This story was originally published by Reasons to be Cheerful
Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Tell us what you’ve been reading at [email protected] and we just might feature it here.
From shade to sunshine
A number of high-profile allies of President Donald Trump are taking a somewhat surprising public pivot towards solar power, according to an article in The Washington Post shared by Contributing Editor Peter Yeung.
While Trump himself has spoken out against “ugly” and “inefficient” solar panels — “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY,” no less — people like podcaster Katie Miller, the former GOP official whose spouse is Trump’s domestic policy chief Stephen Miller, are making their feelings known about what they see as the “energy of the future.”
Other notable proponents include former House speaker Newt Gingrich, veteran strategist Kellyanne Conway and GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio. No doubt conscious of the explosive growth of data centers and the pressure of rising electricity bills — and potentially influenced by lobbying groups, says WaPo — these clean energy advocates contradict White House messaging as they promote solar as a way to ensure U.S. energy dominance.
Peter says:
Sustainability shouldn’t be a question of political partisanship. So it’s pleasing that solar now makes so much sense that it can’t be ignored.
‘Taxi!’
Every winter, Oregon’s largest remaining populations of northern red-legged frogs set off to cross the four lanes of high-speed traffic on Highway 30 so that they can breed, returning once they’ve laid their eggs. Unsurprisingly, it’s a journey fraught with danger.
Enter the Harborton Frog Shuttle, a motley crew of reflective-vest-wearing students, biologists, retirees and enthusiasts who gather to shuttle the frogs safely to and from their breeding grounds via buckets. But as the frogs learn to evade assistance, reports High Country News in an article shared by Contributing Editor Michaela Haas, a more permanent wildlife crossing is being designed specifically for frogs.
“It would be a shame to lose this species because we don’t do something we’re capable of,” said Tim Greseth, director of the Oregon Wildlife Foundation.
Michaela says:
I loved reading the story about “frog taxis” in Oregon.
What else we’re reading
The People Standing Between Students and ICE? Teachers. — shared by Interim Editorial Director Tess Riley from 19th News
The Seattle Example for Unlocking More Housing, One Stairway at a Time — shared by Executive Editor Will Doig from Next City
Earth’s Heat to Power 10,000 Homes in Renewable Energy First for U.K. — shared by Contributing Editor Peter Yeung from BBC News
This Spanish City Is Resurrecting a 3,000-Year-Old Solution to Fight Extreme Heat — shared by Interim Editorial Director Tess Riley from Next City
In other news…
Some rail against the evils of hypercapitalism; others take a much subtler approach.
In this Ode to Chai (as one commentator has named it), thetravellingprofessor reminds us to stop for a minute and remember what life is all about.
So if you’re bored of your coffee tasting like executive panic, and fed up of being five minutes late for a deadline you haven’t even set yet, take a direct strike against productivity and check out the prof’s breath of fresh, aromatic air.
The post What We’re Reading: Why MAGA Suddenly Loves Solar appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.
