In certain regions of the U.S., solar and wind farms play a significant role in generating electricity for the grid. However, in other areas, the reliance on fossil fuels that produce carbon pollution remains high.
Vaughan: “The carbon impact of turning on a light switch can vary greatly between different parts of the country.”
Winston Vaughan, the head of climate policy at Clearloop, a solar development company, emphasizes the importance of building new solar and wind infrastructure in areas with the dirtiest grid electricity to have a more significant impact on the climate.
This approach can also bring health and economic benefits to communities that have been negatively affected by fossil fuel pollution.
Vaughan: “Addressing the inequities of the carbon grid presents an opportunity to maximize the social and environmental benefits of clean energy investments.”
Clearloop is working on developing solar farms in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where renewable energy progress has been slow. To fund these projects, Clearloop partners with large corporations looking to invest in clean energy to offset their carbon emissions.
Vaughan believes that this strategy not only focuses on producing more renewable energy but also ensures it is built in locations where it can have the most positive impact on the climate and local communities.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
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