iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

And none of that “it hurts business“ nonsense. Every store is full of people. Every person’s hands are full of things they bought. People are the indicator species of a successful urban environment, not cars.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

There are no words for how nice it is to be in the very middle of an extremely large city without any noisy, dangerous, polluting cars. I was pleasantly surprised to walk onto Ginza Street at noon and find only people enjoying a beautiful day. Congrats Tokyo for winning @thewaroncars.bsky.social

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

OPPD will complete our Integrated System Plan (ISP, updated IRP name) by the end of the year. That will be followed by procuring new generation resources. It will be critical to recognize the benefits “offensively cheap” solar brings to our utility, and accelerate deployment of this resource.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

EPA regulation hasn’t been the primary driver of emission reductions for the past decade. Clean energy is cheaper, and faster to build when utilities need to replace assets that have reached the end of their useful life.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Electric generation resource planning, operations, and retirement at the end of useful life must be managed by utilities and regulators who are tasked with maintaining reliable and affordable grid operations. This ruling is a win for local control and efficient markets.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

These are countries with smart, forward looking leaders who are preparing for a more secure and stable future. And then there are countries announcing a couple dozen secret, government-controlled gas stations in their “free market” as a way to keep people trapped by fossil fuel dependence.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

New solar project details: The utility has entered into a power purchase agreement with Sandhills Energy for the Burt County Solar Project, a 250 MW solar facility in Burt County. Expected to be in service in 2029, the project will generate enough electricity to power approximately 50,000 homes.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Very glad to have more solar coming online to meet rapidly growing demand. Much appreciation to the dedicated staff at OPPD and Sandhills Energy who made this happen. #CleanEnergy #LocalPower New solar project helps OPPD expand, diversify its generation portfolio oppdthewire.com/burt-county-...

image of a row of solar panels with blue sky above

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I’ve listened to @theenergygang.bsky.social podcast for years but find it less useful and informative recently. Specifically, episode 573 with the CEO of EEI, where a 50 minute discussion had zero mentions of, - solar, wind - anything non-fossil - batteries www.woodmac.com/podcasts/ene...

woodmac.com

How US utilities are adapting to a high-growth world for power demand | Wood Mackenzie

As US electricity demand surges from data centres, electrification, and reshoring, EEI CEO Drew Maloney joins Ed Crooks to discuss grid reliability, rising power bills, deregulated markets, and the fu...

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

As a nation we can and should have updated laws to protect our environment, specifically including our climate, due to the intentional undermining, rollback, and repeal of the precedent and laws which led to so much progress and improvement in quality of live over the past several decades.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Charging over night maximized wind energy from SPP, and my car is ready to go in the morning. Better for me the grid, the climate. This isn't revolutionary, impressive, difficult. With all of these benefits it is *shocking* how many utilities don't have EV managed charging. Sadly, including my own.

Screen capture of GridStatus showing SPP with the largest source of energy being wind over night.

Scree capture from the Ford app showing EV charging has been going for 9 hours overnight.

Photo of a Ford Mach E plugged into a home EV charger in the morning after charging on wind energy over night.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

EV managed charging reduces strain and cost on the grid. And it’s easy. Took a trip from Omaha to KC, used a DCFC on the way down, arrived home with ~30 miles range. Instead of charging this afternoon, I waited until now. Utilities should incentivize this extremely simple, beneficial behavior.

Picture at night of a L2 EV home charger in the charging port of a Ford Mach E, with a light indicating charging is in process

Screen capture from the Ford app, showing EV charging with Location listed as Home.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

This #EarthDay I'm running an off-grid test of my solar and battery. Disconnected last Thursday and now approaching 6 days on 100% solar power. This learning will help inform policy updates at OPPD going forward. I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful spring day! #CleanEnergy #LocalPower 🌎☀️🔋🔌⚡🏠

My hand on the lever of the whole-home-disconnect circuit which is outside on the back of the house next to the electric meter.

