Every week, we round up five of the best good climate news stories we’re celebrating. This week we cover the Biden-Harris administration investing $1.5 billion in cleaner transportation, the Department of Energy offering $1.2 billion in loans to an EV battery component manufacturer and $1.7 billion in funding for EV facilities, EPA grants of $5 million to establish stormwater centers, and a landmark pro-environment state budget in New Jersey.

1. Biden-Harris administration announces $1.5 billion for cleaner transportation

The Biden-Harris administration announced $1.5 billion in funding to make public transportation cleaner across 47 states. The investment will support 117 projects to replace old transit buses running on dirty and expensive fossil fuels with modern, zero-emission models. This funding follows previous investments totaling $5 billion under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help transit agencies modernize buses, serve more riders, reduce air pollution and train workers to use new technology.

Source: Department of Transportation

2. DOE offers $1.2 billion in loans to maker of EV battery components

The Department of Energy announced $1.2 billion in loan commitments to ENTEK Lithium Separators LLC to support the construction of a factory for battery separators, a key component of EV lithium-ion batteries. ENTEK estimates that the project will support around 1.9 million mid-size EVs or 1.3 million electric sports utility vehicles. The Terre-Haute, Indiana based factory will also create more than 760 construction jobs and 635 operational jobs. This project will support growing demand for separators for EV batteries and help make more cars eligible for the Inflation Reduction Act’s $7,500 tax credit.

Source: Reuters

3. EPA awards $5 million in grants to establish four stormwater centers

EPA announced grants of $5 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to establish four new stormwater centers and a national clearinghouse for new stormwater control technologies. These grants constitute part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and will help fund research to improve national stormwater infrastructure, improve water quality, and provide technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments.

The grants will be awarded to The University of New Hampshire, The University of Oklahoma, The Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education, and The Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. The Center for Watershed Protection will receive additional funding for the information clearinghouse to share research and best practices nationwide. .

These investments are expected to reduce water pollution, improve stormwater management and infrastructure, and advance climate resilience and environmental justice.

Source: EPA

4. DOE to invest $1.7 billion to support auto workers and convert facilities for electric vehicles

DOE announced an investment of $1.7 billion to convert auto manufacturing facilities across eight states – Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia – to manufacture EVs and their components. Part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, these investments will create and retain thousands of good-paying union jobs, help America’s automotive industry stay competitive, and advance Biden’s mission for a clean energy future.

Source: DOE

5. NJ Governor signs pro-environmental state budget into law

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed one of the most pro-environment state budgets into law. The bill has significant provisions for the environment, including a new corporate transit fee which will secure funding for NJ Transit and the Green Acres and Blue Acres program. The budget also allocated full funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission. These investments will improve access to mass transit, outdoor spaces, and clean water in a big win for environmentalists.

Source: Delaware River Basin Commission, NJ.gov

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