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[New Armchair Urbanist] Solarpunk is actually Kind of Bad (Patreon)

Published:
2025-10-29 10:29:50
Imported:
2026-10

Content

This took way longer than I ever would have wanted. Various things in my life randomly popped up and got in the way including a pipe breaking in my apartment. Anyway, this is a very political critique essay, a slight departure from the norm. If you guys like it I'll plan on doing more like it in the future.

Otherwise lets get back on track and crank out the next videos 🤙

Files

solarpunk is kinda bad final

Comments

Liam Hodgson

As a critique of the “branding” of solar punk there are some good points. But it’s not really a movement focused on branding, as with a lot of other prefigurative political movements, rather focused on building dual power, system within a system, etc. Solarpunk art is a piece of the puzzle, but little forums about how to make dye or set up a solar panel or argue about theory seem to be where most solarpunk discussion is occurring. Most of your vid seems to be more about liberal nimbys which I support that criticism I just think it might not be directed how I would. I look forward to seeing how others think of the vid, especially if it makes its way into the parts of YouTube with Andrewism, solarpunkalana, radical planning, etc

PSP Geezer

I had never heard the term solarpunk before but it was pretty easy to figure out what it means. What I've seen feels more like a Millennial/Gen Z version of Tomorrowland and about as practical. As a recent emigree to So Cal, I've seen some of the problems caused by CEQA (and Nick Andert/@nandert points that out in his LA transit videos). Also appreciate the sarcasm at 9:03. Good video.

Zack Bowden

Interesting video, not sure if I agree with everything said in it, but the overall points are very solid Obviously, like you said in the video, protecting the environment is important, but that shouldn't come at the cost of actual progress

jman117

I like your content a lot, but I’m not sure I agree with the framing of this video. The solar punk aesthetic has taken off because there’s a growing number of people who want to address climate change and protect the environment. Lawmakers aren’t holding up climate legislation because people are confused by solarpunk aesthetics. In California I mainly see CEQA backed by conservative NIMBYs, not by progressives. I think there’s quite a lot of consensus on the left that CEQA needs massive reform, and in fact we’ve recently passed several reforms to CEQA. Totally agree with the “suburbs and rural living is carbon intensive, dense cities with green parks is the ideal path forward” idea. But to me, the video almost makes it seem like solar punk is making things worse. When in reality I think this aesthetic getting popular is a sign of good things and shifts in priorities.

Alan Fisher

hmm, some of this feedback makes me want to redo part of this video, but I'm not sure how I'd redo it in a reasonable amount of time. I could add some aspects that more refocus my whole point to really hammer in the idea that CEQA was originally made in good faith with good intentions for the environment, but now actively hurts it. Also I feel like I need to say it 5 times that solarpunk aspirations and leftism isn't bad, but for a political movement is dreadfully unserious sometimes.

Alan Fisher

see this is why I dislike video format essays, it feels like I have to repeat my points multiple times, so this makes me feel like this needs to be redone or added onto fix these misunderstandings

Alan Fisher

yeah I'm debating on editing some extra bits into it doubling down on the idea that solarpunk aspirations and leftism aren't bad, but for a political movement is dreadfully unserious sometimes.