By Ingrid Morales, Community Programs Manager with RE-volv
Energy is everything and everywhere. It touches every part of our lives. It powers our transportation systems, our homes, our towns, and our cities. It charges your phone, keeps your fridge running, and sustains our hospitals and clinics 24 hours a day. You’re using it to read this article right now. As global demand for energy spikes, we must accelerate the transition to clean, affordable energy for everyone. That's why, this September, RE-volv is launching its Solar Ambassador Program that offers college and university students an opportunity to access clean energy careers and engage in local climate action.
For generations, the ways we’ve produced energy have caused oil spills, methane leaks, wildfires, pollution, and health problems. The race to secure fossil fuels has even fueled wars where human devastation was layered on top of ecological destruction.
These choices have locked us into decades of climate change, and now the consequences are playing out in our local environments and communities.
So what do we do? The first step is simple: we need to start thinking, and talking, about our energy future differently by:
Asking new, approachable questions: Why do electricity rates keep climbing year after year? Why are we building new pipelines when we could be investing in renewable energy systems, integrating solar with agriculture, and adopting smart grid technology to strengthen resilience? Why not design community resiliency centers that double as emergency hubs during extreme weather events?
Sharing the hopeful narrative with everyone: Let’s get the facts straight. The clean energy transition is well underway and cannot be stopped. Global solar capacity has grown more than tenfold in the past decade and it’s now the fastest growing energy source in the world. Solar power has become the most affordable source of energy worldwide, supporting millions of jobs and delivering cleaner air and lower energy costs to communities across the country.
Showing up for one another: We won’t realize the benefits of a clean energy future overnight. In the meantime, we must support one another during climate disasters and celebrations alike. I’ve seen it firsthand: how my hometown of Los Angeles came together after the January wildfires; how people from across the country helped rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; and how people and organizations across the country are coming together to host nearly 250 events on Sun Day, a collective day of action celebrating the power of clean energy. Find or host an event near you!
At this pivotal moment for our climate future, we have a unique opportunity to collaborate with intention, contribute to collective solutions and share knowledge across communities. We encourage you and your friends to learn more and register for RE-volv’s Solar Ambassador Program here.
RE-volv Solar Ambassador Fellows from Georgia Tech University hosting a solar education event and pizza night!
If the history of energy has taught us anything, it’s that human ingenuity can shift the balance of power. We've come a long way since fire was our primary energy source. Now, it's time to imagine and build a bright future together.
