Roadmap | Healthier Kids
Happy Friday afternoon.
Running late today so just a quick recap.
From CommonWealth Magazine, “The House unveiled a climate change bill on Wednesday that directs the executive branch of government to create a roadmap for reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and includes sections dealing with solar power subsidies, grid modernization, clean energy jobs, and municipal light plants. The bill is expected to be taken up in the House on Thursday and then go to a conference committee that will be charged with sorting out differences with a Senate bill that is broader in scope and far more detailed in its instructions. The House bill requires the administration to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and sets interim goals for 2030 and 2040. It charges the administration with coming up with a roadmap of policies, regulations, legislative recommendations, and carbon pricing mechanisms to reach the targets.”
And some good news resulting from RGGI brought to us by Environmental Health News. “A climate change initiative in the Northeastern U.S. designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions has also greatly reduced harmful air pollution and related impacts to kids’ health, such as asthma, preterm births and low birth weights, according to a new study. Led by researchers from the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the study found the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has reduced fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and, due to this reduction, the region avoided an estimated 537 cases of child asthma, 112 preterm births, 98 cases of autism spectrum disorder, and 56 cases of low birthweight from 2009 to 2014. By avoiding such impacts to children’s health, the researchers estimate an economic savings of between $191 million to $350 million.”
Have a great weekend and as always, stay safe.
Energy Efficiency/Storage
State Offers New Option for Energy Efficiency Project Financing, Banker & Tradesman
NY’s investor-owned utilities work to increase access to energy efficiency for low-income households, Daily Energy Insider
Gillette Stadium Turns to Energy Efficient Servers to Reduce Annual CO2 Output, Environment and Energy Leader
This prof is shedding light on energy injustice — and how to fix it, Grist
Electrification drives the need for energy efficiency, Smart Energy Intl.
GSA Picks 4 Building Mgmt Concepts for Energy Efficiency Pilot, ExecutiveGov
Climate Change/Renewables/RGGI
House climate change bill calls for roadmap, CommonWealth Magazine
Q&A With Rishi Reddi, The State’s Top Environmental Justice Leader, WBUR
Biden calls for 100 percent clean electricity by 2035. Here’s how far we have to go., Washington Post
Clean energy to assist over 350,00 low-to-moderate income households in NYS, InformNNY.com
Microsoft Eyes New Tool in Decarbonization Quest: Green Hydrogen, Greentech Media
Mayors to state: Environmental justice can’t wait, Lowell Sun
Believe It Or Not, Forests Migrate — But Not Fast Enough For Climate Change, NPR
Biden plots $2tn green revolution but faces wind and solar backlash, The Guardian
A Northeast US climate initiative has had a major side benefit—healthier children, Environmental Health News
Wind
The money case for offshore wind, Axios
Massachusetts Institutions Get Grants for Offshore Wind Workforce Training, Maritime Jobs News
Policy Shift Aims to Bring More Offshore Wind Sooner, State House News Service (subscriber content)
Solar
A blow to small solar, a win for states and utilities? Regulators, analysts assess FERC’s PURPA rule, Utility Dive
EVs
Utilities must prioritize customer experience to advance role of electric vehicles on the grid: experts, Utility Dive
Inside Clean Energy: How Soon Will An EV Cost the Same as a Gasoline Vehicle? Sooner Than You Think., Inside Climate News
Nuclear
America Wants to Put a Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon, Popular Mechanics
Gas
Town group tracking gas leaks seeks scent of danger, yourArlington.com
Mass. gas ban backers press ahead after state strikes down 1st East Coast bylaw, S&P Global
Market/Grid/Policy/Prices
‘Tidal Wave’ Of Power Shut-Offs Looms As Nation Grapples With Heat, NPR
Why peak electricity usage matters, CommonWealth Magazine
ISO-NE: Minor COVID Impacts on Summer Load, Forecasts, RTO Insider (subscriber content)
Hackers Are Targeting the Remote Workers Who Keep Your Lights On, Bloomberg
US energy use hit 30-year low during pandemic shutdowns, AP News
No easy fix for upgrading power lines to deliver wind and solar power, energy regulator says, Washington Examiner
Maine’s most expensive ballot fight ever unites natural gas companies and environmentalists, Washington Examiner
Mass. in middle of Maine power fight, CommonWealth Magazine
Opinion
Op-ed: A cleaner economy must be a priority as we rebuild Mass., BBJ (Subscriber content)
