I don’t think this is the digital Jesus @reckless.bsky.social has been talking about #vergecast

YES LFG

Thus while the bidirectionality of a power electronics transformer is an engineered and controlled feature, for a traditional transformer it is a consequence of physical law and the physical configuration of the device.

Transistors are fundamentally unidirectional power flow devices but they can be combined together into power electronics systems where power flow and voltage from multiple sources, AC or DC, can be controlled with software!

Transformers are fundamentally bidirectional power flow devices but the direction power flows is not determined by the transformer itself.

Transformers leverage the fundamental relationship between electricity and magnetism to trade AC current for voltage and vice versa. Power flows through them are determined entirely by the laws of physics, there is no built in control.

This is so exciting! If the data center power crunch results in scaling power electronics for distributed energy that would be a huge win for the future of the grid.
Traditional transformers are truly incredible bits of physics that make our grid work, but they are also inherently inflexible!

Just to crib Jan's great chart here a little bit - here are just a few of the headlines that came out when growth somewhat slowed in 2024

Many, many media outlets do not really know how to handle technological change like this

Explaining the Most Important Artemis II Photos YouTube video by Hank Green

Oh wow I definitely wasn’t aware the Artemis II solar eclipse was only due to the launch delay to April 1. (Helium flow issue in February required the rocket to be slowly rolled back to the assembly building)
Superb photo highlights from @hankgreen.bsky.social

Clean Energy Slate Wins Control of Arizona’s Biggest Utility

Good news in US power sector politics
#EnergySky

Why this NASA climate scientist wants you to stay angry Kate Marvel reflects on her fiery resignation: “I don’t think we rebuild science without getting mad.”

Why this NASA climate scientist wants you to stay angry

Now We Know Their Names | WIRED YouTube video by WIRED

Superb reporting by @wired.com

youtu.be/1d736ojx-ZY?...

It’s podcasts all the way down

Potentially relevant joke to the upcoming Vergecast in case @reckless.bsky.social wants to have a “Pam Bondi is a Dummy” podcast within a podcast spinoff. @davidpierce.xyz is gonna love it

These are screamin’ deals

Unfortunately, I think the language in the current net metering bill effectively bans residential systems which could be sized for future demand (switching to EV/heatpump) and which would help meet neighborhood demand.

@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social do you have thoughts about how to ensure people are not discouraged from installing as much rooftop solar as their roofs will fit? It's fine if only some portion of their system qualifies for net metering

For more on VA's net metering law:
programs.dsireusa.org/system/progr...

Hell yeah!

VA still places an upper limit on rooftop solar in their net metering law by requiring “systems … shall not exceed expected annual energy consumption…”

I hope someone in the VA legislature is thinking about removing this shortsighted and inefficient constraint!
#EnergySky

For more details on VA's net metering law:
programs.dsireusa.org/system/progr...

Data Engineer - Civic & Political Data, Contract Chicago, Illinois, United States

Hello! The best team in Climate Politics and Policy is still looking for a Data Engineer!

We're interested in people with more relevant civic data experience and a strong interest in Climate Cabinet's mission.

Priority deadline extended to March 17th.

Fully remote within the US.

U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says

We are committing horrific war crimes, we are creating generations of people who will hate the US - for entirely legitimate reasons. It seems likely there will be zero accountability.

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/u...

At ~$1 billion/day, the US has spent as much on the war in Iran in ten days as the entire FY25 budget for the National Science Foundation ($10 billion).

Trump's FY26 budget request for the agency declined to $3.9 billion, due to a "realignment of resources in a constrained fiscal environment."

Analysis Suggests School Was Hit Amid U.S. Strikes on Iranian Naval Base

Sure looks like our government is responsible for the mass murder of school children.

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/w...

“During Winter Storm Fern, Vineyard Wind had a 75% capacity factor”

That’s awesome. Offshore wind is extremely good and we should build a lot of it.

The $38.3 billion they are going to spend for interment camps could fund the annual budget of NASA, the EPA, and all clean energy R&D at the Department of Energy—combined.

This one is definitely for #EnergySky

Hell yeah this is awesome.

This is excellent local reporting 😍

Cool. Now arrest and charge them with murder.