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From 2017 to 2019, Ohio ranked 46th among 50 states for pollution exposure, including exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle …

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the indictment related to House Bill 6 is not only about the legislation:

FirstEnergy abandons interim clean energy goals to address climate change

Ohio-based FirstEnergy also comes in "first" to eliminate its short-term 2030 emissions reduction goal amid an ongoing bribery investigation related t…

In 2023, the USDA Forest Service and AmeriCorps signed a five-year agreement to establish the Forest Corps, which aims to create Job opportunities that reduce wildfire risk, support reforestation and make national forests and grasslands healthier and more resilient. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Biden’s Climate Corps could bring jobs to Appalachian Ohio

A Biden administration program called the American Climate Corps aims to hire and train 20,000 people in conservation, climate and clean-energy jobs…

Bowling Green, Ohio, resident Joe DeMare installed solar panels on his home to lower his monthly energy bills. (DeMare)

Bowling Green, Ohio, residents say costly power plant drives up energy bills

Some residents of Bowling Green, Ohio, are saying the city's main power source, Prairie State Energy Campus in Illinois, is expensive, dirty…

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Justice 40 Initiative's policy plan includes increasing job energy resiliency and energy democracy and decreasing environmental exposure for disadvantaged communities. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

USDA's climate action fellows to help Ohio farmers/small businesses access clean energy funds

Ohio will soon get a dedicated person to help farmers, ranchers and other landowners apply for federal grants to help fight pollution and climate …

Ohio is home to the Wayne State National Forest. A proposed federal rule would greenlight using national forests for carbon-capture operations. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio environmental groups skeptical of carbon-capture rule for public lands

The Biden administration is considering a rule change to allow carbon dioxide from air or industrial processes to be captured and stored in national p…

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funding could transform Ohio Valley into a manufacturing hub

Manufacturers in Ohio employ around 12% of the state's workforce, and advocates say the state's Appalachian region could bolster its economy by …

By 2030, more than 1 in 5 Americans will be at least 65 years old and by 2050, the number of people aged 60 and older globally is expected to double to more than 2 billion. (Cala Serrano/Adobe Stock)

Older adults and climate advocacy

While scientists say extreme climate changes are happening more frequently, a new study aims to link aging adults to its risks and their potential to …

Research shows people living in rural areas and communities of color are more likely to worry about exposure to air pollution. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Cleveland expands local air monitoring program

The City of Cleveland wants new community air advisers to help expand air monitoring in historically redlined neighborhoods. Christina Yoka…

Appalachia is likely the source of more system-wide fossil fuel methane emissions than any other region in the United States, according to the Ohio River Valley Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio stands to gain from EPA's new methane rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is clamping down on methane emissions, a harmful pollutant and driver of climate change Appalachian communities …

The Department of Energy is revoking $37 million previously awarded to Ohio's six-turbine Icebreaker wind project, which has been in the works since 2009. (Florian Kunde/Adobe Stock)

Future of offshore wind in Lake Erie in flux as Icebreaker project shelved

Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history and faced many challenges. Initially considered a promising location …

Clean-air advocacy groups and the electric truck sector are calling on state governments to consider tax credits that would make EV trucks more affordable. (Adobe Stock)

EV companies call for building heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure

Clean-energy advocates in Ohio and around the country say now is the time for the government to ensure the nation has the medium- and heavy-duty truck…

Climate Change meteorologist Lauren Casey said Halloween pumpkins may rot sooner in the warm October temperature. (climatecentral.org)

Climate extremes have some OH families rethinking their Halloween

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

Residential solar power installations rose by 34% from 2.9 gigawatts in 2020 to 3.9 gigawatts in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Residents sue Ohio city over rooftop solar fees

Residents in Bowling Green continue to push back against the Ohio city's tax on residential solar panels. One couple has filed a takings-claim …

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 …

Droughts can cause drinking water shortages and negatively impact crop production, so researchers want to help agricultural producers better plan for how they'll prepare for them. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Research: Ohio’s droughts worse than often recognized

New drought-modeling technology could help Ohio's farmers better prepare for dry weather conditions. Steven Quiring, a geography professor at Ohio …

Advocates tout blue hydrogen as a clean, low-carbon way to produce energy from methane or coal, while reducing the world's greenhouse gases emissions. Opponents counter its benefits are overstated. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Blue hydrogen hype not backed up by science

