WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed standards for greenhouse gas emissions from new aircraft. The Trump administration’s EPA has issued the proposal because without the standards, American airplanes would be barred from flying in international airspace.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, July 21, the House of Representatives voted to approve the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, this year’s $740 billion annual military spending bill. A provision within this year’s NDAA requires the Pentagon to change the names of ten military installations currently named after Confederate military leaders within three years. It would also remove Confederate likenesses, symbols and paraphernalia from defense facilities nationwide within the same timeframe.
NEW YORK -- Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a massive new call for clean energy projects including a 2020 NYSERDA Tier 1 RFP for 1.6 million MWh under the Clean Energy Standard; a new RFP for 2 million MWh of land based wind or solar power; and a $400 million combined 2020 Offshore Wind RFP and Port Investment RFP.
A new criminal complaint followed the FBI arrest of Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder for corruption charges linked to the passage of Ohio’s House Bill 6 (HB 6); the coal and nuclear bailout tax legislation.
Brookline, M.A.--The Massachusetts Attorney General office identified a need for changes to state policies by disapproving a community-led ordinance that would’ve prohibited the installation of new fossil fuel construction in Brookline. Through a bylaw, the city would have seen a 15% decrease of carbon emissions in buildings over the next 30 years. The Sierra Club filed a brief in support of Brookline.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House today passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Included among the provisions is a requirement that the Pentagon remove Confederate names, references, and symbols from American military bases within three years. Also included are measures to safeguard public lands and Tribal sites from an expanded military bombing range in Nevada, to protect the area around the Grand Canyon from toxic uranium mining, and to expand public lands, recreation and access in California, Colorado and Washington state.
Washington, DC -- Late Friday evening, Congressman John Lewis, an icon of the Civil Rights Movement and representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district for more than 30 years, passed away.
In response, Sierra Club National Director for Policy Advocacy and Legal Leslie Fields released the following statement:
n July 10, the D.C. Circuit court ruled in favor of the Sierra Club’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its decision to omit Ottawa County from the agency’s list of areas across the country that are out of attainment with health-based federal ozone (smog pollution) standards. A nonattainment designation triggers stricter rules for permitting new sources of pollution, and requires that the state come up with a plan to bring the area back into attainment. The Clean Air Act makes clear that any county with pollution contributing to monitored violations of an air standard should be designated nonattainment.
Today, Morgan Stanley announced it would become the first major American bank to track and report the greenhouse gas emissions from its loans and investments as part of the bank’s own contribution to climate change.
Pinedale, WY-- Today, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved an updated plan to address the state’s rapidly-accelerating chronic wasting disease wildlife epidemic. The plan includes additional and more targeted monitoring for the disease statewide, and some plans to minimize artificial animal concentration areas. The plan does not address artificial winter feeding of elk.