The United States Senate Committee on Finance has released draft legislation that would quickly end or scale back most major tax credits for clean energy, solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs) and other benefits provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The plan would get rid of a $7,500 EV tax credit for consumers within 180 days, along with home energy rebates for heat pumps and other products. A tax credit for rooftop solar panels would also expire six months after the legislation passed.
Chief Executive of America’s Clean Power Jason Grumet said the Senate bill “would increase household electricity bills and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country,” reported The New York Times.
Grumet predicted that “good paying jobs, technology innovation, and AI data centers will be driven overseas.”
Federal tax credits for solar and wind power would be quickly phased out, and companies would only qualify for the biggest tax credits if they start construction within the next six months. If they began construction next year, they would receive 60 percent, with the credits falling to 20 percent the following year. Projects built beyond 2027 would not get any tax benefits.
The Republican controlled Senate has released their Finance committee text. On energy policy, it improves slightly over the House bill — but it will still gut clean energy projects, killing jobs largely in Republican districts. This is a garbage bill. THREAD.
www.finance.senate.gov/tax-reform-2…— Leah Stokes (@leahstokes.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Tax breaks for power sources like nuclear, geothermal and hydropower would be phased out in 2036, a summary of the bill said.
“It appears Senate Finance has taken this bill from a flat D to a solid D+ for the clean energy industry,” said Ethan Zindler, a BloombergNEF analyst and U.S. Treasury Department official during the Biden administration, as Bloomberg reported. “And that may be with a bit of grade inflation factored in.”
The Senate draft preserves renewable energy tax credits slightly longer than the House version, which would have done away with them almost immediately, reported The New York Times.
Under the IRA, 10 percent of refining or recycling costs for critical minerals were covered by a permanent tax credit, Heatmap reported.
However, the Senate changes start phasing out the critical minerals tax credit beginning in 2031, with 75 percent able to be claimed that year, half in 2032 and a complete end to the credit in 2034.
“In practice, this means that the Senate GOP text would end the IRA’s permanent tax credit for producing many critical minerals, which would damage the financial projects of many mineral processing and refining projects,” Heatmap said.
The new Senate version of the legislation expands slightly the type of qualifying battery components.
Overall, the Senate phaseout of clean energy tax credits is faster than many supporters of the technologies had hoped, with some analysts warning that electricity prices could increase due to the changes, reported The New York Times.
The new draft would make companies that lease solar energy ineligible for federal tax credits. Analysts say this change could lead to a sharp decline in the rooftop solar market.
“This is worse than I thought it would be,” said Sam Ricketts, co-founder of clean energy consulting group S2 Strategies, as The New York Times reported. “I was expecting senators who had purportedly supported the clean energy industry to step forward and make a mark here and improve the bill in a material sense. They have not done that.”
FACT SHEET: The “Baseload Fallacy”: Undercutting Wind, Solar, and Batteries While Supporting Nuclear and Geothermal Won’t Protect the Grid—Or Families’ Energy Bills, from @ClimatePower
climatepower.us/news/fact-sh…— Sam Ricketts (@samtricketts.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 10:14 AM
While no Republicans voted for the IRA in 2022, almost 80 percent of the $841 billion-plus clean energy investments that have been announced since have gone to Republican districts in states like Georgia and Wyoming.
Clean energy groups and Democrats called the new Senate draft a disaster, saying the plan would destroy manufacturing and jobs all over the country while driving up the cost of energy.
The changes to the IRA would also make meeting the country’s goal of cutting emissions by at least half below 2005 levels by the end of the decade virtually impossible.
“This bill would endanger hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs and take food out of the mouths of millions of children,” said Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, the leading Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, as reported by The New York Times.
Ari Matusiak, chief executive of nonprofit Rewiring America, called the Senate package a “profound mistake.” Matusiak pointed out that in 2023 more than 3.4 million U.S. homes used the residential clean energy and energy efficiency home improvement credits to make upgrades.
Jackie Wong, the Natural Resources Defense Council’s senior vice president for climate and energy, referred to the revised package as “a 20-pound sledgehammer swung at clean energy,” adding that it “would mean higher energy prices, lost manufacturing jobs, shuttered factories, and a worsening climate crisis.”
The post A ‘Profound Mistake’: Senate Republican Rollback of IRA Clean Energy Tax Credits Would Cost Jobs, Raise Energy Prices and Bring More Climate Extremes appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/senate-republicans-clean-energy-tax-credits.html
This week’s quote is a Somali proverb: “Be a mountain or lean on one.”
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click to get a larger image.
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Ballet flats have long been a staple in my wardrobe, but in the past few years have experienced a significant resurgence — and for good reason. The right pair can be practical, versatile, and oh so chic through days at work, with family, or out for the evening. But finding that “just right” set that’s well-crafted and sustainably made can be a whole other story. That’s why this sustainable flats guide exists.
Comfort, style, sustainability, and longevity are a lot to ask in a shoe, but I don’t believe it’s too much. It just takes some extra digging. And thankfully, I’ve done that digging for you. Because I get it! I want a flat that looks beautiful. I want a flat that’s made responsibly in line with my values. I want a shoe I can actually wear for my life. And I want that shoe to be worth the investment — it has to last. That’s why I vetted through dozens of brands to create this curated list of flats.
What Makes a Flat More Sustainable?
Material Sourcing
Footwear is a tricky category when it comes to sustainable fashion because we ask a lot of our shoes. We wear them in rain or sunshine, paved paths and cobblestone, day in and day out for years. And through it all, they have to remain beautiful. Because when they’re unwearable, there’s not much left to do with them: there is no viable footwear recycling today. Anywhere that calls it “shoe recycling” is really repurposing that footwear. But once it can no longer be worn, it’s simply trash.
In other words, our shoes need to be incredibly durable, even though the most durable materials don’t always come with the lightest footprint. In footwear, when we talk about durability, we usually rely on leather or high-performance synthetic materials. Leather can hold up with many years of wear, getting more beautiful with wear, and is easy to repair when needed. Synthetic materials are also durable, particularly for withstanding the elements like snow and rain.
But sourcing these materials conventionally is highly polluting — so how can we source these materials better?
For synthetics, we have recycled options. Today, that’s largely recycling from plastic bottles, which isn’t without it’s controversies, but there is much innovation happening in the industry around true textile-to-textile recycling.
For leather, I look for:
- Vegetable-tanned (rather than chromium tanned)
- Locally-sourced leather (more traceability), and/or
- Leather Working Group certified leather, which covers responsible management of water, energy, and waste; safe chemical management, traceability of the raw material, and occupational safety for workers.
Notably, there is no certification for animal welfare, so these are imperfect systems. But the alternative is footwear made from synthetic plastic materials or vegan leather alternatives that don’t yet meet the same durability standards as leather. Sustainability within today’s constraints requires trade-offs.
That said, there is always secondhand leather — by buying shoes secondhand you can access the quality of leather without adding further demand for the material.
Responsible Manufacturing
When considering responsible production practices, I look for first and foremost: transparency. Seeing what the brand shares about their material sourcing, their process, and who made their shoes where. And then I look at the details of that process: were the shoes made locally or within a geographic region? How are the workers paid and treated — and under which conditions do they work?
And, sometimes a brand employs an out-of-the-box approach to manufacturing entirely. There are a few slow fashion footwear brands challenging the traditional fashion system of ordering in mass quantities before demand is assessed —which inevitably leads to overproduction. These brands use an “on demand” model instead, producing their shoes only after they’ve been ordered. This reduces the risk of overproduction (i.e. producing more than what gets sold) while also encouraging more thoughtful consumption. You can’t impulse buy a pair of Mary Janes that you have to wait 8 weeks for.
Wearable and Beautiful
The most perfectly environmentally sustainable flat in the world is useless if no one wants to wear it. And as I mentioned earlier, footwear cannot be recycled into new footwear at the end of its life, so we want our shoes to last a really long time. That means they need to be design forward and comfortable, too.
My Top Picks for More Sustainable and Ethical Flats
Keeping all of that in mind, these more sustainable flats brands meet this criteria, albeit to various extents. Some err more on comfort while some more on style. Some have admirable levels of transparency and social impact, while other brands have more of a focus on their ecological impact. I’ve included descriptions alongside each brand as well as a summary of conscious qualities so you can find a brand that meets your priorities best. And, of course, a price range so you know what makes sense for your budget as well.
Some that this guide includes affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you shop through these links. As always, brands featured in shopping guides are brands that meet our strict sustainability criteria that we think you’ll love.
1. ALOHAS
Spanish brand ALOHAS flips the typical fashion production system on its head with its on-demand model.
Instead of overproducing thousands of shoes to later discount them, ALOHAS does the exact opposite. Its newest styles are available for pre-order at a discount of 30%, so the footwear brand can more accurately forecast demand. Then the shoes — like their flats — are primarily made by local artisans in Spain and Portugal. The brand regularly shows the behind the scenes of their production on their social media.
Conscious Qualities: On-Demand Production, Locally Made
Size Range: EU 35-42 (US 5-11)
Price Range: $195-$225
2. Rothy’s
If you’re looking for flats for all-day wear at work or running errands, Rothy’s is my recommendation with their cushy insoles. The brand makes their more sustainable flats from recycled plastic bottles, as well as materials like hemp and merino wool, but they still look sleek enough for the office.
