"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, COULD THE NEW CLIMATE LAW SAVE YOU MONEY ON A BRAND NEW WATER HEATER OR HEAT PUMP?

THAT'S AHEAD.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS DR. REBECCA CARTER, A PEDIATRICIAN WITH THE UNIVERSITY HAVE MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND INCENTIVE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK ON MPT.

IT'S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON WHICH MEANS KIDS THINKING ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE NOT KIDS, THEIR PARENTS THINKING ABOUT CHECKUPS AND VACCINES.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH THE NORMAL PROCESS OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKUPS AND GETTING UP TO DATE ON VACCINATIONS?

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: YES, SO THINKING BACK OVER TWO YEARS AGO, WE ASKED YOU A TO STAY HOME FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY AND PEOPLE APPROPRIATELY DID.

BUT AS A RESULT, A LOT OF THOSE ROUTINE CHECKUPS THAT ARE PART OF GIVING QUALITY CARE TO YOUR CHILDREN HAD TO BE PUT ON HOLD, AND SO AS FAMILIES STAYED HOME, THEY MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY ON SCHEDULE FOR THEIR CHILDHOOD VACCINES.

AS A RESULT, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO KIND FELL OFF THEIR RADAR IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND THEY HAVEN'T NECESSARILY MADE IT BACK IN TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND NOW ON THAT VACCINE SCHEDULE, AND AS FALL ISERING GA UP AND PEOPLE ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, WE ABSOLUTELY WANT THE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT IT IS TIME, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BACK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN, IT'S TIME TO GET ON THE SCHEDULE, IT IS TIME TO GET CAUGHT UP BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW TO DELIVER CARE IN SAFE WAYS AND WE ARE IN THE PHASE NOW OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOUR OTHER HEALTH CARE NEEDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE VACCINATIONS THAT YOU'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: SO CERTAINLY THEY'RE ALL REALLY CRUCIAL.

WE ARE SEEING THAT POLIO RESURGENCE IN NEW YORK, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO MAY NOT HAVE COMPLETED THAT POLIO SERIES, WHICH SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE THOSE KINDERGARTEN VACCINES AGE FOUR, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE FAMILIES ARE ABSOLUTELY GETTING IN TO SEE US SO THAT WE CAN CATCH EVERYBODY UP THERE.

THE OTHER LARGE GROUP THAT REALLY SAT RISK FOR HAVING FALLEN HINDER THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL INTO HIGH SCHOOL AGED KIDS, SO WE HAVE A SERIES OF REALLY IMPORTANT VACCINES THAT WE GIVE AROUND AGE 11, SO THAT IS A TETANUS VACCINE, THAT INCLUDES PERTUSSIS.

IT INCLUDES MEN JIETS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE UP TO DATE ON THE HPV SERIES.

AND IF YOU DECIDED AROUND, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO NOT TO COME IN TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN AND HAVEN'T MADE IT BACK IN SINCE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE NOW THAT THOSE KIDSRE STARTING NINTH GRADE INTO HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVEN'T YET GOTTEN THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT VACCINES.

>> Jeff: JUST ONE WORD ABOUT POLIO WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT IS BEEN SEEN IN MARYLAND BUT IT HAS BEEN SEEN AMAZINGLY IN OTHER PLACES, J ONE'S SO IMPORTANT, THE OWN US ONUS CAN BE SO CRITICALLY BAD.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT WHO ARE UP TO DATE ARE PROTECTED.

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: YES.

SO IF YOU'RE CHILD HAS COMPLETED THAT PRIMARY SERIES THROUGH THEIR INFANCY, TODDLER YEARS AND MADE IT IN FOR THAT PRE-KINDERGARTEN VISIT, GOT THEIR VACCINES, YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE SAFE AND PROTECTED AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE PANICKED ABOUT THIS RESURGENCE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE EITHER UNDERVACCINATED, UNDERPROTECTED AT THIS POINT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FAMILIES KNOW WHAT THEY'RE A RISK FOR AND ARE CATCHING UP.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE GIVE PROTECTION FOR AROUND THAT AGE IS ALSO MEASLES AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE MEASLES RESURGENCE AND WE REPRESENT SEEING THOSE OUTBREAKS COMING SOON.

