Bill’s Notes
Bill’s notes
Essays, analysis, and arguments on the shift to clean, local energy.
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The best local energy advocacy organizations in 2021
Which solar and local energy advocacy groups are making the biggest difference? Check out our list.
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Natural gas was the biggest contributor to the Texas grid outage of 2021
The real cause of the Texas grid outage of 2021 have been lost amidst misguided political bickering. This…
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Making ethanol from corn is the least efficient use of farmland
Corn is the #1 crop grown on US farms. Most of it is used to make gasoline-additive ethanol.…
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Are solar panels really full of toxic materials like cadmium and lead?
The truth is that solar panels are made almost entirely with abundant, earth-friendly materials like glass, aluminum, copper,…
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The 6 best resources to get started in solar
The advantages are no longer just about going green, as solar will be cheaper for nearly everyone over…
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Straight facts on the environmental impact of coal: CO2 emissions, pollution, land, and water
Burning coal creates CO2, NOx, SO2, mercury, and uranium. Coal also uses large amounts of land and water.…
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Introducing our Myths of Solar series
Solar needs subsidies to survive. Solar energy is diffuse and requires too much land. Rooftop solar will raise…
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When it comes to land impact, does solar, wind, nuclear, coal, or natural gas have the smallest footprint?
Renewable energy technologies like solar, hydro, and wind require a lot of land. But, how does their impact…
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Will rooftop solar drive up the cost of electricity, particularly for low income households?
Will your neighbor’s solar panels make your electric bill higher? We take a look at the research, data,…
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Myth busting the politics of renewable energy: Do conservatives really oppose renewable energy?
This is the second in our series. See part 1 here: Myth busting the crazy politics of clean energy:…
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An interview with Dr. Markus Fischer on the declining costs of solar energy
Bill traveled to Germany to meet with Dr. Markus Fischer, one of the world’s foremost experts on the…
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What is a Megawatt-Hour?
A megawatt-hour is one of the most common measures of electricity. What is it, how does it relate…