PA elected officials and other groups support new EPA standards for coal, gas plants
June 28, 2023
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More groups are getting on board, including in Pennsylvania, to support the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal for tougher new carbon pollution standards for coal and gas-fired power plants.
The agency said reducing pollutants like carbon dioxide will deliver up to $85 billion in climate and public health benefits over the next two decades.
Martin Miller, a West Norriton Township commissioner, pointed out in Pennsylvania, the state’s Constitution guarantees clean air and pure water for all its citizens. He explained working as a pharmacist for more than 20 years in lower-income areas of Philadelphia, he has seen firsthand the health effects of pollution.
“And I’ve seen the impact that pollution has simply just through one disease, and that’s asthma,” Miller recounted. “One of the things that we’ve seen over the years is that these particulates that are discharged into the environment really increase the incidence and severity of asthma.”
NY Senate passes HEAT Act, Assembly poised to take up bill
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June 8, 2023
The New York State Senate has passed the HEAT Act, which now goes to the Assembly.
The legislation aims to phase out gas-line extension allowances, which would reduce the use of natural gas in the state. It would also allow the Public Service Commission the authority to keep utility companies in line with the state’s climate laws.
Robin Wilt, a town council member in Brighton, said the equity component in the bill is needed. It would protect low- to moderate-income customers from bearing energy burdens greater than a certain percentage of their income.
She thinks it would also help communities disproportionately affected by climate change.
“I think it’s important, as we move forward, that we always keep that equity piece in mind, and that we’re reparative,” Wilt asserted. “Those communities that bear the brunt of our past climate policy should be the first beneficiaries of any future policy.”
NM advocates: Climate crisis demands end to Feds’ fossil-fuel leasing
NM advocates: Climate crisis demands end to Feds’ fossil-fuel leasing
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June 8, 2023
The Bureau of Land Management has auctioned off another 10,000 acres of New Mexico public lands to the oil and gas industry, despite a local rally and national letter writing campaign requesting its cancellation.
The letter, signed by 272 local and national groups, unions, businesses and institutions, failed to stop the May 25 sale and the BLM did not respond.
Miya King-Flaherty, Our Wild New Mexico organizing representative for the Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club, said four Western states have the highest concentration of federal oil and gas leases.
“New Mexico is ground zero,” King-Flaherty asserted. “We are essentially — I use the word ‘sacrifice zone’ — but lands in New Mexico are continually being held up for lease.”
Offshore wind farms grow job opportunities in New York and New Jersey
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June 2, 2023
Offshore wind in New York and New Jersey is becoming a large contributor to job growth.
New York’s offshore wind investments are slated to create between 18,000 and 23,000 jobs, according to a state estimate.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority reported offshore wind jobs will hit their peak in 2030 at 20,000, with steady growth in the next decade.
More than 120 elected officials in New Jersey have signed a letter calling for further growth in the sector.
Caren Fitzpatrick, an Atlantic County commissioner, believes southern New Jersey can become a hub to provide offshore wind development for the East Coast.
“Our manufacturing area over in Salem County, in the southwestern part of the state, is perfectly situated to create and build the turbines, the monopolies, the bases, and they can just ship them down the Delaware River,” Fitzpatrick pointed out.
Fitzpatrick noted misinformation about the wind farms endangers their futures. Some of the opposition surrounds the turbines obstructing Atlantic City’s views, and hazards to bird species. But the Ocean Wind Offshore Wind Farm will be 15 miles offshore, about five times farther than the human eye can see, and eight miles farther than birds migrate.
Dangers of fracking wastewater put spotlight on ‘Halliburton Loophole’ in Congress
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May 30, 2023
A law known as the “Halliburton Loophole” is under growing scrutiny. It exempts oil and gas companies from revealing the chemicals they use in the hydraulic fracking process.
The latest study finds between 2014 and 2021, companies used hundreds of millions of pounds of toxic chemicals – without any governmental oversight.
Another report published last year by scientists and medical organizations says living near fracking sites increases risks for cancer, respiratory diseases, heart problems, birth defects and more.
