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☆ China is racing towards a future powered by wind and solar
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Ella Nilsen | Hien An Ngo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

China is installing wind and solar power projects faster than any other country on the planet. It’s not that China is using less energy — it’s using more than ever — but it’s just adding wind and solar power to its grid at an astonishing pace. The country is constructing two-thirds — nearly 339 gigawatts — of the world’s utility-scale solar and wind projects. That is in addition to the 758 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity it has already built, according to the Global Energy Monitor. Wind and solar are now capable of generating 37% of the country’s power, according to Global Energy Monitor, already displacing coal’s dominance.

Persons: Donald Trump, It’s, “, ”, Jonathan Pershing, William, Flora Hewlett, John Podesta, ” Podesta, Xi Jinping, hasn’t, Xia Yingxian, ” Li Shuo, Shuo, ” Shuo Organizations: CNN, Department, Global Energy Monitor, International Energy Agency, White, US, State Department, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Climate, Asia Society Policy Institute Locations: Mongolia, China, Europe, Africa, Podesta, Paris, China’s

☆ Trump picks fracking company CEO Chris Wright as next Department of Energy secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday named Chris Wright, the CEO of Denver-based fracking company Liberty Energy, as his pick to be the next secretary of the Department of Energy. Wright will also serve as a member on the newly formed Council of National Energy, which Trump said will consist of all agencies involved in the “permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation” of energy. In addition to his company’s work on fracking oil and natural gas, Wright also sits on the board of a modular nuclear reactor company and has talked about the potential of nuclear energy. Developing nuclear energy has become a big focus of the Biden administration’s Energy Department. “Standing in the way of today’s energy system before we’ve built a new energy system, there’s just no upside in that,” Wright told CNBC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Chris Wright, Wright, Trump, Doug Burgum –, “ Chris, Chris, ” Trump, Harold Hamm, ” Wright, Joe Biden, “, we’ve, ” Organizations: CNN, Liberty Energy, Department of Energy, of National Energy, North Dakota Gov, Department of, Energy, Gas, American Energy Independence, Global Energy Markets, Biden administration’s Energy Department, National Nuclear Security Administration, Hart Energy, CNBC, International Energy Agency Locations: Denver, Oklahoma

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, was involved in a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault in 2017, local officials in California confirmed on Thursday night. A spokesperson for the city government of Monterey, California, said its police department had investigated “an alleged sexual assault” involving Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran. The statement said that there were no weapons involved, but there were injuries — “contusions to right thigh” — without providing additional details. Describing Trump’s early selections for his administration as “high-caliber and extremely qualified,” Trump’s communications director defended Hegseth in a statement to CNN. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed,” said Trump communications director Steven Cheung.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s, “, Hegseth, — “ contusions, Trump’s, “ Mr, ”, Steven Cheung, Susie Wiles, Timothy Parlatore, ” Parlatore Organizations: Fox News, Army National Guard, Hyatt Regency Monterey, California Federation of Republican Women, Facebook, CNN, Trump Locations: California, Monterey , California, Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel, Spa, Monterey, Monterey County

☆ It’s not just Democrats. Republicans are working to Trump-proof their climate money
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Ella Nilsen | Renée Rigdon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —President Joe Biden’s climate law is on the chopping block as Republicans prepare to have full control in Washington. But it’s not just Democrats gearing up to protect the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy policies. In other words, if Republicans successfully repeal Biden’s climate and clean energy law, their districts stand to lose the most. Conservative groups and companies who are using the clean energy tax credits are already starting to lobby lawmakers to save them. “To demonstrate that these tax credits are really a net profit for the economy, that really is the name of the game.”

