Rhode Island is at least the tenth state to codify a commitment to 100% clean or renewable energy — On June 21, 2022 Rhode Island lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Daniel McKee’s desk that would commit the state to procuring electricity from 100% renewable sources by 2033 — the fastest timeline of any state in the nation. Rhode Island is at least the tenth state to codify a…

In the face of utility opposition, Americans across the country are standing up for putting solar on their homes — and winning — Rooftop solar is one of our best clean energy technologies. In the face of utility opposition, across the country, Americans are standing up for solar. So, what makes solar so powerful, why do the utilities fight it and how are those fights playing out? A ‘uniquely powerful and beneficial’ energy…

How American wind energy surpassed coal and nuclear for the first time in history — On March 29, wind power produced more electricity in America than the nation’s nuclear and coal plants combined. The 2,017 gigawatt-hours of wind power was enough to make wind the country’s second-largest producer of electricity for the first time — trailing only natural gas, which produced 3,287 gigawatt-hours that day.

The final edition in a series on how to electrify your home and transition to appliances that can run on renewable energy — Our clean energy intern Adelina Sederman explores more ways to introduce electric appliances and amenities in your home and shift away from fossil fuels in your everyday life. Most of the energy we use in our homes goes toward space heating and cooling. Water heating is next, and lighting/appliances follow…

Here’s a run-down of state policies in play this session that would reduce pollution and lower utility bills — In addition to driving our overall clean energy program, one of the roles I play at Environment America is supporting the work of our state organizations to make our vision for a cleaner, greener future come to life. At this point it’s well documented that we have the ability to…

What could go wrong? — The Star Trek franchise famously called the future “the undiscovered country.” I love that term because when it comes to the future, no one knows exactly what’s going to happen or how history will turn. Not knowing what comes next means we’re best served if we take inherent risk into…

Holiday traditions in my house include baking Christmas cookies, picking up a tree from the Christmas tree farm my sister-in-law’s family runs, and, much to my husband’s chagrin, listening loudly to Alvin & the Chipmunks Christmas albums with my kids. …

Here’s my take on DOE study that shows solar energy has the potential to power 40% of the nation’s electricity by 2035 — The Department of Energy came out on Wednesday with a new report entitled Solar Futures. The study shows that by 2035, solar energy has the potential to power 40% of the nation’s electricity and drive deep decarbonization of the grid. A reporter recently asked me whether that’s feasible and what…

Here’s the play by play of my journey to install a heat pump heating/cooling system in our cottage — Ten years ago, my husband and I signed a mortgage for a 150-year-old farmhouse with a little rental cottage. We set out to be responsible landlords, good stewards of the land and our historical houses. Part of that responsibility has meant tackling building energy use. Our energy efficiency measures started…