AUSTIN, TX - Today, the Sierra Club learned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring the State of Texas to finally submit a plan to address the sulfur pollution from Vistra Energy’s Martin Lake Power Plant in Rusk County, Texas.
WASHINGTON,D.C. --- The Trump administration today released a new proposal that would severely limit critical habitat protections for endangered wildlife. The proposal runs counter to warnings of scientists around the world who have identified habitat loss as the single largest driver of species imperilment and a major contributing factor to pandemics, such as COVID-19. The new proposed definition of “habitat” seeks to prevent former habitat from being designated as critical habitat, even when that habitat has irreplaceable characteristics vital to the recovery of a species. It would also prevent areas that will be the last refuge for species harmed by climate change from being designated as critical habitat until it’s too late.
Washington, DC -- Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R.7617, The Fiscal Year 2021 Minibus II, which provides $210 billion in emergency funding to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, invests in the clean energy industry, and provides funding for vote by mail. The bill also will prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing its Record of Decision for the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Kirin Kennedy released the following statement:
The Trump administration issued a new permit yesterday that would allow the Keystone pipeline -- part of the pipeline system that would include the controversial proposed Keystone XL -- to increase capacity by 170,000 barrels of oil per day.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former coal lobbyist and current EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler finalized a new, dangerous environmental rollback yesterday, putting the health of thousands of communities living near coal ash disposal and storage sites at risk.
KANSAS CITY, MO -- Today marks the release of a new vision for Evergy’s future, created by a partnership of the Climate + Energy Project, Environment Missouri, and the Kansas and Missouri chapters of the Sierra Club. These groups call on Evergy to:
INDIANAPOLIS -- Today, the Sierra Club appealed the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s (IURC) decision approving a $146 million rate increase for Duke Energy Indiana’s customers.
Thirty local Arizona businesses from cities across the state are raising their voices in support of bold, progressive action from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in the Energy Modernization Docket. This docket includes everything from updating the renewable energy standard to supporting a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
CHARLOTTE -- On Friday evening, Duke Energy Carolinas filed a notice of intent to temporarily raise rates after state regulators denied the utility a request to defer potential losses due to the pandemic.
Duke intends to offset the rate hike by accelerating refunds of excess taxes to customers, but cannot guarantee that ratepayers will not see bigger bills as the summer progresses. Tomorrow, Duke can resume utility disconnections for delinquent accounts.
Tomorrow, Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at an oil rig in Midland, Texas. Trump is expected to tout his administration’s attacks on key environmental protections, with the goal of propping up the oil and gas industry at the expense of local communities that will be subjected to increased air and water pollution.