Spillin' and Drillin' in Los Angeles After the recent oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach in Los Angeles, we found some reasons to hope in a recent zoning change that will finally dismantle over 1600 extractive oil sites throughout LA county. It's a win, not just for the environment, but for environmental justice. Source Articles: https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/04/us/california-oil-spill-monday/index.html https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-21/l-a-county-drilling-ban-is-an-environmental-justice-feat https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/hidden-oil-wells/
Is Bigger Better? Discussing Community-Scale Solar One of the most efficient ways to fight the climate crisis and power our lives with renewable energy is by building community-scale solar projects, but these projects are often met with a lot of local resistance. In this episode, we'll explore the arguments against large-scale solar projects and how these projects could be adding even more value and benefits to the very communities that try to reject them. Source Articles: https://www.nylpi.org/new-nylpi-report-new-yorkers-pay-the-price-for-peaker-plants-emissions/ https://energynews.us/2019/12/11/study-black-low-income-americans-face-highest-risk-from-power-plant-pollution/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-plants-smother-communities-of-color/
Explaining the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Expansion A key component of Joe Biden’s goal to ensure electric vehicles (EVs) make up at least 50% of U.S. vehicle sales by 2030, is a proposed expansion of the Federal EV tax credit. The proposal also seems to contain a goal to boost U.S. union jobs. In this episode, we'll break down what's included in the proposal and discuss some of the pros and cons. Source Articles: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/11/us-democrats-propose-dramatic-expansion-of-ev-tax-credits-that-favors-big-three.html https://electrek.co/2021/09/15/which-electric-vehicles-still-qualify-for-us-federal-tax-credit/ https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/14/tesla-toyota-and-honda-criticize-4500-tax-credit-for-union-made-evs.html https://www.epi.org/publication/why-unions-are-good-for-workers-especially-in-a-crisis-like-covid-19-12-policies-that-would-boost-worker-rights-safety-and-wages/ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/subtopics/coronavirus-and-climate-change/
Electric Vehicle Chargers Have an Equity Problem The Infrastructure Bill has earmarked $7.5 Billion towards the expansion of America's EV charging network. However, recent studies point to inequity in where EV chargers are located. In this episode, we explore some simple tactics that could make the distribution of EV chargers more accessible to underserved communities, as America races to electrify our roads and highways. Source Articles: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-infrastructure-plan-takes-ev-chargings-inequality-problem-2021-09-01/ https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/when-do-electric-vehicles-become-cleaner-than-gasoline-cars-2021-06-29/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/stacynoblet/2021/04/15/growing-ev-adoption-the-solution-already-on-the-road/?sh=367b92146aa3
The Greenwashing of Green Buildings In this episode, we confront “a new gold standard for green architecture”, which paradoxically designs for the inclusion of diesel generators. You read that right: Architects are using the concept of resilience to justify a major step away from reducing the carbon output of their supposedly "green" buildings... Yikes. Source Articles: https://www.archdaily.com/951861/attempting-to-redefine-the-meaning-of-green-could-weaken-efforts-to-mitigate-climate-crisis
Examining Enerty's failure in New Orleans post-Hurricane Ida As millions of homes and businesses were left without power due to Hurricane Ida, we found that Enerty, New Orleans' only utility, has had decades of reports and recommendations to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, and use renewable energy to strengthen the grid. Instead, they've fought climate-related recommendations and legislation as recently as 2020. Source Articles: https://gizmodo.com/utility-that-blacked-out-new-orleans-was-too-busy-fight-1847586645 https://www.all4energy.org/uploads/1/0/5/6/105637723/power_outages_in_nola__the_problem_implications_solutions_and_moving_forward.pdf https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/hurricane-driven-blackouts-in-new-orleans-send-a-dire-warning-about-the-need-for-distributed-energy/
Hey, New Yorkers... Net Metering is Changing! As Tavit prepares to go solar at his home in New York's Hudson Valley, Susannah shares her deep knowledge on Net Metering. Our dynamic duo also chat about some upcoming proposed changes to the policy that could have a huge impact on solar savings for homeowners who are considering making the switch.
Parenting in a Climate Crisis With the simultaneous release of UNICEF's Child Climate Risk Index, and Greta Thunberg's searing Op-Ed in the New York Times, we are called to examine our role and responsibilities as parents in the age of climate crisis. Exploring ways to steward both the environment and our children will be instrumental in preparing them for the future that lies ahead. Source Articles: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/opinion/climate-un-report-greta-thunberg.html https://www.unicef.org/reports/climate-crisis-child-rights-crisis https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/12-ways-to-mess-up-your-kids/246806/
The Environmental Impact of War Warfare and our environment have always been in a close relationship, and indeed war has a terrible impact on land, sea, and air. In this episode of The Solar Spill, we'll examine the environmental impacts of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and imagine a near-future where our logistical tools of destruction could be turned to the task of fighting climate change. Source Articles: https://tinyurl.com/TSSS3E611 https://tinyurl.com/TSSS3E622 https://tinyurl.com/TSSS3E633 https://tinyurl.com/TSSS3E644 https://tinyurl.com/TSSS3E655
The IPCC Report... and Societal Collapse?! With the release of the IPCC report on climate change, the link between fossil fuel consumption and climate change is irrefutable. As well, a 1970s MIT study about the collapse of society keeps lining up with our current reality. Through a discussion of these reports, we find reason for hope and even more inspiration to take action. Source Article #1: https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3xw3x/new-research-vindicates-1972-mit-prediction-that-society-will-collapse-soon Source Article #2: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58138714
Gamifying Climate Enforcement As COVID-19 forced many businesses to shut down or pause, the EPA suspended their usual regulations. Now, as states are emerging from the pandemic, enforcement of the EPA's various guidelines is proving to be a challenge. Perhaps, a challenge that is best suited for everyday citizens, like us! Source Article #1: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/ecocide-environmental-harm-international-crime/ Source Article #2: https://theconversation.com/im-suing-scott-pruitts-broken-epa-heres-how-to-fix-it-94089 Source Article #3: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-07/documents/memoenhancingeffectivepartnerships.pdf
A Legal Framework To Punish Polluters In the second of a two-part segment of The Solar Spill, we're exploring a legal framework that could help fight the corporations most responsible for the pollution fueling the recent heatwaves across the globe. Source Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57641167
Heatwaves & Heat Domes In the first of a two-part segment of The Solar Spill, we'll explore how climate change has worsened the deadly heatwaves that have settled over the Pacific Northwest. As the Earth continues to boil, it can seem that the worst effects of climate change are inevitable... So, stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll explore a legal framework that could be a powerful tool to fight the corporations most responsible for the pollution fueling these deadly heat domes. Source Article #1: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/unprecedented-heat-wave-in-pacific-northwest-driven-by-climate-change/ Source Article #2: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/heat-dome-deadly-hot-weather-descends-on-pacific-northwest
The Carbon Footprint Sham Did you know that the concept of a "Carbon Footprint" is part of one of the most successful (and deceptive) marketing campaigns in recent years? Learn all about the voice behind the propaganda on Season 3 of The Solar Spill. Source Article: https://mashable.com/feature/carbon-footprint-pr-campaign-sham/
That's A Wrap! A Look Back At The 2021 Climate Action Film Festival The Climate Action Film Festival (CAFF) was a huge success, raising over $9,000 for local climate action groups. Our hosts, Susannah and Tavit, discuss the incredible stories that were addressed during the festival, their key takeaways, and SunCommon's upcoming plans for an Earth Day Encore event!
The 2021 Climate Action Film Festival: The Climate Action Film Festival (CAFF) returns virtually this March! We're bringing together activists, filmmakers, and communities to witness and celebrate stories of climate action. CAFF’s mission is to amplify voices and inspire further action in addressing the climate crisis, locally and beyond.
Plastics Are Everywhere: From the bag your cereal comes in to your tube of toothpaste, to the clothes you wear and your hobbies, nearly every part of your day touches single-use plastic. And although the Plastic-Free movement has really caught on over the past few years, we learned that going plastic-free isn't always as cut and dry as it seems... Listen to find out more!
Understanding Your Carbon Footprint: The U.S. has the highest carbon footprint per capita in the world, and is second only to China for the country with the highest total emissions. The average carbon footprint for a single person in the United States is 16 tons per year. Do you know how much CO2 your lifestyle produces? Listen on to find out...
Our Guide To Building A New Home With Solar: There are a lot of advantages to building a modern, efficient, and “smart” home. Pairing efficient building design with the latest technology, like heat pumps, energy efficient appliances, solar, and battery storage can reduce your energy bill significantly, or — if you opt for solar — eliminate it entirely.
Electric Vehicle FAQs: The performance and price of Electric Vehicles are now comparable to, if not better than, the traditional internal combustion engine. Plus, it’s better for the planet. So why aren’t more people making the switch?