Dear EarthTalk: I’m a renter and can’t put solar panels on my building’s roof even though I would like to. Someone suggested I look into “community solar” but I don’t get how that works let alone where to find such a program near me. ~ Peggy B., Austin, TX
For many Americans, solar energy is still a luxury rather than the energy of the future. In fact, only around 25 percent of Americans can install a rooftop solar system. However, community solar is a workaround for renters because it’s a subscription-based solar energy model, and subscribers pay a monthly fee to a local provider in return for a portion of the electricity produced. In this case, the local utility company purchases the generated power from a nearby solar farm, and a credit reflects this on the electricity bill, which helps to reduce overall costs. Most important, subscribers still pay for solar power and can join the green transition movement, but don’t need to own or maintain solar panels.
According to Laurel Passers from the Coalition for Community Solar Access, “It’s like subscribing to Netflix” because it’s an extremely straightforward process that only requires a verification that you live within the service area and a basic credit check. Additionally, subscribers receive solar credits on their utility bill, amounting to annual savings up to 15 percent. However, the accessibility of community solar depends on location. For example, many Southern states have monopolistic solar farms that can charge higher subscription fees and raise the cost barrier. To quote Jill Kysor from the Southern Environmental Law Center, “The way that they price those products, it’s been more of a premium product”.
Community solar is subject to massive changes following President Trump’s recent pausing of federal funding for the $7 billion Solar for All initiative, which helped 900,000 low-income households subscribe to community solar and provided grants to 60 solar farms. Moreover, Trump has halted energy grants under the Inflation Reduction Act, causing states like Nevada to lose access to $156 million in community solar funding. While the effects on subscription pricing are still uncertain, the massive cuts towards community solar can mean that all involvement with solar energy will become indefinitely more expensive, as Trump seems unwilling to relent. After all, one of his primary messages in his campaign was “not wasting American taxpayer dollars on expensive, unreliable green energy projects.”
In light of the unforeseeable future of community solar, all prospective subscribers should reach out to providers to inquire about how recent events can influence community solar availability or fees before subscribing. Many community solar projects have helpful customer services, and resources are linked below in the contacts section to help prospective subscribers make an informed decision. Lastly, it’s most important to spread the word about community solar. Buildings in the United States account for 40 percent of the country’s total energy consumption, and empowering renters to go solar is essential to accelerating the green transition.
MORE INFORMATION: https://data.nrel.gov/submissions/249; https://www.energysage.com/community-solar/solar-panels-for-apartments-and-rental-properties/; https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01/groundswell-sharepower-community-profile_2024-01-26_508.pdf.
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Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that there’s a link between good health and living near trees? ~ Paul Morra, Los Angeles, CA
Trees are an essential part of most ecosystems around the planet, as both habitat for a multitude of species and as air purifiers. Their impact on the overall health of the planet is unquestionable, and with regard to human health, trees can provide a variety of benefits, both mentally and physically.
Trees’ mental health benefits include help with ameliorating mental health disorders symptoms like depression or anxiety. These benefits also extend to general stress and nervousness, with one study stating that those who live in urban neighborhoods with 30 percent or more tree canopy are 33 percent less likely to experience psychological distress than those in areas with zero to nine percent tree canopy coverage.
For those who live near trees, these benefits are easy to come by—even a passive view of trees from indoors can help better one’s mental state. And when walks, runs—or any activity in nature—are incorporated into one’s daily or semi-frequent routine, these benefits are exponentially increased.
In addition, the positive mental health benefits of trees are especially pronounced in children, with kids aged four to six years proven to have reduced hyperactive behavior and improved memory and cognition when living close to green space.
“By offering children opportunities to connect with nature, we can significantly improve their overall health and equip them with the tools to lead fulfilling lives,” says Angela Warren, Executive Director at Genesee Soil and Water Conservation District, showcasing the long-lasting impacts of living near trees (including a 55 percent reduction in the risk of developing mental health disorders in the future).
Physically, trees provide benefits for the whole body, including the heart, lungs, eyes and more. Densely populated areas are hotter due to the urban heat island effect, but places with many trees can stay up to seven degrees cooler. Being in close proximity to trees can directly improve the climate of one’s surroundings, as well as the air quality.
Trees can often serve as ‘natural air purifiers’, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and air pollutants in one’s surroundings. Such natural air purification serves to provide good health for those with respiratory impairments, such as allergies, asthma or other lung disease.
To help provide these benefits to everyone, you can plant trees and advocate for the forested land currently near you and for the continued protection of trees around the world.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/mentally-and-physically-trees-make-difference; https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2025/April/Newborns-Living-Near-Trees; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7345658/.
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Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest in tidal energy? ~ Mary W., New York, NY
Tidal energy—generated from the natural rise and fall of ocean tides—is one of the most predictable forms of renewable energy. Unlike wind or solar, which fluctuate based on weather, tides follow gravitational cycles that are easy to forecast. Despite this reliability and growing interest in clean energy, tidal power still accounts for only a small share of global electricity production.
There are three main ways to capture tidal energy: tidal barrages (low dams that trap water), tidal stream turbines (underwater turbines placed in fast-moving currents), and dynamic tidal power systems (which use coastal water pressure differences).
One of the most recent breakthroughs happened in early 2025, when Proteus Marine Renewables installed Japan’s first commercial-scale tidal turbine off the coast of Goto City. The 1.1 megawatt (MW) device, anchored to the seabed, shows how far the technology has come. “This milestone demonstrates that tidal energy is ready for prime time in Asia and beyond,” said Proteus CEO Andrew Clark.
Tidal energy offers several key advantages. It has high energy density, doesn’t depend on weather or sunlight, and has less impact on land and views than wind or solar farms. As Inc. Magazine’s Chris Stokel-Walker put it, “Tidal power is more reliable than solar. Why aren’t we using it?”
The answer largely concerns cost and location. Tidal systems are expensive to build and maintain, especially when placed offshore. They also only work well in coastal areas with strong, steady tides — limiting where projects can go. Additionally, there are environmental concerns about how turbines might affect marine life and sediment flow. In the U.S., permitting and regulatory processes can be slow and confusing, making it difficult to get new projects started. Local opposition from fishing communities and unclear jurisdiction over coastal waters have also slowed progress in key regions like the Pacific Northwest and parts of New England.
Still, momentum is building. Scotland, France and Canada have invested in pilot projects, and the U.S. Department of Energy is researching opportunities along American coastlines. New modular turbine designs are helping lower costs and speed up installation, an important factor to the continued development of tidal energy. As Professor Brian Polagye says, “The fundamental question is one of economics”—tidal power is still expensive and often built on a case-by-case basis, so growth will depend on more standardized designs, better supply chains, and steady long-term investment.
If tidal energy is to grow, it will need more research, better policies and stronger public support. Advocates can push for clean energy plans that include marine renewables and support companies working to improve the technology. Tidal power won’t replace solar and wind, but it could become an important part of a cleaner, more reliable energy mix if given the chance.
MORE INFORMATION: altenergymag.com/article/2024/10/evaluating-the-present-and-future-potential-of-tidal-power-in-the-us/43464; plymouth.ac.uk/news/tidal-stream-power-can-significantly-enhance-energy-security.
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