Air Pollution / Public News Service

A total of 16,000 NOAA workers, including those who forecast severe storms, have been fired by DOGE. (Derrick Neill/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Second wave of weather employees fired ahead of NM wildfire season

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboratio…

In Cleveland, more than 90% of homes were built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Cleveland Health Dept says cleaner air starts at home

As Cleveland tightens its air quality standards for the first time since 1977, health officials are urging residents to take simple steps at home to …

Cobbs Creek Ambassadors help clean up the creek in Philadelphia. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful involves students in programs promoting community pride and environmental education. (Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

'Pick Up PA' drives statewide community cleanup efforts for Earth Day, beyond

Across the state, more than 300 Pick Up Pennsylvania environmental events are planned for this Earth Week. Last year, more than 77,000 volunteers …

The Environmental Protection Agency said exemptions to clean air regulations will

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Pollution exemptions granted to AR coal plants

Two coal plants in Arkansas have received an exemption from the Trump administration and will have two additional years to comply with updated clean a…

Nearly 10,000 West Virginia children per year will suffer asthma attacks because of ozone from the oil and gas industry, according to a report from the Clean Air Task Force. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

WV facilities seek exemptions from limits on toxic pollution

West Virginia communities will see increased air pollution with little oversight under a new Trump administration proposal offering presidential exemp…

In 1997, more than 73 million tons of bituminous coal were mined in Pennsylvania, with over 75% coming from underground mines. (creativenature.nl/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 21, 2025

As Trump backs PA coal revival, critics say it's unlikely

The decades-long decline of Pennsylvania's coal industry could shift in another direction after a series of executive orders by President Donald Trump…

Despite some headwinds, a new analysis says Minnesota's clean energy sector remains on solid footing, with carbon emissions in the state reaching a record low in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 21, 2025

Report: More MN electricity is clean and homegrown

Minnesota is becoming less reliant on energy imports to power up homes and businesses. That's a key finding in the latest summary of contributions …

The U.S. has seen dozens of coal plants come offline in recent years and researchers noted the ones still in use operate less frequently because of declining demand. They said it should deter policymakers from trying to spend money to increase coal production. (Adobe Stock)

Researchers: U.S. wouldn't see 'bang for its buck' in reviving coal

Minnesota is cited in a new research brief outlining the obstacles America would face in trying to reopen coal plants, an idea prioritized by the …

The DTE Trenton Channel Energy Center is expected to store 220 megawatts, or 880 megawatt hours, of energy. (DTE Energy)

MI clean energy projects await clarity on federal tax credits

Trenton is set to become home to the region's largest battery storage facility but federal policy changes might change how it's funded. The DTE …

Supporters of the pause have said it would not affect the number of electric vehicles sold in Maryland. (Adobe Stock)

MD automakers, health groups rally against delay in vehicle pollution standards

A bill would effectively delay implementation of clean car and truck programs in Maryland, but electric-vehicle manufacturers and health groups are …

The International Renewable Energy Certificate site says 370,000 Ohio homes are powered by solar energy. (Adobe Stock)

OH environmental group fears federal cuts will hurt job opportunities

More protest rallies are occurring in response to President Donald Trump's executive orders alongside Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency…

As states spend millions responding to natural disasters, New Mexico's proposed Community Benefit Fund could prove beneficial ahead of a new crisis. (MarthaMarks/Adobe Stock)

Climate change activists see hopeful signs in New Mexico's next state budget

New Mexico conservation advocates say the state's budget awaiting the governor's signature would make great strides in addressing climate change and p…

A McKinsey analysis suggested global demand for data-center capacity could rise at an annual rate of between 19% and 22% from 2023 to 2030 to reach an annual demand of 171 to 219 gigawatts. (Adobe Stock)

High-impact data centers could pose WV energy, environment threats

Large, energy-intense buildings used in Bitcoin mining, cloud computing and artificial intelligence data processing industries could become more …

The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization has become as much as a landmark to the community as the Little Village Arch and was awarded the national Food Sovereignty Prize in 2024. (City of Chicago 2021)

Chicago nonprofit transforms former toxic site to feed community

By Angela Burke for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

Thousands of datasets from federal agency websites have been scrubbed since the new administration took office. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit races to save science, environmental-justice website data

As U.S. government website purges continue, one nonprofit is racing to track and save as much data as possible. The Open Environmental Data Project …

Smoke hovers above Los Angeles as seen on January 8, 2025, as a result of wildfires. (Zack Hughes)

