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☆ Flash floods are a worsening scourge worldwide — here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Flash floods are becoming more common and more intense due to global warming. The impact of flash flooding can be particularly severe because, often, there is very little warning. Why are there more flash floods? The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a US-based nonprofit, said flash flooding has intensified because of increased rainfall and heat waves. Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty ImagesNon-environmental factors, such as new infrastructure and better weather warnings, can help prevent the impact of flash flooding.

Persons: Ernesto Rodríguez Camino, —, Mateo Villalba Sanchez, Jess Neumann, John Marsham, Liz Stephens, shouldn't, Stephens Organizations: Service, European Environment Agency, Victoria University of Wellington, Spanish Meteorological Association, Environmental Defense Fund, EDF, World Health Organization, WHO, University of Reading, University of Leeds, US Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Spain, Florida, Europe, New Zealand, US

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Biden administration at least in the short term to enforce its latest attempt to curb climate-harming carbon emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants that contribute to climate change. The Supreme Court is often skeptical of major agency actions but it has bucked that reputation in recent weeks. Under the proposed rule, the EPA wants to require “carbon capture,” a technique that uses solvents to remove carbon dioxide from a power plant’s emissions. The appeals court in July declined to block the regulation, saying the major questions doctrine did not apply on this occasion. In court papers, the challengers sought to portray the new regulation as being essentially the same as the one the Supreme Court struck down.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Biden, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, Patrick Morrisey, Vicki Patton, Donald Trump, ” Morrisey, Elizabeth Prelogar, Prelogar Organizations: Republican, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S ., Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, West Virginia, Environmental Defense Fund, Democratic, EPA Locations: West Virginia, U.S, EPA’s bailiwick, ”

☆ The solid-state batteries hype is fading – prompting auto giants to consider alternatives
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Solid-state batteries have long been billed as the "holy grail" of sustainable driving. As the name suggests, solid-state batteries contain a solid electrolyte, made from materials such as ceramics. Automakers have invested billions of dollars in solid-state battery research and teamed up with developers to produce their own versions for mass production. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesJapan's Toyota, for instance, has said it is aiming to bring solid-state batteries into mass production between 2027 and 2028. Yet, despite growing hype over the potential rollout of solid-state batteries, analysts remain skeptical about when they will actually make it to market.

Persons: Tomohiro Ohsumi, Japan's Nissan, Germany's Mercedes, Max Reid, Wood Mackenzie, Reid, Wood Mackenzie's Reid, Julia Poliscanova, Poliscanova, Nio, Ganfeng, Environment's Poliscanova Organizations: Afp, Getty, Toyota Motor Corp, Benz Group, Stellantis, Hyundai, Kia, Environmental Defense Fund, CNBC, Transport, Environment, Paris, Show, Qingtao Energy Locations: Nanjing, China's, Jiangsu, PARIS, France, Tokyo, Japan, U.S, China

"We have kind of a two-level house — it's not a two-story, but there are two levels," Smith-Frady told Business Insider. AdvertisementIn May 2024, the average cost of flood insurance in Florida was $781 a year, according to personal-finance company NerdWallet. Advertisement"It basically makes the home a total loss if they don't have flood insurance," Meyer Lucas said. "In Florida, there's really high flood risk, which I think is broadly understood, but that the cost associated with that flood risk is not being captured in home values." "The storms are happening so diversely in so many different areas of the state," D'Amario told Business Insider.

Persons: Helene, —, Hurricane Helene, Alexis Smith, Smith, Frady, Idalia, She's, Katie Mallah, Mallah, Katie Mallah Mallah, it's, Heather Cameron, Cameron, Holly Meyer Lucas, Meyer Lucas, Jon Schneyer, Pete, haven't, Jesse Gourevitch, there's, Ryan D'Amario, D'Amario Organizations: Service, FEMA, Business, Flood Insurance, Hurricanes, Sunshine State, Farmers Insurance, Bankers Insurance, Miami Herald, Capital Economics, Palm, Street Journal, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: Florida, St, Petersburg, Hurricane, Bradenton, North Carolina, Tampa, Sarasota, St . Petersburg, Shore, Shore Acres , Florida, Insurify, Palm Beach, Nature, Appalachia, Gulf

