Audubon Florida Climate and Energy News Roundup This week we share news about driving EVs in rural areas, a sea-level rise study on the First Coast, a new living shoreline project for Escambia County, and more!

Northern Parula. Photo: Linda Steele/Audubon Photography Awards

If We Want Lower Utility Bills, State Leaders Need to Fix Outdated Energy Policies From West Orlando News “Floridians are paying the price for outdated energy policies that are draining our wallets. Fortunately, these rules and regulations are now being revised by the state. You have an opportunity to have your voice heard in favor of changing the rules so hardworking Floridians can receive real relief on their monthly power bills…. The PSC should be updating programs and policies to reflect current standards and increasing the state’s energy saving goals, not reducing them.” Read the entire article.

UNF Professors Study Threat of Sea-level Rise to First Coast From WJXT Jacksonville  “We’ve all notice that weather in recent years seems unprecedented in our lifetimes. That includes major hurricanes to impact Jacksonville. And you probably recall the major freeze in Texas earlier this year. Climatologists tell News4Jax they’re not surprised and say it’s evidence of a shifting climate that much of our infrastructure isn’t prepared for… The two pointed to vulnerable spots in Northeast Florida that could be affected by rising sea levels. The primary spots they mentioned were St. Johns County beaches, St. Augustine and downtown Jacksonville.” Read the entire article.

Commentary: Electric Vehicles Are Finally Ready for Rural Drivers From Energy News Network “EVs have finally reached the inflection point that drivers who live in rural areas can plug into the all-electric cars and save serious money along the way... Rural drivers have a big incentive to go all-electric, too: they will save serious money on gasoline, oil changes, and significantly reduce their carbon emissions impacted by long commutes. EVs available today can go as far as 400 miles on a single charge — welcome news to drivers with longer than the average commute of 30 miles a day.” Read the entire article.

House Bill Would Channel $3.5 Billion to Domestic Solar Manufacturing From PV Magazine “Representative Val Demings (D-FL) introduced the Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act. It would provide $3.5 billion for U.S. solar manufacturing. If passed, $700 million would be invested annually from 2022 through 2026. The legislation would provide funding for the construction of new manufacturing facilities and to retrofit, retool, and expand existing facilities. Priority would be given to manufacturers that provide the greatest potential for domestic job creation and economic development in economically distressed regions.” Read the entire article.

Escambia County Awarded $17.9 Million in Grants for the Pensacola Bay Project From WKRG News 5 “Escambia County has received $17.9 million in grants as of Sept. 23 for the construction of the Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project in Escambia County. Escambia County will use the money to create a large-scale living shoreline to replace the naturally eroded shoreline at Sherman Inlet. The shoreline will be created through a series of emergent and submerged breakwaters. The U.S. The Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (DoD) awarded $6.4 million to Escambia County on Sept. 23.” Read the entire article.

To Teach Students about Climate Change, ‘Just the Facts’ Isn’t Enough From Scientific American “As we are forced to confront the fact that the climate is connected to every aspect of our lives and the world around us, teachers at numerous levels (from middle school to college), across multiple subjects (from the sciences to the humanities), find themselves engaged in climagogy—teaching students about different aspects of the climate crisis… But teaching about climate change—and related topics such as the biodiversity crisis and environmental injustice—shouldn’t be about merely conveying facts.” Read the entire article.

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