Podcast host and long time climate reporter David Roberts interviews the owner of Energea, a company that enables individuals to invest in solar panel installations in Brazil, Columbia, parts of Africa, and the USA. locals pay for electricity to do what they want to do, the profits from that electricity go to investors.

Locals get to access cheap reliable electricity far earlier than otherwise, and investors are able to enjoy incredibly consistent and safe ROI.

Im a new writer, and im working on a solarpunk novel. I also have a short story that i want to try to get published in an anthology. Im aware of a few solarpunk and cli-fi anthologies that have been published, but i have no idea where to find an anthology thats currently being assembled. Does anyone have any leads for me?

Also, let's share some of our favorite stories collections! Im currently reading The Last Catastrophe by Allegra Hyde. Its very fun. I also have Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids by Leyna Krow. on my shelf. Some that ive heard of but know little about are Bright Green Futures by Susan K Quinn, and AfterGlow by Grist.

If there is a readily accessible hydrocarbon to metabolize, life will evolve a way to metabolize it. Bacteria, fungi, and even some insects have already shown scientists they have figured out how to do this with certain types of plastic. Where does this lead?

One great thing this leads to is an eventual future where microplastics are cleaned up by the tiny organisms beneath our notice. Yay the pollution will clean itself up. Unfortunately, that also means that those hydrocarbons will be broken down, turned into CO2 or Methane, added to the atmosphere. Will this be a significant amount? I am unable to answer.

More startlingly, the other conclusion i draw is that all plastic in the world will someday be food for bacteria, mold, and grubs. Look around and note where you see plastic. It holds our food, it is the siding on some houses, it could be your building's insulation, it is the insulation on the wires in your house and outside. It holds your car together to varying degrees. It is the structure of many decks, benches, mobility aides etc.

Someday, these items will all be eaten slowly, or perhaps quickly. When will this begin in force? When will it affect our daily lives and health? Will we be able to prepare?

Don't be a harm increaser SMH

Host David Roberts speaks to Bruce Friedrich about how fake meat, plant based or lab grown, can reduce our land use substantially, reduce emissions substantially, and end or reduce the cruelty of animal agriculture. Notably, Friedrich contends that fake meats could end up on a learning curve to bring down the price of these meat alternatives to be cheaper than the real stuff. Much in the same way that we got better at making solar panels and flat screen TVs to the point where those items are magnitudes cheaper than they were just 10 years ago.

Friedrich, a vegan himself, chooses to lump plant based imitations together with the more controversial (but possibly more marketable) lab grown animal tissues for purposes of conversation, particularly when it comes to the economics.

Note, this is primarily an environmental tech podcast. And while the host, David Roberts, wishes he had it in him to go vegan, he has had to settle for reducitarian as he, like many, is weak. Much of the conversation is through the environmental lense, but the content is still valuable to this community.

Australia has high rates of adoption for rooftop solar. The interconnection is easy and permitting happens over night. And best of all, none of the fears associated with wide spread solar have materialized into real world problems.