Ben Kodres-O'Brien
@bkodres93.bsky.social
PhD Candidate — history of technology, electricity, political economy
b-reviews.substack.com
b-reviews.substack.com
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Must read
February 19, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Must read
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
So much GND talk presented a simple national choice about the fuel mix. Yet as @bkodres93.bsky.social’s extremely illuminating review of Sandeep Vaheesan’s new book shows, governing electric utilities in inseparable from local and regional power structures. www.phenomenalworld.org/reviews/demo...
Democratic Decarbonization? | Ben Kodres-O’Brien
Sandeep Vaheesan’s new book points the way toward a more just power grid
www.phenomenalworld.org
February 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
So much GND talk presented a simple national choice about the fuel mix. Yet as @bkodres93.bsky.social’s extremely illuminating review of Sandeep Vaheesan’s new book shows, governing electric utilities in inseparable from local and regional power structures. www.phenomenalworld.org/reviews/demo...
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
"The fact that Texas is now the overwhelming leader in the US renewables boom should at least give advocates of decarbonization through public power a lengthy pause."
NEW: @bkodres93.bsky.social reviews Sandeep Vaheesan's Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States
NEW: @bkodres93.bsky.social reviews Sandeep Vaheesan's Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States
Democratic Decarbonization? | Ben Kodres-O’Brien
Sandeep Vaheesan’s new book points the way toward a more just power grid
www.phenomenalworld.org
February 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
"The fact that Texas is now the overwhelming leader in the US renewables boom should at least give advocates of decarbonization through public power a lengthy pause."
NEW: @bkodres93.bsky.social reviews Sandeep Vaheesan's Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States
NEW: @bkodres93.bsky.social reviews Sandeep Vaheesan's Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States
I wrote a long (and laudatory) review of Sandeep Vaheesan's excellent book on the history of democratic struggle over the US electricity system. Published at @phenomenalworld.bsky.social. A big acknowledgement goes to @andrewelrod.bsky.social for helping the piece along.
Democratic Decarbonization? | Ben Kodres-O’Brien
Sandeep Vaheesan’s new book points the way toward a more just power grid
www.phenomenalworld.org
February 18, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I wrote a long (and laudatory) review of Sandeep Vaheesan's excellent book on the history of democratic struggle over the US electricity system. Published at @phenomenalworld.bsky.social. A big acknowledgement goes to @andrewelrod.bsky.social for helping the piece along.
For all of the focus on TVA's efforts to bring cheap power to rural and domestic consumers, before (and during, and after) WWII, the vast majority of TVA's power went to industry at even lower rates. Much that went to municipalities was also industrial load (e.g. 50% in Tulepo).
December 31, 2024 at 5:01 PM
For all of the focus on TVA's efforts to bring cheap power to rural and domestic consumers, before (and during, and after) WWII, the vast majority of TVA's power went to industry at even lower rates. Much that went to municipalities was also industrial load (e.g. 50% in Tulepo).
I find it infinitely more clarifying and more helpful to know what someone thinks is exogenous than endogenous.
December 27, 2024 at 3:43 PM
I find it infinitely more clarifying and more helpful to know what someone thinks is exogenous than endogenous.
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Low electricity prices are a prerequisite for high levels of electrification.
There are no high electrification regions with high electricity prices.
Great chart from
@rockymtninst.bsky.social
There are no high electrification regions with high electricity prices.
Great chart from
@rockymtninst.bsky.social
December 20, 2024 at 9:53 AM
Low electricity prices are a prerequisite for high levels of electrification.
There are no high electrification regions with high electricity prices.
Great chart from
@rockymtninst.bsky.social
There are no high electrification regions with high electricity prices.
Great chart from
@rockymtninst.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
"Skepticism over electricity demand forecasts is warranted. For decades, utilities and grid operators have over-forecast load as the industry has underestimated the impacts of energy efficiency improvements and shifts in industrial activity that pushed power demand below expectations."
December 17, 2024 at 4:08 PM
"Skepticism over electricity demand forecasts is warranted. For decades, utilities and grid operators have over-forecast load as the industry has underestimated the impacts of energy efficiency improvements and shifts in industrial activity that pushed power demand below expectations."
A syllabus for US Energy History (made fr job apps). Leans towards political and economic history—and electricity—w/ far too much reading. H/t to @arielron.bsky.social, amongst others.
