Sign in

Willett Kempton

@willett.bsky.social
2.1K followers 72 following 116 posts

I research, publish, mentor & advise on #offshorewind power, electric vehicles #EV. Invented vehicle-to-grid power #V2G. Prof at U of Delaware. V2G pubs: crew.udel.edu/v2g/publications/ #energytransition #energysky 🔌💡 🔌🚗

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Abbey @abbeyarletto.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
When reality surpasses fiction! Top: fictional forecast for August 2050, broadcast by French TV in 2014 to warn about the consequences of global warming. Bottom: Real French forecast for yesterday, June 22, 2026.
236168337554
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
New data from Charles River Asoc: PJM electric demand now growing 5x faster, driven by data centers, semiconductor manufacturing & industrial electrification. By 2033, PJM projected shortfall 7.8 GW! #Offshorewind can reduce load-shedding risk by 40%. Link to report (free):
turnforward.org
Offshore Wind Can Help Address PJM’s Growing Energy Challenge - Turn Forward
Research by Charles River Associates Offshore wind remains a largely untapped resource that could play a major role in keeping the PJM grid both reliable and affordable. PJM’s current energy mix includes natural gas, nuclear, coal, renewables, hydropower, and storage. Keeping up with projected demand growth will require significant investment across generation, transmission, storage, and […]
020
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Covering Climate Now @coveringclimatenow.org · 20/06/2026
Last week, Trump’s DOJ gave up in the legal fight to defend the president’s moratorium on permitting wind projects. The plaintiffs — 17 states & Washington, D.C. — called the news “one of the most significant legal victories against the Trump White House’s campaign against the energy transition.”
buff.ly
Trump Administration Abandons Fight Against Wind Energy as Clean Energy Output Surges - Inside Climate News
The clean energy sector is showing resilience despite challenges thrown at it by a hostile White House, a recent report found. A string of legal victories has further dampened the Trump…
34517
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Gas prices are staying high. Let’s answer people’s questions about EVs! Snappy Q&A via Wired:
wired.com
Engineering Professor Answers Electric Car Questions
Professor Willett Kempton joins WIRED to answer the internet's most interesting questions about electric cars. Has Elon Musk's high profile public persona affected Tesla sales? Will electric cars ever charge as quickly as pumping gas for a traditional combustion engine? Why can't Americans by Chinese EVs? Answers to these questions and more await on Electric Car Support. Director: Justin Wolfson Director of Photography: Charlie Jordan Editor: Richard Trammell Expert: Willett Kempton Line Producer: Jamie Rasmussen Associate Producer: Brandon White Production Manager: Peter Brunette Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark Supervising Casting Producer: Thomas Giglio Camera Operator: Caleb Weiss Sound Mixer: Brett Van Deusen Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin Supervising Editor: Eduardo Araujo Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
0125
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Gas prices are staying high. Let’s answer people’s questions about EVs! Snappy Q&A via Wired:
wired.com
Engineering Professor Answers Electric Car Questions
Professor Willett Kempton joins WIRED to answer the internet's most interesting questions about electric cars. Has Elon Musk's high profile public persona affected Tesla sales? Will electric cars ever charge as quickly as pumping gas for a traditional combustion engine? Why can't Americans by Chinese EVs? Answers to these questions and more await on Electric Car Support. Director: Justin Wolfson Director of Photography: Charlie Jordan Editor: Richard Trammell Expert: Willett Kempton Line Producer: Jamie Rasmussen Associate Producer: Brandon White Production Manager: Peter Brunette Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark Supervising Casting Producer: Thomas Giglio Camera Operator: Caleb Weiss Sound Mixer: Brett Van Deusen Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin Supervising Editor: Eduardo Araujo Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
0125
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
For 5 US #offshorewind projects, US Admin. halted construction just B4 Christmas. Courts have now ruled on 4 of 5, all “stayed” the halt and allow immediate construction restart. Courts also find Admin unlikely to win in full trial. 5 projects~6GW! #energytransition #wind
nytimes.com
Judge Revives Wind Farm That Trump Halted Off Martha’s Vineyard
The project, known as Vineyard Wind, was already 95 percent complete when the Trump administration ordered construction to stop.
