigating tourism impacts from a global aviation levy – Climate finance and emissions pricing — Opportunity Green

A global aviation fuel levy or GHG emissions pricing could cut emissions and raise billions for climate action. Our research shows tourism impacts on vulnerable countries are less than 0.05% of…

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 3d

Trump climate report claims CO2 helps plants grow, ignoring heat and drought that kill them. Climate scientists file detailed rebuttal with dozens of studies showing net negative effects.

Government science shouldn't cherry-pick studies to support predetermined conclusions

CATF Comments on 2025 DOE Climate Science Report

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 3d

Climate needs massive CO2 removal—think giant vacuum cleaners for the sky. Right now, a few big companies fund the whole industry by buying carbon credits.

If Amazon or Microsoft change their minds, entire carbon removal sector could collapse tomorrow.

Voluntary carbon market support for policy-focused learning — Carbon Removal Standards Initiative

What the VCM can do for carbon removal policy

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 3d

California's power demand is surging from data centers and electrification, but geothermal development faces regulatory bottlenecks.

CATF recommends streamlined permits and statewide planning to unlock 24/7 clean power that complements solar and wind.

Five ways to streamline geothermal deployment in California

California has enormous geothermal potential and a strong clean energy policy foundation, but progress is being held back.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 3d

Santee finally finished its 30-year conservation plan: 2,263 acres protected, 2,600 available for development.

Fanita Ranch's 3,000 homes will test whether this balance actually works or just creates expensive sprawl in fire zones.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 4d

Federal court will decide if ICE can arrest people at churches and mosques.

Police chiefs and prosecutors warn this breaks community trust needed to solve crimes.

buff.ly/OP9c6G3

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 4d

96K San Diegans face food aid cuts under new Trump work rules. County launching info campaign to help vulnerable residents navigate changes.

San Diego County launches info campaign ahead of planned food benefit cuts

County officials say 96,000 county residents could lose their CalFresh benefits under the new "One Big Beautiful Bill" rules.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 4d

Not sure who of these folks have BlueSky accounts so apologies for not tagging, but thank you San Diegans for supporting more housing!

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you all for your work on SB 79!

Honored to have played a role in allowing more housing near transit to tackle housing affordability, climate-warming pollution, and the sustainability of our transit systems.

Special thanks to San Diegans 1/2

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 5d

China loaned Brazil $60 billion for energy projects since 2015; U.S. agencies invested $472 million.

That 100-to-1 gap means China shapes Brazil's grid, owns 12% of its power system, and gains diplomatic leverage.

U.S. export banks need more funding and flexibility to compete.

Energy Financing Power: America vs China - A Case Study in Brazil

China has emerged as the dominant energy financier, outpacing U.S. ten-to-one in global markets and establishing itself as a partner in key nations like Brazil.

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 5d

Trump cut park staff to save money, but parks are now losing millions in entrance fees because there's no one to collect them. Meanwhile, rescue response times doubled.

You can't always cut your way to efficiency.

Trump Shrank Staffing of National Parks. See How Many Are Struggling.

Amid deep cuts, more than 90 parks have reported problems like lost revenue and cuts to emergency services. One expert called this “a dangerous path.”

Reposted by Saad Asad

Senator Scott Wiener @scottwiener.bsky.social · 5d

MAJOR NEWS: @GavinNewsom signed SB 79, my bill allowing more housing near public transit — rail, subway, rapid bus.

It’s a huge step for housing in California. It’ll create more homes, strengthen our transit systems & reduce traffic & carbon emissions.

Thank you, Governor!