The Energy Central Community isn’t powered by algorithms or our Community Team alone: it’s powered by you. Every thoughtful post, insightful comment, and timely link shared by our members is what keeps this community curious, informed, and moving forward.
As we look back on yet another month of great insights shared, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the community members who went above and beyond to keep the conversations flowing in December. With that, I’m excited to introduce our Monthly Top Contributors for December 2025.
Each month, we highlight three standout contributors who made a real impact—whether by consistently driving discussion, sharing deep expertise, or jumping in as a newer voice and making waves right away. Our recognitions fall into three categories: Grid Builder of the Month, Power User of the Month, and Rising Star of the Month.
Without further ado, here are your December 2025 Top Contributors 👇
Grid Builder of the Month: Tony Paradiso
For starting the conversation that generated the most engagement across the Energy Central platform.
Post: A “Supersonic Boom” for Natural Gas (20 total comments)
Notable Comments:
Mark Silverstone: Unfortunately, it will be a long time, if they ever happen in US waters, to find out how viable offshore wind may be, in terms of cost, reliability and wind consistency.
It is unbelievable that projects that have been fully approved, financed, contracted, built and ready for deployment are now stopped dead in their tracks. Equinor is facing $100 million per year of delay per project because Trump doesn't like them! (Please spare me the well debunked claims about whale casualties.) They are taking their equipment and expertise elsewhere, further widening the gap between China/Europe with the US in renewables.
From the point of view of ghg emissions, gas really isn't any better than coal because of fugitive methane emissions, especially when the gas comes from the Permian basin where venting and flaring "inconvenient" gas, merrily approved by the Texas Railroad Commission, more than offsets theoretical ghg advantages of natural gas over coal.
The dis- and mis- information merchants have free reign and are not about to miss the bonanza of providing data centers the power they need and collecting higher rates from consumers to boot!
Michael Keller: The machine is an aero derivative gas turbine; designed for use with jet planes. Generally, the efficiency for such machines is around 40 percent. The machines are used for peaking support.
Presumably, the machines will be used for covering data center loads when solar energy is unavailable, which is the majority of the time.
From a purely CO2 emissions standpoint, a combined-cycle (gas turbine exhaust heat used to create steam for turbine/generator) is more efficient, leading to lower emissions.
Power User of the Month: Mark Silverstone
For driving community discussion with the most thoughtful and active commenting this month.
Total Comments: 6
Notable Comments:
On Carbon Dioxide Removal Incentives Are an Exercise in Economic Denial!: One of the problems, among many, with the economics based arguments for and against renewables and fossil fuels and nuclear is the volatility of the costs. The price of oil has varied from nesr zero to upwards of $150 dollars per barrel in recent years. Should energy policy switch gears for each glut and spike that occurs? Renewables, especially solar, have been on steep downward trends for 10 or more years. Still, national and industry specific interests effectively deny its viability. The nuclear industry tries, fails and consistently promises cost reductions, with no demonstrable results.
Further, subsidies take many forms: Fossil fuels have benefitted mainly from tax polcy subsidies over many years. Renewables benefit from direct subsidies as from the IRA, and suffer from tariff penalties. Add to those factors, for example, health impacts from particulates and other hydrocarbon emissions from producing and burning fossil fuels and grid impacts from incorporating solar and wind. Nuclear has its own long and short term advantages and disadvantage, not least cost, waste management and disasters.
Surely the best solution lies in taking the longer view.
Add to that regional advantages of particular pathways, as was made obvious by the most recent COP meetings.
My own pessimism stems from the utter, complete and obvious exclusive self interest on the part of particular governmental and industrial entities.
The marketplace will not sort this out, despite our near religious belief that it will. While the casualties are already significant, they are nothing compared to what is coming. It is the youngest of us, the least responsible for the failures and consequences, that will live and die with the result.
While the most dire consequences are avoidable, there is no plausible scenario that coalesces effective courses of action.
Still, the earth has been here before. It can recover again.
Rising Star of the Month: Tapan Goswami
For jumping into the Energy Central community as a new member and making an immediate impact through valuable contributions.
Member since: February 1, 2024
Highlights: Having been a member for nearly two years, Tapan dove in for the first time with some high quality content of his own this past month. In particular, the following pieces of his were well received and engaged with by our Community members:
Starting now, the winners will enjoy a special badge on their Energy Central profile for the next month recognizing their selection.
Maybe next month, you’ll be a top contributor! Need more motivation? We’re raffling off a special prize at the end of the year, and only top contributors will be entered to win.
So keep posting, commenting, and connecting!
Next recognition coming the first week of February