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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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about climate change issues in the State Dining Room of the White House on January 27, 2021 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker-Pool / Getty Images
President Joe Biden signed a sweeping executive order Wednesday to address the climate crisis.
<p>The order set out a bold plan to prioritize climate action for both domestic and international policy while moving away from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuels</a>, creating jobs and emphasizing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/environmental-justice" target="_self">environmental justice</a>.</p><p>"In my view, we've already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis and we can't wait any longer," Biden said in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/01/27/remarks-by-president-biden-before-signing-executive-actions-on-tackling-climate-change-creating-jobs-and-restoring-scientific-integrity/" target="_blank">press briefing</a>. "We see it with our own eyes, we feel it, we know it in our bones, and it's time to act."</p><p>The Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad endorsed numerous actions, including:</p><ol><li>Hosting a Leaders' Climate Summit to boost international climate ambition ahead of the next UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties.</li><li>Determining new national emissions reduction goals per the terms of the Paris climate agreement.</li><li>Developing a financial plan to help developing countries act on and adapt to the climate crisis.</li><li>Creating a National Climate Task Force to shape the domestic response across agencies.</li><li>Working to ensure a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035.</li><li>Ensuring all federal vehicles are electric.</li><li>Increasing renewable energy production on federal land and waters, with a goal of doubling offshore wind power by 2030.</li><li>Pausing all oil and gas leases on public lands.</li><li>Ending fossil fuel subsidies.</li><li>Creating a Civilian Climate Corps.</li><li>Crafting a plan to conserve 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030.</li><li>Tasking fossil fuel workers with plugging methane gas leaks and handling other restoration work.</li><li>Creating a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council to address the needs of communities that have been disproportionately harmed by pollution.</li><li>Mandating that 40 percent of federal climate investments are directed to marginalized communities.</li></ol>
<p>Also on Wednesday, Biden took executive actions to emphasize the importance of evidence-based decision making across the federal government. He created a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-presidents-council-of-advisors-on-science-and-technology/" target="_blank">President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology</a> and a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/" target="_blank">Task Force on Scientific Integrity</a>. These actions follow attempts by the Trump administration to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change-censorship-trump-2639315251.html" target="_self">dismiss mainstream climate science</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/national-climate-assessment-scientist-trump-2648849642.html" target="_self">interfere with government researchers.</a></p><p>"It is the policy of my Administration to make evidence-based decisions guided by the best available science and data," Biden wrote in the memorandum creating the scientific integrity task force.</p><p>Biden's actions were met with enthusiasm by environmental groups.</p><p>"The Biden-Harris administration has rolled out the most ambitious plan for a<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustClimateFuture?src=hashtag_click" target="_blank"> #JustClimateFuture</a> in our nation's history," the Natural Resources Defense Council <a href="https://twitter.com/NRDC/status/1354502885774655490" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.</p>
<p>The youth-based Sunrise Movement, meanwhile, noted that the executive order included many items they <span style="background-color: initial;">had been fighting for,</span> including the emphasis on green jobs and environmental justice.</p><p>"Seeing this type of action from the Biden administration is great but also just the beginning of what we need to fully address and stop the climate crisis," the group <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1354603918555312130" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.</p><p>However, the Indigenous Environmental Network <a href="https://twitter.com/IENearth/status/1354539231910223876" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">felt more cautious</a>. The group applauded the pause on fossil fuel extraction, but said it would wait to celebrate until extraction finally ended. </p><p>"As for Biden's pledge to address climate and environmental justice, we are optimistic about the chance to work with his administration in those endeavors, but we stand by our principles that such justice on these stolen lands cannot be achieved through market-based solutions, unproven technologies and approaches that do not cut emissions at the source," the group wrote.</p>
<p>The fossil fuel industry was predictably less pleased. The Western Energy Alliance, which represents oil and gas companies in the Western U.S., immediately filed a lawsuit against the pause on new fossil fuel leases, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/climate/biden-climate-executive-orders.html?campaign_id=51&emc=edit_MBE_p_20210128&instance_id=26488&nl=morning-briefing&regi_id=88631294&section=topNews&segment_id=50446&te=1&user_id=d8eb7cee9d3c5ab39515239b6ec54d19" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>"Penalizing the oil and gas industry kills good-paying American jobs, hurts our already struggling economy, makes our country more reliant on foreign energy sources, and impacts those who rely on affordable and reliable energy," Anne Bradbury, president of the American Exploration and Production Council, said in a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/27/biden-suspends-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-series-of.html" target="_blank">statement reported by CNBC</a>.</p><p>However, Biden and his top climate advisors pushed back against the oft-repeated assertion that climate action is bad for U.S. workers.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/01/27/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-special-presidential-envoy-for-climate-john-kerry-and-national-climate-advisor-gina-mccarthy-january-27-2021/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">remarks to the press</a>, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry noted that fossil fuel jobs could take a toll on the workers who performed them.</p><p>"[Y]ou look at the consequences of black lung for a miner, for instance, and measure that against the fastest-growing job in the United States before COVID was solar power technician. The same people can do those jobs, but the choice of doing the solar power one now is a better choice," he said.</p>
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AdamRadosavljevic / Getty Images
A good backup generator can help you keep your home running smoothly, even in the event of a major power outage. And, when you choose a solar generator, you can power your home using clean, renewable energy from the sun. By contrast, gas and diesel generators burn fossil fuels, and are extremely loud and spew harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Here are the best solar power generators available today that can provide a cleaner alternative for home generators.
<h2>Our picks for the top solar generators</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Best Overall - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Inverter-Generator-Generators-Emergency/dp/B08MBDN4VK" target="_blank">Goal Zero Yeti 6000X</a></li><li>Best Portability - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Powerbox-Portable-Outdoor-1075WH-Generator/dp/B01N6BCDZD" target="_blank">Renogy Lycan Powerbox</a></li><li>Best for Camping - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KBKJ8Q/?tag=best-solar-generator-20" target="_blank">Jackery Explorer 1000</a></li><li>Most Affordable - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-iGen600s-Portable-Generator-Lithium-ion/dp/B08SJ8JBBC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&m=A2MDFVW08TGIW8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1614289724&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Westinghouse iGen600s</a></li><li>Fastest Charging- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/EF-ECOFLOW-Portable-Station-Generator/dp/B083FR3762" target="_blank">EcoFlow DELTA</a></li><li>Best for Larger Appliac - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BLUETTI-Portable-Station-Generator-Emergency/dp/B08MZJW9Y5" target="_blank">MAXOAK Bluetti AC200P</a></li><li>Most Powerful - <a href="https://www.pointzeroenergy.com/product/titan-solar-generator/" target="_blank">Point Zero Energy Titan</a></li></ul><h2>How we reviewed the best solar generators</h2><p>There are a number of factors we considered when choosing which solar power generators to recommend, including:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>Battery capacity.</strong> Battery storage capacity is an important ranking factor. A greater battery capacity means the generator can store more energy, which ultimately means it will last longer without requiring a recharge. This is measured in watt-hours (Wh).</li><li><strong>Power output. </strong>When your generator is up and running, it will put out a certain amount of energy, measured in watts. It's important to select a generator that offers enough watts for you to power your essential home appliances.</li><li><strong>Inverter rating. </strong>The <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-glossary#direct_current" target="_blank">inverter</a> is a critical part of any backup power generator. Basically, this is the component that turns solar energy into AC (alternating current) electricity. Inverter rating, along with battery capacity, determine how much power you can get from your home backup generator.</li><li><strong>Expandability. </strong>In order for your backup generator to function, you'll need some way of charging it. And if you plan to rely on solar energy, that means using solar panels. Expandability means that you can add solar panels to your generator as needed, making it easier to absorb more sunlight for energy.</li><li><strong>Number of outlets. </strong>How many devices or appliances do you need to charge? The functionality of your backup generator will be determined by how many outlets or ports are available.</li><li><strong>Price.</strong> Of course, as you look for the best home backup generator, one of the most crucial considerations of all is your budget. We've sought to emphasize generators that offer maximum value.</li></ul><p>Based on these criteria, we've determined the solar backup generators that offer the most consumer value.Check out our complete list of recommendations below. You can also read our complete review of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-solar-energy-companies-2650809962.html" target="_blank">best solar energy companies</a> for rooftop home solar systems.</p><h2>The best solar energy generators</h2>
