Benjamin (Benji) Backer

California’s Climate Accountability Package is shaking things up for companies that do business in California. Are you prepared to navigate the new California climate bills SB253 and SB261? Pinion advisors break down the requirements to report greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks in the following resource guide. Download to learn more: https://okt.to/34dHoQ #sustainability #climatechange #carbonemissions #sustainableagriculture

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This week, Access Community Capital participated in a roundtable with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, Steven Horsford, the Nevada Clean Energy Fund, and other community organizations to discuss advancing clean energy access in Nevada. Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) announced its Community Solar Program, part of its $156MM Solar for All award, to bring solar benefits to low-income households. Nic S, executive director of Access Community Capital, said "One of the major innovations included in the structure of the Community Solar Program allows municipalities and nonprofits to participate." Access Community Capital is continuing to build upon this innovation by launching its Access Solar Bridge Loan designed to support the purchase of a solar system while allowing the organization or company to benefit directly from the Direct Pay Tax Rebate. This is the perfect solution to match many solar financing needs. The goal is for organizations to end up with a solar system that reduces their carbon footprint and is a $0 down investment. To learn more about clean energy solutions in Nevada, visit the NCEF website https://nevadacef.org/ If interested in possible financing options, visit the Access Community Capital website https://accesscdfi.org/ Read the full press release here, https://lnkd.in/ggPxQvJC  #Solarfinancing #solarbridgeloan #CleanEnergy #SolarForAll  #CommunitySolar #accesscdfi #accesscommunitycapital Nevada Partners, Inc. United Way of Southern Nevada Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) City of North Las Vegas City of Las Vegas

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We're only 18 months away from California’s climate laws being implemented (January 1, 2026), so it is time to (re)familiarize yourself with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which is now managed by the IFRS Foundation and run through the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The TCFD developed disclosure recommendations to have a common way to evaluate company approaches to climate to “support market transparency and more informed capital allocation" — and there's a compelling case that its recommendations can bring useful value to a company’s sustainability program — both for those required to use TCFD and those not required to use it. In this article, Cheryl Baldwin shares examples from Nestlé, AstraZeneca, and Ingka Group which highlight the quantitative financial benefits of having implemented the TCFD in practice. Reach out to us today to explore how we can help you get started. 

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FREE WEBINAR: Roadmap for Climate-Related Disclosures: California, SEC & CSRD Wednesday 31st July | 11am ET | 8am PT | 4pm BST Delivered in partnership with ClimeCo Register for this webinar to gain valuable industry insight into how to prepare your business to meet upcoming climate-related deadlines. Our expert speakers will also cover: ⏱️Disclosure mandates and critical deadlines 📍The roadmap to compliance preparation, including specific actions, risks and opportunities 📝How to take advantage of planning efficiencies including considerations for internal team coordination through illustrative case studies REGISTER YOUR PLACE FOR FREE: https://hubs.ly/Q02G10-10 #Decarbconnect #ClimeCo #Climatedisclosures #SB253 #SB261 #SEC #CSRD #Decarbonisation #Sustainability #Sustainable #Compliance

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Attention California businesses! Big changes might be in store for the state's community solar program. Here's what you need to know: 📄 The California Public Utilities Commission has issued a Proposed Decision (PD) that, if approved, will have drastic consequences. 🔌 Siding with utilities, the PD favors a community solar program based on existing wholesale-market distributed energy programs, despite clear evidence these programs don't work. ☀️ The PD rejects the proposed Net Value Billing Tariff that would've generated 8 GW of community solar paired with battery energy storage and provided benefits to hundreds of thousands of households. To learn more about the Proposed Decision, when it might be approved, and what California businesses should know about the future of community solar in the Golden State, read our blog post: https://lnkd.in/dyx4BiDV

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Check out the latest from the Public Policy Institute of California: Californians have been facing a record heat wave and wildfires across the state this summer. The state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit prompted spending cuts for climate and energy programs. In response, the legislature approved a $10 billion state bond for the November ballot that asks voters to approve more funding for drought, floods, wildfires, coastal resilience, and extreme heat mitigation. The deep partisan divide on climate and energy policies surfaced in the presidential debate on June 27. Key findings of the Californians and the Environment survey on local, state, and national issues and coastal and inland topics that was conducted June 24–July 2, 2024 are at the link below: https://lnkd.in/d89ixXSY

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CDFA’s State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program continues to serve California Farmers and Ranchers through the Block Grant Pilot Program The legislature established the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) in 2014 as a response to drought, providing incentive funding for sustainable agricultural practices. SWEEP grants have a dual purpose: decreasing water use and reducing greenhouse gases associated with irrigation. Projects funded through SWEEP commonly include elements such as soil, plant or weather sensors; micro-irrigation systems; pump retrofits or replacements; renewable energy systems; and variable frequency drives – among others water and energy saving technologies. The SWEEP Block Grant Pilot Program (BGP) was designed to facilitate financial assistance to California agricultural operations through regional Block Grant Recipients (BGR). Block Grant Recipients are organizations with close ties to producers who can offer incentive grants and technical assistance tailored to regional and commodity-specific needs. CDFA selected nine BGP projects across the state to support local efforts in increasing on-farm water use efficiency. The SWEEP BGP is well underway, with most of the nine Block Grant Recipients having completed their solicitations and awarding producers with SWEEP funds to implement their projects. CDFA is happy to see many high-quality on-farm water and GHG reductions projects starting installation and looks forward to visiting some of these sites in the coming months. Find your local block grant recipients at the link below. 

