Environment
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New bill would tax polluters, redirect funds to impacted communities
The Save Our Future Act would invest millions in emissions reduction programs and help areas reliant on fossil fuels transition away from them through direct payments, career training, business development and other programs.
By Chris Teale • June 18, 2021 -
Cate Gillon via Getty Images
Low-carbon concrete bill advances in New York
The bill takes aim at the emissions-heavy built environment by developing state guidelines for using greener concrete products and climate performance standards for state construction projects.
By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021 -
Dallas adopts its first urban forest master plan
The plan follows an earlier heat island management study that found the nation's ninth-most-populous city was heating up more rapidly than every other city in the U.S. outside of Phoenix.
By Maria Rachal • June 11, 2021 -
Permission granted by EcoPact
Baltimore contractor pilots low-carbon concrete product
The new concrete formulation is designed to cut the material's embodied carbon by 40% compared to ordinary Portland cement-based concrete, the maker says.
By Jeffrey Steele • June 04, 2021 -
Tampa, Florida, creates resilience plan to prepare for next crisis
The road map, which officials say is the first to be released during or after the coronavirus pandemic, calls for more affordable housing and broadband access in addition to climate-ready infrastructure.
By Chris Teale • June 03, 2021 -
David McNew via Getty Images
Lower-income ZIP code residents feel worse effects of extreme heat, ozone pollution: study
Policymakers should prioritize resources in poorer neighborhoods and develop better warning systems, according to a study analyzing hospitalizations across ZIP codes in California.
By Jason Plautz • May 28, 2021 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Republicans include $4B for EVs in 2nd counteroffer to Biden infrastructure plan
The Republicans' proposal would spend $928 billion on infrastructure over the next eight years, a $360 billion increase over their previous proposal. But EV advocates say the plan still falls short.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2021 -
Mark Wilson via Getty Images
Washington, DC, reclaims top spot as best city for parks
The Trust for Public Land's rankings measured park equity access for the first time in the index's 10-year history, noting that while many cities have made strides, plenty of work still lies ahead.
By Chris Teale • May 27, 2021 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
With more extreme weather on horizon, FEMA resilience program's dollars to double
The Biden administration's $1 billion injection for the nascent Pre-Disaster Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program comes as national leaders aim to "categorically shift" disaster spending from reactive to proactive.
By Maria Rachal • May 26, 2021 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Biden orders Yellen to outline climate risks to financial stability
The action also calls for an effort within about four months to identify and disclose the extent of exposure government programs and assets have to climate risks.
By Dan Ennis • May 25, 2021 -
Drew Angerer/Getty Images via Getty Images
Biden decarbonization focus shifts to buildings, aiming to triple efficiency
The White House announced workforce development funding, new performance standards and expanded partnerships in the private sector to address carbon emissions from the nation's building stock.
By Robert Walton • May 20, 2021 -
SC National Guard. (2018). "180925-Z-XH297-1108" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Funding is a key barrier to cities' climate plan progress: report
About 43% of cities worldwide lack a climate adaptation plan, with 25% noting budget constraints as an obstacle, nonprofit CDP reports. But neglecting to address climate change comes with a financial cost too, experts warn.
By Katie Pyzyk • May 17, 2021 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Coalition seeks to highlight composting as key urban infrastructure
Given the Biden administration's focus on climate, environmental justice and infrastructure investment, advocates and trade groups view now as an apt time to pursue $200 million across a decade to help expand U.S. composting.
By Maria Rachal • May 13, 2021 -
NREL app expected to significantly speed up US residential solar permitting
A new app designed by NREL will address a key concern among solar contractors with near-instantaneous permit decisions for residential installations in the majority of U.S. jurisdictions.
By Emma Penrod • May 10, 2021 -
'We are simply not ready' for EV charging at scale, House Republicans say, warning of China dependence
During a hearing Wednesday on major clean-transportation legislation — part of the Biden administration's $174 billion proposal to bolster electric vehicles — Republicans said the plan strips away consumer choice.
By Robert Walton • May 07, 2021 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
DC traffic deaths climb as Vision Zero funding remains in limbo
Traffic-related fatalities in the nation's capital are well above the number seen by this date last year. Meanwhile, funding allocations for a new law to bring fatalities to zero by 2024 are still undetermined.
By Maria Rachal • UPDATED: April 30, 2021 at 9:27 a.m. -
Graeme Robertson via Getty Images
Just transition needed in transit electrification, labor leaders say
Transit worker representatives said agencies and the federal government should provide training and give workers a voice, otherwise major job losses could follow.
By Chris Teale • April 27, 2021 -
Pittsburgh pursues sustainable deconstruction policy to salvage building materials
Following similar steps in Portland, Oregon, and Milwaukee, Pittsburgh is betting that recovering materials from condemned buildings instead of demolishing them will support the city's climate and equity goals.
By Maria Rachal • April 26, 2021 -
Courtesy of Verizon
Verizon-backed accelerator taps emerging tech to support climate justice
A new initiative aims to use 5G, big data and AI to help vulnerable communities build resiliency against the worst impacts of climate change.
By Chris Teale • April 26, 2021 -
Screenshot via Greentown Labs Houston
Cleantech incubator part of Houston's goal to be 'energy transition capital'
One year after the city unveiled its Climate Action Plan, the incubator said it has 30 startups ready to move into its 40,000-square-foot Greentown Labs space.
By Chris Teale • April 23, 2021 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
New York to revive curbside composting as city lags on zero waste goal
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Earth Day the city is reviving multiple programs cut during the pandemic. But the city is not yet taking the steps many elected officials and advocates believe are necessary to achieve a key 2030 target.
By Cole Rosengren • April 22, 2021 -
Retrieved from The White House/YouTube on January 29, 2021
Biden pledges to halve US carbon emissions by 2030
The United States will work to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% by 2030, relative to 2005 levels, sending clear signals to business and world leaders.
By Robert Walton • April 22, 2021 -
Courtesy of Spin
Spin begins electrifying operations, eyeing carbon neutrality
The Ford-owned micromobility company said it will start using electric vans in its two largest markets, having achieved carbon neutrality in 2020 by using carbon offsets and supporting environmental projects.
By Chris Teale • April 21, 2021 -
Courtesy of GE Renewable Energy
Clean energy jobs 'hit hard' by COVID-19 in 2020: report
Research from Environment Entrepreneurs found the sector shed 307,000 jobs but rebounded in the second half of the year — and could be set for major recovery in 2021.
By Chris Teale • April 20, 2021 -
Advocates call for $650M in federal funds to curb food waste in states, cities
Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Madison, WI are among the groups calling for annual investments through at least 2030 for food waste diversion infrastructure and other strategies.
By Maria Rachal • April 08, 2021
