Christian C. Brock, EOPA Chief Executive Officer, Air Force (retired).speaks at the Elected Officials to Protect America Climate Emergency & Energy Security Summit at the Department of Energy in Washington DC. Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy investments will help US become energy independent, say lawmakers who attended EOPA/DOE Summit November 23, 2023 By Ramona du Houx On November 16, EOPA […]
Christian C. Brock, EOPA Chief Executive Officer, Air Force (retired).speaks at the Elected Officials to Protect America Climate Emergency & Energy Security Summit at the Department of Energy in Washington DC.
Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy investments will help US become energy independent, say lawmakers who attended EOPA/DOE Summit
November 23, 2023
By Ramona du Houx
On November 16, EOPA convened their annual Climate Emergency & Energy Security Summit in DC at the Department of Energy. This year EOPA partnered with the Department of Energy’s Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) office. At the Summit members of the Climate Emergency and Energy Security Task Force, and others had opportunities to learn about IRA funding, criteria, and how to apply for the historic investments in America’s communities. There was also a focus on what the IRA can offer veteran owned businesses and Justice40 communities.
Speakers at the National Press Club: Stephanie Kifowit – IL State Representative, NY State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, HI Vice Speaker State House of Representatives Greggor Ilagan, John Carter – CEO CarterBrothers, former Maine State Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx – President Elected Officials to Protect America and Co-Founder, OR Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, NV State Senator Pat Spearman, and Schenectady City Councilmember John Polimeni, EOPA Taskforce Chair.
To kick off the Summit EOPA held a press conference at the National Press Club in DC.(photo below) EOPA lawmakers who are military veterans spoke about how the IRA’s nearly $370 billion in clean energy investments will put America on the path to energy independence from fossil fuels. They also focused on what the IRA can offer veteran owned businesses and Justice40 communities.
“The climate crisis is a threat multiplier around the world. As America implements the IRA other countries are following our lead, which is making us all more secure, “said Pat Spearman, Nevada State Senator, Veteran at the press conference. “In Nevada we are at ground zero in the climate crisis with water insecurity and heatwaves that threaten the lives and livelihoods of thousands, especially in communities that have been underserved and over polluted. With IRA funding we will finally have the tools to start to right injustices in communities that have been overlooked for too long just because they have the wrong zip code. The EOPA Summit provided answers and avenues for me to pursue to help my constituents.”
The IRA is putting us on the path towards energy security with a clean energy economy. The IRA has given us the power to curb energy costs and enhance market resilience. Renewable energy will make America energy independent, free from volatile fossil fuel prices, while saving consumers money.
EOPA was honored to have a large contingent from the Department of Energy who spoke about the various grants and programs for communities. These included the Honorable David Turk, Deputy Secretary, Blake Clemmer, Senior Small Business Advocate, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Chris Castro, Director, Office of State & Community Energy Programs (SCEP), Jay Peck, Senior Consultant, Loans Program Office, and others. Presenters from the Environmental Protection Agency also took center stage as many of the IRA funding opportunities come through the EPA.
“Our Summit brought elected officials from across America to the Department of Energy to learn about the possibilities their communities can obtain with IRA funding. The information presented was exactly what they needed to start applying for projects. I want to thank the DOE and all our presenters for working to make the Summit the information hub for our lawmakers At EOPA we are excited to be able to help lawmakers connect with the right agencies responsible for the various IRA funding here and with our Task Force,” said Christian C. Brock, EOPA Chief Executive Officer, Air Force (retired). “Many of our elected officials come from Justice40 communities, like I grew up in, back in Louisiana – communities too often overlooked and overburdened with legacy pollution.. This historic IRA funding is the start of bringing environmental justice to communities that need the funding the most. We are committed to doing all we can to help.”
The comprehensive Summit presentations covered all aspects of what the IRA offers through their respective agencies. Slide presentations mapped out different avenues of funding that are available – all ensure Justice40 communities have opportunities.
Above is the EOPA YouTube of the Summit.
An example of how the IRA is helping tribal communities:
Joseph McNeil, General Manager, SAGE Development and Christina Hollenback, Founder/CEO, Justice Capital riveted the audience. In an interview style presentation McNeil described how the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has taken its clean energy future into their own hands, and how the IRA is helping to make it all possible. (photo right)
Their presentation was an inspiration for attendees at the Summit as it described how the Tribe is building their own wind farm that will supply all their electric needs. Working with Justice Capital they were prepared for obstacles and aware of their legal rights. As SAGE is run solely by Tribal members they were able to put the needs of the Tribe and the lands they protect above development unwarranted demands. As a result, with IRA funds, the project is moving forward faster than originally planned.
The SAGE Development Authority (SAGE) is a 100 percent Native-led organization dedicated to community development, institution-building, and self-determination for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. SAGE Development Authority exists to ensure energy independence, protect the environment, and promote economic growth in the region, for the Tribe.
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How private/public partnerships will help:
To achieve the 43 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2030 through the IRA equitably public-private partnerships are essential. These partnerships bring innovative solutions to the table as there is funding in the IRA for climate crisis solutions.
A unique panel on climate and energy security solutions with Neil Britto, Associate Director of the Aspen Institute, Heidi Roddenberry, Director of the Roddenberry Foundation, Ken Vaugh, Director of Impact Investments, VertueLab, and Jonathan Schulhof, CEO of FootPrint Coalition gave insights into future possibilities with climate solutions already being pioneered.
NGO’s and foundations also spoke about possibilities with the IRA funding for communities.
Karl Burkart, Co-Founder, One Earth gave a presentation on his non-profit is working to accelerate collective action to solve the climate crisis through groundbreaking science. Bryan Wisk, CEO, Arc Public Benefit Corporation talked about Arc’s mission is to encourage transformational technological adoption, where the power of nature fuels the progress of society toward a net-zero future. Then Stephan Nicoleau, Co-Founder/Managing Dir., FullCycle, BANQloop, James Boskovic, CEO, Banqloop gave talks along with others
Many of the Summit attendees were members of the Elected Officials to Protect America’s (EOPA’s) Climate Emergency and Energy Security Task Force, which aims to gather state and local officials, private equity firms, non-profit organizations, NGO’s, and other implementation stakeholders with the goal to guide the implementation of the historic climate crisis investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and other related federal funding. The climate provisions in the IRA directs federal funding to clean energy efforts through a mix of tax incentives, grants, and loan guarantees.
“We are committed to addressing the climate crisis and ensuring energy security for our nation. Working with the Department of Energy, EOPA’s Task Force will help support the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, and related funding, to assist state and local elected officials in implementing climate solutions. Given the IRA’s historic $369 billion investment, we want to ensure districts that have not traditionally received funding know what is available, the criteria, and how to apply for the funds,” said Alex Cornell du Houx, former Maine state Representative, Marine combat veteran, President of Elected Officials to Protect America and Co-Founder.
The IRA is designed to ensure investments will be made to secure the environmental future of the United States, while creating good-paying union jobs to elevate the middle class and bring concrete benefits to communities that are too often overlooked and left behind. The IRA financially supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, committing 40 percent of the overall benefits of climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities. Rural communities won’t be left behind.
“State and local elected officials serving on our National Task Force will help ensure districts that have not traditionally received climate crisis funding know what is available, the criteria, and how to apply for the funds,” said John Polimeni PhD, Climate Emergency and Energy Security Task Force Chair, Schenectady NY Councilmember, economist. “Together, we can bridge the capacity gaps, navigate complex federal funding opportunities, and pave the way for sustainable and equitable environmental solutions in Justice40 communities while protecting our planet from the dangers of climate change.”
To help implement IRA funding, Polimeni will continue in his role convening Task Force members on IRA opportunities so critical projects can be identified in states and local communities around the nation that will benefit environmental justice and all our communities.
The need for the EOPA Climate Emergency and Energy Security Task Force arose from critical observations made by elected officials in Justice40 communities at EOPA’s 2022 National Summit, soon after the IRA was enacted: EOPA learned that many state, tribal, and local governments need awareness and support to identify opportunities, understand the criteria, and navigate the complex application process.
Helpful science tips in playful videos that explain principles we all deal with to understand our climate crisis. The series is the creation of Olivia Baaten.