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Learn how Washington State is enhancing its collaboration with tribal communities through expanded solar initiatives, supported by new funding from the EPA's Solar For All program. Tribes are actively involved in planning, reflecting a commitment to inclusive and consultative approaches. Tribal Business News has the story. #CleanEnergy #TribalEconomy #TribalSolar

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New job opportunities are on the way for CA. CalRecycle is now accepting applications for $40 million in redemption innovation technology grants on top of $15 million in workforce development grants rolling out this year to build the future of recycling in California. The state will also promote workforce development in this space through the California Jobs First Council (https://lnkd.in/gXnvQJPf) The state recently released draft regulations for Governor Gavin Newsom’s “Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act” (SB 54, enacted in 2022), kicking off the formal rule-making process. “For too long, plastic polluters have passed the buck on the growing burden of plastic waste contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat,” said Governor Newsom. “California is leading the way to hold producers responsible, drive sustainable innovation and green jobs, and support the most impacted communities. We have to act now, with urgency, to give our kids a future without plastic pollution.” This law requires the following by 2032: * Sell 25% less single-use plastic packaging and food ware in the state. * Make all single-use packaging and plastic food-ware recyclable or compostable. * Recycle 65% of single-use plastic packaging and food ware. See more at https://lnkd.in/gAvR3J8D

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Thrive Inland SoCal’s grant opportunity, supported by Governor Newsom’s Regional Investment Initiative, offers $14 million in Catalyst Funding to propel sector-specific projects 📣💼 This streamlined process aims to facilitate access to funding and accelerate project development, contributing to California’s job creation and climate resilience efforts. Funding Lanes: Lane A: Exploratory - Early phase ideas Lane B: Planning - Ready for investment, job creation started Lane C: Last-mile - Needs final funding to begin development Application Stages: Stage 1: Idea submissions are made online, requiring a brief narrative and checklist for self-evaluation against relevant criteria. Stage 2: Submissions are reviewed by an external organization and sorted into three funding lanes based on self-selection and external assessments, with reviewers deciding the final placement. 📬 Subscribe to our IECC Grant Bulletin Search Tool to find this and similar opportunities. Learn more at buff.ly/3LocApK #GrantBulletin #GrantOpportunity #Nonprofit #Foundation #Funding

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NEW V2G project in Fresno, CA! Nuvve Holding Corp.'s expansive three-acre energy project in Fresno features a solar farm, solar canopies, and 56 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This ambitious project is supported by a $16M grant from the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC). See EVinfo.net's article: https://lnkd.in/gAua-jaY The project will integrate Nuvve’s cutting-edge vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows EVs to draw from and supply power to the grid. This bidirectional energy flow aids in balancing supply and demand, enhancing grid stability and efficiency. EOC is transitioning its gas vehicles to a 50-shuttle electric fleet. About 80% of the workforce will be sourced from Fresno. Fresno EOC’s workforce training program will provide education on energy and solar projects, creating more skilled professionals in the sustainable energy sector. The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) improves the lives of underserved populations in Fresno, by overseeing more than 35 human services programs. Nuvve co-founder and CEO Gregory Poilasne, Fresno EOC Board Chairman Oliver Baines and Emilia Reyes, Fresno EOC CEO, spoke about the groundbreaking project. Taken together, EVs, renewable energy, and Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) create the perfect power implementation, providing the most eco-friendly, cost-effective solution, while stabilizing the grid. V2G provides power when and where its needed, for example preventing blackouts during peak usage, with EVs acting as mobile power units. Nuvve Holding Corp., Fermata Energy and others are leading this exciting new technology through an ever-growing implementation nationwide. It is also growing fast throughout the world. Some worry that with the ever-increasing numbers of EVs hitting the roads every year, that the grid can't handle the additional power needed. Last year, the grid did just fine, with usage actually decreasing mostly due to the meteoric rise of more efficient, Energy Star approved appliances. V2G is one of the solutions that allows flexibility and support to the grid when needed. It is also instrumental in the leveraging of renewable energy, making the best use of clean power while avoiding the burning of more fossil fuels. However, V2G is just the tip of the iceberg. V2X, or Vehicle-to-Everything, encompasses a variety of use cases, including vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-building (V2B), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) services. Nearly every EV available today either has some form of V2X available, or their makers are planning to implement it soon. Homeowners now enjoy power during blackouts with V2H. Campers run electronic devices with V2L. EVs can charge other EVs, a solution preventing stranded drivers. EVinfo.net is proud to support the green energy transition with thought-leading, original articles and interviews: https://lnkd.in/gH5Gdqb7 #v2g #electricvehicles

