S12 Ep12: "What Next:" residential solar that is accessible and affordable

Bright Saver co-founder Cora Stryker says one of the advantages of balcony solar is its versatility. Don't miss the entire interview on this week's episode!

Residential solar has a number of barriers to entry, one of the biggest being cost. But what if you could run to IKEA, buy a portable panel that plugs into your home and immediately save on power bills? That future is coming. As we discussed in our 2025 interview with Utah Rep. Raymond Ward, who spearheaded changing the law in Utah to allow so-called balcony solar, this is a widely popular appliance in Germany that can and should be commercialized in the U.S. This week we welcome Cora Stryker from Bright Saver, who has been working to advance policies like Utah’s and now there is action in over 30 states to pave the way for balcony solar. Feel helpless and not sure how to engage? Check out the status of balcony solar in your state and join/spark the movement!

Texas State Rep. Erin Zwiener from the Texas Energy and Climate Caucus shared that Texans are largely aligned on solar, wind and nuclear energy because their average energy costs are more than 30 percent less than the national average.

Texas may have a reputation for being an oil and gas state, but it is also first nationally in utility-scale solar and first in wind energy. In this bipartisan episode, key leaders in the state’s energy and climate policy delve into what makes Texas so special, how renewable energy has been able to rise above partisan rancor, and how other states can follow The Lone Star State’s example. PowerHouse Texas embraces a bold mission: to educate and cultivate policy leaders who will promote energy innovation, security, and sustainability, working beyond partisanship so policymakers, legislative staff, industry experts, innovators and public citizens can share solutions that will secure Texas’ position as a leader in energy and advance new technologies.State Reps. Erin Zwiener and Drew Darby sre on the Texas Energy and Climate Caucus, a bipartisan legislative caucus that aims to reduce pollution, while creating jobs and growing the economy. Members of the Caucus are publicly elected officials in the Texas Legislature, who are invested in developing environmental and energy solutions for their constituents.

The Niskanen Center's Rachel Levine explains the difference between energy transmission and the energy grid plus the four different components.

In the second episode of a series we are calling “What Next,” where we explore where the possible activity or action is on climate change and adjacent issues, we take a look at the somewhat mystifying issue of energy transmission. How does power get from power-generating utilities to our light switches? What are the obstacles to transmitting clean, zero-carbon energy? And most critically, how would a modernized transmission network help to make energy in the U.S. more resilient, efficient and cheaper? Guest Rachel Levine is the Senior Transmission Policy Analyst for Niskanen Center’s Climate and Energy team, where she leads work on high-voltage transmission development in the U.S. Her research focuses on interregional transmission planning, marketplace governance, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies and federal permitting reform. And for those who want to nerd out, here is a research brief she wrote on the science behind direct current power.

Author and climate scientist Norm Leo on what inspired his new book "Look At It This Way: Climate Change Solutions Will Benefit Your Health And Wealth.”

Author and climate scientist Dr. Norm Leo gives a climate change example for his new book "Look At It This Way."

Canadian climate scientist and author Norm Leo had an epiphany: we are looking and talking about climate change all wrong. Instead of focusing on scare tactics and the sacrifices people need to make in order to be part of the solution, Leo flips the narrative to focus on the benefits of climate action. In Leo's book, "Look At It This Way: Climate Change Solutions Will Benefit Your Health And Wealth," he gives a clear, relatable tour of how climate change touches five areas of daily life, your health, wealth, food, water, and home. You can catch the book trailer here and his TEDx talk here. One lucky listener will have a chance to win a copy of his book at the end of the episode! 

The Evangelical Environmental Network's Dr. Rev. Jessica Moerman on their work regarding data centers and how their impact on local communities.