>> Jeff: THAT BRINGS US TO COVID.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID SHOT?

>> Caroline Carter: >> Rebecca Carter, MD: SO AT THIS POINT EVERYONE SIX MONTHS AND OLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THEIR VACCINE AND WE VERY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU STAY UP TO DATE, INCLUDING THOSE BOOSTER VACCINES FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

REALLY TRULY WE ARE SEEING THAT THE KIDS WHO ARE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND FOR SEVERE OUTCOMES WHEN THEY DO GET COVID ARE THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

SO WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE AND A WHOLE LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, WE REALLY WANT TO STRESS THE MESSAGE THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT A SEVERE OUTCOME FOR YOUR CHILD SHOULD THEY COME DOWN WITH COVID, WHICH WE KNOW HAS HIGH RATES RIGHT NOW, IS TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE UP TO DATE ON THOSE VACCINES.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THE BELIEF WAS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WERE THANKFULLY BEING SPARED THE WORST OF THE COVID OUTBREAK.

IS THAT STILL THE CASE?

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: SO WE CERTAINLY SEE MUCH LOWER RATES OF THE MOST SEVERE OUTCOMES.

WE DO NOT SEE NEARLY THE SAME RATES OF DEATH AS WE HAVE IN THE OLDER POPULATIONS.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT, BUT WE REALLY DO SEE A GOOD AMOUNT OF LONG COVID SYMPTOMS IN THE PATRICIA POPULATION.

THERE HAVE BEEN -- PEDIATRIC POPULATION.

THAT HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS FOR A LOT OF KIDS WHO WERE OPERATING UNDER THE FALSE PRETENSE THAT THEY WERE COMPLETELY SAFE SHOULD THEY COME DOWN WITH COVID.

WHILE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS MOST CHILDREN MAY DO JUST FINE AND MIGHT RECOVER OKAY, THE RISKS FOR THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES FOR THINGS THAT MIGHT KEEP KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, OUT OF SPORTS AND REALLY OUT OF THE ABILITY TO LIVE THEIR LIFE TO THE FULLEST RIGHT NOW AS THEY'RE COMING BACK TO IN-SCHOOL CLASS IS PREEBL NOT WORTH TO IT JUST SKIP THAT VACCINE.

PROBABLY NOT WORTH IT.

SO GETTING THOSE VACCINES REALLY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT WE CAN PREVENT A LOT OF THOSE OTHER OUTCOMES AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS DO YOU GET FROM PARENTS, ESPECIALLY PARENTS OF REALLY YOUNG KIDS, TODDLERS?

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: SO WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PARENTS THAT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING ADEQUATELY STUDIED, THAT WE HAVE THE DATA WE NEED, AND WHAT I CAN REASSURE IS THAT WE REALLY ARE SEEING REALLY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF SAFETY PROFILES, SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN SEEING REALLY CONCERNING ISSUES COMING ABOUT IN THOSE YOUNGER AGES THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THAT WE KNOW COVID CAN CAUSE AND WHAT WE'RE NOT SEEING COMING ACROSS FROM THE VACCINES, IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CLEAR DECISION, THAT IT'S TIME BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW SEVERE SOME OF THOSE IMROWT COMES CAN BE IF A -- OUTCOMES CAN BE IF A CHILD IS GOT COVID AND DOESN'T HAVE PROTECTION.

>> Jeff: SAY THE CHILD GOT IT, IT'S GONE THROUGH THE HOUSEHOLD AND THE ASSUMPTION MIGHT BE WE DON'T NEED A VACCINE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE BECAUSE THE CHILD, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM HAS ALREADY DEFEATED THIS VIRUS.

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: TRE IS SOME PROTECTION, ABSOLUTELY, AFTER EACH INDIVIDUAL TIME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T COUNT ON THAT, ON ANY CLEAR TIME FRAME, SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT LASTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND WHAT WE ARE ALSO SEEING IS THAT AS THESE VARIANTS ARE COMING THROUGH, THEY'RE NOT GIVING THAT SAME PROTECTION UNLESS YOU HAVE THOSE VACCINES IN PLACE.

