The consequences of the Congressional budget approved at the end of 2019 can be measured in millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
"In the massive federal spending package that Congress passed [in December], just in time to head off a government shutdown, lawmakers showed they are in no hurry for the clean energy future," reports James Bruggers and Larianne Lavelle.
"They strategically slashed most of the tax credit extenders that analysts saw as this Congress' best opportunity to accelerate renewable energy and cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. All that remained of the package at the end of months-long negotiation and debate were measures that will be politically useful to Republicans—most notably, biofuel subsidies."
The Rhodium Group produced analysis of the benefits of the tax breaks for zero-emitting electricity generation, finding that the tax breaks would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 125 million tons by 2025. Instead of benefits, concludes Rhodium, the new budget contains consequences, and "no tangible emissions benefits."
More details of the setbacks for the various federal tax breaks for various clean energy applications are included in the article.
FULL STORY: Clean Energy Loses Out in Congress’s Last-Minute Budget Deal
The Year in Good Climate News
Despite the ups and downs, there are reasons to feel optimistic.
A Year of Climate Action for Cities
The Trump administration might have dealt numerous setbacks in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but climate action in 2020 went local, with cities all over the country finding new ways to reduce emissions.
Stacey Abrams Leads New Effort to Mobilize Climate Action in the U.S. South
The South has some catching up to do on implementing plans to curb carbon emissions and prepare for climate change, but the region, collectively, has a lot of reasons to do so.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Mamdani overhauls NYC's Vision Zero plan with 100 new policy goals
The overhaul aims to reduce traffic deaths and make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers through lower speed limits, new safety infrastructure and more.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association