Media Center

PJM Report Confirms Blackout Danger from Poor Maintenance at Gas-Fired Power Plants

July 24, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

Today PJM gave a presentation on its detailed report on Winter Storm Elliott, which caused blackouts across the Southeast and threatened much wider problems within the eastern grid. At the meeting the operator confirmed what was established in the report has long…

DOE’s Water Heater Standards Promise Substantial Energy Savings

July 21, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced updated energy efficiency standards for residential water heaters today promising substantial energy savings of 27 quadrillion BTUs ("quads") of energy over the next 30 years and reduced energy bills for consumers.

Feds Propose New Critical Habitat Designation for Endangered Whale 

July 21, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has submitted a proposed rule designating critical habitat for the highly endangered Rice’s whale. With only approximately 50 whales remaining, Rice’s whales are among the most endangered whales in the world, making this habitat designation essential…

Biden Administration Proposes Reforms to Oil and Gas Leasing on Public Lands

July 20, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a proposal today to reform several aspects of onshore oil and gas leasing. The changes include increases to royalty and bonding rates, ending non-competitive leasing and several other measures…

Report: Strong Clean Vehicle Standards Can Deliver $44 Billion in Health, Economic and Climate Benefits to New Mexicans 

July 18, 2023 Press ReleaseSanta Fe

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced bold action which will give New Mexicans more electric car and truck options in the coming years, and a new report shows the state can deliver the most health, jobs, and energy…

Report: An Estimated One in Five New Yorkers May Be Drinking Water from Lead Service Lines

July 18, 2023 Press ReleaseNew York City

According to a new report, No Excuses, NYC: Replace Lead Drinking Water Pipes Now, an estimated one in five New Yorkers, or 21% of the City’s residents, may be drinking water transported through lead service lines.

President Biden Declines to Embargo Products from Mexico for Vaquita Violation

July 18, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

President Biden announced yesterday that he will not embargo products from Mexico despite its failure to halt the illegal wildlife trade threatening the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The decision responds to the Secretary of the Interior’s recent certification under the…

House Majority’s Bill on Environmental Funding Is Atrocious

July 18, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The razor-thin House majority, after weeks of delay and concessions to the most extreme elements of its fractured conference, has put forward its version of the annual appropriations bill that funds most of the federal government’s environmental programs and priorities. The…

D.C. Circuit Rules FERC’s Approval of Southern Utilities’ Scheme is Unlawful

July 17, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

The D.C. Circuit agreed with a coalition of environmental organizations, clean energy advocates, consumer advocates, and clean energy trade groups by ruling that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had unlawfully approved the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM). The proposal…

Groups Welcome New Denver Mayor

July 13, 2023 Press ReleaseDenver

Environmental, racial justice and health organizations today welcomed the upcoming inauguration of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and urge him to work with City Council and regional experts to build on the city’s environmental successes with bold action addressing climate change…

An Urgency to Clean Up Illinois’ Dirty Air

July 13, 2023 Press ReleaseChicago

As the acrid smell of Canadian wildfire smoke has barely left the nostrils of people in Chicago and Illinois, local leaders and advocates joined forces today to call on Governor Pritzker to enact clean truck rules to reduce harmful pollution.

NRDC Report: Building Batteries Better

July 10, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – A new report from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) lays out key strategies so the transition away from fossil fuels and to electric vehicles can drive better mining practices.

Report: Extreme Heat Costs North Carolina Workers and Employers

July 6, 2023 Press ReleaseNorth Carolina

The "Excessive Heat in North Carolina" report found a link between extreme heat exposure in four major industries and avoidable costs to employers, including increased worker compensation for missed wages.

NRDC Statement on New Mexico Clean Cars and Trucks Move

July 3, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

NRDC's Alexis Mena statement on New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announcement today that the state will adopt by year's end advanced car and truck standards, policies intended to significantly expand the numbers of electric cars and trucks sold in…

Supreme Court Draws on Flawed “Major Questions” Theory to Strike Down Student Loan Debt Relief

June 30, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Supreme Court today struck down President Biden’s student debt relief program, drawing on the same so-called “major questions” rationale the majority relied on a year ago to the day in West Virginia v EPA.

Feds Approve Dangerous and Destructive Mountain Valley Pipeline

June 29, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

“When you’re in a hole as deep as the climate crisis, the worst thing is to keep digging. This destructive and unnecessary pipeline was rubber stamped with complete disregard for its climate impacts, the safety of communities along its route…

Joint Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Strike Down Affirmative Action in College Admissions

June 29, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

Today, seven top environmental organizations released a joint statement following the Supreme Court’s decision on the future of affirmative action programs in college admissions.

Inflation Reduction Act to Drive Historic Clean Energy Transition

June 29, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – A new compilation of government, academic, industry and other analyses provides the strongest evidence yet that the Inflation Reduction Act is poised to drive a historic transformation of the U.S. economy toward cleaner, renewable energy.

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.

Agencies Propose Rollbacks of Endangered Species Act Rollbacks

June 21, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

In response to a federal lawsuit, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service released draft revisions to regulations governing protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The updates address Trump Administration efforts in 2019 to undermine…