“Kindness don’t ask for much but an open mind”

Sep 25, 2024 | Blog, Energy Transition Policy & Policymaking, Framing and the Energy Transition Debate

For some people, complex ideas resonate more when conveyed through artistic expression than through narratives or numbers. Many readers will have heard of energy historian Daniel Yergin’s book, The Prize. Fewer will know his sequel, The Quest. In the latter book...

“Rage-Farming”

Sep 20, 2024 | Blog, Journalism, Bias & Censored News, Partisanship, Elections and the Energy Transition

Of all the political communication pathologies worsened by modern media technology, one of the lesser-known is “rage-farming.” It’s an old idea in new clothes. Their biographers detail the pettiness of the extended feud between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas...

“Tell him the truth Loretta. They find out anyway.”

Sep 15, 2024 | Blog, Framing and the Energy Transition Debate

The line in the title of this post comes from the 1987 romantic comedy “Moonstruck,” and the truth at issue in the film’s plot concerns infidelity. But the idea applies to politics as well, and is reflected in the adage that “the cover up is...

World Values Survey & the Energy Transition

Sep 10, 2024 | Blog, Democracy and Transitions to Authoritarianism

The most recent version of the World Values Survey (WVS) came out a little more than a year ago. The Economist had a particularly lucid and useful explanation of its conclusions, including some excellent graphics to illustrate their points. The survey is the creation...

Annotating Energy Transition Stories — Episode # 3

Sep 5, 2024 | Blog, Framing and the Energy Transition Debate, Journalism, Bias & Censored News

I noted in a previous post that popular understanding of the energy transition is harmed as much by constant minor exaggerations and omissions as by outright lies. Many of the misrepresentations of the MAGA right are characteristically obvious, often parroting Donald...

Climate Change and The Electric Grid — Wildfires

Aug 30, 2024 | Blog, Energy Transition Policy & Policymaking

We have known for some time that climate change can increase the intensity and frequency of wildfires. And in recent years wildfires sparked by electric utility infrastructure have become more common. California, Hawaii and Texas have experienced particularly...