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Vol. 51, No. 1 / Winter 2020
Solutions
Catching up!
EDF drives progress on electric trucks,
zero-emission cars and cleaner air travel.
Page 9
2 Rebirth of 16 Farmers help 18 Seven tips 19 Pitching
an Adirondack cities prepare for sustainable in to save the
mountain lake for floods seafood monarch
Adirondack awakening
Thirty-two years after acid rain left Lake Colden sterile, brook trout have
returned to this 41-acre body of water in the Adirondack High Peaks
Wilderness of New York State. This is the first time that a self-sustaining
fish population has been discovered in a once-barren high Adirondack
lake without stocking. The reason? The 1990 Clean Air Act amendments,
which used EDF’s incentive-based approach to cut sulfur dioxide
pollution from power plants.
PHOTO: FLICKR/GERARD AND BETH
LOOKING FORWARD
The road to a 100%
clean economy
As we enter a new decade, the reality of cli-
mate change is hitting home. Cutting climate
pollution will always be Job One at EDF, but Environmental Defense Fund’s mission
we’re working to build climate resilience as is to preserve the natural systems
on which all life depends. Guided
well. Recently, EDF traveled with a group of
by science and economics, we find
farmers and state officials going from practical and lasting solutions to the
storm-battered North Carolina to Iowa to most serious environmental problems.
learn how another state copes with extreme
flooding. It was part of EDF’s growing effort Our work is made possible by the
to bring together communities grappling support of our members. Donate
online at edf.org/newsletter or by
with climate change (see p. 16).
mail: EDF, Attn.: Member Services,
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 600,
Limiting climate change is a daunting task. Global emissions are still Washington, DC 20009
on the rise, but I’m encouraged by some recent developments. Young
people around the world, who have the greatest stake in the future, Solutions On the cover:
are bringing new energy and passion to the cause. They understand At 29%, transportation
Vol. 51, No. 1 / Winter 2020
the urgent need for action. In the U.S., cities and states are stepping has outstripped
Catching up! power generation
up as never before to do their part. EDF drives progress on electric trucks,
zero-emission cars and cleaner air travel.
as the nation’s
Page 9
largest source of
In Washington, D.C., too, legislators are beginning to wake up. In late greenhouse gases
November, the 100% Clean Economy Act was introduced in the 2 Rebirth of
an Adirondack
mountain lake
and the biggest
16 Farmers help
cities prepare
for floods
18 Seven tips
for sustainable
seafood
19 Pitching
in to save the
monarch
House with the support of more than 150 co-sponsors — and EDF. contributor to climate
It’s a bold plan to slash climate pollution to net zero by 2050 at the change. In a special transportation
latest, which is the ambitious but achievable climate goal we need. feature, EDF writers Rod Griffin, Tasha
Kosviner and Charlie Miller examine how
America moves by road, air and sea, and
We’ve made good progress in the U.S. electric power sector: emis- report on the real progress being made
sions are down over the past decade as coal-burning power plants toward a cleaner future.
close. But we can’t get to an economy that’s 100% clean without going
COVER COMPOSITE: ALAMY & 123RF PHOTO
further on electricity and addressing every source of climate pollu-
tion, including transportation, now the country’s number one source
(see cover story, p. 9).
Solutions
We’re off to a good start. In 2018, the global electric car market was
5.1 million, up 2 million from 2017. And EDF is working with citi- Editor Peter Klebnikov
Art Director Janice Caswell
zens, utilities and governments to rapidly expand deployment of
electric trucks and buses. This is critical because trucks are among Environmental Defense Fund
the fastest-growing pollution sources globally. 257 Park Ave. South
New York, NY 10010
Airplanes and ships will also be getting cleaner. The International Main number 212-505-2100
Civil Aviation Organization has agreed to cap carbon emissions from Membership questions 800-684-3322
international flights beginning in 2021, with more than 80 nations or members@edf.org
participating. EDF played a key role in negotiations, and we’re now
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
pressing for further cuts. These achievements are helping us chart
Send feedback to address above or
our course for 2020 and beyond. email editor@edf.org
But we’re facing strong headwinds from the Trump administration, CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
in the form of furious efforts to roll back popular clean car standards edf.org
for automobiles. EDF and other environmental groups are fighting in
the courts to protect the standards. But to prevail, the environmental ©2020 Environmental Defense Fund.
Published quarterly in New York, NY
community will need all our members to pitch in and join the fight.
ASSN 0163-2566
New York / Austin / Bentonville, AR /
Boston / Boulder / Chicago / Raleigh /
Sacramento / San Francisco /
Washington, DC / Beijing / Jakarta /
EDF President La Paz, Mexico / London
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 3
FIELD NOTES
ROB BACHARD
JIM DEWITT
A reprieve for the sage grouse
The ruling saves important conservation lands. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s plans
to allow expanded drilling and mining across 51 million acres
Court blocks unnecessary pipeline of greater sage grouse habitat in the West. The judge ruled
that the administration failed to use adequate science in ana-
EDF’s battle against unneces- signing contracts to use it are lyzing how the imperiled bird would be affected. EDF helped
sary pipelines was aided by a owned by the same company, develop the science for a now-dormant multistate plan to
federal court decision that which shifts the financial risk protect the bird. We hope the court victory can reinvigorate it.
halted a key pipeline. The of building a pipeline from
$1.6 billion, 120-mile Penn investors to consumers. The
East pipeline would have Federal Energy Regulatory
crossed valuable state con- Commission has approved
servation lands to bring natu- several such projects without
GETTY
ral gas from Pennsylvania to a rigorous analysis of whether
New Jersey. It would have cost a new pipeline is truly need-
consumers $130–$230 million ed. “Pipeline investors should
per year, according to beware of these unnecessary
PennEast. It also could have projects,” says N. Jonathan
locked in decades of climate Peress, EDF’s senior director
pollution. The court ruled for for energy markets.
New Jersey that developers EDF is also advocating
could not grab land. federal reforms that will
PennEast is one of several tighten requirements for
pipelines that EDF is fighting. new pipelines and help
In some projects, the pipeline speed up the transition to
developer and the utility a 100% clean economy.
A task force for safer baby food
Why we work on sustainable fisheries The last place you want to Baby Food Council to find the
find heavy metals is in baby source of the metals and find
1 in 5 people food. But in 2017, an EDF ways to reduce the contami-
depend on fish as a primary source report revealed that 20% of nation. Also on the Council
of animal protein baby foods contain traces of are the nonprofit Healthy
lead. This is deeply troubling Babies Bright Futures and
because heavy metals like leading manufacturers, repre-
100s of millions lead, even at very low levels, senting 85% of the U.S. baby
rely on fishing for their livelihood can reduce IQ in children. food market. Technical advis-
After our report was pub- ers are the U.S. Food and
85% of fisheries lished, Consumer Reports
conducted its own investiga-
Drug Administration, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture
will be depleted by 2030 if we fail to act tion. Cornell University and and the American Academy
SOURCES: UNITED NATIONS, FAO AND WHO EDF then co-founded the of Pediatrics. Stay tuned.
4 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020
IN THE COURTS
FLICKR/KEN DOUGLAS
EDF and our allies recently
won an important decision
when a federal court supported
the “Good Neighbor” rule of the
Clean Air Act. The rule protects
states from air pollution blowing
POWERFUL ALLIES in from states upwind. An as-
tounding 141 million Americans
Trump wants to gut are still affected by air pollution
safeguards on oil and that comes from neighboring
gas emissions. But look states. That’s unacceptable.
who’s not on board!
In October, EDF filed suit
Oil and gas giants challenging the Food and
BP, Equinor, Exxon Drug Administration decision
and Shell to allow the continued use of
perchlorate, a potent neurotoxin,
12 of America’s in plastic packaging and food
biggest utilities
Belize protects a precious reef processing equipment. Through
these uses, perchlorate can get
Global investors The Mesoamerican Reef — ignated area and have become
into dry food, such as children’s
representing $5.5 the largest barrier reef in the stewards of their fisheries. In
cereal. FDA relied on flawed
trillion in assets Western Hemisphere — hugs just a few years, fish popula-
reasoning in its decision while
the Belizean coast and sup- tions began to rebound and il-
ignoring evidence developed
ports nearly 500 species of legal fishing dropped 60%. by its own scientists, which
fish. Many residents depend That success helped lead to revealed serious risks from the
on the reef for their survival, the rolling out of the system use of perchlorate.
but overfishing has taken a nationwide. Coupled with the
heavy toll. recent tripling of the size of
Belize is expected to pass marine protected areas, it will
a new national, multispecies help further curb overfishing
fisheries law soon that will and protect the sensitive reef. GREEN AND HAPPY
build on a decade of progress. “EDF has worked closely
In 2008, we teamed up with with Belize to rebuild its fish- People who
take steps to
the Wildlife Conservation eries, and now we are keen to
reduce their
Society and local partners to explore how those lessons can
environmen-
enlist fishermen, policymak- be shared with other small is-
tal impact are
ers and managers in pilot pro land and coastal states around
jects to preserve the reef by the world,” says Ambassador 11-13% happier
reducing the threat of over- Janine Coye Felson, deputy than those who don’t.
fishing. Local fishermen were chair of the Alliance of Small
SOURCE: NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF
granted rights to fish in a des- Island States. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The call of the
rainforest
In the Indonesian rainforest,
Coloradans bet on saving water
a treetop surveillance system In a victory for Western water, passage took strong biparti- the measure goes to water
uses recycled cell phones Colorado voters in November san support, uniting conser- projects. It’s only the third
powered by solar panels and approved a ballot measure le- vationists, outdoors lovers, time Coloradans have voted
artificial intelligence software to galizing sports gambling that businesses and farmers to to tax themselves in the last
detect activity by rogue loggers will allocate up to $29 million pass the measure. Jackson 27 years.
and send instant alerts to rang- a year in tax revenue to sup- was instrumental in bringing
ers. The project, by the Califor- port conservation, river health the parties together and en-
nia nonprofit Rainforest Con- and agriculture. suring that revenue from
nection, illustrates the promise “It’s a big win for Colorado
of low-cost technology in the rivers,” says EDF’s Brian
fight against deforestation. Jackson. Winning
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 5
ALAMY
In the heartland, clean energy shines
By Shanti Menon
House of Representatives to introduce a
Fossil fuel-dependent states and utilities in the West and climate bill that will transition the coun-
Midwest are finding their own path to world-class climate try to a 100% clean economy — one that
produces no more pollution than we can
leadership. They’re also setting the stage for federal remove — by 2050. It’s an ambitious plan,
action to achieve a 100% clean economy. but it’s in line with what scientists say the
world needs to do in order to avoid the
A
t a public library on electric vehicles and ensure that all com- worst impacts of climate change. More
Chicago’s west side, Andre White munities benefit from the transition to a than 150 lawmakers have co-sponsored
sits with a dozen men and wom- cleaner economy. EDF co-founded a the 100% Clean Economy Act.
en, listening intently as a banker discuss- huge coalition of consumer groups, utili-
es how to qualify for small business ties, labor and environmental justice Colorado comes up big
loans. It’s compelling information for partners to back this sweeping set of re- Colorado made history in May 2019
these entrepreneurs, who are taking part forms, which is predicted to generate $39 when it passed a law mandating a 90%
in a workshop run by a local nonprofit, billion in private investment by 2030. cut in climate pollution across its
Elevate Energy, to help minority business “People have had a taste of what clean
owners get a piece of Illinois’ rapidly energy can do for Illinois,” says EDF
ALAMY
growing solar market. “This is the first Midwest Clean Energy Director Dick
time,” says White, a general contractor Munson. “That’s why there’s such strong
turned solar installer, “that I have an op- support to expand these programs. We’re
portunity to get in on the ground floor of confident the legislature will come
something big.” through this spring and make Illinois a
Illinois added 1,300 solar jobs in 2018, climate leader.”
a 37% surge driven largely by the state’s Trump’s rollbacks have not impeded
landmark Future Energy Jobs Act, which climate momentum across the country.
EDF helped pass. Now the state is set to States like Colorado and Pennsylvania
expand on that law with the most com- and major utilities like Xcel Energy are
prehensive package of climate legislation also taking climate action that is helping
in the country. The Clean Energy Jobs Act set the stage for federal climate legisla- A commitment to cut methane in New
will increase renewable energy, boost tion. EDF worked with leaders in the U.S. Mexico will also reduce ozone and smog.
6 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020
economy by 2050 and at least 50% by a subsidy that keeps dirty coal power
MILLENIUM SOLAR
2030. EDF fought hard for this law, find- plants — often in low-income neighbor-
ing champions in the legislature and hoods — online. Other provisions will
building a diverse coalition of health, help protect displaced fossil fuel workers
community and business organizations and expand clean energy job training.
that proved unstoppable. “States have Instead of being rewarded for selling
to take the lead on climate,” says House more energy, utilities will get paid for im-
Speaker KC Becker, a catalyst behind proving efficiency and reducing consum-
the bill. “EDF helped Colorado deliver er demand during peak hours. This lays
on that promise.” the groundwork for a clean, flexible grid
Colorado’s progress will be aided by a that can accommodate a rise in electric
commitment from Xcel Energy, a utility vehicle charging and even the use of EVs
EDF has long worked with to cut pollu- as batteries to store clean energy.
tion, to go carbon-free by 2050, as well as “We’re taking a holistic view of the
Xcel’s support for a state law that requires evolution of energy and transportation,”
them to cut climate pollution from their explains EDF attorney Christie Hicks.
system 80% by 2030. Xcel operates in “They need to get cleaner together.”
eight states in the West and Midwest. Hicks’ expertise in electricity markets
Duke Energy, one of America’s largest is helping break down opposition from
utilities, with 7.7 million customers in the
South and the Midwest, as well as
utilities. “Utilities are starting to under-
stand that this is the future,” she says. Riding the wave
Michigan’s DTE Energy, plan to cut their “Ultimately, the reason these bills have
Chris Williams, a third-generation electri-
carbon pollution 50% by 2030 and reach such broad support is they capture bene-
cian and business owner from Calumet
net-zero by 2050. These three utility com- fits for every person in multiple ways.
City, Illinois, fell in love with solar energy
mitments will create a yearly climate Your air will be cleaner, your energy bill
20 years ago. He had to travel far from
benefit by 2050 equivalent to closing 45 will be lower and your community will
home to get solar work, but it was more
coal-fired power plants, according to have more opportunities.” about passion than profit. “I loved it, but
EDF’s calculations. White, for one, is looking forward to it wasn’t paying the bills,” says Williams.
The momentum keeps rolling. EDF those opportunities. “Renewable energy
helped persuade Pennsylvania, one of is saving the planet,” he says. “I’m learning Things changed after the passage of
the largest climate polluters in the U.S., how my business can be an integral part of Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016.
to develop a plan to cap emissions from this growth. I’m thinking this is my legacy.” Williams, with decades of experience
power plants. And New Mexico, which in an industry where just 8% of the
overlies part of the Permian Basin, the workforce is black, suddenly had a new
world’s top oil-producing region, has opportunity for local work as a trainer.
committed to at least a 45% reduction At his Millennium Solar Electric Training
in climate pollution by 2030. Academy, he’s now conducted solar
workshops for more than 150 people
EDF is working with New Mexico’s
from underprivileged backgrounds.
governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, to de-
Some are now working as foremen,
velop strong rules to meet that target, in-
inspectors and salespeople for Sunrun,
cluding curbing the state’s oil and gas
ComEd and other companies.
methane pollution. “EDF’s expertise has
been instrumental in our efforts to fight As Illinois expands its clean energy
climate-polluting methane,” says Lujan program with EDF’s help, the state will
Grisham. include more job training and opportuni-
Progress in places like these makes it ties for low-income communities to use
clear that climate leadership is not limit- solar energy. “It’s my job to help people
ed by geography or long-standing links understand that these laws are talking
to fossil fuels. States, businesses and about us,”says Williams. “Once they
communities across the country are see- understand that, their eyes open up.”
ing the benefits of a clean economy that Williams recently purchased a building
cuts pollution and creates prosperity. to expand his training school and meet
his goal of training 1,000 students. “One
The Midwestern climate leader thing that makes me more proud,” he
Illinois’ Clean Energy Jobs Act will grow says, “is when I get a call from a student
the state’s renewable electricity supply to telling me that before my training they
46% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. (The cur- didn’t have a future. Now they’re a
rent target is 25% by 2025.) It will improve leader or a foreman in a large company.
energy efficiency in buildings and offer That gives me joy.”
EDF helped recruit over 150 co-sponsors
incentives for electric buses and charging for the 100% Clean Economy Act, currently
stations for cars and trucks. It will remove before the House of Representatives.
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 7
Rebuilding
JOSÉ R. MADERA
his island
After living through
Hurricane Maria, a former
EPA attorney and Puerto
Rican energy official joins
EDF to help realize a bold
plan to stormproof the
island’s power grid.
T
he night before hurricane
Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico
in 2017, the wind gusts outside
Agustín Carbó’s high-rise in San Juan had
already reached 100 miles per hour. “The
noise was unbearable,” says Carbó. “I The path Puerto Rico takes to clean en- emergency power. But to be successful
thought everything was going to be ergy could serve as a model for develop- around the world, microgrids need a flex-
sucked out of my apartment window.” ing countries as they seek to modernize ible utility system and sustainable fi-
Carbó was lucky. The hurricane killed electricity service and grapple with cli- nancing. “Some communities had bad
nearly 3,000 people and destroyed Puerto mate change. experiences with outside groups that
Rico’s rickety power grid. Carbó waited Carbó, a former senior attorney for didn’t deliver,” explains Carbó. “EDF is
two months for his power to be restored, the EPA in Dallas, created the agency that doing deeper work. We want to build a
but others in rural communities in the governs Puerto Rico’s energy industry system that lasts.” In addition to support-
center of the island were deprived of and set up the first rules to decentralize ing a community-led microgrid project,
power for nearly a year. its electric grid — making it easier to EDF is helping Puerto Rico develop a
“I hope to never live through that bring more wind and solar energy into long-term energy plan and financing that
again,” says Carbó, who’s now working the electric system. “Climate change was will allow more microgrids to flourish.