SO HAVING GONE THROUGH A ROWFN COVID IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY BE WITH MARCH REALLY DOESN'T OFFER A WHOLE LOT OF PROTECTION BY THE VARIANTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN AUGUST AND COMING INTO SEPTEMBER.

SO GOING FOR THOSE BOOSTERS, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE STAYING UP TO DATE IS GOING TO GET THE BEST PROTECTION.

AND WHAT I OFTEN SAY IS IT IS TOTALLY REASONABLE TO HAVE QUESTIONS.

IT IS SO CONFUSING BY ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

THE VERY BEST WAY TO GET CLEAR AND MEANINGFUL INFORMATION IS TO GO TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN, CATCH UP ON YOUR CHECKUPS, GET YOUR OTHER VACCINES CAUGHT UP, AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE, THEY ARE REALLY THE RESOURCE TO USE AND TO ASK BECAUSE THOSE PEDIATRICIANS THAT HAVE BEEN CARING FOR YOUR CHILDREN THROUGH EVERY ILLNESS, THROUGH EVERY EAR INFECTION, THROUGH ALL THAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH AS YOU'VE BEEN RAISING YOUR CHILDREN, YOU TRUSTED THEM ALL ALONG AND NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO TRUST THAT THEY HAVE YOUR CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION, DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS, AND YOU GUYS CAN COME UP TOGETHER WITH THE STRATEGY THAT'S GOING TO WORK BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY.

>> Jeff: DR. IRAQI CARTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

DR. CARTER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Rebecca Carter, MD: THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Jeff: AND NOW TO THE NEW CLIMATE LEGISLATION SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

BILL INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR ENERGY SAVING INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING SUIDIES TO BENEFIT AMERICAN CONSUMERS.

JOINING US NOW IS SAM KALISH, E HEAD OF SPECIAL PROJECTS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP REWIRING AMERICA.

SAM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT'S MOST EXCITING FOR YOU IN THIS NEW LAW?

>> WELL, THE MOST SITE EXPIELTSING THING IN THIS LAW IS IT CHASING KIND OF AN OLDER PARADIGM OF CLIMATE ACTION THAT'S JUST FOCUS ON THE SUPPLY SIDE OF ENERGY WHERE WE GET OUR ENERGY FROM, AND NOW IN THIS NEW BILL THERE'S A LOT OF PROVISIONS TARGETED DIRECTLY AT THE DEMAND SIDE, SO REGULAR AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD, AVERAGE AMERICANS, WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PARTICIPATE WHOWB THEY CAN PUT SOLAR ON THEIR ROOF, THEY CAN GET A HEAT PUMP,Y THEY CAN GETN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY USEFUL FOR THE CLIMATE BUT ALSO FOR SAVING PEOPLE MONEY, FOR AVOIDING INFLATION, AVOIDING THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF INFLATION.

NOW IN THIS LAW THERE'S ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE DO IT, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Jeff: OUR JUICER MAY BE ABLE TO TELL YOU'RE JOINING US FROM A VEHICLE.

OUR VIEWERS.

IS IT AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

>> IT IS.

THIS IS A CHEVROLET VOLT THAT I LEASE, AND I LOVE IT.

IT'S REALLY FAST AND IT'S REALLY CHEAP TO DRIVE.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT.

SO CAN I NOW GO OUT AND GET ONE OF THOSE WITH A BIG TAX CREDIT?

>> YES.

SO THE TAX CREDIT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS STILL IN PLACE, BUT AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE UNDERGO SOME CHANGES, AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY GOOD.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET RID OF THE CAP ON THE NUMBER.

PREVIOUSLY FOR A PARTICULAR OEM, LIKE GM, THEY HAD ALREADY HIT THEIR DPOORPT NUMBER OF VEHICLES THEY HAD SOLD AND SO YOU COULDN'T GET A TAX CREDIT ON A CHEVROLET VOLT, BUT STARTING THE FIRST OF THE YEAR YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN.

AND THERE ARE SOME NEW PLOIFTIONZ IN PLACE THE -- PROVISIONS.

