News & Commentary

New Jersey Leads the East Coast on Electric Trucks

December 22, 2020 Expert BlogNew JerseyKathy Harris, Eric Miller, Patricio Portillo

New Jersey became the first state to announce plans to adopt the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) and Heavy- Duty Omnibus rules

Michigan Clean Energy Year in Review (and the Road Ahead)

December 21, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganSamantha Williams, Derrell E. Slaughter

We are building a foundation now in Michigan for the clean energy transition, not only reaping the health and economic benefits for residents but also ensuring that the state is doing its part to tackle the climate crisis.

"We Are the Same as the Salmon": A Story of Suffering and Perseverance

December 17, 2020 DispatchWyoming, Idaho, Oregon, WashingtonNicole Greenfield

Thirty years ago, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes led the effort to save Snake River sockeye salmon from extinction. Today, they’re still fighting for the fish’s survival—along with their own.

An Ally in the Fight for Safe, Affordable Drinking Water for All

November 30, 2020 NRDC in ActionDetroit, Illinois, Flint, Chicago, MichiganNicole Greenfield

Detroit native Jeremy Orr combines his personal experience and community organizing roots with his legal expertise to help communities of color in Michigan and Illinois dismantle environmental racism.

800,000-Plus Risk Water Shutoffs in the Great Lakes State

November 24, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganCyndi Roper

An estimated 800,000 Michiganders throughout the state are known to be behind on their water bills and could face water shutoffs, according to new data compiled by NRDC in collaboration with the People's Water Board Coalition.

EV Charging Programs Set for Approval in Michigan and Ohio

October 29, 2020 Expert BlogMichigan, Ohio, MidwestMax Baumhefner

Utility regulators in Michigan and Ohio are set to approve programs that will help electrify cars, trucks, and buses in the state to the benefit of all utility customers.

The Consumers Energy IRP and the Future We Want for Michigan

October 8, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganSamantha Williams, Gabrielle Habeeb

Consumers Energy has an important regulatory filing coming up that is going to impact every single person living in Michigan. In the coming months, the utility will file their next long-term energy plan—known as an Integrated Resource Plan or “IRP”.

Bold Protections Against Toxic Forever Chemicals in Michigan’s Tap Water

July 23, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganCyndi Roper

The state has joined the ranks of states that are leading the way in protecting public drinking water from PFAS.

New Jersey Can Lead on State Fleet Electrification

July 7, 2020 Expert BlogNew JerseyKathy Harris, Eric Miller, Rebecca Behrens

New Jersey’s transportation sector is responsible for 42% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it the state’s largest source of climate pollution; achieving the state’s climate goals will only be possible if New Jersey aggressively tackles transportation emissions head…

Flint Map Shows Progress, Reveals Where Lead Likely Remains

June 25, 2020 Expert BlogFlint, MichiganStacy Woods

New map documents progress of pipe removal program and offers residents critical information to protect their health

Crash Course in Electrifying NJ’s Transportation Sector

June 22, 2020 Expert BlogNew JerseyRebecca Behrens, Kathy Harris, Eric Miller

New Jersey understands the task at hand and has been hard at work planning to decarbonize the transportation sector. The state’s goals are ambitious and strong, and if achieved, have the potential to significantly curb harmful emissions. 

Take Action to Protect Bees During National Pollinator Week

June 22, 2020 Expert BlogNew York, New JerseyDaniel Raichel, Lucas Rhoads

This Pollinator week, let’s heed the science and skip the fluff. Here’s how you can take action now to protect pollinators and human health.

Ann Arbor’s Climate Plan Centers Community Voices

June 18, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganAviva Meyers

In its journey toward carbon neutrality, Ann Arbor is employing innovative ways to engage with community members. The city seeks input from frontline populations in order to create an equitable future where all Ann Arborites can thrive.

These Tiny, Treetop-Living, Ewok-Looking Creatures May Be Getting Socially Distanced to Extinction

June 8, 2020 DispatchOregonJason Bittel

Red tree voles spend their whole lives in Oregon’s treetops, but deforestation has cut them off from the rest of their kind.

The Fight for Equitable Access to Water and Electricity Has Never Been More Urgent

June 3, 2020 NRDC in ActionDetroit, Michigan, United StatesCourtney Lindwall

In the midst of a pandemic, NRDC advocates are stepping up their work to prevent the risk of mass utility shutoffs, now and for the long-term.

These Fanciful Sea Creatures Were Carried in on the Tide

June 2, 2020 PerspectivesOregonPatrick Rogers

An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea.

NRDC Sues FERC over Unlawful Jordan Cove LNG Project

May 28, 2020 Expert BlogOregonAnn Alexander, Gillian Giannetti

The liquefied natural gas terminal in Oregon is massively misguided, destructive, and politically driven—so we’re fighting to stop it.

Michigan Takes First Step to Address Lead in School Drinking Water

March 3, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganCyndi Roper

Investments in the Filter First approach provides health protections for children in schools and childcare centers; investments in programs that simply test for lead in drinking water do not.

A Garden Grows in Newark—and a Community Grows Around It

February 7, 2020 DispatchNewarkJeff Turrentine

How an urban farm became an anchor for the city’s South Ward.

Defender of Energy Efficiency—and Equity

February 3, 2020 NRDC in ActionGeorgia, Detroit, Michigan, Baltimore, Maryland, Norfolk, VirginiaKeith Mulvihill

Dawone Robinson, regional director of NRDC’s Energy Efficiency for All Project, works to create opportunities for low-income communities of color to save energy and money.