biden
Newsletter
Credit: Asia Chang/Unsplash
Biden administration invests $4.3 billion in local climate initiatives
The Biden administration has announced $4.3 billion in funding for community climate projects, aiming to enhance local sustainability efforts and reduce emissions.
In short:
- The Environmental Protection Agency is distributing $4.3 billion to 25 recipients in 30 states for climate action projects.
- Projects include forest management, energy efficiency, and developing local climate action plans.
- The funding is part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to cut carbon emissions significantly by 2050.
Key quote:
“The grants put local governments in the driver’s seat to develop climate solutions that work for their communities.”
— John Podesta, president’s senior adviser for international climate policy
Why this matters:
This funding will help communities transition to cleaner energy, potentially reducing carbon emissions equivalent to the energy use of millions of homes. It also supports job creation and sustainable development, setting a precedent for future climate initiatives.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Michael Fousert/Unsplash
Automakers and oil industry face off over electric vehicles
The battle between the auto and oil industries intensifies as the Biden administration pushes for cleaner vehicle standards, with automakers leaning toward electric vehicles while the oil industry resists change.
In short:
- The Biden administration's drive for cleaner vehicles has created a rift between automakers, who are investing in electric vehicles, and the oil industry, which fears losing its gasoline market.
- Former President Donald Trump supports the oil industry's stance, pledging to roll back EV-friendly policies in exchange for campaign contributions.
- Environmental groups and some automakers support the transition to EVs, while the oil industry mounts a significant campaign against it, claiming it limits consumer choice.
Key quote:
“They want to stop you from having cars.”
— Former President Donald Trump
Why this matters:
The outcome of this battle will significantly impact the U.S. strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A shift to electric vehicles could drastically cut fossil fuel consumption, but the transition faces strong opposition from powerful oil interests.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Shane Rounce/Unsplash
Trump blames Biden for high electricity prices to gain political edge
Former President Donald Trump criticizes President Joe Biden for rising electricity costs, leveraging it as a campaign issue.
In short:
- Trump vows to reduce energy prices and blames Democrats for the current high costs.
- Republicans criticize Biden’s climate policies, linking them to a 20% rise in electricity prices since 2020.
- Experts say short-term electricity prices are more influenced by state regulators and natural gas prices than federal policies.
Key quote:
“They could say we’re just going all in on fossil fuels and to hell with the carbon emissions. That would probably have some effect but relatively small.”
— Severin Borenstein, professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley
Why this matters:
Electricity prices are becoming a significant political issue, with Republicans using them to attack Democratic climate policies. As energy costs rise, voters may become more concerned about the economic impact of these policies.
Be sure to read EHN’s piece:
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: Retina Creative/Pixabay
Biden administration considers new oil drilling limits in Alaska
The Biden administration is evaluating further restrictions on oil drilling in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, potentially designating more areas off-limits to development.
In short:
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will seek public input on expanding “special areas” in the 23-million-acre reserve, which could restrict new oil exploration.
- The move follows the approval of the controversial Willow oil project, which could add up to 199 new wells in the reserve.
- The evaluation will involve consulting with Indigenous tribes and communities reliant on the reserve's resources for subsistence.
Key quote:
“We have a responsibility to manage the western Arctic in a way that honors the more than 40 Indigenous communities that continue to rely on the resources from the Reserve for subsistence.”
— Tracy Stone-Manning, BLM Director
Why this matters:
Increased restrictions on drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska could significantly impact oil production and the local economy, while aiming to protect vital ecosystems and Indigenous ways of life amid rapid climate change.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Fahroni/Big Stock Photo
Top Mississippi Republicans support new EV battery plant despite Trump’s criticism
Mississippi’s leading Republicans celebrated the groundbreaking of a $1.9 billion electric vehicle battery plant, creating 2,000 high-paying jobs, while former President Trump criticized such green jobs as benefiting China.
In short:
- Gov. Tate Reeves and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith celebrated the new electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall County.
- The plant, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, contradicts Trump's stance against green jobs.
- Hyde-Smith opposed the Act but supports the plant, which receives $350 million in state incentives.
Key quote:
"Today we broke ground on a project of record proportions — the single largest payroll commitment in Mississippi’s entire history, and the third largest economic development project in Mississippi’s entire history."
— Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi
Why this matters:
This plant represents a significant economic boost for Mississippi, highlighting the complex political landscape where local benefits clash with national partisan positions. Former President Donald Trump criticized the move, arguing that such green jobs ultimately benefit China, given the global supply chain for key materials.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: Marek Okon/Unsplash
Biden's ocean conservation plan excludes some Indigenous voices
President Biden's plan to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument overlooks the perspectives of Micronesians and Samoans, according to a new study.
In short:
- Biden's proposal aims to expand protected waters to 770,000 square miles and designate it as a national marine sanctuary, creating the largest non-contiguous protected ocean area in the world.
- While the administration has talked extensively with Native Hawaiians, Indigenous Pacific Islanders, particularly Micronesians and Samoans, feel excluded from decision-making processes and economic benefits, a new paper reveals.
- Authors Villagomez and Steven Mana’oakamai Johnson argue for inclusive policies and funding to support affected territories.
Key quote:
"The proposal is problematic because it has failed to meaningfully include the Indigenous people who live closest to the region and who have the strongest historical and cultural ties to the islands."
— Angelo Villagomez, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and Steven Mana’oakamai Johnson, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University.
Why this matters:
The expansion of this marine protected area could have significant environmental benefits, such as preserving biodiversity, protecting endangered species and mitigating climate change impacts. In the context of accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss, protecting such vast ocean spaces is crucial. However, for generations, Micronesians and Samoans have sustainably managed these waters, relying on a profound understanding of local ecosystems passed down through centuries. Excluding their input not only risks cultural erasure but also overlooks practical conservation insights rooted in lived experience.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel/Unsplash
Biden's green job policy faces mixed reactions in Georgia
President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has led to a $2.5 billion investment by Qcells in Dalton, Georgia, aimed at creating 2,500 solar manufacturing jobs, but it hasn't increased his local support.
In short:
- The Korean company Qcells is expanding its solar panel factory in Dalton, Georgia, bringing 2,500 new jobs to the area within a year.
- The investment has been possible thanks to the tax cuts included in Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which provides significant incentives for clean energy projects.
- According to industry representatives, the IRA has resulted in more investment in the past two years in solar and clean energy manufacturing than the previous 20 years.
- Despite the economic benefits, local sentiment remains skeptical, with some residents and businesses resenting the foreign investment.
Key quote:
“The business community resents the fact that we have a company from South Korea coming in this area with government subsidies, while they themselves get nothing from the government.”
— Jan Pourquoi, spokesperson for the local Whitfield County Democratic Party.
Why this matters:
For many in Dalton, the promise of new jobs is tempered by uncertainty about the longevity and stability of the solar industry. In addition, President Biden's broader policies, though beneficial in terms of economic incentives and environmental impact, face resistance from a population that may not see immediate benefits in their daily lives.
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
