Our Neighborhood Earth - Governmental Agencies

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Page Updated:
March 14, 2023

• Government. Agencies • Environmental Action
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Governmental News (Latest Stories First) - In the Last Six Months
• Biden Administration to Restrict Cancer-Causing ‘Forever Chemicals’ The Government Will Strictly Limit Two Chemicals in Drinking Water - Ubiquitous In Modern Society Mar. 14, 2023 -For the first time, the federal government will require utilities to remove from drinking water two toxic chemicals found in everything from waterproof clothing to dental floss and even toilet paper, the E.P.A. announced on Tuesday. Michael S. Regan, the E.P.A. administrator, said the government intends to require near-zero levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, part of a class of chemicals known as known as PFAS. • The TVA Must Transition to 100% Clean Energy The Tennessee Valley Authority Must Take the Rheins Mar. 2, 2023 -It's crystal clear: To combat the climate emergency, we need to transition to a renewable, just energy future now. We're already paying the price for the fossil fuel era — from skyrocketing power bills to disastrous storms and toxic pollution. Mega-polluting utilities like the Tennessee Valley Authority are not just blocking action but actively compounding the problem. TVA is planning a massive buildout of new fossil fuel energy generation. • Federal Funds Spur Cleanup of Lost Oil Wells Its Called Pay & Plug! Feb. 22, 2023 -A century after oil barons scoured Texas for prime plots from which to extract black gold, another boom is underway: the plugging of thousands of abandoned oil wells. It’s an oil rush in reverse, spurred by the promise of federal money. In 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which released $4.7 billion to states and federal agencies for plugging fallow oil and gas projects known as “orphan wells” if they lacked an owner. • Colombia Cuts Deforestation-Reduction Target Following 2022 Increases No Government Figures Have Yet Been Published for Total Deforestation in 2022 Feb. 7, 2023 -Colombia's government is looking to cut deforestation to 140,000 hectares (345,947 acres) a year by 2026, despite international agreements eyeing greater reductions, due to an uptick in the clearing of trees towards the end of the previous government's term last year, the environment ministry said. Last week, Colombia's government, which took control in August, proposed a four-year, nearly $250 billion development plan which lays out projected spending on social programs, clean energy and myriad other areas. • Getting Government Aid to Ditch Fossil Fuels Americans Can Get Tax Credits to Go Electric, But Cash Upfront Required Feb. 3, 2023 -At the moment, you can start making plans for climate-friendly home makeovers, with some help from your tax dollars. That’s one of the goals of the $370 billion Inflation Reduction Act. It offers oodles of money to get rid of fossil fuels from your everyday life, by electrifying your home and making it more energy efficient. There’s also money to help you upgrade your wheels to electric. (Is there a TV channel for that?) • Calls For Bigger Windfall Tax After Shell Makes ‘Obscene’ $40Bn Profit Sunak Govt. Under Pressure After Gas Prices Fuel Doubling of Profits at Anglo-Dutch Group Feb. 2, 2023 -The government is under pressure to rethink its windfall tax on energy companies after Shell reported one of the largest profits in UK corporate history, with the surge in energy prices sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushing the oil company’s annual takings to $40bn. Opposition parties and trade unions described Shell’s bonanza, the biggest in its 115 year history, as “outrageous” and accused Rishi Sunak of letting fossil fuel companies “off the hook”. • E.P.A. Blocks Long-Disputed Mine Project in Alaska The Clean Water Act, Was Designed to Protect Enterprises Like Valuable Salmon Fisheries Jan. 29, 2023 -The Biden administration on Tuesday moved to protect one of the world’s most valuable wild salmon fisheries, at Bristol Bay in Alaska, by effectively blocking the development of a gold and copper mine there. The EPA issued a final determination under the Clean Water Act that bans the disposal of mine waste in part of the bay’s watershed, about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage. Streams in the watershed are crucial breeding grounds for salmon, but the area also contains deposits of precious-metal ores thought to be worth several hundred billion dollars. • Public Lands Near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Withdrawn From Federal Mining Leases Superior National Forest is Home to 20% of All Fresh Water in the Entire National Forest System Jan. 26, 2022, Minnesota Reformer -After more than a year of assessment and debate, the U.S. Department of the Interior on Thursday announced the withdrawal of more than 225,000 acres of public lands near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota from federal mine leasing programs. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed Public Land Order 7917, which protects areas of the Superior National Forest from federal geothermal and mineral extraction leases for the next 20 years. The lands being withdrawn are predominantly in the northern portion of the Superior National Forest. • A ‘Traumatized’ E.P.A. Struggles With Its Mission It Had Been Depleted Under the Trump Administration Jan. 23, 2023 -The nation’s top environmental agency is still reeling from the exodus of more than 1,200 scientists and policy experts during the Trump administration. The chemicals chief said her staff can’t keep up with a mounting workload. The enforcement unit is prosecuting fewer polluters than at any time in the past two decades. And now this: the stressed-out, stretched-thin Environmental Protection Agency is scrambling to write about a half dozen highly complex rules and regulations that are central to President Biden’s climate goals. • The Inflation Reduction Act Can Help You Save Cash And Energy From New Solar Panels to EVs, Your 2023 Sustainability Goals Might Be Easier To Achieve With IRA Tax Credits Jan. 12, 2023, POPULAR SCIENCE -Government incentives might encourage you to add another goal to your new year’s resolutions in 2023: reducing your carbon footprint. Starting this year, Americans can take advantage of a stream of tax credits to make their homes, cars, and businesses more sustainable thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). • What to Expect in Clean Energy in 2023 From Vineyard Wind to the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Much More Jan. 9, 2023 -In 2023, the country’s first super-size offshore wind farms will come online, or at least get close to it. U.S. sales of electric vehicles will continue to accelerate, likely hitting 1 million units per year for the first time. And, state lawmakers in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota are poised to pass climate and clean energy legislation. • Cruising Washington and Baltimore for Hotspots—of Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollutants Sensors on a Vehicle They Jokingly Call “NOAA’s ARC” Detect CO2, Methane, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides and Black Carbon Jan. 4, 2023 -On a clear and crisp morning, with the sun beating down, Xenrong Ren and Phillip Stratton looked over plans for the day and fiddled with the gadgets installed in a black SUV parked outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Maryland. “Today we’re going to do a mobile measurement survey in Baltimore to look for major greenhouse gasses and some air pollutants in the area,” said Ren, a scientist at NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory (ARL), which studies the lowest part of the atmosphere, called the boundary layer—the area where all species live and breathe. • MISO Transmission Utilities are Putting the Squeeze On Renewables Developers FERC Must Stop Them Jan. 3, 2023 -A select group of Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) Transmission Owners is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to allow them to stop paying renewables developers for reactive power. FERC must reject this proposal and remain fair to independent power producers and renewables developers. • EPA Finalizes Water Rule That Repeals Trump-Era Changes The Rule Defines Which “Waters of the U.S.” are Protected by the Clean Water Act. Dec. 30, 2022 -The Biden administration on Friday finalized regulations that protect hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, repealing a Trump-era rule that federal courts had thrown out and that environmentalists said left waterways vulnerable to pollution. • Fed Spending for Abandoned Mine Cleanup Tacked On to the Most Recent Spending Bill Dec. 23, 2022 -The issue stems from last year’s Bipartisan Infrastructure law, which provided $11.3 billion dollars for states to clean up abandoned mine lands. Pennsylvania is expected to get $3.8 billion over 15 years. Groups like ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Voices and the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation have been concerned that language in the Infrastructure law limited the way money could be spent on cleaning up water pollution from old mines. • How to Hand Out Billions in Climate Subsidies? Answer: Very Carefully Dec. 15, 2021 -John Podesta, President Biden’s clean energy adviser, said the administration was working to ensure that a record $370 billion in new federal subsidies for electric vehicles, wind farms, batteries and other clean energy technologies is spent properly and avoids waste and abuse. Mr. Podesta said the White House would issue tax code guidelines by early next year to speed the delivery of the money, and was meeting with inspectors general from across the federal government to get advice on ways to safeguard against fraud. • EU Becomes First Leading Economy to Legislate For ‘Green Tariff’ on Imports