The Executive Order directed the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in coordination with other federal agencies, to produce a report on the climate and energy implications of crypto-assets in the United States. OSTP assembled an interdisciplinary team of experts to assess and extend existing studies with new analysis, based on peer-reviewed studies and the best available data.
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The Biden administration aims for 50% of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2030. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the largest-ever federal investment in EV charging infrastructure, and thus serves as a critical down payment for the United States to reach its EV potential. The influx of new federal funding presents a unique opportunity to jump start the effort to electrify transportation, but only if states and cities use funds effectively and equitably.
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On May 26, 2022, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) that includes three proposed lease areas in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area (WEA) off central California and two proposed lease areas in the Humboldt WEA off northern California. The lease sale in two regions hundreds of miles apart is novel. Taken together, the five proposed lease areas total approximately 373,268 acres that have the potential to unlock over 4.5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy.
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Later this month, the E.U. will roll out plans to phase out Russian gas and coal as well, completely severing ties with Russian energy sources over the coming years. The United States must help. Immediately, that means assisting E.U. nations in finding emergency alternatives to Russian energy supplies, to reduce the hardship the shift imposes on families and businesses across Europe. Longer term, E.U. nations are committed to slashing demand for fossil fuels altogether, from Russia and elsewhere.
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Biden’s plan broadly encompasses the 300,000 buildings, 600,000 cars and trucks and $650 billion in purchased goods and services that are part of the federal government’s operations. Think of it as a “one executive order fits all” for moving different parts of the government away from fossil fuels and towards the promise of clean energy. The government currently buys just 40% of its energy from renewable sources like wind and solar, so this transition will be significant given that it is also the largest energy consumer in the country.
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According to Energy Innovation modeling, EV incentives in the Build Back Better Act (BBB) would have a critical impact on climate and air pollution by inducing rapid market transformation, which will also benefit those most impacted by transportation pollution. Strong incentives would reduce purchase costs for consumers, while meeting President Biden’s goal of reducing 2030 passenger vehicle emissions 60 percent from 2020 levels.
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President Biden must restore lost trust in the United States as a reliable global climate partner. The Trump administration squandered that trust. Biden is working to earn it back. His strongest card is to lead by example, showing how he’ll keep his promise to cut U.S. carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases by 50 percent to 52 percent, compared to 2005 levels, and get to 80 percent clean electricity by 2030.
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The U.S. government has approved an offshore wind megaproject in the Atlantic. The megaproject will comprise 84 wind turbines and will be located within a 12-nautical-mile radius of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, two islands off the coast of Massachusetts. The wind farm will generate 800 MW of electricity and will provide electricity to 400,000 homes and businesses.
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The US government has unveiled a plan to install wind farms at sea to provide power to more than 10 million homes by 2030 and thus contribute to efforts against climate change. The plan aims to produce 30 GW of wind power in the country by 2021, according to an official statement. The goal will require investments estimated at more than $12 billion a year along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
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world’s “Great Reset” after COVID-19 is the backdrop against which all other moments will occur this year. Signals in 2021 will show whether we’re heading toward a cleaner, fairer, stronger world, or moving in the opposite direction. Countries already allocated $13 trillion to reboot economies, and are likely to spend trillions more in the coming year.
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The first step will be rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, as Biden has promised to do on his first day in office. But given the damage done over the past four years, the Biden administration will also meet some skepticism about the country’s ability to deliver ambitious climate action.
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