<h2>How does a solar generator work?</h2><p>Solar generators <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work" target="_blank">capture energy from the sun</a> using photovoltaic solar panels, and store it in a built-in battery. Note that in order to absorb the sun's energy, your portable generator will need solar panels. These are typically sold separately, or as a package with the unit, so you'll need to factor in this additional cost. Solar panels contain solar cells, which are typically made of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicone that acts as a semiconductor.</p><p>Once the sun's energy is stored in the battery, it is converted into AC energy. This happens via a component known as an inverter. AC power is required for most of your household appliances, as well as for charging devices like your phone, laptop, or tablet that normally require a wall charger or AC outlet.</p><h2>Can a solar generator power my whole house?</h2><p>Generally speaking, a rechargeable solar generator won't be able to power your entire house if you lose power. With that said, even a smaller generator can be used to power key devices or appliances, sometimes for days at a time depending on its power consumption. For instance, you can keep your refrigerator up and running, and/or ensure plenty of sustained use for medical devices, like CPAP machines.</p><p>With an especially robust generator, you may also be able to connect to core circuits, running multiple appliances at one time.</p><p>So, while having an emergency power supply from a solar generator may not mean that you can go about your life just like you would normally, you can at least keep the lights on at home, run your air conditioner, or ensure your perishable food items remain fresh until your electricity comes back on.</p><h2>What are the benefits of a solar generator?</h2><p>There are a number of advantages you can anticipate from an emergency generator, especially when you choose to go solar. Consider:</p><p><strong>You can minimize the disruption of a power outage.</strong></p><p>Again, inclement weather can cause power outages that last for hours, sometimes even days. During that time, you can use a backup generator to keep your essential appliances and devices up and running. This level of preparedness can offer ample peace of mind.</p><p><strong>Solar generators offer a clean alternative to other energy sources.</strong></p><p>Most generators are powered by fossil fuels, which means they emit a lot of noxious emissions. If you want a clean power source and a minimal environmental footprint, these solar solutions are just the ticket. They are also much quieter than traditional gas or diesel generators.</p><p><strong>They can be very cost-effective in the long run.</strong></p><p>While the initial purchase price of a solar generator may seem steep, keep in mind that sunlight is free. You don't have to worry about buying fuel or any additional expenses associated with your solar unit.</p><h2>Find the solar generator that's best for you</h2><p>Disaster preparedness begins by identifying a reliable power source, and if you want that power source to be clean and renewable, solar generators are ideal. Take a moment to explore the options and find the generator that's right for you.</p><p><em><strong>Josh Hurst </strong></em><em>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.</em></p>
Goal Zero Yeti 6000X
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTIxMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDY0MTU0MH0.DESPf736lfPascaXVa9R6mJQNSv5sI8U8yB4gu1tDmM/img.png?width=980" id="534d0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="832f91baeadf06dc4410b8261cf7ef4a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Goal Zero
<p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Inverter-Generator-Generators-Emergency/dp/B08MBDN4VK" target="_blank">Yeti 6000X</a> is actually a portable power station that can be used for off-grid camping or powering an RV. With 6,000 watt-hours and two 2000W AC charger ports, it will give you plenty of power for your home. With a home integration kit, it's easy to use the Goal Zero Yeti 6000X to power essential circuits.</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>Though it isn't exactly cheap, the Yeti 6000X power station is a great all-purpose backup generator, including a top-of-the-line charge controller and two robust AC outlets that make it easy for you to keep your household essentials up and running. It can even power a full-size refrigerator or microwave.</p>
$5000
Renogy Lycan Powerbox
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTIwMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTM3NjI1N30.EDSdmpiGcknKhn94YhJLnyJUEn3zxWo9vGzmT2c4Zcs/img.png?width=980" id="0cab1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c5c9cd60d3ab98503fd3ad5e32909229" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Renogy
<p>Renogy produces several different power stations and chargers, but we especially like the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Powerbox-Portable-Outdoor-1075WH-Generator/dp/B01N6BCDZD" target="_blank">Lycan Powerbox</a>, a solar power solution that's only a little bit bigger than a suitcase. It comes with an easy-grip handle and heavy-duty wheels, making it one of the most portable solar generators around while still offering 1200W of output, which is enough power for most electronic devices and some appliances.</p><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> The Lycan Powerbox can provide 1075 watt-hours of continuous power without the noise or fumes associated with gas generators. It offers great portability and includes an LCD display and easy, intuitive controls that allow you to switch between DC power and AC power as needed, as well USB ports and 12 volt car charger ports.</p>
$1300
Jackery Explorer 1000
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE3NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTA3MDIwNX0.bTHIOQjgpXbREPl1C9qHAtcXkJ-uKXhWfNZYoD-bjjA/img.png?width=980" id="e2b71" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c5f59c32bc198c9ea57ac1c35a25ec4b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Jackery
<p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KBKJ8Q/?tag=best-solar-generator-20" target="_blank">Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station</a> is one of the best all-around options, equally suited for outdoor activities and for emergency power readiness. Though it's rated for 1,000 watts, it can actually get closer to 2,000. The lithium battery pack offers a capacity of 1,200 watt-hours, and Jackery's professional MPPT technology makes it easy to get your unit fully charged in a relatively short span of time (usually just eight hours if you have two panels going).</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>Jackery is one of the leading names in outdoor equipment and in clean energy products. This portable power station is a great pick for campers and can also be a very effective home backup power solution for small appliances and electronics thanks to its pure sine wave inverter AC outlets.</p>
$1000
Westinghouse iGen600s
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE2OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0Nzg2OTg0Nn0.gQOrdLgsS7ZBw5ccrVoCXHqYvZ5JZIOA282ltOO8kHY/img.png?width=980" id="f5e59" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="369df3dc290b5be3708f7e424b072f4e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Westinghouse Outdoor Power
<p>Westinghouse is another company that specializes in solar powered generators, most of which are more ideally suited for camping trips. Their <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-iGen600s-Portable-Generator-Lithium-ion/dp/B08SJ8JBBC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&m=A2MDFVW08TGIW8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1614289724&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2" target="_blank">iGen600s</a> portable generator, however, offers a wattage of up to 1,200 peak watts, which can certainly function as a decent emergency backup for certain household appliances and small devices.</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>For a portable yet still very versatile solar generator, Westinghouse is a company to keep on your list. The iGen600 power system can run a mini fridge for up to 42 hours or a CPAP machine for up to 46 hours thanks to its lithium-ion battery that offers 592 Watt-hours of energy and a long battery life.</p>
$499
EcoFlow DELTA
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE2MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NzYzOTAxNn0.ZFdqRPZfKPd_vOGK8FEUVY_3git-ATlmAvKSqQk47aM/img.png?width=980" id="991f2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e60ae1ca24865db60be46fe486c9c8a9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />EcoFlow
<p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/EF-ECOFLOW-Portable-Station-Generator/dp/B083FR3762" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EcoFlow DELTA power station</a> is a wonderfully rugged, dependable backup generator that can help meet your power needs during a blackout. For one thing, the charging time is incredible; you can potentially go from zero to 80 percent in under an hour with a wall outlet. Should you ever find yourself facing a power outage, this is an emergency energy solution you'll be really thankful for.</p><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> The DELTA station from EcoFlow offers a lot of value and usability; in particular, it has one of the fastest recharging times of any solar generator, which may be reason enough for you to choose it over the competitors. The DELTA unit offers 13 ports, meaning it's compatible with pretty much any device or appliance you could ever need to charge.</p>
$1399
MAXOAK Bluetti AC200P
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE1MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDEzMjAwNn0.qU0EE--tgolDhaaU-EumYLOs_jtFd9L4SWvDhP4PySk/img.png?width=980" id="aa450" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7eb54f1dd0974c5fe4a9920bdbfe98c1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Bluetti
<p>For a heavy-duty emergency power solution, look no further than to MAXOAK, and particularly to a product called the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BLUETTI-Portable-Station-Generator-Emergency/dp/B08MZJW9Y5" target="_blank">Bluetti AC200P</a>. With a 2000 Watt-hour capacity, this is one of the most robust solar generators you'll find anywhere.</p><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> MAXOAK's Bluetti AC200P is the one you're going to want for really heavy-duty home energy backup. With massive AC inverters that offer up to 4800W surge capacity, it can provide more than enough power to fuel all your most critical home appliances, even some HVAC units. Also note the two-year warranty, a generous consumer protection.</p>
$2000
Point Zero Energy Titan Solar Generator
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTEzMi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjY5NzcwMH0.urU8n-Yghr4O-LzDr_nAath6k8XMFZrCGU5JISwbwp8/img.png?width=980" id="93ad7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8526191ca3bffa4638b69e80d61809ce" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="349" />Point Zero Energy
<p><a href="https://www.pointzeroenergy.com/product/titan-solar-generator/" target="_blank">Point Zero Energy</a> is one of the foremost names in disaster preparedness, and when you take a look at their product specs, you'll see why. Their Titan model solar generator offers almost twice the storage of similarly priced units with a high-capacity 2,000-watt-hour battery capacity and 3,000 watt high-efficiency inverter.</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>On a purely technical level, this is the beefiest generator on our list, though of course, it's also one of the priciest. The unit is made with high-efficiency components, meaning it doesn't waste a lot of energy running the system; instead, it just supplies you with plenty of functional electricity when you need it the most.</p>
$2995
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How Biden’s Dogs Could Make the Oval Office a Workplace With Less Stress and Better Decision-Making
26 January
Animals
First Lady Jill Biden with First Dog Champ outside the White House on Sunday, Jan. 24. Adam Schultz / Official White House photo
By Ellen Furlong
On Jan. 24 the White House welcomed two new residents: Champ and Major, the newly minted first dogs of the United States. The first dogs are poised to offer special benefits to workers in the White House.
