Climate Clips: Virginia solar program delivers clean energy to elderly, low-income households

A three-year pilot spurred by 2019 legislation, the Dominion Energy program offers weatherization services and solar panels to qualified customers free of charge.

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More DMV News

Why This Couple Went All-In On a Show-Stopping ‘Green Roof’
Washington Post
When most people offer guests a tour of their home, they give you a spin through the kitchen, living room, and maybe their yard. At Mark and Lucia Freeman’s home, an elegant mid-century modern residence in D.C., you might also get invited to climb a ladder and check out the roof. It has become the talk of the neighborhood — and occasionally of social media — since the couple installed an array of native plants up there last year and added a bracing system to keep it all from sliding off.

A New U-Md. Research Center Will Study Fairer, Greener Transportation Networks
Washington Post
Along with billions of dollars to build roads, bridges, and transit lines, the federal infrastructure law included funding to boost research into the future of the nation’s transportation system.

Fairfax County Officials Say Residents Missing Out On Cost-Saving Green Incentives
FFX Now
Fairfax County residents are underutilizing publicly-funded incentives to make their homes more green. That’s according to James Walkinshaw, Fairfax County Supervisor for the Braddock District, who hosted the county’s first Climate Action Conference on Sept. 30.

As Virginia Tries to Figure Out Biomass’ Carbon Footprint, Limited Data Poses Problems
Virginia Mercury
As a Department of Forestry workgroup tries to determine the carbon footprint of biomass, the woody materials burned to generate electricity, it is running into problems obtaining information from Dominion Energy on how the utility procures the different types of material it uses.

National and International News

Are EV Tax Credits Too Hard To Use? The Biden Administration Thinks So.
Utility Dive
Starting Jan. 1, 2024, car shoppers can transfer their new clean vehicle credit — up to $7,500 — or their previously owned clean vehicle tax credit — up to $4,000 — to a car dealer, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service said Friday.

EPA Takes Two Big Steps To Curb Climate-Warming HFCs
CleanTechnica
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released two regulations — one final, one proposed — aiming to curb the use and emissions of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Together, the rules will avoid HFC emissions equivalent to up to one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) cumulatively through 2050, or as much as 10 coal-fired power plants would emit during that time.

Chart: The World Is Approaching a Peak In Electricity Emissions
Canary Media
The biggest source of carbon emissions in the world is electricity production, but a new report suggests the grid’s dirtiest days will soon be behind it.

Biden Administration Launches ‘Earthshot’ Effort To Slash Energy Bills
Grist
Last Thursday, the Department of Energy announced the Biden administration’s goal of cutting the cost of home decarbonization in half and slashing household energy costs at least 20 percent by the end of the decade.

Biden Administration Awards $7 Billion for 7 Hydrogen Hubs Across the U.S.
New York Times
The Biden administration announced plans on Friday to award up to $7 billion to create seven regional hubs around the country that will make and use hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel with the potential to power ships or factories without producing any planet-warming emissions.