What Happened!?
Depending on who you ask, the Supreme Court either put an end Government overreach, or turned a blind eye to precedent, subverting the health and well being of American people to the health and well being of big energy’s balance ledger.
Whatever the case, the effect of their decision in West Virginia v EPA is to call into question the Environmental Protection Agency’s very ability to protect the environment… Seems like protecting the environment would be an important function of an Environmental Protection Agency, but I digress.
The Court has decided now is the time to effectively deregulate power plant carbon emissions. So let’s discuss this and how to empower yourself and your community to limit the effects of this very bad decision.
All the Smoke
In my home state of Washington, we have recently experienced the emergence of a fifth season which overlaps summer and fall. It’s generally referred to as smoke season, or wildfire season. The now annual, months long phenomenon is characterized by nightly ominous red sunsets and air that is hazardous for vulnerable populations to breath. On some days it’s hazardous for any lungs. The actual air is… hazardous to breath. Let that sink in.
This is entirely new. Never in my life had I experienced a blanket of wildfire smoke obstructing the view of the Seattle skyline until a few years ago. Now this image is simply an indication of the time of year. Scratchy lungs and a hazy landscape are as indicative of the season as orange leaves are in the fall.
No matter where you live, in 2022, we all have our stories. Denying our changing climate is to deny our very senses. We can see the effects around us. I saw the effects firsthand in Puerto Rico and Florida after Hurricane’s Maria and Irma. This year, parades of atmospheric rivers followed a summer heat never before experienced in the Pacific Northwest. As temperatures climbed above an unprecedented 110 degrees F, a billion crustaceans baked to death in their shells.
Should I not believe my lying eyes? Why would my lungs and nose betray the truth as well? If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve sensed our changing world. And the longer you’ve lived, the more change you’ve witnessed.
West Virginia v EPA
It’s against this backdrop that we get this decision. Just as we gear up for an expanding hurricane season, we learn that the EPA no longer has the authority to regulate power plant carbon dioxide emissions. Going forward, any restraint on the part of pollution spewing power plants will be voluntary. Yeah, good luck with that.
I’m guessing you don’t get an option to select which power plant sends electrons to your power panel. So, if you happen to be nearest a coal fired power plant, you’re basically helpless. They have a monopoly on your power supply. Every time you flip a switch in your house, you’re ordering their dirty plant to burn a tiny bit more coal. You can’t opt-out, they own the market… or can you? What if you and your neighbors could opt-out too…
Protect Yourself
The Government isn’t going to protect you from this crisis. If we’re waiting on our elected and unelected leaders to save us, we’ll be holding protests on a barren landscape of our making in the decades to come, complaining about the same inaction. No, if we are to take our current threats seriously, we need to take power into our own hands.
What Can You Do About It?
The Supreme Court has decided your government can’t protect you from power plant emissions. But what if you stopped using their dirty power? What if there was not only a cleaner option, but a cheaper option too? I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to accept whatever dirty energy your local utility provides. You don’t need to accept any power any utility provides. You can regulate the emissions crated by the power you use by generating it yourself. And you can save money doing it.
The Solar Marketplace
It simply doesn’t make sense to keep buying electricity from the utility anymore. You can save money, increase the value of your home and own your very own clean energy power plant instead. If you demand cleaner, cheaper energy and you want to be freed from your dependence on your local utility, then it’s time to finally go solar.
To help you find the best deal in your area, Evergreen Off-Grid has partnered with EnergySage to bring you to their Solar Marketplace which makes your transition to solar simple.
Just visit the Solar Marketplace, add your zip code and you can get up to 7 quotes from vetted contractors in your area. No harassment or sales calls. The best part is, using EnergySage’s marketplace to go solar is FREE!
They’ll provide you with an expert energy adviser who will insulate you from the salespeople and help you find the best deal. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a white paper showing that this service will save you thousands of dollars. Read more about it here.
Take Back Your Power Now!
The cost of solar has plummeted. With current available incentives slashing thousands of dollars off the cost, choosing solar just makes economic sense. If you needed another nudge to find out if you can afford the switch here it is. If you can afford a power bill, you can afford solar. Don’t let anyone force you to use dirty energy. Generate your own clean energy by putting to work all those photons already landing on your roof.
If you don’t own your roof, consider checking out Community Solar options at the marketplace to lower your bill. Get with your neighbors and lower your local power plant emissions by refusing their service. Put dirty energy out of business. Head to the marketplace now!
As always, let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you. Comment below or email us at: info@jonshally
Join the conversation! Ask us questions!