By Michael E. Webber and Hugh Daigle With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains $370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean electricity generation. One source that’s poised for growth is offshore wind power. Today the U.S. has just two operating offshore wind farms, off […]
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has established new offshore wind energy planning goals of 2,000 to 5,000 MW of offshore wind power by 2030 and up to 25,000 MW of offshore wind by 2045. If these goals are met, the offshore wind could meet power demands for up to 25 million homes by 2045. To […]
In a letter to Democratic colleagues, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the “life-changing legislation” will pass the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, ending more than a year of internal negotiations among Democrats over the climate, healthcare, and tax bill. The passage of the bill comes after positive jobs and inflation reports and other legislative accomplishments like […]
The U.S. Virgin Islands have created a new system of parks within over 30 areas that will now be protected from commercial development, while being preserved for nature and outdoor recreation. Hundreds of acres across sites on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas are now preserved within the new Territorial Park System, which includes […]
The annual UN Conference of Parties to negotiate international climate policy is supposed to be held in different countries and continents in order to make it easier for activists from otherwise overlooked regions (the global south) to attend. This year’s COP27 is in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and while the African placement, Yessenia Funes at […]
By Sarah Brown A bill loosening restrictions on cattle ranching in the Pantanal wetland has been approved by the Mato Grosso’s state legislature, prompting concerns it could lead to the loss of thousands of hectares of native vegetation. The Pantanal is a major transitional area between the country’s other major biomes — the Amazon Rainforest, […]
On Sunday, the U.S. Senate passed the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at fighting climate change, lowering prescription drug prices and raising certain corporate taxes. Following a long debate over the weekend, the tie-breaking vote along party lines was cast by Vice President Kamala Harris. The bill will now be sent to the House […]
Of the 8.3 metric tons of plastic produced in this world to date, 6.3 billion tons of that is trash, and less than 10% of it is recycled, which has created a global crisis, not just with the environment, but our health. Microplastics — tiny pieces of plastic debris, which result from the disposal and […]
By Joel E. Correia Climate change is already affecting much of the world’s population, with startlingly high temperatures from the Arctic to Australia. Air pollution from wildfires, vehicles and industries threatens human health. Bees and pollinators are dying in unprecedented numbers that may force changes in crop production and food availability. What do these have […]