Category: Utility Costs

Statewide and Regional PV Mandates

Posted on by

This Blog comes from several sources, all focused on one trend, the transition from fossil fuels to solar power.  The forecast for such a transition was made decades ago; now it’s happening.

Entire countries, such as the U.S. or Great Britain, seem slower to respond, perhaps due to their greater diversity of interests. But it’s a clear – and positive – growing trend that will help eliminate the climate crisis and the increasing numbers of destructive climate-based events.

This transition will also increase power reliability, as the sun comes up every day.… Keep reading

Solar Mandates

Posted on by

In order to ensure quality in construction, building codes were developed. Over time, they’re refined and updated to accommodate changes in demands and materials – such as requirements for withstanding high winds or heavy rains or earthquakes. Inasmuch as our ability to maintain life on Earth is now being challenged, due to our excessive use of fossil fuels, the building codes also need to respond, with updates. Here’s a report of that activity – written by a company formed to help with technical solar code compliance.… Keep reading

An entire country on clean energy

Posted on by

Two factors are critical in achieving a widespread transition to clean energy, to reverse the increasingly disastrous impact of global warming. First, does the technology exist, and is it abundantly available and economical? Second, what organizational backing is needed, to help in financing and permitting?

Here’s a positive example of success when government leaders want it.

 

●        ●        ●        ●        ●        ●        ●

 

He got an entire country running on clean energy. Can he do it again?

 

Ramón Méndez Galain helped Uruguay decarbonize its grid in just five

years, with 98 percent of its energy coming from renewable sources.… Keep reading

Climate Change & Crop Nutrition

Posted on by

One of the rarely discussed factors of climate change is its effect on the nutritional value of food. Here’s a brief research report that may help us guide our food selections for maintaining health.  Comments afterwards.

●        ●        ●        ●        ●

Climate Change Degrades Nutritional

Value of Crops, Study Finds

 

Paige Bennett

EcoWatch

July 11, 2025

 

Climate change is bad for food production in more ways than one. Aside from stress from extreme heat, drought and flooding, climate change is also decreasing the nutrient value in crops, according to a new study.… Keep reading

Energy Price Increases

Posted on by

This report, from a British paper, The Guardian, came out in May. As the problem has been increasing in just the few weeks since, and may increase even more very soon, it seems worth reporting now. Comments afterward.

 

●       ●        ●        ●        ●        ●        ●

 

‘Going to increase prices on everybody’:

 

US energy department workers sound alarm over cuts.

 

 

Michael Sainato

The Guardian

May 2025

 

Workers at the US Department of Energy say cuts and deregulations are undermining the ability for the department to function and will result in significant energy cost hikes for consumers.… Keep reading