THE TAX CREDIT ISN'T GOING TO COVER THE SUPER HIGH END LUXURY PORSCHE.

PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO BUY THAT CAN AFFORD TO TO ABOUT IT ANY WAY.

IT'S FOR THE LONG-TERM SAVINGS GRIEFG AN EV.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE THINGS IN THIS BILL IS INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO CONVERT TO HEAT PUMPS.

MY MEMORY OF HEAT PUMPS IS VERY OLD AND IT'S VERY BAD.

HAS THAT TECHNOLOGY GOTTEN BETTER?

>> YEAH.

HEAT PUMPS DON'T GET NEARLY ENOUGH PRESS.

THEY'RE NOT QUITE AS SEX'S AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR A SOLAR PANEL BUT THEY'VE JUNDIN' UNDERGONE A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THEY NOW WORK BASICALLY IN ANY CLIMATE IN THE U.S. DOWN NEGATIVE 15, NEGATIVE 20 HAREN FAHRENHEIT, THEY KEEP WORKING, KEEP OUTPUTTING A LOT OF HEAT.

THEY'RE GOING IN PLACES LIKE MAINE, ALASKA, MINNESOTA, THAT PREVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD USE A HEAT PUMP P. NOW THEY WORK THERE AND THEY WORK REALLY WELL.

THEY'RE SAVING PEOPLE LOTS OF MONEY AND THEY'RE AVOIDING HAVING TO BURN FOSSIL FUELS LIKE GAS OR FUEL OIL.

>> Jeff: WHAT' THE FINE PRINT ON THAT 1234 WHEN CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT TAX CREDIT?

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S AN EXISTING KIND OF, KIND OF LIKE EVS, THERE'S AN EXISTING TAX CREDIT BUT IT'S GOING TO GET A HUGE BOOST AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

SO STARTING AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR YOU CAN GET UP TO $2,000 COVERED ON A TAX CREDIT FOR THAT, AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO GET A TAX CREDIT -- SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT IN A HEAT PUMP, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO UPGRADE IR CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX AND THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL TAX CREDIT FOR THAT OF $600.

SO YOU CAN GET ALL THAT STARTING THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

>> Jeff: I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT GETS INTO SOMETHIN I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, WHICH IS THE FACT THAT YOU'RE STILL USING ENERGY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING MORE ELECTRICITY BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE BURNING, SAY, NATURAL GAS IN YOUR FURNACE.

BUT THE ELECTRICITY AT THE MOMENT, A LOT OF IT STILL COMES FROM BURNING COAL, SO FROM A PLANETARY GLOABLG WARMING STANDPOINT IS IT REALLY A STEP FORWARD?

>> SO THE NUMBERS HERE ARE VERY CLEAR.

EVEN IF THE GRID WAS FULLY DIRTY, AND IT'S N FULL DIRTY -- IT'S CLEANING VERY RAPIDLY -- EVEN IF IT WERE FULLY DIRTY IT WOULD STILL BE A WIN FROM AN EMISSIONS PERSPECTIVE, AND TO DO THIS YOU JUST HAVE TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS.

IT'S REALLY NERDY AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF SPREADSHEETS BUT ALL THE ACADEM RESEARCH IS IN.

I COULD RECOMMENDOME PAPERS.

BUT IT'S A WIN HANDS DOWN.

AND AS THE GRID CONTINUES TO GET CLEANER, THESE INVESTMENTS JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER FOR THE CLIMATE.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE THINGS MENTIONED IN THE BILL, I FRANKLY HADN'T HEARD OF BEFORE, THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN HAVE A HEAT PUMP HOT WATER HEATER.

THE REDUNDANCY OF THE HOT WATER HEATER TERM NOTWITHSTANDING, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS AEROTHEY'RE SOMETIMES CALLED HYBRID WATER HEATERS ARE PRETTY NEW OR ENTRANT TO THE MARKET BUT THEY SAVE TONS OF MONEY PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE.

SO IF YOU CURRENT HAVE AN ELECTRIC WATER HEATER, BASICALLY THE HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER WILL CUT YOUR BILLS BY A FACTOR OF THREE.

