Emily Pontecorvo
@emilypont.bsky.social
Staff writer @heatmap.news | signal: emilypont.89
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
Rebecca Ochoa had a heat stroke during a high school volleyball tryout. That was 11 years ago. “I am still not the same as before this happened, physically or mentally,” she told @bloomberg.com.
New story on the long recovery of heat stroke survivors (gift link): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
New story on the long recovery of heat stroke survivors (gift link): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
One Hot Day Can Change Your Body for Years
Heat stroke can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and liver. As extreme heat becomes more common, doctors are learning just how difficult recovery can be.
www.bloomberg.com
August 28, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Rebecca Ochoa had a heat stroke during a high school volleyball tryout. That was 11 years ago. “I am still not the same as before this happened, physically or mentally,” she told @bloomberg.com.
New story on the long recovery of heat stroke survivors (gift link): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
New story on the long recovery of heat stroke survivors (gift link): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
Pacific Fusion just broke ground in Albuquerque on a $1 billion fusion reactor designed to do what no company or lab ever has before: produce more energy than the entire machine consumes, by 2030
Pacific Fusion Just Broke Ground on a $1 Billion Test Reactor
The New Mexico facility aims to achieve net energy gain by 2030.
heatmap.news
August 25, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Pacific Fusion just broke ground in Albuquerque on a $1 billion fusion reactor designed to do what no company or lab ever has before: produce more energy than the entire machine consumes, by 2030
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
the US is in the midst of a historic nat gas buildout — with much of it tied to data centers, many of the biggest projects going off-grid, and a meaningful chunk of it dirtier than the last big gas boom in the 2000s
August 25, 2026 at 5:36 PM
the US is in the midst of a historic nat gas buildout — with much of it tied to data centers, many of the biggest projects going off-grid, and a meaningful chunk of it dirtier than the last big gas boom in the 2000s
There's been a lot of news about natural gas megaprojects tied to data centers recently, and it's getting hard to keep track.
I put together a list of the 10 biggest projects, (according to their developers' aspirations, at least,) and the status of each. heatmap.news/energy/10-bi...
I put together a list of the 10 biggest projects, (according to their developers' aspirations, at least,) and the status of each. heatmap.news/energy/10-bi...
The U.S. Is Building Natural Gas Power Twice as Fast as China
A new report from Global Energy Monitor shows how the scale of planned projects is driving the fossil fuel boom.
heatmap.news
August 25, 2026 at 2:24 PM
There's been a lot of news about natural gas megaprojects tied to data centers recently, and it's getting hard to keep track.
I put together a list of the 10 biggest projects, (according to their developers' aspirations, at least,) and the status of each. heatmap.news/energy/10-bi...
I put together a list of the 10 biggest projects, (according to their developers' aspirations, at least,) and the status of each. heatmap.news/energy/10-bi...
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
This is the timeline on the Fast-41 dashboard. The biggest gas power project in the U.S. is only receiving an environmental assessment under NEPA, and I’m unsure how the air pollution side will be handled in all this. I’m waiting for comment from Ohio EPA.
August 21, 2026 at 7:34 PM
This is the timeline on the Fast-41 dashboard. The biggest gas power project in the U.S. is only receiving an environmental assessment under NEPA, and I’m unsure how the air pollution side will be handled in all this. I’m waiting for comment from Ohio EPA.
The biggest fossil fueled power plant EVER BUILT IN THE US....
will get an environmental assessment, the less rigorous review under the national environmental policy act...
and complete permitting in just 7 months, per the Trump admin.
yep
will get an environmental assessment, the less rigorous review under the national environmental policy act...
and complete permitting in just 7 months, per the Trump admin.
yep
SCOOP: The Trump administration claims it will complete the entire federal environmental review for the biggest gas power project in the U.S. — the OpenAI-Nvidia data center in Ohio — within the span of only seven months.
