Author: USDA Staff Published: 1/31/2022 USDA
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Open Letter To President Barack Obama July 8,2016 | Contact us at 202-246-4924 or info@positivechangepc.com!
Author: USDA Staff Published: 1/31/2022 USDA
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Author: US SETO Staff Published: 1/27/22 SETO
Join the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) for the upcoming webinar, “Heating Up: Advances in Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power,” on February 10 from 3-4 p.m. ET.
SETO leadership will be joined by guest speaker Chiranjeev Kalra, Vice President of Power Generation Engineering at Heliogen, to highlight recent developments in the commercialization of next-generation concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technology. The webinar will also cover the broader scope of CSP research, development, and demonstration work in SETO’s portfolio, which advances DOE goals in renewable power, long duration energy storage, and industrial decarbonization.
The webinar will highlight the latest updates from across SETO, including the recently released Solar Futures Study and the National Community Solar Partnership Annual Summit. You’ll also hear about the many ways to engage with SETO, such as becoming a reviewer and staying in the loop with funding opportunities.
Learn more about SETO’s CSP research area and register now.
The American-Made Challenges: Perovskite Startup Prize is open for another round of Countdown Contest submissions! This two-stage, $3 million prize competition is designed to accelerate the development and manufacturing of perovskite solar cells by moving world-class research out of the lab and into new U.S. companies. Applicants must build teams and form for-profit U.S. companies whose date of incorporation is on or after October 16, 2020. There are still six to eight $200,000 prizes available – apply by April 28.
Author: US EDA Staff Published: 1/27/2022 EDA
Today, EDA announced the eight grant recipients of the STEM Talent Challenge, a national competition that supports programs to train STEM talent to create a robust STEM-capable workforce across the country, and boost U.S. competitiveness on the global stage. [Click here for press release]
The $2 million STEM Talent Challenge funds programs that put Americans across the country on paths to good-paying STEM jobs and careers. The grantees’ programs give industry sectors access to talent in their own communities to fill in-demand jobs, help drive innovation and strengthen regional economies across the nation.
U.S. Assistant Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo participated in an announcement event today at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, Penn.
The eight awardees, selected from a pool of 77 applicants, will leverage an additional $2.5 million in matching funds from a variety of private and public sector sources.
The STEM Talent Challenge grant recipients are:
Grantee: Chicanos Por La Causa (Phoenix, Arizona)
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace
Project Description: The Virtual Reality STEM Workforce Program will provide virtual reality-based career exploration opportunities and trainings necessary to enter critical job sectors, primarily related to semiconductor manufacturing and the aerospace industry.
Grantee: LabCentral (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Sector: Biotechnology
Project Description: The LabCentral Ignite Career Forge program – which seeks to make the biotechnology industry more diverse, equitable and inclusive – will match talent with jobs and internships within LabCentral’s network of startups and industry hiring organizations.
Grantee: Metropolitan Community College (Omaha, Nebraska)
Sector: Information Technology
Project Description: Project OCTEIN will strengthen the STEM talent pipeline for IT businesses with a new workforce model that features recruitment of underrepresented individuals, training and certification, job placement, work-based learning opportunities, and other programs.
Grantee: Purdue Polytechnic Anderson (Anderson, Indiana)
Sector: Manufacturing and Agri-Technology
Project Description: Purdue Polytechnic Anderson will build upon the success of several industry-driven pilot programs and use a community-driven approach known as Strategic Doing to transform to the bachelor’s degree curriculum into micro-credentialing and job placement programs.
Grantee: Rung for Women (St. Louis, Missouri)
Sector: Geospatial Technology
Project Description: The Women in Geospatial Careers program seeks to increase the number of women, especially women of color, in geospatial careers by providing coaching, training, support, and skill development needed to successfully enter geospatial careers.
Grantee: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, Alabama)
Sector: Data Science and Health Technology
Project Description: The Magic City Data Collective will bring together students and data professionals in project teams to conduct real-world data analysis that provides students with critical skills and experience to move into in-demand jobs in the local health technology sector.
Grantee: The Wistar Institute (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Sector: Biotechnology
Project Description: The Quality Science Pathway Apprenticeship will provide a unique pathway into quality science, a field which strives to ensure that products are free of defects, deficiencies, and significant variations, through job training, certification, and apprenticeship.
Grantee: Utah State University (Logan, Utah)
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, and Electric Vehicle Transportation
Project Description: A work-based learning model will meet the talent needs of the advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and electric vehicle transportation industries in Utah through internships, mentorship, and assessments that will reach about 350 engineering students, including 40 percent from traditionally unrepresented groups.
For more information, please visit EDA’s STEM Talent Challenge webpage at https://www.eda.gov/oie/stem/ and follow the hashtag #STEMTalentChallenge on social media.
Author: Staff EDA Published: 2/26/22 EDA
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Author: Joseph W. Kane S Published: 1/26/22 BROOKING
Millions of workers—women and men, unemployed and underemployed, younger students and adult learners—are searching for long-term careers, not just short-term jobs, as the economy emerges from the economic lows of the pandemic. Constructing, operating, and overseeing the country’s infrastructure, especially those skillsets focused on climate upgrades, offer a variety of positions that pay higher wages, require shorter term credentials, and need a new generation of talent. A surge in federal resources, including the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA), offers a generational opportunity to accelerate momentum around these careers, but leaders across the country need to be ready to harness this funding in ways that expand opportunities to the full diversity of our workforce.
