Sign in

Brendan McEwen

@brendanmcewen.bsky.social
1.5K followers 2.1K following 1.9K posts

Working on decarbonizing buildings & transportation. Huge fan o’ nature, cities, art. Tend to use this platform to read & learn, but will try to tweet on occasion.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Adrian Hiel @adrianhiel.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
870 French households are disconnecting from the gas grid everyday. At the current rate the gas grid will be completely abandoned in 38 years. But the rate will increase. France is entering the gas grid doom loop.
87631
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Adam Radwanski @aradwanski.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I won’t belabour this because I’ve written about it before, but the part of Carney’s pipeline pivot that I find impossible to justify is the government taking on the demand risk.
311736
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
James Glave 🇨🇦 @jamesglave.bsky.social · 20h
Time to trot this out again.
Satirical Spirit Halloween costume for FortisBC Lobbyist depicts mid-thirties man in suit smiling and extending handshake. Listed costume features:
- RNG reassurances!
- Scary grid stories!
- Won't let your constituents
freeze in the dark!
- Oops where did those Canucks tickets come from?!
031
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · 18h
OK, now we're talking. These tax increases for high-income earners are long overdue: www.bcndp.ca/releases/bui...
bcndp.ca
To build B.C. strong, Eby will ask the wealthy to pitch in a bit more
Eby's plan will fund stronger healthcare for everyone by asking top income earners to contribute fair share – 96% pay nothing more
1164
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · 18h
As Vancouver folks prepare to vote: great to see this detailed climate plan from OneCity. In particular, note these platform planks on getting gas out of buildings: 🧵... www.onecityvancouver.ca/platform/cli...
onecityvancouver.ca
Vote OneCity Vancouver
Vote for the OneCity team of candidates for City Council, School, and Park Boards by October 17th.
1169
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
dustin @godfrey.work · 29/09/2026
BREAKING: Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx's charges are being thrown out. she said they did a public service "at considerable personal cost."
5261114
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Next week, unfathomably, marks the 3rd anniversary of the horrific Oct 7th Hamas massacre & 3 years of the monstrous genocide that Israel has inflicted upon Gaza. In my latest newsletter, I offer reflections (with thoughts for fellow Jews in Canada): sethdklein.substack.com/p/on-three-y...
sethdklein.substack.com
On three years of genocide and rising antisemitism
Reflections on a different emergency (with thoughts for fellow Jews in Canada)
0175
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Danny Cullenward @ghgpolicy.org · 17/09/2026
The inimitable @mikegrunwald.bsky.social has an exceptionally well written oped on the disastrous proposal from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to give companies carbon credit for cutting down trees.
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Latest Corporate Climate Ruse (Gift Article)
Making deforestation look climate-friendly will encourage a lot more deforestation.
311774
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Ioannis K. Erripis @erripis.gr · 19/09/2026
The bar is so low that a VW that is neither revolutionary nor ground breaking, just a conventional good designed car is sold out for months. That's how easy the road to salvation is, just don't make intentionally bad products and success is inevitable www.electrive.com/2026/09/07/v...
electrive.com
VW ID. Polo sold out for months ahead - electrive.com
In Europe, a waiting list is apparently forming for the VW ID. Polo even before the start of deliveries — at least for individual configurations. The waiting
1617742
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
NEW: The big story is not Chinese EVs everywhere —but Chinese EV factories everywhere. And its not just Chinese firms going out. Our CM-FDI database tracks every foreign Solar, Wind, EV and battery manufacturing plant built in 21st century. cmfdi.netzeropolicylab.com
119577
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Akshat Rathi @akshatrathi.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Japan imports 99.9% of its oil. It has already cut oil consumption in half from its peak. It knows what it must do to go further: move from hybrids to pure electric. 🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
513737
Brendan McEwen @brendanmcewen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
super excited about this @bcpolicy.bsky.social event... www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticket...
zeffy.com
BC Policy Solutions 2026 Fundraising Gala
Our inaugural Gala features the keynote lecture: ‘Disenshittification: How we break free from the US tech grip and leverage digital sovereignty for the public…
020
Brendan McEwen @brendanmcewen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
You know what Canada really needs to build our nation?!?!? A new oil pipeline to its West Coast on the taxpayer dime!!! 🤡🤡🤡
001
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Dave Jones @cleanpowerdave.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Dear Big Oil- Did you notice China's ICE car sales are down 30% year-to-date?
27017
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Juraj Mikurcik @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A cool solar PV facade and balconies on the 12-storey biobased apartment block in Malmö 🇸🇪 A total of ⚡ 218kWp system paired with 🔋 194kWh battery storage. Makes a lot of sense for low sun winter generation ☀️ via ETC Bygg
Photo of an apartment block being fitted with solar PV panels on facade and balconies
711331
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Lauri Myllyvirta @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This headline is of course entirely symbolic - coal still generates almost four times as much electricity and about 8 times as much total energy as solar in China. The much bigger milestone is that coal generated less than 50% of China's power in the first half of 2026.
39326
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Lauri Myllyvirta @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Cheap drones have made reliance on oil and gas very very expensive. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Satellite images show extent of damage to major Saudi pipeline, amid global oil supply fears
Saudis yet to provide details about damage from drone attack to key east-west pipeline to Red Sea that could affect 4% of global oil supply
03510
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
David Fickling @davidfickling.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Disease and massacres from European invasion resulted in the deaths of 93% of Indigenous people in Australia, per a new study. Sadly, this should not be surprising — it’s consistent with the numbers seen in the Americas after invasion. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09...
abc.net.au
Impact of colonisation on First Nations people far greater than previous estimates, research finds
Australia's Indigenous population was up to seven times larger before colonisation than previously estimated, but was devastated following the arrival of Europeans, new research reveals.
22512
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
David Fickling @davidfickling.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It’s darkly funny that data center bros are all installing gigawatts of diesel generators because batteries are girly and foreign, just at the moment the entire global diesel production system is breaking apart.
4215
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
IEEE Spectrum @spectrum.ieee.org · 16/09/2026
Swappable 575-kWh units are testing a new path to hybrid semi-trucks on fixed corridors.
spectrum.ieee.org
Battery-Powered Attachment Turns Diesel Semis Into Hybrid EVs
Fifth-wheel add-on cuts diesel consumption by 85 percent
0117
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Jonathan Koomey @jgkoomey.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Get your shingles vaccine, folks. Shingles is no joke, you absolutely don't want it.
121
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"Regenerative grazing" is a greenwashing scam, nothing more. Here's why. Please don't be taken in. drawdown.org/insights/eig...
drawdown.org
Eight reasons regenerative grazing can’t make beef climate-friendly
An influential regenerative grazing movement continues to grow. But here's why the science doesn't back up the purported climate benefits.
10442157
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 16/09/2026
I've been working with the team at Google on a framework to combine cutting short-lived climate pollutants like methane with durable carbon removal. Its awesome to see this being applied in the real world in a new deal with Terradot in Brazil! www.reuters.com/busi...
44914
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Good article, but there’s one understated piece: higher land use of organic ag means that if we shift toward organic at current consumption patterns, more natural ecosystems need to be cleared for farming, causing carbon losses, making total GHG emissions of organic usually higher vs. conventional.
99134
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Terence Tao @teorth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A group of 25 Fields Medalists, including myself, have made a joint declaration on Math and AI: mathandai.org . We welcome additional signatories. See also this article in the Economist announcing the declaration: www.economist.com/science-and-...
mathandai.org
Declaration — Math and AI
Read the declaration and add your name.
422054930
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Dr. Merritt Rae Turetsky @queenofpeat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Forget planting trees for a second. Let's talk about BOGS. Did you know that peatlands cover a tiny 3% of Earth’s land, but store MORE CARBON than all the world's forests combined?They are an ultimate MVP of our climate system and it’s time we start hyping them. Join me! 🧵 1/
11677254
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
John Smillie @johnsmillie42.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/john... First thing it is going to change is taking out/preventing a lot of peaker plants
011
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
David Roberts @volts.wtf · 03/09/2026
This is demonstrably, measurably improving the health of the people who live there. Most notably, it increases the respiratory *& cognitive* health of children. They literally do better in school. If this country really gave a shit about children, this would be at the top of the public-policy list.
312642709
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Jeremy Wallace @jeremywallace.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Eyes emoji. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Thailand to Shift From LNG Toward Renewables in Wake of Iran War
2649
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Tom Red @tomredmemes.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
5762372
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Jenny Chase @solarchase.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Sadly, no, BNEF is still stuck with me saying "people will literally start babbling about space when trying to imagine new markets for solar panels rather than admitting that the future is selling to poor people".
1408
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Tamar Haspel @tamarhaspel.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
RIP Wendell Berry, part of the Berry/Pollan/Waters Axis of Agrarianism, promoting non-industrial ag as the answer to the excesses of industrial ag. The excesses are real. The answer is wrong. The answer to bad industrial agriculture is better industrial agriculture. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/u...
nytimes.com
Wendell Berry, Writer Who Extolled America’s Agrarian Past, Dies at 92
A Kentucky farmer, he railed against agribusiness and championed small family farms and the environment, winning widespread acclaim.