130
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Second court order this week allowing another #offshorewind project to resume construction. Low-competence DOJ lackeys didn’t even reply to most of developer’s points. At stake are affordable power and big #CO2 reductions. News: www.nytimes.com/2026... Legal summary: www.jdjournal.com/20...
nytimes.com
Empire Wind Project Can Resume Construction, Judge Rules
A federal judge said the Empire Wind project off Long Island would suffer “irreparable harm” if the Trump administration continued to hold up work.
073
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
States respond—the legal, power reliability, and industrial problems with the Administration’s suspend-activity order to under-construction #offshorewind projects. Concise, direct, clear. Worth a read. www.governor.ny.gov/...
011
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Leading science journal: “The seemingly unstoppable [global] growth of renewable energy is Science’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year.” Achieved by (slow) science discovery, then innovations, then industrialization. #solar #wind #EV #EnergyTransition www.science.org/cont... Or scim.ag/493Tpgx
131
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Justin Gerdes @justingerdes.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
"At their all-time high, in 2017, global sales of pure internal combustion vehicles hit 79.9 million units, per data from the International Energy Agency. Last year, 54.8 million internal combustion cars were sold, a 31% reduction." www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele... via @danmccarthy.bsky.social
canarymedia.com
Chart: EVs are ascendant — and gas cars are past their prime
Sales of gas-only vehicles are down by 31% from their peak, while electric vehicle sales are growing rapidly worldwide, largely due to China.
03010
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Largest US #OffshoreWind project by the numbers: 2.6 GW, 176 turbines (≈15 MW each) $4.31/MW total capital $84/MWh cost of energy 63¢ /month customer bill SAVINGS Utility-owned Q1Y26 first power into grid Q4Y26 expected completion Lowering bills & meeting VA's load growth!
utilitydive.com
Dominion says largest US offshore wind project on track
The 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is set for completion by the end of 2026 despite vessel delays, the utility company said Friday.
121
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Great detail on Dominion’s progress building 2.6 GW #offshorewind. First OSW project for this utility, new port, new installation vessel. And, unexpected glitches, like 200 punch list fixes for the big boat🤯. #energytransition @rtoinsider.bsky.social
ow.ly
Dominion Reports on CVOW Progress, Data Center Growth in Q3 Earnings
Dominion Reports on CVOW Progress, Data Center Growth in Q3 Earnings
000
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
New V2G demonstrations, but… Why Isn’t Progress Faster? Asks @dangearino.bsky.social in @insideclimatenews.org. Good analysis of reasons, including current projects and my perspective on fundamentals, recent advances, and overcoming barriers. #EV #V2G #storage 🔌💡
insideclimatenews.org
Vehicle-to-Grid Power Is Becoming a Reality, But Why Isn’t Progress Faster? - Inside Climate News
Your EV battery is often an underutilized resource that could be part of a network that acts like a power plant for your region.
2114
Reposted by Willett Kempton
jae holzman @jael.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Scoop: Trump lost the legal battle over halting the offshore Revolution Wind project after Orsted, its developer, brought reams of evidence to court alleging the government was lying about military security concerns. It’s a sign truth can empower companies Trump targets. Via @heatmap.news
heatmap.news
How Trump’s Case Against Revolution Wind Fell Apart
The administration argued in the name of national defense — but Orsted had receipts.
191692535
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Are US Administration worries about #offshorewind valid? South Fork Wind now has a year’s operating experience, Orsted has released a report on it, and @justingerdes.bsky.social has a quick-read summary—a factual, data-based alternative to today’s government propaganda.
quittingcarbonmedia.com
Trump claims offshore wind is worthless. This project proves the opposite is true.
South Fork Wind, the U.S.’ first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, is demonstrating the folly of the Trump’s administration’s misguided war on offshore wind.
172
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Rule of law prevails! Big clean energy project can proceed. #offshorewind #energytransition 🔌⚡️
reuters.com
US judge allows halted US offshore wind project to resume construction
A federal judge on Monday granted a request by Danish offshore wind developer Orsted to restart work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project, which President Donald Trump's administration halted last month.
12111
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Incisive article “Power Struggle” by @jefftheyoung.bsky.social on how US policy drives investment, factories and jobs out of USA, favoring China. Quote (below) by @billmckibben.bsky.social if US blocks new expanding technologies, it could become the Colonial Williamsburg of internal combustion.
Quotation by Bill McKibben in “Power Struggle” Newsweek article.
