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The Cool Down is mainstream America's guide to a cleaner, cooler future, making it easy for people from all walks of life to help themselves while helping the planet.
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News
Homeowner's bill nearly tripled, and Tesla Solar users say the system works but service drags
7+ hour, 6+ min ago (423+ words) "I had TV and internet through the outage, and my fridge didn't spoil." A homeowner worried about soaring electricity bills and alarming online reviews of Tesla Solar turned to Reddit ahead of a scheduled consultation, questioning the trade-off many shoppers…...
Arkansas renter asks if DIY solar can beat $4,000 cost to hardwire power to pool
7+ hour, 42+ min ago (423+ words) "Just a free upgrade for my landlord." A renter in Arkansas looked at a solar installation from an unusual angle. Instead of focusing on whether panels would shrink a monthly bill, they took to Reddit to ask whether a DIY…...
New Jersey legalizes plug-in solar panels that could trim up to $50 from monthly bills
1+ day, 6+ hour ago (475+ words) New Jersey is now the ninth state to legalize balcony solar, as dozens more consider bills. New Jersey residents looking to lower their electric bills now have a new, more accessible solar option. Portable plug-in solar panels that meet safety…...
Virginia counties pushing back on solar risk losing local control to state
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (514+ words) If rejections keep piling up, the state could choose to step in more forcefully. A fight over solar rules in one Virginia county is turning into more than a local land-use debate. Botetourt County's planning commission is scheduled to review…...
Penn State launches searchable database of local solar rules for 300 Pennsylvania governments
3+ day, 3+ hour ago (317+ words) The work offers a clearer view of how local governments across the state are approaching grid-scale solar. Penn State has launched a new tool that could make it easier for communities across Pennsylvania to navigate the local rules surrounding large…...
California solar owner asks what PG&E bill would be without panels, gets a way to track savings
3+ day, 4+ hour ago (453+ words) "I have a spreadsheet to track this every month." One California homeowner with solar panels and a battery is wondering how to measure the savings of a new energy system. "I got solar panels and a battery 18 months ago. I'm…...
Florida weighs whether Duke Energy's data center tariff leaves households on the hook
3+ day, 5+ hour ago (785+ words) "Duke's proposal doesn't come close and must be rejected." A dispute over Duke Energy Florida's proposed tariff on data centers is emerging as an early test of whether legislators will protect households from rising energy costs, according to The Apopka…...
Massachusetts bill could cut solar permit waits from months to 24 hours, and save $3,000
3+ day, 5+ hour ago (626+ words) The change is part of the state's energy affordability omnibus bill. In Massachusetts, homeowners can end up waiting longer on rooftop solar paperwork than on the installation itself. Lawmakers in the state are considering a proposal that could cut solar…...
California approves plug-in, community solar for renters locked out of rooftop savings
3+ day, 14+ hour ago (548+ words) "We should empower people to generate their own electricity and to lower their electric bills." Across California, plenty of people live in apartments, condos, or other housing where rooftop solar doesn't make sense. A pair of bills the Legislature has…...
Massachusetts towns launch free, on-demand electric rides to transit, shops, and care
5+ day, 7+ hour ago (567+ words) "Head to our Farmers Market, connect to the MBTA, and so much more." Free electric rides to places like stores, healthcare facilities, and restaurants have arrived in four Massachusetts communities. For a year, the pilot program known as The Link…...