UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivers a video speech at the high-level meeting of the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland on Feb. 22, 2021. Xinhua / Zhang Cheng via Getty Images
By Anke Rasper
"Today's interim report from the UNFCCC is a red alert for our planet," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The report, released Friday, looks at the national climate efforts of 75 states that have already submitted their updated "nationally determined contributions," or NDCs. The countries included in the report are responsible for about 30% of the world's global greenhouse gas emissions.
<p>While most have increased their individual climate efforts, only two of the worst emitters, including the UK and the EU, have stepped up their goals considerably. And the member states' plans to tackle the climate crisis "are very far from putting us on a pathway that will meet our Paris Agreement goals," said Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of UN Climate Change.</p><p>The individual contributions submitted to date would only cut about 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions — a far cry from the 45% cut needed by 2030 <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/5-years-paris-climate-agreement/a-55901139" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">to meet the 1.5 degree goal</a>, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).</p>
<p>In 2015, 195 countries and the European Union had agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global heating way below an increase of 2 degrees Celsius.</p><p>UN Chief Guterres urged major emitters to "step up with much more ambitious emissions reductions targets for 2030" well before the next UN Climate Conference, slated for Glasgow in November.</p><p>The interim report also stressed that poor countries were banking on the funds pledged under the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement">Paris agreement</a> to protect forests and other ecosystems, to carry out climate measures.</p>
<h3>Nations Need to Improve Their Targets</h3><p>The UN's interim report, which looked at the NDCs available as of December, provides a snapshot ahead of the COP 26 climate conference in November. The remaining 122 signatory countries have yet to define their updated contributions, including the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases: China and the U.S.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY5NDY4OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NzY3MzAwMX0._APDeJRj_0shkCdStFOXTznO4aSVqXu164gPawaa7lc/img.png?width=980" id="3f289" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a445f108a4e6d0264c1d0037a2a5139b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1920" data-height="2594" />
<p>The Paris agreement is a voluntary process and leaves it up to national governments to decide how they want to achieve their self-imposed targets. There is no provision for sanctions or punitive mechanisms against countries that fail to meet their climate targets.<span></span><br></p>
<h3>Will the U.S. Take the Lead on Climate Change?</h3><p>Many hope that the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/2021-climate-policy-biden-pledges/a-56437561" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. rejoining the Paris agreement</a> will provide a much-needed boost to international climate ambitions. U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry has already announced that the U.S. will present "very aggressive, strong NDCs" ahead of the special climate summit in Washington on April 22.</p><p>The U.S. under the Biden administration also wants to expand its climate diplomacy to include China in particular, currently the largest emitter. <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/can-china-meet-its-ambitious-decarbonization-goals/a-56644449" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">China has already announced plans</a> to increase its national targets this year.</p><p>Other major emitters, such as Russia and Brazil, have so far shown little ambition to commit to more. Former head of the UN Climate Secretariat, Christiana Figueres, was optimistic nonetheless that "many large emitters such as the U.S., China, Japan and others" would submit ambitious plans, because it was "in their own competitive interests to reach 50% emissions reductions by 2030."</p><p>Together with Canada, the U.S. is also considering slapping higher import duties on countries that are not doing enough to save the climate. However, it is unclear whether such sanctions are compatible with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).</p>
<h3>Climate Change Existential Threat to Humanity</h3><p>UN Climate Change Chief Patricia Espinosa pointed out that the last 10 years had been the hottest decade in human history. The record rise in temperatures, for example in the Arctic winter and northern Siberia, and <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/why-does-global-warming-cause-icy-conditions/a-16196445" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dramatic winter weather</a> slamming the traditionally mild southern U.S., were being amplified by the now measurably slowing Gulf Stream in the Atlantic — something that could be irreversible.</p><p>"It's time for all remaining Parties to step up, fulfill what they promised to do under the Paris Agreement and submit their NDCs as soon as possible," Espinosa said, adding "if this task was urgent before, it's crucial now."</p><p>And with the world focused largely on the coronavirus crisis, Espinosa stressed that any economic measures to offset the pandemic needed to take the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a> into account.</p><p>According to Espinosa, this is precisely why it is so important to tackle the global crises — such as COVID-19, the climate crisis, and the dramatic loss of biodiversity — as a whole.</p><p>"As we rebuild, we cannot revert to the old normal. The NDCs must reflect this reality and major emitters, especially G20 nations, must lead the way," she said.</p><p>The expanded final report, which will include all national climate contributions, will be released shortly before the UN climate conference in November. COP 26 President Alok Sharma urged all member states to "recognize that the window for action to safeguard our planet is closing fast." </p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/un-red-alert-for-national-climate-goals/a-56713215" target="_blank">DW</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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A bridge over the Delaware river connects New Hope, Pennsylvania with Lambertville, New Jersey. Richard T. Nowitz / Getty Images
In a historic move, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) voted Thursday to ban hydraulic fracking in the region. The ban was supported by all four basin states — New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York — putting a permanent end to hydraulic fracking for natural gas along the 13,539-square-mile basin, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
<p>The vote affirms a 2010 moratorium by the DRBC, an agency that manages the water. Pressured by environmental groups, commissioners used their authority to safeguard public and environmental health and limit future pollution, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.</p><p>"Today's decision is a historic watershed moment and one that will significantly contribute to a clean energy future," Patrick Grenter, associate director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2021/02/fracking-outlawed-delaware-river-basin-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said in a statement</a>. "Fracking threatens the health of our people, water, climate, and communities and we're relieved to see it outlawed in the Delaware River Basin."</p><p>Fracking for natural gas involves blasting high volumes of pressurized water and chemicals into rock formations. This has led to contaminated water wells, while wastewater spills have transmitted radioactive materials into surface and groundwater, <a href="https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2021/02/25/delaware-river-basin-commission-votes-to-ban-fracking-in-the-watershed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">StateImpact Pennsylvania reported</a>. These pollutants and chemicals are linked to cancers and other health issues in humans and wildlife, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/marisa-guerrero/fracking-banned-delaware-river-basin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NRDC reported</a>. </p><p>If fracking were to be allowed in the Delaware River Basin, these same impacts could affect the 17 million people that rely on the basin for drinking water, putting 45,000 people who live within a mile of the planned fracking well locations at high risk for those health problems, the NRDC added. The basin is also a critical habitat for one of the most important fisheries in the country, home to diverse species such as native trout, American eels and bald eagles.</p>
<p>The debate on fracking in the region began over a decade ago. During Pennsylvania's natural gas boom, commissioners expressed concern over the high quantity of basin water required to support it, StateImpact Pennsylvania found.</p>
<p>In response, the DRBC imposed a fracking moratorium in 2010, but never finalized drilling regulations, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Supporters of basin drilling argued that the commission did not have the authority to regulate drilling, StateImpact Pennsylvania noted. </p><p>Despite yesterday's vote, the ban still faces opposition. </p><p>Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr said that the votes by New York, New Jersey and Delaware did not have Pennsylvania's "best interests in mind," StateImpact Pennsylvania reported. </p>
<p>"There is no support to any claim that drilling results in widespread impacts to drinking water, rivers or groundwater," <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fracking-ban-vote-delaware-river-16dbb425b97cff0fb6f10186b0a2bae8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Barr told AP</a>. "This was a political decision uninformed by science."</p>
<p>Last month, State Sens. Gene Yaw (R., Lycoming) and Lisa Baker (R., Luzerne) and the Pennsylvania Republican Caucus said the moratorium, now a ban, "amounts to an illegal taking of property from Pennsylvania owners of mineral rights and from taxing authorities," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.</p>
<p>While Thursday's fracking ban could be seen as a promising sign for reducing fossil fuel reliance, the Biden team will face challenges addressing the climate crisis without also slashing jobs in an industry that accounts for a significant amount of U.S. employment. </p>
<p>For the time being, environmental groups are celebrating a rare climate victory. </p><p>"Banning fracking in the Delaware River Basin is an historic event," the NRDC added, crediting years of hard-fought advocacy by environmental groups and activists alike. "It marks a commitment to protecting human and environmental health — not just for those who depend on the Delaware River, but for an entire planet threatened by climate change."</p>
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Residential solar energy companies are helping more and more homeowners upgrade their properties to clean energy sources. Solar energy companies can equip you with the technology you need to harness the amazing power of the sun and reduce your need for fossil fuels. In this article, we'll review some of the most trustworthy providers and installers of solar power.
Our picks for the best solar companies
The first step in the process is researching some of the top companies in the solar industry. Here are the ones that stood out in our research.
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
How we chose the best solar energy companies
How did we determine which solar power companies to recommend?
To begin with, we took a deep dive into each company's offerings, assessing them for the following criteria:
- Range of services offered
- Pricing/affordability and financing options
- Extent of service area
- Solar panel efficiency
- Warranty
- Temperature coefficient (e.g., how much high temperatures affect efficiency)
Additionally, we weighed membership and certification by professional associations like the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Affiliation with these groups is a good indicator that a solar energy company is reputable, and that their work is up to the highest standards within the industry.
The best solar energy companies
With these criteria in mind, consider our picks for the best solar panel providers and installers in the industry.
SunPower
If you're looking for a company that can walk you through the process of upgrading to solar power for an easy and convenient experience, look no further than to SunPower. The company offers:
- A "design studio" app, allowing you to safely and seamlessly design your own solar power system so that you can see a visual of what the finished product will look like once installed.
- Online calculators that make it easy for you to determine about how much electricity you will save once you upgrade to solar panels.
- Virtual consultations, allowing you to chat one-on-one with a solar power expert and to ask any questions you might have.
SunPower offers leading solar panels and energy storage technology to homeowners across dozens of states. And, they are also the preferred solar partner of many major businesses, including Walmart, FedEx, and Lowes.
Why buy: SunPower is a reliable solar energy company with an impressive tech portfolio and an extremely easy, intuitive process.
SunRun
Upgrading to solar power can seem a little intimidating, but SunRun is out to bring simplicity. Their approach makes it extremely straightforward to select a custom solar energy plan for your household. Here's what to know about SunRun:
- They offer virtual consultations with solar energy experts, making it simple to explore your options and determine which solar set-up is right for your home energy needs.
- Each system they design is completely customized to address the customer's needs. SunRun doesn't do "one size fits all" solar equipment options.
- Their guarantee, the best in the industry, offers extraordinary peace of mind that your solar system will prove durable and reliable.
- SunRun also leads in terms of flexible financing options, making solar power accessible and affordable.
Why buy: With SunRun, the name of the game is customization. This is one of the best solar installation companies to turn to for solar power solutions that are truly made with you in mind.
Tesla
You probably associate Tesla with their electric vehicles, but did you know that the company also produces high-efficiency solar panels? Depending on your needs and your budget, Tesla can hook you up with an array of solar panels or even a solar roof, making it easy to cut electricity costs and power your home via the sun's vital energy.
Some fast facts about choosing solar power from Tesla:
- They offer a price match guarantee and affordable financing options.
- Their advanced solar panel technology offers a low profile, a sleek style, and long-term durability.
- Home battery backups allow you to save solar power and then access it on demand, whenever you need it.
Why buy: Tesla offers sophisticated solar products for what the company claims is the lowest price of any national provider, which they back with a price-match guarantee. Plus, all of their solar panels come with a solid 25-year performance guarantee.
LG
LG is another well-known tech company that is also a leader in solar energy. Some of their solar panels use a bifacial solar module that captures energy from two directions to increase their efficiency. While they are a solar panel manufacturer, they can also help you with the installation process by finding an LG Pro installer in your area.
- They offer an online "solar concierge" service that allows you to evaluate your home energy needs and to compare different options for going solar.
- LG offers a 25-year warranty, not only on their technology but also on the work their of their solar installers.
- They offer a range of solar panels and supporting products, and they supply you with plenty of information to make a fully informed choice.
Why buy: LG is a company that knows technological innovation. Their award-winning solar energy products are reliably efficient, well-priced, and designed for maximum efficiency.
Panasonic
Panasonic has one of the most impressive tech portfolios in the solar energy industry. Their products boast some of the highest conversion efficiency rates, along with the lowest degradation rates. And they back everything with a generous warranty.
Some additional reasons to choose Panasonic:
- They offer a range of solar panels to choose from. With Panasonic, you'll find that you have plenty of options.
- They also provide a lot of great online support and consumer education, ensuring you'll get the most out of your solar technology.
Why buy: Panasonic is a solar panel company with products that are tough to beat. Both their pricing and warranties are very appealing, and their HIT high-performance solar panels offer some of the best power conversion rates of any product.
Vivint
Vivint is a company that offers a full spectrum of services, including solar power consultation, design, and installation. A few reasons why homeowners trust their solar power needs to the Vivint team:
- Everything Vivint does is customized. They tailor everything to fit your roof and to help you achieve your home energy goals.
- They make the entire process simple, handling all of the little details for you. This includes securing permits, filing the right paperwork, etc.
- They emphasize safety, using only the highest caliber of solar panels and backing everything with a world-class warranty.
Why buy: Vivint is noteworthy for their focus on customization, their commitment to safety, and their one-stop-shop solar power solutions. In addition to solar panel installation, they also offer other specialized technology, including solar-powered electric vehicle chargers.
Enphase
Enphase is another company that stands out, both for their robust technology as well as for their commitment to customization. Their microinverter technology makes their solar system safer by reducing the likelihood of arc fault fires.
- They design their solar technology with safety in mind, including fire safeguards that other companies can't match.
- Their solar panels are built for durability and can hold up even through the most extreme kinds of weather.
- Enphase uses smart technology to update itself; all you need to do is connect it to your home Internet.
- They also have one of the best apps in the solar industry, making it simple to monitor your home energy use.
Why buy: Enphase is a company of innovators, and their solar portfolio has a lot to offer. Their system is also modular, meaning you can easily add more panels to your system as you need them.
Canadian Solar
This solar power provider has won recognition not just for their excellent technology, but also for their sincere commitment to sustainability and to ecological stewardship. And don't let the name throw you off: Though Canadian Solar is based in Canada, they provide solar power solutions in the U.S. and other countries.
Some additional facts about Canadian Solar:
- They offer a wide range of products, from energy converters to storage solutions.
- Their solar panels boast exceedingly high energy efficiency rates.
- Canadian Solar has won a number of awards for its first-class innovations, and one of their products even set a world record for conversion efficiency in 2020.
Why buy: This company has a proven track record of technological excellence, plus a real commitment to ecological stewardship. They also closely monitor their supply chain to ensure that no goods or materials used in their products come from prohibited forms of labor.
First Solar
First Solar boasts an impressive track record of advocacy for solar power and for renewable energy sources. And, thankfully, they back their advocacy with some excellent solar technologies.
A few reasons to choose First Solar solar panels:
- Their technology offers an outstanding temperature coefficient, meaning they won't lose performance during high temperatures.
- Their solar cells are among the most reliable and most efficient in the clean energy sector.
- First Solar also offers a lot of post-purchase, post-installation help, as needed.
Why buy: First Solar is a great option for anyone who's serious about renewable energy, and who wants the best performance from their solar panels.
Go Solar
The biggest drawback to Go Solar is that, right now, their work is limited to just a few states. But if you happen to live in that part of the country, you're in luck. Go Solar's panels are uniquely calibrated to take advantage of the western region's abundant sunlight. Some additional reasons to pick Go Solar include:
- They offer free home solar assessments.
- They custom-design solar systems to meet the needs of your home.
- They have some of the most trusted installers in the solar power industry.
Why buy: For solar solutions that are tailored to the climate of the American West, definitely consider Go Solar. Plus, with their Give Solar International partnership, they give an equivalent solar panel system to a family in Uganda for each system sold.
How does a solar energy system work?
As you explore the different options for embracing solar power, it may be helpful to have a baseline understanding of how solar energy systems actually function.
Generally speaking, solar energy systems involve solar panels installed on your roof. These panels absorb the sun's energy, storing it in what are known as photovoltaic cells. These cells convert the solar energy into direct current (DC) energy, then use an inverter to convert that DC energy into alternate current (AC) electricity. AC electricity is what you need to power all your home appliances.
It's important to note that, before you purchase solar panels, it's worthwhile to meet with a solar energy consultant who can tell you more about how many panels your home will require, and also to let you know how those panels should be ideally positioned on the roof.
One more note: If you're concerned about the affordability of solar power, it's important to remember that most solar energy companies provide a host of options, including flexible financing and solar lease options for a system rather than purchase it outright. As you talk with different solar energy companies, don't hesitate to inquire about these leasing and financing options.
Benefits of solar energy
Installing solar panels on your home can yield a number of benefits. Here are just a few examples.
Cleaner energy
One of the main reasons why homeowners choose to install solar cells is that it allows them to truly embrace clean energy sources. Rather than depend on fossil fuels and power plants, you can power your home with renewable energy that comes straight from the sun. This can be a highly effective way to minimize your environmental footprint.
Solar tax credits and rebates
There are a number of ways in which choosing renewable energy can save you money, starting with the fact that there are so many rebates and tax credits available. Essentially, both the federal government and many state governments want to encourage people to "go green" as much as possible, and they will make it worth your while by allowing you to claim these important tax incentives. Some utility companies also offer rebates that can help pay for the upfront costs of solar projects.
Lower electricity bills
Of course, embracing solar power will also help you save money by slashing your electricity bills. Most solar energy companies offer online calculators that allow you to see for yourself how much money you'll save over time, simply by changing to a renewable energy source. There is also an option called a power purchase agreement (PPA) that can allow you to host a solar or renewable energy system from a utility provider in exchange for lowered energy rates. If your solar panel system generates excess energy, the utility will then purchase that energy from you in the form of a net metering credit on your bill.