On Wednesday, January 26, Brookings Metro and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) will co-host an event to examine how regional and federal stakeholders can leverage the opportunity of the IIJA implementation to address needed talent development in the skilled trades and other climate-related occupations. The event aims to highlight the wide range of careers available and explore how industry leaders need to be involved in ongoing hiring and training efforts. Regional stakeholders, including higher education institutions, workforce development boards, and employers, will all play a critical role in a successful IIJA implementation. Speakers will identify major challenges in implementation, opportunities to test new solutions, and other considerations facing these leaders in the months and years to come.
Viewers can submit questions by emailing events@brookings.edu or tweeting to @BrookingsMetro using the hashtag #ClimateCareers.
Author: Staff US Dep. of Edu. Published: 1/26/2022 WHIHBCU’s
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WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, EXCELLENCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Thank you for subscribing to the U.S. Department of Education, Initiative weekly newsletter. If you have questions about any of the opportunities listed or would like your organizations resources and events included in our next distribution, please email: HBCUnewsletter@ed.gov Upcoming Events!
Exploring Career and Professional Development Opportunities in the Arts, Humanities, Museums, Libraries, and History SectorsFeb 1, 2022 1:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) Host: The Federal HBCU Interagency Working Group on Arts, History, Humanities & Culture. Learn about career/job opportunities in the arts, humanities, history, museum, and library spaces as well as the ways the federal government supports professional development for HBCU faculty and leadership working in these areas. Despite economic hardships faced by the sector during COVID-19, creative and cultural occupations and industries have a history of growth and resilience. During the webinar, participants will hear from young professionals working in these fields and learn about resources for internships, fellowships, and project work that students can engage in right now. Register in advance for this webinar. Closed captioning is available. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Student Opportunities
Employment Opportunities!PGA Works Fellowship Middle Atlantic Section Job Opportunity“The PGA WORKS Fellowship is a program that offers access to individuals from diverse backgrounds—whether by gender, age, race or color, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, religion or Veteran status—into the golf industry to gain experience in all facets of the golf industry.” If this is something that may interest you, please see attached to find out more about how to apply and deadline.
National and Federal Opportunities
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This newsletter contains resources that are provided for the user’s convenience. The inclusion of these materials is not intended to reflect its importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered. These materials may contain the views and recommendations of various subject matter experts as well as hypertext links, contact addresses and websites to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any outside information included in these materials. |
Author: MCGB Staff Published: 1/21/22 MCGB
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Author: US DOE SETO Staff Published: 1.19.22 SETO
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) designed this guide to assist local government officials and stakeholders in boosting solar deployment. The content is based on the Solar Power in Your Community guidebook, updated in 2022, which contains case studies with approaches to reduce market barriers that have been field tested in cities and counties around the country. Many examples are the direct result of SolSmart, a national designation program that recognized municipalities, counties, and regional organizations that are addressing market barriers and making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar.
Solar Power in Your Community serves as a guidebook to assist local government officials and stakeholders in increasing local access to and deployment of solar photovoltaics (PV). This 2022 edition highlights new technologies and strategies to maximize the benefits of solar to all communities. It also emphasizes strategies for improving the equity of solar deployment at the local level. Similar to previous iterations of the guidebook, the 2022 edition offers an in-depth introduction of each topic, case studies of real-world applications, and supplemental resources, including reports, references, tools, and a state and federal policy guide.
Each topic area covered in the 2022 Solar Power in Your Community guidebook highlights real-world applications from a wide range of communities that have successfully implemented the policy, program, or concept. Read some of the highlighted case studies here.
To read more case studies, see the full Solar Power in Your Community guidebook.
See more resources for government officials, all solar energy resources, and solar technical assistance.
Author: NABS Staff published: 12/15/21 NABS
National Association of Blacks in Solar
Webinar
Building A National Team to Apply
For
Build Back Better Regional Challenge
Economic Adjustment Assistance
Statewide Planning, Research and Networks
Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
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U.S. Economic Development Administration sent this bulletin at 12/20/2021 04:14 PM EST
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WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, EXCELLENCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Thank you for subscribing to the U.S. Department of Education, Initiative weekly newsletter. If you have questions about any of the opportunities listed or would like your organizations resources and events included in our next distribution, please email: HBCUnewsletter@ed.gov Upcoming Opportunities!U.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesHRSA Office of Health Equity Booster Messaging Toolkit: We Can Do This HHS expanded and updated its toolkit for community messaging to include new materials you can use to educate your community about who is eligible for a booster.