SO IF YOU PAY, SAY, $600 NOW YOU WILL PAY $200 IN THE FUTURE SO THESE THINGS PAY THEMSELVES BACK REALLY FAST.

>> Jeff: THE THING THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, REALLY SAVES ENERGY IS -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CALLED GEOTHERMAL.

THE IDEA THAT IF YOU HAD AN HEAT POWRM AN AIR CONDITIONER, THE COIL IS UNDERGROUND.

SO YOU'RE ACCESSING THAT CONSTANT 55 DEGREES OR WHATEVER IT IS INSTEAD OF THE AIR THAT IN THE SUMM AROUND HERE CAN BE 95 IT'S INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT, ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO RETROFIT.

IS THAT THERE?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT THERE?

>> YEAH.

SO THERE'S A TAX CREDIT FOR GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS.

IT'S A GENEROUS 30% TAX CREDIT WITH NO CAP.

IN A LOT OF PLACES GEOTHERMAL WORKS WELLER WHEN YOU'VE GOT ACCESS TO LAND, BUT IN MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS ARE REALLY, REALLY COMPETITIVE, AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE LAST TEN YEARS.

TEN YEARS AGO THERE WERE MORE PLACES WHERE GEOTHERMAL WAS A BETTER OPTION.

SHE IS AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS SORE GOOD THEY'RE EATING INTO THE PLA WHERE THE GEOTHERMAL IS THE BETTER IDEA.

SO IN PRETTY MUCH ALL SETTING NOW AIR FORCE SOURCE HEAT PUMPS ARE A BETTER OPTION.

>> Jeff: HOW DO PEOPLE FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY LIVE WITH THE SIZE OF THEIR HOME, WITH THE PENDING CREDITS, WHAT IT MAKES SENSE TO DO?

MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE TO TRY TO HOLD ONTO THAT OLD SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT LONGER?

>> SO I'D REFER TO YOU YOUR WEBSITE, REWIRINGAMERICA.ORG.

E WE JUST LAUNCHED RIGHT WHE THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL, WE JUST LAUNCHED A CALCULATOR THAT LETS YOU GO PUT IN YOUR ZIP CODE, PUT IN HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE, HOW MANY DEPENDENT ITS YOU HAVE AND FIGURE OUT HOW MANY MONEY YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR WHICH ITEMS LIKEEAT PUMPS OR SOLAR OR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND THEN ALSO WHEN THOSE MEASURES KICK IN, AND THIS CAN HELP YOU COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR HOW YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FUNDS AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST IF CLIMATE CRISIS.

YOU MIGHT DECIDED, WELL, OUR WATER HEATER IS TEN YEARS OLD.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO FAIL IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

WHY DON'T W DO THAT ONE NOW.

AND THEN OUR HOME HEATING SYSTEM, THAT'S PRETTY NEW.

LET'S HOLE OFF FOR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE ONE WE HAVE IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR NOW.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS BILL THAT STANDS OUT?

WE TALKED A LOT ON THE CONSUMER'S SIDE IN TERMS OF COMPANIES, MANUFACTURING, ARGUE, ANYTHING AGRICULTURE, ANYTHING EXCITING THERE?

>> LRS THRFERS A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING STUFF.

THERE'S PRODUCTION TAX CREDITS THAT WILL HELP SET UP MANUFACTURING STILTS AND HELP INCENTIVE INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO MAKE THINGS IN PERK AMERICA.

THE DEF PRODUCTION AC WHEN WHICH, INC. VOKES THE BUYING POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO MAKE GOODS FOR GOOD, HEAT PUMPS AS WELL AS SOLAR PANELS.

AND THEN THE WAY SOME OF THE TAX CREDITS ARE STRUCTURED, FOR INSTANCE, THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TAX CREDIT IS STRUCTURED TO HELP SET UP DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAINS, BOTH ARE OF VEHICLE VEHICLES BUT ALSO THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THE BATTERIES, AND ALREADY, EVEN BEFORE THIS, WE WERE SEEING LARGE INVESTMENTS GOING IN PLACES LIKE KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE.

>> Jeff: SAM, WE'RE GOING THROAF IT THERE.

