affordability could call for policy solutions like tax and utility rebates, incentives and grant programs, as well as measures that incentivize the private sector to invest in alternative energy technologies, Burton said. “The idea here is that we will not only help to reduce extreme heat-driven illnesses and deaths, but also provide solutions that will help with economic development and workforce development while making sure a broader number of households, especially those who are heat-vulnerable, have access to alternative technologies and are able to afford their energy bills,” Burton said. Information Administration. “Extreme heat is the single most lethal weatherrelated hazard,” Burton said.“It kills more Americans every year than any other hazard.And for that reason, we need to make sure that cooling is recognized as a human right and, therefore, something that should be required in all households.” The FAS report outlines five guiding principles for local policymakers: expand cooling access and affordability; make public health needs a driver of building codes, energy standards and energy planning; adopt policies that reduce reliance on high-emissions energy sources; promote solutions for grid resilience; and build a skilled workforce for resilient cooling. For example, expanding cooling access and 12 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09
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