Climate Change/Air Quality / Public News Service

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adopting new standards for soot can help prevent up to 4,200 premature deaths per year and 270,000 lost workdays per year. It can also yield as much as $43 billion in net health benefits in 2032. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

EPA Soot Proposal Not Enough, NY Environmentalists Say

A New York environmental group feels the Environmental Protection Agency's latest regulations on soot in the air do not go far enough. The new …

According to a new report, multiple federal agencies collectively manage more than 615 million acres in the Western U.S. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Report: Demand Grows for Native Seed Across West, but Supply Isn't There

New research shows the demand for native seed supply across the Western United States, including Nevada, has increased, but the supply simply is not …

Wildfire experts plan to use unmanned drones to help improve early detection, battle fires more effectively, and to reseed and restore scarred forests. (Windsong/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Report Charts a Course for Mitigating Wildfire Risk

As wildfire seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to …

The Keystone State is a leading East Coast supplier of natural gas, coal, refined petroleum products and electricity to the nation. (vencav/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Report: Fossil Fuels "Unreliable" During Deep Freeze

A new report found forced power outages in this winter's extreme weather only added to "unreliability" in the fossil-fuel sector. The PJM …

According to a report from the Rainforest Action Network, 60 of the largest banks funneled a little over $185 Billion into 100 companies doing the most to expand fossil fuels like ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

NY Environmentalists Protest Banks Invested in Fossil Fuels

New York environmentalists are protesting banks heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry as part of a national day of action today (Tuesday)…

Despite climate change, water-rights transfers and development, approximately 750 centuries-old acequias still operate in New Mexico. (MayaPena/lasacequias.org)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

NM's Historic Acequias Featured in New Documentary Film

The annual cleaning of acequias in northern New Mexico gets underway in earnest next week, just as a filmmaker debuts a documentary about their past…

Clear-cutting a forest can leave behind a scarred landscape, as seen in this 2019 photo from an area linked to the Enviva Northampton wood pellet plant in Garysburg, North Carolina. (Dogwood Alliance)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Climate Groups Spotlight Destruction Linked to Wood Pellet Industry

Climate-change groups are calling attention to the environmental destruction linked to the wood pellet industry - even as California is considering a …

According to a Move Minnesota poll, 86% of respondents report driving as one of the main ways they get around, but nearly one in five drivers would prefer to travel by another mode. Advocates say expanding mass transit or walking options could help. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Minnesotans Want Transportation Options Beyond Roads

A Minnesota bill could surface as early as this week, calling for a proposed tax increase to fund transportation needs. Advocates and local …

Just 18% of premature deaths from air pollution from coal-fired power plants occur in the states where facilities are located. (Tomas/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 20, 2023

Report Counts Deadly Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Thousands of lives are cut short every year because of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Wyoming and across the United States, according …

The European Union is the world's largest consumer of wood pellets for energy. (Rokas/Adobe Stock)

Energy Market for Wood Pellets Globally Threatens U.S. Forests

Overseas markets could be harming forests in the U.S. Demand for wood pellets for biomass energy has increased dramatically around the world…

In 2020 alone, U.S. Bureau of Land Management field offices purchased nearly 1.5 million pounds of seed to use in areas affected by wildfires. (Julia/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 20, 2023

Report: National Native Seed Supply Not Up to Climate Challenges

Researchers with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine spent two years studying the nation's supply of native seeds, and …

In addition to first aid kits, the American Red Cross suggests having extra clothes, rain gear and sturdy shoes that are accessible when venturing into the outdoors for a lengthy period. (Adobe Stock)

Spring Season Provides Opportunity for Disaster Preparedness

From navigating floodwaters to surviving the aftermath of a severe storm, South Dakotans are being urged to make sure they're ready for whatever …

Some products to come under the purview of a new bill to create transparency with companies contracting with New York State include timber, pulp, paper, palm oil, soy and livestock. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed NYS Legislation Creates Supply-Chain Transparency

New York's State Legislature is considering a bill to ensure that companies contracting with the state don't contribute to tropical deforestation…

Since 2011, Ohio has allowed companies to lease state land for oil and gas drilling. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Scientists Sound Alarm on Fracking Near Muskingum, OH Watershed

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is drawing ire for its continued leasing of land for fracking. Last year, the district, which stewards …

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time, including during the growing season, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Interior Invests $120 Million in Midwest 'Prairie Potholes'

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Interior Department has announced it is investing $120 million to restore and rebuild key segments of …

Soot standards were last updated by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2012. In December 2020, the Trump administration declined to tighten standards. (Adobe Stock)

EPA 'Soot Standard' Receives Pressure from UT Clean-Air Advocates

The danger of soot pollution is real, and clean-air advocates in Utah say it is a top-of-mind issue for many in the state. Lindsay Beebe, senior …

