Skip Laitner

Long-time progressive economist who likes time with friends, outdoor stuff, all kinds of music, a couple of beers, and working on smart energy/climate policies

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

As updated data continue to suggest, past energy models mostly got it wrong. Better projections today, yes. But #EnergyProductivity remains a bigger resource than is generally understood. Critical for our long-term social, economic, climate, and environmental well-being.

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Yes, the Climate Burden Grows. . . But is that the Only Horseman? https://t.co/x5wgMREhQt

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

A Spot-On step forward @SeanCasten, both to enhance grid resilience but also as a productive investment that enables our more resilient and sustainable social, climate/environmental, and economic wellbeing…

[Sean Casten @SeanCasten]

@RepMikeLevin and I spent a lot of time thinking about this as we put together our transmission permitting reform bill, most notably by requiring @FERC to implement performance based rates to better align utility economic interests. https://t.co/OE72rCyMIZ

[Sean Casten @SeanCasten]

@RepMikeLevin and I spent a lot of time thinking about this as we put together our transmission permitting reform bill, most notably by requiring @FERC to implement performance based rates to better align utility economic interests. https://t.co/OE72rCyMIZ

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

A good reminder @DrSteveFawkes. Many thanks! And while I am no great graphic artistic, this 2022 update from the 2010 chart. Both the urgency and the opportunity have only increased.

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Curiosity and worry compel me to ask. The IMF says we subsidized fossil fuels globally by ~ $7 trillion in 2022. At the same time, the IEA suggests we emitted 36.8 billion tonnes of energy-related CO2. Does that mean another $190/tonne added to the social cost of carbon (SCC)?

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

@JoyceWhiteVance Right there with you on all counts… 🤪

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

And I definitely could not have said it better myself! 👍🤪❗️

[Physics In History @PhysInHistory]

"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he's destroying is this God he's worshipping."

-- Hubert Reeves

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

The heat is on, even if the thrill is gone! But thanks for your update, and your work @NWSTucson!

[NWS Tucson @NWSTucson]

High temperatures today will be in the mid 90s to around 100 degs in the eastern valley's and between 103-111 degs from Tucson westward. There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily from Tucson south and southwestward during the afternoon and evening hours. #azwx

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Alas, even as his own misconduct distracts us from the even larger consequences of climate change, species extinctions, and a lagging social and economic wellbeing—the result of underinvesting in people and a more energy and resource productive infrastructure… Sigh…

[Molly Ploofkins @Mollyploofkins]

He's about to be indicted again...

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Spot on, @SeanCasten. Energy productivity lags. The last 30 years we improved 1.9%/yr. Now projected 1.7% thru 2050. If 3%/yr—which we’ve done 16 times--that means a potential cumulative energy bill savings of ~$5.7 trillion in the years 2024-2050. A new energy mindset is needed.

[Sean Casten @SeanCasten]

There are only three inputs to any economy: labor, capital and energy. And as my friend @EconSkip likes to say "capital without energy is a statute and labor without energy is a corpse". AND YET...

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Delighted to say that in collaboration with @WorldResources, our analysis finds Michigan can create 56,000 new #EV manufacturing jobs if supportive policies are enacted to encourage EV investments and ensure a #JustTransition for workers and communities: https://t.co/paVTzIEXsZ

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

A spot-on insight!!!

[Sean Casten @SeanCasten]

One of my go-to town hall tricks to get people to understand climate change is is to ask them to complete the sequence: A, B... (they all say C). Then 2, 4... and they all say 6 when the answer is 8. It's so good to see the *solutions* to climate change also getting non-linear.

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Admittedly a rough calculation, but in 2022 the US suffered $165 billion in climate damages which cost the economy more like $511 billion in output, also affecting as many as 2.6 million jobs in that same year. Without big changes, the impact will grow. https://t.co/Hcm2qEYuHQ

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

@AWeissmann_ Thank you, @AWeissmann_

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Our big takeaway? If we retire old thinking, we can then reboot our economy to near zero greenhouse gas emissions even as we promote an average of 19 million new jobs within the United States. Check it out!

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

@tyler_bryant Tyler! Great to see your name pop up. Yes, spearheaded by colleague Jeremy Rifkin, we worked with World Resources Institute, Black & Veatch, others to deliver a 242-page, $16 trillion climate investment strategy to Senator Schumer! Waylaid by politics!
https://t.co/J1f5E4wj2g

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

@tyler_bryant Tyler! Great to see your name pop up. Yes, spearheaded by colleague Jeremy Rifkin, we worked with World Resources Institute, Black & Veatch, others to deliver a 242-page, $16 trillion climate investment strategy to Senator Schumer! Waylaid by politics!
https://t.co/J1f5E4wj2g

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

@jgkoomey @Peters_Glen @Anduril100 @OlaRosling Good comment back, Jon! Reinforced as I've updated my data comparing U.S. #EnergyProductivity with real per capita income over the years 1950-2021. With huge opportunities to go even bigger on energy productivity and GDP production--even as we approach near-zero CO2 emissions...

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Holy Moly, @SeanCasten. I could not have said this better myself. Even as we must insist on, and work toward, the more proactive and fair-minded outcome. The nation’s—dare I say the larger world’s—social, economic, and environmental well-being is at stake!

[Sean Casten @SeanCasten]

8/ So if you consider yourself a decent person, think twice before you amplify the news of his latest transgression. You are right to be angry. But direct your anger at those who knew of those transgressions and chose to put him in the line of fire. Lead with love. /fin

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

As @getgabbyd and others suggest, a new abnormal of record-breaking and punishing heatwaves. To which I might offer this reminder: a hot climate likely means a much colder economy. . .
https://t.co/mSETGNHRTk

[Skip Laitner @EconSkip]

Wow! As Pete Seeger once sang… asking the question: “Where have all the flowers gone?” He then asked: “When will they (we) ever learn? When will they (we) ever learn?”

[Rt Hon Chris Skidmore @CSkidmoreUK]

August, 110 years ago.