Resource Type: Tips & How-Tos

Recent acts of violence and injustice—here in Minneapolis–St. Paul and in communities across the country—are not only social and political crises; they are health crises. As we navigate ongoing harm and uncertainty, it is essential that we care for ourselves and one another.

First, I’d like to say that I hope you and yours had a restful and rejuvenating holiday break. The Lab team took some extended time off, and we’re all making our way back to our desks this week, preparing for what is already shaping up to be a busy 2026. We’ve all got a lot of work ahead of us, and we’re excited to provide the resources and support you need to kick some ass this year.

Despite the challenge, the Lab community has shown up over and over again to collaborate, share insights, learn together in trainings and cohorts, and create spaces to nurture ourselves and build our resilience. As we close out 2025, here is a rundown of what we’ve accomplished together.

With energy costs on the rise, I have been scouring trusted sources for answers on the best ways to talk about the energy affordability crisis. Let me point you to three grounding strategies that have helped me figure out how we can make the energy affordability case.

For this newsletter, I wanted to share some of our favorite reads of the year; I hope they will keep you company in the coming winter months.

The landscape for clean energy buildout in the US has changed dramatically in the last year. Yet one constant is the ongoing barrage of mis- and dis-information1 from a variety of actors, from industry-backed anti-wind front groups to the President. The narratives and debates continue to evolve, however, and this report collects relevant research and insights from practice from the past 12 months, to provide guidance for anti-disinformation practitioners on two key emerging topics in the clean energy information space:
Affordability: electricity costs and clean energy
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

I think it’s clear our democracy is not in a good place. While it has never been perfect (to say the least), I know many of us are increasingly worried about its fate. Based on key indicators of authoritarian behavior, like selective prosecution of opponents, the Trump administration has become increasingly autocratic.