Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
World Vision Announces US$500 Million Global Plan to Protect Children and the Amazon From the Climate Crisis
MONROVIA, California, Nov. 19 -- World Vision International issued the following news:
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World Vision Announces US$500 Million Global Plan to Protect Children and the Amazon from the Climate Crisis
London/Brazil - As the global leaders are meeting at the UN climate conference, COP30 in Belem, at the heart of the Amazon basin, global relief, development, and advocacy organisation World Vision has announced an ambitious US$500 million plan to protect children living in the Amazonian communities facing the escalating impacts of the climate crisis. The initiative already backed by US$21.5 million,
... Show Full Article
MONROVIA, California, Nov. 19 -- World Vision International issued the following news:
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World Vision Announces US$500 Million Global Plan to Protect Children and the Amazon from the Climate Crisis
London/Brazil - As the global leaders are meeting at the UN climate conference, COP30 in Belem, at the heart of the Amazon basin, global relief, development, and advocacy organisation World Vision has announced an ambitious US$500 million plan to protect children living in the Amazonian communities facing the escalating impacts of the climate crisis. The initiative already backed by US$21.5 million,aims to support 10 million people across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela by 2030, positioning children at the heart of global climate action.
The organisation warns that the Amazon home to more than 27 million people and the world's largest rainforest has become a stark reflection of the world's broken promises on climate justice. Nearly half of the population lives in poverty and over 40% are children, many growing up amid violence, hunger and displacement. World Vision argues that protecting the Amazon's ecosystems is inseparable from protecting its children.
We can no longer see the climate crisis as purely environmental; it is a child rights crisis. Children are losing their homes, their health and their future and that should serve as a wake-up call to every leader at COP30." Said Joao Diniz, World Vision's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
World Vision's plan is rooted in local leadership and evidence-based approaches that have already transformed communities across Africa and Asia. It will focus on three interconnected priorities:
* Protecting children's right to life and their wellbeing: Expanding access to clean water, sanitation, nutrition, health and education for children and families.
* Restoring ecosystems for children's rights to a healthy environment: Regenerating 3 million hectares of degraded land and conserving 22 million hectares of rainforest.
* Building sustainable livelihoods: Empowering women, youth and Indigenous peoples to lead economic and ecological renewal through regenerative agriculture and climate-resilient value chains.
The organisation calls for half of all climate finance to support adaptation and one-fifth to be directed to fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where children face the harshest consequences of climate disruption. It is also pressing for the Fund to Respond to Loss and Damage to adopt specific criteria for child protection, arguing that no climate agreement can be just if it excludes those most vulnerable.
"There can be no green future without justice," said Diniz. "The Amazon is both the heart of our planet and the thermometer of global inequality. Hunger, poverty and deforestation are intertwined and children are paying the highest price. Protecting life on Earth begins with protecting the children of the Amazon. Their survival and our collective future are one and the same."
The Amazon's story, World Vision contends, is the world's story. Its degradation will reverberate across continents from the food crises in Africa to rising sea levels in Asia and economic instability worldwide. Protecting it is not just a regional responsibility, but a global moral imperative.
World Vision recently introduced the Hungry Futures Index, a new global benchmark analysing 84 national climate plans to determine how countries are responding to the rising threat of hunger in a warming world. The results reveal a significant gap between stated climate ambitions and the needs of the most vulnerable. References to child hunger are rare, and concrete commitments to address nutrition impacts remain limited.
The organisation is urging governments to strengthen the child dimension of their Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans. Aligning national policies with the UN's General Comment No. 26 would help ensure that every child's right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment is fully recognised in the global climate agenda.
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Original text here: https://www.wvi.org/newsroom/world-vision-announces-us500-million-global-plan-protect-children-and-amazon-climate
[Category: Sociological]
Welcoming MBS Undercuts U.S. Values and Security, Human Rights First Warns
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Human Rights First issued the following news on Nov. 18, 2025:
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Welcoming MBS Undercuts U.S. Values and Security, Human Rights First Warns
On the occasion of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's (MBS) November 18-19 visit to Washington, Human Rights First deplores the White House decision to offer red carpet treatment to a leader responsible for the 2018 torture and murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for sustained repression in Saudi Arabia.
Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya noted, "No amount of White House pomp or glitz can
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Human Rights First issued the following news on Nov. 18, 2025:
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Welcoming MBS Undercuts U.S. Values and Security, Human Rights First Warns
On the occasion of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's (MBS) November 18-19 visit to Washington, Human Rights First deplores the White House decision to offer red carpet treatment to a leader responsible for the 2018 torture and murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for sustained repression in Saudi Arabia.
Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya noted, "No amount of White House pomp or glitz canerase MBS's culpability in the premeditated torture, killing, and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, one of the most brazen acts of transnational repression in recent memory. Seven years later, MBS continues to brook no criticism at home, as U.S. and Saudi nationals have faced severe punishment and lengthy prison sentences for innocuous social media posts and rights advocacy. Last August, the Saudi government executed a young man, Jalal Labbad, for advocating for the religious freedom of Saudi Shi'as, part of a pattern of escalating executions and oppression of religious minorities that continues under MBS."
Zeya concluded, "The volatility and brutality of MBS's rule extending in Saudi Arabia and beyond contradicts the very notion of a reliable U.S. partner. Overlooking human rights in our bilateral relations ultimately undercuts our national security and prosperity."
This pattern predates the current administration. President Biden met with MBS in 2022 and granted him immunity from legal action seeking to hold him accountable for Jamal Khashoggi's murder. These actions weakened U.S. credibility on human rights and set the stage for continued impunity -- as we are seeing today.
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Original text here: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/welcoming-mbs-undercuts-u-s-values-and-security-human-rights-first-warns/
[Category: Sociological]
PennEnvironment and State Leaders Host Rooftop Solar Tour at NE Philly Warehouse
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 (TNSrep) -- PennEnvironment issued the following news release:
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PennEnvironment and State Leaders host rooftop solar tour at NE Philly warehouse
State Senators Saval and Comitta join Rep. Dougherty for tour of Greenfield Manufacturing warehouse. Tour highlights environmental and cost-saving benefits of large-scale rooftop solar on warehouses and distribution centers across the state.
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State Senators Nikil Saval and Carolyn Comitta, State Rep. Dougherty, and Solar States joined PennEnvironment for a rooftop solar tour at Greenfield Manufacturing, a
... Show Full Article
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 (TNSrep) -- PennEnvironment issued the following news release:
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PennEnvironment and State Leaders host rooftop solar tour at NE Philly warehouse
State Senators Saval and Comitta join Rep. Dougherty for tour of Greenfield Manufacturing warehouse. Tour highlights environmental and cost-saving benefits of large-scale rooftop solar on warehouses and distribution centers across the state.
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State Senators Nikil Saval and Carolyn Comitta, State Rep. Dougherty, and Solar States joined PennEnvironment for a rooftop solar tour at Greenfield Manufacturing, awarehouse in Northeast Philadelphia with an extensive rooftop solar installation. The tour highlighted the immense potential for solar energy generation on warehouse rooftops, an under-utilized space for solar panels. A recent PennEnvironment study found (https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/center/resources/solar-on-warehouses/) that if all of the warehouses in Pennsylvania added solar to their roofs it would generate enough electricity to power more than 820,000 homes and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Warehouses have immense solar energy potential, and can be a key component in moving Pennsylvania towards more clean, renewable energy generation," said Belle Sherwood, PennEnvironment Clean Energy Advocate. "Putting solar panels on Pennsylvania's warehouses would be good for communities, good for the electricity grid, and most importantly, good for our environment,"
Pennsylvania Senators Nikil Saval and Carolyn Comitta have proposed legislation that would help unlock the solar energy potential of warehouses and distribution centers across the state by requiring all new warehouses and distribution centers constructed in Pennsylvania be "solar-ready". The senators' legislation would also provide a tax credit for existing warehouses and distribution centers to make the necessary retrofits to be considered solar-ready.
