Media Center

Fixing Flint: Michigan Agrees to Repair Thousands of Yards Damaged by Lead Pipe Replacement

May 29, 2024 Press ReleaseFlint

FLINT, MI – A decade after the Flint water crisis began, the State of Michigan plans to take over the remaining work on Flint’s lead pipe replacement program and will commit additional funding to complete the job, according to a…

Residents Still Waiting for Flint to Replace All Lead Pipes on 10-Year Anniversary of Water Crisis

April 24, 2024 Press ReleaseDetroit

DETROIT, Mich. – A decade after the Flint water crisis began and more than seven years after a major settlement was reached in the landmark citizen suit against the City of Flint and Michigan state officials, the City of Flint has failed…

NC Real Estate Commission to Disclose Flood History to Buyers

March 14, 2024 Press ReleaseNorth Carolina

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission finalized the rule to require sellers to provide potential home buyers with information about flood history and risk before they buy a home, and it will go into effect July 1, 2024.

“Staggering” Health Benefits from Replacing Lead Water Pipes Could Save as Much as $6 Billion in California from Avoided Health Impacts

October 25, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

Replacing every lead pipe that delivers drinking water to homes in California would yield as much as $6 billion dollars in avoided health costs, according to a new state-by-state analysis released today from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Getting the…

Michigan Set to Enact Nation’s Strongest Measures to Protect Kids from Lead in Schools and Childcare Centers

October 19, 2023 Press ReleaseMichigan

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign into law landmark legislation that sets the national standard for protecting kids from lead in drinking water at schools and in childcare centers by requiring these facilities to install and maintain lead-removing…

California Could Lose Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Lead Contamination Protections (Again)

September 29, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

Public health and environmental organizations urged stronger State leadership in efforts to remove lead from drinking water infrastructure throughout California. In a support letter, the organizations called on the California State Water Resources Control Board to address the state’s disturbing…

Report: California Legislation Can Cut Carbon From Building Materials

September 13, 2023 Press ReleaseSan Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – The carbon emissions associated with materials used in the built environment, referred to as “embodied carbon,” are estimated to contribute up to 11% of all global energy-related carbon emissions.1 According to a new report from sustainable development…

General Assembly Overrides Governor Cooper’s Veto on House Bill 488

August 17, 2023 Press ReleaseNorth Carolina

The North Carolina General Assembly overrode Governor Cooper’s veto of HB 488. The bill freezes the state’s residential building codes, as well as energy, plumbing, and mechanical codes, until 2031.

California Legislature Strengthens Infrastructure Trailer Bill Package to Protect Communities and the Environment

June 27, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

California’s legislature has agreed to a significantly modified set of infrastructure trailer bills to accompany the 2023-2024 budget bills, significantly strengthening the proposed trailer bills in order to better protect communities and the environment.

Contempt Motion Filed against City of Flint and Mayor for Failing to Meet Court Deadlines in Lead Pipe Replacement Settlement

May 26, 2023 Press ReleaseDetroit

The City of Flint and Mayor Sheldon Neeley should be held in contempt for violating a February 2023 federal court order requiring Flint to reach certain milestones in its lead pipe replacement program, according to a motion filed today in…

Federal Judge Finds Flint Violated Settlement, Orders City to Finish Lead Pipe Replacements and Restore Residents’ Damaged Property

February 27, 2023 Press ReleaseFlint

A federal court has found that the City of Flint missed a court-ordered deadline to finish removing Flint’s lead pipes and failed to track where it fixed damage to residents’ properties. As a result of the late Friday ruling, the…

Whitmer Budget Address Focuses on Key Water Issues

February 8, 2023 Press ReleaseMichigan

Governor Whitmer outlined her budget proposal for the State of Michigan today. Her address outlined a number of important water-related investments.

One Year Later: Benton Harbor’s Lead Water Pipes Nearly 100% Removed, Setting a New Standard for Michigan and the Nation

October 19, 2022 Press ReleaseBenton Harbor

Nearly every lead drinking water line in Benton Harbor has been replaced, just one year after community activists, alarmed by three consecutive years of high lead levels found in Benton Harbor’s tap water, petitioned federal and state officials to fix…

Michigan has Potential to Reduce Emissions by Over 94%

October 3, 2022 Press ReleaseMichigan

New Report Models Actions Needed to Meet Climate Goals

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…

Chicago, City With the Most Lead Drinking Water Pipes in America, to Host Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s Water Infrastructure Hearing

April 21, 2022 Press ReleaseChicago

CHICAGO – Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth will hear testimony today from City of Chicago and State of Illinois officials responsible for removing lead service lines that deliver water to homes across the state. Illinois will receive more than $100 million…

Flint Sets New Deadline to Replace Lead Water Pipes by September 2022

April 13, 2022 Press ReleaseFlint

Court Must Approve Agreement Between Flint and Water Lawsuit Parties

Gas Industry Backed HB 220 Takes Rights Away from NC Communities

November 29, 2021 Press ReleaseNorth Carolina

Today the North Carolina General Assembly has passed HB220, which, if signed by Governor Cooper, will take away the rights of counties and cities to pass performance standards that cut carbon emissions from new buildings by using electrification.

Michigan Governor Whitmer Issues Order for Safe Drinking Water

November 4, 2021 Press ReleaseMichigan

LANSING, MI ­– To ensure every Michigan community has access to safe drinking water, today Governor Whitmer issued a multi-pronged directive to strengthen the state’s rules, regulations, and policies. The state is providing free bottled water to Benton Harbor, Michigan…

EPA Orders Benton Harbor, Michigan to Protect Residents from Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water

November 2, 2021 Press ReleaseMichigan

LANSING ­– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued an enforcement order directing the City of Benton Harbor to take specific steps to bring its water system into compliance with federal drinking water law, just months after nearly 20…