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April 27, 2015
This graph, released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on April 20, shows energy-related carbon emissions in the United States have slightly risen over the past two years. Last year, CO2 emissions rose less than growth in the economy, showing a decoupling of emissions and economic growth that is promising for tackling climate change without hurting the economy. Graph courtesy of EIA.
On April 21, President Obama unveiled two executive actions addressing climate change resilience in US electric infrastructure using findings from the first ever Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) produced by the Department of Energy (DOE). The first executive action is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of $72 million in loans for six new rural electric infrastructure projects, which include investments in enhancing rural solar power, smart grid projects, and power lines. The second action creates a private-public partnership, the Partnership for Energy Sector Climate Resilience, to increase energy infrastructure resiliency against climate change. There are 17 companies taking part in the partnership, which will hold its first meeting April 30.
For more information see:
The White House, U.S. Department of Energy, The Washington Examiner
On April 22, Earth Day, President Obama gave a speech in the Florida Everglades which focused on climate change. “Part of the reason we’re here is because climate change is threatening this treasure [the Everglades] and the communities that depend on it . . . and if we don’t act, there may not be an Everglades as we know it,” said Obama. During the speech, Obama announced $25 million in public and private funding to work on restoration in national parks, and the designation of a new national monument, the Marjory Stoneham Douglas House in Miami. Obama also called on Congress to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and highlighted a new report the White House is releasing, which shows that every dollar invested in the National Park Service grows the economy by $10.
USA Today, Business Insider, The White House
On April 22, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced new climate change legislation in the House of Representatives. The "Climate Solutions Act of 2015" builds upon California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which Ted Lieu co-wrote while a Senator in California’s state government. The Climate Solutions Act sets a goal of 40 percent cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035 and an 80 percent cut by 2050. “The health of our families and the future of our economy depend upon our willing to forge bold 21st century solutions to . . . climate change,” wrote Lieu in an op-ed in The Hill. The Climate Solutions Act has measures to increase energy efficiency, reduce GHG emissions, and increase renewable energy production.
The Hill, Bill Text
On April 20, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that US greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) increased during 2014 for the second year in a row, but not in tandem with the economy. Emissions in the United States increased by 0.7 percent, while the economy grew 2.4 percent. This decoupling of GHG emissions and the economy was seen on the global economy last year as well, as global emissions stalled while the global economy grew three percent, according to the International Energy Agency. Slight improvements in energy and carbon intensity helped diminish GHG emissions growth in the US this past year, said EIA. The decoupling is an indicator that reducing GHG emissions and combating global climate change is possible without adverse effects on the economy.
Bloomberg News, US Energy information Administration, The Hill
On April 20, the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication published a survey called “Climate Change in the American Mind.” The survey, based on responses from 1,263 American adults, found that nearly three quarters of the American public “never” or “rarely” talk about global warming, while 26 percent “often” or “occasionally” discuss it. However, two-thirds of American respondents say they were at least “a little interested” in hearing more about global warming from media or in conversations. The survey had a plus or minus three margin of error.
National Journal, Yale Project on Climate Change Communication
On April 20, Apple released its 2015 Environmental Responsibility Report, in which the company states its continuing pledge to combat climate change. Apple’s carbon footprint increased from 2013 to 2014, in part due to an increase in sales. Although 100 percent of US-based Apple operations and 87 percent of international locations are powered by renewable energy, these facilities only represent one percent of total Apple greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Seventy-three percent of Apple’s emissions come from the manufacture of its products. Apple said it will design future products to be less carbon-intensive to manufacture and operate. The company stated in its report, “We don’t want to debate climate change. We want to stop it.”
The Huffington Post, Apple
A new study released April 21, “Untapped Potential: Reducing Global Methane Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Systems,” commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and conducted by the Rhodium Group, found that reducing methane leaks from oil and gas operations could be a low-cost effort to mitigate climate change. The study found about 3.5 trillion cubic feet of methane escaped oil and gas operations in 2012, a lost value of $30 billion that has a 100-year global warming footprint equivalent to Russia’s total annual emissions. “Methane is both a serious climate challenge and also, in our view, a major untapped opportunity to start reversing the tide of global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mark Brownstein at EDF.
The New York Times, Environmental Defense Fund, Press Release
On April 20, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) released a report concluding that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants does not allow enough time for policymakers, regulators, or utilities alike to construct the necessary infrastructure for compliance. “There are physical limitations to what you can do in a given time period,” stated John Moura, NERC’s director of reliability assessments, in a media call. Moura added, “More time is needed to develop coordinated plans to address these shifts in generation.” This report is the second NERC has released on the Clean Power Plan. The EPA released a statement in response saying the rule is still a draft, and that the final version will ensure the grid can continue to reliably provide electricity.
SNL Financial LC
Two reports released the third week of April by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) found that low-income residents will benefit the most as states comply with the Clean Power Plan’s (CPP) federal carbon regulations. The reports cited energy efficiency and the reliable costs of renewable energy as the most beneficial aspects of the CPP. “Low-income families and those of color are disproportionately affected by pollution costs and pollutants from coal-burning power plants. Energy efficiency and renewable energy bring lots of benefits to people -- pollution is reduced and bills are smaller and more predictable,” said Gilda Jacobs, president and CEO of MLPP.
Midwest Energy News, Natural Resources Defense Council, Michigan League for Public Policy
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3. What Will India’s Commitment to a Global Climate Deal Look Like?
4. Hewlett and Packard Foundations Say More Funding Needed For Climate Change Efforts
5. Report Finds Clean Power Plan Will Create 273,000 Jobs
On-bill Financing: An Energy Efficiency Solution for Member-Owned Utilities in the Midwest
Tuesday, April 28 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Webinar (11 AM - 12 PM Central Time)
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) are proud to invite you to an informative webinar regarding on-bill financing and, specifically, its applications for member-owned utilities in the Midwest. This presentation will look at successful on-bill financing programs developed by two midwestern rural electric cooperatives, as well as an innovative on-bill financing program run by the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, in partnership with the Central Electric Power Cooperative and EESI.
Please register here.
Authors: Rachael Shook, Samuel Beirne, and Caitlin Madera
Editor: Laura Small
Advancing science-based climate solutions
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