|
North Carolina is a big, long, beautiful state. It offers diverse landscapes for residents to enjoy in almost every corner, including ocean views, lake views, mountain views, and city views. And, then of course, there is the serenity of the many farm views that our state’s fertile lands provide.
Take cotton for example. On a recent trip to the eastern part of North Carolina, I passed acres upon acres of this unique looking plant of white fluffiness surrounded by rough, brown exterior and stem. As I zoomed along the two-lane highway, these crops virtually blanketed me with their comfort and pride in all that we are able to produce here amongst our many notable views. Which brings me to the reason for my trip and the rather new and much less known NC view. A new type of farm, which produces a new kind of crop, has sprung up not far from Belvidere, NC. The Desert Wind Farm (a.k.a., The Amazon Wind Farm US East) produces electricity that is used by AMAZON’s data centers in Virginia. Like the crops that the wind turbines are planted amongst, this farm adds value to the community it is a part of beyond the electricity it produces. Details on the economic, infrastructure and employment benefits of the farm are outlined here.
0 Comments
I was completely enamored with him. His blond hair, easy smile and always up for an adventure. And then, of course, there were his ears. Sticking far out from the side of his head, they only got larger when he smiled, which was pretty much all the time. He was always moving, from the moment his lungs took in their first gasp of air. Getting him to stay still even to do something as necessary as change his diaper was too much for him to do. A fact I learned the hard way the first time I changed his diaper all on my own, and he started peeing as soon as I removed the diaper. While giving me a golden shower, it was all I could do to hold him down long enough to get a diaper over the yellow stream of liquid and fasten it in place before he squirmed away from me once again.
My brother and his family may have lived in Arizona, while we lived in Brooklyn and then New Jersey, but it didn’t matter. My overzealous Auntie enthusiasm worked well at closing the miles. And, I wasn’t running a sprint. My desire to see him as much as possible went on for years. He would be almost four years old, before I had a child of my own, and I enjoyed loving him from afar every minute of that time. Whether it was making my new in-laws watch hours of video and pictures sent from my brother and his wife to me through the mail, or sending small gifts I thought he would like or planning trips to see him, it was fun work being a long-distance Auntie. Once my own kids arrived, he became the role model. The teacher to my new-parent student, learning about each next phase. With my first child also being a boy, I loved getting to hear about his adventures and seeing him in action when we got together. I always stopped just short of taking notes, but burned into my brain the many important lessons he taught me along the way, such as:
Divorce was foreign to us all. All of his grandparents were still married to their original spouses, and all the Aunts and Uncles had also either not been married yet or were still married to their first spouse. So, when his parents got divorced, we were all a little shell shocked. Unsure of how custody and communication would work in this new world, phone calls dipped in frequency, as did trips to see one another. Did he get lost in the creeping silence from extended family, was there something else going on in his life, or did he just slam into adolescence and never completely recover from the impact? To love someone and not know them very well is a strange thing. I got plenty of reports of his successes in skateboarding, snowboarding, his performance on various sports teams, trips he had enjoyed with his father or his mother’s new family, grades, favorite tv shows, the weather. But, it’s easy to gloss over the bad during occasional phone calls and bi-annual, in-person visits. And, it’s easy to assume the role of the cheerleader: clapping for the good and never digging for the bad. So, my memory strains every day to remember the small moments - the real moments. To expand the list I just read you to include more moments when I learned something about him; those moments that I am sure were true, whether they were good, bad or ugly. But if I am being honest, it is easier to remember how happy and easy he was to love, to be impressed by, and to dream of his future. Here is where I would like to focus my memories, because his teen years got complicated and his twenties did not smooth out those wrinkles. If anything, they brought such a stark contrast to the first decade or so of his life, it leads me to wonder: Can you love someone - can you miss someone - you didn’t really know? Climate change and all the problems humans are and will be dealing with often feel like a future concern. Is that future getting closer? Yes. But these topics are typically framed as an issue our children will have to contend with, and, as this commercial illustrates, older generations don’t really care much about them. But for members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at NC State, who are adults aged 50+, solar energy and its impact on both their own quality of life and those that will be here after they are gone are most certainly of interest.
