Abil Hakim’s Post

These kinds of funding streams are critical for rural communities to continue to prosper. Although these projects specifically look at rural communities who are transitioning from traditional power production to clean power, they still promote growth, diversification, equity and resilience; All things we could all use.

Empowering Tomorrow: Programs like this are assuring Clean, Reliable, and Affordable Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future.

We are thrilled to see this economic and environmental investment by the Biden Administration in rural communities! Rural communities are a critical part of meeting our sustainability goals and connecting our clean energy corridors to move commercial freight transportation across our country. "Rural communities, with their small populations and isolation from larger electrical systems, grapple with unique energy challenges. These include high electric bills, high fuel costs, and unreliable energy supplies — or lack of access to electricity altogether. At the same time, rural communities have untapped potential for generating clean energy." Clean Energy Now is committed to ensuring rural communities are catapulted to have affordable, secure, and clean energy independence. Let's goooo!! ⚡️☀️🚀 #cleanenergy #ruralcommunities #affordableenergy #sustainability https://lnkd.in/gkeS6Hrx

The City of Ithaca, New York's Green New Deal, passed in 2019, lays out an ambitious plan to get the town of 20,000+ residents to be 100% carbon neutral by 2030. Key to this effort is #ElectrifyIthaca. Led by BlocPower, the initiative aims to replace all fossil fuel infrastructure—including natural gas in some 6,000 buildings within city limits—with electric HVAC equipment, induction stoves, and the like. By all accounts, equitable, carbon-free energy represents the future of Ithaca, and its mobilization efforts thus far are impressive by any measure. The practical and legislative hurdles to success, however, may be too large and too numerous to bear. In my latest #PolicyWatch column for Green Building Advisor, I spoke with Ithaca's director of sustainability Rebecca Evans and BlocPower's Ethan Bodnaruk, PE about these hurdles, what's been accomplished to date, and what is likely needed to make wide scale electrification and decarbonization a reality. “We need to hit the accelerator. If we can share lessons learned, whether they’re positive or negative, I think that’s a net benefit to other cities. At the end of the day, does it matter if we get to zero? I don’t know. But telling our story is worth something.” - Rebecca Evans https://lnkd.in/eNv-kfVS #Ithaca #EmpireState #GreenNewDeal #IthacaGreenNewDeal #InflationReductionAct #electrification #decarbonization #renewableenergy #solarenergy #hydroelectric #nuclearenergy #lowcarboneconomy #lowcarbonfuture #climatechange #sustainability City of Ithaca - Department of Public Works, Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYSERDA, Avangrid

Harnessing the Sun: Colorado's Leap Colorado is blazing a trail, modernizing community solar! With a new law in place, the state has stepped up its solar game, empowering local energy consumers like never before. This legislation promises to revitalize community grids, now enabling more homes and businesses to shine with clean energy. Unlocking solar's potential means bridging the gap between technology and accessibility. This law isn't just a win for environmentalists; it's a triumph for equality in energy. Now, a broader demographic can invest in solar, reaping the rewards of sustainability and cost savings. Both urban dwellers and rural communities stand to benefit, with the former often limited by space and the latter by infrastructure. This shift towards a more inclusive solar program is pivotal. By demystifying and democratizing solar investment, Colorado sets an exemplary precedent. No longer is clean energy reserved for the few. The state's vision is clear: a future where renewable energy is the norm and community participation the cornerstone. #CommunitySolar #CleanEnergyFuture #InnovateColorado

Read our latest op-ed in collaboration with The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) — The Federal Funding To Make Clean Energy Equitable Is Here. It’s Up To Cities To Do the Right Thing. https://lnkd.in/ecpWk-S3

“Through these transformative investments, rural and remote communities from coast to coast are able to map a clean energy future that revitalizes local economies and cuts the pollution that is fueling the climate crisis and driving environmental injustice.” U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $78 million to support 19 clean energy projects in rural communities throughout the U.S. Projects like these are vital to ensure that underserved communities don’t get left behind during the clean energy transition. https://lnkd.in/gkeS6Hrx

*David Bond, One Nation Rockhampton: Power and Energy* We asked David the following question: ”The availability of sufficient, affordable baseload power while reducing net emissions from energy sources is a key component of economic sustainability.  What is your view of this objective and how would you achieve it?” Here is his response.

Advocating for community solar means equitable access to clean energy, affordability, environmental benefits, grid resilience, and job creation. Here's how you can support community solar in CA:

While CA's clean energy grid is well underway, decades of disinvestment and inequitable infrastructure have left low-income communities and communities of color behind in the transition. Read our latest blog by Isabella Carreño for more on the need to implement grid equity to achieve sustainable community resilience as we move towards a cleaner future. https://bit.ly/4bY3YRN