Environmental Justice / Public News Service

Lithium-ion batteries power products from laptops and cell phones to hybrid and electric cars. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, December 8, 2023

Native Tribes express concern over NV's clean energy projects

A federal judge in Nevada has dealt three tribal nations a legal setback in their efforts to stop what could be the construction of the country's larg…

Rural advocates are pushing for more protection for independent producers in the next Farm Bill. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Rural groups push for environmental protections in next Farm Bill

Even though the current Farm Bill has been extended for a year, rural advocates are speaking up about protecting independent and family farms when …

One of the goals of the Biden administration's Justice40 Initiative is that

Thursday, December 7, 2023

New environmental justice center helps NE communities, organizations

There's a new resource for Nebraska communities and organizations facing environmental justice issues: the Heartland Environmental Justice Center (HEJ…

Along with flooding, Virginia is experiencing sea level rise. Between 1950 and 2023, the state has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level rise, putting 45,000 homes at risk of tidal flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

A recent report found wetlands forming on surface mines in Virginia can benefit the state. The wetlands form because surface mining flattens land…

New York State's climate goals would have the state using 70% renewable energy by 2030, and use zero-emission electricity by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

Report: New York won’t meet its 2030 climate goals

Just as New York State prepares for its first offshore wind farm to come online, a new report predicted the state will not meet its climate goals…

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on rules that will incentivize the transition to heavy-duty electric vehicles. (VanderWolf Images/Adobestock)

Lawmakers, advocates press EPA for strict emissions rule for heavy-duty trucks

As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai wraps up, Democratic lawmakers and clean-air advocates are calling on the Environmental …

Nearly half of people living in Alamosa, where Xcel Energy plans to build one of three new natural gas power plants, identify as Hispanic or Latino according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

Environmental justice and Xcel plans for new fossil fuel power plants

Xcel Energy says its latest proposal before the Public Utilities Commission will help Colorado reach it's clean energy goals - by adding more wind and…

The Port of Long Beach is one of the busiest in the country and is serviced by thousands of trucks per day. (City of Long Beach)

As climate change conference opens, one CA city takes action

As world leaders gather in Dubai for the international conference on climate change, the City of Long Beach is acting on multiple fronts to help the …

Virginia's Department of Energy is one of nine state and tribal programs to receive funds from Congress for repurposing abandoned mine lands. It was first authorized in 2016, and the state received $10 million in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

VA group looks at carbon-offset market to help reforest former mines

A Virginia group is working out ways to reforest former mines across Appalachia. The state has several hundred thousand acres of mine land, which …

Based on current environmental impacts, residents of Petersburg have a life expectancy 10 years lower than the national average, according to U.S. News & World Report. (Adobe Stock)

VA environmentalists frustrated by FERC-approved pipeline extension

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a plan extending a natural-gas pipeline in Virginia. The Virginia Reliability Plan and Transcot's …

A new report found PCB concentrations from 2016, the last year the Hudson River was dredged, have changed little since the dredging began. (Adobe Stock)

Report: EPA’s Hudson River dredging failed

In a new report, a coalition of New York environmental groups said dredging the Hudson River of toxic chemicals has failed. The report by Friends of …

A detail from an illustration created by Hopelab depicts climate anxiety among youth. (Julie Tinker/Hopelab)

Research links climate-change impacts to depression in high schoolers

New research found natural disasters and pollution linked to climate change are contributing factors to high rates of anxiety and depression among you…

An increase in wildfires has brought devastation to Oregon in recent years. (Victoria Schaal/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act will improve national security, vet group says

A group of veterans is touting the national security benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act. The organization Elected Officials to Protect America …

Since the Inflation Reduction Act became law, there have been nearly 60 solar manufacturing announcements. Companies have also announced enough new battery manufacturing projects to support production of more than 10 million electric vehicles per year. (Adobe Stock)

Elected officials: Inflation Reduction Act investments will aid national security

In order to fight climate change, officials are pushing for investments through the Inflation Reduction Act. The group Elected Officials to Protect …

Alaska's Brooks Range is home to critical caribou habitat that covers about 157,000 square miles, which is equal in size to the state of Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Opposition grows to major road project in AK's iconic Brooks Range

Opposition is growing among hunters and anglers to a proposed road in Alaska's iconic Brooks Range. The state has invested millions in the project…

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Highway changes could make Hartford a walkable city

A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

Research shows people who live near parks or natural spaces have lower rates of disease and higher rates of social cohesion. (Yaya Ernst/Adobestock)

