iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

One final note. The EO speaks of the importance of transmission (and specifically high voltage transmission). This is extremely correct. We need much more for data centers, reliability etc. But it's quite ironic to highlight the importance of high voltage transmission today of all days.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

One nugget: I think this is the first time a specific threshold is set for the percent of federal $ that triggers NEPA (50%), though many questions remain for how one calculates this (particularly in the context of loans, tax credits, etc).

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Both support data centers and also the generation needed to power them. Biden required carbon-free power sources (wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal, hydro, CCS) and storage. The Trump EO references nat gas, coal, nuclear, and geothermal (not hydro storage or of course wind or solar)

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

As a lawyer, you know you're having a bad day when a federal judge uses an exclamation point. As the Executive Branch you SHOULD know you're having a bad day when it's used to tell you to follow the law.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Interior issues new memo in response to anti-wind/solar Executive Order that requires any of 69 types of decisions/actions to go to the Office of the Secretary. This is the way you stall and kill projects. Intentionally red-tape projects to death.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

US withdrawal from the IEA because we're mad about modeling assumptions in reports would be extremely shortsighted (and ironic). The IEA coordinates international strategic petroleum withdrawals. Without it, our ability to respond effectively to a global oil shock would be significantly diminished.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

not to be the flyspeck nyt copy as if it's the most important thing guy, but seriously wtf is this?

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

This is extremely true of the energy sections too. A paperwork and regulatory mess for businesses. Any assertion about this Administration's "deregulation" agenda that does not include this new impenetrable web of requirements is missing a key aspect of the story.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Here's hoping we see 2017 Lisa Murkowski again.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Trying to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains and bolster U.S. and allied manufacturing makes total sense. But the bill will do the opposite by undercutting U.S. energy supply and manufacturing with a web of unworkable red tape.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

NABTU gets it. “Equivalent of canceling 1000 keystone XLs” "Biggest job killing Bill in the history of the country"

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

NABTU gets it. “Equivalent of canceling 1000 keystone XLs” "Biggest job killing Bill in the history of the country"

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Notable admission from the Secretary of Energy: the energy sources that are available now, low cost, low carbon, and the future of global demand are apparently not ones that this Administration wants to see built or made in the US. That will put us on the back-foot in the AI race.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Having to eliminate the FOIA office and moving functions into an already over-stretched GC office (which also does all appropriations law) is another example of how the mindless cuts at DOE will undermine the Department's ability to meet its mission, including this Administration's own priorities.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Strong set of policy recommendations from Google on advancing energy technologies needed to meet growing demand. Note, in particular the importance of tax credits for meeting this demand growth. Repeal of tech neutral = ceding AI leadership.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Um... excuse me Mr. President... I hate to tell you about this confusing but increasingly popular policy called "foreign entity of concern"

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

New RIF memo from OMB. We must make clear to Americans that this caricature of the government will cause real harms. Immediate harms, like closed national parks and reduced medical care. But also long-term harms to competitiveness and growth that will make America weak. chcoc.gov/sites/defaul...

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Does the Trump Administration understand that the government provides essential services, like maintaining the reliability of the power grid, that will be at risk by the indiscriminate and fanatical war on public servants from Musk and his lackeys? www.newsdata.com/clearing_up/...

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Federal regs (5 CFR 315.804(a)) are clear that agencies have to fire for cause--performance or conduct--and give each employee a reason in writing. Employees can challenge the firing of the agency fails to follow that procedure.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Great piece from @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social on the next front in the grant/loan freeze. While the impoundments issue gets most attention, boring old 1L contract law is just as important, for grantees and for the American economic system. heatmap.news/politics/tru...

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

It feels like, if we tried, we could make something of this...?

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

It's just so obvious that what is happening here has nothing to do with improving government functioning or enhancing "efficiency". For some it's about intentionally breaking government, for others it's about installing political cronies. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/u...

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

WH out with a new memo that appears to walk back the scope of the disbursement pause. Agencies (after consulting OMB) now have discretion to keep spending for the "good" programs. Assume this is in reaction to uncertainty for nuclear, highways, etc. uncertainty remains for many others, however.

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Critical insight from @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social: you can't have a revival of critical mineral extraction and processing without a clean energy industry to buy your product. Yet day-one EOs are fixated on tearing down EV demand, solar/wind, factories funded by IIJA/IRA. heatmap.news/politics/tru...

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

If we have inadequate energy (including natural gas) to meet even critical domestic energy needs, why would it be in the public interest to authorize exporters to send more than half of US production abroad?

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Avi Zevin @azevin.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

What do all these growth projections amount to? A reasonably significant new product category that someone will have to pay for. Will they? (a sincere, not a sarcastic question!)

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