Graphs showing the total energy used, solar power production, battery charging and discharging, and battery state of charge over the last 6 days from an off-grid test.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

More and more people keep showing up. Seems like about 5,000 are here and getting ready for the march at 3pm. #NoKings ❌🤴

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Many (most) discussions about geothermal and nuclear completely ignore the downsides of a hyper-concentrated ownership model. They are owned by a few, with sale (at profit) to everyone else. Distributed renewable energy is democratized power, both electric and societal. Clean energy. Local power.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

ERCOT, CAISO, and SPP all currently have negative LMP with majority sources being solar and wind. SPP is curtailing (wasting) free clean energy because it is not deliverable to load. Meanwhile, NYISO: $115/mWh Build. More. Transmission.

Screen capture showing LMP for ERCOT, CAISO, and SPP all below zero dollars, with primary sources as solar and wind.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

This morning I successfully tested #BalconySolar at my home so I can understand what policies are needed to provide clean energy, local power, and lower costs, while keeping people and our grid safe and secure. Chart and story from @michael-thomas.bsky.social www.distilled.earth/p/balcony-so...

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

As the #Olympics wrap up, I'm celebrating our Gold Medallion Home, "Live Better Electrically" Solar - 2014 EV - 2015 Heat Pump Water Heater - 2023 Whole home battery - 2024 Induction Stove - 2025 One step left for Total Electric Award, replace the furnace. Cheaper, Cleaner, Better - Together

Metal disc which says, "Gold Medallion Home - Live Better Electrically"

Induction stove just after being installed

Electric heat pump water heater used to replace a gas water heater

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Even with snow as deep as the 6" we got last night, by exposing the bottom to heat from the sun, the #solar panels warm and the snow will melt and slide off. You can see where I used a "roof rake" this morning. Monitoring software is tracking blobs of snow sliding away in the afternoon sun. ❄️🌞🔌⚡

Solar panels on the roof of a house with snow, the bottom has been cleared and exposed using a "roof rake"

The roof a house with snow melting away after being cleared by a "roof rake"

Solar energy monitoring software showing sharp increases when snow slides off the solar panels

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Looking forward to vigorous opposition from all of the extremely principled “We shouldn’t pick winners and losers” crowd.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Don’t threaten me with a good time

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

No, economic development doesn’t “need fossil fuels.” Projections about future demand for oil, gas, and coal that misunderstand or ignore the clean energy transition must not be used to justify investments in future-sunk-cost infrastructure.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

The climate change denial science from this administration was illegally bad and wrong. This type of nonsense has no business in policy making at the federal, state, or local level.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

The New North Initiative is a collaborative approach by elected leaders to align around a shared vision. I appreciate Sen. Ashlei Spivey leading this work, and I am energized by what this will mean for our community. ericwilliams.substack.com/p/north-omah...

ericwilliams.substack.com

North Omaha Elected Officials Champion Collaborative “New North” Economic and Innovation Development Initiative

A coordinated policy agenda that applies a public health lens to economic development

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

It has been a year of simple choices for when/where I charge my EV to provide the most benefit to me and the grid. Sadly, I have no way to track what % of my charging was during during surplus clean energy hours. My guess is >80% of my kWh were during curtailment on SPP. Happening again right now.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Some day I’ll have to explain to future generations that I remember when we invaded a country, used our military to steal oil, so we could move people and goods short distances. And this was about a decade after we had EVs and cheap solar. No one will believe we were that foolish and shortsighted.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Neat, and I’m glad this tech will exist for edge cases. Important to remember that for most trips, with most cars, for most people a standard Level 2 charger is more than sufficient at a tiny fraction of the cost. Everyone who can charge at home or work should.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Happy New Year 🎉 Celebrating with black eyes peas to bring good luck. The cooking this year was even more enjoyable after upgrading from the plug-in cooktop to a full size induction stove last year. It has knobs 😍 I’m excited to continue my home electrification and clean energy projects in 2026.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

There tragically little solar deployed across SPP, and even that paltry amount is now frequently being wasted.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

There are few more clear indicators of regional policy and planning being insufficient than watching curtailment across SPP as visualized by @gridstatus.io Storage, transmission, and flexibility of demand are DESPERATELY needed. www.gridstatus.io/live/spp

A graphic showing daily and hourly curtailment of wind and solar energy in the SPP market

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

I am excited about this, #PublicPower is doing distributed capacity procurement. #DERs #DCP "However, he said he is glad the resolution moves the utility toward more distributed energy resources, which typically include measures such as rooftop solar and battery storage." oppd.com/media/321255...

