Green-Energy Inspiration Off the Coast of Denmark

To increase renewable energy from wind, Texas is the site of many wind turbines across wind farms, which not only produce energy but also provide income to farmers who own the land. There are still some problems but by deregulating the electricity market, making use of the open lands of Texas, and the relaxed attitude of Texans toward living near turbines Texas is a major generator; while other states struggle behind.

A new solar array called North Star in the Twin Cities will soon produce enough energy to power more than 20,000 homes. The project allows landowners to evolve beyond a deteriorating farming industry while maintaining native prairie plants under and around the panels for bees and other pollinators. The project is part of the state's 15-year energy plan to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent and generate a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Thanks in part to the advancement of technology and federal reforms that now streamline a previously lengthy process, rural Colorado is proving to be a prime candidate for small hydropower projects.

Aiming to improve road conditions and cut down on plastic waste, a Scottish engineer found a way to blend the two. After testing a series of different recipes, he found the perfect recipe that is now being used across United Kingdom and the Gulf, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In Stockholm, old Christmas trees are being converted into biochar. When integrated into the city's highly-efficient power grid, the project has been wildly successful--not only in improving soil, but also in retaining groundwater, greening the city, and lowering carbon emissions. For this reason, officials as far away as California have been eying the plan with interest.

Localscapes is a program in Utah promoting more water-efficient landscaping. The program includes state-based horticulturists, landscape professionals, and water experts who help interested people make the most sustainable use of their yards and lawns. "The program focuses on five techniques: a central open space, gathering areas, activity zones, paths and planting beds."

Tierra Fertil Coop in Henderson County, North Carolina is helping the Latino community in the area grow their own food. Residents are able to keep what they grow at no cost, tend to their gardens and build community. The coop also operates as a business by selling excess fruits and vegetables at local markets.

After years of population decline, leadership in states across the Midwest United States are leveraging their climate change resilience to attract new businesses and residents.

Mandatory inclusionary zoning policies have increased affordable housing stock in many cities across the U.S. In most cases, the policies require developers build 5-10% of new units with rents attainable for low- to median-income people, or pay a fee, which is dedicated to other affordable housing projects. In Redmond, Washington, such policy has resulted in a 42% growth of housing stock since 2010.

Microgrids, small-scale energy systems that can operate either independently or as part of the larger electric grid, are growing in popularity and effectiveness. In one example on tribal land in California, a microgrid saves 25 percent of electricity costs and reduces Blue Lake Rancheria's carbon footprint by hundreds of tons of carbon annually.