Charting a Just and Equitable Transition to Clean Buildings | Harvard Climate Action Week 2024

To reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions on the scale and timeframe needed to avert the most severe climate impacts, U.S states must deploy federal funds and advance clean energy and policies at an unprecedented pace. Even with the Biden Administration making climate one of its top priorities, states remain at the center of climate and clean energy progress. States are the principal actors in setting U.S. energy policy, presiding over major decisions that shape the generation and use of energy, particularly in the buildings sector.
Transitioning to clean buildings requires owners to improve energy efficiency (for example with high performance windows and insulation) and transition to non-fossil-fuel sources of space and water heating, primarily electric heat pumps. Despite ambitious commitments in many states, none are on track to scale these investments at the pace needed to meet targets.
With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, federal funds that can support building improvements will soon flow to states, including $9 billion in Home Energy Rebates, $7 billion in the Solar For All Program and $5 billion from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program. States can also leverage $20 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and unlimited tax credits for electric heat pumps.
This panel explored strategies that states are deploying to leverage these resources to reduce pollution from buildings - especially affordable housing -- while improving quality of life and increasing energy affordability.
Speakers:
Dale Bryk
Senior Attorney and Director of State & Regional Climate Policies
Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program
Rory Christian
Chair
New York Public Service Commission
Abby Corso
Chief Strategy Officer
Elevate
Chrystal Kornegay
Chief Executive Officer
Mass Housing