Three EPA whistleblowers told ProPublica on Thursday that their complaints were the subject of the reports (which redact employee names). After endorsing Trump, Kennedy wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the U.S. could “revisit pesticide and other chemical-use standards” if Trump wins. “The EPA was sort of paralyzed under the Trump administration,” she said. It’s not yet clear what Kennedy’s role might be in a potential Trump administration, or which decisions he’d help to make as part of the transition team. Even with Kennedy’s ties to Trump, Gartner said she would expect the EPA under a second Trump administration to act similarly to the first one.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump, Kennedy, Trump, ”, Maria, Sean O’Donnell, ProPublica, Remmington Belford, “, Kennedy —, Tucker Carlson, ” Karoline Leavitt, ” Kennedy, Sharon Lerner, Lerner, Michal Freedhoff, , Freedhoff, Biden, Karen McCormack, McCormack, Trump’s, —, Eve Gartner, Danielle Alvarez, It’s, Carlson, Steven Cheung, Gartner Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, NBC News, Trump, EPA, Chemical Control, Environmental Defense Fund, EPA’s, Trump ., RFK Jr, RFK, European Union, The, of Chemical Safety, Toxic, Federal, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control Locations: U.S, Milwaukee, ”

☆ Georgia is rich in EV money and jobs
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( John Towfighi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Since 2022, the Peach State has added over 30,000 clean energy jobs, more than any other state, according to a June study by Climate Power, a strategic communications firm. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated over $175 million toward the EV battery supply chain in Georgia and $135 million over five years toward infrastructure for EV charging stations in Georgia. Investments in EV and battery manufacturing will boost job growth and output in both of these sectors, Benson said. Strong population growth remains a tailwind for Georgia's economic growth and EV industry, Benson said. Between 2021 and 2022, there were 327,795 people who moved into Georgia, according to data from the Census Bureau.

Persons: —, Wells, Jackie Benson, Brian Kemp, It's, Biden, Benson Organizations: Service, Business, Peach State, Climate Power, Investments, Atlanta -, EV, Atlas Public, Environmental Defense Fund, Biden Administration, Law, Infrastructure Law, Hyundai, Kia, The Peach State Locations: Georgia, Wells, Atlanta, Georgia , Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, West Point , Georgia, Wells Fargo, Florida , Texas , California, California, Texas

☆ Biden's tariffs don't loosen China's grip on one key mineral in the EV economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The White House decided to delay by two years tariffs on graphite, a key metal in EV lithium-ion batteries that helps them store energy. But a senior Biden administration official said during a call with reporters that some tariffs would kick in in 2026 to allow battery supply chains to transition. However, those batteries can still source graphite from China until at least 2027 under the Biden administration's policy. Beyond graphite, other tariffs that Biden slapped on China's green tech are mostly symbolic. But steeper taxes on batteries this year could affect US automakers such as Ford and Tesla, which import from China.

Persons: Joe Biden, Gene Berdichevsky, Berdichevsky, Sila, EVs, Biden Organizations: Service, White, Business, US Department of Energy, Mercedes, Benz, Manufacturing, Biden, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: China, Washington ,, Moses Lake , Washington, Southeast Asia

☆ The Home Insurance Crunch: See What’s Happening in Your State
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The Home Insurance Crunch: See What’s Happening in Your StateAs climate change makes disasters more frequent and severe, the insurance industry is in tumult. Even in the Northeast, where homeowners insurance was still generally profitable last year, trends are worsening. In the state of Profitability of homeowners insurance in Iowa Source: AM Best Ratio of revenue to costs for homeowners insurance statewide. To measure the financial health of the homeowners insurance industry, The New York Times assembled data that compares revenues with costs for insurers in each state. The data show that homeowners insurance was unprofitable in 18 states last year, up from eight in 2013.

