The Solar Spill by SunCommon
What do you call a huge Solar Spill? Just another beautiful day! And why are we always talking about solar energy? Because it’s such a "hot" topic! --- But seriously, lots of people are trying to use renewables to power their homes and their lives... and a lot of them have questions. So, in this podcast, we'll be talking about all things solar and renewable energy. Welcome to The Solar Spill, a podcast by your clean energy partner, SunCommon!
Episodes
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
S3E14: Spillin‘ and Drillin‘ in Los Angeles
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
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/
Friday Oct 01, 2021
S3E13: Is Bigger Better? Discussing Community-Scale Solar
Friday Oct 01, 2021
Friday Oct 01, 2021
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/
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
S3E12: Explaining the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Expansion
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
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/
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
S3E11: Electric Vehicle Chargers Have an Equity Problem
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
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
Friday Sep 10, 2021
S3E10: The Greenwashing of Green Buildings
Friday Sep 10, 2021
Friday Sep 10, 2021
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
Friday Sep 03, 2021
S3E9: Examining Enerty‘s failure in New Orleans post-Hurricane Ida
Friday Sep 03, 2021
Friday Sep 03, 2021
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/
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
S3E8: Hey, New Yorkers... Net Metering is Changing!
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
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.
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
S3E7: Parenting in a Climate Crisis
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
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/
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
S3E6: The Environmental Impact of War
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
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
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
S3E5: The IPCC Report... and Societal Collapse?!
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
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