Vontobel Foundation Professor of Sustainable Economics University of Zurich Tufts University (on leave) https://www.stevecicala.com http://goingelectric.substack.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mvip7dzng22vThis was great, particularly the end. Without accusing @janeaflegal.bsky.social of being a “utility bro” I think there’s an important difference between utilities over-building and dumb-building. Replacing amortized capital with the same equipment isn’t over-building. I think that’s widespread. [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Sep 2026 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvip7dzng22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mv5m2hwhak2vNext up: supporters of the Copernican system. https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/3e19b454-fdaa-49ae-b30d-bf87b474211410 Sep 2026 08:10 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv5m2hwhak2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mv2vsx7d4c2jI suspect the protectionism angle here is hiding something more sinister: Allied, foreign governments are more oriented toward testing and regulating model capabilities. Export restrictions are just a convenience for keeping the more harrowing features hidden. https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/33601522-798f-41c9-8bd9-a9dd3ff28c5709 Sep 2026 06:27 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv2vsx7d4c2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3muohvwtzh22dThey’re just not that into you. [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Sep 2026 07:46 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3muohvwtzh22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mumggghidc2yIt's as if the 8th amendment does not exist. [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Sep 2026 12:14 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumggghidc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mud5vpjvk225Holy smokes. The agents figured out a cheat to solve a hacking puzzle. To win, they needed to cover their tracks. Agents learned to coordinate using package managers. Hacked into a company and ultimately took over their OpenAI server. https://www.dwarkesh.com/p/openai-huggingface30 Aug 2026 19:48 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mud5vpjvk225https://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mu7y4mb4zk25An export tax on oil and gas would be an exquisite response to the US taxing imports from Canada. Have fun explaining why tariffs are good, but export taxes are bad! [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Aug 2026 13:26 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7y4mb4zk25https://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mu3mx3cihs2fI really can’t wait for Google’s explanation for why they caved to Trump’s insanity on Mexico, but won’t change Lake Ontario’s name.27 Aug 2026 19:56 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3mx3cihs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mtrfofhpzk2uA great speech by the leader of the free world. The US 'signature was written in pencil' is a great line. It would make MAGA heads spin by responding with export tariffs on goods with inelastic import demand elasticities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-WgOxbWUHk23 Aug 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtrfofhpzk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mtmfwap2ns2sThis is great. Reinforces my belief that a modern manufacturing process for transformers would be extremely lucrative and consequential. Look at this. You’re telling me that’s the best way to build? C’mon now. Your customers must make money by spending money… [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtmfwap2ns2shttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mtioyer6vs2qThis outcomes was entirely predicted. The UK will now either continue to pay to pretend prices don’t exist, or pay for the transmission needed so that a uniform price actually prevails. The latter will accommodate substantial power generation growth. [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Aug 2026 07:12 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtioyer6vs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3mt4mhctlms2zThese generators are those yellow and brown dots on the far left of this graph: The most expensive generators to run, only used at peak demand. The idea of running a massive electricity-consuming plant around the clock on these things is as insane as racing on the autobahn in first gear. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Aug 2026 11:54 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt4mhctlms2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3msuheammik2iThe US ambassador writes in bad faith. The US tariff taxes output. Exemptions are allowed for firms who pay bribes or share special secrets with Trump and Epstein. The CBAM taxes carbon emissions. Firms with no emissions or a domestic price pay no tax. Who’s against rules based trade? [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Aug 2026 06:02 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3msuheammik2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3msqe2wicfk22Good news! "the government just spent $3.9 billion of taxpayer dollars spent to shoot a corpse" https://energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/08/10/who-killed-offshore-wind/10 Aug 2026 14:52 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqe2wicfk22https://bsky.app/profile/stevecicala.bsky.social/post/3ms6cz5dkdc2lConfession: I no longer list my construction or restaurant jobs on my LinkedIn page. [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Aug 2026 10:45 +0000at://did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6cz5dkdc2l