Biden's latest actions on climate change expand offshore wind farms

President Biden is still unveiling measures to fight climate change, and his latest efforts are aimed at preventing environmental crises. The president presented a series of executive actions which notably include the first “wind energy zones” in the Gulf of Mexico. The 700,000 acres will allow enough potential offshore wind energy to power more than 3 million homes, according to the administration. The Secretary of the Interior, meanwhile, will continue work on wind energy along the mid-to-south Atlantic coast as well as the Florida coast.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has unveiled $2.3 billion in funding to build resilience to heat waves, wildfires and similar disasters related to climate change. New guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services expand the use of the Energy Assistance Program for low-income households for air conditioning, community cooling centers and other resources to combat the heat extreme.

As in the past, Biden called his efforts helpful for the economy, not just the environment. Wind power projects are expected to create jobs, while initiatives by FEMA and the Department of Health could minimize damage from natural disasters. These events disproportionately harm minorities and underserved communities, he said, and they also put critical infrastructure at risk.

Biden has pledged to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The White House has also committed billions of dollars to clean energy projects, planned a nationwide charging grid for electric vehicles and fought to cancel the purchase of gas-powered Postal Service vehicles.

This is not as comprehensive an answer as some expected. The Washington Post reported that Biden was considering declaring a climate emergency this week, although press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed he was still open to the idea. Biden is far from alone, however, in not addressing global warming with urgency. Congress has struggled to pass climate-related legislation given opposition in the Senate from Republicans and Democratic hardliner Joe Manchin. These executive branch decisions could help Biden advance elements of his climate agenda despite the legislative roadblock.

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