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The Block Island Wind Farm, the first operational offshore wind farm in the U.S., utilized a community benefits agreement (CBA) to secure local support by addressing the island's critical need for mainland electricity and internet connectivity. Key successes included the hiring of a local community liaison and funding for third-party technical consultants for the town. The project resulted in a 40% reduction in electricity rates, the elimination of diesel generators, and the installation of broadband fiber optic cables. While early engagement was perceived as limited, the project's alignment with the island's infrastructure needs and the state's Special Area Management Plan facilitated its approval.

The brief, submitted by the lead Assembly sponsor of the CLCPA and several nonprofit organizations, contends that the CLCPA was designed to work in tandem with local climate actions rather than replace them. It argues that there is no legislative intent for the state to occupy the entire field of climate regulation and that the state has explicitly relied on Local Law 97 to meet its own emissions targets. The authors warn that a ruling of preemption would stifle local innovation and jeopardize New York's ability to meet its 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas reduction mandates.

The document outlines the framework for state Clean Electricity Standards (CES), emphasizing that effective policies must be mandatory, technology-inclusive, and ambitious. It contrasts CES with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) by highlighting the inclusion of clean firm resources like nuclear and carbon capture. The brief details various design options—such as retail sales vs. emission-based standards—and explains how federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) reduce implementation costs. It also discusses advanced features like clean capacity standards and hourly matching to accelerate the deployment of long-duration storage and firm clean power.

The document outlines federal resources for capacity building—defined as empowering organizations through funding and technical assistance—categorized into local energy/infrastructure planning, local health/environmental impacts, and workforce development. It details numerous programs from agencies such as the DOE, EPA, USDA, and DOT, ranging from the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund to smaller targeted grants like the $5 million Regional Energy Democracy Initiative. Additionally, it lists specific technical assistance providers and grant recipients for programs like Solar for All and RITAP.

Friends of the Earth US evaluates the Biden-Harris administration's 6-point framework to reduce US imports of deforestation-linked commodities. The analysis highlights the role of seven forest risk commodities—palm oil, beef, soy, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and corn—and argues that the US must adopt a holistic approach to combat illegal deforestation, which is often linked to human rights abuses and land grabbing. The organization recommends the creation of a public, transparent federal due diligence procedure independent of third-party certification, the use of Earth-observation data, and coordination with the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). It also advocates for the passage of the federal FOREST Act and contributions to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.

A coalition of organizations and experts is petitioning the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to implement a mandatory pesticide data reporting system. They argue that MDA has failed to meet a statutory obligation dating back to 1989 to develop a comprehensive data program, relying instead on sporadic, voluntary surveys that undercount pesticide use and lack the detail necessary for scientific research. The petition highlights the severe risks pesticides pose to children, farmworkers, and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, noting that climate change exacerbates these harms. The petitioners propose a system where certified applicators and restricted-use pesticide sellers submit annual records to a searchable public database, citing similar models in California and New York.

The statement argues that New York State must leverage its own resources and market power to combat transportation pollution as the incoming federal administration may pivot toward fossil fuels. It highlights the importance of the New York City Congestion Pricing Program, the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations, and the proposed Clean Deliveries Act to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles and warehouses.

The document calls on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the TREES Act, which would make New York the first U.S. state to require proof that state-purchased products do not drive deforestation. The author argues that this action is necessary to align state procurement with global markets and combat the climate catastrophe, especially as the European Union's similar deforestation regulation faces implementation delays.

The document examines how current electricity rate designs in the U.S. often overcharge heat pump users because their peak demand occurs in winter, while grid peaks typically occur in summer. Using data from NIPSCO in Northern Indiana, the brief demonstrates that aligning rates with the actual cost of service could save electrified customers hundreds of dollars annually. It proposes several rate reform options—including seasonal heating rates, time-varying rates, and separate customer classes—while emphasizing the need for affordability measures for low-income households and the long-term evolution of rates as the grid transitions to clean energy.

Earthjustice reports a series of legal victories in 2024, including a landmark settlement to decarbonize Hawaii's transportation system by 2045, the cessation of coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, and a historic Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling requiring Peru to remediate lead pollution in La Oroya. The organization also secured wins against cryptomining operations in New York, fossil fuel infrastructure expansion in New Jersey, and the loss of wetlands protections following the U.S. Supreme Court's Sackett v. EPA decision, notably helping Colorado pass legislation to reinstate wetland protections in May 2024. Additionally, the report highlights efforts to regulate PFAS in plastic containers, limit lead wheel weights, and protect endangered species such as the Cook Inlet beluga whale and Pacific sardine.

The report examines a range of legislative and regulatory efforts to address private equity's role in the US healthcare system, highlighting a shift toward increased oversight of mergers and acquisitions at the state level. It details successful laws in Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, and New York, while noting failures in states like California and Massachusetts. Federally, it discusses proposed acts to penalize corporate looting and increase transparency, alongside CMS rules on staffing and spending. The document also tracks antitrust and fraud enforcement actions and concludes with policy recommendations to curb financialization through stricter transparency, debt limits, and joint liability.

The report argues that private equity firms prioritize high returns (at least 15%) over short timelines (3-5 years), leading to deferred maintenance and increased tenant instability. It proposes a toolkit of interventions, including rental registries with beneficial ownership disclosure, just cause eviction protections, landlord licensing with portfolio caps, and right of first refusal legislation. The document also examines federal legislative attempts to curb consolidation through tax penalties and transfer taxes, while highlighting the challenge of state preemption of local housing justice measures.

As of October 2024, there are 12,241 committed electric school buses in the U.S., with nearly 5,000 already delivered or operating. Adoption is heavily driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, which funds 67% of all commitments and prioritizes high-poverty, rural, and tribal districts. While California leads in absolute numbers, the Northeast and Midwest have seen significant percentage increases. Seven states have enacted statutory zero-emission transition requirements, and WRI projects that 62% of all school bus sales will be electric by 2032 following revised EPA greenhouse gas emission standards.

WWF International calls on the US Congress and state leadership to finalize several pending bills before the end of 2024. Key priorities include reauthorizing the WILD Act to protect global species, passing the Indian Buffalo Management Act for tribal-led restoration, and enacting the US Foundation for International Conservation Act to leverage private funding. The document also emphasizes the need to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a national security threat, improve recycling infrastructure through the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, and renew the Farm Bill with climate-smart agriculture investments. Additionally, it urges New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the TREES Act to prevent deforestation in state supply chains.

The document introduces SASSY, a four-question tool designed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) to categorize individuals into six distinct audience segments: Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive. It details three implementation formats—an individual quiz, a group scoring tool, and an API—and provides case studies demonstrating how organizations like The Wild Center and Vermont PIRG have used the tool to refine exhibit planning, inform legislative campaigns, and reduce research costs. The guide also explains how to use SASSY for pre- and post-programming assessments to measure the effectiveness of climate education.

The briefing advocates for a coordinated approach to building decarbonization and resilience in the US, emphasizing that these goals are complementary. It specifically prioritizes 'passive measures'—such as weatherization and envelope retrofits—to manage peak electricity demand, improve energy affordability, and extend the 'hours of safety' for occupants during power outages, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The document contends that the U.S. power grid is already transitioning away from coal toward renewables, storage, and flexible natural gas due to market forces, and that the EPA's Rule aligns with these trends. It argues that modern resources like battery storage and flexible gas plants provide better operational reliability than aging coal plants. The brief asserts that the Rule provides sufficient time for resource procurement and includes flexibility mechanisms to protect the grid during periods of stress.

As of June 2024, the U.S. has 12,174 committed electric school buses, representing a 19-fold increase since June 2019. While these vehicles currently make up only about 3% of the national fleet, over 234,000 students now ride them, with the highest adoption rates in the West and South regions. The transition is largely driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, which provides $5 billion from 2022 to 2026 to reduce the 8.4 million metric tons of carbon pollution emitted annually by school bus fleets and mitigate health risks associated with diesel exhaust.

The fact sheet compares the climate policies of several major pension funds and endowments, detailing their net zero targets (ranging from 2040 to 2050), interim emissions reduction goals, and specific exclusions of fossil fuels in both public and private markets.

The Community Guide to Cumulative Impacts explains how to identify and quantify the combined effects of multiple pollutants and social stressors on public health. It details existing state and city laws in the US that allow regulators to deny permits based on cumulative impacts and provides a framework for community organizing, including drafting model legislation and using environmental justice mapping tools.