News & Commentary

Urban Innovator

June 30, 2020 NRDC in ActionCharlotte, North Carolina, St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Paul, Minnesota, Austin, TexasKeith Mulvihill

Through her work in the buildings sector, Wendy Lee helps propel cities into a fairer and more energy-efficient future.

Warming Up the Car: Va Takes a Step to Lower Rates with EVs

June 23, 2020 Expert BlogVirginiaKathy Harris, Walton Shepherd

EVs will deliver bill-saving benefits to everyone that uses the electric grid.

Wilmington’s Battle With GenX, a Dangerous Teflon Chemical

April 2, 2020 DispatchNorth CarolinaJodi Helmer

A toxic chemical discovered in the drinking water system serving communities along North Carolina’s Cape Fear River raised the alarm about contamination from the nearby Chemours chemical plant. Although levels of GenX, used to make nonstick products, have receded, the…

When Art Captures the Wind and the Rain—and a Bit of Ourselves

March 16, 2020 PerspectivesConnecticutPatrick Rogers

“Weather Report” fills a Connecticut museum with the works of 25 artists who explore what’s happening in the atmosphere and, inextricably, to us.

Charlotte Gets Its Moment in the Sun with New Solar Project

February 25, 2020 Expert BlogCharlotteIrene Nielson

Charlotte's city council voted to approve a new utility-scale solar project that will supply 25% of municipal energy.

Agrivoltaics: Sheep (and Soil Scientists) Juice Up the Solar Farm

February 20, 2020 DispatchGeorgia, North Carolina, EastRobynne Boyd

Solar farmers get a hand from regenerative agriculture experts to feed the soil under their arrays—another powerful tool to help fight climate change.

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.

NC's Missing the Big Picture on Climate Resilience

December 11, 2019 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaRob Moore

NC is applying for $168 million from HUD's CDBG-MIT fund. But NC is proposing to focus on a narrow range of projects and missing the larger opportunity to use these funds to make much-needed changes to a range of local…

Charlotte Is on Its Way to Becoming a Modern Transit Hub

December 11, 2019 DispatchCharlotte, North CarolinaJodi Helmer

The North Carolina city knows that as it grows, its residents will need (and want) to get out of their cars and catch the nearest bus, train, or streetcar.

3 E’s: The Top 3 Climate Action Items for VA Leaders in 2020

November 9, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, VirginiaWalton Shepherd

Here’s how Virginia’s new climate and clean energy majority can tackle climate change and energy equity right out of the gate.

Blueprint of a Buyout: Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

September 19, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, North CarolinaAnna Weber

Locally funded buyouts in North Carolina can move faster than traditional programs - could this be an option for more communities?

Faith's Call to Virginia Climate Action

September 13, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, VirginiaDawone Robinson

Karenna Gore and William Barber, III will moderate a forum on how we can help repair our damaged climate and create solutions.

Dorian, Florence, Etc: The World at One Degree of Warming

September 10, 2019 Expert BlogNorth Carolina, South CarolinaRob Moore

Recent flooding and hurricanes have made it clear that climate change is a clear and present danger.

Dominion’s Rising Cost to Virginia's Economy and Environment

September 7, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, VirginiaWalton Shepherd

Observers in the energy regulatory world were shocked last week at the finding of a staggering $277 million in overcollections by Dominion, the state’s largest regulated monopoly.

With Dorian, NC Faces Same Hog Waste Threat as in Florence

September 5, 2019 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaValerie Baron

As Hurricane Dorian approaches a year later, not much has improved for North Carolinians since Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

Something in the North Carolina Farm Act Stinks

August 29, 2019 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaValerie Baron

The bill contains sneaky giveaways to big agribusiness buried deep within the legislative text.

July Was Hottest on Record—and Dangerous Heat Hits Home

August 20, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, North CarolinaDr. Vijay Limaye

Fueled by climate change, extreme heat is causing more hospitalizations—and even deaths—across the country.

North Carolina Doubles Down on Clean Energy Agenda

August 16, 2019 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaLuis Martinez

Driven by Governor Cooper’s bold Executive Order 80, North Carolina is poised to lead on climate with an ambitious clean energy agenda.

Climate Change Sank My Battleship?

July 31, 2019 DispatchNorth CarolinaJodi Helmer

The USS North Carolina survived World War II, but now its captain’s mission is to protect it from storm surges and sea level rise.

Justice Warrior on the Affordable Energy Front

June 12, 2019 NRDC in ActionVirginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New YorkKaren L. Smith-Janssen

Dawone Robinson is righting the inequities that low-income communities of color face in accessing the benefits of energy efficiency—like more comfortable homes and lower energy bills, for starters.