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Spring Valley Wind, a wind farm in Eastern Nevada, was built on federal land near Great Basin National Park.. David Becker/ZUMA Wire This story was originally published b y High Country News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration . In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on the climate crisis that, among other things, directed the secretary of the Interior to review the potential for clean energy on public lands. Later that year, he set aggressive national targets on green energy: 80% renewable energy generation by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035. Then came the passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which showered the clean energy industry with federal incentives and encouraged private investors to cash in on its explosive growth. Since Biden’s inauguration, his administration has approved a steady stream of solar, geothermal, and transmission projects across the West. In April, the Interior Department announced that it had permitted more than 29 gigawatts of renewable energy on public lands —an amount nearly equivalent to the total capacity of Washington or Arizona. In the following months, it released a suite of new agency rules and a regional plan aimed at boosting regulatory certainty for clean energy development for years to come. “2024 felt like the year where all the pieces finally came together,” said Rachael Hamby, policy director for the Center for Western Priorities, a nonprofit that advocates for clean energy and conservation in the West. “A lot of that groundwork has been laid over the past four years, and we’re seeing the culmination of all of that progress.” But former President Donald Trump’s win in November casts a cloud of doubt over the future of those changes. It’s unclear how the incoming administration will treat existing permits and policies favorable to clean energy. Some experts, however, wager that some of this year’s developments—particularly those that benefit the energy industry at large—could survive; they were, in fact, carefully built to last. Here are a few of this year’s major developments in public-land clean energy, along with some thoughts on how they might fare in the next four years: The Western Solar Plan designated more than 31 million acres of public land for potential utility-scale solar development. In August, the Bureau of Land Management published the final version of a West-wide plan that opens large swaths of federal land to industrial-scale solar permits while protecting the rest for its cultural or ecological significance. Environmental groups had hoped the BLM would keep the map more limited to protect natural landscapes; after all, meeting the nation’s climate goals requires only 1 million acres of public land . The final version, however, opened roughly four times as much land as environmental groups recommended, including part of the proposed Bahsahwahbee National Monument in Nevada. By opening up such a large area, the administration seemed to favor industry, which will benefit from greater flexibility for siting projects. John Leshy, a professor at UC Law San Francisco and former general counsel for Interior during the Clinton years, said the plan reflects a careful balance between stakeholder groups, adding that Trump’s pick for Interior secretary, North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, may choose to keep the plan intact. (Burgum pledged an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy for his home state, which receives a third of its energy from wind power, and he may well do the same at the national level.) Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, believes that Biden’s plan is the opposite of balanced; he said it exposes far too much of the nation’s natural resources to development. Still, he said, in some regions it was an improvement on the previous permitting framework, which focused primarily on southern Nevada. In any case, he added, “That plan is not going to last. It’ll be gone by summer; that’s my prediction.” New transmission lines are set to unlock massive energy expansion in the West. In 2024, the BLM advanced three major transmission lines in Nevada, including Greenlink North , which cuts horizontally across the center of the state; Greenlink West , which runs along its diagonal southern edge; and the Cross-Tie transmission line , which connects substations in Nevada and Utah. Together with the Western Solar Plan, these transmission lines boost the likelihood that Nevada’s public lands will host numerous utility-scale solar projects, a stark reality that has alarmed local leadership . Transmission lines are critical for the clean energy industry because they allow providers to allocate power more efficiently across regions. In practice, however, these lines frequently transfer both clean energy and fossil fuel-derived power, making them appealing to both sectors of the industry. This year, the Biden administration also sped up permitting times for transmission projects, possibly paving the way for even more construction in the future. Clean energy manufacturing relies on a steady supply of critical minerals. After decades of growing reliance on other countries, bringing clean energy supply chains back to the United States—thereby increasing the nation’s energy independence—was a central pillar of the Biden administration’s climate goals. In 2024, the Interior Department pushed ahead on several major critical mineral projects, including a lithium mine and processing facility in Nevada, a gold and antimony mine in Idaho , and a