Not kidding! Source in the reply. For @heatmap.news
Not kidding! Source in the reply. For @heatmap.news
Scoop: Trump to Permit Largest-Ever Gas Project in Just 7 Months
The facility will power OpenAI’s 10-gigawatt data center in Pike County, Ohio.
heatmap.news
August 21, 2026 at 7:47 PM
The biggest fossil fueled power plant EVER BUILT IN THE US....
will get an environmental assessment, the less rigorous review under the national environmental policy act...
and complete permitting in just 7 months, per the Trump admin.
yep
will get an environmental assessment, the less rigorous review under the national environmental policy act...
and complete permitting in just 7 months, per the Trump admin.
yep
Does anyone know if any of the DOE's emergency orders allowing grid operators to dispatch backup gensets as demand response have actually been utilized?
August 20, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Does anyone know if any of the DOE's emergency orders allowing grid operators to dispatch backup gensets as demand response have actually been utilized?
There are a LOT of ongoing lawsuits over Trump's funding freeze and subsequent grant cancelations.
In light of the recent Climate United decision, I waded through the cases and broke it all down — the types of suits, the big legal questions, impt rulings to date, etc. heatmap.news/politics/tru...
In light of the recent Climate United decision, I waded through the cases and broke it all down — the types of suits, the big legal questions, impt rulings to date, etc. heatmap.news/politics/tru...
The 5 Big Legal Questions Holding Up Billions in Climate Funding
Here’s where things stand after some major recent decisions.
heatmap.news
August 17, 2026 at 7:41 PM
There are a LOT of ongoing lawsuits over Trump's funding freeze and subsequent grant cancelations.
In light of the recent Climate United decision, I waded through the cases and broke it all down — the types of suits, the big legal questions, impt rulings to date, etc. heatmap.news/politics/tru...
In light of the recent Climate United decision, I waded through the cases and broke it all down — the types of suits, the big legal questions, impt rulings to date, etc. heatmap.news/politics/tru...
The Trump administration has now spent nearly $4 billion from the Judgement Fund to cancel offshore wind leases
BREAKING: RWE is the latest offshore wind domino to drop, a move I predicted back in April.
RWE settled with the Trump admin to cancel its leases in the NY Bight and California for $1.2 billion. americas.rwe.com/press/2026-0...
RWE settled with the Trump admin to cancel its leases in the NY Bight and California for $1.2 billion. americas.rwe.com/press/2026-0...
RWE U.S. Offshore reaches settlement agreement with U.S. Department of Interior on offshore wind leases
RWE U.S. Offshore has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to resolve claims against the U.S. Government and relinquish its offshore wind leases off the coasts of New York, Ca...
americas.rwe.com
August 6, 2026 at 2:38 PM
The Trump administration has now spent nearly $4 billion from the Judgement Fund to cancel offshore wind leases
BREAKING: RWE is the latest offshore wind domino to drop, a move I predicted back in April.
RWE settled with the Trump admin to cancel its leases in the NY Bight and California for $1.2 billion. americas.rwe.com/press/2026-0...
RWE settled with the Trump admin to cancel its leases in the NY Bight and California for $1.2 billion. americas.rwe.com/press/2026-0...
RWE U.S. Offshore reaches settlement agreement with U.S. Department of Interior on offshore wind leases
RWE U.S. Offshore has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to resolve claims against the U.S. Government and relinquish its offshore wind leases off the coasts of New York, Ca...
americas.rwe.com
August 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
BREAKING: RWE is the latest offshore wind domino to drop, a move I predicted back in April.
RWE settled with the Trump admin to cancel its leases in the NY Bight and California for $1.2 billion. americas.rwe.com/press/2026-0...
RWE settled with the Trump admin to cancel its leases in the NY Bight and California for $1.2 billion. americas.rwe.com/press/2026-0...
This morning's dispatch from @alexckaufman.bsky.social is a meaty one, with news on the pending Section 232 polysilicon investigation decision and Oklo splitting some atoms for the first time ☢️
heatmap.news/am/trump-win...
heatmap.news/am/trump-win...
Trump May Be Forced to Resume Wind Project Permits
On Trump’s polysilicon tariffs, Oklo’s milestone, and black lung
heatmap.news
August 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM
This morning's dispatch from @alexckaufman.bsky.social is a meaty one, with news on the pending Section 232 polysilicon investigation decision and Oklo splitting some atoms for the first time ☢️
heatmap.news/am/trump-win...
heatmap.news/am/trump-win...
