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Here comes the sun canoe, as Amazonians take on Big Oil

Francesc Badia i Dalmases

March 13, 2020 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ecuador, Kapawi

The Kara Solar Foundation is looking to connect indigenous communities in Achuar territory in Ecuador to learn about solar power as an alternative to oil. By building solar-powered canoes, they can replace vessels that burn fossil fuels into the atmosphere. While the two boats in operation have run into technical problems, the intercultural training programs are instructing Achuar people on how to fix the technology. “Sustained and truly intercultural collaborations can create technological solutions that serve indigenous communities, rather than destroying them,” says Oliver Utne, the foundation's founder.

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In Kenya, herders turn an invasive cactus into biofuel

Robert Kibet

March 12, 2020 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Laikipia County

The invasive prickly pear cactus is spreading over grazing lands in Kenya and is harming herders’ livestock. So a local environmental science graduate is testing a system to turn the cacti into biogas. While the system can be expensive to install, the gas can be used for cooking and fertilizer, which can free up time for pastoralists and reduce the amount of firewood used. The graduate is training eight women’ groups to use the system.

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University of Notre Dame converts tons of dining hall leftovers into energy

Catherine M. Odell

February 25, 2020 |

National Catholic Reporter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Notre Dame, Indiana

The University of Notre Dame installed three Grind2Energy systems, which aims to reduce the amount of food waste from the campus’ dining halls. The systems process the waste and send it to a local dairy farm where they break down the material to produce biogas that is used to generate electrical power for 1,000 homes each day in Plymouth, Indiana. While not everyone at the university has committed to the sustainability efforts, these systems can be scaled to be used on other college campuses.

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How Farms Turn Food Waste Into Renewable Energy

Ally Donnelly, Jim Haddadin

February 19, 2020 |

WBTS-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Food waste diverted from the landfill to anaerobic digesters can be used to create electricity. In Massachusetts, farmers and businesses participate in a waste-to-energy project in partnership with Vanguard Renewables. Discarded food waste is mixed with cow manure and fed into a digester. The gasses created are then used to power electric generators.

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Soulardarity: A community's success in energy democracy

Brooke Bowser

January 29, 2020 |

Planet Forward |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Highland Park, Michigan

After DTE Energy removed streetlights from Highland Park, Michigan when utility bills went unpaid, local residents teamed up to form Soulardarity, a community-owned organization that installs solar-powered street lights throughout the city. The lights are more cost-effective, but beyond that, Soulardarity offers a platform for residents to join the environmental justice movement in advocating for more clean energy options for their neighborhoods and at scale.

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Solar Panels, Sustainable Workplaces Bring New Energy to Athens

Madeline Shepard

January 06, 2020 |

Grady Newsource |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Athens, Georgia

The town of Athens, Georgia has committed to a 100% renewable energy pledge. Both the local government and local businesses are working towards it by implementing sustainable practices such as solar panels and wastewater pretreatment systems.

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Ii: The greenest town in Europe

Erika Benke

December 24, 2019 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Finland, Ii

The town of Ii, in northern Finland, has cut carbon emissions by 80 percent, hitting the European Union's target 30 years before the deadline. Thanks to collective action in the community, businessmen, children, grandparents, and even the mayor has pitched in. In the process, the town of Ii boosted its local economy.

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How Coal Country Becomes Solar Country

Nick Bowlin

December 14, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

In former Colorado mining towns, solar energy programs in high schools are introducing students to new types of job opportunities and helping schools save money on energy costs.

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In rural Colorado, the kids of coal miners learn to install solar panels

Nick Bowlin

December 13, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Delta, Colorado

As the number of mining jobs in Colorado has decreased, solar power holds the promise of future employment opportunities, as exemplified by an educational program at Delta High School. The class “Solar Energy Training” prepares high school seniors for jobs in the burgeoning solar industry. The program also helps the school reduce energy costs and engage students in a new way.

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The landfill where you once dumped your garbage might be a great spot for a solar farm

Bill Trotter

December 10, 2019 |

Bangor Daily News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

Landfills can offer prime real estate for solar potential due to the lack of trees and access to direct sunlight, and Maine is taking advantage of this. Seen as a sustainable renewable energy project, this is just one more method the state is implementing in order to advocate for increased solar power as an environmentally-friendly strategy.

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