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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 4h

California can make extremely cheap power and still have some of the highest electric bills in the country. Clean energy is pushing costs down, so what happens to those savings before they reach your bill?

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

What we pay for electricity is shaped by more than how much we use. Power can be much more expensive to supply at some hours than others, and those costs can ultimately affect our rates. More low-cost options can help avoid the most expensive power.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Electricity can cost SIX TIMES more one day than another. In June 2026, daily peak wholesale prices in PJM ranged from $36 to $216 per megawatt-hour.

Infographic over a pink-to-purple sunset sky with power transmission towers and lines, titled THE MATH ON: WHY ELECTRICITY PRICES CAN SWING DRAMATICALLY. It highlights $36 → $216/MWH, A 6X DIFFERENCE IN ONE MONTH, and says that in June 2026 PJM wholesale electricity prices ranged from $36 to $216/MWh; COUNTERSPARK appears at the bottom right.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

What power is available, what it costs, and whether it can reach us when we need it all shape the price of electricity. AND MORE WAYS TO MEET DEMAND CAN KEEP ELECTRICITY COSTS DOWN. Why energy costs more at certain times of day:

Spark Notes infographic on a cream background with a photo of power transmission towers. It says Electricity prices can swing a lot throughout the day. Why? and explains that production costs change with demand and available supply; a caption adds that clean energy is often lowest-cost while high fuel costs and crowded transmission lines can raise prices. Bottom text says SWIPE THROUGH TO SEE HOW and COUNTERSPARK.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We are thrilled to announce a new Counterspark board member, Mandy Mahoney. Mandy is the CEO of MahoneyOne, a boutique consulting firm specializing in advancing climate and clean energy solutions across the Southeast and beyond.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We are excited to welcome Marneé Banks to the Counterspark board! Marneé has spent her career combining creativity and strategic leadership to deliver results for non-profits, elected officials, and media organizations.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Electricity demand is rising fast. The real question is how we meet the peaks. That choice shapes what gets built, how much new infrastructure we need, and what we ultimately pay.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

THE MATH ON: GROWING POWER DEMAND U.S. electricity demand could grow 15 to 20% over the next decade. At today's scale, that's roughly half of everything American homes use in a year, added onto the grid. Generation already hit a record in 2025, and residential prices climbed along with it.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Electricity demand is growing, but higher demand doesn’t have to mean higher bills. How utilities plan for the busiest hours, what we build, and how well we use the grid we already have can all shape what we ultimately pay.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

SPARK NOTES: What does growing electricity demand mean for our bills? Electricity demand is soaring. More demand can mean more spending on the power system, and some of that cost can eventually show up on our bills.

SPARK NOTES headline over an orange graphic of electrical transmission towers and power lines. Large text reads ELECTRICITY DEMAND IS GROWING. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOUR BILL? and smaller text says It depends on when that electricity is needed, whether the grid is built with the capacity to serve it, and how those costs are distributed. COUNTERSPARK appears at the bottom.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The energy system shapes what we pay, how reliable our power is, and what gets built in our communities. Over the next 12 weeks, Spark Notes will break down the decisions, technologies, and tradeoffs shaping where our power comes from and what it costs.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities across the country.

Hispanic Heritage Month poster with a cream background and colorful geometric border patterns in orange, teal, and red along the top, left, right, and bottom edges. Center text reads “HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH” with “Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More.” beneath it.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

An Ohio solar project was denied after regulators cited substantial local opposition. But dozens of opposing comments in the public record appeared to use fake names or locations, and once questionable and duplicate comments were removed, most submitted comments supported the project.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Utilities are pushing more than $101 BILLION in rate hikes this year alone, with 71% of electric customers facing increases already in effect or proposed.

Poster with a black top section reading “UTILITIES WANT TO ADD MORE THAN $101 BILLION TO OUR BILLS.” and “71% of electricity customers are facing higher rates or proposed increases.” Below, a man and woman sit close together reviewing utility bills and paperwork at a table, with the word “COUNTERSPARK” visible on one document.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The Trump administration has finalized a deal tying U.S. energy strategy to Venezuelan oil for the next 100 years. The White House itself says the agreement secures “energy dominance for the next century.” That’s a long time to plan around continued dependence on oil.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Gary, IN’s extreme weather issues aren’t an isolated event. Nearly 4 in 10 of us saw extreme weather damage our town or city in the past year. Among those hit, more than half are worried about more damage in the next 12 months. An energy grid built for that reality needs more options.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

AMERICA NEEDS MORE POWER. WASHINGTON IS DOUBLING DOWN ON AN OUTDATED SYSTEM, WHILE PRIVATE INDUSTRY INVESTS BILLIONS IN CLEAN ENERGY. Electricity demand is climbing, but federal policy is keeping aging coal and gas plants online longer while putting new barriers in front of wind and solar.

Three workers in hard hats and safety vests walk in front of a large solar panel installation. Text reads: “While Washington is making clean energy harder to build, businesses are still betting billions on it.”

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The U.S. is producing more oil and gas than ever, but what we pay for energy is still rising. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is holding up record production as the Trump administration’s answer to high energy costs.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Your electric truck could double as backup power for your home! When the grid goes down, some EVs can keep lights, refrigerators, outlets, and other essentials running for days.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The grid doesn't need years of building new transmission lines to start moving more clean energy, and that's good news for your bill!

