Yeah, I generally agree with the article but it's a weird kind of focus that makes it feel odd and a few claims rubbed me the wrong way too.
One charitable interpretation is that when discussing renewable energy with the American public you need to start by validating some of their current beliefs before sneaking some truth in, because if you just said "solar is cheap and green and we should have been building lots of it for years" you'd hit up against talking points they've been pre-programmed with.
Whereas if you start from "solar takes up lots of space and kills all biological life touched by its shadow" then they think you're one of them and you can subtly suggest that if you're already building canopies to keep the sun off of cars, then maybe solar panels would be good there?
It's analogous to pretending to believe that Covid-19 was a Chinese Bioweapon intentionally leaked from a lab, just so you can suggest to people that are otherwise beyond help that ".. and if that's true then maybe we should wear masks to prevent it spreading?".
One charitable interpretation is that when discussing renewable energy with the American public you need to start by validating some of their current beliefs before sneaking some truth in, because if you just said "solar is cheap and green and we should have been building lots of it for years" you'd hit up against talking points they've been pre-programmed with.
Whereas if you start from "solar takes up lots of space and kills all biological life touched by its shadow" then they think you're one of them and you can subtly suggest that if you're already building canopies to keep the sun off of cars, then maybe solar panels would be good there?
It's analogous to pretending to believe that Covid-19 was a Chinese Bioweapon intentionally leaked from a lab, just so you can suggest to people that are otherwise beyond help that ".. and if that's true then maybe we should wear masks to prevent it spreading?".
Might help. Probably worth a go.