sampenrose.bsky.social
@sampenrose.bsky.social
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
The Father Coughlin story is interesting because of parallels to the modern era. Wildly popular charismatic figure (30M listeners at peak when US had ~120M ppl). Private broadcasters tried to fact-check, pre-clear speeches, ban him while fans protested the censorship. FDR tried to stay out of it.
There’s no daylight between what Candace says here about “the Jews” & what Nazi propagandists & Father Coughlin said about the Jews in the 1930s. Her show is one of the top 5 “conservative” podcasts in the US. She has 5.5 million subscribers on YouTube and 7.3 million followers on X.
November 8, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The Father Coughlin story is interesting because of parallels to the modern era. Wildly popular charismatic figure (30M listeners at peak when US had ~120M ppl). Private broadcasters tried to fact-check, pre-clear speeches, ban him while fans protested the censorship. FDR tried to stay out of it.
Disappointing to see BSky filling up with this motivated reasoning. “Most of the electorate” *did not vote* in yesterday’s off-cycle election! The low-information voters who gave the GOP a sweep in 24 won’t be back until 28.
I do think yesterday’s results reinforced the dynamic that while much of the American leadership class is chickenshit, most of the electorate is not
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Disappointing to see BSky filling up with this motivated reasoning. “Most of the electorate” *did not vote* in yesterday’s off-cycle election! The low-information voters who gave the GOP a sweep in 24 won’t be back until 28.
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
🔌💡 Really disturbing article – especially for those of us who think nuclear can be done safely & well, and could play an important role in a carbon-free grid. Politically-connected, regulator-undermining, safety-shortcutting development makes the whole industry untrustworthy, & could bring disaster.
Do not miss this stunning investigation that reveals how a Koch-funded machine and Silicon Valley's new found interest is behind the dangerous advanced nuclear hype in the US.
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The Risky Movement to Make America Nuclear Again
A Silicon Valley startup called Oklo is leading the charge to bring nuclear power back to the US with small reactors. Its backers have wealth and political connections that could undermine nuclear saf...
www.bloomberg.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:15 PM
🔌💡 Really disturbing article – especially for those of us who think nuclear can be done safely & well, and could play an important role in a carbon-free grid. Politically-connected, regulator-undermining, safety-shortcutting development makes the whole industry untrustworthy, & could bring disaster.
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Do not miss this stunning investigation that reveals how a Koch-funded machine and Silicon Valley's new found interest is behind the dangerous advanced nuclear hype in the US.
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The Risky Movement to Make America Nuclear Again
A Silicon Valley startup called Oklo is leading the charge to bring nuclear power back to the US with small reactors. Its backers have wealth and political connections that could undermine nuclear saf...
www.bloomberg.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Do not miss this stunning investigation that reveals how a Koch-funded machine and Silicon Valley's new found interest is behind the dangerous advanced nuclear hype in the US.
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
I always learn from Jenny’s annual discussion of solar. She leaves out the most important point IMHO: $0.09/w panels at TW/year are a global prosperity engine if used to produce goods and services. It’s worth taking a minute to wrap your head around this unprecedented abundance. 🧵
13. By 2030 most countries will have spot power prices of zero in sunny hours. This will be passed on to end consumers, to encourage them to shift power demand to sunny periods by electric vehicle and battery charging, preheating, precooling, etc.
October 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I always learn from Jenny’s annual discussion of solar. She leaves out the most important point IMHO: $0.09/w panels at TW/year are a global prosperity engine if used to produce goods and services. It’s worth taking a minute to wrap your head around this unprecedented abundance. 🧵
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Lots of excitement over SB 79—understandably. I would add, every single bill California YIMBY sent to the governor was signed today. www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/10/g...
October 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Lots of excitement over SB 79—understandably. I would add, every single bill California YIMBY sent to the governor was signed today. www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/10/g...
Ho hum, just a wild disruption coming to upend the political economy of energy that has defined American prosperity for the last century. Cute topic, leave it to industry journals.
