🌞 Solar Is the People's Path—Fossil Fuels Are the Billionaires' Trap episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 13, 2025 · 6 MIN

🌞 Solar Is the People's Path—Fossil Fuels Are the Billionaires' Trap

from Power to the People · host People Power United and Laurie Woodward Garcia

Fossil Fuels Burn Our Planet—Solar Power Builds Our FutureFriends, today America stands at a crossroads.One path is progress powered by the sun—clean, affordable energy that cuts bills, saves lives, and secures a livable planet.The other is rollback into oil and gas—a path that burns our communities, poisons our air, and locks us into billionaire profits while the planet overheats.The choice isn't abstract. The data is in. People are demanding change.Did you know that online bots and trolls have spread such a false narrative about alternative energy solutions that the United Nations is considering making it a crime to spread misinformation?“It is a major problem,” said Dr Klaus Jensen, of the University of Copenhagen said at an Ipie review. He went on “…how are we going to vote for the right causes and politicians, and how are politicians going to translate the clear evidence into the necessary action?…We have about five years to cut emissions in half and until 2050 to go carbon neutral. Without the right information, we’re not going to get there. So the climate crisis being translated into a climate catastrophe is [not] possible, unless we handle the climate information integrity problem.” (The Guardian)Solar Power: Cheaper, Cleaner, StrongerListen, I don’t have to tell you how ridiculous it is that every year we get more advanced technology—yet every year utility companies keep raising our bills. This week the news featured a woman pleading for relief, saying she unplugs everything at night and runs only her refrigerator, and she still can’t afford her power costs.And don’t even get me started on gas prices and how they jump all over the place.Our leaders should be fighting for cheaper, cleaner, and stronger energy sources—solutions that power our lives without burning up our planet.Great News! Renewable power like solar and wind is now the least expensive and fastest to build in the U.S.—even without subsidies (Lazard).* Price advantage: Big solar farms produce electricity for about 3–4¢ per kWh, and with federal support, it can drop to ≈2¢. Gas plants cost 7–12¢, and their prices jump with global fuel markets.* Falling costs: Building a large solar project today costs 75% less than in 2010, with 2023 installations averaging $1.43 per watt (Berkeley Lab).* Healthier: Between 2019 and 2022, wind and solar avoided $249 billion in air-pollution and climate damages, preventing as many as 1,600 premature deaths in 2022 alone (Science Direct). And the EPA data confirms that cutting fossil fuels slashes hospital visits, asthma attacks, and early deaths (Environmental Protection Network).In plain terms: solar beats gas almost every time—and it keeps getting cheaper.This isn't theory—it's real savings.* A Connecticut school district will cut energy use 23% and will save over $23 million over 20 years (CT Insider).* Pennsylvania schools could save $342 million statewide while powering the equivalent of 187,000 homes yearly (PennEnvironment).The good news is that people across the United States are waking up to the benefits of solar and wind. In 2023, solar supplied over half of all new U.S. grid capacity (Berkeley Lab), and in 2024 America installed a record 50 GW of new solar capacity (Reuters). Momentum is on our side—and every new panel brings us closer to clean air, lower bills, and a livable planet for all.The Fossil Fuel LieAmerica remains chained to oil and gas, not because we need them, but because of greed.Fossil fuel companies bankroll politicians, spread disinformation, and fight to keep us dependent, profiting from scarcity and price shocks while families face crushing bills.Every new pipeline approved is another nail in the coffin of our planet, clean air, safe water, and a stable future.We Deserve Cheaper and Cleaner Energy SourcesSolar power is progress.Fossil fuels are more expensive, dangerous to our health, and contribute to global warming.Progress is moving toward solar because people demand it and it works.The momentum is unstoppable—unless fossil-fuel lobbyists drag us backward.I’m so proud of you and every member of People Power United who shows up every single day—taking action, raising voices, and holding leaders accountable to the will of the people. No doomscrolling. No hand-wringing. We see a problem, and we take action. We know that we are the ones who can—and will—fix the crises before us.Today, I’m calling on you to rise for our planet.Rise for the air we breathe, for a lower cost to heat and cool our homes, for the lower price of transportation and the goods we depend on.Rise for our health.Stand up to the greed of fossil fuel companies and the politicians they own.✨ Rise. Demand accountability. Refuse to let fossil fuels burn our future. ✨Could you take just five minutes to complete the calls to action? Pretty please 🙏🏼Today’s Calls to Action can be found on our site: https://peoplepowerunited.org* Click here to Tell Congress: Invest In Climate Resilience and Clean Energy* Click here to tell Congress to Build Clean Energy Now* Click here to Tell Your Governor: Accelerate Solar Construction Before Subsidies Expire* Click here to sign up for Sun Day* Click here to sign up for a Power Belongs to the People: No Kings event. Find an event near you by clicking here. Don’t see your city? Check back soon—new events are added all the time. Or click here to sign up and host your own. And for anyone wondering, if your city isn’t listed yet, just keep checking or start your own event today!Bonus* Can you share this post on your social media? Hearts, likes, comments, and share are always appreciated. Thank you for taking action!Please note that when People Power United uses the word “fight” in writing, online, or in speech, we mean to advocate fiercely, never to incite or support violence. We do not condone violence in any form, nor do we promote breaking the law.Our work is rooted in peaceful advocacy through exercising our constitutional rights: voting, free speech, peaceful assembly, rallies, protests, and acts of civil disobedience. We use these tools to defend our rights, freedoms, the rule of law, and our democracy. And together, we will win.Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests) People Power UnitedPeople Power United is a group of community members that champions progress and power for the people.Other Ways to Plug Into Our WorkPeople Power United is community-powered, heart-driven, and people-led. You make that possible.🔥 Join us on the front lines:➡️ Speak Out – Check out our latest calls to action➡️ Show Up – Find events near you➡️ Join People Power United – Join the grassroots movement for progress and power to the people.We are powered by people. Not billionaires. Not PACs. Just us.When you become a paid subscriber to People Power United’s newsletter, you’re investing in real, grassroots change. You’re backing a fearless community that shows up, speaks out, and organizes for justice—not for clicks, not for profit, but for people. Your support helps power the daily actions, urgent campaigns, and bold strategies that challenge the status quo and put democracy back in the hands of the many—not the wealthy few. This isn’t just a newsletter—it’s your front-row seat to the champion progress and power to the people. And your subscription? It’s your stake in the future we build together. https://peoplepowerunited.org This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.peoplepowerunited.org/subscribe

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🌞 Solar Is the People's Path—Fossil Fuels Are the Billionaires' Trap

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This episode was published on September 13, 2025.

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Fossil Fuels Burn Our Planet—Solar Power Builds Our FutureFriends, today America stands at a crossroads.One path is progress powered by the sun—clean, affordable energy that cuts bills, saves lives, and secures a livable planet.The other is rollback...

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