It's been about a year since the last one of these. Given the long cycle, I have done my best to check for changes but things may have changed on any given topic by the time you read this.

The NEPA Problem

NEPA is a constant thorn in the side of anyone attempting to do anything.

A certain kind of person responds with: “Good.”

That kind of person does not want humans to do physical things in the world.

1. They like the world as it is, or as it used to be.


2. They do not want humans messing with it further.


3. They often also think humans are bad, and should stop existing entirely.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Or believe humans deserve to suffer or do penance.


5. Or do not trust people to make good decisions and safeguard what matters.


6. To them [...]

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Outline:

(00:21 ) The NEPA Problem

(01:53 ) The Full NEPA Solution

(02:43 ) The Other Full NEPA Solution

(03:59 ) Meanwhile

(06:06 ) Yay Nuclear Power

(14:22 ) Yay Solar and Wind Power

(18:11 ) Yay Grid Storage

(18:42 ) Yay Transmission Lines

(19:40 ) American Energy is Cheap

(20:48 ) Geoengineering

(22:29 ) NEPA Standard Procedure is a Doom Loop

(25:34 ) Categorical Exemptions

(26:13 ) Teachers Against Transportation

(32:41 ) Also CEQA

(36:36 ) It Can Always Be Worse

(39:35 ) How We Got Into This Mess

(41:00 ) Categorical Exclusions

(47:23 ) A Green Bargain

(54:18 ) Costs Versus Benefits

(55:27 ) A Call for Proposals

(56:18 ) The Men of Two Studies

(59:55 ) A Modest Proposal

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First published:

October 8th, 2025

Source:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/HqAJyxhdJcEfhH2nW/nepa-permitting-and-energy-roundup-2

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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