Russell Vought is one of the key architects behind the conservative, right-wing blueprint Project 2025, and President-elect Donald Trump has tapped him to lead his Office of Management and Budget for a second time.

If confirmed for the position, Vought would have significant influence over the federal government as he determines the president's budget.

David Kieve, president of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, calls Vought unqualified. Kieve said Vought could spell trouble for the environmental progress made around the country and in Utah.

"I know how important the Utah natural environment is, not just to Utah's position as being the host of the upcoming Winter Olympics, but also to the state's travel and tourism industry and its whole economy," Kieve outlined.

Kieve pointed out Vought has demonstrated he intends to get rid of the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, a report produced every four years to assess the effects of climate change. Kieve contends it should be cause for concern for anyone who believes what makes Utah so special is its natural environment.

Trump has argued that Vought did a good job under his first term and was able "to cut four regulations for every new regulation."

As the country grapples with the effects of climate change, most recently the devastating fires in Southern California that have left multiple dead and many displaced, Kieve reminded voters of Vought's actions last time he was in office.

"As President Trump's Office of Management and Budget director, he had a heavy hand in delaying federal disaster assistance to Puerto Rico after a number of the extreme weather events that they dealt with," Kieve recounted. "This is not just objectionable, it is really morally reprehensible."

Trump will be sworn into office Jan. 20. Kieve noted the Senate is currently holding hearings to vet various Trump nominees so the president can fill key roles.

Kieve contends outside advocates and concerned citizens also have their role to play.

"Asking tough questions and making sure that nominees who President Trump has put forward are well qualified for these offices," Kieve urged. "We've asked our own tough questions about Russ Vought and found that the answer was unequivocal: He is absolutely not somebody who should be in a position of power."

West Virginia environmental groups are suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, arguing the agency failed to consider residents' health when it gave the stamp of approval for the creation of four valley fills on a thousand-acre surface mine in Raleigh County.

Vernon Halton, executive director of the nonprofit Coal River Mountain Watch says the region experienced severe flooding in the 1990s and early 2000s, and says more valley fills, which involve dumping rocks, minerals and waste into nearby waterways, will put their lives at risk.

"It's going to permanently endanger the people whose homes are in the valleys below, he explained."

According to Environment America, valley fills permanently bury headwater streams and reduce water quality. More than 2,000 miles of headwater streams have been buried due to mountaintop removal.

Haltom added that communities continue to grapple with health challenges unparalleled outside of the coalfields.

"Higher rates of cancer, higher rates of heart disease, higher rates of birth defects, higher rates of other diseases, and most of them can be linked to the airborne dust that people are forced to breathe," he continued.

Research has shown breathing in toxic dust promotes the growth of lung cancer cells in people living in communities near mountaintop removal. Coal is mined in 22 of West Virginia's 55 counties, according to federal data.

A Knoxville environmental group is raising concerns over federal budget cuts and their effects on jobs at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

The Trump Administration briefly laid off workers at the complex but called them back the next day.

Tanvi Kardile, coordinator for the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, warned the cuts, including layoffs at the Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration, are troubling. She advocated shifting jobs from weapons production to environmental cleanup, citing ongoing efforts to address groundwater contamination, though she pointed out cost overruns and major concerns remain unaddressed.

"One of these cuts we feel should be the uranium processing facility, which is being constructed to replace, all these old, deteriorating buildings at Y-12," Kardile explained. "The budget for that keeps skyrocketing.
And this is one of the largest construction projects in Tennessee history."

Kardile emphasized the uranium processing facility is estimated to cost $10.3 billion and will not be complete in 2031. Initially, the project was expected to cost $6.5 billion and be finished by this year.

Kardile added her group is hesitant about Trump's statement expressing his intention to initiate nuclear arms reduction negotiations with China and Russia. The future of the U.S. nuclear weapons program remains uncertain as a result.

"Who knows if reduction talks will happen or how successful they'll be, especially with some other energy initiatives that he supports, such as discrediting climate change, promoting fossil fuels and drilling," Kardile outlined. "It doesn't seem like the administration will take many initiatives to protect the environment."

Kardile argued it is crucial for Tennesseans to push for greater accountability from the Department of Energy on the rising cost of Y-12 and collaborate with lawmakers to find the best path to allocate their tax dollars and protect public health.

Ohio is seeing a growing number of solar energy projects, including the first utility-scale installation in Dayton, which will help power a key water treatment facility.

Cities across the state are also working together to expand clean energy access. The five-megawatt solar array in Dayton will be built on a brownfield site, which is also a repurposing project for land that had been burned and has limited use because of contamination.

Robert McCracken, energy manager for the neighboring city of Cincinnati, said it is amazing to be able to produce energy to help with energy resiliency anywhere in Ohio.

"There is a lot of great work happening in the sustainable energy field throughout the state of Ohio," McCracken observed. "That's happening in large cities and small towns."

It is expected to provide 38% of the Miami Water Treatment Plant's electrical power needs and cut consumer energy bills by keeping water rates low. The City of Dayton serves as the principal water source for an estimated 1.5 million people in southwest Ohio.

McCracken pointed out local governments across Ohio recognize the importance of clean energy and are working collaboratively on solutions.

"It's become ever more important for all of those cities throughout Ohio ... to be working together to figure out how we all can advance the projects that we're working on that can benefit residents and businesses in each of our local communities," McCracken contended.

The project supports Dayton's climate emergency commitment to cutting carbon emissions at city facilities through renewable energy. McCracken emphasized Ohio cities remain dedicated to sustainable solutions, benefiting the environment and local communities.


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