Report: Wildfires inch closer to California health care facilities

Wildfires are creeping closer and closer to health care facilities in California, including hospitals and nursing homes, according to a new study…

Washington state officials have been ordered to issue new regulations to keep the runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations, also known as factory farms, from polluting nearby streams and waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Court orders WA to rewrite CAFO dairy operation permit regulations

The Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board is ordering state officials to rewrite pollution discharge permit regulations for concentrated a…

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

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 …

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)

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 …

The most common NOAA warnings in Illinois are for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding and winter weather, especially during the spring and fall seasons. (Adobe Stock)

Potential NOAA cuts spell trouble for IL 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…

New Mexico's 2021 methane waste rules require oil and gas operators to capture 98% of their produced natural gas by Dec. 31, 2026, and prohibit routine venting and flaring. (RobertCoy/Adobe Stock)

NM's state methane regulations expected to thwart federal rollbacks

Federal rules meant to better control harmful methane emissions will not take effect since Congress and President Donald Trump have intervened but the…

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have recently come under scrutiny for not doing more to enforce factory farm manure discharge permits. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

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

Agriculture trade groups want to see a rollback of federal environmental regulations on the meatpacking industry, along with fewer worker protections and food safety measures. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

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 …

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…

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 …

A recent Ohio River Valley Initiative report says the Shell petrochemical plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, has failed to deliver the promised economic benefits since its announcement more than a decade ago. (Dawid/Adobe Stock)

PA faith leader part of TX protest of oil, gas subsidies

A Buddhist minister from Pennsylvania joined 40 religious leaders in Texas this week to demand an end to fossil-fuel subsidies and expansion of oil an…

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 …

From data centers to clean-energy projects to factory farms, rural communities are being asked to shoulder a number of key projects factoring into how society functions, potentially leading to a major dynamic shift in how local residents organize their response. (Adobe Stock)

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

The future of a big carbon capture project in the Midwest was thrown off balance after a new South Dakota law was adopted. Rural property owners made …

MS groups fight to curb corporate control in agriculture

Advocates for family farms in Mississippi are sounding alarms about the increasing dominance of large corporations in the state's agricultural sector…

Air Quality Index levels above 100 are considered unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups. (rck/Adobe Stock)

With ozone season, bad air days to increase in NC

Bad air quality days are a heightened concern as ozone season begins in North Carolina. Ozone season in the state lasts from March through October…

Samples taken in 2017 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources found increased radioactivity after a commercial deicing liquid (oil and gas brine) was applied to roadways. (Siri Lawson, Farmington Township, Warren County)

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Concerns are growing in Ohio over the use of oil and gas waste for dust control on rural roads, a practice some environmental groups argued is …

A Carbon Census sensor's sophisticated electronic components (shown here during the Los Angeles fires) can detect a variety of atmospheric compounds. (Mike Glier)

Study: L.A.’s urban trees remove more C02 than expected

A new study shows trees in mid-city Los Angeles absorb up to 60% of carbon dioxide emissions during spring and summer when the trees are most active…

Some 36% of S&P 500 companies participate in carbon offsetting, according to the website CarbonNeutral.com. (Adobe Stock/generated with AI)<br />

Why carbon offsets often don’t work, explained

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

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-…

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 …

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…

Drones are among the many new tools now used to detect methane leaks at drilling sites. (tostphoto/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico's methane mitigation jobs beat national average

A study commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund showed the industries developed to find and repair methane leaks have grown by 88% over the pas…

Median wages for methane mitigation jobs are $127,000 a year in manufacturing, and as high as $145,000 in service-sector jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's methane waste-reduction industry surging

An industry that got its start in Colorado finding and fixing methane leaks at oil and gas sites is on the rise. There are now some 74 sites where …

Ohio's agriculture industry contributes more than $124 billion annually to the state's economy, supporting more than one in eight jobs statewide. (stockbusters/Adobe Stock)

JD Vance’s agriculture agenda: What’s next for Ohio farmers?

