Richard Lane
@richplane.bsky.social
Community energy nut, environmental activist, cyclist, birdnerd, musician. Work at Sharenergy, director at York Community Energy, trombone in the Blind Tiger Dance Band & Bargestra, guitar in Esk. carfree, flightfree.
He/oh no not him
He/oh no not him
I also get asked about this occasionally - balcony solar is currently not legal in the UK but I'm starting to see interest & ads. The gov announced a consultation on whether/how regs should change to permit it.
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
What's the deal with balcony solar?
Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
www.volts.wtf
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I also get asked about this occasionally - balcony solar is currently not legal in the UK but I'm starting to see interest & ads. The gov announced a consultation on whether/how regs should change to permit it.
Reposted by Richard Lane
Have to take a moment to celebrate this historic win for the climate. Even though everyone knows it’s needed, it’s no small thing to commit to leaving fossil fuels in the ground.
Epic work from the likes of Uplift and a Secretary of State who is doing the absolute best he can with what he’s got.
Epic work from the likes of Uplift and a Secretary of State who is doing the absolute best he can with what he’s got.
Huge news from the UK today: after UN climate talks in which there was a massive fight over language on fossil fuels, the UK government today announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than just words for a change! 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Have to take a moment to celebrate this historic win for the climate. Even though everyone knows it’s needed, it’s no small thing to commit to leaving fossil fuels in the ground.
Epic work from the likes of Uplift and a Secretary of State who is doing the absolute best he can with what he’s got.
Epic work from the likes of Uplift and a Secretary of State who is doing the absolute best he can with what he’s got.
Reposted by Richard Lane
When Barry Chuckle died they should have planted a 2 metre Yew.
November 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
When Barry Chuckle died they should have planted a 2 metre Yew.
Reposted by Richard Lane
We owe so much to the courage of past protestors.
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
This has to be one of of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century from March 1907. Sixteen years old suffragette Dora Thewlis. A poor mill worker from Honley in Huddersfield she was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union At a demonstration in London she is
November 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We owe so much to the courage of past protestors.
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
Happily, the Cloudflare website is still up, suggesting that they don't use Cloudflare themselves.
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Happily, the Cloudflare website is still up, suggesting that they don't use Cloudflare themselves.
Thanks @commenergyengland.bsky.social for another inspiring night; awards may be nonsense but there are lots of people and groups out there busting their guts for energy justice - making slow progress but every year there are more of us. That's worth celebrating. #CEawards2025
November 17, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Thanks @commenergyengland.bsky.social for another inspiring night; awards may be nonsense but there are lots of people and groups out there busting their guts for energy justice - making slow progress but every year there are more of us. That's worth celebrating. #CEawards2025
Jeez kids grow up quick these days
November 15, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Jeez kids grow up quick these days
Reposted by Richard Lane
I wish Mortimer and Whitehose would go bird watching instead of dragging fish from their home with a vicious hook in the mouth.
November 15, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I wish Mortimer and Whitehose would go bird watching instead of dragging fish from their home with a vicious hook in the mouth.
Very happy with this - and claiming credit for it through the withering commentary I wrote on my spoilt ballot in 2018. (N Yorks had the highest proportion of spoilt ballots in the country!🥇) www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished
Home secretary says PCCs, in England and Wales, were ‘failed experiment’ – and scrapping them will save £100m over this parliament
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Very happy with this - and claiming credit for it through the withering commentary I wrote on my spoilt ballot in 2018. (N Yorks had the highest proportion of spoilt ballots in the country!🥇) www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A salesman just signed off a phone call with me clearly undecided between saying 'all the best' and 'have a nice day' and so said 'all the nice day' and I have never felt such an affinity with a stranger. hermano!!
November 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
A salesman just signed off a phone call with me clearly undecided between saying 'all the best' and 'have a nice day' and so said 'all the nice day' and I have never felt such an affinity with a stranger. hermano!!
Reposted by Richard Lane
More of this sort of thing please!
Sadly missed it but absolute credit to @lb-southwark.bsky.social running a 'Guided Cycle Consultation' where Officers actually got out & cycled with residents to consult changes. People saying it was the best consultation they've ever seen. FANTASTIC progress that every Council should copy.
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
More of this sort of thing please!
Wat????
Different spot today in Rowntree Park… an Eagle Owl!
November 6, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Wat????
At the inaugural Clean Energy UK conference this week, NE region mayor Kim McGuiness urged us all to speak up for net zero in the face of reactionary political pushback. So let's check in on what her political party in government is doing for climate protest. A bit reactionary political pushback-y?
This will impact EVERYONE.
Combined with other anti-protest measures proposed like bans on face coverings, the Crime & Policing Bill will see the right to protest in the UK stripped to the bone.
Protest is fundamental to democracy. We must protect it.
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/govern...
Combined with other anti-protest measures proposed like bans on face coverings, the Crime & Policing Bill will see the right to protest in the UK stripped to the bone.
Protest is fundamental to democracy. We must protect it.
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/govern...
Government's repeat protest restrictions worse than feared - Liberty
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
At the inaugural Clean Energy UK conference this week, NE region mayor Kim McGuiness urged us all to speak up for net zero in the face of reactionary political pushback. So let's check in on what her political party in government is doing for climate protest. A bit reactionary political pushback-y?
