At the local level , there can be a lot of pushback stemming from the “ not in my backyard ” effect . Clearer land use rules need to be passed down at the state level , to create a more homogenous permitting environment . To support international supply chains , we need to establish more prominent domestic manufacturing activities , and clearer trade policies that take into account trade tariffs .
Q . WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENTS AND POLICYMAKERS BE DOING TO HELP THE TRANSITION THAT THEY AREN ’ T DOING NOW ?
» We need clearer trade policies that enable more international goods to enter the country , while domestic industries are built out to sufficiently meet energy demands . A permitting reform is needed to get renewable tech going faster .
On the infrastructure side , we need more transmission lines built to support more regional sites .
There should also be more targeted money to allow local utilities to upgrade their equipment , and get more renewable energy sources contributing to the grid . Establishing a standardised interconnection process for utilities would reduce a lot of friction in the current process .
Q . BEYOND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION , WHAT ARE THE IMPACTFUL BYPRODUCTS OF THE MOVE TO SOLAR AND OTHER CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS ?
» Building out solar tech enables more access to clean energy for LMI ( low-and-moderate income ) communities . As energy and living costs rise , this has ripple effects on affordability and quality of life for households . Customers are becoming more educated and less risk-averse to renewable energy , which is driving more demand for regional solutions to help reach climate targets .
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