The Nature Conservancy says the most extensive study to date assessed regeneration of eight major tree conifer species after 334 wildfires across the West, using information from more than 10,000 field plots. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Hotter, Drier Conditions Limit AZ Forest Recovery from Wildfires

New research has found hotter and drier climate conditions are making it less likely for forests in Arizona and across the Western United States to re…

As part of the ClimeTime program, teachers attend seminars on topics such as renewable energy. (maxdigi/Adobe Stock)

WA First in Nation to Bring Climate-Change Education to Classrooms

By Ashira Morris for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

According to Extinction Rebellion, at least eight activists have been arrested at the construction site of the East Boston substation since Eversource began work on January 11. (Extinction Rebellion)

Protests, Construction Continue at East Boston Substation

Environmental activists are calling on Gov. Maura Healy to end construction of the Eversource electrical substation in East Boston, and move it to …

If the new Railway Safety Act of 2023 rail is passed, carriers would face heightened fines for wrongdoing, and it would substantially increase the maximum fine USDOT can issue for safety violations. (Brian Dunn/Wirestock Creators/AdobeStock)

PA: New Legislation To Prevent Future Train Derailments

Hoping to avoid future train disasters like Norfolk Southern's derailment in East Palestine, a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers has …

It is estimated that as many as 300,000 to 760,000 oil and gas wells have been drilled in the Keystone State, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. (Perytskyy/Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Urge State To Address Abandoned Well Problem

Groups in the Keystone State are urging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to move forward quickly and implement some of the sugg…

Kris Swartz, a farmer in Wood County, Ohio, says he's seeing more rain and hotter temperatures than he did 30 years ago when he started farming. (NewsLab photo by Baylee Sweitzer)

Climate Change Challenges Ohio Farmers

By Baylee Sweitzer for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Over the past 50 years, the population of pygmy rabbits in Wyoming has declined by 69% (Serikbaib AdobeStock)

Groups Call on U.S. Fish and Wildlife to Prevent Pigmy Rabbit Extinction

On Monday, conservation groups submitted a petition calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the pygmy rabbit under the Endangered …

Just 47% of Wyoming residents prefer leaders place more emphasis on protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Conservation Efforts, Environmental Priorities Remain High in Wyoming

Voters in Wyoming and across the West strongly support protecting water supplies, public lands and migration corridors for wildlife, according to the …

New England enjoys a diverse climate that is not often associated with drought. Yet in 2000, 2016, 2020 and 2022, New York and the six New England states experienced historic drought conditions not seen since the 1960s. (Adobe Stock)

New England Coordinates Regional Response to Climate Change

The six New England states are joining forces to ensure their emergency responders are well-trained to handle a predicted increase in the number of cl…

As of March 2022, Iowa had at least 349 megawatts of total installed solar capacity, up from approximately 2 megawatts of solar installed in 2012, according to the Iowa Environmental Council. <br />(Adobe Stock)

ISU Researchers to Study Growing Crops in Solar Farms’ Shadow

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Iowa State University a $1.8 million grant to raise high-dollar crops in the shadow of huge solar …

In 2021, coal reclaimed the top spot as the leading fuel used to generate electricity in Arkansas, surpassing natural gas, and accounted for 35% of the state's total net generation.(Danicek/Adobe Stock)

Clean-Air Advocates Urge EPA to Set Stronger Rules for Soot Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher air-quality standards for soot pollution, and an Arkansas clean-air advocacy group says it's …

In 2022, a stretch of the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque ran dry for the first time in 40 years. (LeoYorkPhotos/AdobeStock)

NM Lawmakers Urged to Allocate More Money to Purchase Water

New Mexico lawmakers are considering a bill this session to fully fund the Strategic Water Reserve, a management tool deemed critical as the state …

Supporters of Minnesota's new 100% carbon-free plan say it balances reliability factors in providing electricity by providing

Sorting Out the Cost Factors Behind MN's Carbon-Free Plan

Minnesota recently captured headlines for its approval of a new goal to reach 100% carbon-free electricity, and those tracking the effort say while …

According to the American Lung Association, an EPA review of research on the health effects of fine particle pollution concluded non-white populations face higher risks. (Harold Stiver/Adobe Stock)

PA Group: Stronger EPA Soot Standard Would Save Lives

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher air-quality standards for soot pollution, and a Pennsylvania clean-air advocacy group said …

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States has sustained a total of 341 climate disasters where the damage was more than $1 billion since 1980. In those four decades, the cost of these events exceeds $2.475 trillion. (Adobe Stock)

UN Preparing Fund to Aid Poorer Nations Facing Climate-Change Impacts

The United Nations is reviewing details for a loss and damage fund to aid poorer countries for the harm they will suffer from climate change's effects…

Leaders from Port Angeles, Washington, asked the state to stop logging in a forest near the Elwha River known as Aldwell. (forest2sea.com)

Post-Dam Elwha River Thriving, But Logging Threatens Gains

The Elwha River watershed on the Olympic peninsula has been transformed since dam removal a decade ago, but logging could harm the the habitat's …

Highways are considered hot spots for soot pollution. (vit/Adobe Stock)

Critics: EPA's New Soot Standards Lag Behind Current Science

Clean-air advocates say a new air-quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public. For the first time in a …

Poll: Strong Support for Conservation Among CO Communities of Color

Communities of color in Colorado and across the West strongly support conservation policies, including protecting water supplies and transitioning to …

According to a study by the EPA's Center for Air, Climate and Energy Solutions, the disparity in soot exposure between white, Black, Latino, and Asian Americans was consistent across the country, in rural and urban settings and at all income levels. (Adobe Stock)

Group Urges EPA to Set Stronger Rules for Soot Pollution

In Georgia and across the country, advocates for clean air are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to do more to protect public health by …

Like many sectors, agriculture is under pressure to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. But policies like the Inflation Reduction Act are providing extra funding, so more farmers can tap into programs that help improve soil health and water quality. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Program Constraints, 'Climate-Smart' Farming Gets Extra Aid

Farmers looking to enhance their range of climate-friendly practices are getting a boost with new federal funding. Wisconsin producers face a tight …

The Environmental Protection Agency proposes to lower the annual soot standards from 12 mcg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air) to a range of 9-10 mcg/m3, despite the agency's independent Scientific Advisory Committee recommending a standard between 8-10 mcg/m3.(Adobe Stock)

EPA Encouraged to Strengthen Air-Quality Standards for Soot

Environmental and health advocates say the Environmental Protection Agency's most recent proposal to strengthen national air-quality standards for soo…

The Los Angeles basin is prone to smog. California last updated its air-pollution rules on particulate matter in 2002. (Chris M/Adobe Stock)

CA Groups Pressure Feds to Tighten Air-Quality Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new rules on soot in order to clean up the nation's air. Advocates say while it is a step in the …

While New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has previously questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, he has said a transition to renewable energy is a

NH Climate Activists Applaud 'Community Power' Movement

More Granite Staters are expected to get their electricity from renewable energy sources this spring, as so-called "community power" programs …

EPA Proposal to Lower Acceptable Soot Levels Seen as Benefit to Missourians

Particulate matter in the air, commonly called "soot," exacerbates and can even cause heart and lung conditions, with asthma sufferers being …

The EPA says if its annual standard for fine particulate pollution is lowered to nine micrograms per cubic meter from its current standard of 12 micrograms, it would prevent up to 4,200 premature deaths per year. (Adobe Stock)

EPA 'Soot Rule' Faces Pressure from AZ Clean-Air Advocates

Arizona advocacy groups said a new federal standard proposed for soot pollution is a step in the right direction, but are urging the Environmental …

The long-term annual standard for particulate matter is 12 micrograms. Tennessee's 2023 State of Health report shows in 2018, the state's annual average was 8 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and therefore met the standard. (Yevgeniy/Adobe Stock)

Groups Demand EPA Get Tough on ‘Dangerous’ Soot Pollution

In Tennessee and across the country, advocacy groups for clean air are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to do more to protect public health …

Highways are hot spots for soot, producing fine particulate matter which has major effects on the health of those who live near interstates. (Adobe Stock)

Clean Air Groups: EPA Needs to Get Tougher on Soot

The federal government is gathering public feedback on proposed revisions to air-quality standards for soot pollution. Environmental voices in the …

Coal dust is one of several sources of soot, the fine particulate matter which has major effects on people's health. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Hears from Public, Clean Air Groups on 'Soot Standards'

The federal government is gathering public input on improving air-quality standards for soot. Environmental voices in the Midwest and elsewhere say …

Highways are hot spots for soot, fine particulate matter which has major effects on people's health. (Naris Dorndeelers/Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA Air Quality Update Not Good Enough, Groups Say

A new air quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public, advocates said. For the first time in a decade…

A record 16,836 megawatts of U.S. wind capacity was installed in 2020, bringing the cumulative total to 121,955 megawatts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (Adobe Stock)

IA Regulators Make WindPRIME Studies Public

Iowa utilities regulators have published previously undisclosed information on Des Moines-based energy giant MidAmerican Energy's proposal to construc…

Highways are hot spots for soot, fine particulate matter that has major effects on people's health. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Faces Mixed Response Over Tighter Standards for Soot

The federal government is gathering public feedback on proposed revisions to air-quality standards for soot, and environmental voices in Wisconsin …

Facilities manager Wes Davis at Turtle Mountain Community College is at work at his desk. A miniature wind turbine sits on its surface. (Photo by Jessica Plance/Homegrown Stories)

A Vision for Tribal Sovereignty Through Sustainable Energy

By Jessica Plance for Homegrown Stories via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Prairie News Service for the Public News Service/Daily…

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