EPA Press Release:

EPA takes first-ever federal Clean Water Act enforcement action to address PFAS discharges at Washington Works facility near Parkersburg, W. Va.

WASHINGTON (April 26, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the Chemours Company to take corrective measures to address pollution from per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in stormwater and effluent discharges from the Washington Works facility near Parkersburg. The order on consent also directs Chemours to characterize the extent of PFAS contamination from discharges.

This is the first EPA Clean Water Act enforcement action ever taken to hold polluters accountable for discharging PFAS into the environment. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. There are thousands of different PFAS chemicals, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others.

According to the EPA order, PFAS levels in the discharges from the facility exceed levels that are set in the facility’s Clean Water Act permit.

“Administrator Regan has directed EPA staff to use every enforcement tool at our disposal to compel manufacturers of PFAS to characterize, control, and clean up ongoing and past PFAS contamination,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Through this order, EPA is taking action to address PFAS violations and better protect the resources and people of West Virginia.”

“The Parkersburg community has a long history with this facility and the ever-present threat of PFAS pollution,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This order demonstrates that EPA will take action to safeguard public health and the environment from these dangerous contaminants.”

Under the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to discharge pollutants into U.S. waterways except pursuant to a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, issued by EPA or a state. The permit sets pollution discharge limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other conditions designed to protect water quality. More information on the NPDES program.

Chemours operates several manufacturing units at the Washington Works facility, which produce fluorinated organic chemical products including fluoropolymers. The facility discharges industrial process water and stormwater to the Ohio River and its tributaries, under the terms of a NPDES permit issued in 2018 by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company was the NPDES permit holder at Washington Works until 2015. In 2015, the permit was transferred to Chemours.

The permit imposes discharge limits and requires monitoring of certain pollutants, including PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was used in the past as a processing aid for manufacturing, and HFPO Dimer Acid, also known as GenX -- which replaced PFOA as a processing aid.

In an administrative compliance order on consent (AOC) issued today, EPA sets forth that this facility exceeded permit effluent limits for PFOA and HFPO Dimer Acid on various dates from September 2018 through March 2023, and that Chemours failed to properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems required for permit compliance.

As an initial step in characterizing PFAS in surface water discharges, EPA’s order requires Chemours to implement an EPA-approved sampling plan to analyze PFAS and conduct analysis to further understand the presence of PFAS in stormwater and effluent discharged from the facility. Also, Chemours will submit and implement a plan to treat or minimize the discharge of PFAS to ensure compliance with numeric effluent limits of PFOA and HFPO Dimer Acid.

In addition, to identify best practices to reduce PFAS discharges from the site, Chemours will submit its existing Standard Operating Procedures relating to the management of wastewater for various systems and its revised Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.

Background

Since 2004, EPA has been working to understand and address PFOA and other fluorocarbon chemicals released from this and other sites.   In 2021, EPA launched the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, a whole-of-agency approach for addressing PFAS. The Roadmap sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions and commit to new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable. In the national PFAS Roadmap, EPA commits to investigate releases of PFAS and, where needed, require manufacturers to characterize and control their PFAS releases. In the Roadmap, EPA also commits to take swift action to address potential endangerments to public health. EPA is actively working with its state partners on this effort, which will build upon valuable work led by a number of states.

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

Denver among 2023 Top Cities for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings

Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, and Boulder, Colo. also among top ten mid-sized cities cutting energy costs while increasing efficiency and reducing emissions

Contact: press@epa.gov

DENVER (April 26, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing its annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the greatest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings in 2022. In EPA Region 8, Denver moves up to 6^th on the list this year, with Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, and Boulder, Colo. ranked among the top ten in the mid-sized city category. Coming in at first place for the fourth year in a row, Los Angeles leads with nearly 750 ENERGY STAR certified buildings. In second place is Washington, D.C. with 555 buildings, followed by Atlanta in third place with 376 buildings.