New research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found making hydrogen from natural gas, so-called "blue hydrogen," is not …

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 Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing standards to regulate HAP emissions from five unmeasured fugitive and intermittent particulate sources that currently are not regulated. (Clive Winward/Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock)

EPA's Last Call on Comments About Rules for Blast Furnaces is Today

Emission standards for blast furnaces such as the iron and steel mills in Ohio have not been updated in years. The Environmental Protection Agency …

An estimated 2.4 million people work on farms and ranches nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture. (Diego/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Falls Short in Protecting Outdoor Workers from Heat

By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Media for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by …

The share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled in three years, from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022, according to IEA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio Drivers Remain Interested in Electric Vehicles

Despite reports electric vehicle sales are slowing down, experts say consumer interest in Ohio remains high. Four in 10 Americans said they are …

Massive Canadian wildfires, which began in May, have since sent much of the eastern United States indoors because of air-quality advisories. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Unclear on Whether Hazardous Air Quality Will Persist This Fall

By Leah Shephard/for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. On several days this summer, Ohioans awoke to their homes and neighborhoods …

$New polling shows nearly two-thirds of Ohioans are opposed to or unsure about fracking. (Adobe Stock)$

Polls: Ohioans Skeptical More Fracking Would Bring Benefits

At a time when Ohio state lawmakers are pushing to expand fracking on public lands, polling in recent years finds most residents are either strongly …

$By 2025, estimated health damages caused by methane leakage during fracking would cost $13-29 billion each year, according to the consulting firm Seed Scientific. (Adobe Stock)<br />$

Dangers of Fracking Wastewater Put Spotlight on 'Halliburton Loophole'

A law known as the "Halliburton Loophole" is under growing scrutiny. It exempts oil and gas companies from revealing the chemicals they use in the …

Since 2011, Ohio has allowed companies to lease state land for oil and gas drilling. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Scientists Sound Alarm on Fracking Near Muskingum, OH Watershed

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is drawing ire for its continued leasing of land for fracking. Last year, the district, which stewards …

Kris Swartz, a farmer in Wood County, Ohio, says he's seeing more rain and hotter temperatures than he did 30 years ago when he started farming. (NewsLab photo by Baylee Sweitzer)

Climate Change Challenges Ohio Farmers

By Baylee Sweitzer for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Train cars containing hazardous chemicals burned after a Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (Jamie Cozza)<br /><br />

How Dangerous Was Ohio Chemical Train Derailment?

By Andrew J. Whelton for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

East Palestine, Ohio, resident Kyla Rose Cozza, 3, plays in her backyard just a few steps away from one of the creeks now contaminated with toxic chemicals after a massive train derailment Feb. 3. (Jamie Cozza)<br />

Lacking Answers, East Palestine Residents Plan to Test Soil, Water

East Palestine, Ohio, residents have been given the green light to return home, but many believe it is not safe to do so. They're experiencing skin …

Carleton See, an environmental monitoring specialist, changes filters on an air monitoring device at the George T. Craig Air Quality Monitoring Site in downtown Cleveland. (Gus Chan for Eye on Ohio)

Tighter Standards Could Change Cleveland’s Air Quality Issues

By Christopher Johnston for Eye on Ohio.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection Collaboration reporting for the Ohio Center for I…

More than 220,000 productive oil-and-gas wells have been drilled in Ohio, around 60,000 of which are in current operation, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules on Methane Could Be a Win for Ohio's Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency has released rules which would for the first time require regular inspections of all methane-emitting oil and gas …

The Farm Bill is a five-year spending measure that addresses the agriculture industry, food systems, nutrition programs and more. (Mike/Flickr)

2023 Farm Bill: Creating Healthier Future for Farming, Food

Congress must pass a 2023 Farm Bill before the end of the year, a measure which not only impacts farming but also what's on our plates. The Ohio …

In 2021, damages from floods and other severe weather in the United States exceeded $145 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Calls for New National Strategy to Help Ohio Prepare for Natural Disasters

In the wake of historic summer floods in the Midwest and Appalachia, there are calls for a new national plan to reduce risks from disasters. The …

Farming practices that protect soil health can lead to climate resiliency. (Adobe Stock)

Senate Inflation Bill Features Strong Investments in Climate-Friendly Farming

While it's named the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation in the Senate actually goes a long way toward making agriculture more climate-resilient…

