September 2024: Inside the Greenhouse

Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly update on FCNL's environmental advocacy and the climate crisis.

FCNL Welcomes Anna Aguto to the Energy and Environment Team!

We are thrilled to have Anna Aguto as this year's program assistant for sustainable energy and environment. Anna comes to FCNL from the Quaker U.N. office in Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on international climate policy. Please join us in welcoming Anna!

The Inflation Reduction Act Celebrates its Second Anniversary

Last month, we celebrated the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA, P.L. 117-169) second anniversary! This historic bill, that we advocated for, represents a transformative investment in clean energy. It is already yielding considerable results for workers and communities nationwide. The legislation is reviving manufacturing, expanding access to affordable electricity, and spurring innovation in tomorrow's technologies right here in the United States.

IRA-funded clean energy projects have created more than 330,000 jobs across the country. Meanwhile, companies have announced $265 billion in new clean energy investments in nearly every state. Domestic solar manufacturing has nearly quadrupled. Last year, some 3.4 million families have used IRA tax credits to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for their homes.

There is still so much more to do to ensure every community is included in the energy transition, particularly rural and historically marginalized communities. The near-record heatwaves this summer underscore the need for bold action to stop climate change.

News and Updates

Google Unveils New Hear Resilience Tool for Cities

Early this month, Google unveiled a new tool to help city policymakers secure the data they need to lower the impacts of extreme heat on their residents - an increasing concern because of climate change.

The new Google tool uses satellite-based, high-resolution data to map surface temperatures in neighborhoods. It can be used to measure the effectiveness of certain heat-mitigating measures such as increasing neighborhood tree cover and installing cool roofs on buildings.

Extreme heat disproportionately impacts urban areas of the country, and historically marginalized communities tend to be the hottest. This tool can help policymakers address these historic injustices and create safer, more resilient cities for all their residents.

Climate Change is Supercharging This Year's Fire Season

California's Line Fire in San Bernadino County has nearly doubled, having now burned nearly 37,000 acres of land. The blaze started at the end of August, causing the evacuation of thousands of residents. Record heat waves on the West Coast have supercharged the blaze, with the town of Riverside recording a new daily record of 110 degrees Fahrenheit early in September.

What We're Reading:

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