When climate-change caused disaster strikes–knocking out power–clean, distributed energy can create electric sanctuaries that are sometimes life-saving.
Solar, energy storage, wind and other renewable resources can power hospitals, keep medical devices charged, ensure food stays cool and provide for air conditioning or heat.
As a co-founder and editor of the news site Microgrid Knowledge, I’ve been covering the ways that …
By Lisa Cohn
This summer, tens of thousands of Oregon residents had their power shut off when high winds and hot temperatures threatened to ignite fires from electrical equipment such as utility poles. This was by far the largest series of “public safety power shutoffs” implemented by Oregon utilities.
During such events, homeowners and businesses tend to fire up …
When Russian invaded Ukraine in February, I watched my friend, Tatiana Terdal, jump to the aid of fellow Ukrainian Americans, organizing rallies and fundraisers and educating the public on social media. I was excited about telling her story for The Immigrant Story.
To write this piece, I attended a moving rally organized by Terdal. Then, during our interview, which took …
Along with my business partner, Elisa Wood, I have written a few editorials about clean energy. In addition to the one below, our editorials include pieces for the Oregonian and the Portland Tribune.
In this story for the second largest newspaper in Oregon–located in sunny Bend–we argue that it’s important for utilities to pay people for lending their clean energy …
By Lisa Cohn
Here’s a story I wrote for PDX Parent Magazine about kids feeling anxious about climate change. It provides some tips for dealing with kids struggling with eco-anxiety.
What hurts girls’ confidence in youth sports?
I was surprised by my interview with Breanne Smedley, a certified female athlete Confidence Coach, former college volleyball player, youth sports coach and founder of The Elite Competitor. She identified three fears that hold young female athletes back.
In the past, I had talked to youth sports experts–as well as female athletes–about body …
I really enjoyed interviewing Jack Canfield, co-creator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series about his latest book, “I Can Believe in Myself.”
We talked about the importance of helping kids get out of their comfort zones–and how they benefit. He explained how parents can turn negative statements into positive ones. And Canfield discussed his experience as a …
To protect both their physical and mental health, kids need to get exercise and take part in outdoor play, says Dr. Dan O’Neill, author of “Survival of the Fit.” I interviewed him recently for my youth sports podcast and learned that his book is an important wake-up call.
Twenty percent of kids are obese, and develop ailments such as diabetes, …
It wasn’t enough for Prasenjit Tito Chowdhury to enroll in a prestigious U.S. engineering program, then land a job at Intel, one of Oregon’s most well-known employers.
No, after coming to America, the native of Bangladesh wanted more than simply working each day to pay his bills.
“I wanted to be a citizen of the community,” he says.
And he …
“I hope there is a pathway to citizenship that gives us finally our freedom to live our lives the way we choose,” says Azucena Javier-Marquez, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
“I’m hoping that they finally stop playing with our lives.”
Read the story here: