At this moment, the cheapest way to create electricity is by pointing a solar panel at the sun. That’s good news for the climate. It’s also good news for communities who want to take control of their own electricity generation.
In the heart of Brooklyn, UPROSE is helping to build a solar project that will be owned by the community, provide jobs, and help residents bring down their energy costs. In Puerto Rico, where hurricanes have devastated the power grid, community members are building solar microgrids to provide reliable electricity as the utility has proven they cannot. Meanwhile in conservative rural Virginia, Energy Right is helping farmers and rural communities adopt solar projects, touting a free market message about energy independence and security.
Guests:
Elizabeth Yeampierre, Attorney; Executive Director, UPROSE
Skyler Zunk, CEO and Founder, Energy Right
Arturo Massol-Deyá, Executive Director, Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
Highlights:
00:00 - Intro
4:11 - Elizabeth Yeampierre on the history of UPROSE
10:40 - Elizabeth Yeampierre on Sunset Park Solar
14:31 - Elizabeth Yeampierre on the GRID plan
20:46 - Arturo Massol-Deyá on the Origins of Casa Pueblo
23:43 - Arturo Massol-Deyá on providing solar power to the community
33:04 - Arturo Massol-Deyá on what other communities can learn from Casa Pueblo
38:08 - Skyler Zunk on the importance of reliable energy
47:06 - Skyler Zunk on dealing with resistance to solar projects
50:49 - Skyler Zunk on the Inflation Reduction Act
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