A helicopter drops water on burning vegetation as the Bond Fire burns in Silverado, California on Dec. 3, 2020. Mark Rightmire / MediaNews Group / Orange County Register via Getty Images
2020 was the largest wildfire season in California's modern history, according to state agency Cal Fire. And, as the climate crisis continues to increase fire risk, there are concerns that 2021 could be just as devastating.
<p>To adapt to this new normal, California leaders Thursday announced a more-than half a billion dollar plan to prevent and prepare for wildfires.</p><p>"The hots are getting hotter. The dries are getting drier. There's a new reality," Newsom said as he announced the plan, as <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/newsom-unveils-536-million-plan-for-california-wildfires/" target="_blank">The Mercury News reported.</a> "If you don't believe in climate change, if you don't believe in science, you believe your own damn eyes. Something is happening as it relates to the issue of climate that's exacerbating conditions and making the challenge of wildfire suppression and prevention that much more ominous."</p>
<div id="a209e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="70b2cc5fa1f538b8cd89ec845ca6a108"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1380282300110303234" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">CA isn't waiting until peak wildfire season to protect our communities.
We proposed more than $1B for wildfire res… https://t.co/OBCLeb4DKN</div> — Office of the Governor of California (@Office of the Governor of California)<a href="https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/statuses/1380282300110303234">1617919919.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The $536 million Wildfire Prevention and Resiliency package earmarks $350 million for forest management, including vegetation thinning, as well as $25 million to help homeowners pay for prevention measures on their properties, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/08/california-wildfire-plan-gavin-newsom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian reported</a>. Newsom also touted the importance of adapting controlled burning techniques that were practiced for centuries by the state's first inhabitants. These smaller, necessary fires were suppressed by European settlers, contributing to the buildup of dried vegetation that has fueled historic blazes in recent years.<br></p><p>The new measure is an arrangement with California state lawmakers and has been introduced in both the House and Senate, according to The Mercury News. It is expected to pass Monday and be signed by Newsom next Tuesday. It builds on Newsom's pledge last week to hire around 1,400 new firefighters.</p>
<p>"For every dollar we spend on wildfire prevention, our state saves $6 to $7 in damage. But it's not just about saving money – this is about saving Californians' lives, their homes, and their livelihoods," Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) said in a <a href="https://sd39.senate.ca.gov/news/20210408-senate-applauds-agreement-wildfire-prevention-and-resiliency" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a>. "We've already had a wildfire break out in the San Gabriel mountains this month, and we're heading into a summer of hot, dry weather with another <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought" target="_self">drought</a> upon us."</p>
<div id="bae17" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e114632d229f8fd90ddcdd1aee36aaf4"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1380227283995271173" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The $536M Wildfire Prevention and Resiliency package is an investment that is needed now more than ever.
Every $… https://t.co/Nk6VXAJprC</div> — Senator Toni Atkins (@Senator Toni Atkins)<a href="https://twitter.com/SenToniAtkins/statuses/1380227283995271173">1617906802.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Indeed, San Francisco is in the midst of its second driest two-year stretch in recorded history, according to The Mercury News. The state's rainy season this winter was the third driest on record and the snowpack of the Sierra Nevada mountains was just 59 percent of its historic average as of April 1.</p><p>This leads experts to predict another devastating fire season. California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot warned reporters thursday that summer of 2021 promised "more of the same," as <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-pour-536-million-fire-prevention-amid-drought-concerns-n1263536" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NBC News reported</a>.</p><p>"The science is clear: Warming winter temperatures and warming summer temperatures are creating more dangerous and challenging wildfire conditions," he said. "Clearly much more needs to be done on a proactive, upfront basis to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire."</p>
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New Montana Bills ‘Declare War on Wolves, Bears and Other Carnivores,’ Wildlife Advocates Say
08 April
Animals
A grizzly bear searches for salmon. Scott Suriano / Moment / Getty Images
A flurry of bills has recently been introduced to Montana's state legislature that reduces restrictions on the killing of grizzly bears and wolves — two predators which have historically struggled to survive in the state.
<p>One such bill is <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billhtml/SB0098.htm" target="_blank">SB 98</a>, put forward by Republican Sen. Bruce Gillespie, which would expand the state law allowance for killing grizzly bears. Currently, Montanans can kill grizzly bears if they are caught in the act of killing their livestock, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/montana-wolves-bears-war-against-wildlife/" target="_blank">CBS News</a>. But the new bill — which has already passed the state Senate — would mean grizzly bears could be killed if they were "believed to be 'threatening' a person or livestock." The bill also states that grizzly populations have "<a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billhtml/SB0098.htm" target="_blank">recovered</a>" and should be taken off the federal <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species">endangered species</a> list.</p><p>Other bills include SB 314, which would allow all but 15 breeding pairs of wolves to be killed, and HB 224, which would legalize the use of neck snares to hunt wolves.</p>
<p>With Montana's first Republican governor in 16 years, Greg Gianforte, and a Republican-controlled legislature, the bills represent "a political sentiment," according to Rep. Tom France, a Democrat and retired regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/28/us/montana-wolves-grizzlies-hunting.html" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>, adding that Montana's State Legislature is now saying, "We don't live by federal laws and aren't going to pay attention to them."</p><p>Proponents of bills like the ones aimed at limiting wolf numbers feel they have "no voice" when it comes to keeping the predators away from eliminating their game, like elk and deer, State Senator Bob Brown, a Republican who introduced one of the bills, said at a hearing, according to The New York Times.</p><p>"We can't sit by and allow our game — the thing that feeds so many families — to be taken off the table," he added.</p>
<p>Activists and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a> advocates have opposed the bills, calling them a series of "bad bills" that "declare war on wolves, bears and other carnivores," according to a <a href="https://blog.humanesociety.org/2021/02/three-montana-lawmakers-declare-war-on-wolves-bears-and-other-carnivores-with-flurry-of-bad-bills.html?credit=blog_post_021921_id12086" target="_blank">statement</a> by Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. "These bills — all put forward by just three lawmakers, Rep. Paul Fielder, Sen. Bob Brown, and Sen. Bruce Gillespie — also seek to usurp biologists, including the state's wildlife agency," Block wrote.</p><p>In 1975, the grizzly bear was listed on the Endangered Species Act when only about 800 to 1,000 of remained, The New York Times reported. Today there are an estimated 1,800 in the Lower 48 — a successful recovery attributed to restrictions on hunting and poaching.</p><p>Sen. Gillespie, however, said the state's grizzly management is currently "stuck in a time capsule," according to the <a href="https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/01/grizzly-bears-4/" target="_blank">Montana Free Press</a>. "They long ago hit the target of 300 [grizzlies]... That means there are many times more conflicts [and] attacks — life-and-death conflicts," he added.</p>
<p>Despite popular conception, fatal grizzly bear attacks are extremely rare — only one person dies on average every three years in the lower 48, according to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/grizzly-bear-resurgence-increased-interactions-humans" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>. But as human and grizzly bear populations continue to expand, things might get "interesting," James Jonkel, a biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks who manages bears in and around Missoula, told National Geographic.</p><p>According to biologists, the problem will not be a lack of space across Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and even California, but rather of "social acceptance," National Geographic reported.</p>
<p>A new survey of Montana residents by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and the Human Dimensions Lab at the University of Montana shows that Montana residents "overwhelmingly hold positive attitudes toward grizzly bears," the Sierra Club <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2021/04/montana-survey-reveals-widespread-support-for-grizzly-bears" target="_blank">wrote in a statement</a>. Eighty-five percent agree that grizzly bears "are part of what makes Montana special" and 81 percent enjoy knowing grizzly bears exist in the state, even if they never see one.</p><p>The survey, however, also shows that this acceptance declines when surveying people who live and work on agricultural-ranching landscapes. "Survey responses reveal remaining public misconceptions about the role of hunting in preventing conflicts between bears and people," the Sierra Club wrote. These misconceptions include the knowledge that hunting could resolve human-and-bear conflict or scare the bears away — both claims that have been refuted by <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/program/documents/Common%20Myths%20Regarding%20Grizzly%20Bear%20Management%20.pdf" target="_blank">grizzly bear experts</a>.</p><p>Instead, experts recommend prevention measures like electric fencing, carcass removal and removing food and items that may attract bears in order to avoid future conflict and achieve a "'self-sustaining grizzly population' that Montanans favor," the Sierra Club concluded. </p>
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boonchai wedmakawand / Moment / Getty Images
Delta-8 THC is a cannabis product that has become a bestseller over the past few months, as many consumers find they can legally purchase it from CBD retailers. Its proponents say that Delta-8 THC will give you a nice little buzz, minus some of the more intense feelings (including paranoia) that are sometimes associated with marijuana.
Delta-8 THC is being marketed as a legal option for consumers who either don't live in a state with legal cannabis, or are a little apprehensive about how traditional psychoactive THC products will affect them. But is it all it's cracked up to be? Let's take a closer look, exploring what Delta-8 THC is, how it differs from other THC products, and whether it's actually legal for use.
