Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍

Climate & energy: physics, chemistry, biology. Policy: what we decide. I love people & want to fight for a better future.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

You have done more than most Governor. But when institutions look the other way at attacks on Jewish Americans until courts force action [UCLA], when Jewish fear cannot find the same compassion we rightly extend to every other community, when perpetrators are protected, while jewish American children are terrorized in daycares & on campuses year after year, we have given permission. Anyone having a bad day, or who is unhappy or has a viewpoint on politics, now has institutional permission & the oldest easiest target to blame. That is how you get a 46 year high. We need Churchills & Lincolns. Not meme lords and political attacks. Serious leaders with the moral clarity & courage to use their power to arrest, bring charges, provide security, force changes in the law, everything YOU can do so Americans are not attacked for their ethnicity on our streets.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

There are no sides here. A Hezbollah flag outside a NYC Jewish daycare is not protest & terrifying NYC Jewish CHILDREN is not resistance. It is antisemitism. Every American regardless of politics should be able to say that clearly. Our continued silence is not neutrality, it is permission. @ElissaSlotkin @ZohranMamdani @MarcoRubio @LeeZeldin

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

America’s next financial crisis isn’t on Wall Street... it’s in your homeowner’s insurance bill. https://t.co/yhZU8Icb7k

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

@PeteButtigieg Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

I hope this note finds you well back home in Michigan! I’m writing as someone who knows you care deeply about the Midwest’s renewal and tech innovation (as evidenced by your own presidential campaign platform on technology and your current residence in Traverse City). We have an opportunity here in Michigan that I believe aligns with your passions: convincing @OpenAI /@SoftBank Stargate AI project to choose Michigan for one of its enormous data center sites.

You’ve spoken about bridging the urban-rural divide and bringing high-tech jobs to the Heartland. This project could do exactly that—potentially locating a major AI campus in Michigan (perhaps in a less urbanized area with space, say somewhere like Eaton or Shiawassee County, or even northern Michigan). It would inject new economy jobs into communities that need them.

Also, given your tenure as Transportation Secretary, you understand infrastructure needs: these AI facilities need power, fiber, and roads—Michigan checks those boxes. In fact, Michigan is central to transportation networks (useful for construction logistics) and has a stable infrastructure environment (no permafrost issues like Alaska, no floodplain issues like some southern states).

While you are no longer in office (but hopefully will be again soon), you have such a powerful voice and network. Would you consider speaking publicly, writing, and reaching out to your contacts advocating for tech investment in Midwest states like Michigan, citing this OpenAI project as a prime example? Even a tweet from you to your millions of followers highlighting Michigan’s advantages could catch the eye of decision-makers! You also likely know some of the key players personally (perhaps folks at Microsoft or in the administration who are supporting AI growth). A friendly word from you about “hey, Michigan is the real deal for that data center” could resonate!!
Thank you for choosing to make Michigan home; you’ve seen its potential and also its needs. This project could be transformational, and it would be a bipartisan win. @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance have expressed their fondness and desire to help our state. I believe it’s a chance to show how a state like ours can unite to win a piece of the future.

If you’re open to it, even informal conversations or connections you could facilitate with the OpenAI team would be immensely helpful. Your credibility in the tech and political space is an asset.

Thank you for considering this. Michigan is so fortunate to have you here; now, with your help, we can welcome a new wave of AI jobs and innovation that will benefit our communities for decades.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

@JocelynBenson
I am excited by news of your run for governor! As those of us who are lifelong Michigan residents know, Michigan has long suffered from a somewhat stagnant and anemic economy, though I am thrilled that some of the infrastructure and IRA money has been coming to our great state in the past few years.

You may have seen the news that 15 other states—not ours—but the other blue-wall states, along with Ohio, are being scouted for the Stargate AI data centers. I am hopeful that you will use your influence to help push for a bid in what could be a cornerstone for Michigan’s future economy—one that I think aligns with your commitment to our youth and our state’s prosperity. It’s about aggressively pursuing the OpenAI/SoftBank “Stargate” AI data center for Michigan.

