Environmental groups are calling for a ban on vinyl chloride, one of more than 16,000 toxic chemicals used to manufacture plastic.

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering tightening regulations on the chemical.

Judith Inck, president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics, pointed out there is no safe level of exposure to vinyl chloride, which has been linked to various cancers.

"Chemicals like PFAS, the whole family -- vinyl chloride, heavy metals -- should not be in packaging," Inck contended. "Particularly food and beverage packaging, particularly in baby food packaging."

Inck noted Beyond Plastics is also calling for a ban on chemical recycling facilities, which purport to recycle plastics. New Hampshire is the only state in New England to classify recycling facilities as manufacturing sites, rather than more tightly regulated waste management operations.

A recent survey found 32% of adults, especially women and college graduates, said they are avoiding single-use plastic products, which contain vinyl chloride.

Inck emphasized without state-level and federal laws aimed at eliminating them and incentivizing alternatives, it is up to companies themselves to stop plastic usage. She stressed groups like the U.S. Plastic Pact are working to push corporations in the right direction.

"An organization of many consumer product companies announced in January of 2022 that they will stop using PVC plastic by 2025," Inck acknowledged. "But this is just a voluntary pledge."

Reporting by The New York Times and others has shown how the plastic industry is trying to combat the growing wave of anti-plastic sentiment through social media influencers by proclaiming that certain types of plastics are more environmentally friendly than others.

Environmental groups are raising alarms as the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Township moves closer to becoming the first decommissioned nuclear plant in the U.S. to restart. However, President Donald Trump's executive orders may be a game changer.

The Palisades plant, owned by Holtec International, shut down in 2022 after 50 years in operation and is poised to restart at the end of the year.

Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist for the nuclear watchdog nonprofit Beyond Nuclear, said while he is concerned the President Donald Trump may still fund the plant's reopening, he hopes it does not happen.

"Trump now has said that he's revoking the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 as well as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021," Kamps pointed out. "If he were to do that, then Palisades and Holtec would be cut off from this gravy train that they're on."

Holtec responded in a statement saying in part, "The restart of Palisades is a historic opportunity for Michigan and the United States to return 800 megawatts of safe and reliable baseload energy back to the state's electric grid - and more than 800,000 homes."

Holtec also stated the restart of Palisades is possible because of the strong broad-based support it received from the local community, bringing with it high-paying permanent jobs. However, Kamps contended the plant, which sits on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, is dangerous for the health of the community, environment and economy.

"We don't need this extreme risk that they would put us at, and it's insanely expensive," Kamps asserted. "Holtec altogether has requested more than $16 billion at the Palisades site alone."

He also warned Palisades' steam generator tubes suffered significant damage after sitting for two years without chemical preservation, creating even greater risks of a meltdown. He stressed he and other environmental groups plan to make their voices heard at a hearing tomorrow of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Licensing Board.


get more stories like this via email

West Virginia has thousands of unplugged and improperly plugged oil and gas wells that could leak and contaminate groundwater, potentially harming nearby communities, according to new research by the Ohio River Valley Institute.

Ted Boettner, senior researcher for the Ohio River Valley Institute, said the state is also attempting to expedite the permitting process for injection wells to store carbon.

"None of these wells are monitored or inspected by the state, so carbon stored in underground saltwater caverns can migrate to these abandoned wells and leak," Boettner pointed out.

It is estimated more than 28,000 documented abandoned wells, nearly all of which overlie potential carbon storage locations, currently exist, but Boettner noted there could be an additional 400,000 additional undocumented wells scattered across the state.

More than 25,000 plugged wells may be improperly plugged. Boettner explained plugging wells does not always work and despite the best efforts, the hole can continue leaking hazardous materials into drinking water and the atmosphere.

"Our inability to properly deal with that issue does not bode well for the fact that we want to store thousands, millions, of tons of CO2 in basically a liquid form underground."

According to one estimate from the U.S. Department of Energy, West Virginia has the potential to store more than Boettner of carbon dioxide emissions but experts said the projections are likely beyond what is feasible for commercial operations.


get more stories like this via email

The Nevada Conservation League says its policy priorities for this year's legislative session reflect what Nevadans value - protecting the state's unique landscapes and wildlife, ensuring families can afford to power their homes, and advancing the state's clean energy economy.

The league's Deputy Director, Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, said recent polling finds that Nevadans want lawmakers to do more to expand clean energy and hold monopoly utility companies accountable.

But with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers, a Republican governor, and a president that is stepping away from global climate action, it is uncertain if progress in the Silver State could be derailed.

Cabrera-Georgeson said the league won't sit back.

"Nevadans continue to really support clean energy," said Cabrera-Georgeson. "They want lower bills, they want utilities held accountable and they want a cleaner grid. All of this was very overwhelmingly supported - whether that be Democrats, Republicans, or nonpartisans, really across the board - these clean-energy issues are popular."

That is why Cabrera-Georgeson said one of the league's legislative priorities will focus on ratepayer protections.

It's working to ensure utilities such as NV Energy and Southwest Gas spend ratepayer dollars responsibly.

Utilities claim they need to increase rates to ensure quality service, but Cabrera-Georgeson said more transparency of funds is needed.

Most of Nevada is made up of public lands. But conservationists are concerned about how these lands, as well as national monuments, could be impacted under Trump's pro-fossil fuel agenda.

Just last week the Trump administration called for a review of protections of national monuments.

But for Cabrera-Georgeson, a native Nevadan, having access to the great outdoors is part of the Nevada way of life.

"I don't think I know a single person that doesn't do some kind of outdoor recreation," said Cabrera-Georgeson. "It is really part of Nevada, and we'll continue to push back on any effort to take away our access to public lands, to take away our access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment."

Another hot-button issue taking center stage this legislative session will be affordable housing. Cabrera-Georgeson said the NCL has asked policymakers to not pit public lands against the housing issue.

"Ultimately, we can absolutely have both," said Cabrera-Georgeson. "We have affordable housing, we can have affordable utility bills and we can also protect our public lands and make sure we continue to have access to the outdoors for all Nevadans."