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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of communities around the country will share more than $1 billion in federal money to help them plant and maintain trees under a federal program that is intended to reduce extreme heat, benefit health and improve access to nature. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce the $1.13 billion in funding for 385 projects at an event Thursday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cedar Rapids has made the restoration of its tree canopy a priority since that storm, called a derecho, and will receive $6 million in funding through the new grants. She told reporters earlier that many communities have lacked access to nature and that all the tree grants would benefit marginalized and underrepresented communities. “Urban forests can really play a key role in ensuring both that access but also increasing the climate resilience of communities, helping reduce extreme heat and making communities more livable.”The federal money comes from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Persons: Tom Vilsack, ” Vilsack, Brenda Mallory, ” Mallory Organizations: DES, U.S . Department of Agriculture, D.C, Virgin, White, Council, Environmental, Vilsack Locations: DES MOINES, Iowa, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Washington, Puerto Rico, Cedar Rapids, Cedar, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Tarpon Springs , Florida, Hutchinson , Kansas

☆ Elon Musk is gearing up to launch his Starship mega-rocket in August. Here are 2 changes SpaceX made to stop it exploding.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

SpaceX is adding changes to Starship's launchpad and rocket ahead of its next launch. SpaceX is now gearing up for a second launch, which CEO Musk has predicted could happen by end of August. Here are two crucial changes the firm has made to its Starship launch system, and why it hopes it'll keep the rocket from failing. Because of this change to the launch, SpaceX had to add a "vented interstage and heat shield" to protect the booster. The CEO is now vying for a second launch window by the end of August, he said in June.

Persons: Elon, Musk, it'll, SpaceX SpaceX's, didn't, Ashlee Vance, Vance Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Privacy, SpaceX's, SpaceX SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration, Bloomberg, CNBC, The Texas Commission, Environmental, FAA Locations: Wall, Silicon, of Mexico, Boca Chica , Texas

☆ Amazon built a data center empire in northern Virginia. Exclusive filings reveal it's using as much energy as a major city.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Daniel Geiger | Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Amazon does not disclose how many data centers it occupies, where they are located, or how much electricity they consume. Many of Amazon's data centers listed in the permits have been built recently and some may still be under construction. "You cannot run a data center based on the variability of solar and wind," Boston said. Any producer of renewable energy can sell one REC for every megawatt hour of renewable energy it generates. Brady, the Cushman & Wakefield data center executive, said that data centers often match their backup generation to the capacity of a data center's power supply.

Persons: Shaolei Ren, David Ward, Abraham Silverman, Sean Brady, Glenn Youngkin, Steve Helber, Terry Boston, –, Ben Hertz, Wood Mackenzie, Andy Jassy Mike Blake, Amazon's, Priya Barua, We've, Barua, Blackstone, Weston Swenson, Brady, Swenson, Josh Levi Organizations: Amazon, Washington DC, Amazon Web Services, UC Riverside, Columbia University's Center, Global Energy, Cushman & Wakefield, Dominion Energy, France's, AP, Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Republican, State Corporation Commission, Boston, state's Department, Environmental, Reuters, Microsoft, Google, Apple, Clean Energy Buyers Association, Virginia's Department, Industry, Cushman &, Dominion, Data Center Coalition Locations: Virginia, New York City, Washington, Seattle, France, Ward, Northern Virginia, West Coast, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE

☆ Europe Is Embarking on a Mining Renaissance. Winning Over Locals Is Proving a Challenge.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +12 min

“It’s definitely a [mining] renaissance,” said Rebecca Campbell, global mining and metals lead at law firm White & Case. “We’re trying to foster a permitting landscape that is both efficient and responsible.”In Europe, the mining renaissance comes after years of nearly no new mining activity on the continent. Left: A layer of spodumene within the host rock that Savannah Resources intends to mine. Savannah Resources, which has set up two offices in the municipality, has said it would strictly avoid that and instead build reservoirs to store rain water. That view is echoed by Savannah Resources.