“In many cities, a majority of greenhouse gas emissions results from the energy used by buildings,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I applaud this year’s top cities, as well as the owners and managers of each ENERGY STAR certified building in them, for taking real action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help America address the climate crisis.”

Commercial buildings are responsible for 16% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and spend more than $190 billion per year on energy. In many cities, buildings are the largest contributor of emissions — responsible for 30% to more than 70% of a city’s total emissions. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.

First released in 2009, EPA’s list of cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings shows how buildings across America are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the annual list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census, which includes the city itself as well as surrounding suburbs. EPA creates separate rankings for mid-sized and small cities. This year’s list includes buildings that earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR during the year 2022. This year’s Top Cities are:

Top 25 Cities Overall
Rank	Metro Area	Building Count	Last Year’s Rank

 

1

Los Angeles

748

1

 

2	Washington DC	555	2
3	Atlanta	376	3
4	San Francisco	343	4
5	New York	256	6
6	Riverside	230	18
6	Denver	230	8
8	Dallas	221	5
8	Chicago	221	7
10	Boston	205	10
11	Houston	195	9
12	Tampa	184	15
13	Seattle	180	13
14	San Diego	170	11
15	Austin	168	12

 

16	Minneapolis	156	14
17	Phoenix	131	16
18	San Jose	110	16
19	Charlotte	105	19
20	Miami	94	20
21	Sacramento	88	23
22	Philadelphia	76	22
23	Orlando	64	24
24	Portland	63	n/a
25	Raleigh	59	n/a
25	Cincinnati	59	25

 

Top 10 Mid-Sized Cities
Rank	Metro Area	Building Count	Last Year’s Rank

 

1	Raleigh, N.C.	59	3
2	Des Moines, Iowa	49	9
3	Provo, Utah	47	2
4	Grand Rapids, Mich.	37	n/a
5	Bakersfield, Calif.	35	n/a
5	Salt Lake City, Utah	35	8
5	Louisville, Ky.	35	4
8	Boulder, Colo.	31	6
8	Milwaukee, Wis.	31	n/a
10	Visalia, Calif.	27	n/a

 

Top 10 Small Cities

 

Rank	Metro Area	Building Count	Last Year’s Rank
1	Jackson, Mich.	41	1
2	Sioux City, Iowa	16	3
3	Punta Gorda, Fla.	13	n/a
4	Dubuque, Iowa	12	n/a
5	Saginaw, Mich	11	7
5	Carson City, Nev.	11	4
7	Elizabethtown, Ky.	10	4
7	Midland, Mich.	10	n/a
9	Owensboro, Ky.	9	n/a
10	Richmond-Berea, Ky	8	n/a

Across the country, more than 7,000 commercial buildings earned the EPA’s ENERGY STAR last year. As of the end of 2022, nearly 41,000 buildings across America have earned ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved $5.4 billion on energy bills and prevented more than 22 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — equal to the annual emissions of more than 2.7 million homes. 

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75% of similar buildings nationwide. A building’s ENERGY STAR score is calculated based on a number of factors, including energy use, hours of operation, and a variety of other operating characteristics.

• More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including this year’s ranking of top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year’s rankings.
• Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings.
• More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings.
• More about EPA’s ENERGY STAR program.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR^® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations — including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® — rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. 

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $400 Million Grant Program to Fund Clean School Buses that Reduce Emissions and Protect Children’s Health

Latest funding from the President’s Investing in America Agenda follows nearly $1 billion for thousands of electric and low-emission school buses across the nation

Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

DENVER — This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of at least $400 million in grants for cleaner school buses, reducing harmful pollution and protecting children’s health. Under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, funding from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, save schools money, create good-paying clean energy jobs and reduce greenhouse gas pollution, protecting people and the planet.