☆ As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +28 min

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Colo. Colo. Mass. Iowa Iowa Neb. 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Colo. Colo. Mass. Iowa Iowa Neb. 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Colo. Colo. Mass.

Persons: Dave Langston’s, Langston, ”, Dave, Linda Langston, Conn ., S.D, N.M, “, Dave Jones, Carolyn Kousky, “ It’s, Sridhar Manyem, Bill Montgomery, Kristin Heiges, Eldon Neighbor, That’s, Tom O’Meara, Kelsey Kremer, Reinsurers, Doug Ommen, Brandi Mace Storm, David Storm, Tim Kuehner’s, Brandi Mace Storm’s, haggling, Pekin, Mace Storm, Susan Crisler, Tim Kuehner, Tony J, Larson, Chesleigh Fowler, Kelley Erstine, Mr, Erstine, ” Kevin Walters, California Colorado Utah Washington Matt Child, Matthew Baker, Ariz, ” Mr, Baker, Amy Bach, United, Dave Langston, Ommen, Tim Zawacki, Lyndsey Layton, Douglas Alteen, Claire O'Neill, Matt McCann Organizations: IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH, COLORADO ARKANSAS, NEBRASKA COLORADO, SOUTH, New York Times, Ark . Iowa Ariz, Minn, La . Iowa Iowa Neb, Neb . Texas Idaho Ga, ND Iowa, S.D . Miss, Wash . Ohio Utah Wis, University of California Berkeley, Treasury Department, Environmental Defense Fund, State, NOAA, Celina Insurance, Secura Insurance, Secura, Homeowners, Swiss, Des Moines Register, Associated, “, Iowa, Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin, Pekin Insurance, Pekin, Christensen Group Insurance, Travelers, Nationwide, Indiana Ohio Michigan Illinois, . Arkansas Kentucky Florida Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, ”, Washington, Wildfire, California Colorado, California Colorado Utah Washington, P Global Market Intelligence Locations: Iowa, IOWA MINNESOTA, IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA, COLORADO, COLORADO ARKANSAS KENTUCKY ILLINOIS, IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA COLORADO ARKANSAS, KENTUCKY ILLINOIS, SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA, COLORADO ARKANSAS, Iowa , Minnesota, South Dakota , Nebraska , Colorado , Arkansas , Kentucky, Illinois, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Marshalltown , Iowa, Florida , California, Louisiana, Iowa , Arkansas , Ohio, Utah, Washington, Colo, Mass, Colo . Calif, Calif, Colo . Ala, Colo ., Mont, Fla, Ark . Iowa, Colo . Ill, S.D, N.D, Conn, Del . Idaho Fla, Miss, Neb ., Ky, Ga, Hawaii Mont, N.M . Iowa Fla, Mont ., La . Iowa, Neb . Texas Idaho, ND, Md, Ill, Wyo, Ill . Idaho, . Ill, Minn, Ind, S.D . Vt, La . Texas Mont, Neb . NC, Neb . Mich, N.M, S.D ., Va . Ore . Ohio Mo . Texas, Tenn, Wash . Ohio Utah, Okla, Tenn . Utah, Wis, S.D . Va . Ore . Ohio Mo . Texas, California, American, U.S, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, United States, Marshalltown, Iowa Minnesota, Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin South Dakota, Celina, Pekin, Des Moines, Minnesota, Illinois , Indiana , Ohio, Illinois , Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, . Arkansas Kentucky Florida, Georgia , Kentucky, Mississippi, Washington State, California Colorado Utah, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Flagstaff, it’s, Gilbert, Seattle, Colorado, Florida’s, Central City , Iowa, Georgia

☆ How the UAW’s win may change the South
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, the United Auto Workers has dealt a serious blow to that model: winning a landslide union victory after decades of failing to unionize automakers in the South. It’s the UAW’s first win in trying to represent workers at a foreign car manufacturing plant in the South. Before Friday’s win, the highest profile union election held in the South in recent years was the attempt to organize Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama in 2022. Bill Lee in 2019 visited Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga to encourage workers to reject the union, and former South Carolina Gov. But the Volkswagen win, said UAW President Shawn Fain to CNN, shows that politics are not an insurmountable obstacle when it comes to organizing in the South.