Student Opportunities, Internships & Employment Opportunities!Analyzing Relationships Between Disability, Rehabilitation & Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant RFA Released for 2022!Get funded for your graduate student research project! Applications for Research Stipends Due: Friday, February 25, 2022. For more information and to apply: https://ardraw.policyresearchinc.org Mission in Motion: HBCU Engagement and CollaborationGovernment, industry, academia, and non-profits share many goals for research collaboration and diverse talent development. Mission in Motion: HBCU Engagement and Collaboration, is a forum that brings together research-minded and partnership leaders from all sectors to strengthen and build intentional, collaborative relationships with HBCUs. Convened by the University Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), Mission in Motion will be held March 28-29, 2022, at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Atlanta and is co-hosted Atlanta University Center Consortium, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College. At this one-of-a kind event, you’ll meet with and learn from your peers in government program leadership, academic and corporate engagement, research administration, and talent development in general sessions and breakouts. Learn more and register.
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Author: Our Energy Policy Staff Published: 1/18/22 OEP
Author: African Green Revolution Staff Published: 9/27/21 AGR
There are several up-and-coming renewable energy organizations, we have listed 5 great start-ups. Africa has an enormous amount of energy power potential. And Africa has the potential to produce tons of renewable energy, however, two out of three Africans lack access to electricity — that’s 621 million people. Brighter Africa also reported that the sub-Saharan Africa area has 13% of the world’s total population and 48% of those without electricity.
Sub-Saharan Africa is currently in an energy crisis. However, technologists and entrepreneurs from Africa are finding solutions to their energy problems. It could lead to a 27 percent reduction in carbon emissions if sub-Saharan Africa promotes renewables. Bloomberg recognized Africa as a leader in renewable energy.
M-Kopa capitalized on Africa’s popularity for mobile phones to start a pay-as-you-go solar revolution. Customers can replace their kerosene lamps with solar lamps and radio/phone charging stations via SMS messaging using mobile money networks in a few months.
The founders of M-Pesa in Kenya, a popular mobile money system that has been a model for others, founded the company. This company provides customers with solar lamps that can also recharge their mobile phone or radio.
M-Kopa customers love the service because it is affordable and simple to use. M-Kopa’s customers also like that it is easy to pay for. M-Pesa is a Kenyan mobile money service that is highly regarded.
Quaint Global, based in Nigeria, is developing 50 megawatts of renewable energy to provide electricity to Kaduna State. The company is currently in collaboration with Tetra Tech, an American company.
Access Infra Africa is a company that specializes in developing, owning, and managing power assets. In June 2020, Access Infra Africa signed a joint agreement with Quaint Global Energy Solutions in order to invest $100 million in the ABIBA Solar Project in Nigeria.
This Nigerian company expands renewable power projects and got a US Trade and Development Agency grant as part of Power Africa, a US government initiative. Quaint Global and Tetra Tech (a California-based energy project developer) are working together on a feasibility study to determine the best path forward for the project. This effort will provide 50 megawatts of clean energy for Kaduna State in Nigeria. It could also generate more than $160million.
This startup is focusing on electric vehicles. Their first cars were electric Jeep Grand Cherokees that were used to drive tourists on safaris. They have since developed an energy storage system that can enhance lithium-ion battery performance. Called FreedomCOR, the design is similar to the Tesla Powerwall.
Freedom Won is a cutting-edge energy storage system that significantly increases operational efficiency and service life at a fraction of the cost of other options.
We have Africa’s unique power needs covered with our superior range of LiTE batteries (LiFePO4-Lithium Iron Phosphate). Freedom Won’s Lithium LiTE batteries are the best choice for those who want to make advancements in renewable energy.
The South African company was established in 2011 to develop Africa’s electric vehicle and clean energy solutions. They developed Freedom1, the first prototype of an electric vehicle. Since then, several others have been built, mainly for safari drives and wildlife tourism.
Freedom Won has created a wall-mounted Tesla Powerwall like system, the FreedomCOR. It uses lithium-ion battery storage to store renewable energy. These modular batteries range in size from 5 to 30 kilowatts for residential use or larger for industrial use and are said to last for up to 13 years.
For some people, the simple act of making a meal can be hazardous. Cooking using dirty fuels or even open pit fires causes accidents that kill four million people every year. African Clean Energy was concerned by this number and created a stovetop that can burn any biomass, consume 70% less energy, and cut costs by half. The ACE 1 Ultra-Clean biomass cookstove can also burn cleanly and is suitable for indoors.
This company estimates that around three billion people cook on open fires and with dangerous, dirty fuels, and accidents resulting from that kill four million people a year. African Clean Energy created the ACE 1 Ultra-Clean Biomass Cookstove to address this problem. It burns biomass cleanly indoors and outdoors. As a result, it cuts fuel consumption by about 70%, saves 50% on costs, and dramatically improves the lives and well-being of children and women who cook the bulk of the food.
The ACE One energy system provides an integrated energy solution to off-grid households in developing countries. It uses both thermal and electrical generation to offer a smokeless, clean cooking experience. In addition, it generates solar-powered electricity that can be used to charge phones and light up the room.
The ACE One hybrid solar-biomass energy system is a combination of solar and biomass. It provides thermal and electrical energy for its users while emitting very little smoke, protecting their health.
The ACE One provides electricity access, allowing users to charge their phones or plug in the LED light accessory, which saves them money and makes the ACE One more affordable.
