Monthly Policy Update |

August 2022  

Policy Updates

NEED TO KNOW
Exploring support for climate justice policies in the United States
Publication Date: August 4, 2022 | Source: Yale Program on Climate Communications

• Why This Matters: A recent Yale report has found high public support for policies in three key areas related to climate justice:
  • About two in three Americans support increasing funding to communities disproportionately harmed by pollution. 
  • About eight in ten Americans support improving energy efficiency in low-income communities.
  • About seven in ten Americans support a clean energy transition by 2050. 

The Untapped Climate Opportunity in Alternative Proteins
Publication Date: July 8, 2022 | Source: Boston Consulting Group

• Why This Matters: Investments in plant-based alternatives to meat lead to far greater cuts in climate-heating emissions than any other green investments, according to a recent report from one of the world's biggest consultancy firms. Armed with this knowledge, higher education institutions should prioritize ensuring they are serving plant-based alternatives to meat, egg, and dairy products in order to reduce their own carbon footprint, as well as support legislation that helps advance the alternative protein industry. 

Debunking the Myths that Discourage the Public Funding of Clean Energy
Publication Date: July 16, 2022 | Source: Yale School of the Environment

• Why This Matters: Critics have opposed public investment in clean energy by claiming that governments must not pick winners. However, a group of professors and researchers outline why such investment is critical, and colleges and universities should push their state and federal government to continue, and build upon, public funding of clean energy. 

Hyperpolarization of Climate Policy - The Politics of American Exceptionalism
Publication Date: July 30, 2022 | Source: Forbes

• Why This Matters: When it comes to climate change, voters are becoming more aligned while the Republican and Democratic parties move apart from the ideological center. In the absence of bipartisan efforts, the American exceptionalism in addressing climate change is likely to continue. 

FEDERAL
Biden's emissions pledge 'doable' with climate deal
Publication Date: August 1, 2022 | Source: E&E News  

• Why This Matters: The Inflation Reduction Act is estimated to cut emissions by 37 to 41 percent from 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The majority of these reductions will come from clean energy tax credits, which higher education institutions can utilize in order to decarbonize their electricity. 

FACT SHEET: President Biden's Executive Actions on Climate to Address Extreme Heat and Boost Offshore Wind
Publication Date: July 20, 2022 | Source: The White House 

• Why This Matters: Last month, President Biden announced a series of executive action to combat climate change, including investing $2.3 billion for FEMA resilience programs, $385 for low-income home energy assistance programs, and expanding offshore wind. Biden is expected to announce additional actions in the coming weeks. 

FACT SHEET: 10 Ways the Biden Administration Is Making America Resilient to Climate Change 
Publication Date: August 1, 2022 | Source: The White House  

• Why This Matters: The Administration is providing historic investments for climate resilient infrastructure projects, taking a wide range of actions to respond to intensifying heat waves, strengthening drought resilience, reducing flood risk, and prioritizing assistance to Tribal communities, securing more than $50 billion in resilience investments. Particularly relevant for higher education is new mapping tools that can be incorporated into schools' climate education. 

Oil Trumps Renewable Power in Public Land Leasing, Report Shows
Publication Date: July 19, 2022 | Source: Bloomberg

• Why This Matters: Despite Biden's campaign promise to lead a clean energy revolution, recent analysis shows that significantly more public land is available for oil and gas leasing than for renewables development. It's worth keeping an eye on these leases, particularly given that new oil and gas leases on federal lands were included in the Inflation Reduction Act. 

INDIVIDUAL STATES
DELAWARE 
Delaware will give free solar panels to low-income residents
Publication Date: July 19, 2022 | Source: Canary Media

• Why This Matters: This two-year pilot program, which launched last month, aims to dramatically reduce the costs of home solar for moderate-income residents and get rid of costs altogether for low-income families. The states follows Illinois, Massachusetts, and about a dozen other states in bringing solar to low-income communities. These programs are a win-win for both ratepayers and the climate, and colleges and universities therefore benefit from their existence. 

TENNESSEE 
Tennessee awards $5.2M for electric vehicle charging network 
Publication Date: July 29, 2022 | Source: AP News

• Why This Matters: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has announced the award of $5.2 million in grants to install direct current fast chargers for electric vehicles along major highways around the state. Given that studies have shown one of the barriers to purchasing electric vehicles is range anxiety, this enhanced network aims to give drivers confidence they can get anywhere in the state. 

VERMONT
Vermont to become first state to prohibit fluorescents
Publication Date: July 21, 2022 | Source: Energy News Network

• Why This Matters: A new law makes Vermont the first state in the nation to ban linear fluorescent bulbs, beginning in 2024, and replace them with more energy efficient LED bulbs. California and Rhode Island have pending legislation that will do the same. Colleges and universities should know to prepare to replace these lightbulbs ahead of the law going into effect. 

Vermont to receive millions in federal funds for climate resilience transportation projects
Publication Date: July 29, 2022 | Source: VT Digger

• Why This Matters: Over the next five years, Vermont will be eligible to receive $37 million in federal funding for transportation projects that will make the state's infrastructure more resilient to climate change. That includes addressing heavy rainfall, one of the most significant dangers to roads. 

Opportunities to Participate 

NOTE: The following opportunities are for colleges and universities for sign-on; not opportunities for individuals at colleges and universities.  Are you an individual at a higher education institution who believes your college/university may be interested in signing onto the below opportunities?  We encourage you to reach-out to the leadership at your institution and let them know. 

MULTIPLE STATES
Clean Trucks Sign-On Letter
Given that transportation is the leading and growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, states must play a larger role in pushing for zero emission vehicles and trucks. Advanced Clean Fleet and Advanced Clean Truck Rules will pay states transition their vehicles to zero emission ones, through annually increasing purchase and deployment targets for fleets. 

How to support this effort: The higher education sector can play a crucial role in accelerating the transition to clean vehicles. Ceres, a Second Nature partner, is coordinating a sign-on letter in support of states adopting an Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) Rule and Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) Rule. If your institution is interested in supporting this initiative, please sign onto this letter by September 30th. 

STATE
CALIFORNIA
The California legislature is currently considering SB 17, a bill that would establish an Office of Racial Equity (ORE) to develop concrete strategies and enable community collaboration, both of which are necessary to tackle systematic inequalities across state agencies. Climate change has a disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous and other people of color, and higher education institutions in California have the opportunity to advocate for a fully resourced and authorized ORE. 

How to support this effort: Ceres, a Second Nature partner, is coordinating a sign-on letter to support the establishment of a fully funded California Office of Racial Equity. If your institution is interested in signing on, please contact Ceres' Sarah Sachs (ssachs@ceres.org) by the end of August. 

MINNESOTA
Businesses and other institutions in Minnesota are reaching out to the Governor to express support for the state's economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, and ask that the state's Climate Change Sub-cabinet identify policies and strategies that put Minnesota back on track to meet or exceed its climate goals. The state has fallen short of meetings its interim goal of 15% greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2015, and is not on track to meet its 2025 goals of 30%. Thus, colleges and universities have the opportunity to advocate for additional actions to be taken. 

How to support this effort: Ceres is coordinating a sign-on letter addressed to the Governor, members of the Climate Change Sub-cabinet, and the Governor's Advisory Council on Climate Change. Higher education institutions are encouraged to sign the letter to signal their support for more ambitious climate action in Minnesota. Please reach out to Ceres' Deana Dennis (ddenis@ceres.org) by September 1st if your institution is interested. 

OHIO
Ohio is considering a legislative package - Accelerating Ohio’s Auto Industry (AOAI, SB 307) - that would take a comprehensive approach to protect and grow Ohio's auto sector as the global industry transitions to the production of electric vehicles. Among other provisions, the program provides $10 million in grants for colleges and trade schools that train workers for electric vehicle facilities. 

How to support this effort: Ceres is coordinating a sign-on letter for businesses and other institutions to signal their support.  Please reach out to Ceres' Deana Dennis (ddenis@ceres.org) by September 1st if your institution is interested in signing on.  

The states and updates included in each Monthly Policy Update are based on what we are recommending for reading for that month, due to what we view as being directly relevant to higher education.  From month to month, the states focused on are due to change.  

Do you have feedback on our Monthly Policy Updates (what you like, what you would like to see improved, etc)?  Please email us: policyteam@secondnature.org.  

Note: Our monthly policy updates, information, and opportunities to participate, are developed with support from Ceres, which is an organizational partner of Second Nature.  Ceres has identified the following states plus Washington, D.C. for primary focus - Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. - because of the beneficial legislative climates and real opportunities for policy advancements in these states.  Our Policy Updates may, or may not, include these states (and Washington, D.C.).