Kristy Battista’s Post

Question: “How does the Inflation Reduction Act have anything to do with reducing inflation?” Answer: By creating more jobs and reducing other household costs, you put more money in the pockets of lower income and underserved communities, so that the rising cost of groceries, entertainment, and travel isn’t as painful. From the article: “The $7 billion of solar funding through the Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All grant competition was included in Biden's landmark climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act. It will create 200,000 jobs and save households in the program about $400 a year, according to the White House. Grant recipients include 60 state and local agencies and non-profits with programs to help residents in poor communities go solar and save on their power bills. The winners include several organizations with plans to provide solar to native American households in states including Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.” https://lnkd.in/g6gEAeb5

On April 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced eight recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, one of the most significant clean energy programs in the Inflation Reduction Act. Five of those awardees are on the receiving end of Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) funding, which specifically focuses on bringing #CleanEnergy to low-income and disadvantaged communities that have been previously boxed out of the market due to high upfront costs. WRI Energy's Alexander Dane and Mansie Hough just released a new article explaining all about the CCIA: Why is it significant? How much money has been awarded, and to whom? What kinds of projects will the money go to? What additional legwork must be done to ensure the program’s success? Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/e7yhGQhF

$20 billion for investing in clean energy announced yesterday with at least 70% earmarked for low-income and disadvantaged communities on individual and village-wide infrastructural scales. Intended as a springboard for additional private investment, the money granted to 8 nonprofit "green banks," creates a "national clean energy network" that has committed to delivering 3 objectives: "reducing climate and air pollution; delivering benefits to communities, especially low-income and disadvantaged communities; and mobilizing financing and private capital." See below for the Marketplace summary and the EPA release in first comment. #cleanenergy #climatesolutions #landscapearchitecture #greeninfrastructure

On April 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced eight recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, one of the most significant clean energy programs in the Inflation Reduction Act.   Five of those awardees are on the receiving end of Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) funding, which specifically focuses on bringing #CleanEnergy to low-income and disadvantaged communities that have been previously boxed out of the market due to high upfront costs.   WRI’s Alex Dane and Mansie Hough just released a new article explaining all about the CCIA: Why is it significant? How much money has been awarded, and to whom? What kinds of projects will the money go to? What additional legwork must be done to ensure the program’s success?   Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/gHvegsJM

On August 29, the Illinois Green Alliance, a nonprofit that works to build sustainable communities, published the August 2024 Illinois Green Policy Update. The Policy Update discusses Illinois’ unique opportunity to take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) federal funding. The IRA’s Clean Energy Plan provides over $361 billion in federal funding to lower carbon emissions, with $156 million distributed earlier this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Illinois Climate Bank to the Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) solar incentive program.   Now, the ILSFA program is set to get even larger as “a large portion of this funding will directly expand the budget,” says IPA Deputy Legal Counsel Sarah Duffy. “The Illinois Climate Bank will use some of the funding to offer grants for site suitability issues, such as roof repairs, electrical upgrades, and battery storage attached to solar. The Climate Bank will also provide financing tools for small businesses serving income-eligible households through low-cost financing, bridge loans, and other mechanisms to ease the upfront capital requirements of providing affordable solar to income-eligible households.”   Thank you, Illinois Green Alliance, for shedding light on the IRA and how its investment will help expand existing solar programs, increase energy efficiency, and empower underserved and disadvantaged communities to embrace clean energy and join the clean energy economy among other things. To read the Policy Update and learn more, please visit the Illinois Green Alliance website: https://lnkd.in/gd_CHM27   #IllinoisGreenAlliance #PolicyUpdate #IllinoisSolarforAll #IllinoisClimateBank

Communities are one step closer to accessing $20 billion in federal funding for clean energy and #climate projects, with the Biden administration announcing on April 4 the eight nonprofits that will supply Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money to local efforts. #greenbank #cleanenergy #greenhousegasreduction

The #CleanCommunitiesInvestmentAccelerator will bring climate and economic benefits directly to communities... In the blog linked below my World Resources Institute colleagues lay out 👉 What CCIA is & why it's significant 👉 How CCIA will work & project types it will fund 👉 Ways maximize CCIA's impact (spoiler! technical assistance 💡 , partnerships 🤝 , and peer learning networks 👩🏫 )

A recent article in Fast Company by CGA Assistant Adjunct Professor Michael Shank, Ph.D. explores the exciting clean energy initiatives happening in Portland, Oregon His article, "Portland Has Raised $587 Million for Its Clean Energy Fund. Here's How It Should Use It." offers valuable insights on responsible fund allocation, considering factors like community impact, climate security, and a sustainable approach to the clean energy transition. Check out Shank's insightful piece and join the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/e2rF-EDZ

On April 4, the EPA announced 8 recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, one of the most significant clean energy programs in the Inflation Reduction Act. Five of those awardees are on the receiving end of Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) funding, which specifically focuses on bringing #CleanEnergy to low-income communities that have been previously boxed out of the market due to high upfront costs. Alexander Dane and I just published a new article on WRI's Insights blog explaining all about the CCIA: Why is it significant? How much money has been awarded, and to whom? What kinds of projects will the money go to? And what additional legwork must be done to ensure the program’s success? Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/exSEv5aU

Affordable housing more affordable to build and operate in the function of a home.