Monthly Policy Update |

December 2022  

Policy Updates

NEED TO KNOW
Higher Ed and Climate Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act
Publication Date: 2022 | Source: Second Nature

• Why This Matters: Developed in partnership with The Aspen Institute's This Is Planet Ed and MIT, this new Second Nature resource overviews the primary ways the Inflation Reduction Act supports the decarbonization and climate work of the higher education sector. Higher education institutions can benefit from the IRA in a plethora of ways, including via: 
  • Tax credits for clean energy (pg. 3-5) 
  • Tax credits for clean transportation (pg. 6-7)
  • Tax deductions for energy efficiency (pg. 8) 
  • Financing for greenhouse gas reduction (pg. 9) 
  • Grants for climate work in communities (pg. 10-12) 
  • Grants for climate research (pg. 13)
  • Funding for workforce development (pg. 14)

GLOBAL
Key takeaways from the COP27 climate summit in Egypt
Publication Date: November 21, 2022 | Source: Reuters 

• Why This Matters: The two-week COP27 summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh concluded last month, and for the first time, nations agreed to set up a fund to provide payouts to developing countries that suffer "loss and damage" from climate impacts. Additionally, the finance community discussed providing billions to help countries cut their emissions and adapt their economies. 

Inside the COP27 fight to get wealthy nations to pay climate reparations
Publication Date: November 22, 2022 | Source: Grist

• Why This Matters: A new global pact establishes a fund for responding to loss and damage and creates a transitional committee to work out who will contribute to the fund. The US, and other wealthy nations, initially opposed the topic from even making it onto the official COP27 agenda, but activism pressure and a flood that left a third of Pakistan underwater this summer, successfully brought renewed attention to the issue. 

COP 27: Brazil is back on the world stage, Lula tells climate summit
Publication Date: November 16, 2022 | Source: BBC

• Why This Matters: Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reiterated his commitment to climate at the global climate negotiations. Lula assured protecting the Amazon, ending deforestation, and protecting indigenous people will be priorities of his administration, a change of pace from current President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly denied climate change. 

FEDERAL
What a Republican House means for energy
Publication Date: November 17, 2022 | Source: Energy Wire

• Why This Matters: After a relatively productive two years for climate action in DC, it's likely that efforts will be stalled by a new Republican House majority. However, given that Inflation Reduction Act funding is set to flow to red states where renewable energy is produced, like Texas, it is possible that a degree of bipartisan cooperation will emerge.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $250 Million To Finance Energy Efficiency Upgrades for American Families and Businesses
Publication Date: November 15, 2022 | Source: US Department of Energy 

• Why This Matters: The Department of Energy announced a new Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program that will divert funding to states, who will then be able to grant it to commercial and residential applicants. Colleges and universities are eligible to apply to their states' revolving fund programs once they are established, and can lean more by reaching out to their state's energy office. 

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Support Indian Country and Native Communities Ahead of the Administration's Second Tribal Nations Summit
Publication Date: November 30, 2022 | Source: White House 

• Why This Matters: The Department of Interior announced new community-driven relocation demonstration projects to address the growing climate risks many Tribes face. Additionally, the Department of Energy is launching a new inter-agency initiative to support Tribes transitioning from conventional to clean energy. 

Energy Department awards $74M for battery recycling, reuse 
Publication Date: November 16, 2022 | Source: AP News

• Why This Matters: Last month, the Energy Department awarded nearly $74 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law to advance projects related to recycling and reusing electric vehicle batteries; higher education institutions could be eligible to apply for this type of funding. 

STATES
MULTIPLE STATES
Southeast Electric Co-Op Scorecards 
Publication Date: October 14, 2022 | Source: Canary Media 

• Why This Matters: This tool, developed by organizations from seven Southeastern states, grades electric cooperates on a number of factors, including their energy efficiency, transition to renewable energy, modernization, governance, and efforts to reduce the financial burdens of low-income customers. Individuals can utilize this tool to see how their electric cooperatives stack up against other states.' 

What the 2022 Midterm Elections Mean for US Climate Policy
Publication Date: November 22, 2022 | Source: Council on Foreign Relations 

• Why This Matters: With environmental legislation likely to be stalled at the federal level, state-level climate leadership will become particularly important in achieving emission reduction targets. Along with picking up two new governorships - Maryland and Massachusetts - Democrats won majorities in states across the country.

CALIFORNIA
California Releases World's First Plan to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Pollution
Publication Date: November 16, 2022 | Source: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom 

• Why This Matters: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its updated climate proposal, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, cut GHG emissions by 85% by 2045, create 4 million new jobs, and save Californians $200 billion in healthcare costs. Among other provisions, it includes:
  • At least 20 GW offshore wind capacity build by 2045
  • 7 million climate-friendly homes by 2030,
  • Carbon removal targets of 20 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. 

ILLINOIS
State, federal solar incentives help Illinois feed mill slash energy costs
Publication Date: November 21, 2022 | Source: Energy News Network

• Why This Matters: An Illinois feed mill expects to cut its energy costs in half after installing a new three-megawatt solar array. The mill serves as an example of how fiscal incentives administered by both state and federal governments can be a game-changer for companies and institutions interested in making the switch to renewable energy. 

MARYLAND
Environmental Advocates Call on Gov.-Elect Wes Moore to Roll Back State Funding for Fossil Fuel Industry
Publication Date: November 25, 2022 | Source: Inside Climate News 

• Why This Matters: The Maryland Energy Administration has been allocating grants aimed at promoting and expanding natural gas infrastructure in the state, angering environmental advocates. Advocates are hopeful that with a change in leadership, the state will increasingly invest in renewables. 

MICHIGAN
Will Michigan seize historic chance to act on climate?
Publication Date: November 17, 2022 | Source: Energy News Network

• Why This Matters: In the November elections, Democrats won control of the Michigan state legislature, so climate activists hope that this is the year for climate action in Michigan. That includes strengthening the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan and advancing legislation around renewable energy and water infrastructure. 

Opportunities to Participate 

FEDERAL 
Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act
Ceres, one of Second Nature's partners, wants to know what’s most pressing for your institution as Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation continues. If you are interested in engaging or providing feedback, please contact Zach Friedman with your priorities for implementation, agency rules, and guidance-making. 

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. 

STATE
VIRGINIA
Last session, Virginia rejoined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), passed the Clean Economy Act, established Clean Car Standards, and passed its EV Rebate Program, among other critical climate legislation. In the wake of Governor Glenn Youngkin's election, and a newly Republican-controlled House, it's particularly important that higher education institutions in the state express to policymakers that climate action needs to remain a priority. Governor Youngkin has already said he plans to withdraw Virginia from RGGI.

How to support this effort: Ceres, a Second Nature partner, is coordinating sign-on letter to reemphasize to legislators the business community's ongoing support for existing climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policy. If your institution is interested in signing on in support, please contact Michael Callan at Ceres for more information (mcallan@ceres.org). 

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.).