Not everyone realizes that the most impactful energy policies are created at the state level. They are able to leverage federal policies but also go further in creating local jobs, a more reliable grid, and anticipating and mitigating problems. This is why state-level policy advocates like MOSEIA (which we discussed in detail recently) are so important. These advocacy groups influence state policy by providing a coordinated voice at the state and local level in the development of legislative, regulatory, and policy proceedings. They are critical in the fight for the future of affordable, renewable energy - and renewable energy is critical to efforts to provide safe, stable, and accessible power to consumers.

I wish to offer the following background information and offer a practical solution in addressing the issues raised by Mr. Jim Shipman of Weston in the February 24th edition of your paper. Missouri lacks a comprehensive, modern state energy plan, which other states have developed. Such a plan, as well as policies, would ensure supply and pricing characteristics meet demand for customers of all the state’s utilities. Furthermore this plan would focus on job creation, economic development, environmental quality, energy security, resiliency (grid modernization) and health benefits. Developed and implemented properly, it would equally benefit consumers, businesses and utilities.

The solar market is a competitive space these days. How can solar companies stand out and make solar more affordable and accessible to a wider consumer base? One of the most noteworthy aspects of the service we offer to customers is the return on their investment in alternative energy technology. The better the ROI, the easier it is to convince solar adopters to take the leap, so any efforts to reduce costs are important.Hard costs (which include technology and equipment, labor costs, and materials costs - also known as hardware costs) are fixed, so there isn’t a lot of wiggle room when it comes to pricing. Soft costs, however, are another story. These include a variety of areas like marketing and sales efforts, property assessments, engineering costs, and permitting. If a solar company can reduce these costs, they can pass the savings along to consumers and be more competitive without reducing the quality of their work.

In a field as rapidly-growing as solar energy, it’s important to find a unified voice to advocate for industry members and our customers and to continually move the dial forward through collaboration and standard-setting. In the solar industry, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national association that provides this service and acts as the industry voice in Washington, DC.On the state level, each individual state’s Solar Energy Industries Association is a trade organization whose purpose is to enable long-term growth for the solar industry.

We often think of alternative energy technologies as one part of whole-home or building solutions that may still include some elements of natural gas or other fuel sources. But recently, some compelling arguments have been made for the total electrification of new and existing homes and buildings. This process enables owners to see the largest possible return on their solar investment and even achieve carbon-negative status.

As we experience yet another in a string of seasons marred by natural disasters such as fires and hurricanes, it’s becoming ever more clear that global warming is having a snowball effect. And as temperatures rise across the globe, air conditioning becomes more necessary - but current air conditioning technologies can only address the symptoms of a warming climate while contributing to the cause. We need new technologies that can keep us cool without adding more carbon to our atmosphere. Thanks to the hard work of scientists and engineers those new technologies are beginning to emerge, adding to the suite of solutions that started with solar and renewable energy. One particularly exciting development is in the field of radiative cooling. Here, ancient knowledge and practices meet modern science to create an innovative solution that could expand the impact of the solar industry.