Persons: Joe Biden’s, it’s, Donald Trump, Buddy Carter, Trevor Houser, Trump gunning, ” Houser, Carter, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ”, Richard Hudson —, —, Adrian Deveny, they’ll, Heather Reams Organizations: CNN, Republican, ” Republican, Republicans, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Congressional Republicans, Trump, Hyundai EV, Hyundai, North Carolina Rep, Toyota, MIT, Climate Vision, Conservative, Citizens, Responsible Energy Solutions Locations: Washington, Georgia, Carter’s Georgia

☆ Biden just finalized a major climate rule. This one could be tricky for Trump to dismantle
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The rule, proposed nearly a year ago, was mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, which could make it more difficult for the second Trump administration to dismantle. The methane fee will be charged by the federal government until the companies fix the leaks. This fee was paired with financial incentives for oil and gas companies to fix leaky pipelines or infrastructure. The rule could prove tricky for the incoming Trump administration to overturn because the program was included in Biden’s climate law, which passed Congress in 2022. Undoing it would take another act of Congress; while not impossible if Republicans take the House of Representatives, it could be an uphill climb and take longer than if the Trump administration were acting on its own.

Persons: Biden, Trump, It’s, Michael Regan Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA

☆ COP29: As Trump’s win tests the world order, diplomats are fretting over what it means for the planet
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Angela Dewan | Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A U-turn on US climate policy could be disastrous for the planet, as it raises the risk of emulation. When America does something on the world stage, at least some countries tend to follow. Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, negotiators will ramp down their expectations in terms of what’s possible at the talks, he said. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will host the climate talks next year in Brazil, bowed out after a head injury. The world is already 1.3 degrees warmer than it was before humans started burning fossil fuels at an industrial scale.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Trump, ”, Oli Brown, ” Trump, they’ve, Mukhtar Babayev, Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Ursula Von Der Leyen, Claudia Sheinbaum, Olaf Scholz, Dick Schoof, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Frederic J . Brown, Jonathan Pershing, Biden, “, Li Shuo, Trump’s, Joeri Rogelj, ” Rogelj Organizations: CNN, Union, Israeli, Maccabi Tel, Trump, Wilmington Oil, Getty, European Union, Asia Society Policy Institute, UN, Imperial College London Locations: Baku, United States, Paris, America, London, Mexico, Amsterdam, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Brazil, Wilmington, Los Angeles , California, AFP, China, EU, there’s

☆ White House races to dole out funding from key legislation before Trump takes office
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Arlette Saenz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The White House is racing to dole out remaining funds appropriated from key legislation President Joe Biden signed before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in 10 weeks. The implementation efforts reflect one slice of how the Biden administration is working to shore up key initiatives as the second Trump presidency approaches. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the first official day at COP29, Podesta said the Biden administration is “fully committed” to obligating outstanding funding under Biden’s climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. About $103 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding, which makes up 92% of the law’s total, has been announced as of late October. While Trump has criticized the CHIPS legislation as “so bad,” it has enjoyed bipartisan support because the plans could create jobs and infuse money into local communities.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, ramping, White, Natalie Quillian, “, ”, ” Quillian, John Podesta, Podesta, it’s, ” “, Andrew Harnik, Mike Johnson, he’d, Betsy Klein, Ella Nilsen Organizations: CNN, Commerce Department, Law, White House, White, UN, Act, House Republicans, American, Congress, Trump, Semiconductor, The Commerce Department, Polar Semiconductor, Intel, Micron Technology, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Commerce, Louisiana Republican Locations: Ukraine, America, Baku, Azerbaijan, COP29, ”, Washington , DC, New York, Corning, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Louisiana

Sanders added it is “problematic” if schedule F is being used to reinforce and maintain political loyalty. The spoils system was replaced by the current merit-based system where career employees serve multiple administrations, carrying out their jobs independent of politics. The Biden administration erected temporary roadblocks at the federal Office of Personnel Management – rules aimed at protecting federal workers from retaliatory mass firings. The District of Columbia itself has the largest individual chunk of federal workers in any state or territory, with more than 162,000. But it could also be devastating to employment in states that went to Trump, where roughly 967,000 federal workers live.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Ronald Sanders –, Trump’s, –, Sanders, Max Stier, “, ” Stier, didn’t, Karoline Leavitt, Biden, Will Lanzoni, Elon Musk, Mandy Gunasekara, Everett Kelley –, Joyce Howell, “ They’re, Marie Owens Powell, Sunlen Serfaty, Tierney Sneed Organizations: CNN, Trump, Energy Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Partnership for Public Service, Management, DC, of Columbia, Convention Center, Land Management, EPA, Unions, American Federation of Government Employees, AFGE, ”, American Civil Liberties Union, Democracy Locations: Maryland, Virginia, Beach, West Palm Beach , Florida, Washington, Colorado

