As solar struggles, a new solution is taking off
When you add up the blows the solar industry has taken over the last six months it can be hard to see how a renewable-led grid can meet our growing energy demand. Installers are going under, and the latest budget bill axed federal credits for homeowners and businesses. But advocates tell Canary Media they see another path: virtual power plants (VPPs). These are battery storage systems, but instead of socking away electrons in one massive facility, their cells are distributed in people’s homes and communities. Utilities can use VPPs the same way they would “peaker plants”—the reserve power sources that get called upon in times of high demand. VPPs have already helped keep prices low and averted blackouts in Puerto Rico and New England this year, building their case for helping address the nation’s energy thirst without falling back on fossil fuels. Legislation to support VPPs is now popping up on agendas in states including Minnesota, Illinois, and Oregon.
What you can do: Help advocate for VPPs in your state. The nonprofit Vote Solar maintains a tool to spot movement in your state, and Solar United Neighbors also surfaces ways to act. And, if you have the means, there’s still time to take advantage of federal tax incentives for rooftop solar and/or battery storage to get your home set up to be part of a VPP if they roll out near you.
Extreme heat is putting pets at risk
Soaring temps don’t just shorten your temper and obliterate your will to move: They can put dogs and cats in danger. A recent study looked at the incidence of heat-related dog deaths over the course of 20 years, and found that when the temperature nears 90 degrees F (what the authors classify as “extreme heat”), mortality risk jumps by 9.5%. In fact, the risk increases almost in lockstep with each degree the thermometer climbs above 77. Spiking mercury puts pet parents in a tough pinch: The average utility bill in the U.S. can jump by 8% in the hottest months of the year, and analysts expect the costs (energy, dollars, and emissions) to keep trending in the wrong direction. AC alone accounts for about 17% of a home’s electricity draw,
What you can do: We know that finding ways to minimize AC use while still staying comfortable is entirely possible for people, but we can also do a lot to help our four-legged family members find some chill. Check out eight vet-approved strategies for avoiding a too-hot dog or cat.
EV infrastructure is rapidly expanding
EV fast charging is finally hitting the gas. According to a recent report by charging data company Paren, the U.S. is on pace to add 16,700 public fast-charging ports by the end of the year. If that clip keeps up, the nation could have 100,000 public fast-charging points by 2027. This expansion could help remove one of the biggest barriers for prospective EV buyers: Where, and how quickly, can I charge my car? So, what’s driving the growth? A new wave of companies is building what Paren calls “Fast Charging 2.0”—stations with at least 10 plugs, each capable of delivering 350 to 400 kilowatts of power. That means faster charging (an hour or less in many cases), more availability, and shorter wait times. “If you look at Ionna, Mercedes-Benz, BP Pulse, Walmart, these big companies have all been very public about their plans to open thousands of fast charging stations between now and 2030,” Paren’s Chief Analyst Loren McDonald told InsideEVs.
What can you do: Push to keep momentum for EV charging in your area moving. Even when the federal government moves against electrified autos, states and cities can still drive things forward. Here are four ways you can help.
Wind turbines get a celebrity spokesperson
Samuel L. Jackson has teamed up with Swedish energy company Vattenfall to hype wind power in a new campaign. As Jackson wanders the Scottish countryside, where Vattenfall’s turbines dot the vista, he describes the installations as rising “like a middle finger to CO2.” The timing is far from subtle: Jackson’s appearance came just a day after President Trump called windmills “a disgrace” on a recent trip to Scotland. Scotland, meanwhile, is setting a bold example for how to undo much of the NIMBYism that can often stall turbine projects. According to Bloomberg, the country has rolled out frameworks that prioritize renewable energy, promote transparency about projects’ environmental impacts, and offer deal-sweeteners like discounted energy rates and community ownership. It’s working: Surveys show that most people in Scotland approve of wind farms, especially when they’re explained transparently—and come with real perks.
What you can do: Read up on wind farms. They have an undeservedly bad rep—and are also currently a big target for the federal government. People often assume that they’re noisy bird killers that don’t return much value. But they’re much quieter, smarter, and more community supported than most people realize..