Sue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14

One of the pleasures in life is being known as having knowledge that might help folks and they ask... because any nerd will tell you sharing knowledge is one of their fav things to do.

Brought to you by (another) power outage & requests for backup power info: https://susankayequinn.com/2024/11/backup-power-battery-options-for-the-climate-crisis.html

Backup Power/Battery Options for the Climate Crisis

Iโ€™m a huge advocate for solar and will make a separate post for that (SOLAR: How to Get Started and Why You Should), but whether you have solar or not, having backup power is going to be moreโ€ฆ

SUSAN KAYE QUINN
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14

After I wrote up the general backup power options post, my kiddo had to evacuate from the LA wildfires. So I found myself doing another round of calculations and seeing if the new Jackery I'd got them would run the air purifier (answer: yes).

https://susankayequinn.com/2025/01/backup-power-for-air-filters-water.html

Backup Power for Air Filters + Water

Learning From Climate Disasters You absolutely should get the Watch Duty app if you or anyone you love is in a wildfire zone. I paid for the annual fee upgrade because I want to support their imporโ€ฆ

SUSAN KAYE QUINN
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14
I can't talk about backup power without talking about solar, because unlike the brittle and expensive gas supply chain, the sun just relentlessly keeps coming up every morning... which is very convenient for recharging your battery: https://susankayequinn.com/2025/04/solar-how-to-get-started-and-why-you-should.html
#climatechange
SOLAR: How to Get Started and Why You Should

I put solar on my roof three years ago, and since then, Iโ€™ve helped plenty of solar-curious friends figure out the optionsโ€”there are plenty (and you donโ€™t need a PhD in Environmental Enโ€ฆ

SUSAN KAYE QUINN
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14

I also recommend folks check out (and support!) Solar United Neighbors-- they're a US advocacy group that helps navigate issues around solar install regulations and they run solar co-ops to get cheaper pricing by having people go solar together!

https://solarunitedneighbors.org

#solar #climatechange

Home - Solar United Neighbors

Solar United Neighbors is a national nonprofit that represents solar owners and supporters. We help you go solar, join together, and fight for your energy rights.

Solar United Neighbors
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑ

every time I look at a solar irradiance map of the US, I think

"everyone in the red should have solar, every last person"

"the electric companies are terrified of this"

Mar 14 at 3:09pmWeb
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14
I mean, I have solar in Pennsylvania and it totally works economically for me, so if I can make it work in PA, I can't even imagine how it *wouldn't* work in the high irradiance zones -- this is why the utilities are desperate to handicap it there, and they'll absolutely collude with corrupt politicians (hello TX) to make it seem like it's not "economical" (which is a lie)
Show threadPino CarafaMar 14
@susankayequinn I live in Ireland. The entire contiguous USA is further south than we are. Our weather is notoriously shitty. And people still have solar panels here in Ireland because even here they work.
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14
@rozeboosje exactly!
Show threadAstridMar 14

@susankayequinn Technology Connections has a thorough rebuttal of the idea that solar is somehow impractical -- and it doesn't even talk about climate change. Solar is the right choice, even for purely economic reasons, and anyone saying otherwise in 2026 is either lying or not paying attention...

https://youtu.be/KtQ9nt2ZeGM

You are being misled about renewable energy technology.

YouTube
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14
@luxliquida 100%!
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14
@luxliquida omg I clicked that link and the very first ad is from an oil company and how you can "buy bonds" in it!
Show threadAstridMar 14
@susankayequinn Yeah, Google seems very happy to be a tool of rampant destruction and misinformation...
Show threadGid5d ago
@luxliquida
@susankayequinn
Yesterday, for example, it was cloudy with sunny spells. All of the house's energy consumption, including a cake in the oven, the heat pump, and another 1-2 kW for the electric vehicle, was powered by solar. And we're located in Germany compared to the northern border of the USA at 49ยฐ N.
Show threadWallOffTrump5d ago
@Mr_GHARice @luxliquida @susankayequinn
Hey that's my latitude also. How big is your solar set up?
Show threadGid4d ago
@davidarnell
Our roof is fully covered with panels on both sides, facing southeast and northwest. It has a total peak of 16 kW, which is a maximum production of approximately 11 kW. We also have a 10 kWh battery and backup power in case of outages. From April to September, we are largely independent from grid power. Even now, although we're running a heat pump, we only draw power from the grid for a few hours.
@luxliquida @susankayequinn
Show threadWallOffTrump4d ago
@Mr_GHARice @luxliquida @susankayequinn
Thanks for the answer. Impressive.
Show threadBrightFlame ๐ŸŒŸโ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒ™Mar 14

@susankayequinn I remember how groundbreaking was Mark Z Jacobson's report more than a decade ago (2 decades?) showing how to build out renewables in the US and beyond to supply all the energy we need.

https://thesolutionsproject.org/ is born of his work at Stanford. How that project evolved over the years reflects the lack of political will and how--as you say--the changes happen at the local level from the ground up.

Thank you for all you do to support the changes we need!!!

The Solutions Project - Letโ€™s create the future we want.

The Solutions Project brings grants, media training, and star power to support local community organizations bringing renewable energy home.

The Solutions Project
Show threadDavid PattonMar 14
@BrightFlame @susankayequinn need to get them on the fediverse.
Show threadBrightFlame ๐ŸŒŸโ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒ™Mar 14
@dcpatton Yeah, I looked and didn't find them here. Unfortunately they are on the crappy fascist platforms. @susankayequinn
Show threadBujoldMar 14
@susankayequinn also, can we just appreciate how close the two ends of that scale are? The "<4" is pretty open-ended and I'm sure there's specific places with dreadful numbers, but overall you're not looking at a 10x difference in irradiance between the best and the worst places in the continental US. "Oh no, we'll only get two thirds of the free energy people in ideal conditions get! The horror!"
Show threadSue is Writing Solarpunk ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒฑMar 14

@bujold that's an excellent point! I will will make sure to point that out when I share this graph in the future!

I like it because it *feels* correct to people's experience of sunnier/less sunny places... but pointing out the scale is an excellent way to shift that perception!

Show threadะ–ะฐั„ัั‚ะตะปั†ะตMar 14
@susankayequinn i'm in a more wisconsin-ish area climate-wise and putting solar power on our roof was the best decision we ever made (well, doesn't say too much...)
Show threadMensch, Marina5d ago
@susankayequinn even the yellow zones would shrink the need to buy energy enormously. It's a one time investment, and you've got 40 years of cheap, reliable & independant decentralized energy.