☆ Hours after Trump’s election, Biden moved to limit oil drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hours after former President Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 election, the Biden administration moved Wednesday to limit oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Oil drilling had been banned for decades in the Arctic refuge — a pristine natural region in northeast Alaska home to a wide range of threatened species. But a law passed during the first Trump administration required the federal government to hold two lease sales there for fossil fuel drilling. The Biden administration signaled Wednesday it plans to move forward with a 400,000-acre auction — the lowest acreage it could legally offer. “Today’s action by the Biden administration better protects the Arctic Refuge, and for that, we are grateful,” said Kristen Miller, executive director of Alaska Wilderness League.

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Joe Biden, “, ”, Kristen Miller, Josiah Patkotak Organizations: CNN, Wildlife, Interior Department, Trump, House, Alaska Wilderness League, Biden administration’s Department of the, North Slope Borough Locations: Alaska, Slope, North Slope

☆ 2024 will be the first year on record to smash a warming limit scientists warned about
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Brandon Miller | Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly all the world’s countries pledged to strive to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius in the Paris Agreement, which scientists said would prevent cascading and worsening impacts such as droughts, heat waves and catastrophic sea level rise. Data released Wednesday by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service shows 2024 is “virtually certain” to shoot above that threshold. “We don’t have time to stop,” Alex Scott, a climate diplomacy strategist at international think tank ECCO said Wednesday. It would be a more “serious” and “dramatic” step, said Alden Meyer, senior associate at climate think tank E3G and a longtime international climate expert. With Trump’s reelection, global climate negotiations are facing another whiplash moment as Americans seesaw between presidential extremes, said Meyer.

Persons: Europe’s Copernicus, Donald Trump, ” Alex Scott, Trump, ” Scott, Apu Gomes, Alden Meyer, Meyer, “, ” Meyer, Copernicus Organizations: CNN, America, Service, Trump, United Nations, European Union, Milton Locations: Paris, San Bernardino, California, China, Florida, Spain, Fuji, Japan

☆ What’s at stake on Tuesday? The planet.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Julian Quinones/CNNFormer Trump administration officials have outlined the speed at which they intend to dismantle the progress the Biden administration made on climate change. Trump has publicly distanced himself from the ideological blueprint, but CNN found at least 140 authors worked in the Trump administration. But given the momentum of the clean energy train, some experts and analysists doubt that Trump would be able to derail it entirely. While the green trend in economics now has Republican states like Texas leading the nation in clean energy installations, Germany, Japan and China got there first. Trump’s plan is to undo that progress, throw billions of dollars of clean energy investment out the window and give other countries the economic opportunity, instead.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, Twain, Tom Sawyer ”, Helene, Lincoln, Reagan, it's, Julian Quinones, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, ” Mandy Gunasekara, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, David Bernhardt, Nilsen, Gunasekara, Bernhardt, Al Gore, Gore, Bill Weir, CNN Bill Gates, ” Gates, Mark Twain, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN Former Trump, Environmental, Agency, Trump, Energy Ventures, Microsoft Locations: Minnesota, American, Paris, Phoenix, CNN's, Greenland, Texas, Germany, Japan, China, America

☆ Fact check: Kamala Harris town hall on CNN
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris joined CNN’s Anderson Cooper for a town hall in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania on Wednesday night, where she faced questions directly from persuadable and undecided voters less than two weeks before Americans head to the polls on Election Day. Former President Donald Trump was invited but declined to participate in a CNN town hall. Separate studies estimate that the impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs would also raise prices for families, but by a lower amount. From CNN’s Piper Hudspeth BlackburnHarris’ claim on Trump’s tax cutsVice President Kamala Harris slammed her opponent former President Donald Trump for putting in place policies that benefitted the wealthy during his first term. “Donald Trump, when he was president, gave tax cuts to the richest, to billionaires and big corporations,” she said at CNN’s town hall.

