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‘Life changing': Collaborative effort brings free solar panels to low-income families in Greensboro

Sayaka Matsuoka

September 01, 2022 |

Triad City Beat |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Greensboro, North Carolina

A collaborative partnership among local and national organizations made it possible to install solar panels on 10 Greensboro homes for free. Because of this effort, many low-income families have seen a significant decrease in their energy bills and an increase in value of their homes. Although convincing people to install the panels was a challenge, organizers are now figuring out how to scale the initiative and make it sustainable in the longterm.

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His family fished for generations. Now he's hauling plastic out of the sea.

Michael Birnbaum

August 31, 2022 |

The Washington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Greece

Enaleia pays fishing crews a small monthly fee, between $30-$90 depending on how much plastic they can bring in along with their catch. The funding comes from local foundations as well as large international donors including the Ocean Conservancy, Nestlé and Pfizer. Some of the waste, including recovered fishing nets, is sold to sustainable clothing manufacturers, and the money is invested back into the fishing crews. More than half of Greece’s large-scale fishing fleet, which includes hundreds of ships, has signed up for the program.

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Could a vacancy tax help housing affordability in Sacramento?

Alex Muegge

August 23, 2022 |

The Observer |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

After Oakland instituted a vacant property tax for residential units and parcels, the city collected roughly $8 million in tax revenue in 2020 to support homeless services, blight remediation, and stemming illegal dumping. The number of vacant properties in Oakland also decreased.

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Communities getting 'smart' on climate change

Cayte Bosler

August 16, 2022 |

Adirondack Explorer |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

New York’s Climate Smart Communities program helps municipalities work to reduce local emissions by awarding them “points” for completing climate-conscious actions such as installing charging stations for electric vehicles or designating space for solar infrastructure. Each participating community forms a local task force to oversee its environmental efforts, and many receive technical assistance and support to help them apply for grants and coordinate documentation.

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Is the agriculture industry doing enough to conserve water during Utah's drought?

Carter Williams

July 27, 2022 |

KSL-TV |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

A combination of drought and financial incentives is encouraging farmers in Utah to adopt practices that consume less water like drip irrigation and even switching the crops they grow.

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Flip Your Strip gaining traction, leading to removal of water-guzzling turf

Tim Vandenack

July 16, 2022 |

Standard-Examiner |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington Terrace, Utah

In order to use less water in drought-ridden Utah, many residents are replacing their grassy park strips with vegetation and rocks that don’t need as much irrigation. As part of the “Flip Your Strip” initiative, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District provides participants with money per square foot of grass removed. While the program is new, this idea has been tried and tested in California, where studies have shown that it is making an impact.

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Farmers are trying new water-saving tech in Utah's drought

Ben Winslow

July 07, 2022 |

KSTU-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tremonton, Utah

Farmers are upgrading to automated irrigation systems with 50-50 matching grants from the Utah Department of Agriculture. The systems save farmers’ time and water.

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Nigerian Rural Community Stuck In Water Crisis. A Nonprofit Takes A Photo, And It Tilts The Narrative

Abiodun Jamiu

May 28, 2022 |

HumAngle |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Afon, Kwara

The Grassroots Aid Initiative uses the power of photography to bring safe drinking water to communities in Nigeria. The women-led nonprofit takes pictures of these villages and uses the images to crowdfund on social media. So far, they’ve been able to bring motorized boreholes in 15 communities to help combat water scarcity.

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Blackburn Middle Schoolers Grow, Sell Produce at Own Farmers Market

Aliyah Veal

May 20, 2022 |

Mississippi Free Press |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Mississippi

In Blackburn Middle School's Learning Garden, students get hands-on experience with planting, cultivating, and selling their own crops. The school also hosts a student-led farmers market and collard greens cook-off where they can show off the fruits of their labor.

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Raise or retreat? Home elevation aims to protect historic houses

Adrienne Mayfield

April 15, 2022 |

WAVY-TV |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Virginia

As waters continue to rise and flood homes at sea levels, some homeowners are spending thousands of dollars to raise their homes off the ground. This solution that has been tried in Charleston is expensive, but some people think it can also work in Virginia. One industry expert started the Home Raising Academy, a workforce development program, to train architects, engineers, realtors, and government officials on floodplain management, insurance, and financing for home elevations in the area.

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