0186
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Wendell Berry, friend and comrade in many fights and perhaps the writer who meant the most to me, is dead at 92. An appreciation--and a contrast with Elon Musk, in every way his vile opposite billmckibben.substack.com/p/two-men?r=...
billmckibben.substack.com
Two Men
One as great as America ever produced, and the other Elon Musk
928570
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
John Hanger @jrfhanger.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Good morning with good news: China had multiple EV sale records in July 2026! Plug-in vehicles were 65% of sales in July 2026 versus 54% in July 2025! BEV were a record 44% of sales! EV share of exports was 59% in 7/26 vs 45% in 7/25. Petrol-only auto sales fell 44%! Links next. #energysky
25914
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Tom Hawthorn 🇨🇦 @tomhawthorn.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
This quote will last a century.
112836
Brendan McEwen @brendanmcewen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
If #turkeyvoltaics is wrong, I don't want to be right...
101
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Just Kevin @kevinleecaster.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
@commercialsolarguy.com @solarman55.bsky.social @solarboi.com and oh heck @dieworkwear.bsky.social too. I don't believe that TurkeyVoltaics is promoted nearly as much as it should be. Do you agree? 🔌💡 ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
ambrook.com
Turkeys Grazing Under Solar Panels
In a farming community that has accepted residential solar but isn’t sure about large commercial facilities, the Thanksgiving meal is coming directly from the solar industry.
161
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Qagggy! @qagggy.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Holy shit we’re flying like a bat out of hell. #Acceler8
551109111
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Tamar Haspel @tamarhaspel.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
I wrote about the problems with lettuce and someone sent me a poem!
1131
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
John Hanger @jrfhanger.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Germany's solar skyrocketed 44% in July 2026 (14.7 TWh) from July 2025 (10.2 TWh)! Germany's July Solar Share: 2026: 35.2% 2025: 27.5% 2023: 23.6% 2016: 11.4% Coal fell to a record low July share of 15.9% from 20.5% in July 2025! Gas fell to 10.1% in July 2026 from 12.9% in 7/2025. #energysky
25816
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Leah Stokes @leahstokes.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
This story is heartbreaking. Look what Trump's ICE is doing to Haitian immigrants who did all the right things, followed every rule. It's just evil. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/u...
nytimes.com
In Ohio, Haitians Feel Shaken by Ankle Monitors and Increased ICE Presence
The devices, which will make it easier for authorities to locate immigrants in Springfield if large-scale deportations begin, have intensified a sense of dread.
0698
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Kees van der Leun @sustainable2050.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Trump threatens to use military force against high interest rates in the US. 🤡 h/t @locuta.bsky.social
73712
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Optimist: the cup is half full Pessimist: the cup is half empty Colorado River researcher: more than half of that cup’s water was used for agriculture, and the majority of that was for cattle feed, some of which was exported to the Middle East where growing feed is restricted due to water scarcity
38520
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
HG Wells is alleged to have remarked "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race”. You could see this shocking chart as an index of civilisation. A country which gets this issue so badly wrong is likely to fail in many other ways.
601146440
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
David Roberts @volts.wtf · 21/08/2026
Read this account of a family -- green card-holding, valid, permanent residents of the US -- kidnapped by ICE, separated, and held in degrading concentration camps for 9 months and counting.
thenation.com
One Woman’s Message From the Hell of ICE Detention
My husband, son, and I have been locked up for months—despite being permanent residents with no criminal record. It is an unendurable, unending nightmare.
7332163
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Chris Bataille @chrisbataille.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
🧐 Current policies have us on track to ~+2.8C. Some tightening will land us @ ~2.1-2.2 with some uncertainty. It will be ugly, but we can land this. We need to get unabated FFs down to near zero, & get some CDR going. Energy investment globally is trending that way, industrial ... so much work to do
1115
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Chris Bataille @chrisbataille.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
ESG may have died in the west, but guess who carries on? carnewschina.com/2026/08/17/c...
carnewschina.com
CATL goes 100% zero-carbon electricity in core operations, targets value chain carbon neutrality by 2035
CATL announces core operational carbon neutrality, sets 2035 goal for value chain neutrality.
0155
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
If you were curious about Tooze's new climate book, check out this convo with @kaiserkuo.bsky.social “This is the material dethroning of the west as the central driver of world history. This is really what the provincialization of the west really looks like" www.sinicapodcast.com/p/the-thing-...
26127
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Mamdani is succeeding in part by projecting joy Ossoff is succeeding in part by projecting steely ferocity We’re in a moment when attitude is nearly as powerful as ideology, because we all need courage. And these are two ways of summoning it
10371201249
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Chris Bataille @chrisbataille.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
This is huge disappointment for Canadian climate policy. If there’s one sector that will need CCS in the medium to long-term it’s limestone calcination (eg for cement). And it’s not an issue of technology but of cost and policy certainty. carbonherald.com/weak-carbon-...
carbonherald.com
Weak Carbon Pricing Halts Heidelberg $1.36B Edmonton Carbon Capture Facility
Heidelberg Materials has put its $1.36 billion carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project in northwest Edmonton on hold.
42310