Weekly Briefing: CCL Volunteers Meet Electrification Month Goal With a Surge of Energy  

September 4, 2024

Wow — Electrification Month sure did spark some inspiration! CCL volunteers blew through our national goal of 3,000 conversations about home electrification, logging 3,408 total conversations by the end of month.

These conversations have helped people across the country understand the climate-friendly upgrades available for their homes. Plus, we’ve educated people about the money they can save through rebates and tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

In addition to having face-to-face conversations in our communities, we’ve been talking up electrification in local newspapers across California, Colorado, Texas and beyond!

As more and more IRA rebates continue to roll out in the coming months, you can keep the conversations going. Make sure folks in your community know that electrifying can make their homes safer, their appliances more efficient, and their energy bills more affordable.

Keep the Conversations Going

In other news this week:

• Permitting reform podcast: “If we want to drive down emissions, we have to be steadily retiring coal plants and displacing natural-gas generation, and that means building even more renewables. And all that requires grid connection and transmission lines to link regions,” clean energy expert Jesse Jenkins explained on a recent episode of the “Good on Paper” podcast. “We need to be probably doubling the pace that we’ve seen,” which will take some updates to our process for permitting these projects. Listen to the episode to dive deeper on the issue of clean energy permitting reform.

• The story of our success: CCL is making a big impact on climate policy — and now our website tells that story! The “Our Accomplishments” page of our website is freshly updated, and it details what we’ve done to support a range of climate legislation during the 118th Congress. Take a look to remind yourself what you've helped make happen!

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Spread the word on social media. One of the most powerful climate actions you can take is to talk about it — talk about the problem, the solutions, and how you’re making a difference as a CCL volunteer. Check out our “Spread the Word” page for social media posts you can share across all the major platforms to keep the climate conversation going with your friends and followers online.

If you have more time: Plan to attend CCL’s Inclusion Conference. Each year, CCL’s Affinity Action Teams — Asian Pacific, Climate and Culture, Differently ABLED, Environmental Justice, Higher Education, Latinos, LGBTQIA+ and Allies OUTreach, Listening to Indigenous Voices, Peace Corps, People of the Global Majority, and Youth — organize the Inclusion Conference. This year’s event is called “Rising Above: Renewal and Resilience For Our Future” and will explore new energy, opportunities, and ideas as we center belonging and justice in our advocacy. Check out the recordings from last year’s conference to get a sense of the wonderful programming you can expect, and sign up to join us for this year’s conference on Sept. 20-21.

Featured chapter: CCL Rhode Island

It’s been a busy few months for Rhode Island State Coordinator Barbara Sullivan-Watts and the Rhode Island At-Large chapter. Barbara co-leads the chapter with Dan Corley and Thomas Dresser.

This small state is putting in the work to make a big impact on a green legislative future. They met with Rhode Island’s full congressional delegation during June Lobby Day, and they are working with the state government on reducing building emissions. CCL RI plans to demonstrate the En-ROADS climate simulator to state legislators soon.

Barbara and other CCL RI members, including Mary Jane Sorrentino, Randy Watts, Peter Trafton, Caroly Shumway, and Bill Ibelle, were featured in an ecoRI article titled “Gray is the New Green,” highlighting the power of older generations in climate advocacy. Another chapter member, Kevin O'Neill, is a retired engineer who has been working on a thoughtful plan for Rhode Island’s Public Utilities Commission to encourage consumers to switch from gas to electric. And Barbara, a retired oceanographer at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, hopes to reach out to younger climate advocates too by helping start CCL chapters at URI for both undergrad and graduate students.

Don’t let all this hard work fool you — with a chapter potluck in July and collaboration with environmental groups around the state, “Rhody” is packing in the community fun as well. Cheers to the CCL Rhode Island At-Large chapter and all they do!

Want to chat with the Rhode Island volunteers about their work? Join the conversation on CCL Community.

Today’s featured chapter story was written by CCL intern Chelsea Moody.

Upcoming trainings

9/5: Election 2024 - Helping Climate Voters Elect Climate Champions - In 2024, CCL wants more climate voters to vote, and we want climate to be a key issue for every candidate. We'll discuss options for CCLers to engage during the 2024 elections locally and nationally, including events and outreach opportunities with CCL's Election Engagement Action Team. Join us!

9/10: CCL's Policy Agenda - Join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a training that will explore how Citizens’ Climate advocates for an array of policies, including carbon pricing, that are effective in reducing net emissions and building bridges both in Congress and in our communities. Join us!

9/12: What Does the Modeling Say About The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024? - We’ve been eagerly awaiting modeling from Resources for the Future (RFF) and RMI about the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, and the numbers are expected to be public in the next week or so. We’re confident the bill will reduce emissions, but this modeling will confirm just how much. Join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli to walk through the numbers. Join us!

To see other topics and past trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.

Nerd Corner Chart of the Week

Germany passed permitting reform. Then clean energy took off

Join the discussion about Germany's success with clean energy permitting reform.