Ready and Raring to Go!

Hello there!

We're feeling invigorated and inspired now that President Biden has signed the historic and game-changing Inflation Reduction Act into law. Now, it’s time to make sure the government runs the programs effectively and focuses on meeting the administration’s Justice40 goals.

We've been busy this summer and have lots to share!

—Good Energy Collective

Collective Updates & Announcements

In this issue, we're introducing our "On the Road" series, where we’ll share our impressions from conferences and fact-finding trips. Our first entry is from Deputy Director Jackie Toth....

On the Road: Jackie Shared Insights From the Energy Communities Alliance’s Forum on Hosting New Nuclear Development

"Even with each of our different equities, everyone seemed to agree: The way we site new nuclear power projects needs to involve local community stakeholders much earlier and more comprehensively than in the past. Back then, utilities decided where they wanted to build long before announcing a project and left communities with little recourse to learn about it before the licensing was well underway. New nuclear reactor siting efforts won’t succeed if utilities and developers follow those old processes.” Read more here.

We Commended Rep. Elaine Luria for Introducing the Fueling Our Nuclear Futures Act

"We thank Rep. Luria for her continued leadership in championing smart nuclear innovation policy and for ensuring that her bill preserves existing protections in the law for water quality and Tribal nations' natural and cultural resources as the Office of Nuclear Energy stands up its program to make this fuel available.” Read more here.

New Publications!

Environmental Justice Policy Counsel Ariel Gould authored an examination of how the uranium mining industry can help achieve a low-carbon energy future while respecting human rights and the environment.

Read the report here.

Policy Memo: The Power of Federal Grants to Support Community-Centered Adoption of Low-Carbon Energy

In our newest policy memo, Jackie explores how grant-making at the Department of Energy can play an essential role in supporting an equitable clean energy transition.

Read the memo here.

State of Play: Nuclear Waste

One of the biggest concerns we hear about nuclear energy from progressives is: "What about the waste?" Policy Analyst Colter Schroer breaks down the issue here.

Policy Highlights

EPA: Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program RFA

Deadline: October 4, 2022

"The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program provides grant funding to eligible applicants to establish technical assistance centers across the nation providing technical assistance, training, and related support to communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners."

Learn more on the EPA's website.

DOE: Clean Energy on Mine Land Workshops

"The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has planned three workshops to further inform the Clean Energy Demonstration Program on Current and Former Mine Land in preparation for a future funding opportunity announcement. Two workshops will be held in the Eastern and Western U.S. and one will be held virtually."

House Natural Resources Committee Advances the Environmental Justice for All Act

"[On July 27,] in a full committee markup, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 2021, the Environmental Justice For All Act, by a vote of 26-21. The legislation, introduced by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) on March 18, 2021, is the most comprehensive environmental justice bill in history and the first major environmental justice bill to pass through a congressional committee."

Learn more on the House Natural Resources Committee's website.

Mark Your Calendars!

DOE's Justice Week 2022 (Sept. 12 - 16): "The Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED) is leading the way for a just transition to a new energy system. Join us at DOE or online during Justice Week to learn about how you can play a role in reshaping our energy futures." Learn more here.

National Clean Energy Week (Sept. 26 - 30): An annual celebration of clean energy innovation and help solve the world’s most pressing challenges in nuclear, solar, wind, wave, hydropower, geothermal, natural gas, biomass, carbon capture, storage, and waste-to-energy technologies. Learn more here.

GEC in the News

Social License in the Deployment of Advanced Nuclear Technology

For Nuclear Newswire, Jessica and her co-author Todd R. Allen discuss the importance of community engagement in the deployment of advanced reactors.

Read the article here.

Diablo Canyon, Paid Family Leave, Funding Abortion And More: What Bills Are Vying For Newsom’s Signature?

Jessica joined KPCC's AirTalk program to discuss California lawmakers' vote to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

Listen to the program here.

Governments Are Rethinking Nuclear Power

In Gizmodo, Jessica reflects on governments reconsidering early nuclear plant retirements in light of the global energy crisis driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Read the article here.

What We're Reading...

Biden’s Climate Law Is Ending 40 Years of Hands-Off Government (The Atlantic)

Podcast: A New Era for Environmental Justice w/ Dr. Robert Bullard (Columbia Energy Exchange)

How Native Lands Became a Target for Nuclear Waste (Outrider)

The Inflation Reduction Act Reinforces Nuclear Energy's Role as a Climate Solution (Atlantic Council)

Nuclear Power Reset (Milken Institute Review)

Tweet of the Month...

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GEC Staff & Board...

Jessica Lovering, Executive Director/Co-Founder ⚫ Jackie Toth, Deputy Director ⚫ Michael Mouton, Communications Director ⚫ Ariel Gould, Environmental Policy Counsel ⚫ Khalil Ryan, Policy Analyst ⚫ Colter Schroer, Policy Analyst ⚫ Suzanne Baker, Co-Founder ⚫ Rachel Slaybaugh, Board Chair ⚫ Hafeezah Abdullah, Board Member ⚫ Erin Burns, Board Member ⚫ Kuhika Gupta, Board Member ⚫ Chantell Murphy, Board Member ⚫ Sagatom Saha, Board Member ⚫ Paul Wilson, Board Member ⚫

Good Energy Collective is making the progressive case for nuclear energy in a just, climate-friendly future. We invite you to chip in if you can and share broadly with your networks.

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