John Hennessy III,
P.E.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Changes in energy conservation and generation began decades ago in California, but transformation will involve a sustained effort with benefits for action realized now. For one, there are state and local funding vehicles to support investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects such as rooftop solar installations.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
By Shelagh Whitley
Fossil fuel subsidies undermine international efforts to avert dangerous climate change and represent a drain on national budgets. They also fail in one of their core objectives: to benefit the poorest. Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies would create a win-win scenario. It would eliminate the perverse incentives that drive up carbon emissions, create price signals for investment in a low-carbon transition and reduce pressure on public finances.
The Champions of Change series highlights ordinary Americans who are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world. On November 5, 2013, the White House honored 12 veterans and leaders who are using the skills they learned in the armed services to advance the clean energy economy.
-U.S. Department of Energy on YouTube
CLEAN WATER FUND
Water defines, and is central, to Michigan’s economy. Major tourism, agriculture, and fishing industries depend on the health of rivers, lakes, and streams. The Great Lakes contain over 20% of the world’s usable fresh surface water. Unfortunately unmitigated coal ash pollution is a major threat to the health of the state’s water and economy.
KACHAN & CO
The global economy is undergoing a fundamental change. Companies are under increasing pressure to produce and consume more efficiently. This pressure is creating innovation and, above all, opportunity in cleantech.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The U.S. offshore wind industry is transitioning from early development to demonstration of commercial viability. While there are no commercial-scale projects in operation or in the construction phase, there are eleven U.S. projects in advanced development, defined as having either been awarded a lease, conducted baseline or geophysical studies, or obtained a power purchase agreement (PPA). There are panels or task forces in place in at least 13 states to engage stakeholders to identify constraints and sites for offshore wind. U.S. policymakers are beginning to follow the examples in Europe that have proven successful in stimulating offshore wind technological advancement, project deployment, and job creation.
A continuation of the conversation started in “Natural Gas 101” from the first season of Rational Middle Energy videos, “Natural Gas 201” discusses the ways natural gas can contribute to the recovery of the economy from the Great Recession, as well as taking a look at the relationship between renewables and gas now and in the future.
View this complete post...
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Midwest’s remarkable renewable energy resources, vast agricultural land, strong manufacturing base, and leading research institutions have propelled the region to become a hub for renewable energy development. It is home to over a third of U.S. wind power capacity and 80% of U.S. biofuel production capacity. However, uncertainty about federal policy – like the production tax credit (PTC) and renewable fuels standard (RFS) – as well as transmission constraints could hinder Midwestern renewable energy capacity additions in the near term, with 2013 expected to yield only a fraction of the installations seen in previous years.
POST CARBON INSTITUTE
This study explored how some municipalities that are already leading the way on sustainability are now understanding and applying the concept of resilience. Senior staff at fourteen selected municipalities of various regions and sizes were surveyed on their communities’ perceived risks and vulnerabilities, and how these were being addressed.
Worried that there’s not enough charging infrastructure to keep your EV going? PlugShare’s user-updated, interactive map serves a dual purpose: to help drivers plan their trips by locating residential and commercial charging stations, and to help us improve our EV infra by serving as a visual guide to where more stations are needed. A quick glance at the map establishes the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest as EV hotspots, while trips around non-mainland states or rural plains states like Wyoming and Montana would still be best accomplished in an old-fashioned gas-guzzler.
View this complete post...    |
Follow InfrastructureUSA
Video, stills and tales. Share images of the Infra in your community that demands attention. Post your ideas about national Infra issues. Go ahead. Show Us Your Infra! Upload and instantly share your message.
Is the administration moving fast enough on Infra issues? Are Americans prepared to pay more taxes for repairs? Should job creation be the guiding determination? Vote now!
What do the experts think? This is where the nation's public policy organizations, trade associations and think tanks weigh in with analysis on Infra issues. Tell them what you think. Ask questions. Share a different view.
The Infra Blog offers cutting edge perspective on a broad spectrum of Infra topics. Frequent updates and provocative posts highlight hot button topics -- essential ingredients of a national Infra dialogue.
It is encouraging to finally see clear signs of federal action to support a comprehensive US infrastructure investment plan.
Now more than ever, our advocacy is needed to keep stakeholders informed and connected, and to hold politicians to their promises to finally fix our nation’s ailing infrastructure.
We have already engaged nearly 280,000 users, and hoping to add many more as interest continues to grow.
We require your support in order to rise to this occasion, to make the most of this opportunity. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to InfrastructureUSA.org.
Steve Anderson
Managing Director
SteveAnderson@InfrastructureUSA.org
917-940-7125
RSS Feed
© InfrastructureUSA | Terms of Use | Site developed by Andigo New Media
InfrastructureUSA.org is a nonprofit project fiscally sponsored by FJC, a Foundation of Philanthropic Funds.