I've been reporting on renewable energy for a decade. And no matter how much I write, there’s a question I get asked again & again:

Why do we need big solar & wind farms when we can put solar on rooftops & parking lots instead?

It's a great question. Let's do a thread... 🧵1/n The easy answer: There aren't enough rooftops to power the United States with solar. Even if you add in parking lot canopies, and offer to generous financial incentives, we're not going to come close.

I run the numbers in my latest piece for @latimes: latimes.com/environment/ne…

The biggest barrier to renewable energy is land. Almost anywhere you try to build solar or wind, someone will try to stop you.

I asked a solar industry leader how to solve that problem — and what, in her view, environmentalists are getting wrong: latimes.com/environment/ne… 1/n As solar & wind battles intensify, environmentalists have embraced "smart from the start" planning — look at whole landscapes and figure out which parts should be protected, and which should be open to renewable energy. This study is a great example: latimes.com/environment/ne… 2/n

More than 700 miles from Southern California, a conservative billionaire is building a stupendously large wind farm that could save the Golden State.

My latest for @latimes is a clean energy road trip across a changing American West. Check it out: latimes.com/environment/st… The Western landscapes being reshaped by wind turbines and power lines are gorgeous -- and threatened by the climate crisis. Join us on our clean energy road trip, and watch the video: latimes.com/environment/-3…

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is scheduled to vote this afternoon on giving a contract to Adel Hagekhalil to lead the powerful agency.

Stay tuned for updates. Here's my story from last month on the bitter behind-the-scenes battle: latimes.com/environment/st… Details of the proposed contract are available here: mwdh2o.com/PDFWWACurrentB…

Even if you've lived in SoCal your whole life, you may not know the Metropolitan Water District. But it's our biggest water supplier. Life here wouldn't be possible without it.

I've been writing about an intense behind-the-scenes power struggle at Met. A quick thread... (1/n) This is Jeff Kightlinger. He's been general manager of Metropolitan for 15 years. He's negotiated high-stakes deals over the fate of the Colorado River and pushed for a controversial tunnel beneath the San Francisco Bay Delta.

Now he's retiring. Met needs a replacement. (2/n)

The dam-industrial complex and environmentalists have hated each other for decades. Now they’re working together to convince the Biden administration to spend $63 billion tearing down old dams and adding more hydropower at others to fight climate change: latimes.com/environment/ne… .@NatlHydroAssoc CEO: “If we’re going to have the dams for flood control or irrigation, we might as well use them for carbon-free generation.”

@americanrivers CEO: “Enhancing river health is critically important to help us adapt to the changing climate.” latimes.com/environment/ne…

Already getting lots of 🔥 takes in response to this 🐄💩 story, so let me add some context...

1/

https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1248312231420407809

Californians use a lot of fossil gas for staying warm, heating water and cooking. That fuels climate change, which is why many state & city officials are trying to promote construction of all-electric homes & help people switch to electric appliances: latimes.com/business/la-fi…

2/

The last time California built a new geothermal power plant (24/7 renewable energy, unlike solar & wind) was in 2012.

Looks like we're finally going to build some more in the 2020s. A quick thread on why, starting with my latest story... latimes.com/environment/st… 1/ California has had geothermal plants, which generate electricity using naturally heated underground reservoirs, since the 1970s. You can see on this map (thanks @gaufre) that there's lots of geothermal potential across the West, with some of the strongest hot spots in CA. 2/

1. I took a trip to Delta, Utah with @luissinco earlier this year. Learned a bunch of things about the sources of L.A.'s electricity, and how they're starting to change.

First thing I learned: This coal plant, 500 miles from Los Angeles, is the city's largest power source. @luissinco 2. The coal plant will shut down in 2025. But L.A. plans to build a gas plant in its place -- another fossil fuel.

That's despite Mayor Eric Garcetti shutting down gas plants back home. “This is the Green New Deal,” Garcetti told me in February: latimes.com/business/la-fi…

I’m at the @labctweets Sustainability Summit at the Getty, starting shortly. Lots of interesting folks on the agenda, including @ericgarcetti, @LynnJurich, @laurafriedman43, @8thGenCA and more. Planning to tweet a bit. labusinesscouncil.org/events/sustain… #LABCSummit19 I just spoke briefly backstage with @ChrisHoldenNews, chair of CA Assembly utilities/energy committee. Asked him about PG&E's CEO pick, Bill Johnson. Holden said he was hoping the nominee would be from California. However: "I don't know him. For me the jury's still out."