031
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
How fast can the world install 1GW of solar? Below graph 2004=1 year, up to 2023=1 day! As of 2025, 11.5 hours—see ember-energy.org/latest-updat... For explanation, see McKibben books.apple.com/us/book/here... (Similar acceleration seen for wind, next storage.) Growth now unstoppable!
ember-energy.org
Global solar installations surge 64% in first half of 2025 | Ember
021
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
US Rep Seth Magaziner bsky.app/profile/mag... asks Mr. Suess, Acting Ast Sec at DOI, why halt Revolution Wind for redundant US Gov. review? Why raise energy prices, put US workers on unemployment & kill new domestic energy? No answer: youtu.be/IWpW000opLU Also WSJ: www.wsj.com/us-news/...
bsky.app
Representative Seth Magaziner (@magaziner.house.gov)
Proud to fight for working people as the Representative for Rhode Island's Second Congressional District.
001
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Even the US Chamber🎩is: “…concerned… halt work orders on offshore wind projects that already have permits, some… far along in construction… risks raising the cost of electricity… America needs every possible electron it can get, from any source,”💸
uschamber.com
We Need Permitting Certainty...from Start to Finish
The U.S. Chamber urges the need for permitting reform as well as the importance of providing certainty for energy projects already permitted.
012
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
From @slashklc.bsky.social , a very plausible explanation of why US Admin vehemently opposes some low-carbon energy technologies and neutral or mildly positive on others. Q: How to determine what is opposed? Look at current deployment sizes and growth rates. A: #solar and #windpower
020
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
Dept Interior issued work stoppage to Revolution Wind—700 MW of clean power, 80% built, power on this fall, contracted to RI and CT. All permits approved long ago. This is anti-business, chills investment, raises costs. Chokes off needed ⚡️🔌.
orsted.com
Revolution Wind receives offshore stop-work order from US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
On 22 August 2025, Ørsted’s subsidiary Revolution Wind LLC, a 50/50 joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partner’s Skyborn Renewables, received an order instructing the project to stop activities on the outer continental shelf related to the Revolution Wind project from the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Revolution Wind is complying with the order and is taking appropriate steps to stop offshore activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment.
072
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
🇺🇸Admin told Feds🫵favor energy produced using less land even if more$$ 😵‍💫. See great analysis by @mzjacobson.bsky.social; my refinements: corn🌽ethanol is not production, and space between turbines is not “used” (2nd link, tbl S28). Result: Fossil+nuc 1.6% land Renewables 0.16% So💨☀️🟰 ⬇️$ and ⬇️land!
000
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Largest offshore wind project worldwide, Berwick Bank, 4.1 GW, approved contingent on avian study & mitigation if needed. How big 4.1 GW for Scotland? 🟰 power of 2x households OR 🟰 to taking ALL cars of the road. Running well before 2030. BBC: bbc.com/news/article... Dev: www.berwickbank.com
092
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
World energy investments. #Grid, #solar, and #wind dwarf all others—in $/year or in (not shown) new MWh/yr. Seems the current US Admin. missed this trend, and believes that blocking growing technologies in one country will change the many market drivers of their growth. 🔌 www.iea.org/reports/worl...
iea.org
World Energy Investment 2025 – Analysis - IEA
World Energy Investment 2025 - Analysis and key findings. A report by the International Energy Agency.
1176
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Jeff St John @jeffstjohn.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Senate Republicans are pushing a tax cut bill that would undermine billions of dollars of clean energy investment, kill jobs, drive up energy prices and add a new 'tax' on solar and wind so ugly that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Elon Musk oppose it: www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle... #energysky
canarymedia.com
New Senate GOP bill would kill clean power and spike energy costs
Under pressure from Trump, Senate Republicans unveiled legislation so restrictive that even Elon Musk and the Chamber of Commerce’s policy chief oppose it.
095
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 28/06/2025
The Senate version of GOP's budget bill dropped in the middle of the night. Astonishingly, it got EVEN WORSE. It raises energy costs, kills $100s of billions of investment in manufacturing, makes grids less reliable, increases pollution & constrains our ability to compete w/China on AI. Loser stuff.
16803334
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
First text is from my in-law, a capable #mariner. #Weather forecasts appear to be the same, but suddenly way less accurate. 2nd from meteorologist colleagues on how specific staff cuts degrade forecast accuracy. One of many ways the national infrastructure we rely on is being silently destroyed.
Report on navigating with current weather forecasts
020
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Vladimir Neskovic Kesma @kesma.wtf · 04/06/2025
This is giving me chills. Read it carefully. The math. chaos we’re adding into the climate is wiping insects off the planet. Even insects likely won’t be able to evolve fast enough to keep up. I’m scared to think about more complex organisms in the food chains. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
02612
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 25/04/2025
😲 “We built our last gas-fired facility in 2022, at $785/kW. If we wanted to build that same gas-fired combined cycle unit today…$2,400/kW" - NextEra CEO John Ketchum gasoutlook.com/analysis/cos... 🔌💡
gasoutlook.com
Costs to build gas plants triple, says CEO of NextEra Energy 
 - Gas Outlook
NextEra Energy’s CEO said that gas turbines have a multi-year backlog, leading to soaring costs for new gas-fired power plants.
617156
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
David Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage explains why free trade can benefit both sides. This also helps understand the massive ignorance and coming damage of the new US #tariffs. First, a readable explanation from @gregor.us: bit.ly/3Gcac6u More theory: web.mit.edu/krugman/...
Containers being loaded onto a ship.Graph: American manufacturing has moved up the value chain, and so have jobs. (from: Financial Times)
131
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Jon Corsiglia (he/him/el) | Eco-Economy Insider @ecoeconomyinsider.com · 24/03/2025
By 2028, renewable energy is expected to constitute 37.4% of the U.S. utility-scale generation capacity, with solar and wind leading the growth. Solar and wind combined contributed over 98% of all new electrical capacity installed in the U.S. in January 2025 en.softonic.com/arti...
0265
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
About 90% of new generation waiting in queues is solar and wind. They’re lowest cost new generation. New generation is essential to meet coming load, from servers & AI to electrification. So, many constituencies should support this potential speed up. Great work Pearl Street, MISO and @ferc.gov
021
Reposted by Willett Kempton
scottmoura.bsky.social @scottmoura.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
PATH is thrilled to welcome Prof. Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social this Tuesday for a discussion on vehicle-to-grid technology! ⚡ 🚗 🔌
101
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Soon, new homes & those with new electrical panels will not reliably charge #EVs. Not sabotaged by the new Pres., rather it's the new National Electrical Code being very dumb about how EV chargers work and requiring incompatible double ground fault interrupters. www.motortrend.com/news/nationa...
motortrend.com
121
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Josh Lappen @jlappen1.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
New by me in @heatmap.news: The LA fires have accelerated the looming financial crisis facing gas utilities from 2035/2040 to today. Preventing that disastrous cost spiral, though, can help make burned areas safer, easier to rebuild, and more insurable! (1/12) 💡🔌 heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
heatmap.news
The Los Angeles Fires Accelerated the Looming Natural Gas Crisis
All American cities are at risk.
710726
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Vlad @vladgutman.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Important to remember that renewables aren't being built (solely) to boost environmental outcomes, but to meet basic energy needs. www.rechargenews.com/markets/ener...
rechargenews.com
Energy giant CEO warns of US 'power crisis' if Trump delays renewables
NextEra CEO John Ketchum says wind and solar projects needed 'right now' but alternatives still several years distant
514234
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Implications of the US anti- #Windpower Executive Order by legal and #offshorewind expert Laura Smith Morton. Essential to understand the legal and project implications of this EO. perkinscoie.com/insights/blo...
perkinscoie.com
Presidential Memorandum on Wind Energy Designed to Decrease Permitting Efficiency and Increase Uncertainty for Onshore and Offshore Wind Projects. | Perkins Coie
On January 20th, President Donald Trump launched his first attack on the wind industry by issuing a Presidential Memorandum, which temporarily bars future offshore wind leasing in federal waters and p...
043
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Thorough, balanced analysis of the #windpower #offshorewind “Day 1” Executive Order and likely results of implementation. 🔌💡 #energysky
123
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
For reference, White House EO on #windpower: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... versus, a good compendium of responses and plans by energy and climate professionals: 🔌💡 #energysky
insideclimatenews.org
Executive Orders on Energy and Climate Have Advocates Across the Nation on Edge - Inside Climate News
Orders pulled back approval of new wind leases, lifted restrictions on resource extraction and cut off money dedicated to electric vehicle charging. Their legality may be challenged, but climate advoc...