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
Unlike the Ontario wildfires, which were mostly burning in the woods, these fires have now burned through urban areas, making the smoke extra, extra toxic. Take the AQI warnings seriously this week, PNW neighbors.
Heads up, #Seattle...smoke from massive fires in Eastern Washington and Southern British Columbia will move into Western Washington starting early Monday, getting denser through Tuesday and Wednesday. Prepare for an extended period of degraded air quality. #wawx
August 3, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Unlike the Ontario wildfires, which were mostly burning in the woods, these fires have now burned through urban areas, making the smoke extra, extra toxic. Take the AQI warnings seriously this week, PNW neighbors.
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
We also need a radical rethink of how schools handle this issue. We have research coming out in the coming weeks that covers two years of indoor AQ at schools in CA impacted by smoke. The system we have doesn’t protect kids. And kids are extremely vulnerable, esp where baseline AQ is bad to start.
July 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM
We also need a radical rethink of how schools handle this issue. We have research coming out in the coming weeks that covers two years of indoor AQ at schools in CA impacted by smoke. The system we have doesn’t protect kids. And kids are extremely vulnerable, esp where baseline AQ is bad to start.
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
My proposal is that HEPA filters should be covered by health insurance for everybody with a preexisting condition (COPD and lots else but also including pregnancy and early childhood) and that AQ notices to vulnerable people should happen through their electronic health record systems.
July 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM
My proposal is that HEPA filters should be covered by health insurance for everybody with a preexisting condition (COPD and lots else but also including pregnancy and early childhood) and that AQ notices to vulnerable people should happen through their electronic health record systems.
I don't really understand this -- even if the new rebate rules prevent fuel SWITCHING, can't you still use the rebate to get a heat pump and just keep your existing propane heater in place, but not really use it? (or... get rid of it later..?)
Americans can no longer use federal funds to swap fossil-fueled appliances for electric ones.
North Carolinians were using that money as they continue to recover from Hurricane Helene.
North Carolinians were using that money as they continue to recover from Hurricane Helene.
New Trump rules make it more costly to electrify North Carolina homes
The Department of Energy recently announced new guidance that prevents “fuel switching,” scrambling the state’s first-ever electrification program.
www.canarymedia.com
July 14, 2026 at 7:05 PM
I don't really understand this -- even if the new rebate rules prevent fuel SWITCHING, can't you still use the rebate to get a heat pump and just keep your existing propane heater in place, but not really use it? (or... get rid of it later..?)
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
The eligibility window for solar and wind tax credits closes on July 4. Democrats have vowed to bring them back — whether or not the industry wants them.
Here’s @emilypont.bsky.social on why the case for reinstatement is more complicated than it might appear:
heatmap.news/energy/solar...
Here’s @emilypont.bsky.social on why the case for reinstatement is more complicated than it might appear:
heatmap.news/energy/solar...
The Wind and Solar Tax Credits Are About to Expire. Will They Come Back?
Democrats in Congress are determined to restore them. That isn’t necessarily what the industry wants.
heatmap.news
July 2, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The eligibility window for solar and wind tax credits closes on July 4. Democrats have vowed to bring them back — whether or not the industry wants them.
Here’s @emilypont.bsky.social on why the case for reinstatement is more complicated than it might appear:
heatmap.news/energy/solar...
Here’s @emilypont.bsky.social on why the case for reinstatement is more complicated than it might appear:
heatmap.news/energy/solar...
TIL there is a natural gas turbine company called "Solar Turbines"
July 1, 2026 at 10:12 PM
TIL there is a natural gas turbine company called "Solar Turbines"
New Jersey leg just passed a big suite of energy bills:
plugin solar, advanced grid technologies, and a bunch of data center regulations. Full list here from Sierra club: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/b...
Story on nixing the data center tax credit from Heatmap: heatmap.news/politics/new...
plugin solar, advanced grid technologies, and a bunch of data center regulations. Full list here from Sierra club: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/b...
Story on nixing the data center tax credit from Heatmap: heatmap.news/politics/new...
New Jersey Lawmakers Just Nixed a 2-Year-Old Data Center Tax Credit
The bill is part of a package now sitting on Governor Mikie Sherrill’s desk.
heatmap.news
July 1, 2026 at 10:05 PM
New Jersey leg just passed a big suite of energy bills:
plugin solar, advanced grid technologies, and a bunch of data center regulations. Full list here from Sierra club: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/b...