Persons: Stephen Silvia, Southern, ” Silvia, – Tesla, Tesla, Henry McMaster, Kay Ivey, “, ”, Erica Smiley, Honda, Friday’s, you’ve, they’ve, Bill Lee, Nikki Haley, Biden —, Shawn Fain, “ Trump, ” Fain, “ I’m, George Walker IV, Harley Shaiken, Justice, CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, UAW, American University, Southern Gamble, Workers, Foreign, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, –, South Carolina Gov, Alabama Gov, “ Unions, Justice, Union, Auto, South Detroit, Benz, Kia, P Global Market Intelligence, Republicans, Environmental Defense Fund, Southern, “, GOP, Tennessee Gov, Democratic, CNN, Tennessee, AP, Chattanooga won’t, University of California, Jobs Locations: New York, United States, Volkswagen’s, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Mercedes, Vance , Alabama, Alabama, Smyrna , Tennessee, Spartanburg , South Carolina, Lincoln , Alabama, Southern, South, Chattanooga, Georgia, Berkeley

☆ New EPA limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water could cost $1.5 billion to implement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Lindsey Jacobson | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen at the headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, released long-awaited regulations Wednesday on some toxic "forever chemicals" found in drinking water. The bonds are incredibly strong and take a very long time to break down, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals." The EPA's new final rule sets limits on 5 individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as GenX Chemicals.) The EPA also set a Hazard Index level for PFAS when two or more of four are mixed: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS.

Persons: Tom Neltner Organizations: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington , D.C, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, CNBC, Environmental Defense, Safer Chemicals, . Geological Survey, GenX Chemicals Locations: Washington ,

☆ Could decaf coffee cause cancer? Experts weigh in
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here’s what experts and the FDA say about this clause in the modern context, and what you should know about the safety of decaf coffee. “There is more information on the toxicity of methylene chloride and the levels at which it causes this toxicity,” she added. Then there is the Swiss Water Process, which decaffeinates the beans by soaking them in warm water. The Clean Label Project, an organization that tests consumer products for hidden industrial and environmental contaminants, has detected methylene chloride in several brands of coffee. What you can do nowWhether or not the FDA eventually bans methylene chloride is a decision that could take years.

Persons: Maria, Monique Richard, ”, Richard, wasn’t, ” Richard, Richard said, Dunkin Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, National Institutes of Health’s, Toxicology Program, Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization, Environmental Defense Fund, FDA, US Centers for Disease Control, EPA, Federal Food, Nutrition, maté Locations: California, Tennessee

☆ Landfills are spewing even more methane into the atmosphere than we thought
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Landfills are a large driver of the climate crisis due to their high methane leaks. A recent study found methane emissions from landfills were 40% higher than reported. Advanced methods like remote sensing can help detect and fix landfill methane leaks faster. Methane leaks from landfills were, on average, 40% higher than what's been reported to the federal government, according to a study published in the journal Science. Many large landfills capture methane gas so it can be reused as energy, but that infrastructure can leak.

Persons: —, what's, Dan Cusworth, Cusworth Organizations: Service, Science, Carbon Mapper, Arizona, University Landfill, Carbon, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, RMI, Defense Fund Locations: Southern California, Pennsylvania

The rule issued by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will tighten limits on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks. Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The climate law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

Persons: —, Biden, Deb Haaland, ”, Jon Goldstein, Tannis Fox, Holly Hopkins, Raul Grijalva, Grijalva, “ I’m, Barack Obama, Donald Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Interior Department's, of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, United Arab, Environmental, Environmental Defense Fund, Western Environmental Law Center, American Petroleum Institute, Arizona, Natural Resources Committee, Oil, Trump, Obama, Congress Locations: United Arab Emirates, United States

