Climate Change/Air Quality / Public News Service

Researchers found cities with the highest ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live based on the metrics of physical inactivity and mental health. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 26, 2023

ParkScore Rankings Name Washington D.C. Nation’s Best

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has published its annual ParkScore rankings, and some area cities are high on the list. Washington, D.C.…

A wetland and marsh area at Chain O' Lakes State Park. Illinois' Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 set a goal of no net loss of wetlands due to projects funded by the state. (GoodFreePhotos.com)

Friday, May 26, 2023

SCOTUS Lands Gut Punch to EPA Wetland Protections

A U.S. Supreme Court decision is shaking up the environmental community in Illinois and across the country. The high court ruled 5-4 on Thursday …

July 2022 was the hottest July since 1895 in Texas, according to Weather.com. (praewpailyn/Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 26, 2023

Texas Heatwaves are Coming; New Toolkit Available to Docs

Extreme heat kills about 700 people in the United States each year, but a new toolkit and weather alerts can protect folks in Texas and beyond…

Advocates of a Climate Peace Clause protested outside trade negotiations in Los Angeles last year. (Will Wiltschko/Trade Justice Education Fund)

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Trade Justice Advocates Call for Climate Peace Clause in U.S.-E.U. Trade Talks

Next week, trade negotiations resume in Sweden between the U.S. and the European Union, and advocates are urging all parties to sign a "Climate Peace …

Oil and gas leasing are currently allowed on 90% of publicly-owned lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 25, 2023

BLM Seeks Coloradans' Input on New Public-Lands Rule Aiming for Balance

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is holding a public hearing today in Denver on its new rule, which aims to put conservation, protection of …

One of the tax credits offered under the Inflation Reduction Act is a home energy audit, where property owners can find out if their home is wasting energy. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 25, 2023

With Emerging Incentives, Clean Energy No Longer a VIP Club

Clean-energy products, such as electric vehicles or home heat pump systems, might seem out of reach for a lot of people. But with federal incentives …

Advocates say the EPA's proposed carbon pollution standards would avert approximately 1,300 premature deaths. (Ralf Broskvar/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

AZ Leaders Urge Strong Standards to Cut Climate Pollution from Power Plants

Arizona leaders gathered Tuesday in support of the Biden administration's proposed plans to cut climate pollution from fossil-fuel power plants to tac…

Community solar projects can make solar energy accessible to residents who may not be able to install solar panels on their own home, according to the National Association of Home Builders. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

In WV, Community Solar Gains Popularity Amid Rising Utility Bills

Amid rising energy costs and inflation, energy advocates said they have seen a jump in interest in community solar. Luanne McGovern, legislative …

The world is home to 1.8 billion young people between ages 10 and 24, the largest generation of youth in history, who are increasingly aware of the challenges and risks presented by the climate crisis. (Adobe Stock)

'Climate Grief' Motivates Young Mainers to Take Action

The magnitude of climate change can feel overwhelming, creating a sense of so-called "climate grief" for some, but young climate activists say they …

According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, there are currently more than 1,500 approved drilling permits that have not started production. (Adobe Stock)

Coalition Turns to CO Voters to Phase Out Fracking Permits

A coalition of grassroots groups is turning to Colorado voters in an effort to phase out all new oil and gas leases by 2030. Kate Christensen - an …

The EPA admits its new standards for air pollution at power plants could bring small increases in utility bills, but projects the plan would bring a total of $85 billion in climate and health savings. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Standards Seen as Attack on Coal-Fired Power Plants

The Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to cut pollution from power plants not already set to retire by 90% by 2030 is the most ambitious in ov…

A new report predicts up to 639 premature deaths from respiratory illnesses would be prevented in Pennsylvania due to emission reductions resulting directly from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (Erik Bergen Photos/Adobe Stock)

New Report: Impact for PA to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

A new report analyzed the potential impact of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Pennsylvania emissions, power generation, revenue, and jobs…

According to the East Coast Greenway Alliance, 50 million bike rides, runs and walks occur every year along the project's existing route. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina Greenways: A Path to Health, Happiness, and Economic Growth

By Ashira Morris for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalis…

The American Geosciences Institute says the enormous size of the oil and gas industry results in huge volumes of oil and produced water, which lead to thousands of spills every year. (Photo courtesy of WildEarth Guardians)

NM Environmentalists: New Rules, Same Spills at State's Oilfields

Environmentalists and citizens in New Mexico believe the state agency charged with overseeing oil and gas activity is not doing enough to enforce rule…

Due to sea level rise, 263,500 jobs and more than $11 billion in wage income across the Chesapeake Bay region will be at risk of 100-year flooding by 2050, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rising Sea Levels to Impact Chesapeake Bay Region’s Economy

A new report finds rising sea levels in Chesapeake Bay will cost the surrounding regions jobs. The Resources for the Future report finds, in …

A new EPA report states climate change can increase children's pollen exposures as seasons lengthen and temperatures warm. (WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeStock)

Report Links EPA Climate Change, Children’s Health and Well-Being in TN

In Tennessee and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

A student advisor said students are moving the climate change debate forward because it is very difficult to ignore kids talking about their future. (Adobe stock)

Indiana Group Amplifies Student Voices on Climate Crisis

An Indiana-based environmental group is amplifying the voices of high school students who write about the environment and climate change. Earth …

The Cumberland Fossil Plant is the largest generating asset in the TVA coal fleet and is located in Stewart County, Tennessee. It powers approximately 1.1 million homes. (David/AdobeStock)

TN Groups Call To Action for TVA Pivot To Clean Energy

Environmental groups in Tennessee have an urgent call to action for the Tennessee Valley Authority to cut fossil-fuel emissions and replace their coal…

In 2022, the Living Schoolyards Act was introduced in Congress, which would direct federal resources toward greening school grounds like those above. However, the bill failed to advance out of committee. (Adobe Stock)

Green Playgrounds Help NY Achieve Climate Goals

By Marianne Dhenin for Next City.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Signs someone could be having a stroke and needs immediate emergency care include loss of speech, vision or the inability to move their arms or legs or maintain balance. (Adobe Stock)

National Stroke Awareness Month Spotlights Environmental Factors

Cardiovascular diseases are the world's leading cause of disability and death, and are responsible for nearly a million deaths each year in the U.S.…

A schoolyard in Concord, California. More than 4.2 million of the students in California public schools are on campuses with less than 10% tree canopy, half with less than 5%. (Sharon Danks)

Reimagining Schoolyards to Improve Health and Learning

By Carl Smith for Governing.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News…

The EPA said the spread of Lyme disease, carried by black-legged ticks, is influenced by changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/AdobeStock).

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

The Scattergood Generating Station's iconic red-and-white emissions stacks will be obsolete when it adds a hydrogen-burning unit in 2029. (Caleigh Wells)

LA’s Controversial Plan to Switch Gas Plant to Hydrogen

By Caleigh Wells for KCRW.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News S…

According to Chispa, communities of color are 61% more likely to live in a county with unhealthy air. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: How NV Land Conservation Contributes to Combating Climate Change

It's officially Clean Air Month, and experts recently discussed how land conservation in Nevada is connected to combating climate change and …

School districts have until Aug. 22 to turn in their applications for this year's Clean School Bus Program. (Moms Clean Air Force)

AZ School District Sees Benefits of Electric Buses, More Funds On Way

This week, one Arizona school district is sharing the local benefits ushered in by the Inflation Reduction Act. Isaac School District in West …

A solar-plus-storage system costs $25,000 to $35,000, depending on the battery size and other factors, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but just adding a battery to a solar system will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $22,000. (Adobe Stock)

NH Battery-Storage Program Lowers Energy Costs, Emissions

By Sarah Shemkus for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Indiana ranks third in the nation for total coal consumption. (James Phelps, Jr./Adobe Stock)

Indiana Governor Ignores Environmental Group's Plea

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ignored pleas from environmental advocates who were asking him to veto a bill that gives lawmakers more power over state …

Scientific evidence shows air pollution can contribute to adverse birth outcomes, infant mortality, damaged lung function, asthma, cancer and even neurological disorders and childhood obesity, according to UNICEF data. (SoloviovaLiudmyla/AdobeStock)

West Dallas Neighborhood Seeks Relief From Major Air Polluter

A West Dallas neighborhood, citing decades of air and noise pollution, wants an asphalt shingle plant to abandon its decades-old location - but foot-…

According to the EPA, a supplemental proposal called the Super Emitter Reduction Program aims to reduce methane emissions from a bevy of sources by 87%, compared with 2005 levels. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature Considers Bill to Align Climate, Public Utility Laws

New York State's Legislature is reviewing a bill to align the state's public utility law with its climate goals. The New York HEAT Act aims to get …

Santa Monica Beach is seen on a clear day, Feb. 25, 2022. The air is cleaner than in the past; South Coast Air Quality Management District says ozone levels are at less than half of what they were in the 1950s. (Amy Ta)

Hotter, More Humid, But Cleaner: How L.A.’s Air Has Changed

By Caleigh Wells for KCRW.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News S…

The fossil fuel industry successfully lobbied Congress to add billions of dollars for carbon capture technologies in the recently passed Infrastructure and Jobs Act, and Inflation Reduction Act. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Unproven Tech Could Stall Action on Climate Change

Some 45 environmental groups across Colorado are sounding the alarm about a host of emerging technologies that have been attached to legislation aimin…

According to the Lake Carriers' Association, the Great Lakes fleet moves more than 90 million tons of cargo annually. (icholakov/Adobe Stock)

Could Great Lakes’ Cargo Fleet 'Go Green?'