Persons: Kamala Harris, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Donald Trump, Harris, Trump, He’s, Katie Lobosco Harris, “, Anderson, Mike Pence, Rather, Joe Biden, “ Joe Biden, Daniel Dale, Ella Nilsen Harris, Donald Trump’s, ”, Harris ’, Tim Walz, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Harris ’, “ Donald Trump, Tami Luhby Organizations: CNN, Center for American Progress Action, CAP, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Center, Democratic, US, Protection, Army Corps of Engineers, CBS Locations: Pennsylvania, persuadable, Mexico, CNN’s

☆ Fact check: Trump repeats debunked lies about FEMA’s hurricane response during North Carolina visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump used a Monday visit to North Carolina to repeat debunked lies about the federal response to Hurricane Helene. They’ve spent it on illegal migrants,” Trump said. Second, it’s not true that FEMA disaster assistance money was improperly reallocated to migrants. But here’s the key: this $650 million pot is entirely distinct from FEMA’s much larger pot of disaster relief funds. As of last Tuesday, its Disaster Relief Fund had about $8.5 billion remaining, FEMA told CNN’s Ella Nilsen.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hurricane Helene, Trump, “, They’ve, ” Trump, Biden, it’s, they’re, Congress –, Chuck Edwards of, Edwards, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Helene –, Alejandro Mayorkas, Helene, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Republican, FEMA, Trump, US Customs, Department of Homeland Security, White, Republicans, Congress, Disaster Relief, Homeland Locations: North Carolina, Asheville, Greenville, Chuck Edwards of North Carolina, Hurricane, Helene

☆ Millions lose power every year because of extreme weather. Here’s how experts say we can prevent it
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This ability to get electricity from one part of the country to another is ever more important as America’s grid is lashed by increasingly extreme weather. Extreme weather isn’t the only reason the grid needs to expand. “We run a VHS grid for a Hulu economy.”America’s grid is actually three grids: the Eastern and Western interconnections, plus the independent Texas grid. The physical electrical lines connecting all of the systems are fragile and outdated, experts told CNN. Clements cautioned that even a bigger grid can’t solve all the challenges posed by climate change-fueled extreme weather.

Persons: Cary Kottler, ” Kottler, Helene, Milton, ”, Allison Clements, “, you’ve, Clements, ” Clements, Rob Gramlich, Ariel Horowitz, Horowitz, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, there’s, Hurricane Helene Organizations: CNN, Texans, Pattern, Energy, “, Energy Department, DOE Locations: Uri, Texas, California

☆ North Carolina: FEMA forced to pause Hurricane Helene aid due to reported threats toward responders
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Paradise Afshar | Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Aid to several communities impacted by Hurricane Helene was temporarily paused in parts of North Carolina over the weekend due to reports of threats against Federal Emergency Management Agency responders, amid a backdrop of misinformation about responses to recent storms. Some FEMA teams helping disaster survivors apply for assistance in rural North Carolina are currently working at secure disaster recovery centers in counties where federal workers are receiving threats, a FEMA spokesperson told CNN on Monday. More than 100 people were killed in North Carolina and thousands of others were left grappling with catastrophic damage. There were more than 1,200 FEMA staff providing support in North Carolina as of Saturday, according to an update from the agency. FEMA officials have received threats before, but the difference is the magnitude of threats received in the wake of Helene’s devastation in North Carolina, the FEMA spokesperson told CNN.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, It’s, Helene, Phil Howell, Howell, we’ve, Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Joe Biden, ”, Kerry Giles, CNN’s Jalen Beckford Organizations: CNN, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, National Guard, Washington Post, Sheriff B, Facebook, Rescue, Hurricanes, Biden, Senior Locations: Hurricane, North Carolina, Rutherford County, Asheville, Florida, Ashe County, Tennessee, Virginia, ”, ” Rutherford

Sean Rayford/Getty Images Cars move slowly through Matlacha, Florida, on Thursday after Hurricane Milton damaged power lines. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/AP A satellite image captures Hurricane Milton reaching the coast of Florida on Wednesday, October 9. Chris O'Meara/AP David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Marta Lavandier/AP A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday. “Many areas in the county have incurred severe property damage because of back-to-back impacts from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton,” Pinellas County Consumer Protection said in a public advisory Thursday.

