Murat Aktihanoglu’s Post

The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled a new Climate Capital Guidebook aiming to simplify access to federal capital programs for climate-related start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses, and their investors. This initiative addresses the challenges smaller enterprises encounter in identifying and accessing federal funding opportunities. Learn more: [Link to the Climate Capital Guidebook](https://lnkd.in/gbjYfis7)

Response to: The Omnibus Climate Bill will accelerate our Commonwealth's clean energy transition through:  • Build a responsibly placed grid • Deployment of renewable energy • Expanding access to EV charging • Improve community engagement and; • Increased energy storage supply  Inspired by nature, WindTree is a complementary electricity production system, based on a small vertical-axis wind turbine called the Aeroleaf. This innovation captures all types of wind in urban or natural environments, both turbulent and laminar, strong or light.

❗ BREAKING ❗ The Massachusetts Legislature just passed two major pieces of climate legislation: an expansive omnibus climate bill and climatetech investments in the Economic Development Bill! After a disappointing end to the legislative session in July, the House and Senate heard our call for climate action, found common ground, and moved us closer to reach our climate goals. The omnibus climate bill will expedite our Commonwealth’s clean energy transition through: • Building a responsibly-sited grid • Deploying renewable energy • Expanding electric vehicle charging access • Improving community engagement and; • Increasing energy storage supply “This legislation unlocks enormous potential to rapidly and responsibly build the modern, reliable electric grid we need to meet our climate goals. We cannot meet our emissions reduction targets with a slow, unresponsive, and inequitable energy siting system. The omnibus climate bill provides our state, communities, and developers with tools to deploy new renewable resources, shift buildings and transportation to clean power, and plan for a net-zero future” – ELM’s Legislative Director, David Melly. The legislature also took major strides to integrate climate priorities into the state’s economic development strategy. The 2024 Economic Development Bill, also known as Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s Mass Leads Act, includes transformative climatetech provisions over a ten-year period. This crucial funding will expand our workforce, drive Massachusetts’ competitive growth, and catalyze the development of green technology. ELM thanks the legislature for their continued commitment to climate action. With federal climate action unlikely in the coming years, the country and the world are looking to Massachusetts and other states for climate leadership. Together, we will ensure our Commonwealth continues to rise to this challenge. Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eJbWsTex - - - #MAClimateBill #MAPoli #ClimateBill #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #ClimateTech

We did it! The MA Legislature passed ELM’s top two priorities on Thursday, a triumphant return of our Commonwealth’s resolve to address the climate crisis and embrace the clean energy sector’s potential for economic development and innovation. This is a victory not just for our team and for our partners (who put in countless hours over 22 months to see these bills across the finish line), but a tremendous win for everyone who will benefit from a cleaner environment, fairer system, and innovative climate technology. After the Legislature failed to act by July 31, these two climate packages drifted in limbo for much of the fall. But now, they’re headed to Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s desk for signature. I want to share highlights of what will soon become law - and why it's crucial for our fight against the climate crisis. First is the “Climate Omnibus,” https://lnkd.in/eEWxQBgh. This roughly 140 page bill:  • Reforms clean energy siting and permitting for speed and equity   • Authorizes a first-of-its-kind state procurement for energy storage resources  • Increases access to reliable electric vehicle charging  • Expands offshore wind tax incentives and improves the procurement process  • Moves utilities away from natural gas and toward electric alternatives So many components are important. Still, I am particularly pleased to see the thoughtful and significant reforms to energy siting and permitting. By streamlining processes and front-loading effective community engagement, we can accelerate the modernization of our electric grid, no longer falling victim to a slow and unresponsive system. Second is the Economic Development Bill, https://lnkd.in/eaEy4npg, which makes historic investments to grow, attract and retain the climate tech sector, as well as build a world-class workforce to run it. Modeled after the initiative that launched MA's dominance in life sciences, this bill funds our first 10-year strategy for climate tech and has been a key priority for both ELM and Governor Healey.   I firmly believe MA can – and must – be the best place in the nation to seed and scale the policies and technologies the world needs for a brighter future. ELM recognizes that, while we celebrate today, our work does not end here. In the months ahead, we will collaborate closely with the Admin to ensure the effective implementation of these bills, plus advance many other Legislative and Regulatory priorities to move MA forward. Increasingly, we are using LinkedIn as our primary means of communicating, so please consider following Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) for thoughtful and timely intel. Many in my network had a role in these wins and in supporting ELM. Thank you for helping to make this progress possible.   https://lnkd.in/ek-9iqCi

If we get the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) right we can demonstrate they work and feed a virtuous cycle of climate legislation. But the clock is ticking, as I noted to Erin Douglas of the @Boston Globe.

