Interesting links roundup - Jan 24 2025

1) https://blog.siebert.com/golden-age-or-market-cage-breaking-down-trumps-inauguration (Siebert blog, 5 min read) Without wanting to wade into politics: “Drill Baby Drill” is not exactly wholesome news for sustainability; but does it even make economic sense? “Adding energy supply will push prices down. While this is ultimately good for inflation as a whole, and ultimately consumers (Basel’s note - debatable), it is a problem for energy companies, whose margins will be pressured.” Food for thought.

2) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chinas-solar-wind-power-installed-capacity-soars-2024-2025-01-21/ (Reuters, 2 min read) Meanwhile, China has installed a USA’s worth of solar capacity in 2024. There is now 886.67 GW of installed solar power, up from 609.49 GW in 2023, it said. The United States had 139 GW in 2023, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

3) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-13/los-angeles-wildfires-why-these-homes-didn-t-burn?cmpid=BBD011925_CITYLAB&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=250119&utm_campaign=citylabdaily (Bloomberg, paywalled, 5 min read). Interesting take on climate adaptation with relation to house building. Lots of cool titbits (like some types of wood being fire resistant and the reason PVC is a poor choice for water suppression pipes)

4) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-11-08/cities-that-banned-leaf-blowers-are-getting-an-earful-from-landscapers?cmpid=BBD011925_CITYLAB&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=250119&utm_campaign=citylabdaily (Bloomberg, paywalled, 5 min read)

Externalities and the just transition in microcosm: leafblowers are noisy, polluting and the alternative electric models are much more expensive. But their main users are low-income landscapers…

5) https://ncwf.org/blog/leave-the-leaves/ (North Carolina Wildlife Foundation, 2 min read)

While on the subject of leaf blowers, it’s worth backing up and asking - should the leaves be removed anyway? I like this teachable moment because sometimes it’s worth asking “why are we doing X in the first place?” – in this case, using pristine lawns as a marker of social standing when we are in a biodiversity crisis?