SAM KALISH OF REWIRING AMERICA.

SAM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS.

>> Jeff: >> Jeff: NOW WITH MPT'S HBCU WEEK PLOOCHG, WE ARE JOINED BY DR. ANTHONY JENNS, THE PRESIDENT OF COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY.

PRESIDENT JENKINS, GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON MPT.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE HAVE LOTS TO TALK ABOUT BUT I WANT TO FOCUS IN FOR A MINUTE ON SOME OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATORS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAD A LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TELL US RECENTLY THEY'RE ALL HAVING TROUBLE HIRING TEACHERS, HIRING ENOUGH TEACHERS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND HE POINT OUT TO THAT MARYLAND DOESN'T TRAIN -- WE HAVE A GREAT SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT WE DON'T FRAIN TRAIN MUFF EDUCATORS.

COPPIN IS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS FIGHTING THAT TREND.

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS, AND BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SHARED, WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS HERE ON OUR CAMPUS ABOUT HOW WE CAN LEAN IN MORE HERE AT COPPIN AND DO OUR PART.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT EDUCATORS ARE, AND AS YOU NOTED, WE HAVE A RICH, STORIED HISTORY HERE AT COPPIN OF TRAINING TEACHERS.

IN FACT, IF YOU WALK INTO ANY SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE OR ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF MARYLAND, YOU ARE HIGHLY LIKELY TO RUN INTO SOMEONE WHO GRADUATED FROM COPPIN WHO IS EITHER IN THE CLASSROOM OR IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITHIN THAT SCHOOL.

AND SO WE ARE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE IN A POINT IN OUR SOCIETY WHERE I WON'T YET CALL IT A CRISIS, BUT THERE'S GREAT CONCERN ABOUT SO MUCH TEACHERS WHO ARE LEAVING THAT IMPORTANT PROFG PROFESSION OR NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL THAT PIPELINE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WALKING AWAY WHO ARE RETIRING OR CHANGING CAREERS.

BUT HERE AT COPPIN WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE EDUCATING TEACHERS.

WE WILL BE CREATING A CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE, WHICH WILL BE FOCUSED ON HOW WE GET MORE TEACHERS INTO THAT EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE, AND ESPECIALLY TEACHERS OF COLOR.

WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS OUR STATE AND EVEN HERE IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, AFRICAN AMERICAN TEACHERS AND TEACHERS OF COLOR MAKE UP A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, AND MALE TEACHERS OF COLOR MAKE UP ABOUT 2% OF ALL OF OUR TEACHERS.

AND SO WE WANT TO DO MORE AND WE ARE CREATING A PATHWAY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT LEARNERS OR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO CHANGE THEIR CAREER TO COME THROUGH COPPIN AND GET THEM INTO THE CLASSROOM AND, JEFF WITH HERE'S ONE OF THE INTERESTING PIECES, IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT FINANCES ARE NOT A REASON THAT SOMEONE CANNOT COME TO COPPIN AND GET A DEGREE IN TEACHING AND GO HELP CHANGE THE WORLD.

WE ARE GOING TO BE USING SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION DISCOUNTS TO MOVE STUDENTS THROUGH THAT PROCESS AT BASICALLY ZERO COST.

>> TALK A LITTLE, IF YOU WOULD, BUT IMPORTANCE OF COPPIN IN BALTIMORE CITY.

I THINK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON NORTH AVENUE AND THE ANCHOR THAT COPPIN HAS LONG BEEN THERE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT RELATIONSHIP?

>>ING YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE IN WEST BALTIMORE, AND COPPIN IS ONE OF THE DESIGNATED ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE SEE OURSELVES AS LEADING TAMPA BAY IN HOW THE WAY IN HOW LEADING URBAN UNIVERSITIES ENGAGES WITH ITS COMMUNITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE ONLY MARYLAND HBCU WITH A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE BASICALLY PROVIDE IN SOME CASES THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND WELLNESS FOR SO MANY RESIDENTS IN BALTIMORE.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AT HOW WE ALSO USE OUR BISHOP L. ROBINSON INSTITUTE WHICH FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY POLICING, CL JUSTICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE WE HAVE A AT COPPIN THAT YOU WON'T FIND IN ANY HBCU IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT FOCUSES ON TRANSITIONING AND LEFLG UP THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE A PART OF.