You have a background in education and public service reform, so you know the value of forward-looking investment. This project would be a forward-looking game-changer: imagine Michigan as one of America’s AI nerve centers, providing cutting-edge jobs to our citizens. It would keep our best and brightest here at home. I recall you tweeting about stopping brain drain—well, here’s how you could help... by helping bring a massive AI facility here... so our college graduates and skilled trade school grads can find world-class opportunities without leaving Michigan.

As Secretary of State, you modernized systems and advocated for technology improvements in government. You could leverage that reputation to advocate for Michigan as a tech-friendly state. Perhaps you could publicly endorse Michigan’s bid for this data center—your voice would carry weight, especially as someone known for administrative competence. Could you please help highlight our assets (talent, infrastructure) and call on leaders from all parties to unite on this @MayorMikeDuggan ? It would signal a unified front beyond just current officeholders.

Also, consider the voting population: people want good jobs for their kids. This issue transcends party. If you champion bringing OpenAI here, it positions you (and Michigan) as champions of the future economy. It’s a positive, hopeful narrative.

You might also reach out to contacts—our business leaders @cavsdan , university presidents @SantaJOno , Detroit’s tech non-profits, etc.—to rally support. A grassroots petition or statement of support from community leaders, which you could help organize, would catch media attention and show OpenAI that Michigan’s public wants them here.

In summary, I see this as an opportunity for you to lead on a signature economic initiative early. By advocating for the Stargate AI project, you’d be helping secure Michigan’s economic future and showing the kind of proactive leadership we need. I and many others would be eager to assist in any such efforts.

Thank you for considering this, and thank you for your dedication to Michigan.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

@GovWhitmer Michigan is made for @OpenAI’s $500B “Stargate” AI data center project! Our state is #1 in engineer concentration
https://t.co/LvlKxmXWuF, home to top tech talent (@UMichECE #10 CS program https://t.co/IOmxv7btTS), and blessed with HUGE power & water resources. Could we please prepare an RFP to show we have the incentives & vision to bring these AI jobs re? Governor, your leadership can make MI the next big AI hub!OpenAI considering 16 states for data center campuses as part of Trump's Stargate project https://t.co/D7maVnJYBG

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

Are @realDonaldTrump & his billionaire donors so bad for the climate?

This week, @realDonaldTrump ordered federal agencies to remove climate change references from government websites. Pages from the USDA, US Forest Service, and others—containing wildfire vulnerability assessments and adaptation tools—were taken down.

Meanwhile, @RobertKennedyJr, one of the most prominent environmental litigators of the last three decades, is now in confirmation hearings for @HHSGov Secretary in the Trump administration. Is Mr. Kennedy a Trojan horse for the environment in a new Trump administration?

The facts: Before his presidential run, RFK Jr. was a leader in environmental litigation and advocacy. He was the Chief Prosecuting Attorney at @Waterkeeper Alliance, growing it into a global network of organizations fighting for clean water. He led major lawsuits against industrial polluters, forcing accountability for toxic waste dumping, coal pollution, and corporate environmental violations.

RFK Jr. advocated for the Clean Water Act, working to strengthen enforcement against violations by big energy and manufacturing companies. He co-founded the @NRDC's Environmental Litigation Project, taking on cases against @ExxonMobil, @SmithfieldFoods, and other corporations.

Mr. Kennedy also led lawsuits curbing mountaintop removal mining, protecting river ecosystems, and forcing power plants to reduce mercury emissions, improving air quality and public health. With this background, his possible role in the Trump administration—leading @HHSGov, an agency critical for public health—raises the question:

Could @realDonaldTrump, who says he wants "clean air and clean water," be more open to environmental protections with @RobertKennedyJr in his cabinet?

