Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet, and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall. 

When the Inflation Reduction Act passed last summer, there was a lot of talk about the money that was going toward environmental justice communities. But since then, we haven’t heard much about where that money has gone.

So we had Juliana Merullo and Charlie Adams look into it for us!

Juliana Merullo: Hey there! 

Charlie Adams: How’s it going? 

Megan Hall: First thing first. Environmental justice feels like one of those abstract terms that gets thrown around a lot… what does it actually mean? 

Juliana Merullo: By now we know that climate change is going to affect all of us. But environmental justice work acknowledges that certain marginalized communities will be harder hit, both by climate change and pollution. 

Charlie Adams: To find out more, we talked to Hannah Perls, an attorney at the Harvard Environmental and Energy Law Program. She says environmental justice takes a closer look at sources of pollution by arguing that… 

Hannah Perls: The outcome of these laws and policies, of where facilities are sited, of how much pollution one community bears, that should be equitable, that should be fair. 

Megan Hall: So does the Inflation Reduction Act talk a lot about environmental justice? 

Charlie Adams: Not explicitly. Instead, it sets aside certain buckets of funding for what they call disadvantaged and low-income communities. Then it mostly lets states and agencies define who that includes.

Juliana Merullo: The Department of Energy, for example, defines disadvantaged communities based on a whole bunch of factors: including poverty rates, pollution levels, and access to clean energy.

Megan Hall: So how much money is set aside for these so-called “disadvantaged communities”?

Juliana Merullo: About 40 billion of the total 370 billion dollars in the bill.

Megan Hall: Wow! That’s actually a lot. Where does all that money go? 

Charlie Adams: Well, 15 billion dollars goes into what’s called the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. It’s designed to bring more renewable energy sources and other green technology to these communities. 

Juliana Merullo: One program reduces emissions by funding energy efficiency in public housing, and another supports community-led projects to reduce pollution. 

Megan Hall: That’s awesome! 

Charlie Adams: It definitely is! But it’s important to note that some critics worry that these communities won’t actually be able to access that money.  

Megan Hall: Really? Why not? 

Juliana Merullo: Well, take the home efficiency programs for example. While one of them is supposed to support low and moderate-income homeowners, 61% of low-income people are renters. 

Charlie Adams: While their landlords could apply for extra money to improve efficiency in these homes, it takes the power out of their hands. 

Megan Hall: That makes sense. Are there other ways low-income homeowners can access these funds? 

Charlie Adams: Yes. And ideally without too much red tape. Hannah says some agencies are hoping to make it easier for these communities to access those rebates: 

Hannah: “We’re looking at the option to have a point of sale rebate, meaning you don’t have to put up money first and then get a refund later.”

Megan Hall: Good to know! But I hear other criticisms from environmental justice groups about something called the leasing provisions in the bill, what’s that about? 

Charlie Adams: We’ll have to do a whole ‘nother episode to really dive into the oil and gas lease controversy. But for now, what’s important is that while the net effects of the bill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there are worries that these communities might still end up with worse pollution from new oil and gas sites. 

Megan Hall: Ok so it sounds like something that reduces emissions in general, might still create pollution on a local level. 

Juliana Merullo: Definitely. There is still a lot to be worked out.. But, Hannah is optimistic. 

Hannah Perls: It’s a much bigger picture of environmental justice than we’ve seen in prior administrations. And that is really exciting to me, because we’re talking about a deep structural challenge that I don’t think can be met by just looking at the environmental angle.

Charlie Adams: Hopefully this is just the beginning of supporting communities on the front lines of climate change! 

Megan Hall: Great to know! Thanks, Juliana and Charlie! 

That’s it for today. For more information, or to ask a question about the way your choices affect our planet, go to the public’s radio dot org slash possibly. Or subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. 

Possibly is a co-production of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative, and the Public’s Radio.

The post What will the Inflation Reduction Act do about Environmental Justice? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.

The post What will the Inflation Reduction Act do about Environmental Justice? appeared first on Possibly.

Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall. 

For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about the Inflation Reduction Act, a law that puts hundreds of billions of dollars in federal money towards addressing climate change. 

Today, We’re going to look at how states can take advantage of this new law. 

Juliana Merullo and Charlie Adams from our Possibly team are here to walk us through the details. 

Juliana Merullo: Hiya Megan!

Charlie Adams: Hey Megan!

Megan Hall: So, now that the IRA is being implemented, what does that mean for states? 

Juliana Merullo: As you know, the money in the bill is given out in a lot of different ways, including grants, rebates, tax credits, and investments. 

Charlie Adams: In a lot of cases, states are going to be the ones actually giving out this money. They’ll decide who can apply for grants, or who qualifies for certain rebates and funding. 

Megan Hall: How much money is each state going to get? 

Juliana Merullo: It really depends on each section of the bill. Some of it is given out based on the size of the state, but in some cases, states have to apply for the money that’s available. 

Charlie Adams: To learn more, we talked to Tulane University Professor Josh Basseches.

Josh Basseches: I research state-level climate and renewable energy policy and politics. 

Charlie Adams: He says the inflation reduction act doesn’t put a lot of restrictions on how states should spend their climate change funds, so…

Josh Basseches: States can really seize that opportunity to do things like build charging 

infrastructure for electric vehicles or give some of it to home weatherization that can improve energy efficiency. 

Megan Hall: That’s a lot of freedom!

Charlie Adams: Absolutely, which is why it’s hard to say exactly what each state will do.  

Juliana Merullo: Some states, including Rhode Island, where we live, have their own plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Charlie Adams: But there are still a lot of states that refuse to act on climate change. So, that’s a big unknown.

Juliana Merullo: And if they fail to act, the US might not reach its emission reduction goals

Megan Hall: Ok, well what about Rhode Island? How is our state going to use this funding? 

Juliana Merullo: To find out, we called up someone who’s worked on federal climate change legislation for a long time. 

Senator Whitehouse: I’m Sheldon Whitehouse, and I represent Rhode Island in the US Senate.

Charlie Adams: Senator Whitehouse says that Rhode Island will benefit from funding for offshore wind, and coastal protection, but also a renewed focus on energy efficiency: 

Senator Whitehouse: “There’s so much need to reduce emissions through efficiencies, and the state’s in a perfect position to moderate that”

Megan Hall: What will that actually look like?

Juliana Merullo: Basically there are two sections in the bill that give money directly to state energy offices for them to start energy efficiency rebate programs.

Charlie Adams: Last week we mentioned these programs because they can help you buy things like high-efficiency heat pumps and clothes dryers.

Juliana Merullo: States have to create these rebate programs and apply to get the funding. But If Rhode Island takes advantage of it, it’s set to receive around 67 million of the total 9 billion dollars in the law.

Megan Hall: That’s a small percentage! 

Juliana Merullo: We’re a small state! 

Charlie Adams: But we could potentially get more money! After two years, any funds that aren’t used can go to states that have established programs! 

Megan Hall: So, how do we make the most of this money?  

Juliana Merullo: Senator Whitehouse says a big part of the work is just letting people know this money is available. 

Whitehouse: That’s an important role for the state to make sure that we’re getting our fair share and more of participation in these programs. 

Juliana Merullo: So look out for information from housing authorities, city officials, public accountants, and community action programs. All of these groups will work with state agencies and officials to get the word out about how to apply for these funds.  

Megan Hall: Good to know! Thanks, Juliana and Charlie! 

That’s it for today. For more information, or to ask a question about the way your choices affect our planet, go to the public’s radio dot org slash possibly. Or subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. 

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter- at “ask possibly” 

Possibly is a co-production of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative, and the Public’s Radio

The post How will states use money from the Inflation Reduction Act to address climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.

The post How will states use money from the Inflation Reduction Act to address climate change? appeared first on Possibly.

Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall. 

Last year, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act. Despite the name, it actually includes a lot of plans to address climate change.

Last week, we went over the big-picture plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But what will these policies mean for you? And when can you start taking advantage of them? 

We had Charlie Adams and Juliana Merullo from our Possibly Team look into this.

Charlie Adams: Hi, Megan!

Juliana Merullo: Hey, Megan!

Megan Hall: So, the IRA is putting more than 300 billion dollars towards climate change efforts. How much of that money will go to everyday people?

Charlie Adams: Well, it includes billions in tax credits and other incentives to make it cheaper for people to use renewable energy, buy electric cars, and make their homes more efficient. 

Megan Hall: Can I take advantage of this money?

Charlie Adams: Yes! Starting this year, homeowners can qualify for a tax credit to cover up to 30% of the cost of making their homes more energy efficient.

Megan Hall: What counts as an energy-efficient project?

Juliana Merullo: It could include renovations like new doors and windows or replacing old appliances, like water heaters, with more efficient ones.

Charlie Adams: But don’t get too carried away; these credits have a $1,200 annual limit.

Juliana Merullo: There are also billions of dollars aimed specifically at helping lower and middle income households rehab their homes.

Megan Hall: What about helping me run my home using renewable energy? Could the IRA help make that more affordable?

Charlie Adams: Yes, definitely! There is a 30% tax credit for installing renewable energy sources- like solar panels to power your house. 

Juliana Merullo: You can use this federal credit on top of certain state tax credits, which could make your projects even more affordable. 

Megan Hall: And how about electric cars? Can I get a tax credit to help me buy one?

Charlie Adams: Maybe? The IRA includes tax credits of up to $7,500 for new electric vehicles and $4,000 for used electric vehicles. 

Juliana Merullo: But, to get that money, the car you buy has to meet certain requirements.

Megan Hall: Like what?

Charlie Adams: The car can’t be too expensive. There are price restrictions for new and used electric vehicles.

Juliana Merullo: And you can’t make too much money. The tax credits are only available to people within certain income limits. 

Megan Hall: Got it! But getting people to buy electric cars and replace their old boilers doesn’t seem like enough to make a dent in climate change.

Charlie Adams: Well, remember, there are billions of dollars going to industry and local governments, to address this problem as well. 

Juliana Merullo: The IRA helps us do what we can while providing incentives for larger-scale things like solar fields and wind projects. We can’t get to a better climate future without doing both.

Megan Hall: Ok, but reducing emissions in Florida versus Alaska are two very different challenges for individuals and governments. How much control will states have in this process?

Juliana Merullo: We’ll talk more about that next week. 

Megan Hall: Got it! Thanks, Charlie and Juliana! 

That’s it for today. For more information, or to ask a question about the way your choices affect our planet, go to the public’s radio dot org slash possibly. Or subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. 

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter- at “ask possibly” 

Possibly is a co-production of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative, and the Public’s Radio.

The post How will the Inflation Reduction Act affect me? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.

The post How will the Inflation Reduction Act affect me? appeared first on Possibly.

Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall. 

Sometimes it seems like Congress passes a big bill, it’s in the news for a few weeks, and then we forget about it. Last year, when President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, there was a lot of talk about how the bill would help the US address climate change.  

But how? And what happens now? We had two of our reporters, Juliana Merullo and Charlie Adams, look into this question for us! 

Juliana Merullo: Hiya Megan! 

Charlie Adams: How’s it going? 

Hall: How is the Inflation Reduction Act going to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions?

Merullo: Well first, the IRA, as it’s commonly known, isn’t just a climate bill. But it does earmark hundreds of BILLIONs of dollars for climate issues, which is the most federal funding ever for climate change. 

Adams: And all that money is likely to make a big difference. Thanks to the IRA, experts think the US will be able to reduce its emissions by 40% over the next 7 years.

Merullo: Which is probably not enough to avert the worst climate consequences. .

Hall: But it’s a start, right? How is the IRA going to make those reductions happen? 

Merullo: About a quarter of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are supposed to come from tax credits for utility companies, towns, and local governments to encourage them to invest in renewable energy. 

Hall: In what way? 

Merullo: One type of tax credit will make it more affordable to build things like wind or solar farms. Another will reward utilities based on how much electricity they create.

Adams: These options make it more lucrative for utilities to invest in renewable energy.  

Merullo: So much so, that these credits are expected to double our country’s investment in wind and solar power. 

Hall: Wow! That’s awesome. So what are some of the other big programs in the legislation?

Merullo: The IRA also has a bunch of provisions related to transportation, which is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. 

Adams: They help individuals buy new or used electric vehicles and install charging stations, as well as fund the manufacturing of batteries and other components for electric cars.

Merullo: The IRA also gives billions of dollars to electrify vehicle fleets, like those owned by companies and utilities, and electrify the Postal Service’s trucks.

Hall: Well my mail truck has seen better days, so that’s good to hear! Are there other ways that industries and other big polluters are going to be affected?

Adams: Absolutely, especially high-emitting industries like steel, cement, coal, and natural gas. 

Merullo: The IRA targets them in a couple of ways: one is through a tax credit to make it more attractive to develop carbon capture technology, and another puts billions of dollars towards funding clean energy demonstration projects.

Hall: Demonstration projects? It sounds like a science fair!?

Adams: Think of it as seed funding for a big idea. This money is basically going to fund implementing, upgrading, and studying technology that’s supposed to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions.  

Hall: Is there anything that will punish companies and industries for polluting in the first place? 

Adams: Actually, there is! Our senator here in Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse, advocated for what’s called a methane emissions fee. It charges petroleum and gas facilities that leak methane. He says this is important because: 

Senator Whitehouse: “Methane is a far more impactful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in the short run.”

Merullo: Senator Whitehouse says this fee would start at $900 per ton in 2024, and increase to $1500 per ton by 2026.

Senator Whitehouse: “That gives us huge opportunities to really ramp up enforcement against major methane emitters.”

Adams: The legislation also includes funds to help facilities reduce methane leaks in the first place. 

Hall: But, what will the IRA mean specifically for me? Will it help me finally buy an electric car?

Adams: We’ll talk more about that next week. 

Hall: Great. That’s it for today. For more information, or to ask a question about the way your choices affect our planet, go to the public’s radio dot org slash possibly. Or subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. 

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter- at “ask possibly” 

Possibly is a co-production of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative, and the Public’s Radio.

The post How does a law to reduce inflation affect climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.

The post How does a law to reduce inflation affect climate change? appeared first on Possibly.