The energy market is ruthlessly competitive. American consumers want cold beer and warm showers from low-cost utilities, and the “green-ness” of the electricity is of minimal concern to the average user. This pits solar firm versus solar firm and wind power firm versus wind power firm. More broadly, this mindset pits renewable energy against the entrenched incumbents of coal, gas and nuclear, which are armed with their $0.09-per-kilowatt-hour power. Amidst this furious economic struggle, it’s easy to lose track of some of the softer benefits of distributed energy and renewables, as well as the humanitarian aspects of the green energy business and its people. Here are a few examples. [Read this article]