"We have the technology we need right now to arrest climate change, advance a green and prosperous economy, and make life healthier, safer, and more affordable for working people and communities throughout Pennsylvania, and our built environment plays a key role," said State Senator Nikil Saval. "If we harness the energy-generating capacity of the more than 500 million square feet of suitable rooftop space that sits atop warehouses across our commonwealth, we could power nearly a million households per year on solar energy alone."
"Warehouses, distribution centers, and commercial buildings account for a significant portion of our carbon emissions. Meanwhile, they can be ideal sites for solar panels," said State Senator Carolyn Comitta. "As the growth of e-commerce continues to drive warehouse development in Pennsylvania, this legislation can help ensure that they are ready to harness the economic, environmental, and public health benefits of solar energy."
Greenfield Manufacturing is already seeing the benefits of their rooftop solar array. Their 3,600 panel system, installed by Solar States last year, generates more than 100% of the warehouse's energy needs. They're able to return any excess solar energy back to the grid, helping to alleviate the strain on the electricity grid and make their energy bills negative. Greenfield gets over $1,000 for their solar power production each month.
Greenfield Manufacturing is located in Pennsylvania Representative Sean Dougherty's state house district in northeast Philadelphia. He says, "my neighbors are seeing energy costs increase exponentially because of energy-intensive warehouses popping up across Northeast Philadelphia. I'm proud to co-sponsor Solar Warehouses (HB 1260 sponsored by Rep. Josh Siegel) because it allows clean energy to be generated in-house, at their OWN warehouse. This will reduce the cost of electricity for everyone in our neighborhood."
Advocates note that there's never been a better time for businesses to invest in solar energy, since the cost of solar has decreased significantly over the past decade. It's estimated that the cost of utility-scale solar decreased by 90 percent between 2009-2020.
"We have a 4.5 billion year-old nuclear reactor in the sky that is raining down energy on us every day," said Micah Gold-Markel. "If we don't use it, it's a waste."
With rising utility bills and strain on the region's electricity grid, tour attendees noted the need to diversify Pennsylvania's energy mix. Currently, Pennsylvania gets only 4% of utility-scale energy from renewable sources, which includes solar, wind, and geothermal. Advocates noted that building more renewable energy sources adds much-needed capacity to the grid and moves Pennsylvania away from polluting fossil fuels, and that warehouses are a great place to start.
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Original text here: https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/media-center/release-pennenvironment-and-state-leaders-host-rooftop-solar-tour-at-ne-philly-warehouse/
[Category: Environment]
Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Transforming Indonesia's Coal Dependence Into Clean Energy Growth
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Nov. 19 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release:
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Transforming Indonesia's coal dependence into clean energy growth
Innovative approaches to repurpose stranded coal assets can accelerate the shift to renewable energy
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(IEEFA Asia): Indonesia's heavy reliance on coal has driven its growth for decades. However, oversupply, aging infrastructure, rising operational costs, and global climate commitments are converging to make coal retirement a strategic necessity, according to a new report from the Institute
... Show Full Article
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Nov. 19 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release:
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Transforming Indonesia's coal dependence into clean energy growth
Innovative approaches to repurpose stranded coal assets can accelerate the shift to renewable energy
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(IEEFA Asia): Indonesia's heavy reliance on coal has driven its growth for decades. However, oversupply, aging infrastructure, rising operational costs, and global climate commitments are converging to make coal retirement a strategic necessity, according to a new report from the Institutefor Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Maintaining inefficient coal assets burdens the national utility, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), with high maintenance costs and long-term contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Although coal has traditionally been seen as cost-effective, its generation cost has surged from IDR637 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2020 to IDR941/kWh in 2024, marking a 48% increase driven by obsolete infrastructure and rising operational, maintenance, and compliance expenses.