for EDF to modernize Puerto Rico’s pow- always a priority for me,” he says. “But In January, Carbó represented EDF at
er system and protect its communities when I came back to Puerto Rico to serve a hearing on Puerto Rico’s proposed 20-
from future storms. Around the world, in the government in 2013, not many year plan to modernize its grid. “We want
low-income communities are hit hardest people were talking about it.” to make sure the plan includes more re-
by the ravages of climate change. Hurricane Maria changed all that. newable energy and aligns with the de-
According to the United Nations, cli- “Now everybody’s talking about climate velopment of microgrids,” says Carbó.
mate disasters may push an additional change,” says Carbó. “Everyone knows “Right now it doesn’t do enough to help
120 million people into poverty by 2030. there will be another storm. They are Puerto Rico reach its goal of 100% clean
ready for solutions.” electricity by 2050.” EDF is also advocat-
Microgrids — ing a new rule that would allow people to
GETTY
small energy net- generate their own electricity and sell any
works that can run a excess to another customer, making mi-
building or a neigh- crogrids more attractive financially.
borhood using local Listening to community needs is es-
power instead of rely- sential, says Carbó, who travels frequently
ing on lengthy trans- to the interior of the island. “It’s one of the
mission lines — can beauties of this job,” he says. “In Puerto
provide low-carbon, Rico, whenever you meet someone, you
reliable electricity are like family. If you go to their house,
even if the main grid they give you breakfast; it doesn’t matter
fails. In Puerto Rico what their income level is. I love that.
(as well as wildfire- “I feel a responsibility on my shoul-
stricken California), ders to make sure that what we do is
several communities helping people. This is a historic time to
have turned to mi- be working in Puerto Rico.”
A battered Puerto Rico opts for a cleaner, more resilient grid. crogrids to provide Shanti Menon
8 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020
Up, up and away
With transportation now the largest source of climate
pollution in the U.S. and a leading cause of unhealthy air, a
rapid transition to clean transport is essential. The following
pages are a roadmap to how EDF is getting this done.
GETTY
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 9
FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION
Electric trucks pick up speed
By Tasha Kosviner
Switching from diesel to electric trucks and buses is key to cleaner air
and climate stability. EDF is helping break down barriers and pave the
way to an all-electric future.
E
very day, more than 15,000 associated with global tailpipe pollution to the road. In the years since, our exper-
trucks pound through the neigh- in 2015, diesel vehicles accounted for tise in energy and public policy, our
borhood of Hunts Point in the nearly half — by far the largest contribu- productive industry relationships, and
Bronx, many bound for New York’s pro- tor. Globally, emissions from trucks and our work connecting the dots between
duce markets, spewing pollution as they buses are expected to double in the next trucks, local air quality and health, have
go. It’s no coincidence that this area of 30 years. Yet to stay below the critical two all led us to this decisive moment.
New York City has some of the worst air degree global warming threshold estab-
quality and highest levels of childhood lished by the Intergovernmental Panel on Rough road ahead
asthma in the city. Climate Change, the vast majority of glob- Mathers doesn’t underestimate the chal-
“Smell that beautiful Bronx air!” cries al fleets must be zero-emission by 2050. lenges. Electric trucks currently comprise
‘‘
Ivan Diaz, as he steers a truck into the less than 0.5% of the global vehicle fleet.
fray. Beside him, colleague Auri Williams
rolls her eyes. Bronx-born and bred,
It’s a complex To transform the industry, EDF needs to
overcome the skepticism of fleet owners
Williams, 25, suffered with chronic challenge but with the accustomed to diesel engines. We must
asthma growing up. “I missed so much drive down the cost of purchase — cur-
right partners we can
’’
school,” she recalls. “When you can’t rently up to triple that of diesels — galva-
breathe, it’s the worst.” do it. nize business demand and bolster
Today, Diaz and Williams are proud manufacturer confidence. We must pro-
— Jason Mathers
that, in a small way, they’re part of the so- EDF director of on-road vehicles
mote green electricity, work with utilities
lution: The Mitsubishi Fuso medium duty to manage increased power needs and
truck they’re driving is electric. “The time for ambitious, widespread engage policymakers at the city, state
“There’s no combustion, so there are action is now,” says Jason Mathers, EDF’s and federal levels. And all this must be
no tailpipe emissions,” says Diaz, a su- director of on-road vehicles. done while ensuring that communities
pervisor at the nonprofit HOPE Program, EDF is well-positioned to help speed that suffer most from traffic pollution —
which creates employment opportunities the transition. As far back as 2001, we such Diaz and Williams’ area of the Bronx
in green construction and other areas for collaborated with FedEx to bring — also reap the benefits.
underserved populations. America’s first hybrid delivery trucks “It’s a complex challenge but with the
Amid the diesel-belching behemoths right partners, we can do it,” says Mathers.
clogging the road, their truck remains a
novelty. EDF intends to change that.
Alongside our work to shape the next
federal diesel engine standards, we are
working with businesses, utilities and
governments to power up a rapid expan-
sion in electric vehicles. Through our
Truck and Bus Initiative, we envision
the electrification of one-third of all new
trucks and buses in the United States,
China and Europe in the next 10 years.
By 2040, that figure, for U.S. vehicles,
must rise to 100%.
The transition couldn’t be more urgent.
Of the 385,000 premature deathsFOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION
“This is all very new — we’re working
GREGKESSLER.COM
things out together,” he says.
Already the work has ripples. One
of the Port Authority’s largest tenants,
JetBlue, announced it will convert much
of its ground service equipment at JFK
to electric.
Lower maintenance costs
A major barrier for early adopters is cost.
Battery prices dropped 87% between
2010 and 2019 and they continue to fall.
