Advancing Climate Justice
Environmental justice recommendations for the hydrogen production tax credit
Among the various uncapped energy tax credits that form the core of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), none has been more heavily contested than 45V, the hydrogen production tax credit. This credit, newly created by the IRA, allows hydrogen producers to claim credits for every kilogram of “qualified clean hydrogen” produced. The credit amounts range…
Webinar: EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund & Green Financing 101 Webinar:
EPA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) will provide competitive grants to finance clean energy and climate projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the “single largest investment in clean energy, environmental justice, and carbon pollution reduction in American history,” what are the impacts and opportunities for community-based organizations? The GGRF Best Practices Alliance…
FEMA Proposes Rule Change that is a Step Toward Equity and Improving Access
On January 22, FEMA released an Interim Final Rule that proposes significant modifications to their Individual Assistance (IA) Program that provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by presidentially declared disasters. This change means that disaster survivors will have greater accessibility and more benefits to FEMA assistance. For so long,…
HHS Engages Healthcare Providers in Climate Solutions: Opportunities, Models, and Barriers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new initiative to mobilize the healthcare sector, particularly safety net providers, to take advantage of opportunities in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and improve climate preparedness and resilience. The HHS Office of Climate…
Cultivating Collaboration: Reflections from the Creating a Climate for Change Conference
At the end of last year, I traveled to Florence, South Carolina, to attend the Creating a Climate for Change conference. Hosted annually by the New Alpha Community Development Corporation and the Whitney M. Slater Foundation, the event is a dynamic forum for learning, networking, and envisioning a sustainable future for communities within and beyond…
Webinar: What it Really Means to be a Federal Grantee – Accomplishments and Challenges
Emerald Cities Collaborative, The Climate & Clean Energy Equity Fund, and Just Solutions hosted an informative webinar about the experience of applying to and receiving federal funding. As opportunities for federal funding for environmental justice efforts become more available, it is essential that community organizations understand the process and challenges of being a federal grantee.…
IG Livestream with Idalmis Vaquero: Senior Policy Analyst
Idalmis Vaquero is a Senior Policy Analyst at Just Solutions. She joined our team in 2023 with a wealth of knowledge on environmental policy and law. Her professional experiences along with her personal experiences growing up in a frontline community have resulted in her valued expertise. Watch our Instagram Livestream we did with Idalmis!
National Environmental Policy Act: Recommendations for environmental justice
Earlier this summer, the federal Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that could get us closer to analyzing climate change impacts, addressing the concerns of environmental justice communities, and uplifting the role of Tribal governments. Most notable are revisions that reinstate many of NEPA’s principles and functions…
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Awardee Best Practices for Equity and Governance Pledge
The objective of the GGRF Equity and Governance Best Practices Alliance is to ensure that environmental justice and community-based organizations, representing and made up of frontline communities, are able to have decision-making power in how and where the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is deployed so that impacted communities are directly benefited.
Implications of AMI for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates
Introduction Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates have been touted as a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that will deliver benefits to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. The program allocates about $4.3 billion to the states to provide up to $14,000 in point-of-sale rebates to eligible households. Eligible purchases include certain appliance upgrades (including…