>> YOU STARTED THERE -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- RIGHT AS THE PANDEMIC GOT STARTED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO DROPPED RIGHT INTO HIGH SEAS AND ALL KIND OF DIFFICULTIES THERE.

DO YOU THINK IN TERMS OF YOUR INSTITUTION, OTHER HBCUS, OTHER COLLEGES, ARE WE HOPING TO HAVE A MORE NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR COMING UP?

>> I'LL TELL YOU MY HOPE IS YES, AND I THINK THAT FOR MANY HBCUS WAS A FOR MANY ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, I THINK THIS LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST T YEARS OF THIS PANDEMIC, AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD THAT STOOTIONZ ARE REALLY BE THE INSTITUTIONS ARE READY AS WELL AS FACULTY AND STAFF TO GET BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

BUT JUST AS WE DO THAT, THEN HERE'S THIS OTHER TALK ABOUT MONKEYPOX AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE AT INSTITUTIONS HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, BUT I'LL STELL TELL YOU HERE AT COPPIN WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY VIGILANT WITH HOW WE HAVE SAFEGUARD OUR CAMPUS IN THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC MODE.

I AM PROUD AT HOW MY STUDENTS, MY FACULTY AND STAFF RESPONDED, HOW THEY TOOK IT SERIOUSLY, AND HOW WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP OUR NUMBERS OF THOSE WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC TO AN INCREDIBLE LOW, FAR BELOW WHAT THE CITY OF BALTIMORE NUMBERS WERE, WHAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND NATIONALLY.

SO WE FEEL PRETTY GOOD THAT THIS COMING SEMESTER WE ARE OPENING THAT DOOR JUST A LITTLE MORE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREATER SENSE OF NORMALCY ON OUR CAMPUS WHICH STUDENT LIFE, ACADEMICS, ALL OF THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE A PART OF THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

>> Jeff: COPPIN'S COLLEGE EXPERIENCE DATES BACK 122 YEARS, I BELIEVE.

TWEAS ON THE HORIZON?

>> LISTEN -- WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON?

>> WE HAVE HAD, LIKE I SAID, A VERY RICH, STORIED HISTORY, VERY PROUD OF WHO COPPIN IS AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN, AND AS WE'VE PIVOTED AND REIMAGINE COPPIN MOVING FORWARD, WE WANT TO LOOK AT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE LEVELING DEVELOPING DEVELOPING OUR 85 I HAVE FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH IS GOING TO GUIDE US, WHICH IS GOING TO CRAFT A PATHWAY FOR US MOVING FORWARD.

WE ARE GOING TO COMMITTED OURSELVES TO GREATER ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

WE ARE SEEING MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ATTRACTED TO P COULDIN FOR -- P COULDIN TO OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE EXPANDING OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND OUR ACADEMIC FOOTPRINT, AND SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT MOVING INTO THE ONLINE SPACE THIS COMING FALL.

WE WILL HAVE THREE FULLY ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT WILL THAT WE'LL BE OFFERING.

ONE IS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

THE OTHER IS A BACHELOR'S IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION.

AND SO WE ARE EXCITED TO LOOK AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES OF EXPANDING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SO MANY FOLKS.

AND WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON HERE ON CAMPUS.

WE ARE BUILDING A $54 MILLION COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

WE'LL BE BUILDING NEW RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOIGHTD LOOK AT HOW WE -- GOING TO LOOK AT HOW WE BROADEN OUR FOOTPRINT DOMESTICALLY AND INTERVENTIONY.

SO A LOT OF EXCITING THING GOING ON OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS HERE AT A COPPIN.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO DR. JENKINS AT COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY.

MPT'S HBCU WEEK BEGINS ON THE 5th OF SEPTEMBER HERE ON MPT.

THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH STATE CIRCLE AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

PLEASE JOINS FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00.

DO REMEMBER TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AMOUNT OF MPT NEWS.

TO YOU NOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN