Environment / Public News Service

Methane released into the atmosphere is responsible for at least 25% of current global warming, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (permianmap.org)

Friday, October 7, 2022

Report: Oil-Field Flaring Emits More Methane than Previously Known

Ahead of revised methane regulations expected from the federal government, a new study shows that gas flaring in oil-producing states such as Texas …

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Biden Administration's goal of 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy could create more than 77,000 jobs nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Elected Officials Seeking More Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind is becoming an increasingly popular way for coastal communities to hit their carbon-neutral goals. According to a report from the U.S…

San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is fostering an equitable local food system in part by providing bilingual farm business training and engaging the next generation of farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Colorado Conservation Heroes Honored

Nine Colorado groups and individuals have been honored as "Conservation Heroes" for their outstanding contributions to land, water and wildlife …

A collaborative team in Taos is slated to solve a daunting challenge created this spring when a local beaver population built a dam across the river at the city's park. (TaosLandTrust)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

The 'Beaver Deceiver' Protects the Taos Watershed, Wetland Habitat

A wildlife ecosystem can benefit from a beaver dam, but their location can cause headaches for humans when they produce flooding. In Taos, New …

A bridge pier slide area in the Kerens-to-Parsons section of the under-construction Corridor H highway project near Moore, West Virginia. (Pamela Moe)<br />

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Many WV Small Businesses Want Northern Route for Corridor H Highway

Small businesses in Thomas and Davis say they would prefer a planned four-lane highway to be rerouted north, instead of running through what they say …

While there are some misconceptions about where to charge electric vehicles, there are at least 3,000 charging stations across the state, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

New NY Bill Opens Market for Electric Vehicles

A new piece of legislation would provide New Yorkers with further access to electric vehicles. The Direct EV Sales bill, still under consideration …

Nuestras Ra�ces manages nine urban community gardens in Holyoke, plus four for the Holyoke Education System, supporting over 100 families with locally grown, fresh food. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Celebrating 30 Years of Puerto Rican “Agri-Culture” in Western MA

The Holyoke area is home to many Puerto Rican families who say they will do what they can to help people there as they recover from the latest hurrica…

The Environmental Defense Fund estimates methane emissions account for at least 25% of global warming. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Study: Oilfield Gas Flares More Harmful than Previously Thought

A new study found gas flaring in oil-producing states like North Dakota is not as effective in limiting harmful emissions when compared to long-standi…

Asian carp are known for their jumping ability, and officials are concerned that if their numbers are allowed to grow, they could devastate the entire Great Lakes ecology. (National Wildlife Federation)

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Film Chronicles Fight to Keep Invasive Carp Out of Great Lakes

A new film documenting the battle to prevent an invasive species of Asian carp from taking hold in the Great Lakes is drawing large numbers of viewers…

The recently passed CHIPS and Science Act is expected to provide major investments for infrastructure to build the semiconductors necessary for electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

CT Begins Transition to Electric Vehicles

The United States is seeing a national push from the federal government and car companies to pivot toward electric vehicles, and Connecticut is …

Out of all affordable U.S. states, New Mexico has the least home inventory, according to the rental asset management company, Stessa. (keelymiller/Pixabay)

NM Dilemma: Affordable Housing vs. Climate Change

A shortage of housing in New Mexico's largest cities forces many to drive hundreds of miles a day for jobs, making it harder to fight climate change…

Before the EPA's ban, Oregon had planned to phase out the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos by 2023. (Dusan Kostic/Adobe Stock)

U.S. Pesticide Use Could Be on Docket in Trade Talks

As the United States enters into talks over a new trade framework with several nations, America's lax pesticide policy could be a sticking point for …

UCLA scientists tracking SoCal mountain lions found that 93% have abnormal sperm rates and others have deformed tails and testicular defects, signs of inbreeding. (Christian/Adobe Stock)

Governor Signs Bill to Integrate Wildlife Corridors into Highway Plans

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Friday to require Caltrans to integrate wildlife corridors into its plans as roads are built around the …

In a proposed rate increase filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Southwest Gas customers would pay an average of $5.12 more per month if the utility's request is approved. (Valerii/Adobe Stock)

Beleaguered AZ Consumers Oppose Pending SW Gas Rate Hike

Arizona consumers are contesting a proposed $90 million Southwest Gas rate increase that analysts say would only benefit future - but not current - cu…

No-till farming is considered one of several conservation practices in agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

New WI Report Provides Snapshot of Sustainable Farming Efforts

Greenhouse gas emissions have been potentially reduced by 50,000 tons in the state, with the help of Wisconsin farmers supported by a statewide …

Southern Co., the parent company of Georgia Power, says it is actively advancing a net-zero goal by 2050. (Photo of Plant Wansley by Joe Cook; flight provided by SouthWings)

Following National Trend, Another GA Coal-Fired Power Plant Retires

Georgia Power is reducing its reliance on coal by phasing out several coal-fired units. However, clean-energy advocates say the company should …

A 2021 study in the journal Science found that fine particulate matter, one of the main pollutants produced by gas-burning vehicles, is responsible for 85,000 to 200,000 excess premature deaths per year in the United States. (Aleksandr Kondratov/Adobestock)

Local Officials Call on Feds to Adopt CA Clean-Car Standards

Local officials concerned about climate change are calling on the Biden Environmental Protection Agency to adopt strict national clean car standards -…

Research from 2015 revealed a federal estimate of more than 48,000 abandoned coal mine sites across the nation, but exact numbers remain unclear. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Possible Link Between Flood Risk, Abandoned Mine Land Brings Urgency to Reclamation Efforts

The impact of abandoned mine land on flood risk is receiving new scrutiny after devastating floods in the eastern part of the state left 40 people dea…

Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River is located near the Oregon town of Cascade Locks. (RG/Adobe Stock)

After Superfund Listing, Hard Work of Columbia River Site Cleanup Starts

A popular fishing site on the Columbia River for members of the Yakama Nation has been listed as Superfund site by the federal government. Now comes …

Researchers say long-term exposure to pesticides can result in a range of chronic health issues, including cancer. (Adobe Stock)

As New Trade Talks Evolve, Pesticide Concerns Enter the Discussion

The U.S. is talking with several nations as part of an emerging framework for trade policy. But in the Midwest, there are concerns about the ripple …

Study authors found that 80-90% of Americans underestimate the support for major climate change mitigation policies. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Perception Versus Reality about Climate-Change Distress

The political divide over climate change seems well entrenched, but a recent study suggested the conventional wisdom is wrong. The study, published …

In May, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., announced the Keystone State will receive $26.63 million for the revitalization of abandoned mine land. (Marek_mosinski/AdobeStock)

Benefits From Reclaiming Degraded, Abandoned Lands

A new report from the National Wildlife Federation found reclaiming degraded land could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy…

The energy industry reports a transition to 100% electric vehicle sales and a clean electricity grid by 2035 could save consumers $2.7 trillion. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)

Energy Companies Developing Infrastructure, Grid to Power Electric Vehicles

For some time, electric vehicles have been seen as the wave of the future, but developments in Detroit, Stuttgart, and Nagoya suggest tomorrow has …

Authors of a new study predict lakes in the Northern Hemisphere will eventually lose their frozen surface between 15 and 45 days earlier as climate change worsens. (Adobe Stock)

New Study Adds to Concerns About Diminishing Lake Ice Cover

Minnesotans are preparing for another winter, and a new global study raises questions about how colder climates might see fewer days of ice cover on …

The Suncor Line 1 Rocky Mountain Pipeline Project would replace an existing 10-inch pipeline with a 16-inch pipeline. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Groups Petition Leaders to Halt Suncor Line 1 Pipeline

More than 40 environmental groups are urging federal regulators and Colorado's Congressional delegation to put a pause on a pipeline project under way…

According to the Bureau of Land Management, there are more than 200,000 abandoned mine sites in Arizona, about 20,000 located on public land. (John Chandler Media/Adobe Stock)

Report: Reclaiming Abandoned, Degraded Lands Benefits Economy, Climate

A new study found reclaiming abandoned mines and other degraded lands could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy, fight climate …

The number of Pennsylvania residents who have already installed solar power at their homes or businesses is now close to 15,000. (Diyanadimitrova/Adobe Stock)

Clean-Energy Investments to Boost PA Economy

Renewable energy has the possibility to boost the economy and benefit workers and the environment in the Keystone State. That was the message at the …

Since 2019, volunteers have helped complete a watershed restoration project in Midnight Meadows, located in New Mexico's Carson National Forest. (amigosbravos.org)

Volunteers Continue Restoration Work in NM's Midnight Meadows

Midnight Meadows in northern New Mexico's Carson National Forest is one of 22 sites identified as "wetland jewels," and volunteers will continue their…

Elementary school students on a field trip marvel at the size of a redwood tree. (Victoria Reeder)

For Students, A Trip to the Forest is a Game Changer

As California's children settle into the new school year, about 1,500 students will soon take the field trip of a lifetime to see the giant redwoods…

Crater Lake National Park covers more than 180,000 acres in southern Oregon. (aiisha/Adobe Stock)

Public Lands Day Celebrates 'Spectacular' Landmarks in OR, U.S.