And President Trump’s close advisor, @elonmusk? Like him or not, it can't be denied that his business, technological genius, and dogged determination made Tesla the dominant force in bringing mainstream, affordable #EVs to the masses, solar and energy storage at @Tesla, and ensuring grid resilience—all while simultaneously working across multiple industries. @ElonMusk has played a major role in advancing artificial intelligence, having co-founded @OpenAI as a nonprofit because he wanted to ensure AI development remained safe and beneficial for humanity with his early recognition of AI’s dangers. He is now working to fix federal deficits, solve neurological disorders with @Neuralink, address traffic congestion through @boringcompany, provide global satellite internet access via @SpaceX while he reaches for Mars, and advocate for free speech on @X and more. I'm grateful for @elonmusk, even if I don't always agree with him, and shouldn’t we be beyond grateful for a leader who is not just talking about solutions but actually building them?

And what about President Trump’s economic policies and the climate? Even as federal climate policies shift, could @realDonaldTrump’s push for reshoring & deglobalization actually reduce emissions? After all, global supply chains are energy-intensive. Transporting raw materials & finished goods across oceans and continents burns massive amounts of fossil fuels. Producing closer to where goods are consumed could lower emissions in key industries—clearly a climate benefit if we can build closer to the end consumer.

What about President Trump's embrace of the billionaires and how these relationships can further help with decarbonization?

While energy policy like President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act Energy Efficiency provisions shaped incentives, some of the other ambitious climate & energy solutions aren't coming from the government—they're coming from the private sector, and some of President Trump's new friends and donors:

@BillGates’ @btenergy (Breakthrough Energy Ventures) is investing billions in next-gen nuclear, long-duration energy storage, and green hydrogen—all areas where government has struggled to scale innovation. Mr. Gates's books, blogs, and Netflix specials (Inside Bill’s Brain, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster) demystify energy and climate challenges, making solutions more accessible. Mr. Gates is a student of energy policy and production, working tirelessly to help decarbonize all sectors of the economy in a thoughtful, proactive manner and funding many exciting startups across all sectors that we need to decarbonize for a liveable world.

Mr. Gates recently met with President Trump, where they discussed global health, HIV, polio, and vaccine innovation. While their conversation doesn't appear to have focused on energy, it’s possible President Trump’s interest in innovation could extend to climate tech in the future?

Meanwhile, @JeffBezos’ @BezosEarthFund, led by Mr. Bezos and his fiance @laurenwsanchez, is directing $10B+ into land restoration, carbon removal, reforestation, and sustainable food systems—taking a nature-based approach that complements @btenergy’s tech-driven strategy.

The @BezosEarthFund also funds @SystemsChangeLb, a data-driven initiative that focuses on systemic transformation in climate, energy, and sustainability. I excitedly anticipate the latest research, grants, and activities of the fund and am especially so grateful that Mr. Bezos, Mr. Musk, and Mr. Gates are taking three very different but incredibly important and successful approaches to our climate change dilemma. Perhaps their growing relationships with President Trump mean the new administration may take more kindly to finding ways to bridge public and private funding for the environment and help shift President Trump's focus from a pure hydrocarbon-fueled economy.

Maybe we can't solve climate change at the speed we must without the fortunes of these three most successful world's billionaires and their relationships with our new Republican administration. Perhaps it is because of their large fortunes that allow them to move faster without having to worry about the immediate cost.

And while opinions on wealth and power differ, I’m grateful that @BillGates, @JeffBezos, and @elonmusk have each taken such different approaches to decarbonization—pushing forward solutions that governments alone seem to be struggling to implement.

Just like I cheered for the Biden Administration, I'm cheering for President Trump, his administration, and his allies—in the hope that they can help drive a politically palatable transition away from fossil fuels. Maybe this new approach can be an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to find common ground on the environment. I’m hopeful that it's not about us against them, but rather all of us working together to align with science and pursue the solutions we need while always protecting each other and the future of humanity.