With President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance now in office, Ohio's farming community is watching closely to see how their policies could …

Methane mitigation jobs offer median wages as high as $127,000 in the manufacturing sector and $145,000 in the service sector, according to a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming ripe for growth in methane mitigation industry

Drilling and mining activities can lead to leaked methane, a gas responsible for 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions and experts said capturing …

New York City's program is the only one charging drivers to get into the congested area, but New York isn't the only city with congestion pricing. (Adobe Stock)

NYers push back on federal attempts to end 'congestion pricing'

As the U.S. Department of Transportation tries to end New York City's congestion pricing program, the move is getting some pushback from people who …

Methane is a major contributor to Utah's status among the top 10 regions in the U.S. for levels of ozone, short-term particle pollution, and annual particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)

Methane mitigation industry battles climate change, creates UT jobs

New research found solving the $2 billion methane waste problem is creating economic opportunities for workers in Utah and other energy-producing stat…

Researchers are developing inductive charging technology that could allow EVs to charge without plugging in, using embedded road or parking pad systems. (Kalyakan/Adobe Stock)

MI keeps EV charging plans on track despite federal cuts

Earlier this month, the Federal Highway Administration stopped new funding for electric vehicle charging stations under the National Electric Vehicle …

A report commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund showed in 2024, there were 266 mitigation companies operating in the U.S., a 24% increase from 2021. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Report: Methane mitigation industry grows in LA, nationwide

A new report on growth in the methane mitigation industry shows positive developments for oil and gas companies, as well as the environment. The …

Oil and gas operators seeking to reduce their methane emissions have many options, with 266 companies offering more than 18 categories of cost-effective technologies and services. (peterschreiber.media/Adobe Stock)

TX leads nation in methane mitigation

The methane mitigation industry has experienced a surge in Texas and around the nation over the last decade. A recent study found Texas has 293 …

Doctors caution that children, the elderly and people with chronic conditions such as asthma and COPD are the most vulnerable to toxic air pollution from wildfire smoke and ash. (Prikhodko/Adobe Stock)

Public health experts warn about pollution from burned plastics in LA fires

After thousands of homes and businesses burned in the Los Angeles fires, public health doctors are warning about the toxic pollution from plastics …

Diesel exhaust represents about 80-percent of the potential cancer risk from all air toxics in the Puget Sound area. (Natalia Bratslavsky/Adobe Stock)

Shore power bill would improve WA air quality, cut emissions

New legislation would transition more ocean-going container ships to run off electricity instead of diesel while they are docked at Washington ports…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - April 23, 2025

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Air Pollution

Second wave of weather employees fired ahead of NM wildfire season

Cleveland Health Dept says cleaner air starts at home

'Pick Up PA' drives statewide community cleanup efforts for Earth Day, beyond

Pollution exemptions granted to AR coal plants

WV facilities seek exemptions from limits on toxic pollution

As Trump backs PA coal revival, critics say it's unlikely

Report: More MN electricity is clean and homegrown

Researchers: U.S. wouldn't see 'bang for its buck' in reviving coal

MI clean energy projects await clarity on federal tax credits

MD automakers, health groups rally against delay in vehicle pollution standards

OH environmental group fears federal cuts will hurt job opportunities

Climate change activists see hopeful signs in New Mexico's next state budget

High-impact data centers could pose WV energy, environment threats

Chicago nonprofit transforms former toxic site to feed community

Nonprofit races to save science, environmental-justice website data

Report: Wildfires inch closer to California health care facilities

Court orders WA to rewrite CAFO dairy operation permit regulations

New camera reveals, documents toxic oil and gas emissions

Report: Cuts to Inflation Reduction Act would impact TX economy

Potential NOAA cuts spell trouble for IL weather warnings

NM's state methane regulations expected to thwart federal rollbacks

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

Legislation could hinder TX wind, solar projects

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Religious leaders gather in TX to fight oil and gas subsidies

PA faith leader part of TX protest of oil, gas subsidies

MI expert predicts future of solar energy amid evolving federal policies

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

MS groups fight to curb corporate control in agriculture

With ozone season, bad air days to increase in NC

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Study: L.A.’s urban trees remove more C02 than expected

Why carbon offsets often don’t work, explained

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

Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

New Mexico's methane mitigation jobs beat national average

Colorado's methane waste-reduction industry surging

JD Vance’s agriculture agenda: What’s next for Ohio farmers?

Wyoming ripe for growth in methane mitigation industry

NYers push back on federal attempts to end 'congestion pricing'

Methane mitigation industry battles climate change, creates UT jobs

MI keeps EV charging plans on track despite federal cuts

Report: Methane mitigation industry grows in LA, nationwide

TX leads nation in methane mitigation

Public health experts warn about pollution from burned plastics in LA fires

Shore power bill would improve WA air quality, cut emissions