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Nonprofits to receive billions of dollars for clean energy projects

Apr 5, 2024
$20 billion in grants and loans will be forthcoming from the Biden Administration. It's hoped this will attract private investment too.
At least 70% of recent federal funding for "green banks" is going to clean energy projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

With CHIPS Act money, the Biden administration bets an old plant can make new chips

Mar 26, 2024
A Vermont facility built in the 1950s is getting a shot at making semiconductors for smartphones and electric vehicles.
A 1950s-era facility built by IBM and now owned by GlobalFoundries is set to receive upgrades, funded partly by $125 million from the CHIPS Act.
Henry Epp/Marketplace

Biden cancels $5.8 billion in student debt for public service workers

Mar 22, 2024
The federal government is trying to make sure eligible borrowers are able to get credit for payments made under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, eligible borrowers like teachers make student debt payments for a certain number of years and the rest should be forgiven. That hasn't always happened though.
Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images

Biden uses State of the Union speech to tout his economic track record

Mar 8, 2024
He cited job growth and cheaper drugs for seniors, among other things.
During the State of the Union address on Thursday, President Joe Biden touted the strong labor market the U.S. has seen under his presidency.
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Biden opens doors to government jobs for military spouses

Mar 1, 2024
Guidelines may aid career prospects for group that tends to be un- and underemployed. Recruitment and retention of troops may benefit too.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visit with Navy families in Norfolk, Virginia. Frequent relocation can make it hard for military spouses to hold down a job.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Biden administration moves forward with measuring nature's economic impact

Feb 2, 2024
At a recent ocean biodiversity summit, federal officials touted the plan to quantify the country’s natural assets and the services provided by healthy ecosystems, like tree canopies that can cool urban areas or kelp forests that prevent coastline erosion.
Go mountain biking and things like lodging and dining will be counted in GDP, but the fact that a pristine natural setting prompted that spending will not be.
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White House is taking a closer look at the impact of liquefied natural gas exports

Jan 26, 2024
Though the U.S. is the world’s top LNG exporter, the administration is considering effects on the climate crisis and energy security.
National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi discusses the Biden administration's policy on LNG exports.
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New Biden administration rules aim to unsnarl FEMA relief for disaster victims

Jan 23, 2024
The rules include up-front housing vouchers and broader access to flexible, critical-needs payments in the aftermath of a disaster.
Two years after the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history, hundreds of victims are still waiting on FEMA payouts. Updates to FEMA’s regulations are meant to cut through red tape.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

New government rule restricts who can be considered an independent contractor

Jan 10, 2024
The likely outcome of the rule is to designate more people as employees. That has some employers through the gig economy worried.
The new Biden administration rule could put more pressure on app-based gig economy companies, such as Uber, that relies heavily on independent contractors.
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High-speed rail — environmentally friendly and popular worldwide — has a hard time in the U.S.

Dec 8, 2023
The Biden administration's pouring billions into it, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to the total cost.
Though high-speed rail is common in Europe and Asia, most Americans lack access to it.
Bastien Inzaurralde/AFP via Getty Images