<h2>What is Delta-8 THC?</h2><p>To better understand <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/health/marijuana-hemp-delta-8-thc.html" target="_blank">Delta-8 THC</a>, it helps to cover some basics about THC and cannabis.</p><p>Cannabis plants come chock full of different <a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>cannabinoids</em></a>. These are naturally-occuring chemical compounds that bind with receptors throughout your body. They can offer a wide range of mental, emotional, and physical effects; indeed, the healing and therapeutic properties marijuana or <a data-linked-post="2648563694" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/strongest-cbd-oil-2648563694.html" target="_blank">CBD products</a> offer can be attributed to cannabinoids.</p><p>One of the most common cannabinoids is what's known as Delta-9 THC. Simply put, this is the part of marijuana that gets you "high." It's worth noting that Delta-9 THC remains illegal in many states, except for in the most minute doses, and is still illegal at the federal level. CBD products are made with trace amounts of THC, ensuring that consumers can enjoy positive health effects in a perfectly legal way, without the risk of getting high.</p><p>On a chemical level, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/health/marijuana-hemp-delta-8-thc.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Delta-8 THC</a> is not too different from Delta-9 THC; the distinction comes down to just a few molecules. But those molecules make a big practical impact: Delta-8 THC will give you a buzz, but the psychoactive effects are considerably milder than with Delta-9 THC.</p><p>More specifically, many cannabis enthusiasts report that Delta-8 THC helps them feel good but also leaves them relatively clear-headed; and, it doesn't produce the anxiety or jitteriness that often characterize a Delta-9 THC high.</p><p>Additionally, because of the way the law is written regarding Delta-9 THC, some CBD companies now sell Delta-8 THC products in places where traditional cannabis is still illegal.</p><h2>What's the Difference Between Delta-9 THC and Delta-8 THC?</h2><p>Here are the primary differences to note between Delta-9 and Delta-8 THC:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. In other words, it's the part that gets you high.</li><li>Though some states have found workarounds, Delta-9 THC is still illegal under federal law.</li><li>Delta-8 THC is also found in the cannabis plant, though it's not quite as powerful or as well-known. </li><li>Delta-8 THC is milder in its psychoactive effects. And, it's not <em>technically </em>illegal under current law.</li></ul><p>These are just a few of the key distinctions to keep in mind. Delta-8 THC is popular among consumers who want a smoother high, and don't want to violate federal law.</p><h2>Is Delta-8 THC Legal?</h2><p>We noted that Delta-8 THC is not <em>technically </em>illegal. Here, we need to get into some of the nuanced legal considerations that surround this substance.</p><p>First of all, there are plenty of cannabis companies that actively promote Delta-8 THC as a legal way to get high. Again, that's technically true, but is still a point of debate for some.</p><p>For one thing, it's not explicitly listed as an illegal substance. While federal laws, and some state laws, specifically ban Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC is never mentioned. More to the point, though, many proponents will cite the<a href="https://www.usda.gov/farmbill" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 2018 Farm Bill</a>. This law legalized several industrial hemp products on a national level, including CBD.</p><p>The Farm Bill also includes some fairly nuanced positions regarding THC. In summary, the law says that hemp and cannabis-derived products are legal so long as they contain less than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC.</p><p>With that said, some lawyers contend that Delta-8's heyday may soon come to an end. That's because the Farm Bill clears it only so long as it's derived directly from hemp; most of the Delta-8 THC products sold today aren't made from hemp, but rather from synthetically-altered CBD.</p><p>Some of these issues are a little fuzzy, and <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/delta-8-thc-legal-weed-explained-1113859/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the legal future of Delta-8 THC</a> remains a little uncertain. For now, though, many experts would argue that it is legal to purchase.</p><h2>What Kinds of Delta-8 THC Products Are Available?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><p>If you're looking to try Delta-8 THC products, you'll certainly find plenty of different products. Dispensaries and legal cannabis stores currently have a trove of products that use this cannabinoid. Some examples include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Vape cartridges, tinctures, and capsules.</li><li>Beverages made with Delta-8 THC, including some seltzers.</li><li>Edibles, including Delta-8 THC gummy bears, chocolate bars, and more.</li></ul><p>The cannabis industry has really been running with Delta-8 THC, finding creative ways to bring it to market. And chances are, even more products will be springing up in the weeks and months to come. </p><p>It's very important to note that you should only purchase Delta-8 THC products from reputable brands and established cannabis retailers. We do not recommend purchasing any products that contain Delta-8 THC from gas stations or vape shops. If you are looking for a reputable place to explore these products, here are a few brands that we trust and recommend:</p>
<h2>What are the Pros and Cons of Delta-8 THC?</h2><p>As you consider whether Delta-8 THC is worth your time, it may be helpful to weigh the pros against the cons.</p><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><p>Let's start with some of the positives:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Delta-8 THC does have psychoactive effects, but it's a milder effect than with traditional Delta-9 THC.</li><li>Delta-8 THC is currently legal and widely accessible in multiple states.</li><li>There are a wide number of products that use Delta-8 THC.</li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><p>Now, a few of the downsides.</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Delta-8 THC isn't quite as commonplace as other cannabis products, including CBD, and some of the options on the market are expensive.</li><li>While this substance is technically legal, there are plenty of uncertainties over its legal future. It's something you want to keep in mind.</li><li>As a relatively new product, Delta-8 THC products are not regulated by the FDA and there is not independent testing in place to verify that it is safe or pure.</li></ul><p>As with any cannabis product, Delta-8 THC has its pros and cons. As you seek the cannabis product that's best for you, it's largely a matter of personal preference.</p><p>Also note that smoking, vaping, or otherwise imbibing any kind of cannabis-related product can carry some medical risks and negative health consequences. If you have any specific concerns, we recommend consulting with your doctor before you try any Delta-8 THC product.</p><p><em><strong>Josh Hurst </strong></em><em>is a journalist, critic, and essayist. He lives in Knoxville, TN, with his wife and three sons. He covers natural health, nutrition, supplements, and clean energy. His writing has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.</em></p>
NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum Delta 8 THC Oil
<img class="rm-lazyloadable-image rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNjAzNjAyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTMxMjAyNX0.wRpb_E9ZFZFNgkYsYh6cleNbTezo16rUeTmifcP_yCk/img.jpg?width=980" id="60683" width="400" height="400" data-rm-shortcode-id="32630bf41fd6909a232194b540c570eb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />nuleafnaturals.com
<p><a href="https://nuleafnaturals.com/product/full-spectrum-delta-8-thc-oil-30mg-ml/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum Delta 8 THC Oil</a> is made from organic hemp and organic virgin hemp seed extract. It's available in a 150 mg bottle and a 450 mg bottle, which both provide 15 mg of Delta 8 THC per serving. This formula is also available in a soft gel.</p>
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Botany Farms Delta-10 THC Vape Cartridge
<img class="rm-lazyloadable-image rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNjAzNjE2Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2OTcwNTgzM30.opm4l5-rSqV1HfvrbVE16EEVZvqxI42xgqnsQfL9p2M/img.jpg?width=980" id="2c749" width="400" height="400" data-rm-shortcode-id="a678e76d8cd5e13bae95d9c3ae664b85" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />botanyfarms.com
<p>The <a href="https://www.botanyfarms.com/product/delta-10-thc-vape-cartridge/?aff=14" target="_blank">Botany Farms Delta-10 THC Vape Cartridge</a> actually contains both Delta-10 and Delta-8 THC.This is designed to provide the desired effects of Delta-8 THC but without the drowsiness. They also offer a vape cartridge with a 1:1 concentration of <a href="https://www.botanyfarms.com/product/delta-10-delta-8-thc-vape-cartridge/?aff=14" target="_blank">Delta-8 THC</a> and Delta-10 THC. Note that while vape products can be used to aid in smoking cessation, we do not recommend vaping or smoking because of the negative health effects they can cause.</p>
$60
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Amazon and other tech employees hold a walkout past the Amazon Spheres during the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. Karen Ducey / Getty Images
Amazon illegally fired two employees after they publicly criticized the company for its lack of action on climate change and its failure to protect warehouse workers from the novel coronavirus, the National Labor Relations Board determined.
<p>Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa were highly visible members of the small group of Amazon employees who in 2018 called for Amazon to do more to address climate change, and eventually got 8,700 colleagues to sign on to their efforts. They were fired last April, not long after their group of about 400 employees spoke out, in intentional and public violation of Amazon's tightened down internal policies clamping down on employee criticism. </p>
<p>Cunningham and Costa allege they were fired in retaliation for their activism. If they and Amazon do not settle the case, the NLRB will accuse Amazon of unfair labor practices and the case will go before an administrative law judge. Also this week, the NLRB will be counting votes to see if Amazon's 6,000 Alabama warehouse employees will unionize, a potentially major change for the company's <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/3/22365330/amazon-apology-pee-bottles-worker-warehouse-union-pocan?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8ItpXkY_pAKfwD2uu3GqAjLjvjaB-o5UcgzXAWs9eIOrg54B29VS_nJspYoK5ANgHeZXSUHmP5bUju45O0w37yDtV6Lw&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">notoriously exploitative</a> labor practices.</p>
<p>As reported by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-coronavirus-pandemic-a849bd3728242774ad6dbcb3aec5370a?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8HYci1M4nt7jFq2KU1Z3CVE6_OzTsL3eWrEz4az0bWubUd8mtIzQoMjhESNcA7mINPDP9XZ6N6Ow4otTxQAlJ-A-OhLA&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>:</p><blockquote>Cunningham said the ruling proves that they were on the right side of history.</blockquote><blockquote>"Amazon tried to silence us," said Cunningham. "It didn't work."</blockquote><blockquote>Because of the ruling, Amazon could be forced to offer Cunningham and Costa their jobs back, pay them back pay and reimburse them for expenses related to losing their jobs.</blockquote><blockquote>Cunningham and Costa, who were user-experience designers at Amazon, were the two most prominent voices among a group of workers who wanted the company, which has a giant carbon footprint, to take more steps to combat climate change and to stop doing business with oil and gas companies. They held protests and spoke to the media about their concerns.</blockquote><blockquote>About a year ago, Cunningham and Costa planned a call between Amazon warehouse and office workers to talk about unsafe conditions in the e-commerce giant's warehouses. Before it could happen, Amazon fired both women. An Amazon executive quit in protest, saying he couldn't stand by as whistleblowers were silenced.</blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p> (NLRB determination: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/technology/amazon-nlrb-activist-workers.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8nZCaxs2GAMxLZ-kVDYUrqZs3eDVpntkt6Q8gYIEBJUPeMOs4Kz47-95IxDJ5XovhR5HOhwd_qMhyLTcYYehIvESmsbQ&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-coronavirus-pandemic-a849bd3728242774ad6dbcb3aec5370a?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8HYci1M4nt7jFq2KU1Z3CVE6_OzTsL3eWrEz4az0bWubUd8mtIzQoMjhESNcA7mINPDP9XZ6N6Ow4otTxQAlJ-A-OhLA&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP</a>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2BS0P7?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--8g__E1HNyyVVEQKT24txauj8AFWA-2j38jU95gTlXQs8VrYAGezLJNsKjlXXwoNb1qhlfcpLAZaS6_L1dIGPxD9-xsQ&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Reuters</a>; Amazon policy change: <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/amazon-can-t-just-change-its-rules-to-squash-activism-1846621533?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--FLBKYlVBJ2ZfIIa7OtORzhdZq-dfBDyT6Xgnckvd_dm6ad-Kj5-KNpTghHi4kCwgWcWideHVf5s9-NU4YycfkL5K4yQ&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Earther</a>; Union vote: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/technology/amazon-control-bathroom-breaks.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8adhd83OQqBC8o4bj7aM3wedandiQeBKYxDkxahU3fS2wmmrypwvd58GS2xEMUGJ5r0EQIEXtFzXAXQGnj-B6igz9LTA&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.al.com/business/2021/04/most-americans-support-alabama-amazon-union-drive-poll-finds.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119852335&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Fj-TTaMDN4OVSnDedLUNWgPZs5gnc7cYYrmdEWlUXW9efGjCZXNDYknbND6LEToIpi_zd5zS6IghNTO0fV2Li7mqAag&utm_content=119852335&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AL.com</a>)</p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Employees Are Fighting for Climate Change at Work - EcoWatch ›
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Trending
Contaminated Military Bases 'Are No Place' for Kids, Advocates Warn as Biden Ramps up Detention Capacity
05 April
Politics
Young unaccompanied migrants, ages 3-9, watch TV inside a playpen at the Department of Homeland Security holding facility on March 30, 2021 in Donna, Texas. Dario Lopez-Mills - Pool / Getty Images
By Kenny Stancil
In a move that was condemned by environmental justice advocates on Friday, President Joe Biden's administration earlier this week sent 500 unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors to Fort Bliss — a highly contaminated and potentially hazardous military base in El Paso, Texas — and is reportedly considering using additional toxic military sites as detention centers for migrant children in U.S. custody.
<p>"We are extremely concerned to hear of plans to detain immigrant children in Fort Bliss. Military bases filled with contaminated sites are no place for the healthy development of any child," Melissa Legge, an attorney at Earthjustice, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/04/02/first-500-unaccompanied-minors-sent-toxic-military-base-fort-bliss" target="_blank">said</a> in a statement.</p><p>"We recognize that the humanitarian situation at the border needs to be addressed in humanity, compassion, and expediency," Legge continued. "Part of that requires keeping children away from toxic military sites."</p>
<p>"While we are hopeful that the Biden administration will keep children safe, we remain vigilant and ready to continue protecting detained minors in toxic facilities," she added. "Immigrant children under the care of the federal government should not be in cages, let alone toxic sites in military bases."</p><p>The Biden administration announced last week that facilities at Fort Bliss "would serve as temporary housing for up to 5,000 unaccompanied minors," the El Paso Times <a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2021/03/30/first-500-unaccompanied-migrant-children-arrive-fort-bliss/4811988001/" target="_blank">reported</a> Tuesday. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said "it will reserve the Fort Bliss accommodations for boys ages 13 to 17. Military personnel won't staff the site or provide care for the children, who are in the custody and care of HHS."</p>
<p>There are 17,641 unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in U.S. custody as of Tuesday,<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/covid-19-cases-unaccompanied-migrant-children-facilities-spark/story?id=76788478" target="_blank"> according to</a> ABC News. Over 5,600 children are being held in <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/15/fema-ordered-help-border-patrol-holds-3000-migrant-children-over-legal-limit" target="_blank">overcrowded facilities</a> run by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which falls under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), while more than 12,000 are under the supervision of HHS.</p><p>Although DHS is supposed to transfer minors to the HHS's Office of Refugee Resettlement within 72 hours — after which children are housed in one of more than 200 HHS-approved shelters in 22 states until they can be placed with a family member or another suitable sponsor — thousands have been stuck for far longer than legally allowed in<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/19/sen-chris-murphy-fought-back-tears-visiting-detained-migrant-children-texas" target="_blank"> squalid conditions</a>.</p>
<p>Last month, the White House came under fire for <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/23/biden-restricts-media-access-photos-show-children-crowded-border-jails" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">restricting</a> media access to CBP's detention facilities, which some journalists have <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1374047709078777857" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">described</a> as "border jails."</p><p>As the El Paso Times <a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2021/03/30/first-500-unaccompanied-migrant-children-arrive-fort-bliss/4811988001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">noted</a>, HHS characterized Fort Bliss as "an 'emergency intake site' and a temporary measure to quickly remove the children from the custody of the Border Patrol."</p><p>Earthjustice argues that the Biden administration's plan to use military bases — many of which the group says "are known to be riddled with toxic hazards from past military operations, spills, storage of toxic chemicals, unexploded ordnances, and firing ranges" — to expand its capacity to temporarily detain unaccompanied children is no solution.</p><p>According to Earthjustice: "<a href="https://www.hillandponton.com/military-base-exposures-united-states/#:~:text=The%20EPA%20currently%20has%20over,sites%20listed%20as%20Superfund%20Priorities." target="_blank">130 military bases and installations</a> are considered priority Superfund sites by the Environmental Protection Agency. There are <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2020/Mar/13/2002264440/-1/-1/1/PFAS_Task_Force_Progress_Report_March_2020.pdf" target="_blank">currently 651 Department of Defense and National Guard sites</a> potentially contaminated by toxic chemicals known as PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/pfcshealth.pdf" target="_blank">don't easily break down</a>, and they can <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/hoosick/docs/qandabloodtestingshort.pdf" target="_blank">persist in your body</a> and in the environment for decades."</p>
<p>Several of the military sites being considered by the Biden administration "are contaminated with potentially hazardous pollutants and some are even located on or near Superfund sites," Earthjustice said.</p><p>The organization continued:</p><blockquote>Superfund sites under consideration for housing children in immigration custody include the <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article250010189.html" target="_blank">Homestead Detention Facility</a> in Homestead, Florida, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Moffett-Field-in-Mountain-View-may-be-used-as-16016637.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Moffett Field</a> in Mountain View, California, and <a href="https://www.atraxialaw.com/san-antonio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joint Base San Antonio</a> in Texas. Many of the sites remain inadequately remediated and still contaminated. Without proper environmental reviews, there is no way to guarantee these sites are safe for children, potentially exposing them to toxic chemicals that could have lifelong health impacts.<br>Fort Bliss is no exception. Earthjustice, along with partners including Alianza Nacional de Campesinas and the National Hispanic Medical Association, released <a href="https://earthjustice.org/features/migrant-children-detention-center-fort-bliss-documents" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hundreds of documents of searchable documents</a> and an <a href="https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/Fort-Bliss_Expert-Report_2019-11-18.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">expert analysis</a> of previous plans for construction of a temporary detention center for children and families at Fort Bliss. These records document several problems with the project, including that the Army did not adequately investigate to determine what types of waste had been disposed of at the site, that the methods used for testing the soil samples were inadequate or never completed, and that samples taken after the supposed clean-up still had concerning levels of pollution. Additionally, illegal dumping on the site may continue to this day. As a result, there is now even greater uncertainty about the environmental hazards at the site and a greater need for thorough testing, analysis, and cleanup.</blockquote>
