Environment / Public News Service

Outdoor recreation supported 5 million jobs in 2023, or 3.1% of employment, according to an analysis from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. (Westley/Adobe Stock)<br />

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Outdoor recreation continues to fuel GDP

A bill passed by Congress could expand opportunities for recreation on public lands in places like Montana. The EXPLORE Act, presented to President …

New York's Climate Change Superfund Act could collect as much as $75 billion over 25 years for climate change impacts from those who are most responsible for it: big oil and gas companies. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

NY's Climate Change Superfund Act takes effect

A law signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul takes effect this week to penalize polluters for emissions. The Climate Change Superfund Act puts a fine …

Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina on Sept. 26. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

NC turns to local foundation for long-term Helene recovery

It has been just over three months since Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, leaving communities to rebuild and recover. As the …

The National Weather Service reports an EF-1 tornado struck Athens at 11:15 p.m., packing peak winds of 100 mph. It remained on the ground for five minutes, carving a 3.87-mile path that was up to 160 yards wide. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Alabama community pushes forward after tornado ravages downtown

Athens, Alabama, is bouncing back after an EF-1 tornado ripped through its downtown late Saturday night, leaving devastation but sparing lives. Now…

Two large-scale Wisconsin clean energy projects, the Apple River Solar Project in Polk County and the Darien Solar Energy Center in Walworth and Rock counties, are scheduled for 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Wisconsin ends year on a high note in clean energy

Wisconsin is ending the year on a high note in the clean energy space, with some notables like a first-of-its-kind energy dome and approval for the …

As of Dec. 2020, Pennsylvania had more than 12,000 active

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

PA group challenges fracking permits in Westmoreland County

CLARIFICATION: CNX entered into an agreement with Apex Energy II, but that sale has not been completed. Also, the state's agreement with CNX is not …

Conservation advocates picked up a dozen seats in the Montana Legislature in the November election, according to Montana Conservation Voters. They remain concerned, however, over losing support at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Taking stock of Montana's outlook on conservation progress

With the Montana Legislature scheduled to gavel in next week, conservation leaders are looking ahead at ways to protect the state's public lands…

The Kootenai River runs 485 miles is one of the major tributaries of the Columbia River. (JOAN/Adobe Stock)

Coming: Cross-border cleanup plan for Columbia River headwaters

Governing bodies in the U.S. and Canada are taking steps to address mining pollution affecting the headwaters of the Columbia River. Coal mining …

Trace Company's report says Indiana farms lose nearly $30 million, or $552 per farm every year from natural disasters. (Adobe Stock)

Natural disasters cost IN farmers millions in crop, cattle damage

Consumers are unhappy with increasing food prices and blame inflation. In reality, natural disasters have a direct link to grocery costs, and no end …

Among recently surveyed Wyomingites, 88% support constructing wildlife crossings across major highways intersecting with known migration routes, though only 48% consider the loss of wildlife and fish habitats an extremely or very serious problem, according to the 2024 State of the Rockies Project poll. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Wyoming gets mixed scores on 2024 conservation report card

A new scorecard from the Center for Western Priorities points to Wyoming's success as a western state balancing conservation goals and economic growth…

On Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm. Two weeks later, on Oct. 9, Hurricane Milton struck as a dangerous Category 3 storm. (Adobe Stock)

This year, FL community health centers took on more than medicine

In this year's devastating hurricane season, Florida community health centers are proving indispensable in disaster response and recovery, providing …

Regional drought and fluctuating snowfall at the head of the Rio Grande basin in southern Colorado in recent years have left El Paso Water officials increasingly unsure how much water will flow through the river into the city each year. (Marcos/Adobe Stock)

Drought brought on by climate change affects West TX water supply

By Diego Mendoza-Moyers for El Paso Matters.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

Battery storage is considered a key form of clean energy innovation, and those behind a public-private-partnership in Minnesota want to make the region a hub to perfect these solutions and similar technologies. (Adobe Stock)

