Kauai became a clean energy leader. Its secret? A publicly owned grid

A community solar project in a rural Michigan town is making energy more affordable for low-to-moderate-income households. Fifty community members and organizations subscribed to receive energy from and support the construction of a solar array. As a result, their electricity bills are about $300 cheaper each year, and the local utility reported fewer late payments.

One Minneapolis resident launched a grassroots education campaign to help her neighborhood reduce carbon emissions from home heating by upgrading her home insulation and using electric appliances. She then shared information about the energy-efficiency improvements and available rebates to fund them. Between 2019 and 2024, area residents using these strategies reduced natural gas use by 29%, and is now being replicated in other neighborhoods throughout the city.

All We Can Save Circles are decentralized, 10-course book clubs aimed at helping participants develop communities around climate solutions by inspiring action and allowing them to talk through climate anxieties. More than 3,000 people have formed Circles around the country and 90% of those who participate have taken some kind of climate action on their own, like advocating for change in their communities or taking a climate-focused career.

In order to have more say and control of their utilities, the city rallied together to create a campaign to take over their local electricity distribution. This take-over has created city jobs for local residents that are more secure than those in the private sector and residents have also seen lower electricity rates.

In an effort to reduce plastic waste, recycling centers like Recyclift Recycling Technology Company collect plastic waste and crush it into processed pellets to be repurposed. The company employs over 50 people, all working toward the goal of crushing 100 tons of plastic each week.

The Youth and Environmental Advocacy Center, in collaboration with NXT Grid, built a solar-powered mini-grid in a rural area to connect community members with power, some of whom were being connected for the first time. Community members donated to help fund the project, resulting in 200 of the 262 structures in the area receiving electricity.

To prevent utility poles from falling due to lack of maintenance, damaging homes and leaving residents without power, community members worked together to raise funds to build 18 new concrete poles without the help of any government entities or power companies.

Facing sky-high utility costs and accessibility challenges, the community of Molokaʻi, Hawaii, took their energy security into their own hands and developed an energy-resilience-focused action plan. Backed by the primary state utility, the community is installing solar arrays and batteries, some of which are collectively owned and subscription-based. At the same time, the solar cooperative is cultivating a local workforce specialized in solar infrastructure.

When the transformer that supplied an entire community’s power collapsed, and the government and power companies weren’t acting to solve the problem, local residents joined forces to crowdfund for a new transformer, helping to ensure the lights stay on and community members can continue to work and carry out their daily activities.

In the Indian state of Bihar, women-led self-help groups are challenging traditional gender norms and saving money to buy and install solar irrigation pumps. The pumps increase the local agricultural capacity by providing a cleaner, more affordable alternative to the diesel pumps typically used to combat water scarcity in the region.