WE ACT Responds to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Earlier this week, Senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin came to terms on climate legislation with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Our staff experts reviewed the bill and carefully weighed our response, which you can read here. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains many investments we’ve been advocating for, including restoring substantive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementation, accelerating electric vehicle adoption in the medium- and heavy-duty truck sector, and air pollution monitoring. However, it also includes a number of tax credits that cause great concern, as they are not aligned with centering overburdened communities in decision-making or transitioning away from fossil fuels. Our response includes some recommendations for how to move forward as well. Read it here.
WE ACT Supports the Environmental Justice for All Act
Ahead of this week's hearing, WE ACT and its fellow members of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum (EJLF) sent a letter to the US House of Representatives' Natural Resources Committee in support of the Environmental Justice for All Act (H.R. 2021), which we are happy to report became the first comprehensive environmental justice bill to pass through a congressional committee. We have been strongly advocating for this legislation, which is the most significant effort by the federal government to address generations of environmental racism. And passing it was one of our recommendations to address the concerns we have with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Read the EJLF letter here and watch the hearing here.
WE ACT Supports the Build Public Renewables Act
Briana Carbajal testified at a special New York State Assembly hearing this week on the Build Public Renewables Act. It was a lengthy, occasionally contentious hearing, but Briana made a solid case for the legislation – which would reduce utility bills by enabling the New York Power Authority to build large-scale renewable power generation projects cheaper than the private sector can – while politely rebutting the claims of a handful of misinformed individuals. Read her full testimony here (PDF) to learn more.
WATCH: How to Write Legislation
Do you want to learn how to write a bill, or at least better understand the process? Watch the video replay of our virtual workshop on how to write legislation that can get passed. Watch the video here.
Peggy Shepard to Give Address at Green City Force's Graduation Ceremony
Peggy Shepard will be the keynote speaker at Green City Force’s graduation ceremony at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 8. For the first time in two years, the event will be held in-person, at Roulette Intermedium at 509 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Learn more here.
Environmental Justice 101 Peggy Shepard & Bailey Helping Train the Next Generation
Peggy Shepard and Bailey will speak with participants of Start:Empowerment & Sustainable Brooklyn’s Redefining Justice in the Climate Movement summer school program for youth at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 9, providing them with an overview of environmental justice and how they can get involved. Learn more here.
Peggy Shepard to Speak at
Harlem Week Climate Event
At 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, Peggy Shepard will be among the speakers discussing how can community residents and organizations can work with local businesses, schools, and government to address the climate crisis. This Harlem Week event is a follow-up to the Earth Day panel hosted by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Climate School, and the City College of New York that focused on the impacts of climate change in our community. In addition to Peggy, the speakers include New York State Senator Cordell Cleare (D-30); Columbia University’s Special Advisor, Climate & Sustainability Daniel Zarrilli; Columbia University School of Social Work Associate Professor Courtney Cogburn; and the Nature Conservancy’s New York Division Cities Director Emily Maxwell. This will be an in-person event at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building’s 2nd Floor Art Gallery, which is located at 163 West 125th Street (at the corner of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard). Learn more and RSVP here.
Energy vs. Power: Visions for the Future University of Maryland’s Symposium on Environmental Justice & Health Disparities
Join Dr. Sacoby Wilson, Director of the Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, & Health Center at the University of Maryland, for the 8th Annual Symposium on Environmental Justice and Health Disparities on August 11-13. This year’s theme is Energy vs. Power: Visions for the Future. Peggy Shepard is among the amazing list of speakers (PDF). August 11-12 will be virtual, and the August 13 sessions will be held in-person at the University of Maryland’s campus in College Park, Maryland. Click here to learn more and register.
Are You New to WE ACT? Join Our Online New Member Orientation Session
We will be providing a virtual orientation for new members and those looking to learn more about WE ACT and the work we do. Join us at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, August 24. RSVP here.
In an Albany Times-Union Op-Ed, Charles Callaway and Stephan Roundtree Jr. (a former WE ACT staffer now working for Vote Solar) provided the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) with recommendations to improve its solar roadmap for achieving a just transition to clean energy. Read the Op-Ed here.
Lonnie Portis spoke to the Financial Times about the disparate impacts of extreme heat on people of color. Download a PDF of the article here.
Sonal Jessel was featured in a New York Focus article on HEAP - a program that can help eligible people purchase and operate air conditioners - running out of money before last week’s heatwave. In addition to noting our advocacy to expand HEAP funding, which would have prevented the program from running out of money in July, she also stressed the need to fund energy efficiency upgrades as part of this effort. Read the article here.
New York Providing Utility Debt Relief for Low-Income Households
As you may recall, we have been advocating for utility debt relief because more than 1 million New Yorkers are struggling to pay their utility bills. This crisis has hit low-income communities and communities of color the hardest, as they must spend a disproportionate amount of their household income on utility bills. And with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting these same communities the hardest, it’s not surprising that many have found themselves behind on their utility bills.
Get Debt Relief
Thanks to the New York State Public Service Commission, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the State Legislature, $250 million will be distributed to those in need, helping pay down household utility debt. Current utility customers participating in the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) will receive a one-time bill credit that eliminates arrears accrued through May 1, 2022. But if you are in a low-income household that is not already enrolled in your utility’s EAP program, you can still enroll to receive this credit.
WE ACT Will Help
If you are interested in enrolling, sign up here for help in navigating this process. You can also contact Briana Carbajal at [email protected].
Coffee with Congressman Espaillat
& the East Harlem Community And a Reminder to Apply for Electric School Buses
Pamela Stewart-Martinez joined several of our East Harlem members at US Representative Adriano Espaillat’s "Coffee with Your Congressman" event last Saturday at Amuse Bouche in La Marqueta. Pictured left to right are New York City Council Member Diana Ayala (D-8), New York State Senator Cordell Cleare (D-30), Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, and Congressman Espaillat (D-13). One of the issues raised by community members was the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus 2022 Rebate Program, the deadline of which is fast approaching. Thanks to Anastasia Gordon’s great blog post about the program, which helps school districts transition to electric buses, we were able to deliver and disseminate the information quickly to the community. It's not too late to help your school district make the switch! Learn more here.
Help Us Fight for Environmental Justice
As you may have noticed, the WE ACT team has been growing. More on that in the future. Right now, we need your help to continue this growth. We are looking to hire the following positions:
In our New York City office:
Director of Environmental Health
Energy Justice Policy Specialist
Bilingual Community Organizer
In our Washington, DC office
National Coalition Manager
Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager (Attorney)
Clean Air & Water Policy Manager (Attorney)
Senior Communications Manager
Environmental Justice Research Analyst
Visit weact.org/careers to download the job descriptions and apply for any of these positions. Join our team!