Story on nixing the data center tax credit from Heatmap: heatmap.news/politics/new...
plugin solar, advanced grid technologies, and a bunch of data center regulations. Full list here from Sierra club: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/b...
Story on nixing the data center tax credit from Heatmap: heatmap.news/politics/new...
cool job alert: NYC Urban Green Council is hiring a director of policy
www.urbangreencouncil.org/wp-content/u...
www.urbangreencouncil.org/wp-content/u...
www.urbangreencouncil.org
July 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM
cool job alert: NYC Urban Green Council is hiring a director of policy
www.urbangreencouncil.org/wp-content/u...
www.urbangreencouncil.org/wp-content/u...
Who can tell me more about why the 1978 Energy Tax Act had to specify that swimming pools could not be claimed as an energy storage medium !
July 1, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Who can tell me more about why the 1978 Energy Tax Act had to specify that swimming pools could not be claimed as an energy storage medium !
BREAKING:
Duke Energy has signed the 4th settlement agreement with the Trump administration to relinquish its offshore wind leases. In this case, Interior says Duke will re-invest the $129 million into "generating capacity" but did not specify what kind. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/c...
Duke Energy has signed the 4th settlement agreement with the Trump administration to relinquish its offshore wind leases. In this case, Interior says Duke will re-invest the $129 million into "generating capacity" but did not specify what kind. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/c...
Trump Administration Pays Duke Energy $129 Million to Halt Offshore Wind Farm
www.nytimes.com
June 29, 2026 at 5:57 PM
BREAKING:
Duke Energy has signed the 4th settlement agreement with the Trump administration to relinquish its offshore wind leases. In this case, Interior says Duke will re-invest the $129 million into "generating capacity" but did not specify what kind. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/c...
Duke Energy has signed the 4th settlement agreement with the Trump administration to relinquish its offshore wind leases. In this case, Interior says Duke will re-invest the $129 million into "generating capacity" but did not specify what kind. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/c...
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
Where data centers are leading to higher costs, it's because of constrained grids and capacity markets that aren't working. A ratepayer protection pledge might get hyperscalers to pay for some substations, but won't fix these market issues heatmap.news/politics/rat...
June 23, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Where data centers are leading to higher costs, it's because of constrained grids and capacity markets that aren't working. A ratepayer protection pledge might get hyperscalers to pay for some substations, but won't fix these market issues heatmap.news/politics/rat...
Reposted by Emily Pontecorvo
Big tech comapnies are at least open — if not outright supportive — of bills and pledges that could put them on the hook for billions of dollars of costs. Why? heatmap.news/politics/rat...
Will the Ratepayer Protection Act Protect Ratepayers or Big Tech?
Hyperscalers might be paying billions to avoid blame for rising electricity prices.
heatmap.news
June 23, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Big tech comapnies are at least open — if not outright supportive — of bills and pledges that could put them on the hook for billions of dollars of costs. Why? heatmap.news/politics/rat...
Fascinating issue of @hannahritchie.bsky.social's newsletter today on deforestation and trade. I had no idea that most deforestation in Brazil related to beef production is driven by demand in Brazil itself...
hannahritchie.substack.com/p/deforestat...
hannahritchie.substack.com/p/deforestat...
June 24, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Fascinating issue of @hannahritchie.bsky.social's newsletter today on deforestation and trade. I had no idea that most deforestation in Brazil related to beef production is driven by demand in Brazil itself...
hannahritchie.substack.com/p/deforestat...
hannahritchie.substack.com/p/deforestat...
This is so cool. Such an incredible resource!
After 18 months of R&D with a team of specialist academics, I'm VERY excited to say that @carbonbrief.org has just launched 'Project Cosmos'...
...the world's largest database of climate research
Our hope is this becomes a major new resource
interactive.carbonbrief.org/cosmos/index...
...the world's largest database of climate research
Our hope is this becomes a major new resource
interactive.carbonbrief.org/cosmos/index...
Project Cosmos – the world’s largest database of climate change research
interactive.carbonbrief.org
June 22, 2026 at 6:31 PM
This is so cool. Such an incredible resource!