Persons: COVAS, Portugal —, Barroso, BEL, mina ”, ”, Nelson Gomes, Covas, Alex Gorman, “, Nelson, YUSUF KHAN, “ It’s, Rebecca Campbell, ” “, Jayni Hein, Hein, “ We’re, Peel Hunt’s Gorman, Dale Ferguson, Gomes, Jessica Polfjärd, Polfjärd, Ana Fontoura Gouveia, Fontoura, ” Fontoura, Yusuf Khan Organizations: COVAS DO BARROSO, Associação, Peel, Vulcan Energy Resources, Adriatic Metals, White, Covington, Burling, Environmental, Council, Savannah Resources, Sustainable Business, Sweden’s Moderate Party, Serra Locations: Portugal, Porto, Boticas, Covas, It’s, Europe, Germany, Sweden, Bosnia, Finland, Greece, U.S, Savannah, London, spodumene, Serbia, China, yusuf.khan

☆ California found a way to ignore NIMBYs and build more housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California may have found an effective model to build affordable housing more quickly. The law applies to all regions of California that haven't met their housing construction targets, which is almost everywhere in the housing-scarce state. Between 2018 and 2021, 156 projects with more than 18,000 units have been approved or are under review under SB 35. SB 35 projects are also exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, further speeding up the approval process. "It'll be catastrophic if it's not extended," Ramie Dare, director of real estate at the non-profit affordable housing developer Mercy Housing California, told the researchers.

Persons: —, Bill, haven't, it's, Caleb Roope, Scott Wiener Organizations: UC Berkeley, Service, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, Bay Area, Pacific Companies, Mercy Housing Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, Bay, Los Angeles County, Mercy Housing California

☆ 'We are being poisoned': Black residents living in Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' say the state is guilty of 'genocide' and environmental racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Trisha Gopal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Black residents living in the area have a disproportionate lifetime cancer risk. The complaint alleged that the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality discriminated against Black residents by issuing permits that authorized new industrial facilities. Last year, the EPA announced a critical civil-rights investigation into Louisiana, looking into whether the state had violated the rights of Black residents in Cancer Alley. Smoke billows from a chemical plant in the area along 'Cancer Alley', October 12, 2013. "Once we came up with Cancer Alley, industry hated it, and they've been trying to prove that it's not a reality," he said.

Persons: Sharon Lavigne, James, Lavigne, " Lavigne, Andrew Lichtenstein, Michael Regan, Regan, Matthew, Giles Clarke, Deena Tumeh, Earthjustice, Darryl Malek, Wiley, they've, Kimberly Terrell, Terrell, I'm, James Parish, Pamela Spees, Spees, Malek, " Malek, I've Organizations: EPA, Service, Cancer, Getty, Civil, Inclusive, Brigade, Louisiana Department of Environmental, Center for Public Integrity, Environmental, Sierra Club, Atomic Workers Union, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, Louisiana Tumor, Shell Oil Co, Cancer Alley, Formosa Plastics, Center for Constitutional Rights, Mount Triumph Baptist Church, Local Locations: Louisiana, St, James Parish, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Inclusive Louisiana, Black, Cancer Alley, Baton Rouge, Cancer, Formosa

REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File photoAug 2 (Reuters) - Refining rare earths for the green energy transition is hard. "The (rare earths) commissioning process is painstaking, with stops and starts," Jim Litinsky, MP's CEO and largest shareholder, told investors in May. Rare earths magnets turn power into motion and are the essential components in an electric vehicle's motor. Rare earths refining "is not really being addressed even by those who are developing magnet capacity," said Ryan Castilloux, a minerals consultant at Adamas Intelligence. American Rare Earths is working with U.S. government scientists at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to develop bacteria that could process rare earths.