<p>
<span></span>Since entering the political spotlight, Champ and Major have achieved <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a34680434/joe-biden-dogs/" target="_blank">celebrity status</a>, making news when then-<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/29/politics/biden-twisted-ankle/index.html" target="_blank">President-elect Joe Biden fractured his foot while playing with Major</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/joebiden/status/1189327302733238272?lang=en" target="_blank">stumping for Biden on the campaign trail</a>. The dogs even share a <a href="https://twitter.com/firstdogsusa" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>, which features <a href="https://twitter.com/firstdogsusa/status/1349845039434887168" target="_blank">photos</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/firstdogsusa/status/1352404292049711106/photo/1" target="_blank">doggie press releases</a>. Major, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/style/biden-german-shepherd-champ-major-rescue.html" target="_blank">the first shelter dog to live in the White House</a>, has delighted so many people, the Delaware Humane Association, from which Major was adopted, <a href="https://delawarehumaneassociation.salsalabs.org/indoguration/index.html" target="_blank">held an "indoguration" ceremony</a> for him.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/white-house-pets/top-dogs-at-the-white-house" target="_blank">Pets in the Oval Office</a> have long fascinated many on both sides of the aisle. George H.W. Bush's springer spaniel, <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Millie_s_Book/VIxTPgAACAAJ?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Millie, "authored" a book</a> on life in the White House that charmed many readers – and even <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/all-the-presidents-pooches-136909816/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">outsold her presidential guardian's autobiography</a>. More recently, <a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/fotoware?id=4223CE23619B4E05%20A387769923767980" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buddy Clinton</a>, <a href="https://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/Home/The-President-and-Family/The-Bush-Family/Barney-and-Miss-Beazley-Biography.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Barney and Miss Beazley Bush</a> and <a href="https://www.obama.org/gallery/bo-sunny/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bo and Sunny Obama</a> have captivated the American public while roaming the halls of the White House.
</p><p>
As a dog enthusiast, I too take enormous delight in seeing presidents' dogs <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-17/president-obama-runs-with-bo-the-dog/8188148?nw=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">run down the White House hallways</a>, <a href="https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/pets/spot/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">deplane from Air Force One</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-a-dog-pick-the-next-president-132719" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">campaign with their guardians</a>. But as a <a href="https://www.iwudogscientists.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">psychologist studying dog cognition and behavior</a>, I must add a crucial point: <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Decoding-Dogs-Inside-the-Canine-Mind-Audiobook/B08FXRKSK3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dogs have much more to offer</a> than feel-good stories and cute photo ops. A growing area of research suggests that <a href="https://www.medicaldaily.com/how-spending-time-dogs-significantly-improves-your-life-423091" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dogs can provide real benefits</a>, not only to their daily companions, but also to those in their orbit.
</p>
Promoting Well-Being
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTUzNjM4OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDQxNTg1MX0.3wAaMwHIdVaRh9cIyfTesDpQMK0Pwg9nyUNCtfuTuCU/img.jpg?width=980" id="443d8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4cb3d440ff15ab78cd8309e1ca58050f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1120" data-height="746" />Presidential pup Major Biden stretches his legs on the White House lawn. Adam Schultz / Official White House photo
<p>These benefits explain why many workplaces – from <a href="https://thebark.com/content/barks-directory-best-dog-friendly-companies" target="_blank">Amazon to Zygna</a> – have begun welcoming dogs into their offices. Recent research suggests that dogs in the workplace can lead to <a href="http://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00138" target="_blank">increased worker engagement, lower employee turnover</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943605277399" target="_blank">greater work satisfaction</a> and even enhanced employee <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010089" target="_blank">cohesion and communication</a>.</p><p><span></span>The Oval Office, the site of momentous decisions, enormous stress and complex social dynamics, may benefit from dogs even more than typical workplaces. After all, stress can compromise <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.02.003" target="_blank">decision-making</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051117174336.htm" target="_blank">problem-solving abilities</a>. Pets can alleviate stress, however, dampening these effects and leading to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/hyp.38.4.815" target="_blank">improved performance on difficult tasks</a>.</p><p>Not only do people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1550280" target="_blank">report feeling less workplace stress around dogs</a>, but their very bodies tend to support this claim. A growing area of research suggests human <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-013-9546-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heart rates slow, levels of the stress hormone cortisol shrink</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb137178.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blood pressure decreases</a> when people hang out with dogs. Interestingly, the positive effects of pups on stress levels exceed that of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000024236.11538.41" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">even a close friend or family member</a>: A dog will reduce your stress more than your spouse or best friend will. After all, dogs are <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-dogs-nose-knows-no-bounds-and-neither-does-its-love-for-you-148484" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">naturally inclined to love you unconditionally</a> and will never find fault with the way you slurp your soup.</p><p>Dogs may reduce stress because they <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-balance/201804/how-dogs-drive-emotional-well-being" target="_blank">provide social support</a>. You may feel supported by your pooch, in part, because of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1261022" target="_blank">oxytocin feedback loop between humans and dogs</a>. Oxytocin, a hormone involved in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00427-5" target="_blank">promoting social bonds</a>, is released in both dogs and humans when <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dog-gazes-hijack-brains-maternal-bonding-system-180955019" target="_blank">gazing into each other's eyes</a>.</p><p>People report <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279306785593928" target="_blank">improved mood</a>, <a href="https://news.ubc.ca/2018/03/12/sit-stay-heal-study-finds-therapy-dogs-help-stressed-university-students/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increased happiness and greater energy levels</a> around dogs. And, on the flip side, they enjoy reduced feelings of <a href="https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/February-2018/How-Dogs-Can-Help-with-Depression" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">depression</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2007.11.007" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">loneliness</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024506" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">negativity</a> when dogs are present.</p>Creating Connection
<p>Given dogs' skill at providing these supports and boosting mood, it may not surprise you to learn they work their magic not only one on one, but also in group settings. In the presence of a dog, people in groups have <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279304785643203" target="_blank">better social interactions, engage in more conversations</a> and are more likely to form <a href="http://doi.org/10.1163/156853007X169333" target="_blank">long-term friendships</a> with one another.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTUzNjMxMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzA3NzIyN30.NpV2TIQAIBPvEkJpq_YYdbcbwsOkedIlNPVbrjUuqg8/img.png?width=980" id="d5467" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f3cd33e6849a76002c4db29ae9fb36b3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1584" data-height="1262" />
<script async="async" data-counter="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/153406/count?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" id="theconversation_tracker_hook" src="https://theconversation.com/javascripts/lib/content_tracker_hook.js" type="text/javascript"></script>President Clinton and President Chirac of France showing Buddy some love in 1999. National Archives and Records Administration
<p>The effects of dogs as social lubricants can go further: Dogs even foster development of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/000712600161673" target="_blank">social support networks</a> among their humans, leading to a sense of community, and more social interactions between people in their vicinity. These engagements offer opportunities for even more social support in high-stress environments. And perhaps most importantly, <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/175303708X371564" target="_blank">people are more likely to offer help</a> when a dog is present.</p><p>Having Champ and Major in the White House may help President Biden and his staff navigate the stresses and tensions of the current political landscape. Beyond "indogurations," tweets and cute photo ops, Champ and Major will offer physical, psychological and social benefits in the Oval Office.</p><p>In short, pets (<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-being-cat-lover" target="_blank">yes, cats too!</a>) improve the quality of life in almost every context – including presidential ones. Perhaps they can, even in a small way, play a role in uniting a divided country. After all, personal politics aside, isn't it comforting to know there will be paws pattering around the White House again?</p><p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ellen-furlong-1165354" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ellen Furlong</a> is an associate professor of Psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University.</em></p><p><em>Disclosure statement: Ellen Furlong has written for Audible / The Great Courses. She has received funding from The National Institute of Health. She is a member of The Animal Behavior Society, The Comparative Cognition Society, The American Psychological Association, and The Society for Teaching of Psychology.</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-bidens-dogs-could-make-the-oval-office-a-workplace-with-less-stress-and-better-decision-making-153406" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Jill Biden and President-elect Joe Biden wave as they arrive on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
By John R. Platt
The period of the 45th presidency will go down as dark days for the United States — not just for the violent insurgency and impeachment that capped off Donald Trump's four years in office, but for every regressive action that came before.