The grants are made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses. This is the first round of funding available as grants and follows the nearly $1 billion the Biden-Harris Administration awarded through the rebate competition last year to fund electric and low-emission school buses across school districts.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, White House Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, Senator Bob Casey (PA) and Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced the funding in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, where the local school district is set to receive 15 new electric buses thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.

“Today we’re taking another key step toward reducing climate pollution and building a healthier future where all of our children have the clean, breathable air that they deserve,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is already transforming school bus fleets across the nation, passing on cost savings to districts while improving air quality. With new grant funding available, we will accelerate our work to transition to electric and low-emission school buses further and faster than ever before.”

“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe our kids deserve cleaner school buses, which will improve the health of communities and reduce emissions,” said Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator. “Communities will also benefit from cleaner air and energy savings by replacing old, dirty diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives.”

“Clean school buses mean that students are breathing cleaner air and districts are saving money. This commonsense solution is a win-win,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey (PA). “With more grants to come this year and in the years to follow, more communities in Pennsylvania and across the Nation will get this opportunity to set students up for a healthier and brighter future — all thanks to the infrastructure law.”

“Running these clean, green buses will reduce harmful pollution, improve air quality in and around schools and communities, save money and reduce greenhouse gas pollution,” said U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08). “This unprecedented investment will protect the safety and well-being of our most treasured resources: our children and our planet.”

About the Clean School Bus Grant Competition

The $400 million grant opportunity through EPA’s Clean School Bus Program will fund electric, propane, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses that will produce either zero or low tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.

These emission reductions will result in cleaner air for students riding the buses, bus drivers, school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities the buses drive through each day. Beyond the community, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacement projects will help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector on climate change.

EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or those receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas. In addition, EPA is committed to ensuring the Clean School Bus Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty also will be prioritized if their proposal focuses on clean school buses serving those communities.

Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are (1) state and local governmental entities that provide bus service; (2) public charter school districts, (3) Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Tribally-controlled Schools, (4) Nonprofit School Transportation Associations, and (5) Eligible Contractors (including OEMs, Dealers, School Bus Service Providers, and Private Bus Fleets).

Applicants have two options to apply:

1. Applicants seeking to serve a single school district can apply through the School District Sub-Program to request a minimum of 15 school buses and up to a maximum of 50 school buses.
2. Applicants seeking to serve at least four school districts can apply through the third-party Sub-program to request between 50 school buses and up to a maximum of 100 school buses.

EPA will provide a combined funding amount to cover both bus and infrastructure costs for all awardees requesting electric school buses. Prioritized applicants may apply for up to $395,000 when applying for larger school buses and associated infrastructure, and other applicants may apply for up to $250,000 for larger school buses and associated infrastructure. To encourage federal funding to support the replacement of as many buses as possible, EPA will also offer points in the competition to those who can offer voluntary funding through public-private partnerships, grants from other entities, or school bonds.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing federal dollars in a responsible way that drives high-quality job creation and inclusive economic growth. EPA worked closely with the Department of Labor to ensure this program also supports the workforce needed to support a clean energy economy. Applicants will be asked to describe their plans to conduct workforce planning to ensure current drivers, mechanics, and other essential personnel receive training to safely operate and maintain the new buses, as well as clarify protections to ensure existing workers are not replaced or displaced.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure must be installed by electricians certified by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or a comparable program approved by the Department of Labor. Funding from the Clean School Bus program can also be used to support workforce training and certifications such as EVITP. EPA is also working with clean school bus manufacturers to improve transparency around the high-quality jobs being created across the country.

This 2023 Grant Program is separate from the earlier 2022 Rebate Program, and interested applicants must apply to the Grant Program if interested in this funding opportunity. Grant applicants may submit proposals after the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) which is publicly posted at EPA's Clean School Bus Program webpage. This is a competitive program where applicants will be scored based on how well their proposal meets the criteria set forth within the NOFO. The Clean School Bus Grant Program will be open for 120 days and close on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Questions about applying may be directed to CleanSchoolBus@epa.gov.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

To learn more about the grant program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates, visit EPA's Clean School Bus Program webpage.