Have to say I agree with this. Haven't looked up the figures but people who pay for electric space/water heating will be paying more than gas heated houses so my instinct is that this should be good for fuel poverty figures. And it reduces the spark gap for decarbonisation.
The Treasury is widely reported to be considering cutting energy bills, perhaps via a VAT cut. What's the best way to do this?
We think the answer is to remove the taxes from electricity bills. Here is Nesta's proposal out for Tax-free Electricity:
@nestauk.bsky.social
We think the answer is to remove the taxes from electricity bills. Here is Nesta's proposal out for Tax-free Electricity:
@nestauk.bsky.social
Tax-free electricity
A proposal to remove most taxes on electricity to reduce bills and promote clean heating
www.nesta.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Have to say I agree with this. Haven't looked up the figures but people who pay for electric space/water heating will be paying more than gas heated houses so my instinct is that this should be good for fuel poverty figures. And it reduces the spark gap for decarbonisation.
Very happy to discover that @lauratmurphy.bsky.social is on Bluesky and that she's just as badass as I imagined. Yes I just read the Guardian article.
November 3, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Very happy to discover that @lauratmurphy.bsky.social is on Bluesky and that she's just as badass as I imagined. Yes I just read the Guardian article.
Come work with me!
Would you like to come and work with our parent org - Sharenergy? Or know someone else who would?
They are looking for somebody exceptional to head up the Development Team >>>
www.sharenergy.coop/jobs
They are looking for somebody exceptional to head up the Development Team >>>
www.sharenergy.coop/jobs
October 27, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Come work with me!
Reposted by Richard Lane
Coming up this Saturday, join us to design York’s energy future - one building at a time!
Join us for a creative workshop with @yorkarchive.bsky.social on Sat 25 Oct 2025, 1pm-3pm, in the Marriott Room at the York central library - find out more here: buytickets.at/yce/1787526
Join us for a creative workshop with @yorkarchive.bsky.social on Sat 25 Oct 2025, 1pm-3pm, in the Marriott Room at the York central library - find out more here: buytickets.at/yce/1787526
Select tickets – Solar Skylines: Building a greener energy future for York – Marriott Room, York Explore Library
Solar Skylines: Building a greener energy future for York – Marriott Room, York Explore Library, Sat 25 Oct 2025 - Join YCE in collaboration with York Explore to design York’s energy future - one buil...
buytickets.at
October 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Coming up this Saturday, join us to design York’s energy future - one building at a time!
Join us for a creative workshop with @yorkarchive.bsky.social on Sat 25 Oct 2025, 1pm-3pm, in the Marriott Room at the York central library - find out more here: buytickets.at/yce/1787526
Join us for a creative workshop with @yorkarchive.bsky.social on Sat 25 Oct 2025, 1pm-3pm, in the Marriott Room at the York central library - find out more here: buytickets.at/yce/1787526
Look it me making community solar with mud and rain.
October 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Look it me making community solar with mud and rain.
Reposted by Richard Lane
York Community Energy is delighted to (finally!) be joining Bluesky -we're really excited to connect with friends passionate about community-driven solutions to the climate crisis and to share the work we are doing in York! ☀️
October 20, 2025 at 10:13 AM
York Community Energy is delighted to (finally!) be joining Bluesky -we're really excited to connect with friends passionate about community-driven solutions to the climate crisis and to share the work we are doing in York! ☀️
Realised I'm definitely a solar energy professional because I just referred to "generating season" and then remembered that most people call it "summer".
October 17, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Realised I'm definitely a solar energy professional because I just referred to "generating season" and then remembered that most people call it "summer".
Three stories this week: record carbon emissions, the failure of government insulation schemes & the probability of towns/cities becoming unviable due to climate impacts, have all been 'told you so' moments for groups I've been personally involved with over the past two decades. So, yeah, yay us 🫤
October 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Three stories this week: record carbon emissions, the failure of government insulation schemes & the probability of towns/cities becoming unviable due to climate impacts, have all been 'told you so' moments for groups I've been personally involved with over the past two decades. So, yeah, yay us 🫤
Who wore it better?
October 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Who wore it better?
To those who are about to get suddenly enfolded in sodden flags torn from lampposts by Storm Amy this weekend, we salute you.
October 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
To those who are about to get suddenly enfolded in sodden flags torn from lampposts by Storm Amy this weekend, we salute you.
Reposted by Richard Lane
"Investing in Gatwick expansion is a choice. It is a choice to prioritise frequent flyers over repairing the UK’s broken transport system, strengthening the NHS, or investing in climate resilience. More flights mean more emissions, worsening climate change for everyone."
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plays the same role in aviation as CCS/BECCS/DACCS play for other fossil-fuelled sectors: more a stalling tactic than solution. Good engineers work on SAF, but CEOs/politicians/etc deliberately mis-sell their role in mitigation.
climateuncensored.com/gatwick-expa...
climateuncensored.com/gatwick-expa...
Gatwick Expansion: A Direct Assault on Climate Commitments - Climate Uncensored
Comment on UK Government announcement of Gatwick Airport expansion by Professor Kevin Anderson and Dr. Lois Pennington, of Tyndall Centre, University of
climateuncensored.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:29 AM
"Investing in Gatwick expansion is a choice. It is a choice to prioritise frequent flyers over repairing the UK’s broken transport system, strengthening the NHS, or investing in climate resilience. More flights mean more emissions, worsening climate change for everyone."