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The Biden administration is about to get more young Americans working for the planet.

A person holds a red sign reading "climate justice"
Credit: Linh Do / Creative Commons

Last week, the White House announced it’s launching an American Climate Corps. The workforce training and service program aims to get young people ready for climate and clean energy fields. It will put an initial cohort of 20,000 to work installing clean energy technologies, restoring coastal wetlands to prevent flooding, and taking on other jobs in climate-vulnerable communities.

It’s all reminiscent of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps, which hired young people to fight forest fires, build wildlife refuges, and take on other environmental jobs during the Great Depression.

Flash forward to the 21st century, and a Climate Corps has been a priority for Democratic lawmakers. The Biden administration initially proposed the work program as part of its Build Back Better infrastructure plan, but it was left out of the Inflation Reduction Act. But by combining programs and funding authorized in the climate law and other legislation, the White House has created something pretty close to the program it’s been working toward for years, Inside Climate News reports.

There are a lot of details we don’t yet know about the American Climate Corps, including how interested workers can apply and how much they’d be paid. But for now, there’s a White House website where you can share if you’re interested in joining or otherwise helping the burgeoning corps out.

More clean energy news

🧮 Documenting the emissions in everything: The Biden administration will consider the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions in more of its policies and decisions, though the new policy could face legal and logistical challenges as it’s implemented. (E&E News, New York Times)

🤝 A nationwide emissions pledge: A coalition of 25 U.S. governors have pledged stronger emissions reduction targets, including through the deployment of 20 million electric heat pumps by 2030 — 40% of them to disadvantaged communities. (Grist)

🌳 Carbon offsets are ‘junk’: Most voluntary carbon offsets are “likely junk,” an analysis has found, as the projects that support them contain fundamental flaws that undermine their promised emissions cuts. (Guardian)

🌎 International climate callout: The U.S. and China — the world’s biggest climate polluters — aren’t invited to speak at a United Nations climate summit in a callout of their failures on climate action. (Reuters)

🚘 EVs could save lives: Electrifying just a third of light- and heavy-duty vehicles in the lower Great Lakes region could save hundreds of lives and billions in healthcare costs, according to Northwestern University researchers. (Inside Climate News)

☀️ A guiding light for solar: Ohio-based First Solar kept making solar panels long after other domestic manufacturers gave up and now serves as a guiding light as the Biden administration seeks to ramp up U.S. solar component production. (New York Times)

🌬️ Colors of the wind: Wyoming researchers found that light-colored wind turbines attract insects and their avian predators, and painting them darker colors would reduce bird and bug collisions. (High Plains Journal)

👷 Maine sets workers’ rights trend: Activists wanting to see a more equitable clean energy transition hope Maine becomes a national trendsetter with its recently passed law tying offshore wind procurement to improved worker provisions. (New York Times)

🔋 Not your everyday batteries: Familiar brands like Duracell and Energizer are entering the home energy storage market as demand grows for storing rooftop solar energy. (Canary Media)

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Kathryn brings her extensive editorial background to the Energy News Network team, where she oversees the early-morning production of ENN’s five email digest newsletters as well as distribution of ENN’s original journalism with other media outlets. From documenting chronic illness’ effect on college students to following the inner workings of Congress, Kathryn has built a broad experience in her more than five years working at major publications including The Week Magazine. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism and information management and technology from Syracuse University.