Climate Change – NewDEAL

Lauren McLean, Mayor (Boise, ID)

September 24, 2021/in Climate Change, Infrastructure /by Jordan Smith

Boise Continues to Lead on Climate

Last week, NewDEAL Leader Boise, ID Mayor Lauren McLean met with President Biden during a visit he made to Boise to tour the National Intermountain Fire Center, which leads wildfire response in the West. Mayor McLean highlighted Boise’s holistic Climate Action Roadmap, which commits the city to 100% renewable energy by 2035, funds electrification of all municipal buildings, and identifies environmental justice, equity, and community health concerns across the city. For more on Boise’s work, take a look at the NewDEAL Forum’s Climate Solutions report, which features Boise as one of its “model cities.”

Kate Gallego, Mayor (Phoenix, AZ)

September 17, 2021/in Climate Change, Infrastructure /by Jordan Smith

First in the Nation Heat Mitigation Office

In Phoenix, where rising temperatures and extreme heat due to climate change are threatening the City’s economic vitality and health of its residents, NewDEAL Leader Mayor Kate Gallego this week announced the establishment of a Heat Response & Mitigation Office. The new department, the first of its kind in the nation, will examine scientific ways to address rising temperatures and the serious dangers they can pose to residents. “Already, Phoenix is recognized as a leader in cooling strategies and support for heat vulnerable residents,” Gallego said, “and this investment is reflective of Phoenix’s continued commitment to develop innovative solutions to ensure our city’s health and livability.” Read more about the new office and how Phoenix continues to be a leader in heat mitigation.

Troy Singleton, Senator (Moorestown, NJ)

September 10, 2021/in Climate Change, Infrastructure /by Jordan Smith

New Energy Efficiency Fund in New Jersey

Recently, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed NewDEAL Leader Senator Troy Singleton’s legislation establishing a new energy efficiency fund into law. The bill will use $180 million in American Rescue Plan funding to provide grants to schools and small businesses for the repair and upgrading of central heating/cooling systems, plumbing, and appliances. Senator Singleton said as schools and businesses reopen for in-person service, “there are concerns about whether they have adequate ventilation systems to meet health and safety requirements.” The law will approve applicants for grants by December 1, 2021. Read more.

Dylan Roberts, Representative & Chris Hansen, Senator (CO)

August 13, 2021/in Climate Change /by Jordan Smith

Acting to Prevent & Mitigate Wildfires

An op-ed from NewDEAL Leader Colorado Representative Dylan Roberts highlights the importance of the state legislature’s successful bipartisan passage of six bills to prevent and mitigate wildfires, including one with NewDEALer Senator Chris Hansen as a prime sponsor. As underscored by the latest IPCC report on climate released this week, the changing climate and resulting increase in extreme weather events demand immediate action to protect people both now and in the future. Roberts highlights his state’s recent “dramatic upsurge in the incidence and duration of forest fires” that mirrors what’s happening throughout the western states and explains how the new state laws will mitigate this challenge in Colorado. Hansen’s bill directs funding to forest restoration and risk mitigation projects, while others in the package allocate funding to the water conservation board for watershed protection and new technology for firefighting. Read more about this important legislative work to combat the effects of climate change.

Marko Liias, Senator (Lynwood, WA)

April 23, 2021/in Climate Change, Infrastructure, Transportation /by Kellee Wicker

Phasing Gasoline Vehicles Out of Washington

The Washington State legislature passed the groundbreaking Clean Cars 2030 bill, championed in the Senate by NewDEAL Leader Washington Senator Marko Liias. The bill requires all passenger vehicles model year 2030 or later to be electric vehicles, the most aggressive state goal in the country, and is the first gasoline phaseout legislation to be passed. Senator Liias noted that the legislation clarifies the transition to electric by creating a timeline and providing tools and guidelines for businesses and consumers alike to have a roadmap for the way forward. Read more about this pioneering bill.

Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor (Wisconsin)

April 9, 2021/in Climate Change /by Kellee Wicker

Climate Recommendations for Wisconsin

For a year and a half, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes has led his state’s Climate Change Task Force as it conducted public listening tours and generated policy recommendations. Now, with the announcement of Gov. Evers’ latest budget, Barnes is seeing his hard work pay off with the inclusion of $60 million in spending for nearly three dozen climate recommendations in the budget proposal. Highlights include the creation of an Office of Environmental Justice, increased data collection and stronger requirements around pre-approval environmental assessments. Read more about the proposed budget here.

Leirion Gaylor Baird, Mayor (Lincoln, NE)

March 19, 2021/in Climate Change /by Kellee Wicker

Lincoln Prepares for the Future

Despite the perception of climate change as a coastal issue, forward-thinking leaders like NewDEAL Leader Lincoln, NE Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird understand that their communities are not immune. In a recent interview with The Well News, Mayor Gaylor Baird discussed the steps her city is taking to improve resilience and prepare for an uncertain future. Recently, Gaylor Baird released a climate action plan, which lays out policy and spending priorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and build the city’s resilience across economic, demographic, and infrastructure sectors. In addition, Lincoln has debuted a new process to turn Lincoln’s wastewater into biogas, which can then be sold to generate revenue for the city. Check out the Mayor’s profile in The Well News here.

Jon Mitchell, Mayor (New Bedford, MA)

January 8, 2021/in Climate Change /by Kellee Wicker

A new plan just released by New Bedford, MA Mayor Jon Mitchell would see his city reach zero-waste, 100% renewable energy, and tree planting targets by 2050. The plan, NB Resilient, has six focus areas: climate and energy; economy and jobs; infrastructure, utilities and waste; natural resources; public health and safety; and transportation and land use. “In the midst of the pandemic,” Mayor Mitchell said, “we in New Bedford know that the world goes on. There are other challenges we face, there are other opportunities we must seize – and top among all of them are the threats and opportunities presented by climate change.” Read more about the New Bedford Resilient plan here.

Sam Liccardo, Mayor (San Jose, CA) and NewDEAL alum Josh Fryday

October 2, 2020/in Climate Change /by join.us

California Climate Action Corps
NewDEAL Leader San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo announced his city would join the first-of-its-kind California Climate Action Corps, an initiative created by NewDEAL Honorary Vice Chair Governor Gavin Newsom and housed in his office of California Volunteers, led by NewDEAL Alum California Chief Service Offier Josh Fryday. The effort, which is the nation’s first statewide volunteer corps to fight climate change, will mobilize Californians to volunteer for environmental work and community initiatives, such as urban tree planting and food rescue programs. Volunteers who serve a year will receive a financial stipend to help pay for college. Learn more about San Jose’s participation in this new initiative to fight the effects of the growing climate crisis.

The Wind Siting Reform

January 18, 2020/in Climate Change Growing The Economy For The Future Energy /by actualize

Problem

In Massachusetts, it’s currently easier to build a large fossil-fuel energy facility than to get a permit to produce wind energy. Other New England states have more predictable siting laws, making them more attractive to developers.

Solution

The Wind Siting Reform Act streamlines the permitting process for wind energy facilities while preserving local control. It creates a timely and predictable process for developers to follow, which will encourage the development of wind energy facilities in our state.