Persons: Steve Marcus, Lockheed Martin's, Lynas, Jim Litinsky, Kray Luxbacker, they've, Allan Walton, Ryan Castilloux, Castilloux, refines, Dysprosium, Tesla, Melissa Sanderson, Nathan Picarsic, Ernest Scheyder, Eric Onstad, Nick Carey, Melanie Burton, Veronica Brown, Susan Heavey Organizations: REUTERS, Lockheed, International Energy Agency, General Motors, University of, University of Birmingham, Adamas Intelligence, Trump, Reuters, Pentagon, Blue, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Edge, Sweden's, U.S, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Horizon Advisory, Thomson Locations: Pass , California, U.S, China, Apple's, Beijing, Texas, Western Australia, COVID, California, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Kuala Lumpur, United States, San Antonio , Texas, Sweden, South Africa, Karr

☆ SpaceX 'flame deflector' system for Starship launches may breach environmental regulations, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

SpaceX failed to apply for an environmental permit for its "flame deflector" system, CNBC reported. SpaceX failed to apply for the permits needed to use its "flame deflector" system used in rocket launches, potentially breaking environmental law, CNBC reported. However, according to a CNBC report, SpaceX failed to apply for the environmental permits needed to use the technology. A representative for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told CNBC that as of Thursday SpaceX hadn't obtained the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit needed to permit such runoff at the launch site. Last week, physicist Jeff Baumgardner told Spaceweather that a SpaceX launch earlier in July briefly punched a hole in the Earth's ionosphere.

Persons: Elon Musk, SpaceX hadn't, didn't, Jeff Baumgardner, Spaceweather Organizations: SpaceX, CNBC, Starship, Morning, Texas Commission, Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Texas

It would also limit the need for environmental reviews for projects that federal agencies deem to have significant and long-lasting positive impacts. NEPA is a bedrock environmental law that requires environmental reviews for major projects, and is a frequent focus of litigation that can delay projects for years. The White House said the proposed rule "would fully implement and build upon new permitting efficiencies" directed by Congress in this year's debt ceiling law. The rule would build on initial work to reform the NEPA process finalized last year, when the White House reversed a Trump administration overhaul of the process. Last year's changes required federal agencies to consider the “direct,” “indirect,” and “cumulative” impacts of proposed projects or actions, including a full evaluation of climate impacts.

Persons: John Podesta, Joe Biden’s, ” Podesta, Kevin Cramer, Ben, Clark Mindock Organizations: Council, Environmental, White House, NEPA, Congress, Trump, Republican, Senate Environment, Public, Committee, Sierra Club, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ SpaceX hasn't obtained environmental permits for 'flame deflector' system it's testing in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

(Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)SpaceX ran a "full-pressure test" of a new "flame deflector" system at its Starship Super Heavy launch site in South Texas on Friday. SpaceX hasn't disclosed how much water a system test consumes at the site, where that water will run off and what it contains. SpaceX hasn't said why it went ahead without a permit and didn't respond to a request for comment. Eric Roesch, an environmental engineer, has been tracking how SpaceX and other aerospace companies comply with environmental regulations in Texas via his newsletter ESGHound. "Industrial process water is a regulated pollutant under the Clean Water Act," Roesch told CNBC in an interview.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Elon Musk, SpaceX hasn't, Eric Roesch, Roesch Organizations: BOCA, SpaceX, CNBC, federal, Texas Commission, Environmental, Boca, Space Locations: BOCA CHICA , TX, Texas, Boca Chica, Brownsville , Texas, South Texas, of Mexico, Boca Chica , Texas, U.S, United States

July 20 (Reuters) - New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday directed state departments to investigate health risks associated with old lead-clad cables left by telecommunication companies. The Wall Street Journal this month reported that telecom companies, including AT&T (T.N) and Verizon Communications (VZ.N), had left toxic lead cables on poles, underwater and buried under ground across the U.S. including in New York. The investigation is to better understand the inventory and ownership of such cables in New York, Hochul said. "AT&T’s commitment to addressing our members’ exposure to lead must go beyond point-in-time testing of blood lead levels and incorporate proper follow up," the union said. U.S. Representative Pat Ryan of New York on Thursday wrote to the CEOs of Verizon, AT&T and industry group U.S. Telecom, demanding that they remove lead cables.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Hochul, John Stankey, Jessica Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, Pat Ryan, Ryan, Mrinalika Roy, Vinay Dwivedi, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Verizon Communications, Verizon, The Communications Workers, America, Federal Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, White House Council, Environmental, U.S . Telecom, Thomson Locations: New, New York, Bengaluru