Here is what they are saying about the Clean School Bus grant program:

As the wheels of the new, clean school buses go round and round, carbon emissions and pollution is gonna keep going down and down,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (NY). “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law I led to passage as majority leader, over $400 million in grants are now available to help transform school bus fleets across America and put our students on the road to a brighter future and a cleaner commute. I am proud to announce this funding that will accelerate our transition to electric and low-emission school buses, fighting climate change and ensuring our kids have the clean breathable air they deserve.”

“Investments in clean school buses are investments in cleaner air, healthier communities, and good-paying jobs,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper (DE), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Thanks to the historic funding that we provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has been able to supply school districts across our country, especially those in communities most impacted by pollution, with grants to purchase American-made clean school buses. Today’s announcement represents another step forward in our fight to reduce our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than a quarter of which come from the transportation sector.”

“With more than 400,000 diesel school buses on the road, investments in clean transit solutions are critically important. By expanding the national clean school bus fleet, we are taking a significant step in improving public health and reducing childhood asthma,” said U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05). “I am pleased the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program to help more communities nationwide transition to electric school buses. This $400 million grant program will give school districts the resources needed to finally achieve low or no emissions school buses across the country. I look forward to working with the Administrator on this effort and am committed to ensuring students have clean and safe commutes to school.”

“Last year, under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, Democrats made historic investments to deliver clean energy and improve air quality by passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act,” said U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas (CA-29). “The IIJA included the Clean School Bus Program, an initiative I led in Congress, to replace old diesel buses with new, cleaner buses. I am proud to join Administrator Regan in announcing this $400 million grant program, which will help meet the growing demand for school bus electrification. Children in communities like the one I grew up in are more likely to be exposed to polluted air, leading to higher rates of respiratory illnesses. This grant program is necessary to ensure healthier, cleaner futures for our children — no matter their zip code. With this announcement, the Biden-Harris Administration is demonstrating to the American people that they will continue prioritizing the health and well-being of our children, building a cleaner and better future, and investing in America.” 

 EPA Press Office:

Eni US Operating Company pays $113K penalty for Beaufort Sea waste injection violations

SEATTLE (April 26, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Eni US Operating Company paid a $113,000 penalty for failing to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements at its Spy Island Drill Site, a man-made island in the Beaufort Sea approximately 40 miles north of Prudhoe Bay.

Eni US Operating Company received U.S. Department of Interior permits in 2017 to conduct exploration activities at Spy Island. Eni and other oilfield operators are also required to comply with an EPA-issued Underground Injection Control permit which sets strict conditions on the operation of underground injection wells for disposal of non-hazardous waste such as drilling muds, a common waste stream that may contain salts, heavy metals, petroleum residue, and other compounds that may present negative impacts to aquifers.  

EPA’s UIC permit also prescribes specific actions operators must take when a failure occurs. For example, injection cannot occur if a well is unable to demonstrate “mechanical integrity,” a term which refers to the proper construction and operations of well components to ensure injected fluids do not migrate outside of the approved injection zone. Upon discovery of failure of mechanical components, fluid injection must stop and may not commence until the integrity is returned to the well and injection is once again approved by EPA.

Continued injection during a loss of mechanical integrity creates a higher risk of injection fluids migrating to shallow aquifers or the surface, presenting a risk of contamination and a possible health and safety concern for workers. In this case, the company’s violations created potential risk to the fragile Beaufort Sea ecosystem.

EPA and Eni US Operating Company resolved this matter through a Consent Agreement and Final Order, which included the assessment of a $113,000 penalty and alleged the following violations of the Underground Injection Control provisions of the SDWA:

• Unauthorized injection during loss of mechanical integrity;
• Injection pressures allowed to exceed allowable limits;
• Failure to continually monitor injection rates;
• Failure to maintain continuous monitoring device; and
• Failure to properly maintain the facility.