#ClimateChange #EnergyPolicy #EVs #Decarbonization #Reshoring

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

I think this is pretty interesting... The majority Republican-appointed U.S. Supreme Court (6 Republican appointees to 3 Democratic appointees) recently declined to hear a case brought by 19 Republican-led states that aimed to prevent Democratic-led states from pursuing climate change lawsuits against major oil and gas companies, @Chevron, @exxonmobil, and others in state courts. The Republican attorneys general argued the Blue State lawsuits could undermine federal energy policies and economically harm states whose industries are heavily reliant on fossil fuel production.
[@SCOTUSblog]

The USSC did not provide specific reasons for its decision, which is customary when denying certiorari (choosing not to review a case). However, the Biden administration had urged the Court not to intervene, arguing that these lawsuits should proceed through normal state judicial processes without federal interference.

By declining to hear the case, the Supreme Court allows climate lawsuits from states like California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island to move forward in state courts. These lawsuits claim major oil and gas companies misled the public about fossil fuels' role in climate change.

Each case involves different defendants and legal theories, but all reflect Democratic state attorneys general efforts to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate-related damages.
[@SCOTUSblog]

Despite the USSC's ideological makeup, the Court’s refusal to intervene could signal judicial restraint and a recognition of state legal autonomy, showing that the Court is not acting in a uniformly partisan manner on environmental cases.

The Supreme Court’s decision means that state courts—and potentially juries—will decide whether fossil fuel companies can be held liable for climate damages under each of the state laws. Stay tuned!

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

The @UNEP latest Emissions Gap Report delivers a terrifying message: current policies and climate commitments fall far short of what’s needed to limit global warming.

To avoid catastrophic climate disasters, we must cut GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 and 56% by 2035 (compared to 2019). Yet, under current policies, we are on track for just a 4% and 6% reduction, respectively.

This means we are drastically off course—without a massive course correction by 2030, it will become impossible to limit warming to 1.5°C, which means more heatwaves and scary storms, more fires, and inflation from having to rebuild and from crop destruction.

Full report: https://t.co/A8oSQ3UegC

In a recent episode of The Great Simplification podcast, host @NJHagens and energy expert @scotttinker explore the realities of oil supply, peak oil, and the challenges of transitioning energy systems. I'm always challenged by these conversations because of the brute reality that transitioning from our fossil fuel-based economy will likely not happen in time to save many parts of our planet, which will likely become unlivable.

I'm grateful for experts like @NJHagens & @ScottTinker for challenging each other and reminding us that, though difficult, we need to have these discussions.

Bridging the gap between those who believe we must do everything to slow climate change and those who believe a rapid transition is unrealistic—given economic, technological, and societal constraints—is incredibly important to finding real solutions.

https://t.co/Bg96VggmPn

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

This could be the most important case of #SCOTUS this term …. The Death of the Chevron Doctrine: Will Our Environment Pay the Price? #environment #climate #chevron https://t.co/yIaEvKXp30

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

@AnnieJacobsen's new book "Nuclear War: a Scenario" portrays in horrifying details what WWIII might look like between nuclear armed adversaries (North Korea, Russia, US) & her interviews for the book make a compelling case for the same result with a "tactical" nuclear weapon used by Russia in Ukraine. She would be a great guest for @theallinpod.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

An analysis by @CarbonBrief: if Donald Trump wins the upcoming presidential election, it could result in an additional 4 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2030 compared to @JoeBiden 's environmental plans. This increase would lead to global #climate damages valued at over $900 billion, effectively nullifying the #environmental benefits of #RenewableEnergy advancements made in the last five years, twice over.

https://t.co/WfycwWCU6j

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

Biden Pauses Approvals for LNG Exports - WSJ. Biden admin halts approvals for new #LNG export, citing a need to assess impact on energy $, security, & the environment. The move wins praise from environmental groups but draws criticism from the oil and gas https://t.co/mSEDhA8ZwQ

