Environment / Public News Service

Rising energy costs and a potential strain on local water resources and infrastructure are two issues linked to data center construction. (Adobe Stock)

IN AI data centers prompt environmental concerns over emissions

The Trump administration's long-term plan for artificial intelligence could have far-reaching environmental impacts across the country. His strategy …

The Alaska Energy Authority has funded three large solar energy projects in the largely rural state, efforts that could be derailed under changes in the new Trump administration budget. (Adobe Stock)

Federal budget hobbles Alaska wind and solar industries

Rural Alaska power customers are likely to pay higher electricity rates as a result of the elimination of incentives to switch away from traditional f…

Microgrids can provide up to 10 megawatts of power, enough to power approximately 2,000 homes, and can be equipped with batteries for storage. (Oulailux/Adobe Stock)

Landmark microgrid legislation boon for rural Oregon

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed into law the first set of statewide policies in the country supporting community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are …

Washington Bee Atlas volunteers participate in a collecting event in the Palouse, a region in the state known for its agricultural production. (WA State Dept of Agriculture)<br />

First complete survey of native WA bees finds new species

After one year, Washington's first comprehensive bee survey has documented 15 species that have never been collected in the state before. The …

Accurate climate and hydrologic data are essential to managing the Colorado River Basin and forecasting drought. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado officials urge congressional delegates to support public lands

On Tuesday, 20 Colorado officials sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation protesting six cuts to public lands management in the new tax …

Americans generate more than 35 million tons of plastic waste every year, almost all of which ends up in a landfill or is incinerated. (diy13/Adobe Stock)

OR scores 'good' in fight against plastic pollution

Oregon has received good marks in the fight against plastic pollution. This month is Plastic-Free July and a report called "The United States of …

Nearly 20% of New Mexico's Gila National Forest is protected under the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule. (newmexico.org)

NM conservationists promise to fight for 'Roadless Rule'

The Trump administration wants to overturn a conservation rule that had garnered more public comment than any in U.S. history up until that time…

A 2023 study from the University of Nevada, Reno found that Lake Tahoe has the third-highest concentration of microplastics among the 38 lakes studied worldwide. (Carl Mazur Photo/Adobe Stock)

During Plastic-Free July, NV scores just 1.5 of 5 on antipollution efforts

Nevada receives extremely low marks in the fight against plastic pollution. This is Plastic-free July and a report called The United States of …

Deep-sea habitats like this one in American Samoa are being considered for mineral mining projects. (Susanna Pershern/Submerged Resources Center)

Hawaii conservation groups press for moratorium on deep-sea mineral mining

Conservation groups in Hawaii are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining for minerals, citing the need for further research on the environmental …

An agroforestry project is a partnership between the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Savannah Institute and The University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish four publicly-accessible, educational demonstration sites across southeast Wisconsin. (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute)

Wisconsin nonprofit looks to expand agroforestry project

A Wisconsin nonprofit is working with farmers in Southeast Wisconsin to educate communities about the importance of agroforestry, with plans to …

April's Clean Water Lobby Day was held by Oregon Rural Action and the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition in Salem. (Oregon Rural Action)

Environmentalists: OR's new groundwater law too diluted to be effective

Environmental groups say Oregon's new groundwater law, meant to curb pollution, has been diluted to the point they can no longer support it. …

According to CalRecycle, 2.6 million tons of plastic packaging and foodware end up in California landfills every year. (Erik/Adobe Stock)<br />

During Plastic-Free July, CA a pioneer in anti-pollution efforts

California receives high marks in a report on the fight against plastic pollution. This is Plastic-free July and the United States of Plastics report…

Just 30% of U.S. solar and 57% of wind projects are expected to survive under the new GOP tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cuts to clean energy will cost Colorado $7.3 billion in GDP

More than $7 billion in Colorado's GDP and 9,600 jobs are projected to be lost under President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending bill which cu…

Good news accompanies NM's 80th anniversary of Trinity atomic bomb test

Today's 80th anniversary of the Trinity nuclear bomb test in New Mexico comes weeks after Congress agreed to include the state in the Radiation Exposu…

Workers pose in front of supplies in Wasco County. (Columbia Gorge Food Bank)

OR Food Bank vital to Rowena Fire recovery efforts

It has been about three weeks since the Rowena Fire in Oregon's Columbia Gorge was put out, and the local food bank remains vital to recovery efforts…

Deep-sea corals are among the species at risk from seabed mining. A greenspotted rockfish hides behind gold coral off the California coast. (Oceana)<br />

Conservation groups call for pause on deep-sea mining to assess risks

Conservation groups, including the National Wildlife Federation and Oceana, are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining for minerals until more …

Northern pike spawning habitats require roughly a foot of water in grassy marshland. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Assoc.)

