Cool Solutions: Stories of climate action from the bottom up

Our own preconceptions of who is "on our side" and the mistaken idea that we are alone may be one of the biggest obstacles to climate action. That's the big takeaway from this story about how neighbors, longshoremen, small businesspeople, tribes and environmentalists in Washington State got together and stopped a massive oil by rail terminal. Linda Garcia is a passionate activist who just wouldn't...

Story of how residents of South Portland Maine, a town of 25,000, stopped the export of tar sands from their port. We follow the story from a few people in a living room to overflow attendance at city council and the council's vote to ban tar sands and stand firm against Big Oil's lawsuit. Moving testimony by children, grandparents, fishermen and others. A legal expert explains Home Rule and how a...

Solar streetlights are hyperlocal clean energy that can help US cities survive extreme weather events and break free of utility monopolies. We visit 3 cities where solar street lights do a fine job lighting the streets, but also do much more.  In a struggling rustbelt city, they're a beacon of hope for sustainable development. In a high end housing development, they attract buyers of luxury estate...

How many people does it take to change what runs a city's light bulbs? In Norman Oklahoma and Hanover New Hampshire, they started with 12 and ended up with everyone.   Adrienne Gautier, Janna Horn and Judi Colla talk about organizing "for" instead of "against", and tell how they got their towns to vote unanimously for 100% clean energy. We talk with Jodie Van Horne from the Sierra Club about the n...

We already have too much parking. Getting rid of requirements to build more is something any town can do. It cuts carbon, boosts business, and helps affordable housing. Here's the story of 2 cities that did it.   Matthew Petty, a city councilman in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Nadine Marrero, Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Buffalo talk about why cities should drop parking from thei...

Transit expansion leads to gentrification so often that some folks have started calling new light rail, the "Gentrification Train". A community land trust in Denver takes land near new stations permanently off the market and turns it into affordable housing. . 

People in Macon, GA got tired of waiting and made their own bike lanes. Progress ensued. Josh Rogers of New Town Macon and Rachel Hollar of Bike Walk Macon tell their story. Tactical urbanist Mike Lydon and epidemiologist Neil Maizlish help us look deeper into DIY street redesign and the health and safety benefits of protected bike lanes.

The average household has more than 40 electronic appliances that suck energy when they're off. We help you find and tame yours. Along the way: the dining habits of vampire bats and spiders, a home energy audit with a vampire, and a psychologist explains why its so hard to unplug.

Two California counties help wildfire victims rebuild zero carbon homes.  Its more affordable than you think. Hear one family's story, meet super efficient appliances, and learn something about your gas stove that will change the way you cook. 

Meet Food Service Directors from 2 public school districts serving vegetarian lunches once a week and producing long lasting benefit in students' diets and health.  Topics along the way include Farm to School, climate impacts of various meats, and tips on shifting to a more plant based diet. 

Small entrepreneurs across the country are creating jobs and local food by composting food waste locally. We get down to the nitty gritty with eco-entrepreneurs in Boston, Chicago, and San Diego,  talk with a soil scientist about the benefits of composting, and learn from a lawyer about overcoming the barriers to diverting food from landfills. 

Diesel exhaust is bad for child and planetary health, but change is on the way.  We talk with the transportation director of Twin Rivers Unified School District and meet the people transforming the nation's biggest public transit program, including clean air advocates, electric bus builders, parent activists, and a guy called the Electric Bus Evangelist.  We talk about everything from the economic...

Stories of 3 cities where battery stored solar beat out power plants.  An environmental justice victory in Oxnard, CA; an economic boon in Sterling, MA; and storm resilient power in Rutland, VT.