☆ EPA issues new auto rules aimed at cutting carbon emissions, boosting electric vehicles and hybrids
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Kevin Lamarque | ReutersThe Biden administration announced new automobile emissions standards Wednesday that officials called the most ambitious plan ever to cut planet-warming emissions from passenger vehicles. The rules come as sales of electric vehicles, which are needed to meet the standards, have begun to slow. The agency is finalizing the rule as sales of clean vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, hit record highs last year. At the same time, the Democratic president needs cooperation from the auto industry and political support from auto workers, a key political voting bloc. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that White House officials "don't have any concerns" about the final EPA rule.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Michael Regan, Regan, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ″, we're, Manish Bapna, Amanda Leland, Dan Becker, Donald Trump, Becker, Trump, Biden's Organizations: Detroit Auto, Reuters, Biden, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Democratic, United Auto Workers union, White, Natural Resources Defense, Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity Locations: America, Detroit , Michigan, EVs, Detroit, China

☆ SpaceX launched a satellite that Google will use to map methane leaks for all to see by the end of this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Monday, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Environmental Defense Fund's MethaneSAT satellite. The satellite will track leaking methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas companies. Google will use MethaneSAT data combined with AI to map methane leaks worldwide. Called MethaneSAT, the new satellite will track methane leaks from oil and gas companies worldwide. Tracking methane leaks will help identify the most egregious emitters.

Organizations: SpaceX, Environmental Defense, Google, Service, Business

☆ The SEC votes this week on controversial climate change rule: Here's what's at stake
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The Scope 3 disclosure requirements have drawn strong criticism from many corporations, who claim the regulations are too burdensome. The climate disclosure rule was first proposed in March 2022. Since Congress has not passed major climate legislation for years, opponents of the SEC's climate rule will likely sue the SEC and cite West Virginia v. EPA, again arguing that Congress has not granted specific authority for the SEC to act on climate change. The disclosures required from the proposed SEC rule may shuffle the deck on companies that are considered "green" or "not so green." Arne Noack, manager of the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF and DWS Head of Systemic Investment Solutions for the Americas, will be the guest on ETF Edge at 1:10 p.m.

Persons: Gary Gensler, Gensler, overreach, Joe Biden, Kathleen McLaughlin, Arne Noack, Noack, Todd Sohn, He'll, Dave Nadig Organizations: SEC, U.S ., Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Capitol, Washington , D.C, The Institute, New York University School of Law, Environmental Defense Fund, Reuters, Securities, Exchange, Walmart, APA, EPA, Act, America, Corporate, Equity, Systemic Investment Solutions, Edge Locations: Washington ,, America, West Virginia, Virginia, ESG, Americas, ETFedge.cnbc.com

☆ Tracking an Invisible Climate Menace From 360 Miles Above
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Malika Khurana | Hiroko Tabuchi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Gas sensor housing Infrared sensor Spectrometer Tracking an Invisible Climate Menace From 360 Miles Above There will soon be a new eye in the sky that’s designed to detect emissions of methane, an invisible yet potent gas that is dangerously heating the world. MethaneSAT will sweep the globe using a high-resolution infrared sensor to detect and track methane leaks from oil and gas sites worldwide. Scientists estimate that human-caused methane emissions are responsible for up to 30 percent of the global warming being experienced today. Figuring out where methane emissions are happening, how big they are and who’s responsible has been a challenge. Methane also seeps from natural sources, like flooded wetlands, but the majority of methane emissions today come from human activity.

Persons: ”, Steven Hamburg, ’, Dr, Hamburg, MethaneSAT, “, Drew Shindell, wasn’t, Biden, Bjorn Otto Sverdrup Organizations: Environmental Defense Fund, Google, Duke University, MethaneSAT, Union, Oil, Climate Initiative, Star Locations: Texas, United States

☆ Is electric vehicle ownership bipartisan?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Alex | Leeds Matthews | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The data doesn’t include each voter with an electric vehicle, but it does offer some insight into political attitudes among consumers. Currently, the most widely available electric vehicles options are luxury brands, while mainstream consumers have more limited options. “We’re also seeing that things are really changing over time… That speaks to the fact that the economic and pollution benefits of electric vehicles don’t obey political boundaries.”Still, public opinion research suggests interest in electric vehicles has some partisan roots, even if the landscape may be changing. A 2023 Gallup poll found that 71% of Republicans would not consider buying an electric vehicle, compared with 17% of Democrats. More than one-third of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were registered in California, according to data from the US Department of Energy in 2022.

