Rae Solomon
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raedear1.bsky.social
Rae Solomon
@raedear1.bsky.social
430 followers 730 following 100 posts
Public radio reporter at KUNC in Northern Colorado covering rural and small communities with an emphasis on energy, climate, agriculture, environment, housing, culture
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Rae Solomon @raedear1.bsky.social · Jan 29
👋🏼 new to 🦋!

I cover rural issues in Northern Colorado for KUNC. From climate environment and energy to ag, housing, ed, health and culture. Whew! That’s a lot!

Also:
Mom. Artist. Friend. Runner. Dancer. Amateur naturalist. Bread baker. Nerd.
raedear1.bsky.social
My story on the growing interest in geothermal energy networks – and the workforce we’ll need to build them - is on marketplace tech today!

www.marketplace.org/episode/2025...
Geothermal energy networks are gaining heat. But are there enough workers to build them?
A Colorado coal town’s big geothermal dreams say a lot about the shifting energy job market.
www.marketplace.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Greener Pastures is my 3-part series about building the climate workforce in rural Colorado. This project is my very last set of stories for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/greener-past...
Greener Pastures | KUNC
Climate change is having a big impact on Colorado’s rural mountain communities. The job markets there are evolving to keep up. Greener Pastures is a three-part KUNC News series about building this cli...
www.kunc.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:31 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
The third and final story in my series about building the climate workforce in rural Colorado explores growing interest in geothermal energy networks and whether we have a ready workforce capable of building them.
www.kunc.org/news/2025-11...
Colorado wants to build more geothermal energy networks. But it needs to build the workforce first
A Colorado coal town’s big geothermal dreams say a lot about the region's shifting job market.
www.kunc.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
The 2nd story in my series on building the climate workforce in rural Colorado zooms in on an apprenticeship teaching aspiring ranchers to work in a hotter drier climate, and explores how climate adaptation is taught in agricultural education across the country.
www.kunc.org/news/2025-11...
Climate adaptation is on the curriculum for future farmers and ranchers in Colorado and beyond
An apprenticeship program in Colorado and the Mountain West teaches agriculture students to farm and ranch for more extreme weather.
www.kunc.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Greener Pastures, my 3-part series about building the climate workforce in rural Colorado, is out now.

The first story explains why skilled tradespeople are some of the most vital and in-demand climate workers in Colorado's mountain towns.
www.kunc.org/news/2025-11...
The latest climate solution for rural Colorado? Career education in the skilled trades
Higher education is teaming up with skilled trade industries in Colorado’s High Country to grow the rural climate workforce of tomorrow.
www.kunc.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
My 2nd story on educating the rural climate workforce aired on @marketplace.org Morning Report today. It looks at how we're preparing future ag producers to farm and ranch in a hotter, drier climate.

Regenerative ranching apprenticeship? Indeed!
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Colorado apprenticeship program teaches ag students climate adaptation skills
Adapting to a changing climate is now an essential skill for ranchers and farmers.
www.marketplace.org
October 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Hi! 👋

My latest story digs into the high demand for skilled tradespeople in the rural mountain towns of Colorado... and why these jobs are a crucial part of the climate workforce of the future. It aired on Marketplace by APM yesterday afternoon.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Skilled tradespeople are the climate workforce rural areas need most
In Colorado, industry and higher ed are teaming up to grow the rural climate workforce of tomorrow.
www.marketplace.org
October 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Wow. I can't believe it's over. Yesterday I was told that my job as rural and small communities reporter at KUNC is being eliminated because of the federal government's cuts to the CPB.
September 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Last month the USDA ended all efforts to level the playing field for minorities & women in agriculture, declaring they've already "sufficiently addressed" discrimination. Mission accomplished.

BIPOC farmers in Colorado might have a bone to pick. My latest for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-08...
USDA ends decades-long push to address discrimination. What that means for Colorado farmers
The USDA abruptly ended policies to address the long history of discrimination against minority and women farmers last month.
www.kunc.org
August 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
The EPA under President Trump wants to scrap the $7 billion Solar For All program that makes solar accessible for moderate-to-low-income families. In Colorado, the $156 million grant would have expanded solar to 20K families in the next 5 years.

My latest for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-08...
Trump EPA cuts massive Solar For All program that had $156 million for clean energy in Colorado
The Trump administration signaled its intention to terminate a major solar grant program last week.
www.kunc.org
August 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
We often think of extreme heat as a problem in our cities - seethe "urban heat island effect." But a new study points out the risks are just as relevant - maybe just a little different - in rural areas.

My latest story for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-08...
www.kunc.org
August 8, 2025 at 5:29 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Burn scar mushrooms cause a craze among foragers in the mountains of the West. They're prolific. They're delicious. And they only pop up after wildfires burn through a forest.

My latest story for KUNC:
www.kunc.org/news/2025-07...
Wildfire burn scar mushrooms delight foragers... and elude scientists
Burn morel mushrooms are coveted for their tastiness. They're enigmatic and finicky. And they love a good wildfire.
www.kunc.org
July 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Rae Solomon
mattsebastian.com
KGNU, Boulder’s flagship public radio station for more than 40 years, expects to lose 15.5% of its operating budget after Congressional Republicans eliminated federal funding for public media for the next two years // Story by @bamesjurky.bsky.social
Boulder public radio station KGNU braces for loss in federal funds
KGNU expects to lose 15.5% of its operating budget, after congress narrowly approved a measure that includes the total elimination of federal funding for public media for the next two years. For KG…
www.dailycamera.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Public Media will thrive despite the rescission vote because we provide a unique, beloved and vital public service.

