Important story from @lizagross.bsky.social

Do your laundry at weekends to get free electricity, Britons told The National Energy System Operator has launched a scheme to reward homes and businesses that use more power when there is an oversupply of energy

Good morning for once to some good news: gonna have so much solar powered energy this summer they will be literally giving it away www.thetimes.com/business/ene...

Plastic Inc — how the defining material of the modern age ended up trashing the planet Beth Gardiner’s angry, well-researched book investigates a profit-driven industry and the environmental debts it imposes on generations

“In her investigation of the scope and impact of plastics, Gardiner doesn’t hold back. Plastic Inc is an angry book: timely, well researched and full of facts that make you furious.”

Rosie Boycott reviews Plastic Inc: Big Oil, Big Money and the Plan to Trash Our Future by @bethgardiner.bsky.social

It is hard to capture what a sweeping strategic defeat the war in Iran has been for the United States. I’m going to thread here some of the posts today that try to capture those effects. Here’s the first:

Utterly reprehensible. What an indelibly shameful moment this is for America.

Morally, legally, economically the war on Iran is disastrous and the disaster goes on for years no matter what happens now. But what cannot be overstated is that in pure national security terms it is also an unmitigated catastrophe.

The oil industry is betting big on plastics. Here's what that means for the future Journalist Beth Gardiner says the fossil fuel industry is increasingly reliant upon plastic products. Her book is Plastic Inc.: The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil's Biggest Bet.

As a writer, nothing is more gratifying than discussing your book with someone who's read it deeply and thoughtfully–especially when that person is the great
@tonyamosley.bsky.social, of Fresh Air. It was an absolute pleasure and honor to talk to her about Plastic Inc. www.npr.org/2026/04/01/n...

Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change. Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.

“Air pollution fell substantially as Paris restricted car traffic and made way for parks, people-streets and bike-lanes.”

Better for the climate, better for health, better for livability and quality of life.

Common sense.

Such a no-brainer, it’s remarkable that more cities HAVEN’T done the same.

Fossil fuel crises before the 2020s left consumers with three options:

1. Switch fuel if possible

2. Pay more if you can find fuel

3. Cut fuel use

Fossil fuel crises after the 2020s give new affordable options:

4. Install cheap solar panels and batteries

5. Buy electricity-consuming devices

One of the chief virtues of the book is that it’s nearly the only remaining form of media that isn’t constantly being interrupted by ads. Between the covers is the last place on earth where no one is trying to sell you shit, a place where you can still be a human being rather than a mark.

Spain's renewables build-out has structurally decoupled its electricity prices from gas markets. Gas now sets the price in only 15% of hours, compared to 90% in Italy.

Countries that invested early in clean power are far less exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. Those that didn't now pay the price.

Encyclopedia Britannica sues OpenAI over alleged AI training Case is one of many high-stakes lawsuits filed by copyright owners against tech giants

"Britannica’s lawsuit said that OpenAI unlawfully copied nearly 100,000 of its articles... The complaint said that ChatGPT produces “near-verbatim” copies of Britannica’s encyclopedia entries, dictionary definitions and other content, diverting users who would otherwise visit its websites."

Trump Officials Weigh New $1 Billion Deal to Stop Offshore Wind Farms

Your tax dollars at work: the Trump Administration wants to pay Total $1 billion NOT to build wind farms.

Oil and gas prices are soaring. Some countries are ready with solar panels and EVs As an energy crisis grows, some countries are more prepared because of renewable energy and electric vehicles. Pakistan reduced its reliance on imported natural gas because of the growth of solar.

25% of the world's liquified natural gas/LNG is offline.

But Pakistan is in a better position - because of the explosive growth of solar and batteries.

Pakistan DECREASED LNG imports last year in part because of ☀️+🔋

Here's why renewables - and EVs -are an energy security solution 🎧📻📖 on @npr.org

More homeowners are considering solar power during the Iran oil crisis EnergySage, an online marketplace, has seen a surge in people requesting quotes for solar installations since the conflict in the Middle East began.

Plus, as @climatepower.bsky.social told me, it's becoming clearer that home solar, as well as EVs, are the way for Americans to get off the "merry-go-round" of fossil fuel price spikes—since this certainly won't be the last geopolitical event to affect them www.fastcompany.com/91508367/sol...

Here’s some good news, from @ktoussaint.bsky.social

Lobbyists send legal threats to councils over anti-wood burner campaigns At least eight councils receive legal threats alleging flyers criticising wood burners are in breach of advertising codes

Lobbyists for the UK wood-burning stove industry threaten councils with legal action over public information campaigns on the harms of #airpollution

- "Straight from the playbook of tobacco" says Jemima Hartshorn, at Mums for Lungs

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Thank you! I hope you enjoy the read and find it useful

When DOGE Unleashed ChatGPT on the Humanities

Thank you @authorsguild.org for suing over this hostile and ignorant assault on knowledge and culture. Proud to be a member www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/a...

That is so nice to hear!

Thank you for putting it on your list! I hope you enjoy the read.

Wow, thank you @zoeschlanger.bsky.social. So grateful for your thoughtful and thorough read of PLASTIC INC. I feel so lucky it was reviewed by someone who understands the issues so deeply.

Life in Plastic: It’s Not Fantastic

Oh wow, the NY Times just reviewed Plastic Inc.! "A compelling true-crime story." Thank you so much, @zoeschlanger.bsky.social, for such a thoughtful and thorough take.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/b...

Thanks, I’m so glad you liked it! (And great to have connected here)

Thank you for reading, Brian! It's an honor to have my book read alongside one by the brilliant @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social!

Plastic, Plastic Everywhere

Loved talking to NYT Climate Forward's David Gelles about my new book, Plastic Inc. He called it "a sobering read that exposes disinformation campaigns, efforts to foist responsibility onto individual consumers and brutally effective political lobbying" www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/c...

Thanks so much, I hope you enjoy the read!

Thank you, Vicky!

Plastic Inc. by Beth Gardiner: 9780593717103 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books An extraordinary exposé of the industry flooding our world with plastic—and now ramping up to make more than ever “Deeply researched, sharply written, and totally compelling.”...

I'm thrilled to say Plastic Inc is out today, shifting the lens on plastic from where it ends up to where it comes from — the fossil fuel industry. "Deeply researched, sharply written & totally compelling," says @elizkolbert.bsky.social "Breath-taking & revelatory"—
@christopherleonard.bsky.social