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Dear Desmon, I hope this finds you and your loved ones well and ready for summer!
We at EOPA are busy preparing for our electric vehicle (EV) tour that will make stops in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia. If you are interested in taking part at the end of May and during June, please contact naweed@protectingamerica.net. Press conferences will take place in each state, and lawmakers will have the opportunity to drive EVs, experience, and learn more about the incentives provided in the Inflation Reduction Act and how they work in tandem with state EV incentives.
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Fossil fuels phase-out — EOPA held a press conference with elected officials from California and New Mexico to talk about the need for health protections for communities affected by oil and gas production. Ensuring safety measures to protect communities that have oil and gas wells should be the moral and legal responsibility of the fossil fuel companies. Lawmakers are working hard to achieve this goal in their respective states. We had two syndicated radio shows that came from the press conference: New Mexico: This radio show reached 1.8 million listeners as it was broadcast by 104 media outlets across the country. Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, EOPA New Mexico Leadership Council member, is leading an effort to hold the industry accountable for the state’s 1,700 abandoned wells. While recognizing revenues from extraction greatly benefit the state, she said there is no reason adults and children should be getting sick from the byproducts. Rep. Debbie Sariñana, D-Albuquerque, EOPA – NM Director said, “There are over 32,000 children attending schools within a mile of an oil and gas extraction site.” Rep. Tara Lujan, D-Santa Fe, EOPA New Mexico Leadership Council member said, “Some here in New Mexico have been devastated because of types of energy incentives that have affected their land, their culture, their way of life, and have taken away their lives.” California: The radio show garnered 2 million listeners broadcasting from 105 unique media outlets. Meghan Sahli-Wells, former mayor of Culver City, EOPA - CA Director, spoke about her city’s successful fight to phase out the Inglewood oil field and said no community should be a sacrifice zone. She voiced strong support for keeping the 3,200-setback law that will be decided on the ballot in November. Ahmad Zahra, Fullerton City Council Member and EOPA Leadership Council member, said Assembly Bill 2716 would incentivize fossil fuel companies to shut down non-productive wells by charging them $10,000 a day to continue to operate these “stripper wells.” |
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| Offshore wind progress — We’re pleased to announce that our New York/New Jersey Offshore Wind Virtual Summit had tremendous feedback, with the speakers answering questions about the buildout and promise of the industry. Topics included local policy solutions for offshore wind investments, leasing, manufacturing, workforce development, supply chains, wages, and environmental reviews. Please Listen to it on YouTube if you missed it. With the backdrop of the recent news that the Long Island South Folk commercial wind is operational, our Summit brought media attention to offshore wind successes. As a result, a radio |
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show highlighted three elected officials and was heard by over 2 million listeners as 208 stations broadcasted it. New Jersey Assemblymember Carol Murphy, D-Cinnaminson talked about job growth and economic development and how public health will improve as the state shifts to offshore wind and other cleaner energy sources. Caren Fitzpatrick, former Atlantic County Commissioner, said the New Jersey Wind Port, being developed in Salem County, is expected to create up to 1,500 local jobs. New York Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, D-Schenectady, spoke about the manufacturing facility in his community building components for the turbines. |
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In California, we attended the Pacific Offshore Wind Summit, where (in the photo) Richmond Policy Director BK White, Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Alex Cornell du Houx, San Luis Obispo Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, and Humboldt County Supervisor Mike Wilson, spoke on the progress and opportunities to protect |
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our communities that offshore wind provides. The panel was moderated by USC Schwarzenegger Institute Deputy Chief of Staff Francisca Martinez. |
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National progress — For too long, communities of color have borne the brunt of environmental degradation, suffering the consequences of pollution because redlining opened the doors to highways that were built too close, and fossil fuel and other toxic industries became neighbors. Late in March, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the strongest-ever pollution standards for cars, reducing pollution in communities placed next to highways. . Then, the EPA announced a suite of final rules to reduce pollution from these fossil fuel-fired power plants in order to slash air pollution, which affects environmental justice communities the most.
The new EPA rulings come from actions outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA.) Our EOPA CEO Christian Brock’s statement about IRA grant awards was featured in a White House press release: Biden-?Harris Administration Announces Historic $20 Billion in Awards to Expand Access to Clean Energy and Climate Solutions and Lower Energy Costs for Communities Across the Nation Many of EOPA’s National Taskforce members represent communities that will benefit from the IRA grants they have applied for. In a syndicated radio show, two Taskforce members were interviewed. New York’s Brighton Town Council Member Robin Wilt talked about an IRA grant that will allow her town to implement geothermal, and then use a solar array to make the community close to net zero. Pennsylvania’s Joel Hicks, Borough of Carlisle Council Member, Navy Veteran, applied for a grant to work on energy efficiency and solar projects with Harrisburg. With the cost savings, the town intends to purchase an electric vehicle fleet and institute more efficient solid waste programs. Over 2.7 million listened nationwide when it was broadcast to over 163 unique media outlets. |
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Members of our National Leadership Council have been in the press lately. Colorado State Senator Faith Winter worked on a successful oil and gas compromise package to protect communities that included a pair of bills that levied a new fee on oil and gas production and gave the state’s Energy and Carbon Management Commission more power to penalize operators and address the problem of orphaned wells, amongst other measures. Nevada Assemblyman Howard Watts of Las Vegas was in the Smithsonian for the work the legislature is doing with the state’s water crisis and how Las Vegas is handling the mega-drought in All In on Its Water Conservation Plan. Hawai’i — We worked with the legislature to support the successful passage in the house and senate of a climate crisis mental health resilience bill. The legislation creates a first in the nation program to bring emotional intelligence to mindfulness, and well-being practices to youth and first responders. Our work in Hawai’i stems from class participation in our last Certificate Program. We are now accepting applicants for our August 9-11, 2024 Certificate training with the USF in Washington DC. Please apply here. |
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New York — In addition to our offshore wind project, EOPA continues work on the Climate Change Superfund Act, which requires the Big Oil companies most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions from the years 2000-2018 to pay a total of $75 billion — $3 billion annually over 25 years — to help the state pay for their pollution costs. Seven elected officials engaged directly with Governor Hochul, including NYC Comptroller Brad Lander about our efforts to back our letter, which has 100 elected officials supporting the Superfund Act. The measure passed the State Senate, but the governor did not include it in the budget. We had a syndicated radio show that highlighted how the climate crisis affected the state. Albany County Legislator William Reinhardt, EOPA New York Leadership Council Member, said roads, bridges, and culverts are becoming annual priorities. Cate Rogers, Town of East Hampton Deputy Supervisor EOPA Leadership Council Member, said the climate crisis is taking a toll on local industry, especially with this winter’s storms. Long Island faced $276 million in climate change-related costs. We are also engaged in New York on building electrification and are planning webinars – stay tuned! I recently had the honor of briefing members of the British Parliament on the Ukraine Energy Security Marshall Plan in partnership with UK for Ukraine. As a result, a resolution that highlights the importance of clean energy security will be introduced ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference this summer. We also held a roundtable discussion in parliament and I spoke at Oxford University on energy security. As always, we are grateful for your hard work and dedication to our shared goals. Thank you all or your leadership. Everything we do is because of you. Please reach out to me with news, policy questions or projects you’d think we should be involved in. Warm regards, Alex Cornell du Houx, EOPA President, Co-Founder Former Maine State Representative, Marine Veteran alex@protectingamerica.net |
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PROTECT EARTH NEWS MAGAZINE ISSUE XXII |
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- Fossil Fuel companies have left behind wells that leak toxins and operate existing wells too close to public places, CA and NM elected officials say it must stop
- EPA rules and IRA climate programs help historic transition for power plants to be powered by 100 percent clean energy, say elected officials
- With latest NJ offshore wind solicitation, the state has shown how to transition off of fossil fuels, say elected officials
- PA, NY towns benefit from Inflation Reduction Act grants
- On Earth Day, EOPA elected officials praise how Inflation Reduction Act is working and condemn fossil fuel industry for plastic pollution
- NM officials press for setbacks amid pushback from oil and gas industry
- CA climate leaders fight to keep setbacks around oil/gas wells and plug idle wells
- Elected Officials to Protect America wins coveted American Climate Leadership award for climate crisis work that supports IRA for Justice40 communities
- EPA issues strongest-ever pollution standards for cars – positions U.S. companies to lead the clean vehicle future, protect public health, address the climate crisis
- 488 CA elected officials across the state back keeping the 3,200-foot setback zone for oil wells near homes, businesses and schools
- Offshore wind does more than aid NY, NJ clean energy futures
- EPA announces new grant program to fund zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, infrastructure, and workforce development to tackle climate change, reduce air pollution, and advance environmental justice
- $7 Billion in IRA grants for residential solar, advancing Environmental Justice, saving low-income Americans $350 Million annually
- San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority Receives $15 million IRA grant for Delta-Mendota Canal Floating Solar Project
- BOEM finalizes wind energy area in the Gulf of Maine for ME, MA and NH
- Food forests in southern Arizona help combat heat and hunger
- $3.3 Billion for locally-led projects that reconnect communities as part of Biden’s IRA and Infrastructure Act
- IRA $20 Billion in grants to mobilize private capital and deliver clean energy and climate solutions to communities across America
- How to accelerate the Clean Air Act’s innovation engine with the IRA
- Study: Methane pollution from oil and gas production greatly underestimated
- Where can offshore wind turbines go off the American coast?
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- City Climate Corner podcasts explore how small and mid-sized cities are tackling climate change and moving toward an equitable and sustainable future.
- The Listening Project podcast has community stories about the environmental fight in the refinery port city of Richmond, CA
- A partnership with Public News Service allows us to share important Radio/Print news reports from across the country on the climate crisis and action being taken.
HELP US KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU — We encourage you to spread your news with us. We’re here to help. Please reach out to our communications director Ramona du Houx at ramona@protectingamerica.net. OUR MISSION — To create a safe, prosperous, and healthy planet, we empower leadership from elected officials and civic leaders to protect our environment and fight the climate crisis. As current and former elected officials who care deeply about protecting our planet and people from the dangers of climate change, EOPA educates through value-based storytelling, trains lawmakers, and connects elected officials to inspire strong environmental policy. Lawmakers who are veterans and elected officials representing frontline communities lead our mission. |
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Elected Officials to Protect America
20 Main Street
Rockland, ME 04841
United States |
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