“It’s morally the right thing to do,” explained Ann Storm about her choice to install rooftop solar panels on her home in 2018. This feeling is echoed by most rooftop solar owners. According to Pew Research Center, “Homeowners point to a variety of reasons for considering solar panels. A large majority of homeowners who have already installed or have given serious thought to installing solar panels say they want to help the environment (87%).” And despite the fact that older Americans are aware that they will no longer inhabit this big blue planet when the worst of climate change begins to impact humans, rooftop solar owners like Ann still feel it’s the right thing to do. Of course, people’s homes are typically their largest wealth asset, and they do whatever they can to protect that investment and grow its value. So where does the economic side of solar panels come into play? For older solar panel owners, the calculations can be slightly different. For example, Steve Sakofsky, who built his house in 2016, has a son who encouraged him to add them to his home. Together they did the calculations and determined that Steve “could afford it.” They went shopping for a company through which to purchase and install panels. In that process, they learned that, at that time, there was a federal tax credit available as well as a credit from Duke Energy, making the panels more affordable. While Steve says he’s only made about a third of his initial investment back, he is quick to point out that his electricity costs were fairly low before he had the solar panels installed. Overall, he estimates he saves about $500-600 a year. Expanding on that, Ann contends that some older Americans who install solar on their houses have the very real possibility of not recouping their initial investment. However, as a consolation, rooftop solar can help increase the overall value of a house when it is sold. Importantly, neither Steve nor Ann noted any costs associated with maintaining their solar panels. “When it rains, the panels get washed,” said Steve. Ann mentioned that she should “probably have someone go up and inspect them every couple years,” although she has yet to do that. But neither has run into any issues with keeping their panels in good working condition, and Steve has an app on his phone that allows him to monitor solar energy production every minute of the day. “To me, the process is straightforward. [But] the advice I would give would be to talk to a lot of different [solar installation] contractors. Be careful about who you use. Whoever you select, talk to the customers of that company,” Steve said. The company he chose to work with contacts him occasionally to check in on him, which is reassuring in case there ever is an issue. Of course, your home may not be standing alone without neighbors. If you live in an area with a homeowners association (HOA), though, it recently became easier to install panels on your roof. Ann did not face any concerns in the 55+ community where she lives, and Steve said that his neighborhood, which has 67 homes, has seen an increase in the number of solar panels being installed. While he was the first in his neighborhood to go solar, there are now 13 houses on board. In the end, like rooftop solar owners of other generations, older Americans typically emphasize the climate benefits of generating electricity using the power of the sun. As Ann puts it, “If you believe that climate change is real, you have to do as much as you can afford to help solve the problem.” The original version of this post can be seen at NC GreenPower: https://www.ncgreenpower.org/blog/the-gray-in-rooftop-solar  On any given day as you drive down the road, it is more commonplace than ever to see an electric vehicle (EV) pass you by or drive up next to you. However, those who have actually experienced driving in one are still a vast minority of our country’s licensed drivers. Because, in a lot of unexpected ways, driving an EV can be different from driving a conventional combustion engine vehicle, I believe that easing into it can be beneficial. I perhaps started earlier than most in my interest in driving an electric car. I worked for a company that was in the energy industry, and they had started to explore the market for EVs and the infrastructure that it would take to support such a market. In addition, quite by chance, I saw the movie, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Those two factors started it all for me. As I went shopping for a new car in 2009, I was determined to get a plug-in car. Unfortunately, my desire and automobile needs did not match the market. There were very few models to choose from and none with the range and/or price tag that met my requirements. Disappointed, I consoled myself by purchasing a small combustion engine car that got very good gas mileage. Fast forward to 2014, and I was back in the market for a car. While the choices were much wider, most fully electric vehicles still had major range restrictions. As a working mother of two, I was often driving hundreds of miles a week to and from school, practices, friends’ houses, Girl Scouts meetings and camps, and company offices around the state. After quite a bit of research and a few test drives, it became apparent that I still could not go fully electric, but I happily purchased a 2013 Ford C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). I diligently tracked my trips to the gas station and went to bed with a smile on my face on the days that I never got off of the EV battery for my car’s power. I celebrated with friends on social media when my car’s dashboard reported that I was averaging 90 miles to every gallon of gas that I consumed. And I went weeks and weeks without visiting a gas station. As the evolution of the EV market has continued, so has my purchasing power. And finally, in 2021, I was able to buy my first fully electric car – the Chevy Bolt. Nine months into being an EV driver, it is everything I had hoped. I truly have no idea what gas prices are. I never look at stations when I pass by. If something happens to a gas pipe or a storm takes down the supply in another part of the country, it means nothing to me. There are no oil changes or maintenance. (Although as I write this, I wonder when I should get my tires rotated.) If anything, getting my first fully electric vehicle was a bit anticlimactic. After driving a PHEV, I found very little difference between that and a fully electric vehicle. Perhaps the only adjustment I had to make came when I took my first drive to the beach, 2 ½ hours away. There was ensuring the battery was full before I left, and then the “range anxiety” kicked in when I was still a half hour away, and I wasn’t sure my battery was going to have enough juice to get me to my destination. (It did, by the way, with 27 miles to spare.) So, my 12-year odyssey to become an EV driver has left me with some knowledge and advice for those who may be on the same journey to become a fully electric vehicle owner and operator. STEP 1: Commitment Unlike me who was looking to drive an EV before ever seeing one on the road, today’s EV hopefuls have the perks of many resources. There are an increasing number of people to ask, articles written about EVs, and numerous car models of varying shapes, sizes, and battery ranges. But, even with all that, you need to know that driving an EV will be different. And you need to be open-minded and ready to embrace the differences. Think about how long ago it was when you first learned to drive. It took getting used to. A lot of practice and some mistakes along the way. Now, it won’t take as long to get used to an EV. It is still a car, after all, and you know how to drive one of those. But there are differences, and like anything, they will take time to learn. Most are small, and you may not even notice them right away. So, to make your experience positive, I suggest dropping the compare/contrast thing our minds always want to do with something new and just accept each EV lesson with open curiosity. STEP 2: Training Wheels I am a huge fan of PHEVs. I think they are the perfect training wheels for the rookie EV driver. As my C-Max Energi was for me, PHEVs can be for others. They accomplish so many positives for the novice EV driver without all the range anxiety and pre-trip battery charging that fully electric vehicles require. Specifically:
STEP 3: Nothing but Plug Of course, anyone can jump right to Step 3 and go fully electric right off the bat. Plenty of people have done it. Just remember Step 1 as you encounter subtle surprises behind the EV wheel. I couldn’t possibly name all the adjustments you have to make, but here are a couple:
Change always brings a combination of excitement and fear. But take comfort in the fact that I have spoken to many EV drivers over the last five to six years and have yet to encounter one who wants to ever drive a combustion engine vehicle again. The word used most when describing their cars has been “love.” They love their EV, and that goes double for me!  The original version of this post can be seen at NC GreenPower:
https://www.ncgreenpower.org/blog/learning-how-to-drive-an-ev-in-three-easy-steps Pregnancy is about life. New life. We understand its critical importance in the continuation of human life on our planet. We are in awe of the miracle for some or the science for others involved in creating life. We covet the ability to extend our own life into another, newer person.
