This week’s good climate news

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

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An electric car charging at a charging station

Electric vehicle charging stations on every corner

Depending on whom you ask, there are 100,000-150,000 gas stations around the U.S., so it's generally easy to find one. The Biden administration wants to make charging your EV just as easy with ambitious plans to build 500,000 chargers along highways and in rural communities.

This new proposal would allow for long-distance EV travel, as charging stations would never be more than 50 miles apart on the national highway system.

A view of the New York City skyline from the Hudson River

New York's hottest club is Hudson Canyon

This deep dive 100 miles off the coast of NYC has everything: cold-water coral, sperm whales, sea turtles and Quasimodoctopus. Quasimodoctopus? It's when marine life is granted sanctuary and human activity is incredibly limited. 

As part of National Ocean Month, the Biden administration has proposed this new marine sanctuary to help protect this underwater habitat.

An electric transmission tower

Green energy powers Texas

Feeling some Texas-sized gratitude for wind and solar power in the Lone Star State. Renewables generated close to 40% of what was needed for peak energy demand on Sunday, as the state remains in the grip of an early and intense heat wave.

While past peak energy spikes from extreme weather caused deadly blackouts, the Texas grid seems to be holding strong from power generated by wind and solar.

An electric car charging at a roadside charging station

Automakers seek extension on EV tax credit

Consumers increasingly prefer electric vehicles, and the tax incentives help. Wrinkle: "The current $7,500 federal income tax credit for buying an EV phases out after a manufacturer sells [200,000] EVs." Solution: Automakers stepped up to seek a bipartisan extension that would allow the tax credit to remain until the marketplace for EVs is more stable and developed.

A bird rests on a tree

Congress acts to save wildlife

There are over 1,600 endangered or threatened species in the U.S. and the House passed a new bill to protect vulnerable wildlife. Called the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, this new bill will also provide an annual fund of $1.3 million to preserve population numbers.

The act would also boost investment in conservation of non-game species. Similar legislation in the Senate has 16 Republican co-sponsors. 

Let’s take action on climate together