My intention for a while has been to put together a weekly round-up of climate solutions and good news. I had to wrap up a few other projects first. Now feels like a time I can commit to this idea.
To keep it within the time I have available, I’m going to limit each week to three items. Believe me there are many, many more if you are willing to seek them out. I’m hoping these weekly reminders will inspire you to learn more.
Here are this week’s three climate solution innovations:
Solar Panels In Unusual Places
UC Merced project scientist Brandi McKuin and Zak Long walk along one of Project Nexus’ solar arrays. Credit: Fig. 1 by University of California
The simple but brilliant concept? Cover as much of California’s roughly 4,000 miles of irrigation canals with solar canopies as possible.
Premiered Nov 24, 2025 #solarenergy#solarpower#solarIn the middle of California’s Central Valley, a new way to use solar panels could change how we think about clean energy and water. It’s a simple idea that people have talked about for decades, but only now is it finally being tested in real life. To understand what’s going on, we went out to the Central Valley and spoke with @UCMerced‘s Brandi McKuin, whose study set this whole project into motion.
Brandi McKuin, the lead University of California researcher on the project, says dozens of people have told her they had the idea of covering canals with solar panels decades ago. UC Merced’s Roger Bales, a hydrologist and distinguished professor of engineering who helped launch the project, has been hearing “why didn’t I think of that” about solar canals since the 1970s.
It’s easy to see why the idea is so appealing. Putting solar panels over canals seems like the ultimate energy “life hack”: valuable land that could have been lost to solar farms can be preserved, the amount of water lost to evaporation from the canals could be reduced AND a ton of clean electricity could be generated to boot.
But how you turn a great idea into reality is where the real work comes in.
***
What’s New In Sodium-Ion Batteries?
Nov 12, 2025 #electriccars#electric#cleanenergyWelcome to another episode of The Everything Electric Show! Imogen travels to Cambridge to take a closer look at Eleven Energy’s sodium home battery, focusing on not one, but two installations, a 9kWh and a massive 36kWh! Join us to find out why sodium batteries may be the answer for home storage and why Eleven Energy’s clever energy management system could help maximise return on investment.
“The most significant impact of sodium-ion technology may be not on our roads but on our power grids. Storing clean energy generated by solar and wind has long been a challenge. Sodium-ion batteries, with their low cost, enhanced thermal stability, and long cycle life, are an attractive alternative. Peak Energy, a startup in the US, is already deploying grid-scale sodium-ion energy storage.
Sodium-ion cells’ energy density is still lower than that of high-end lithium-ion ones, but it continues to improve each year—and it’s already sufficient for small passenger cars and logistics vehicles” – Per MIT Technology Review (subscription required)
***
Kiss the Ground and Roots So Deep Discuss Healing Soil
Peter Byck (Carbon Cowboys and Roots So Deep) has a monthly podcast and the newest one is full of hope and joy in regards to climate solutions and life itself.
Mar 13, 2026 The Peter Byck Show – “When you stand on healthy soil, there’s a universe beneath your feet.
Ray Archuleta, featured in documentaries like Kiss The Ground and Common Ground, spent decades as a USDA employee working with farmers and ranchers. Despite his long career in the traditional system, which he describes as attempting to “manipulate, force, and control nature,” Ray grew discouraged. He witnessed persistent soil erosion and struggling farmers.
His perspective shifted dramatically when he encountered regenerative farmers such as Allen Williams, Gabe Brown, and Neil Dennis—the subjects of our short film soil carbon cowboys. This meeting was a revelation, providing the answers he had been seeking. Though convinced, he spent years at the USDA wishing his colleagues would recognize the potential of this new approach.
Ray sat down with Peter to share his journey in regenerative agriculture, discuss the rapid soil improvement he has observed, and articulate his deep, spiritual belief in treating nature with respect.
All the podcasts are worth a listen, and of course, the 4-part documentary Roots So Deep and the two-hour documentary Carbon Cowboys are both well worth your time.
That’s it for this week. As many of you already know, I purchased a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 in December. There is a lot to share about both the decision and the first three months of usage. Hopefully we’ll look at that next time.
Until then what’s your good climate news?
Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates.
Living Lightly 