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E.P.A. Finalizes Its Plan to Replace Obama-Era Climate Rules
The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a package of new rules to replace the Clean Power Plan, former President Barack Obama’s signature effort to reduce planet-warming emissions from coal plants. The new measure, known as the Affordable Clean Energy rule, will very likely prompt a flurry of legal challenges from environmental groups that could have far-reaching implications for global warming. If the Supreme Court ultimately upholds the rule’s approach to the regulation of pollution, it would be difficult or impossible for future presidents to tackle climate change through the Environmental Protection Agency. [ read more … ]
New York Lawmakers Pass Aggressive Law to Fight Climate Change
New York state lawmakers passed early Thursday one of the nation’s most ambitious plans to slow climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. If signed into law, it would make New York the second U.S. state to aim for a carbon-neutral economy, following an executive order signed by then California Governor Jerry Brown last year to make that state carbon neutral by 2045. [ read more … ]
Air Quality
US air quality is slipping after years of improvement
After decades of improvement, America’s air may not be getting any cleaner. Over the last two years the nation had more polluted air days than just a few years earlier, federal data shows. While it remains unclear whether this is the beginning of a trend, health experts say it’s troubling to see air quality progress stagnate. [ read more … ]
America’s Skies Have Gotten Clearer, but Millions Still Breathe Unhealthy Air
By one crucial metric, fine particulate pollution, the United States ranks 10th in air quality. New Zealand, Canada, Australia and several European countries can boast clearer skies. This microscopic pollution – known as PM2.5 (because the airborne particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or one-thirtieth the size of a human hair) – is a byproduct of burning and commonly comes from power plants, car exhaust and wildfires. It is particularly harmful to human health, causing asthma and respiratory inflammation and increasing the risk for lung cancer, heart attack and stroke. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
This former EPA appointee wants to make climate change a winning issue for Trump
Democratic contenders for president are trying to make climate change a top electoral issue. But one Trump appointee who recently left the Environmental Protection Agency wants to make sure it is a winning issue for her former boss instead. Since leaving the EPA in February, Mandy Gunasekara formed what she calls a “pro-Trump nonprofit” called Energy 45 to help promote Trump’s energy agenda. She’s been busy writing op-ed for newspapers such as USA Today and appearing on television networks such as Fox News to be a counterweight to the chorus of critics bemoaning Trump administration efforts to dismantle its predecessor’s climate agenda.
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EPA issues Clean Power Plan replacement as coal bailout remains sidelined
States will be given flexibility to determine their power generation supply and fossil fuels will remain “a key part of the energy mix,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said at a Wednesday press conference unveiling a replacement for the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The move comes as efforts by the Trump Administration to use emergency powers to support coal plants have been sidelined. [ read more … ]
Pennsylvania Governor wants power plant emissions plan to fight climate change
Gov. Tom Wolf wants Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Legislature to authorize the state to join a regional consortium that sets a price and caps on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The Democratic governor’s move is part of his effort to fight climate change in the nation’s No. 3 electric power state. [ read more … ]
Op-Ed: Tax Credits for Affordable Electric Vehicles Gain Speed, But Legislation Must Avoid Stop Signs
The question now is will EV advocates in Congress, the U.S. auto industry and labor unions get the message and reform tax incentives to benefit middle-income Americans. Such revised tax credits focused on more affordable EVs will increase the chances new incentives become law, and will better allow the U.S. to reap the remarkable economic, health, manufacturing and environmental benefits of EVs. Yet as of now, new EV tax credits have been left entirely out of a so-called “tax extenders” outline circulating among House Ways and Means Committee members. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.