Climate Clips: Neighbors’ Tempers Flare Over Solar Project in Virginia

Technology giant Amazon has announced it is partnering with Arlington County to purchase the energy from the Pittsylvania County solar project, which is being named Amazon Arlington Solar Farm Virginia. The project is 7 miles northwest of Chatham.

See the full story at NBC Washington.

More DMV News

Greenhouse Gas Pact Will Open Door to Weatherization for Virginia Households
Energy News Network
The 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is designed to curb the emissions of heat-trapping gases from fossil fuel power plants by auctioning carbon dioxide allowances. Member states decide independently how to spend the dollars.

Davis & Feldman: With Wind Projects, Maryland Is Addressing Escalating Climate Crisis
Maryland Matters
Maryland is taking a big step forward in the development of our offshore wind industry, which has the potential to make our state a leader in the fight against climate change while bringing immense economic benefits to our communities.

Md. Lawmakers and Environmentalists Working Over the Summer on Climate Change Legislation
Maryland Matters
During a summer with more frequent fires and floods, Maryland state lawmakers and environmental advocates are beginning to think about what another climate bill could look like during the next legislative session.

Montgomery County’s Climate Plan Has Ambitious Goals, but Activists Worry it Lacks Teeth
Greater Greater Washington
Climate change is a huge, amorphous problem that requires huge, ambitious plans. In June, Montgomery County released its official roadmap to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% in 2017 and 100% by 2035 (compared to 2005 levels). It’s called the Climate Action Plan (CAP). County Executive Marc Elrich described the plan as “among the most ambitious in the world” during a recent launch event.

National and International News

Pennsylvania High Court Ruling Shores Up State’s ‘Green Amendment
The Bay Journal
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has sided with supporters of the state’s environmental rights amendment who invoked the landmark measure to prevent governors and legislators from plugging budget holes with revenues from gas drilling on state lands.

US Automakers Pledge Huge Increase in Electric Vehicles
AP News
Declaring the U.S. must “move fast” to win the world’s carmaking future, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a commitment from the auto industry to produce electric vehicles for as much as half of U.S. sales by the end of the decade

While They Were Asleep, Their Teslas Burned in the Garage. It’s a Risk Many Automakers are Taking Seriously.
The Washington Post
The fire, which has not previously been reported, is one in a string of recent examples showing what can happen when electric cars are left parked in garages to charge overnight. The issue is causing mounting concern as a number of electric vehicle makers have warned owners not to leave the cars charging unattended in certain circumstances, or sitting fully charged in garages.

Bipartisan Bill Leaves Out Key Climate, Clean Energy Steps
AP News
The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package unveiled by the Senate includes more than $150 billion to boost clean energy and promote “climate resilience” by making schools, ports, and other structures better able to withstand extreme weather events such as storms and wildfires.

Earth’s Energy Imbalance Removes Almost All Doubt from Human-Made Climate Change
NBC News
Stability in Earth’s climate hinges on a delicate balance between the amount of energy the planet absorbs from the sun and the amount of energy Earth emits back into space. But that equilibrium has been thrown off in recent years — and the imbalance is growing, according to a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications.