From the Seattle Times:
If your Seattle home uses heating oil, you’re going to be paying more; here’s why
- In response to September’s Climate Strike events, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed off on a new home heating oil tax.
- Around 18,000 Seattle homes still use oil heat which accounted for nearly 63,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 (down from 109,000 metric tons in 2008).
- Beginning Sept. 1 2020, the tax will collect 24 cents per gallon, raising an estimated $1.6 million by 2021.
- The revenue will go toward grants and rebates to transition residents to electric heat.
From the Washington Post:
D.C.-area gas station shuts off the pumps and goes all-electric
- RS Automotive in Takoma Park, Maryland became the first service station in the nation to completely switch from offering gasoline to electric vehicle charging.
- The station could serve as a model and answer questions about how to market EV stations, what customers will do during 20-30 minute charging sessions and the profitability of this business model.
- Washington D.C. has nearly 21,000 registered EVs in addition to electric taxis.
- Electric Vehicle Institute and the Maryland Energy Administration provided grants for the $786,000 infrastructure renovation.
From NPR… a few weeks ago:
Amazon Makes ‘Climate Pledge’ As Workers Plan Walkout
- Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced a Climate Pledge that will reach standards set by the Paris climate agreement.
- The pledge calls for Amazon’s infrastructure to run on 100% renewable energy by 2030 and be carbon-neutral by 2040.
- The pledge was announced one day before September 20’s Climate Strike, for which 1,500 corporate employees planned a walkout to raise awareness to the company’s previously unimpressive climate policies.