<p>It's been said that Trump was the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-worst-president-environment-2645034831.html" target="_self">worst environmental president in history</a>, and that's easy to see from his administration's record. They rolled back decades of environmental progress by slashing protective regulations, strangled the agencies tasked with enforcing the regulations that remained, pushed corporate agendas damaging to wildlife, human health and the climate, and stoked the flames of right-wing extremists — including people whose radical agendas often attack public-land protections or climate science.</p><p>That barely covers it all, of course. It would take an entire book — a whole library — to fully convey the environmental damage done under Trump.</p>
<p>And now it's up to a new administration — and the work of a lot of people on top of it — to undo the damage and hopefully make up for four lost years of potential progress.</p><p>President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, together with the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, have a tough task ahead of them.</p><p>Make that many tough tasks. They'll need to rebuild the ranks of government workforces while reinforcing the trust in government and the trust in America on the world stage. They'll need to pass and restore regulations that don't just return us to the status quo but radically improve on it — taking the world forward at a time when the effects of climate change and the extinction crisis continue to worsen. 2020 tied for the <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/08012021/2020-earth-hottest-year-temperatures/" target="_blank">hottest year on record</a>, and Trump <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/trump-has-listed-the-fewest-endangered-species-of-any-p-1845854952" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">added fewer species</a> to the Endangered Species Act than any other president while <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/08/12/750479370/trump-administration-makes-major-changes-to-protections-for-endangered-species" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">slashing protections</a> for those already on the list. They'll need to address environmental justice at a time when white supremacy is at its most vocal point in decades and firmly entrenched in some areas of government. They'll need to resist the usual corporate influence that could slow things down along the way.</p>
<p>And they'll need to do it all while helping the country stabilize and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump's botched response to the crisis, not to mention the continued threat from seditious domestic terrorists.</p><p>That's a lot on one plate, but they're already off to a good start. Biden and Harris ran on a strong climate platform and have assembled an experienced climate team. Neither the platform nor the team is perfect — progressives think they can do much better — but they're light years ahead of anything we saw under the previous administration.</p><p>And of course, now that the Democrats have won the Senate, Biden's cabinet picks are more likely to be confirmed and the country will no longer face the obstruction ever-present under the majority leadership of Mitch McConnell.</p>
<p>But at the same time, Republicans have risen to power in cities and state legislatures around the country, and many of them are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/politics/trump-republicans.html" target="_blank">still fueled by MAGA Trumpism</a> and unhinged conspiracy theories. The right-wing media, meanwhile, continue to shape and mold millions with their unique brand of misinformation and discord. Both trends will present a barrier to progress at every level.</p><p>So what's the agenda for moving forward under the Biden-Harris administration? Below, you'll find a series of articles and expert commentaries from <em>The Revelator</em>'s archives addressing key steps the incoming team can take to restore the EPA, protect key species, address the COVID-19 pandemic in a just and climate-focused manner, and more.</p><p>We'll continue to add to these roadmaps as the administration gets its footing, and we invite any insiders and experts to <a href="https://therevelator.org/contact#write-for-us" target="_blank">contribute their own voices</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://therevelator.org/reform-blm-biden/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reform the Bureau of Land Management: Biden Must Succeed Where Obama Failed</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/climate-new-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">For a Path Forward on Climate, Let's Learn From the Original New Deal</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/gray-wolf-biden-administration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gray Wolf Recovery and Survival Require Immediate Action by the Biden Administration</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/restoring-epa-biden/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Biden Can Restore the EPA, But It Will Require Steadfast Effort</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/biden-restore-rollbacks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Biden Can Do More Than Just Restore Trump's Environmental Rollbacks</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/biden-climate-plan-trent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Biden-Harris Climate Plan: 'Not Trump' Is Not Enough</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/biden-leadership-wildlife-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Biden Must Take a Leadership Role Against Wildlife Crime</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/multisolving-covid-recovery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Multisolving Our Way to COVID-19 Economic Recovery</a></p><p><a href="https://therevelator.org/biden-climate-farber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Biden Can Leverage Larger Trends to Make Climate Progress</a></p><p><em>And here's a report from our parent organization, the Center for Biological Diversity:</em></p><p><a href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/report-50-critical-environmental-reforms-president-biden-can-enact-without-congress-2020-12-03/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">50 Critical Environmental Reforms President Biden Can Enact Without Congress</a></p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://therevelator.org/rebuilding-years/" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Joe Biden and Donald Trump at the final presidential debate at Belmont University on Oct. 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
By Brett Wilkins
A report published Tuesday by the eco-advocacy group Environment America urges President-elect Joe Biden to immediately restore critical environmental protections gutted by Trump administration regulatory rollbacks.
<p><br/></p>
<p>The report, <a href="https://uspirgedfund.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/First%20Things%20to%20Fix%20Design%20Final_0.pdf" target="_blank"><em>First Things to Fix</em></a>, notes that President Donald Trump has overseen the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks-list.html" target="_blank">reversal or weakening </a>of around 100 environmental regulations during his nearly four years in office.</p><p>"His administration has steadily loosened oversight of polluting industries, eroded protections for endangered wildlife, and stymied efforts to address our most daunting environmental threat: climate change," the report states. "These rollbacks have and will continue to significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and lead to thousands of premature deaths due to poor air quality every year."</p><p>"By undoing the Trump administration's rollbacks of environmental protections, the Biden administration will be able to protect our natural landscapes and give Americans cleaner air, cleaner water, and a more livable climate," the report continues.</p>
<div id="e7035" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5da1fd4251ba813b9a67acbfbb8f32f0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1343951158826725376" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Here’s our recommendations for the first actions President-elect Biden can take to protect the environment. 5 thing… https://t.co/yRSojPMrJh</div> — Environment America (@Environment America)<a href="https://twitter.com/EnvAm/statuses/1343951158826725376">1609257900.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"Many of the rollbacks have been carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency," the report notes. "Others by the departments of Transportation, Energy, and Interior. A lot of them can be undone through swift administrative action in the early days of a Biden administration."</p><p>The report says that Biden's actions could and should include:</p><ul><li>Rejoining the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/04/28/epas-dirty-water-new-rule-discards-science-ignores-importance-wetlands-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paris climate agreement</a>;</li><li>Repealing the so-called "<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/04/28/epas-dirty-water-new-rule-discards-science-ignores-importance-wetlands-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dirty Water Rule</a>";</li><li>Raising <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/30/trump-kneecap-obama-era-fuel-efficiency-standards-hurtling-nation-toward-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">federal fuel economy and emissions standards</a> for vehicles and reaffirming <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/24/days-after-attacking-californias-efforts-reduce-emissions-trump-epa-threatens-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">California's authority</a> to set stronger vehicle emissions standards;</li><li>Withdrawing the Trump <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/06/trumps-offshore-drilling-plan-flouts-law-ignoring-governors-wishes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">draft five-year plan</a> on offshore drilling; and</li><li>Restoring smart <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2020/08/10/groups-will-sue-unless-doe-updates-26-overdue-energy-efficiency-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">energy efficiency</a> policies.</li></ul>
<p>Additionally, the report recommends 15 policies and actions the incoming administration should consider during its first 100 days, including ending oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, protecting endangered species, and reducing methane emissions.</p><p>Earlier this year, nine other environmental groups <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-worst-president-environment-2645034831.html?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4" target="_self">declared</a> Trump "the worst president for our environment in history," citing his administration's "unprecedented assault on our environment and the health of our communities" and policies that "threaten our climate, air, water, public lands, wildlife, and oceans."</p><p>Matt Casale, lead author of the new report and environmental campaigns director for the U.S. Public Interest Resource Group Education Fund, said that "air pollution has been on the rise and many of our bodies of water are at risk of pollution."</p>
<p>"As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, so have the impacts of global warming — from increased wildfires and hurricanes to heat-related illness," he noted.</p><p>"There's a lot to do," added Casale, "but so much of the policy damage from the past four years can quickly be fixed through swift administrative action in the early days of the Biden administration."</p><p>"Biden has the opportunity to use the first 100 days to put us on a path toward a cleaner, healthier future for ourselves, our children, and grandchildren," said Casale. "He cannot pass up that opportunity. We don't have any time to waste."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/29/report-urges-biden-reverse-trump-environmental-rollbacks-and-set-us-path-cleaner" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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An aerial view of the Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund site on Sept. 22, 2020 in Rancho Palos Verde, CA. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
A joint report on Monday highlighted the pressure that President-elect Joe Biden is already facing to deliver on his environmental justice campaign promises—particularly when it comes to the 34 Superfund sites nationwide for which there is no reliable cleanup funding—the largest backlog of "unfunded" sites in 15 years.
