Energy Changemakers

09/09/2025

This is a story about how federal tax incentives and innovative thinking are helping some of those struggling to pay their electric bills – and at no cost to other utility ratepayers. The approach uses community solar, but not in the usual way. https://energychangemakers.com/synthetic-community-solar/

08/28/2025

Energy economist Skip Laitner explains why policymakers need to let go of 1970s thinking and focus on energy productivity.

International energy economist Skip Laitner discusses the consequences of the US government's failure to focus on energy productivity.

08/14/2025

Fortune reports that younger generations are flocking to the Midwest seeking homes that cost 30% less than in New York City or Los Angeles. If urban sustainability planner Hillary Brown is correct, this is only the beginning.

An even bigger migration will occur as climate change hits the coasts harder, says Brown, former director of the Urban Sustainability Program at City College of New York.

As climate migration drives up population in America's heartland, small towns will need more clean distributed energy resources (DERs).

07/08/2025

Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" unleashed energy trends that its crafters likely didn't anticipate. The bill will raise electricity rates, making off-grid power and microgrids more attractive to consumers and businesses.

06/18/2025

Clean energy fares better, but not by much in the Senate Finance Committee version of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" released earlier this week.
https://energychangemakers.com/big-beautiful-bill-clean-energy/

06/15/2025

Friends in clean energy. If you're feeling discouraged, listen to this conversation with Tim Hade, co-founder of Scale Microgrid. He offers an optimistic and pragmatic way forward. https://podcasts.apple.com/ug/podcast/ders-and-the-abundance-agenda-what-comes-after/id1750578413?i=1000712419846

06/08/2025

Ezra Klein asks in his new book, Abundance, if we can create a world that is "energetically wealthy.” Here is one way.

Defining energy wealth in an era of distributed energy requires looking at not only energy access but also energy ownership.

09/17/2024

This is a great organization!

⚠️Please consider donating to help us bring cleaner energy to communities impacted by Hurricane Francine.

What your donation supports:
⚡️ Portable solar generators, microgrids, and panels
💧 Atmospheric water generators for fresh, clean water
🏠 Repurposed billboard tarps to provide durable shelter

Share with your networks and donate today to help !

DONATE NOW: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/footprint-project/sustainable-energy-response-for-hurricane-francine

09/03/2024

Many see virtual power plants (VPPs) as the best way to organize distributed energy. But are they? In our latest Energy Changemakers Podcast, we explore a contrarian view.

Are virtual power plants the best way to organize distributed energy? The Energy Changemakers podcast explores a contrarian view.

08/07/2024

What led us to start Microgrid Knowledge well before microgrids were a thing? Here's a great article by They Got Acquired that sums it up. Thank you to the friends who saw what we saw in those early days and helped us get Microgrid Knowledge off the ground. So what's next in energy? That's what my new community, Energy Changemakers is all about.

Three founders took a risk, launching a B2B media brand about microgrids before there was a mature market for microgrids. Years later, they sold for 7 figures.

06/18/2024

New heat map will reveal bottlenecks in US.

A new "heat map" will reveal interconnection delays for distributed energy resources (DERs) on the distribution grid.

05/02/2024

Driven by new grassroots energy, microgrids continue to reimagine our electric power system.

After some time away, here's how I see the microgrid market now. AI, EVs, local pressure, and new relationships are changing everything.