The Metropolitan Washington area has made great progress improving the region’s environment and communities. Leadership at all levels of government, partnerships across sectors, and action by area residents has made this work possible. Progress has occurred on the regional climate and energy goals, air quality, preservation of local agriculture, and watershed restoration. By taking simple actions during Earth Month, the public can continue this important progress while safely enjoying the great outdoors.
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D.C.-Area Co-Op Seeks to Make Solar Energy More Wallet-Friendly
Patch
Solar United Neighbors has launched the Capital Area Solar Co-Op to help residents in the Washington, D.C. area switch to solar energy.
Maryland Climate Bill Dies as House and Senate Fail to Compromise
Maryland Matters
An effort to reconcile the competing versions of major environmental legislation collapsed in the final hours of the General Assembly, rendering the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2021 dead.
Maryland Lawmakers Debate How Forests Lost to Development Should Be Replaced
The Washington Post
Maryland developers have been required to replace trees felled for development for 30 years. Now, they can buy forest “credits” from the “banks” of other property owners preserving acreage on their land.
FERC Seeks More Input on PJM Capacity Market Construct, Possible Reforms
S&P Global
FERC is seeking additional input on capacity market constructs as state policies are increasingly affecting resource entry and exit.
National & International News
Biden’s Paris Goal: Pressure Builds for a 50 Percent Greenhouse Gas Cut by 2030
Inside Climate News
The 50 percent GHG reduction could be reached by a number of paths, but would require a dramatic transformation in society’s energy usage and would likely encounter political pushback.
Down to the Wire: Biden’s Green Goals Face a Power Grid Reckoning
POLITICO
The U.S. will need new electric transmission lines to meet the president’s aim of eliminating the power sector’s net carbon pollution. But public opposition has doomed many such projects.
Inside Clean Energy: The Coast-to-Cost Battle Over Rooftop Solar
Inside Climate News
As California works on a new net metering policy, other states are grappling with similar issues.
States, Utilities Must Ensure Equitable Investment in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, New Report Warns
Utility Drive
A study examining 36 states where utilities have filed transportation electrification plans concluded only a few ensure low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color benefit from the transition to electric vehicles.
As Rainstorms Grow More Severe and Frequent Communities Fail to Prepare for Risks
The Washington Post
Lack of a current, national rainfall database means some states use 60-year-old statistics as they design roads, bridges and dams that are supposed to last for 50 years.