New York City is going green, as is Washington state. In just one week, the state spent millions of dollars on solar power and cleaner transportation, showing that it means business when it comes to fighting climate change.
A Medium post from the Washington State Governor’s Office says that the Environmental Protection Agency is investing a cool $156 million in rooftop solar projects. These projects are supposed to lower energy bills, raise home values, and create clean jobs. But the big selling point of solar isn’t just that it lowers energy bills and creates jobs; it’s also supposed to get rid of harmful pollutants like sulfur and nitrogen oxides.
People who know about the “Solar for All” plan know that it’s not just a shot in the dark; it’s a well-aimed arrow that sparks hopes for low-income homes, community solar projects, and Tribal solar programs. “Every community deserves clean, affordable, reliable energy, and Solar for All is a game changer for America and a giant leap toward a more just and equitable transition,” said Governor Jay Inslee in a Medium post praising the program’s expected 200,000 new jobs and 900,000 homes across the country that will benefit from solar installations.
Moving on to electric vehicles, Washington’s Department of Commerce announced a new rebate program. Dubbed the “country’s maiden voyage in the space,” the $45 million plan gives lower-income families and rich people who want to buy an EV a way to get money. Families can get rebates of up to $9,000, and people who buy used EVs can get a $2,500 rebate to help them get cleaner wheels on the road and maybe even pave the way for an EV to become popular.
The opening of ZeroAvia’s new Propulsion Center of Excellence in Everett on Wednesday marked the end of an environmentally friendly week with a high-flying commitment to clean skies. ZeroAvia is a pioneer in hydrogen-powered aircraft engines and wants to break the fossil fuel monopoly in commercial flight. It has promised to get FAA approval for its innovation, which has the ambitious goal of cutting carbon emissions by 70%.