For more information about EPA’s Underground Injection Control program visit: www.https://www.epa.gov/uic

Contact: Meshach A. Padilla, 206-593-6182, R10_Press_Team@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces Public Hearing on Proposal to Strengthen Standards for Chemical and Polymers Plants

WASHINGTON (April 26, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a virtual public hearing on its proposal to significantly reduce hazardous air pollutants from chemical plants, including the highly toxic chemicals ethylene oxide (EtO) and chloroprene. The reductions would dramatically reduce the number of people with elevated air toxics-related cancer risks in communities surrounding the plants that use those two chemicals, especially communities historically overburdened by air toxics pollution, and cut more than 6,000 tons of toxic air pollution a year.

Hearing information:

• Date: Tuesday May 16, 2023
• Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Virtual platform

Registration to speak at the hearing is now open. To register to speak, or for information about watching a livestream of the hearing, please visit EPA’s Proposal to Strengthen Standards for Synthetic Organic Chemical Plants and Polymers and Resins Plants webpage.

Language/Reasonable Accommodation Request: If you need assistance in a language other than English or if you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact SPPDpublichearing@epa.gov or 888-372-8699. EPA must receive this request by May 2, 2023, in order to provide accommodations.

Comment in writing: EPA also will accept comments on the proposal in writing until June 26, 2023. Comments the Agency receives in writing receive the same consideration as comments received at the public hearing.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in East Africa With Energy Efficiency

 Berkeley Lab News:

International development project enables Ugandan women to grow small businesses with energy-efficient electrical equipment – and fight climate change at the same time

THERESA DUQUE | (510) 424-2866 | APRIL 26, 2023

The Energy Empowers East Africa project co-led by Berkeley Lab and USAID enables women who own small businesses to invest in energy-efficient electrical equipment – such as refrigerators and freezers, kettles, and sewing machines. (Image courtesy of Clean Energy Enthusiasts)

Women who run small businesses in Uganda can build energy efficiency into their business plans thanks to a new project led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Clean Energy Enthusiasts (CEE), an energy advisory company based in Uganda. According to the World Bank, one in three of all businesses in Uganda are owned by women, but most of these women-owned businesses are smaller and less profitable than businesses owned by men. Helping these women invest in energy-efficient technology could benefit them and their communities. The Energy Empowers East Africa (EEEA) project, which is funded by USAID and is part of the Energy Efficiency for Development (EE4D) program, aims to harness the business benefits of modern energy access for women and enhance their role as agents of change in promoting clean, affordable, and efficient energy use in East Africa.  “Historically, modern electrical appliances have provided a lot of freedom for women. In Africa, many women still expend a lot of time and energy doing manual work,” said Ingrid Xhafa, scientific engineering associate in Berkeley Lab’s Energy Technologies Area. “We’re confident that enabling women to invest in energy-efficient electrical equipment – like refrigerators and freezers, kettles, and sewing machines – in lieu of manual equipment or equipment that uses fossil fuels – is not only better for their own well-being and business practices, it’s also better for the climate.”

Ingrid Xhafa (left) and Stephane de la Rue du Can of Berkeley Lab's Energy Technologies Area. The researchers are co-leading an international development project that helps women entrepreneurs in Uganda invest in energy-efficient electrical equipment. (Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab)