<p><br/></p>
<p>The federal Superfund program began with the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-cercla-overview" target="_blank">Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)</a>, passed by Congress in 1980. While cleanup efforts were initially paid for by a trust fund created by taxing the chemical and petroleum industries, lawmakers let the tax expire 25 years ago.</p><p>The new report on the cleanup program from <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/biden-will-inherit-hundreds-toxic-waste-superfund-sites-climate-threats-n1252276" target="_blank"><em>NBC News</em></a>, <em><a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">InsideClimate News</a></em>, and <em><a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Texas Observer</a></em> is the fifth installment of the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/superfund-sites-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Super Threats" </a>series about Superfund sites and climate change. The first report, published in late September, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/superfund-sites-climate-change/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">detailed</a> how hundreds of hazardous waste sites across the United States are threatened by hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, which are all exacerbated by a climate crisis that the Trump administration often refused to acknowledge let alone act to address.</p><p>Both reports pointed to a 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis which found that 945 Superfund sites are vulnerable to extreme weather events that are intensifying because of human-caused climate change, including hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, increased precipitation, or wildfires. The news outlets behind the series created an<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/map-see-toxic-sites-near-you-are-threatened-climate-change-n1240932" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> interactive map</a> for all the locations on the office's list, which includes over half of the unfunded sites—19 of 34.</p>
<div id="b03a5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="539a490467d6c3af2cb231aa97a42739"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1343520823013871616" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">President-elect Joe Biden will have his work cut out for him as he attempts to reverse President Trump’s environmen… https://t.co/NIZ6juIClW</div> — Inside Climate News (@Inside Climate News)<a href="https://twitter.com/insideclimate/statuses/1343520823013871616">1609155300.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The outlets reported Monday that Democrats in Congress, environmentalists, and former officials at the Environmental Protection Agency are urging Biden to consider climate change when creating cleanup plans for not only the unfunded backlog—which has grown under President Donald Trump—but all 1,570 Superfund sites.</p><p>"Even before taking office, the Biden administration accomplished one of the GAO's key recommendations: acknowledge the climate threat," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). "A Biden EPA will need to assess every federal Superfund project and help states do the same. As the GAO showed, climate change brings a new priority to rapid Superfund cleanup work."</p><p>As the outlets reported:</p><blockquote>Beyond Whitehouse's call for climate-threat assessments at every site, one senior former EPA official said the incoming Biden administration should review all of the agreements negotiated by the Trump EPA at Superfund sites with corporations liable for cleanups.<br><br>"You will want to see if the responsible parties were being given preferential treatment," said Mathy Stanislaus, who served as assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management during the Obama administration.<br><br>Stanislaus said such reviews should focus first on any agreements negotiated since the election by the lame-duck Trump EPA.<br></blockquote>
<p>Earlier this month, Public Citizen <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/15/new-trump-lame-duck-temper-tantrum-tracker-will-document-final-gasps-nations" target="_blank">launched</a> an online tool to track Trump's "most corrupt, norm-breaking, dangerous, and unjust actions during the lame-duck session," noting that the past four years have featured "cruelty, recklessness, and cronyism" from the outgoing administration.</p><p>The watchdog group has been critical of Trump's EPA administrators. Currently the agency is run by former coal industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, who was <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/02/28/gop-slammed-shameful-vote-ex-coal-lobbyist-andrew-wheeler-confirmed-epa-chief" target="_blank">confirmed</a> by the Republican-controlled Senate in early 2019. His predecessor, Scott Pruitt, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/05/finally-victory-people-and-planet-epa-chief-scott-pruitt-resigns" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stepped down</a> in July 2018 in the face of several ethics scandals.</p><p>The Monday report noted that "the Superfund program is led by Peter C. Wright, a lawyer who previously worked for Dow Chemical and represented the company in negotiations with the EPA over Superfund sites."</p><p>Although party control of the Senate will be determined by a pair of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/28/perdue-and-loeffler-silent-2000-checks-while-praising-trump-leadership-covid-relief" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">runoff elections</a> in Georgia on January 5, Biden has already announced several of his preferred Cabinet picks, including Michael Regan, the top environmental official in North Carolina, to head the EPA—a move that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/michael-regan-nc-official-reportedly-tapped-be-bidens-epa-head-urged-genuinely" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">drew</a> a range of responses from campaigners.</p><p>On the campaign trail, Biden promised to take bold climate action with a focus on frontline communities. His $2 trillion green energy and environmental justice plan, unveiled in July, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/07/14/more-work-do-major-step-forward-progressives-welcome-bidens-2-trillion-green-energy" target="_blank">earned </a>praise from various activists, including Varshini Prakash, co-founder and executive director of the youth-led Sunrise Movement.</p>
<div id="28f6b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1bb1d6e0d5f2a65c1b4bad9e5b683f76"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1343604912794595333" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">[email protected]'s @VarshPrakash and @DiverseGreen's @andresforchange: @JoeBiden needs to make good on environmental j… https://t.co/7dvRKDzRET</div> — Defend Our Future | #TimeToAct 🌎✊🏿✊ (@Defend Our Future | #TimeToAct 🌎✊🏿✊)<a href="https://twitter.com/DefendOurFuture/statuses/1343604912794595333">1609175348.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Writing for <em>The Hill</em> on Monday, Prakash and Green 2.0 executive director Andrés Jimenez <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/12/28/biden-needs-make-good-environmental-justice-promises" target="_blank">welcomed</a> Biden's selection of Regan for EPA and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.)<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/perfect-choice-progressives-applaud-biden-pick-deb-haaland-interior-secretary" target="_blank"> for interior secretary</a> as "an encouraging sign that his administration is prioritizing the voices of the populations who are most in need of serious attention and aggressive action on some of the most important environmental challenges our nation faces."</p><p>"Still, much difficult work remains to be done if the concerns of frontline and at-risk communities are to be truly prioritized with forging and implementing equitable environmental policies," Prakash and Jimenez wrote, emphasizing that "communities of color have been disproportionately affected by our federal government's lack of action to solve ongoing environmental problems" and "are also at<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/06/29/climate-change-racism/" target="_blank"> higher risk</a> of the consequences of human-induced climate changes."</p><p>The pair urged Biden to "follow through on his promises to root out<a href="https://joebiden.com/environmental-justice-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> systemic racism</a> when it comes to our nation's environmental policy," appoint environmental leaders of color to positions at all levels of his administration, and "take urgent action to curb the global climate crisis and to restore justice for communities impacted by air, water, and land polluters."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/28/biden-already-facing-pressure-tackle-backlog-unfunded-toxic-waste-sites-threatened" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Fauci, Public Health Officials Warn of Post-Holiday Coronavirus Spike
28 December 2020
Health + Wellness
Dr. Anthony Fauci receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health on Dec. 22, 2020, in Bethesda, Maryland. PATRICK SEMANSKY / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
By Brett Wilkins
The United States will most likely experience a "post-seasonal" spike in coronavirus infections largely due to holiday travel and gatherings, current and former U.S. health officials said on Sunday.
<p>"We very well might see a post-seasonal — in the sense of Christmas, New Year's — surge ... a surge upon a surge," <a href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2012/27/sotu.01.html" target="_blank">said</a> Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and an incoming chief medical adviser to President-elect Joe Biden, on CNN's <em>State of the Union</em>.</p><p>"We're really at a very critical point," he warned.</p><p>"I share the concern of President-elect Biden that, as we get into the next few weeks, it might actually get worse," Fauci added, referring to Biden's <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/27/Our%20darkest%20days%20in%20the%20battle%20against%20COVID%20are%20ahead%20of%20us,%20not%20behind%20us,%22" target="_blank">prediction</a> earlier this week that "our darkest days in the battle against COVID-19 are ahead of us, not behind us."</p>
<div id="d5e7f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="294ceee25cc8075272a34099efb1171e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1343202537499930624" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Dr. Anthony Fauci says he believes the worst is still yet to come in the coronavirus pandemic following the holiday… https://t.co/gPU86rjiQO</div> — State of the Union (@State of the Union)<a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSotu/statuses/1343202537499930624">1609079415.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams also said that a post-holiday infection surge was likely.</p><p>"But what the important thing for people to understand is that even if you traveled, it doesn't mean you just throw your hands up in the air and say, oh well," he <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-12-27-20-sen-bernie-sanders/story?id=74922745" target="_blank">said</a> on ABC's <em>This Week</em>.</p><p>"There are measures that you can take," said Adams, including getting tested, self-quarantining, and avoiding vulnerable people such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.</p><p>Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, appearing on CBS' <em>Face the Nation</em>," <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/full-transcript-of-face-the-nation-on-december-27-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">predicted</a> "a grim month."</p><p>"We have a very difficult month ahead of us," he said, identifying California, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey as places "where cases are still building."</p><p>When asked how long it will be until the nation sees results from the two vaccines which have been <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-19-vaccine-doses.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">administered</a> to some 1.9 million Americans and counting, Gottlieb said that while vaccinations are "going to take about three weeks to get through all the nursing homes," there will be "some indication" that mass inoculation is "probably having an effect maybe as early as this week."</p>
<div id="1d7f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6430a0ac4e946e91280d7a2ac89a5089"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1343414957233225728" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">More than 4.4 million Covid vaccines have been provided across the world (that we know of).
That includes, in dos… https://t.co/sPNxiSCORk</div> — Kristine Servando (@Kristine Servando)<a href="https://twitter.com/tinssoldier/statuses/1343414957233225728">1609130059.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Fauci told CNN that in order to achieve "herd immunity" — the effective neutralization of the virus following the infection or vaccination of enough people — 70% to 85% of the public would likely need to be inoculated.</p><p>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesper100klast7days" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> 179,104 new coronavirus infections and 1,309 new daily deaths on Sunday, for a total of 18.9 million U.S. infections and 330,901 COVID-19 deaths during the nine-month pandemic.</p><p>The health experts' warnings came the morning after Trump <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/27/unbelievably-cruel-sanders-slams-trumps-intransigence-millions-lose-unemployment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">refused to sign</a> a $900 billion pandemic relief bill, allowing unemployment coverage for millions of Americans to expire and <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/25/holidays-cant-be-jolly-if-your-family-not-safely-housed-progressives-urge-cdc-extend" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">threatening</a> millions more with eviction as a federal moratorium was set to expire at the end of the year.</p><p>Trump acquiesced to bipartisan pressure and later on Sunday <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/27/after-deadly-delay-trump-folds-and-signs-coronavirus-relief-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">signed</a> a $2.3 trillion COVID-19 relief and spending bill that will provide vaccine distribution, unemployment, small business, and airline company assistance, and fund the U.S. government through September 2021.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/27/surge-surge-fauci-leads-health-officials-warning-post-holiday-coronavirus-spike" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Trending
New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland addresses the virtual DNC convention on August 20, 2020. DNCC / Getty Images
President-elect Joe Biden announced Thursday that he picked New Mexico Representative Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior.
