"Fixing the Grid" through transparency at ISO-NE
We talk to the campaign manager of the “Fix the Grid” effort about a recent rally for clean energy. “The people who run our regional electric system, called ISO-New England, are keeping us hooked on fossil fuels and costing residents money. And the worst part is, we ratepayers who fund this whole system have no seat at the table! They make their decisions behind closed doors, without any accountability. We're calling on our new Governor Maura Healey to demand reform from ISO-New England”
The reading list:
- Slingshot home
- Invite to the March 2 event
- Media toolkit for the Fee Party
- Video of the Fee Party
- The Climate Minute on the need for grid transparency
- The Climate Minute on Demystifying FERC
- Find the current global CO2 ppm here
- How many days ‘til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
From flood plains to climate grief
In this episode we were joined by the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent and as you’ll hear, we had a great discussion. We go from flood plain, to the water cycle, to dealing with climate grief..In this episode we covered the following topics:
- Breeka Li Goodlander provides her "road to Franklin Conservation Agent"
- Open Space & Recreation update process underway
- Franklin is basically a flood plain source for the Charles River
- Role of wetlands, fragility of cycle, point source, non-point source
- Climate grief, Skype a scientist
- The remedy for grief is to take action, to make a difference
This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well.
The reading list:
- Franklin Conservation page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation
- Open Space & Recreation Plan update -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/2023-open-space-and-recreation-plan-update
- The town of Franklinà https://www.franklinma.gov/
- The “Book of the Dead” that Goodlander mentioned can be found https://therevelator.org/species-extinct-2022/
- See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html
- Find the current global CO2 ppm here
- How many days ‘til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
The Clean Heat Report is a breath of fresh air
The Clean Heat Commission report presents a bold vision for how to go about the task of decarbonizing buildings, from homes to skyscrapers, here in Massachusetts. We get the perspective of an expert working on the issues.
The reading list:
- Acadia Center blog post on the Clean Heat Commission
- MA Gov description of the commission
- Download the report here
- find the current CO2 ppm
- How many days ‘til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
Making clean energy accessible to everyone
A person’s FICO score shouldn’t prevent them from being able to lower their energy bills and being a part of climate crisis solutions. We talk to the Founder and CEO of the Capital Good Fund, a non-profit working to create solutions to overcome the financial barriers that prevent people from transitioning renewable energy.
The reading list:
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
Tools for a new democracy
Don’t despair over our stalemated politics. Our guest asks “What if, instead of fighting over politics, diverse groups of citizens could create an inspiring vision of the kind of system we want – and then come together and create it?” Listen for her new ideas in her book “Igniting a Bold New Democracy” on how to bring clashing views into synthesis and progress.
The reading list:
- Go here to learn about the book or contact Dr. Backstrom
- Dynamic Facilitation
- History of Rome podcast
- Citizen Assemblies as imagined by Extinction Rebellion
- Find the current global CO2 ppm here
- How many days ‘til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
The Clean Heat Report: a “consequential thing”
A landmark MA government report called for significant changes to help reduce CO2 emissions from the use of home heating fuels. For example, the report details the need to plan for a transition away from gas utilities in the coming years. We caught up to the Conservation Law Foundation’s Vice President for Massachusetts to learn more.
The reading list:
- CLF's press release on the report
- Background on the Commission
- A PDF of the Final Report of the Commission (including the easy-to-read Executive Summary.)
- The Conservation Law Foundation
- Find the current global CO2 ppm here
- How many days ‘til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
De-Mystifying Heat Pumps
We talk about how a heat pump works, and how you probably have a better understanding than you think you do!
The reading list:
- Back to Basics: Heat Pumps
- Heat pump systems
- What is a mini-split?
- Boston Globe: Heat pumps have major test
- MA CEC on Air Source heat pumps
- Some info on Federal (IRA) rebates
- Green Energy Consumers Alliance can help figure out what you need
- HEET on Networked Geothermal systems
- For Physics Nerds: The Joule-Thomson cooling effect
- find the current CO2 ppm
- How many days ‘til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
Decarbonization, the three chairs and your dishwasher
Decarbonization is the process of getting fossil fuel out of your life. This is a starting point to discuss how we learn about climate and what actions we can take.
The reading list:
- The MA roadmap
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030
- Commission on Clean Heat issued report on Nov 30, 2022
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-commission-on-clean-heat-final-report-november-30-2022/download
- The Boston Foundation Climate Report Card
- https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2022/november/boston-climate-progress-report-forum-20221103
- Sherry Turkle
- https://sts-program.mit.edu/book/reclaiming-conversation-power-talk-digital-age/
- Myths about appliances...
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/01/24/home-appliance-myths-energy-saving-tips/
- WTO chief at Davos call for global carbon pricing
- https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/3821368-wto-chief-calls-for-global-carbon-pricing/
- find the current CO2 ppm
- How many days til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
Is your gas stove a health threat or a culture war battle?
Spoiler alert: It is a health hazard. After recent reports linked gas stoves to asthma, a Federal Agency began thinking about the health impact of gas burning stoves. A conspiratorial freak-out followed, with right wing politicians distorting facts. Listen in for how much we love our induction cooktops.
The reading list:
- The original interview
- NPR on the gas stove culture war
- Two shocking studies
- Article on Asthma from stoves
- Article on toxins from gas stoves
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/
- Consumer Reports on pros and cons of Induction stoves
- NYT The Case for Induction Stoves
- Mother Jones: how the gas industry convinced you to love your stove.
- find the current CO2 ppm
- How many days til 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
Catching up to 2023
Governor Healy began her administration by working to align the state’s roadmap efforts. The wind industry undergoes some growing pains, and we discuss why fusion would be great but not relevant to our current needs.
The reading list:
- Climate lead via Executive Order from Governor Healey
- https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/healey-signs-executive-order-on-climate/
- Rep Roy video on wind turbine blade testing visit
- https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/museum-of-science-visit-mass-clean.html
- CodCast episode with Rep Roy and Senator Barrett
- https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/the-codcast-lawmakers-walk-tightrope-on.html
- ISO New England grid capacity around Christmas 2022
- https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2023/01/07/iso-new-england-electricity-power-plant-fines-december-failure-oil-natural-gas-christmas-storm/69785296007/
- Wind farm in Maine, MA to take advantage of
- https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/03/business/offshore-wind-falters-mass-makes-its-move-boost-giant-wind-farm-maine/
- Fun article: driving for donuts to test electric vehicle charging stations availability
- https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/10/science/we-drove-around-new-england-looking-ev-chargers-best-doughnuts-it-was-easier-than-we-expected/
- Fusion announcement
- https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/22/science/after-years-doubts-hopes-grow-that-nuclear-fusion-is-finally-real-could-help-address-climate-change/
- See the page that collects the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html
- Wind tract surveys by company associated with Greentown Labs
- Greentown Labs
- find the current CO2 ppm
- How many days until 2030?
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon that protects environmental justice communities.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre