Christian Fong
@christiantfong.bsky.social
Now: decarbonizing the electricity sector with
@rockymtninst.bsky.social | Then: @INDems @HawaiiSenate | Always: @UCBerkeley | all views are my future dog’s
@rockymtninst.bsky.social | Then: @INDems @HawaiiSenate | Always: @UCBerkeley | all views are my future dog’s
🚨NEW from RMI🚨
Load growth is coming, and gas turbine constraints are pushing back any new unplanned gas plants until 2029/2030 at the earliest. Luckily, clean energy solutions can meet 95% of near-term load growth in a more affordable way: #energysky
Load growth is coming, and gas turbine constraints are pushing back any new unplanned gas plants until 2029/2030 at the earliest. Luckily, clean energy solutions can meet 95% of near-term load growth in a more affordable way: #energysky
June 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🚨NEW from RMI🚨
Load growth is coming, and gas turbine constraints are pushing back any new unplanned gas plants until 2029/2030 at the earliest. Luckily, clean energy solutions can meet 95% of near-term load growth in a more affordable way: #energysky
Load growth is coming, and gas turbine constraints are pushing back any new unplanned gas plants until 2029/2030 at the earliest. Luckily, clean energy solutions can meet 95% of near-term load growth in a more affordable way: #energysky
NEW: Electric utilities and environmental/consumer advocates agree that LPO loans are critical for energy affordability, and Sec. Wright has called these loans a "key tool," with inputs from myself and @charlesxhua.bsky.social and reporting from @jasonplautz.bsky.social and @briandabbs
June 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
NEW: Electric utilities and environmental/consumer advocates agree that LPO loans are critical for energy affordability, and Sec. Wright has called these loans a "key tool," with inputs from myself and @charlesxhua.bsky.social and reporting from @jasonplautz.bsky.social and @briandabbs
My overall takeaway from this is that there seems to be some daylight between the Trump admin that seems to be trying to dismantle LPO, and Republican representatives who can perhaps see a limited role for LPO with proper oversight. (1/2)
Southern Company, which provides electricity to a large portion of the Southeast, is vigorously defending LPO right now, saying the financing is critical in achieving energy dominance and lowering energy bills. I'll be providing updates in this thread:
science.house.gov/2025/4/energ...
science.house.gov/2025/4/energ...
Energy Subcommittee Hearing - Risky Business Part 2: The DOE Loan Guarantee Program
science.house.gov
April 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
My overall takeaway from this is that there seems to be some daylight between the Trump admin that seems to be trying to dismantle LPO, and Republican representatives who can perhaps see a limited role for LPO with proper oversight. (1/2)
Southern Company, which provides electricity to a large portion of the Southeast, is vigorously defending LPO right now, saying the financing is critical in achieving energy dominance and lowering energy bills. I'll be providing updates in this thread:
science.house.gov/2025/4/energ...
science.house.gov/2025/4/energ...
Energy Subcommittee Hearing - Risky Business Part 2: The DOE Loan Guarantee Program
science.house.gov
April 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Southern Company, which provides electricity to a large portion of the Southeast, is vigorously defending LPO right now, saying the financing is critical in achieving energy dominance and lowering energy bills. I'll be providing updates in this thread:
science.house.gov/2025/4/energ...
science.house.gov/2025/4/energ...
The plan: push the US so far into a recession that we reenter a zero interest rate environment, making it increasingly economic to finance clean energy portfolios over gas plants
April 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The plan: push the US so far into a recession that we reenter a zero interest rate environment, making it increasingly economic to finance clean energy portfolios over gas plants
Reposted by Christian Fong
#Wisconsin’s Oak Creek plant might end up a #strandedasset as #renewables already cost less. See @christiantfong.bsky.social & @electronecon.bsky.social Joe Daniel on the billions at stake
www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/an-object-le...
#EnergyTransition #ClimateFinance #Renewables #Decarbonization
www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/an-object-le...
#EnergyTransition #ClimateFinance #Renewables #Decarbonization
An object lesson on stranded fossil fuel assets - Climate and Capital Media
Wisconsin ratepayers are already shouldering the cost of an abandoned coal plant, but a repeat of the mistake can be prevented
www.climateandcapitalmedia.com
March 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
#Wisconsin’s Oak Creek plant might end up a #strandedasset as #renewables already cost less. See @christiantfong.bsky.social & @electronecon.bsky.social Joe Daniel on the billions at stake
www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/an-object-le...
#EnergyTransition #ClimateFinance #Renewables #Decarbonization
www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/an-object-le...
