Policy Proposal

With an expanding global population, increasing amounts of greenhouse gases, and growing industrialization around the world, we need to take action to secure a stable future for our environment. That’s why we’re supporting and reporting on policies that will help increase education and awareness about environmental problems and solutions.

Proposals from the Government

Where Lead Emissions from Aircraft Engines Will Lead Us

This report investigated how much of an impact lead emissions from aircraft engines have on the people living near airports, the demographics of this area, and the quality of the air they breathe. Aircraft engines that use lead have been estimated to be “the largest single source of lead to air in the US.” With existing data that already exists that demonstrate how lead poisoning affects children (i.e., autism and lower IQ scores), it becomes vital for the EPA to determine if measures must be taken with these types of airplanes and the airports they use. According to the report’s findings, enough evidence was presented to “conclude that emissions of the lead air pollutant from engines in covered aircraft cause or contribute to the lead air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare.” We at The Terra Project support this finding and look forward to the steps that will be taken next to mitigate this problem. Comments can be left until January 17, 2023.

Photo Credit: AVweb

New Guidelines for Microwave Construction

This proposal discusses the benefits of using new guidelines when constructing microwaves. With the industry net present value estimated to change from -$34.3 million to no change at all, the Department of Energy (DOE) states that “the proposed standards would result in estimated national energy savings of 0.06 quads FFC, the equivalent of the electricity use of 1.6 million homes in one year.” We at The Terra Project support this proposed rule and encourage supporters to leave a comment by October 24, 2022.

Photo Credit: Ethical Consumer

Household Consumer Clothes Dryers

New and amended standards are being proposed by the DOE that would substantially conserve energy, with a net benefit amount of up to $1,752 million per year. “The standards are projected to result in estimated national energy savings of 3.11 quads, the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 78 million residential homes in one year.” To support this proposal, comments can be left from the public by October 24, 2022.

Photo Credit: Whirlpool

Consumer Furnaces

This proposal addresses new regulations manufacturers would have to follow to lower the emission of greenhouse gases from these furnaces. The DOE estimates that “the proposed standards would result in cumulative emission reductions (over the same period as for energy savings) of 363 million metric tons (“Mt”) of carbon dioxide (“CO 2 ”), 0.8 million tons of nitrogen oxides (“NO X ”), and 5.1 million tons of methane (“CH 4 ”).” Comments can be left by September 6, 2022.

Request for One-Time Reports on Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessments

This proposal seeks “a greater understanding of actions to assess the vulnerabilities of jurisdictional transmission assets and operations to extreme weather events.” In other words, it is asking transmission providers (any public utility that owns, operates, or controls facilities that are used for electric energy transmission in interstate commerce) to provide information on “the policies and processes they employ, or plan to employ, for determining the scope of extreme weather vulnerability assessments.” The information that is collected from all these providers will then be used to address the projected risks of future widespread blackouts like Texas and the South-Central United States experienced in February 2021 during Winter Storm Uri. Comments are open for submission until August 30, 2022.

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/NOAA/USGS

Greenhouse Gas Emission Measure

This proposal was posted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to align with its net zero targets and would assist the United States in confronting the increasingly urgent climate crisis. Documented billion-dollar weather and climate disasters since 1980 have spurred the FHWA to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by lowering climate-related risks to communities. Their proposal involves creating “environmental sustainability benefits by supporting more informed choices about transportation investments and other policies to help achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.” The measure would require state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to establish targets appropriate for their communities and establish a method for the measurement and reporting of GHG emissions biennially. Comments can be left until October 13, 2022.

Photo Credit: ArchDaily

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