Climate Clips: Prince George’s County’s new initiative will shrink its carbon footprint

Prince George’s County has already made its New Year’s resolution, and it involves cleaning up the streets and reducing its overall carbon footprint.

See the full story at WUSA9.

More DMV News

WMATA Got $104M to Bulk Up Electric Bus Facilities. Here’s a Look at the Green Energy Changes Metro is Investing in.
NBC Washington
Metro is getting in on the electric vehicle game, thanks to a $104 million grant from the federal government. That money will expand WMATA’s electric bus fleet and help convert bus garages so they serve all electric vehicles. It’s an example of how the fight against climate change is changing transit — and creating new learning curves for the people who keep public transportation running.

Data Center-Driven Power Crunch Prompts Planning for New, High-Voltage Lines
Prince William Times
Spurred by an increasing number of power-hungry data centers, the keepers of the electric grid in Northern Virginia are embarking on an ambitious, multi-billion-dollar plan to bring more electricity to the data center zones while shoring up other parts of transmission system.

Regulators Order Dominion to Suspend Costly Solar Interconnect Requirements
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Dominion Energy must suspend requirements for equipment that can add millions of dollars to costs when businesses and public bodies install solar panels to cut their energy use, the State Corporation Commission ordered.

PSC Chair Wants to ‘Lower the Temperature’ on Siting Disputes Over Renewable Energy Projects
Maryland Matters
The new leader of the Maryland Public Service Commission said that he plans to convene meetings with interested parties over the next few months to discuss the increasingly controversial issue of where to place renewable energy installations in the state.

National and International News

Home Insurers Cut Natural Disasters from Policies as Climate Risks Grow
The Washington Post
Some of the largest U.S. insurance companies say extreme weather has led them to end certain coverages, exclude natural disaster protections and raise premiums.

1 Year Later, EV and Battery Projects Dominate Inflation Reduction Act-Driven Investment
Utility Dive
The solar and wind industries have also seen significant investment spurred by the IRA, while interest in biofuels and energy efficiency has lagged.

What if Carbon Taxes Were Based on Income Linked to Emissions—Rather than Consumption?
Anthropocene Magazine
Income generated from investments is responsible for more than half of the very hefty carbon footprints of the wealthiest Americans, according to a new analysis. The finding in turn suggests a way to redesign carbon taxes to make them fairer and more effective at spurring decarbonization of the economy.

DOE Offers $300M to Boost Transmission Siting and Permitting, Support Affected Communities
Utility Dive
Transmission systems will need to expand 60% by 2030 and potentially triple by 2050 to meet clean electricity and resiliency demands, DOE said, citing independent estimates.

With EPA Enforcement on PFAS Coming, Waste Groups Call for Focus Upstream
Waste Dive
The waste industry hopes the agency can help take small steps to reduce PFAS-containing items at waste sites by focusing pollution enforcement on manufacturers and other upstream entities.