Springfield, IL - The Illinois Pollution Control Board’s finalization of coal ash regulations makes significant strides to rectify coal's toxic footprint in Illinois. The rules create a comprehensive framework for the detection and clean up of coal ash contamination of groundwater -- the first in the state’s history to specifically address this pollution. Not only do the new rules create a new precedent for cleaning up coal ash and restoring the environment, they make necessary improvements to public participation and environmental justice. In finalizing these rules, the Board rejected utility demands to exclude certain ash ponds from the rules and expanded transparency, demonstrating its commitment to a more fair and open process.
Oakland, CA -- On Thursday evening, eight people were murdered in a mass shooting near Indianapolis, IN. As of today, there have been 147 mass shootings in 2021, with at least 45 mass shootings in April alone.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Interior Secretary Haaland today issued two executive orders prioritizing action on climate change and revoking Trump administration policies promoting fossil fuel development over the health of communities and the outdoors.
MISSOULA, MT— The federal district court in Montana on Tuesday invalidated the federal government’s approval of the first phase of the Rock Creek Mine, a major copper and silver mine proposed beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in northwest Montana.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today marks the end of a public comment period on the Biden Administration’s pause and review of the federal oil and gas leasing program. The comment period brought an outpouring of support for reforming and phasing out fossil fuel leasing on public lands and waters.
Des Moines, Iowa -- Today the new CEO of utility company MidAmerican, Kelcey Brown, received a gift basket with a petition signed by over 1300 Iowans and letters from local clean air advocates at Clean Air Muscatine calling on the utility to commit to a plan to go 100% clean energy.
New York, NY — Today, JPMorgan Chase announced a goal to finance and facilitate $2.5 trillion into climate solutions and sustainable development over the next ten years, but the bank failed to make any new commitments to reduce its financing of fossil fuels and overall climate impact.
ST PAUL, MN -- One week ahead of Earth Day, a coalition of Minnesota environmental, worker, Indigenous and progressive groups released a mid-term climate report card grading Governor Walz on his actions to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for Minnesota. Unfortunately, the report card found that Governor Walz’s actions fall short of the bold and decisive measures needed to respond to the climate crisis. Of the nine areas identified in the report card, Governor Walz received mainly F’s and D’s.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The annual National Park Week returns from April 17–25. The event celebrates our national parks and encourages everyone to get outdoors and explore the history, culture, and landscapes of these treasured places. The event kicks off Friday, April 16 with a Twitter chat for a conversation about National Park Week, ways to recreate responsibly, connected conservation, and other outdoors topics.
More than Century-Old BP Whiting Refinery Released Deadly Microscopic Soot-Like Particles Above Permitted Limit
Hammond, Ind. – A federal judge today ruled that the more than century-old BP Whiting Refinery on Lake Michigan, one of the nation’s largest refineries, repeatedly violated legal limits on deadly soot-like particulate air pollution.