Articles tagged with "environmental-regulation"
A Year of Oversight & Accountability: Sierra Club FOIAs Have Uncovered Oil & Gas Handouts, Canceled Grants, Opposition to Whitewashing of History, & More - CleanTechnica
The Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program has spent the first year of Donald Trump’s second term aggressively using Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to expose the Trump Administration’s close ties to the fossil fuel industry and its impact on environmental policy. Their efforts revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted numerous exemptions to coal, steel, and chemical industries from Clean Air Act pollution controls. Additionally, the Department of the Interior cut thousands of critical jobs, including park rangers and science technicians, while also attempting to rewrite American history in national parks. The EPA also canceled grants aimed at helping lower-income communities cope with climate and environmental risks. In response to the administration’s frequent failure to comply with FOIA requests, the Sierra Club filed multiple lawsuits against various agencies, including the Department of the Interior, the Office of Management and Budget, and others, seeking records on funding freezes, external communications, and political appointees’ activities. These legal actions have resulted in the release of hundreds of emails,
energyfossil-fuelsenvironmental-regulationClean-Air-ActSierra-Clubclimate-policyenvironmental-lawUS EPA Plans to Undercut State Authority to Protect Clean Water from Pipeline & Other Infrastructure Projects - CleanTechnica
The Trump administration announced a plan to limit the authority of states and tribes in regulating and protecting clean water from pollution caused by pipelines and other major infrastructure projects during the permitting process. This proposal would make it more difficult for these local entities to assess pollution risks and reject projects that could harm water quality before construction begins. The move comes shortly after federal pipeline safety regulators indicated they would take action against oil and gas operators failing to complete required safety work on pipelines. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, strongly criticized the plan. Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Director Cathy Collentine condemned the administration for prioritizing fossil fuel companies’ interests over public health and environmental safety. She emphasized that weakening state and tribal oversight threatens clean water supplies and argued for a shift toward clean, affordable energy sources like wind and solar instead of loosening regulations on oil and gas infrastructure. The Sierra Club, as a leading grassroots environmental organization, continues to advocate for protecting natural resources and promoting clean energy through activism, education, and legal
energyclean-energypipeline-safetyfossil-fuelsenvironmental-regulationwater-protectionrenewable-energySolar & Wind Attacks Continue With SPEED ACT - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights ongoing political opposition to solar and wind energy in the United States, particularly under the Trump administration and supported by the Republican Party. Despite broad bipartisan voter support for renewable energy, the recently passed Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act in the House of Representatives continues efforts to undermine solar and wind projects. The Act grants the administration authority to cancel previously approved renewable projects while expediting fossil fuel project approvals. It also significantly limits environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), reducing public input, restricting consideration of climate and environmental justice impacts, and making it harder for communities to legally challenge flawed environmental assessments. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and industry representatives like Abigail Ross Hopper of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), argue that the SPEED Act exacerbates an already hostile regulatory environment for clean energy. They contend the legislation fails to restore canceled renewable projects or address other barriers, effectively giving the Trump administration expansive powers to prioritize fossil fuels over
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerwind-powerenergy-policyclean-energyenvironmental-regulationEV Enthusiasts Are Losing The Battle In The USA Right Now — Why? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the contrasting trajectories of electric vehicle (EV) adoption in China, Europe, and the United States, attributing much of the disparity to political leadership and policy decisions. China, under President Xi Jinping since 2013, has aggressively pursued cleantech policies, becoming the global leader in solar, wind, and EV markets, with over half of global EV sales occurring there. European countries have similarly implemented strong CO2 emissions regulations and supported EV adoption, resulting in significant plugin vehicle sales. In contrast, the U.S. has experienced inconsistent leadership on climate and cleantech issues, with political shifts often undermining progress. The article critiques past U.S. presidents who either failed to prioritize or actively hindered cleantech advancement. While President Obama initiated important stimulus efforts and regulatory measures to promote EVs and sustainable industries, subsequent leadership under Donald Trump reversed many of these gains by deregulating industries, subsidizing fossil fuels, and attacking EV initiatives. Despite President Biden’s
energyelectric-vehiclesclean-technologyclimate-policyrenewable-energyEV-adoptionenvironmental-regulationTrump EPA Opens Door for More Haze Pollution in Texas, Benefiting Wealthy Utilities - CleanTechnica
The Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved two regional haze pollution plans submitted by the Texas government that effectively allow increased haze pollution without requiring any reductions. These plans replace a stronger federal rule established during the Obama Administration, which mandated the installation of pollution control equipment at 15 of Texas’s dirtiest coal-fired power plants. The new EPA approval permits major coal plant owners, including NRG and Luminant, to avoid implementing these controls, thereby enabling continued or increased emissions of harmful pollutants that contribute to regional haze—a phenomenon that impairs visibility in natural areas and harms public health. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), whose commissioners are appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, has historically submitted weak haze plans that fail to meet Clean Air Act requirements. Environmental advocates, such as the Sierra Club, criticize both the Texas government and the Trump EPA for disregarding public health and environmental concerns in favor of protecting wealthy utilities. The decision comes amid widespread opposition from over 30 organizations urging
energypollution-controlEPAcoal-power-plantsenvironmental-regulationhaze-pollutionTexas-energy-policyFrom Steward to Saboteur: America’s Role in the Failure to Govern the Maritime Commons - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the recent failure of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt a global carbon-pricing mechanism for the shipping industry, highlighting it as a contemporary example of Garrett Hardin’s “tragedy of the commons.” The ocean, serving as a shared resource and waste sink, suffers from overuse as nations prioritize short-term economic benefits from cheap fossil-fuel-driven trade while deferring the long-term environmental costs globally. The proposed carbon levy, part of the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework, aimed to price emissions and fund cleaner fuel infrastructure, but collapsed primarily due to heavy lobbying by the United States, which warned smaller countries of trade and diplomatic repercussions. Saudi Arabia and some allies supported the U.S. stance, framing the levy as a threat to competitiveness, resulting in a one-year postponement and a missed opportunity to align maritime shipping with global climate goals. The article further explores differing ideological interpretations of Hardin’s tragedy of the commons. Classical economists see the failure as a pricing problem solv
energymaritime-industrycarbon-pricingclimate-policyInternational-Maritime-Organizationfossil-fuelsenvironmental-regulationSierra Club Releases Nearly 1,000 New Emails from Trump’s EPA - CleanTechnica
The Sierra Club has released 952 pages of emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, revealing communications between Trump-era EPA officials and various industry groups, including automakers, chemical manufacturers, and energy associations. These records expose efforts by corporate polluters and lobbyists to influence the EPA to roll back environmental protections, such as vehicle emissions standards and California’s waiver policy aimed at reducing tailpipe pollution. Notably, companies like Toyota and Ford sought direct meetings with EPA leadership to discuss these rollbacks, while trade groups like the American Petroleum Institute coordinated support for nullifying emissions waivers. The emails also highlight industry attempts to weaken regulations on harmful chemicals such as PFAS and PFOA, with chemical companies like Chemours and industry associations lobbying against Biden administration protections. The Sierra Club views these disclosures as evidence that the Trump administration’s EPA prioritized polluters’ interests over public health and environmental safeguards. The organization plans to continue using FOIA requests to increase transparency and holds that these communications
energyenvironmental-regulationEPAvehicle-emissionschemical-manufacturingair-qualitypublic-healthUS Government Shills For Big Coal - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica criticizes recent U.S. government actions that favor the coal industry despite environmental and economic concerns. The Interior Department plans to open 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining and reduce royalty rates for coal companies. The Energy Department is allocating $625 million to upgrade coal plants to extend their operational life, while the EPA intends to repeal numerous Biden-era regulations aimed at limiting coal plant emissions of carbon dioxide, mercury, and other pollutants. These moves are framed as efforts to maintain coal’s role in the U.S. energy mix, even though coal is a major contributor to climate change and often more expensive than alternatives like natural gas or solar power. The article also highlights the growing electricity demand driven by massive data centers supporting artificial intelligence advancements, such as Meta’s planned data center larger than Manhattan. This surge in demand has led to significant utility bill increases for residents near data centers, with some areas experiencing up to a 267% rise in electricity costs over five years
energycoal-miningelectricity-generationdata-centersartificial-intelligenceenergy-policyenvironmental-regulationBig Tech Asked for Looser Clean Water Act Permitting. Trump Wants to Give It to Them
The Trump administration recently proposed environmental policy changes aimed at easing Clean Water Act permitting requirements for data centers, reflecting lobbying efforts by major tech companies. Specifically, the administration’s AI Action Plan includes recommendations to streamline the permitting process under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates discharges into federally protected waters during construction or operation. The Data Center Coalition (DCC), representing industry giants like Google and Amazon Web Services, along with Meta, had earlier requested these changes to reduce regulatory burdens, including exemptions from pre-construction notifications that help regulators assess environmental impacts before projects begin. Section 404 permits, known as 404 permits, are typically required for activities such as filling wetlands or redirecting streams, and obtaining them can be costly and time-consuming. Nationwide permits, which cover certain activities with less federal review and public participation, currently exist for various industries and construction types, including some buildings like stores and schools. Data centers sometimes fall under these existing permits but face more detailed scrutiny if their projects impact more
energydata-centersClean-Water-Actenvironmental-regulationAI-policyinfrastructure-permitstechnology-industryAlberta's Renewable Energy Sabotage: Time For Federal Intervention - CleanTechnica
The article highlights Alberta’s newly introduced reclamation security requirements for renewable energy projects, set to take effect by May 31, 2025, which are described as unprecedentedly severe and punitive. Developers must post securities equal to 30% of anticipated decommissioning costs at project start, increasing to 60% after 15 years, with these rules applied retroactively to existing projects by 2027. The exclusion of salvage value from these calculations inflates financial burdens well beyond international norms, making Alberta’s requirements the highest globally. This regulatory shift contrasts sharply with Alberta’s historically lax reclamation policies for fossil fuel industries, which have accumulated tens of billions in unfunded cleanup liabilities with minimal upfront financial assurances, effectively shifting cleanup costs to taxpayers. The article argues that this move represents a politically motivated, ideologically driven attack on the renewable energy sector, undermining investor confidence by breaking contractual norms through retroactive application of harsh financial obligations. Such instability threatens to halt billions in investments and push companies to relocate
energyrenewable-energyAlbertaenergy-policyenvironmental-regulationfossil-fuelsinvestment-risks