Solar panels that can be assembled as easily as an Ikea bookcase and plugged into a regular residential outlet could be coming soon to New Hampshire and Vermont.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
Plug-in solar bills are in the works in New Hampshire and Vermont
DIY "balcony" solar kits, which can save residents money and give them more independence, are piquing interest from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
www.canarymedia.com
September 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Ho hum, just a wild disruption coming to upend the political economy of energy that has defined American prosperity for the last century. Cute topic, leave it to industry journals.
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
I would also note that nobody really knows, when they install a residential solar and battery system, what the economics are going to be. In the days of feed-in tariffs you had a good idea, but nowadays it really does depend on future power price structures.
September 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I would also note that nobody really knows, when they install a residential solar and battery system, what the economics are going to be. In the days of feed-in tariffs you had a good idea, but nowadays it really does depend on future power price structures.
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Here are 10 provocations on climate and energy. Tell me if you agree, disagree or have a nuanced take. Drop your own provocations in reply or quote post.
Start:
1. By 2030, the use of air conditioning will lead to greater increase in electricity demand than data centers. And it's not even close!
Start:
1. By 2030, the use of air conditioning will lead to greater increase in electricity demand than data centers. And it's not even close!
September 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Here are 10 provocations on climate and energy. Tell me if you agree, disagree or have a nuanced take. Drop your own provocations in reply or quote post.
Start:
1. By 2030, the use of air conditioning will lead to greater increase in electricity demand than data centers. And it's not even close!
Start:
1. By 2030, the use of air conditioning will lead to greater increase in electricity demand than data centers. And it's not even close!
"The most promising feature of BESS is that it adds value to every grid and every power source—with the exception, perhaps, of nuclear power which typically runs continuously about 95% of all the hours in a year." www.coldeye.earth/p/autumn-cha...
Autumn Chartbook
Monday 15 September 2025
www.coldeye.earth
September 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
"The most promising feature of BESS is that it adds value to every grid and every power source—with the exception, perhaps, of nuclear power which typically runs continuously about 95% of all the hours in a year." www.coldeye.earth/p/autumn-cha...
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Large minorities of the electorate have right-wing views on immigration and crime that mainstream politicians won't embrace, as a result voters back new parties or (in the US) outsider insurgents like Trump.
www.slowboring.com/p/a-boring-t...
www.slowboring.com/p/a-boring-t...
A boring theory of the populist right
A large minority of the public wants tougher policies on crime and immigration
www.slowboring.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Large minorities of the electorate have right-wing views on immigration and crime that mainstream politicians won't embrace, as a result voters back new parties or (in the US) outsider insurgents like Trump.
www.slowboring.com/p/a-boring-t...
www.slowboring.com/p/a-boring-t...
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
First time using ChatGPT5. It knew the concept from my book I asked it to write a few paragraphs about. Lovely nuanced prose. Knew the source.
Then asked if I wanted more info about the book…and hallucinated chapters that don’t exist. 🤷🏻♀️
Not being able to pick a model is a dealbreaker.
Then asked if I wanted more info about the book…and hallucinated chapters that don’t exist. 🤷🏻♀️
Not being able to pick a model is a dealbreaker.
August 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
First time using ChatGPT5. It knew the concept from my book I asked it to write a few paragraphs about. Lovely nuanced prose. Knew the source.
Then asked if I wanted more info about the book…and hallucinated chapters that don’t exist. 🤷🏻♀️
Not being able to pick a model is a dealbreaker.
Then asked if I wanted more info about the book…and hallucinated chapters that don’t exist. 🤷🏻♀️
Not being able to pick a model is a dealbreaker.
Both solar and lithium batteries are on exponential growth curves of about 30%, but most of the batteries are going into cars, with reduced availability for charging at solar peak. We need new ways to soak up TWh of solar, such as synfuels or thermal storage, ASAP.
Fascinating! I foresee that battery storage will strongly increase (which combined with strong battery price decreases means ~100x more batteries in the coming 10 years) and this will support solar+wind and reduce grid investments.
www.iea.org/reports/worl...
www.iea.org/reports/worl...
August 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Both solar and lithium batteries are on exponential growth curves of about 30%, but most of the batteries are going into cars, with reduced availability for charging at solar peak. We need new ways to soak up TWh of solar, such as synfuels or thermal storage, ASAP.
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
<<< Breaking! My latest for Bloomberg >>>
Why rumours of the death of the transition are exaggerated, and why it's time for a #PragmaticClimateReset.