☆ These are America’s 10 worst states to live and work in for 2023, and there's a big surprise at the very bottom
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

By the numbers, these are America's worst states to live and work in for 2023. 2023 Life, Health & Inclusion Score: 129 out of 350 points (Top States Grade: D) Strengths: Air Quality, Childcare, Worker Protections Weaknesses: Inclusiveness, Reproductive Rights9. 2023 Life, Health & Inclusion Score: 113 out of 350 points (Top States Grade: D-) Strength: Crime Rate Weaknesses: Childcare, Inclusiveness6. 2023 Life, Health & Inclusion Score: 98 out of 350 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Reproductive Rights, Crime4. 2023 Life, Health & Inclusion Score: 75 out of 350 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Health, Voting Rights1.

Persons: Roe, Wade, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Ron DeSantis, Daniel A, Varela, DeSantis, Benjamin Krain, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Douglas Mason, Indiana Matt Carr, Cangelosi, Nichole, Emily Curiel, Jim Watson, Willie B, Thomas, Digitalvision, Scott Zdon, John Bel Edwards, Oklahoma Dr, Franz Theard, Paul Ratje, Brandon Bell Organizations: Business, North Carolina Governor, CNBC, Florida, Florida Florida Gov, HB, Mater Academy Charter, School, Miami Herald, Getty, White, Northern Illinois University, Sunshine, Arkansas Little Rock Police Department, FBI, United Health Foundation, Health, Tennessee, Bonnaroo Music, Arts Festival, Getty Images Tennessee, Indiana, Stone, Hoosier, Missouri, Country Club, Kansas City Star, Tribune, Service, Emily Curiel | Kansas, Star, Reproductive, Alabama Voters, Beulah Baptist, AFP, Alabama, Center, Election Innovation, Research, South Carolina Senior, Gov, Reproductive Clinic, Washington, Washington Post, Texas, Texas State Capitol Locations: States, Florida, Texas, Florida Florida, Hialeah Gardens , Florida, Little Rock , Arkansas, Arkansas, Manchester , Tennessee, Louisiana, Mill Creek, Emily Curiel |, Montgomery , Alabama, Carolina, Oklahoma, Santa Teresa , New Mexico, Austin , Texas

☆ These are America’s 10 best states to live and work in for 2023, and there are some notable omissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

And because this is as much a demographic phenomenon as an economic one, Wright said workers shortages are now here to stay. "(A) quality of life that inspires people to build their business, families and lives here," one state economic development website promises. And with surveys showing a significant percentage of women factoring reproductive rights into where they are willing to live, state abortion laws are a new metric in 2023. The study shows that some states are falling short — America's Worst States to Live and Work in. But these ten states are America's best places to live and work in 2023.

Persons: Josh Wright, Wright Locations: U.S, States

[1/4] Liquified petroleum gas vessel Zita Schulte is seen docked at the port of Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S., May 15, 2023. A hydrogen hub would require access to millions of gallons of water – a challenge in Corpus Christi which is experiencing a multi-year drought. Peter Zanoni, the city manager for Corpus Christi, said the hydrogen project, if approved, all but requires the adoption of seawater desalination. And seawater desalination plants are energy intensive and expensive to build and maintain, energy experts say. Corpus Christi first proposed seawater desalination in 2017 to supply its rapidly growing energy and petrochemicals industries.

