EnviroPolitics Blog

The U.S. will lift tariffs on solar products imported from Canada

As part of the agreement signed on July 8, the U.S. and Canada also committed to prohibiting imports of solar products produced with forced labor.

By John Engel, Renewable Energy World

The Trump administration implemented the solar safeguard measure in 2018 to support domestic solar manufacturing. While largely aimed at China, the safeguard extended to all solar imports.

In February, a panel found that Canada’s inclusion in the solar safeguard was inconsistent with rules within the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

That same month, President Biden extended the solar safeguard measure for an additional four years, but excluded bifacial cells and doubled the import quota on solar cells to 5 GW. Biden also directed the United States trade representative to conclude agreements with Canada and Mexico on trade in solar products.

“Reaching this settlement with Canada will promote the greater deployment of solar energy in the United States using products from one of our closest allies, and foster a more resilient North American supply chain for clean energy products made without forced labor,” United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement.

Read the full story here

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Fecal bacteria tests lead to swimming advisories at four Jersey Shore beaches

By Chris Sheldon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection placed four New Jersey beaches under swimming advisories Tuesday afternoon after water samples taken at them showed high levels of fecal bacteria.

The beaches placed under swimming advisories were:

• Forget-Me-Not Road beach in Wildwood Crest (ocean)

• Miami Avenue beach in Wildwood Crest (ocean)

• Lavender Road beach in Wildwood Crest (ocean)

• Orchid Road beach in Wildwood Crest (ocean)

Read the full story here

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Republicans push back against Wall Street firms with left-leaning climate positions

*BlackRock headquarters in New York. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg News)*

By Steven Mufson, Washington Post

Republican officials across the country, tearing a page from the ongoing culture wars, are launching a broad assault on the movement by big financial firms to use their economic power to curb climate change and address other politically sensitive national issues.

In recent years, big finance companies have used their clout to advance causes that are popular among liberals. The giant asset manager BlackRock, for instance, has voted against the candidacies of hundreds of corporate board members over their lackluster records on climate issues and called climate change “a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects.” JPMorgan Chase, the nation’s largest bank, has stopped lending to new coal mines or coal-fired power plants.

Even though the positions don’t satisfy many left-leaning activists, GOP officials are intensifying their counteroffensive, attacking the campaigns — often referred to as “environmental-social-governance,” or ESG — by threatening to retaliate against financial firms for their positions on the climate and other issues, including firearms sales.

Read the full story here

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Turn Delaware Water Gap area into a national park? Opponents lining up against the idea

By Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight

Click to view NJ Spotlight video

The Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area offers gorgeous views and adventure for millions of visitors every year. While it’s a part of the National Park Service system, it’s not designated as a national park. John Donahue, who worked for the National Park Service for nearly 40 years and spent 14 years in charge of the area, wants to change that. He’s partnering with the Sierra Club on a proposal to make the Delaware Water Gap New Jersey’s first national park.

“The spectacular resources here should be recognized as being nationally and internationally significant on a greater level … It’s a matter of recognition and elevation and prestige for the people and for the resources,” said Donahue.

Some people don’t see it that way. Sandy Hull, who lives in Layton near the Delaware Water Gap, said she has a lot of questions that are not answered by the Sierra Club’s proposal.

“There’s no environmental impact statement. No agricultural, economic impact statement. The visitation — we don’t know how they figured that. As far as economics, I don’t know how they figure how much spending every person’s going to do when they come up here, when basically there’s nothing here to spend their money on,” said Hull.

Opponents are also concerned about the consequences of more visitors and whether private land could be taken by eminent domain.

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th) has also come out against the proposed redesignation.

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Bye-bye Heinz field. Hello, Acrisure?

By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Acrisure, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based fintech company with ties to Steelers minority owner Thomas Tull, has secured the naming rights for the North Shore stadium for the next 15 years. The Steelers confirmed the arrangement in a statement released Monday afternoon. A press conference is planned for Tuesday.

The deal will end the two-decades-long relationship between two of Pittsburgh’s iconic franchises — the Steelers and Heinz, whose name has been synonymous with the football venue since it opened in 2001. A statement from Kraft Heinz on Monday indicated it had been interested in retaining the name.

Acrisure, headed by co-founder and CEO Greg Williams, will take over the naming rights immediately, in time for the 2022 season, the Steelers stated.

“We are excited to partner with Acrisure for the naming rights to our stadium,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Acrisure provided us with an opportunity to ensure our stadium continues to be a valuable asset for our fans as well as keeping up with the market value of NFL stadiums. We are very appreciative to partner with Greg Williams and his company, and we look forward to a long, beneficial relationship for years to come.”

Acrisure, a fast-growing global insurance brokerage, may not be well known to fans in Steel City but it does have a connection.

Read the full story here

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Ramez Ziadeh Takes Over As Acting Secretary at PA Department of Environmental Protection

From the PA Environment Digest Blog

On July 2, Ramez Ziadeh took over as Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, replacing Patrick McDonnell who held the post for the last six years.

Ramez Ziadeh, P.E., served as the Executive Deputy Secretary of Programs at the Department of Environmental Protection since June 2017 and previously served as Director of the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands.

Ziadeh is a licensed professional engineer in the states of Pennsylvania and California. He received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993.

Ziadeh started his career in DEP in 1994. He has over 28 years of extensive experience in environmental permitting, compliance, policy, and regulatory rule making.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with Secretary McDonnell, and I am committed to upholding the high standards he set for the office and for the department,” Ziadeh said. “I look forward to working with Governor Wolf to ensure that Pennsylvanians have clear air, clean water, and healthy communities.”

[Note: Unfortunately, it is unlikely Ziadeh will go through the Senate confirmation process because Senate Republicans have refused to take action on any of Gov. Wolf’s agency nominees until he withdraws his executive order and regulations reducing carbon pollution from power plants in Pennsylvania. Read more here.]

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