In a recent column published in Energy News Network, Ceres' Kelly Trombley highlights why a growing number of businesses are championing Washington's cap-and-invest policy. In last week's election, Washington voters rejected a ballot provision to roll back this program, marking a big win for climate in last week's election and showing the voters and businesses alike are embracing the economic benefits of climate action. By investing in clean energy and infrastructure, Washington is leading by example, and ensuring its residents and economy reap the long-term benefits of a healthy, resilient planet. https://bit.ly/3YSnn1U

Investing in climate infrastructure in cities has never been more important. In partnership with GCoM, @CDP’s ‘Accelerating Climate Finance in Cities’ briefing details key takeaways from @CDP's 2023 Global Snapshot. Over 1,000 cities reported their environmental data through CDP-ICLEI Track in 2023. The brieifing delves into key priorities and climate finance investment needs in these cities. Read more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ekdyF_zh

The Biden-Harris Administration released a new Climate Capital Guidebook to provide a simple, comprehensive map of capital programs across the federal government that are available to climate-related startups, small and medium-sized businesses, and their investors.   The guidebook includes financing and funding programs from across the entire federal government, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Together, these programs comprise hundreds of billions of dollars in grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other funding tools to spur the financing and deployment of new clean energy and climate projects – while simultaneously focusing on delivering cleaner air, good-paying jobs, and affordable clean energy to disadvantaged communities, energy communities, and other communities in need.    The guidebook also indicates programs that are part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.   Download the guidebook: https://lnkd.in/gtkDHmwE

The latest “Accelerating Climate Finance in Cities” briefing, in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), explores key takeaways and calls to action from CDP's 2023 Global Snapshot. 💰 CDP's 2023 report highlighted the infrastructure priorities of over 1,000 cities and showed that demand for climate finance increased by more than half since 2021. 🍃 With urgency and opportunities to invest in city climate infrastructure steadily increasing, find out what actions cities, national governments, and financial institutions can take to reach climate finance goals. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ekdyF_zh

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4, 2024   Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic $20 Billion in Awards to Expand Access to Clean Energy and Climate Solutions and Lower Energy Costs for Communities Across the Nation   Vice President Harris and Administrator Regan to visit Charlotte, North Carolina to announce selectees under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund   First-of-its-kind national network to fund tens of thousands of climate and clean energy projects across America, especially in communities historically left behind and overburdened by pollution This historic investment will support a wide range of climate and clean energy projects, including distributed clean power generation and storage, net-zero retrofits of homes and small businesses, and zero-emission transportation, all of which can lower energy costs for families and improve housing affordability while tackling the climate crisis. Collectively, the selected applicants have committed to reducing or avoiding up to 40 million metric tons of carbon pollution annually over the next seven years, contributing toward the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic climate goals. In addition, selectees plan to mobilize almost $7 of private capital for every $1 of federal funds—approximately $150 billion total—ensuring that today’s awards will have a catalytic, ongoing effect on the deployment of climate and clean energy technologies at scale, particularly in underserved communities.   At least 70% of the funds announced today—over $14 billion of capital—will be invested in low-income and disadvantaged communities, including historic energy communities that have powered our nation for over a century, communities with environmental justice concerns, communities of color, low-income communities, rural communities, Tribal communities, and more. This makes the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund the single largest non-tax investment within the Inflation Reduction Act to build a clean energy economy while benefiting communities historically left behind.   Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are already attempting to roll back these historic investments. Last month, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1023, which would repeal the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. On March 19, President Biden issued a Statement of Administration Policy with his intent to veto that bill if it were to pass the Senate and come to his desk.