<p>"We are deeply concerned about the decision to open temporary detention facilities for minors at Fort Bliss and the potential health risks to the minors detained in tents there," said Dr. Elena Rios, president of the National Hispanic Medical Association, a client in Earthjustice's 2018 FOIA lawsuit regarding the base.</p><p>"Based on what we found in our Fort Bliss investigation in 2018," she added, "there are still present toxins from past landfills, which means children could be forcibly exposed to toxicity linked to cancer and development defects."</p><p>Despite the GOP's <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/28/gops-border-stunt-nothing-divide-and-distract-tactic-say-immigrant-rights-advocates" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dehumanizing and misleading narrative</a> that a "border crisis" is afoot, there has not been an uncharacteristic "surge" in migrants entering the U.S. at the southern border, but rather a predictable bump in border crossings that typically happens at this time of year, augmented by the arrival of people who would have come in 2020 but could not due to the clampdown on immigration during the Covid-19 pandemic, as The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/23/theres-no-migrant-surge-us-southern-border-heres-data/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> last week.</p>
<p>An HHS statement on the transfer of migrant children to the military base in El Paso <a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2021/03/30/first-500-unaccompanied-migrant-children-arrive-fort-bliss/4811988001/" target="_blank">said</a> that "the use of the Fort Bliss facility will have no impact on the Department of Defense's ability to conduct its primary mission or on military readiness."</p><p>The deference to militarism is telling. According to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/29/bowman-blames-decades-us-capitalism-imperialism-flow-asylum-seekers" target="_blank">Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) </a>and <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/31/its-not-border-crisis-says-ocasio-cortez-its-imperialism-crisis-climate-crisis-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)</a>, it is impossible to understand the arrival of asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border without taking into account the role played by U.S. imperialism.</p><p>Earlier this week, as <em>Common Dreams</em> reported, the two progressive lawmakers made the case that the root causes of migration from Central America and Mexico to the U.S. can be found in decades of interventionist foreign policy, profit-maximizing trade and carceral policies, and the climate crisis — all driven by the pursuit of capitalist class interests.</p><p>Citing the U.S. government's "flagrant disregard for the health of those in custody," Earthjustice called for "the immediate halt of any plans to place children in such unsafe facilities, the securing of safe and suitable housing for children while they are required to remain in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the development of solutions that do not involve placing children on or near toxic sites, military sites, or in detention-like settings."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/04/02/biden-ramps-detention-capacity-group-warns-contaminated-military-bases-are-no-place" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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If passed, a green amendment proposal could guarantee clean air and water for residents in Maine's constitution. gregobagel / Getty Images
Maine State Senator Chloe Maxmin doesn't identify as a "traditional Democrat."
<p>She has a good reason for this: "I don't really trust the government," she told EcoWatch. "I haven't trusted our government throughout how it's responded to COVID and I don't trust it in terms of how it's going to respond to the climate crisis."</p><p>Sen. Maxmin was elected to represent Maine's 13th Senate District this past November. Two years prior, she was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, serving as the 88th District's first-ever Democrat, where she won by canvassing the historically conservative district and talking to people regardless of their political affiliation.</p><p>Sen. Maxmin's <a href="https://chloe.mainecandidate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">love for home</a> on her family's farm in Nobleboro, Maine, inspires her work in community organizing, climate advocacy and uplifting the rural voice in electoral politics — a perspective she believes the left abandoned, she <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/what-a-rural-maine-house-race-can-teach-the-left/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wrote in The Nation</a> during her first campaign.</p><p>But in a politically divided state that is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/climate-environment/climate-change-america/#:~:text=%E2%80%94%20Alaska%20is%20the%20fastest%2Dwarming,and%20Massachusetts%20%E2%80%94%20trail%20close%20behind." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">warming faster</a> than most parts of the U.S., Sen. Maxmin works to implement climate policy that both sides of the political spectrum can get behind. In early March, she introduced the <a href="http://www.mainesenate.org/sen-maxmin-introduces-pine-tree-amendment-to-ensure-the-right-to-a-healthy-environment/" target="_blank">Pine Tree Amendment</a>, which would secure state citizens the right to a healthy environment in Maine's constitution.</p><p>The amendment's introduction follows a growing movement that's led by Maya K. van Rossum, leader of the <a href="https://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/delaware-riverkeeper" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Delaware Riverkeeper Network</a> and founder of the <a href="https://forthegenerations.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Green Amendments For The Generations</a>, a nonprofit organization that inspires states to amend their constitutions to give every person inalienable rights to "pure water, clean air, a stable climate and healthy environments."</p><p>In 2019, two constituents brought the idea for a green amendment to Sen. Maxmin, who liked the idea of including the rights to clean air and water in the state's constitution because it was "much more foundational" than the volatile environmental laws being discussed in the state's capital.</p>
<p>So far, Montana and Pennsylvania are the only states to include green amendments in their state constitutions, but popularity around the movement is growing and similar amendments are being proposed in various states, including New York, New Mexico and Oregon. While the movement's goal is to build enough momentum to implement environmental rights at a federal level, van Rossum said the movement requires the foundation of multiple building blocks — first starting at the local level.</p><p>"If we can go state by state, not only are we going to be educating and organizing and building the foundation for the successful passage of a federal amendment at the right time, but in the interim, we will be harnessing the power of the bill of rights section of our state constitutions for the benefit of environmental protection and the people," van Rossum told EcoWatch.</p><p>The movement hasn't avoided critics, however, who will ask van Rossum, "What does it mean to have clean water?" since the terminology can be broad. Van Rossum explained that the green amendments put the rights to clean air, water and a healthy environment on par with the rights to free speech and religious freedom.</p><p>"Broad language is a characteristic of the bill of rights amendments," she told EcoWatch, adding that the language must provide both a level of guidance and enough flexibility for government officials and courts.</p><p>In 2013, van Rossum and her team used Pennsylvania's green amendment to win a legal battle against a pro-fracking law. The victory proved the amendment worked, "even in a pro-fracking state with a very conservative court in place, at the time," van Rossum told EcoWatch. And in Montana, the green amendment has been used to <a href="https://forthegenerations.org/wp-content/uploads/MEIC.pdf" target="_blank">rescind a permit</a> for industrial gold mining.</p><p>But the amendments do more than protect basic rights to clean air and water, van Rossum explained, adding that they can also empower communities to take ownership over their natural resources. When people's environmental rights are written into the constitution, rural communities that have a deep personal relationship with natural resources can raise their expectations of the government's ability to protect those rights. "This is really returning the power to the people, because we always have to remember that fundamentally the constitution is about the people telling government how they want them to behave," van Rossum said.</p>
<p>This is especially valuable for rural Mainers who are increasingly impacted by climate change but may be resistant to environmental legislation for "really good reasons," Sen. Maxmin added.</p><p>"The legacy of climate policy in rural communities has been kind of a heavy-handed government ideology that does not reflect the realities of our rural lives," Sen. Maxmin told EcoWatch, referencing current offshore wind development projects being proposed off of the Gulf of Maine. Fishing communities consider the projects to be controversial, claiming they would jeopardize lobster fishing zones.</p><p>Bills such as the Pine Tree Amendment are unique since they don't "impact one person more than the other," Sen. Maxmin said, adding that the amendment is a valuable stepping-off point for future climate policy.</p><p>In Maine, the amendment has received <a href="http://www.mainesenate.org/committee-gives-bipartisan-support-to-sen-maxmins-pine-tree-amendment-to-ensure-the-right-to-a-healthy-environment/" target="_blank">bipartisan support</a> from the Legislature's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. It now faces votes in both the Maine Senate and House of Representatives, where it requires a two-thirds majority approval and approval from the majority of Maine voters.</p><p>At the very least, van Rossum stressed how green amendments can encourage important conversations across states and local communities. "There is something intellectually and emotionally very deeply empowering and touching for people when you are talking about their water and their air," she told EcoWatch. "It's just so personal."</p><p>Senator Maxmin hopes that the Pine Tree Amendment can encourage further discussion on what a fair clean energy transition will look like, specifically for the frontline communities who would traditionally be displaced from an energy transition. "No matter what, the Pine Tree Amendment gives us all the equal rights, the equal foundation and the equal footing to have these conversations," she concluded.</p>
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Fossil Fuel Companies Scored Billions in Tax Breaks in 2020 Before Laying off Thousands of Workers
02 April
Business
Marathon Petroleum Corporation's Los Angeles Refinery in Carson, California, on April 25, 2020. ROBYN BECK / AFP via Getty Images
Fossil fuel companies got billions in tax breaks and laid off more than 58,000 workers last year, a report from BailoutWatch found.
<p>Provisions in the CARES Act passed last March, gave 77 fossil fuel companies $8.2 billion in tax breaks, and their laid off workers a $1,200 stimulus check. Using SEC data, the report shows Marathon Petroleum, the biggest single beneficiary, got more than $2 billion before laying off almost 2,000 workers — about 9% of its workforce at a rate of around $1 million per laid off worker. </p>
<p>Five companies went bankrupt after receiving $308.7 million in tax bailouts and laid off a total of 5,683 workers. "I'm not surprised that these companies took advantage of these tax benefits, but I'm horrified by the layoffs after they got this money," said Chris Kuveke, a researcher at BailoutWatch, told The Guardian. "Last year's stimulus was about keeping the economy going, but these companies didn't use these resources to retain their workers. These are companies that are polluting the environment, increasing the deadliness of the pandemic and letting go of their workers."</p>
<p>As reported by <a href="https://bailoutwatch.org/analysis/fossil-fuel-firmsslashed-nearly-60000-jobs-in-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119258146&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8-rVE0_CZQMGrpG-GgqcftYULAWvTdVGqDPKkerrWLoOXczngZyKhVjUR1LiCuWmGfkWSHOHp-YPHcyfBlBSOiEW0sXA&utm_content=119258146&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">BailoutWatch</a>:</p><blockquote>As Washington debates ending tax subsidies for fossil fuels, part of President Joe Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure proposal, fossil fuel companies are quietly reporting their employee headcounts and final tax bills for 2020. The data underscore the hypocrisy of <a href="https://twitter.com/APIenergy/status/1377307228261191690" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">claims</a> that fossil fuels are a necessary engine of employment and succeed on an equal playing field in the free market.<br>---<br>The bailouts are the tip of a much bigger iceberg: Fossil fuels have long benefited from a trove of tax-code provisions. In the century since they emerged, the coal, oil, and gas industries' strength has reflected not market efficiencies, as defenders claim, but government largesse that far exceeds what has so far been extended to the clean energy sector.<br></blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/02/fossil-fuel-companies-billions-tax-breaks-workers?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119258146&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_CgjhgRzMBQWd-4C-p2HpHZsxe469jF0OxS_RrJ00ySFfAGZU45yhBxhCk4vMwPFG-CUFN2kcOhv8iwdj8jjNJNVpMMA&utm_content=119258146&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/02042021/fossil-fuel-companies-took-billions-in-u-s-coronavirus-relief-funds-but-still-cut-nearly-60000-jobs/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119258146&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--4MdjEE5eiEKXeVftnpj7GxATDcsNomgwgt9nWh5BwaeH6N1PVrLA8Oo4zZTWFu-JObkTw5ETLTOnUFVqYzZfAZ4rg-A&utm_content=119258146&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">InsideClimate News</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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A demonstrator stands in front of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Science March in Washington, DC on Earth Day, April 22, 2017. Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday it will remove more than 40 members of scientific advisory panels appointed under the previous administration in an effort to reduce the heavy influence of regulated industries over the regulatory process.
<p>The Trump administration barred — illegally, according to critics — experts who received EPA grants from sitting on the agency's Science Advisory Board (SAB) and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), in effect elevating industry-backed voices and freezing out independent scientific experts. </p>
<p>Trump's EPA refused to strengthen standards on <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/top_story/epa-keeps-ozone-standard/?swcfpc=1&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_AfDU7ouiAsX0joYyQpndgZem5cqlSh1ndM8nmg2vRfN0WslPPdaLeykK8hqjyErT5Sr0Rz_KOw1W0IlDEp-68JOff8A&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ozone</a>, which disproportionately harms low-income communities and communities of color, on the advice of Trump-picked members of the CASAC. The CASAC also split on strengthening limits on industrial soot <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/14/epa-pollution-coronavirus/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8rWwT8Nzp1XMNyEBb-eSHTdW8czcI62TSRYCnFoNQe1Ixw841H6t8mOSChm0QPKpE29XqONUHsySD0LvpCFY1IYR_ofg&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">(also known as PM2.5) pollution</a> despite mounting evidence it increased the risk of dying from COVID-19. An EPA spokesperson said the dismissed Trump-appointed board members were eligible to reapply if they chose to do so.</p>
<p>In a statement, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, "Resetting these two scientific advisory committees will ensure the agency receives the best possible scientific insight to support our work to protect human health and the environment."</p>
<p>As reported by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/03/31/epa-advisory-panels/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ROGB_v7OuH54XdCLWCrK5ObHMuT_WUQM3B8fDlOehjUFMz--cltNni49I9Zr9g-L7J_zrGimcWpWZSL8aqmLz1iFGjw&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>:</p><blockquote>The action Wednesday is one of several steps Regan says are necessary to rebuild the scientific integrity of the EPA and restore staff morale. It comes as the White House this week launched a government-wide assessment of past political interference in science.</blockquote><blockquote>Regan recently, for instance, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/03/18/epa-website-climate/?itid=lk_inline_manual_32" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">revived</a> an EPA webpage on climate change deleted during Trump's first weeks in office. And in a memo to staff last week, he said the agency is reviewing policies that impeded science and is encouraging career employees to "bring any items of concern" to the attention of scientific integrity officials as they review Trump-era actions.</blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/03/31/epa-advisory-panels/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ROGB_v7OuH54XdCLWCrK5ObHMuT_WUQM3B8fDlOehjUFMz--cltNni49I9Zr9g-L7J_zrGimcWpWZSL8aqmLz1iFGjw&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/03/31/stories/1063728919?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--_2rt92BRsUUZbyYOrHbyH8YmjmLXZ_1RfJIcPusOaIpw3_IkZn9SdkxLILIJu3S1yD5-9w_EFkGXBlInwOSP9tx6bOQ&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a>, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/545764-epa-chief-to-replace-trump-appointees-science-advisory-panels?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9K9HWtdoSXHRkLCol-2Apv20urTs7oIKhuoLDzaW8hQpNR-5-UUQGY-tn613MUkHiquQ9syMpXARI5Otu4-n2auKYz4A&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Hill</a>, <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VWn0fb3BbjgqW8-LSwR3DCWWwW2_PQhc4pTsRWN8cZm5c3p_b1V1-WJV7CgG5tW5tlhvf2nzbs9W575Zgk79NT7xW3z8vyS1gcDRcW8JgMrP7DDzYWW1zJN-S280GfrW2nXfSw88cMBLW3DLWMh3DKfndW7Xwm1v8-rcHsVBtgMS3QMnNBMGWLmD8Z0LsVLkjD02mbq_CW3zyMQN81xvLjW14fZbq2NSnxKVkZ4Dt5H5yGyW81HcL_2DCwrjN6l1r5pZCWMxW1l6MS48_qN4NW6THNCv75sZslW7Gfmt525nsKTN4jsGbfzNHv2W3YblJj6hScfkW1DC_-f89TbR9W97qZhn4KfF7wW4nrfZ-1RyQ3lW3w9hPQ6YX7ZTW8CV67c4JZVqgW68-https://earther.gizmodo.com/epa-cleans-out-trump-era-shills-on-its-science-advisory-1846591935?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--jlCkPoEZnLIoiOX3mdU5_JQ9QucM_NDWLQh2ML6F4VQcRBYrv6zCKMisweEyNc8a6zcuRbuKjWNtBkExSrDXutSmQgQ&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Earther</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/epa-purges-science-advisory-boards-trump-appointed-members?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ae4VGd-b8ZkGooFNIA21qo-u1Gc_7KPmIB73mbF9sL_Evmz8cSINiwVcnijZ41OEOG9Z3yGSvZpzmByvARKgLV_4C6A&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington Examiner</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2021/03/31/stories/1063728959?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_cHSqVinubgoZHhmKB8jlT6U5VV4ZlfudgfGgeP25SGWxTfesDt3bSQ_slHnTcwQhyViHs1PylCbqg7DB72mA_iQ99fw&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a>; Regan interview: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-health-coronavirus-pandemic-environment-362183da810c256088929560f71910fa?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=119078428&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--tNt8Bj_shl1wHSsv6sxsh2z-050u3KRWGyy3u4be38bsktU6GfZcJbt4KGx8ZkDCp8jsGECWPvvinhgXg1I7hNpM_lQ&utm_content=119078428&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Federal Agencies Have Lost Hundreds of Scientists Since 2017 ... ›
- UCS Offers Science Advice for Biden Administration - EcoWatch ›
- Trump's Toxic Wake: 10 Ways the EPA Has Made Life More ... ›
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U.S. Infrastructure, Climate and Health Crises Deserve $10 Trillion Investment, Says AOC
01 April
Politics
Activists participate in a rally along President Joe Biden's route to deliver a speech on March 31, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen / Getty Images for Green New Deal Network
By Jake Johnson
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus made clear Wednesday that while President Joe Biden's roughly $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal is a welcome start, they believe the final package must be far more ambitious if it is to truly transform America's fossil fuel-dominated energy system and bring the country into line with crucial climate targets.
<p><br/></p>
<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said in an appearance on MSNBC late Wednesday that ideally the top-line number would be around <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/29/biden-prepares-unveil-infrastructure-plan-progressives-push-10-trillion-investment" target="_blank">$10 trillion in spending</a> on core infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare improvements, and other key priorities over the next decade, a <a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/next-round-of-recovery-spending-is-about-meeting-social-needs-not-filling-macroeconomic-gaps/" target="_blank">level of investment</a> the New York Democrat presented as necessary to match the scale of the crises facing the country.</p><p>"That may be an eye-popping figure for some people," said Ocasio-Cortez, a leading <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/02/07/major-party-backing-ocasio-cortez-and-markey-unveil-green-new-deal-outlining-wwii" target="_blank">Green New Deal advocate</a>. "But we need to understand that we are in a devastating economic moment, millions of people in the United States are unemployed, we have a truly crippled healthcare system, and a planetary crisis on our hands — and we're the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. So, we can do $10 trillion."</p>
<div id="bee6d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="813f90839dd6e4921f1d866513025783"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1377457356754280448" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">[email protected] says we need $10 trillion over 10 years to deliver jobs, justice, and a livable planet.
https://t.co/EBjacEE4hW</div> — Justice Democrats (@Justice Democrats)<a href="https://twitter.com/justicedems/statuses/1377457356754280448">1617246400.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), issued a similar message in a <a href="https://progressives.house.gov/press-releases?ID=17D6B695-AFDA-4F81-ADAB-5CEBABB1A5FF" target="_blank">statement</a> released just ahead of Biden's speech in Pittsburgh, where he sketched the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/31/critics-warn-biden-infrastructure-plan-falls-woefully-short-climate-crisis" target="_blank">broad outlines</a> of his plan and <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/03/31/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-american-jobs-plan/" target="_blank">promised</a> "transformational progress in our effort to tackle climate change with American jobs and American ingenuity."</p><p>"We believe this package can and should be substantially larger in size and scope," said Jayapal. "During his campaign, President Biden committed to a '$2 trillion accelerated investment' over four years on climate-focused infrastructure alone... Today's proposal, which includes many other priorities such as care jobs, will invest half that amount — roughly $2 trillion over eight years — or 1% of GDP. It makes little sense to narrow his previous ambition on infrastructure or compromise with the physical realities of climate change."</p><p>The Washington Democrat went on to voice her caucus' preference for a single, sweeping package encompassing infrastructure spending and health insurance expansions, child care and long-term care, and other measures, rather than two separate pieces of legislation. Biden is expected to unveil the healthcare-focused portion of his package — titled the American Families Plan — some time this month.</p><p>"We believe that our country is ready for an even bolder, more comprehensive, and integrated plan that demonstrates the size, scope, and speed required to aggressively slash carbon pollution and avoid climate catastrophe; create millions of good, family-sustaining, union jobs; improve Americans' health and safety; reduce racial and gender disparities; and curb income inequality by making the wealthy and large corporations finally pay their fair share in taxes," said Jayapal.</p>
<div id="46237" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6c0bd2e94d7e4944fa5f447b49bd1e62"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1377372632471982087" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Now is the time to go BIG.
https://t.co/1qmtnhXPFy</div> — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal)<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJayapal/statuses/1377372632471982087">1617226200.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In his <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/03/31/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-american-jobs-plan/" target="_blank">remarks</a> late Wednesday afternoon, Biden stressed the urgency of "bold" action on climate and characterized his proposal as "a once-in-a generation investment in America," but environmentalists and progressive lawmakers said major improvements are needed to align the actual package with the president's lofty rhetoric.</p><p>As Common Dreams <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/31/critics-warn-biden-infrastructure-plan-falls-woefully-short-climate-crisis" target="_blank">reported</a>, climate groups are expressing concern that the package in its current form falls well short of what's needed to meet Biden's commitments to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/bidens-paris-climate-goal-50-percent-rcna454" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">slash U.S. carbon emissions</a> by 50% by 2030, end <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/01/27/denouncing-handouts-big-oil-biden-calls-congress-end-40-billion-taxpayer-subsidies" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fossil fuel subsidies</a>, transition to <a href="https://grist.org/politics/bidens-difficult-but-possible-path-to-100-clean-electricity-by-2035/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">100% clean electricity by 2035</a>, and ensure clean water for all.</p><p>"It's not enough," Evan Weber, political director of the youth-led Sunrise Movement, <a href="https://twitter.com/evanlweber/status/1377438089765740544" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> of the current package. "Set ambitious national targets. Rally the nation. Treat it like it's an emergency. And most importantly: tell the truth about the severity of the crisis... It's the only way to close the gap between the politics of now and what's needed."</p>
<p>Given Democrats' narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, progressive lawmakers have significant leverage over the size and scope of the final package, which will likely be pushed through the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process amid Republican opposition. Whether the CPC is willing to use its power to force dramatic changes to the legislation <a href="https://www.dailyposter.com/p/corporate-dems-show-progressives" target="_blank">remains to be seen</a>.</p><p>Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), the CPC whip, said in a <a href="https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-s-statement-biden-s-infrastructure-plan" target="_blank">statement</a> Wednesday that "in addition to the proposals the president laid out, we must use this moment to dramatically lower drug prices, expand Medicare to millions of people, make college more affordable, strengthen the care economy, provide a roadmap to citizenship for our immigrant communities, address the housing crisis, and make much bolder investments in green jobs."</p><p>"Now is not the time to remain beholden to a bankrupt, unpopular ideology that allows the richest people in the world to continue paying next to nothing in taxes, while millions starve in our streets," Omar added. "Now is the time to be bold, to tackle the once-in-a-millennium challenge of the climate crisis, and to ensure that we as a country at long last live up to our promise of justice for all."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/04/01/planetary-crisis-our-hands-says-aoc-we-can-do-10-trillion-infrastructure" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><br/></p>
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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during remarks on COVID-19 response and vaccinations at South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on March 29, 2021. Demetrius Freeman / The Washington Post via Getty Images
Today in Pittsburgh, President Biden will outline his American Jobs Plan, proposals for major infrastructure investments in clean energy, water system updates, and other economy-growing initiatives designed to create millions of jobs, address aging infrastructure and lessen racial and other inequities throughout the economy.
<p>Biden's $2 trillion plan to fight climate change and revitalize the American economy includes calls for Congressional funding to the tune of: $16 billion to employ union oil and gas workers to cap orphaned oil and gas wells and clean up mines, $35 billion in clean tech R&D to address the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis" target="_self">climate crisis</a>, $85 billion to modernize public transit systems, $174 billion to promote <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/electric-vehicles" target="_self">electric vehicles</a> through consumer incentives, supply chain support, charging network build outs, school bus electrification, and electrifying the federal fleet, $100 billion for power grid modernization and resilience, and $213 billion to build, modernize, and weatherize affordable housing.</p>
<p>Biden's plan also calls for investing $111 billion to improve the country's <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drinking-water" target="_self">drinking water</a> systems, including eliminating all lead water pipes and service lines in the country. Labor and environmental groups called for even greater ambition and spending to "build a more just, equitable, clean and more prosperous American economy" in a letter to Biden and Democratic Congressional leaders. Funding will pay for itself over 15 years, the administration says, by a combination of eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, raising corporate taxes, ending offshore-tax havens and strengthening corporate tax enforcement.</p>
<p>The plan also calls for passage of a bill aimed at significantly strengthening workers' rights to organize. The $2 trillion plan push is just the first of the administration's massive two-part infrastructure investment agenda as Biden is expected to release part two, the "American Families Plan" in two weeks. </p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/biden-infrastructure-climate-plan/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_RArlqOPSkNGuWEQ2Exfn745iYfz7IIR2QbT3vqlPG4k4SSfjg0S2aS6K_bkKV6O3ymVDUZU0I00Rjt8gFI9v57uAiwg&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://login.politicopro.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriber.politicopro.com%2Farticle%2F2021%2F03%2Fwhat-bidens-plan-seeks-for-climate-clean-energy-and-water-2045506%3Futm_campaign%3DHot%2520News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_9OeQ7yLbd5aWToK7H5E2OJvirpDGOdIJQ20H5nHoPyeHCPa5rYas5fvMhTJg4J2Z600ZqV_dvl-SuVGtNYbvdJPejhQ&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">POLITICO Pro</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/business/economy/biden-infrastructure-plan.html?searchResultPosition=1&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--nw8fDMowGLlJA-JCJWR9o0hNen04YVOeLq-cm2lpLdC7tQav8UBAIjc-PatFxnvt7iVImCHv7Fd1En3INHZcRpcWdcA&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/30/biden-infrastructure-plan-478627?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-__0OCkLT__BzecPoZsh9FFB5_6s7g2_EtvvZ6rPRvcLwBQhVhte3NtLWfIq5mFXC4uNDLaV7GItmL5yybfO9t7V-d0SA&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">POLITICO</a>, <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VW784p3Jqlf9V338b98qTgKKVNrtzX4pRkD7N3wqV775nxH1V3Zsc37CgTLGW97NTdB5Rb7lKVnmD3P9gBbX9W1QXBpW6N41tbW7t4fCQ69LkcyW5LNMDQ5ZNRzrW3wPlhx6ty4BSN5ynmbWfh0zbN2gMnQYPXh6DW66skJd6j75hvN4FJ_QrBSN8PW5Jw3MM44F8-ZW5dbDkP2Q8LqKW40c4TT3j9YMqW2P5gY72TKcsfW3_gdLQ3pbMlNW2_xzxM2S2pl8W8_d0bT8lWHH2W5Dpj0G6Q_ds-W5CWssf6xMPM_VkQg9k3gDZ1jW2lq2yG1jRzk-N1v9FjcQQ4vHW54Khk62jjR5ZW3_f0Md7bBnP6W2jK7sY73TgRdW467Vlh3ccc55W5PDQ8q100wpCN4hRzlW6KSXwW3c0wNf3NfX8kN5b-2BCf0x7KW1k9NT95tF6XPW1BKjWl8p7XB9W4KXD-88YmP0-https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2021/03/29/Joe-Biden-Pittsburgh-infrastructure-proposal-United-Steelworkers-Conor-Lamb/stories/202103290090?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_6OIdHhZshdz756ULxsIxSRUubrxp10Nx_O-8EQSXyt3igJ8oe1_13FUnfKIdjY8SC330edKxkSzks-21RN92uQgNw5Q&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a>, <a href="https://www.vox.com/22334274/joe-biden-infrastructure-climate-push-explained?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_cSN9RrswTO4aBf5cGh2QOsiF9c6FsLdHX3urytAWkymb1UnvOSp7C-Yij2TiXOyqKoe1zu5pHAo37W9kNmmg-cDAxQw&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vox</a>; Labor and green groups: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-30/biden-urged-to-spend-4-trillion-by-labor-environment-groups?sref=oUjKJw8m&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93OO7mEMnsiw5wtxdKeodW2QoyGaPsqR_k_iqAP9T404BYdMx7Fawd76m3n7ajCfW26asXA89H0E6dfhboFIjFqH58zg&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>; Pay-fors and taxes: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-makes-a-big-gamble-on-infrastructure-spending--and-higher-taxes-on-the-wealthy-to-pay-for-it/2021/03/30/6fc7d928-90da-11eb-9668-89be11273c09_story.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8AkcItXDCTeFaO55ZNv0Vyr8hJQLbC10Gkk5v9n_X2EKq6PRGzGYMQ5S8dzmBpGIhAli3mBVao99wm5QFMG_I8JPuRNg&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/30/blue-state-democrats-salt-taxes-478556?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9wzXWI54uwaY34BAB7G5bCom6IxIxxMzMBVWgQSrjX7YsqIm-tcYuI1lK1Nxqsv87e4CNxnacCwFyDYZQIRZOd30O4Zw&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">POLITICO</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/business/economy/biden-infrastructure-taxes.html?searchResultPosition=3&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118865891&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--uISMA_pOXi4rnr-PrNYjlj4mUuNCHidkqFeH2OMmNcivTE1QPSrpBEz2ACVhUOdGKXxeIfx21PLuwdAjoS4bM-QYQBg&utm_content=118865891&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New York Times</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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A rusty patched bumble bee is seen during a bee survey near the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Jill Utrup / USFWS / CC by 2.0
By Daniel Raichel
While many know Chicago as the "Second City," the old stomping grounds of Michael Jordan or Al Capone, or perhaps even still as "Hog Butcher to the World," I doubt many think of it as a home for endangered wildlife.
<p>However, as a recent <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-prem-rusty-patched-bumblebee-lawsuit-habitat-20210329-fezt5jg3e5dsxfbkcwk2eotzl4-story.html" target="_blank">Chicago Tribune article</a> shows, that's exactly what it is for one of our very favorite endangered pollinators—the rusty patched bumble bee.</p><p>For the better part of a decade, NRDC has fought for the rusty patched bumble bee's survival, and we are now <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lucas-rhoads/endangered-bee-without-critical-habitat-why-were-suing" target="_blank">suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a> <em>for the fourth time</em>—this time, to reverse a Trump-Era decision not to designate federally protected "critical habitat" for the bee.</p><p>That's why it was particularly sweet to learn that a couple of rusty patched bumble bees were spotted foraging near the Rogers Park Metra stop, not far from the Honeybear Cafe and some of my old foraging grounds growing up.</p>
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"Rogers Park Metra Community Garden" by LN is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
<p>Although the article provides a fun "work meets life" moment for me, it also underscores the importance of our lawsuit. As Abby Shafer of the Evanston Native Bee Initiative notes, one patch of native habitat can be meaningful, but what's most needed is a network of interconnected habitat so that the bee's populations can recover and once again thrive.</p><p>By refusing to designate "critical habitat" for the bee, the Fish and Wildlife Service effectively scuttled any plan for such a federally protected habitat network—breaking the law and putting this magnificent and vulnerable bee one step closer to extinction. That's why we'll keep fighting in court until we (yet again) secure the protections that the rusty patched bumble bee deserves.</p><p>Who knows, if we're successful, maybe you'll see the rusty patched bumble bee in your neighborhood too.</p>
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<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/daniel-raichel/chicago-sweet-home-endangered-bee" target="_blank">NRDC</a>.</em></p>"The Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park" by UGArdener is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
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The plan involves selling leases off the coasts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Patrik Del Mestre / EyeEm / Getty Images
By Andrea Germanos
Climate action groups and ocean defenders issued strong praise Monday after the Biden administration announced its intention to boost the nation's offshore wind capacity with a number of steps including preparing forfede leases in an area off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
<p>"Today's announcement marks a revolutionary moment for offshore wind. This powerful renewable resource has been waiting in the wings of our energy system for too long, and now it can finally take center stage," Hannah Read, an associate with Environment America's Go Big on Offshore Wind campaign, told <em>Common Dreams</em>.</p><p>Taken together, the initiatives will create 77,000 jobs, generate enough electricity to power over 10 million homes for a year, and avoid 78 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, according to the administration.</p><p>The plan would general 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030—a capacity that would surpass the roughly 19 GW <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/29/%20https%3A//www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/77411.pdf" target="_blank">predicted</a> in 2019 by some industry analysts. As <em>NBC News</em> <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-plans-major-reboot-u-s-offshore-wind-power-n1262394" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">noted</a>, the nation's offshore wind capacity is largely untapped: </p><blockquote>[W]hile on-land wind farms have flourished in recent years, offshore wind has yet to take off in a significant way, in part due to bureaucratic and permitting hurdles that were a source of major frustration for renewable energy companies during the Trump administration. As of now, the U.S. has only one operational offshore commercial wind farm, with just five turbines.<br></blockquote><p>According to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, making up for such inaction is urgent.</p>
<p>"For generations," Haaland said in a statement, "we've put off the transition to clean energy and now we're facing a climate crisis."</p><p>Although "every community is facing more extreme weather and the costs associated with that," Haaland said that "not every community has the resources to rebuild, or even get up and relocate when a climate event happens in their backyards." She noted that the "climate crisis disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income families."</p><p>"As our country faces the interlocking challenges of a global pandemic, economic downturn, racial injustice, and the climate crisis, we must transition to a brighter future for everyone," said Haaland.</p><p>Among steps announced by the <a href="https://www.doi.gov/news/interior-joins-government-wide-effort-advance-offshore-wind" target="_blank">Interior</a>, <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2021/03/us-secretary-commerce-gina-m-raimondo-announces-efforts-advance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Commerce</a>, and <a href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-granholm-announces-ambitious-new-30gw-offshore-wind-deployment-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Energy</a> departments were a data sharing agreement between NOAA and offshore wind development company Ørsted Wind Power North America to help development of infrastructure; the identification of nearly 800,000 acres in the shallow ocean triangle known as the New York Bight to be "Wind Energy Areas"; $8 million for 15 new offshore wind research and development projects; and notice that BOEM would launch an Environmental Impact Statement for Ocean Wind's proposed 1,100 megawatt facility off the coast of New Jersey.</p><p>"The ocean energy bureau said it will push to sell commercial leases in the area in late 2021 or early 2022," the <em>Associated Press</em> <a href="https://www.startribune.com/biden-boosts-offshore-wind-energy-wants-to-power-10m-homes/600039918/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>. </p>
<div id="9de38" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="436c73594836bd3a639c3291cca438c6"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1376592987300462595" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@SecDebHaaland @SecGranholm @SecRaimondo @SecretaryPete @ginamccarthy46 It’s a bit buried, but here’s the final map… https://t.co/TBdHTFQOdl</div> — Brett Edkins (@Brett Edkins)<a href="https://twitter.com/Brettkins/statuses/1376592987300462595">1617040318.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.)—who's previously introduced <a href="https://pascrell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4349" target="_blank">legislation</a> to incentivize offshore wind—framed the development as "a sea change in American energy policy and a new day in the fight against climate change."</p><p>"This is a down-payment on our national future for our children and their children after them," <a href="https://twitter.com/BillPascrell/status/1376589018368987141" target="_blank">Pascrell</a> tweeted.</p><p>Read, with Environment America, said the administration's announcement could serve as a major catalyst.</p><p>"The potential to power our country using clean, renewable energy off our coasts is immense, and the Biden administration's commitment forges a path to take full advantage of offshore wind. This federal leadership should give states the confidence to continue making bold commitments to go big on offshore wind. Now that the executive branch is throwing its weight behind timely and ambitious development, it's full-steam ahead," she said.</p><p>The news also drew praise from climate group 350.org, which, like Haaland, put the announcement in the context of the multiple crises gripping the nation.</p><p>"This is the type of climate action we need from the Biden administration: major investment in renewable energy that creates thousands of good-paying union jobs," the group's U.S. communications director Thanu Yakupitiyage said in a statement.</p>
<p>"In this moment of compounding health, economic, racial, and climate crises," Yakupitiyage continued, "it's beyond time to get our country off fossil fuels and on track towards a renewable future that centers the working class and communities of color."</p><p>For Oceana, the administration's good news for offshore wind must be matched with an equally important element—a forceful departure from dirty energy.</p><p>"We applaud the Biden-Harris administration helping to make offshore wind a reality in the United States—a necessary step in our climate strategy," said Jacqueline Savitz, chief policy officer with the group, adding that it must also have "strong protections for ocean habitat, especially for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale."</p><p>But for "the U.S. to successfully take full advantage of this unlimited resource that can help solve our climate and energy challenges, Oceana is calling for permanent protections from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling as well," Savitz added.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/29/revolutionary-moment-biden-white-house-announces-major-boost-offshore-wind?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Biden Admin Advances First Major US Offshore Wind Farm Project ›
- Biden Admin Advances First Major US Offshore Wind Farm - EcoWatch ›
- Offshore Wind Power Is Ready to Boom. Here's What That Means for ... ›
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Reclaiming Abandoned Mines: Turning Coal Country’s Toxic Legacy Into Assets
29 March
Insights + Opinion
The Ehrenfeld Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project is the first of dozens of similar reclamation initiatives under the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization Pilot Program. U.S. Dept. of the Interior
By Tara Lohan
Mined lands reclaimed for biking trails, office parks — even a winery. Efforts like these are already underway in Appalachia to reclaim the region's toxic history, restore blighted lands, and create economic opportunities in areas where decades-old mines haven't been properly cleaned up.
<p>The projects are sorely needed. And so are many more. But the money to fund and enable them remains elusive.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/us/politics/trump-coal-industry.html#:~:text=In%20part%20because%20of%20the,production%20since%20at%20least%201932." target="_blank">Mining production is falling</a>, which is good news for tackling climate change and air pollution, but Appalachia and other coal states are also feeling the economic pain that comes with it. And that loss is more acute on top of pandemic-related revenue shortfalls and the mounting bills from the industry's environmental degradation.</p>
<p>Local leaders and organizations working in coal communities see a way to flip the script, though. The Revelator spoke with Rebecca Shelton, the director of policy and organizing for <a href="https://aclc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Appalachian Citizens' Law Center</a> in Kentucky, about efforts focusing on one particular area that's plagued coal communities for more than 50 years: cleaning up abandoned mine lands.</p><p>Shelton explains the history behind these lands, the big legislative opportunities developing in Washington, and what coal communities need to prepare for a low-carbon future.</p>
<p><strong>What are abandoned mine lands?</strong></p><p>Technically an abandoned mine land is land where no reclamation was done after mining. Prior to the passage of <a href="https://www.osmre.gov/lrg.shtm" target="_blank">Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act</a> in 1977, coal-mining companies weren't required to reclaim — or clean up — the land they mined.</p><p>What SMCRA did, in addition to creating requirements for companies to do reclamation into the future, was create an abandoned mine land fund to distribute money to states and tribes with historic mining so that they could clean up those old sites. The revenue for that fund comes from a small tax on current coal production.</p><p>The program has accomplished a lot. It has closed 46,000 open mine portals, reclaimed more than 1,000 miles of high walls, stabilized slopes, and restored a lot of water supplies.</p><p>It's been a successful program, but the work is far from done. A conservative estimate is that there's still more than $11 billion needed to clean up existing identified liability across the U.S. [for sites mined before 1977].</p>
<p><strong>What are the risks if we don't do this?</strong></p><p>There are safety, health and environmental issues.</p><p>Just this spring we've already gotten calls from folks living adjacent to abandoned mine lands that are experiencing slides [from wet weather causing slopes destabilized by mining to give way]. People's homes can be completely destabilized, and if they don't get out in time, it can be really dangerous.</p><p>There's also a lot of existing acid mine drainage across coal-mining communities, which is water that's leaking iron oxides and other heavy metals from these abandoned mine lands. This is bad for the ecology of the streams, but heavy metals are also not safe for humans to be exposed to.</p>
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Acid mine drainage in a stream. Rachel Brennan / CC BY-NC 2.0
<p><strong>There's legislation in Congress now that could help deal with this issue. What are those bills?</strong></p><p>One bill is the reauthorization of the abandoned mine land fund. That bill is absolutely critical because the fee on coal production, which is the only source of revenue for the fund, will expire at the end of September if Congress doesn't take action.</p><p>If Congress fails to extend that, we may not see any more funding for the $11 billion needed to clean up abandoned mine lands. If passed, the bill would reauthorize the fee at its current level for 15 more years.</p><p>The challenge is that even if the fee is reauthorized, it'll likely generate only around $1.6 billion — based on current coal-production projections — and that's vastly inadequate to cover all of the liabilities that exist.</p><p>Also, when the abandoned mine land fund was first started, there were some funds that were not redistributed to states and tribes and have just remained in the fund — [about] $2.5 billion that's not being dispersed on an annual basis.</p><p>So another bill, the <a href="https://cartwright.house.gov/uploadedfiles/reclaim_act_section_by_section_117th.pdf" target="_blank">RECLAIM Act</a>, would authorize [an initial] $1 billion to be dispersed out of that fund that would go to approximately 20 states and tribes over the next five years. This money would be distributed differently than the regular funds in that any kind of project would have to have a plan in place for community and economic development.</p><p>So though the funds can only be used for reclamation, they need to be reclamation with a plan. There are so many high-priority and dangerous abandoned mine land sites that exist, and the RECLAIM Act funds would prioritize supporting community and economic development for communities adjacent to these lands.</p>
<p><strong>How much support are you seeing for these bills?</strong></p><p>We see momentum in this Congress, and there's a lot of conversation around investing in our nation's infrastructure. We see abandoned mine lands and their remediation as natural infrastructure that we need to invest in to keep our communities safe and prepare them for the future.</p><p>But we also see these bills as important pieces of an economic recovery package. COVID-19 has really exacerbated so many of the existing health and economic crises already in coal communities.</p><p>When we talk about economic stimulus and job creation, we also see reauthorizing the abandoned mine land fund as contributing to that because it takes a lot of work and creates a lot of jobs to do land reclamation.</p>
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Abandoned mines can pose serious health and safety hazards, such as landslides, erosion and surface instability. USGS
<p><strong>We've talked about the legacy issues from lands mined before 1977, but what concerns are there from current or recent mining? Is that reclamation being done adequately?</strong></p><p>That's an area that also needs a closer look.</p><p>As the industry declines, we've seen coal companies file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy or reorganization. And when they do this, oftentimes they're granted permission to get rid of liabilities that would affect their solvency. Sometimes those liabilities are reclamation obligations, pension funds or black lung disability funds.</p><p>And then what you see is smaller companies taking on these permits that the reorganizing company no longer wants. But many are under-capitalized and they sometimes don't have the ability to even produce coal, or if they do they can't keep up with the reclamation. And it's dangerous for communities if there's environmental violations that aren't getting addressed.</p><p>I'll give you a recent example. Blackjewel [the sixth-largest U.S. coal producer] <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article250112599.html" target="_blank">went bankrupt</a> in the summer of 2019. Since then there's been very little done to address any kind of environmental violations existing on their permits.</p><p>Because of SMCRA, companies are required to have bonds in order to obtain their mining permits, but these bonds are not always adequate. The Kentucky Energy and Environment cabinet made a statement in the Blackjewel bankruptcy proceedings that it estimated that reclamation obligations on these permits were going to fall short $20 to $50 million.</p>
<p><strong>What else is needed to help coal communities transition to a low-carbon economy?</strong></p><p>That's a big question. We have to address these legacy issues in order to help transition these communities into the future. And we have to address the problems right now of folks who are losing their jobs and need to be supported through training programs or through education credits.</p><p>But we also need to be thinking about the future more broadly. What will be in place 20 years from now for the younger generation?</p><p>There's going to be a lot of gaps in local tax revenues because so much of the tax base has been reliant on the coal industry, which makes it really difficult for communities to continue to provide public services and keep up infrastructure as that industry declines. It's going to be critical to think about that and invest in that.</p><p>I think the best approach is to find solutions that work for [specific] places. And to do that we need to listen to community leaders and folks in these communities that have already been working to build something new for many years. There are solutions that I think can apply to all places, but there also needs to be a targeted intention to create opportunities where communities can develop their own paths forward.</p>
<p><em>Tara Lohan is deputy editor of The Revelator.<br/></em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://therevelator.org/abandoned-mines-legislation/" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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