Countries Failing to Decarbonize Industries Such as Iron and Steel Face an Effective Carbon Tax Dec. 13, 2022 -The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) means that countries which fail to green their industries will soon face a new threat: an effective carbon tax that will penalize those hoping to profit from high-carbon activities, and force them to clean up. The system will be applied at first to iron and steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, electricity, hydrogen and some chemicals. • Australia to Establish Federal Environmental Protection Agency A Major Overhaul of Their Environmental Laws Australian Broadcast News, Dec. 7, 2022 -The federal government has committed to a landmark overhaul of Australia's environment laws in a move Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says will reverse the decline of Australia's environment and "leave it in a better state than we found it".	• Feds to Update Solar Development Rules For Western Public Lands Announced Through an Updated Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). Dec. 6, 2022 -- In 2012, the Bureau of Land ManagementDepartment of Energy (DOE) issued a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in six southwestern states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The 2012 Solar PEIS identified areas with high solar potential and low resource conflicts in order to guide responsible solar development and provide certainty to developers. • Who Is FERC Protecting? Commission Greenlighted a Mammoth LNG Project in Louisiana With 2 Pending Rulemakings Dec. 2, 2022 -After declaring nine months ago that it would start factoring climate change into regulatory decisions about major gas projects, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has thrown up its collective hands and concluded that it doesn’t know how. At least not yet. If not now, when? • From the Amazon to Australia, Why Is Your Money Funding Earth’s Destruction? The World’s Most Destructive Industries are Protected – and Subsidized Nov. 30, 2022 -In every conflict over the living world, something is being protected. And most of the time, it’s the wrong thing. The world’s most destructive industries are fiercely protected by governments. The three sectors that appear to be most responsible for the collapse of ecosystems and erasure of wildlife are fossil fuels, fisheries and farming. • Utilities Shift to Embrace Climate Goals The Results of Federal Aid on the Table Nov. 29, 2021 -Just two years ago, DTE Energy, a Michigan-based electric utility, was still enmeshed in a court fight with federal regulators over emissions from a coal-burning power plant on the western shore of Lake Erie that ranks as one of the nation’s largest sources of climate-changing air pollution. But in September, Gerard M. Anderson, who led DTE for the last decade, was on the South Lawn of the White House alongside hundreds of other supporters of President Biden, giving a standing ovation to the president for his success in pushing a climate change package through Congress • Bold Climate Protests Are Triggering Even Bolder Anti-Protest Laws The Opposite Should Be Happening Nov. 22, 2022 -Increasingly bold climate protests are triggering a wave of harsh new laws in Western nations that aim to prevent the type of disruptive demonstrations experts say have long played an important role in healthy democracies. • New York's 2-Year Ban on Some Crypto-Mining Operations Some Are Not Pleased Nov. 22, 2022 -New York became the first state to enact a temporary ban on new cryptocurrency mining permits at fossil fuel plants, a move aimed at addressing the environmental concerns over the energy-intensive activity. • Four Solar Projects Fined For Alleged Clean Water Act Violations The States of Alabama and Illinois Joined In Nov 16, 2022 -The U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency reached settlement agreements with four separate solar farm owners in three states to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations. The alleged violations involved construction permit violations and stormwater mismanagement at large-scale solar generating facilities: a site near LaFayette, Alabama, owned by AL Solar A LLC; a site near American Falls, Idaho, owned by American Falls Solar LLC; a site in Perry County, Illinois, owned by Prairie State Solar LLC; and a site in White County, Illinois, owned by Big River Solar LLC. • $600k Spent on a Market Redesign Study That Doesn’t Consider Extreme Weather That's What Texas Grid Regulators Did Nov 17, 2022 -When someone offers up a solution, they should—at the very least—know what problem they’re trying to solve. You might assume that, in “solving” the issue of Texas’ ERCOT electricity market, the Public Utility Commission of Texas is focused on solving the reliability problems that led to days of blackouts and hundreds of deaths during Winter Storm Uri. • Why Does the U.S. Allow a Controversial Weedkiller Banned Across The World? Paraquat is Outlawed In the EU, UK, Switzerland and China as a growing Chorus of US advocacy Groups Demand the EPA Change Its Position Oct. 29, 2022 -When US regulators issued a 2019 assessment of the widely used farm chemical paraquat, they determined that even though multiple scientific studies linked the chemical to Parkinson’s disease, that work was outweighed by other studies that did not find such links. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reiterated its assessment in a 2021 report, determining that when weighing all the risks and benefits, US farmers could continue to apply the weedkiller across millions of US acres to help in the production of soybeans, corn, cotton and an array of other crops. • New Jersey Sues Oil Companies for Deceiving Public About Climate Change Five Companies Were Named in the Suit WHYY, Philadelphia, Oct. 18, 2022 -New Jersey filed a lawsuit against five oil companies and a trade organization, saying the companies knowingly deceived the public about their contributions to global warming. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said internal industry documents show Exxon Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips all hid their knowledge that burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change. • Alaska Cancels Snow Crab Season It Threatens Key Economic Driver Oct. 14, 2022 -For the first time, crews in Alaska won’t be braving ice and sea spray to pluck snow crab from the Bering Sea. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game canceled the snow crab season earlier this week after a catastrophic population crash of the sizable crustaceans. The red king crab season was canceled for the second year in a row, making it a two-pronged disaster for Alaska’s economy and for those whose livelihoods rely on crab. • Shell Fined $670K for Erosion, Spills During Falcon Pipeline Construction The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is Fining Shell and a Subcontractor Oct. 13, 2022 -The Shell Pipeline Company built the Falcon pipeline to carry ethane, a type of natural gas liquid, to its nearly complete petrochemical plant in Beaver County. But the DEP said that on five occasions, the company spilled drilling fluids, which contain clay and possibly chemical additives, and are classified as industrial waste under state law, along the pipeline route. • Hydrogen Hubs Another Step Toward a Decarbonized Future Oct. 3, 2022 -Many have heard of hydrogen as an up-and-coming energy source that helps reduce our carbon footprint. Hydrogen development for decarbonization is more advanced in Europe and other parts of the world; however, there’s recently been a significant push for researching and constructing hydrogen-related infrastructure here in the U.S. In June, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law last fall, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) authorized an unprecedented $8 billion in funding for creating regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hub). The H2Hub program is part of the DOE’s strategy for achieving a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. • California's Climate Action Next Step? Parking Reform Sep. 22, 2022 -Los Angeles County devotes more than 200 square miles of land for automobile parking — a swath of real estate that’s almost 10 times the size of Manhattan. In the Bay Area, home to the world’s most productive technology companies (and some of the most expensive housing in the world), there are over 15 million parking spots, or more than two per registered vehicle. That is in addition to private garages attached to single-family homes. California currently stands on the cusp of enacting a powerful climate policy that targets this enormously wasteful allocation of urban land. A bill now under consideration by Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 2097, would eliminate parking mandates across the state. Currently, most California cities — like cities nationwide — require developers to create a certain number of parking spaces with any new homes or commercial projects they build, regardless of size. So a single-unit home in Costa Mesa must provide two parking spots, and a three-bedroom condo must do the same. A 1,000-square-foot restaurant or bar in Los Angeles must provide 10 parking spots — which ends up with the restaurant being half the size of its parking lot. • Australia’s PM Backs Britain's New King on Climate Change Albanese: It Would Be “Perfectly Acceptable” for King Charles III to Continue to Advocate for Climate Change Action Sep. 15, 2022 -Albanese said the new king would decide whether he continues to advocate for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as he has done for years as a prince. “It’s important that the monarchy distance from party political issues. But there are issues like climate change where I think if he chooses to continue to make statements in that area, I think that is perfectly acceptable,” Albanese said. “It should be something that’s above politics, the need to act on climate change.”

Noteworthy
• History of the Clean Water Act History of the Clean Water Act Sep. 12, 2019 (EPA)- The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was the first major U.S. law to address water pollution. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The 1972 amendments: Established basic structure for regulating discharges into the waters of the U.S. Gave EPA the authority including setting wastewater standards for industry Maintained requirements for water quality standards Illegalized discharge any pollutant into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained under its provisions Funded the construction of sewage treatment plants Recognized the need for planning to address the critical source pollution problems • Is Ethanol Really a Good Idea? Food Vs. Fuel: What Trump's Ethanol Policy Means For The Food System Forbes Magazine -The EPA moved forward with President Trump’s directive to lift a federal ban on high ethanol blended gas during the summer months, though not quickly enough for Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who Reuters reports is urging the EPA to lift the ban on a much quicker timeline. Lifting the ban is a policy shift that’s being celebrated by large-scale corn growers and decried by biofuel opponents. But the policy has implications for the food system too, as many food system reformers say the last thing U.S. farmers should be growing is more corn. • EPA to Halt Fuel Economy Standards California Getting Ready to Fight Back Mar. 29, 2018 - The Trump administration is poised to abandon America's pioneering fuel economy targets for cars and SUVs, a move that would undermine one of the world's most aggressive programs to confront climate change and invite another major confrontation with California. The EPA is expected to announce in the coming days that it will scrap mileage targets the Obama administration drafted in tandem with California that aim to boost average fuel economy for passenger cars and SUVs to 55 miles per gallon by 2025, according to people familiar with the plans. • The E.P.A is a Sinking Ship E.P.A. Officials, Disheartened by Agency’s Direction, Are Leaving in Droves Dec. 22, 2018 - More than 700 people have left the Environmental Protection Agency since President Trump took office, a wave of departures that puts the administration nearly a quarter of the way toward its goal of shrinking the agency to levels last seen during the Reagan administration. • How Low Can the EPA Go? EPA Reverses Policy on 'Major Sources' of Pollution Jan. 25, 2018 - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday it was withdrawing a provision of the Clean Air Act that requires a major source of pollution like a power plant to always be treated as a major source, even if it makes changes to reduce emissions. The decision to withdraw the "once-in always-in" policy is part of President Donald Trump's effort to roll back federal regulations and was sought by utilities, the petroleum industry and others. Never mind about the health of the American people. • Trump Imposed Tariffs on PV Imports 30% Tariff Disappoints Trade Industry Jan. 22, 2018 - Trump has agreed to a recommendation by the International Trade Commission (ITC) to grant U.S. solar manufacturers relief from unfair trade practices in the form of tariffs on solar cells and modules imported to the U.S. This will hurt the solar industry which currently employs over 250,000 workers. • Fed. Compromise on Anti-PACE Law Industry, Lawmakers Compromise on Anti-Property Assessed Clean Energy Legislation Dec. 27, 2017 - A financing program that’s let more than 180,000 homeowners pay for solar panels and clean-energy appliances through their local tax bills is poised to survive an effort by Republicans to add regulations that would have effectively shut it down.	• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Summary of the National Environmental Policy Act Originally Passed in 1968 (EPA) — NEPA was one of the first laws ever written that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment. NEPA requirements are invoked when airports, buildings, military complexes, highways, parkland purchases, and other federal activities are proposed. Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), which are assessments of the likelihood of impacts from alternative courses of action, are required from all Federal agencies and are the most visible NEPA requirements. Click now for more, including a history of this act. • Shouldn’t We Abolish Fossil Fuel Subsidies? America Spends Over $20Bn Per Year On Fossil Fuel Subsidies. July 30, 2018 (The Guardian) -Imagine that instead of taxing cigarettes, America subsidized the tobacco industry in order to make each pack of smokes cheaper. A report from Oil Change International (OCI) investigated American energy industry subsidies and found that in 2015–2016, the federal government provided $14.7bn per year to the oil, gas, and coal industries, on top of $5.8bn of state-level incentives (globally, the figure is around $500bn). And the report only accounted for production subsidies, excluding consumption subsidies (support to consumers to lower the cost of fossil fuel use – another $14.5bn annually) as well as the costs of carbon and other fossil fuel pollutants. • The D.O.E. Solar Decathlon How To Shine In The Solar Village October 6, 2017 - At noon Eastern Standard Time today — the second day of competition for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon in Denver — the Northwestern University team was sitting in first place, according to scores released on the competition website. The Solar Village, where all 13 teams’ houses are standing for the competition, is now open to the public. With scoring under way on three of the 10 competition categories — Heath & Comfort, Appliances, and Home Life — Northwestern was tied with Swiss Team and UC Berkeley/U of Denver on the three segments in Health & Comfort — temperature, humidity and indoor air quality. • Budget Slashed for Clean Energy Trump’s Budget Expected to Massively Slash Research On Renewable Energy — And ‘Clean Coal’ May 18, 2017 -The Trump administration is expected to propose massive cuts to federal government research on wind and solar energy next week, according to current and former Energy Department officials familiar with budget discussions. The department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which funds research on advanced vehicles as well as other aspects of clean energy, would face a roughly 70 percent cut in 2018, carving about $ 1.45 billion from its $2.09 billion 2017 budget. • The SunShot Initiative What is the SunShot Initiative? The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office focuses on achieving the goals of the SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by the end of the decade. • The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act Notes from the Solar Underground: US Solar’s Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act The global solar industry relies on mandate. Let's hope it doesn't go away. • Carbon Tax Center What is the Carbon Tax Center? Why revenue-neutral carbon taxes are essential,what’s happening now, and how you can help. In a carbon-constrained world, a permanent U.S. carbon tax is essential to reduce emissions that drive global warming.

Federal, state and local agencies that can assist
with your questions about renewable energy, environmental
protection, tax credits, rebate incentives and more.

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Governmental Agencies
Federal Agencies The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management BOEM offshore leasing and operations are governed by a wide variety of laws, regulations, and other communications with the offshore industry. The Bureau enforces compliance with these regulations and periodically updates rules to reflect advancements in technology and new information. This section provides access to BOEM rules, regulations, and guidance to the offshore industry. Combined Heat and Power Partnership The CHP Partnership is a voluntary program seeking to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting the use of CHP. The Partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other clean energy stakeholders to facilitate the development of new projects and to promote their environmental and economic benefits. Energy Resources Program Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable electric power in the western United States and, with advances in exploration and development technologies, a potential source of a large fraction of baseload electric power for the entire country. The USGS Geothermal Resource Investigations Project is focused on advancing geothermal research through a better understanding of geothermal resources and the impacts of geothermal development. This is achieved by applying a wide range of research methods to characterize resource occurrences, perform monitoring, and develop resource assessments. The project team works closely with a number of external collaborators from federal and state agencies, academia and industry on projects throughout the US and internationally (provide link to map of field study areas). The Solar Energy Technologies Program (Dept. of Energy) The Solar Energy Technologies Program focuses on developing cost-effective solar energy technologies that have the greatest potential to benefit the nation and the world. A growing solar industry also stimulates our economy by creating jobs in solar manufacturing and installation. See also the SunShot Initiative which strives to make solar competitive with fossil fuels by 2020. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Focusing on creative answers to today's energy challenges. From fundamental science and energy analysis to validating new products for the commercial market, NREL researchers are dedicated to transforming the way the world uses energy. With more than 35 years of successful innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy, today our discoveries provide sustainable alternatives for powering our homes, businesses, and our transportation system. U.S. Dept. of Environmental Protection EPA had employed 17,000 people across the country, including headquarters offices in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and more than a dozen labs. Staff were technically trained; more than half were engineers, scientists, and policy analysts. In addition, a large number of employees are legal, public affairs,financial, information management and computer specialists. Michael S. Regan was sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on March 11, 2021, becoming the first Black man and second person of color to lead the U.S. EPA. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States. Created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act, the NPDES permit program is authorized to state governments by EPA to perform many permitting, administrative, and enforcement aspects of the program. State Agencies The California Solar Initiative - CSI The California Solar Initiative offers cash back for installing solar on your home or business. The state strives to create megawatts of new solar-generated electricity, moving it towards a clean energy future. And you can help! Join the thousands of home and business owners who have earned cash back rebates by installing solar energy systems through the California Solar Initiative. Customers earn cash rebates for every watt of solar energy installed on homes, businesses, farms, schools, and government and non-profit organizations. Connecticut Energy and Environmental Protection dd> In charge of conserving, improving and protecting the state's natural resources and environment. Promotes the supply of clean, affordable and reliable energy.	State Agencies (continued) Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency Overview of Florida's state rebate program. Applies to Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Institutional. Also covers other states' similar incentive programs. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection The lead agency for environmental management and stewardship and is one of the more diverse agencies in state government, protecting air, water, and land. It is divided into three primary areas: Regulatory Programs, Land and Recreation and Planning and Management. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency This site covers all aspects of the environment in the state. Use the link to report violations of air and water quality rules and regulations. Maine Department of Environmental Protection The DEP is responsible for protecting and restoring Maine's natural resources and enforcing the state's environmental laws. The agency can trace its roots back to the Sanitary Water Board that was created in 1941. The purpose of that Board was to study, investigate, recommend means of eliminating and preventing pollution in waters used for recreational purposes. The Board was renamed the Water Improvement Commission in 1951. In 1969, the Commission's title was abbreviated to the Environmental Improvement Commission. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection The Department of Environmental Protection is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, the safe management of toxins and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, the timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources. NJ Board of Public Utilities A regulatory authority with a statutory mandate to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey. NJ Department of Environmental Protection On America's first official "Earth Day" — April 22, 1970, the NJ DEP was born. It became the third state to consolidate its past programs into a unified major agency to administer aggressive environmental protection and conservation efforts. Since then it began a role to manage natural resources and solve pollution problems. In what started with about 1,400 employees in five divisions, NJDEP now has a staff of approximately 2,900 and is a leader in the country for its pollution prevention efforts and innovative environmental management strategies. NY: NYSERDA NYSERDA’s earliest efforts focused solely on research and development with the goal of reducing the State’s petroleum consumption. Subsequent research and development projects focused on topics including environmental effects of energy consumption, development of renewable resources, and advancement of innovative technologies. Check the website for funding opportunities and other incentives to go green. Ohio EPA Their mission is to protect the environment and public health by ensuring compliance with environmental laws and demonstrating leadership in environmental stewardship. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is a regulatory agency whose job is to protect the quality of Oregon's environment. Well, YEAH! PA Department of Environmental Protection Responsible for administering Pennsylvania's environmental laws and regulations. They work to reduce air pollution, insure water quality, and more. Sarasota County (Fla.) Government Roadmap to Sustainability. Sarasota County government is committed to environmental, cultural and economic sustainability. This means: Replenish the resources we use or consume. Ensuring our values guide us into the future. Investing in our community to ensure future prosperity. To achieve the balance necessary for a sustainable community, our programs and services must be economically viable, environmentally sound and socially equitable.