California launches new 'outdoors for all' strategy

Have you ever wanted to see the California redwoods, play in the Sierra snow, take a dip at the beach or just throw a family barbecue at the park? …

A great egret forages for fish in a shallow pond in Marion County, Ill. (Adobe Stock)

IL wetlands at risk in backlash from spring SCOTUS ruling

States like Illinois are dealing with the fallout of a Supreme Court decision made earlier this year. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively …

Community members fought to protect a playground after learning about a zoning proposal for a gas station, which would have required its removal. From left: Jeff Cronin, Al Powell and Paul Rowe. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Prince George’s County playground almost torn down to put up a gas station

By Kayla Benjamin for The Washington Informer.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

Revenue from Washington state's cap-and-trade program has exceeded expectations, bringing in $1.5 billion this year. (martin33/Adobe Stock)

WA cap-and-trade spending falls short for frontline communities

Washington state's Climate Commitment Act promised funds for communities on the front lines of climate change. One group is tracking those dollars to …

The group GreenLatinos is matching federal climate change grants with Latino environmental justice organizations, businesses, universities, unions, and elected officials. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental coalition to match Latino community groups with federal grants

The Biden Administration has earmarked millions of dollars from federal programs to help Latinos and other disadvantaged groups fight climate change…

An assessment of whether to develop on Alaska's D-1 lands includes 28 million acres, an area larger than the state of Virginia. (BLM Alaska/Wikimedia Commons)

AK Tribes to BLM: protect lands from extraction

Alaska tribes are urging the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to keep protections in place for more than 28 million acres they say are critical to …

Activists are calling for climate action ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in San Francisco. (Bay Climate Action)<br />

Activists petition world leaders for climate action at CA trade summit

Climate activists will deliver a petition with 15,000 signatures today to trade negotiators ahead of next week's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation For…

Farms are in a unique position to slow global warming by reducing methane emissions, which are more than 80 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2. (Adobe Stock)

Removing barriers and making space for next generation farmers

As Congress drafts the next Farm Bill, the National Young Farmers Coalition is calling on lawmakers to tackle climate disruptions and racial equity …

The Big League Project is located near the Calapooia and Mohawk rivers' Watersheds. (Cascadia Wildlands)

Conservation groups seek to protect OR forest from logging project

Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit to block a logging project near Eugene. Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild and Willamette Riverkeeper are …

Harmful chemicals including lead, particulate matter, pesticides, and phthalates added to plastics, impair brain development in children. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Toxic chemicals stealing kids’ future potential

Children of color and from low-income families in Colorado and across the nation are not only exposed to more dangerous toxic chemicals - including le…

Former President Barack Obama's administration had rejected the Dakota Access oil pipeline over concerns about the impact on tribal lands, but it was revived under the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal advocates want more public accommodations for DAPL process

Public comment on an aspect of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline runs through mid-December. In the meantime, Native American voices are …

When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. (Adobe Stock)

NC Christian leaders shift focus to climate change for All Saints Day

Today is All Saints' Day and in addition to remembering loved ones no longer with us, some Christian leaders in North Carolina are shifting their …

Solar canopies are expected to produce nearly 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, and eliminate 70,000 metric tons of climate pollution over the next decade. (Adobe Stock)

Solar canopies throw shade on Colorado school parking lots

Colorado schools are joining the struggle to hold off the worst impacts of climate change and lower their energy bills by installing solar canopies on…

Port Richmond, Staten Island has the highest number of lead/possibly lead service lines (60.67%) in New York City. Conversely, Fresh Meadows in Queens had the lowest rate (20.56%). This comes in spite of the city banning lead-pipe installations in 1961 and use of lead solder in 1987. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill provides insight on location of lead pipes

New York environmental groups want Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill making it easier to know where lead pipes are located. The Lead Pipe Right to …

Colorado has set a goal of having 2 million electric vehicles on the road by 2035 to help reduce harmful air pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Public health benefits in new Colorado zero-emissions vehicle rule

A new rule, requiring 82% of new car and truck sales in Colorado to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2032, could begin to turn the tide on the state's …

Report: Major TN utility lags in clean energy transition

A report by the Sierra Club rates utility companies for what they say they are doing to transition to cleaner energy sources, compared to what they …

Virginia and West Virginia residents say they're worried about the safety of a natural-gas pipeline that, once built, will run for more than 300 miles through their communities. (Facebook/Appalachians Against Pipelines)

Communities concerned about MVP pipeline water pollution, explosion risk

After a federal appeals court this week denied a request from a group of Virginia landowners to stop construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline on t…

Pumped storage hydroelectric facilities have been built around the world, including the Spanish facility above. (contributor_aerial/Adobe Stock)

Pumped storage energy project in NW could destroy sacred tribal resources

Critics say a proposed hydroelectric project in the Columbia River Gorge could damage cultural resources for nearby tribes. The company Rye …

Advocates gathered at a Monday news conference in Moreno Valley, Calif., to highlight a court ruling against a large warehouse proposal. (Joycelyn Sida)

CA enviro groups celebrate ruling against big warehouse proposal

Local environmental activists are applauding a big win in court against a large warehouse project proposed in Moreno Valley. A Riverside Superior …

A 2021 study found people are willing to pay almost $20 to $30 to support their community's climate resilience plan. Additionally, when developers own resources, they consider the willingness to pay when setting prices to charge customers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Climate resilience hubs could bolster CT plans

A new report from Yale University looked at the effectiveness of green resilience hubs in Connecticut communities. The hubs are made up of renewable …

Pipeline Number 5 lies beneath the Straits of Mackinaw. Opponents claim the aging oil line threatens the largest freshwater system in the world. (ehrlif/Adobe Stock)

Fast-track Line 5 permitting push met with protest

Michigan's Senate GOP pushed for fast track of Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel construction at a press conference this week. Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor …

Fracking-related activities release an estimated 450,000 tons of pollutants into the air each year nationwide, which can have immediate public health effects.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Activists rally over pending fracking on Ohio's state lands

A governor-appointed commission could begin approving fracking leases on Ohio's state lands as early as next month. Jenny Morgan a volunteer for the …

The number of wolves in Wisconsin is estimated at 1,000, up from 200 when the state adopted its first management plan in 1999. (dnr.wisconsin.gov)

Wisconsin's wolf management plan back in the spotlight

The long-awaited Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan is up for adoption next week by the state's Department of Natural Resources, and the board will …

Latinos make up about 25% of the U.S. population, but only 5.2% are lead actors in the film industry and less than 3% of directors and screenwriters are Latino, according to the 2022 LDC U.S. Latino GDP Report. (MACLEG/AdobeStock)

Virtual national film festival highlights Hispanic Heritage Month

A film festival created to help close the gap in storytelling for people of color is offering free, virtual showings as part of Hispanic Heritage …

Funding for climate-friendly programs, including urban greening projects, is available via the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law. (Ukasz/Adobestock). <br />

Climate change groups urge CA to prioritize nature-based solutions

Conservation advocates are pressing the state to set ambitious targets for nature-based climate solutions this week. The California Natural …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (pathdoc/Adobe Stock)

Climate change: Better understood through board games?

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

Decarbonization of buildings goes beyond environmental impacts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported gas stoves can give off nitrogen dioxide, leading to issues for people with asthma and reduced lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Adobe Stock)

NYS takes steps to keep decarbonization of buildings on track

The state of New York has taken steps to ensure its building decarbonization plan is on track, but more work needs to be done. Earlier this year…

Two category 4 hurricanes made landfall in Central America in November 2020, displacing at least 1.5 million people, according to the International Red Cross. Droughts were likely a key driver of family migration from Honduras and Guatemala to the U.S. in 2018 and 2019. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME prepares to welcome more climate migrants

Community leaders in Portland, Maine are preparing for a growing number of Central American "climate refugees." Intense storms and drought in the …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (dvande/Adobe Stock)

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Missouri News Service for the Public News Service-Conversation …

The Puget Sound area has the highest concentration of nitrogen oxide emissions in the state. (Oleksandr Dibrova/Adobe Stock)

Report: Building emissions contribute to dangerous outdoor air pollution

Emissions from buildings are a dangerous source of air pollution across the nation, according to a new report. The analysis showed the burning of …

The Environmental Protection Agency uses RadNet monitors to track fluctuations in gamma radiation emitted from airborne radioactive particles in Tennessee. (hamara/Adobe Stock)

TN group takes up nuclear weapons prohibition at UN meeting

A Knoxville group of concerned citizens will head next month to an international meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York. Their focus is …

A 2019 law in New York City requires new buildings, new roofs from building enlargement and replacement of an existing building's roof requires installation of a

Proposed bill puts solar on NYC public building roofs

A proposed bill aims to have solar panels placed on the roofs of all public buildings in New York City. The bill's goal is 100 megawatts of solar on …

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