Nice solo work, Connor! While only 16% of electricity is produced and sold by public and federal entities, another 13% is produced and sold by cooperatives that are owned by the customers-members (link #1). I live in a rural area where my power comes from a coop and they have a community owned solar garden (link #2), as do a growing number of private electric companies (link #3). Many will "buy back" excess energy produced by customers who over-produce their own solar. I think large-scale (societal) behavior change is almost always dependent on economic incentives. Research shows even conservatives who don't believe in climate change will "green" their behavior if arguments are framed in economical terms. As Bob always says, use your cognitive perspective-taking! Well, actually he says "cognitive empathy" but as a psychologist, I don't like that term because people always confuse cognitive and emotional empathy and refuse to engage in cognitive empathy with those with whom they disagree. It USED to be called simply "perspective taking" when I first cut my teeth as a baby shrink. Let's go back to that!
OK, since nobody else is commenting, let me address another huge mess we have in this country: healthcare. Everybody knows we pay far more per capita than most other nations despite getting no better, and sometimes worse outcomes. Lots of theories to explain it, but I agree with this article, which concludes, " It’s the financing system, stupid."
Nice solo work, Connor! While only 16% of electricity is produced and sold by public and federal entities, another 13% is produced and sold by cooperatives that are owned by the customers-members (link #1). I live in a rural area where my power comes from a coop and they have a community owned solar garden (link #2), as do a growing number of private electric companies (link #3). Many will "buy back" excess energy produced by customers who over-produce their own solar. I think large-scale (societal) behavior change is almost always dependent on economic incentives. Research shows even conservatives who don't believe in climate change will "green" their behavior if arguments are framed in economical terms. As Bob always says, use your cognitive perspective-taking! Well, actually he says "cognitive empathy" but as a psychologist, I don't like that term because people always confuse cognitive and emotional empathy and refuse to engage in cognitive empathy with those with whom they disagree. It USED to be called simply "perspective taking" when I first cut my teeth as a baby shrink. Let's go back to that!
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us-generation-capacity-and-sales.php#:~:text=Direct electricity transactions also happen between independent,federal entities16% * Cooperatives13% * Other providers15%
https://www.electric.coop/wisconsin-co-ops-provide-affordable-community-solar-options-for-members
https://www.mnpower.com/environment/communitysolar
Thank you! And very good points re the economic incentives for behavioral change
OK, since nobody else is commenting, let me address another huge mess we have in this country: healthcare. Everybody knows we pay far more per capita than most other nations despite getting no better, and sometimes worse outcomes. Lots of theories to explain it, but I agree with this article, which concludes, " It’s the financing system, stupid."
https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/adam-gaffney-health-care-prices-arent-problem-its-who-pays-them/