Our State Does Not Recognize Juneteenth as a State Holiday

Jamie Lynch, Envision Board member and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation Signals Team

This year, over half of the states in the United States will officially recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday. The recognition of Juneteenth has gained momentum in recent years, with increased public awareness following nationwide protests against racial injustice. For now, Wisconsin does not recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. Pew Research offers a short but insightful summary of state differences in recognition of Juneteenth.

Gas Becomes “Blue Hydrogen” and then “Green Hydrogen”

By Jeff House, Envision Board Member and Economic Transformation Signals Team

A hydrogen fuel plant is coming to Mulberry, Florida, by way of South Korea. A Korean company plans to build a clean-hydrogen facility in Polk County using natural gas from a nearby pipeline. The plant will produce “blue hydrogen” made from natural gas, but, down the road, solar power could be an option to power its operations (which would make it green hydrogen). Read about the project here.

Ohio Homes will be Powered by Solar

By Jeff House, Envision Boad member and Economic Transformation Signals Team

An Ohio bill establishes a community solar pilot program that will consist of 1,500 MW of community solar, enough energy to power almost 300,000 homes. Subscribers will be eligible for a bill credit, usually equal to 10 to 20% savings, from their utility provider for the proportional amount of energy generated from the community solar facility. In addition, any community solar facility built on a brownfield will be eligible for grants to help cover costs associated with site preparation and construction. This comes at a time when the US solar industry has enjoyed its best-ever first quarter, installing more solar panels than in any previous quarter. Read about the proposed bill here.