Climate Change/Air Quality / Public News Service

The Assessment found droughts from the last year impacted Western Washington the most, where reports noted lower flows from natural springs and water-stressed trees. (Sam Judy/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 27, 2025

New data detail WA's water year

The Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment, an important resource for managing drought and other climate extremes, was published today…

The findings of a study on farmer's reactions to drought conditions will provide valuable insights to help shape more sustainable agricultural practices and water conservation strategies. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Grant money used to study drought practices of AR farmers

Students and professors at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock are studying farmer's reactions to drought conditions. The university received a …

Red flag warnings and fire weather watches are the two main types of fire alerts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association issues. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

NOAA staff cuts could affect Colorado wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings

Meteorologists are warning cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will threaten Americans' safety, especially in states like …

An artist's rendering of a pilot canal project under construction in the Central Valley city of Turlock. (Solar AquaGrid)

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Seven major universities to study feasibility of solar panels on CA canals

The feasibility of putting solar panels over the state's network of canals is the topic of a big new research project, co-led by the University of …

A recent study UCLA study found vegetation near the Palisades and Eaton fires was 25% drier than normal because of climate change. (Neil/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Two CA bills seek to charge oil and gas companies for climate change

Insurance rates are rising quickly in California because of fires and floods linked to climate change and now, two new bills in Sacramento seek to …

Some 21 Republican members of Congress, including several from California, recently wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson in favor of preserving federal tax breaks for clean energy. (Patrick Jennings/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Report: Repealing Inflation Reduction Act would raise CA energy bills

A new report from the think tank Energy Innovation showed if the Inflation Reduction Act is repealed, Californians would pay $60 more a year for …

The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a ruling ordering the rehiring of thousands of federal workers, including in the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

EPA workers in Chicago protest cuts to agency

Nearly 100 probationary workers for the Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago have had their jobs cut and then reinstated in the last month…

Colorado is the nation's fourth-largest oil and gas producer and there are currently more than 46,000 active wells. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

New camera reveals, documents toxic oil and gas emissions

As oil and gas well sites pop up next to more Colorado neighborhoods, residents are gathering evidence to hold operators accountable for toxic …

Eighteen states currently have guidelines for, or a directive to develop, a statewide climate resilience plan to protect and recover from extreme weather events like wildfires. (khomlyak/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 24, 2025

New research to measure WA's climate resilience

In the face of the severe effects of climate change across the country, new research offers a framework for how to measure Washington's climate …

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 enables tax-exempt school districts to receive IRS elective payments covering 30% of project costs, plus potential bonuses. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 24, 2025

PA works to counter Trump clean energy rollbacks

The Trump administration's rollback of clean energy progress and climate science is eliciting a strong response from Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh …

New Mexico's highways are hazardous when dust storms called

Monday, March 24, 2025

NOAA employee cuts could curb forecasts of NM 'haboobs'

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Reducing new clean energy projects would increase air pollution in Texas by over 17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2030 and 83 million metric tons in 2035, equivalent to the annual air pollution from four and 21 coal-fired power plants, respectively. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 24, 2025

Report: Cuts to Inflation Reduction Act would impact TX economy

Texas would be one of five states to suffer the most if the Trump administration repeals the Inflation Reduction Act, according to a report from the …

Past legislation, like the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources Act, has pushed Maryland toward its clean energy goals of 8.5 gigawatts of wind energy production in the next few years. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 24, 2025

Maryland doubles down on clean energy, despite Trump policies

As President Donald Trump rolls back clean energy initiatives at the federal level, states like Maryland are pushing ahead with their own energy …

Among other efforts, NOAA has been leading the charge in mapping the bottom of the Great Lakes to improve navigation safety, understand the impact of climate change, locate pipelines and identify fisheries and shipwrecks. (Adobe Stock)

Potential NOAA cuts could put WI weather warnings on ice

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Ohio ranks 46th in the nation for renewable energy generation, with solar and wind accounting for less than 4% of the state's electricity production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Supreme Court case could set precedent for solar energy projects

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Canary Media.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Experts say cuts to NOAA could affect Montana fire, weather warnings

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Filmmaker Michael Nash aims to feature his acclaimed film

From the moon to mailboxes: Filmmaker puts climate refugees in spotlight

Last year, filmmaker Michael Nash achieved the extraordinary when his documentary "Climate Refugees" was sent to the moon as part of a Lunar Museum …

Trash 2 Trends designers create runway looks from items headed to the landfill. Proceeds from the event fund recycling initiatives, litter prevention and community beautification in Orlando. (Trimmel Gomes)

Trash 2 Trends: Turning garbage into glamour to fight climate change

What if your trash could be the key to a more sustainable wardrobe? The group Keep Orlando Beautiful is proving it is possible with its annual "Trash…

The Trump administration is working to lower air-quality standards, which could allow easier permitting for the oil and gas industry. (Travelview/Adobe Stock)

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Local leaders in California are slamming the Trump administration's moves to gut dozens of environmental policies on climate change and pollution in l…

Aquaculture, particularly aquaponics, can improve food security by providing locally grown, fresh and nutritious food in food deserts. (Adobe Stock/B.Rath Photography)

Expanding NM's aquaculture-based fish farming could improve food security

New Mexico may never be a leader in aquaculture but some fish farmers are finding success in the arid state. Rossana Sallenave, professor and …

Climate experts say drought can reduce both the availability and quality of water necessary for productive farms, and can also lead to insect outbreaks. (Adobe Stock)

SD farmer flexes drought-fighting muscle in face of dry conditions

The South Dakota region has seen some wet weather in recent days, but the entire state is still in varying levels of drought status. That has …

Support for neutrality agreements comes as more public employees in the Commonwealth unionize following a 2021 bill giving them the right to form a union. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Voters support company neutrality when workers unionize

A recent poll finds that voters in Virginia and around the country view unionization efforts as widely beneficial to workers - and are more supportive…

In PacifiCorp's 2023 Integrated Resource Plan, the company's nine majority-owned coal plants all had retirement or assumed end-of-life dates by 2042. In its 2025 plan, only one plant has a retirement date. (Adobe Stock)

Fossil fuel company plans for fewer renewables, gets boost from WY Legislature

In Wyoming, electric utility PacifiCorp's draft 2025 plans show a shift away from renewable energy additions compared with last year, according to a …

Clean=energy advocates say wind and solar projects in Texas are reducing air pollution, saving water, supporting the grid and combating the global warming that threatens native ecosystems. (Peter Adams/Adobe Stock)

Legislation could hinder TX wind, solar projects

Clean-energy advocates in Texas are closely monitoring a bill before the Legislature that, if passed, could stop the development and operation of …

Expanded oil and gas subsidies, included in current versions of upcoming federal tax legislation, would support a massive expansion of LNG projects to more than double national export capacity by 2030. (Jeeraphun/Adobe Stock)

Religious leaders gather in TX to fight oil and gas subsidies

Forty religious leaders from different denominations gathered in Texas this week to call for an end to fossil-fuel subsidies and expansion of related …

According to the World Health Organization, climate change presents a fundamental threat to human health. (Adobe Stock)

Health and climate: A growing crisis in Florida

As the warming climate continues to reshape the environment, its impact on people's health is becoming increasingly evident in Florida. Doctors and …

The U.S. solar industry employs more than 263,000 workers, with jobs in installation, manufacturing, and research continuing to grow. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

MI expert predicts future of solar energy amid evolving federal policies

Michigan ranks 26th in the U.S. for total installed solar capacity, while global capacity rose 21% from 2023. However, there are industry concerns …

UT clean-energy advocates call out PacifiCorp for backpedaling

The Sierra Club's Utah chapter said electric utility PacifiCorp's long-term plan to embrace renewable energy has changed and is now placing more relia…

Nonprofits face a funding cliff as recent executive orders and federal cuts create uncertainty nationwide. Experts in philanthropy addressed the issue at the Climate Corrections Conference in Orlando. (Trimmel Gomes)

Climate philanthropy steps up as federal funding falls short

As federal funding for climate initiatives faces steep cuts, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations are stepping into the breach, calling out the …

Opened in 2017, Orange County Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence is the first new school in Parramore, Fla., in more than 40 years, serving preschool through eighth grade. It features a three-wall, climate-themed mural by artist Allison Dayka. (VoLo Foundation)