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

From January through May, solar out-generated natural gas in California on a whopping 82% of days! A fast-growing battery fleet is now storing more of that daytime solar to use in the evening, right when demand peaks and gas usually takes over. Read more: twp.ai/9OZ1p7

Graphic comparing clean energy and fossil fuels, with solar panels and a wind turbine in warm sunlight on the left and a darkened natural gas power plant on the right. Text reads: “Solar generated more power than natural gas on 82% of days in California in the first five months of 2026.”

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Good news in clean energy: states are pushing back hard against the federal effort to make it harder to build. More than 200 siting and permitting bills have been introduced across 40-plus states this year.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Power lines got so overloaded, customers in one of the North America’s largest power grid absorbed nearly $1.8 billion in extra bill charges over two months.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

80% of Americans are worried the grid can't handle extreme weather. 69% think the fix should include investing more in battery storage. That worry is valid: The average U.S. home lost power for 11 hours last year, mostly from extreme weather.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The U.S. has gotten good at building factories that assemble solar panels, but we've had a harder time building factories that make the cells to go inside them.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Trump’s war on wind power goes back to turbines planned near his golf course. In 2012, he warned that changing government policy after investors had committed money would destroy confidence and send future investment away. “That is not fair to an investor,” he said.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

California built a 1-gigawatt power plant without pouring concrete. It is spread across more than 203,000 homes and buildings. Maybe you’re even a part of it! Participants are paid for providing power to the grid, and the program helps keep the power on and prices in check across California.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

China is capturing about 5X as much in avoided fossil-fuel costs from clean energy as the United States. In 2025 China: $177 billion United States: $35 billion It's clean energy industry also supports 7.3 million jobs.

China saved $117 Billion in avoided fossil-fuel costs. About 5x more than the U.S. China is building an energy advantage. America is falling behind.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Texas broke its all-time electricity demand record twice in two days. But 54 proposed Texas wind projects remain stuck in federal reviews, and canceled review sessions. Texas needs more power. Washington should stop leaving it stuck in limbo.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Trump promised to bring factories back to America. But you can’t promise new factories and manufacturing jobs while pulling the rug out from under the projects that buy what those factories produce.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

America’s next biggest power plant could be spread across millions of homes A proposed network combining over 8 million home batteries and smart thermostats could provide more than 2X the capacity of America’s largest power plant.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

For the second time in two weeks, an extreme heat wave is exposing the same grid problem across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest: there isn’t enough affordable power ready to handle surging demand.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe spent 15 years building a way off the fossil fuel roller coaster. After decades of boom-and-bust oil and gas revenue, the tribe is moving forward with a major solar and battery storage project on tribal land in New Mexico.

Solar engineers having a meeting in a solar panel field in the desert

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

July 4 brought major progress for advanced nuclear, and a costly deadline for wind and solar. The Energy Department created a pilot to help at least three advanced reactor concepts prove they could sustain a controlled nuclear reaction by July 4.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The U.S. produces more oil than any country in the world. If more fossil fuel production were enough to deliver energy independence, we’d have it by now. But global oil shocks still hit American families.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

America turns 250 this July with much of our electric grid built for a time when the country used far less power. As demand rises, can the system keep up without sacrificing reliability or affordability?

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

BIG CLIMATE WIN: On July 1, Virginia officially rejoins RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. VA joined, left, and returned to the program over the span of three governors. Here’s what that says about the power of state elections.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Solar is the #1 source of new electricity being added to the U.S grid. As of May 2026, it's surpassed coal as the dominant new energy source being built! This is happening even as the Trump administration commits over $700 million in federal support for coal plants and exports...

Solar farm construction worker inspecting production while smiling

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Duke Energy wants North Carolina households to pay about 18% more over two years. For an average customer, that could mean roughly $34 more each month by 2028.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Juneteenth marks a defining moment in American freedom: the day the promise of emancipation finally reached enslaved people who had been denied it for far too long. It is also a reminder that freedom requires more than a declaration.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Illinois has been building a clean energy workforce. Federal rollbacks put that progress at risk. Some clean energy firms have already laid off workers, frozen hiring, or expect layoffs as federal tax credits expire.

Wind turbine maintenance workers in harnesses, doing maintenance

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Good news if you’re buying or leasing a car in New York! Check the Drive Clean Rebate before you sign. The state just added $30 million to the program, which can take $500 to $2,000 off a new electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid at a participating dealership.

Mother and son plugging in electric vehicle in home garage

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A Louisiana bill would bar the state from spending a dime on clean energy or emissions-reduction work. This chokes off new solar and wind, right when demand climbs and the state needs cheaper power online fast.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

New England had to turn to oil-fired power during a May heat wave. Not in the depth of winter, and not at the height of summer. May, before the hardest part of the season had even started.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

A new Illinois energy law takes effect today. It targets the electric bills that have been climbing across the state.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We spend our days fighting for a livable climate and a grid that supports communities because the future is worth building for. But it's only worth it if everyone gets to live in that future freely. This Pride Month, we want to unequivocally say: that includes the LGBTQ+ community.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Clean energy gives countries more control over their energy future. A new international report points to the energy security reality that countries that build more clean power are less exposed to global fossil fuel price shocks.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

The grid is in better shape than ever this summer thanks to the help of new clean energy. The latest summer reliability assessment says new resources have outpaced demand growth and helped boost reserves, with solar and battery additions helping meet rising demand in many areas.

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countersparkus.bsky.social @countersparkus.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Wind and solar projects have 38 days left to begin construction before a major federal tax credit cutoff hits. These credits were going to extend for much longer until a Congressional bill last year to single out wind and solar.

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