Mission, TX-- Today, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security passed an appropriations bill that includes $1.6 billion for border walls and increased funding for Border Patrol. If passed through Congress, the appropriations legislation fully funds 65 miles of additional border wall in Rio Grande Valley-- walling off the entire 150-mile valley from their river (except the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge where prohibition on construction is upheld).
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality granted a crucial air quality permit to the builders of the fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline, allowing them to build a compressor station in Northampton County.
A new study by scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published today in the American Journal of Public Health found that facilities emitting dangerous particulate air pollution -- like soot -- disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color - demonstrating that the reprehensible history of economic injustice and environmental racism regarding air pollution continues in the United States.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. government released major scientific reports today that further strengthen the connection between human activity and the climate crisis. As part of the Congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, which is required by law to be issued every four years, the government released a series of documents today that includes a final version of the Climate Science Special report.
WASHINGTON, DC - Donald Trump went on an extended twitter tirade against the people of Puerto Rico this morning, tweeting among other things that the U.S. Island was alone responsible for its financial crisis, and threatening to abandon any long term commitment to recovery efforts. The vast majority of the Puerto Rico still lacks electricity and many have no clean water to speak of.
ATLANTA, GA -- Today, the Sierra Club launched a new voter engagement program in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, in support of Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff. Starting this week, the new peer-to-peer texting program will have Sierra Club volunteers reaching out to more than 14,000 voters in the district, in advance of the special election on Tuesday, April 18. Voters will receive a persuasion text this week and reminders to vote on Saturday and Monday.
Baltimore, M.D. —The Maryland General Assembly finalized the specifics of the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) updates to the EmPOWER Maryland program today, which passed through the House and Senate in March to be codified as law. The 2008 EmPOWER Maryland legislation established landmark energy efficiency targets and programs through 2015 with huge successes in energy efficiency services like appliance and lighting rebates, home energy checkups and behavior-based energy saving programs.
WASHINGTON, DC -- In a rambling address at CPAC today, President Donald Trump said he will eliminate environmental protections to help American business, while also saying that he wants environmental protection through regulations.
In Response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Cognitive dissonance, thy name is Donald Trump.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sierra Club today released an inspirational video promoting the Peoples Climate March on April 29 in Washington, D.C. and 85 sister cities across the globe.
Farmington, New Mexico-- Today, PNM announced that an extensive analysis of San Juan Generating Station in Waterflow, New Mexico found that the coal-fired power plant is no longer economically viable after 2022. This result will almost certainly expedite PNM’s transition from the 1800 MW plant to other sources of power three decades before its previously assumed closure.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the League of Conservation Voters released its landmark annual scorecard of voters, which registered a low score of Senator Bernie Sanders due to his presence on the Presidential campaign trail last year.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
The House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee advanced a bill to the House floor that parents and science teachers believe will compromise science education in the state.