Solar

Climate change is creating an increasing urgency for a shift to renewable energy sources. This is urgent because our current energy economy, that of extractive capitalism, is still rapidly accelerating our planet into increasing misery. We're looking at a grim future of floods, heat waves, crop loss and countless unanticipated related challenges.

One of those challenges is that as climate change increases, failures of the electrical grid infrastructure also increase. If we continue to consume power generated from non-renewable sources, we contribute to the uninhabitability of our cities and planet.

As communities are rising up against state violence and pushing for transformative justice and growing solidarity on the ground, we're seeing a clear connection to climate change. Just as poor and colonized communities have been the target of policing and incarceration, the same communities face flooding and heat at scales unmatched by more affluent communities.

Philly organizers (EQAT and others) have recently called out PECO to expand their portfolio of renewable energy resources. PECO currently, despite paying lip service to wind and solar, consists of a paltry .5% renewables. This despite a climate emergency which demands an immediate shift to renewables. Corporations like PECO who control our energy production do not feel the urgency and our governments are hardly moving to pressure and legislate necessary infrastructure changes.

Building Energy Solidarity

In the meantime, we have the opportunity as social movements to experiment and build energy solidarity and energy autonomy in ways that materially improve the lives of poor people. And like other foci of struggle, it's crucial we do this in a way that is generative for movements for justice as a whole. So, we're looking for ways to use renewable energy to build community power as well as meet needs.

Philadelphia abounds with resources for community generated solar solidarity! We have land in the city that we already use for farms, gathering places, and solar generation – and there could be a lot more. We have acres of flat rooftops that could house solar to fuel our needs.

As renewable technology advances, we will be seeing more and more used gear enter the recycling market. Much of this can be reused directly to power our neighborhoods and improve people's lives. As with solar panels which continue to produce power for decades, industrial, medical and electric vehicle batteries are continually upgraded long before exhausting their capacity. These batteries can be converted to be used for solar storage for our gardens, for our houses, and for land and housing occupations.

Expanding the use of renewables also holds substantial potential for meeting economic needs in the form of jobs. As we push for a move to community solar and energy autonomy, there is work to be done. In economically struggling neighborhoods, a move to solar could be a way to create employment as well as community owned and controlled infrastructure: neighborhood assets which can directly improve our lives.

Let's push collective action, people and planet over markets, common good over profits, and liveability and equity for our cities.

What can this look like in practice? Holobiont Lab is looking at the following areas: