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Making Headlines: Grantees in the News, December 2019

The Heising-Simons Foundation is proud to regularly see its grantee partners featured in media outlets across the country, providing an expert voice on a timely issue or being highlighted for their accomplishments and hard work. Here are some news items that have featured our grantees in December 2019.

Driving a Tesla in the Carpool Lane: No Longer Just a Perk for the Rich
San Francisco Chronicle, December 31, 2019
“We want to offer low-income folks the same benefit that was given to people who could afford the technology when it was first introduced,” says Alvaro Sanchez at The Greenlining Institute, in this article about a new California law that is meant to entice drivers to choose zero-emission vehicles. The Greenlining Institute is supported by the Foundation’s Climate and Clean Energy program.

IRS Updates Free File Agreement to Make Free Tax-Filing Software Easier to Access
Accounting Today, December 30, 2019
A recent ProPublica investigation, which exposed problems with the Internal Revenue Service’s Free File program, has led to the IRS updating the program so that it is easier to access and use. ProPublica is supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity program.

California Solar Mandate, Gas Bans Take Effect in 2020: What You Need to Know
San Francisco Chronicle, December 26, 2019
A new California law, and the nation’s first, requires new homes to have rooftop solar panels starting January 1, 2020. “There’s no way to meet carbon or clean energy goals without electrifying the building sector,” says Panama Bartholomy at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. The Coalition is supported by the Foundation’s Climate and Clean Energy program.

A Sign That Aliens Could Stink
MIT News, December 18, 2019
The presence of one of Earth’s most toxic gases in other planets could be a sign of life, new research led by 51 Pegasi b Fellow Clara Sousa-Silva concludes. The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program supports Dr. Sousa-Silva’s work through the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship.

A Blowout Turned an Ohio Natural Gas Well Into a Methane ‘Super-Emitter’
Washington Post, December 16, 2019
A new report by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has calculated that a 2018 blowout at a natural gas well in Ohio “spewed 60 kilotons of methane into the atmosphere — five times the amount ExxonMobil estimated.” EDF is supported by the Foundation’s Climate and Clean Energy program.

East San Jose Nonprofit Uses Christmas Tradition to Highlight Anti-Displacement Proposal
San Jose Spotlight, December 5, 2019
This piece highlights SOMOS Mayfair’s recent demonstration against gentrification and displacement at San Jose City Hall. A recent city report estimates that four out of ten San Jose residents are at risk of being displaced. SOMOS Mayfair is supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity program.