Shipping Industry Must Use Cleaner Fuel, Says Court
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 1, 2009) – Starting today, California will require ocean-going vessels to switch to progressively cleaner fuels despite a legal challenge mounted by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA). Yesterday, the Eastern District of California denied PMSA’s motion for summary judgment, which if granted, would have derailed clean fuel rules designed to significantly reduce toxic emissions from ships that visit California’s ports. NRDC and Coalition for Clean Air are defendant-intervenors in the lawsuit PMSA filed on April 27, 2009.

New BLM Maps Propose Areas for Solar Energy Development
San Francisco, CA (June 29, 2009) – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Harry Reid today announced a series of initiatives, including proposed “Solar Energy Study Areas,” that would expedite the development of solar energy on public lands in the western United States. The Bureau of Land Management believes that the selected areas, which have high solar energy potential and are located near existing transmission lines and other infrastructure, have low levels of conflict with natural resources.

U.S. EPA Grants Landmark California Emissions Waiver
SAN FRANCISCO, CA/WASHINGTON, DC (June 30, 2009) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is expected to grant California the waiver to implement its landmark clean cars program to cut global warming pollution from vehicles by 30 percent by 2016.

House Passes ACES: A Dramatic Breakthrough for Clean Energy and Climate Protection
Washington, DC (June 26, 2009) - For the first time in history, the House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill. Clean energy and climate is one of President Obama's top priorities and this is a significant step toward moving this legislation to the President's desk.

Report Provides Blueprint for Communities to Tackle Global Warming
SAN FRANCISCO (June 25, 2009) –The most authoritative report providing a blueprint for how communities can tackle global warming was released today by the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The report is a guide to California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, or SB 375, the nation’s first legislation to link transportation and land use planning with global warming.

David Goldston Joins NRDC Staff in Washington As Director of Government Affairs
WASHINGTON (June 24, 2009) -- The Natural Resources Defense Council announced today that David Goldston, the former Chief of Staff of the U.S. House Committee on Science, will join the NRDC staff in the newly created position of Director of Government Affairs on July 6.

National Clean Energy Legislation Cuts Electricity Bills
WASHINGTON (June 24, 2009) -- According to an analysis released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Americans across the country will save on their monthly electricity bill under the American Clean Energy and Security Act. NRDC experts say most consumers will save money under the legislation’s energy-efficiency and consumer protection provisions.

Senior House Members Join Unprecedented Coalition to Support the American Clean Energy and Security Act
WASHINGTON (June 24, 2009) -- Congressional leaders united today on Capitol Hill with representatives from diverse constituencies, including business, labor, faith, veterans, sportsmen, and environmental groups, to urge the House to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).

Clean-Energy Investment Provides Economic Boost, More Jobs, and Expanded Opportunities
WASHINGTON  (June 18, 2009) -- As clean energy and climate legislation moves through Congress, new data show that a $150 billion investment in clean energy could create a net increase of 1.7 million American jobs and significantly lower the national unemployment rate. According to the analysis, shifting to a clean-energy economy will help millions of low-income Americans by creating more accessible job opportunities -- with the potential for advancement -- and by lowering utility bills and transportation costs.

Critical Clean Water Protections Approved by Key Senate Committee
WASHINGTON (June 18, 2009) -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Clean Water Restoration Act today, a landmark bill that reinstates Clean Water Act protections for a host of water bodies jeopardized by a pair of Supreme Court decisions.