#EnergyTransition #ClimateFinance #Renewables #Decarbonization
NEW: Wisconsin residential customers will end up paying $280 each for an old coal plant that no longer operates. They could end up paying even more if the utility decides to convert that coal plant into a gas plant. 🧵 #energysky
March 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
NEW: Wisconsin residential customers will end up paying $280 each for an old coal plant that no longer operates. They could end up paying even more if the utility decides to convert that coal plant into a gas plant. 🧵 #energysky
Reposted by Christian Fong
#energysky Do large-scale transmission investments pay off for ratepayers? Our new @rockymtninst.bsky.social report provides a clear answer: YES— large-scale transmission projects deliver significant savings for American consumers and businesses: rmi.org/insight/high... (1/8)🧵
High Voltage, High Reward Transmission - RMI
Large-scale transmission projects deliver significant cost savings to American consumers and businesses.
rmi.org
February 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
#energysky Do large-scale transmission investments pay off for ratepayers? Our new @rockymtninst.bsky.social report provides a clear answer: YES— large-scale transmission projects deliver significant savings for American consumers and businesses: rmi.org/insight/high... (1/8)🧵
My contribution to the Georgia Power IRP discourse is that the utility still assumes they will be able to qualify for low-cost EIR loans through LPO for nuclear and hydro upgrades, distributed energy, transmission, and GETs, despite historical opposition to LPO from Republicans:
January 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
My contribution to the Georgia Power IRP discourse is that the utility still assumes they will be able to qualify for low-cost EIR loans through LPO for nuclear and hydro upgrades, distributed energy, transmission, and GETs, despite historical opposition to LPO from Republicans:
VC Summer brings up an interesting debate around cost shifting—South Carolina ratepayers will end up paying billions of dollars for a nuclear plant that never went into service. If tech companies revive it, should they also pay for the initial $9ish billion instead of ratepayers?
Wow. With data center owners hunting for power, South Carolina utility Santee Cooper is accepting bids to buy the site of the disastrous V.C. Summer nuclear project, which cost $9 billion before being cancelled in 2017 with the twin reactors just 40% complete www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/b... 🔌💡 ⚛️
South Carolina Utility Wants to Sell Unfinished Nuclear Power Site (Gift Article)
The utility, Santee Cooper, is trying to sell two nuclear reactors that it abandoned in 2017 as tech companies seek new sources of electricity for data centers.
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
VC Summer brings up an interesting debate around cost shifting—South Carolina ratepayers will end up paying billions of dollars for a nuclear plant that never went into service. If tech companies revive it, should they also pay for the initial $9ish billion instead of ratepayers?
If the new Energy Secretary is serious about an abundance agenda and energy dominance, he should wholeheartedly embrace his role at DOE to finalize these loans and secure financing for even more utilities to reduce rates and improve reliability.
January 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
If the new Energy Secretary is serious about an abundance agenda and energy dominance, he should wholeheartedly embrace his role at DOE to finalize these loans and secure financing for even more utilities to reduce rates and improve reliability.
HUGE NEWS: LPO just announced $23 billion in EIR loans for 8 utilities to benefit 15 million customers in 12 states. These loans will cover renewables, storage, virtual power plants, new transmission lines, upgraded transmission lines, upgraded gas pipelines! A breakdown thread:
January 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
HUGE NEWS: LPO just announced $23 billion in EIR loans for 8 utilities to benefit 15 million customers in 12 states. These loans will cover renewables, storage, virtual power plants, new transmission lines, upgraded transmission lines, upgraded gas pipelines! A breakdown thread:
NEW: Another big utility loan for clean energy. This time, $1.81 billion for solar, storage, and transmission in Arizona!
January 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
NEW: Another big utility loan for clean energy. This time, $1.81 billion for solar, storage, and transmission in Arizona!
I love LA because what do you mean my Uber driver was a 9 season NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion
December 20, 2024 at 12:22 AM
I love LA because what do you mean my Uber driver was a 9 season NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion
Reposted by Christian Fong
Whoa—the Montana Supreme Court holds that its state constitution protects the right to "a stable climate system," and strikes down a law that barred consideration of greenhouse gas emissions when permitting new fossil fuel projects. juddocumentservice.mt.gov/getDocByCTra...
December 18, 2024 at 6:17 PM
Whoa—the Montana Supreme Court holds that its state constitution protects the right to "a stable climate system," and strikes down a law that barred consideration of greenhouse gas emissions when permitting new fossil fuel projects. juddocumentservice.mt.gov/getDocByCTra...
I think this might be LPO’s biggest loan yet—$15 billion for hydropower, battery storage, upgrading transmission lines via reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies, and virtual power plants. All working to reduce rates and increase reliability!
December 17, 2024 at 3:42 PM
I think this might be LPO’s biggest loan yet—$15 billion for hydropower, battery storage, upgrading transmission lines via reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies, and virtual power plants. All working to reduce rates and increase reliability!
NEW: LPO has announced its first conditional commitment under EIR for a regulated utility, financing up to $2.5 billion for 1,650 MW of renewables and battery projects: www.energy.gov/lpo/articles...
December 13, 2024 at 11:08 PM
NEW: LPO has announced its first conditional commitment under EIR for a regulated utility, financing up to $2.5 billion for 1,650 MW of renewables and battery projects: www.energy.gov/lpo/articles...
Earlier this year, I co-authored a report on "Clean Repowering"—using interconnection fast-tracks to quickly, cheaply, and reliably build clean energy. Since then, additional research shows how this process can be more effective to prevent unwise investments in fossil assets 🧵
December 12, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Earlier this year, I co-authored a report on "Clean Repowering"—using interconnection fast-tracks to quickly, cheaply, and reliably build clean energy. Since then, additional research shows how this process can be more effective to prevent unwise investments in fossil assets 🧵
After purging most of my social media and swearing off new social media accounts a few years ago... what's up #energysky
December 11, 2024 at 11:19 PM
After purging most of my social media and swearing off new social media accounts a few years ago... what's up #energysky