Pregnancy is about hope. Our individual hope for the life each person constructs for themselves. We hope that we will do it better than those before us. There is hope that a new life will not make the same mistakes we have made. The hope gives us a respite from the tragedies, stress and trauma that can take up too much of our lives. We hope that each new life will bring the world closer to peace, love and calm. For some, pregnancy is about fear. A what-if scenario to be diligently avoided. An understanding of the dangers - sometimes from a much too early age - if you were to find yourself in the same situation that most women - and the vast majority of society - celebrates. The work and number of experts needed to avoid pregnancy can even outnumber those used to enable a pregnancy. “Why?” you ask. Sanctity of life is the answer. Our understanding of the importance of life compels us to protect it. Illness, injuries, and life expectancy rates have all benefited from human being’s desire to be healthier and live longer than those before us. But, improvements do not mean perfection. Let’s consider that which is at the center of all life - the heart. It is complex, so many pieces moving, relying on each other to function correctly. Perfection is when no one notices the amazing work it does day in and day out, year after year, decade upon decade. While life 100% relies on it, most don’t acknowledge the heart until something is wrong with it. But, what if there is a heart that has always been broken? Pieces of it missing, holes in it and a body craving more oxygen than it can send out. Life is many things, but it is rarely black or white. There are many shades of gray in between where many live. And while defects in the heart can allow for life, it often creates life without. Life without norms. When a heart is broken, it works extra hard to accomplish the bare minimum. The rest of the body jumps in to help in a dozen different ways, perhaps by delaying puberty, increasing the red cell count in the blood, or naturally maintaining a low body weight, to name a few. The external world is also engaged, helping with surgeries, procedures, medicines and general medical guidance all in an attempt to help keep a precious life alive. But, these interventions, the will of the person which houses this broken heart, or even society at large cannot always produce the desired outcome: the ability to house a new and growing life. When a heart must work so hard to maintain one life, how can it be expected to support a second? And, so the calculations begin. Everyone apparently has their own calculator as well as the belief that they should possess an equal amount of input into the final sum. A life’s value is weighed. Pro and con lists are created. A full grown productive member of society's life is compared to the potential of a new life on this planet. Each side of the problem is detailed and defended. Shockingly, the host often campaigns against her own survival. She will give it all up for a life not yet breathing air. She makes plans: how she will communicate with the tiny life post-mortem, who will serve as the best stand-in mother, why it will all be worth it for the promise of that new life. But, these plans are fantastical. There is no guarantee that her sacrifice will be a one-to-one trade: her life for that of her unborn’s. Those two lives may instead only share the same ending. There are other options, that neither she nor others engaging in her shared fantasy can bring themselves to confront. A life left wanting a mother’s love that was robbed from him or her never to be fully refunded, despite best efforts. Or perhaps worse. There may be diminished capacity. Pain. Despair. At best, a life without. At worst, a life that is barely living. The scale tips. Does the potential host’s life offer another value besides physically bringing a new life into the world? Is her ability to mother not simply confined to a life with whom she shares genetics? Are there lives with feet on the ground who need nurturing, love, protection? Or, could her impact on the sanctity of life be less direct? Might she have a talent, knowledge or a vision that itself will serve as a miracle? Could she contribute something to society that will lead the world onto a path that will bring some sort of salvation or peace or necessary healing? Pregnancy, like life, is complicated. And the battle to control it may belong among the list of the Millenium Prize Problems, an unsolvable problem that many have fought to master and no one has ever resolved. With no universal solution, perhaps we can resign ourselves to step out of the world of black and white, and live in the gray. With each new pregnancy comes a new solution to the problem. For some that solution will be life, for others hope and perhaps for others an inspiration to do more with the one life their body is able to support. But no matter how a pregnancy ends - with a new life or by preserving an existing one - it is ultimately about the sanctity of life. |
AuthorA former corporate online marketing and communications professional, in 2021 Long Covid redirected me. I am revisiting my passion for writing. You are the unfortunate witness to that journey. 
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|
RSS Feed