Resource Library

This month, I want to uplift the legacy of Black organizers who’ve taught us how to fight at the intersections – of race, land, labor, gender, climate, and liberation. When the world tells us to pick one lane, Black movements remind us: We are the lane.

From September to November 2025, GoodPower’s Good Data Lab fielded a survey of households within 3 miles of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Arizona. This survey aimed to understand BESS neighbors’ support for and views about the projects as well as their community needs and concerns. They found that people do not know much about BESS. Despite this limited knowledge, there is moderate support for BESS among neighbors, although many were unaware of the projects near them. People were concerned about the fire risk of BESS, but providing them with basic information about BESS fire safety helps to alleviate some of this concern. Respondents also found messaging related to grid reliability, boosting renewables, and cost savings potential of BESS to be the most convincing, although all message frames shown to participants were convincing. While traditionally resistant audiences like conservatives have lower support for BESS and more negative views of living near it, they were convinced by pro-BESS messaging. The findings suggest there is an opportunity to get ahead of opposition messaging to educate and communicate about BESS, its risks, and its benefits.

GoodPower conducted focus groups to understand how people in Arizona view battery energy storage system (BESS) projects and their concerns about energy issues. They did four focus groups (n = 30) with residents of Pinal and Maricopa counties, key areas for renewable energy development, and two (n = 12) with residents of rural and ex-urban areas of Arizona. The sample in Pinal and Maricopa generally reflected local demographics while the rural participants were predominantly male, white, older, and conservative.

Up your impact this session and learn advanced techniques for educating policymakers, drawn from a comprehensive review of research.

What are the most effective ways to sway legislators, members of Congress, and other policymakers? Learn advanced techniques, drawn from a comprehensive review of research.

We will go deeper on some 101 topics such as mode of contact, while also covering new topics including how to engage opposition policymakers, messenger selection, targeting policymakers on LinkedIn, and legislative subsidy theory.

This has been a challenging weekend (and month) for communities around the country for a whole host of reasons. As you read this week’s feature, written by Maliyah, I ask you to reflect on the strength our communities already hold, especially through the data, stories, and lived experience that too often get talked about but not truly listened to.

Winter storms are rocking much of the country (along with disinformation about the reality of climate change that can prey on our psychological biases). Here are some evidence-based tips on winter weather.

Extreme weather events like winter storm Fern offer a short window of opportunity when people are seeking information related to climate change. But while most Americans believe we are experiencing more extreme weather, many still don’t see it as driven by climate change. Climate communicators need to help people connect the dots.

Maximize impact this legislative session with the Lab’s training on the most effective evidence-based ways to influence legislators and other policy makers.

We’re all talking (or just worrying) about AI. Some of us are deeply concerned about the climate, water, and labor impacts of this growing technology. In this newsletter, I’ll be sharing some resources for engaging with AI, and talking about our upcoming AI training series.