The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law contributed much-needed progress but has not completed the transition — only approximately 21% of total utility-scale electricity generation in the United States comes from renewables. According to the World Resources Institute 31 gigawatts of solar energy capacity was installed in the U.S. in 2023, up 55% compared to 2022. But now we are entering the second Trump era, facing an administration that, despite its hostility to renewables oversaw a 12% decrease in emissions during the first Trump Administration. Is renewable energy unstoppable? Tim Montague, a trusted advisor in the solar and energy storage industries, host of the Clean Power Hour podcast, and an advocate for clean energy innovation, says the transition is inevitable. Whether you have access to locally produced solar power, community solar programs, or the ability install photovoltaic panels on your home or business, the investment will pay off financially and environmentally. Twenty-four states have community solar regulations and 42 states have some form of net-metering legislation in place, though many receive low ratings from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s https://freeingthegrid.org/.
The green transition question is whether the United States will be a leader or a laggard, and if a laggard, how we will ultimately be competitive in a world where photos, not fossil fuels, drive the engines of industry and transportation? As Tim explains, U.S. scientists and engineers have invented most of the clean technologies in use but have not consistently turned them into commercial successes. Yet, Northern European countries and China are racing ahead with the transition — and China now leads the world in the export of electric vehicles. Economic and political leadership in the world are built on innovation, including the integration of natural climate restoration practices into the electric grid, industrial production, and foreign policy strategies if we want to emerge from the fossil fuels era as a leader. Tim’s Clean Power Hour podcast spotlights the people, technology, and policies reshaping the energy industry. Covering topics like distributed versus centralized solar systems, cutting-edge battery storage innovations, and the economic benefits of renewables, Tim plumbs the depths of the complex and rapidly evolving world of clean energy. You can hear the show, and check out the Brooklyn Solar episode that Tim suggests as a starting point for your listening, at https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/
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