Environment / Public News Service

Outdoor recreation added $11.7 million to the Arizona economy in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 19, 2024

AZ conservation groups pleased with Biden's move to protect public lands

Arizona conservation groups and sportsmen alike say they're pleased the Bureau of Land Management will now recognize conservation as an integral part …

About 67% of Nevada's lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 19, 2024

NV stakeholders celebrate new BLM public lands rule

This week, the Bureau of Land Management announced an update to its Public Lands Rule to help recognize conservation as an essential component of …

The Bureau of Land Management's newly issued Public Lands Rule is designed to safeguard cultural resources such as New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Park. (Photo courtesy SallyPaez)

Friday, April 19, 2024

BLM's 'Public Lands Rule' could reform conservation, access in NM

Balancing the needs of the many with those who have traditionally reaped benefits from public lands is behind a new rule issued Thursday by the Bureau…

The New York HEAT Act could cut utility bills nearly in half for 1 in 4 energy-burdened New Yorkers. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Advocates want NY HEAT Act in the final budget

The New York HEAT Act might not make the final budget. The bill reduces the state's reliance on natural gas and cuts ratepayer costs by eliminating …

The beans from the velvet mesquite are known as

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Food forests in southern Arizona help combat heat and hunger

By Max Graham for Grist.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Serv…

Tax credits for home solar projects have been around for a while and local leaders in Wisconsin noted new federal policies have been more aggressive in helping governments, businesses and homeowners offset costs of installing panels. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

A snapshot of federal investments being put to use in WI

City and county governments are feeling the pinch of rising operating costs but in Wisconsin, federal incentives are driving a range of local …

Environmental advocates are asking California's next state budget to prioritize climate mitigation and cut tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. (The Climate Center)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Climate groups seek to remove tax breaks for oil and gas companies

As state budget negotiations continue, groups fighting climate change are asking California lawmakers to cut subsidies for oil and gas companies …

The Land of Enchantment has plenty of sunshine and some of the best solar incentives in the U.S. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Personal energy electrification plans offered at NM Earth Day event

Saving New Mexico residents money as they adapt to climate change is the goal behind an Earth Day event in Albuquerque Sunday. The Rio Grande …

State meteorologists in Minnesota say several climate change effects have greatly increased the amount of fuel available for wildfires, which can grow rapidly and be difficult to extinguish. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

More summer smoke? Experts monitor climate-fueled events and health effects

Wet weather this spring has improved drought conditions in Minnesota and southern Canada. However, experts remain on alert for increased wildfire …

According to research from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative created 2,115 local jobs in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

VA General Assembly considers RGGI budget amendments

Virginia's General Assembly will consider budget amendments to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI. Gov. Glenn Youngkin …

The 1922 Colorado River Compact gives priority to Lower Basin states: Arizona, California and Nevada, for rights to Colorado River Water. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Study: 90% of CO River irrigation water goes to cattle

As Colorado and other states grapple with shrinking Colorado River water levels, new research pinpoints how much water is being diverted for cattle …

From 2017 to 2019, Ohio ranked 46th among 50 states for pollution exposure, including exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle …

From Alabama to the Everglades, the Florida Wildlife Corridor is a superhighway of interconnected acres of wildlands, working lands and waters. (FAU/FWC aerial view)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

FL Wildlife Corridor study reveals role in climate resilience, population growth

As the Sunshine State grapples with rising temperatures and escalating weather events such as hurricanes, a new study sheds light on the pivotal role …

There are more than 1,300 species listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, including the piping plover, a shorebird found on sandy beaches in southern Maine. (Adobe Stock)

New Endangered Species Act rules consider climate impact on ME wildlife

Conservationists in Maine said reinstated protections of the Endangered Species Act could help wildlife already struggling to adapt to climate change…

North Carolina has the third highest PFAS exposure in the country. (Adobe Stock)

EPA takes steps to reduce PFAS as advocates call for more actions

The Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to reduce harmful pollution in drinking water in North Carolina and across the country. In a …

In partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, volunteers are discovering new bee species and working to fortify bumble bee habitat, in Iowa and across the country. (Xerces/Katie Lamke)

Iowans asked to get busy counting beeezzz, please

The state Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University are looking for volunteers to help create a new Bumble Bee Atlas. Bees are an …

Montana has more than 3 million acres of inaccessible public lands, tops in the West, according to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. (Adobe Stock)

SB 442 veto override ballots due back this week

Ballots are due back in the Montana Secretary of State's office later this week, as lawmakers decide whether to override Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto …

Despite a looming 2030 deadline to dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, PacifiCorp has ditched plans to invest big in wind and solar. (Adobe Stock)

Pacificorp throws a lifeline to Wyoming coal and natural gas industry

PacifiCorp's updated energy roadmap throws a lifeline to Wyoming's coal industry but critics said the new Integrated Resource Plan is a major setback …

According to the West Virginia Historical Society, the state had among the highest concentrations of chemical plants in the United States for nearly a century. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: EPA chemical plant emissions rule a win for WV communities

Chemical plants in West Virginia and other states will be required to curb emissions of toxic, cancer causing pollutants - such as ethylene oxide…

Gas flaring has persisted from the beginning of oil production more than 160 years ago. (supakitmod/Adobe Stock)

TX faith, environmental groups hopeful about new EPA methane rule

Oil and gas companies have until 2025 to reduce the emissions they release into the air through the practices known as venting and flaring. You may …

Enbridge owns and operates Line 5, a controversial oil pipeline that crosses tribal lands and runs under a portion of the Great Lakes. (Adobe Stock)

Midwest Tribes to take Line 5 concerns to United Nations forum

Next week, Native American leaders from the Midwest will go before a United Nations panel with their concerns over a controversial oil pipeline they …

Protesters rallied in San Diego in 2012 against trade agreements that allow corporations to sue for future profits when governments deny permits. (Arthur Stamoulis/Trade Justice Education Fund)<br />

Climate activists call on U.S. company to halt trade lawsuit over LNG

Environmental activists are rallying today in Sunnyvale, asking the American company Ruby River Capital to drop a lawsuit the protesters called "a …

PFAS are chemicals used since the 1940s. They are found in everyday products such as nonstick cookware. Public officials are sounding the alarm about health risks associated with the chemicals, including their presence in drinking water. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA finalizes national standard for PFAS in drinking water

Minnesota is the site of a high-profile drinking-water contamination case linked with so-called forever chemicals and advocates are hopeful residents …

The Thriving Neighbors Series is free but registration is required. (Adobe stock)

IN ‘feeling the impacts of climate change’

By Enrique Saenz for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News …

Governor Ned Lamont's budget proposal advocates using $5.75 million in ARPA funds to support statewide resiliency and climate preparedness. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: CT General Assembly must act on climate bills

Connecticut's General Assembly is weighing several climate change bills. It comes after what advocates describe as detrimental inaction on the …

WI, other states prepare for new PFAS drinking water rule

Efforts to limit human exposure to so-called forever chemicals continue to unfold in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, advocates are hopeful residents will be …

The Nature Conservancy Arizona will use the funding to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners on up to 20,000 acres. (Juliana Swenson/Adobe Stock)

Millions of dollars going to Verde River conservation in north central AZ

More than $11 million in federal grant money will go to improve land and water conservation in the upper Verde River Watershed and Big Chino Grassland…

Prescribed burning is the purposeful use of fire to reduce the risk from fire fuel sources in the forest. (Heidi/Adobe Stock)

NW states, fed collaborate on prescribed burns to fight wildfires

State and federal agencies are collaborating to increase the use of prescribed fires in the Northwest. Prescribed fire is the controlled use of …

Most of the USDA produce samples tested in this year's Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group were within the legal allowance for chemical pesticide residue. (Adobe Stock)

Strawberries top Dirty Dozen list of produce packed with pesticides

Nonorganic fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemical pesticides, including fungicides which can harm male reproductive systems, according to the …

