Press Releases

July 30, 2020

The Trump administration issued a new permit yesterday that would allow the Keystone pipeline -- part of the pipeline system that would include the controversial proposed Keystone XL -- to increase capacity by 170,000 barrels of oil per day.

July 30, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former coal lobbyist and current EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler finalized a new, dangerous environmental rollback yesterday, putting the health of thousands of communities living near coal ash disposal and storage sites at risk.

July 29, 2020

Logos from Environment Missouri, Climate + Energy Project, and the Sierra Club

KANSAS CITY, MO -- Today marks the release of a new vision for Evergy’s future, created by a partnership of the Climate + Energy Project, Environment Missouri, and the Kansas and Missouri chapters of the Sierra Club. These groups call on Evergy to:

July 29, 2020

INDIANAPOLIS -- Today, the Sierra Club appealed the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s (IURC) decision approving a $146 million rate increase for Duke Energy Indiana’s customers.

July 28, 2020

Thirty local Arizona businesses from cities across the state are raising their voices in support of bold, progressive action from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in the Energy Modernization Docket. This docket includes everything from updating the renewable energy standard to supporting a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.

July 28, 2020

CHARLOTTE -- On Friday evening, Duke Energy Carolinas filed a notice of intent to temporarily raise rates after state regulators denied the utility a request to defer potential losses due to the pandemic. 

Duke intends to offset the rate hike by accelerating refunds of excess taxes to customers, but cannot guarantee that ratepayers will not see bigger bills as the summer progresses. Tomorrow, Duke can resume utility disconnections for delinquent accounts. 

July 28, 2020

Tomorrow, Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at an oil rig in Midland, Texas. Trump is expected to tout his administration’s attacks on key environmental protections, with the goal of propping up the oil and gas industry at the expense of local communities that will be subjected to increased air and water pollution.

July 28, 2020

Washington, DC -- Late yesterday, Senate Republicans finally unveiled what they have dubbed the HEALS Act. Their proposal would slash unemployment benefits, does not provide additional funding for state and local governments, fails to include relief for those facing water and electricity shutoffs, and does not allocate a penny for either election voting reforms or the clean energy industry, which has been devastated by the pandemic.

July 28, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At an oversight hearing today the House Natural Resources Committee pushed for answers on last month’s violent attack on peaceful protestors at Lafayette Square by U.S. Park Police with tear gas, batons, and riot shields. The hearing comes as demonstrations against police brutality are being met with police violence, including “preemptive arrests” and the abduction of demonstrators by unmarked police vehicles, fueled by the deployment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) forces. Trump announced plans for a surge of federal security forces last week, threatening to unleash the type of excessive force that has led to the current violence in Portland to a host of other cities, including Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Detroit. DHS forces have long used similar militarized and politicized tactics against communities along the southern border, targeting immigrants and activists.

July 28, 2020

Charleston, WV -- Yesterday, the federal district court for the Southern District of West Virginia ruled that the Justice Group’s Red Fox coal mine was liable for more than 3,000 Clean Water Act violations. The lawsuit brought by the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), Appalachian Voices, and the Sierra Club contends that the mine was liable for exceeding its required discharge limits. The groups were represented by attorneys with Appalachian Mountain Advocates and Public Justice.