Dec 9, 2021
In the second episode of Artemis' climate series, we're talking about solar energy. We need a portfolio of solutions to meet our ever-increasing energy demands. Ensuring that an increasing portion of those needs are met by clean energy is a vital part of a resilient grid and a resilient climate. We talk with Michelle Zimmerman, a community solar developer in Colorado. She tells us pretty much everything you want to know about solar energy development - how it works, how sites are chosen, the impact on neighboring wildlife, et cetera. Also: a challenging elk hunt and heated socks.
2:00 Michelle Zimmerman on a past episode about serving on your state's game commission: Game Commissions 101
4:00 Hunting by yourself for the first time
6:00 Stotting vs. pronking
8:00 Tracking a wounded elk all the way back to its herd
11:00 Sunrise should mean more warmth, right? Plus, heated vests
16:00 Sunshare - community solar "gardens"
19:00 Co-operative/community-owned solar projects
25:00 Energy consumption at a household level... do you need everything to be on, all the time?
26:00 NWF Eco-Schools program
30:00 The rise of clean energy isn't a death knell for fossil fuels
32:00 "Our reliance on energy is going up"
36:00 Energy development on private ag lands + wildlife considerations
42:00 Not every place is right for every project
49:00 Being neighbors with a solar field
53:00 Push/pull between energy developers, utilities, public services commissions, landowners - only a fraction of potential solar projects actually get developed
59:00 Build Back Better Act & the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill both expand clean energy opportunities
1:08 "You can't build solar on really expensive land because the return's not there"
1:10 Where personal impacts add up: Energy, transportation, water, food, waste and fashion
1:14 Heated socks
1:22 Hunter and Angler's Guide to Climate Change
1:24 Join the Artemis community - we have a Facebook group, a killer book club, and programs/events for female hunters. If Artemis has meant something to you, please consider sharing it with a friend or making a donation