Part I of a two-parter - my attempt to reframe the conversation about climate action, net zero and the transition.
about.bnef.com/insights/cle...
Why rumours of the death of the transition are exaggerated, and why it's time for a #PragmaticClimateReset.
Part I of a two-parter - my attempt to reframe the conversation about climate action, net zero and the transition.
about.bnef.com/insights/cle...
Liebreich: The Pragmatic Climate Reset - Part I | BloombergNEF
As the tide on clean energy turns, Michael Liebreich makes a strong case for a pragmatic climate reset.
about.bnef.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:18 PM
<<< Breaking! My latest for Bloomberg >>>
Why rumours of the death of the transition are exaggerated, and why it's time for a #PragmaticClimateReset.
Part I of a two-parter - my attempt to reframe the conversation about climate action, net zero and the transition.
about.bnef.com/insights/cle...
Why rumours of the death of the transition are exaggerated, and why it's time for a #PragmaticClimateReset.
Part I of a two-parter - my attempt to reframe the conversation about climate action, net zero and the transition.
about.bnef.com/insights/cle...
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
🔌💡 Smart, illuminating analysis in what's clearly going to be a good newsletter.
While coal use is declining in developed countries, its use is still growing globally. This is because, unfortunately, the economic structure in many developing countries strongly favors coal as a fuel source.
I discuss this in my recent post on The Forward Curve: open.substack.com/pub/nickfras...
I discuss this in my recent post on The Forward Curve: open.substack.com/pub/nickfras...
Why King Coal Rules In Developing Countries
This post is part of a series on coal use in developing countries.
open.substack.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:25 AM
🔌💡 Smart, illuminating analysis in what's clearly going to be a good newsletter.
In which Matt describes Bluesky
There’s a big gap on *values* (not facts) between scientific experts and the mass public, which is driving a lot of the crisis of confidence in institutions and expertise.
www.slowboring.com/p/the-crisis...
www.slowboring.com/p/the-crisis...
July 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
In which Matt describes Bluesky
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Given the non-deterministic nature of LLMs, maybe sheep dogs are a better analogy than a table saw! bsky.app/profile/simo...
That's entirely true: they are non-deterministic, which means you have to learn how to use them in a way that takes that into account
Sheepdogs are non-deterministic too, they're still invaluable tools for someone who learns how to work with them
Sheepdogs are non-deterministic too, they're still invaluable tools for someone who learns how to work with them
July 3, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Given the non-deterministic nature of LLMs, maybe sheep dogs are a better analogy than a table saw! bsky.app/profile/simo...
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
A truly historic day in California: a clean CEQA exemption for environmentally friendly infill housing has just passed the California legislature via the budget bill!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
July 1, 2025 at 12:32 AM
A truly historic day in California: a clean CEQA exemption for environmentally friendly infill housing has just passed the California legislature via the budget bill!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
I think "context engineering" is going to stick - unlike "prompt engineering" it has an inferred definition that's much closer to the intended meaning, which is to carefully and skillfully construct the right context to get great results from LLMs simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/27/...
Context engineering
The term context engineering has recently started to gain traction as a better alternative to prompt engineering. I like it. I think this one may have sticking power. Here's an …
simonwillison.net
June 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I think "context engineering" is going to stick - unlike "prompt engineering" it has an inferred definition that's much closer to the intended meaning, which is to carefully and skillfully construct the right context to get great results from LLMs simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/27/...
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
CM Kesarwani is making a motion! It would allow up to 70 units/acre, an effectiveness analysis report being triggered after 2 years or 25 projects, and a few other add-ons.
And folks, it's unanimous!
After more than 6 years, Berkeley has *finally* eliminated single-family only zoning!!!
And folks, it's unanimous!
After more than 6 years, Berkeley has *finally* eliminated single-family only zoning!!!
June 27, 2025 at 6:50 AM
CM Kesarwani is making a motion! It would allow up to 70 units/acre, an effectiveness analysis report being triggered after 2 years or 25 projects, and a few other add-ons.
And folks, it's unanimous!
After more than 6 years, Berkeley has *finally* eliminated single-family only zoning!!!
And folks, it's unanimous!
After more than 6 years, Berkeley has *finally* eliminated single-family only zoning!!!
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
So how is the global decarb project going in power? Not going well. It's now mid-decade, and total demand is still outdistancing growth of wind and solar, and unsurprisingly, the call on coal last year was huge: +152.29 TWh.
The discourse about peak emissions in power remains very, very wrong. 🔌 💡
The discourse about peak emissions in power remains very, very wrong. 🔌 💡
June 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
So how is the global decarb project going in power? Not going well. It's now mid-decade, and total demand is still outdistancing growth of wind and solar, and unsurprisingly, the call on coal last year was huge: +152.29 TWh.
The discourse about peak emissions in power remains very, very wrong. 🔌 💡
The discourse about peak emissions in power remains very, very wrong. 🔌 💡
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Just pounding the table harder isn’t political leadership … real leaders set priorities, exert discipline, acknowledge tradeoffs and try to make progress.
www.slowboring.com/p/what-true-...
www.slowboring.com/p/what-true-...
What true political leadership looks like
Sarah McBride's slow boring of hard boards
www.slowboring.com
June 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Just pounding the table harder isn’t political leadership … real leaders set priorities, exert discipline, acknowledge tradeoffs and try to make progress.
www.slowboring.com/p/what-true-...
www.slowboring.com/p/what-true-...
Excellent thread, if you swap a couple of key frames
1. Warming will go > 2C, b/c actual governments / people (vs CoP-IPCC / Bluesky climate crusaders) won't pay to abate it
2. Economic growth will continue
3. Electrification / solar-battery exponential boom will enrich lives, slow warming a bit
1. Warming will go > 2C, b/c actual governments / people (vs CoP-IPCC / Bluesky climate crusaders) won't pay to abate it
2. Economic growth will continue
3. Electrification / solar-battery exponential boom will enrich lives, slow warming a bit
In order to keep global warming below 1.5C or 2C, we need to move industrial activity to clean energy. This will MORE THAN DOUBLE our global need for electricity.
We are going to need a LOT more wind, solar, geothermal, and other clean electricity than most people are expecting.
⚡🧵
We are going to need a LOT more wind, solar, geothermal, and other clean electricity than most people are expecting.
⚡🧵
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Excellent thread, if you swap a couple of key frames
1. Warming will go > 2C, b/c actual governments / people (vs CoP-IPCC / Bluesky climate crusaders) won't pay to abate it
2. Economic growth will continue
3. Electrification / solar-battery exponential boom will enrich lives, slow warming a bit
1. Warming will go > 2C, b/c actual governments / people (vs CoP-IPCC / Bluesky climate crusaders) won't pay to abate it
2. Economic growth will continue
3. Electrification / solar-battery exponential boom will enrich lives, slow warming a bit
Multiple abject moral failures here: equating the commission of multiple felonies with political expression, celebrating tactics which strengthen the agenda they nominally oppose, and tarring a diverse and complex set of organizations and technologies with a single sweeping brush.
I spent some time at the site where protestors incinerated five Waymos—all lined up neatly in a row in downtown LA—and spoke to journalists, eyewitnesses and activists who were there.
This is how protestors weaponized Waymos and Lime scooters, and turned them into icons of the anti-ICE uprising
This is how protestors weaponized Waymos and Lime scooters, and turned them into icons of the anti-ICE uprising
The weaponization of Waymo
How protestors turned torched Waymos into icons of the anti-ICE demonstrations
www.bloodinthemachine.com
June 12, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Multiple abject moral failures here: equating the commission of multiple felonies with political expression, celebrating tactics which strengthen the agenda they nominally oppose, and tarring a diverse and complex set of organizations and technologies with a single sweeping brush.
Reposted by sampenrose.bsky.social
Fervo is actively building Phase 1, which will start producing electricity in January 2026. When completed, the 100 MW phase 1 will include ~24 wells drilled from three different well pads, which will supply three binary ORC power plants (each ~33 MW in size).
June 11, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Fervo is actively building Phase 1, which will start producing electricity in January 2026. When completed, the 100 MW phase 1 will include ~24 wells drilled from three different well pads, which will supply three binary ORC power plants (each ~33 MW in size).