This has occurred despite the government's policy caps on the price of coal at below-market cost. As a result, government subsidies and compensation to PLN increased by 24%, from USD9 billion in 2023 to USD11 billion in 2024 -- 5% of the national budget.
"Indonesia's Presidential Regulation No. 112/2022 and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) Regulation No. 10/2025 lay the legal and strategic foundation for early retirement of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), yet implementation remains slow," says Mutya Yustika, the report's author and Research & Engagement Lead, Indonesia Energy Transition for IEEFA Asia.
"Unclear retirement pathways, limited asset data, and complex Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) continue to delay the coal phase-out."
Critical risks if aging CFPPs continue to operate
According to the report, there are three critical risks if PLN continues to operate obsolete CFPPs: escalating operational, maintenance, and fuel costs, persistent payments for unused electricity under PPAs, and expensive refurbishment costs.
Aging plants require frequent repairs and consume fuel less efficiently, driving up operating expenditures. Meanwhile, PLN remains obligated to pay IPPs under long-term take-or-pay agreements, even when electricity from these plants is not dispatched due to oversupply or grid constraints.
Additionally, extending the life of aging CFPPs often requires costly refurbishments, including boiler upgrades, emissions control retrofits, and structural repairs.
The IEEFA report finds that these investments may not be economically justified, particularly when compared to the cost of repurposing sites for renewable energy or retiring them altogether.
Viable business models to shift away from coal
The report examines various business models tailored to Indonesia's unique asset landscape that could address the financial and operational complexity associated with the acceleration of CFPP retirement.
Rather than extending the life of inefficient and expensive CFPPs through retrofits such as co-firing or carbon capture, the use of asset divestment, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and blended finance structures that align incentives for public and private stakeholders are recommended.
Two models are available for CFPP retirement for PLN-owned assets.
A divestment model combined with strategic incentives offers the state utility a clean exit from coal by transferring assets to private investors. It can unlock private capital and enable strategic project bundling. However, low asset values, limited investor interest without incentives, and political sensitivities remain key challenges.
PLN could also repurpose aging coal assets through PPPs without transferring ownership or providing any significant upfront investment. The state utility can contribute existing grid assets and share risks with private partners.
For IPP-owned CFPPs, two types of blended finance models are explored: a private sector-led model and a multilateral-led model. A private sector-led model, such as the Philippines' ACEN South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation (SLTEC), is a voluntary retirement initiative driven by a private developer, leveraging internal capital and strategic repositioning.
In a multilateral-led model like Cirebon-1, a coal retirement project is supported by international partners, combining concessional finance and policy reform.
Transition credits can also help bridge the financing gap for early coal retirements by monetizing avoided emissions. However, they require robust monitoring, reporting, and verification.
Danantara's role in coal retirement and clean energy deployment
"Danantara, Indonesia's newly established sovereign wealth fund, can play a pivotal role in the country's coal transition strategy, particularly given its oversight of PLN, which is the largest power utility and coal asset holder," says Yustika.
The report highlights how Danantara could drive PLN portfolio optimization by leading CFPP retirement or repurposing through identifying eligible assets, standardizing retirement pathways, and ensuring that just transition principles, such as workforce reskilling and community support, are embedded in every phase-out plan.
The report also underlines the importance of Danantara's role as a credible platform for blended finance, risk-sharing, and performance-based investment, which can proactively engage multilateral development banks, climate finance institutions, and global investors.
An opportunity for future-ready energy solutions
Indonesia can use its bold leadership, strategic planning, and inclusive dialogue to transform its coal legacy into a launchpad for a green revolution, securing energy access, promoting economic growth, and enhancing climate resilience.
"There is an opportunity to shift legacy coal assets into platforms for future-ready energy solutions while avoiding capital outlays. It changes the narrative from 'retirement as a cost' to 'retirement as an opportunity', especially if paired with a clear regulatory framework and government support," says Yustika.
Read the report: Transforming Indonesia's coal dependence into clean energy opportunities (https://ieefa.org/resources/transforming-indonesias-coal-dependence-clean-energy-opportunities)
Read this press release in Bahasa (https://ieefa.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/IEEFA%20Siaran%20Pers%20-%20Biaya%20Pembangkitan%20Naik%2048%25%2C%20Indonesia%20Perlu%20Segera%20Pensiunkan%20PLTU%20Tua.pdf)
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Original text here: https://ieefa.org/articles/transforming-indonesias-coal-dependence-clean-energy-growth
[Category: Energy]
Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Sustainable Financing Key for Red Electrica to Close Spain's Grid Investment Gap
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Nov. 19 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2025:
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Sustainable financing key for Red Electrica to close Spain's grid investment gap
Key Takeaways:
As Spain's electricity grid operator, Red Electrica de Espana (REE) is critical to the country's energy transition and a key part of Europe's power modernisation plans.
REE's 2026-2030 strategic plan will be crucial in bridging the grid investment gap to ensure Spain meets its energy transition targets and enhances energy affordability and security
... Show Full Article
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Nov. 19 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2025:
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Sustainable financing key for Red Electrica to close Spain's grid investment gap
Key Takeaways:
As Spain's electricity grid operator, Red Electrica de Espana (REE) is critical to the country's energy transition and a key part of Europe's power modernisation plans.
REE's 2026-2030 strategic plan will be crucial in bridging the grid investment gap to ensure Spain meets its energy transition targets and enhances energy affordability and securityfor the country and its neighbours.
Scaling up capital spending on energy storage, interconnections and digitalisation is essential to close this gap. Failure to do so risks more grid congestion and financial and reputational damage to REE itself.
Parent company Redeia's goal of 100% sustainable financing by 2030 is attainable. Further improving transparency and accountability would broaden its access to funding.
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(IEEFA) | Spain's electricity grid operator Red Electrica de Espana (REE) must seize the moment to relieve the growing pains associated with integrating renewable energy into the country's power grid, according to a new Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) report released today.
Spain's goal to generate 81% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 puts REE at the heart of the country's energy transition, with ramifications for its neighbours and Europe as a whole, the report finds.
REE's new strategic plan for 2026-2030 will be pivotal for the transmission system operator (TSO) if it is to bridge the investment gap, relieve grid congestion and improve cost efficiency, according to the authors, IEEFA analysts Kevin Leung and Jonathan Bruegel.
"Grid congestion remains a key barrier to the rapid deployment of renewable energy in Spain, as generation growth often outpaces the availability of transmission capacity in many regions," said Leung, sustainable finance analyst at IEEFA.
"This underscores the urgency for REE to accelerate investments in grid strengthening and to lead on enabling green hydrogen development and digitalisation."
As the EU moves to modernise and decarbonise its power grids, REE's new strategic plan can provide a blueprint not just for Spain's energy future but set the standard for TSOs across Europe.
"Spain offers a critical case study of how a TSO should align business strategy, asset split, investment planning and financial management with broader climate and energy goals," said Bruegel, European power sector analyst at IEEFA.
"This requires a robust, modernised and future-proof transmission network. Enhancing interconnection capacities will also be essential as Spain contributes to EU energy affordability and security."
This can be achieved by scaling up capital expenditure in key areas, such as energy storage, interconnections and digitalisation, the report recommends. Green financing is the key to widening access to funding.
"Despite REE's solid investment-grade profile and strategic execution under its 2021-2025 plan, a material investment gap remains," said Leung. "Investment will need to rise significantly in the new strategic plan -- not only to meet future system needs but also to address any shortfalls from Spain's 2021-2026 electricity grid planning period. Sustainable finance will be a decisive enabler of this transformation."
The report recommends REE adopt the European Green Bond Standard and debt instruments linked to performance targets, such as renewable capacity enabled, emissions avoided and flexibility gained. This would broaden the company's access to funding, reinforce transparency and accountability, and boost investor confidence.