To wit:
My story about federal cuts to sustainable ag research airs on @npr.org this afternoon.

Take time to love on your local public media today!

www.npr.org/2025/07/21/n...
Researchers scramble to find money for sustainable agriculture after cuts
Billions in funding President Biden awarded to reduce the 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that come from agriculture is being called a "slush fund," and clawed back by the Trump administration.
www.npr.org
July 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Farmers and ranchers are feeling the cuts to federal climate spending. One of the most long-reaching impacts might be the cancelation of funding for ag science research into how producers can most effectively adapt to the changing climate.

My latest story for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-07...
Federal climate spending cuts mean big losses for ag science and the future of farming in Colorado
The federal government abruptly canceled funding for Climate Smart Agriculture in April. The move cut millions of dollars for important scientific research into how farmers can adapt to climate change...
www.kunc.org
July 14, 2025 at 10:29 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Almost 3 months since a major blowout at a Chevron well in Galeton, Colorado. The company has finished investigating the root cause of the accident. But questions linger about the public health impact and how the company will be held accountable. My latest for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-06...
'A spike in air pollution:' Galeton well cleanup continues but concerns linger
More than two months after a blowout at a Chevron well in Galeton, questions remain about the public health implications of the accident and how regulators will hold the company accountable.
www.kunc.org
June 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Why are summer reading lists a thing? As if we don't read any other time?

But... since it is a thing, KUNC has one! Our lovingly hand-crafted Summer Reading List has all the non-AI generated book recs you'll need for, uh, reading season? (seriously, it's a great list)

www.kunc.org/news/summerr...
The best books you suggested for KUNC's 2025 summer reading list
Our readers, librarians and bookstore experts have created the ultimate list of their favorite recent books that should take you on some adventures this summer, regardless of if you are escaping to a ...
www.kunc.org
June 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
My story on @npr.org Morning Edition today:

Rural water systems are scrambling to get PFAS out of the water supply. The Trump admin just softened some PFAS regs, but fed funding for decontamination is under threat. Rural water users could be left holding the bag.

www.npr.org/2025/06/17/n...
Rural water systems fear cuts to funding to remove 'forever chemicals'
Rural water systems are struggling to meet the EPA's new limits on so-called forever chemicals in drinking water. Now, federal funds to help remove them are in jeopardy under the Trump administration.
www.npr.org
June 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
Here it is! My #climatesolutionsweek story for @npr.org

Don’t touch that wrecking ball!

Dismantling buildings piece by piece and reusing the parts can shrink the bloated carbon footprint of the built environment

www.npr.org/2025/06/13/n...
Why taking apart buildings piece by piece is a climate solution
Deconstruction is a growing approach to taking down homes that diverts waste from landfills, cuts carbon emissions and creates a circular economy for construction materials.
www.npr.org
June 14, 2025 at 12:08 AM
raedear1.bsky.social
My latest story for KUNC is part of @npr.org 's
#Climatesolutionsweek! It's about how taking buildings apart piece by piece is a climate solution that's happening here in Colorado.

Local version of this story here:
www.kunc.org/news/2025-06...
'Unbuilding the building:' deconstruction is catching on as a climate solution in Colorado
Deconstruction is a growing approach to building removal that diverts waste from landfills, cuts carbon emissions and creates a circular economy for construction materials.
www.kunc.org
June 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
My latest story for @marketplace.org Morning Report is out - on the impact of Trump energy policies on the rural solar industry.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Trump administration energy policy sows chaos for rural solar development
Rural businesses have been collateral damage in Trump’s war on renewable energy.
www.marketplace.org
June 12, 2025 at 7:29 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
I co-hosted this episode of Knowledge Unbound with the inimitable @dewsbury.bsky.social

About an extraordinary educational collab btwn descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre & Amache, the Japanese incarceration camp in SE Colorado.

Thanks for letting me share the host seat, Bry!
dewsbury.bsky.social Bryan Dewsbury @dewsbury.bsky.social · Jun 7
We talk to Indigenous Studies teacher Greg Spottedbird Lamebull and Mariko Rooks. I cohosted this episode with Rae Solomon of KUNC, NPR's affiliate in Northern Colorado. You can catch all our episodes at knowledgeunbound.transistor.fm, youtube.com/@SEASProgam, and Spotify.
June 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Rae Solomon
dewsbury.bsky.social
We talk to Indigenous Studies teacher Greg Spottedbird Lamebull and Mariko Rooks. I cohosted this episode with Rae Solomon of KUNC, NPR's affiliate in Northern Colorado. You can catch all our episodes at knowledgeunbound.transistor.fm, youtube.com/@SEASProgam, and Spotify.
June 7, 2025 at 12:46 AM
raedear1.bsky.social
🐑 My story on the sheep industry's optimistic, tentative embrace of tariffs aired on @npr.org yesterday morning. 🐑

Were you were too busy eating hot dogs to tune into public radio? Psshh I got you 😉:

www.npr.org/2025/05/26/n...
U.S. sheep industry cautiously optimistic over Trump's tariffs
Many in agriculture are worried that Trump administration tariffs will be bad for their bottom lines. The American sheep industry, though, is cautiously optimistic.
www.npr.org
May 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
raedear1.bsky.social
My story on rural entrepreneurship aired on @marketplace.org yesterday.

Fun stuff! Definitely not one of those bummer stories.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Rural entrepreneurship is the spectacle our economy needs right now
Support for rural entrepreneurs is growing – and could be the key to thriving small-town economies.
www.marketplace.org
May 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM