Generation180

08/29/2026

What do you see when you look at an old horse trailer?

For Will and Nate Heegard, the answer was a portable solar generator. ☀️

While deployed with the International Medical Corps, Will saw how essential yet limiting fossil-fueled generators can be during emergencies. The experience inspired him to pursue a cleaner and lasting solution to emergency power.

Today, the Footprint Project deploys solar panels, batteries, solar trailers, and portable power stations during disasters and emergencies across the country, across the country, Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

The Footprint Project illustrates how community-centered clean energy and innovation can help build a more resilient future for tomorrow. ☀️🔋

Read more about the Footprint Project at Jessica’s blog:

When Nate Heegaard and his brother Will first started experimenting with portable solar power, their experience was decidedly homemade.While Nate was

08/28/2026

When Raye Elliot saw solar farms popping up near her town, she noticed something missing: people. ☀️

Flexible Learning, Infinite Programming Possibilities (FLIPP) was founded with the goal of creating two opportunities out of one initiative: training local workers in solar installation while also providing employment opportunities.

Operating out of a headquarters that was previously a gas station, they have created a training space and experience catered to their rural community. FLIPP provides financial support to cover lodging, meals, childcare, clothing, and transportation—removing barriers that usually prevent rural residents from being able to take advantage of work opportunities.

By centering their community’s experience at the center of all their work, FLIPP makes sure communities themselves play a role in leading the clean energy transition. 💚

Read Jessica’s full blog here 👉

When Raye Elliott tells the story of FLIPP, Inc., she starts with a warning: “It’s not a straight line.”Elliott returned home to Buckingham County,

08/27/2026

Once part of PA’s coal country, Cambria Heights School District is now going solar at both of its campuses, on track to run 90% on solar power and save $6-8 million over the next 25 years. Their solar projects were funded via third party ownership and the PA Solar for Schools Grant Program. This story and more are in our new Brighter Future report.

Check it out: https://hubs.ly/Q04vypgX0

08/26/2026

What do self-storage units and clean energy have in common? Millions of square feet of prime rooftop space! ☀️📦

In Illinois, developer Solar Landscape and Public Storage are installing community solar arrays on 60 self-storage facilities across the state.

Instead of taking up farmland or open space, these projects turn underutilized urban and suburban roofs into local power plants:
⚡ 44 MW total capacity across 5 million square feet of roof space.
💰 $36 million in estimated savings for local energy subscribers.
👷 300 construction jobs created across the state.
🏡 Community focus: Allows renters and households who can't install personal panels to subscribe and save on their electric bills.

See how state policy and smart real estate usage are making rooftop solar easier to scale 👉

Illinois community solar incentives spurred plans to put 60 arrays on top of Public Storage facilities in the state. So far, 10 are online.

08/25/2026

In Philadelphia, new energy efficiency improvements to government buildings will bring almost $35 million in energy savings!

Using Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA), these upgrades are being paid for by their future savings. Not only will these improvements bring future benefits, they are helping Philadelphians now by…
🌎 Reducing 9,290 tons of CO2 annually
💰 Generating $1.5 million in utility savings annually
🦺 Creating an estimated 300 new jobs

These energy improvements are a win all around—supporting the community, saving money, and reducing emissions!

Read more on the city’s plans here 👉

The City of Philadelphia is making major energy-saving upgrades to 14 buildings, including health centers and homeless services facilities.

08/24/2026

Boston is turning to its iconic waterways for a clean energy solution! 🌊🏢

The city is tapping into the Boston Harbor, the Charles, and Mystic rivers to heat and cool large buildings. Water stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than air, making sea- and river-source heat pumps an efficient way to phase out fossil fuels:
👉 Vicinity Energy is building a massive 35-megawatt heat pump using the Charles River.
👉 UMass Boston is upgrading its facilities to draw thermal energy from Boston Harbor, aiming to cut natural gas use by over 80%.
👉 BosTEN is evaluating a network to power major institutions across the area.

Check out how Boston is turning local waterways into a renewable thermal energy grid 👉

The city is testing the waters with three projects that will use thermal energy in Boston Harbor and the Charles and Mystic rivers for heating and cooling…

08/21/2026

Utility-scale solar and battery storage made up the vast majority of new power plants coming online in the first half of the year!⚡️

Out of 368 new utility-scale plants that went live:
☀️ 207 were utility-scale solar projects
🔋 95 were battery storage systems

While mega-projects like New Mexico’s SunZia wind farm grab the headlines, mid-sized solar and battery pairings are also doing the heavy lifting across the country!

Read more 👉 https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13082026/inside-clean-energy-new-us-power-plants/

Utility-scale solar leads by a mile, followed by batteries. Fossil fuels, not so much.

08/20/2026

A solar house originally built for the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2017 Solar Decathlon is now a living laboratory for sustainability, education, and community resilience. ☀️🏠

A chance conversation at a party led to the construction of the house by Huffman High School students. Through a partnership with the University of Alabama, they were able to expand their construction knowledge to include solar installation and energy conservation. 🔨

The solar house is not only a model for clean energy and sustainability, but for clean energy collaboration! 🤝

Read our full blog here 👉

“People expect that it’s going to look like a spaceship,” said Bambi Ingram, Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham What began as a demonstration of solar design has since grown into a living laboratory for sustainability, education, and community resilience.

08/19/2026

Camping season is in full swing!🏕️

Whether you are taking a road trip or just spending a night out in nature, an EV could help make your trip even better! Saving money while leaving the space better than you found it are just two of the perks of travelling electric.

Use A Better Routeplanner for your next trip! This tool will map out all your charging spots, making planning a breeze.

Now you have more time to think about the fresh air you're breathing, rather than a loud gas engine polluting the air. For extra points, bring portable solar to charge your devices!