Denver - There's an "air war" going on in the national parks -- in Colorado and elsewhere. Concerned citizens, local governments, park supporters and conservation groups have been firing verbal shots at the Environmental Protection Agency over increasing air pollution in such popular parks as Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain. The organization Earth Justice plans to sue the EPA to force a reduction in the haze over America's parks and wilderness areas.
David Baron, Earth Justice managing attorney for the case, says the federal agency must act.
"When you can't see the mountains and you can't see the canyons, it's time for EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act."
One place air quality is adversely affected is Colorado's trademark national park, Baron notes.
"In Rocky Mountain National Park, the air is so dirty that we're now seeing potential violations of health standards for air pollution."
Cortez city councilman Matt Keefauver says his town depends on Mesa Verde National Park for tourism dollars. An EPA proposal to relax air quality regulations for parks is bad news for surrounding communities, he adds.
"That will only cause more unsightly and unhealthy pollution. It's pollution that we witness today."
Congress made clean air in parks a top priority 30 years ago, Baron says, but little has been done to prevent haze caused by pollution, or even to cut it back. Other groups are protesting a separate Bush Administration proposal to weaken air quality protections for national parks. The EPA admits to being behind schedule, but says it expects to meet visibility goals for parks by 2064.
A map of national parks with links to air quality data and photos of visibility conditions at parks nationwide is available at www.epa.gov/air/visibility/monitor.html.
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Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain.
New funding from the Land for Maine's Future program will preserve more than 3,500 acres of farmland, forests and working waterfront.
Steven Walker, executive director of the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, emphasized the effects of climate change make it more critical than ever to protect green spaces.
"We really are excited about adding it to our list of spaces that will forever be open to the public and available for public recreation," Walker said.
Walker noted new funding will preserve more than 80 acres off West Bay Bridge Road in Topsham, including more than 4,000 feet of shoreline on the Muddy River wetland complex. It is just one of a handful of land parcels identified as containing statewide ecological significance.
Other recipients of the state funding include the Town of Wells Conservation Commission, which will preserve more than 160 acres of critical habitat for the endangered New England Cottontail and other wildlife. The City of Ellsworth will add nearly 300 acres to its existing public forest.
Walker pointed out the funding will also help preserve some of the state's iconic salt marshes and freshwater tidal areas, already being altered as sea level continues to rise.
"This parcel will function to help mitigate that effect," Walker explained. "To make sure marshes continue to be part of the landscape moving forward."
Walker added climate change is affecting every corner of Maine and he's already seeing changes around Bowdoin, Brunswick and Topsham.
The Land for Maine's Future program was boosted by the state legislature in 2021 with an infusion of $40 million to step up the pace of land conservation projects. So far, the program has preserved more than 600,000 acres.
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Washington's clean energy law could bring thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the state, according to a new report.
Greenline Insights' analysis of the Climate Commitment Act, the state's cap-and-invest law passed in 2021, finds it will create 45,000 jobs and generate more than $9 billion in economic output over the next five years.
Jonah Kurman-Faber, founder of Greenline Insights and report co-author, said says the law has outsized returns for local economies and gains for the state as well.
"These investments from the Climate Commitment Act support labor-intensive local industries. We're thinking things like construction, manufacturing, business operations, transportation," he said.
The law could be repealed if Initiative 2117 on the November ballot is approved. Opponents of the Climate Commitment Act call it a "sneaky tax" on consumers.
Kurman-Faber noted that 45,000 jobs and $9 billion of return for the law is actually on the low end of their estimates.
The Climate Commitment Act is able to leverage money from sources like the federal government, and once this is factored in, the law could create 263,000 jobs and generate $50 billion over the next eight years. Kurman-Faber said states that get the most out of their money are the ones that use those investments to attract new sources to match funds.
"Think of things like federal dollars flowing in to provide grants or private industries investing in projects. The Climate Commitment Act is very good at attracting leverage," he continued.
The analysis finds jobs will be created in a wide range of sectors and that jobs created will pay, on average, 9% higher than the state median. Kurman-Faber said the new jobs will also have a high level of accessibility, too, since many will be open to people of any education level.
"With these jobs, there's not only a higher pay but also an easier route to career transition, or easier routes to opportunities for career transition for more residents in Washington," he continued.
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Oregon students are back in the classroom, but their classrooms might not be as energy efficient or climate resilient as they should be.
As the changing climate impacts the state, aging infrastructure in schools is driving up utility costs.
Juliette Poff, marketing specialist with Energy Trust of Oregon, said energy is the second-biggest cost to schools, after teacher salaries.
Poff is a former teacher and she said anything that can make the classroom more conducive to learning is a win.
"Things like lighting can look like more focus for students," said Poff. "Having energy efficient windows can help with air quality, heating and cooling can help with comfort, and all of these things are impactful to the humans that occupy these spaces."
Poff noted that schools are often strapped for resources when it comes to upgrading infrastructure.
Energy Trust of Oregon offers help on that end with expertise and cash incentives for schools.
Over the past two decades, the organization has distributed more than $38 million in incentives for energy efficiency projects like - installing new insulation and windows.
Liberty High School in Hillsboro benefited over the summer from a $2 million upgrade to its H-VAC system, with assistance from Energy Trust of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Energy.
Mia Hocking is the resource conservation manager for the Hillsboro School District and said the new system is much more efficient.
"The efficiency is anticipated to improve enough to save over $100,000 in the electric utility annually," said Hocking. "So, just that alone is incredible."
Poff said the model for upgrading schools in Oregon could be replicated in other states. She said one important element her organization provides is navigation on how to find funding.
"We also work with a number of partners like the Department of Energy," said Poff, "and often schools can combine funding from the state - bonds, as well funding from Energy Trust - and any opportunity to maximize that funding is amazing for schools."
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