Ohio-based FirstEnergy also comes in "first" to eliminate its short-term 2030 emissions reduction goal amid an ongoing bribery investigation related to Ohio House Bill 6.

The bill bailed out coal and nuclear plants while rolling back clean-energy standards. FirstEnergy fired executives after admitting to bribing the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

David Anderson, policy and communications manager for the clean energy watchdog group Energy and Policy Institute, argued although FirstEnergy has fired much of its leadership, its decision shows it is not serious about showing itself as a reformed company committed to helping the world and addressing climate change despite its claims.

"What we saw was FirstEnergy trying to 'talk the talk,' but not 'walk the walk,' when it announced that it is going to eliminate its climate goals for 2030," Anderson contended. "And really just showed in stark form that FirstEnergy is still the same dirty utility company that it's always been."

In its fourth-quarter earnings conference call and presentation, FirstEnergy leaders said they cannot meaningfully cut emissions because the company's two West Virginia coal plants are crucial to ensuring adequate regional electricity supplies. They have therefore decided to abandon the interim emission goal.

The 2050 long-term goal will remain intact. Anderson emphasized climate scientists believe an acceleration to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2030 is the only chance of hitting the broader global goals of decarbonizing the world by 2050.

Anderson noted customers in the region have options for energy, although choices are limited.

"There is definitely growth in Ohio in the renewable energy sector, and we have seen some wind and solar farms built over the last decade or so," Anderson acknowledged. "There's also a lot of strong interest among major corporations in securing more of the power that they buy from cleaner renewable sources, recognizing that's what their own customers want."

Anderson pointed out there is a lot of pushback and opposition to renewable energy projects. He emphasized in much of the 2010s and up until the FBI raided former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo's home and the recent indictment of FirstEnergy leaders, lobbyists worked significantly against clean energy sources and raising costs for everyday people to get access.


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As federal funding for climate initiatives faces steep cuts, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations are stepping into the breach, calling out the urgent need for private support to address what they see as an existential crisis.

The issue took center stage Wednesday in Orlando, at the Climate Correction Conference. With federal grants paused or canceled due to recent executive orders and legal challenges, nonprofits grapple with uncertainty, making private philanthropy more critical than ever.

Dawn Shirreffs, Florida director of the Environmental Defense Fund, explained the urgency.

"We don't have time," Shirreffs emphasized. "In fact, one of the things Environmental Defense Fund is known for is we don't have an endowment, because we don't feel we have the time to wait in the battle on climate change to have money sitting in a bank. We need to get our greenhouse gas emissions down now, so that we have a planet to fight for."

Shirreffs argued it is time to rethink philanthropic giving. She stressed there is a critical need for strategic, multiyear funding rather than one-time donations to sustain climate efforts.

David S. Vogel, cofounder, trustee and chief scientist for the VoLo Foundation, which is hosting the conference, said as a data-driven funder, he prioritizes long-term investments in climate solutions, from sustainable farming to clean energy innovation. He echoed the call for proactive philanthropy in light of federal funding cuts.

"Cuts all across the board -- not just climate science, cancer research -- again, the government falling short on thinking proactively. It's very reactive," Vogel contended. "As a result, maybe the government will end up having to pay more in climate damages. But it's more important than ever for private funding to step in and fund at least the right areas of research."

Yoca Arditti-Rocha, executive director of the CLEO Institute, highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on Florida, from rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes to an insurance crisis, all while receiving minimal funding for solutions.

"It's important to understand that only 2% of global philanthropy dollars go to climate solutions," Arditti-Rocha pointed out. "We cannot solve this issue with just 2%. We must close that funding gap."

The panelists agreed the climate crisis is a threat multiplier, exacerbating issues like poverty, public health and housing. They said philanthropy must step up to fill the void being left by government cuts.

Michigan ranks 26th in the U.S. for total installed solar capacity, while global capacity rose 21% from 2023. However, there are industry concerns that federal policy changes and trade barriers may slow future growth. In 2024, Michigan added over 450 megawatts of solar, bringing its total to more than 1,800 megawatts - enough to power over 300,000 homes. Nationwide, nearly 50 gigawatts were installed.

John Freeman, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, remains confident, citing market demand as the key driver.

"The marketplace is indicating that you can get lower costing energy from using solar and wind - and at the same time you're also able to reduce your cost by not using an energy source like coal which pollutes," he said.

While Freeman remains optimistic about the future of solar power, critics argue it's unreliable, expensive upfront, land-intensive, difficult to recycle, dependent on subsidies, and a strain on the power grid.

Freeman pointed out that technological advances in the solar industry are also increasing demand. He explained that in the past, homeowners would send excess solar energy back to the grid, relying on net metering or losing unused power, but now the use of home battery storage has been an efficient game-changer.

"The extra electricity that your system was producing during the day that you can't use immediately, you just dump that into your battery and then you utilize that electricity from your batteries in the evening when the sun is gone down," he continued.

In 2023, solar energy accounted for 53% of all new electricity-generating capacity added in the U.S., surpassing wind and natural gas. However, skeptics point to mining, energy use, and solar panel waste.


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As Florida grapples with rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes and extreme heat, the state's vulnerability to climate change is impossible to ignore.

Against this backdrop, a conference opening today in Orlando is turning to art to inspire action. At the heart of the Climate Correction Conference is a massive mural by TIME Pieces artist Allison Dayca, spanning 1,000 square feet at the Orange County Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence. The vibrant piece, featuring the message "Love Your Planet," is a collaboration with local students.

Dayka said they contributed ideas, including their school mascot, a lion.

"I hope it brings happiness, because it's bright and colorful and I hope it makes people want to just make a little change," Dayca explained. "Because if we all collectively make one little small change, it ends up being something really large. I think the health of our environment is, ultimately, the health of ourselves."

The mural is more than just art, it is a call to action. Dayka's characters, including Vita, sponsoring VoLo Foundation's mascot, and Future, a figure living in a climate-altered world, aim to spark conversations and drive community engagement. Today's free events include an art exhibition and hands-on workshops. Thursday's sessions focus on "Leaders in Action."

The conference will highlight the role of local leaders and communities in driving change in the areas of clean energy, resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

Thais Lopez Vogel, cofounder of VoLo Foundation, organized the event.

"I feel like some people think that the government has to interfere to solve it, and they don't act," Vogel observed. "What we're telling them is, don't wait for someone else to fix it. We come together as a family, as a community and we take action, so the leaders are us."

Florida's climate crisis is a microcosm of global challenges. The state's low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise, while its agriculture and tourism industries face increasing threats from extreme weather.