The ACE One’s efficient burning and ability to burn any dry solid biomass fuel (animal residue, crop residue, small sticks) reduces the demand for unsustainably harvested wood fuel and saves our environment.
The ACE One is being sold now as part of the ACE Connect package, including a second-use Samsung phone with a preinstalled ACE Connect application.
In 2019, we updated the ACE One to include ‘smart’ capabilities, allowing customers to connect it to their smartphones. Remotely, the new ACE One can be turned off remotely, which gives customers greater flexibility in their loan repayments and reducing the loan risk.
Customers can also track their loan repayments using the ACE Connect app. In addition, they can also communicate directly with their customer service team via the app.
A skilled team of maintenance services on the ground is ready to support their customers through any product malfunctions.
Teams of salespeople who travel to communities and demonstrate the ACE One. They can set up loans and contracts on the spot.
Expanding our physical infrastructure of mobile retail shops throughout our markets to give continuous access to clean energy products and services. This project is being co-funded by the European Union.
The ACE team is spread across three continents: the Netherlands, Lesotho, and Uganda, as well as Cambodia.
The Kenya Climate Innovation Center of the World Bank launched a mentorship program for crowdfunding for East African entrepreneurs to provide them financial services and mentorship. iCoal Concept Ltd was one of the selected startups which turns charcoal waste into modern energy. The company takes charcoal waste from the community and turns it into charcoal-based briques that are 35% cheaper than regular charcoal.
Kenyan households use 700 tons of charcoal per day. iCoal now handles the market and produces three tons of SmartCharcoal daily for farmers, hotels, and residential communities.
Innovative recycling is the name of this Kenyan company’s game, and it’s safe to say they’re winning right now
iCoal Concept Ltd. transforms the charcoal from the community into briquettes that can be used for powering homes. Recycled briquettes cost 35% less than regular coal. The company’s efforts will help Kenyans improve their quality of life as well as energy efficiency.
iCoal is a market leader in developing climate change solutions that will help achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The following interventions are part of their mission and goals:
This information is intended to motivate individuals and private sector organizations to act on climate change. This information is shared through various platforms, including periodic newsletters and magazines sent to clients, websites, and social networks.
Author: Stacy M. Brown Published: 1/14/22 WI
President Biden has whiffed in his attempts to persuade holdout Senate Democrats to go around or abolish the filibuster to get voting rights legislation through Congress.
The White House, led by the president, had engaged in a fiery campaign to push bills through that would protect voters against the cavalcade of suppression laws that have passed in Republican-led states in reaction to former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.
Any hopes of getting legislation through were quashed when Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) reiterated their refusal to change Senate rules so that the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act could pass.
The two renegade Democrats pre-empted Biden’s visit to the Capitol in embarrassing fashion. Before he arrived, the duo took to the Senate floor to declare they would not support any changes to the filibuster under any circumstances.
Unless the president and other Democrats miraculously find at least two Republicans to vote favorably for changing the rules and cast ballots in favor of voting rights legislation, the push to blunt suppression through lawmakers will have died.
Biden and administration officials had declared to get the bills passed by any means necessary.
“Like every other major civil rights bill that came along, if we miss the first time, we come back and try it a second time,” Biden offered. “We missed this time.”
In a conciliatory tone, the president described the harm that anti-voting laws may cause.
“And the state legislative bodies continue to change the law not as to who can vote, but who gets to count the vote — count the vote,” Biden asserted.
“It’s about election subversion, not just whether or not people get to vote. Who counts the vote? That’s what this is about. That’s what makes this so different than anything else we’ve ever done.”
He continued:
“I don’t know that we can get it done, but I know one thing: As long as I have a breath in me, as long as I’m in the White House, as long as I’m engaged at all, I’m going to be fighting to change the way these legislatures have moving.”
Author: US DOE Staff Published: 1/13/22 SETO
Video Url Scheduled for Jan 24, 2022
Addressing the climate crisis will require a large, ambitious, and talented team of America’s best and brightest. The Clean Energy Corps is dedicated to fighting climate change through public service and supporting American competitiveness on a global scale. To meet this challenge, DOE is hiring a team of industry veterans, experienced technical experts, and the next generation of climate leaders. We’re looking for individuals who are ready to act at this critical moment, we need YOU.
While not an exhaustive list, DOE is looking for candidates in the following career fields to support the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:
Whether you’ve been working on Clean Energy issues for decades or are just starting out – we want you as part of the Clean Energy Corps. Apply Now!
DOE’s Clean Energy Corps is comprised of the staff from more than a dozen offices across DOE — current staff and new hires — all working together to research, develop, demonstrate, and deploy solutions to the world’s greatest challenge. The Clean Energy Corps is a diverse group of talented individuals committed to public service and with a mission of supercharging the clean energy revolution. This is YOUR opportunity to join us in making that future a reality. Regardless of whether you are new to clean energy, or have been doing this work for years — we want YOU as part of our Clean Energy Corps.
DOE offers YOU the chance to be a part of the clean energy revolution and make a difference in the fight against the climate crisis. Join us!
DOE is collecting resumes for candidates interested in becoming part of the Clean Energy Corps via our Applicant Portal. The Applicant Portal is a streamlined application process which will allow applicants to align their talents with their passion by indicating specific areas of interest and allow hiring managers throughout the agency to review candidate resumes simultaneously to find the best fit for YOU in DOE.
