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Florida Senate Bill 178: An Act Relating to Public Financing of Construction Projects
March 11, 2020 (effective July 1, 2021)
On March 11, 2020, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 178 (Florida Statute § 161. 551) that establishes new rules and enforcement mechanisms for state-financed coastal construction projects. According to the law, “state-financed constructors” are public entities that manage or commission “a construction project using funds appropriated from the state. ” The purpose of the law is to ensure that (1) projects funded by public monies can better withstand coastal flooding and will not exacerbate flooding impacts on surrounding communities; and (2) project managers consider all design options and alternatives in the face of sea-level rise.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Chicago, Illinois Central Loop Tax Increment Financing
2020
Chicago, Illinois has established more than 120 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, and has leveraged its public investment to attract $6 billion in private capital investments in these districts. Revenue from Chicago’s Central Loop TIF has been used to fund the city’s Green Roof Improvement Fund, which incentivizes and provides partial reimbursement to commercial buildings that install green roofs to manage stormwater. Chicago’s TIFs currently fund a small array of adaptive and climate-related projects, such as green alleys and wastewater infrastructure, but all TIF-funded projects must meet sustainability standards. In February 2020, Chicago’s Mayor announced a series of reforms to promote transparency in the TIF system, including the creation of a supervisory TIF Investment Committee whose explicit goal is to center equity in its decision making.
Resource Category: Funding
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Climate Ready Missoula: Building Resiliency in Missoula County
February 22, 2020
Climate Ready Missoula is an adaptation-focused plan that identifies the greatest climate risks that Missoula County, Montana faces and the potential steps the community can take to address these risks. Formed in collaboration with community organizations and individuals, the plan includes a discussion of climate change projections and scenarios, vulnerability assessments of Missoula County, climate adaptation goals and strategies, and next steps for implementation of the plan. The plan also outlines 12 guiding principles to help focus implementation efforts going forward; the principles emphasize the importance of equity, cultural values, collaboration, science-informed and proactive decisionmaking, ecosystem valuation and cost-benefit analysis, and innovation.
Resource Category: Planning
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Broward County Florida Resiliency Standards for Flood Protection: Broward County Code of Ordinances Article XXV, Chapter 39.
February 13, 2020
Adopted by the Broward County Board of Commissioners in early 2020, Broward County’s new flood protection standards establish, and account for sea-level rise in, baseline elevation and maintenance standards for coastal and shoreline flood mitigation infrastructure for tidally affected communities in the County. Broward County adopted a new policy (2. 21. 7) in the County Land Use Plan requiring tidally influenced municipalities to adopt a local ordinance consistent with the regional standards, which were incorporated into county code as a model ordinance.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Resilient Houston - City of Houston, Texas Resilience Strategy
February 2020
Resource Category: Planning
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Safeguarding Our Lands, Waters, and Communities: Washington Department of Natural Resources’s Plan for Climate Resilience
February 2020
This 2020 publication from Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) outlines the ways in which climate resilience can aid the State, and how the department aims to advance climate resilience. Topics discussed include DNR’s current roles, goals for implementation, equity and tribal considerations, and the challenges and opportunities within various resource-specific sectors. DNR aims to advance climate resilience through management of the lands and water they oversee, internal changes within their own agencies and programs, and coordinating with partner organizations.
Resource Category: Planning
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Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change
February 2020
In February 2020, the Environmental and Energy Study Initiative released the Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change fact sheet, which outlines programs that support nature-based solutions to increase human, ecosystem, and infrastructure resilience to the impacts of climate change. The fact sheet surveys a list of 13 different federal funding and technical assistance programs available to aid in implementing nature-based projects, including those that support: green infrastructure; natural infrastructure; urban focus; habitat restoration; flood prevention; water quality; pollution abatement; and disaster mitigation.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Savannah Bertrand, Katie Schneer
Resource Category: Funding
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New Jersey EO 100: Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT); land use regulations and permitting
January 27, 2020
New Jersey Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 100, also known as PACT, is designed to help New Jersey both mitigate greenhouse gases, and adapt to climate change. The order directs the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make regulatory reforms for permitting development or construction at risk of the impacts of climate change. New projects will be required to take into account how climate change could impact the project, and the project's related GHG emissions. The rules would also apply to the construction of state-funded projects.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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The Energy Democracy Scorecard and Flipbook
January 2020
According to the Energy Democracy Scorecard and Flipbook from the Emerald Cities Collaborative, “Energy Democracy” is defined as an ideal scenario where a frontline community “shifts completely away from an extractive economy, energy, and governance system to one that is regenerative, provides reparations, transforms the power structures, and creates new governance and ownership practices. ” The Energy Democracy Flipbook is designed to help frontline communities, such as low-income people of color, who are vulnerable to climate change to self-evaluate their communities’ energy economy condition.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Anthony Giancatarino, Donna House
Resource Category: Education and Outreach
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Baltimore Shines - Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Shines is a Baltimore City initiative that helps low-income residents access solar energy through either rooftop installations or community solar projects in Baltimore, Maryland. The program also expands workforce development opportunities in the solar installation industry. Baltimore Shines pilot projects were used to learn about barriers preventing solar installation in low-income communities and to inform the development of a sustainable financing model to increase access to solar energy. As the initial step to teaching energy affordability awareness, Baltimore Shines had community residents’ homes retrofitted by its close affiliate, Civic Works, which installed energy and water conservation equipment in homes. This program was not income restricted and is open to any Baltimore City homeowner or tenant residing in a house or apartment. Baltimore Shines also incorporated the development of workforce opportunities for underemployed and unemployed Baltimore residents through job-training and job placement. Additionally, Baltimore Shines leveraged a state funding program - the Maryland Community Solar Pilot program - that supported investments in renewable energy projects benefiting low- and moderate- income customers and encouraged private investment in the state’s solar industry with incentives for the investors. The program ultimately lowered bills, increased wages for some of the City’s low-income, under-employed or unemployed residents, and enhanced access to solar for many throughout the city.
Resource Category: Solutions
