Day: February 22, 2021

Energy, Regulation

Biden Energy Dept orders sweeping review of Trump energy rules

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Read the full story at The Hill.

The Biden administration will review several of the Trump administration’s most controversial energy rules, teeing up a possible reversal of policies that eased or erased efficiency regulations for lightbulbs, showerheads and more.

A Friday list from the Department of Energy (DOE) notified the White House of a number of Trump-era policies the department will weigh suspending, revising or rescinding. The move follows a Day 1 order from President Biden mandating a sweeping review of Trump’s environmental policies.

Climate change, Sustainable communities

Climate leaders go ‘all in’ to halve emissions by 2030

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Read the full story at Smart Cities Dive.

To complement the United States’ return to the Paris climate agreement, elected officials joined the business and nonprofit community to launch the “America Is All In” coalition, which aims to collaborate with the federal government on the fight against climate change.

Co-chaired by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Charlotte, NC Mayor Vi Lyles and CommonSpirit Health CEO Lloyd H. Dean, the group has pledged to cut carbon emissions by at least 50% from a 2005 baseline by 2030, and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The newly formed coalition builds on the work of the “We Are Still In” effort, which brought together state, tribal and local governments, businesses, academic institutions, nonprofits and other groups to curb emissions in the absence of federal aid. With President Biden’s administration pledging action on climate change, officials said this new initiative can supercharge those efforts.

Green building, Public policy

Architecture, Engineering and Construction Leaders Call on Biden to Take Action on Green Building

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Read the full story at Building Green.

President Biden has made a commitment to “Build Back Better” in the wake of COVID-19, the economic crisis, social upheaval, and regulatory rollbacks by the former administration. A growing group of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms is calling on Biden to also build back greener. He can do this, they say, by adding sustainable building strategies to his climate agenda and environmental justice plans. And he doesn’t need Congress’s help…

By speaking as an industry sector rather than an advocacy group, the Sustainable AEC Leaders hope to gain more traction within the Biden administration. Companies can review the AEC letter here and sign on to be included in that campaign by filling out this Google form by March 10.

Energy, Events

Webinar: The State of Long Duration Energy Storage

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Feb 24, 2021 11am-noon CST
Register here.

Battery-driven energy storage systems are already being sold around the world to utilities and to homeowners with rooftop solar. However, studies suggest that energy storage for not just hours but for days and even weeks will be necessary to address the seasonal variation of expanded wind and solar power distribution. What technologies could step up to the plate as solutions, and how can we expedite their development?

Featuring:

  • Noël Bakhtian – Discussion Lead Executive Director, Berkeley Lab Energy Storage Center
  • Wesley Cole Senior Energy Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Mateo Jaramillo CEO & Co-Founder, Form Energy, Inc.
  • Eric Kim Power Resources Planner, Silicon Valley Clean Energy
  • Jan Pepper Chief Executive Officer, Peninsula Clean Energy
Climate change, Energy, Natural disasters

Texas Blackouts Point to Coast-to-Coast Crises Waiting to Happen

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Read the full story in the New York Times.

Continent-spanning storms triggered blackouts in Oklahoma and Mississippi, halted one-third of U.S. oil production and disrupted vaccinations in 20 states.

Aquaculture, Environmental health

Fish farming has a plastic problem

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Read the full story at Environmental Health News.

Microplastics in fishmeal are contaminating farmed fish—impacting their health, the nutrition they provide, and leaving consumers potentially exposed.

Grocery stores

Pickup lockers target shoppers who walk or bike

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Read the full story at Grocery Dive.

Stop & Shop has launched a pickup locker solution at a store in Boston’s Brigham Circle neighborhood, according to a company press release.

The lockers, which contain three temperature zones, are remotely monitored 24/7 and sanitized after each use. Shoppers who place an order will receive a text within 15 minutes of their pickup time that includes a code to open their locker. Each order carries a $2.95 fee.

As pickup popularity grows, retailers see lockers and kiosks as being particularly attractive options for urban stores where shoppers visit on foot or by bike.

China, Energy

Q&A: Could an environmental inspector’s criticisms accelerate China’s climate policies?

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Read the full story at Carbon Brief.

Last week, in a move that has shocked observers, China’s Central Environmental Inspection Team (CEIT) openly criticised the central government’s National Energy Administration (NEA) for failing to limit the country’s expansion of coal power plants.

Food and beverage manufacturing, Greenwashing

40% of firms’ environmental claims could be misleading

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Read the full post at Food Navigator.

Four in 10 websites appear to be using ‘greenwashing’ tactics that could be considered misleading and therefore potentially break consumer law, according to an investigation by the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN).

Grocery stores

Dollar General joins ‘Beyond the Bag’ initiative to reduce plastic waste

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Read the full story in Grocery Dive.

Dollar General has joined the “Beyond the Bag” initiative, which aims to make the plastic disposable retail bag obsolete, as a lead partner for the value retail sector, the discount grocer announced in a press release on Thursday.

As a lead partner, Dollar General will explore recommended solutions for the value retail sector that come out of the Beyond the Bag Initiative, as well as direct the sector’s priorities and activities within the program’s operations.

Albertsons also recently joined the initiative, which is run by the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag. The retailers are the latest ones to sign onto the initiative, which launched last summer with the help of founding partners CVS Health, Target and Walmart and has since added several more grocery partners.

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