Even though 99% of the women-owned businesses surveyed for the EEEA project are connected to the grid, their electricity consumption is very low, averaging at 50 kilowatt hours per month (which is equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed in a month by a refrigerator in an American household on average), Xhafa said.  “Through this project, we are looking at electricity access beyond connectivity. We are interested in understanding what this electricity is being used for. Is it for lighting only? Can we introduce efficient equipment and technology that increases productivity and enables women business owners to produce more products or serve a larger number of customers, and subsequently generate more profit?” Xhafa explained. In Uganda, 80% of electricity is generated by hydropower, a type of energy that uses the natural flow of moving water to produce electricity. But low demand has driven up the price of this clean energy. “The lack of opportunities to productively use electricity means that electricity consumption is also low, and such low demand drives up the price of electricity,” explained Stephane de la Rue du Can, an Energy Technologies Area research scientist and leading climate expert who manages the project for Berkeley Lab.  “The main issue we are trying to address through this project is the lack of programs available to help communities in East Africa – and in particular women – have better access to energy as well as training in energy-efficient business practices,” de la Rue du Can added. “This project shows that women business owners not only benefit from energy access, but they can also help to strengthen the economy by promoting the efficient and productive use of energy.”  Plugging into a brighter future The research team wanted to get a better sense of the women’s financial barriers and other such hurdles to accessing electricity and energy-efficient electrical appliances. So when the project began in Uganda last year, Xhafa and de la Rue du Can worked with CEE to develop a large community-based survey.   The researchers learned that most of the women business owners who responded to the survey “are young and have an entrepreneurial mindset, and juggle a lot of responsibilities like raising children while running a business,” Xhafa noted. Most of the women have had few opportunities to acquire a formal education, so they are “very excited about getting trained on business practices such as record keeping,” she added.         The survey also served as an energy audit, which helped the researchers gain a better understanding of the types of equipment the women currently have, the rate at which that equipment consumes energy, and whether they use any non-electrical energy sources, such as carbon-rich charcoal or liquid fuels like kerosene. In addition to the survey, the Berkeley Lab researchers helped develop cost-benefit-analysis and training materials. From September to December last year, those training materials went into action when the CEE team in Uganda trained 240 women entrepreneurs during weeklong sessions in eight districts throughout southwest Uganda. Participants learned how to develop business plans, and assess the costs and benefits of investing in energy-efficient electric equipment.  “A lot of the women opened up about their personal lives when describing their motivation to start a business. It's really inspiring to see how resilient they are despite their challenges, and that they have undertaken a really empowering initiative to run their own business and provide for their own families,” Xhafa said. The energy-efficiency training not only helps the women grow their businesses but can also help to advance global efforts against climate change. “Energy efficiency is a key strategy in decarbonizing,” added de la Rue du Can. Last year, she served as lead author on the decarbonizing industry chapter in the United Nations’ Sixth Assessment Report on climate change. (Findings from that report served as a guiding post for a recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which warns of a warming world exceeding a critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t cut in half by 2030.) Charging ahead After months of collaborating with their Ugandan counterparts during Zoom meetings at the break of dawn, the Berkeley Lab researchers had hoped to attend last year’s fall training in person, but an Ebola outbreak changed their plans. They will have another chance this summer: The team plans to hold a workshop geared at developing a national action plan that would increase women entrepreneurs’ access to productive and energy-efficient equipment. “The partnership that we have with our counterparts in Uganda is extremely constructive. The fact that we worked so closely with people who are on the other side of the world but still feel like we are making an impact – despite the challenges of the pandemic and the Ebola outbreak – has been a unique and rewarding experience for me,” de la Rue du Can said.  “What’s been really rewarding for me is that we are co-creating knowledge,” added Xhafa, who in addition to her work on the EEEA project also serves as a program manager for C2C (Cradle to Commerce), a clean tech accelerator program led by Berkeley Lab. “75% of these women have families and they juggle managing a business, a household, and raising kids. Much of the money women entrepreneurs in Uganda save through energy-efficiency investments not only goes into hiring employees and growing their businesses but also to educate the next generation and support family members. Investing in energy-efficient equipment also helps the climate by reducing their business’s carbon footprint. It’s a chain reaction.” The Berkeley Lab researchers hope to write a scientific paper about their work in Uganda. The team is also looking to expand the program to Kenya. “Through data collection and evidence-based programming, our research could help government and energy development practitioners alike have a better understanding of how equitable access to energy and modern energy technologies can influence economic development and empowerment,” Xhafa said.

###