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Author:  WHCEQ  Staff    Published: 2/2/2024    White House Council on Environmental Quality 

Since Day One, President Biden has led and delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history, which is lowering energy costs for hardworking Americans, creating millions of good-paying jobs, safeguarding the health of our communities, and ensuring America leads the clean energy future. Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a temporary pause on approvals of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports. Read President Biden’s statement on the decision.

Also last week, the United States Postal Service (USPS), alongside White House officials, unveiled its first set of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC). Charging stations like these will be installed at hundreds of new S&DCs across the country throughout the year and will power what will be the nation’s largest EV fleet.

(L to R) Leslie Johnson-Frick, USPS S&DC Launch Team Executive Director; Louis DeJoy, USPS Post Master General and CEO; Andrew Mayock, CEQ Chief Sustainability Officer; Brenda Mallory, CEQ Chair; and John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation visit new EV charging stations at the U.S. Postal Service’s South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center.

The Biden-Harris Administration also announced:

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UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS

February 14 and 15, 2024: Voyage to Justice: Equity & Climate Justice Forum: Join the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) inaugural Voyage to Justice: Equity & Climate Justice Forum from 8:30am – 4:30pm ET. During this free two-day in-person event, federal agencies, local governments, community stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and others will convene to exchange ideas and approaches through interactive discussions on advancing climate and environmental justice. Learn more and register here.

February 16, 2024: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Roadshow: EPA’s second roadshow event is scheduled for February 16 in San Bernardino, CA from 5:30 to 8:30 PM PT. This event provides opportunities for community leaders and potential grant applicants to hear about significant Investing in America funding opportunities and technical assistance, develop or deepen new community-based partnerships, and brainstorm how to confront the climate crisis and advance environmental justice in your community.

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT

Federal agencies are seeking public input to help inform the development of funding opportunities, grant processes, policy and program implementation. Below is a list of open Requests for Information and Public Comment.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Request for Information Regarding Department of Homeland Security Activities and Advancing Environmental Justice

White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ): Request for Information on the Environmental Justice Scorecard

Department of Energy: Request for Information: Supporting Successful Solar Plus Storage Deployment Serving Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities

  • Summary: On January 23, 2024, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on supporting successful solar plus storage deployment serving low-income and disadvantaged communities. SETO requests feedback from industry, state, territory, Tribal, local government agencies, utilities, nonprofit organizations, solar developers and installers, solar industry organizations, subscriber management organizations, community-based organizations, financial institutions, philanthropic organizations, academia, research laboratories, advocacy organizations, community action agencies, consumer protection organizations, environmental justice organizations, community members, and other stakeholders. Feedback should be related to successfully deploying distributed solar and related technologies through industry, government, and utility-led programs designed to serve low-income and disadvantaged communities.
  • Deadline: Electronic submission to EquitableSolar@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (ET) February 23, 2024
  • Link: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/request-information-supporting-successful-solar-plus-storage-deployment-serving-low

RESOURCE HUB

  • Justice40 Covered Programs List: List of federal programs working to advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
  • Invest.gov: Interactive map showing the historic public and private sector investments President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is bringing to states and territories across America.
  • Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act Technical Assistance Guide: New guide (September 2023) highlighting programs that help communities navigate the more than 100 Federal technical assistance programs that can help communities deliver infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience projects.
  • Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook: This guidebook provides an overview of the clean energy, climate mitigation and resilience, agriculture, and conservation-related tax incentives and investment programs in President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Inflation Reduction Act Tribal Guidebook: Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Energy and Climate Investments in Indian Country, which provides descriptions of the law’s tax incentives and funding programs for which Tribes are eligible.
  • Direct Pay Through the Inflation Reduction Act: Find resources on the Inflation Reduction Act’s “elective pay” (often called “direct pay”) provisions, through which tax-exempt and governmental entities can take advantage of tax credits for building clean energy projects.
  • Tribal Access to Capital Clearinghouse: A website that provides a searchable database of federal funding opportunities, including grants and loans, available to Tribal Nations and Native businesses.
  • Grants.gov: Learn about current federal grant opportunities.
  • Cleanenergy.gov: A one-stop shop for information on President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and how the Inflation Reduction Act helps lower energy costs for consumers and small businesses while creating good-paying jobs as America’s clean energy economy and manufacturing sectors grow.
  • DOE Interactive Map: Interactive tool showcasing where clean energy investments are occurring across the United States thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
  • Energy Savings Hub | Department of Energy: Access resources made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which will help lower your energy costs and make your home safer and more comfortable while helping the planet.
  • Environmental Justice Scorecard:
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development Funding Navigator: Find hundreds of available Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other programs across a range of federal agencies in these categories: Energy Efficiency and Renewables, Utility Scale Energy, Resiliency, Lead and Healthy Housing, Brownfield and Waste Management, Transportation, Broadband, Workforce Development and Environmental Justice.
  • Department of Transportation Navigator: Explore federal funding opportunities that help plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services.

NEWS CLIPS OF THE WEEK

AP News: Biden delays consideration of new natural gas export terminals, citing climate risk

Reuters: Biden administration announces $207 million for fertilizer, rural clean-energy projects

Bloomberg: More Than 1,000 New EV Stations Have Come Online in the US Since Summer

Tech Times: US Postal Service Launches EV Charging Stations, Sets Sights on Largest Electric Fleet

WBAL TV: Baltimore City Public Schools unveils fleet of 25 new electric school buses

Religion News Service: Agriculture Department, Church of God in Christ make plans for funds to add trees to urban centers

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP)

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration took another step forward in tackling the climate crisis.

We announced a temporary pause on pending decisions of Liquefied Natural Gas exports. This gives us the opportunity to assess the impacts of these exports on energy costs, America’s energy security, and our environment.

@POTUS and I are delivering on the most ambitious climate agenda in history.

Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm (@SecGranholm)

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has spurred a new industrial revolution in clean energy, driving billions in announced private investments back to our shores. http://Energy.gov/invest maps the latest announcements—including nuclear and heat pump manufacturing.

Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory (@BrendaMallory46)

From restoring wetlands and building new parks to reconnecting wildlife habitat and protecting more than 26 million acres of lands and waters, @POTUS’ conservation efforts are accelerating across the country to the benefit of families and communities. https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2024/01/26/historic-conservation-progress-the-2023-america-the-beautiful-report/

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