<p>If confirmed by the Senate, Haaland would be the first Native American to hold a cabinet secretary position. However, her appointment as head of the Department of the Interior is especially significant, since the department has historically committed injustices against <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/indigenous" target="_self">Indigenous</a> Americans and currently is the agency most responsible for their welfare.</p><p>"A voice like mine has never been a Cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior," Haaland <a href="https://twitter.com/DebHaalandNM/status/1339722046373130241" target="_blank">tweeted Thursday</a>. "Growing up in my mother's Pueblo household made me fierce. I'll be fierce for all of us, our planet, and all of our protected land. I am honored and ready to serve."</p><p>Haaland hails from the Pueblos of Laguna and Jemez, <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/i-ll-be-fierce-for-all-of-us-6ry2p054SE2dELR9BC-ezA" target="_blank">Indian Country Today reported</a>. She made history in 2018 as one of the first two Indigenous women to be elected to Congress. In the House, she currently acts as the vice chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.</p><p>As head of Interior, Haaland will oversee the department that manages around 500 million acres of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/public-lands" target="_self">public lands</a>, including <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/national-parks" target="_self">national parks</a>, habitat for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species" target="_self">endangered species</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oil-and-gas" target="_self">oil and gas</a> drilling sites, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/climate/deb-haaland-interior-department-native-american.html" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. The department also manages the Bureau of Indian Education and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, which controls funds held in trust for Native Americans, making it the most impactful department for the nation's 1.9 million Indigenous people.</p>
<p>Haaland will bring to the post a clear commitment to both <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/indigenous-rights" target="_self">Indigenous rights</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/environmental-justice" target="_self">environmental justice</a>. As committee vice chair, she has worked to keep the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> front and center while also supporting clean energy plans that help create new jobs and opportunities for former <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil-fuel</a> workers, <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17122020/biden-epa-interior-secretary-deb-haaland-michael-regan-climate/" target="_blank">InsideClimate News reported</a>. She supports the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/green-new-deal" target="_self">Green New Deal</a> and a ban on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fracking" target="_self">fracking</a>.<span></span></p><p>In 2016, she appeared in person to support the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/standing-rock-sioux">Standing Rock Sioux</a> tribes' opposition to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/dakota-access-pipeline" target="_self">Dakota Access pipeline</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/12/17/deb-haaland-interior-secretary-biden/" target="_blank">The Washington Post reported</a>. Jodi Archambault, Standing Rock member and former special assistant to Barack Obama for Native American affairs, said that Haaland offered support from New Mexico's labor unions, as well as home-cooked food.</p><p>"She brought her own cooking things and opened her trunk up, and said, 'This is the best I can do,'" Archambault said. "The stew was really good; the tortillas were excellent."</p><p>Haaland's appointment is itself a victory for Indigenous and environmental groups, who loudly supported her to the Biden transition team. Biden was reportedly leaning toward appointing Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, according to The New York Times. But a combination of activists, Congressional Democrats and celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo, spoke up in her favor. The <a href="https://action.lakotalaw.org/" target="_blank">Lakota People's Law Project </a><a href="https://action.lakotalaw.org/action/native-interior-petition?ms=tw_share&snw=2&ref=7c569efc-4372-444b-a09a-6ad8a0841131" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">launched a petition</a> that was backed by more than 120 tribal leaders. More than 130 tribal leaders also wrote letters to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris supporting her appointment, and groups such as <a href="https://ndncollective.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NDN Collective</a> and <a href="https://illuminatives.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IllumiNative</a> campaigned online, Indian Country Today reported. The <a href="https://www.ienearth.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indigenous Environmental Network</a> also <a href="https://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1414902744" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rallied around her</a>, and the climate-justice focused <a href="https://www.sunrisemovement.org/?ms=SunriseMovement" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunrise Movement</a> also <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1339696587682050050" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supported</a> Indigenous activists in backing her nomination.</p>
<p>Haaland's appointment is a continuation of generations of Indigenous activism for more control over a department that has historically been party to their displacement and oppression. For example, in 1972 around 500 Indigenous activists occupied the department's Washington, D.C. headquarters demanding it honor treaties and improve living standards, The New York Times reported.</p><p>"It could not have been in our forefathers' dreams to have an actual Indian be appointed at the Cabinet level in the agency that is meant to oversee their absorption," Lakota People's Law Project attorney and Indigenous activist Chase Iron Eyes told The Washington Post.</p><p>If confirmed, Haaland will be tasked with reversing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/trump-administration" target="_self">Trump administration</a> Interior policies hostile to both Indigenous people and the environment, such as the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/shrinking-bears-ears-grand-staircase-escalante-2645172719.html" target="_self">shrinking</a> of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah, according to The New York Times. She will also carry out Biden's agenda of banning fracking on public lands. Plus, Haaland has pledged to shift the department's emphasis from championing oil and gas development to boosting <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>.</p><p>"I come from New Mexico. It's a big gas and oil state. And I care about every single job," Haaland told The Washington Post in a recent interview. "We don't want to go back to normal, right? We don't want to go back to where we were because that economy wasn't working for a lot of people."</p><p>The Biden-Harris transition team announced Haaland's appointment with a slate of climate-focused picks, including North Carolina environmental regulator <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/joe-biden-epa-michael-regan-2649540028.html" target="_self">Michael Regan</a> to run the Environmental Protection Agency and former <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/biden-climate-crisis-nominees-2649519000.html" target="_self">Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm</a> to run the Department of Energy.</p>
<div id="2353a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="73804d686d035e4a840c6a023c474456"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1339731588708491266" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The undeniable reality of climate change is taking a toll on lives and livelihoods across the country.
This team… https://t.co/2pkS4M0reZ</div> — Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Biden-Harris Presidential Transition)<a href="https://twitter.com/Transition46/statuses/1339731588708491266">1608251876.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"This brilliant, tested, trailblazing team will be ready on day one to confront the existential threat of climate change with a unified national response rooted in science and equity. They share my belief that we have no time to waste to confront the climate crisis, protect our air and drinking water, and deliver justice to communities that have long shouldered the burdens of environmental harms," Biden said.<br></p>
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President-elect Joe Biden has reportedly tapped Michael Regan, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to be EPA administrator. N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
By Andrea Germanos
President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Michael Regan, the top environmental official in North Carolina, to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to multiple news reports Thursday.
<p>The news drew a range of responses from environmental campaigners, including praise that the apparent choice means the rejection of California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols, who faced <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2020/12/03/70-organizations-oppose-carb-chair-mary-nichols-epa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pushback</a> from progressives over alleged failings to communities on the front lines of dirty industry. Other green campaigners reacted to the possible nomination with a critical eye, pointing to what they see as Regan's "mixed record on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/environmental-justice">environmental justice</a>."</p><p><a href="https://www.wfae.org/politics/2020-12-17/biden-picks-regulator-michael-regan-for-epa-administrator" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According to</a> The Associated Press, Biden's choice of Regan "was confirmed Thursday by a person familiar with the selection process who was not authorized [to] the discuss the matter publicly before the official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity."</p><p>CNN, citing information from people familiar with the matter, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/17/politics/biden-michael-regan-epa/index.html" target="_blank">reported</a> that Regan would be formally announced as the pick on Saturday.</p>
<div id="7065d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b6c3a995456388cfaf620d33bd21e9c4"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1339668763789176832" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"Michael Regan will take the EPA's helm at perhaps the most critical moment in the agency's history, and he has to… https://t.co/LUVF4TrtAr</div> — Center for Bio Div (@Center for Bio Div)<a href="https://twitter.com/CenterForBioDiv/statuses/1339668763789176832">1608236897.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Regan, 44, has served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality since 2017. He previously worked for the federal EPA's air quality and energy programs during the Clinton and Bush administrations. If confirmed by the Senate, Regan would be the nation's second Black EPA administrator; Lisa Jackson, who served in the Obama administration, was the first.</p><p>As the Raleigh, North Carolina, News & Observer <a href="https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247855130.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> Tuesday:</p><blockquote>Under Regan, DEQ created part of the state's Clean Energy Plan. It called for drastically reducing private sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality by 2050, as well as accelerating clean energy innovation to create economic opportunities in rural and urban parts of the state.<br>Earlier this year, Duke Energy agreed to the largest coal ash clean-up in U.S. history as part of a legal settlement with DEQ, one of highlights of Regan's tenure. Duke agreed to excavate nearly 80 million tons of coal ash at six sites.</blockquote>
<p>His tenure at the state agency also included the 2018 establishment of the Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board.</p><p>"If Regan is ultimately Biden's pick and is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will find himself in familiar political territory," Lisa Sorg <a href="https://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2020/12/16/deq-secretary-michael-regan-is-leading-contender-for-top-epa-job-under-biden-administration/" target="_blank">wrote</a> Wednesday at NC Policy Watch. She continued:</p><blockquote>He would inherit an EPA that is struggling with challenges similar to those that faced the Department of Environmental Quality when he became secretary nearly four years ago: a decimated budget, demoralized staff, a previous leadership that favored industry over sound science, myriad regulatory rollbacks, and a politically divided legislative body that uses the purse strings as punishment.</blockquote><p>While Regan drew accolades from some environmental groups quoted by Sorg, others suggested Regan hasn't taken on polluting industries forcefully enough. Sorg added:</p><blockquote>"He's a great person but I don't think he's done enough for us on PFAS" — perfluorinated compounds — said Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear. "I understand the agency is understaffed and underfunded. But the agency has made decisions unrelated to those things. We've fought so hard, but received so little."<br>She cited the consent order between DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch, and Chemours, which opponents of the agreement have noted, is weak. It specifically covers only contamination upstream, including private well owners near the Chemours plant in Cumberland and Bladen counties; downstream communities that are on public water systems in New Hanover and Brunswick counties feel excluded. <br>"There are a quarter-million people still exposed," Donovan said. "To see the state treat municipal ratepayers different than private well owners is not a good answer. They left municipalities on their own to fight our own battles."</blockquote>