Art, action unite at Florida Climate Correction Conference

As Florida grapples with rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes and extreme heat, the state's vulnerability to climate change is impossible to ignore…

A new trend, forests releasing more carbon than they capture, is expected to continue with prolonged drought and bigger and more frequent wildfires. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado forests emit more CO2 than they absorb due to insects, wildfire

Researchers at Colorado State University have found the state's nearly 23 million acres of forests are currently releasing more carbon dioxide into th…

A solar project in Dayton was made possible through a solar-power purchase agreement with IGS Energy, approved by the Dayton City Commission last Wednesday after a four-year evaluation process, including a feasibility study to ensure sufficient power capacity. (Yeivaz/Adobe Stock)

Ohio cities embrace solar energy with Dayton's first utility-scale array

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 …

The U.S. Energy Information said Kentucky's largest utility-scale solar photovoltaic generating facility is a 55-megawatt solar farm that came online in mid-2024, about 40 miles east of Bowling Green. (Adobe Stock)

KY animal shelter expects to save money, energy with new solar panels

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public News S…

Eating food grown, raised or caught within a relatively short distance of where it's consumed supports local farmers and the economy and provides fresher meals. But

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Expert: 'Eating local' may not be best solution for fighting climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill to require all Texas prisons to have air conditioning by 2029 but the prison system only has to comply if the state provides the funding. (pict rider/Adobe Stock)

Faith leaders call out inhumane heat conditions in TX prisons

Only 30% of prisons in Texas have central air conditioning and faith leaders and advocates for those incarcerated are raising concerns about inhumane …

Last September, The Pines Inn and Suites in Cottonwood was able to cover 70% of the business' solar-installation cost with a $32,000 reimbursement from REAP and $23,000 from the renewable energy Investment Tax Credit. (Anna May Cory)

Rural AZ hotel's solar installation in limbo after federal funding freeze

Small businesses in Arizona are feeling the impact of the sudden federal pause on clean-energy grants. One of those businesses is the Pines Inn and …

Lake algae blooms can release toxins posing serious risks to humans, pets and wildlife, potentially causing illness or even death. (Pete Niesen Photo/Adobe Stock)

MI scientist: Humans, not climate change, to blame for toxic lakes

Each summer, more lake beaches shut down as toxic algae blooms spread across the water and while climate change is often blamed, new research …

Clean energy projects, including wind farms, continue to be developed at a rapid pace. Policymakers and industry officials are sorting out how to avoid seeing retired parts become piles of waste. (Adobe Stock)

MN debates how to help retired clean energy parts stay 'green'

Minnesota remains focused on making non-carbon sources the bulk of its energy portfolio. But policymakers are trying to figure out the best way to …

Texas is already experiencing the effects of climate change, with rising temperatures creating intensified heat waves across the state. In 2023, Texas recorded its second-hottest summer on record. (Kasper/Adobe Stock AI)

Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change

School districts and county governments across Texas are being encouraged to consider building decarbonization to combat climate change. The process …

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority is partnering with energy company Enbridge and the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, or ARCH2, to make fuel at its Ohio site using solar power. (Kathiann M. Kowalski/Canary Media)

Ohio regional transit group plans shift to 'green' hydrogen for bus fleet

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Canary Media.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

North Carolina's congressional score in the League of Conservation Voters' scorecard went down between 2023 and 2024. (Gerry/Adobe Stock)

Low marks for NC Congress members in 2024 conservation scorecard

North Carolina lawmakers in Congress received mixed marks in the new League of Conservation Voters scorecard. The scorecard ranks members of …

The League of Conservation Voters' National Environmental Scorecard has been released annually since 1970. (Sarah Cheriton-Jones/Adobe Stock)

MI congressional delegation shines on environmental scorecard

Michigan's congressional delegation has "aced" the National Environmental Scorecard, earning a perfect 100% in 2024. The League of Conservation …

Volunteer lobbyists next Tuesday will encourage legislators to improve the infrastructure needed to address homelessness across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteer lobbyists to press Colorado lawmakers on homelessness

Coloradans who want to help move the needle on homelessness can still sign up for a lobbying day next Tuesday at the State Capitol. Cathy Alderman…

Danny Akenson of the group Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin said the corporate consolidation from concentrated animal feeding operations has caused the shuttering of many small farms across the state. Dairy farms in Wisconsin with fewer than 100 cattle have decreased by more than 50% since 2012. (Adobe Stock)

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit to expand Ridge Breeze Dairy in Salem despite hundreds of local objections…

Unfrozen abandoned mine land funds will help Pennsylvania reclaim 24,000 acres, maintain 16 water treatment systems for toxic runoff and handle 60 emergencies annually. (Adobe StocK)

Advocates laud Shapiro’s lawsuit to unfreeze federal funding

Environmental projects are restarting as advocates praise Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for suing the Trump administration, leading to the release …

After public outcry over the firing of thousands at the National Park Service and the Forest Service, the Trump administration has moved to re-hire some dozens of employees and additional seasonal workers. (BLM)

Poll: MAGA voters oppose cuts to parks, forest, wildlife agencies

People in Colorado and seven other Mountain West states may want to see changes in the federal government writ large but they oppose cuts to agencies …

An attempt to open up the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to drilling was blocked by environmental groups during Donald Trump's first term as president. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit aims to block Trump's plans for offshore drilling in WA

Environmental groups have sued to block President Donald Trump's offshore drilling plans following his order to open the entire West Coast, including …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West Poll, 86% of Montanans prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals including rangers, scientists and firefighters, rather than officials appointed from other industries. (U.S. Forest Service)

Poll: 2 of 3 Republicans oppose funding cuts to federal land management

In its 15th annual year of polling on Conservation in the West, the State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some …

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Climate Change

New data detail WA's water year

Grant money used to study drought practices of AR farmers

NOAA staff cuts could affect Colorado wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings

Seven major universities to study feasibility of solar panels on CA canals

Two CA bills seek to charge oil and gas companies for climate change

Report: Repealing Inflation Reduction Act would raise CA energy bills

EPA workers in Chicago protest cuts to agency

New camera reveals, documents toxic oil and gas emissions

New research to measure WA's climate resilience

PA works to counter Trump clean energy rollbacks

NOAA employee cuts could curb forecasts of NM 'haboobs'

Report: Cuts to Inflation Reduction Act would impact TX economy

Maryland doubles down on clean energy, despite Trump policies

Potential NOAA cuts could put WI weather warnings on ice

Ohio Supreme Court case could set precedent for solar energy projects

Experts say cuts to NOAA could affect Montana fire, weather warnings

From the moon to mailboxes: Filmmaker puts climate refugees in spotlight

Trash 2 Trends: Turning garbage into glamour to fight climate change

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Expanding NM's aquaculture-based fish farming could improve food security

SD farmer flexes drought-fighting muscle in face of dry conditions

Poll: Voters support company neutrality when workers unionize

Fossil fuel company plans for fewer renewables, gets boost from WY Legislature

Legislation could hinder TX wind, solar projects

Religious leaders gather in TX to fight oil and gas subsidies

Health and climate: A growing crisis in Florida

MI expert predicts future of solar energy amid evolving federal policies

UT clean-energy advocates call out PacifiCorp for backpedaling

Climate philanthropy steps up as federal funding falls short

Art, action unite at Florida Climate Correction Conference

Colorado forests emit more CO2 than they absorb due to insects, wildfire

Ohio cities embrace solar energy with Dayton's first utility-scale array

KY animal shelter expects to save money, energy with new solar panels

Expert: 'Eating local' may not be best solution for fighting climate change

Faith leaders call out inhumane heat conditions in TX prisons

Rural AZ hotel's solar installation in limbo after federal funding freeze

MI scientist: Humans, not climate change, to blame for toxic lakes

MN debates how to help retired clean energy parts stay 'green'

Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change

Ohio regional transit group plans shift to 'green' hydrogen for bus fleet

Low marks for NC Congress members in 2024 conservation scorecard

MI congressional delegation shines on environmental scorecard

Volunteer lobbyists to press Colorado lawmakers on homelessness

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

Advocates laud Shapiro’s lawsuit to unfreeze federal funding

Poll: MAGA voters oppose cuts to parks, forest, wildlife agencies

Lawsuit aims to block Trump's plans for offshore drilling in WA

Poll: 2 of 3 Republicans oppose funding cuts to federal land management