Discounted membership offer for first-time Climate Communities members
Climate Communities needs your support.
In 2009, Climate Communities was effective as a coalition in securing federal resources for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Showcase Communities program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Sustainable Communities initiative, as well as including significant funding for local climate actions in proposed climate change legislation.
2010 will be a challenging year. President Obama included no resources in his FY 2011 budget request for either the EECBG or Climate Showcase Communiites initiatives, so we will need a strong coalition of local government leaders working with us as we urge Congress to build on the federal sustainability investments of 2009.
As an incentive to become a Climate Communities leader, we're offering first-time members a 1/3 off discount on annual membership if you join before March 31, 2010. Click here for more information.
HUD seeks comments on proposed Sustainable Communities initiative; deadline March 12, 2010
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking input from local governments and other stakeholders on its new Sustainable Communities initiative. An Advance Notice published by HUD on February 4, 2010 provides more details about the program. Congress provided $150 milliion to HUD in FY 2010 to award competitive grants to regions and localities to support planning efforts that effectively integrate housing, transportation, environmental impact and economic development. Comments are due to HUD on March 12, 2010. HUD is expected to make a funding announcement during the week of April 12, 2010, and applications are expected to be due to HUD in early June.
Climate Communities will host a conference call on February 12, 2010 to outline HUD's proposed Sustainable Communities initiative and begin to collect local government feedback.
Materials for February 5 conference call:
"Scenario Planning to Ensure Efficient Transportation Investments / President Obama’s FY 2011 Budget Request"
Climate Communities organizes support in Florida, MIchigan and Virginia for national climate legislation
In late 2009, Climate Communities submitted letters to Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), George LeMieux (R-FL), Carl Levin (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jim Webb (D-VA), and Mark Warner (D-VA) signed by approximately 100 local elected leaders from across the states of Florida, Michigan and Virginia in support of climate legislation that recognizes the critical role of local governments.
The fact sheets below illustrate how local governments in Florida, Michigan and Virginia are leading efforts to create new jobs, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their states:
Earlier this month, Climate Communities sent a letter of support to Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in support of their climate change legislation (S. 1733).
Senate climate legislation include allowance allocations for local governments
On October 23, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) released the anticipated allowance allocations for their climate change legislation (S. 1733). The Chairman's Mark of the legislation dedicates significant funding to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, transit and vehicle miles traveled reductions, adaptation, and other local activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Click here for an updated version of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.
Click here for a Climate Communities analysis of the local government allocations in the bill.
DOE announces competitive EECBG funding; deadline December 14, 2009
On October 19, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its final plan to compete approximately $454 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding. Awards will be made in two topics areas: (1) the Retrofit Ramp-up Program and (2) the General Innovation Fund for Ineligible Entities.
The Retrofit Ramp-Up Program will provide more than $390 million in funding to 8-20 innovative public programs, with awards ranging from $5 to $75 million. The program will support projects that demonstrate a sustainable business model for providing cost-effective energy upgrades for a large percentage of the residential, commercial, and public buildings in a specific community. Possible approaches could include innovative partnerships between the public and private sector, utility retrofit and audit programs, alternative financing, retail partnerships, and others. All communities are eligible to apply.
The General Innovation Fund for Ineligible Entities will provide approximately $64 million in funding to 15-60 local governments and Indian tribes that were not eligible for direct formula grants, with awards ranging from $1 to $5 million. Grant funding would help communities expand local energy efficiency efforts and reduce energy use in the commercial, residential, transportation, manufacturing, or industrial sectors.
Click here for a copy of the DOE's competitive EECBG funding announcement.
DOE release new solar infrastructure guide for local governments
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a comprehensive resource to assist local governments and stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets. “Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments” introduces a range of policy and program options that have been successfully field tested in cities and counties around the country. The guide describes each policy or program, followed by more information on:
- Benefits: Identifies benefits from implementing the policy or program.
- Implementation Tips and Options: Outlines various tips and options for designing and implementing the policy or program.
- Examples: Highlights experiences from communities that have successfully implemented the policy or program.
- Additional References and Resources: Lists additional reports, references, and tools that offer more information on the topic, where applicable.
Click here for an online version of the guide.
