Climate Change/Air Quality / Public News Service

Texas is home to the Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, one of only seven centers in the United States and 168 worldwide based on a United Nations program to develop global sustainability goals. (anncapictures/Pixabay)

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Connecting Texas' Sustainability Goals, Nationally and Beyond

ARLINGTON, Texas - Three Texas cities are taking part in a challenge this year to create Sustainable Development Goals that help eliminate poverty…

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) decided not to act to change the state's net-metering rule at its Sept. 17, 2020, workshop on Customer-Owned Renewable Generation. (mrganso/Pixabay)

Report: Power Companies Block Rooftop Solar Growth in FL, US

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A new report shows an effort by investor-owned utilities in the Sunshine State to block the growth of rooftop solar. The …

The 2017 4th National Climate Assessment project concluded that, for the 83% of Americans who live in cities, the experience of extreme heat can vary across neighborhoods by as much as 20 degrees. (avMachine713/Pixabay)

Houston Site of Study on Extreme Heat Risk in Coastal Communities

HOUSTON - Cities in the southern United States, especially large urban communities along the coasts, are facing extreme heat attributable to climate …

A white paper from ReImagine Appalachia estimates that reforestation of mountaintop removal sites could absorb 8% to 10% of carbon emissions in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. It's the type of project a new CCC could take on. (Adobe Stock)

Casey's Civilian Conservation Corps Could Help Fight Climate Change

HARRISBURG, Pa. - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., wants to bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public-works program from the 1930s that created …

If passed, New York could become the third state in the country to amend its state Constitution to guarantee that "each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment." (Adobe Stock)

Push is On for NY to Add Environmental Rights to State Constitution

ALBANY, N.Y. - A ballot measure could give New York residents the constitutional right to a healthy environment, and on Tuesday a group of state …

Electrifying heat pumps are key to lowering the carbon cost of buildings. (SkyLine/Adobe Stock)

NW Heat Wave Exposes Inequities, Need to Prioritize Low-Income Communities

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Last month's deadly heat wave in the Northwest underscored the need to reduce carbon emissions, but advocates want to ensure low-…

Smoke from the Bootleg fire in southern Oregon is blowing across Idaho and as far east as New York. (National Interagency Fire Center/Flickr)

Tiny Particles in Wildfire Smoke Pose Health Risks

BOISE, Idaho -- Wildfires are affecting air quality across the West, bringing hidden dangers in smoke that can harm people's health. The Boise-based …

A proposal for a federal plan to convert 30 million homes to rooftop solar over the next five years would bring thousands of new jobs and lower energy bills to Arizona. (Zstock/Adobe Stock)

Plan to Convert 1 in 4 AZ Homes to Solar Would Bring Jobs, Lower Bills

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A new report shows federal investment to help convert 30 million homes to distributed solar power could mean big energy savings and …

While most electricity in Utah is generated by gas or coal-powered plants, one regional utility is considering the nuclear option. (brianguest/Adobe Stock)

Utah Watchdogs Voice Concerns Over 'High-Tech' Nukes

SALT LAKE CITY -- In the push toward carbon-free energy production, some cities in Utah and nearby states are considering a new type of nuclear …

Effects of Oregon's Bootleg Fire stretch all the way to the East Coast, with smoke carried thousands of miles by high-level winds.(Clandestino/Pixabay)

Experts: More Logging Won't Stop Oregon's Wildfires

PORTLAND, Ore. -- As the Bootleg fire burns in southern Oregon, the U.S. Senate is considering an infrastructure package that environmental …

A new report finds programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program could eventually transform energy-bill assistance into self-reliance through investments in local solar energy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 30M Solar Homes Could Boost Jobs, Benefit Environment

HARRISBURG, Pa. - With federal investment, a proposal to connect 30 million homes in the United States to solar energy could have a big impact in …

Nearly 6% of workers telecommuted in 2018, up from 2% in 1980, according to a New York Times report. Researchers project that 20% of work will be done from home post-COVID. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Colorado Companies to Reduce Air Pollution Post-COVID

DENVER -- As offices and businesses begin to open their doors after COVID-19 shutdowns, a new guidebook offers ways for CEOs and other commuters to …

By 2050, South Dakota could see a 75% increase in the severity of widespread summer drought conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Meteorologists: Hot, Dry Weather Not a Fluke

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Much of South Dakota will see a familiar weather pattern this week: very hot temperatures and little precipitation. With more …

If New Mexico opts into Advanced Clean Car standards, it will join Colorado, Nevada and 15 other states. (swenergy.org)

NM Coalition Makes Speedier Push for Electric Vehicles

SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexicans who want to impact climate change by driving an electric vehicle have several roadblocks, and they won't end soon if …

Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir situated on the Arizona-Utah border, draws upwards of 2 million visitors a year for boating and other forms of outdoor recreation. (forcdan/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br /> — Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir situated on the Arizona-Utah border, draws upwards of 2 million visitors a year for boating and other forms of outdoor recreation. (forcdan/Adobe Stock)

River Managers Take Emergency Steps to Refill Lake Powell

PAGE, Ariz. -- The federal Bureau of Reclamation is taking emergency measures to shore up water levels in Lake Powell, to preserve the reservoir's …

Experts expect another active wildfire season this year in the West. (Alex/Adobe Stock)

Tips for Staying Safe in WA's Hot, Smoky Summer

SEATTLE -- An unprecedented heat wave in Washington state has underscored the importance of staying safe when it's hot. Places such as Seattle …

Seven in ten North Carolina voters believe climate impacts like erratic weather and stronger storms will have costly effects on residents, according to a poll by the Environmental Defense Action Fund. (Adobe Stock)

Environmentalists Say State Must Focus on “Interconnected” Climate Solutions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The state's Environmental Management Commission this week green-lighted a plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants. The …

Unconventional wells emit methane and lead to air pollution in nearby communities. (SkyTruth/Flickr)

Groups Urge Wolf Administration to Strengthen Methane Emissions Rule

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Advocates for clean air are calling on the Wolf administration to strengthen a proposed regulation on methane emissions. They say …

Construction crews will be at risk as events like the Northwest's heat wave become more frequent. (Marina Krasnovid/Adobe Stock)

How Climate Change Is a Workers' Rights Issue

SEATTLE -- A deadly heat wave in the Northwest is laying bare the link between climate change and the rights of workers. Summer Stinson, executive …

Coastal Oregon communities like Yaquina Bay are in the process of updating their estuary management plans. (Jessica Miller/Oregon State University)

Eelgrass Research Could Help Guide OR Coastal Management

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A new study finds restoration of eelgrass, an important marine plant, depends mostly on where, rather than how. The findings could …

The bipartisan infrastructure framework includes $5 billion to invest in Western water storage. (Andy/Adobe Stock)

Rural U.S., Climate Resilience Seen as Winners in Infrastructure Package

BOISE, Idaho -- Supporters from both sides of the aisle are touting a $1.2 trillion infrastructure framework taking shape in Washington, D.C…

Xcel customers in Colorado will likely pay higher prices after last winter's natural gas power shortage caused by non-winterized power plants in Texas. (Adobe Stock)

Coloradans Brace for Texas-Fueled Spikes in Energy Prices

DENVER -- When this winter's power outages in Texas' deregulated electric grid caused shockingly high utility bills for customers, Xcel Energy was …

Wyoming lawmakers recently allocated $1.2 million for a legal fund to sue states that block coal exports or retire coal-fired power plants. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Coal Decision Prompts Calls for WY to Invest in Transition, Jobs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - After Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon's legal strategy to export Powder River Basin coal to Asian markets was shot down by the U.S…

Washington state produces 70% of the country's apples. (Michele Benoy Westmorland, Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

In Heat Wave's Wake, WA Advocates Call for Farmworker Protections

SEATTLE - Washington state farmworkers were among the most vulnerable during the Northwest's deadly heat wave. As the state feels more effects from …

More than 8,700 acres have burned in Idaho so far this year as wildfire season ramps up. (Glen/Adobe Stock)

NW Heat Wave, Fires Could be 'Preview' of Hotter Future

BOISE, Idaho -- An unprecedented heat wave and fears of another severe wildfire season have put the warming climate at center stage in the Northwest…

U.S. Steel's Clairton plant is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the United States. (Roy Luck/Wikimedia Commons)

Study Details Health Implications of PA Coke-Plant Fire

PITTSBURGH -- In southwestern Pennsylvania, the health effects of an industrial fire more than two years ago are just now coming to light. A new …

It's estimated that sea levels could rise another 18 inches by mid-century in Virginia. (Sarah/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Package Must Include Coastal Restoration, Groups Say

RICHMOND, Va. -- Conservation groups are asking Congress to include $10 billion for coastal restoration projects in its infrastructure package…

Minnesota's divided government pushed budget talks to the brink of a government shutdown. A spending plan was adopted in the waning hours of a special session. (Adobe Stock)

From Status Quo to Policy Victories, MN Groups Review Special Session

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota has a new budget in place, after lawmakers finished a marathon special session as their deadline expired. From rural …

Almost one-third of Colorado's electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Energy Chief's Visit Spotlights Colorado Clean-Energy Advances

DENVER -- U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was in Denver Thursday to promote President Joe Biden's plans to transition the nation's energy …

July 2020 was the hottest recorded month in Boston, and climate planners predict it's a record that could be broken often in the future. (Paolese/Adobe Stock)

MA Climate Planner Warns of Extreme Summer Heat

BOSTON -- More and more summer days in Massachusetts are reaching temperatures above 90 degrees, and climate resiliency planners say the trend is …

According to Ocean Defense Initiative, 18 coastal states have already identified more than $6 billion worth of resiliency projects to undertake if they receive funding through the American Jobs Plan. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental Groups Seek Funding for NY Coastal Resilience

NEW YORK -- Environmental groups across the U.S. are asking Congress for money in the next infrastructure package to curb the negative effects of …

Due to higher costs of production, coal-powered electricity's share in Pennsylvania has fallen from 57% in 2001 to 16% in 2021. It's expected to fall to 4%, with or without the state's participation in RGGI, by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Report: RGGI Could Provide Financial Boost to PA Coal Communities

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board is expected to make its final ruling on whether the state will join the Regional …

The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve near Coos Bay supports 65 jobs. (Werewombat/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Southern OR Coastal Reserve Has Big Local Impact

COOS BAY, Ore. -- A system of little-known public lands protecting sensitive coastal habitats generates big economic impacts for local communities…

A new report looks eelgrass restoration projects on the West Coast, including 14 in Washington state. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Report: Vital Seagrass Restoration Needs Real Estate to Thrive

EVERETT, Wash. -- Eelgrass plays a vital role in marine habitats, but along the West Coast, it's disappearing at alarming rates. A new study found …

Florida mangroves' natural ability to curb flooding protected over 626,000 people during Hurricane Irma in 2017, according to a University of California Santa Cruz report. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Say FL Coasts Need Federal Dollars to Mitigate Storm Impacts

TAMPA, Fla. -- Environmental groups are urging federal lawmakers to allocate $10 billion in the upcoming infrastructure package for coastal …

The medical community warns that every American's health is at risk due to climate change, but children, seniors and many communities of color are among those at greater risk. (Adobe Stock)

Personal Health, Medical Costs Tied to Climate-Change Discussion

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Climate change might conjure up images of wildfires or dried up rivers out West, but an Iowa doctor is joining her counterparts …

A new study says California's eelgrass beds have been decimated by pollution, dredging, development, sea level rise and other problems. (Kathyrn Beheshti/U.C. Santa Cruz)

Loss of CA Eelgrass Leads to Coastal Erosion, Hurts Marine Life

MISSION BAY, Calif. -- An important part of California's coastal ecosystem, eelgrass, is disappearing, with 90% gone since the 1950s. A report …

Conservation groups would like more funding to restore wetlands at the site of the former Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Groups Call for $10 Billion to Bolster Shorelines Against Sea-Level Rise

SAN FRANCISCO - Sea levels in California are projected to rise up to 55 inches by the end of the century, so climate advocates are calling on …

Wind and solar account for about 5,000 jobs in New Mexico, but solar and other advanced energy technologies are expected to boost the state's job growth to 7% this year, according to a report by Advanced Energy Economy. (westernresourceadvocates.org)

Advanced Energy Expected to Boost NM 2021 Job Growth

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Advanced energy technologies, including solar, wind, electric vehicles and smart grid improvements, are expected to boost job …

Amid a recent spike in temperature, Texas residents were asked to set their thermostats higher, turn off lights and avoid using larger appliances to protect the power grid. (926663/Pixabay)

Texans Face Hot Summer, Fragile Power Grid

AUSTIN, Texas - Some areas of Texas already have approached triple-digit temperatures this month, and there's concern older adults could face grave …

Michigan's Oakland County has the highest number of advanced-energy jobs in the state. (romaset/Adobe Stock)

Report: EV Technology, Manufacturing to Create Job Growth in MI

DETROIT -- A new report predicts Michigan's economy would see major benefits from the Biden administration's proposed $274 billion investment to elect…

North Carolina could join the 11 states that make up the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a market-based collective to cap and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from the power sector. (Adobe Stock)

NC Steps Closer to Joining States Committed to Reducing Carbon Emissions

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A state environmental committee is considering a proposal to set a process in motion to reduce carbon emissions from power plants…

Federal investments to switch to electric vehicles would generate $231 billion in additional tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Investment in EV Infrastructure Could Add $1.3 Trillion to U.S. GDP

DENVER -- As the Biden administration and Congress continue to wrangle over the size and scope of a federal infrastructure package, a new report …

A new report finds that jobs in wind power in Nevada grew in 2020 despite the pandemic. (Niserin/iStockphotos)

Advanced Energy Sector Roars Back to Life in Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- A new report found President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill, the American Jobs Plan, would supercharge the economy in Nevada and …

A new report from Advanced Energy Economy finds that Illinois clean-energy jobs are expected to grow 7% in 2021. (I Viewfinder/Adobe Stock)

Report: Transportation Electrification Would Benefit IL Economy, Job Market

CHICAGO -- A new report showed the economy of Illinois could see major benefits from the Biden administration's proposed $274 billion investment to el…

Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order with an 8,000-megawatt target for offshore wind-energy generation by 2040. (agrarmotive/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Expanding Offshore Wind Capacity Good for NC Economy

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Groups advocating for clean energy say Gov. Roy Cooper's recent commitment to expand North Carolina's offshore wind capacity will …

A report prepared for the Utah Legislature points out that the state's power grid may not have the reserve capacity to withstand an extreme heat wave without blackouts. (naufalmq/Adobe Stock)

Heat Wave Generates Concerns Over Viability of Utah Power Grid

SALT LAKE CITY -- Extreme drought has brought abnormally high temperatures across the Western states this week, and normally temperate Utah has not …

According to Advanced Energy Economy, each dollar of public investment into electric vehicles generates $2.60 of direct private investment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Electric Transportation Investment Would Boost FL Economy

MIAMI - Florida would benefit from the federal government's proposed $274 billion investment in electric vehicles and infrastructure, according to a …

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PNS Daily Newscast - August 4, 2021

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