The week in climate policy: 4 updates you need to know

Biden Administration reveals billions saved by companies due to the Inflation Reduction Act; Local governments in Wyoming bypass governor’s refusal to apply for decarbonization funding.

By Leah Garden

April 26, 2024

Joe Biden delivers a speech
  • The Biden Administration launched a web portal for its American Climate Corps on Monday. The portal lists nearly 2,000 job vacancies, along with term lengths, focus areas, work environment (including remote work, in-person, etc.) and application deadlines. In total, the White House aims to fill 20,000 climate-focused jobs in its first year before expanding the number of available positions in the future.  
  • In another announcement, the Biden Administration announced 35 projects, across 20 states, that received a total of $1.93 billion from using the Inflation Reduction Act’s Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C). 48C provides tax credits to businesses that accelerate clean energy manufacturing, recycling and emissions reduction. 
  • California SB-938, a bill that would have banned gas and electrical utilities from using money from ratepayers to fund any political lobbying activities, failed in committee. Colorado, Connecticut, Maine and other states have also considered legislation disallowing lobbying on the customers’ dime. 
  • After Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon declined to apply for federal grant dollars to reduce the state’s pollution and emissions, two local governments in the state applied separately for up to nearly $5 billion in federal grants. Cheyenne, the state capital, submitted an application for $99 million to build two solar farms and upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, while the Northern Arapaho Tribe applied for up to $4.6 billion to build a solar-powered microgrid and convert its vehicle fleet to electric and hybrid cars.
     

    [Continue the conversation on climate policy at Circularity 24 (May 22-24, Chicago), the leading conference for professionals building the circular economy.]

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Leah Garden

Staff Writer

GreenBiz Group

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