But at point of purchase, electric trucks
and buses are unlikely to reach price par-
ity with internal combustion engines for
many years to come. Yet EDF modeling
has shown that lower fuel costs and re-
duced maintenance mean that over the
course of their lifetime, electric buses
and some trucks are, in many circum-
stances, already cheaper than diesel. At
Early adopters: In the Bronx, Auri Williams and Ivan Diaz charge their electric truck. an electric vehicle expo in New York
City’s Union Square last fall, a salesman
To jump-start the initiative, EDF will toward his first stop. Gatrell is driving one demonstrated why. Popping the hood of
launch pilot projects in Houston, Los of 18, soon to be 36, electric buses that a truck, he pointed out the low number
Angeles and New York. In each city, we ferry passengers around JFK, LaGuardia of moving parts. He showed how braking
will partner with commercial and munic- and Newark airports. The initiative is part recharges the battery, reducing wear on
ipal fleet operators, utilities, regulators of the Port Authority of New York and the brakes. With typical New York swag-
and others to establish prototype electric New Jersey’s commitment to the Paris cli- ger, he proclaimed he didn’t know how
fleets. These fleets, and the network of mate agreement, under which the orga- long it would take the brakes to wear out:
private entities and public policies that nization aims to reduce its emissions It has never happened.
support them, will serve as blueprints for 35% by 2025 and 80% by 2050. In North Carolina, EDF is now using
a second phase of projects in more cities. this fact to develop a plan to finance elec-
Similar work will follow in London and
China. Together, China, the United States
and Europe comprise 65% of the global
truck and bus market.
29%
of U.S. carbon emissions
tric transit and school buses. Under this
plan, utilities would fund the additional
upfront cost of the vehicles and the
school district or municipality would
come from transportation pay back the difference through its utility
Blazing a trail bills. Repayments would be set to never
In all locations, early adopters will be key “Transportation is now America’s big- exceed the savings made.
allies. At New York’s John F. Kennedy gest source of greenhouse gases, and we “It’s a win-win scenario,” says Dionne
International Airport, bus driver Edward recognize our responsibility to address Delli-Gatti, EDF’s director of regulatory
Gatrell flicks a switch, releases a brake that,” says the authority’s director of en- affairs. “The arrangement provides low-
and glides silently out of the depot vironmental and energy programs, income districts with cleaner air and a
Christine Weydig. lower maintenance fleet while the utility
Key to the agency’s success has been gets a boost in electricity sales.”
its ability to engage multiple factions. In a further innovation, the plan
The Port Authority’s project lead, Charles would see the utility retaining ownership
Goldberg, brought fleet operators and of the batteries and charging infrastruc-
maintenance subcontractors on board ture. When the buses are not in use, the
and initiated a monthly knowledge-shar- utility could use the batteries to either
ing assembly that now includes 34 repre- feed back into the grid or — in a plan that
sentatives from transit authorities in nine will interest other storm-battered states
different states. — as power sources during outages.
“This is especially important for rural
energy providers, many of whom include
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 11FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION
A transition has begun
SHUTTERSTOCK
There are clear signs that the transition
to electric trucks is already underway.
In 2019, 43 states took actions relating
to vehicle electrification. California,
Colorado, New York and North Carolina
all have electrification plans tied to their
climate goals. In Michigan, Nevada and
Virginia, students will soon join peers in
New York and California by going to
school on electric buses.
In California, the Air Resources Board,
with EDF’s input, is considering a ground-
breaking new rule requiring manufactur-
ers to sell a certain percentage of electric
trucks. And just last year, the state be-
came the first to mandate all public bus-
es be electric by 2029.
Companies and manufacturers are
also stepping up. Pepsi and Ikea have
both made significant commitments
Electric is better: Air inside diesel buses can be up to five times dirtier than outside. on fleet electrification. Amazon recently
committed to purchasing 100,000 electric
community resilience and social justice dollars’ worth of charging infrastructure. delivery trucks. And this summer, two
as part of their mission,” Delli-Gatti ex- And PG&E recently launched the nation’s Freightliner electric 18-wheeler rigs be-
plains. “This sort of financing ensures first rate specifically for charging com- gan operating in Southern California —
low income communities don’t get left mercial electric vehicles. significant because the diesel version is
behind in the electrification revolution.” the top-selling truck of its size. “This is
Keeping it clean the start of a major change in the way
Powering up But what of the emissions from generat- companies will operate,” said Sid Brown,
Having more electric vehicles requires a ing that power? The good news is that CEO of NFI, which runs the trucks.
greater supply of electricity. Even if com- U.S. electricity generation is getting Globally, manufacturers have an-
panies and transit agencies want to com- cleaner every year. And looking at how nounced investments of more than $90
mit to electrification, they are limited by electricity is generated today, electric billion in electric vehicles. Ford Motor
what their utility can provide. As Steve buses are already cleaner than diesel in Company recently previewed an electric
Cliff of the California Air Resources Board every state. version of its F-150 pickup, part of the
says, “Having the opportunity to fuel, More must be done to grow renewable best-selling line of pickups in the
how fast and where it can occur — those energy but vehicle electrification cannot U.S. for 42 years. And with input from
are all limitations now.” wait. Companies typically upgrade vehi- EDF, America’s biggest diesel engine
With just 36 buses, power demand at cles every 10 to 12 years, so each new die- manufacturer, Cummins Inc., released
the Port Authority of New York and New sel vehicle locks in emissions for a bold new greenhouse gas reduction goals
Jersey is relatively low. Larger fleets, or decade at least. “We don’t have the luxury that could help strengthen its zero-emis-
those that require high-speed charging, of waiting for a completely clean grid,” sion offerings.
will need their utilities to provide the ex- says EDF’s Mathers. As EDF’s Mathers says: “There is
tra power. That can require major infra- For anyone living near busy roads, a lot of momentum now. This is a
structure works, which can take years. electric engines are far healthier. A recent dynamic time.”
