“The ultimate goal is tackling climate change and energy burden through an equity lens, putting people who are the most impacted by climate change at the forefront of environmental solutions,” said said Twiggy Hamilton, a graduate of the City Colleges of Chicago’s solar job training program. “I’m looking forward to see the direction we go, in Illinois and around the country.”
CLEAN ENERGY
Must Be Equitable
As coal wanes, workers find a future in clean energy jobs. Despite long-standing cultural identification with the coal economy, some former mine workers in Illinois are beginning to transition to clean energy jobs such as rooftop solar installations. State policies like the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the 2017 Future Energy Jobs Act have prioritized a just transition for these workers and efforts to boost the clean energy economy. The shift is also happening among members of communities, historically black and immigrant communities, most harmed by the fossil fuel industry. (In These Times)
CLEAN ENERGY
Is A Good Investment
U.S. to cut costs for clean energy on public lands. In an effort to boost buildout and meet national decarbonization targets, the Biden administration announced it aims to significantly reduce the cost of building wind and solar farms on federal lands. Rents and fees for clean energy projects could fall by roughly half, according to the Department of Interior. The administration is also creating five coordination offices across the country to increase the number of people on staff to process renewable energy environmental reviews and permit applications and has ordered more cross-agency coordination. Altogether, the Interior hopes to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy on federal lands by 2025 — enough to power about 4.75 million homes. (Reuters)
CLEAN ENERGY
Has Many Benefits
Gas prices highlight the need to accelerate clean energy. Amid record high gas prices across the country, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently underscored the importance of transitioning to a clean energy economy that will insulate consumers from the pressures of volatile international markets. Speaking at a launch event for a new $38 million investment effort to decarbonize some of the Energy Department’s national labs, Secretary Granholm also pushed for clean energy tax credits to accelerate the buildout of clean energy capacity and domestic supply chains. (The Hill)
CLEAN ENERGY
Is Replacing Fossil Fuels
U.S. proposes first ever California offshore wind leases. The Biden administration is opening the Golden State’s coastline for offshore wind leases with two projects expected to generate up to 4.5 gigawatts of clean energy — enough to power 1.5 million homes. The federal government is currently taking comment about the terms of the leases, which would require engagement with local tribes, fisheries, and ocean users as well as labor agreements for construction. The leases would help the administration reach its goal of developing 30 gigawatts of U.S. offshore wind energy by 2030. (Associated Press)
High energy costs push Puerto Rico & Hawaii to solar power. In Hawaii, a state hugely dependent on energy imports, home-grown energy is taking off with the widespread adoption of residential solar panels. The volatility of international markets raising the price of oil has further boosted solar adoption. Nearly one-third of single-family homes in Hawaii now sport rooftop solar panels, and the state’s efforts hold important lessons for other states and countries looking to adopt clean energy, writes the New York Times. Off the Atlantic coast, Puerto Rico has also seen a boom in solar power as the island struggles with high energy costs and frequent blackouts. While solar energy currently represents a small portion of the island’s energy mix, Puerto Ricans increasingly view build-out as a priority to reduce costs and improve energy resilience, Bloomberg reports. (New York Times $, Bloomberg $)
CLEAN ENERGY
Is Challenging
U.S. lithium production has a challenging road ahead. With the electric vehicle market booming, securing a domestic supply of key battery minerals like lithium has become a priority for U.S. policymakers and automakers alike. But efforts to open a new lithium mine in North Carolina illustrate the challenges of building out mineral supply chains, including opposition from local communities highlighting water contamination and other quality-of-life concerns. While federal representatives have discussed rehauling the nation’s mining laws to boost domestic mining capacity, environmental advocates have argued to focus on recycling efforts instead of new mining. (Financial Times $)