Persons: Milton, Floridians, ”, Ron DeSantis, Walt, Aquatica, Connie Gore, Cecelia Smith, Hurricane Milton, Crystal Vander, Miguel J, Rodriguez Carrillo, Robert Turick, Turick, Helene, Rebecca Blackwell, Cristobal Herrera, Julio Cortez, Giorgio Viera, Ricardo Arduengo, Liz Kelly, Matt, Andrew West, Chandan Khanna, Nadia Zomorodian, Austin, Joe Raedle, Sean Rayford, Marta Lavandier, Jefferee Woo, Bryan R, Smith, Chris Urso, Marco Bello, Brandon Marlow, Marie Cook, Bill Ingram, Reuters Stephen Lundgren, Doug Engle, Ron Rook, Paul Hennessy, Saul Martinez, Payton Wyse, Andrew Goncharsky, Christian Burke, Lee, Connor Ferran, Fort Myers, Nicolette Mariano, Kaila Jones, Damon Higgins, Ted Carlson, McKenzie, Evan Purcell, Purcell's, Anna Maria Island, Carlson, Hurricane Helene, Yamil Lage, Matthew Dominick, NASA Aurelio Ortiz, Lorenzo Hernandez, Mike Carlson, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters John Fedor, Chris O'Meara, David Jalving, Pete, Octavio Jones, Tristan Wheelock, Gerald, Martin Zetina, Gregg Newton, ” DeSantis, “, ” Crews, Melissa Seixas, CNN’s Kate Bolduan, Joe Biden, Deanne Criswell, ” Criswell, Hurricane, it’s, CNN’s Andy Rose Organizations: CNN, St, Daytona, Tampa International, Sarasota Bradenton International, Coast Guard, Walt Disney, SeaWorld, USA, AFP, Getty, AP, Hurricane, Network, Reuters, Bradenton, Tropicana, Major League, Tampa Bay Rays, Celtic Ray Public, Tampa Bay Times, NOAA, Vanguard, School, Ocala, Orlando International Airport, Anadolu, Disney, Fort, Palm Beach Daily, Florida Army National Guard, Tampa General Hospital, NASA, International, Milton, Tampa International Airport, Bloomberg, AP Contractors, New Port Richey, AP Tropicana, Duke Energy, Pinellas County Consumer Protection, “, Government, FEMA, Cross Locations: Florida, Tampa, Hillsborough, Lithia, Clearwater, Johns, Orlando, Sanibel , Florida, St, Petersburg, Georgia, South Carolina, Aquatica Orlando, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando, Martin County , Florida, Port St Lucie , Florida, Hurricane, Englewood , Florida, Manasota Key, Hurricane Milton, Venice , Florida, Riverview , Florida, Lakewood Park , Florida, Siesta Key, Punta Gorda , Florida, North Fort Myers , Florida, Siesta, Volusia, South Daytona , Florida, Bradenton Beach, Milton, St . Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Odessa , Florida, Venice, Matlacha , Florida, Palmetto Beach, Bradenton , Florida, St . Petersburg , Florida, AFP, Sarasota , Florida, Segundo, Davis, Fort Myers , Florida, Wellington , Florida, Palm, Ocala , Florida, County, Wellington, Gulfport , Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, Sebastian , Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Palm Beach, Havana, Cuba, Celestún, Mexico, Port Richey , Florida, Tampa Bay, Treasure Island , Florida, Pete Beach , Florida, Treasure, Fort Myers Beach, Progreso, New Port, Kissimmee , Florida, Melissa Seixas , Florida, Pinellas County, Georgia , Tennessee, Carolinas

“We’re going to be going to the Congress. Going to need a lot more money as we identify specifically how much is needed. But discussions surrounding FEMA and disaster-relief funding have taken a sharply political bent in recent weeks, a development that may complicate discussions in Congress. “Conservative, hardcore” Republicans, Biden said “are standing up and saying, ‘It’s got to stop.’” He later called Florida Gov. In more productive conversations, Biden spoke by phone with Scott, who told CNN they discussed ways Congress could re-up funding for FEMA and SBA when the time is right.

