News & Commentary

New NRDC Analysis: Gov Shapiro's Energy Plan Is a Winner

June 5, 2024 Expert BlogPennsylvaniaRobert Routh

Two foundational power sector policies, cap-and-invest plus ambitious clean electricity targets, provide significant benefits

Keeping LNG Off the Rails in Gibbstown and Across America

June 5, 2024 Expert BlogNew Jersey, Pennsylvania, United StatesSahana Rao

Advocates and regulators have significantly slowed development of the Gibbstown LNG Export Project, which would be the first of its kind to rely on long-distance LNG shipment by rail. But as developers affirmed in recent statements to the Federal Energy…

DOE Puts People First: LNG Exports Paused Pending Review

January 31, 2024 Expert BlogWashington, D.C., Texas, Louisiana, PennsylvaniaMorgan Johnson

Biden DOE’s pause on LNG exports represents forward movement from an Environmental Justice lens, but must be met with real reform.

RGGI in Pennsylvania: Updates and Looking Ahead to 2024

December 20, 2023 Expert BlogPhiladelphiaRobert Routh

Recent developments establish a benchmark.

Governor Shapiro’s RGGI Working Group Concludes: Now What?

October 2, 2023 Expert BlogPennsylvaniaRobert Routh

RGGI States Learning and Sharing On Climate and Equity

June 6, 2023 Expert BlogEast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, VirginiaJackson Morris

A new report finds that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative delivers on jobs, emissions reduction, and economic benefits—and provides a framework to address equity in the future.

Greater Energy Equity Ahead, in both Maryland and Virginia

May 25, 2023 Expert BlogVirginia, Maryland, Richmond (Virginia)Walton Shepherd, Lucy LaFlamme, Dawone Robinson

New state laws in MD and VA will lower spiking electric bills for those least able to afford them, through better-designed home energy efficiency improvements.

House Agriculture Approps Bill Would Gut Key Farm Programs

May 17, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, PennsylvaniaAllison Johnson, Matthew Kaplan, Jeff Slyfield

Congress should go back to the drawing board and build a budget that supports a healthy food system, conservation, and rural energy

Hungry for Local Action in New Climate Law? Start Here

April 25, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, PhiladelphiaIrene Nielson

Cities can tap into millions but may not know about it yet.

Water Crisis in Philly Highlights Our Broken National System

March 27, 2023 Expert BlogPhiladelphia, Jackson, Ohio, United StatesErik D. Olson

An industrial chemical spill upstream of the city’s water intakes is poised to contaminate the water supply. If you feel like you’ve seen this movie before, it’s because you have.

Celebrating Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Food Matters Cohorts

December 9, 2022 Expert BlogBaltimore, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C.Madeline Keating, Darby Hoover

This month, we mark the successful completion of our two-year partnerships with the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast cohorts. Our work with Great Lakes cities will continue in 2023.

Community Perspectives: Wasted Food in Philadelphia

November 7, 2022 Expert BlogPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaAndrea Collins, Madeline Keating

There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to crafting inclusive food waste prevention messaging. Philadelphia worked with community-based organizations to run community focus groups to better understand the biggest barriers to preventing food from becoming waste in local communities.

It's Time for Pennsylvania to Act on Environmental Justice

May 2, 2022 Expert BlogPennsylvaniaMark Szybist

The state's DEP should finalize the EJ policy—making revisions in accordance with the equity groups’ recommendations—and put it to work on RGGI investments.

Students Intro Bill to Combat Food Waste in Virginia

February 24, 2022 Expert BlogVirginiaNina Sevilla

Students in Virginia wrote a bill that would extend liability protection to businesses, restaurants, and any food donation group who would like to donate food past the “best by” date. 

Dominion's Excellent Efficiency Plan Will Lower Rates

December 23, 2021 Expert BlogVirginiaWalton Shepherd

Amid a sharp cost-of-living increase this winter, Virginia's largest energy provider brought a significant glimmer of good holiday news for its ratepayers.

For Thousands of Years, Indigenous Tribes Have Been Planting for the Future

November 30, 2021 DispatchIowa, Canada, Pennsylvania, OklahomaSusan Cosier

With yields of biodiversity and a more climate-resilient food supply, a movement is sprouting in BIPOC communities across North America to save heirloom seeds and preserve culture.

On Climate, Pittsburgh Puts Its Money Where Its Goals Are

November 19, 2021 Expert BlogPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaJay Orfield, Irene Nielson

Transforming city budgets to address climate change will be essential to meeting our climate goals, and Pittsburgh has taken a first step.

Delivering Climate Equity, One Clunky Old Heater at a Time

October 6, 2021 Expert BlogVirginiaWalton Shepherd

Fix VA law, for healthier air and lower bills for low-income families, by ditching dirty fossil fuel heaters.

PennEast Gas Pipeline Cancelled by Developers

September 27, 2021 Expert BlogNew York, New Jersey, Delaware, PennsylvaniaSahana Rao

Development of the PennEast Pipeline has been put on hold! This fracked gas pipeline would be disastrous for the Delaware River Basin and would exacerbate the climate crisis—here’s how we can stop the pipeline permanently.

Celebrating Year One of the Food Matters Regional Initiative

August 30, 2021 Expert BlogChicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Madison, Ohio, Baltimore, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, North Carolina, Memphis, OrlandoMadeline Keating, Darby Hoover

A year after the launch of the Food Matters Regional Initiative, we are pleased to report considerable progress and accomplishments from the 15 regional initiative participants.