By Audrey Richardson for Great Lakes Echo.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection reporting for Solutions Journalism-Public Ne…

Union County averaged 1.3 high ozone days giving them a

NC Air Report Highlights Needs for Emission Reduction, Rural Air Monitoring

A new study emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced air quality monitoring in rural regions, while drawing attention to the efforts required to …

The Spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first spotted in Pennsylvania in September 2014. They are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. (ondreicka/Adobe Stock)<br />

USDA Warns Pennsylvanians to Protect Plants from Invasive Pests

April is Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning Pennsylvanians that it's the best time of …

In Tennessee, growth in the electric vehicle/hybrid sector could add 200,000 EVs by 2028, which the Tennessee Department of Transportation said creates a challenge in terms of the state's ability to build and maintain transportation infrastructure. (Sundry Photography/Adobe Stock)

New Law Aims to Help with TN Traffic Congestion

Legislation has been signed to revamp the roads in fast-growing Tennessee and spend more money on them. The Transportation Modernization Act invests …

According to a 2022 report from NYSERDA, job increases in the clean energy sector made up 2% of total economy wide employment increases in New York. (Adobe Stock)

Green Economy Jobs Boom Across NY, US

By Michelle Ma for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Nationally, more than one in three Americans live in counties that had unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. (Adobe Stock)

State of the Air Report Shows Mixed Results for Air Quality in Maryland

A new report found a mix of good and bad findings for air quality in Maryland. The American Lung Association recently released its annual State of …

Three-fourths of the coal consumed in Pennsylvania is burned for electricity generation, and the rest is used for steelmaking and other industrial applications. (Gary/AdobeStock)

Report: 'Green Steel' Would Reduce Carbon Emissions, Add Jobs

A new report reveals that the Keystone State steel industry has the potential to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions by making a switch to "green ste…

In 2022, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $500 million investment in offshore wind to provide cleaner energy, part of a goal to have 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind developed by 2035. (Adobe Stock)

NY/NJ Elected Officials Celebrate Offshore Wind During Earth Month

Throughout Earth Month, elected officials across the U.S. are celebrating renewable energy projects. In New York, several wind, solar and …

Between July 2022 and February 2023 Xcel Energy spent $296,000 lobbying Colorado lawmakers, the state's top spender. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Lawmakers Take on High Utility Bills

Colorado lawmakers have advanced legislation aimed at addressing a growing chorus of concerns about spikes in utility bills by reducing the state's de…

Electric-car sales reached a record high in 2021, despite supply chain bottlenecks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Compared with 2020, sales nearly doubled to 6.6 million, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Experts School IA Emergency Responders on EV Car Crashes

With more electric vehicles on the road, automakers are training emergency workers in best practices to respond to crashes involving the battery-…

Utilities behind the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center in Wisconsin hope to be in operation by 2027. (Rendering courtesy of Minnesota Power)

Following Energy Trends, WI Regulators Urged to Reconsider Gas Plant

Wisconsin regulators are being asked to take another look at previously approved plans for a proposed natural gas plant. An environmental group …

According to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, the state has plugged more than 100 wells. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Group Urges Action to Plug Orphaned UT Oil Wells

Congress allocated billions of dollars through the infrastructure law to plug orphaned well sites across the country, with Utah being one of the …

Urban forestry crews across the United States are choosing hardier tree species more likely to withstand stressors linked to climate change. (Cokko Swain/American Forests)

Rethinking Urban Plantings to Survive Climate Change

By Kate Wheeling for Nexus Media News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-P…

Planting trees, updating streetlights to LED bulbs and installing

Initiative Helps Hoosiers Get Environmental Resilience Funding

A funding hub has launched in Indiana, designed to help small communities pursue federal funding for climate, energy and resilience projects…

In the past two years, the federal government has adopted two major laws to provide states billions of dollars to beef up infrastructure, including clean energy. But there are strings attached, as states must provide matching funds to maximize available grants. (Adobe Stock)

MN Joins 'Matching-Funds Game' for Clean-Energy Projects

Minnesota has taken a big step in unlocking more funds from Congress to secure clean energy projects. The state was under pressure to come up with …

The group Elected Officials to Protect America estimated funding included in the Inflation Reduction Act will help cut climate pollution by about 40% by 2030. (David Katz/Adobe Stock)

Earth Day in NV: 'Don't Give In to Climate Despair'

Tomorrow is Earth Day, a day to show support for protecting the planet, and one Nevada lawmaker wants Nevadans to give some thought to actions they …

In the last week of July 2022, a five-mile stretch of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, N.M., ran dry for the first time in 40 years. (GregMeland/AdobeStock)

Rio Grande River Water Usage Accountability Heats Up

A conservation group which has fought to know how water from the Rio Grande is being used by a regional irrigation district in New Mexico will continu…

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