New research at the University of Montana recommends letting smaller wildfires burn where possible, heading off potentially more dangerous blazes later. (Adobe Stock)

MT researchers: Let smaller wildfires burn

A new study in the journal Nature Communications by Montana researchers said suppressing small wildfires is leading to larger, more intense and …

A Charlotte Earth Day event will provide children with an Earth Passport, which will help guide them through four

A focus on environmental protection, advocacy for NC Earth Day

April is Earth Month, and North Carolina's climate justice groups are addressing the crucial roles of air, land, water and health in protecting the …

For renewable energy, Wisconsin has traditionally lagged behind other Midwestern states in such areas as solar development but federal policies are now giving the Badger State a boost to carry out more projects. (Adobe Stock)

WI utilities make union jobs a priority for green projects

With the help of federal aid, Wisconsin is catching up to neighboring states in accelerating clean energy construction projects and the Badger State …

Solarize Frankfort helped 27 Frankfort homeowners install solar in 2023, spurring the investment of over $600,000 in our local economy, according to the Kentucky Solar Energy Society. (Andy McDonald)<br />

Solarize campaign vets KY solar companies for consumers

As out-of-state, and sometimes disreputable companies offering solar installations crowd the market, a local effort called Solarize aims to connect …

Mayor Lenise Peterman spoke with a participant at the Coal Country at a Crossroads Listening Session. (United Today, Stronger Tomorrow)

Utah mayor calls for more federal dollars for rural communities

Federal and agency officials convened with stakeholders in Southeastern Utah to discuss how federal funds can help grow and strengthen local economies…

Enbridge Energy's longstanding Line 5 oil pipeline has resulted in heavy opposition, including legal challenges, from environmental and tribal organizations in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan. (Photo courtesy Earthjustice)

Tribal interests remain at heart of opposition to Great Lakes oil pipeline

Later this month, Indigenous leaders will speak before a United Nations panel about their ongoing concerns with a controversial oil pipeline in the …

The New Hampshire Space Grant and the University of New Hampshire have distributed 33,000 pairs of eclipse glasses to students, teachers, firefighters and police in anticipation of today's total solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock)

Northern NH offers prime viewing of 'life-changing' total solar eclipse

All of New England will experience some form of today's total solar eclipse but northern New Hampshire will offer prime viewing. The sky will darken …

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the largest blackwater wetland ecosystem and the least disturbed freshwater ecosystem on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife advocates urge stronger safeguards for Okefenokee

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia faces the prospect of a titanium dioxide mine near its border. Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals …

$A new fracking well pad visible from the property of Ohio resident Randi Pokladnik. (Randi Pokladnik) <br />$

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

Ohio's Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments - and will answer questions in virtual sessions today and tomorrow, on a draft …

NEVI covers planning, acquisition, installation and operational costs of the EV unit. (Adobe Stock/serperm73)

IA joins nationwide network of EV charging stations

Iowa is accepting bids from people who want an EV charging station on their land. It's part of a nationwide network of infrastructure designed to …

In 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichenger revoked the 1953 easement allowing Enbridge's Line 5 to operate. (Earthjustice)

Indigenous leaders come to NY to speak about pipeline impacts

Indigenous community leaders will be in New York addressing the United Nations. They'll be speaking at the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous …

Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego celebrates a bilingual Mass for Earth Week at St. James Church in Solana Beach, California, April 17, 2021. (CNS/The Southern Cross/John Gastaldo)

San Diego Catholic Diocese divests from fossil fuels

By Brian Roewe for Earthbeat.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service …

Report: 90% of CO River irrigation water used to feed cattle

As Wyoming and other states grapple with shrinking Colorado River water levels - new research pinpoints how much water is being diverted to feed cattl…

Colorado is the fourth largest oil producing state in the country and eighth largest gas producing state. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Methane pollution from oil and gas production greatly underestimated