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
December 17, 2024 at 4:25 PM
A syllabus for US Energy History (made fr job apps). Leans towards political and economic history—and electricity—w/ far too much reading. H/t to @arielron.bsky.social, amongst others.
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
breviews.substack.com/p/us-energy-...
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
good episode highlighting how geothermal energy is "picking up steam"--if state govts want to speed up geothermal deployment, they need to finance projects in the breach *between* the initial VC equity stage and the hoped-for future institutional investor debt stage
1/3
1/3
December 16, 2024 at 1:39 PM
good episode highlighting how geothermal energy is "picking up steam"--if state govts want to speed up geothermal deployment, they need to finance projects in the breach *between* the initial VC equity stage and the hoped-for future institutional investor debt stage
1/3
1/3
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Books on this spring’s Energy and the Environment class. #ItsOnTheSyllabus ☀️🔌💡🌎
December 14, 2024 at 5:20 AM
Books on this spring’s Energy and the Environment class. #ItsOnTheSyllabus ☀️🔌💡🌎
It is one thing to write this statement, and quite another thing to quote from it as history.
The last para of Jon Levy's forthcoming "The Real Economy," from @princetonupress.bsky.social is a BANGER, speaking of the 1890s and academic freedom. Worth mentioning that Levy is at UChicago himself:
December 12, 2024 at 3:11 PM
It is one thing to write this statement, and quite another thing to quote from it as history.
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Addressing the sheer cost of healthcare services should be a #1 priority for lawmakers.
December 12, 2024 at 2:52 PM
Addressing the sheer cost of healthcare services should be a #1 priority for lawmakers.
"Resentment for Thompson was widespread at the company, the employee said ...
This story is yet another example of how ill suited the major media is in reporting important truths when norms and conventions get in the way ..."
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/unitedheal...
This story is yet another example of how ill suited the major media is in reporting important truths when norms and conventions get in the way ..."
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/unitedheal...
UnitedHealthcare Tells Employees to 'Shut Up'
Accusations against slain CEO Brian Thompson are part of the story. Media should cover it.
www.kenklippenstein.com
December 11, 2024 at 3:10 PM
"Resentment for Thompson was widespread at the company, the employee said ...
This story is yet another example of how ill suited the major media is in reporting important truths when norms and conventions get in the way ..."
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/unitedheal...
This story is yet another example of how ill suited the major media is in reporting important truths when norms and conventions get in the way ..."
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/unitedheal...
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
I’ve been waiting for someone to do this study. We finally have a cross sectoral estimate of the discount rate on carbon offsets — an astonishing 84%. It’s time to admit that the offset market is a total failure.
Of one-fifth of the carbon credit volume issued to date, almost 1 billion tons of CO2e, less than 16% of the carbon credits issued to the investigated projects were estimated to constitute real emission reductions. 🤡
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
December 10, 2024 at 3:02 AM
I’ve been waiting for someone to do this study. We finally have a cross sectoral estimate of the discount rate on carbon offsets — an astonishing 84%. It’s time to admit that the offset market is a total failure.
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Of one-fifth of the carbon credit volume issued to date, almost 1 billion tons of CO2e, less than 16% of the carbon credits issued to the investigated projects were estimated to constitute real emission reductions. 🤡
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
December 10, 2024 at 2:11 AM
Of one-fifth of the carbon credit volume issued to date, almost 1 billion tons of CO2e, less than 16% of the carbon credits issued to the investigated projects were estimated to constitute real emission reductions. 🤡
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Two utility/transmission law developments:
1. FERC rejected the utilities' attempted coup in PJM. The utilities tried to rewrite their deal with PJM to give themselves more authority over transmission development.
2. A fed ct granted an injunction about Indiana's anti-competition transmission law.
1. FERC rejected the utilities' attempted coup in PJM. The utilities tried to rewrite their deal with PJM to give themselves more authority over transmission development.
2. A fed ct granted an injunction about Indiana's anti-competition transmission law.
December 8, 2024 at 9:43 PM
Two utility/transmission law developments:
1. FERC rejected the utilities' attempted coup in PJM. The utilities tried to rewrite their deal with PJM to give themselves more authority over transmission development.
2. A fed ct granted an injunction about Indiana's anti-competition transmission law.
1. FERC rejected the utilities' attempted coup in PJM. The utilities tried to rewrite their deal with PJM to give themselves more authority over transmission development.
2. A fed ct granted an injunction about Indiana's anti-competition transmission law.
And Ford is at this point basically a truck company.
