$10M awarded to Raleigh nonprofits from American Rescue Plan funds

Good News Notes: “The City of Raleigh was awarded a total of $73.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. All that money needs to be spent by December 2026. The money can be used on a wide range of issues including community health initiatives, small business support, and infrastructure support. City staff has selected 13…

UK Looks To Triple Solar And More Than Quadruple Offshore Wind Power

Good News Notes: “The UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is set to soon unveil targets to triple solar power capacity, quadruple offshore wind installation, and double onshore wind this decade, as part of boosting energy security and becoming less reliant on foreign energy supplies, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources close to…

MacKenzie Scott boosts another Pittsburgh-area nonprofit with $10 million gift

Good News Notes: “Pressley Ridge, a nonprofit agency based in McCandless, announced Wednesday that it received a $10 million unrestricted gift from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The gift is the single largest donation the organization has received in its 190-year history. “We are grateful for and humbled by Ms….

New solar carport solution from France

Good News Notes: “French heating and energy savings specialist Aterno has launched PowerPark, a new solar carport solution for small and medium-sized businesses. The carport measures 5.20×5.51m and its height varies between 2.33 and 2.93m. It can host two vehicles and is powered by 15 monocrystalline solar panels with a total capacity of 5.65kW, which…

Plastic-free packaging: a sustainable change at Velux

Good News Notes: “Velux Group, a manufacturer of pitched roof windows, is using new sustainable packaging for its best-selling pieces. 90% of its packaging is now plastic-free and made from a single FSC-certified cardboard-based material. This decision will save the company up to 900 tonnes of plastic per year and simplify disposal, which if not…

How 600 Sheep Will Help Maintain a Solar Array

Good News Notes: “Janna Greir, a shepherd in Alberta, Canada, knows solar farms can sometimes be controversial. In rural areas, large arrays take over hundreds of acres of former agricultural land. That can be a tough loss for local farmers, especially ones with links to the land going back generations.  But Greir, a farmer herself…

Lasso Is a Home Recycling Machine to Fix Our Recycling Problem

Good News Notes: “Recycling is something many of us take for granted, assuming what we throw in the bin ends up getting recycled properly. But current curbside systems aren’t particularly effective, especially if the material isn’t clean or a plastic isn’t actually recyclable, so much of what goes into your blue bin can end up in landfill. Enter…

Burger King Opens a Vegan Location in London with 25 Plant-Based Options

Good News Notes: “On March 14, Burger King’s flagship location in London’s Leicester Square is going entirely vegan. This means the fast-food chain is replacing its regular menu items with all plant-based offerings. The all-vegan Burger King location will be open until April 10, and the one-month trial will help inform the company on whether…

Ukrainian fighters exchange wedding vows at war front

Good News Notes: “Lesya and Valeri are both civil defence volunteers who are fighting alongside the Ukrainian military. The Russian war in Ukraine has entered 12th day with major cities, including Kyiv, facing bombings by Russian forces. The United Nations has reported close to two million people displaced by the war already and many civilians…