<p>Criticism for Regan's background extended beyond his action on PFAS.</p><p><a href="https://therevolvingdoorproject.org/an-epa-administrator-michael-regan-should-not-pacify-environmental-justice-community/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According to</a> the Revolving Door Project:</p><blockquote>Regan <a href="https://scipol.org/content/nc-approves-atlantic-coast-pipeline-permit-through-8-counties" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">supported</a> the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline despite <a href="https://foe.org/news/68-organizations-call-on-secretary-michael-s-regan-to-stop-the-atlantic-coast-pipeline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major opposition</a> from environment, faith, justice, community, and Indigenous groups. His department also failed to respond to recommendations from the Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board to halt the construction extension. He also allowed a major liquid natural gas facility to be built in the middle of Lumbee territory, the largest Indigenous tribe East of the Mississippi, and was accused of failing to initiate public discourse or government-to-government consultation before the facility was built. <br>Regan led a department that <a href="https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-quality-permitting/wood-pellet-industry-permitting-actions-and#active-energy-renewable-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approved every permit application</a> from the wood pellet industry in North Carolina despite the industry's <a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/petitions/2019/ptn4-741-exb.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">massive deforestation problems</a> and <a href="https://thefern.org/2019/08/for-years-complaints-about-north-carolinas-hog-pollution-vanished-in-state-bureaucracy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">failed to resolve</a> critical environmental issues related to hog waste disposal.</blockquote><p>Earthjustice president Abigail Dillen, however, welcomed Regan as possible EPA chief, saying in a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2020/12/17/earthjustice-statement-michael-regans-nomination-epa-administrator" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a> Thursday that he "has dedicated his career to environmental work, advancing clean energy, fighting climate change, and addressing coal ash pollution."</p><p>"As EPA administrator, Regan will play a key role in solving the climate crisis and protecting the health of all communities," she added. "We will do everything in our power to support and push Regan to repair the damage done by the Trump administration, take bold action on climate solutions, and genuinely address environmental injustice that has been allowed to go on too long."</p>
<div id="175c8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b7e804fc36ff41c50b87aee48c032b7b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1339647900658221056" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">BREAKING: Biden just tapped Michael Regan to head EPA — who has not had the best track record on environmental just… https://t.co/ATViRduodf</div> — Friends of the Earth (Action) (@Friends of the Earth (Action))<a href="https://twitter.com/foe_us/statuses/1339647900658221056">1608231923.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The choice was similarly applauded by Lori Lodes, executive director of Climate Power 2020, who called Regan "an outstanding choice by the Biden team" and said he possesses "an understanding of the bold climate action this moment requires."</p><p>Lisa Ramsden, Greenpeace senior climate campaigner, welcomed the choice as well, praising Biden for not going with the previous rumored pick of Nichols.</p><p>"Biden gave himself the chance to choose an EPA administrator who will prioritize justice for the communities most impacted by fossil-fueled pollution," said Ramsden, who urged Regan to "go well beyond simply reversing the Trump administration rollbacks" and to boldly "call out oil and gas corporations for the unjust impacts of their pollution."</p><p>"While leading the Department of Environmental Quality in North Carolina, Regan rightly pushed massive utility Duke Energy to clean up its toxic coal ash and fought Trump's offshore oil drilling plans. But he has a mixed record on environmental justice issues in the state, failing to protect communities from the health impacts of living near hog farms and approving multiple permits for the carbon-intensive wood pellet industry," she said.</p><p>"Going forward," said Ramsden, "Regan and the rest of the Biden-Harris administration need to pair their lofty rhetoric on environmental justice with consistent action."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/michael-regan-nc-official-reportedly-tapped-be-bidens-epa-head-urged-genuinely" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Environmental activists on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol during the Global Climate Strike rally on Sept. 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. Samuel Corum / Getty Images
In an era of extreme political polarization, opportunities for bipartisan efforts on climate change may seem impossible, but a recent introduction of rare climate legislation, authored by Republican and Democratic senators, could pioneer future agreements.
<p>Last Wednesday, U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chairs of the <a href="https://www.coons.senate.gov/climate-solutions-caucus/" target="_blank">Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus</a>, introduced <a href="https://www.coons.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Trillion%20Trees%20and%20Natural%20Carbon%20Storage%20Act%20.pdf" target="_blank">The Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act</a> – a bill aimed at storing carbon, promoting sustainable management and ending <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/deforestation">deforestation</a>.</p><p>Coons said this year's <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires">wildfires</a> and storms are a "reminder of how climate change is impacting our lands – and a clear signal that we need to act now to protect them for future generations," in a <a href="https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-braun-coons-introduce-bipartisan-climate-legislation-to-support-global-trillion-trees-initiative-and-combat-deforestation#:~:text=The%20Trillion%20Trees%20and%20Natural%20Carbon%20Storage%20Act%3A,restoration%2C%20and%20deforestation%20prevention%20efforts." target="_blank">press release</a>.</p><p>Braun called the bill "a common sense proposal to help improve our land, water, soil, and air, without imposing onerous Washington regulations."</p>
<p>Nature-based climate proposals like the one trillion tree initiative reflect "an acknowledgment by some in the Republican Party of rising voter demand for action on climate change, even as it seeks to preserve the economic benefits of a historic drilling boom that has made the United States the world's biggest oil and gas producer," <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-usa-trees/plant-a-trillion-trees-republicans-offer-fossil-friendly-climate-fix-idUSKBN2061FG" target="_blank">Reuters reported</a>.</p><p>Inspired by a July 2019 <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/365/6448/76.full.pdf" target="_blank">study in Science</a>, The Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act understands ecosystem restoration to be one of the most effective climate mitigation strategies, based on the study's finding that an extra 0.9 billion hectares of canopy cover could store 205 gigatons of carbon in places that support forests.</p>
<p>The bill also supports the <a href="https://www.1t.org/" target="_blank">1t.org</a> One Trillion Trees Initiative, a World Economic Forum initiative that aims to plant one trillion trees worldwide by 2030, announced in January 2020. President Donald Trump affirmed his support for the international initiative early this year, despite his public history of climate skepticism, stating he wanted to show "strong leadership in restoring, growing and better managing our trees and our forests," the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/one-trillion-trees-world-economic-forum-launches-plan-to-help-nature-and-the-climate/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum reported</a>. In October, the president signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/president-trump-signs-one-trillion-trees-executive-order-promoting-conservation-regeneration-nations-forests/" target="_blank">executive order</a> which established a council responsible for the federal government's involvement in the international initiative.</p><p>The proposed legislation introduced by Braun and Coons last week seeks to make the U.S. a leader in the One Trillion Trees Initiative. It also aims to resolve the government's limited capacity to "enact a bipartisan conservation policy" and simply put "utilize one of the most effective tools to sequester greenhouse gas emissions," according to the bill's <a href="https://www.coons.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Trillion%20Trees%20Natural%20Carbon%20Storage%20Act%20Final%20One%20Pager%5b3%5d.pdf" target="_blank">one-page summary</a>.</p>
<p>In doing so, The Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act <a href="https://www.coons.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Trillion%20Trees%20Natural%20Carbon%20Storage%20Act%20Final%20One%20Pager%5b3%5d.pdf" target="_blank">would require</a> the USDA to establish objectives for increasing the net carbon stock of various ecosystems.</p><p>In their <a href="http://blogs.edf.org/growingreturns/2020/12/09/trillion-trees-natural-carbon-storage-act/" target="_blank">blog</a>, the Environmental Defense Fund supports this objective, saying the bill could shift focus away from exclusively placing a commercial price on ecosystem harvests and instead give additional value to an ecosystem by including its abilities to mitigate climate change.</p><p><a href="https://www.coons.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Trillion%20Trees%20Natural%20Carbon%20Storage%20Act%20Final%20One%20Pager%5b3%5d.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The bill</a> also allocates $10 million to the USDA Forest Nursery Revival programs to supply seed and samplings for increased planting and establishes a non-profit organization, the International Forest Foundation, to encourage private donations for international reforestation.</p>
<p>While <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-usa-trees/plant-a-trillion-trees-republicans-offer-fossil-friendly-climate-fix-idUSKBN2061FG" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">similar proposals</a> have faced criticism from environmentalists who state planting more trees is not a sufficient strategy to combat the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a> and does little to limit fossil fuel production, legislation like this "is a sign that congressional Republicans may be willing to strike deals on climate with President-elect Joe Biden after he takes office next month," according to a report by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/09/energy-202-two-gop-senators-back-tree-planting-answer-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Washington Post</a>.<br></p><p>The proposed legislation comes at a time when Democrats lead the House by a narrow margin and a Senate majority remains undecided until January, potentially making it difficult for any climate legislation enacted by the Biden administration to pass.</p><p>"The window of opportunity for bipartisan climate action opens wider every day," Elizabeth Gore, senior vice president for Political Affairs of the Environmental Defense Fund <a href="https://www.edf.org/media/congress-calls-natural-climate-solutions" target="_blank">said in a blog</a>. "The time to act is now, and EDF congratulates Sens. Braun and Coons on their efforts to work collaboratively and effectively."</p>
<p class=""><em>Emily Denny is a freelance writer and graduate of UC Berkeley with degrees in environmental policy and English literature. Her concern for climate issues stems from growing up on the rural northwest coast and she hopes her reporting can connect small communities to a global conversation on climate.</em> </p>From Your Site Articles
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For a Path Forward on Climate, Let’s Learn From the Original New Deal
16 December 2020
Insights + Opinion
USDA Photo by Preston Keres
By J. Mijin Cha and Manuel Pastor
You may not know it, but Democrats and Republicans share a growing concern about the climate and environment. With extreme weather events becoming more common, many young Republicans now question their allegiance to a party that denies the reality of climate change. After the destructive environmental policies of the Trump administration, there are high hopes among many Americans that progress will be possible under a new administration — even if Biden's reluctant to abandon fracking or adopt all the language of a "Green New Deal."