"REE's role as Spain's sole transmission system operator gives it a unique responsibility to ensure the country's renewable energy targets are achieved without compromising system reliability or affordability," said Bruegel.
"Ultimately, REE's success will depend on aligning robust financial management and operational excellence with the wider European grid modernisation agenda.
"By executing its investment plans effectively and transparently, REE can safeguard Spain's energy affordability and security. It can also emerge as a benchmark for how electricity transmission system operators can drive the energy transition through disciplined, sustainable and forward-looking infrastructure investment."
Failure to close Spain's grid investment gap risks perpetuating grid congestion, stalling renewable capacity growth and weakening the credibility of the country's decarbonisation pathway -- ultimately increasing financial and reputational risks for REE, the report warns.
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About IEEFA
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) examines issues related to energy markets, trends and policies. The Institute's mission is to accelerate the transition to a diverse, sustainable and profitable energy economy. www.ieefa.org
Read the report: https://ieefa.org/resources/red-electricas-opportunity-close-spains-grid-investment-gap
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Original text here: https://ieefa.org/articles/sustainable-financing-key-red-electrica-close-spains-grid-investment-gap
[Category: Energy]
Environmental Entrepreneurs: Report - Clean Energy Grew 5X Faster Than Rest of Georgia Economy, Added 3K Jobs in 2024
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSrep) -- Environmental Entrepreneurs issued the following news release:
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REPORT: Clean energy grew 5X faster than rest of Georgia economy, added 3K jobs in 2024
* Georgia added the sixth-most clean energy jobs out of any state in the U.S.
* 56% of all new energy jobs in the state were in clean energy.
ATLANTA, GA - Clean energy jobs grew more than five times faster in Georgia than the rest of the state's economy in 2024, raising the total number of clean energy workers in the state to over 85,500, according to the third annual Clean Jobs Georgia report (https://e2.org/reports/clean-jobs-georgia-2025/)
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSrep) -- Environmental Entrepreneurs issued the following news release:
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REPORT: Clean energy grew 5X faster than rest of Georgia economy, added 3K jobs in 2024
* Georgia added the sixth-most clean energy jobs out of any state in the U.S.
* 56% of all new energy jobs in the state were in clean energy.
ATLANTA, GA - Clean energy jobs grew more than five times faster in Georgia than the rest of the state's economy in 2024, raising the total number of clean energy workers in the state to over 85,500, according to the third annual Clean Jobs Georgia report (https://e2.org/reports/clean-jobs-georgia-2025/)released today by the national, nonpartisan business group E2 and its partners at Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA), Black Owners of Solar Services (BOSS), and Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub (GACTH).
In fact, Georgia added 3,292 clean energy jobs last year - which ranks sixth in the United States, above Illinois, Massachusetts, and Colorado.
"These numbers demonstrate that clean energy continued to be an outsized source for job growth in Georgia in 2024," said Zach Amittay, E2's Southeast Advocate. "Unfortunately, that growth is threatened by backsliding in 2025 on the federal policy front, but we hope Georgia's policymakers will take action to maintain clean energy's momentum as a job engine."
Jobs in energy efficiency, renewable generation, storage and grid, and other clean energy subsectors continued to grow faster than the broader economy, accounting for an increasingly large share of the state's workforce. The energy efficiency sector hosts more than two thirds of Georgia's clean energy jobs, supporting over 61,000 jobs in 2024.
However, clean vehicles-related jobs saw a slight dip in 2024, losing 146 jobs after hitting a record high of 7,821 workers at the end of 2023. Clean vehicles-related jobs took a similar hit across the country, as did jobs related to internal combustion engine vehicles.
"The momentum in clean energy job growth over the past several years is largely the result of significant investment in local manufacturing," said Andy Marshall, GACTH's Executive Director. "The need for energy capacity, which will be met via all sources including efficiency, renewables, and energy storage will be the driver of jobs in these sectors for years to come."
