My heart is heavy this week at the unexpected loss of one of my cats… but not the one I expected to lose. Fluffy, littermat of Fang, who has graced these pages before, took a sudden turn and declined rapidly. We said goodbye to her on Thursday and are focused on sharing our memories of over 14 years of cat antics and cuddles.
This week’s must read: Clean energy interests shift messaging from saving the planet to the greener side of business wealth-building (Milwaukee Independent)
For many of us, this isn’t new messaging… from the article:
“It’s a very winning message for outreach to conservatives because it’s really true,” said former U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, a South Carolina Republican who founded the conservative climate group RepublicEN.org. “If we play our cards right and lead the world to this, we can create a lot of wealth, create a lot of jobs here in America.”
EcoRight Speaks, Season 10, Episode 15, featuring Patrick Hughes, non-toxic paint innovator and entrepreneur
In another chapter of People I Met at EarthX, today’s guest is non-toxic paint entrepreneur and guru, Patrick Hughes. I learned so much about paint recording this episode, including some things I wish I didn’t have to know… Kidding, of course. Knowledge is power and it is reaffirming to see someone put their market power behind trying to make change that will benefit so many of us.
Some links we referenced in the episode:
Forbes study on microplastics Did you know that paint makes up 58% of the microplastics in the world? ME NEITHER!
FTC lawsuit against paint companies on misleading the public on zero VOC claims Zero VOCs sounds good, right? Think again!
Be sure to tune in!
Coming up next week, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Senator Frist was a heart transplant surgeon before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing his state of Tennessee. He currently serves as chair of The Nature Conservancy and is spreading the message on the public health impacts of climate change.
If you want to check out his Substack, here is the link to A Second Opinion. There’s a podcast by the same name!
Readers/listeners, we are winding down season ten. Time flies when you’re having fun! After this week, we just have two episodes remaining before we take our pause, regroup, and launch season 11! If you have a guest request, you know where to send it!
Musings from the EcoRight
Our friend and active member Larry Howe wrote the following piece, which really doesn’t surprise me because it was the focus of his questions at our last webinar: But what about the perpetual energy tax subsidies?
“Citizens and Members of Congress should have a real conversation about favorable tax treatments in the U.S. for energy industries,” he writes. “Do the wind and solar industries have access to these advantageous tax treatments: intangible drilling costs deduction, percentage depletion allowance, master limited partnerships, foreign tax credit and last in, first out (LIFO) accounting?”
(Spoiler: no, they do not…)
The Senate and the IRA
Looking for a status update on the likelihood of House cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act becoming law? I found two articles delving into the GOP champions pushing back most insightful.
These 5 Republican senators are fighting for clean energy—here’s why (The Cool Down)
This article profiles what stake Senators John Curtis (Utah), Jerry Moran (Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) have in the battle to retain portions of the IRA.
Key quote from Curtis: “In Utah, we’ve seen firsthand how smart policies — like energy tax credits — can drive innovation, strengthen our economy, and create real opportunity.”
And more on Curtis and the promise of geothermal energy in this piece, Bill Gates comes to Utah to help Sen. Curtis in his efforts to preseve clean energy (The Deseret News) Here’s what Gates had to say: “Enhanced geothermal is one of the most promising solutions for delivering reliable, low-carbon power, especially as demand for affordable energy grows.”
Quote of the week: Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Be the mayor that makes buses electric; be the CEO who ends fossil fuel dependence; be the school that puts (up) solar roofs,” the former GOP Governor of California said recently, encouraging people to act rather than complain. “The only way we win the people’s hearts and minds is by showing them action that makes their lives better.”
That’s it for me. I will be spending time healing my heart and showering Fang with love. Have the best weekend possible.