Jessica B. Thiessen Talks "Solar Punk" and Environmental Justice on The Pop-Up!
On a recent episode of The Pop-Up!, host Deaunte Damper sat down with Jessica B. Thiessen, a project management professional and creative advocate, for a conversation that connected astronomy, local economics, systemic politics, and the future of green energy.
Thiessen, who has spent two decades working in the solar energy sector, brought her characteristic energy to discuss everything from rising utility bills to her upcoming community event, Sunrise Fair.
Redefining Local and Global Economies
Damper cited a report from the South Seattle Emerald highlighting how local businesses in Seattle’s Chinatown International District are experiencing a steep decline in foot traffic, despite the massive influx of tourists arriving at Lumen Field for FIFA World Cup matches.
When asked about this disparity, Thiessen linked the issue to both global and perceptual realities.
"There's a perception in the world that America isn't necessarily what we look like,” she said, referring to the Black community. “So businesses with people that look like us aren't necessarily the ones that people are thinking about when they think ‘America.’”
Transitioning to regional growth, Thiessen, who currently resides in Southwest Washington, noted that the rapid expansion of the Portland-Vancouver metro area has brought visible increases in regional homelessness. Drawing a sharp contrast to her roots growing up in Florida, she noted that the structural layout of poverty is different in the Pacific Northwest, but criticized the broader societal normalization of it.
"We accept that it's a choice," Thiessen said, pointing out that systemic change only follows financial incentives.
Confronting the Energy Grid and the "Red Herring" of Mega-Projects
The core of Thiessen's critique focused on regional utility hikes and stalled climate goals. She pointed to a Seattle Weekly article outlining how Puget Sound Energy customers are facing higher utility bills due to rate increases enacted on January 1st to fund storm damages, system reliability, and compliance with Washington State's Climate Commitment Act. Furthermore, utilities have proposed subsequent rate hikes stretching into 2027 to back a $3.2 billion investment portfolio.
Thiessen did not hold back her frustration, aiming directly at the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a quasi-governmental organization heavily tied to regional hydro-power legacy systems.
"BPA will not get out of their own way," she said. "I had the conversations 20 years ago at the beginning of my career that transmission was a problem. We knew it then and it hasn't changed.”
Rather than focusing entirely on mega-grid connectivity, Thiessen advocated for distributed generation, the concept of generating and using power at the source via localized solar setups and individual battery storage. She categorized the persistent messaging that communities must remain entirely dependent on centralized grid infrastructure as a "red herring" that has ultimately delayed renewable progress for two decades.
Unpacking Solar Punk and Performative Progressivism
When asked about the political climate of progressive hubs like Seattle and Portland, Thiessen noted that while political performativity is universal, she values the Northwest's foundational intent toward progress. However, she remains highly critical of empty corporate rhetoric that echoes "what everyone wants to hear" without actionable follow-through.
To counter this, Thiessen is actively championing the Solar Punk movement through her community organizing. While typically defined as a fictional sci-fi genre depicting a clean-energy utopia, Thiessen is focused on making Solar Punk a reality by proving that sustainable technology belongs to everyone, not just a select demographic.
Her approach relies on three core pillars:
Meeting People Where They Are: Breaking down dense energy concepts into accessible, non-intimidating language translated directly from inside the community.
Ancestral Knowledge Integration: Balancing cutting-edge tech with history and context provided by community elders.
Increasing Linguistic Accessibility: Translating clean-energy curricula into Spanish to support expanding local populations.
Experiencing Green Infrastructure: The Sunrise Fair
Thiessen invited the community to step away from theoretical debates and witness decentralized clean energy firsthand at the upcoming Sunrise Fair Be Well Festival.
When: July 4th, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Where: Held on private property at the Sacred Land Collective in Auburn, Washington, 37308 212th Way SE, against the backdrop of Mount Rainier.
Transit Access: In an effort to reduce financial barriers and gas usage, a Solid Ground shuttle bus will run continuous loops throughout the day to and from the Federal Way Light Rail and the Federal Way Park and Ride.
What to Expect: The entire event will run completely offline using a localized solar microgrid and distributed battery generation. Attendees can participate in greenhouse activities centered on ancestral herbs, explore soil-monitoring agricultural robotics via virtual reality (VR) simulations, and enjoy live music and performances from local artists.
Ultimately, Thiessen emphasized that changing people’s relationship with energy is about reclaiming choice.
"We have never lived in a time where the technology is more accessible than right now," she said. "When you bring community together, we can invest in what matters for us. We can make a difference for ourselves."
Get your FREE tickets to the SunRise Fair happening this Saturday, July 4th at sunrisefairs.com
Tune in to The Pop-Up! weekdays live at 9 p.m. on all Converge streaming platforms.
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