Though not reflected in the 2024 data, recent policy actions by Congress and the Trump administration--to kill projects, revoke tax credits, cancel permits and add new regulatory red tape--have already caused major job losses in the clean energy industry, with more expected to come. According to separate E2 research, since January 2025 companies canceled more than $2.9 billion in planned clean energy related factories and other projects in Georgia that were expected to create almost 1,100 new jobs.
With clean energy companies and investors reeling from federal decisions to slash clean energy support, the sector's importance to the region's overall economy is clearer than ever. Clean energy now accounts for almost 39 percent of all energy and vehicle-related jobs in the state, and almost 2 percent of all jobs. Industry-wide, nearly 66 percent of the sector's jobs (almost 57,000 jobs) are in construction or manufacturing.
"The job growth highlighted in this report confirms that clean energy is now a cornerstone of Georgia's economic competitiveness," said Adam Hoyt, GSEA Board Member. "These projects strengthen local economies, attract private investment, and save consumers money. Georgia's policymakers must be clear-minded about maintaining a business climate where clean energy companies can keep creating high-quality jobs across the state."
Fulton County is home to nearly 16,000 clean energy workers, tops in Georgia.
County
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Total Clean Energy Jobs in 2024
Fulton ... 15,976
Cobb ... 7,778
Gwinnett ... 7,321
DeKalb ... 5,321
Henry ... 4,069
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A note on demographics: Veterans made up 10.6 percent of the clean energy workforce for Georgia in 2024.
For more information, data requests, or to speak with clean energy business leaders in your area, contact Daniel Baker (dbaker@e2.org; 202-836-9390).
Methodology
This analysis of U.S. clean energy employment is based on employment data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership for the 2025 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER). The USEER analyzes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) to track employment across many energy production, transmission and distribution subsectors. In addition, the 2025 USEER relies on a unique supplemental survey of 42,800 business representatives across the United States. Created and conducted by BW Research, the methodology has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This survey is used to identify energy-related employment within key subsectors of the broader industries as classified by the BLS and to assign them into their component energy and energy efficiency sectors.
A full methodology on the sectors and types of jobs this analysis includes and does not include is available in E2's Clean Jobs America report here.
Other Resources
* Clean Jobs America 2025 Report and Map
* Clean Economy Works | Monthly Tracking: More details plus an interactive map of each of these projects shows what's trending in America's booming clean economy.
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E2 is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and managed more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on LinkedIn (@e2org) or X/Twitter at @e2org.
Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub (GACTH) is a 501c3 that aims to make innovation the driver of a robust cleantech economy that elevates people and communities throughout Georgia and the Southeast. By making it easier for innovators to access the talent, capital, and resources necessary to create lasting organizations, the Hub will make Georgia a leader in cleantech innovation and tomorrow's growth industries. For more information on how to get involved, visit gacth.org.
The Georgia Solar Energy Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that benefits Georgia's energy consumers by advocating for accessible solar power. We inform local and state leaders about policies that make solar more available, supporting investment and local economic growth to keep Georgia's economy strong. We also help solar professionals stay updated on news, trends, and standards while offering networking and outreach opportunities. And by connecting homeowners and businesses with trusted solar experts, we provide guides to evaluate solar options, helping consumers save money and reduce their environmental impact. Learn more at www.gasolar.org.
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Original text here: https://e2.org/releases/clean-jobs-georgia-2025/
[Category: Environment]
EWG Finds California Crop Fields Showered With 2.5M Pounds of PFAS Pesticides
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSbrep) -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release:
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EWG finds California crop fields showered with 2.5M pounds of PFAS pesticides
Every year, an average of 2.5 million pounds of pesticides containing the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS are sprayed on California crop fields, according to a new analysis and interactive map from the Environmental Working Group (https://www.ewg.org/research/ewg-25-million-pounds-toxic-pfas-pesticides-spread-california-farmland-annually).
From 2018 through 2023, nearly 15 million pounds of PFAS pesticides were
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSbrep) -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release:
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EWG finds California crop fields showered with 2.5M pounds of PFAS pesticides
Every year, an average of 2.5 million pounds of pesticides containing the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS are sprayed on California crop fields, according to a new analysis and interactive map from the Environmental Working Group (https://www.ewg.org/research/ewg-25-million-pounds-toxic-pfas-pesticides-spread-california-farmland-annually).
From 2018 through 2023, nearly 15 million pounds of PFAS pesticides wereapplied statewide, EWG found, based on a review of state Department of Pesticide Regulation data.
Over the six year period, Fresno County used the most, 2.1 million pounds, then Kern with 1.6 million pounds, and then San Joaquin County, at 923,000 pounds, and Imperial County, at 890,000 pounds. Monterey, Riverside and Sonoma counties also applied large amounts.
This widespread use of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides containing PFAS introduces a concerning amount of potentially harmful chemicals into our environment, especially on land where fruits, vegetables, and animal feed are grown.
EWG has long warned about the potential health harms associated with overexposure to pesticides like glyphosate. The added threat of forever chemicals in pesticides could create even more health and environmental concerns.
"California is a leading grower of produce sold in the state and throughout the U.S. These findings show how widely the potentially toxic PFAS pesticides are used on agricultural land," said Jared Hayes, EWG senior policy analyst and co-author of the report.
Exposure to some pesticides is known to increase the risk of health problems such as cancer and reproductive and developmental harm.
PFAS alone are linked to those health harms, as well as other issues, including increased cholesterol and reduced vaccine effectiveness. Some well-studied PFAS are toxic, even at very low levels, and can cause serious health harms. They do not break down in the environment and can build up in the body.
EWG found heavy PFAS pesticide use on some of California's most iconic and lucrative crops such as almonds, pistachios, wine grapes, alfalfa and tomatoes.
"Every pound of forever chemicals used on farmland presents a risk of contamination of our food, our water and soil. It doesn't make sense when plenty of non-PFAS pesticides are readily available," said Hayes.
Because of concerns about PFAS pesticides' environmental and health harms, the European Union has already banned many, including two of the chemicals most used on California crops: bifenthrin and trifluralin.
Why PFAS are in pesticides
For the new report, EWG reviewed 66 PFAS registered as active pesticide ingredients permitted in the U.S. for use to kill fungi, insects or weeds. EWG found that 52 of those PFAS were used in 58 California counties from 2018 to 2023.
PFAS can also be found in pesticides as inert, or inactive, ingredients, which means they don't address pests directly but can enhance how well a pesticide works. Manufacturers aren't required to disclose individual inert PFAS in their products, so it's hard to know the extent to which they play a role in the effects of pesticides that are sprayed.
"PFAS pesticides are a significant but overlooked health risk for millions of people," said Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs. "The potential health threat of PFAS pesticides has led other countries to ban them."
Denmark prohibited six PFAS pesticide ingredients in July 2025 after detecting them in groundwater. European regulators have also declined to renew the approval of the agriculture chemical flufenacet because of thyroid harm and groundwater contamination risk.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has not banned any PFAS pesticides. Maine was the first state to ban intentionally added PFAS in pesticides, effective in 2030.
Despite being among the largest users of PFAS pesticides, California has not moved to regulate these chemicals used across the state's agricultural land.
Tips for reducing exposure
Consumers concerned about PFAS pesticide exposure should not reduce their fruit and vegetable intake, since the benefits of produce outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure. But they can take simple steps to lower their health risk, such as:
* Washing produce thoroughly before eating it.
* Choosing organic produce when possible, as it can't be grown using PFAS pesticides.
* Using EWG's resources like the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce(TM) and the Guide to Washing Produce to reduce dietary exposure.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
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Original text here: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2025/11/ewg-finds-california-crop-fields-showered-25m-pounds-pfas
[Category: Environment]
