Does it Pay To Go Green? Let Us Count The Ways
As the cost of living climbs, can clean energy technology help ease the burden? That seems to be the case in West Texas, where revenue from a wind farm is helping fund a rural county’s senior center, Meals on Wheels, and even a Valentine’s Day dance! But the benefits of clean energy aren’t always spread evenly, largely because of how policies shape incentives and cost distribution. In some cases, utility scale solar lowers electricity prices while rooftop solar can shift costs onto households without it. Meanwhile, new balcony solar panels are helping renters cut their bills, and Every Electric and Con Edison are giving New Yorkers plug-in batteries to keep their AC running even during heat waves. And the fact that these solutions also cut climate pollution? That’s the cherry on top. Guests: Bekah Stolhandske McNeel, Freelance Journalist Christopher Knittel, Professor of Applied Economics, Sloan School, MIT; Director, MIT Climate Policy Center Andrew Wang, Co-Founder, CEO, Every Electric For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page here. 00:03:34 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel describes Ozona 00:05:32 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel on country response to wind project 00:06:54 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel on where wind project proceeds went 00:09:56 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel on the Senior Center Valentine's Day Dance 00:20:29 Christopher Knittel on the “green premium” 00:25:05 Christopher Knittel on rooftop solar and your energy bill 00:28:42 Christopher Knittel on important policy choices 00:33:36 Christopher Knittel on equitable distribution of costs 00:37:18 Andrew Wang on how the power bank program works 00:41:54 Andrew Wang on connecting the power bank program to air conditioning 00:48:50 Andrew Wang on scaling the program On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, author of the internationally bestselling Last Child in the Woods. Tickets are available at climateone.org/events Climate One will present the 2026 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication to Daniel Swain, Ph.D., a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). Join us for a lecture and celebration of this fantastic climate communicator on Dec. 8, in San Francisco. Tickets are available at climateone.org/events. Support Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to Climate One on Patreon for exclusive access to all future episodes, free of ads. Sign up today. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices