Media Center

EPA Issues Awards for “Solar for All” Program

April 22, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The Biden Administration today announced award winners for a grant competition it held last year for Solar for All, a $7 billion program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deploy residential and community solar, integrated storage and cover related…

New Federal Rule Protects Eagles While Supporting Clean Energy Development

February 8, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released a final eagle permitting rule that protects Bald and Golden eagles while providing a new pathway for wind energy development and other industries.

Proposed Hydrogen Tax Credit Rules a Win for Climate, Industry, Electricity Consumers

December 22, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of Treasury released its proposed guidance for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) federal clean hydrogen tax credits, which are expected to amount to several hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies for the emerging…

Federal Appeals Court Rules Use of Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide Is Unlawful, Vacates EPA Approval

December 13, 2023 Press ReleaseSan Francisco

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled in favor of farmworkers and public-interest groups’ call for reversal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.

A Permitting Plan That Can Get the Job Done

December 13, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – Key House lawmakers unveiled landmark legislation today that would spur the investments in electricity transmission needed for the clean energy transition while ensuring equitable and efficient permitting.

Report: U.S. Must Ban Seafood From 11 Nations Over Whale, Dolphin Deaths 

November 30, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

A report issued today by conservation groups finds that 11 nations have at least some fisheries that fail to meet U.S. standards for preventing whale and dolphin bycatch. Entanglement in fishing gear kills hundreds of thousands of marine mammals around…

Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Protect Californians and Pollinators from Dangerous Neurotoxins

October 11, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

With the support of Governor Newsom and persistence from the state legislature, California has passed AB 363, which bans over the counter sales of lawn and garden neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides by 2025, limiting their use to trained professionals. The bill…

EPA Cuts HFC Use in Air Conditioning, Supermarket Refrigerators

October 6, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – In a move supported by both environmental groups and industry associations, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized standards that will phase out the most climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in key applications -- from aerosols to heat pumps; supermarket refrigerators to…

Governor Newsom and CA Legislature Agree on Path to Clean, Reliable Energy

September 1, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

Governor Gavin Newsom and the California state legislature have announced an agreement to protect the reliability of California's energy grid amid the state's transition to clean energy. The bill centers the procurement of clean electricity, expedition of electric infrastructure projects, strengthening…

Inflation Reduction Act to Drive Historic Clean Energy Transition

June 29, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – A new compilation of government, academic, industry and other analyses provides the strongest evidence yet that the Inflation Reduction Act is poised to drive a historic transformation of the U.S. economy toward cleaner, renewable energy.

Senator Welch Introduces Bill to Reduce Barriers to Organic Agriculture

May 11, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

Senator Peter Welch and eleven other senators introduced a bill to reduce barriers to organic agriculture, and a House companion bill led by Congressman Jimmy Panetta is expected soon. The Opportunities in Organic Act of 2023 is designed to help…

White House Proposes Modern Review and Approval Process

May 10, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta outlined a comprehensive set of legislative proposals to improve siting and permitting procedures for clean energy facilities and transmission system upgrades.

Leading NGOs Launch Coalition to Advocate for Food Waste Policy

April 26, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), and ReFED have partnered to launch the Zero Food Waste Coalition, a national effort focused on informing and influencing policy at…

Groups File Lawsuit to Require California to Regulate Pesticide-Treated Seeds 

February 21, 2023 Press ReleaseCalifornia

Legal challenge calls on state Department of Pesticide Regulation to close loophole on unregulated sale, use of pesticides on seeds.

California PUC Finalizes Solar Net Metering Decision

December 15, 2022 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO – The California Public Utilities Commission issued its final decision for Net Billing Tariff today, which establishes the state’s approach to solar rooftop and storage incentives and rates for the next five years.

NRDC Statement on Passage of CA Diablo Canyon Extension Bill

September 1, 2022 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – The California Legislature sent Senate Bill 846, the Diablo Canyon powerplant: extension of operations bill (Sen Bill Dodd D-3,) to the governor’s desk. NRDC, along with Friends of the Earth and Environment California were lead signatories of the 2016…

Padilla, Chu Join Union Workers in Los Angeles to Push for Federal Heat Stress Protections

August 30, 2022 Press ReleaseLos Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA — As temperatures soar to triple digits in areas of Southern California, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) were in Los Angeles today along with union representatives and workers to advocate for federal…

Community Solar Bill Clears First Legislative Hurdle

April 27, 2022 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – A bill to increase access to renewable energy for more Californians, such as through community solar with storage, passed through the Assembly Utilities and Energy committee today. If passed, the bill will provide clean energy access and bill…

California Bans PFAS in Paper-Based Food Packaging

October 5, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law today banning the use of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in paper-based food packaging and to require disclosure of toxic substances in cookware.

California Leaders Approve Bill to Ban PFAS in Paper-Based Food Packaging

September 7, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers have approved legislation to ban the use of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in paper-based food packaging and to require disclosure of toxic substances in cookware, sending the bill to Governor Gavin Newsom for his…