Zero-Emission Forklifts
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a zero-emission forklifts regulation aimed at phasing out forklifts powered by gasoline, propane, or natural gas by 2038. The rule will affect approximately 89,000 forklifts in California.
This could significantly reduce pollution and prevent many premature deaths and health issues, especially benefiting warehouse workers who are exposed to forklift emissions.
Restrictions on new forklift sales will begin January 1, 2026, and existing fossil fuel–powered forklifts will be phased out beginning January 1, 2028.
Protecting the Western Arctic
The Department of the Interior has proposed to expand ecological “special areas” within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, commonly known as the Western Arctic. The ecological zones may have significance for wildlife or ecology, help store carbon, or serve as hunting and gathering areas for Alaska Native communities. The proposal could expand protections for millions of acres of public lands in one of the last untouched ecosystems in the United States.
At nearly 23 million acres, the Western Arctic is the largest single unit of public lands in the U.S. and supports diverse wildlife including polar bears, caribou, and migratory birds.
Reducing Haze
On July 12, 2024, the US District Court for the District of Columbia set deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency to implement haze reduction plans in 32 states. This came in response to legal action by Sierra Club, Earthjustice, the Environment Integrity Project, and the National Parks Conservation Association.
“This settlement secures overdue relief for communities that have suffered from industry pollution for too long,” said Sierra Club Beyond Coal Director Laurie Williams. “The Regional Haze Rule preserves air quality in our country’s most iconic national parks, but it also protects public health for many Americans, especially in communities overburdened by fossil fuel pollution.”
Good Neighbor Rule
The Supreme Court has blocked (5-4) a critically important Environmental Protection Agency rule—the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule—which has reduced smog and threats to public health. This decision means tens of millions of people will be exposed to higher levels of dangerous air pollution, causing asthma attacks, lung damage, and premature deaths.
This “good neighbor rule” was opposed by polluters and fossil fuel–dependent states, who argued it was too costly for the benefits it provided. An appeal is anticipated in the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
CP2 LNG Plant is Ecological Disaster in the Making
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in June approved construction of a liquid natural gas (LNG) plant in Cameron Parish, La., that would produce 20 million tons of LNG annually for export. The United States is already the biggest exporter of LNG, and this would increase the total by 20%. Outgoing FERC Commissioner Allison Clements voted against the project, saying the gas to be produced by the plant, named Cameron LNG Phase 2 (CP2), would be equivalent to 1.8 million gas-fueled cars each year.
CP2 will need approval from the Department of Energy before it can begin exporting to countries without free trade agreements, which represent roughly 90% of the global LNG market. DOE has paused approvals for those licenses until it updates the studies on the full impacts of LNG exports to determine whether projects are in the public interest.
“CP2 is an environmental justice, climate, and economic disaster waiting to happen and with this decision, FERC has ignored the harm that will be caused by CP2—and gas exports more broadly—and sided with the greedy fossil fuel industry,” Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels Director Cathy Collentine said.
Massachusetts’ Climate Bill
The Massachusetts Senate has passed a strong climate bill (S-2829) that will require gas companies to provide fossil fuel plant decommissioning proposals and timelines for remedying leak-prone infrastructure.
The bill supports measures to enable a fair transition for ratepayers and fossil fuel workers who would like to work in the clean energy sector.