MN's 'Energy Alley' looks to lengthen its on-ramp for start-ups

Minnesota's clean energy goals are among the more ambitious in the U.S. But industry experts say it can't slow down on the innovation side to see …

Iowa is the nation's number one hog producer, which is a huge economic driver for the state, but the industry also produces more than 100 billion pounds of manure every year. (Adobe Stock)

Cancer rates in Iowa mirror rising rate of manure pollution

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration A …

The estimated carbon footprint of a week-long cruise is eight times higher than that of a land-based vacation, according to Friends of the Earth. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Cruise ships in Maine ports get failing environmental grade

A recent report gives the majority of cruise ships anchoring in Maine ports a failing environmental grade. The Cruise Ship Report Card from Friends …

According to New York State's Energy Research and Development Authority, energy storage and grid modernization jobs grew by 7% in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

NYS 2025 energy storage deadline is fast approaching

One of New York State's first energy storage deadlines is fast approaching. A roadmap established earlier this year sets a state goal of developing 6…

PFAS exposure can cause developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone changes and behavioral changes, according to the EPA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New data show millions more people exposed to 'forever' chemicals

The latest Environmental Protection Agency data show over 11 million more people than in earlier estimates have the chemicals known as PFAS in their d…

President-elect Donald Trump sought to reduce the Environmental Protection Agency's budget by up to 30% during his first administration and significantly altered or reversed nearly 100 environmental rules. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: MD Trump voters still want EPA protections

A majority of Republicans and Democrats oppose attempts to weaken the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new …

Opah are often caught as incidental catch alongside tuna. (NOAA/Flickr)

When bycatch is on the menu

By Leilani Marie Labong for FoodPrint.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the FoodPrint-Public News Service …

Many federal conservation programs received a boost in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, one of the largest investments in climate Congress has made in the nation's history. (Adobe Stock)

Southwest WI farmer unfazed by weather due to conservation practices

A diverse group of Southwest Wisconsin farmers are using federally funded conservation programs to help improve their farms' soil health and resilienc…

Bald eagles were taken off the federal endangered list in 1995 and the threatened list in 2007. (About to Launch/Wikimedia Commons)

Bald eagle officially becomes national bird, a conservation success

The United States has a national mammal, tree and flower but the status of America's most treasured bird was not always so clear officially or …

Researchers say microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size. (James Thew/Adobe Stock)

Tiny plastic pieces enter the body in ways you'd never think of

By Julieta Cardenas for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

Juana Valle's well is one of 20 sites tested in California's San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast regions in the first round of preliminary sampling by University of California-Berkeley researchers and the Community Water Center. The results showed 96 parts per trillion of total PFAS in her water, including 32 parts per trillion of PFOS - both considered potentially hazardous amounts. (Hannah Norman/KFF Health News)

Toxic 'forever chemicals' taint rural CA wells

By Hannah Norman for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Ser…

Montgomery County, Maryland, is home to thousands of multifamily rental units, and many of those units already have air-conditioning. (Adobe Stock)

Lessons learned from an air conditioning law on rentals in MD

By Ysabelle Kempe for Smart Cities Dive.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

The impacts of offshore transmission on the seabed can be mitigated with micrositing and proactive planning, which is critical for protecting ocean species, according to a report from the National Wildlife Federation. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Federal regulators urged to consider wildlife in MA transmission plans

Wildlife advocates want federal regulators to consider habitats and migratory routes, when planning new transmission infrastructure in Massachusetts …

Offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine has the potential to generate up to 156 gigawatts of power, which is more than 70 times the amount of electricity used by the entire state, according to Maine Audubon. (Adobe Stock)

Reports show ME clean energy projects can include wildlife protections

Wildlife advocates say it's possible to transition to renewable energy while protecting vital habitats and species. As Maine builds out its …

More than three-quarters of Western voters say more emphasis should be placed on conserving wildlife migration routes than on economic uses of lands in these areas, according to the State of the Rockies Project. (Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ one of eight Western states that could improve conservation policies

Arizona could be doing more to improve conservation policy, according to a new report by the Center for Western Priorities. The Center's Policy …

75% of Nevadans think more emphasis should be placed on conserving wildlife migration routes than on new developments, according to Colorado College's State of the Rockies Project. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NV emerges as conservation leader among Western states

Nevada scored high for its well-funded conservation programs and for the state's commitment to public land protections. A new report by The Center …

Colorado's San Luis Valley produces two billion pounds of potatoes a year, the second largest yield in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado’s new tool for preserving aquifers for farming

By Jennifer Oldham for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public…

Since the passage of The Clean Energy Plan in 2022, Utah has seen more than 3,800 new jobs across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah lags on conservation policy

Among Western states, Utah could be doing more to support conservation policy, according to a new report by the Center for Western Priorities…

'Lost' winter days: A side effect of climate change in PA

Across Pennsylvania and other northern U.S. states, climate change -- from burning oil, coal and methane gas -- is increasing the number of winter …

The Kootenai River runs through the northern part of the Idaho panhandle. (Gregory Johnston/Adobe Stock)

Idaho's role in Canadian mining pollution cleanup

Cross-border governing bodies, including the state of Idaho, are taking steps to address mining pollution coming from Canada. Coal mining pollution …

Ithaca, New York, is the first city in the world to commit to electrifying all its buildings. The city is aiming to accomplish the goal by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings

New York lawmakers are focusing on electrifying municipal buildings. Buildings statewide make up 32% of New York's greenhouse gas emissions and …

Dairy digesters remove methane from liquified animal waste. The gas can then be used to generate power. (Lance Cheung/USDA)

Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits

Three environmental nonprofits filed suit Wednesday against the California Air Resources Board to oppose the expansion of a program allowing oil and g…

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced $3.6 million in more than 100 grant awards through several programs, including the Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant Program, which aims to improve bog design and reduce negative environmental impacts from cranberry production. (Adobe Stock)

MA state grants boost rural economies, climate resilience

Rural communities across Massachusetts are benefiting from state grants aimed at strengthening the local food supply and building climate resilience…

A new University of Miami study has found buildings in Sunny Isles Beach and Surfside have been sinking by 2-8 centimeters between 2016 and 2023. (Adobe Stock)

FL coastline sinking: New study questions safety, future of construction

When the Champlain Towers South collapsed in Surfside in 2021 taking 98 lives, it sent shock waves across South Florida. The tragedy has left …

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources requires livestock producers to file a manure management plan for the livestock waste they apply to their fields as fertilizer. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa trains CAFO operators on manure application

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is training operators of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations on the safest ways to apply manure to their f…

Maine voters who backed Trump still want EPA protections

A majority of Republicans and Democrats oppose attempts to weaken the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new …

The work of GreenLatinos Texas, centers around empowering frontline environmental justice and conservation advocates. Members are actively engaging with local communities to understand their campaign goals and identify areas where support is needed. (Photo courtesy of Green Latinos)

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

Members of the environmental nonprofit GreenLatinos are involved in a push to get more Latinos across Texas involved in the fight against methane gas…

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved two clean-air waivers for California, but six more are still pending. (D. Jakli/Adobe Stock)

EPA allows CA to implement strict clean-car rules

Groups that fight for environmental justice are praising the Biden administration's decision to grant California a waiver so it can implement clean-ca…

A New York law will ban the use of PFAS in outdoor clothing used in wet weather conditions but not until 2028. (Adobe Stock)

NY to ban PFAS in clothing; wider bans being considered

A New York law takes effect in January, banning the use of PFAS in clothing. The law is another step in ending the unnecessary use of the long-…

Colorado is joining California, Maine, Minnesota and Oregon to implement extended producer responsibility programs. (Adobe Stock)

Increasing recycling access in rural Colorado communities

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Federally employed firefighters hope to see a permanent pay bump to replace the pay increases granted in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Federal wildland firefighters need permanent pay bump

As the federal government works this week to avoid a shutdown, federal wildland firefighters are waiting to see if their recent pay increase will …

Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is currently routed as close as 11 feet to a riverbank caused by flooding and erosion. (Bad River: A Story of Defiance)

Documentary brings WI tribe's pipeline resistance to national stage

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

Aerial view of solar arrays on the Franklin County Extension Office in Frankfort. (Franklin County Extension Office)

KY county extension offices increasing climate resilience

A solar battery storage project at the Franklin County Extension Office is expected to save taxpayers $10,000 a year on utility bills, and provide …

Pennsylvania has more than 49,000 farms, generating nearly $10 billion in agricultural product sales. (Thanaporn/Adobe Stock)

Research shows valuable impact of getting 'back to nature' practices on PA farms

A new study suggested getting "back to nature" in farming could help ward off the biggest effects of climate change. As Pennsylvania faces …

U.S. power companies are sitting on a stockpile of coal equivalent to the entire volume expected to come from Appalachia in 2025, according to a new analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. (Adobe Stock)

Analysis: U.S. coal stockpiles could cut demand from Powder River Basin mines

A new analysis of federal data shows that U.S. power plants are sitting on a huge stockpile of coal, much of which came from the Powder River Basin…

Coastal erosion threatens Washington state as sea levels rise, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Fossil-fuel lobbyists fail to disclose in WA

A new report found fossil fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws were not making full disclosures, including …

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Environment

Outdoor recreation continues to fuel GDP

NY's Climate Change Superfund Act takes effect

NC turns to local foundation for long-term Helene recovery

Alabama community pushes forward after tornado ravages downtown

Wisconsin ends year on a high note in clean energy

PA group challenges fracking permits in Westmoreland County

Taking stock of Montana's outlook on conservation progress

Coming: Cross-border cleanup plan for Columbia River headwaters

Natural disasters cost IN farmers millions in crop, cattle damage

Wyoming gets mixed scores on 2024 conservation report card

This year, FL community health centers took on more than medicine

Drought brought on by climate change affects West TX water supply

MN's 'Energy Alley' looks to lengthen its on-ramp for start-ups

Cancer rates in Iowa mirror rising rate of manure pollution

Cruise ships in Maine ports get failing environmental grade

NYS 2025 energy storage deadline is fast approaching

New data show millions more people exposed to 'forever' chemicals

Poll: MD Trump voters still want EPA protections

When bycatch is on the menu

Southwest WI farmer unfazed by weather due to conservation practices

Bald eagle officially becomes national bird, a conservation success

Tiny plastic pieces enter the body in ways you'd never think of

Toxic 'forever chemicals' taint rural CA wells

Lessons learned from an air conditioning law on rentals in MD

Federal regulators urged to consider wildlife in MA transmission plans

Reports show ME clean energy projects can include wildlife protections

Report: AZ one of eight Western states that could improve conservation policies

Report: NV emerges as conservation leader among Western states

Colorado’s new tool for preserving aquifers for farming

Report: Utah lags on conservation policy

'Lost' winter days: A side effect of climate change in PA

Idaho's role in Canadian mining pollution cleanup

NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings

Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits

MA state grants boost rural economies, climate resilience

FL coastline sinking: New study questions safety, future of construction

Iowa trains CAFO operators on manure application

Maine voters who backed Trump still want EPA protections

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

EPA allows CA to implement strict clean-car rules

NY to ban PFAS in clothing; wider bans being considered

Increasing recycling access in rural Colorado communities

Advocates: Federal wildland firefighters need permanent pay bump

Documentary brings WI tribe's pipeline resistance to national stage

KY county extension offices increasing climate resilience

Research shows valuable impact of getting 'back to nature' practices on PA farms

Analysis: U.S. coal stockpiles could cut demand from Powder River Basin mines

Report: Fossil-fuel lobbyists fail to disclose in WA