zinc and manganese mine in Arizona . Some mines, however, come at a great cost to ecosystems and tribal cultural sites: According to members of the Western Shoshone and environmental groups, the Nevada lithium mine would destroy a fifth of the critical habitat designated for an endangered wildflower, the Tiehm’s buckwheat, and also harm the Cave Spring sacred site. Next year, the Trump administration is expected to slash funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, reducing financial incentives for domestic mining projects. However, securing critical minerals—which are key to military and technology equipment as well as to clean energy—will likely remain a priority throughout his term. This year, the Interior Department finalized three major policies: lowering rent and lease fees for renewable energy projects on public lands; raising related fees for oil and gas projects; and elevating conservation to become a key consideration for the Bureau of Land Management, alongside food, energy, recreation and other uses. Together, these changes aim to support renewable energy development on public lands by reducing required payments and providing options to mitigate environmental harm. These rules took a tremendous amount of time and effort to put into place, said Hamby, of the Center for Western Priorities, and that was by design: It means that if the next administration wants to unravel them, it will have to follow the same comprehensive, multi-year procedure it took to create them. The US Congress or new agency leadership could still undo each rule, but given that they reflect both industry and community priorities, they retain some broad appeal. Hamby also pointed to the sheer amount of private investment and market transformation over the past four years, which the new rules only accelerated. “The effect of a lot of this has been to generate momentum for the clean energy transition in the US,” she said. “That is going to be hard to put the brakes on.
What Is The Lifecycle Of A Box?
49ers rule out Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa; QB Brandon Allen to start at Green BayNew Greek Restaurant to Debut in VeniceDrones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.
NoneAP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:14 p.m. ESTLaw Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix Offers Services to Support Victims of Truck Accidents in Atlanta 12-02-2024 11:52 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire The Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix, a leading personal injury law firm in Atlanta, offers specialized legal support for victims of truck accidents. With the increasing risks posed by the prevalence of large commercial vehicles on Atlanta's roads, the firm aims to provide comprehensive representation to help victims navigate the legal complexities of these catastrophic accidents. Atlanta, GA - December 2, 2024 - Truck accidents often result in devastating injuries and significant financial burdens due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks. The attorneys at Rickard, Drew & Nix are equipped to handle the unique challenges these cases present, including severe injuries, complex liability issues, and disputes involving truck companies and their insurers. "Truck accident cases require specialized knowledge and swift action to preserve critical evidence," said Jay Drew, a partner at the firm. "Our team is committed to investigating every detail, from onboard truck data to driver tracking records, to ensure our clients get the justice and compensation they deserve." The firm is dedicated to holding truck drivers and their companies accountable for negligence, such as driver fatigue, improper maintenance, or unsafe practices. By conducting thorough investigations and leveraging their expertise, the attorneys at Rickard, Drew & Nix help clients secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Victims of truck accidents are encouraged to act quickly to protect their rights. Critical evidence, such as truck computer data, can degrade or be lost over time, making early legal intervention crucial. The Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix offers free consultations to discuss potential claims and next steps for victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, don't delay. Contact the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix for a free consultation by calling 678-921-3813 or visiting the RDN Legal website [ https://www.rdnlegal.com/ ]. About the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix The Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix is a trusted personal injury law firm serving the Atlanta area, dedicated to helping clients navigate complex legal issues with expertise and compassion. Specializing in personal injury cases, they are committed to securing fair compensation and justice for those affected by accidents or injuries. With a client-centered approach and a deep understanding of local laws, the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix stands as a reliable advocate for Atlanta residents in need of skilled legal representation. Media Contact Company Name: The Law Office of Rickard, Drew and Nix Contact Person: Jessica Nix Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=law-office-of-rickard-drew-nix-offers-services-to-support-victims-of-truck-accidents-in-atlanta ] Phone: 404-588-1001 Address:229 Peachtree Street, N.E. City: Atlanta State: Georgia Country: United States Website: https://www.rdnlegal.com/ This release was published on openPR.
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