HARRISBURG, PA -- Responding to robust public input, the National Park Service announced plans to make the park experience more inclusive and welcoming for all visitors through its final visitor use management plan for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River. The plan will allow for free entry, enhance trails, expand picnicking areas, and improve accessibility for those with disabilities.
A new lawsuit filed yesterday evening challenges the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s approval of a key water quality permit for Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands pipeline.
Bank of America has reportedly joined its peers and ruled out funding for new drilling in the Arctic, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi have all announced similar policies this year. Bank of America has faced mounting pressure in recent months from Indigenous communities, environmental advocates, and shareholders to follow suit.
Natrium, WV -- Today, the Sierra Club and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition entered into a proposed consent decree settlement agreement with Eagle Natrium, LLC that would resolve the groups’ claims that the company violated its permit limits for discharges of mercury into the Ohio River from its chlor-alkali facility located in Natrium, West Virginia.
Today, President-Elect Biden announced he will be nominating former chair of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen as his Treasury Secretary.
By December 21, the Des Moines City Council is expected to vote on a resolution committing to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030. As an advocate for clean energy commitments across the country, and an expert on energy generation and distribution, Sierra Club was slated to speak on the agenda before the Council. MidAmerican Energy provides most of the City’s electricity, and Sierra Club’s recent Coal Truth report explains how much of MidAmerican’s energy generation continues to come from burning coal at significant cost to customers, contrary to the utility’s claim that it is on track to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources. The report also points out that MidAmerican is one of the largest utilities in the country that continues to refuse to set a carbon reduction target, and that its emissions from burning coal represent the largest source of carbon pollution in Iowa. It is Sierra Club’s understanding that Sierra Club was removed from the meeting agenda at the request of MidAmerican.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Friday, the Department of the Interior unveiled “descriptions” of proposed projects to be prioritized under the Great American Outdoors Act. The details ranged from confusing to entirely unhelpful and were immediately met with bipartisan criticism from members of Congress.
Washington, DC -- Today, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he will be appointing former Secretary of State John Kerry as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Kerry will serve as a cabinet-level appointee and on the National Security Council, the first time in history that the Council includes a member solely focused on the climate crisis.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, following Donald Trump’s defeat three weeks ago, General Motors withdrew its support for the Trump administration's attack on California's clean car standards after a year of pressure from environmental, clean air, consumer and faith advocates.