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Has Gasoline Use in California Peaked?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Despite adding six million more passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs to the roads over the last 10 years, California’s gasoline consumption has dropped over two billion gallons from its peak in 2005. Switching from fossil fuels like gasoline to increasingly clean electricity sources is vital for hitting climate and air pollution goals.

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Electric School Buses: The Best Choice for Our Kids and Communities

Union of Concerned Scientists

Diesel school buses – which represent the majority of school buses – were not only sending out toxic fumes from the tailpipe, but pollution was getting inside the buses, exposing children to unhealthy air. Despite past investments, thousands of older polluting school buses remain on the road.

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The Ten Most Important U.S. Environmental Laws

Legal Planet

In public health terms, what makes air pollution distinctive is the millions of people exposes to common pollutants such as particulates and smog. It is significant because if its huge public health benefits and because it has provided the basis for EPA regulation of greenhouse gases.

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EPA Strengthens Emissions Controls for Facilities Emitting Cancer-Causing Ethylene Oxide

Union of Concerned Scientists

As I’ve previously reported , in 2005, when EPA last reviewed these standards, the agency considered banning the use of EtO for new sterilization facilities altogether, but ultimately did not adopt the proposal due to industry pushback. But it is important to note that they are a decade overdue.

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Building a Better Power Grid for Minnesota

Union of Concerned Scientists

Minnesotans are facing concurrent crises of climate change, high energy prices and inflation, and the inequitable public health impacts of fossil fuel air pollution. Minnesota’s current goal is to reduce statewide carbon emissions 30 percent by 2025 compared to 2005 levels and 80 percent by 2050.

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Why is Congress’s Climate Breakthrough Such a Big Deal? Because Without It, We’d Be Irreparably Off Course.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Over the past year, precisely as our ability to identify the specific magnitude of action required to hit 2030 climate targets of 50-52 percent below 2005 levels has resolved into ever clearer view, the range of viable pathways for meeting those targets has consistently and considerably narrowed. No pivoting, just pivotal.

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Will the EPA Strengthen Ethylene Oxide Standards Without Outside Interference?

Union of Concerned Scientists

In 2005, the last time EPA updated emissions standards for commercial sterilizers, the agency contemplated banning the use of EtO for sterilization at new facilities, but that proposal was promptly scrapped due to concerns around viable sterilization alternatives.