Resilient LLP (formerly DeMarco Allan LLP)
Tag

U.S.

Browsing

USDA Announces Intent to Establish GHG Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council

No Comments By

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday announced that it intends to establish an Advisory Council (the Council) for the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program (the Program). The Council is authorized by the Growing Climate Solutions Act which directs the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to establish the Council to facilitate participation in voluntary environmental credit markets. The USDA is now seeking nominations for Council membership. This bulletin briefly summarizes key information related to the Council and sets out important dates. Purpose. The Council will support the USDA and the Program to facilitate the participation of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, including beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and veteran farmers, in voluntary environmental credit markets. The Council will also support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Principles for Responsible Participation in Voluntary Carbon Markets (the Principles) (see our earlier bulletin here). Council activities: The Council will submit an initial assessment to Congress about the Program and will consult with the Secretary regarding subsequent periodic assessments. Key activities of the Council include: Periodically reviewing and recommending changes to: the list of protocols recognized for generating environmental credits; required qualifications for entities providing technical assistance; and activities for which technical assistance providers and third-party verifiers may register to provide services under the Program that prevent, reduce, or mitigate GHGs. Advising the Secretary on: current methods for quantifying and verifying greenhouse gas emissions prevention, reduction, or mitigation in voluntary environmental credit markets; ways to reduce barriers to entry and transaction costs in these markets; and strengthening markets to align with the Principles. Council membership details. Members will serve two-year terms, with the initial slate serving staggered terms of one to three years, and may serve up to four additional two-year terms. The Secretary will appoint members to the Council as follows:…

Read More
By

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches Federal-State Initiative to Modernize Power Grid

No Comments By

The Biden-Harris Administration (the Administration) yesterday launched the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative (the Initiative), along with an accompanying fact sheet. The Initiative brings together states, federal entities, and U.S. power sector stakeholders to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. Implementing these solutions is expected to increase integration of renewables and clean energy sources, with the U.S. set to build more new electric generation capacity than it has in 20 years (96% of it being clean energy). The Initiative is intended to complement last month’s announcement of a public-private mobilization to upgrade 100,000 miles of existing transmission lines over the next five years. This bulletin briefly summarizes the Initiative’s key state and federal commitments: Mutual federal-state commitments. The Initiative aims to address the challenges and opportunities posed by increased load growth, a rapidly evolving energy landscape, aging infrastructure, and new grid-enhancing technologies while ensuring reliable, clean, and affordable energy for consumers. The U.S. government and participating states jointly commit to: deploy advanced grid technologies to expand capacity and enhance both new and existing transmission and distribution lines; recognize that modern grid technologies are essential for a comprehensive energy strategy, complementing the need to build out new transmission and distribution lines; work to increase state and federal cooperation for both intraregional and interregional transmission planning efforts; work collaboratively with solution providers, industry, labour organizations, and trusted validators to build a diverse workforce and ensure grid owners and operators have access to training and equipmentneeded to support modern technology deployment; facilitate collaboration among stakeholders and communities to share how to improve siting, regulatory, and economic structures most effectively; and explore opportunities to establish innovative partnership models, pool resources, and jointly plan transmission and distribution infrastructure development. State commitments. 21 state governments,…

Read More
By

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Principles for High-Integrity Voluntary Carbon Markets

No Comments By

The Biden-Harris Administration (the Administration) today released the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) Joint Policy Statement and Principles (the Principles), along with an accompanying fact sheet (the Fact Sheet). The Principles represent the U.S. government’s affirmation that high-integrity VCMs can and should play a meaningful role in reducing and removing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support the objective of global net-zero emissions by 2050. The Principles support the Administration’s commitment to ensuring VCMs effectively channel private capital into innovative technological and nature-based solutions, while also protecting natural ecosystems and supporting the U.S. and international partners in achieving their climate objectives.   The Principles follow other key U.S. climate-related legislation and policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act (see our earlier bulletin here), climate adaptation and resilience plans for federal agencies (see our earlier bulletin here), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Principles for Net-Zero Financing and Investment, released last year, supporting the development and execution of strong net-zero commitments and transition plans by financial institutions, with a focus on Scope 3 financed and facilitated GHG emissions.   This bulletin briefly summarizes the Principles, their anticipated role in addressing climate change, and other ongoing U.S. government actions to support VCMs.    Principles for high-integrity VCMs. The Principles provide seven principles for high-integrity VCMs, drawing from existing best practices for credit certification standards, including the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the G7’s Principles for High-Integrity Carbon Markets, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s proposed guidance regarding the listing of voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts (December 2023), the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles (see our earlier bulletin here), and relevant decisions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The Principles are as follows: Carbon credits and the activities that generate them should meet credible atmospheric integrity standards and represent real decarbonization. Credit-generating activities should avoid environmental and social harm and should, where applicable, support…

Read More
By

Biden Releases Agency Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plans

No Comments By

The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced climate adaptation and resilience plans for more than 20 federal agencies. The plans were developed by each agency and are available through the Whitehouse website. The agency plans focus on: Safeguarding federal investments by identifying programs and missions most at risk from climate change. Identifying leadership and accountability by identifying senior leadership and creating accountability structures to ensure top-down adaptation and resilience leadership. Developing a more resilient supply chain by updating supply chain policies and operations to create a more climate-resilient system. Enhancing protections for workers and communities by providing for implementing better support for workers vis-à-vis the impacts of climate change. Building a more equitable future by providing for actions that support President Biden’s environmental justice objectives. The Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Building are seeking public comments on the plans. Interested parties can submit comments online until November 6, 2021. For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com.

Read More
By