October 14, 2021 The US Department of Energy (DOE) is funding four projects with $13.5 million to obtain critical environmental and wildlife data to support offshore wind development. The projects will inform offshore wind siting and permitting, and help protect wildlife and fisheries as offshore wind deployment increases under the country’s target of installing 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Two of the selected projects will support wildlife and fisheries monitoring efforts on the East Coast, while two are focused on preparing the West Coast for floating offshore wind development by collecting wildlife distribution data and developing tools to monitor the environmental effects of floating offshore wind energy.  On the East Coast, Duke University and team, awarded $7.5 million, will assess the risk that offshore […]

By Ramona du Houx October 7, 2021 Voters in both congressional districts support lower Rx prices and green infrastructure investments As Congress debates the $3.5 trillion budget package, recent polling shows that nearly two-thirds of Maine voters approve of key elements of the proposal to address the high cost of prescription medication and make investments in green infrastructure to address climate change. The poll from the Maine People’s Resource Center finds that 63 percent of Maine voters support allowing the government to negotiate prescription drug prices for Medicare to address the high cost of medication. Seventy five percent of Maine voters age 65 and older strongly support the proposal, and support remained strong across both congressional districts (67 percent in CD1 and […]

October 7, 2021, 43 elected officials issued a letter to Governor Hochul, demanding that she stop the Gowanus fracked gas plant repowering proposal in Sunset Park. Officials at all levels of New York government signed onto the letter urging Governor Hochul to stop the fossil fuel project, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, New York State Senators and Assemblymembers, and New York City Council Members. At a press conference elected officials stood with environmental advocates from Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, New York Youth Climate Leaders and 350 Brooklyn in highlighting the threats the repowering project poses to the climate, environmental justice and public health.  Encouraged by the state’s decision to reject the permits […]

OCTOBER 6, 2021 Program Will Accelerate the Deployment of Cyber Solutions to Combat Threats to the Power Grid  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) on October 6, 2021 announced the launch of the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator, a technology partnership of federal experts, industry partners in the energy sector, and innovators to accelerate the development of new cybersecurity solutions for the nation’s evolving grid. The program will support efforts to modernize the grid, address cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and create a grid that will withstand the transition to a clean energy economy in the effort to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.   “The transition to a clean energy economy will require groundbreaking cyber solutions […]

September 27, 2021 With flooding events becoming more intense and frequent, including events like Hurricanes Henri and Ida, the U.S. Senate recently took action to lessen the economic and recovery impacts of these disasters by passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation, which now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration, makes a landmark commitment to improving the ability of the nation’s infrastructure, such as its roads and bridges, to withstand flooding while also supporting state and community programs designed to improve local resilience. According to Bill Nechamen, co-chair of the New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association policy committee, “Flood risk is increasing due to both unwise development and changing storm and precipitation patterns. Experience […]

August 24, 2021  Today’s Vote Charts Pathway to Pass the Build Back Better Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) helped take the first step toward passing a once-in-a-generation investment for the American people and communities. Crow voted to pass H.Res. 601, which is a procedural motion to begin the process to pass the $3.5 trillion Budget Reconciliation package (the “Build Back Better Plan”) and the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (H.R. 3684) later this fall. The Aug, 24th resolution will get the ball rolling for 13 House and 12 Senate committees to begin designing the Budget Reconciliation Package. That $3.5 trillion package is set to deliver transformative change for American families including: child care, home health […]

Letter to the editor By Chuck Griffin, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey June 28, 2021 Recently I’ve been hearing negative comments about the offshore wind energy project. People are saying they “heard” that the windmills will kill migratory birds and will have a negative impact on commercial and recreational fishing. None of this is true. First, I’d like to say that if you research these items, all the statistics gathered from wind energy farms in other countries show evidence to the contrary. Second, the wind farms will be 10 to 15 miles off the shore. They will be barely visible, if at all. The main thing I want to say is that job opportunities are becoming available because of offshore wind. […]

June 20, 2021 By, Ben Santer is an atmospheric scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, California.  Dear Editor,  My cousin, Leah Pressman who lives in Culver City recently told me about the efforts of local activists and the City Council to shut down a portion of the Inglewood Oil Field. She reached out to me for a statement of support knowing of my life-long commitment to the study of climate change and the efforts I have made to alert the world to the acute and present danger we face due to climate change. I am happy to provide my thoughts about why this bold move by local government is so important. I am a MacArthur Fellow and […]

CalGEM misses crucial deadline to protect communities from neighborhood oil and gas drilling By Ramona du Houx On June 21, 2021, the California Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) missed yet another deadline to draft public health regulation on neighborhood oil and gas drilling despite months of waiting and assurances that a draft rule would be released by Spring 2021. “How much longer are our communities supposed to wait? This delay is just another in a long line that reinforces California’s legacy of environmental racism and injustice. VISIÓN will keep fighting for setbacks and to protect all residents from the possibility of Big Oil setting up shop across the street to pollute our homes and schools” said Kobi Naseck, Coalition Coordinator, Voices […]