July 14, 2020
Construction through water crossings remains blocked; groups challenge approval for construction on federal land based on insufficient reviews
Press Releases
July 14, 2020
San Francisco—Despite conclusive evidence that biogas and synthetic gas are too costly, limited, and environmentally risky to displace current gas demand, gas utilities and trade associations are touting them as a climate solution. This remarketing of biogas and synthetic gas is an effort designed to mislead stakeholders and stall the community-led transition from gas-burning to efficient all-electric buildings, which represents an existential crisis for the industry.
Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners urge Florida Power and Light to extend shut-off moratoriums
July 13, 2020
On Thursday afternoon, The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC) passed a resolution calling Florida Power and Light (FPL) to 1) suspend any service disconnections until 60 days after the state of emergency in Miami ends, 2) provide bill forgiveness for residents experiencing unemployment as a result of COVID-19, Asset Limited Income Constrained but Employed (ALICE) residents, and energy burdened residents, and 3) eliminate late fees and back charges. The Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.
July 10, 2020
WASHINGTON D.C.-- The House Appropriations Committee today took up the FY2021 Interior and EPA spending bills. The bills increase funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency and include specific provisions for fighting racism, increasing environmental justice activities and funding research into the role of protecting wildlife and wild places to prevent future pandemics.
July 9, 2020
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has failed in its obligation to protect the water quality and health of families living near the Cross, Winyah and Wateree coal plants, all of which are located in predominantly Black and low-income communities. At all three sites, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits—which monitor and limit industrial discharge into waterways—expired almost a decade ago.
July 9, 2020
Charleston, WV -- Today, the Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy filed a federal lawsuit against the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) for its failure to comply with federal reporting requirements relating to the anticipated collapse of the state’s Special Reclamation Fund (SRF). The SRF was established to reclaim and clean up recently abandoned coal mines. The groups bringing the federal suit are represented by attorneys with Appalachian Mountain Advocates.
July 9, 2020
Today, Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency, through its lawyers at the Department of Justice, formally objected to an agreement between DTE Energy and the Sierra Club that would bring air quality improvements to communities of color burdened by decades of coal plant pollution in River Rouge, Ecorse, and the 48217 zip code.
July 8, 2020
Washington, DC -- Today, the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force, co-chaired by former Secretary of State John Kerry and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, released its policy recommendations for tackling the climate crisis.
In response, Sierra Club Political Director Ariel Hayes released the following statement:
July 8, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO--The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the Montana District Court’s opinion that reinstated Endangered Species Act protections for the Yellowstone region’s grizzly bear population. The decision spares the grizzlies from plans for trophy hunts in the states of Wyoming and Idaho.
Earthjustice, representing the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and National Parks Conservation Association, argued for restoring protections to Yellowstone grizzly bears.
July 8, 2020
Harrisburgh, P.A. - The Pennsylvania House approved House Bill 2025 today, which would remove the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) legal ability to regulate climate-disrupting carbon dioxide pollution from any source within the Commonwealth. This would include preventing the implementation of the "cap-and-invest" program that allows participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which is currently being developed. The bill now advances to the Senate.