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

@exxonmobil , a major U.S. oil company, is taking legal action to prevent a #climatechange proposal from being voted on at its upcoming shareholder meeting in May. This proposal, introduced by green activists calls for @exxonmobil to set "Scope 3" targets, aiming to reduce #emissions associated with the use of its products.
The lawsuit filed in a Texas is the first time the company has taken such legal action to exclude a shareholder proposal. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, known for his conservative rulings including those related to healthcare, LGBTQ rights, and gun control. @exxonmobil argues that the investors behind the proposal have an "extreme agenda" that doesn't align with long-term shareholder interests or the company's goals.
The activists are asking that @exxonmobil adopt "Scope 3" targets that would require the company to reduce greenhouse gas emissions not only from its own operations but also from the use of its products, such as gasoline used in cars. Among the five major Western oil companies, ExxonMobil is the only one without such targets.
The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how large companies address environmental proposals from their shareholders. ExxonMobil is seeking a decision by March 19, as its proxy statement for the annual shareholder meeting on May 29 needs to be filed by April 11.

Exxon files lawsuit against investors' climate proposal. Reuters.

Exxon Sues Two ESG Investors. WSJ.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

"🌍💻🌩️🌪️ 'Facing 'gray swan' events in climate, AI models need to adapt. These tools must evolve beyond historical data to predict unprecedented changes.'

What are 'gray swan' events? In the context of climate change, gray swan events refer to extreme weather or climatic events that, while theoretically predictable based on scientific knowledge and climate models, have not been experienced historically. These events are unprecedented in their scale or impact but can be anticipated based on our understanding of how the climate system responds to factors such as increased greenhouse gas concentrations.

For example, a gray swan event in climate science might be an unusually intense hurricane or heatwave, which, while extremely rare and without precedent, can be anticipated as a possibility given the changing climate conditions.

How can we improve on our climate prediction models? #ClimateAI models can be improved by integrating a wider range of data sources, including satellite observations, oceanographic data, and atmospheric measurements. This data helps capture the complexity of the Earth's climate system more accurately.

Making our #climatemodels more detailed, by focusing on smaller areas and shorter time periods, we can make better predictions about things like cloud patterns and local weather changes.

Continuing to improve #MachineLearning can improve the way models analyze complex data sets. Techniques like deep learning can uncover patterns in climate data that traditional models might miss.

Since many aspects of climate change are non-linear, meaning they don't change at a constant rate, improving #AIModels to better handle these non-linear processes, such as feedback loops, is crucial for accurate predictions.

Using different #climatemodels to picture various 'what if' situations helps us see a range of possible future weather patterns. This mix-and-match method helps us get a better idea of what might happen and how sure we are about our predictions.

Stronger computers will help, to run more detailed and complex climate models. As will
keeping climate models updated with the latest weather data, so they can make better predictions.

& the climate community needs to continue to try and present climate data in a clear and relatable way for everyone. This not only helps the general public understand the urgency but also empowers them to advocate for informed actions and policies from our decision-makers and legislators and to remind voters to #vote for #climate #policy to work toward a #greentransition and #SustainableFuture .

@NatureClimate @JmlrOrg @IPCC_CH #ClimateAction #IPCC #MachineLearning
https://t.co/VBPJRMrKmN.

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

Legal & Policy challenges facing EV Infrastructure along with consumer preferences, charging levels, government incentives & much more, my newest article https://t.co/bYHOpDGO75 ⤵️👇🚗⚡️🔋🌏

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

Lessons in Chemistry (& Policy) — the Batteries and Materials needed to power Electric Vehicles -Laws, policy, regulations, stakeholders, manufacturers in this fast growing industry https://t.co/qukdHbxEz2 ⤵️👇🌏🔋⚡️🚗🚗👇⤵️

[Jennifer Mary Liss 💙💚🌍 @jennifermliss]

my newest article #greenfinance. Investing in #biodiversitycredits, a financial mechanism that can be used to fund nature conservation & restoration projects. They are measurable, traceable, & tradeable units of biodiversity. 👇⤵️🌏
https://t.co/047xAyu5dF