Generation 180 Interview
At Generation180, we’re working to inspire and equip individuals to get involved in the energy transition. It’s complex and it’s big. So to provide a better sense of where we’re headed, we’re providing a deeper dive into what’s happening with this transition—where are we right now, how far we’ve come, and, most importantly, where we need to go.
As part of our online Boot Camp project, we recently spoke with Katherine Hamilton, an energy expert with over 30 years of industry experience. Katherine has worked with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is currently the chair of 38 North Solutions and former co-chair of a World Economic Forum council on advanced energy technology. Here [is] what’s on Katherine’s mind and what she sees as the role of “everyday energy leaders.” Read more here.
LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GENERATION 180
SUSTAINABILITY JOBS
Jobs You Can Do With a Sustainability Degree, Earth911
GREEN SCHOOLS
Iowa City schools anticipate cutting carbon emissions in half in five years, Iowa City Press-Citizen
Iowa City schools appear on track to reduce carbon emissions by more than 45% by 2030, the goalpost student climate activists have pushed for in Iowa City, according to a consultant’s report. But the report indicated that reducing carbon emissions to a net-zero by 2050, another goal pushed for by climate activists, will require the district to take action.
REGENERATIVE FARMING & CLIMATE RESILIENCY
Black farmers embrace and implement solutions for climate resiliency, by Leah Penniman, Co-Director Soul Fire Farm, GreenBiz
Leah Penniman is a farmer, educator, soil steward and food justice activist. She is co-director and program manager of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, and the author of Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land.
RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP)
The Rural Energy for America Program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.
Program Status: Open
Program Information
Program Fact Sheet
Hoja Informativa del Programa en Español
NEW REPORT
- Building a 100 Percent Clean Future Can Drive an Additional $8 Billion a Year to Rural Communities, by Bidisha Bhattacharyya, Ryan Richards, and Rita Cliffton, Center for American Progress. Bidisha Bhattacharyya is the deputy director for Climate and Energy Policy at the Center for American Progress. Ryan Richards is a senior policy analyst for Public Lands at the Center. Rita Cliffton is a research associate for Climate and Energy Policy at the Center.
- Download the Report Here.
ENVIRONMENT AMERICA
Environment America releases 2020 state legislative agenda priorities, News Release
State affiliates of Environment America, a national nonpartisan advocacy group, delivered meaningful progress on several environmental and public health issues in 2019. But given the obstacles that still exist at the federal level on those issues and more, states will have to continue to lead in 2020. Here is a roundup of the top issues and bills that Environment America’s 29 state affiliates will be working on across the country this coming year:
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
2020 will be a key year (and decade) for electric vehicles, GreenBiz
This article is adapted from GreenBiz’s weekly newsletter, Transport Weekly, running Tuesdays. Subscribe here.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED READING
- How States Will Continue to Drive Climate Action in 2020, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Five 2020 trends show how utilities can take a leadership role in the clean energy transition, contributed opinion by Scott Smith and Marlene Motyka, Renewable Energy World. For more information on these trends, see: Deloitte 2020 Power & Utilities Industry Outlook.
- Dominion’s planned US offshore wind project could be world’s largest at 2.64 GW, Renewable Energy World
- Local Solar Installers Embrace Big New Opportunity: Home Battery Add-Ons, Greentech Media
With a long history of serving Nebraska communities, Mesner Development assembled a team of solar energy experts, including GenPro Energy Solutions for site development and construction and Sol Systems for project development and power purchase agreements. To date, the companies comprising N-Solar have developed, constructed, or financed a combined 17.6 megawatts of solar electric generating capacity 