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🌊💧 Transforming Water Use in California: New Regulation Draft Released! 💧🌊 The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is taking another step towards ensuring sustainable water use in California with the development of the **Making Conservation a Way of Life** regulation! 🌱🏞️ The latest draft introduces key changes: - Setting ambitious water conservation targets for large suppliers. - Extending timelines for compliance. - Expanding compliance pathways based on public feedback. This regulation safeguards our water resources and helps adapt to climate change. It reflects our collective commitment to a sustainable future for all Californians. Check out the State Board's website for a detailed summary and an informative presentation on this vital initiative. Let's make every drop count! 🌍💦 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gWa4uHWC #WaterConservation #Sustainability #California #ClimateAction #SaveWater #MakingConservationAWayOfLife

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Did you know our precipitation forecast benefits California utility companies? Here's how... The CAP forecast helps California utilities comply with the state’s renewable energy targets and manage their portfolio of renewables more effectively. Clean energy sources, including wind, solar, and hydropower, are inherently weather-dependent. An accurate seasonal prediction can be a critical input into: -Strategic planning -Investment and financial decisions -Operations and maintenance activities Hydropower reservoir management, specifically water storage release, can be improved with accurate forecasts of seasonal water demand downstream. Production and curtailment schedules can be planned with greater accuracy and over longer timeframes. Renewable energy business and finance decisions can be improved when utilities can calculate power production potential, risk of disruption and damage from storms, and anticipate rainfall runoff and seasonal water flows, all of which are precipitation-dependent. If a utility is expecting above-normal precipitation in the wet season, they can anticipate the associated increase in energy demands and position themselves to utilize more hydropower and less solar generation capacity. It's just one of the many ways the CAP report seeks to improve the operations of many California industries.

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Important news for climate advocacy! Late Wednesday, after clearing both the Assembly and the Senate, the $10-billion climate bond measure (SB 867-Allen) was signed into law. Come November, California voters will have the opportunity to exercise their votes in support of the State's continued leadership on bold climate preparedness and mitigation. Importantly, the bond measure -- now designated as Prop 4 -- would fund high-ROI investments in transmission infrastructure, which is critical to continue advancing the electrification of the State's transportation and building sectors. It would also protect our region from climate-impacts, such as sea level rise and catastrophic wildfires. #ClimateAction #ClimateBond2024 #Climateresiliency Learn more: https://bit.ly/3RVHPfO

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Apropos of Earth Day today, we are sharing some updates about the Energize Denver Ordinance. Since we originally published a detailed blog on this topic back in August and have been consulting in this realm, we have just added critical information in this updated blog related to non-compliance penalties. In this piece, you will see clear examples of how penalties work and how they can significantly mount over time. While climate change is truly a global problem, the most effective solutions for reducing emissions must begin at the community level. Joining other cities and states, Denver, Colorado has shown that it, too, is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. The city has taken bold steps to address this global challenge by implementing regulations and programs that prioritize equity while enhancing energy performance in commercial and multifamily buildings. At Marx|Okubo, we are dedicated to delivering sustainable solutions and always views all projects through an environmentally responsible lens—to incorporate best practices, to protect and future-proof our clients’ buildings and, ultimately, to take care of our cities, communities, and the earth every day. Importantly, we anticipate/address real estate owner, investor, and other stakeholder needs and concerns around the lifecycle of a building.   #energizedenver #sustainability #marxokubo #esg #denverrealestate #regulatorycompliance https://lnkd.in/gRYDznmX

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📽 Lights, camera, action! Our Climate Change Research Program, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR), California Natural Resources Agency and the California Department of Water Resources has started filming a collaborative multi-video project for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment (Fifth Assessment). The Fifth Assessment will leverage diverse expertise throughout the state to contribute to the scientific foundation for understanding climate-related vulnerability throughout California. It will support on-the-ground implementation and decision-making at the local, regional, tribal, and state levels, focusing on the needs of communities most vulnerable to #ClimateChange impacts. Can't wait to share the first video with you all soon! #ClimateResiliency #ClimateEquity #CaliforniaForAll

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We are excited to share that Colorado Farm & Food Alliance , in collaboration with Switchback Restoration, has been awarded the highly competitive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SOLVE IT Prize! Their team, Just Transition Rural Innovations, will address methane leaks from abandoned mines in Colorado's North Fork Valley. 🏆 We're proud to support their application! The SOLVE It prize supports community-based projects that address energy challenges, while providing other economic, health, and workforce benefits. This project aims to: -Destroy waste methane to directly benefit the climate -Utilize the heat produced from methane destruction for ceramics manufacturing -Improve wildlife habitats on-site with manufactured water used during the project -Develop a greenhouse using produced heat, water, and CO2 from the project to test for feasibility in food production As the only team from Colorado advancing to phase 2, we're excited to see this innovative spirit captured on a national stage. Learn more about the Phase 1 winners: https://zurl.co/dmBL #SOLVEITPrize #JustTransition #EconomicDevelopment #WorkforceDevelopment 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱😆

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