As an energy reporter, Twitter is a great way to get a pulse on the beat and stay on top of breaking news.
There are the mandatory follows: companies you cover, government agencies and energy-specific publications.
I’m talking Exxon (@exxonmobil) and Chevron (@Chevron), Energy Department (@ENERGY) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (@FERC), Energy Tribune (@EnergyTribune) and Oil and Gas Journal (@OGJOnline).
But these accounts can be a bit, well, lackluster.
That’s why the accounts of other journalists should find their way into your timeline. Not only is it a way to find out what others in your field are working on or reading, real people are just more entertaining.
A tip to find these accounts is to see who publications or journalists you know follow. But to streamline the process, here are 5 energy reporters to follow.
Justin Worland @JustinWorland
It’s Hard to Describe Just How Badly the Arctic Is Doinghttps://t.co/csnPdTgRoo via @TIME
— Justin Worland (@JustinWorland) December 14, 2016
About the journalist: He’s a Time Magazine reporter covering energy, environment and sustainability.
What he tweets about: He’s probably the most entertaining one on the list, hence his top placement. He adds a fair amount of commentary that can range from humor to industry insights.
Chris Nelder @chrisnelder
Too many articles about the newly-commissioned Block Island wind farm miss the point that its power will be CHEAPER. https://t.co/oLUbNHdmwu
— Chris Nelder (@chrisnelder) December 12, 2016
About the journalist: He’s the host of the Transition Show, a podcast that covers the shift from fossil fuels to renewables. He’s also the electricity manager at the Rocky Mountain Institute, an international nonprofit focused on creating a clean and low-carbon future.
What he tweets about: He adds a unique voice to the conversation, drawing attention to areas that can be overlooked and frequently challenging misconceptions.
Tom Randall @tsrandall
Here’s how electric cars will cause the next oil crisis: https://t.co/DI3qj3fKJX pic.twitter.com/0taJ4zvFpQ
— Tom Randall (@tsrandall) February 25, 2016
About the journalist: He writes about science and energy for Bloomberg News.
What he tweets about: Admittedly, he mainly tweets about electric cars and Elon Musk. But he argues that Tesla, especially after its acquisition of SolarCity, is an energy company. And he throws non-Elon Musk related energy stories into the matrix, too. He’s not always PG but that’s what makes it fun, right?
Coral Davenport @CoralMDavenport
The rest of the world says it will enact the Paris #climate accord with or without US. But it will be much harder. https://t.co/4Izc8k2R4L
— Coral Davenport (@CoralMDavenport) November 16, 2016
About the journalist: She covers energy and environmental policy for the New York Times. She’s previously covered the beat for National Journal, Politico and Congressional Quarterly.
What she tweets about: She tweets about the policy side of the beat, an area that can be overlooked, at least on Twitter.
Chris Mooney @chriscmooney
Google has now contracted for 2.6 gigawatts (billion watts) of renewable energy capacity https://t.co/cMLdaTg7ry
— Chris Mooney (@chriscmooney) December 6, 2016
About the journalists: He’s the energy and environmental reporter for the Washington Post. He also tweets for the Post’s environment-specific handle @postgreen.
What he tweets about: His tweets focus slightly more on the environment than energy, per se. But it’s difficult to separate the two. He frequently retweets the Capital Weather Gang @capitalweather but you don’t need to be in D.C. to appreciate their account.
