In just a couple of months, energy affordability has become a front-page issue — for the first time in decades.

Electricity costs are increasing at double-digit rates, driven by growing demand, Trump Administration policies that hinder the deployment of cheap, clean energy on a large scale, and the continued mismanagement of our grid. Rather than scaling up access to clean-energy technologies and better utilizing what we already have, we’re stuck in our old ways of doing things.

And our old ways of doing things?

Some states continue to invest substantially in transmission and distribution, when it would be more cost-effective to deploy existing clean energy technologies and manage the associated load growth more efficiently. That means leveraging household battery storage systems, electric vehicles, and other distributed energy resources to run the grid more efficiently and stabilize costs for consumers. As Jigar Shah says in our Monthly Dose interview, it’s great to build new generations and upgrade the grid, but it’s more cost-effective to take better advantage of the grid that we’ve already paid for!

Unfortunately, that’s only allowed in a handful of states right now—and getting more of these distributed energy resources up and running is its own uphill battle.

Thanks to inefficient permitting processes and over-engineering, residential clean energy projects have become associated with lengthy timelines and high costs. Local restrictions, such as HOA rules, can hinder or outright prohibit installations. And most people still can’t wrap their minds around clean energy being the affordable choice—not just an expensive alternative.

So what can we do about it?

• Continue to emphasize the affordability of clean energy. Thanks to decades of dedicated research, development, and advocacy that have spurred implementation and driven down costs, clean energy technologies are already the winning choice. What matters now is communicating this truth to our elected officials and demonstrating to them how these technologies can enhance the everyday lives of their constituents.

• Encourage all states to step up their game. The battle is at the state level, and blue states are just as guilty of these inefficiencies as red states, if not more so. Texas provides a strong example of clean energy, as does Utah’s support for balcony solar, and Indiana’s unexpected embrace of electric police cars!

• Keep showing up. Most of our representatives weren’t elected for their expertise in electricity, which means they probably don’t know where to start when it comes to resolving the energy affordability crisis. Currently, we have the opportunity to be in the room with them and share tangible solutions, helpful resources, and proven strategies.

The energy affordability crisis is severe—but it presents a powerful opportunity to build a better status quo. Join us as we urge our elected officials to take action!