Green Bay collaborations help restore wildlife, wetlands

An effort to restore Northern pike habitat in Green Bay is also benefiting other wildlife species and raising local awareness about the effects of cli…

The shift to cage-free eggs has accelerated after 11 states, including Colorado, set regulations on so-called conventional eggs, and the recent bird flu crisis, which led to the loss of more than 125 million U.S. hens. (Adobe Stock)

'Compassion Calculator' helps CO meat eaters offset animal welfare effects

A new "Compassion Calculator" launched by the charity portal FarmKind aims to help Coloradans who eat meat improve their animal welfare footprints by …

Washington state has the world's largest public port system. (Adobe Stock)

Calls grow for WA to cut ship emissions at ports

Environmental advocates are urging Washington state lawmakers to require cargo ships to plug in while in port. The Port of Seattle will require all …

As of 2022, the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos, New Mexico, has reached 100% daytime solar energy, something operators say would not have been possible under their contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Colorado electric co-op goes independent

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

The Democratic Republic of Congo is estimated to hold $24 trillion in natural wealth, yet workers in cobalt mines still live in extreme poverty. (Erberto Zani/Adobe Stock)

New CA documentary examines the harms of mining 'critical minerals'

A new documentary looked at ways to reduce the human and environmental harms stemming from the mining of "critical minerals." Without minerals like c…

According to the Trump administration's 2026 fiscal year budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cut 22% of its workforce, in addition to the workforce reductions that have already taken place. (Adobe Stock)

Federal impacts to ag conservation in WI 'complex'

Wisconsin's agriculture industry could see both wins and losses under the new federal budget. Climate change isn't a priority for the Trump …

Places like rural Dutch Harbor, Alaska, rely heavily on diesel powered generators for a majority of their power production. (Adobe Stock)

Federal cuts threaten already challenged Alaskan power grid

Despite last-minute concessions in the Trump administration's budget, which removes alternative energy tax incentives, rural Alaska power providers …

A seed drill used by New Mexico farmers to plant cover crops causes minimal disturbance to the soil. (photo: courtesy NMhealthysoil.org)

Building NM's soil for future farmers a marathon, not a sprint

New Mexico farmers finding it more difficult to grow historic crops are taking up conservation techniques to meet the challenge. Drought, water …

Some Pennsylvania farmers benefit from carbon markets or improved efficiency, such as savings on bedding from manure separators or reduced fuel costs from no-till farming. But owners of some smaller farms question the practicality of

PA farmers calculate return on climate-friendly ag practices

By Carolyn Beans for Lancaster Farming.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Lancaster Farming-MIT…

Colorado's 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 626

Coloradans urged to speak up about at-risk wildlife, habitats

Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from all Coloradans about their updated 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan, a blueprint for preserving at-risk …

Iowa generates 59% of its electricity from wind, the highest share of any state. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa solar industry threatened by tax incentive cuts

Iowa is among the nation's leaders in wind energy production, and the state is looking to follow suit with solar power. But Congress has eliminated …

Arizona is among the top five states in the nation for solar energy production. (Adobe Stock)

Tax incentive cuts could dim Arizona solar investment

As part of the Trump administration's new budget, Arizona's burgeoning solar industry faces the elimination of tax incentives that have encouraged …

New Mexico homeowners planning to install solar will have to act quickly to take advantage of tax credits soon to be phased out under the

NM renewable energy advocates decry 'herky-jerky' policies

Renewable energy got short shrift in the budget bill passed by Congress last week and a New Mexico trade association said companies and their employee…

Members of the Blackfoot Drought Committee, first formed in 2000, include local landowners, irrigators and outfitters, as well as representatives from state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. (Jason Olstad/Adobe Stock)

MT’s dry conditions test updated Blackfoot River drought plan

Following last year's historic drought in Montana and hot temperatures early this spring, the Blackfoot River is running at roughly 25% of normal …

Clean air advocates rallied at Los Angeles City Hall last spring to increase support for a rule to combat air pollution at the ports. (4th Street Productions)<br />

Hearing today on CA bill to limit rules on clean ports

A controversial bill on how best to clean up the air at California ports gets a hearing today in Sacramento. Senate Bill 34 would place limits on …

Residents along the Guadalupe River say it will take years for the area to recovery from the deadly flooding event on July 4. (Photo courtesy Casey Claiborne)

Texans grieve victims of deadly Hill Country flooding

Tributes and memorials are pouring in for victims of the deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. The storm stalled over the Texas …

