Articles by Adam Browning

More solar, less Hoffa

I asked David Roberts, Gristmill editor, how he would feel if I used this site to pimp for issues I'm working on at Vote Solar. Would this be viewed as:

A) Helping Grist readers effectively engage in breaking developments in the environmental world; or

B) crass opportunism?

He said both. I can live with that.

So here goes. If you live in New Jersey, you have an opportunity to help jumpstart solar on the Meadowlands. It seems the Meadowlands Commissioners, tired of being known primarily for Jimmy Hoffa-related issues, are thinking about overshadowing that legacy by installing one of the country's largest solar-energy systems. Vote is April 10. Read more about it and send them a note of encouragement here.

If you live in Arizona, you might want to know that the state senate is considering a bill that would provide a tax credit for solar systems. Hmm. Solar and Arizona. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. If you agree, read more and share the sentiment here.

Plug-in hybrids go viral

I'm not a big fan of flash animation. I am, however, a huge fan of plug-in hybrids. Love trumps hate in this instance, so I urge you to check out Calcar.org's efforts to spread the word on the benefits of plug-in hybrids with this piece of viral marketing.

If you make it to the end of the animation, there's a chance to sign a petition to automakers urging them to manufacture plug-ins.

What it takes

I'm reading Wendy Kopp's One Day All Children..., the story of the founding of Teach for America.

It's inspiring. If you ever wonder what it takes to launch a movement, here's some tips gleaned from her experience:

1. Have a great idea.
2. Think big.
3. Focus like a laser.
4. Work harder than you have worked before.

From page 38:

The work was piling up. My solution was to begin sleeping every other night.

Easy!

Space-based solar energy stations?

I admit I have no idea what to make of this. But apparently Business 2.0 (yeah, I thought they went under during the dot-com bust, too) is reporting ...

... early in the next decade SIG will begin placing huge, mile-wide sheets of solar cells in earth orbit. These NASA-designed structures, called solar power satellites, will convert sunlight into electricity, then use weak, pollution-free, environmentally safe microwave beams to send that energy down to simple antennas anywhere on Earth. The antennas will convert the beams back into electricity and feed it into standard existing power grids at an extremely low cost. The system will operate 24/7 overcoming the drawback of rooftop solar cells and windmills.

Like I said, I have no idea what to make of it. But looks pretty nifty, don't it? And at least the Kennedys can't bitch about their viewshed ...