"President Joe Biden celebrates Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in grants for #ResidentialSolar projects that will power nearly a million low-income households.

Residential #solar is difficult to access for lower-income Americans because of its high upfront cost and because less affluent people tend to rent their homes or live in apartment buildings.

Biden's goal: to direct 40% of federal clean energy investment benefits to disadvantaged communities."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-unveil-7-billion-rooftop-solar-earth-day-message-2024-04-22/
#WhatBidenDid

"The #InflationReductionAct allocates $8.8 billion in total funding for consumers who make their homes more #EnergyEfficient.

Consumers can access up to $14,000 or more per household. Many will likely be able to start accessing rebates within months.

The rebates aim to partially or fully offset costs for efficiency projects like installing electric heat pumps, insulation, electrical panels and Energy Star-rated appliances."

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/22/inflation-reduction-act-energy-rebates-may-soon-be-available.html
#WhatBidenDid

"Their value and eligibility vary according to factors like household income, with more money flowing to low- and middle-income earners.

The DOE also expects the programs to save households $1 billion a year in energy costs due to higher efficiency."

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/22/inflation-reduction-act-energy-rebates-may-soon-be-available.html

Biden did a lot for the climate, much of it unsung.

"Few Americans say they've heard a lot about what the administration has done on #ClimateChange. That extends to those in the president's own party and to those who rate the issue of climate change as very important. Half of them have heard little or nothing at all about what the administration has done."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-policies-biden-poll/

So it's DIY communication now: pass the word on #WhatBidenDid for the climate. (People will be happy to hear!)

"The money for the solar panels will flow through Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All grant competition, which was part of Biden's landmark climate change law dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act. The law is expected to create 200,000 jobs and save households in the program about $400 a year, the White House said."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/22/bernie-sanders-ocasio-cortez-boost-biden-climate-agenda-on-earth-day/73417626007/
#WhatBidenDid

Americans want climate action at the government level. That action has started under Biden. But:

"Half of Americans have heard not much or nothing about what the Biden administration has done about #ClimateChange. Only 14% say they've heard a lot."

So, tell your friends #WhatBidenDid.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-politics-opinion-poll-cbs-news-4-22-2024/

"[Green banks] use that money to invest in new solar farms, decarbonize homes and apartment buildings, and make communities more resilient to extreme weather and other climate impacts. The returns from those projects will then go back to the coalition and allow them to fund more projects over time. If successful, that will keep the $20 billion cycling in the economy long after other IRA funding has dried up.

Many of the projects funded over the past month work this way"

https://heatmap.news/economy/37-billion-biden-ira?_hsmi=304048651#

“With the industrial decarbonization program” — a $10 billion set of awards to more than 130 companies, funded with $6 billion of IRA money — “the number that DOE is touting isn’t $6 billion. It’s $20 billion, because all the projects require cost sharing.”

“The industrial decarbonization programs are first-of-a-kind inroads into a sector that has traditionally been called hard to abate.”

https://heatmap.news/economy/37-billion-biden-ira?_hsmi=304048651#

Esciting times. This thread sketches out #WhatBidenDid for the climate.

"The most high-profile rule issued Thursday is the greenhouse gas restriction, which applies to both existing #coal plants and newly constructed #NaturalGas plants.

Under the rule, these power plants are expected to have to capture 90 percent of their carbon dioxide #emissions."

Coal plants: by 2032, gas plants: by 2035.
They have a decade to develop carbon capture as real, cheap, and at scale, or it's the end of coal and gas power plants.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4619780-biden-cracks-down-on-power-plants-climate-emissions-pollution/

#Coal power fighting for its life

"West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has already vowed to challenge the Biden rule in court and predicted he’d score a repeat victory against what he called an “out-of-control agency.”

But legal observers say the new rule’s focus on facility-level carbon emissions may save the regulation from the pitfalls the Clean Power Plan encountered in the 2022 case."

https://www.eenews.net/articles/specter-of-supreme-court-smackdown-looms-over-biden-climate-rule-2/

The #Biden administration issued new minimum #EnergyStandards for homes built with federal dollars.

A bundle of #BuildingCodes that set efficiency targets for insulation,windows, HVAC and other systems, the updated energy standards apply only to new #AffordableHousing construction built with federal financing or funding.

All told, the average annual savings work out to $963 per household."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-25/biden-boosts-energy-efficiency-standards-for-affordable-housing
#WhatBidenDid

#WhatBidedDid here for lower income families is significant: Affordable housing is not really affordable if it needs lots of energy and money to heat and cool.

Building thermally resilient housing costs builders more, so they have to be mandated to do it. These standards do just that.

Saving families $1000 a year is big.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-25/biden-boosts-energy-efficiency-standards-for-affordable-housing

I hope states and municipalities follow suit.

Here's #WhatBidenDid to keep coal in the ground:

"In one of its biggest steps yet to keep #FossilFuels in the ground, the Biden administration announced Thursday that it will end new coal leasing in the #PowderRiverBasin, which produces nearly half the coal in the United States.

The bureau determined that no future coal leasing should happen in the basin, and it estimated that coal mining in the #Wyoming portion of the region would end by 2041."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/05/16/coal-leasing-powder-river-basin-climate/

"At least 305 major #CleanEnergy projects have been announced in 40 states and Puerto Rico since the IRA passed, Timberlake said, totalling more than $123 billion in capital investments. The Midwest, he added, has received about a quarter of those funds."

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17052024/midwest-clean-energy-manufacturing/

#WhatBidenDid to create American clean-energy #jobs, under the #InflationReductionAct

Why the we all need to tell our friends about what #WhatBidenDid to protect the climate:
1. Federal climate action is popular.
2. It get more popular once you explain it.
3. People hate Trump’s positions on the issue.

Also this summer is expected to bring searing heat and mean hurricanes: Stay safe, AND use them as opportunities to talk about climate change.

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/05/25/bill-mckibben-thinks-climate-change-is-the-key-to-a-biden-win-in-november/

[Edit:] Scroll up and down this thread to see #WhatBidenDid for climate

"The boom in clean energy projects is astounding. Since the passage of the IRA in 2022, incentives provided by the law helped drive $332 billion in new investments in #CleanEnergy and transportation technologies. Almost all of that was private investments, as opposed to government spending, spurred on by an estimated $48 billion in federal tax credits.

While much of the #IRA is working as intended, the American public is largely unaware of the story."

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/climate/the-biden-clean-energy-boom.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE0.QKiF.B6G6SkWeQlzQ
#WhatBidenDid

White House announces actions to modernize America’s #ElectricalGrid, paving the way for clean energy and fewer outages

"The new initiative between the feds and 21 states aims to make faster fixes and improvements to the grid, committing to build a bigger and more modern grid as part of a larger effort to reduce power outages and increase electrical transmission capacity – a massive hurdle to getting more #CleanEnergy on the grid."

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/28/climate/energy-grid-modernization-biden/index.html

#WhatBidenDid, prioritizing kids in underserved communities:

US gives school districts $900 mln for #ElectricSchoolBuses

"The EPA rebates will support the purchase of 3,400 school buses, 92% of them electric, the White House said. School districts in low income, tribal and rural communities will receive about 67% of the funds."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-gives-school-districts-900-mln-electric-school-buses-2024-05-29/

#WhatBidenDid for job creation in the clean energy sector:

"Rising to the #climate challenge is turning into a win-win for the U.S. economy, as manufacturing in climate solutions is creating hundreds of thousands of #jobs, directly and indirectly, all across the nation.

Despite cash flowing from a democratic administration, the vast majority of the federal investment – and jobs created – is going to red or swing states.

https://www.wfla.com/weather/climate-classroom/fighting-climate-change-is-powering-the-u-s-economy/

#WhatBidenDid for #RuralJobs

"#CleanEnergy is exploding in the U.S. — a trend that’s only accelerating as [Biden's] Inflation Reduction Act gives a boost to the industry through 2031.

“When we look at developing utility scale renewable energy projects, they’re very commonly in rural areas of America.
That means all those wind tech #jobs will be rural jobs, and high-paying ones at that. The median income for wind techs is just under $62,000 a year."

https://www.marketplace.org/2024/06/10/clean-energy-boom-jobs-rural-communities/

"Millions of voters either do not know basic facts about the Biden presidency (e.g., he expanded NATO, crime is way down) or what they think they know is wrong (e.g., falsely believing we are in a recession)."

*****"Biden does much better with voters who actually know what is going on."*****

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/21/newsletter-biden-debate-todo/

Want Biden re-elected?
Find out #WhatBidenDid for ordinary Americans and tell your friends about it.
(Quick start: look up and down this thread).

Here's #WhatBidenDid for clean energy jobs:

"U.S. companies have created more than 300,000 #CleanEnergy #jobs since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022.

Other researchers have projected the law will create more than 5 million clean energy jobs over the next decade.

Donald Trump wants to gut the Inflation Reduction Act."

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-300000-clean-energy-jobs_n_6679b2a6e4b097620199055e

Here's #WhatBidenDid for pristine wilderness areas in Alaska:

"Today, my Administration is stopping a 211-mile road from carving up a pristine area that #Alaska Native communities rely on, in addition to steps we are taking to maintain protections on 28 million acres in Alaska from #mining and #drilling," Biden said in a statement. "These natural wonders demand our protection."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-protects-alaska-lands-important-tribes-hunting-fishing-2024-06-28/

#WhatBidenDid to protect millions of US workers from #ExtremeHeat

"The [proposed] rule would require employers to establish a heat safety coordinators, undergo extreme heat safety training, and provide workers with #shade and #water.

It would require a heat acclimatization process for new employees to gradually increase their exposure to high temperatures. Three out of four workers who die of workplace #HeatExposure in the US die during their first week on the job."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/02/biden-extreme-heat-proposaal?utm_source=press.coop

"The new rule would apply to all 50 US states, including Texas and Florida, which have passed laws preventing municipalities from adopting workplace heat safety measures.

The rule is likely to face legal challenges from businesses and lobbying groups that have staunchly opposed such a measure."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/02/biden-extreme-heat-proposaal?utm_source=press.coop

"Penalties for heat-related violations in workplaces would increase significantly, in line with what workplaces are issued for violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules, a senior White House administration official said."

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-biden-delivers-remarks-on-administration-rules-for-workplaces-to-address-extreme-heat

"If finalized, the Biden administration’s rule would override state measures" -- I hope that includes FL and TX law banning local laws to protect workers from extreme heat.

Here's #WhatBidenDid to help low- and moderate-income households who want to install a #HeatPump in their house or upgrade its #insulation, but need help with the upfront cost:

In participating states, you can get up to 100% (up to $14,000) toward the cost of electrification, efficiency upgrades, or EnergyStar appliances.

Find out if your state participates; if not, ask your state reps to push for participation.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/22/inflation-reduction-act-energy-rebates-may-soon-be-available.html

Thanks to @croselund for the alert!

Regardless of household income:

Wondering what else might be available to help you get climate-friendly appliances, home battery storage, an EV, etc? Here's a cool Incentive Calculator.

https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/calculator

Also check out your local utility for any incentives.

Biden administration awards $1.7 billion in grants for #ElectricVehicle manufacturing in eight states

"The Energy Department will issue grants totaling $1.7 billion to create or retain thousands of #UnionJobs and support auto-based communities that have long driven the U.S. economy, the White House said Thursday. Besides [Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia], grants also will go to EV facilities in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia."

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-administration-awards-1-7-billion-in-grants-for-electric-vehicle-manufacturing-in-eight-states
#EV #MadeInUSA

Here's #WhatBidenDid to fight plastic pollution:

Biden administration unveils plan to wean US government off single-use #plastics

“Because of its purchasing power … the Federal Government has the potential to significantly impact the supply of these products.”

https://www.dailyclimate.org/us-government-ocean-plastic-pollution-2668780871.html

"The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $4.3 billion in grants to fund projects in 30 states to reduce climate pollution. The money will go to 25 projects targeting greenhouse gas #emissions from transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture and waste and materials management."

https://apnews.com/article/epa-climate-pollution-reduction-grants-pennsylvania-2c60575bc2612ae1071fd4d9e13a01f4

We’re Still Cleaning Up the Trump Administration’s Environmental Messes

A list of #WhatBidenDid to undo some of the harmful policies put in place under Trump, making life cleaner and safer for Americans.

https://earthjustice.org/feature/trump-environmental-mess

"President #Biden has taken more action on #ClimateChange than any president in history—though many voters don’t realize that.

And in some cases, when Biden has been criticized for not doing enough, it’s because he’s been blocked."

A Harris White House would continue this work, and accelerate it.
"Trump, on the other hand, has strong ties to the fossil fuel industry."

https://www.fastcompany.com/91160799/what-biden-accomplished-on-climate-and-what-kamala-harris-could-do-next
#WhatBidenDid

Although this thread is hashtagged #WhatBidenDid, you can be sure that Harris was part of it all.

Here is a laundry list of things they accomplished, even in the face of Republican opposition. The list covers many issues voters care about, and a lot of it didn't get much coverage in the mainstream news.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1deNg4_-mW-yIuSyCT7u51R6mB4s4VLuBLilZi42dZRc/

CHALLENGE:
– Go through the list.
– Count how many of these you knew about already.
– If it's less than 60%, share the list, it may be useful to your friends.