"Turkey and South Korea are discussing the joint construction of a nuclear power plant, the latest of recent efforts by Ankara to diversify its energy sources.
-
Read the Solnit piece first, then the recap by Doctorow, with subtitles:
"As Solnit writes, Trump's stupid war follows on the heels of another unforgivable and cruel blunder: Putin's quagmire in Ukraine, which catapulted Europe into the Gretacene, with a wholesale, continent-wide shift away from fossil fuels to renewables and the devices they power. Now, the rest of the world is following suit."
These nuggets!
"We dig up a lot of fossil fuels. The world consumes seventeen times more fossil fuels in a year than we will require to electrify the planet forever."
"In 2024, America saw its first all-solar powered solar panel recycling factory, which reclaimed 99% of the materials in a panel that was 20% efficient, and then used those materials to make two panels that were each 40% efficient."
-
These nuggets!
"We dig up a lot of fossil fuels. The world consumes seventeen times more fossil fuels in a year than we will require to electrify the planet forever."
"In 2024, America saw its first all-solar powered solar panel recycling factory, which reclaimed 99% of the materials in a panel that was 20% efficient, and then used those materials to make two panels that were each 40% efficient."
Chokepoints
"The age of assuming someone else’s energy will always be available, at a price we can afford, through a route we don’t control, is over.
Solar and wind require no imports from unstable regions, no transit through chokepoints. Every energy minister on earth grasps this now in a way they did not nine weeks ago."
View: The largest energy crisis in modern history is only beginning
Decades of underinvestment in energy alternatives has left the global economy highly vulnerable.
(www.semafor.com)
-
These nuggets!
"We dig up a lot of fossil fuels. The world consumes seventeen times more fossil fuels in a year than we will require to electrify the planet forever."
"In 2024, America saw its first all-solar powered solar panel recycling factory, which reclaimed 99% of the materials in a panel that was 20% efficient, and then used those materials to make two panels that were each 40% efficient."
@CelloMomOnCars
Solar panels can't reach 40% efficiency...stay accurate guys or lose credibility -
@CelloMomOnCars
Solar panels can't reach 40% efficiency...stay accurate guys or lose credibility@PeterF @CelloMomOnCars
39.5% in real world conditions feels like close enough, even if it's inferior to the 47.6% top performance inside a lab: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.15593 -
@PeterF @CelloMomOnCars
39.5% in real world conditions feels like close enough, even if it's inferior to the 47.6% top performance inside a lab: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.15593My first guess also: multi-junction PV cells.
-
@PeterF @CelloMomOnCars
39.5% in real world conditions feels like close enough, even if it's inferior to the 47.6% top performance inside a lab: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.15593@jherazob @CelloMomOnCars
OK, haven't seen this, interesting - but the framing of the post implied mass production from recycled material, not a new material yet to be proven at production scale. -
@jherazob @CelloMomOnCars
OK, haven't seen this, interesting - but the framing of the post implied mass production from recycled material, not a new material yet to be proven at production scale. -
Chokepoints
"The age of assuming someone else’s energy will always be available, at a price we can afford, through a route we don’t control, is over.
Solar and wind require no imports from unstable regions, no transit through chokepoints. Every energy minister on earth grasps this now in a way they did not nine weeks ago."
View: The largest energy crisis in modern history is only beginning
Decades of underinvestment in energy alternatives has left the global economy highly vulnerable.
(www.semafor.com)
Demand destruction, petrochemical fertiliser:
"Side-by-side plots in Kutztown, PA compared regenerative practices, including cover cropping, crop rotation, and composting, with conventional agriculture. The result was yields up to 30% higher for sustainable methods during extreme weather, profits that were 3-6 times higher overall, the use of 45% less energy—and 40% lower carbon emissions.
Among young farmers, regenerative practices are already taking hold."
Soil, Not Oil | Common Dreams
As the Iran War makes conventional fertilizer harder to access, regenerative agriculture offers a solution that is also better for climate and soil.
Common Dreams (www.commondreams.org)
-
Demand destruction, petrochemical fertiliser:
"Side-by-side plots in Kutztown, PA compared regenerative practices, including cover cropping, crop rotation, and composting, with conventional agriculture. The result was yields up to 30% higher for sustainable methods during extreme weather, profits that were 3-6 times higher overall, the use of 45% less energy—and 40% lower carbon emissions.
Among young farmers, regenerative practices are already taking hold."
Soil, Not Oil | Common Dreams
As the Iran War makes conventional fertilizer harder to access, regenerative agriculture offers a solution that is also better for climate and soil.
Common Dreams (www.commondreams.org)
"The Iran war appears to have supercharged the clean energy transition, providing a catalyst for wind power giants as countries reassess the role of renewables in shoring up energy security.
Danish wind turbine maker Vestas reported an unexpectedly large first-quarter profit rise on Wednesday, citing improved execution of its onshore and offshore businesses despite growing political uncertainty."
-
"The Iran war appears to have supercharged the clean energy transition, providing a catalyst for wind power giants as countries reassess the role of renewables in shoring up energy security.
Danish wind turbine maker Vestas reported an unexpectedly large first-quarter profit rise on Wednesday, citing improved execution of its onshore and offshore businesses despite growing political uncertainty."
"Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC is raking in record profits during the AI boom—but it is also racing to help Taiwan develop wind power and other energy alternatives to fossil fuels amid a global energy crisis.
The chipmaker has signed a 30-year corporate power purchase agreement for 100 percent of the power produced by the Hai Long offshore wind project."
TSMC taps wind power as AI chip demand soars, Taiwan feels energy crunch
TSMC backs renewables during record demand for energy-hungry chip manufacturing.
Ars Technica (arstechnica.com)
-
"Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC is raking in record profits during the AI boom—but it is also racing to help Taiwan develop wind power and other energy alternatives to fossil fuels amid a global energy crisis.
The chipmaker has signed a 30-year corporate power purchase agreement for 100 percent of the power produced by the Hai Long offshore wind project."
TSMC taps wind power as AI chip demand soars, Taiwan feels energy crunch
TSMC backs renewables during record demand for energy-hungry chip manufacturing.
Ars Technica (arstechnica.com)
"The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the start of the Iran war, as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar, reveals Carbon Brief analysis.
The surge in wind and solar output is cutting the need for gas-fired generation, which has been nearly a third lower than last year and fell to record lows in both March and April 2026."
Analysis: Wind and solar have saved UK from gas imports worth £1.7bn since Iran war began - Carbon Brief
The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the start of the Iran war, as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar
Carbon Brief (www.carbonbrief.org)
-
"The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the start of the Iran war, as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar, reveals Carbon Brief analysis.
The surge in wind and solar output is cutting the need for gas-fired generation, which has been nearly a third lower than last year and fell to record lows in both March and April 2026."
Analysis: Wind and solar have saved UK from gas imports worth £1.7bn since Iran war began - Carbon Brief
The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the start of the Iran war, as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar
Carbon Brief (www.carbonbrief.org)
A good explainer of what determines the price of car fuel.
"The price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes.
Ultimately, the best protection against oil price shocks is a more efficient gas-burning vehicle, or one that doesn’t burn gasoline at all."
What’s in the price of a gallon of gas?
As US gas prices climb, politicians are looking at ways to lower them. An economist breaks down what does − and doesn’t − move the number on the sign at the gas station.
The Conversation (theconversation.com)
-
A good explainer of what determines the price of car fuel.
"The price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes.
Ultimately, the best protection against oil price shocks is a more efficient gas-burning vehicle, or one that doesn’t burn gasoline at all."
What’s in the price of a gallon of gas?
As US gas prices climb, politicians are looking at ways to lower them. An economist breaks down what does − and doesn’t − move the number on the sign at the gas station.
The Conversation (theconversation.com)
And I can’t help saying the cheapest energy is a shit. We never have to dig up or burn.
It would be nice if car design were a thing and a priority in every community. I chose to live in an area where everything I need is within walking distance. Not having to drive is great.
-
A good explainer of what determines the price of car fuel.
"The price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes.
Ultimately, the best protection against oil price shocks is a more efficient gas-burning vehicle, or one that doesn’t burn gasoline at all."
What’s in the price of a gallon of gas?
As US gas prices climb, politicians are looking at ways to lower them. An economist breaks down what does − and doesn’t − move the number on the sign at the gas station.
The Conversation (theconversation.com)
The price of oil is determined by cruise missiles. Corporate bribes of politicians has a big influence too.
-
Demand destruction, petrochemical fertiliser:
"Side-by-side plots in Kutztown, PA compared regenerative practices, including cover cropping, crop rotation, and composting, with conventional agriculture. The result was yields up to 30% higher for sustainable methods during extreme weather, profits that were 3-6 times higher overall, the use of 45% less energy—and 40% lower carbon emissions.
Among young farmers, regenerative practices are already taking hold."
Soil, Not Oil | Common Dreams
As the Iran War makes conventional fertilizer harder to access, regenerative agriculture offers a solution that is also better for climate and soil.
Common Dreams (www.commondreams.org)
let thousands of local farms bloom
-
A good explainer of what determines the price of car fuel.
"The price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes.
Ultimately, the best protection against oil price shocks is a more efficient gas-burning vehicle, or one that doesn’t burn gasoline at all."
What’s in the price of a gallon of gas?
As US gas prices climb, politicians are looking at ways to lower them. An economist breaks down what does − and doesn’t − move the number on the sign at the gas station.
The Conversation (theconversation.com)
"Many countries have imposed temperature controls at government workplaces since the war began.
Malaysia is promoting wearing traditional cotton batik shirts and has also mandated offices set air conditioners to 24 degrees. "
‘Hard to breathe’: Southeast Asia’s workers reel from warmer offices, heatwave
‘The canteen and even the 7-Eleven downstairs are cooler than our office, which is why people end up gathering there,’ a Thai worker says.
South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com)
-
"Many countries have imposed temperature controls at government workplaces since the war began.
Malaysia is promoting wearing traditional cotton batik shirts and has also mandated offices set air conditioners to 24 degrees. "
‘Hard to breathe’: Southeast Asia’s workers reel from warmer offices, heatwave
‘The canteen and even the 7-Eleven downstairs are cooler than our office, which is why people end up gathering there,’ a Thai worker says.
South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com)
"Around 13,000 flights were cancelled globally in May, resulting in two million fewer available seats, ... a 1.5 per cent reduction in total worldwide aviation capacity."
Also, higher prices, and restrictions or additional fees on baggage.
-
"Around 13,000 flights were cancelled globally in May, resulting in two million fewer available seats, ... a 1.5 per cent reduction in total worldwide aviation capacity."
Also, higher prices, and restrictions or additional fees on baggage.
Heat pump sales jump as consumers recoil at high fossil fuel prices
"High demand for units in Europe suggests green technologies benefiting from energy price surge due to Iran war."
https://www.ft.com/content/571e9cc4-1b32-49ef-bc82-e550e9404d8f?
Once those heat pumps are installed, they stay, even after oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz resume.
That's #DemandDestruction.
