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    Washington Governor Inslee Rejects Major Oil-by-Rail Project

    Washington Governor Inslee Rejects Major Oil-by-Rail Project

    By Justin Mikulka On Jan. 29, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee rejected a permit required for Tesoro-Savage to build the Vancouver Energy oil-by-rail facility, the largest such project in the nation, at the Port of Vancouver, along the Washington-Oregon border. The governor explained the basis of his decision, which followed a several year long process, in […]

    Climate Denial Group Linked to Trump Admin Is Funding ‘Research’ on Sea Levels in Questionable Journals

    Climate Denial Group Linked to Trump Admin Is Funding ‘Research’ on Sea Levels in Questionable Journals

    By Graham Readfearn A climate science denial group with links to President Trump‘s administration has been funding work to sow doubt that low-lying islands in the Pacific are at risk from rising sea levels. The two researchers being funded—one of which is a well-known climate science denier—have targeted little known “open access” journals with dubious […]

    Fracking Waste Lawsuit Highlights Dangerous Trend of Corporations Targeting Community Rights Defenders

    Fracking Waste Lawsuit Highlights Dangerous Trend of Corporations Targeting Community Rights Defenders

    By Simon Davis-Cohen In early January, a federal judge ordered the nonprofit law firm Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) to pay $52,000 to an oil and gas exploration company for defending a rural Pennsylvania township’s ban on underground injections of fracking waste. This sanction comes at the request of Pennsylvania General Energy Company (PGE) […]

    Pennsylvania Suspends Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction

    Pennsylvania Suspends Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction

    By Sharon Kelly Pennsylvania suspended permits for Sunoco Pipeline on Wednesday, LP‘s $2.5 billion Mariner East 2 pipeline project, after finding that the company committed “egregious and willful violations” of state laws. The order directs Sunoco, a subsidiary of Dakota Access Pipeline builder Energy Transfer Partners, to stop Mariner East II construction activities across Pennsylvania. […]

    U.S. Bank Quietly Joins $4B Deal With Dakota Access Owner After Declaring End to Oil and Gas Pipeline Loans

    U.S. Bank Quietly Joins $4B Deal With Dakota Access Owner After Declaring End to Oil and Gas Pipeline Loans

    By Sharon Kelly At a shareholder meeting this past spring, U.S. Bank announced it would be the first large American bank to completely stop issuing loans for oil and gas pipeline construction projects. Environmental groups, indigenous activists and divestment advocates hailed U.S. Bank’s announcement as a triumph. Yet that triumph—and the bank’s commitment—seems less sure […]

    Definers Public Affairs, Group Known for Stalking and Harassing Climate Advocates, Hired by EPA to Run Media War Room

    Definers Public Affairs, Group Known for Stalking and Harassing Climate Advocates, Hired by EPA to Run Media War Room

    By Graham Readfearn A Republican-aligned research group with links to a campaign to stalk and intimidate environmental groups, journalists and campaigners has been handed a $120,000 contract to help the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shape its media coverage. Virginia-based Definers Public Affairs was given the 12-month “no bid” contract to provide “news analysis and […]