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

I want coal out of my district. OPPD needs to be supporting, encouraging, and installing clean energy on homes and businesses. This will increase reliability, decrease costs, and provide resilience during service interruptions. I'll continue this work immediately in January. photo credit: OWH

Eric Williams member of the OPPD Board of Directors during the December 2025 board meeting.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Solar light show over my solar panels #NorthernLights not still so northern, all the way down here in Omaha.

Northern lights above a house with solar panels in Omaha, Nebraska

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

During a policy breakdown at the federal level, our community is dedicated to supporting one another. The fresh food drive this afternoon distributed over 400 boxes of healthy fruits and vegetables. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. #TogetherWeCan #OmahaLeads #OmahaFeeds

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Happy Opinions About Solar Day, to all who celebrate. ☀️🔋🔌⚡️ Thanks as always to @solarchase.bsky.social for providing thoughtful and understandable analysis of the current situation, and views looking forward.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

if you see this quote with the energy u bring to blue sky #EV #RipIt

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Talking about 300x more miles per acre on Solar + EV than ethanol + ICE… is my love language. Calculations vary slightly, but the conclusion is the same: solar is better on all measurable metrics than corn ethanol. No matter how “prime” the farmland is.

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Reposted by Eric Williams

Jigar Shah @jigarshahdc.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

"We are, quite suddenly, living in a world-changing moment" 380 GW of solar deployed in the first half of the year. No other technology can deliver speed to market or anchor the load growth coming the next few years. The US can add 100GW of rooftop solar+ storage in record time.

ember-energy.org

Global solar installations surge 64% in first half of 2025 | Ember

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

An exciting time at OPPD as AMI meter deployment is about to begin. Great to have something as helpful and critical to the clean energy transition on the on cover of our local paper.

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Reposted by Eric Williams

Michael Grunwald @mikegrunwald.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

The Trump Administration just issued a new order trying to kill solar and wind because they allegedly use too much land. But somehow this new fervor for "capacity density" won't apply to ethanol, which uses 100X as much land as solar per unit of energy. www.eenews.net/articles/ano...

eenews.net

Another Burgum order coldcocks solar and wind

The Friday order by the Interior secretary on the “capacity density” of solar and wind projects is the latest in a series of restrictive moves by the Trump

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Reposted by Eric Williams

molly taft @mollytaft.com · 30/07/2025

NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —

wired.com

Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work

A new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Additional reminder that for a given land area needed to drive 1 mile in an ICE vehicle fueled by ethanol you can drive *_300_* miles in an EV powered by solar For more, check any of the great recent podcasts where @mikegrunwald.bsky.social has discussed his book "We Are Eating the Earth."

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Heading for my return trip. The L2 charger where I was staying had a problem so I am fast charging before hitting the interstate. ChargePoint: out of service 😒😡 Tesla: parked every other, in a way I couldn’t access a charger, eventually was able to nose in. Some process improvements are needed.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Back on the road to continue my electric adventure. Having driven an EV every day for ~10 years, I don’t have any range anxiety even on this trip. I know where I’m headed, I know there is a charger available, and I’ll make it there very easily. Driving range estimates in my Mach E are very accurate.

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

I am on my first EV roadtrip in my MachE. Started from home with a full charge (extended range battery, 91 kWh). Let’s see how this goes…

View of the dashboard of a Ford Mustang MachE showing a fully charged battery range

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Eric Williams @williamsforoppd.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Reminder that there will be *NO* credibility for anyone who pretends they didn't know the severe damages from #OBBBA when it was written, voted, and signed. Literally everyone knew it meant: - higher energy prices for families - to fund tax cuts for the wealthy www.npr.org/2025/07/15/n...

npr.org

Power prices are expected to soar under new tax cut and spending law

In states without policies to drive renewable energy, power prices could surge as federal tax incentives for clean energy disappear, according to Energy Innovation, a think tank.

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