Environment

Hundreds of millions up for grabs in environmental justice grants

Housing, air monitoring, green jobs and coastal resilience are some of the initiatives that could receive funding under the Inflation Reduction Act.

  • By Terry L. Jones, Floodlight

Senate rebukes Biden administration on effort to reduce vehicle pollution

Three Democrats and one independent joined the chamber’s Republicans, arguing the Federal Highway Administration overstepped its authority in requiring states to track greenhouse gas emissions. But the president threatened to veto the measure.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

EPA issues first-ever drinking water standards for ‘forever chemicals’

The Biden administration also announced nearly $1 billion in newly available funding to help public water utilities implement PFAS testing and treatment.

  • By Elizabeth Daigneau

Turf wars: States, cities grow skeptical of artificial grass

Bans on synthetic turf look to address its impact on the environment and human health.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

With energy demand surging, utilities fall back on their old standby: Fossil fuels.

Federal incentives for clean energy are struggling to overcome old-school planning.

  • By Emily Jones, Grist

Automakers get some breathing room in EPA air pollution rules

The Biden administration is still pushing for a major shift to electric vehicles by 2032, but many Republicans remain skeptical.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

WIC, rental assistance get funding boost in newly unveiled spending bills

But the bipartisan proposals for six bills would cut funding to housing and transit programs.

  • By Kery Murakami

EPA expands water program to help more disadvantaged communities apply for grants

Many communities lack the resources necessary to conduct the technical assessments needed to win federal grants. The EPA wants to help.

  • By Kery Murakami

States turn up the heat on ESG investing

At issue is whether mandates about environmental, social and governance investment strategies infringe upon a state fiduciary’s duty to maximize returns.

  • By Liz Farmer

Federal permitting hampers climate goals and natural disaster mitigation, counties say

Officials, who are calling for reforms, say environmental regulations shouldn’t lead to yearslong waits to build transmission lines or impede their ability to respond to natural disasters.

  • By Kery Murakami

Cities pay a climate penalty as air pollution worsens

Communities vulnerable to deteriorating air conditions and the resulting public health issues may find it ever more difficult to adapt to the changing environment, a new report suggests.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

EPA finalizes new standards for deadly particulate matter

The restrictions on soot pollution will prevent thousands of premature deaths every year. Industry groups say it will hurt local economies.

  • By Zoya Teirstein, Grist
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9 states band together to phase out fossil fuel heating in homes

The signatories say the agreement’s focus on building emissions will signal to manufacturers that there will be a robust market for heat pumps in the coming years.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

No more prizes for killing ‘nuisance’ animals under these hunting contest bans

Such contests kill tens of thousands of coyotes, foxes, squirrels and other animals each year.

  • By Alex Brown, Stateline

Groundwater levels are falling worldwide — but there are solutions

New research shows how to protect the aquifers that hold most of the world’s fresh water.

  • By Jake Bittle, Grist

Plastic bag bans have already prevented billions of bags from being used, report finds

Twelve states and more than 500 cities have implemented bans on single-use plastic bags. New data shows those efforts are paying off.

  • By Joseph Winters, Grist

The cost of freeing drinking water from ‘forever chemicals’

The EPA is set to limit PFAS in drinking water to barely detectable levels. Can water utilities meet the standard?

  • By Charles Schmidt, Undark

GOP lawsuit over CO2 rules attacks Biden administration for overreach, pushes climate denial

Joined by 21 states, the complaint falsely claims there is “no consensus” on the causes of climate change. One environmental advocate said the argument is “like suing NASA for saying the world is round.”

  • By Daniel C. Vock

The latest youth climate lawsuit tries a novel argument: The unique environmental vulnerability of children

Eighteen California children say the EPA fails to recognize the unique physical and mental impacts climate change has on kids.

  • By Katie Myers, Grist

Another large bank plans to exit the muni market

It’s the second big bank to drop its municipal bond business this year. But its decision, which many believe is the result of anti-ESG politics, could have a significant impact.

  • By Liz Farmer

Should the EPA let Chicago have 40 years to remove lead pipes?

Some cities with a high number of lead pipes would be given more than the 10 years set by the EPA to replace them. The exception in the proposed rule is drawing criticism from residents and environmentalists.

  • By Kery Murakami