As the largest funder of clean energy technology in the country, DOE has led the way on the innovations that have brought us the wind, solar, and energy efficient technology we know today. Now, with the investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE’s Clean Energy Corps will be able to do even more. With a focus on deploying next generation clean energy technology, the Clean Energy Corps will help America meet its goals of a carbon-free power sector in 2035 and a decarbonized economy in 2050. But we can’t do it without YOU.
The Clean Energy Corps is hiring NOW. We need talented, diverse, kind, and hardworking people like you to join this team.
With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Clean Energy Corps is charged with investing more than $62 billion to deliver a more equitable clean energy future for the American people by:
We are looking for new team members from every community in America who are passionate about solving the climate crisis, are team players, and are willing to give their all to this fight. We know the only way we’ll be able to bring the innovative solutions we need to the massive challenges we face is with a diverse team ready to serve. That starts with YOU.
Staff positions are available across the country and many opportunities offer the ability to work remotely. And, as a Federal employer, we welcome candidates that have served our country in other capacities such as the military and the Peace Corps. Learn more about the Benefits of Working at Energy.
As the nation’s Solutions Department, there is no better institution than the Department of Energy to take on this challenge and help our nation transform our energy system for the 21st century.
Author: Lewis Jennings Published: 1/13/22 NAACP
Lewis Jennings
High energy bills are a persistent monthly burden for everyone, but it weighs especially heavy on disadvantaged communities. Between recent utility rate increases and volatile natural gas prices, the financial drain on already challenged household budgets shows no sign of easing.
To lower costs and take control of their own energy consumption, some members of minority and low- to moderate-income communities have turned to solar power. However, the state’s monopoly utilities are leading an attack on this cost-saving energy option by pushing for unfair changes to the state’s solar net metering policies.
Net metering is a billing system that allows homeowners who have installed solar to send any extra power their panels produce back to the energy grid, in exchange for credits that lower their bills. This fair system benefits both homeowners and utilities by letting homeowners cut down on energy costs and utilities resell the excess power for a profit.
Unfortunately, big utilities are bent on furthering their monopolies and expanding their record-breaking profits even more – all at the expense of consumers. They are pushing the Florida Legislature to essentially do away with net metering and the benefits it brings to homeowners.
They also have a history of using front-line communities and people of color to shield their greedy intentions, going so far as claiming that net metering actually increases these groups’ utility rates.
This simply isn’t the case. Solar homeowners make investments in solar themselves and provide power that adds a net benefit to the energy grid. This reduces costs for everyone, and that’s especially important for disadvantaged customers suffering under skyrocketing energy costs.
Power companies have a history of profiting off low-income and minority communities. They recently pushed for rate increases that will add up to billions of dollars over the next few years, and customers will be socked with the bill. The worst effects will be felt by poor communities, where too many residents already live without consistent access to electricity.
Utilities already left these vulnerable groups in the dark during the COVID-19 pandemic. They shut the lights and air conditioning off on over 500,000 Floridians at the height of the public health and economic crisis. While too many of our neighbors struggled to pay their utility bills, they brought in record earnings in 2020.
Power companies’ attack on home-based solar energy demonstrates their continued insistence that their customers rely on outdated, dangerous sources of energy that put Florida closer to the devastating consequences of climate change. That poses an even greater threat to minorities and disadvantaged communities, as they will experience the first and worst damage from the warming climate.
For the sake of these vulnerable communities, Florida must ensure that important clean energy policies are preserved and advanced. The Legislature should stop this unfair, unwanted attack on net metering and the Florida communities who benefit from it.
Lewis Jennings serves as the Environmental & Climate Justice Chair for the NAACP Florida State Conference.
“The Invading Sea” is the opinion arm of the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a collaborative of news organizations across the state focusing on the threats posed by the warming climate.
Author: Megan Redshaw Published: 1/13/22 CHD
The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate for large businesses, but ruled separately that a mandate for healthcare workers can move forward.
The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected the Biden administration’s mandate requiring employees of large businesses to be vaccinated against COVID or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask indoors while working.
The court’s conservative majority said the administration overstepped its authority by imposing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) vaccine-or-test rule on U.S. businesses with at least 100 employees.
At the same time, the court allowed to move forward a separate rule mandating COVID vaccines for workers in healthcare facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid.
The Supreme Court on Jan. 7 heard oral arguments pertaining to both of the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandates. The focus of the hearing was whether to stay or to grant temporary injunctions requested by plaintiffs in a number of lawsuits challenging the emergency mandates for millions of Americans.
At the time, the rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), was stayed for 24 states that initiated lawsuits, but the OSHA stay was lifted by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Supreme Court’s decision today reversed the lower court rulings, imposing a stay on the OSHA mandate and allowing the CMS rule to proceed.
Today’s rulings came three days after the OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard went into effect, targeting more than 84 million workers and two-thirds of the nation’s private-sector workforce.
The conservative justices wrote in an unsigned opinion:
“OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress. Indeed, although Congress has enacted significant legislation addressing the COVID–19 pandemic, it has declined to enact any measure similar to what OSHA has promulgated here.”
