Media Center

Advocates Respond to San José Local Energy Code Vote

December 2, 2020 Press ReleaseSan Jose (California)

The San José City Council approved on Tuesday evening a ground-breaking expansion of the City’s local energy code that will make all-electric new construction the new normal in the nation’s 10th-largest city. With 40 cities and counties across California approving…

GM Abandons Attack on State Authority Over Clean Car Standards

November 23, 2020 Press ReleaseCalifornia

In a letter to the leaders of NRDC and other environmental organizations, General Motors announced today that it would abandon its legal support for the Trump administration’s attempt to gut the authority of California and other states to set clean…

GM’s Electric-Vehicle Promises Are at Odds With Its Work to Gut Standards

November 19, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

General Motors announced today that it would accelerate production of new electric vehicle models and make new investments in U.S. battery and vehicle manufacturing plants. The company's statement said nothing about its continued efforts to gut federal tailpipe emission and…

Groups Sue Energy Dept. for Failure to Update 25 Overdue Efficiency Standards

November 9, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

Inaction Costs Consumers at Least $22 Billion, Adds 80 Million-Plus Tons of Carbon Pollution

DOE Issues Needless Dishwasher Classification That Won’t Save Water or Energy

October 23, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The U.S. Department of Energy today needlessly established a new class of residential dishwashers that would not be subject to any water or energy efficiency standards, undermining three decades of energy efficiency progress for consumers and the environment.

Governor Newsom Announces a Suite of Climate Actions

September 23, 2020 Press ReleaseCalifornia

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the State of California will ensure 100 percent electric passenger vehicles by 2035, as well as a host of additional actions.

Trump Administration Disregards California’s Climate Crisis

September 10, 2020 Press ReleaseCalifornia

While millions of Californians suffer from the effects of massive wildfires that have blotted out the sun and rained ash on communities across the state, the Trump administration late last night blithely dismissed any compelling need for the state to…

New York State Advances Bold “Make-Ready” Electric Vehicle Order

July 16, 2020 Press ReleaseNew York

The New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) today released the final order on the state’s “Make-Ready” program for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Infrastructure.

Nevada to Tackle Car Pollution

June 22, 2020 Press ReleaseNevada

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced today that his state would pursue low-emission and zero-emission vehicle standards.

NJ Adopts Major Energy Efficiency Framework

June 10, 2020 Press ReleaseNew Jersey

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) today released the final implementation order for its “Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction” programs, which will put the state on a pathway to achieve its 2050 climate and clean energy targets…

House Bill Advances Crucial Transportation Changes

June 3, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The House Transportation and Infrastructure committee introduced a landmark transportation reauthorization bill today that would help all communities benefit from just investments in many forms of transportation while helping to transition our country to a lower-carbon future

Trump Administration Sued for Gutting Clean Car Standards

May 27, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

Environmental advocates filed lawsuits today in federal court against the Trump administration for its illegal rollback of clean car and fuel economy standards. The administration’s rule is based on massive technical and economic errors – and fails to meet core…

City of St. Louis Becomes the First in the Midwest to Pass a Building Energy Performance Standard

May 7, 2020 Press ReleaseMissouri

Mayor Lyda Krewson has signed an ambitious bill that would require buildings in the City of St. Louis to meet energy efficiency standards and establishes resources to help building owners achieve the savings that come with decreased energy usage. The…

NRDC Sues Over Department of Energy’s New Rule Hampering Energy-Saving Standards

April 14, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) sued the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today over its new energy efficiency standards-setting process that will impede future efforts to make America’s appliances and equipment more efficient, significantly harming consumers and the environment.

EPA Shuts Down Stronger Water Standards

April 8, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

After an official review of the voluntary WaterSense labeling program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to uphold the current water efficiency standards that regulate fixtures such as toilets and faucets.

EEFA Issues Pandemic Response Guidance for Under-Resourced Communities

April 7, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

With under-resourced communities facing severe short- and long-term impacts from the COVID-19 crisis, the Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) project today released Pandemic Response Guidance to highlight recommended actions for local and state policymakers to take for protection against utility…

NRDC’s Gina McCarthy: Trump’s Attack on Cleaner Cars “Makes No Sense’’

March 31, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Trump administration today took steps to gut vehicle pollution and fuel efficiency standards, which reduce massive amounts of toxic air and climate pollution from the nation’s cars and trucks.

Electricity Customers Pay Billions for Unneeded Power

March 16, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The electricity grid operator PJM’s capacity market has been overcharging tens of millions of customers to prop up unneeded dirty power plants, a new analysis found.

NRDC Sues Over Energy Dept.’s Illegal Refusal to Update Light Bulb Energy-Saving Standards

February 25, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today asked a federal court to force the U.S. Department of Energy to implement updated energy-saving standards for nearly every household light bulb sold in America. The government’s repeated, illegal defiance of a 2007…

Department of Energy Sets Major Roadblocks to Future Energy Efficiency Standards

January 16, 2020 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Department of Energy (DOE) today radically altered its process for setting and updating national energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial appliances and equipment, making it significantly more difficult to establish future energy-saving measures and drastically reducing the potential…