BYD is a juggernaut. They’re an elite auto manufacturer and will do more for the industry on a global scale than we want to admit.
Chart via @nickvanosdol.bsky.social Ford and BYD annual vehicle sales. And if you’re not reading Nick’s newsletter, you should! It’s very good. www.keepcool.co
November 30, 2024 at 5:08 AM
And Ford is at this point basically a truck company.
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
It was a lot longer than a decade. China's 10th five year plan, introduced in *2001*, laid the groundwork for the EV transition. When I lived in Shenzhen, in 2009, the local government had already begun making the bus fleet electric-only. In 5 years they replaced them all - 16,000 in total.
Key point is that China has been investing in EVs for over a decade to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
No country wants to be dependent on imports for key energy or security needs. And that's a big reason why it is unlikely that projections of high LNG demand growth in Asia will be realized.
No country wants to be dependent on imports for key energy or security needs. And that's a big reason why it is unlikely that projections of high LNG demand growth in Asia will be realized.
Incredible stuff: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 30, 2024 at 1:07 AM
It was a lot longer than a decade. China's 10th five year plan, introduced in *2001*, laid the groundwork for the EV transition. When I lived in Shenzhen, in 2009, the local government had already begun making the bus fleet electric-only. In 5 years they replaced them all - 16,000 in total.
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Key point is that China has been investing in EVs for over a decade to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
No country wants to be dependent on imports for key energy or security needs. And that's a big reason why it is unlikely that projections of high LNG demand growth in Asia will be realized.
No country wants to be dependent on imports for key energy or security needs. And that's a big reason why it is unlikely that projections of high LNG demand growth in Asia will be realized.
November 30, 2024 at 12:44 AM
Key point is that China has been investing in EVs for over a decade to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
No country wants to be dependent on imports for key energy or security needs. And that's a big reason why it is unlikely that projections of high LNG demand growth in Asia will be realized.
No country wants to be dependent on imports for key energy or security needs. And that's a big reason why it is unlikely that projections of high LNG demand growth in Asia will be realized.
Mass. new law DOES NOT pay people to sue the gov’t if they don’t like a new clean energy project, as the YIMBYs have been claiming. In reality, it likely speeds up the process while at the same time including more voices. Pretty good, all things considered!
Most of that conversation was based on a misconception that the new law would pay people to sue the government when the statute in fact explicitly prohibits that use of funds and limits trust fund $ to fund participation in the state facility siting board process. Here is the statute.
November 27, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Mass. new law DOES NOT pay people to sue the gov’t if they don’t like a new clean energy project, as the YIMBYs have been claiming. In reality, it likely speeds up the process while at the same time including more voices. Pretty good, all things considered!
Reposted by Ben Kodres-O'Brien
Massachusetts passed a big clean energy law on Nov 14th. Lots of great stuff! @canarymedia.com has details www.canarymedia.com/articles/pol...
A quick summary of highlights... 🧵
🔌💡
A quick summary of highlights... 🧵
🔌💡
Massachusetts passes bill to speed clean energy and slow gas expansion
The long-awaited legislation comes as advocates say more state-level climate policy is needed. Governor Maura Healey is expected to sign it into law.
www.canarymedia.com
November 27, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Massachusetts passed a big clean energy law on Nov 14th. Lots of great stuff! @canarymedia.com has details www.canarymedia.com/articles/pol...
A quick summary of highlights... 🧵
🔌💡
A quick summary of highlights... 🧵
🔌💡
“the Hokkaido Electric Power Network (HEPCO Network) is deploying flow batteries, an emerging kind of battery that stores energy in hulking tanks of metallic liquid.
…
China and Russia dominate the market for vanadium, the metal that makes flow batteries durable and easy to maintain.”
These batteries could harness the wind and sun to replace coal and gas
Utilities are building massive batteries to store renewable energy and replace polluting fossil fuel power plants.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 27, 2024 at 2:18 PM
“the Hokkaido Electric Power Network (HEPCO Network) is deploying flow batteries, an emerging kind of battery that stores energy in hulking tanks of metallic liquid.
…
China and Russia dominate the market for vanadium, the metal that makes flow batteries durable and easy to maintain.”
Helpful “class” analysis of the US election
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
November 27, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Helpful “class” analysis of the US election
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...
“What is at stake here is an anti-PMC politics which is not given and is not dependent simply on empirical facts, but is discursively fashioned and made.”
open.substack.com/pub/adamtooz...