Persons: ”, David Kieve, Donald Trump, “, Stewart Stropp, Brett Williams, ” Williams, “ We’re, Kentucky —, Joe Biden, Williams, ” Kieve, Biden Organizations: Environmental Defense Fund, Republicans, Environmental Defense, Gallup, JD, Center for Sustainable Energy, Pew, Republican, Trump, US Department of Energy, EDF Locations: California, North Dakota, Kentucky

☆ A ‘Natural’ Gas Pipeline in the South Will Be Disastrous - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Margaret Renkl | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this month, the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company announced its intention to build the South’s largest gas pipeline in more than a decade. The Union of Concerned Scientists instead uses “methane,” “fossil gas” and “gas” as interchangeable terms for this greenhouse gas which, in its first 20 years of reaching the atmosphere, has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide. The problem with gas is not simply that it’s a fossil fuel or that gas pipelines routinely leak and can explode. And it’s not simply that gas is a human health and environmental nightmare. Perhaps the most damaging problem with gas pipelines is that they permit the construction of new gas-fired power plants that will be in service for decades.

Organizations: Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, Carolinas, of, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, American, Southern

☆ Google is making a map of methane leaks for the whole world to see
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Oil, gas, and coal operations are thought to account for 40% of global methane emissions from human activities. At least 155 countries have also signed the Global Methane Pledge, which calls for a 30% reduction in emissions. The pledge initially launched in 2021, but since then, methane emissions have continued to rise . To help change that trajectory, the US and Europe last year issued regulations cracking down on methane emissions from fossil fuel infrastructure. By 2027, those imports will have to meet methane emissions standards on par with Europe's.

Persons: Steve Hamburg, —, Yael Maguire, Maguire Organizations: Service, Google, Environmental Defense Fund, Business, International Energy Agency, Google Geo Locations: Agriculture, MethaneSAT, Dubai, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Hamburg

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency's air pollution office just as the agency is set to finalize rules over climate-changing emissions from power plants and cars and trucks. Joe Goffman is a longtime EPA official who has headed the air and radiation office on an acting basis since Biden took office three years ago. Goffman's 2022 nomination for the air post, one of the top jobs at EPA, lapsed last year without a Senate vote. She called the Clean Power Plan “a direct shot at American energy production" and an attempt to shut down coal- and gas-fired power plants, including those in her home state. An EPA plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions from power plants is little more than the "second iteration of the Clean Power Plan,'' Capito said.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Joe Goffman, Biden, West Virginia Sen, Joe Manchin, Sen, John Barrasso, Bobbi, Michael Regan, Goffman, Joe, Regan, Tom Carper, ” Carper, Goffman “, Shelley Moore Capito, Obama, Barack Obama's, —, Capito, Mr, Goffman's, “, Fred Krupp, Krupp Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, EPA, West Virginia, Delaware Democrat, ”, Republican, Democratic, Supreme, federal, Biden, Environmental Defense Locations: Wyoming, overburdened, West Virginia

CHANNELVIEW, Texas — For nearly 20 years, Texas environmental regulators have kept a disturbing secret. AdvertisementTexas Community Health News; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality"Any exposure to a carcinogen increases your risk of developing cancer. AdvertisementTim Doty, a former TCEQ mobile air monitoring expert, at the industrial edge of River Terrace Park in Channelview, Texas. In fact, the agency rarely fines companies that violate Texas air pollution laws. Mark FelixHoneycutt's toxicology division soon took an even more dramatic step to weaken Texas' benzene guidelines.

