Great premise! I don't think there is any single solution to this problem (not saying you do). What are your thoughts on repurposing abandoned strip malls and other fallow properties?

Wow, what a great question and I feel your frustration. Someone so talented (right brain) that needs to figure out how to make money out of their unique ability! You need to look for ways to market yourself. Here is an idea - do you use linkedin? I know of many "left brain" business people on linkedin who are great at math and finances but need someone like you to help storyboard or create visuals of their ideas and concepts. LinkedIn is a great way to market your services to the "left brain" people!

Seriously, I appreciate this -- thank you for sharing.

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Gosh, this is such a good question -- and a hard one to answer. The decision-making for this stuff is just so, so diffuse, as it sounds like you're aware. Long distance transmission lines, which we'll likely need a lot more of, are especially hard because of all the private landowners and state and federal agencies involved. See, for instance, this piece I wrote last year about the 15-year process of securing all the leases and approvals needed to build a 730-mile power line to get wind energy from Wyoming to California: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-08-23/wyoming-clean-energy-california.

Is there any hope for a shift away from chronic gridlock? I'm not sure. But trying to help figure that out is why I launched Repowering the West, an ongoing reporting project: https://www.latimes.com/projects/repowering-the-west/. Hope you'll check it out!

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Thank you for your help.

Hi there thanks for the AMA!

Question: will the changing workplace affect where wind/solar/battery technology is used?

I'm thinking wfh might alter energy profiles. Having previously lived in LA, I remember the brown-outs about 3 pm when all the office buildings cranked up their ac.

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This is an age old question. IT DEPENDS. I have clients that detest debt and can't sleep if they owe a couple of thousand on credit card debts. No amount of interest being earned in the bank will give them peace of mind. Also, it depends on how much debt you are carrying. I always try do do both, pay off debt and save. Glad to know that you are earning 4.5% on your savings though.

For others reading this, check out www.opportunityknocks.net to find a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) to help you save more.

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I appreciate your responses.

To the second point, I fully agree that most people would not regard it as one of the most important stories. Nevertheless, I think the scale of the problem speaks for itself: so far this year, over 6 billion animals have been killed for food in the US alone. There is an emerging scientific consensus that many animals, including the kinds most frequently farmed, fished, or hunted, are sentient and have the capacity to suffer. And they do suffer; the practices that take place, particularly but not exclusively on industrial farms, are exempted from animal cruelty laws. Just food for thought for future coverage.

Hey, that's a really good question! While I've written quite a bit about the potential for water-saving solar project on farmland (see my latest here: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-01-17/want-to-solve-climate-change-this-california-farm-kingdom-holds-the-key), I haven't heard much about solar on golf courses. To the extent I've heard anything about golf course closures in the Palm Springs region in the California desert (a very Colorado River-dependent, water-stressed place), the conversation has focused on adding housing or preserving walkable open space, basically a public park.

Those things definitely use a lot of water. See this recent piece by my colleague Ian James: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-01-29/colorado-river-in-crisis-desert-lakes-and-golf-courses

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Have you read the study that was just published in PNAS, “Minimizing conservation impacts of net zero energy systems in the western United States” ? It goes into extensive detail on the role of farmland in the transition of energy generation and transmission.

Hi Sammy, what are some of the potential challenges or concerns with using farmland for renewable energy production, and how are these being addressed?

There are definitely researchers out there working to improve efficiency at the margins -- which could have a big impact on total electricity generation, given the scale of the solar buildout in the works globally.

I think the most interesting innovation right now is happening with batteries technologies -- improvements in lithium-ion but also development of novel forms of long-duration energy storage, such as iron-air, vanadium flow or underground compressed air storage, which I wrote about last month: https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-01-12/this-giant-underground-battery-is-a-1-billion-clean-energy-solution-boiling-point

These stories technologies have huge potential to allow for more solar and wind generation, by balancing out intermittency issues (ie. storing power for when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow).

Hope that's helpful. Thank you for the question!

I'm curious what your sense of general trends of shifting power dynamics around this sort of large scale infrastructure planning and development. Who (individuals, corp's, institutions, demographics etc) will increasingly be making these choices and establishing 'best practices' for the future? Any hopes for a shift away from chronic gridlock, litigation, corruption, animosity that seem so hopelessly prevalent now?

From a governmental standpoint, yes. For a you and I standpoint no. When I do a retirement plan I always forecast a more real inflation percentage to determine long term income needs. For example, I have now many clients who work from home and rarely drive. Prior to covid they drove a lot just to get to work. The rising gas prices hasn't affected them at all. Parents with big families can attest that their grocery bills are much higher than the stated CPI. When it comes to your personal finances, gauge to see how much you see how your monthly finances have increased - the true indicator!

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Hey there, thank you for the question! I personally haven't done much reporting on animal agriculture, but I did write this piece a few years ago about the gas industry's push for "renewable natural gas" harvested from cow manure, and the potential for that push to fuel continued pollution from mega-dairies: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-04-09/cow-poop-california-clean-energy-future.

With regards to your question about animal rights, I'm not sure I have a great answer on that. Obviously there's a wide range of views on that topic, and I imagine a lot of people (even most people?) would disagree that it should be one of the largest stories in our society. That's not necessarily a good reason not to cover, but I imagine it probably has something to do with it.

Hey louis,im an artist, i studied animation and i specialize in character designs and story boards art.

Unfortunately, im reaching my 30s and i aint doing much with it. Im always anxious and fearing that i aint good enough, so im paralyzed, i don't have much experience but i want to start doing something. I wanna sell my stuff but i dont know how to start and what tools to use...(and i hate social media, but that's something i will have to overcome). I love tabletop rolplaying games, and i dream of becoming an artist specifically for people who want their characters drawn and the like.

What would you suggest to someone like me with drawing "talent", academic training, but no contacts or experience? Where should i start?

I would appreciate your answer and i love this AMA!

What about starting with golf courses especially in areas that need ridiculous amounts irrigation

Absolutely. I worked in the Barrio of East Los Angeles helping my community after having spent time working with super wealthy individuals. Many years later I have seen how hard work, self-improvement, resiliency and mentors have helped many of my clients (including my parents) achieve financial dignity.

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