The Not-So Cold Open
US Strikes a Climate Double
US Announces Significant Investment into US Hydrogen and Grid Resilience
Hydrogen Hubs
The Biden administration is unveiling seven regional clean hydrogen hubs, which will receive $7 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate the domestic market for low-cost, clean hydrogen. This initiative is crucial for achieving a clean energy economy, enhancing energy security, supporting domestic manufacturing, creating jobs, and fostering healthier communities. These hubs are expected to attract over $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of well-paying jobs, with a significant portion focused on green hydrogen production. Collectively, they aim to produce over three million metric tons of clean hydrogen per year and reduce carbon emissions by 25 million metric tons annually, making a substantial impact on the nation's clean energy goals.
Read more here: Whitehouse Press
Grid Resilience
The Biden administration is investing $3.5 billion in grants to enhance the U.S. power grid, marking the largest-ever investment in the country's grid infrastructure. These funds will expand wind and solar power capacity, strengthen power lines against extreme weather, integrate batteries and electric vehicles, and develop microgrids to ensure power during outages. The investment is part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with a total of $10.5 billion available for grid expansion and resilience. These initiatives aim to address climate-related challenges, enable more renewable energy to come online, and prioritize underserved communities, while also creating union jobs.
Read more here: Canary Media
Why these are important: Investing in Hydrogen capabilities as a nation helps the US diversify their energy portfolio and creates a platform for newer lower-carbon technologies and processes as the economy and our work force grows. And as technology becomes ever more engrained in our daily lives and solutions to climate change continue to require more output from our grids, investing in updating this infrastructure will help us use alternative energy generation and storage strategies, increase energy security and reliability, and become a stronger back-bone for the technology that is yet to be built upon it.
Other Hot Headlines:
- Climate Tech Investing Down More Than 40% Over the Past 12 Months: Read here
- GM Delaying Electric Pickup Truck Expansion Due to Slower Growth: Read here
- El Nino Set to Put an End to Peru’s Long Run of Fruit Export Growth: Read here
Climate Culture
Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick
ATTENTION PARENTS: This is the children’s show you want your kids to watch
For a while now, I’ve been really interested in the intersection of education and climate and how our youngest little activists can make a big difference in how we think about climate change. Any parent would agree, children are like sponges- absorbing all this world has to offer, and taking notice of even the smallest things we as adults often overlook. Children latch on to these behaviors, norms and truths and carry them as they flourish into adults- which is why early climate education is so important.
And that’s where Suzie and Sprout come in! “Suzie Hicks The Climate Chick” is truly what I believe to be a revolutionary children’s show in a world where parent’s are googling “should my kid be watching THIS much cocomelon?”. Bootstrapped and operating as climate-friendly as possible, Suzie and team have developed a trailer for the show here- TRAILER - focused on educating kids about climate change but also helping them understand and manage their emotions (about climate and in general) as well.
Suzie and Sprout give our current and future kids hope to learn about how to respect the environment, people and themselves and I can’t wait to see the first season (along with my nieces and nephews of course, or maybe by myself honestly). You can help fund the first season by contributing at the link below and feel free to check out the website as well. If you’re a new, expecting, or experienced parent- keep up with developments of the show and feel free to spread the word with your friends and community members! #letslifttogether
Better Living
Fist Pumps for Heat Pumps
It's getting colder, and if you're thinking about your home’s heating - why not consider a heat pump?
Heat pumps are a more efficient way to heat homes by transferring existing heat from the air, ground, or water outside and using it to heat indoor spaces. They are considered more energy-efficient than traditional electric heaters, offering two to three times the efficiency. Heat pumps are more versatile than traditional air conditioning units, providing both heating and cooling, and they work effectively even in very cold weather. And they can even help reduce carbon emissions in a number of ways.
If you're interested in the benefits, downsides, or other random questions regarding heat pumps, check out this article here by Bloomberg - which goes over some questions you may have and and overall background on how heat pumps can benefit your home.
A note from Chris:
Thanks for reading this week's issue of my newsletter, please feel free to comment any news, topics, or discussions you'd like to hear in upcoming emails. As well, please let me know how you're liking it, if it helps you, entertains you, or how I can improve! Any feedback helps.
Sincerely,
Chris