The conservative majority also expressed concerns over the implications of allowing OSHA to implement a widespread mandate without congressional authorization.
“Permitting OSHA to regulate the hazards of daily life — simply because most Americans have jobs and face those same risks while on the clock — would significantly expand OSHA’s regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization,” the opinion stated.
A majority of the Supreme Court’s justices concluded the applicants challenging OSHA’s mandate were likely to succeed in the merits of their claim and the secretary of labor lacked authority to impose the mandate, resulting in a stay while the case works its way through the 6th Circuit Court.
“Administrative agencies are creatures of statute,” the justices wrote. “They accordingly possess only the authority that Congress has provided.”
In a joint dissent of the OSHA ruling, the court’s three liberal justices argued the court was overreaching by substituting its judgment for that of health experts.
“Acting outside of its competence and without legal basis, the Court displaces the judgments of the Government officials given the responsibility to respond to workplace health emergencies,” Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a joint dissent.
The justices contended OSHA’s mandate is comparable to a fire or sanitation regulation imposed by the agency, while the majority said a vaccine mandate is strikingly unlike the workplace regulations that OSHA has typically imposed as a vaccination “cannot be undone at the end of the workday.”
Author: US DOE Staff Published: 10/ 8/ 2021 SETO
2025 Milestone Will Play a Key Role in Achieving Justice40 Goals and Create $1 Billion in Energy Savings
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a new National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) target: to enable community solar systems to power the equivalent of five million households by 2025 and create $1 billion in energy bill savings. Reaching these milestones will help achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035 and ensure that all Americans can reap the benefits of renewable energy while building community wealth and resiliency.
“Community solar is one of the most powerful tools we have to provide affordable solar energy to all American households, regardless of whether they own a home or have a roof suitable for solar panels,” said Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. “Achieving these ambitious targets will lead to meaningful energy cost savings, create jobs in these communities, and make our clean energy transition more equitable.”
There is enough solar installed to power 19 million households across the United States. Despite this unprecedented deployment, many Americans still lack access to affordable solar electricity, including many renters, homeowners who lack affordable financing options, and those without suitable roof conditions. Community solar is a form of energy generation where members subscribe to a portion of a solar array, usually located near their community. As the solar array produces energy, subscribers receive a portion of the revenue from the energy produced, typically as savings on their monthly electric bill — a critical factor for low-income and disadvantaged communities whose energy burden is three times higher than for non-low-income households.
There is enough community solar installed in the U.S. today to power 600,000 households—achieving DOE’s new NSCP target would mean an increase of more than 700% in the next four years. The recently released Solar Futures Study report from DOE and National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows how solar can play a major role in a decarbonized grid.
The NCSP is a DOE initiative led by the Solar Energy Technologies Office, in collaboration with the NREL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The partnership includes a coalition of community solar stakeholders, such as State, local and Tribal governments, solar developers, and community-based organizations, working to expand access to affordable community solar to every American household. Partners leverage peer networks as well as technical assistance funding and resources to overcome the persistent barriers to expanding community solar access with a focus on those in underserved communities. As of September 2021, NCSP had over 650 members from over 440 partner organizations.
The Sharing the Sun report released by NREL in collaboration with NCSP shows that community solar can lead to substantial bill savings—from 5 to 25%. Achieving $1 billion in cost savings would mean that, on average, community solar projects would provide a 20% bill savings. This target, along with other potential solutions for equitable community solar deployment, was informed by NCSP stakeholders in a recent request for information.
To achieve these new targets, DOE is offering free, on-demand technical assistance to NCSP partnership members. Technical assistance provides personalized support to organizations deploying community solar to help them accelerate implementation, improve the performance of their program or project, and build capacity for future community solar development. NCSP has already distributed $1 million for technical assistance and hopes to provide $2 million in the next year.
Author: US DOE Staff Published: 1/13/22 SETO
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is hosting the second National Community Solar Partnership Annual Summit on January 25th, 2022.
This year’s summit theme, ‘To 5 Million and Beyond: Community Solar’s Pathway to Success,’ reflects National Community Solar Partnership’s new target goal to power the equivalent of 5 million households with community solar by 2025, realizing $1 billion in energy bill savings for subscribers. Through stakeholder feedback and market analysis, the Partnership has developed a roadmap to address persistent barriers affecting equitable access to community solar across the country.
At the Annual Summit in January 2022, NCSP and DOE leadership will discuss the plan to reach this new goal – what achieving it will mean for the community solar industry, and why, with the support of our growing community, we are confident we can reach it.