Persons: Loren Hopkins, Hopkins, Mark Felix, TCEQ, AirToxScreen, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, Menefee, Tim Doty, Doty, Solv, He'd, Glenn Shankle, Kelly Keel, Todd Riddle, Riddle, Lopez, Joe Lopez, Dora, Joel Lopez, Randy Lopez, It's, Joel, Felix Benzene, wildcatters, Houston —, Forbes, Lorenzo de Zavala, Alison Cohen, Cohen, Tim Doty's, Houston Mayor Bill White, Shankle, Michael Honeycutt, Valerie Meyers, Meyers, Mark Felix Meyers, Richard Hyde, John Sadlier, Ryder, Hyde, hadn't, Russell Allen, Matt Baker, Jacintoport, Cloelle Danforth, Public Health Watch —, Danforth, Mark Felix Honeycutt's, Eric Schaeffer, Schaeffer, Honeycutt, Jim Tarr, polluters, upended, Mark Felix Fracking, Barnett, Glenn Shankle —, —, Rick Perry, Perry, Sadlier, David Bower, misstep, Baker, Bower, Michael Burgess, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Mark Felix Meanwhile, Randy, That's, Carolyn Stone, Stone, Carolyn Stone's, Mark Felix The, Cynthia Benson, Benson, Mark Felix Tim Doty, Mark Felix K, Jordan Gass Organizations: Public Health Watch, Texas Commission, Environmental, American Petroleum Institute, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Navy, Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, General, Health, Public Health, Rice University, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Community Health, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney, polluters, Mark Felix Public Health, TCEQ, Solv, Mark Felix Public Health Watch, myelodysplasia, Houston, Oil, Gas Watch, Texas, Houston Ship, University of California, Houston Mayor, ., . Texas Community Health, NASA, Exxon Mobil, Public, Watch, Environmental Defense Fund, Management, Civil, Air Alliance Houston, Republican, Fort, United, Texas toxicologist, EPA, Texas Tribune, Google, Land Office, . Geological Survey, National Oceanic, Firefighters, U.S . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Channelview, Improvement Coalition, Health Watch, San Jacinto, K, Texas Legislature, Solv Group, Services Locations: , Texas, Texas, Houston, Channelview's Jacintoport, San Jacinto, California, Jacintoport, Channelview , Texas, AirToxScreen Harris County, Channelview, Harris County, United States, North Channelview, Gulf, Terrace, Joel's, Houston , Texas, Spindletop, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Port of Houston, San Francisco, . Texas, That's, polluters, lacquers, Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth City, Austin, Round, Minnesota, Galveston, U.S

A man talks on the phone during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfliky Acquire Licensing RightsDec 5 (Reuters) - Six of the world's largest dairy companies will soon begin disclosing their methane emissions as part of a new global alliance launched at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on Tuesday. Livestock is responsible for about 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, from sources like manure and cow burps, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. The five members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance - Danone (DANO.PA), Bel Group, General Mills (GIS.N), Lactalis USA, Kraft Heinz (KHC.O) and Nestle (NESN.S) - will begin reporting their methane emissions by mid-2024 and will write methane action plans by the end of that year. Danone this year pledged to cut methane emissions from its fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030.

Persons: Amr Alfliky, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Chris Adamo, There’s, Katie Anderson, Anderson, Leah Douglas, Josie Kao Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, United, Livestock, Agriculture Organization, Danone, Bel Group, General, Lactalis, Nestle, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Coalition, United Nations Environment Programme . Companies, Environmental Defense, EDF, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, United Nations, Lactalis USA

It is responsible for about one-third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The new methane rule will help ensure that the United States meets a goal set by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels, Regan said. The EPA rule is just one of more than 100 actions the Biden administration has taken to reduce methane emissions, Zaidi added. The plan marks the first time the U.S. government has directly imposed a fee, or tax, on greenhouse gas emissions. The oil industry has generally welcomed direct federal regulation of methane emissions, preferring a single national standard to a hodgepodge of state rules.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Michael Regan, Ali Zaidi, Regan, ” Regan, Zaidi, Harris, Harold Wimmer, Wimmer, David Doniger, ”, Obama, I'm, Fred Krupp Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, United Nations, United Arab Emirates, Oil, UN, United States, Biden, Harris Administration, American Lung Association, EPA, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: Dubai, United Arab, U.S, Paris, Scotland, Egypt, United

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