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Russell Gold

@russellgold.bsky.social
1.2K followers 336 following 78 posts

Writer of things, articles, books, notes to self. Texas Monthly. WSJ alum. Trafficker in truth.

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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Anyone know why #MISO needed to order an emergency load shed yesterday? It cited unplanned generation and transmission outages, but ... what happened?
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Vistra spends $1.9 billion to buy gas plants. NRG spends $12 billion to buy gas plants. Constellation spends $16.4 billion to buy gas plants. That’s ~$30 billion and not a single new gas plant built. Folks, we’ve got to build new generation, not just change the names on the gate.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
To be competitive in AI race, the political right will need to accept the need for solar+batteries, and the political left will need to accept the need for natgas peakers. So says New politics needed for a new energy world.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Three times state officials decided an oilfield waste dump wasn't suitable for Joaquin, Texas. They process took five years and two weeks of hearings. Railroad Commissioners approved it anyway--after three minutes of discussion. www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
State Experts Warned Against an Oil Field Waste Dump. Texas Regulators Approved it Anyway.
Examiners repeatedly noted the significant risk of water contamination at the East Texas site. But the Railroad Commission green-lit the facility.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Some personal news... www.linkedin.com/posts/russel...
linkedin.com
The time has come for a new adventure. For the past 32 years, I have been… | Russell Gold
The time has come for a new adventure. For the past 32 years, I have been a journalist. Not an editor. Not a bureau chief. A journalist. Working the phones. Wrangling data. Asking questions. Putting ...
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
The race is on, and the U.S. is falling behind.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
He killed their loved one. During their victim impact statements, they asked to hug him. elpasomatters.org/2025/04/22/v...
elpasomatters.org
An El Paso mass shooter killed their loved ones. They hugged him
The judge wept and others in the courtroom sobbed as a woman who lost her brother in the 2019 El Paso Walmart mass shooting hugged the gunman after her emotional impact statement.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Dammit, gotta watch Andor now
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Reposted by Russell Gold
Doug Lewin @douglewin.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
"Let's try do to no harm." That's what ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas told the Legislature two years ago about a bill similar to one that could get a vote in committee tomorrow. He said the retroactive requirements would undermine ERCOT's ability to have "the energy that we need." 1/
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Not one, but two Subarus outside my local central Austin gun shop. Is the left arming itself? Is there a shift in political consumerism?
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Fifteen years ago today. A tragedy of oil and engineering hubris.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Fascinating & highlights an issue ERCOT flagged at mtg this month. Sudden large load drops becoming a growing grid issue.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Stunning photo of sinkhole near McCamey, with oil oil well in the middle. Yeah, that's oil in pit. Check out people on left for scale.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
This might make the coasts uncomfortable, but Texas has been leading the way on certain issues (housing, energy) for years, and the rest of the country is just figuring this out. (from @conordougherty.bsky.social 's latest in the NYT magazine)
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Rural Texans speaking up for a diverse, reliable energy grid — one that includes solar + batteries + gas + nukes + wind...
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Why should Texas use more renewables on its electricity grid? It frees up natural gas for export, part 65. Abu Dhabi energy giant buys 24% stake in Eagle Ford upstream & Calcasieu pass LNG export play. www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
prnewswire.com
Mubadala Energy Enters Major U.S. Upstream Gas and LNG Operation with Kimmeridge
/PRNewswire/ -- Mubadala Energy, the Abu Dhabi headquartered international energy company, has today signed an agreement with Kimmeridge, the energy-focused...
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
This could get interesting. Worth watching: 📃 Republicans float climate tariffs with a carbon removal twist www.axios.com/newsletters/... #axiosgenerate
axios.com
Axios Generate - 📃 Republicans float climate tariffs with a carbon removal twist
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
For the past couple years, rumors have swirled about the $$$ behind Texas' Draconian anti-renewable push. Now, some names are emerging and, of course, there's a #Landman connection. energyandpolicy.org/who-is-stewa...
energyandpolicy.org
Who is Stewards of Texas, the group pushing anti-renewable energy bill SB 819?
A newly-formed 501(c)4 nonprofit is behind efforts to pass a bill that would enact draconian siting requirements for new solar and wind generation, impose additional permit requirements for developers...
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
ERCOT is now keeping an eye on bitcoin miners suddenly tripping off... a rapid 330mw drop can cause voltage fluctuations. Not a crisis, but getting more common.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Thank you! What a great email to receive out of the blue!
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Nailed it.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Say we need to build a new bridge or interstate transmission line or SMR nuke ... who should decide where it goes, and whose neighborhood gets disrupted? The President? The courts? Someone else? Interesting new piece by Mark Dunkelman in the Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
theatlantic.com
The Question Progressives Refuse to Answer
As Democrats became the party of proceduralism, they sidestepped a crucial debate.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
We're breaking energy production records. Our greenhouse gas emissions are down. Energy prices are not high. So why does the Trump administration want to dramatically change course? The answer lies with Harold Hamm. My (first) NYT essay: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Oil Oligarch Shaping Trump’s Energy Strategy
Harold Hamm, President Trump’s energy mentor, wants to take us back to the 1990s.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
If you have to ask how much the gorditas are, you are not worthy of the gorditas.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Solar breaks another record in ERCOT. And 54% of electricity.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
To quote the eminent seismologist Jerry Lee Lewis, there's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