<p>But to envision a path forward on environmental policy, we should remember some key lessons from the original New Deal, the 1930s-era policies that pulled the United States out of the Great Depression through a combination of relief programs, public-works projects, financial reforms and progressive regulation.</p><p>The first key lesson: The New Deal was implemented in DC, but many of its policies emerged from earlier state experiments. A second point: The space for progressive presidential action was opened up by labor and grassroots organizing that <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/go-out-and-make-me-do-it_b_281631" target="_blank">didn't just rely on elected leaders</a> but shifted the political calculus of what was possible.</p>
<p>We should also be careful not to repeat past mistakes. For the New Deal had a major Achilles' heel: In an attempt to secure support from Southern Democrats, many of its programs left Black Americans and other people of color behind (such as by excluding domestic and agricultural workers from Social Security).</p><p>For a new national environmental policy to be successful, we need to lift up state experimentation, provide political pressure and political cover for doing what's right, and be sure to center, not derail, racial equity.</p><p>Our scholarship has been <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/pere/roadmap-equitable-low-carbon-future/" target="_blank">looking at just these issues</a> for the past few years, examining how some states are trying to transition off fossil fuel in a way that protects workers and communities and addresses environmental injustice. Known as "just transition," this notion focuses not only on the technical and policy aspects of power generation but also on the nitty-gritty of power-building to organize for change.</p>
<p>There's good news to report from states and localities. For example, in keeping with its ambitious approach to greenhouse gas reduction over the past decade and a half, California recently declared that the state would phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, creating impetus for a market in electric and other zero-emission vehicles. Meanwhile, in New York, more than 200 groups have come together as NY Renews and won the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t3ay4o445DGwPPhBtVNFk1FHfF9LJKWs/view" target="_blank">most ambitious climate protection bill</a> in the nation. Passed in 2019, it will dramatically limit emissions, invest in vulnerable communities, and chart a path to 100% carbon-free electricity.</p><p>Part of what's making such policy change possible is power-building among those whose voices have traditionally been sidelined. As a NY Renews coalition member told us, "Power is built when you stand shoulder-to-shoulder and when you stand up for someone else, not just yourself." So the group built a broad coalition, ranging from labor unions to environmental justice organizations to faith-based organizations, that aimed not just to reduce emissions but to support vulnerable communities.</p>
<p>A similar success story can be found in Arvin, California, a small town in the southern San Joaquin Valley, where local advocates have shown how to dig in against Big Oil. After launching a multifaceted campaign to keep new oil and gas drilling 300 feet from residential or commercial properties, Arvin quickly became a battleground pitting over-polluted residents against the behemoth fossil fuel industry. Despite the pressure, advocates launched a full-scale electoral push that brought in a new, progressive mayor and a wave of young Latina city council members who passed the first setback ordinance in California.</p><p>These are examples of state and local innovation — inspired by grassroots activism and multiracial and multisector coalitions — that should now make their way to the federal level, much as the New Deal picked up ideas such as unemployment insurance, minimum wages and labor protections from <a href="http://bostonreview.net/politics/thomas-kochan-what-would-frances-perkins-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">experiments in New York, Wisconsin and Massachusetts</a>.</p>
<p>The combination of state experimentation, local power-building and attention to racial justice is all the more urgent now because we also need to make our way to a post-climate, post-COVID world. Both our environmental and public health challenges have some common themes and present an opportunity for a new narrative: In each arena we need to prioritize those with the highest risks, act to shield those we may never know, and learn to replace "me" — the spirit of self-interest — with "we," the impulses of solidarity with people and the planet.</p><p>On the policy side, we can clearly learn from state efforts to address climate change. But just as important will be learning from state and local organizing. The secret sauce is not in the technology: moving away from an oil- and coal-fueled power grid to a people-driven power structure will require the science of coalition-building.</p><p>Power must be built to hold a new administration accountable, push it further toward bold climate policy and economic and racial justice, and create the political space for a massive federal investment in public health and clean energy. The future of America and the planet depend on it.</p>
<p><em>J. Mijin Cha is an assistant professor of urban and environmental policy at Occidental College.</em></p><p><em>Manuel Pastor </em><em>is a professor of sociology at the University of Southern California and the director of USC's Equity Research Institute.</em></p><p><em>The opinions expressed above are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The Revelator, the Center for Biological Diversity or their employees.</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://therevelator.org/climate-new-deal/" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Environmentalists Applaud Biden Selections of Granholm, McCarthy for Key Climate Posts
16 December 2020
Politics
Jennifer Granholm speaks on Sept. 10, 2009 in Wixom, Michigan. As governor of Michigan, Granholm worked to redevelop the abandoned Ford Wixom Assembly Plant into a renewable energy park. Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
By Jake Johnson
Grassroots environmental groups that have been demanding a Cabinet dedicated to pursuing an ambitious climate agenda applauded President-elect Joe Biden's reported decision to nominate former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to lead the Energy Department and Natural Resources Defense Council head Gina McCarthy to serve as national climate adviser.
<p>"These selections are a major victory for the broad and diverse movement pushing Joe Biden to keep top contenders with dangerous <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels">fossil fuel</a> ties out of his Cabinet and administration," Collin Rees, senior campaigner at Oil Change U.S., said in a statement shortly after news of the picks broke Tuesday evening.</p>
<p>"Gina McCarthy is a proven climate advocate with the experience to hit the ground running and coordinate an all-of-government response to the climate crisis," said Rees. "Jennifer Granholm is an experienced leader with a strong record of support for <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable energy</a> and opposition to the disastrous Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines."</p><p>Biden's selections came on the heels of reports that the president-elect was <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/11/25/planet-stake-climate-coalition-pressures-biden-reject-corporate-shill-ernest-moniz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">considering returning</a> industry-friendly former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to his old post, a move environmentalists warned would spell disaster for the hopes of a transformative climate agenda. As Common Dreams <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/11/25/planet-stake-climate-coalition-pressures-biden-reject-corporate-shill-ernest-moniz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> late last month, dozens of environmental groups mobilized in an effort to dissuade Biden from picking Moniz — or anyone else with ties to the fossil fuel industry.</p><p>"Shout out to all the grassroots groups who opposed his nomination and opened up the space for more ambitious policy," <a href="https://twitter.com/jamieclimate/status/1338977397283033090" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted</a> Jamie Henn, director of Fossil Free Media.</p>
<p>Celebrating Biden's picks as highly encouraging, Henn pointed to a 2016 event at which Granholm was asked whether she sided "with the Standing Rock Sioux in opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline."</p><p>"Yes, I do," Granholm said. "We ought to be doing everything we possibly can to keep fossil fuel energy in the ground and developing the renewable side."</p><p>If confirmed as energy secretary, <a href="https://twitter.com/jamieclimate/status/1338977771721084928" target="_blank">said</a> Henn, Granholm's "first order of business should be shutting down DAPL, KXL, Line 3, Line 5, and other dangerous fossil fuel projects."</p>
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<p>Climate activists also praised Biden's reported plan to nominate McCarthy, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (<a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/epa">EPA</a>) administrator, as White House climate coordinator, a position that does not require Senate confirmation. Biden has not yet decided on his nominee for EPA chief.</p><p>"Congrats to Gina McCarthy, who has been a great partner and ally to the Sunrise Movement," <a href="https://twitter.com/evanlweber/status/1339031146550734850" target="_blank">said</a> Evan Weber, Sunrise's political director. "She has listened and worked alongside us to push for Joe Biden to be bolder and braver. We'll have to continue to push — that's what movements do — but good to know we'll have an ear."</p>
<p>Natalie Mebane, associate director of policy at 350.org, said in a statement late Tuesday that the president-elect's picks are "positive steps," describing Granholm and McCarthy as "two powerhouse leaders who will stick to a bold and ambitious climate agenda."</p><p>"We look forward to working with both McCarthy and Granholm to reverse course on four years of climate destruction and meet the scale of the climate crisis," said Mebane.</p><p>Rees of Oil Change U.S. added that "Joe Biden's entire government must be dedicated to mobilizing for an end to the fossil fuel era, and these announcements are a step in the right direction."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/16/two-powerhouse-leaders-environmentalists-applaud-biden-selections-granholm-mccarthy" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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