Caroline Henderson's blog

California-based solar start-up and Solar Mosaic partner, Sungevity, has taken a creative approach to enter new territory and raise solar consumer awareness: over the next six weeks, the company is taking a bright orange, solar- and biodiesel-powered truck through farmers markets, community centers, and neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts and Delaware. In addition to providing free energy saving quotes, they’ll also be handing out ice popsicles.

More good news in solar: the California Solar Schools program recently unveiled its plans to connect K-12 and state colleges with solar panel installations. While the project will save the state $1.5 billion in energy costs, it will also help California students access professional opportunities in the solar industry. This project is a win-win, and demonstrates how clean energy innovation can save costs and create jobs. This is the sort of success story our congress needs to be studying. Thanks to Brit Ligett from Inhabit for this story.

Great post from Brad Johnson at Think Progress. Governor Brown has called for enough clean green local, distributed generation to power more than 1.5 million California homes-- so it's gotta be all hands on deck for community solar. Read the original story here.

From our friend, Stephen Lacey at Climate Progress-- a great in-depth look at how solar could reduce staggering energy costs brought on by this summer's record-breaking heatwave. We agree: “we should be using the source of the problem to create the solution.”

Here’s another strong case for more solar photovoltaics: Last week’s 30-state heat wave caused record-breaking demand spikes in three regional transmission systems, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. New York’s Independent System Operator came close — only 74 megawatts away from a 2006 record.

Tim DeChristopher understands why he’s going to jail. As he told Rolling Stone in a recent interview, “What I did was a threat to the status quo, so I understand why those in power want to put me away.”

Tim represents a new breed of disruptive, bold climate activists who are putting their lives on the line to bring about the transformational change we need. And he considers Solar Mosaic part of that transformation.