Persons: Zita Schulte, Joe Biden's, Read, Jennifer Granholm, Biden, Minh Khoi, Radhika Fox, Peter Zanoni, Zanoni, Paul Montagna, Christi, Errol Summerlin, Brandon Marks, Marks, Charles Zahn, Valerie Volcovici, Richard Valdmanis, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Investment, Jobs, Biden, Coastal Alliance, Corpus, U.S . Energy, Reuters, Rystad Energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Environmental, Corpus Christi, ExxonMobil, Saudi Arabia's Basic Industries Corporation, M University, Harte Research, Gulf of, Gulf of Mexico Studies, EPA, Texas Commission, Texas Campaign, Thomson Locations: Corpus Christi , Texas, U.S, Gulf, Christi , Texas, Corpus Christi, Southern California , Colorado , Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Corpus, United States, Gulf of Mexico, San Diego , California, Hillcrest, San Antonio

☆ Montana youth ask judge for historic order in climate trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Clark Mindock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

“This case has received national attention because it has been billed or perceived as a referendum on climate change generally,” he said. Attorneys for the state said during the trial that the youth had failed to target a specific policy upon which real relief could be granted. They said the primary policy targeted by the lawsuit, the Montana Environmental Policy Act, is a “procedural” law that does not mandate specific outcomes. The trial included testimony from the youth plaintiffs who claimed the state’s policies are contributing to extreme heat and drought, shrinking the state’s famed glaciers and worsening wildfires. The case is Held v. Montana, Montana First Judicial District Court, No.

Persons: Kathy Seeley, Nate Bellinger, Seeley, Michael Russell, hadn't, ”, Claire Vlases, Julia Olson, Roger Sullivan, Melissa Hornbein, Michael Russell of, Mark Stermitz, Crowley Fleck, Clark Mindock Organizations: U.S, Montana Department of, McGarvey, Western Environmental Law, Montana Department of Justice, Montana Youth, Thomson Locations: State, Montana, Helena, . Montana , Montana, Hawaii

☆ A farmer who lives near Elon Musk's Texas campus says the state's lack of regulations means it's like the 'Wild West' for developers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Texas' is a "Wild West" for developers like Elon Musk's Boring Company, a farmer told The WaPo. The Boring Company and SpaceX both have built sites in Bastrop, a rural area near Austin. A farmer who lives near Elon Musk's Texas campus around 30 miles east of Austin says that the boom in development in the area means it's like "the Wild West." The Boring Company, Musk's construction company — which builds tunnels under cities to help alleviate traffic congestion — began work on its Bastrop facility in 2021. At the public meeting, however, some local residents did show support for the boost to Bastrop's economy that Musk's investments would bring.

☆ A nuclear plant that leaked 400,000 gallons of radioactive water will be shut down after second incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Erik Ortiz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

This second leak involved hundreds of gallons of radioactive water, according to the utility company, far less than the 400,000 gallons that was discovered leaking in late November. "I think the general public needs to be informed more about this," Megan Sanborn, 31, who lives 6 miles upstream from the nuclear plant, said. Tritium spills do happen occasionally but are typically contained within a nuclear site, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The incident comes as Xcel Energy is in the midst of seeking an operating license renewal for Monticello. At a town hall meeting over the license on Wednesday, before the latest leak was known publicly, Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials sought to allay residents' fears.

☆ Texans sound off against Elon Musk's 'horrifying' plans for dumping The Boring Company wastewater into Colorado River
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Boring Company is facing criticism from Texans over its plans to dump treated wastewater. One resident said about 400 people showed up at the public meeting on The Boring Company's plans. "The thought of this happening is horrifying," Erin, who runs an organic farm near the Boring Company facility, told Fox News. The Boring Company. A spokesperson for The Boring Company did not respond to a request for comment from Insider.

☆ Wall Street Journal: Elon Musk is planning to build his own town
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Entities connected to Elon Musk and his companies have reportedly been acquiring thousands of acres of land in Texas with the hope of starting a town where his employees could live and work, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal Thursday. (CNN has not reviewed all of the land and other records cited in the Journal report.) By building out a company town of his own, Musk could take that approach even further. Incorporating a town might also give Musk, who has been known to clash with state and federal regulators, more say over how things are run. The Journal reported that Musk’s team has discussed incorporating the town in Bastrop County.

☆ J. R. R. Tolkien now shares his name with a mystical stream frog found in Ecuador — a country in the literal middle of the earth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

One researcher told Insider that he could imagine the frog living in Fangorn forest. "The encounter of this frog was very surprising," Sánchez-Nivicela told Insider in an email interview. Because only one Hyloscirtus tolkieni has been discovered thus far, there is still much to learn about how many exist and in what regions they live. Habitat of Hyloscirtus tolkieni (red arrow pointing to collection site); and at the collection site inside the forest (below). The stream frog will take its place among other amphibians that could exist in Middle Earth — including a stubby, wood-loving frog named after Bilbo Baggins that lives on the other side of the Atlantic.

☆ With Great Salt Lake at rock bottom, lawmakers aim for rescue
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. He Can Be Reached At Evan.Bush Nbcuni.Com. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Water volume on the Great Salt Lake has dropped by more than two-thirds since pioneers once settled the Salt Lake Valley. Much of the lake surface is now exposed. Photographs of empty marinas and the cracking crust of the lake’s surface often illustrate the lake’s decline. The rivers and streams that feed The Great Salt Lake are overallocated, which means farmers and other water users collectively have rights to more water than what typically flows through each year. Spencer Cox last November closed the Great Salt Lake basin to appropriations for new water uses, effectively capping the line of water users wanting to use what flows into the lake.

☆ Oil companies sue Los Angeles over ban on oil and gas drilling
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An oil company with a drilling operation in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles has filed a lawsuit against the city over its law to ban new wells and phase out all drilling within city limits. Warren Resources, which operates the 10-acre, oil-extraction site, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in LA Superior Court seeking to stop the ordinance from taking effect. The company argued the city failed to conduct an adequate environmental review of the potential impacts of halting extraction. There are 26 oil and gas fields and more than 5,000 active and idle wells in LA, in areas like Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, downtown, West LA, South LA and the northwest San Fernando Valley. Ian Thompson, a spokesperson for the LA City Attorney's office, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

☆ Mississippi agency denies NAACP’s water discrimination claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A Mississippi environmental regulator has denied claims that the state agency he leads discriminated against the capital city of Jackson in its distribution of federal funds for wastewater treatment. Most of Jackson lost running water for several days, and people had to wait in lines for water to drink, cook, bathe and flush toilets. The EPA announced on Oct. 20 that it was investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the state’s majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements to the water system. EPA Administrator Michael Regan has visited Jackson multiple times and has said “longstanding discrimination” has contributed to the decline of the city’s water system. The federal agency could withhold money from Mississippi if it finds wrongdoing — potentially millions of dollars.

Companies American Gas Association FollowWASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday launched the first standard on cutting carbon emissions from federal buildings as part of the Biden administration's policy on curbing climate change. The Federal Building Performance Standard requires federal agencies to cut energy use and electrify equipment and appliances to achieve zero emissions in 30% of their buildings by square footage space by 2030. U.S. President Joe Biden wants federal buildings to be emissions free by 2045 as part of his goal of decarbonizing the economy by 2050. To get there, agencies will be buying American-made products such as heat pumps, electric water heaters and other energy efficiency technologies, the White House said. "Eliminating natural gas in federal buildings is an impractical, unscientific and expensive idea that will have no environmental benefit," said Karen Harbert, AGA president and chief executive.

☆ Houston lifts boil-water order affecting more than 2 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON — Houston officials lifted an order Tuesday that had called for more than 2 million people in the nation’s fourth-largest city to boil their tap water before drinking or using it. The boil order had been in effect since Sunday, when a power outage at a purification plant caused pressure to drop. The order led to the closure of businesses and schools, including the Houston Independent School District, which canceled classes Monday and Tuesday. The city said water quality samples sent to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed the tap water meets regulatory standards and is safe to drink. The power system at the water plant undergoes regular maintenance, Turner said, but he did not give a timeline for how often.

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