December 5, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees signal a sharp turn toward fossil fuel expansion and climate deregulation. Key figures, including fracking executive Chris Wright f
Region 6 FY 2022 Accomplishments
Summary
Dr. Earthea Nance, Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency for Region 6, visited with communities 29 times in FY2022, both in person and digitally, to build trust and identify subsequent actions. Region 6 was in charge of more than $546 million in funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Region 6 provided more than $105 million in BIL funds to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for water infrastructure projects, in addition to awards to other states. In the first round of financing for the Clean School Bus program, 47 school districts in Region 6 were chosen to receive more than $130 million in BIL rebate payments to acquire about 350 electric and low-emission school buses. Region 6 used EJ Screen to develop a regional map that identified more than 16,000 census block groups in R6 with possible EJ problems, accounting for more than 54% of all Region 6 census block groups. Region 6 also created a new air monitoring approach known as the Pollution Accountability Team, or PAT. The PAT concept involves mobile monitoring trucks moving near chosen facilities, a monitoring aircraft flying above the facilities, and qualified inspectors with handheld equipment entering the facilities as required to collect verifiable readings.
A $200 billion surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects could release greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of all global coal plants, raising significa
December 4, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
During his final overseas trip as president, Joe Biden highlighted the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile U.S.-funded railway project in Angola connecting critical mineral-rich regions
December 3, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Startups like Still Bright, Ceibo, and Jetti Resources are developing cleaner copper extraction technologies to meet surging demand driven by the energy transition. Innovations in
December 2, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies, such as pumped hydropower and underground compressed air storage, are emerging as solutions to store renewable energy for extende
December 2, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
The Midwest Hydrogen Hub, spanning Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan, has received $22.2 million as part of a $1 billion federal investment to expand clean hydrogen production
November 29, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
A new study reveals that air pollution from wildfires causes 1.5 million deaths annually, with over 90% of fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries, particularly i
November 28, 2024
Economic Justice
Economic Justice
A report from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) reveals systemic racial bias in home appraisals has cost Black Americans $150 billion in home equity. Homes i
November 27, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
Community Church Atlanta transformed its Vicars Community Center into the city's first community-owned resilience hub, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Equipped with
November 27, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Michigan's Public Service Commission faces a lawsuit from about 80 townships and counties challenging its implementation of a new law, Public Act 233, which expedites permitting f
November 27, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The fifth and potentially final round of U.N. plastic treaty negotiations (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, centers on whether to impose global caps on plastic production. Advocates,
November 26, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Highways in the Twin Cities have perpetuated environmental and social inequities, disproportionately affecting urban communities. Black residents were displaced during their const
November 26, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration, the Biden administration is fast-tracking clean energy investments. The Department of Energy announced nearly $12 billion in loans,
November 26, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
COP29 approved controversial rules for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, enabling countries to trade emissions reductions. Critics argue the gui
December 25, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
COP29 concluded in Baku with a contentious climate finance agreement that left many nations dissatisfied. The deal commits wealthy countries to lead efforts to triple climate aid