"Our thesis here is quite simple. Consumers may accept the first gas induced price shock to electricity prices as whatever. But if there’s a second or third price shock, they will head for the exits. And the renewables industry will be waiting with open arms."

Nasty air today. Orange/Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Chicago region, into Milwaukee, & Indy, Cincy & other areas around the lower Midwest. Take your inhaler with you, make sure children have theirs, follow your doctor's advice. Good day to take it easy, stay cool and confortable.

New from @justingundlach.bsky.social and I in the Energy Law Journal! It's time to confront the blind spot at the heart of state public utility regulation: The regulatory framework intends to prevent competition, but electricity and gas nonetheless compete. 🧵 🔌💡 www.eba-net.org/wp-content/u...

#BBN, they did it…

A company that makes a no-tech, repairable tractor is having trouble keeping up with demand from farmers sick of John Deere's repair monopoly and simply want a tractor that turns on and works: www.404media.co/demand-is-bo...

As more rain has fallen, people have looked for something to blame. Many have landed on umbrellas. (this is a really good article.)

Lawsuit regarding health risks of gas stoves to go to trial pirg.org/edfund/media...

I've listened to three separate podcasts about the way batteries, demand flexibility and grid utilisation for data centres and *not a single one* addresses the question of whether these things actually erase the emissions / climate impact of data centre growth. The focus is solely on power prices

AI companies are letting anyone with a credit card use their models to make products for kids - the same models that the #AI companies themselves have said are not for children. A video version of our recent research: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbG0...

🦅🦅

Wooohoooo #usmnt

Illinoisans are getting squeezed by unfair insurance premium hikes. With this legislation, we're reining in corporate abuse and making auto and homeownership more affordable.

Drivers could invoke appraisal on damaged vehicles under Morrison measure. http://ilsenatedems.co/j4o050Z5lLT

Illinois lawmakers pass bills curbing insurance rate hikes www.chicagobusiness.com/insurance/cc...

“When these bills are signed into law, it will finally be illegal to charge excessive home and auto insurance rates in Illinois." pirg.org/illinois/med...

And now HB4273 - homeowners - as well!

SB714 - auto insurance reform - passes 70-38-1. Huzzah 🎉🎉🎉 On to @govpritzker.illinois.gov

Its currently legal to charge excessive home and auto insurance rates in Illinois -- something I expect the General Assembly to finally remedy this week. Check out my conversation with @sashaannsimons.bsky.social on @wbez.org In the Loop www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-...

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the passing of Sonny Rollins. The Saxophone Colossus died this afternoon at his home in Woodstock, NY at the age of 95. 1/2

Lake Michigan, Chicago River polluted with harmful microplastics www.wbez.org/environment/...

New report: Microplastic found at more than 30 sites along popular Illinois waterways 100% of sites tested contained microplastics, including Lake Michigan, Mississippi river, other rivers, lakes across state environmentamerica.org/illinois/cen...

Did not expect to see this at oilprice.com but the economics are very clear at this point. "But where do renewables fit in? They are doing to gas what gas did to coal: they provide the same product (electricity) at a much cheaper price (and obviously in a more environmentally benign fashion)."

Consumer advocates called for an 80% reduction in Nicor’s gas rate request, which they criticized,in their view, as wasteful spending and excessive shareholder profits. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. buff.ly/0CGdFBv

Citizen scientists tested 101 Chicago homes with handheld air quality monitors & found more than half of the tested kitchens had nitrogen dioxide levels above the EPA’s 1-hour outdoor air standard. 4 in 10 kitchens had readings more than 2X that threshold. www.faithinplace.org/air-aware-ho...

This is the kind of thing we warned about a couple of weeks ago. With the grid facing strain and lots of dirty generators sitting around at data centers, the temptation to use them to meet electricity supply crunches (at risk to nearby residents) will be strong. frontiergroup.org/resources/fa...