Senators Kerry and Boxer introduce climate legislation, include provisions championed by Climate Communities
On September 30, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the
Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733). Introduction of the Kerry-Boxer climate bill follows passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) this June in the U.S. House of Representatives, and will serve as the starting point for Senate climate negotiations. Hearings on the bill are expected to begin in early October, and Senator Boxer, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, will markup the bill soon thereafter.
Climate Communities worked with Senators Kerry and Boxer to empower localities to achieve major energy savings and emissions reductions. Specifically, Climate Communities urged Senators Kerry and Boxer to:
- Allocate 5% of carbon allowances to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program;
- Allocate 10% of carbon allowances to finance additional investment in mass transit and passenger rail systems, transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian trails;
- Allocate 2% of carbon allowances to help local governments create green jobs in communities with closed manufacturing plants and other underutilized economic sites;
- Allocate 1% of carbon allowances for local government adaptation initiatives that prepare for the impacts of climate change; and
- Make local government green infrastructure, efficiency, and clean energy projects that reduce carbon emissions eligible for offset credits.
The legislation includes many of Climate Communities' recommendations. Currently, the bill:
- Dedicates an as yet unspecified portion of the carbon allowances to the EECBG program;
- Dedicates an as yet unspecified portion of the carbon allowances to finance additional investment in mass transit and passenger rail systems, transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian trails;
- Dedicates an as yet unspecified portion of the carbon allowances to help local governments adapt to the impacts of flooding; and
- Makes local government urban forestry and methane recapture projects that reduce carbon emissions eligible for offset credits.
Climate Communities will continue working with key Senators in the coming months to ensure that a significant portion of carbon allowances are dedicated to local climate actions.
Click here for a copy of the Kerry-Boxer climate legislation.
Click here for a section-by-section summary of the Kerry-Boxer climate legislation.
Click here for a Climate Communities analysis of the local government provisions of the Kerry-Boxer climate bill.
Sign on to letter supporting cap-and-trade resources for local governments
In September, the U.S. Senate will begin consideration of climate legislation. It is essential that the Senate legislation supports the critical role of local governments in addressing climate change. Climate Communities is urging Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to empower localities to achieve major energy savings and emissions reductions by:
- Allocating 5% of the $100 billion in carbon allowances to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program;
- Allocating 10% of the carbon allowances to finance additional investment in mass transit and passenger rail systems, transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian trails;
- Allocating 2% of the carbon allowances to help local governments create green jobs in communities with closed manufacturing plants and other underutilized economic sites;
- Allocating 1% of the carbon allowances for local government adaptation initiatives that prepare for the impacts of climate change; and
- Making local government green infrastructure, efficiency, and clean energy projects that reduce carbon emissions eligible for offset credits.
Click here to review and sign on to the Climate Communities letter to Chairman Boxer.
U.S. House of Representatives approves historic climate legislation
On June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-212 to approve the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454). This sweeping climate and energy bill would curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a national cap-and-trade system 83 percent by 2050. Climate Communities worked with Representative John Dingell (D-MI) to include federal resources in the legislation for local climate actions. The U.S. Senate is expected to begin consideration of climate change legislation this summer. For more information, click here.
Climate Communities hosts successful Local Climate Leadership Summit
On May 18-20, 2009, Climate Communities and ICLEI USA gathered more than 150 local government leaders in Washington, DC for the Local Climate Leadership Summit.
Summit events included meetings with 75 House Members and 30 Senators, a session with the White House Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley, Q&A with U.S. Department of Energy who direct the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, and the launch of the new “Climate Showcase Communities” grant initiative. The Summit also included a session with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (D-MI), who was the champion on a provision in climate legislation that would direct funding from the carbon trading market to local governments for energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building codes, building retrofits, clean transportation and other programs.
For Summit materials, visit www.localclimateleadershipsummit.org.
Economic recovery legislation includes significant resources for local climate actions
House and Senate conferees completed work on a final version of the $787 billion economic recovery legislation, which is expected to be approved and sent to President Obama for his signature. The final bill includes $3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program; $2.8 billion will be distributed by formula to eligible cities (35,000 or greater in population) and counties (200,000 or greater in population, and $400 million will be available competitively through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The final legislation also includes:
- $5 billion for DOE weatherization assistance;
- $3.1 billion for the DOE State Energy Program;
- $300 million for DOE Clean Cities grants to promote more efficient vehicles;
- $400 million for DOE grants for electric vehicles and other transportation electrification projects; and
- $300 million for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants to reduce diesel emissions.
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