The White House Briefing Room, November 6, 2021
Today, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. For far too long, Washington policymakers have celebrated “infrastructure week” without ever agreeing to build infrastructure. The President promised to work across the aisle to deliver results and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. After the President put forward his plan to do exactly that and then negotiated a deal with Members of Congress from both parties, this historic legislation is moving to his desk for signature.
This Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind. The legislation will help ease inflationary pressures and strengthen supply chains by making long overdue improvements for our nation’s ports, airports, rail, and roads. It will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come. Combined with the President’s Build Back Framework, it will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years. Continue reading here.
RELATED READING
Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Boosts Clean Energy Jobs, Strengthens Resilience, and Advances Environmental Justice, The White House
GREEN SCHOOLS / CAMPUSES
How schools are combatting climate change, from green schoolyards to solar power, by Meredith Deliso, ABC News
Overall, the education sector has an untapped opportunity to help mitigate climate change, from renewable energy practices to teachings, according to the Aspen Institute’s K12 Climate Action initiative, which points to school districts like Arlington’s as a success story in demonstrating climate solutions.
“We envision a future where America’s over 100,000 schools are models for climate action, climate solutions, and sustainability, and the 50 million children and youth in these schools are prepared to succeed in the clean economy and lead a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable society,” the organization wrote in a recent policy report.
In Omaha: Photo of Duchesne Academy’s 10-kilowatt solar array, installed by Interconnection Systems Inc (ISI), which is based in Central City, Nebraska. The energy generated by the system powers multiple classrooms, including the school’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math lab. where students can integrate data from the solar system into coursework.
The solar array is part of the school’s overall sustainability initiative. Duchesne Academy has the inspiring goal to be a net-positive-energy school by 2030. The school’s other sustainability program goals include zero waste by 2030, having a sustainable food system, and sustainability curriculum integration.
Iowa State and Alliant Energy collaborate on solar farm, Iowa State University
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED READING
- Fact Sheet: President Biden Tackles Methane Emissions, Spurs Innovations, and Supports Sustainable Agriculture to Build a Clean Energy Economy and Create Jobs, The White House
- DOE Unveils Goal To Remove Gigatons Of Carbon Dioxide From Atmosphere, by Paul Ciampoli, American Public Power Association. Other Earthshots Initiatives involve hydrogen and long duration energy storage.
- How the numbers may work for 50-year solar, by John Fitzgerald Weaver, PV Magazine
- Enough power for 10,000 homes: New energy project nears approval just north of Peoria, Peoria Journal Star
- Here’s how city-owned solar microgrids could power Ann Arbor homes and businesses, MLive
- 10 considerations for solar farms, by Scott A. Storey and Steven J. Tjapkes, Farm Progress. Storey and Tjapkes write for Foster Swift Agricultural Law News.
- NextEra, Tri-State cut the ribbon on Niyol wind farm, Journal Advocate
