Mel in Baltimore

Mel in Baltimore

@mbe19.bsky.social

Semi-retired environmental scientist with a mission to support climate activism. Had the best dogs and the best cats during my lifetime. True reporters son and DIL so also support factual excellence

1.4K followers681 following2K posts

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

Prayer from the Baha’i Faith that opened this AM. “O Ye Rich Ones on Earth! The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.”

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

1/2 Households in the contiguous USA will pay thousands of dollars more for energy through 2040 because of federal policy changes, such as canceling new clean energy projects, according to modeling released by a nonpartisan think tank

energyinnovation.orgEconomic, Consumer Cost, Pollution Impacts of Federal Energy Policy Changes In 48 U.S. StatesFederal energy policy changes will harm all 48 contiguous U.S. states through higher energy bills, lost jobs, and worse air pollution.
Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

2/2 The Energy Innovation analysis found that households will pay an average of $6,500 more for energy, cumulatively through 2040. In five states, households will pay roughly $9,000 more: OR, MS, SD, VA and WY

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

1/2 “Total investment in data centers and related artificial-intelligence infrastructure is projected to total $10.3 trillion from 2025 to 2032, according to a new estimate by the Brookings Institution

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

This is a bad bad idea The US has plans to no longer limit the planet-warming pollution that power plants pump into the air while burning coal and gasIf the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating GHG emissions from power plants

nytimes.comE.P.A. Will Erase Limits on Climate Pollution From Power Plants (Gift Article)Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.

Mel in Baltimore reposted

David Ho
@davidho.bsky.social

I resigned from ExxonMobil today. I spent the last three years doing fossil fuel extraction research at both BP and ExxonMobil. Neither company is acting responsibly. They are racing to maximize extraction while the window to act closes, and gambling with our lives. More below.

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

2/2 Analysts say the Trump administration’s retreat on climate and EV policy is making the United States more vulnerable to global energy shocks like those being touched off by its policy in the Middle East.

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

This is seriously disturbing; no more PACs “But Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is funding an aggressive advertising campaign encouraging people in key states to check their registration status at a different website, votesafe.org. That website is run by America PAC, Musk’s super PAC.”

votesafe.orgVOTE SAFE | HomeWe provide you with the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up for election reminders and get help with voter registration and voting by mail.

Mel in Baltimore reposted

Christopher Webb
@cwebbonline.com

This iconic 1971 photo of Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes has always said so much without saying a word. Two women. Two raised fists. One shared fight for equality. Dorothy passed in 2022. Now Gloria is gone too. Two giants who helped change America. Rest in power, Gloria. ✊🏼✊🏾

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

RIP. The struggle continues “ Some of the achievements greater economic independence..legal rights and protections, inroads into all levels of virtually every profession, more men sharing domestic responsibilities..may be taken for granted today, they were unimaginable when the movement began.”

nytimes.comGloria Steinem, Personification of the Feminist Movement, Dies at 92 (Gift Article)She challenged sexist assumptions, helping women develop a sense of self-worth and gain a measure of equality at work, at home and in society at large.
Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

1/2 “Lincoln understood that once you give up the principle of equality, you have given up the whole game. You have admitted the principle that people are unequal, and that some people are better than others. Once you have replaced the principle of equality with the idea that humans are unequal,

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

2/2 you have granted your approval to the idea of rulers and servants. At that point, all you can do is to hope that no one in power decides that you belong in one of the lesser groups” Heather Cox Richardson

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

So far, eight states have adopted plug-in solar legislation in the last year, including my state of MD & also CO, CT, ME, NH, UT, VT, VA. CA just passed similar legislation, and once NY signs off, the market will take off. Interesting to see how CA is more restrictive than other states

canarymedia.comCalifornia Legislature passes balcony solar billUnless Gov. Newsom blocks the bill, it will legalize plug-in solar in one of the world’s biggest economies. But the rules are more restrictive than some…

Mel in Baltimore reposted

Marc Elias
@marcelias.bsky.social

My open letter to David Ellison has unexpectedly gone viral. Here is the full version for anyone who wants to read and share. If you like it, I would ask you to sign to Democracy Docket at the bottom. www.democracydocket.com/opinion/my-o...

democracydocket.comMy open letter to David EllisonYou argued that the American people have misjudged you — that they are wrong about what is in your heart and mind. I want to be clear: I don't care what you think or feel. What I care about is your ac...
Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

My Senator

Senator Chris Van Hollen@vanhollen.senate.gov

Nothing symbolizes Todd Blanche's time at DOJ better than the banner hanging over its entrances. The DOJ & the Attorney General do not work for the president, they work for the people. And it's for that very reason why Todd Blanche is unqualified to be our Attorney General.

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

1/2 …”you’ve confirmed Pam Bondi, Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and Kristi Noem, you’ve funded ICE, you’ve stood by while Trump hollowed out the [intelligence community], fired thousands of people, drained the U.S. Treasury…

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

2/2 …hijacked the country’s semiquincentennial, trashed the White House lawn for a WWE event, and drained the reflecting pool. Twice…. Is Todd Blanche really going to be THE LINE?” Asha Rangappa

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

This makes no sense. NOx and SOx still gets emitted - whether or not it’s connected to the grid - and those emissions cause acid rain and air pollution. We solved this problem decades ago and cleaned up the air. Why are we going backwards??

enr.comEPA Exempts Off-Grid Data Centers from Acid Rain RegulationsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced July 27 it issued permitting guidance earlier this month exempting “islanded” power generators, or facilities with no connection to a utility grid, f...
Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

“Found an imaginary problem, said only they could fix it, didn’t listen to experts, hired buddies who grifted millions, failed miserably, bragged how great it went. The entire Trump presidency in a nutshell.” Gov Tim Walz

Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

Very cool PSA!

Chris@cb1814.bsky.social

Hey if anyone's annoyed about this kind of thing, 2 min on gridgov.org will get you a full list of data center projects near you, plus the phone numbers of your representatives so you can tell them how you feel about it. We also donate to a great charity for every report run. Enjoy!

gridgov.orgData Centers Near Me — Find AI Data Center Projects in Your ZIPEvery AI data center within 100 miles of your ZIP — plus your reps and public comment meetings. US & Canada.
Mel in Baltimore
@mbe19.bsky.social

From @heatmap.news “Meta has quit a top corporate initiative to promote clean energy as the Facebook parent company has built out at least a dozen gas-fired power stations to supply electricity to its data centers over the past year” Assholes