Saturday is National Public Lands Day, a celebration of national parks in the United States. People will be able to access national park lands for …

Researchers warn that as climate change increases wildfire areas in snow zones throughout the West, the wildfire influence on the snowpack also will grow. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wildfires Expanding Into Snow Zones Will Impact Water Supplies

Wildfires in Wyoming and across the West are creating bigger impacts on snowpack supplying farms, energy production and drinking water for millions …

The Hanford Nuclear Site was home to the world's first plutonium production reactor. (U.S. Department of Energy)

Interactive Hanford Story Teaches about Nuclear Site's Threat to Columbia River

The Hanford Nuclear Site on the Columbia River in central Washington has left a complex legacy for the region. An interactive story map imagines …

The World Health Organization links indoor air pollution, including pollutants from burning natural gas, to increased chances of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. (Vladimir Semenov/Adobe Stock)

Groups Plead with Public Utilities Commission to 'Supercharge' Electrification

Nevada needs to move away from natural gas and toward clean energy - that's the view of climate action groups that spoke up on Tuesday at an open foru…

Report: Reclaiming Degraded Lands Could Help Fight Climate Change

Thousands of former mines, brownfield sites, and orphaned oil and gas wells are scattered across West Virginia, and a new report from the National …

New technology can pinpoint methane sources to within 15 feet, and using a high-resolution imagery, can connect plumes to individual pieces of equipment. (Adobe Stock)

New Maps Expose Methane 'Super-Emitter' Sites

A new study mapping methane pollution across five oil and gas production basins in states including Colorado found a small number of sites account for…

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers. The swamp's wildlife, cypress forests and flooded prairies draw thousands of visitors each year. (Moultrie Creek/Wikimedia Commons)

Environmental Groups Fight to Stop Mine Near Okefenokee

Environmental groups are calling on Georgia's Environmental Protection Division to reject permits to build a titanium mine near an intact freshwater w…

Wildfires near farms in Whatcom and Skagit counties have made work in the fields hazardous for workers. (Alfredo Juarez)

Amid Wildfires, Heat, WA Farmworkers Call for Greater Protections

Washington state farmworkers are facing harsh conditions in the midst of wildfires and late-summer heat. They're calling for greater protections from …

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers. (FWS.gov)

GA Groups Fight to Stop Mine Near Okefenokee

Environmental groups are calling on Georgia's Environmental Protection Division to reject permits to build a titanium mine near an intact freshwater w…

The Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy costs for households and businesses, create manufacturing jobs for American workers and deliver a clean, secure, and healthy future for families. (Vitalli Vodolazskyi/AdobeStock)

Tennessee Rural Electric Co-ops to Benefit from Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act has made a historic investment of $370 billion dollars to fight climate change over the next decade. Among its benefits…

Wyoming to Receive $25 Million for Orphan Wells Under Infrastructure Bill

President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to Wyoming to clean up and plug so-cal…

The Idaho Conservation League looked at data for 112 sewage treatment facilities in the state. (tuastockphoto/Adobe Stock)

Report: ID Sewage Treatment Plants Have Waste Issue of Their Own

Pollution is a major problem for wastewater facilities in Idaho. The Idaho Conservation League's fifth annual report on discharges from sewage …

Part of New York State's climate law says 35% of total statewide spending on clean energy and efficiency programs must go to disadvantaged communities. (Adobe Stock)

NY Prepares Disadvantaged Communities for Climate Change Effects

New York State has been working to ensure disadvantaged communities aren't so vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, as storms grow in …

Critics of a draft proposal to expedite the permitting process for energy projects say it would open up more oil and gas drilling on public lands, on and offshore, running counter to the nation's efforts to curb climate change. (Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management/Flickr)

Elected Officials Condemn Proposal to Fast-Track Energy Permits

Local officials concerned about climate change are urging Democrats to scuttle a deal reached with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to pass a bill to fast-…

In 2021, there were fewer than 12,000 coal miners employed in West Virginia, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginians Draw from Within to Rebuild Communities

By Quincy Gray McMichael for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service, Reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

Environmental and family farm advocates say there's been a proliferation of large confined-animal feeding operations in states such as Minnesota, with most of them deigned for hogs. (Adobe Stock)

Rural MN Communities Fight Influence of Factory Farms

This week, a northern Minnesota county advanced a large-scale hog feedlot project. Opponents argued such operations are not what rural communities …

A recent designation of Southwest Colorado streams marks the largest community proposal for Outstanding Waters protections to be adopted in Colorado's history. (Adobe Stock)

Southwestern Colorado Waters Win New Protections

As climate change brings longer and more severe drought to the American Southwest, a community-led coalition is celebrating new protections for more …

Concerning levels of PFAS have been discovered in the environment, water and wildlife of the Great Lakes region. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Advances Efforts on Dangerous 'Forever Chemicals'

The federal government is taking new steps to protect people in Illinois and other states from "forever chemicals." PFOA and PFOS are two types of pe…

EPA Makes 'Forever Chemicals' a Priority With Latest Action

The federal government is taking new steps to protect people in Wisconsin and other states from "forever chemicals." PFOA and PFOS are two types of p…

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PNS Daily Newscast - October 7, 2022

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Environment

Report: Oil-Field Flaring Emits More Methane than Previously Known

Elected Officials Seeking More Offshore Wind Farms

Colorado Conservation Heroes Honored

The 'Beaver Deceiver' Protects the Taos Watershed, Wetland Habitat

Many WV Small Businesses Want Northern Route for Corridor H Highway

New NY Bill Opens Market for Electric Vehicles

Celebrating 30 Years of Puerto Rican “Agri-Culture” in Western MA

Study: Oilfield Gas Flares More Harmful than Previously Thought

Film Chronicles Fight to Keep Invasive Carp Out of Great Lakes

CT Begins Transition to Electric Vehicles

NM Dilemma: Affordable Housing vs. Climate Change

U.S. Pesticide Use Could Be on Docket in Trade Talks

Governor Signs Bill to Integrate Wildlife Corridors into Highway Plans

Beleaguered AZ Consumers Oppose Pending SW Gas Rate Hike

New WI Report Provides Snapshot of Sustainable Farming Efforts

Following National Trend, Another GA Coal-Fired Power Plant Retires

Local Officials Call on Feds to Adopt CA Clean-Car Standards

Possible Link Between Flood Risk, Abandoned Mine Land Brings Urgency to Reclamation Efforts

After Superfund Listing, Hard Work of Columbia River Site Cleanup Starts

As New Trade Talks Evolve, Pesticide Concerns Enter the Discussion

Study: Perception Versus Reality about Climate-Change Distress

Benefits From Reclaiming Degraded, Abandoned Lands

Energy Companies Developing Infrastructure, Grid to Power Electric Vehicles

New Study Adds to Concerns About Diminishing Lake Ice Cover

Colorado Groups Petition Leaders to Halt Suncor Line 1 Pipeline

Report: Reclaiming Abandoned, Degraded Lands Benefits Economy, Climate

Clean-Energy Investments to Boost PA Economy

Volunteers Continue Restoration Work in NM's Midnight Meadows

For Students, A Trip to the Forest is a Game Changer

Public Lands Day Celebrates 'Spectacular' Landmarks in OR, U.S.

Report: Wildfires Expanding Into Snow Zones Will Impact Water Supplies

Interactive Hanford Story Teaches about Nuclear Site's Threat to Columbia River

Groups Plead with Public Utilities Commission to 'Supercharge' Electrification

Report: Reclaiming Degraded Lands Could Help Fight Climate Change

New Maps Expose Methane 'Super-Emitter' Sites

Environmental Groups Fight to Stop Mine Near Okefenokee

Amid Wildfires, Heat, WA Farmworkers Call for Greater Protections

GA Groups Fight to Stop Mine Near Okefenokee

Tennessee Rural Electric Co-ops to Benefit from Inflation Reduction Act

Wyoming to Receive $25 Million for Orphan Wells Under Infrastructure Bill

Report: ID Sewage Treatment Plants Have Waste Issue of Their Own

NY Prepares Disadvantaged Communities for Climate Change Effects

Elected Officials Condemn Proposal to Fast-Track Energy Permits

West Virginians Draw from Within to Rebuild Communities

Rural MN Communities Fight Influence of Factory Farms

Southwestern Colorado Waters Win New Protections

EPA Advances Efforts on Dangerous 'Forever Chemicals'

EPA Makes 'Forever Chemicals' a Priority With Latest Action