Data from new satellite-based technology show that the amount of methane pollution impacting communities living near oil and gas facilities is far gre…

More than 700 students from colleges and high schools across the nation will participate in the balloon launches during today's solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

Maryland students to study eclipse’s effect on atmosphere

As solar eclipse spectators are gathering in the path of totality, teams of students from Maryland and around the nation are preparing to launch …

More than 90% of available land in the Greater Chaco region, former home of Ancestral Puebloan civilizations, is dotted with oil and gas wells, according to WildEarth Guardians. (WildEarthGuardians.org)

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

Tribal communities, including those in New Mexico, can now apply for grant funding and direct assistance to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells …

A more diversified economy, including solar energy, is stopping the

putting people in West Virginia to work through paid on-the-job training. (Adobe Stock)">

Reimagining WV coal country by building on state’s legacy as an energy provider

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public New…

Researcher Michael Zeiler with GreatAmericanEclipse.com estimated between 84,000 and 337,000 people will visit the Natural State to view the solar eclipse. (Adil/AdobesStock)

Arkansans encouraged to observe birds, wildlife behavior during solar eclipse

On Monday, Arkansans will have the opportunity to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event, a total solar eclipse. It will be visible along a narrow track …

Expanding solar in VA can provide numerous benefits

Virginia energy experts feel a recent push for solar energy legislation could have benefited the state. Senate Bill 697 would have removed a ban on …

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Environment

AZ conservation groups pleased with Biden's move to protect public lands

NV stakeholders celebrate new BLM public lands rule

BLM's 'Public Lands Rule' could reform conservation, access in NM

Advocates want NY HEAT Act in the final budget

Food forests in southern Arizona help combat heat and hunger

A snapshot of federal investments being put to use in WI

Climate groups seek to remove tax breaks for oil and gas companies

Personal energy electrification plans offered at NM Earth Day event

More summer smoke? Experts monitor climate-fueled events and health effects

VA General Assembly considers RGGI budget amendments

Study: 90% of CO River irrigation water goes to cattle

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

FL Wildlife Corridor study reveals role in climate resilience, population growth

New Endangered Species Act rules consider climate impact on ME wildlife

EPA takes steps to reduce PFAS as advocates call for more actions

Iowans asked to get busy counting beeezzz, please

SB 442 veto override ballots due back this week

Pacificorp throws a lifeline to Wyoming coal and natural gas industry

Experts: EPA chemical plant emissions rule a win for WV communities

TX faith, environmental groups hopeful about new EPA methane rule

Midwest Tribes to take Line 5 concerns to United Nations forum

Climate activists call on U.S. company to halt trade lawsuit over LNG

EPA finalizes national standard for PFAS in drinking water

IN ‘feeling the impacts of climate change’

Advocates: CT General Assembly must act on climate bills

WI, other states prepare for new PFAS drinking water rule

Millions of dollars going to Verde River conservation in north central AZ

NW states, fed collaborate on prescribed burns to fight wildfires

Strawberries top Dirty Dozen list of produce packed with pesticides

MT researchers: Let smaller wildfires burn

A focus on environmental protection, advocacy for NC Earth Day

WI utilities make union jobs a priority for green projects

Solarize campaign vets KY solar companies for consumers

Utah mayor calls for more federal dollars for rural communities

Tribal interests remain at heart of opposition to Great Lakes oil pipeline

Northern NH offers prime viewing of 'life-changing' total solar eclipse

Wildlife advocates urge stronger safeguards for Okefenokee

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

IA joins nationwide network of EV charging stations

Indigenous leaders come to NY to speak about pipeline impacts

San Diego Catholic Diocese divests from fossil fuels

Report: 90% of CO River irrigation water used to feed cattle

Study: Methane pollution from oil and gas production greatly underestimated

Maryland students to study eclipse’s effect on atmosphere

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

Reimagining WV coal country by building on state’s legacy as an energy provider

Arkansans encouraged to observe birds, wildlife behavior during solar eclipse

Expanding solar in VA can provide numerous benefits