The Biden administration is seeking to accelerate the timelines for the permitting and reviews of historic buildings, with a new focus on climate resiliency.
According to a Bloomberg report, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency, has proposed a draft program comment on Accessible, Climate-Resilient, Connected Communities. If approved, federal agencies will have an alternate way to comply with provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act relating to climate-smart buildings, climate-friendly transportation, and housing.
The changes are designed to promote the “renovation and reuse of America’s historic buildings for housing that is affordable, accessible, energy-efficient, climate resilient, and hazard-free.” Most interior renovation projects would be exempt from the review process and would enable site work and facade projects with limited or no reviews.
The proposal also seeks to ensure emissions reductions and energy savings through the installation of solar panels on historic buildings involved in federal projects without further historic preservation review. It would also enable the electrification of historic buildings and encourage pedestrian, bicycle and public transit projects.
The changes would impact over one million households living in 190,000 public housing buildings in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s portfolio, along with millions of units backed by the Department of Defense and the Department of Agriculture and thousands of other projects receiving federal funding.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian pointed to a “massive infusion of investment” by the administration in linking sustainability with residential and commercial properties.
“We are building a lot more, with a lot more capital than we’ve had on the government side, ever – and so we need to do that and abide by our environmental protection,” Quillian said.
;
It’s a broad statement and if not applied correctly will result in a Potemkin appearance of many worthwhile buildings. Buildings after a certain time should be treated as you propose. Good luck in defining the rules
80% of what the Government is involved in goes to crap and the money spent is stolen by crooked contractors. Give all that money back to everybody who pays taxes it will be spent more wisely.
Agreed.
The entire climate change/protection narrative (particularly by this current administration) is a scam, a racket! Solar panels are an eyesore (like the wind towers) & over-all bad for the environment (they take forever to breakdown, way too much energy & harmful resources to build & provide lame power on an grand scale). Who’s got stock in green energy that’s pushing this BS? Follow the money. Whatever the biden aka 0bama admin is providing is BS.
YES!!!!
Hope your grandchildren appreciate your thoughts. But I suspect they know better. Because they would prefer to live on this planet versus die due to heat or flooding or other catastrophic natural disaster due to climate change. Enjoy you bubbe while you can.
Solar is a viable option as we begin to produce more panels and bring these jobs back to America.
With tax incentives and technology advancements they will become even more efficient and easier to recycle, or reuse.
Short term thinking is a trademark of the promoters of oil and gas and exactly why we’re all dealing with climate change.
When will the trolls and big oil and gas proponents come to grips with the reality of climate change.
A friend with 30+ panels has 90% of their electricity generated during daylight … and pays a $15/month electric bill, the maximum the provider charges for ” carrier fees” … the bills previously were in the mid $100s. Their recoup time is 17 years at today’s cost per kilowatt.
We all know the price is going up, so the recoup time will be less. The panels are attractive, and guaranteed for 25 years, the lifespan is more … and getting better.
Get away from the near sighted thinking, and embrace alternatives that will leave a better lifestyle for your kids and grandkids.
If we invest in solar, and get away from fracking and oil and gas, future generations will thank us for protecting this planet. The only 1 we have.
Good Luck America, as you burn, flood and fry in the heartbreak we keep accelerating.
Well said……
You are correct. President Carter had Solar Panels installed at the White House and here comes Regan and tore them all down again. America could be the leading country in solar production. How many years ago. Some of the na sayers where not even born at that time or just been toddlers.