Time | Session Title | Speaker(s) |
11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. | Welcome Address | Principal Deputy Asst. Secretary Kelly Speakes-Backman, U.S. Department of Energy |
11:10 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. | National Community Solar Partnership Target and Modeling Pathway to Success | Moderator: Nicole Steele, U.S. Department of Energy Roundtable Guests: Jenny Heeter, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Dave Feldman, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Ammar Qusaibaty, U.S. Department of Energy |
11:50 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. | Break | |
11:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Keynote Address | TBA |
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | State Engagement Roundtable | TBA |
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m | Lunch Break | |
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Access to Financing Roundtable | Moderator: Jahi Wise, Senior Advisor for Climate Policy and Finance, White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy Roundtable Guests: Eric Hangen, University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy; Michelle Moore, Groundswell; Victor Rojas, Sustainable Capital Advisors |
2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Technical Expertise and Capacity Building Roundtable | Roundtable Guests: Ajulo E. Otho, Esq., Enerwealth Solutions; Sandy Fazeli, National Association of State Energy Officials; Travis Neal, Orcas Power and Light Cooperative; Lauren Westmoreland, Stewards for Affordable Housing |
3:00p.m. – 3:05 p.m. | Break | |
3:05p.m. – 3:50 p.m. | Messaging and Recognition Roundtable | Moderator: Katherine Hamilton, Chair, 38 North Solutions Roundtable Guests: Zaid Ashai, Nexamp; Kiran Bhatraju, Arcadia; Julia Hamm, Smart Electric Power Alliance; Kristal Hansley, WeSolar |
3:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Partner Commitments and Next Steps | Nicole Steele, U.S. Department of Energy |
For regular event updates and access to exclusive National Community Solar Partnership resources and opportunities, register to join the Partnership today. Membership in the National Community Solar Partnership is free and open to any community solar stakeholder located or doing business in the U.S.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to communitysolar@ee.doe.gov for more information.
Author: Aspen Hill Staff Published: 1/13/2021 Aspen Institute
The passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) provides new and expanded opportunities for rural America, and more federal legislation is forthcoming. On this webpage, Aspen CSG is collecting links and resources explaining federal opportunities for rural people and places. We are trying to be as rural-specific as possible with these resources, but some collect rural information alongside urban and suburban-relevant information. The understanding of how this bill will affect rural America is evolving, so check back regularly for more information.
Learn about RPP: Within the Congressional budget reconciliation package – which is in active negotiation right now – a proposed Rural Partnership Program (RPP) would make flexible funding available across the country to regional and local collaboratives. RPP represents a new approach for how federal resources can support rural America.
Events | Federal Resources | Tools | News and Analysis
January 18-20: USDA ReConnect Application Workshop on applying for ReConnect funds. Register here.
January 25: National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call, hosted by the EPA. Participation in the call will be on a first-come first-serve basis – register here.
January 26-27: White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council Public Meeting. Register here and learn more about WHEJAC here.
February 6-9: 2022 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference. Learn more and register here.
February 8-10: USDA ReConnect Application Workshop on applying for ReConnect funds. Register here.
February 17-18: Save the Date for Bridges: Building Resilience: Regional Readiness for Investment & Growth in the South conference. Hosted by the Southern Crescent Regional Commission Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Register here.
April 4-7: Appalachian Regional Commission Outdoor Economy Conference. Get tickets here.
May 20 – 21: Save the Date for the Regards to Rural Conference. Hosted by Rural Development Initiatives.
Find past workshop recordings at the USDA Rural Development YouTube Channel.
NEW: White House Build Back Better Rural Fact Sheet: How the Build Back Better Framework Helps Rural Communities.
NEW: IRS has created a series of helpful videos that explain how the Child Tax Credit works and what steps people should take to receive advance CTC payments. Learn about the Child Tax Credit.
USDA Office of National Drug Control Policy Federal Resources for Rural Communities to Help Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse. Community Toolbox document gathers dozens of federal resources in one place. See the Toolbox.
USDA ERS state fact sheets and county-level data sets were recently updated with the decennial census population data for 2020. View state fact sheets. View county data.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can help renters and landlords pay rent, cover utilities, and make up for a loss in rental income. Find your local program and housing assistance here.
White House Fact Sheet on what steps the Biden administration is taking through the ARP to improve the health of rural communities. Read it here.
US Senate has released a title by title summary of ARP spending, based on the Act passed by the Senate on March 3. Title by Title Summary.
USDA Fact sheet on ARP. FACT SHEET: United States Department of Agriculture Provisions in H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan
US Treasury Breakdown of ARP Assistance to Families FACT SHEET: The American Rescue Plan Will Deliver Immediate Economic Relief to Families | US Department of the Treasury
For each resource, if there is rural-specific information, we note it in red.
AGree’s Climate, Food, and Ag Dialogue (CFAD) has released policy recommendations through which the USDA can encourage adoption of agricultural conservation practices and promote resiliency. CFAD’s Policy Recommendations
Center of Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) provides an analysis of ARP looking specifically at Food Systems. Food Assistance in American Rescue Plan Act Will Reduce Hardship, Provide Economic Stimulus
AG Web Editorial: Agricultural and Rural Provisions of the American Rescue Plan of 2021
Brookings analysis on what the Senate did and did not do in their $1 trillion Infrastructure Bill’s to expand broadband access. The Senate infrastructure bill’s four interconnected broadband components
American Library Association brief on broadband opportunities within the ARP. Includes rural specific information. Broadband Funding Opportunities in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Robert Bocher
Daily Yonder analysis of Biden’s budget proposal for rural and its relation to previous legislation (ARP). Biden’s First Budget Proposal Recognizes Some Rural Needs
CLASP brief provides state agencies with recommendations for how they can use ARP child care relief funds to best meet the needs of immigrant families and providers. Supporting Immigrant Providers and Families
Through Child Care Relief Funds
Fact-sheet on using ARP dollars for child care centers. How States Can Improve Child Care Facilities & Physical Spaces Using Federal Relief Dollars
Daily Yonder What the American Rescue Plan Means for Child Poverty in Rural America
Broadband USA’s Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program has released multiple webinars and resources explaining their grant opportunities. Watch the webinars here.