Great story showing the shocking ease in which one can dump fossil fuel liability on the public

Solar plus batteries cheaper than gas — IRENA report A new IRENA report finds that 24/7 “firm” clean energy is cheaper than coal and gas in many parts of the world. The Iran war may catalyze faster adoption. gasoutlook.com/analysis/sol...

What the eff man #energysky #climatesky #Maryland Pls do not make me and my neighbors pay the gas industry's $1 billion expansion cost 🫠 pirg.org/maryland/fou...

SB714, implementing basic consumer protections for auto insurance in Illinois is moving quickly - passed out of the Senate yesterday and House Exec just now. The homeowners companion bill also passed the Senate yesterday and only needs a concurrence vote in the House

TOMORROW: Our 8th annual State of Renewable Energy dashboard highlights the latest state-by-state trends in clean energy adoption. Find out where your state ranks: frontiergroup.org/resources/th...

You say "operational minimum," I say "minimum viable scale," but the point is: 1) I hate being right 2) the point that a smooth, linear transition away from fossil fuels isn't possible is well known by the industry folks and analysts

Utility watchdog groups and consumer advocates urged regulators on Wednesday to “take an axe, not a knife” to the $205 million rate hike requested by Peoples Gas earlier this year. https://to.wttw.com/4toAaq6

Consumer groups seek to slash Peoples Gas rate hike request www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/06/p...

Peoples Gas customers will likely see annual bill credits for the next three years thanks to a settlement secured by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. @maggiedough.bsky.social reports. buff.ly/1FhbnaM

BREAKING: The national average price of gasoline has risen by 10c/gal so far today- and is currently the 6th largest single day rise on record. It could rise to the 4th largest single day rise and the largest since 2022 by EOD

Great to see Yale joining the geo-exchange/thermal energy network club! yaledailynews.com/articles/Yal...

A deep dive into US crude oil exports pointing out some flaws in the latest oil industry propaganda. "They want people to believe that while oil companies make record profits exporting U.S. oil to the rest of the world, that this has no impact on gasoline prices here in the U.S"

"Growing electricity demand from data centers is increasing reliance on fossil fuels and delaying the retirement of aging power plants. As a result, more harmful air pollutants are being released into the atmosphere" environmentamerica.org/center/resou...

Mormon missionaries at ball game: 8 Bud Lights purchased: 0 📷 04/09/2019

FT looked at satellite imagery of other big data center projects. Its verdict: progress is much slower than the AI hype machine would suggest.

The presidents of the @ilaflcio.bsky.social and @chicagolabor.bsky.social have a letter to the editor in today’s Tribune calling on the IL Senate to pass home and auto insurance reforms www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/17/l...

🤯Facing strong backlash, PECO is fulling withdrawing its recent gas and electric rate hike filing www.peco.com/news/news-re...

Very much appreciate @katearonoff.bsky.social questioning whether we actually need all these data centers. Too often taken for granted in energy policy circles that the only question is how to mitigate the impacts/extract benefits. newrepublic.com/article/2089...

Wrote a post summing up what I think is the most interesting state in the US for utility accountability right now: Alabama. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Loyola student leader Lily Cashman making a public comment at the Illinois Commerce Commission against the Peoples Gas rate hike. One of 3 students making a comment today.

“In a statement Monday evening, consumer group Maryland PIRG argued that the Senate version of the bill “guts consumer protections.” Emily Scarr, a senior adviser at Maryland PIRG, argued that the Senate’s changes to the bill “reward the utility companies that are driving our high bills.”

So many problems solved by beans. Reduce carbon footprint, air pollution, water pollution? Beans. Low fiber American diet and rise in colon cancer? Beans. Fertilizer shortage? Beans. Antibiotic resistance, animal welfare, pandemic risk? BEANS. Truly the magical fruit.

A crowd of over 100 Chicagoans gathered in the cold on Wednesday night to protest a requested Peoples Gas rate hike. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. buff.ly/Nea0j8I