
161
Downloads
8
Episodes
A transition to a clean energy economy is already under way in many small and big communities across the U.S. You do not hear much about that in mainstream media. We are drowned out by stories of inevitability of doomsday from climate change and built-in skepticism about clean energy in most of the American media. Reimagined Communities brings you stories of success, best practices, and cautionary tales of a transition to 100 percent renewable energy in towns, cities, and states in America. There are nearly 200 cities and nine states committed to move to 100 percent renewable energy in the next decade or two. Each town and city in the U.S. that made such a commitment has a unique path toward sustainable energy transition based on their geography and renewable sources that are available nearby. And each one has an interesting story to share, which this podcast hopes will inform, inspire, and empower ordinary citizens, activists, municipal officials, policymakers, and the private sector to take action in their communities and beyond because climate action requires all hands on deck, and each individual and collective action matters.
Episodes

Wednesday May 11, 2022
An Overlooked Climate, Health, and Social Crisis: Energy Burden
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
The record high inflation is hurting millions of Americans. While economists expect that the inflation rate will ease a little bit, it does not seem like it will be a significant drop due to supply chain constraints from the COVID-19 surge in Asia and the raging war in Ukraine. The soaring cost of energy is one of the pain points for American consumers. As the summer approaches, electricity rates are expected to increase further, while gasoline prices continue to remain sky high.
High energy prices hurt the poor the most, who have to decide between putting food to the table or keeping the lights on. A household paying more than 6% of its annual income on utility bills is considered a household with a high energy burden. More than 15 million households in the U.S. spend over 10% of their annual income on energy bills, which means they have a severe energy burden. Often, such a burden is due to waste of energy from poor insulation and inefficient appliances. Sharonda Williams-Tack, Associate Director of the Healthy Communities Campaign at the Sierra Club, explains energy burden and the importance of addressing it if we are serious about cutting energy waste and tackling climate change.

Saturday Apr 09, 2022
How Fishermen and Wind Industry Could Work Together
Saturday Apr 09, 2022
Saturday Apr 09, 2022
Offshore wind is about to take off in the U.S. And there is huge excitement about it, except for the fishing industry. In fact, offshore wind is a new threat to fishermen, including for those in my town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, who want to have none of it. Offshore wind is considered as one of the important ways for the country to transition to a clean energy economy. But fishermen all across the eastern seaboard believe it will kill their jobs and entire fishing communities.
Despite their resistance, offshore wind projects are moving forward. The fishing industry may have no choice but to adapt to this nascent energy sector and find ways to work with it as much as it refuses to do it right now. And there might be ways the two could find a common ground. We discuss win-win solutions that could work for wind and fishing industries with Bob Myers, a clean energy expert based in Gloucester.

Monday Jan 24, 2022
Looking Ahead in 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
In 2021, Reimagined Communities highlighted some of the inspiring stories of how climate and clean energy activists across America have led their cities to adopt energy transition commitments. As more and more municipalities and states want to go green and ditch fossil fuels, it is all the more important that the transition is just and equitable. In 2022, Reimagined Communities looks forward covering stories on how such a transition is happening.

Sunday Nov 21, 2021
The Youth Leading the Energy Transition in Conservative Idaho
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Young people are the rising force behind a bold climate action from Glasgow in Scotland to a small town America. The anxiety over the future of the planet is driving the youth in some of the politically conservative areas of America to climate and clean energy activism in their communities. Nicole Xiao and Devon Conway, two high school students in a small city of Moscow in Idaho, are making waves more than most adults who have the power and ability to do something about climate change. They share their story of clean energy transition activism, which is about to drastically change the future of their city in coming months.

Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Moving a Green Agenda in a Republican-run City: The Story of the Millers
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
How do clean energy and climate activists in GOP-dominated municipalities and counties gain political support and make a difference in their communities? Pat and Steve Miller in Middletown, New Jersey, who are pushing their Republican-run city for a 100 percent renewable energy transition, share their recipe on how to navigate a politically challenging environment and move a green agenda through it.

Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
A Powerful Tool for Cities to Clean Up the Grid
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Community choice aggregation, or CCA, which is also known as municipal aggregation, is one of the best ways for towns and cities in the U.S. to decarbonize the power grid and even transition to a 100 percent renewable energy, if it is done right. By definition, CCAs allow municipalities to have more control over their energy supply, buy it from greener sources, and save money on energy. But what is CCA, how does it work, what are its pros and cons, do all CCAs work the same way, and would it work in your community? Today’s episode explores this potentially powerful local tool against climate change.

Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
A Small New Hampshire Town‘s Journey to 100 Percent Renewables
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
On May 2021, 74 percent of residents of the town of Peterborough in New Hampshire voted for a community-wide transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent renewable heat and transportation by 2050. The power behind such a great voter during the time of the pandemic is Dori Drachman, who led the effort to put this ambitious climate action on the ballot. She is chair of the Peterborough Energy Action, a grassroots organization dedicated to move the town of Peterborough in New Hampshire to 100 percent clean, affordable, renewable energy for all. Dori shares how she and other volunteers made the clean energy transition commitment possible and what kind of work lies ahead for her community to begin the implementation phase of the transition.

Thursday Sep 16, 2021
All is not lost because of climate change. Here is why
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
Reimagined Communities brings you stories of clean energy transition in American communities.