Make a smart choice about solar power
There are obviously a lot of perks to choosing solar energy for your home. And yet, it can also be a rather daunting process, simply because there are so many solar energy companies to choose from.
Using our guidelines and rankings, start doing your due diligence, seeking the solar power company that's right for you. Remember to look for a company that's well-regarded within the industry and get a consultation before you buy. Always be sure to ask some direct questions about the financing options that are available to you.
Josh Hurst is a journalist, critic, and essayist. He lives in Knoxville, TN, with his wife and three sons. His writing on natural health, nutrition, and supplements has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.
A resident of Austin, Texas scrapes snow into a bucket to melt it into water on Feb. 19, 2021. Winter storm Uri brought historic cold weather, leaving people in the area without water as pipes broke. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
By Andrea Germanos
President Joe Biden is being called on to back newly reintroduced legislation that seeks to remedy the nation's drinking water injustices with boosts to infrastructure and the creation of a water trust fund.
<p>"From the plague of water shutoffs due to unaffordable bills during a pandemic, to the recent heartbreaking scenes across the South of frozen pipes leaving millions without water, it has become desperately clear that our country is in a water crisis," said Food & Water Action executive director Wenonah Hauter in a statement Thursday.</p><p>"Grave crises require robust solutions, and this is just what the WATER Act provides," said Hauter.</p><p>The WATER Act — the acronym for the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2021 — was reintroduced Thursday by Democratic Reps. Brenda L. Lawrence (Mich.) and Ro Khanna (Calif.). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.</p>
<p>Supporting the measure is a diverse collection of over 500 organizations including Corporate Accountability, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Food & Water Watch, and the NAACP. Seventy-four lawmakers in the House and Senate are co-sponsors.</p>
<div id="15a8c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="540104ac79929e24f0c378cf6232614a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1364990521668755458" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It’s no coincidence the communities with the highest rates of coronavirus infections are the same ones with dirty w… https://t.co/LFSqgPaSN8</div> — Rep. Ro Khanna (@Rep. Ro Khanna)<a href="https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna/statuses/1364990521668755458">1614274075.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Echoing Hauter, Lawrence said in a statement that we "have a water crisis in the United States that affects every corner of our country." And waiting to act on the issue, she added, is simply not an option.</p><p>"Access to clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right," said Lawrence.</p>
<p>According to a summary from the Michigan Democrat's office, the WATER Act:</p><ul><li>Provides $34.85 billion a year to drinking water and wastewater improvements;</li><li>Creates a water trust fund;</li><li>Creates up to nearly one million jobs across the economy and protect American workers;</li><li>Prioritizes disadvantaged communities with grants and additional support;</li><li>Expands funding for technical assistance to small, rural, and Indigenous communities;</li><li>Funds projects to address water contamination from PFAS;</li><li>Requires U.S. EPA to study water affordability, shutoffs, discrimination, and civil rights violations by water providers;</li><li>Upgrades household wells and septic systems;</li><li>Helps homeowners replace lead service lines; and</li><li>Provides more than $1 billion a year to update water infrastructure in public schools.</li></ul>
<p>Assets for the trust fund would be created by "rolling back a small portion of the Trump administration's corporate tax cuts by increasing the corporate income tax rate by 3.5 percentage points."</p><p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/06/23/water-emergency-threatens-every-corner-our-country-analysis-shows-80-spike-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Affordability</a> has long been a drinking water-related concern in communities across the U.S. — as have other issues including the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/research/national-pfas-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">presence</a> of a class of chemicals known as PFAS and <a href="https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/insight/water-privatization-facts-and-figures" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">privatization</a> woes. The Flint, Michigan water <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">crisis</a> also punctuated concerns about the management of water systems and drinking water safety.</p><p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/blood-abbotts-hands-anger-gop-leaders-surges-food-water-shortages-compound-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Events</a> over the past year have only underscored the need for public investment in the nation's water systems, WATER Act supporters say.</p>
<p>"The crisis in Texas illuminated how vital access to running water is for human survival. And the Covid-19 pandemic has put on display the unjust reality of America's water affordability, reliability, and equity crisis," <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/02/25/congress-just-introduced-answer-americas-water-woes-unprecedented-support-water?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank">said</a> Brittany Alston, deputy research director of Action Center on Race & the Economy (ARCE).</p><p>Alston said that the WATER Act represented "a real solution" to those problems. She added, "The only way to combat America's water crisis is with this type of bold, reparative change that both challenges corporate power and addresses water affordability, accessibility, and quality across the entire country, especially in low-income and BIPOC communities."</p>
<p>In a June<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2020/jun/23/clean-water-should-be-an-american-human-right-not-a-government-profit-machine" target="_blank"> op-ed </a>at The Guardian, Sanders and Lawrence — who also teamed up last year to introduce the WATER Act — detailed the nation's water crisis, writing, in part:</p><blockquote>Unbelievably, when it comes to water infrastructure, America's challenges resemble those of a developing country. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our drinking water infrastructure a "D" grade and our wastewater infrastructure a "D+." The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that raw sewage overflows at least 23,000 times each year. Up to 1.7 million Americans lack access to basic plumbing facilities such as a toilet, tub, shower, or basic running water. Almost 200,000 households have absolutely no wastewater system. Up to 10 [million] homes across America get water through lead pipes. Six years since the start of its water crisis, Flint still does not have clean water. Meanwhile, in Denmark, South Carolina, families are forced to travel 20 miles each month in order to collect clean drinking water.<br>Not only do Americans have to deal with poor-quality and often toxic drinking water, we have the "privilege" of paying an arm and a leg for it. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, nearly 14 [million] households were unable to afford their water bills, whose <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/23/millions-of-americans-cant-afford-water-bills-rise" target="_blank">prices increased more than 40% since 2010</a>. At this rate, more than a third of American households may not be able to afford their water bills five years from now. Furthermore, due to the economic meltdown caused by the coronavirus, millions of Americans who don't know where their next paycheck will come from are now at risk of losing their water service. As public health officials warn that this deadly disease will be with us for quite some time, how are families supposed to wash their hands regularly when their utility company is shutting off their water?</blockquote><p>According to Food & Water Watch's Hauter, the need for swift action is clear.</p><p>"The time for Congress and the Biden administration to make this critical legislation a priority has very clearly come," she said. "Our country can't wait any longer for a functional, safe, and affordable water system for every community."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/25/biden-urged-back-bold-reparative-water-justice-bill" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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An oil pumpjack is seen in a Texas cotton field against a backdrop of wind energy. ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
Many congressional districts with the most clean energy potential are current fossil fuel hubs, potentially reducing political barriers to a just transition away from the energy sources that cause climate change, a Brookings report says.
Of the 155 congressional districts with high renewable energy potential, 91 are currently represented by a Republican.<p><br>Although fossil fuel companies have laid off well over 100,000 workers in the last year alone, in some cases while their executives raked in <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/MVY1h1-_RTJN7mQ5ZLkJ0w4W3fCDQw4nwFmrMQqrWk3p_9LV1-WJV7CgLcCV2Df3L1V8BtsW2_x6NM3601T9W5c5Qtv1W8mMBW74KJT267rhm4W17YTpJ8p5pTPW6kyj365Dcpr0W84Kmdm5JDgWFN8w9R8dmmRHNW3QMyqv4jhm4BN3W2BvyqbzFjW4CCrmM8WKztLW8YKVFK6vCrRLW3nCpt375_vHRW2sDJXQ1R8Kc4W8lQ9pd8M5g2HW2f1fnZ5F_X1PW6F98Pr8kHHRSW3b9jnl6hY8MvW1RmG5X8ysxJ0W2cRmR06xHGjfW6FqMSC6pd4yNW8Gn8zS5rfsl9W3XfPnx4zdZgVVjgcXV4b1fyyW4llG__99Vgp2W48Ds8c5QqTfYW3CwWFf5tS3Q2W96QcZ99487Rr31Ng1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bonuses funded by government bailouts</a>, the Brookings researchers describe a fear of transitioning to renewable energy in geographically concentrated regions and communities historically dominated by the fossil fuel industry. </p><p>The Brookings report did not address the billions of dollars spent by fossil fuel companies over decades to deny the science of climate change and fund politicians who support their industries. </p><p>While many workers in the fossil fuel industry are finding <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/MVY1h1-_RTJN7mQ5ZLkJ0w4W3fCDQw4nwFmrMQqrTy5nxG7V3Zsc37CgL8bW40b_lj927k13W7BcJZT8BqWSMW3tbhQG4bHXgFW639_Rf3s01YkW1bcZZ55dDP_PW5sqqPG6HcmKgN3ZmLcg9KXlDW9fDBRM4d8ls6W6c6tr62qqs6LW50t0NS2WVbq3N7XF1wXYV06kW7_Fh133KRKM8W5Z2j8k3PNYKmW3j7RDX1SBHYBW5D7SM44RNQL4W71Pf2Z7bWdt6V1SGF85j4knsW5ZdjY673mNQGW6vP-_G4dRgFsVjntSb6LHB7pW5gxjl28rpMVtW6xjfx21t26zKW6VNVL68Mng3TN64Mq75nctXmW2xS4BD7N0tXkW49tMfh5fQGRkW4NQskf7BkRkHW5x5BdW7CzVKNW7-HWBP5HnvCTW3vb3D55RC2_3W3tyYzP78jh4wW8vNy9y6k4D863nqX1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">their skills transfer easily</a> to renewable energy, oil and gas workers could also be employed plugging orphaned wells, which leak methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and other pollutants.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p>Brookings: <a href="https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/02/25/stories/1063725859?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=113098412&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-839hnX7b4zvCuqLUebVBKHK2HmH_2m8irPUGeEuycSZygZjz_VnUscwzq9nRj6WUpT1dNLTFsa-40M5MyUjMRwCs0j3w3Rs855EyCa7x_gAR9tTT0&utm_content=113098412&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">E&E</a>, <a href="https://www.axios.com/clean-energy-jobs-transition-biden-c656cb47-fe7e-4a8c-9737-981e006aff6f.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=113098412&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-820Rqwn19yHmMV1VXr5zuWUaA-6TDDux8h9pANCdwtRhxc1z_MdVhdY31lRccPdnX-I5iaExEyGuZyPUBiHzAnGEPeejcUei8O-dxiI8GSKaM4iNU&utm_content=113098412&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Axios</a>; Bonuses: <a href="https://bailoutwatch.org/analysis/bailed-out-oil-firms-lay-off-workers?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=113098412&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9u3p0E67jWSCvYD7I-2YFDhEp58vEJzLASuQGVA_qPbufk2qtOPkaRawD25U7NHyobohaYbVYDBBfVGhmzqNRKbEDNNbRvanzDupjNjauDi0ddZWM&utm_content=113098412&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">BailoutWatch</a>; Orphaned Wells: <a href="https://www.kxan.com/weather/weather-blog/curbing-climate-change-while-also-putting-unemployed-oil-gas-workers-back-to-work/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=113098412&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-89DPzr9Bwxk-sF9J39afc8oKu10cH4J_RQhKymU3VaHOTdmij2mnhRByaaz24lZD0thps-E4K4IDbaBotigWb2c4l9MRB_1lVfJVGNDTzr2br-O4A&utm_content=113098412&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KXAN</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Gavin Newsom Sued for 'Completely Unacceptable' Approval of Oil and Gas Projects in California
25 February
Politics
California Gov. Gavin Newsom tours the Chevron oil field west of Bakersfield, where a spill of more than 900,000 gallons flowed into a dry creek bed, on July 24, 2019. Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
By Brett Wilkins
Accusing California regulators of "reckless disregard" for public "health and safety," the environmental advocacy group Center for Biological Diversity on Wednesday sued the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom for approving thousands of oil and gas drilling and fracking projects without the required environmental review.
<p>The <a href="https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/pdfs/Center-v-CalGEM-Complaint.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lawsuit</a> claims that the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) failed to adequately analyze environmental and health risks before issuing fossil fuel extraction permits, as required by law. According to the suit, California regulators approved nearly 2,000 new oil and gas permits without proper environmental review.</p><p>"CalGEM routinely violates its duty to conduct an initial study and further environmental review for any new oil and gas well drilling, well stimulation, or injection permits and approvals," the suit alleges. "Instead, CalGEM repeatedly and consistently issues permits and approvals for oil and gas drilling, well stimulation, and injection projects without properly disclosing, analyzing, or mitigating the significant environmental impacts of these projects."</p>
<div id="18713" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2a09e4b10fa749c78e24fe406333d693"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1364658901313060865" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">We took Gov. Newsom to court for granting new oil and gas permits w/o environmental review.
"The governor is openl… https://t.co/AAShi3a1rm</div> — Center for Bio Div (@Center for Bio Div)<a href="https://twitter.com/CenterForBioDiv/statuses/1364658901313060865">1614195010.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The center noted that "despite Gov. Newsom's progressive rhetoric on climate change, he has failed to curb California's dirty and carbon-intensive oil and gas production."</p><p>"His regulators continue to issue thousands of permits without review, and the governor has refused to act on his stated desire to ban fracking," the group said in a <a href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/newsom-administration-sued-over-thousands-of-unlawful-oil-gas-projects-2021-02-24/" target="_blank">statement</a>. "Newsom's regulators also failed to meet the governor's deadline to publish a draft health-and-safety rule after vowing to do so before the end of 2020."</p><p>Last September, as deadly climate-driven wildfires <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/09/08/what-climate-crisis-looks-fires-have-now-burned-record-2-million-acres-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ravaged</a> large swaths of California and turned skies in the San Francisco Bay Area an <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/09/10/green-new-deal-or-blood-red-apocalypse-your-choice-dems-urged-embrace-bold-climate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apocalyptic shade of orange</a>, Newsom <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/09/23/ban-fracking-calif-now-not-2024-say-climate-groups-following-newsom-order-phase-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">called on</a> the Democrat-controlled state legislature to stop issuing new fracking permits by 2024, drawing widespread rebuke from climate campaigners who argued that now is the time to act.</p>
<p>Hollin Kretzmann, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute, said Wednesday that "it is completely unacceptable for Gov. Newsom to continue to ignore our flagship environmental law that's meant to protect people from oil industry pollution."</p><p>"Newsom can't protect our health and climate while giving thousands of illegal permits each year to this dirty and dangerous industry," Kretzmann added. "We need the courts to step in and stop this."</p><p>Deborah Sivas, director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School and an attorney representing the Center for Biological Diversity in the lawsuit, said that "state laws are designed to protect communities and minimize pollution."</p><p>"The state can't continue to pretend these fundamental protections don't apply to one of the most polluting and dangerous industries on the planet," added Sivas.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/24/avowed-climate-champion-gavin-newsom-sued-completely-unacceptable-approval-oil-and" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
- New Bill Seeks to Ban Fracking in California - EcoWatch ›
- Fracking Likely Triggered Earthquakes in California a Few Miles ... ›
- California Won't Buy From Automakers 'on the Wrong Side of History ... ›
- Chevron Has Spilled 800,000 Gallons of Crude Oil and Water Into a ... ›
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New USPS Fleet to Include Some Electric Vehicles, Some Gas With Electric Retrofit Potential
25 February
Energy
A U.S. Postal Service truck drives down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC on April 23, 2020. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images
The Postal Service is updating its massive fleet of mail carrying vehicles, heralding a significant step toward reducing carbon pollution from its massive fleet while also helping to protect its workforce from climate impacts.
<p>The Next Generation Delivery Vehicle, made by Oshkosh Defense of Wisconsin, will start delivering mail in 2023, the USPS announced Tuesday. The fleet will include high efficiency gasoline-powered vehicles as well as <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/electric-vehicles">electric vehicles</a>. </p>
<p>The gasoline-powered new vehicles will have the ability to be retrofitted with new electric systems in the future. Environmental advocates criticized the decision to include internal combustion-powered vehicles in the contract, which they said contradicted the Biden administration's goal to electrify the U.S. fleet. Crucially for postal workers, disproportionately Black and female, who are <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/top_story/extreme-heat-driven-by-climate-change-threatens-postal-workers/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Ip0Rt-Auiess0gfHFp6Dwr6Ds3hGHYgfUahnN3y2G9clM8f5Z-pPTpcchrImVyYn9L947q-VlHaMTX7VPi1bosZQ6LA&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">especially vulnerable to hyperthermia</a> as climate-fueled extreme heatwaves become more common, the NGDV will feature air conditioning (as well as airbags and collision avoidance systems). </p>
<p>The majority of the current Grumman LLV (Long Life Vehicle) are between 25- and 32-years-old and get 10 miles per gallon, worse than a 2010 <a href="https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2010_Hummer_H3.shtml?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--0JetoCU4qofY02qIuZEjL8N9koP9F_4UfPaf6TMTS37hNRFxtEy4IrBZHMIkMDLrKbnC4xj0We_8xV1UW0Q3Y-M-Vpw&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hummer</a>. In a separate hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday, Rep. Cori Bush criticized the USPS board of governors, which is composed of six white men including three investment bankers and a coal lobbyist, for looking "like a millionaire white boy's club."</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p>NGDV announcement: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/23/business/new-postal-service-delivery-vehicle/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-94VrOWDqcY8xMl_dsap59SHLUfXkrGU-cTzqMm6sAK3p47QyIAWdDNgQV7tL5hh3yMZljlnKzFg8urtnaM0-LDCi00LQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-24/post-office-purchase-of-gasoline-truck-seems-to-defy-biden-order?sref=oUjKJw8m&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9m7BgAqGgVu-fIMrAvmbrTAIBWya8BPPMJejUEKHW517RuHXlU4Oo-AW_UGEW57MAp61CjNW_8BYRa6jXDmP2I3o2DjQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-wisconsin-environment-postal-service-electric-vehicles-f131e82dcb81757962766ddb96c2f0a1?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tT-jbAWxFiyTbsQSB5ygK46spjfrIBDzWlHh_esVi7xY3zpnav0UPp0JQdV9JkFbX7fjqqsIt58dcEn_8ObR0b2fngQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/02/24/stories/1063725861?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--nsiZOHR1q5xk_PZzkpqsefsOmP9xAN-5zj6L8dit7O8eKhy7m4VUeq7Bz_KBIsF4Xdka6iytOh1EeT5UOktHnuncuZg&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">E&E</a>, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-mail-truck-oshkosh-defense/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--2MmEa8YhRMYKLSh4WjK4eskV6EiSbj7rjDipRntmfq7QCIl9DWjrh6v0I-qkHlqzEsmn1A_KR_R_KxAX6KJEz8J81Vw&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2021/02/23/usps-new-mail-delivery-trucks/4566631001/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--r-tmcNniSqT6izFdW44Mt_J-INMnXOjY8nJoq5j9L1Fxyhb7K0AK4p0DSXyP0MjFsjXdhTecQ0wINm96mG-EtQKSsCw&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">USA Today</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/23/business/stock-market-today?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--4-bOZMNz9BlG7KSuNy95-k1_FYyEMQN8U8SkbWDwwv6Lo405uBEa_fkPTgofMAUsm0UK5xd2sXGHs6vU1pAcvbcw6KQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email#postal-service-fleet-contract" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, <a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/usps-picks-a-new-mail-truck-and-no-they-wont-all-be-electric/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_P2UVzg6xbqRXInedThmX__nwZ7mRXI3QDSSLXheYRQQZ0MyN-jIC17kAG7dEJ1S-74vmA8XHaRY0Fm9u9YBn23Us9Tw&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Ars Technica</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/23/22297823/usps-postal-service-mail-truck-electric-oshkosh-workhorse?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9kTKOmIxqSybaGr026yakenVma4u5hNP1Cc9cNGL3kJGigbbWb0mmsS3IIO7QbochTawJCvVjwf_zycVI1tuq49JpWrQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Verge</a>, <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/news/oshkosh-ngdv-usps-mail-van-first-look-review/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--V7xmFH4DDKE9Y9j9jdtCi5rtV76tZotzKqB7Lwe5I0SFvM8kD7Ddc8zlynkfa1_vMSuj89NYbMOP5MCrhTJNMtx4X3Q&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Motor Trend</a>; USPS demographics: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/24/dejoy-hearing-usps-live-updates/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_EPoZ2XjbDzMZTys_11GvMARRIkomyXAVTwlBbSmfWFBwTSWZAR2m14Usmeqy0jlk9F3DP5THzF9na9jK6qPXSGBKxXQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>; <span style="background-color: initial;">Climate</span> Signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-signals/extreme-heat-and-heat-waves?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8QSokbpMPV6BGHRMP-GeiPaapjjIDSWhwi9edSrjW-IbOaSLY4-Bj6hR_1h4XoDF59-eAxF7Gk6O028uG0UZ-n5WZjYQ&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Extreme heat and heatwaves</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Congresswoman Deb Haaland, seen here on December 19, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware, is poised to become the next U.S. Secretary of Interior pending Senate confirmation hearings. Alex Edelman / AFP / Getty Images
After a second day of Senate hearings, Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) is poised to become the first Native to serve as Secretary of the Interior (or any such high-ranking cabinet position.)
<p>It was clear the GOP appeared to hold her to a standard far different from the unqualified or corrupt Trump nominees it approved, with incendiary language and attacks "<a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VW61Bk3sp0N8W5mpsPb5Y5z_6W6klx534ntv9hN24tzww3p_9rV1-WJV7CgXbMW3vYcZf2yvM5_VJdRXZ7TTT6sVdgt2m5mzDv6W5X8hFn50c6RRW947RK12Yzjt2W98hSVl6SC_c6W5S8ZBR5bbvfYW7C2BVT3RVTsYW2TbKH080q4Z1W3SdsNS7WX_nmN7by4YjRZ_-ZN5q3JnkyDq_bW6PK8761rdFZ0N4YLf4hJ9nSBW8y8zXX88gWPrW4ZlRQ-60wqgHW2yBZY149214mW5L4Ygy6cPr7YW5D3Vcw3zkRt6W389ZnG5pbckrV5NsFT4GXc0pW34PVn81JBGc5W6L4Cnq87zG8yV74vcj3rldLBW6zcG648VnflXW49Tyl44TD_Q_38Q21" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">premised on settler colonialism.</a>" </p><p>While Indigenous groups and others, like Senator Elizabeth Warren sang her praises, it was moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin who stood as the potentially undecided vote. Coming from fossil-fuel-friendly West Virginia, Manchin's initial reluctance suggested Haaland's nomination might be in trouble. </p><p>But after her second day of hearings, in which she repeatedly stated she would push the Biden administration's agenda, Manchin released a statement signaling his support for her nomination, virtually ensuring Haaland will have the votes to make history.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/debforinterior-we-are-ready-to-make-history-qhx9jdf-okyGe41Zio2FyQ?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_p9VoM0wqt1DX7ynnFm3lFGEVwT3Uo4ZopeeU1n1erC1WG47D1PIlbLY9c3UYh63oFD3nIdHA3HhgFA2F5oykv346_xAFfk1o4GFjOYk9UrOezDHU&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Indian Country Today,</a> <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/a-historic-run-support-for-auntie-deb-szgCQ7fr10a-1ZiZLgCurA?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8cTxNUneN75zchInT0k1O9kP-Krkvw3ke-KzYIpeycal92S2xWKZkiYu5TcnmVqVUIfCa9RcspF0eeyM-oSsjIsQh8fGoSTVtp4IhlmjNxCKpc0Ug&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Indian Country Today</a>, <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/indian-country-defends-deb-haaland-nZBNTaP750e-AobbIobSaw?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--a1lW1MmTlCg7VxpAEkRRhNqiFbYGkgMIQVWyC6YzE37NPITy9B1aRTz4yloNJS3sjXqmlqcRFgexEMtLqjKAygn6G6X7ulC0aT2xvgZitFD4tQxU&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Indian Country Today</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/02/24/stories/1063725905?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--NkklQ79bZQw_O5kfv-B_tc5HDMPrCOzCHtFcUl9VoKrJfsJWNsS9nYLP0KiODMtU3TVGhRR62RH9DYiHXoGS0Ri4TEashyr4QK2_NiXzbn_zIMOE&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">E&E,</a> <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/540305-haaland-on-drilling-lease-moratorium-its-not-going-to-be-a?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9-VPuOR-l01pWuj07I3X-SS1RnRxXiIS_U6ph9VlY0ZV9IajktL0PJH8wEFQSQxVOHtCcBjfpEqiLa3_CTWFF9SBXiLLDNLx64bIMOpKTjJtO1neM&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Hill</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2021/02/24/stories/1063725917?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ZWgjS2zArv5d1CKPSZZPPMwAsx3kv09pkcwklZ6OKVUdImC-yhJnXm-qX_c8F-Rb2pDfMLQzYqFOktAOn--m-TfHnF2_xPu6FGMKKXIo8Z9E-bDM&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">E&E</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/climate/deb-haaland-interior-secretary.html?searchResultPosition=2&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_lIccuHeSWCi0XXA1VeqHm2k7vkabdei6KROmXgzS7KTzMj_KWfUakElz96Yl5Ehzo0z2vucw6hqkXxdh03LFeeC_kVBzkNVoMTnhZqw5suj5fax4&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/us/deb-haaland-senate.html?searchResultPosition=3&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_UCsi8hnEJhWYfM6L_RP5hQfUOlLFOJaAxvC5TS-IPddFCVy5i7fZJYxr0BpOMB8Yqcf8lUZmXufHydJuRUqP926k7jMB6wxofUb54F47QH2o9eDM&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/deb-haaland-native-americans-reaction-72ae93d659935b9b5e1117166eda8a37?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9G_nlUZ-yVVN9uS0vZkck8yAzSsKpP74f1l3xhhrTa3tiowwoNB4mqHLhQSU_zb8PK7MHw0ghNLdny2QPcV2uII7tCNocNsws_BT7zpg8ajV6sXns&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP,</a> <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/24/manchin-haaland-interior-confirmation-471408?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--QZh556xS-Ww72k395b3lAIzTqgy0J0yXWRzQgvS5DVWRk6deNjpJbzgxSBrcCJ4RxOLBgp3lD9pQKsXV5lD44naHLAt6PfrQx-5LxQbgO45Wyt30&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Politico</a>, <a href="https://login.politicopro.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriber.politicopro.com%2Farticle%2F2021%2F02%2Fhaaland-backs-bidens-move-to-block-keystone-xl-pipeline-project-3987202%3Futm_campaign%3DHot%2520News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Wi8j19V1F9rPalfTw7EZx2iWLqoJ9f9aTDjB5Si71DQkbsPOEwj7pT9OexevjbnvGgFfkZzfsJWt71iUyja6sc56a9B8nQOZf9Z5BZEfGS91s64w&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Politico Pro</a>,<a href="https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2021/02/24/stories/1063725919?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_H1jBZbAg5AMzefRfNvgoEscDoQ35ptHC6adNwWRMXPsl6JzQhffSgGBQRqLTHoh12Z1eiV0r5qYNShO5yDOQAgMFsdaU6KjJX2sIbPKJ1-J8dDc8&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank"> E&E,</a><a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/540356-manchin-to-vote-to-support-haalands-confirmation?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9fH_SeHHs2qSDo8yZEzdyc11QQ6bBfZi6yVLwpUFx1C5lw0yjfQch8JF-Jq5tWBPCwIczht0CQYcTgr5XmLT_CCAkxgPKxN9c-qOKMls9h7G6J_1s&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Hill</a>, <a href="https://www.vox.com/22297585/deb-haaland-confirmation-hearing-interior-department?_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_hDLfxlEtqrTkslQ4z23sXdpA84ILi_duZL4NV_z7wrNa9awHLP_3H_7SYgvTKuPvS-d1dQaEEBTY6L5olxu4_-0uOuztst1bMvCyrl5xLGrrbeGE" target="_blank">Vox</a>,<a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-oil-and-gas-money-behind-the-republicans-who-will-h-1846345607?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_zDIZkS2xldA53EGCuXQ3ftoAMqr-2mNKgkZYeKbEsrJafK6Mlt8lCAqxlxeyeiffFGKHc5hntaUvr36SeSJePM8fvTSlan7bggj5GBtp7Rjo4IjU&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank"> Earther</a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/what-matters-february-23/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112905932&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ZI77owlgK_RYlmfgfrmDzoq6OBvBE-bQgU-bkq6Kkxg-9HyhSCPRy4jS-woT7wTcH4rtdKpMOU0EiE9RDLlRb0HtvML4gjYpR2WJ7eC1C9cnUlf4&utm_content=112905932&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CNN</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Joe Biden Appoints Climate Crisis Team - EcoWatch ›
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Tom Vilsack speaks on December 11, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware after being nominated to be Agriculture Secretary by U.S. President Joe Biden. Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday was the lone progressive to vote against Tom Vilsack reprising his role as secretary of agriculture, citing concerns that progressive advocacy groups have been raising since even before President Joe Biden officially nominated the former Obama administration appointee.
<p>The Senate <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00063" target="_blank">voted</a> 92-7 to confirm Vilsack, with Sanders (I-Vt.) and six Republicans opposing his appointment. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) was the only member who did not vote.</p><p>In a statement on his decision, Sanders first said that "I have known Tom Vilsack for many years and look forward to working with him as our new secretary of agriculture."</p><p>"I opposed his confirmation today because at a time when corporate consolidation of agriculture is rampant and family farms are being decimated, we need a secretary who is prepared to vigorously take on corporate power in the industry," Sanders explained. "I heard from many family farmers in Vermont and around the country who feel that is not what Tom did when he last served in this job."</p><p><em>The Hill</em> <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/540137-sanders-votes-against-biden-usda-nominee-vilsack" target="_blank">reports</a> Sanders made similar remarks about Vilsack to journalists after the vote, saying that "I think he'll be fine, but not as strong as I would like."</p><p>The progressive group RootsAction praised Sanders on Twitter for taking a stand against Biden's pick to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).</p>
<div id="a420d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5369c498a5855fe2143b86fa07e23dff"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1364300806988652548" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">🚨🚨🚨 Bernie Sanders voted against Tom Vilsack's nomination. It's great to see the Senator stick to his principles a… https://t.co/u4XNU4viNC</div> — RootsAction (@RootsAction)<a href="https://twitter.com/Roots_Action/statuses/1364300806988652548">1614109634.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout also welcomed Sanders' move.</p><p>"This is the correct vote. Vilsack failed farmers, farmworkers, the land, and the public, and Shirley Sherrod," Teachout <a href="https://twitter.com/ZephyrTeachout/status/1364313747284705284" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, referencing the former Georgia state director of rural development at USDA who was ousted under Vilsack.</p><p>Sherrod, who is Black, recently <a href="https://19thnews.org/2020/12/shirley-sherrod-holds-no-ill-will-against-usda-nominee-who-ousted-her/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told</a> <em>The 19th</em> that "I have no ill will towards him, none at all," but added that if Vilsack returned as USDA chief, "he should be ready to get on the ground to make real change this time around. And we need to hold him to it. Black people need to see some real change."</p><p>As <em>Common Dreams</em> previously <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/08/sustainable-farming-advocates-warn-biden-vilsack-very-bad-pick-ag-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>, Vilsack has faced criticism for the USDA's treatment of Black farmers when he headed the department during the Obama administration—among other critiques.</p>
<p>Center for Food Safety policy director Jaydee Hanson <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/08/sustainable-farming-advocates-warn-biden-vilsack-very-bad-pick-ag-secretary" target="_blank">said</a> in December that Biden's potential selection of Vilsack was "a huge step backwards in our urgent need to support agricultural systems that protect public health, the environment, and mitigate the ongoing climate crisis."</p><p>Early Tuesday, in anticipation of Vilsack's bipartisan confirmation, Food & Water Watch executive director Wenonah Hauter—whose group <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/08/sustainable-farming-advocates-warn-biden-vilsack-very-bad-pick-ag-secretary" target="_blank">has been raising alarm</a> about him for months now—<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/02/23/vilsacks-confirmation-usda-warning-sign-family-farmers-and-food-worker-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> a warning about what to expect going forward.</p><p>"We can confidently predict what Tom Vilsack's leadership of the Agriculture Department will look like, because he's led it before. And the prediction is grim," she said. "In his previous stint at USDA, Vilsack backed mass corporate consolidation of our food system at the expense of struggling family farmers. Similarly, he readily advanced industry-driven initiatives allowing companies to inspect their own poultry processing plants, dismantling federal oversight of food and worker safety."</p><p>"This administration needs to drastically shift course from the Trump era by supporting sustainable, independent farming, halting the toxic expansion of polluting factory farms, and ultimately, prioritizing consumer health and worker safety," Hauter added. "We have little hope that Tom Vilsack cares to undertake this effort, so we will be pressuring him doggedly to see the light."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/23/citing-concerns-about-corporate-power-bernie-sanders-votes-against-bidens-choice" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>
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Flooding in Annapolis, Maryland after Hurricane Isabel, on Sept. 19, 2003. Michael Land / Chesapeake Bay Program / Flickr
Annapolis, Maryland, is suing 26 oil and gas companies for deceiving the public about their products' role in causing climate change. The city is among two dozen state and local governments to file such a lawsuit.
<p>"The companies worked to deceive people of the danger, hiding their knowledge and engaging in an intentional campaign to mislead the public about the science proving the growing danger posed by fossil fuels," Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley told reporters. </p>
<p>The city seeks to force the companies to help cover the mounting costs of climate change, including severe <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/flooding">flooding</a> that disproportionately harms communities of color. "We're looking at a price tag of almost $100 million," Jacqueline Guild, deputy city manager for resilience and sustainability, told reporters. "And that's just the tip of the melting iceberg, if you will."</p>
<p>The Annapolis lawsuit comes as state and local plaintiffs and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels">fossil fuel</a> industry defendants await a Supreme Court decision on <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/top_story/baltimore-scotus-case/?swcfpc=1&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112702811&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9oCCRCsM6fMxlAnQky2IWZlz_EqiN1eBkbgHRoNLp0q5up6OkM5h8s2XaUx_352gLVkAp-JoYaa-ohHX86jT2bziGNbw&utm_content=112702811&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BP PLC v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore</a>, which could have major implications for states' and municipalities' lawsuits. </p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p>Annapolis: <a href="https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/annapolis/ac-cn-annapolis-fossil-fuels-lawsuit-20210222-20210223-vs2ff7eiibfgje6fvjwticys2i-story.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112702811&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--9Fjm1KwJ7k4YF9C8fq_1ZXKgXdzY-lXaGeFFOzdwg-BqJoDR_o3pIpuiMviR7mpYvfap-VyNyjkovq7z_KoG0JH76Vw&utm_content=112702811&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capital Gazette</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-lawsuits-maryland-annapolis-local-governments-e36dc272334a7ad7e12611f728212fe6?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112702811&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_djMJPVFK_eTsJR5IRyS0SSw3s2WTLoq-enVHi9wbBrY_SHe-wrv6UDP0pCownPN4Um6EP-n_UH4f6ITzXvc7RDnAGCQ&utm_content=112702811&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/02/23/stories/1063725767?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112702811&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--eVxS2QCegA6ero_CkueKoRI517DveIOSUakUO6ui9tmoK83WTj-0_GBQiORfRCTYAnO7P0HBYAaxKM1ea-XevZlbjcQ&utm_content=112702811&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a>; SCOTUS: <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063725453?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112702811&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9NfSxJcOA2Qr9IkzIWlv_A2xI9tZ_nt0eKrLVshEp389nHm45yAmkcs5yKd9Oxz30aArEnC0Dwd7spmuJnZ_cUbkIYGA&utm_content=112702811&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Low-income Texans, especially those of color, disproportionately bore the burdens of the state's power grid failure that left them huddling for warmth, and dying, without heat in poorly insulated homes.
<p>Authorities across the state prioritized keeping electricity on for critical facilities like hospitals, meaning that the generally wealthier, and whiter, communities that shared those facilities' circuits also had power. This meant that those with limited resources to relocate or take shelter in a hotel were those most likely to lose their power, most likely to lose income from hourly-wage jobs, and least able to pay to replenish the food that spoiled in their refrigerators and freezers, never mind the cost of repairing burst water pipes. </p>
<p>Food shortages were also most pronounced in poor Black and Hispanic communities where food deserts are common. Communities of color and poorer communities are also frequently short-changed when it comes to post-disaster aid. "We continue to be the victims of social injustice, food injustice, systemic racism — all of it," Gloria Vera-Bedolla, a Latina community organizer, told Vox. Bera-Bedolla's neighborhood on the <a href="https://twitter.com/TerriG_KVUE/status/1361505736749166594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1361505736749166594%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F2021%2F02%2F20%2Ftexas-ice-storm-blackouts-minorities-hardest-hit-recovery%2F4507638001%2F&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mKpchj-pL0w3dc2sQh0XkVLdKRbZ10NToWsP0NEwqHcsbCd-yqAfBK56Xz9Hq2PyLEAhgq0ZQ857BzNd0ef4n7agm6g&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">east sid</a><a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVmxB565Fc_gW6_XPR17VSkvWW5g6HvJ4npdmwN3hBC6D7m49QV5X_Kf7CgZG8W82cjNP2rDkpkW5QxJ5X5Y0NWrW16QdCD6kMg5mW8WhC2p4LP3c_W1gyHlH6HgJQ-W85dRC_8XznHfW3XM7DB6YvpfpW5XnPcp71czHSW6VlZzN2K215HW21ngRC87BxSdW5QhSvH3ssFVJN36fMlGXkrtGW7G1Wzz5bZ5dbW5cLrxd8LVMLhVqjwPf4GbL2VW8qdbG_70YPQRN2VFd9fX6lqpN6vV5HbvDvZTW6lc32h7qvnPPW3BfxN461YBxXN7Nbfn0K3CgDW6j6tLf1B1HD5W6jdYyq6CP98BW13gCh2803jJ2VnCd9f4LkRHNW8L9T2H2JLFQ6W76cVGQ44wH3zVBQqFw7qWG1yW2vDNsG8V9g57W4w5WmV5m1FNcW58NKs71p-GBqW5cctTw541Hh6W1dDj7K4GCbL4W5m3nNd6XCnccW6_Hzbh8hTr-9N2crqVv9r-JrW4kp9T55f9Jc-W3DMqcq3b9K-mW2trbHY1QP18VMFcj-d88sW6W7rlKwb3FHzCpW93l0Tb5PBrfrN7jxX-QxwDhmN4h4s8MgfX7JW5z4MTt1BH1r8W2SPrrL1qT6n9W63PnMZ4l1KmcW51F8-t7Z8Hw2VntSqW8M5fKFW5hz4Q_5r0-GsVTpmXR6SPTWdN8mnrmKJ_T-HN3Mpg8WbvhsZVhTd7Z2MFs2ZW54jv5P5GNkm9W6P26nJ6MGj9jVPLTQD6bbllXW2xhbZW7P3xWF3psq1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">e of I-35</a> is home to a vast share of Austin's Black and Hispanic populations. "We're fighting these systems that were not made for the success of Black and Brown people," she said. </p>
<p>As reported by the <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/19/Texas-winter-storm-suffering-inequities/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9h_LoY4_xfQuEMDG__k6thifOJY3yXVIoX1k_ADNxzPZHOtOu4C0mCOG68RXQ3qMIpNjy3EVpz5uzMiLFJIqKCxCAzTQ&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>:</p><blockquote>In the days after widespread power outages roiled the state, community advocates and local leaders repeatedly drew the parallels between what they'd learned so far about the storm's toll on Texans of color and the pandemic's disproportionate devastation on mostly Black and Hispanic communities. Even as more than half of the deaths due to COVID-19 have been Black or Hispanic people, advocates have reported that these communities <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/09/texas-coronavirus-vaccine-racial-inequality/?_ga=2.160355901.1070494848.1613488591-2120297488.1589483561" target="_blank">have fallen behind in the vaccination efforts</a>.</blockquote><blockquote>"We know that historically the communities that are marginalized tend to be the ones that are hit the hardest, whether we talk about COVID-19 or power outages," said Jaime Resendez, a city council member who represents the predominantly Hispanic southeast portion of Dallas. "If history serves as a guide, these communities could also be the last ones to get the attention and service that they need.</blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/19/Texas-winter-storm-suffering-inequities/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9h_LoY4_xfQuEMDG__k6thifOJY3yXVIoX1k_ADNxzPZHOtOu4C0mCOG68RXQ3qMIpNjy3EVpz5uzMiLFJIqKCxCAzTQ&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>, <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/22292513/texas-storm-freeze-minority-community-austin?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9KaNrqrrazqvmmxli_fGPI5Yi23wQaNHARDay58TsMiNvPpGP16ssON0aH735T1HLCELlMO1bRqI_scUySzpnz3JGTDQ&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vox</a>, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/20/texas-ice-storm-blackouts-minorities-hardest-hit-recovery/4507638001/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9xih6USCsQSa4IXIKq8ydIQX2oEjBa8WOYMEAcgYpP-yd2mU_sXkpn_bZPsXbGgV2cgH4iiXH9Xu2OOzVNekWcjYgHHg&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USA Today</a>, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Freeze-adds-another-layer-of-woe-for-struggling-15967873.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9jZHMeH-gC2pqBLSGeIPz0Dvkch_CVAh-Fwi-U4tuurCY2zM0snHRmsJ16ytq5853Q8v4x17NlXw50S2GZZapgFdM65Q&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/02/23/stories/1063725725?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--XzbIxfL6aU0mOlTxOLzThOt0wOMudPbhKJBUgyrDVyVuvLLcWwJas1eN4ZwPU2dITawBAN5TVhvvzLodtpItcCYRNoA&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Gas utilities and industry trade groups are fighting across the country to prohibit municipalities from taking steps to cut greenhouse gas pollution from buildings. tomazl / Getty Images
Gas utilities and industry trade groups are fighting across the country to prohibit municipalities from taking steps to cut greenhouse gas pollution from buildings, efforts those utilities and groups view as an existential threat, NPR and the Washington Post report.