010
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
Electrify all road vehicles💯(light, med & heavy)❓➡️connectors need standards➕deploy. Standards now here: SAE J3400, J3068, & J3271. (Bonus: ⬇️💲AC EVSEs and LIN-CP for #V2G.) Now we need a movement to adopt. www.motortrend.com/features/tes... doi.org/10.3390/wevj... www.techbriefs.com/component/co...
030
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 07/01/2025
Okay #EnergySky, I think we all have a moral and legal obligation to buy this beautiful new coffee table book using photography to document the importance of electricity transmission and the grid, America's "missing machine," from Jaime Manley www.blurb.com/b/12211775-t... (Jamie, are you on here?)
The Missing Machine by Jamie Manley is a visual exploration of the power transmission grid, a vital but often overlooked component of the transition to clean energy.The Missing Machine by Jamie Manley is a visual exploration of the power transmission grid, a vital but often overlooked component of the transition to clean energy. A longer description of the book is available at https://missingmachine.com/The Missing Machine by Jamie Manley is a visual exploration of the power transmission grid, a vital but often overlooked component of the transition to clean energy. A longer description of the book is available at https://missingmachine.com/
2346
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Mark Z. Jacobson @mzjacobson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Ukraine WindWaterSolar energy much harder to destroy than fossil energy "Replacing the transformers & swapping out destroyed (PV) panels allowed the farms to be back up in 7 days" "an attack on a thermal generating station..took 3-4 months to rebuild" www.milwaukeeindependent.com/newswire/ukr...
milwaukeeindependent.com
Ukraine is making its infrastructure harder for Russia to destroy by building clean energy sources | Milwaukee Independent
36021
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
FHWA RFI: How to charge medium and heavy duty vehicles? 🚚🚌 U Delaware answers (Docket FHWA–2024–0028), based on new standards for 50 - 100 kW AC charging (very low cost) plus 1-4 MW DC charging (literally gasoline pump speeds), now posted on docket: downloads.regulations.gov/FHWA-2024-00...
EV trucks and bus at charging stations.J3868 connector, AC up to 50-100 kWConnector for Megawatt Charging System (MCS)
360
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Mark Z. Jacobson @mzjacobson.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
New data: 11 states generated 54-110% of electricity they consumed with Wind-Water-Solar for year Oct 1 '23-Sep 30 '24 10 of the 11 are among 20 lowest-cost electricity states March '24 SD 110% WWS MT 86.5% IA 79.4% WA 72.6% KS 70.2% OR 64.2% ME 62.1% NM 59.7% WY 56.1% ND 55.1% OK 53.7%
25013
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
View my video explainer on #V2G within news article on DelmarvaPower-UD-PJM-Ford-Nuvve project to scale V2G: bit.ly/ExplainV2G-v... Exelon video, how this project’s partners created it: bit.ly/4fYvJMo Why SAE J3068/J3400 LIN-CP enables scale: www.canarymedia.com/articles/ev-... #EV #EnergySky 🔌 💡
bit.ly
Stabilizing the electric grid | UDaily
V2G is low-cost, scalable demo shows
151
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
EV drivers use gasoline concepts to charge—causing inconvenience and range anxiety. Interviews with novice & experienced #EV drivers reveal 3 #mentalmodels: A. Monitor gage (from gasoline), B. Planning (trips), C. Event Triggered (see figure) Full study (free): bit.ly/EVmm News: bit.ly/EVmm-pl
2199
Reposted by Willett Kempton
Jason Burwen @jburwen.bsky.social · 30/11/2023
So much this
151
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 22/10/2024
Finally getting to the steps to move #V2G to serial deployment. Hear the status this week at the V2G Forum.
020
Willett Kempton @willett.bsky.social · 19/10/2024
Two short #V2G videos. Willett Kempton with video explanation of V2G, within a UDelaware news article on Delmarva-UD-PJM-Ford-Nuvve scalability of V2G project: www.udel.edu/udaily/... Also, Exelon video, the contributions of some of the partners on the scalability project: vimeopro.com/lmiiipr...
udel.edu
Stabilizing the electric grid | UDaily
V2G is low-cost, scalable demo shows
020