Partners for Rural Transformation policy brief shows how Congress’s system to disburse federal housing & community development funds is unfair: Equity in Federal Housing and Community Development Funding: A Proposal for a National Floor
LISC Federal Policy + Community Development: Experts Look at Ways to Fuel a Transformative Recovery
National Community Action Partnership: A fact-sheet produced by NCAP on benefits from ARP. New American Rescue Plan Benefits for Families
Inside Higher Education: Editorial on funding for colleges as part of the American Rescue plan.
The Education Trust provides analysis of ARP’s impact on education issues specifically looking at issues of equity. Not rural specific in program analysis. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – What’s in It for Equity
Brookings report on ARP specifically looking at education. No specific rural breakout. Building back better: The promise of the American Rescue Plan for education
PolicyLink 10 Priorities for Advancing Racial Equity Through the American Rescue Plan: A Guide for City and County Policymakers
Brookings report focusing on issues of structural racism and how the ARP may address them. Connects to rural areas by funding program analysis. Will the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan address structural inequality?
Civil Eats Editorial Op-ed: $4 Billion in Debt Relief Is a Start, but the Fight is Not Over for Black Farmers
Nonprofit Quarterly article by Andrew Crosson: Countering Rural Disinvestment: Appalachia’s Ecosystem-Based Approach
The Center for Sustainable Infrastructure and CleanTech Alliance spoke with supply chain innovators about tackling not only pollution from their direct operations but from the bigger, broader challenge of their global supply chains. Watch the recording here: Cleaning the Chain Workshop.
World Resources Institute Report on the Economic Benefits of the New Climate Economy in Rural America. Read it here.
Western Governor’s Association Chair and Idaho Governor Brad Little launched WGA’s Working Lands, Working Communities Initiative. Watch the Launch Webinar.
California Coalition for Rural Housing has put together a Practitioner’s Guidebook on Affordable Housing and Natural Disasters.
National Community Action Partnership breakdown of new ARP benefits for families. New American Rescue Plan Benefits for Families.
National League of Cities has published great resources explaining the key details of the ARP. About ARPA. | Top FAQs regarding ARPA. | Local allocations by Metro City.
US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs testimony by Lisa Mensah on how CDFIs can collaborate with the federal government to fund public infrastructure and rural and tribal housing. Testimony of Lisa Mensah
Brookings report discusses the importance of creating a national rural strategy and intentionally designing federal legislative actions to meet the unique needs of rural communities. Will Biden deliver for rural America? The promise of the American Rescue Plan
National Council of Nonprofits analysis of ARP and its impact on nonprofit organizations and they people nonprofits serve. More of a General Resource. The American Rescue Plan Act | National Council of Nonprofits
KTTC Secretary of Agriculture breaks down the American Rescue Plan for rural communities
Vermont Biz: Matt Dunne: What does the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 mean for rural America?
Daily Yonder Editorial Commentary: Biden’s American Rescue Plan Keeps Promise to Rural America
National League of Cities has created an extensive, searchable summary of provisions relevant to municipalities and local leaders in this historic legislation. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Summary of Provisions. They have also created a searchable list of estimated appropriations by municipality. Estimated Local Allocations.
National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) breakdown of ARP funding for state and local governments. Breaks out funding by issue area but not by rural separately. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ncsl.org)
Brookings report focusing on how local leaders should use their ARP funding utilizing the goals of stability, immediate impact, inclusivity, future prosperity, how ARP can complement efforts already underway and how to organize through Regional Recovery Councils. How should local leaders use their American Rescue Plan funding?
Center for American Progress provides summaries of ARP and specific state breakdowns for: New Hampshire, Nevada, Maine, Georgia, Arizona, Iowa, West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Also provides analysis around issue areas and for state and local governments. American Rescue Plan
NACO American Rescue Plan Helps America’s Rural Counties
Rural Assembly has put together a collection of COVID-19 vaccine resources for rural communities. Find the resources here.
American Hospital Association (AHA) analysis of the ARP. Includes specific information on rural hospitals and health care related to COVID pandemic. Summary of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Provisions Affecting Hospitals and Health Systems | AHA
National Law Review provides analysis on healthcare provisions in ARP, including for rural America. Healthcare Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Indian Country Today breakdown of the different funding streams that Indian Country could access through the ARP. Tribal leaders, experts talk American Rescue Plan’s impact
Indian Country Today website has a breakdown of ARP programs for Tribal and Native Nations perspectives. Chair Grijalva hails passage of American Recovery Plan
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) analysis of EITC and Child Tax Credit for rural America. Rescue Plan’s Expansions of Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit Will Benefit Rural Residents.