On E. 6th Street in Austin, a high-tech ops center overseeing gigawatts of wind and solar. A few blocks away, under the Capitol dome, a bill gaining strength that would be an "industry killer." The very Texas fight over renewable energy is my latest: www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Hello, Salem Nuke! Looking for a 48 year old!
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Smoke em while you (still) got em www.chron.com/politics/art...
chron.com
Texans are buying up THC—before they can't
Texas THC retailers are reporting an increase in customer visits and consumer sales ahead of consideration by the Texas Legislature of a potential ban on THC.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
He Saved the Texas Oil Industry. Then the Feds Accused Him of Colluding With the Saudis. The untold story of Scott Sheffield. www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
How a Texas Oilman and a Saudi Minister May Have Cost You More at the Gas Pump
Scott Sheffield, the former CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, is a hero of the Texas oil industry. But the U.S. government has accused him of working with OPEC to fix prices.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
A modest proposal to Frenchify the Texas economy. (Let's turn the historic French legation into an Airbnb, and other ideas.) www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
Oui-Haw! Let’s Frenchify the Texas Economy
To push our state's GDP higher than France's, perhaps we should become more like our European rival.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Need to sign an indemnity agreement to visit a ranch that lists "detonating explosives" as a "recreational activity." Oh, Texas! You had me at explosives.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
"Approximately 4 miles West of Alpine, Sheriff Dodson disabled the rear tire of the vehicle with a well placed round from his 1911 pistol." bigbendsentinel.com/2024/12/29/b...
bigbendsentinel.com
Brewster sheriff shoots out tire of fleeing theft suspect
Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson shot a fleeing theft suspect’s rear tire as he fled from deputies through Alpine and west on Highway 90 Friday, before the suspect’s car ran over tire spikes, coll...
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Spotted pair of coyotes in urban Austin this morning (around 35th street, in creek bed.) They seemed to be enjoying the New Year.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
From the Dallas Fed energy survey... the headline "all firms" looks positive, but the large E&P firms are not so cheery — and they are bulk of production and spending.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
Well, accidental investigations are rare.
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Reposted by Russell Gold
Evil MoPac @evilmopacatx.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Austin Winter is almost here ❤️
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Cachito vs. Kolache: What's the difference? My stomach demands an answer.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
I am obsessed with the "Miramax Channel" on my TV. It's always playing the Godfather (or Mission: Impossible II) -- I've never seen it play an actual Miramax movie. And given the whole Harvey Weinstein of it all — why use it as a brand?
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Thinking of starting a GoFundMe to raise $163 for an Enron hoodie and bumper sticker. enron.com/collections/...
enron.com
Company Store
We're back and we have something to say
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
‪Finishing new book by @jrdsllvn.bsky.social on the largest environmental disaster that practically no one talks about: The TVA's 2008 Kingston coal ash disaster, and the human toll of cleaning it up. It is a jarring tale of lies, litigation and really unhealthy dust.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
A 25% tariff on Canadian oil would impact one region of the US in particular. The pipeline system is built to purchase & refine Canadian crude. Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah: Get ready for higher gas prices.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Ho hum, just an 80% emissions free electricity day in Texas.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
New life for old batteries. Element Energy announced a large utility-storage facility in West Texas using — reusing, actually — old EV batteries. If it's new and interesting in energy, it's in Texas. Part 324. www.canarymedia.com/articles/lon...
canarymedia.com
The biggest grid storage project using old batteries is online in…
Startup Element Energy set out to prove that second-life batteries could deliver cheaper energy storage safely and at scale.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
In 2015, a minor aviation mishap introduced me to Chris Wright, Trump's proposed Energy Secretary. I was impressed with what he was doing. www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
What Energy Secretary Chris Wright Would Mean for Texas
When I first met Trump’s cabinet nominee, he was an industry innovator, but now he’s dismissive of the solar and wind power revolution.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
In 2015, a minor aviation mishap introduced me to Chris Wright, Trump's proposed Energy Secretary. I was impressed with what he was doing. www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
What Energy Secretary Chris Wright Would Mean for Texas
When I first met Trump’s cabinet nominee, he was an industry innovator, but now he’s dismissive of the solar and wind power revolution.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
The Longhorn, like many of us, has a long and tangled immigrant story to share." Photos by Joel Salcido & words by John Phillips Santos, which is a knockout one-two punch. In the new @texasmonthly.bsky.social www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/...
texasmonthly.com
The Texas Longhorn Isn’t as Texan as You Think
Photographer Joel Salcido uncovers the story of its origins.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
I visited Occidental's new, $1.3 billion pair of lungs to remove CO2 from the air and ended up feeling something strange: Optimism. www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
New Hope to Combat Climate Change—From an Oil Giant?
Occidental Petroleum’s $1.3 billion carbon removal project in West Texas aims to prove the technology can make a difference.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 04/11/2024
Texas is gerrymandered to favor the GOP. We played around with a redistricting program and created a map that generated 26 safe/leaning D Congressional seats to 12 safe/leaning R seats. What happened to our representative democracy? www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
texasmonthly.com
We Gerrymandered Texas Two Ways to Show How Undemocratic the Process Is
The Democratic Party wins only around 45 percent of the vote statewide, but if it controlled redistricting, it could pick up about two-thirds of the state’s congressional seats.
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Russell Gold @russellgold.bsky.social · 01/11/2024
Nice scoop. This is going to get expensive. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...
houstonchronicle.com
Leaked memo details Texas’ $100M emergency request for oil well blowouts
Texas Railroad Commission's emergency funding request comes weeks after a 100-foot geyser erupted in a West Texas oil field.
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