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Statement from Erin Murphy, Senior Attorney, Energy Markets & Utility Regulation

This legislative session, Minnesota state leaders wasted no time getting to work on a strong clean electricity bill that achieves 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, reduces health-harming air pollution, builds more good-paying jobs and sets the stage for economy-wide, climate action. Pro-climate leaders have pushed for years to reclaim Minnesota’s early lead on climate action,

Texas’ process for protecting its groundwater resources is fundamentally flawed — lacking critical funding, science, and planning tools, failing to safeguard future groundwater supplies, and endangering both the water security of Texas communities and the property rights of landowners. Those are the key findings of a new report released today by the Environmental Defense Fund. The report takes an unprecedented, holistic look at the constraints that are limiting groundwater planning in Texas and undermining vital water supplies that current and future generations of Texans are counting on.

Flooding (and droughts) in California are direct impacts of climate change. 

This report explains the process by which Texas Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) have executed their statutorily required planning function to arrive at a Desired Future Condition (DFC) and the inextricable link that exists between DFC development and state water planning.

Flooding (and droughts) in California are direct impacts of climate change.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has released its Record of Decision on a restoration project known as the Maurepas Diversion that will serve as mitigation for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane risk reduction levee project (WSLP). The post A new way of partnering with the Corps leads to innovative wetland mitigation solutions and increased flood resilience. first appeared on Growing Returns.

By Jona Koka Nearly $5 billion from the Department of Energy combined with the economic incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act represent the United States’ first major steps to building a domestic carbon management industry that supports our Paris commitments. But funding is only one piece of the puzzle. For the government’s investment in carbon …

U.S. tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act make 2023 is a great time to green your home. 

U.S. tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act make 2023 is a great time to green your home.

The Colorado legislative session has begun at a key time for water in Colorado and the west. Though we’re off to a solid snow year, the Colorado River is crashing and the prolonged drought we’re in requires improvements to how we manage water. Fortunately, both Speaker McCluskie and Senate President Fenberg have prioritized water for their chambers. And …

This November, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer won her bid for reelection and for the first time in 40 years, Democrats gained a majority in the state house and senate. With this historic win comes historic opportunity. In the legislative session that started last week, Michigan has the chance to follow through on the climate goals set …

EDF Asks Appeals Court to Uphold EPA’s Endangerment Finding, the Foundation for Climate Protections under Our Nation’s Clean Air Laws

As Pennsylvania turns a new page into 2023 with new leaders at the helm, Gov. Josh Shapiro and the legislature have an immense opportunity and responsibility to usher Pennsylvania into its future — winning the clean energy jobs the state needs, protecting consumers from fossil fuel-driven price shocks on their electric bills, and dramatically cutting …

What’s Happening? EPA’s current safety assessments of new chemicals proposed for market entry often fall short of effectively protecting all members of the public from risk because they don’t consider that we may be exposed to closely related chemicals that cause similar harms. Recent Example: EPA proposed rules requiring notification of significant new uses for …

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals and Lindsay McCormick, Senior Manager, Safer Chemicals What’s New: After an extensive review process, EPA approved Denver Water’s request to extend the variance to allow the utility to administer their Lead Reduction Program for the full 15-year term. EPA touts Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program as an “innovative and …

By Lauren Navarro & Pamela MacDougall California air regulators are currently considering adoption of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule — a purchase requirement for medium and heavy-duty fleets to adopt an increasing percentage of zero-emission trucks. This rule has the potential to be transformative. California has some of the worst air quality in the country;

By Jon Goldstein , Edwin LaMair, and Grace Smith  This week, EPA is holding public hearings on its recently proposed methane standards for oil and gas operations, which build on the agency’s initial proposal and represent a significant step forward for reducing methane pollution across the country. Federal standards are crucial for curbing methane emissions …

Texans know better than to believe the lies. But, whenever severe weather strikes the state and the isolated electric grid is imperiled, they’re always fed them: “Green energy” is offered up as the ultimate scapegoat, facts be damned. Why doesn’t the Wall Street Journal editorial board know better? Last week, they ran a piece blaming …

The Biden-Harris administration announced the release of a Roadmap to Accelerate Nature-Based Solutions to address climate change, inequity, and nature loss. It could be the key to future resilience planning. The post Biden’s roadmap to nature-based solutions could be the key to future resilience planning. first appeared on Growing Returns.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took an important step toward slashing a tiny but toxic pollutant that’s inhaled daily by millions of people – soot. But experts say the agency needs to go further to protect the public.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took an important step toward slashing a tiny but toxic pollutant that’s inhaled daily by millions of people – soot. But experts say the agency needs to go further to protect the public.

Strong protections that go further to curb pollution from routine flaring are critical to protect communities and the climate

Statement of Adam Peltz, EDF Director and Senior Attorney for Energy Transition

“Protect our groundwater rights and Texas aquifers.” That was the rallying cry for a group of landowners at a key Texas Senate committee meeting last November on the potential danger of a massive Central Texas groundwater export project. The landowners depend on groundwater from the Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer, which encompasses the Carrizo and underlying Simsboro …