Maryland and federal officials signed an agreement Friday pledging cooperation as they move forward on planning for off-shore wind power projects. The five-page memorandum of understanding will help expand the “green and growing” economic agenda of the Biden-Harris administration, Gov. Wes Moore said at the signing. He said it will also help the state meet its ambitious clean energy targets, which include a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
See the full story in Maryland Matters.
More DMV News
Montgomery County to Have Nation’s Largest Renewable Energy-Powered, Zero-Emission Bus Depot
MoCo360
Montgomery County broke ground in Derwood on what will be the largest renewable energy-powered, zero-emission bus depot in the nation, marking a major step forward toward the county’s goal of a 100% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035.
Virginia Air Board Member Wants Continued Environmental Justice Focus
Virginia Mercury
An outgoing member of the State Air Pollution Control Board called for her successor, who will be appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, to maintain a keen focus on how energy projects can disproportionately impact communities in Virginia.
DC Declares Extended Heat Emergency
WUSA9
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an extended heat emergency be activated Monday June 17th to Friday June 21st as the DMV is bracing for extreme temperatures to move in.
Virginia Group Hears Stories from Nationwide Climate Survivors
Williamsburg Yorktown Daily
As summer storms begin, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network is speaking to people about how climate change affects them. Worsening storms are causing billions of dollars in damage. Sea level rise in Virginia could leave residents in a similar position in the coming decades.
National and International News
The World Agreed to Ban This Dangerous Pollutant — And It’s Working
The Washington Post
For the first time, researchers have detected a significant dip in atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons — harmful gases that deplete the ozone layer and warm the planet.
‘Floatovoltaic’ Solar Panels on Lakes Could Unlock Lots of Clean Energy
Canary Media
New research finds that covering even a small portion of a lake or reservoir’s surface with floating solar panels could generate a significant amount of electricity.
Climate Protesters Take to the Field at the Congressional Baseball Game
Inside Climate News
Activists arrested for crashing the diamond at Nationals Park demand Congress “stop playing games” and focus instead on ending US reliance on oil, gas and coal and stopping subsidies for fossil fuels.
US Summer Electric Bills Expected to Rise 8% in 2024 Amid Drop in Low-Income Aid
Utility Dive
Keeping homes cool in the summer is getting more expensive for people across the U.S. as climate change drives temperatures up, finds a June 3 report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and Center for Energy Poverty and Climate. The average U.S. electric bill over the June-through-September period is projected to be $719, a nearly 8% increase year over year and the highest average in 10 years, the report says.
EPA, Sierra Club, Agree to Regulatory Timeline for Incinerators
Waste Dive
The U.S. EPA and Sierra Club finalized a consent decree that establishes a timeline for new minimum standards for commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators last week. The two sides are closing the book on a complaint first brought in 2023 alleging the EPA unreasonably delayed the regulations.