Written by Ryan McGoldrick, Program Director. To receive our monthly climate & energy newsletter directly in your inbox, sign up at cvidaho.org/sign-up/
The Affordable Clean Energy Plan
Idaho continues to see significant investments from the affordable clean energy plan funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In the first two years of investments, Idaho has received:
$37.2M to improve public transportation
$5.1M for clean school buses
$17.4M for clean transit buses and improved bus service
$10.8M for EV chargers
$37.2M for clean energy, energy efficiency, grid upgrades and weatherization
Additionally, Idaho is receiving funds for critical upgrades to our roads, bridges, water infrastructure, as well as important investments to address extreme weather, wildfires, and legacy pollution cleanup. Click here to learn more about these investments.
Supporting the passage of this investment was a high priority for CVI, and we will continue to work with local communities to find and implement these opportunities. We encourage decision makers at the local and state level to utilize the Climate Program Portal and sign-up for updates from OEMR to find out about upcoming opportunities your community may qualify for.
Progress in Boise
At the local level, CVI continues to collaborate with local communities to pass and support climate commitments. We are proud to share that the City of Boise is on track to meet our community’s ambitious climate goals thanks to the leadership of Mayor Lauren McLean and the initiatives implemented by city staff. To learn more about this effort, along with the City’s exciting efforts to improve our water quantity and quality, you can listen to or read this interview with Director of Public Works Steve Burgos.
Farmworker Health
Last week was the hottest week in world history, and here in Idaho we are entering the season where triple-digit temperatures are frequent. As we all know, this time of year is also peak growing season for Idaho agriculture, which means Idaho’s farmworkers are spending long hours of physical labor in the sun during the hottest parts of the day. Despite farmworkers being 35 times more likely to die of heat exposure than workers in other industries, there are no federal heat standards to protect them.
That’s why the Idaho Immigrant Resource Alliance runs a yearly heat and smoke relief fund for Idaho’s farmworkers. As we work to address the causes of climate change, it is critical to support those harmed by the current and direct impacts of rising temperatures. If you are able, please donate to the relief fund here.