The dam removal opened up more than 30 miles of new spawning grounds for steelhead and 15 miles of salmon habitat. (Ian Shive)

WA conservationists preserve 5 miles of lower White Salmon River

Conservationists are celebrating the protection of five miles of river frontage along the White Salmon River. The 174-acre site was purchased by The …

The Island Fox is the only carnivore unique to California. (Photo courtesy Chuck Graham)

CA's Channel Islands Fox, a conservation success story

A small fox that lives on the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California is thriving after near extinction. The island fox - found nowhere …

Beaver Dam analogs, designed to mimic natural beaver dams, can help restore and improve stream ecosystems. (Emily Luberto/National Park Service)

Beavers' dam expertise helps NM communities restore waterways

Sometimes called the original "ecosystem engineers," beavers and the techniques they use are guiding conservationists in New Mexico to protect scarce …

The Citizens Utility Board says more than 91,000 Minnesota households had their utility service shut off for nonpayment last year. The board cited new research warning there would be more pressure on ratepayers if clean energy incentives are eliminated at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

Under federal budget bill, how would your electricity bill fare?

If the federal government finalizes the budget reconciliation bill in play, pro-consumer voices in Minnesota warn the changes will not be friendly to …

The Montana Environmental Policy Act, which supports the state constitution, was weakened by a bill that passed in the state this session. Some involved with the legislation expect lawsuits will challenge the new law. (Adobe Stock)

Montana governor vetoes several bipartisan conservation bills

Environmental and wildlife conservation in Montana took hits during this year's state legislative session, including vetoes from the governor on …

Some 77% of Americans favor solar power but it is down from about 90% in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Big federal budget bill advances with help of Utah senators

After being debated for days, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, are among those who voted to advance the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

The Internal Revenue Service approved more than 300,000 federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases in 2024, totaling more than $2 billion. (Adobe Stock) <br />

KS manufacturer: Ending EV tax credits would hurt U.S. competition

President Donald Trump's budget bill took another step forward Tuesday by passing in the U.S. Senate. The bill would end some tax credits one Kansas …

The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. (Adobe Stock)

Relentless AZ summer is here with higher energy bills

Temperatures are on the rise across Arizona and so are energy bills. The anti-poverty nonprofit Wildfire and the Arizona Public Interest Research …

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WI solar project invests in rural youth, community

A 100-megawatt solar project in rural Polk County set to begin operating this year has a unique focus on investments in youth. Developers said the …

Ohio ranks among the top 10 states for electric vehicle-related manufacturing jobs, with more than $3 billion invested in recent EV and battery projects, according to EV Jobs Hub. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio manufacturer warns federal rollbacks could stall EV progress

Ohio's fast-growing electric vehicle sector could face serious setbacks if proposed changes to federal clean energy tax credits move forward…

A House version of the budget reconciliation bill keeps a small EV tax credit through 2026 but only for manufactures that have sold fewer than 200,000 electric vehicles. (Optimal EV)

IN factory braces for end of EV tax breaks

Indiana workers could feel the effects of a sweeping federal bill targeting electric vehicle tax credits. Optimal EV's plant in Elkhart employs 35 …

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says farmers in south Texas are suffering the most from water shortages caused by drought and failing infrastructure. (sawitreelyaon/Adobe Stock)

Without changes, TX could run out of water by 2030

Because of drought and failing infrastructure, the state of Texas will run out of water by 2030, according to the Texas Water Development Board…

Solar giant Mosaic, based in Oakland, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few weeks ago, citing uncertainty around solar tax credits. (Surangkanang/Adobe Stock)

Clean-energy advocates: Spending bill before Senate would cost jobs in CA

Groups representing workers in the renewable power sector are slamming the possible repeal of clean-energy tax credits in the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

The Western Organization of Resource Councils is hosting the training and has members in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. (Adobe Stock)

WY residents invited to series on how to run for office, launching today

A three-part online training series on how to run for office and govern effectively begins Monday, designed for people running at any level of …

Scientists are in search of new microbes that can capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, as plants do, but at much higher rates. (Adobe Stock)

CSU wants Coloradans’ gunk and goo to help fight climate change

The slime, gunk, and goo in and around your home could help mitigate climate change. Researchers at Colorado State University are asking Coloradans …

Rogue Climate staff and volunteers are seen at the community-led Fire Relief Center, following the Almeda Fire in the Rogue Valley in 2020. (Rogue Climate)

Oregon state budget defunds climate resiliency programs

Oregon's new state budget cuts funding for programs intended to protect residents from extreme weather and make renewable energy more accessible…

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