There are solutions at hand. EDF study of air pollution in Oakland,
In California, EDF worked with the California, found that residents living ››› TAKE ACTION ››› Tell companies to
Public Utilities Commission to develop near roads with heavy truck traffic had make the leap to electric fleets by signing
cheaper off-peak charging rates that re- eight times higher exposure to air pollu- our petition at edf.org/cleandelivery
duce stress on the grid and the need for tion than those living just a few blocks
additional infrastructure. We also advised away and suffered higher rates of asth-
on rules for operating big charging sys- ma, stroke and heart disease, especially
tems. The work is already having an im- among children and the elderly.
pact. Among the state’s largest utilities,
Southern California Edison is running
a pilot to install hundreds of millions of
12 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION
The rise of
GETTY
clean cars
Cars helped build the
American dream — and
its legacy of badly polluted
air. Now the Trump ad
ministration threatens to
slow progress on cleaner
vehicles. The momentum
for cleaner cars, however,
is unstoppable.
A
t the height of the second support from automakers, labor and con- tion down, but it can’t stop it.”
World War, in July 1943, a choking sumers. In poll after poll, Americans still Remarkably, Ford, Honda, BMW and
mist descended on Los Angeles. support the initiative. Over the life of the Volkswagen have all announced that they
Residents reported that their eyes and program, cleaner cars will save consum- will adhere to California’s stronger stan-
throats stung, and families piled into ers $1.7 trillion, save lives and lower cli- dards. (GM, Chrysler and Toyota have
their cars and headed for the mountains. mate pollution. sided with the administration.)
A rumor spread that the Japanese had The technology automakers need to EDF is part of a broad coalition de-
launched a chemical attack. make cars cleaner is ready, such as cylin- fending California. When the Trump ad-
In fact, it was Los Angeles’ first major der deactivation. Car companies are in- ministration launched its attack on the
brush with smog, a problem that would vesting heavily in electric vehicles, and Golden State’s standards, EDF and 23
only grow worse in the coming decades. General Motors is spending $2 billion states — including Michigan, home of
But if you compare a photo of Los on a battery factory in Ohio. the U.S. auto industry — filed suit in fed-
Angeles in 1970 to one taken yesterday, The Trump administration has put all eral court to block the attack.
you’ll see a big difference. The modern this progress at risk. Deploying mislead-
5.1 million
picture shows much cleaner air. ing and false analysis, the administra-
This success is due to the 1970 Clean tion is poised to unveil its proposal to
Air Act, which started the country along roll back the clean car standards. EDF is
a path toward healthier air. Automakers prepared to file suit the moment the an-
were required to build cleaner cars, and nouncement is made.
The global electric car fleet
they did, although not without a fight. The administration has now taken in 2018 is almost double
On many occasions, EDF went to court the fight to the next level, moving to the previous year
to compel them to comply with clean air quash California’s long-established au-
standards, and we’ve succeeded. Today’s thority to set its own, stricter clean car “Once again, the EPA has handed
vehicles produce 99% less conventional standards. Under the Clean Air Act, decision-making to fossil fuel lobbyists
pollution than those of 60 years ago. California has the right to set its own and climate change deniers,” says Maura
But the reduction in climate pollution standards and has often done so. Other Healey, Massachusetts’ attorney general.
was far less. The emergence of climate states have the option of following Clean cars save consumers money,
change as a critical issue, and the ongo- California’s lead, and 24 states have, most cut climate pollution and protect human
ing threat of air pollution to public recently Colorado. EDF was heavily in- health. Even many auto companies op-
health, demand that cars become even volved in the effort to get Colorado to pose the rollback. So who supports it, be-
cleaner. So, in 2012, former President join the movement. sides Chrysler, GM and Toyota? Just the
Obama finalized stringent new clean car “Clean cars are the future, and every- Trump administration and some oil com-
standards. The standards, which would one knows it, including the auto compa- panies, which stand to sell more gasoline.
nearly double our current fuel economy nies,” says EDF Attorney Alice Henderson. They are on the losing side of history.
by 2025, were adopted with broad “The administration can slow the transi- Charlie MillerFOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION
The next frontier: planes and ships
In the global effort to reduce carbon emissions, the aviation and cargo ship
industries have been outliers.Together, they account for about 5% of global climate
pollution, and that’s expected to rise significantly as air travel and trade grow. That’s
why EDF is working with these lagging sectors to slash their emissions.
Sustainable ships
DEPOSIT PHOTOS
If shipping were a country, it would be
the sixth biggest emitter of greenhouse
gases. Moreover, in the absence of strong
policy, the emissions from international
ship traffic are predicted to more than
double by 2050.
The International Maritime Organi
zation agreed in 2018 to cut global ship-
ping emissions in half by 2050. This is
important because international ship-
ping is not covered under the Paris cli-
mate agreement.
“The challenge is to craft policies at
the IMO that can commercialize zero-
emissions vessels and get them out onto
the water quickly,” says Aoife O’Leary,
EDF’s director of international shipping
and carbon pricing. “Because shipping
visits all parts of the planet, the introduc-
tion of a carbon price would generate
Friendlier skies revenues for research, development and
deployment of solutions, and have a pos-
Though air travel is the largest part of other programs that achieve verified re- itive impact across the globe.”
90%
many people’s carbon footprint, it makes ductions. Our goal: to ensure the new
up just 2–3% of overall global emissions. market operates with integrity and, once
But as the skies grow more crowded — it’s established, ratchet the cap down.
an additional 24,000 jets are expected to “These rules must establish strong
take wing by 2040 — that number will transparency and prohibit double count- of global trade moves
soar unless we take smart action now. ing of emissions reductions,” says EDF by ship
To reduce the impact of flying, EDF International Counsel Annie Petsonk.
has worked intensively with the “Otherwise, airlines could get credit for Last year, a coalition of shipping com-
International Civil Aviation Organization reductions that others — including host panies and countries pledged to operate
on a system to cap carbon emissions countries — are already using to meet zero-emissions ships along deep-sea
from international flights beginning in their own emissions targets.” routes by 2030. This pledge was heavily
2021. We’re now pressing for cuts. United Airlines has teamed up with influenced by EDF’s Sailing on Solar re-
It’s the first global carbon market sys- EDF to achieve the carrier’s goal of cutting port, which explores the vast potential of
tem for an entire industry, with 80 na- emissions 50% by 2050. United will invest clean alternative fuels such as green am-
tions participating. EDF played a key role $2 billion a year in more fuel efficient air- monia. Since 90% of global trade moves
in negotiations, promoting the use of eco- craft and expand its use of low carbon fu- by ship, slashing emissions on the high
nomic incentives to help airlines meet els. “As soon as one airline shows how to seas will help put the world’s freight on a
that cap cost-effectively. The anticipated lead, it puts pressure on others to follow,” low-carbon path.
Rod Griffin
price on carbon is already spurring action. says Petsonk.
The aviation program gives airlines If successful, the aviation program
flexibility to meet their caps by reducing will avoid at least 2.5 billion tons of car-
their emissions using low-carbon fuels, bon pollution by 2035, roughly equal to
or offseting them by investing in clean the total annual emissions from the U.S.
energy, tropical forest conservation and power and manufacturing sectors.
14 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020SHUTTERSTOCK
In troubled times, a lifeline for the Amazon
R
aging fires in the brazilian them monitor their territories and coor- been the historically uneven quality
Amazon last year, largely the result dinate enforcement against illegal land- of forest credits. So, EDF launched an
of widespread illegal activity to grabbing. Ending forest loss and pursuing independent nonprofit, with funding
clear land for agriculture, brought into restoration and reforestation efforts can from the government of Norway and
focus the role of tropical deforestation in reduce overall global greenhouse gas others, to facilitate investment in tropi-
climate change. emissions by at least 25%. cal forest protection.
California is doing something about “Protecting the world’s forests repre- The Emergent Forest Finance
it. In September, the California Air Re sents perhaps the greatest and most cost- Accelerator will commit to buying forest
sources Board endorsed a new tropical effective opportunity to turn the corner credits that meet the highest environ-
forest standard, a set of stringent criteria on climate change over the next two de- mental standards while safeguarding the
for reducing deforestation effectively. If cades,” says Schwartzman. rights of indigenous peoples — and then
California opens its carbon market to for- EDF is also working to transform sup- sell those credits to interested buyers,
est credits, tropical states would need to ply chains and trade networks — such eliminating uncertainties that have wor-
meet the standard to participate. The cri- as for soy and beef — to reward regions ried buyers in the past. “We believe the
teria, developed with help from EDF, re- that commit to zero-deforestation goals, market could potentially cover billions of
quire that deforestation be reduced over building pressure on suppliers for social- tons of carbon emissions and amount to
an entire state or province and that indig- ly responsible action. tens of billions of dollars per year,” says
enous peoples be fully involved in the Much of our work is focused on the Ruben Lubowski, EDF’s chief natural re-
program’s design and implementation. state of Mato Grosso, an agricultural re- source economist.
“These incentives make forests more gion that accounts for about a quarter of Rod Griffin
valuable alive than dead,” says Dr. Steve Brazil’s soy production and is home to
ADAM PANTOZZI
Schwartzman, EDF senior director for the country’s largest cattle operations.
tropical forest policy. “It’s a powerful sig- More than half of the state is intact
nal to rainforest nations that the world Amazon forest and savanna, but it’s un-
values the climate and ecosystem ser der increasing threat from deforestation.
vices they provide.” We’re working with major retail and
Schwartzman, an anthropologist, has food service companies — and their sup-
spent three decades working with Ama pliers — on a system that would reward
zon indigenous communities to help Mato Grosso for a verifiable commit-
ment to zero
deforestation.
THE WILSON LEGACY A major im-
This feature honors the memory of Robert W. Wilson, a pediment to the
longtime EDF supporter and champion of harnessing market
forces to drive environmental progress. See edf.org/wilson global carbon EDF partner Megaron, chief of the
market has Kayapo tribe.
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 15Hurricane Florence hammers eastern North Carolina, September 2018
Getting ready for the next flood
By Shanti Menon
submerging nearly 3 million acres of
When disaster strikes, communities rally. EDF is bringing farmland and inundating towns. Ten
square miles of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, lay
leaders from North Carolina and Iowa together to learn underwater, displacing 18,000 people. In
from each other how to thrive in a warmer, wetter world. response, Iowa invested in a comprehen-
sive effort to reduce future flood damage.
C
limate change is making walloped the state with two “500-year”
storms more frequent and more floods in 2016 and 2018. Florence took Farmers help with floods
damaging. Few places have made 43 lives and caused $17 billion in dam- The team from North Carolina converged
that fact more painfully obvious in re- age. One month later, tropical storm on the farm of Nick Meier, whose corn
cent years than North Carolina, where Michael hit. Then in September 2019, and soybean fields lie upstream from
Hurricanes Matthew and Florence Hurricane Dorian pummeled the coast. Cedar Rapids. He’s one of many farmer
“It’s not enough to pick up the pieces,” partners working with the city and others
Gov. Roy Cooper told Congress. “We must to establish flood-reducing practices on
ANETA GOSKA
take action to prevent this kind of devas- their land. Meier has built saturated
tation in the future.” buffers — narrow strips along the edges
In a state where the previous governor of cropland that soak up water and
once said climate change was “in God’s nutrients before they flow downstream.
hands,” the dialogue on climate change And he’s creating a wetland on his farm
is changing. “People are demanding solu- to hold even more water. “I’m very
tions, but they don’t quite know what concerned about what happens
those solutions are,” says Will McDow, downstream,” says Meier. “With this
EDF’s director of resilient landscapes. partnership I can be proactive about it.”
That’s why EDF took a group of farm- More than 10,000 acres of private land
ers, mayors, scientists and state officials in the Middle Cedar River watershed are
from North Carolina to see a state that now using practices like buffers, ponds
has been building flood resilience for 10 and keeping the soil covered with crops
years — Iowa. In 2008, widespread flood- year-round to reduce flood risk and pro-
Iowa farmer Nick Meier is creating a wetland. ing caused $10 billion of damage in Iowa, tect soil and water quality. Research from
16 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020‘‘Bridging the divide between urban and rural
communities will be critical.
’’
— North Carolina’s new Chief Resilience Officer Jessica Whitehead
How will
retirement
the Iowa Flood Center at the University
of Iowa shows that these strategies, if
may originate far upstream.
EDF is working with Barbara Doll, a affect your
philanthropy?
used on a large scale, could have reduced North Carolina State University scientist
Cedar Rapids flooding in 2008 by 7 inches who attended the Iowa trip, on flood
— the difference between water at the modeling in the Neuse River Basin in
doorstep and water inside homes. IFC ex- eastern North Carolina. “We’ll be apply-
perts are testing this approach in eight ing things we learned on the Iowa trip,”
watersheds across the state and are plan- says Doll. One of the lessons: It’s impor- We’re here to help you take
ning a reciprocal visit to North Carolina. tant to make models easy for the public advantage of smart strategies
In the 10 years since its inception in to understand. The North Carolina legis-
for giving that can support your
the wake of the floods, IFC has built a lature recently approved an extra $5 mil-
network of 300 stream sensors, rain gaug- lion to expand flood reduction strategies, retirement goals and help the
es and hydrologic stations, created flood- including flood modeling. environment today.
plain maps for all 99 Iowa counties and Regional collaboration is another key
developed sophisticated computer flood to improving resilience, says Jessica Contact us today to learn more.
modeling systems, all of which allow it to Whitehead, North Carolina’s new chief
make real-time, publicly accessible flood resilience officer, who also attended the
Toll-free: 1-877-677-7397
REUTERS
forecasts for more than 1,000 communi- trip. “Seeing the way that Cedar Rapids is
ties. In 2016, IFC predictions helped working up the watershed to collaborate legacy@edf.org
Cedar Rapids prepare for its second big- with rural communities was very excit- edf.org/legacy
gest flood in history, greatly reducing ing,” says Whitehead. “In order to take a
flood damage. strategic approach to resilience in North
Carolina, and find the broadest ways to
North Carolina’s resilient future reduce risk for the greatest number of
EDF is advocating a similar collaborative, people, bridging the divide between ur-
science-based approach in North Car ban and rural areas will be critical.”
olina, in which farmers, cities and state Mayor Don Hardy of Kinston, North
authorities work together to reduce flood Carolina, a city hit hard by hurricanes
risk. “After the trip, people have a shared Matthew and Florence, was similarly im-
vision of what a resilient North Carolina pressed by what he saw in Iowa. “Those
can look like,” says McDow. “Partnerships flood maps — we need that. Bridge sen-
like this can help build resilience in rural sors, stream gauges, we need more,” he
communities across the country.” says. “But there’s only so much we can do
Step one is to understand how and alone. Now is the time to build partner-
where water moves. The source of flood- ships to put flood mitigation in place.
ing in one town or one farmer’s fields This trip has opened my eyes to options.”
ANETA GOSKA
Leaders from North Carolina and Iowa talk flood prevention.
Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020 17GREEN LIVING
■ Visit the freezer section
Most seafood lovers steer clear of the
freezer aisle, yet these days frozen fish is
often better quality and more affordable
than fresh fish. The advent of “flash-
freezing” allows seafood to be frozen at
Get smart about seafood peak freshness, capturing flavor, preserv-
ing texture and maintaining high nutri-
tion value.
E
ating seafood is a central ■ Buy American
part of the culinary experience for It sounds clichéd, but U.S. seafood is ■ Try something new
many Americans. But you may be generally a good option compared to fish Seek out species that are not overfished,
surprised to learn that more than 80% of from other countries, which is often less yet are tasty and affordable. For example,
the seafood Americans eat is imported. sustainable. Today, 46 U.S. fish stocks New England fishermen landed only half
Broadening your seafood palate be- that were once overfished have been of what they were allowed to catch of Aca
yond traditional picks like shrimp, salmon completely rebuilt. Examples include dian redfish due to a lack of demand from
and tuna, which make up 44% of the total, Gulf red snapper and many Pacific rock- the market. This versatile fish is lean, flaky
is not just about trying something new. It’s fish. Locally sourced seafood also typical- and moist — perfect in fish tacos.
also a good strategy for eating healthier, ly requires less fuel for transport.
saving money and helping protect the ■ Eat lower on the food chain
oceans by reducing overfishing and build- ■ Check the label Americans have a lot to learn from
ing resilience against warming oceans. Most grocery stores are required to label Europeans and South Americans. Small
There’s a perception that sustainabili- the country of origin for fish and whether oily fish like sardines, mackerel and her-
ty is expensive, but that’s not always the it is farmed or wild. Unfortunately, res- ring are quick to reproduce, high in
case. Here are some tips on becoming a taurants, where Americans spend most healthy omega-3 fatty acids and low in
smart seafood consumer. of their seafood dollars, are not subject mercury. “These species are ocean friend-
to that law. When in doubt, ask about the ly, wallet friendly and heart healthy,”
■ More surf, less turf restaurant’s sustainability policy. More quips EDF’s Tim Fitzgerald. “Plus eating
Americans on average eat half the than 20% of seafood sold in the United them will probably make you a more in-
amount of seafood recommended by States is mislabeled, according to Oceana. teresting person.” Clams, mussels and
health experts. It is also one of the lowest Frequently mislabeled species include oysters are also great choices.
carbon footprint animal proteins. So, if sea bass, snapper and halibut. Rod Griffin
your diet consists of a lot of meat and
you substitute seafood for some of that,
you’re actually able to substantially re-
duce your carbon footprint. MENUS OF CHANGE
■ Know your supplier Smart Catch Eat These Fish Seafood Watch
Seafood is one of the trickiest foods we The James Beard EDF partnered with The Monterey Bay Aquari-
buy. Thus, when you find a fishmonger Foundation provides Chefs Collaborative and um offers a comprehen-
— or grocery store — whom you trust, a list of seafood restau- others on a campaign to sive guide — and mobile
stay with them. One of the big victories rants that meet high promote underappreciat- app — that’s regularly up-
of the sustainable seafood movement standards for sustain- ed fish that are sustain- dated to help you make
over the past 20 years is that 80–90% of ability. bit.ly/85jSf ably caught and tasty. smart seafood choices.
the U.S. grocery industry now has some bit.ly/2UtVt bit.ly/2vDeB
sort of sustainable seafood policy.
18 Solutions / edf.org / Winter 2020You can also read