Persons: Joe Biden, Helene, Biden, hasn’t, Mike Johnson, “ We’re, We’re, I’m, ” Biden, Isabel Casillas Guzman, ”, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Deanne Criswell, Milton, ” Criswell, Criswell, Donald Trump, “, ‘ It’s, Ron DeSantis, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, ” Scott, Harris, Alejandro Mayorkas, –, ” Mayorkas, Trump, DeSantis, Hurricane Helene, ” DeSantis, I’ve, ” Harris, Scott, CNN’s Isabel Rosales, Brian Kemp, Kemp, …, CNN’s Ella Nilsen Organizations: Washington CNN, Milton, Federal Emergency Management, Republican, Small Business Administration, SBA, CNN, FEMA, Disaster Relief, Congress, Trump, Conservative, Republicans, Florida Gov, Homeland, Pentagon, DC, of Housing, Urban, Department of Agriculture, Lawmakers, Democrats –, CNBC, Democrat, Republican Gov Locations: Florida, Milton, Hurricane Milton, Punta Gorda, North Carolina, Washington, Hurricane, DeSantis, In Georgia

☆ How did FEMA spend $9 billion so quickly? Back-to-back disasters
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This rapid spend rate is a reflection of just how many earlier disasters the agency is dealing with in addition to Milton and Helene. Here’s what to know:How did FEMA spend $9 billion so quickly? That gave FEMA about $20 billion worth of funding to tap into as it responded to Helene and Milton. “In August, we had paused obligations for recovery projects for all of those other open disasters,” Criswell told reporters. Last year, the US had a record 23 disasters costing at least $1 billion by September – with 28 such disasters in the calendar year, the most ever recorded.

Persons: Helene, Milton –, Deanne Criswell, Milton, Criswell, Dominick Del Vecchio, “, ” Criswell, Hurricane Helene, Adam Smith, Hurricane Beryl, Greenlee Beal, NOAA’s Smith, isn’t, It’s, Smith, ” Smith, ” CNN’s Lauren Fox Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Disaster Relief Fund, Rescue, Task Force, Nevada Task Force, Reuters, Hurricane, NOAA, CNN, “ Locations: Milton, Nevada, Maui, Lahaina , Hawaii, Texas , California, New Mexico, Hurricane Milton, ”, California, Texas, New England, Dallas, Galveston , Texas, United States

☆ What to know about FEMA’s $750 hurricane disaster payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

This is the first hurricane season where the $750 payment plan has been in effect, so it’s also not something officials and people in hurricane zones are familiar with. “I worry that they won’t apply for assistance, which means I can’t get them the necessary items they need.”Here’s what to know about FEMA’s assistance programs:What is the $750 FEMA payment to disaster survivors? This $750 payment is thanks to a relatively new federal program, implemented in March of this year. And counter to rumors, this money is not a loan; it is for disaster survivors to keep and spend. Rothenberg also stressed the $750 from FEMA is not a loan and is for disaster survivors to keep and spend.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, it’s, Deanne Criswell, ” Criswell, “, ” It’s, Jaclyn Rothenberg, “ It’s, Trump, Biden, Hurricane Helene, ” Trump, Rothenberg Organizations: CNN, FEMA, North Carolina Locations: Butler, Pennsylvania, Hurricane

The Weather Prediction Center has increased the rainfall threat for Wednesday to a rare “high” risk, or a level 4 of 4. For Tampa that would equal more than five months’ worth of rain – the average for October is 2.34 inches. More than 10 inches of rain could also break monthly records for some cities in central Florida. The heavy rainfall combined with high storm surge could create an especially dangerous situation. Flood watches remain for nearly 20 million people across Florida, and over 5 million people are under storm surge alerts.

