I was thinking about it almost being March and the adage that March comes “in like a lion and out like a lamb.” At this point, it feels like the lion of winter is just a permanent fixture in our lives. But the next few weeks will be the true test of how long winter intends to persist with its icy roar.
This week’s must read: Balcony solar is taking state legislatures by storm (Canary Media)
Remember our podcast episode with Raymond Ward, the Utah state legislator who ushered through changes to the state’s statute to pave the way for balcony solar?
Looks like he started something!
“Other states, including New York, could soon follow Utah’s lead and unleash much broader adoption of solar panels that plug into a standard 120-volt wall outlet. As of Wednesday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers in 28 states and Washington, D.C., have announced their own legislation to make these systems permissible,” according to the article.
Let the sun shine in and capture its power with a portable, plug in solar panel!
What do Americans really think about climate change? And what do they think other Americans think?
Today’s delightful discussion is with Doctor John Kotcher, a Research Associate Professor and the newly minted Director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. At Mason 4C, he leads a dynamic team of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students dedicated to exploring effective strategies for communicating about climate change and air pollution. Together, their work empowers organizations to engage and activate citizens in shaping our society’s response to these important issues.
John also co-leads the Climate Change in the American Mind project, a series of national public opinion surveys carried out in partnership with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication to investigate and track public attitudes toward climate change and support for climate policies in the U.S.
Serendipitously, their most recent report—Global Warming’s Six Americas—was released just before recording, so if you haven’t checked it out, you can find it here.
Coming up next week… My conversation with Sam Lovell, author of Mud Lake, a series of stories connecting the importance of spending time outdoors as a child and conservation ethic as an adult.
(Programming note: this episode will drop Wednesday instead of our usual Tuesday due to scheduling issues.)
Calling all Hoosiers
If you’re in or around Indianapolis, we’d love to invite you to something special.
On Thursday, March 12, republicEn is hosting Tend & Keep: A Conversation on Environmental Stewardship at Rejoicing Vine Winery, Indiana’s only regeneratively farmed vineyard. It will be an evening exploring how Christian faith and conservative values call us to care well for what’s been entrusted to us.
Our panel brings together people who don’t just talk about stewardship—they practice it:
- Bob Inglis, Executive Director of republicEn
- Ericka Andersen, writer on faith, culture, and public life
- Brent Kumfer, owner and winemaker at Rejoicing Vine
The conversation will be moderated by Kacey Shriner, our Indiana Outreach Liaison.
When: Thursday, March 12, 2026, 6:30–8:30 PMWhere: Rejoicing Vine Winery
Other details: Dinner and a glass of locally crafted bubbly are included
Please note: this is a free event, but space is limited and RSVP is required
If this sounds like your kind of evening—and we hope it does—we’d love to see you there. Please note that each attendee needs to RSVP individually.
Bob in the wild
Who is the man with no glasses addressing the room? Oh, that would be the newly de-spectacled Bob Inglis. We hardly recognize him as he talks to the Winthrop College Republicans! On the same trip, Bob was a guest on the Beaufort County House of Cards podcast (not to be confused with a recap podcast on the show of the same name). And if you need the TL;DL version, here you go.
EcoRighters Unite!
If you’re looking to be a little more active with your lawmakers, consider joining our friends in the CCL Conservative Caucus for their annual conference and lobby day. As part of the program, you can hear Bob make a keynote, and you can make a difference talking with your lawmakers.
When: April 18& 21, 2026
Where: ONLINE (how cool is that)
How: Apply here