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The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) provides a framework for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and selected Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to transition from application to action. CATF emphasizes prioritizing hydrogen for hard-to-abate sectors, ensuring transparency in project planning, coordinating funding across federal programs, and deepening community engagement to ensure equitable and climate-beneficial outcomes.

RMI highlights that the perceived climate benefit of substituting coal with natural gas is undermined by methane leakage. The briefing notes that leakage rates as low as 0.2% can make gas emissions equal to coal, depending on the specific resources involved. To address this, RMI has developed a calculator for site-specific emissions parity analysis. The document advocates for immediate methane mitigation through technology and policy, noting that wind and solar are already more economically attractive and avoid the methane risks associated with gas.

The Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP), funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, is moving into the review phase for applications. The program will invest $6.3 billion to decarbonize high-emitting sectors such as iron, steel, cement, and chemicals. The Clean Air Task Force recommends that the Department of Energy define 'transformational' projects broadly, reserve funds for ongoing project support, and ensure a balance between deep decarbonization and community benefits. Additionally, the document calls for increased collaboration between private industry competitors and stronger policy support from state governments to meet federal funding deadlines by September 30, 2026.

The EPA's proposed 2023 tailpipe emission rules for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles aim to reduce greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants starting with model year 2027. While not banning internal combustion engines, the rules set average emission limits for manufacturers, which is expected to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption. By 2032, the EPA projects EVs could reach 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales. Projected long-term benefits through 2055 include avoiding nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions, reducing oil imports by 20 billion barrels, and providing $12,000 in lifetime savings per light-duty vehicle for consumers.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) reports that in 2022 it helped secure over $370 billion in clean energy funding and expanded its operations to 46 countries. Key achievements included supporting the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S., advocating for carbon capture and storage strategies in Europe, and working to reduce global methane pollution and accelerate energy transformation in Africa.

The document explores community ownership of clean energy infrastructure as a means to address socio-political and techno-economic barriers to deployment. It details various ownership models used in the US and Europe, including LLC direct ownership, partnership 'flips', and cooperatives, while highlighting the potential impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act's transferability and direct pay provisions.

The document outlines various real-world examples and tools that State Energy Offices can use to implement IRA Home Energy Rebates. It highlights strategies for equity mapping, workforce analysis, consumer outreach, and contractor certification. Key examples include Greenlink Analytics for equity data, the Love Electric campaign in Colorado for consumer awareness, and NYSERDA's Clean Heat Connect for supply chain alignment. The guide emphasizes the importance of people-centered support, weatherization integration, and comprehensive contractor training to ensure program success and equitable outcomes.

The report finds that while wind, solar, and battery prices have recently leveled off or risen due to supply chain disruptions, trade issues, and high interest rates, they remain competitive with fossil fuels. It argues that the long-term trend of cost reduction will continue and recommends that regulators use competitive procurement, leverage Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives, and reform interconnection and transmission planning to lower costs.

The Great Lakes region—comprising Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—is positioned to drive US aviation fuel targets due to its strong industrial networks and feedstock availability. While the region possesses significant strengths in ethanol supply chains and logistics, a policy gap analysis reveals that no state currently has a comprehensive, coordinated approach to SAF demand and supply. The brief argues that leveraging existing infrastructure, such as the O'Hare International Airport hub and the St. Lawrence Seaway, alongside federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, can catalyze a regional bioeconomy and reduce aviation emissions.

The document distinguishes between non-binding community benefits plans (CBPs) and legally binding community benefit agreements (CBAs), detailing how the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) integrates CBPs into funding and financing programs under the IIJA and IRA to drive equitable energy transitions.

The World Resources Institute emphasizes that the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. presents an opportunity for net job creation and improved wages, provided that robust policies and unionization are utilized to protect workers during the transition.

The Tree Equity Alliance, through partners American Forests, GreenLatinos, and Groundwork USA, has secured $85 million from the USDA Forest Service's Inflation Reduction Act funding. This capital will be used to implement community-led planning, tree planting, and maintenance in underserved U.S. neighborhoods to improve health and environmental justice outcomes.

The Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCHH) aims to leverage natural salt domes for large-scale, long-duration green hydrogen storage to safeguard energy security. Domestically, the hub is positioned to supply critical sectors in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, potentially serving 52% of US refining, 44% of shipping, 19% of steelmaking, and 17% of heavy-duty trucking capacity. It also seeks to bolster US fertilizer security by transporting green hydrogen feedstock via the Mississippi River to the Midwest. Internationally, the MCHH intends to establish green shipping corridors to help the EU diversify away from Russian fossil fuels and provide backup energy to climate-vulnerable nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The report argues that an initial public investment of $500 million could unlock billions in private capital by 2026, creating a national strategic hydrogen reserve and reducing industrial losses from power outages.

The report finds that a majority of registered U.S. voters prefer candidates who support action on global warming and support various clean energy policies, including a transition to 100% clean energy by 2050. While there is broad support for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 after it is described, awareness of the law remains low. The findings highlight a significant trust deficit toward fossil fuel companies and a general perception that the U.S. government is not responding effectively to climate change. Despite this, actual political and consumer activism remains relatively low, and collective efficacy—the belief that citizens can influence government and corporate action—is limited to less than half of the electorate.

The report presents survey data from October 2023 on the attitudes of 906 registered U.S. voters. It finds broad support for clean energy policies and a preference for candidates who support climate action, though significant political polarization remains. While majorities support the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and transitioning to clean energy by 2050, trust in fossil fuel companies is low, and actual political and consumer activism remains relatively infrequent.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has allocated $5 billion for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) to help US states and municipalities implement greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Forty-six states have accepted $3 million each in planning grants, with $4.6 billion remaining for competitive implementation grants in 2024. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advises states to use these planning funds to develop broad, economy-wide strategies, tailor messaging to local political contexts, and engage the public early to avoid project delays. Additionally, the briefing suggests using funds to increase agency capacity, optimize the layering of various federal resources (such as the CHIPS and Science Act), and identify workforce needs for a low-carbon economy. To ensure success, states are encouraged to secure contractors early to avoid surges in demand and to communicate implementation barriers quickly to the EPA and the White House.

The document highlights the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act and other recent legislation on U.S. climate goals, while identifying specific bipartisan opportunities for further progress. It emphasizes the need for improved nuclear energy regulation via the ADVANCE Act, increased support for industrial decarbonization through the Department of Energy, and the necessity of updating clean energy programs before they expire in 2025.

The report examines the financial and energy impacts of the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) proposing to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). It highlights that transitioning to the 2021 IECC could reduce energy consumption by 27% and save $14,536 in life cycle costs per single-family home. The analysis emphasizes that all-electric homes are cheaper to build and operate than gas-powered homes, and that the Inflation Reduction Act's 45L tax credit—offering up to $5,000 for Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) and $2,500 for ENERGY STAR certification—makes high-efficiency construction financially viable, particularly in the Southeast US.

The document outlines strategies for US states to implement the Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates programs. It emphasizes prioritizing low-income and disadvantaged communities, stacking various financial incentives to reduce upfront costs for whole-home retrofits, and developing complementary state policies such as workforce training and building envelope efficiency to scale residential decarbonization.

The authors suggest that Europe can accelerate its energy transition by adopting four principles from U.S. policies like the Inflation Reduction Act: supporting a diverse technology mix, tailoring support to development stages, addressing non-cost barriers, and providing policy clarity. Specifically, the document recommends expanding support beyond wind and solar to include nuclear, carbon capture, and zero-carbon fuels, while reducing regulatory complexity and permitting delays that currently hinder project deployment.