Renewable Friday: More News than You Can Shake a Stick At

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Friday March 13, 2026 · 4:00 AM PDT

2026/03/13 · 04:00

The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.4% in 2025 to their lowest level in more than 150 years, with coal at a 400-year low. Meanwhile, the Iran War-That-Is-Not-A-War (like Putin in Ukraine) has cut global oil supply by 20%, because it is already over. Or not. Trump is going to choose a sane Supreme Leader for Iran, even though the hardline son of the one he and Netanyahu killed has already taken over, and Trump’s idea of sanity doesn’t bear examining. Don’t worry about rising oil prices, which spiked over $100/bbl and look set to rise to that level again and stay there. Nor about gasoline, up 75¢/gal. so far. High prices are good for you, the Lunatic-in-Charge claims. Iran can’t lay the mines they are laying, and we can clean them right up with our obsolete minesweeper fleet that is home in port, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda.

🎩 T Maysle

Mar 10, 2026 at 07:00:08 AM

UK’s greenhouse gas emissions hit 150 year low

The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.4% in 2025 to their lowest level in more than 150 years.

The biggest factors were gas use falling to a 34-year low and coal use dropping to levels last seen in 1600, when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and William Shakespeare was writing Hamlet.

The UK’s emissions are now 54% below 1990 levels, while its GDP has nearly doubled.

While industrial emissions have also declined significantly since 1990, falling some 74% by 2025, the size of UK manufacturing output has also roughly doubled.

The rise of EVs is set to make transport the largest source of emissions cuts from now until 2040

🇬🇧 🏭📉🌞🌳🇬🇧

Mokurai

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Thursday March 12, 2026 · 7:49 AM PDT

2026/03/12 · 07:49

THEY want to be every kind of evil, claiming that our insistence on doing good is the greatest evil of all. Compassion, truth, DEI, human rights…None of that is new. What is new today is their ever-more epic fails and the increasing reach of our pushback.

U.S. President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are depicted as Jack and Rose from "Titanic" in an art installation titled "KING OF THE WORLD" on the National Mall on March 11, 2026 in Washington, D.C. The installation was placed on the National Mall by Secret Handshake, the organization that was also behind the Trump-Epstein friendship statue that appeared on the National Mall last September. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images) — My apologies for showing the felon-in-chief’s face in this snarkalicious statue, a recent addition to the Capitol Mall putting Trump and Epstein into the iconic pose from *Titanic*.

What can you expect from a kakistocracy which only respects cruelty, lying, Dunning-Krugeritis, and grift? But none of these opinions holds a majority in the country any more. Similarly with racism, misogyny, nativism, pseudo-Christian Nationalism, and various forms of science denial, all of which were major political forces when I was growing up, and all of which are now in severe decline. Every one of us can help make them all more so.

Mokurai

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Wednesday March 11, 2026 · 4:00 AM PDT

2026/03/11 · 04:00

GA-14 primary: Dem. Shawn Harris, Brigadier General, retired, leads in MTG’s former district. There will be a runoff on April 7, for the rest of MTG’s term, and a regular election in November for the next session of Congress. Harris will need to “overperform” by 17 points compared with Trump’s last win in Georgia. That is by no means impossible in this political environment.

Bluesky:

Shawn Harris

@shawnforcongress.bsky.social

15.6K followers 13 following

976 posts

Farmer, retired General, family man. Democrat, Running for Congress in GA-14. The people of #GA14 deserve an ACTUAL representative. www.shawnforgeorgia.com

CNN: Democrat Shawn Harris to face Trump-endorsed Republican Clay Fuller in runoff to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, CNN projects

Fuller, who resigned his role as a district attorney to run in the special, surged to the front of a crowded Republican field after snagging an endorsement from Trump in February. But the president’s support failed to narrow the field of a dozen GOP hopefuls enough to allow his chosen candidate to win the seat outright.

Trump touted Fuller’s win, writing on Truth Social late Tuesday night, “Congratulations to Clay Fuller, of Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, on getting such a high percentage of the vote with 12 Republicans running.”

“We want to make the next vote ‘TOO BIG TO RIG.’ Clay will be a GREAT Congressman — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!

Trump continued.

If by “rigging an election” he means “showing up to vote”, we have something to say about that.

Harris’s campaign site: Democrat for Georgia's 14th District

LEADERSHIP
MATTERS

Mokurai

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Tuesday March 10, 2026 · 4:00 AM PDT

2026/03/10 · 04:00

No, Not The Onion. Wikipedia: 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued warnings prohibiting vessel passage through the strait, leading to an effective halt in shipping traffic, and huge spikes in oil and natural gas prices worldwide. Gasoline is up about 40¢/gal in the US.

The warnings and subsequent attacks on vessels caused a sharp decline in maritime transit, with tanker traffic dropping first by approximately 70% and over 150 ships anchoring outside the strait to avoid risks,^[2]^[3] and soon traffic went to about zero. This disruption affected about 20% of the world's daily oil supply and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), prompting major shipping firms to suspend operations in the area.^[4]^[5] Oil and gas prices surged, with Brent crude rising up to US$92 per barrel at its peak, amid fears of prolonged supply shortages that could push prices toward $100 per barrel.^[3]^[6]^[7]

Of course, the US is also putting itself under sanctions as oil spikes above $100/bbl within the first week of this insane and stupid war.

Mokurai

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Monday March 09, 2026 · 4:00 AM PDT

2026/03/09 · 04:00

Research from University of Chicago shows that lipid nanoparticles can effectively deliver mRNA to beta cells. mRNA coding for cell-surface antigen PD-L1 enhances the cells’ immune protection, thus preserving insulin production.

This is early-stage research. We don’t know when it might turn into a therapy, get into human trials, and be approved for clinical use.

Nanoparticle system shows promise for delivering mRNA to prevent type 1 diabetes

Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago

Research on preventing type 1 diabetes often focuses on limiting the autoimmune response that destroys the body’s ability to produce its own insulin. A new technology developed by scientists at the University of Chicago takes a different approach, centered on preserving insulin-producing beta cells by giving them the ability to protect themselves.

In a new study published this week in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers showed how nanoparticles created with lipids can deliver mRNA molecules to beta cells and prompt them to express more PD-L1, a cell surface protein that helps evade the immune system. In experiments with both mouse and human beta cells, the nanoparticles successfully reached their target and triggered PD-L1 expression. The same approach also worked in a model where human beta cells were transplanted into mice.

Mokurai

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Sunday March 08, 2026 · 9:00 AM PDT

2026/03/08 · 09:00

I wanted to explain the various death cults involved in the Middle East today, but it’s too much for me. The best I can do is give you clues to the stories, if you actually want to know that much. Whatever you know, the reality is worse. Many on all side consider it worthwhile to sacrifice their own people for advantage in war and other issues. Google can point you to lots of information and disinformation on all of this.

So be careful. This is an area of extreme denial and coverups, with numerous hatreds masquerading as concern for human rights while standing right beside overt promotion of ultraviolence.

Hamas vs. IDF in Gaza. Netanyahu accused of sacrificing hostages. Genocidal intentions on both sides. Lots of human shields. Lots of targeting of children.
Settler violence in the East Bank.
Israel and US vs. Iran, helped by Russia and China.
Iran bombing Arab countries and Turkey.
Lebanon.

And much more.

We COULD talk about the benefits that would come from a comprehensive peace with a Palestinian state given full national sovereignty, and the rest of it, but we are surrounded by far too many nogoodniks and paskudnyaks for that conversation to be widely heard.

Renewable Friday: Accelerating Africa

Mokurai

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Friday March 06, 2026 · 4:00 AM PST

2026/03/06 · 04:00

Once upon a time, Darkest Africa was the region where no Europeans had ever been. Racist disparagement of the peoples of Africa continues, ignoring the vast and increasing progress nearly everywhere there, and on every point of development: renewable energy, eliminating dread diseases, communications, education, business, reducing oppression of every minority, and much more.

🎩 T Maysle

Mar 05, 2026 at 06:49:49 AM

Africa Records Its Fastest Year of Solar Growth

Africa installed approximately 4.5 GW of new solar PV capacity in 2025, representing a 54% year-on-year increase and marking a sharp acceleration in annual deployment across regions.

Africa is effectively running two energy transitions at the same time:
utility-scale projects funded mainly by public and development finance, and rapidly expanding privately financed rooftop and distributed systems.

8 countries have installed 100MW or above, against 4 last year, essentially doubling the number of countries. Additionally, two countries were closing in on this threshold -(Ghana and Chad). This confirms the trend of diversification

🌍☀️🇳🇬 🪟🌄 🇿🇦 🪟

Feed: "Microgrid Media"
By: Jonas Muthoni on Wednesday, March 4, 2026

[image or embed]
— Longtail News (@longtail.news) March 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM

Mokurai

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Thursday March 05, 2026 · 4:00 AM PST

2026/03/05 · 04:00

Tuesday was primary night in 3 US states. Because of R shenanigans, the D Senate primary in TX did not end until 3 am Wednesday. The next evening James Talarico gave this barnburner of a speech that is even now being sliced into campaign ads. Whoever you are, you should listen to this whole speech, or at least read the transcript helpfully provided on the YouTube page. (Click More and then click the link for the scrolling transcript.)

James Talarico gives victory speech for Senate primary

YouTube Video

Key thoughts:

Talarico began by thanking Rep. Jasmine Crockett for her campaign against him. They have joined forces for the general election.

We’re done being divided.
A people-powered movement to take on this broken, corrupt political system.
His granddad, a Baptist preacher, told James at an early age that we follow a barefoot rabbi who gave us two commandments: Love God, and love neighbor.
Not just my neighbor who looks like me, prays like me, votes like me. I am called to love all of my neighbors.
I am trying to love my neighbor through public policy.
There is far more that unites us than divides us.
There is something happening in Texas. The people of this state have given this country a little bit of hope. And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.
We are running against a broken system, and the powerful people who broke it.
2,000 years ago that barefoot rabbi...flipped over the tables of injustice...To those who love our neighbors, it’s time to start flipping tables.

This is of course barely the beginning of the real campaign. The Rs won’t know who their candidate is in this race until their runoff in late May.

Mokurai

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Wednesday March 04, 2026 · 4:00 AM PST

2026/03/04 · 04:00

27% of Americans were in favor of war with Iran. But don’t try to confuse the Idiot-in-charge with facts. He doesn’t need any more confusing than comes naturally to him. On our side, I would say, if you aren’t confused, you aren’t paying attention. And I cite in evidence each and all of the items below.

Trump launched this war of choice, this war of naked aggression, and went to host a $1 million a plate fundraiser at his club.

Mokurai

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Tuesday March 03, 2026 · 4:00 AM PST

2026/03/03 · 04:00

US utilities generated a record amount of energy from renewable sources last year, even as the Trump administration implemented a range of policies to stymie green energy. Some 1,162 terrawatt-hours of the country’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2025, a 10% increase over the prior year, according to federal data released this week. That represents 26% of all US electricity made — enough to power about 108 million US homes for a year.

Bloomberg Green Daily e-mail

Next we need to double that twice more, and add a bit more for growth in demand, including AI data centers. We need a law that their owners have to install more than enough renewables to run their computers, before any of them can be switched on. Also enough industrial heat pump capacity so they don’t need local water for cooling, also fully powered before they are allowed to fire up the computers.

Cooling pipes at a Google data center in Douglas County, Georgia.

From #waste to #resource 💡 The new @SUSHEAT #infographic shows how #industrial waste heat can be reused with help from heat pump innovation, solar energy and AI. Find out more here: shorturl.at/IqJIl

[image or embed]
— SUSHEAT sustainable heat upgrade for industry (@susheat.bsky.social) February 16, 2026 at 4:59 AM

Mokurai

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Monday March 02, 2026 · 4:00 AM PST

2026/03/02 · 04:00

Eating high amounts of red meat may raise diabetes risk by as much as 49%

The study found that this risk increased with each additional serving of red meat.

However, switching some red meat to healthier protein options like beans, nuts, chicken, or fish helped lower diabetes risk.

A large-scale study in the United States has found that consuming red meat in large amounts, especially processed meat, may be associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes, which increases with every additional serving.

Furthermore, for each additional daily serving of red meat, researchers observed a 10% to 16% increase in diabetes risk, depending on the type of red meat consumed.

The findings also indicate that substituting red meat with plant-based proteins or other healthier protein sources can help reduce this increased risk by as much as 14%.

The study adds to a growing body of research that has found that eating red meat, especially processed varieties like sausages or bacon, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The results are published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Mokurai

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday March 01, 2026 · 9:00 AM PST

2026/03/01 · 09:00

Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu have driven right off the trestle in their continuing program of human sacrifice. They have no idea how Iran will respond to assassinating Ayatollah Khamenei as the finishing touch on US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Rumors are swirling, so be careful not to believe fantasies and conspiracy theories.

From Back to the Future III, a steam locomotive catches fire, goes off the rails, and plunges into a ravine.

Trump this morning posts his reason for war with Iran.

[image or embed]
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) February 28, 2026 at 10:46 AM

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Renewable Friday: More News than You Can Shake a Stick At

The Best of the Best: No, We're Not, and They Can't Make Us

The Pushback Chronicles: Let's START with MTG's House Seat

Renewable Tuesday: Iran Puts Itself Under Sanctions by Closing Strait of Hormuz

Diabetes News: Using Messenger RNA to Help Beta Cells

This Suffering World: Human Sacrifice

Renewable Friday: Accelerating Africa

The Best of the Best: James Talarico Victory Speech

The Pushback Chronicles: The Fog of Warmongering

Renewable Tuesday: New US Renewables Record is Epic Fail for Trump

Diabetes News: The Hazards of Red Meat

This Suffering World: Strife in Iran