<p>The American Gas Association, which gets its funding from ratepayers via its member utilities, is actively involved in state-level efforts to prohibit localities from requiring new buildings to be fully electric, according to internal reports, emails and recordings of AGA executives reviewed by NPR. </p><p>Science shows extracting and burning gas is incompatible with cities' net-zero climate pollution goals because not only does gas emit carbon pollution when burned, its extraction and transportation is responsible for millions of tons of methane pollution — a heat-trapping gas far more potent than CO2.</p><p> Studies also show that <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VX5FSW2QvMwlW6gKMxn8c7vqzV1-ywc4npdlxN65wGW93p_9LV1-WJV7CgB3BW8hCqrQ8_pNBwW8p9N9Y4VsFrJW63RXfd6qHkKZW5pbZRn8d2thyW4jM4TJ3zlyNsW2DllBd8RGrRTW2HfT4V5ynZd5W4-w5kn1wTBtdW55HwHK4vBQg5W7xHjKP3Mb4lYW3QjpYx6K2gNqW4ywVnh6r17d4N6H2-lL5cfHKW51c_JF14_g1yW85-cF737Yv1_W4MgbGH675zdHN8tx5vzTZG1DN4qH21JMk4PSVNgMs98khSrmW9fjcyb2DLzp9W2vRq4f29Zl-4W4Drb6v58pBfhVwlpnL4BxcT0VDs_5P1bg-3dW53SNft2gqBTqW6Q6sQh7St54DW85gr6S7F7qm6W3C4hl7599TgX3b3T1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gas stoves create unsafe levels of indoor pollution</a>, the Post notes. </p><p>In addition to paying Instagram influencers, the gas industry mainly uses front groups like "The Empowerment Alliance" and "Partnership for Energy Progress" to push the state preemption laws, the same type of laws long used by the tobacco and plastic bag industries to fight local efforts they viewed as a threat. </p><p>Four states have already passed preemption legislation, and bills are under consideration in 12 more.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/22/967439914/as-cities-grapple-with-climate-change-gas-utilities-fight-to-stay-in-business?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9vRYfuNbYD3VmUg3uLoNM6uTxiJFjb-KR5fsnB4wiYeRmREjklOTPVnifU-8bb242uYkyoTm2k_eUAFDMWRHojAagEwas7POK1fA1zaAgHo8UlfjM&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">NPR</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/02/23/climate-change-natural-gas/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--3GXf9B3K5W2Tef9rbACwMaouuh3pHdjStuJ7m481UQEiq6Alqrxy6YSmuDD88mpXLpgjwtXNHYa1jHgd-7LJy-Oi1jszURWlvbDe0F0euw4t-tlo&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Washington Post </a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
- U.S. Oil and Gas Industry Is Drilling Us Towards Climate Disaster ... ›
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How the Texas Electricity System Produced Low-Cost Power but Left Residents Out in the Cold
19 February
Insights + Opinion
A homeless camp under a bridge on I-35 in Austin, Texas on Feb. 17, 2021 as millions of Texans were still without water and electric during winter storms. Montinique Monroe / Getty Images
By Theodore J. Kury
Americans often take electricity for granted – until the lights go out. The recent cold wave and storm in Texas have placed considerable focus on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, the nonprofit corporation that manages the flow of electricity to more than 26 million Texans. Together, ERCOT and similar organizations manage about 60% of the U.S. power supply.
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<p>From my research on the <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yxN_35oAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">structure of the U.S. electricity industry</a>, I know that rules set by entities like ERCOT have major effects on Americans' energy choices. The current power crunch in Texas and other affected states highlights the delicate balancing act that's involved in providing safe, reliable electricity service at fair, reasonable rates. It also shows how arcane features of energy markets can have big effects at critical moments.</p>
<h3>Let There Be Light</h3><p>The <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/88630/empires-of-light-by-jill-jonnes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">electric age</a> began in 1882 when the Edison Illuminating Company sent power over wires to 59 customers in lower Manhattan from its Pearl Street Generating Station. Edison was America's first investor-owned electric utility – a company that generated electricity, moved it over transmission lines and delivered it to individual customers.</p><p>The scope and scale of electric utilities grew rapidly from those humble beginnings, but this underlying, vertically integrated structure remained intact for more than 100 years. Each utility had a monopoly on serving customers in its area and reported to a <a href="https://www.naruc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">public utility commission</a>, which told the company what rates it could charge.</p><p>Since the utilities knew more about their costs and abilities than anyone else, the burden was on regulators to decide whether the utility was operating efficiently. <a href="https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/rap-lazar-electricityregulationintheus-guide-2011-03.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Regulators also determined</a> whether the costs that utilities proposed to pass on to customers – such as building new generating plants – were just and reasonable.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="03492287d8f3991f6765e3815487f283"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BpqQcHDgEZY?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<h3>The Lines Get Tangled</h3><p>Things grew complicated in 1996 when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/electric/industry-activities/open-access-transmission-tariff-oatt-reform/history-oatt-reform/order-no-888" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Order 888</a>, allowing states to restructure their electric power industries to promote more competition. Through the actions, or inaction, of individual state legislatures, the U.S. electricity market fractured.</p><p>Some states, primarily in the Southeast and the West, maintained the vertically integrated structure. The rest of the nation moved to a market structure in which generators compete to sell their electricity.</p><p>Regions created new independent organizations – known as independent system operators or regional transmission organizations – to regulate the flow of power on the grid. In these regions, generators compete to sell their electricity, and organizations called <a href="https://www.potomaceconomics.com/markets-monitored/ercot/" target="_blank">market monitors</a> make sure that generators follow the rules. This approach created power markets that prioritize generating electricity at the lowest possible price.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2NTQ0NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDgzNjE1NH0.ewtJ5ZlBhPR9htZ8Y5ivm5EBFFe6atMMNFbRDOzPrbI/img.jpg?width=980" id="9b6b6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6c8949c447265034b8a9829f1f89c403" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="774" />
In the Southeast, Southwest and Northwest U.S., traditional utilities generate electricity and deliver it to customers. Other regions, including Texas, have moved to competitive power markets run by Independent System Operators, or ISOs. FERC
<h3>An Imperative to Keep Prices Low</h3><p>What do these changes mean for electricity customers in regions with competitive power markets? The companies that deliver power over wires to homes and businesses still have to get their prices approved by regulators, but the system works differently for the businesses that generate that power.</p><p>Generators offer their electricity, typically at a particular price each hour, on exchanges run by market operators like ERCOT. Those operators figure out how much electricity is needed across the regions they serve and choose the lowest-cost bidders to supply it.</p><p>If a generating company is not selected, it loses the opportunity to sell its electricity during that hour. And selling power is how generators create revenue to pay for things like workers, power plants and fuel. This means that generators have an incentive to bid as low as possible and sell as much electricity as possible.</p><p>Generators in Texas are facing criticism now that they <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/" target="_blank">weren't prepared to operate in extremely cold temperatures</a>. But consider the challenges facing two Texas generators that are identical in every way, except that one decides to invest in winterization. That company will have higher costs than its competitor and may be forced to submit higher-priced offers in the market, potentially losing out on opportunities to sell its electricity.</p>
<div id="c2792" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0322eb9acedc7416dc04356f6be3da2a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1361346284230234112" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">ERCOT expected to get low capacity factors from wind and solar during winter peak demand. What it didn't expect is… https://t.co/WTn1btQgVx</div> — Daniel Cohan (@Daniel Cohan)<a href="https://twitter.com/cohan_ds/statuses/1361346284230234112">1613405221.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In the long run, the company that winterizes may have a more difficult time staying in business. It would be better prepared for the conditions affecting Texas now, but it would operate at a competitive disadvantage under more normal conditions.</p><p>An international nonprofit regulator called the <a href="https://www.nerc.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">North American Reliability Corporation</a> conducts semi-annual reliability assessments for each North American region, but those assessments are only as good as the assumptions they're based on. If the assessment doesn't consider extreme events, then the regulator can't determine whether a power system is ready for them.</p><p>After an earlier cold wave in 2011 that led to power shortages, federal regulators identified options for winterizing the Texas power system – but ERCOT <a href="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/winter-preparedness-not-mandatory-at-texas-power-plants-and-generators-despite-2011-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">did not require energy companies to carry them out</a>. Other regions might value resilience differently. For example, ISO-New England launched a program in 2018 that compensates generators for <a href="https://vimeo.com/257500308" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">providing extra capacity when the system is strained</a>.</p><p>The power of a competitive generation market is that each generator gets to decide for itself what makes it sustainable in the long run. That's also a weakness of the market.</p>
<h3>What's Next for Texas?</h3><p>Once power is restored across Texas, state and federal policymakers will have to address several tough questions in order to make failures like this less likely.</p><p>First, does preparing the power system for severe storms represent value for electricity customers? What types of events should people be protected from? Who determines the scenarios that go into reliability assessments? Since consumers will pay the costs, they should also benefit.</p>
<p>Second, how should people pay for this resiliency? Costs could be assessed based on the number of kilowatt hours each household uses or charged as a flat fee per customer – an approach that could benefit heavy electricity users. Or they could be covered through new taxes. How will decision-makers respond a year from now, when the crisis has passed and people ask, "The weather is great and the system is doing fine, so why am I paying more for my electricity?"</p><p>Third, how does that money that consumers pay to improve the system translate into projects? Should it go directly to generators or into a fund that generating companies can draw on? Who would administer the fund? Who is ultimately responsible for implementing changes to the system and accountable if things don't improve?</p><p>Finally, how will these changes affect the market's central goal: inducing energy companies to provide power at the lowest cost?</p><p>Ultimately, <a href="https://theconversation.com/delinquent-electric-bills-from-the-pandemic-are-coming-due-who-will-pay-them-147970" target="_blank">the public pays the costs of electricity service</a>, either through higher rates or service interruptions during events like this week's Texas freeze. In my view, utilities, regulators, government officials and people like me who study them have a responsibility to ensure that people get the best value for their money.</p>
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<em>Theodore J. Kury is the director of energy studies at the University of Florida.<br/>
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<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Theodore Kury is the director of energy studies at the University of Florida's Public Utility Research Center, which is sponsored in part by the Florida electric and gas utilities and the Florida Public Service Commission, none of which has editorial control of any of the content the Center produces.</em>
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<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-texas-electricity-system-produced-low-cost-power-but-left-residents-out-in-the-cold-155527" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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