Solar News Today — September 11, 2026
How Grassroots Opposition to a New Asphalt Plant Was Infiltrated by an Outside Operative and more — today's solar signal.
As we scan the news landscape, it's clear that local concerns about development and environmental protection are intersecting with broader national trends. In one instance, a grassroots movement against a new asphalt plant was compromised by outside influence, highlighting the complexities of community organizing and the need for vigilance. Meanwhile, in Florida, proposed regulations aim to safeguard the welfare of sloths at a tourism attraction, following a disturbing incident that claimed dozens of lives. These stories underscore the importance of community engagement and regulatory oversight in shaping the environmental and social impacts of development.
A more hopeful note comes from the renewable energy sector, where a significant majority of new solar projects are being built in states that voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential election. This trend suggests that the economic benefits of clean energy are increasingly being recognized across party lines, and that the growth of solar power is not limited to traditionally progressive areas. As the US continues to transition towards a lower-carbon economy, stories like these offer a reminder that environmental and economic progress can be achieved through a combination of local activism, effective governance, and market-driven innovation.
Today's signal:
• How Grassroots Opposition to a New Asphalt Plant Was Infiltrated by an Outside Operative (insideclimatenews.org)
• Florida Proposes Stronger Protections for Sloths After Dozens Died at a Tourism Attraction (insideclimatenews.org)
• More than 70% of new solar is being built in states that voted for Trump (grist.org)