While I might not wear Rothy’s flats to a fashion event (I prefer smooth leather for more elevated occasions), they are more than stylish enough to wear to most of my real-life scenarios. My favorite part about Rothy’s, though, is that they are machine washable.
Materials: Recycled & Natural Materials, Owns One Factory (undisclosed percentage of production)
Size Range: US 5-13
Price Range: $99-$165
3. Vivaia
Vivaia has the most adorable sustainable Mary Janes made from recycled plastic bottles. The adjustable straps and arch support make Vivaia’s Mary Janes suitable for all-day comfort, even if your feet are typically prone to slipping out of flats.
This vegan footwear brand also makes square-toe and pointed-toe flats for a more elevated look. And of the several recycled plastic bottle footwear brands on the market today, Vivaia tends to have the most elevated designs in my opinion.
Conscious Qualities: Vegan, Recycled Materials
Size Range: US 5-11
Price: $97 – $116
4. The RealReal
The RealReal is an authenticated luxury resale platform with contemporary, designer, and high-end luxury brands. Depending on your priorities you can find shoes in anywhere from pristine condition (but higher priced)) to “fair” or even “as is” for the largest discount from full price.
You don’t always have as many options aesthetically when shopping more sustainably, so I like to go to The RealReal when I’m looking for specific styles. I was recently looking for Mary Janes with feminine detailing and came across Larroude Flats on The RealReal, where I purchased a pair of neutral scalloped accent flats. (Pictured here!)
Conscious Qualities: Secondhand
Size Range: US 3.5-14
Price Range: $9+
5. ESSĒN
ESSĒN elegant, minimalist footwear is artisan handcrafted from Leather Working Group-certified leather in solar-powered facilities in Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Each shoe also comes with a product passport where you can view the step-by-step journey that product took through the brand’s supply chain from raw material to manufacturing to packaging and distribution.
Beyond transparency and responsible manufacturing, ESSĒN’s slow fashion business model prevents overproduction by operating on a made to order basis. Meaning while sizes and styles are predefined, the shoes are only produced after they’ve been ordered.
Conscious Qualities: LWG Certified, Supply Chain Transparency, On Demand Production
Size Range: EU 35-44 (US 4-13)
Price Range: $295-$450
6. Allbirds
Another comfort-first footwear option besides Rothy’s is Allbirds. The brand creates lightweight, super smooth and breathable flats from tree fibers, aptly called “Tree Breezers”. The (washable) shoes are also soft enough to wear without socks.
The Allbirds Tree Breezers are far more comfortable than typical flats, though I find that the Rothy’s are slightly comfier.
Conscious Qualities: Natural materials (FSC-Certified eucalyptus, castor mean oil, sugarcane EVA)
Size Range: US 5-11
Price Range: $105-$125
7. Darzah
Fair trade certified by Fair Trade Federation, Darzah’s ethical flats are entirely hand-embroidered and handcrafted in Palestine from locally sourced leather.
The tatreez flats from this nonprofit are embroidered by refugee and low-income women artisans in the West Bank with this traditional Palestinian techniques.
Conscious Qualities: Sustains Heritage Crafts, Fair Trade Certified
Size Range: EU 36-41 (US 6-10)
Price Range: $199 – $209
8. Nisolo
If you’re seeking a quality pair of classic leather flats ideal for your capsule wardrobe, Nisolo is a strong pick. Nisolo’s flats are handcrafted by artisans using leather sourced from a Leather Working Group certified tannery.
I’ve been wearing my Nisolo shoes for many years and can attest to their quality and durability.
That said, the brand has recently turned over to new ownership and now has significantly less information about their sustainability and ethics in their supply chain. I will be keeping a close eye on this brand to see if it continues to uphold the values Nisolo has long held.
Conscious Qualities: LWG-Certified, Artisan Handcrafted
Size Range: US 5-11
Price: $138 – $198
For More Slow Fashion Content:
You May Also Want to Check Out:
The Best Affordable Ethical Fashion Brands
Responsibly Made Vegan Shoe Brands
15 Brands with Ethical Boots to Rock this Fall (and Beyond)
The post 8 Best Ethical & Sustainable Flats That Are Effortlessly Chic appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/sustainable-ethical-flats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sustainable-ethical-flats
Today’s quote is from writer, businessman, and conservationist Simon M. Lamb. In his book, Junglenomics: Nature’s Solutions to the World Environment Crisis, he suggests that nature provides solutions to help us reform our environmentally destructive economic practices.
Lamb writes, “As in nature, so in economics — what provides survives.”
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
Editor’s Note: This poster was originally published on March 27, 2020.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: What Provides Survives — Simon M. Lamb appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-what-provides-survives-simon-m-lamb/
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