Our Solar State of the Union: The Energy Deep State

On the next Probably True Solar Stories., we imagine what a fictional President Biden --a.k.a. "Dark Brandon"-- could have said at his 2024 State of the Union to bring more urgency about our global climate crisis and current solar and clean energy solutions.

True Solar Takeaways

Climate Crisis and the Urgency to Act
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has consistently reported the urgency of acting on climate change to avoid catastrophic impacts. 

• https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/

Solar and other renewables are the leading sources of new U.S. power generation

• https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55419

Solar and battery costs have come down since 2010
Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s (BNEF) analysis reveals that solar module costs have plummeted by 89% since 2010, forecasting a further reduction by 63% by 2050. Battery prices have also dropped by 84% since the 2010s.

• https://heliushub.com/solar-costs-have-dropped-89-since-2010/#How_Much_has_the_Price_of_Solar_Decreased_Over_Time

Solar and other renewables are now the least expensive energy source.

• https://www.iea.org/news/massive-expansion-of-renewable-power-opens-door-to-achieving-global-tripling-goal-set-at-cop28 

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have created over $649 Billion in private investments, including $161 Billion for EVs and battery manufacturing. Here are the stats and maps: 

• https://www.whitehouse.gov/invest/?utm_source=invest.gov

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes funding for EV infrastructure and expanding public charging stations across the United States.

• https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-standards-and-major-progress-for-a-made-in-america-national-network-of-electric-vehicle-chargers/

How does your representative vote on climate action? Check their voting record here at the League of Conservation Voters

• https://scorecard.lcv.org/

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