BALTIMORE, MD — The Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and the Center for Environmental Health filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today for failing to ensure that seven states, including Maryland, have effective plans in place for reducing harmful sulfur dioxide air pollution being emitted from coal-fired power plants.
Late Friday afternoon, Bloomberg News reported that the Trump administration is covering up a report commissioned by the Department of Energy that disputes the administration’s rationalization for planning to force electricity customers and taxpayers to pay tens of billions of dollars to bailout uneconomic coal plants heading for retirement.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee announced today that it will take up the nomination of coal bailout architect Bernard McNamee to FERC next week in a hurried political move to inject the Trump administration’s political agenda of backing unnecessary fracked gas pipelines and supporting a nationwide coal bailout into the historically independent agency.
WORCESTER - Hundreds of people rallied at Institute Park in Worcester to demand elected leaders take action to create a safe, healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. This event was one of over 400 taking place simultaneously around the world. Ralliers stood in solidarity with marchers in San Francisco who flooded the streets demanding action from governors and business leaders at the Global Climate Action Summit, while communities across the nation came together to galvanize engagement in the midterm elections.
BOSTON, MA— On September 8th, hundreds of people mobilized in East Boston to protest a planned Eversource high-voltage electric substation, and rallied for better, safer jobs; common-sense protections for immigrants; and bold action on climate change. The mobilization was one of more than 480 around the world. In San Francisco tens of thousands of people flooded the streets demanding action from governors and business leaders at the Global Climate Action Summit, while communities across the nation came together to galvanize engagement in the midterm elections.
Westmoreland Coal Company announced it will enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy today, following a recent trend in coal company bankruptcies caused by American energy consumers' increasing preference for cleaner, cheaper competitors, like solar and wind energy.
Today the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) modified the widely criticized proposal by Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration to bail out Dynegy-Vistra coal power plants in Illinois. Dynegy and Vistra Energy recently merged in a deal worth $20 billion, yet still claimed financial hardship and urged state officials to ease clean-air rules. The proposed change would have led to worse air quality and detrimental health impacts in communities already among the hardest hit by pollution.
Donald Trump formally nominated his initial coal bailout architect, Bernard McNamee, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today in order to fill the seat of resigning commissioner Robert Powelson.
Audubon, PA — PJM Interconnection, the regional electric grid operator for 13 states including Pennsylvania, announced the results of its grid reliability analysis for the FirstEnergy-owned Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant today. The report states the plant is not necessary for grid reliability in the area. Transmission upgrades are scheduled to be in place by the requested retirement date of June 1, 2021, which means the plant can retire on that date as requested with no impact to electric reliability.
Former coal lobbyist and acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler is holding the nation’s only hearing for public comment in Chicago on the Trump Administration’s plan to repeal the historic Clean Power Plan (CPP) and move forward with its Dirty Power Plan.
The New York Times reported late yesterday that former coal lobbyist and acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, has finalized his proposal to undermine the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which will increase the profits of his former coal clients and threaten the health of pregnant women and young children.
Long Beach, NY — The New York State Energy Research and Development (NYSERDA) hosted a public hearing on Wednesday to provide the latest updates on the state's plan for offshore wind development for Long Beach. The Sierra Club, labor unions, allied groups, and local residents attended the hearings and voiced their support for strong environmental protections, community benefits, and labor standards in New York’s increasing investment in offshore wind.