Richard Johnson’s Post

Houston Chronicle, a survey by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research reveals that nearly 90% of Houstonians believe the city should lead the global energy transition. This sentiment is driven by the recognition of Houston's existing leadership in the energy sector, with 81% of respondents stating that transitioning to alternative energy sources is essential for the city's economic future. Additionally, about 73% support prioritizing the development of technologies like wind, solar, and hydrogen. Despite this enthusiasm for the energy transition, Houstonians express significant concerns about crime, safety, housing costs, and the economy. The survey indicates that 75% of residents are worried about power outages and the isolation of the Texas power grid. Similarly, more than 70% are concerned about energy affordability, with 64% of low-to-moderate-income residents struggling to pay their energy bills. Climate change is also a major concern, with nearly 60% worried about its impact on the region and 84% believing it will affect their health or well-being in the next decade. The survey highlights the urgency of addressing these issues as Houston's demographic trends foreshadow the future of the broader United States. Crime and safety remain the top concerns for the second consecutive year, with 27% of respondents identifying it as the biggest problem, followed by affordable housing and the economy. Financial insecurity is high, with 46% of residents unable to cover a $400 emergency expense. Satisfaction with local law enforcement is mixed, with significant disparities in perceptions of police performance across different neighborhoods. While 55% of residents feel that an increased police presence would enhance their safety, nearly 1 in 5 Black residents believe it would make them feel less safe. Overall, the survey reflects a city grappling with immediate challenges while strongly supporting a shift towards a sustainable energy future. https://lnkd.in/gE8wbs3v

Interesting article highlighting the challenges ahead on the path to Energy transition in Kern County, CA. https://lnkd.in/dynv8c-z

NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs adjunct instructor Michael Shank, Ph.D. recently wrote an insightful piece for Fast Company on "4 lessons from Melbourne on how cities can build neighborhood batteries that people love." This piece addresses how Melbourne approaches the process of transitioning to renewable energy as one of community building and collaboration. Employing a wide array of approaches—including creative animations, individual surveys, community champions, and cross-council collaboration with neighboring cities—this multiyear effort illustrates how serious the city is about building public and political will for this work, and its success can be an example for other cities looking to do the same thing. Read more: https://lnkd.in/euUSWUbs

In his latest op-ed for Florida Daily, NHEC Chairman Julio Fuentes sheds light on the crucial role of natural gas in ensuring energy affordability and reliability for Hispanic communities. As these families face a disproportionate energy burden, Fuentes argues that current electrification policies risk sidelining this vital resource. Discover how natural gas can provide a balanced path forward, aligning environmental goals with economic needs. Read more from Julio ⬇ #EnergyPolicy #NaturalGas #EnergyAffordability #HispanicCommunities #EnergyTransition

Did you know that Hispanic households face an energy burden that is 20% higher than the average American household? As we make the transition to a cleaner future, natural gas will ensure we keep energy affordable and reliable for everyone. “It is clear that while pursuing environmental goals, energy policies must not overlook the economic hardships they impose on vulnerable communities,” writes Julio Fuentes, President and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and National Hispanic Energy Council (NHEC). “Policies need to strike a balance, ensuring that the pursuit of environmental sustainability does not come at the expense of accessible and affordable energy.” Read more about the economic benefits #NaturalGas can bring to our most vulnerable communities:

Minnesota is updating its #communitysolar program, which has grown to over 800 megawatts since 2013, to improve access for lower-income residents.🌄 The state's recent legislation aims to shift benefits from predominantly commercial subscribers to residential ones. Managed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the program now allows for larger projects up to 5 megawatts. A huge change mandates that at least 30% of project subscribers must be low- or moderate-income individuals, with additional allocations for educational and governmental organizations. The program's renewed focus on equity holds promise for extending the benefits of solar energy to more underserved Minnesotans. ‼️Read more about it here: https://hubs.ly/Q02n-1wz0 #CommunitySolar #SolarEquity #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy

As part of an ongoing #cleanenergy research project, Ruth Winecoff will be examining California's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, first developed and launched in 2009, to identify policy recommendations that can inform New Jersey stakeholders and policymakers as the Garden State begins to implement their own recently approved #PACE program. As #energyefficiency technologies tend to be limited to affluent, White-majority neighborhoods due to lack of awareness and high upfront costs, the team is interested in determining whether the PACE program in California has expanded access to energy efficient and #renewableenergy technologies to lower-income, non-White majority neighborhoods.

What's the key to delivering affordable, reliable clean heating & cooling to entire neighborhoods in Chicago? Alleys.  Learn more about how Blacks In Green is bringing #networkedgeothermal to Chicago's South Side https://lnkd.in/eyQjYvCP

For the first time research looks at data about households adopting community solar along with policy that promotes outreach, and the results confirm that coalition efforts are beneficial. #Business #Community #MarketsPolicy

https://lnkd.in/eveX2YJj  #eastsuffolk #eastsuffolkcouncil . One town in East Suffolk does well, all of East Suffolk does well. #eastsuffolkisamazing