Leatra Harper, managing director of the Freshwater Accountability Project, explained that the loophole prevents communities from understanding potential harms.
“People need to know what the exposures could be,” said Harper. “We need to know what the chemicals are to look for when we find water contamination. And we don’t even know how to test for it, because we don’t know what to test for.”
NY/NJ Elected Officials celebrate offshore wind during Earth Month
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April 24, 2023
Throughout Earth Month, elected officials across the U.S. are celebrating renewable energy projects.
In New York, several wind, solar and hydroelectric developments were completed that will power more than 150,00 homes across the state with clean electricity.
Along with these, several offshore wind farms are under construction off the coast of Long Island. East Hampton Town Council member Cate Rogers described the public feedback from residents.
“The community as a whole was in favor,” said Rogers. “There are concerns, I don’t want to make it like there weren’t legitimate concerns from our fishing industry out there. We have a lot of generational fishermen out here in Montauk who are fearful of the impacts to their industry.”
Conservative group urges action to plug orphaned UT oil wells
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,April 24, 2023
Correction: Diversified Energy was mentioned as one of the companies operating in Utah, but they currently don’t own assets in the state. (8:13 a.m. PST, April 24, 2023)
Congress allocated billions of dollars through the infrastructure law to plug orphaned well sites across the country, with Utah being one of the first states to receive the help.
Dave Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, said lawmakers should be doing more to hold “bad actors” accountable. According to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining’s website, a reported 46 orphan wells in the state are not plugged and are abandoned, scattered on private, state and federal lands.
Jenkins claimed the number is much higher, closer to 1,000, saying the discrepancy is due to whether federal or state agencies declare oil wells orphaned.
“Some of them may not be put in the ‘orphan well bucket’ by the state yet, or a lot of them because they are idle and non-producing and haven’t produced oil for many years,” Jenkins explained. “They are sitting there dotting the landscape and nobody’s plugging them or cleaning them up.”
Earth Day in NV: ‘Don’t give In to climate despair’
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April 21, 2023
Tomorrow is Earth Day, a day to show support for protecting the planet, and one Nevada lawmaker wants Nevadans to give some thought to actions they could take to help fight climate change.
Asm. Howard Watts, D-Las Vegas, and member of the Elected Officials to Protect America Leadership Council, wants to see more community members engaging with elected officials to continue the push for a clean energy future. Watts, who also sits on the council for the group Elected Officials to Protect America, said it will take huge federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, stronger federal environmental regulations and measures at the state and local level to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
He adds it is crucial to not lose hope. “We’ve seen constant reports about how we’re feeling the impacts of climate change,” Watts observed. “Now, we know that those impacts are going to get worse, but some of these policies that have been recently passed have the opportunity to put us on a much better trajectory.”
NY renewable-energy projects coming to fruition
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April 20, 2023
During Earth Week, several projects in New York to boost energy efficiency have been completed.
These projects, which consist of wind, solar and hydroelectric developments will provide clean electricity to more than 150,000 homes across the state.
But, these are just a few of the numerous projects helping New York reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 70% by 2030.
Anne Reynolds, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, described what lies ahead for the state’s climate future.
“More and more, New Yorkers will be seeing solar projects and wind projects under construction,” said Reynolds. “There’s only one offshore wind project under construction now, but there’s five others that have contracts. So, New Yorkers are going to start to see or hear about offshore wind construction.”
Science Moms: climate solutions aren’t out of reach for families with Inflation Reduction Act
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April 6, 2023
April is Earth Month, and moms who work in scientific fields are trying to get the attention of other parents, hoping they’ll take advantage of clean-energy opportunities. They say there are options even in rural states like South Dakota.
The federal Inflation Reduction Act includes a number of tax credits households can use to transition to clean-energy products for consumers.
A campaign by the nonpartisan group Science Moms has launched to let more people know about these incentives.
Joellen Russell, professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona and co-founder of Science Moms, said there is greater awareness about the effects of fossil fuels, and staying with them is not in children’s best interest. “The normal, the status quo, is taking a toll on children’s developing bodies and threatening their futures,” Russell asserted.