A survey found 70% of voters who are concerned about climate change support a national climate emergency declaration. (Adobe Stock)

Inaction on Climate Change Called an 'Unprecedented Failure'

Calling it a "clear and present danger," President Joe Biden announced new measures last week to make communities more resilient against climate chang…

Parts of Ohio are suffering under an excessive heat warning this week. (Tomas Ragina/Adobestock)

Tips Offered on How to Make It Through the Heat Wave

Ohioans are facing record high June heat this week. Experts cautioned keeping cool is as much about health and safety as it is about comfort…

$A 2019 blowout at an Ohio fracking well released an estimated 60,000 tons of methane gas. <br />(Ohio State Highway Patrol)$

Ohio's Low-Producing Wells Leave Huge Methane Footprint

They account for a minuscule amount of U.S. oil and gas production, but new research found low-producing oil and gas wells have a large methane …

The Build Back Better plan would support both workforce training and the creation of clean-energy jobs, such as in the solar industry. (Adobe Stock)

Sustainable Businesses to Congress: "Pass Build Back Better"

CLEVELAND -- As Congress gears up to vote on the Build Back Better plan, President Joe Biden's climate and social policy agenda, a letter from …

Pasture grazing cattle is a climate-friendly practice by cycling nutrients in the soil. (Drausin Wulsin)

Budget Bill Could Boost Climate-Friendly Practices in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As the contributor of 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture has had a profound impact on climate change. Legislation in …

The Perry Nuclear Power Plant sits 40 miles east of Cleveland on Lake Erie. (Wainstead/CreativeCommons)

Ohio Nuclear Bailout Bill Closer to Full Repeal

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Parts of a bill embroiled in possibly the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history will soon be repealed. However, some groups say …

Cattleman Will Harris says his operation stores more carbon in its soil than its cows emit in production. (White Oak Pastures)

Holistic Farming: 'In Nature, There Is No Waste'

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- He's been called a "carbon cowboy" and an inspiration. Ohioans have an opportunity to hear from a legendary cattleman about how …

From record rainfall to drought, the effects of climate change on Ohio's weather patterns prompt plenty of uncertainty for farmers. (Adobe Stock)

New Alliance Motivates Ohio Farmers to Tackle Climate Change

COLUMBUS, Ohio - More than half of Ohio's land is used for agriculture, and there's a new effort to keep those lands resilient to the effects of …

Columbus and Grove City are planning to transition to 100% renewable energy from new wind and solar generation facilities in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Applaud "Seismic Shift" in Clean-Energy Landscape

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cities around Ohio are creating a seismic shift in the state's energy landscape. Voters in Columbus and Grove City this month …

State and federal policies that protect Ohio's landscape often start at the ballot box. (Dan Keck/Flickr)

Ohioans Encouraged to Speak Up for Nature

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- From the bluffs of Lake Erie to banks of the Ohio River, Ohioans are encouraged to keep the protection of the Buckeye State's …

Debate moderators did not make climate change a topic during the 2012 and 2016 presidential debates. (AdobeStock)

Presidential Debates: What About Climate Change?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Folks from around Ohio will tune in to watch the first presidential debate tonight in Cleveland, and some environmental groups are …

Ohio Farmer Dennis Reer checks his cover crop for soil health. (David Ike/The Nature Conservancy)

Ohio Farmers Embrace Conservation to Mitigate Spring Flooding

SENECA CO., Ohio -- The prospect of heavy spring rains -- linked to climate change -- has led some farmers to use conservation measures to protect …

Before closing in 2019, General Motors' Lordstown, Ohio, plant produced the fuel-efficient Chevy Cruze. (InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr)

Polling Reveals GM Customers Want Cleaner Cars

COLUMBUS, OH -- A new poll suggests automakers in Ohio and other states would be wise to accelerate investment in clean-car technology. A survey of …

Several Ohio communities are setting clean energy goals to help combat climate change. (AdobeStock)

Call: All Hands on Deck to Power a Clean Future Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new coalition is inviting communities to join an effort to create what it calls a healthier and more prosperous Ohio for …

Farmers can play a crucial role in fighting climate change by adopting practices that improve soil health and capture carbon, but a new report suggests the federal government isn't doing enough to help them. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Climate Investments Could Bolster Rural Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Climate change may be hurting rural communities in Ohio and other states, but new research says federal investments could help turn …

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OH: Climate Change