Persons: Fort, Flood Locations: Tampa, Orlando, Florida, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Gulf, Atlantic, Milton

☆ Asheville was considered a climate haven. Helene shows nowhere is safe
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Laura Paddison | Holly Yan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Asheville was touted as a climate haven, a place to escape the worst ravages of extreme weather. It pummeled western North Carolina as a tropical storm Friday. In some ways, this scenic swath of western North Carolina was primed for catastrophe. Both systems concentrated their highest rainfall on western North Carolina, killing 11 people. A recent First Street report found parts of North Carolina devastated by Helene could now experience a once-in-100 year flood every 11 to 25 years.

Persons: ”, Kathie Dello, Hurricane Helene, Helene, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Jesse Keenan, Susan Hassol, Dello, ” Dello, Ivan, Frances, Sean Rayford, Fred, Travis Long, Helene “, Ed Kearns, ” Kerns, Esther Manheimer, Tulane University’s Keenan, Keenan, ” There’s, Rachel Ramirez, Ella Nilsen, Brandon Miller Organizations: CNN, Asheville, Highways, Biltmore, Tulane University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tropical, First Street Foundation, Tulane Locations: North Carolina, America, North Carolina’s, Florida, Buncombe County, Asheville, Gulf of Mexico, California , Arizona, Carolinas, Georgia, Buncombe, Biltmore Village, Cruso , North Carolina, Canada, Vermont, West Virginia, Phoenix

Mules are helping deliver supplies to North Carolina residents devastated by Hurricane Helene, according to Mountain Mule Packer Ranch. Mike Toberer told the AP he decided to bring a dozen of his mules to deliver food, water and diapers to hard-to-reach mountainous areas. The ranchers and mules “headed out” Monday morning, “and will continue to reply as quickly as possible to those in need,” his posts said. Mountain Mule Packer Ranch is located in Raeford, about 110 miles east of Charlotte and about 245 miles from Weaverville. “We have two fully loaded trucks and 20’ stock trailers heading to” western North Carolina for assistance, according to the post.

Persons: Mike Toberer, “, ”, Hurricane Helene Organizations: Facebook, AP Locations: North Carolina, Hurricane, Weaverville, Raeford, Charlotte

☆ Fact check: JD Vance and Tim Walz at the vice presidential debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +32 min

Tim Walz and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio are facing off Tuesday night in New York City for their first – and only – vice presidential debate. Vance mischaracterizes Harris’ role on border policySen. JD Vance claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris was appointed the “border czar” during the Biden administration. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance attend a debate hosted by CBS News in New York on Tuesday. A recent report from the US Department of Energy found 142,000 new clean energy jobs were created in 2023. Alex Kent/Getty Images Cutout images of Vance and Walz are displayed at a debate watch party in New York.

Persons: Tim Walz, Republican Sen, JD Vance, Vance mischaracterizes Harris, Sen, Kamala Harris, ”, Biden, Donald Trump, ” Vance, Harris, Alejandro Mayorkas, “, Daniel Dale Minnesota, Mike Segar, Reuters Walz, aren’t, Joe Biden’s, –, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden, Michael Ciaglo, Vance, Springfield , Ohio Sen, you’ve, Mike DeWine, Daniel Dale, Danya, Jessie Wardarski, Kamala Harris “, Donald Trump’s, CNN’s Dana Bash, CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, John Modlin, Rebecca Noble, Walz, ” Walz, Al Drago, Matt Rourke, Ken Betancur, Angela Weiss, Joe Raedle, Chip Somodevilla, Norah O'Donnell, Margaret Brennan, Brendan McDermid, Reuters Vance, Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Alex Kent, Victor J, Charly Triballeau, Getty Images Walz, Kevin Wexler, Anna Moneymaker, Trump, Roger Severino, ” –, Norah O’Donnell, Katie Lobosco Vance, CNN’s Manu Raju, Ted Barrett, …, Trump’s, “ Alabama’s, Andrew Kaczynski, Em Steck Vance, unfroze, Wally Adeyemo, Jennifer Hansler Vance, Joe Manchin, Dave Renner, ” Dr, Erin Stevens, ” Stevens, It’s, ” Renner, Jack Forrest Vance, DHS ‘, Kamala Harris ’, General, Immigrations, ” Aaron Reichlin, didn’t, Jack Forrest Organizations: CNN, Democratic Minnesota Gov, Republican, White, Homeland, Central, Daniel Dale Minnesota Gov, CBS News, Reuters, Biden, Senate, US Department of Energy, 2024 Energy, Bidenomics, CS Wind, CS, YES, ” Republican Ohio Gov, New York Times, US, American Civil Liberties Union, Enforcement, Democratic, US Border Patrol, Getty, Heritage Foundation, for Disease Control, CDC, Department of Health, Human Services, Minnesota Gov, CBS Broadcast Center, Bloomberg, People, CBS, Center, Journalists, United Federation of Teachers, Getty Images, USA, New York, Secret Service, Trump, Congress, Fox News, MIT, CNN’s Ella Nilsen Workers, AFP, Tuesday’s, Minnesota Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians, “, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security, Customs Enforcement, ICE, HHS, American Immigration Council, ICE hasn’t, New York Post, Washington Times Locations: Ohio, New York City, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, United States, Mexico, New York, Pueblo , Colorado, Springfield , Ohio, Springfield, ”, US Border Patrol Tucson, Douglas , Arizona, AFP, Minnesota, New, Kendall , Florida, California, Iran, Israel, South Korea, Qatar, China, United States of America, West Virginia, Fuzhou, China's Fujian

☆ Three Mile Island is reopening and selling its power to Microsoft
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Three Mile Island, the site of worst nuclear disaster in the United States, is reopening and will exclusively sell the power to Microsoft as the company searches for energy sources to fuel its AI ambitions. Microsoft will purchase the carbon-free energy produced from it to power its data centers to support artificial intelligence. Clean energy advocates and businesses alike are looking towards nuclear energy as a source of zero-carbon power that is a reliable baseload source. Three Mile Island, located near Harrisburg, is best known for being the most serious accident at a commercial nuclear power plant in US history when it experienced the partial meltdown of one of its two reactors. Demand for energy is expected to surge as tech giants need more sources of power to fuel their AI needs, especially nuclear power, which is carbon-free and helps them maintain their lofty climate goals.

Persons: weren’t, ”, Joe Dominguez, It’s, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Bobby Hollis, CNN’s Ella Nilsen Organizations: New, New York CNN, Microsoft, Constellation Energy, Constellation Locations: New York, United States, Harrisburg

☆ Nuclear fusion: The US led in this clean energy race for decades. Now China is in position to win
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Angela Dewan | Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It’s also here, on an unassuming downtown street, a small start-up called Energy Singularity is working on something extraordinary: nuclear fusion energy. Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun and other stars, is painstakingly finicky to replicate on Earth. The Chinese government is pouring money into the venture, putting an estimated $1 billion to $1.5 billion annually into fusion, according to Jean Paul Allain, who leads the US Energy Department’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences. The US was among the world’s first to move on the futuristic gambit, working on fusion research in earnest since the early 1950s. CNNThe US has been a fusion leader for decades; it was the first nation to apply fusion energy in the real world — in a hydrogen bomb.

Persons: It’s, Lam Yik Fei, Jean Paul Allain, Biden, “, it’s, ” Allain, Andrew Holland, Holland, ”, ” Holland, Damien Jemison, Lawrence, Melanie Windridge, Mikhail Maslov, Allain Organizations: CNN, 6G, Beijing outspends DC, New York Times, US Energy Department’s, Fusion Energy Sciences, Private, Nikkei . Energy, MIT, Fusion Industry Association, Princeton, Physics, American, America, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, ” CNN, China’s National Energy Administration, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Fusion Energy, EAST, UK Atomic Energy Authority Locations: Shanghai, America, China, Beijing, Washington, DC, Japan, Europe, United States, Hefei, Xinhua, Massachusetts, Hiroshima, California, Lawrence Livermore

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