Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 29, 2024

Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would regulate two forms of PFAS contamination under Superfund laws reserved for “the nation’s worst hazardous waste sites.” The same suppression and disinformation kept government regulators at bay for decades.

Regulations 226

Regulations Toxic Substances Control Act Government 2006 226

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

This ongoing PUCO proceeding is specific to the costs of operating the two coal plants in 2020. These pre-2020 subsidies were approved by the PUCO as hedges, so that customers would get a credit when market electricity prices exceeded OVEC’s costs. The post-2020 subsidies tell a very similar story. million loss.

2020 351

2020 Electricity 2019 Fossil Fuels 351

Yale E360

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Long home to industrial hog facilities, North Carolina has seen a huge increase in large-scale poultry farms, with more than 1,000 added in 2020 alone. The state scarcely regulates poultry operations, which threaten groundwater and waterways in low-wealth communities. Read more on E360 ?.

2020 248

2020 Regulations 248

Legal Planet

APRIL 24, 2023

The SWRCB is currently using watershed-based emergency regulations under Water Code section 1058.5 Timeline of curtailment-related actions and flow for the Shasta River watershed from October 2020 through September 2022. Note that curtailments would also have been warranted in the Shasta River watershed in 2020.

2018 348

2018 Regulations 2021 2020 348

Environment + Energy Leader

APRIL 28, 2023

Our UK team worked with Lloyds and NatWest Group to publish an emissions paper in the fall of 2020. The post CEO William Theisen Shares Insights on Proposed SEC Regulations, EcoAct’s Partnership with Etsy, and Data Collection appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. We came out with a better way to assess data.

Regulations 130

Regulations 2020 Renewable Energy 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 26, 2022

For years, state and local air quality districts have implemented polices and regulations aimed at curbing these different sources of pollution, like working to phase out burning as a method of disposing of agricultural waste, incentivizing transitions to gas-powered heat, and creating regulations to limit vehicle pollution.

Climate Change 342

Climate Change Ozone Air Pollution Particle Pollution 342

Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 14, 2021

Edmonton, AB — The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) quietly released a report on its web site last week showing that oil sands tailing ponds grew another 90 million cubic meters in 2020, despite a drop in oil production. Toxic waste holding ponds now contain 1.36 billion cubic metres of fluids and cover a surface 1.7

2020 114

2020 Government Regulations Waste 114

Legal Planet

APRIL 25, 2022

We made a similar recommendation in our 2020 California Roadmap report, which recommended TCFD disclosure across a number of sectors in California including insurance. The post Insurance Regulators Commit to TCFD-Aligned Risk Disclosure Survey appeared first on Legal Planet. Download as PDF.

Regulations 130

Regulations Climate Change 2020 2022 130

Legal Planet

AUGUST 22, 2023

States and local air quality regulators have the legal authority to set particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions standards and adopt regulations for these pollutants when they are already in attainment of the national ambient air quality standards ( NAAQS ) set by the U.S.

Regulations 130

Regulations Ozone Air Pollution Clean Air Act 130

Legal Planet

JULY 25, 2022

Some of the findings are not surprises: stricter regulations actually do result in improved air quality. Many people identify that discipline with cost-benefit analysis and assume that economists are opposed to regulation. By and large, the papers support the utility of regulation. Others are more surprising.

Air Pollution 246

Air Pollution Clean Air Act Law Regulations 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2022

Titled “ExxonMobil Report on Lobbying Activities,” the February report posted to the company’s website detailed all of the company’s political activity in 2020. The second largest beneficiary of ExxonMobil’s largesse in 2020 was the US Chamber of Commerce. ExxonMobil Names Names. The organization received between $2.5

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2020 Politics 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 31, 2022

It issued five Flex Alerts in 2020, eight in 2021, but there’s only been one so far this year. For example, the two rotating blackouts in August 2020 occurred during energy supply shortages that happened at 6:38 to 7:40 p.m. California regulators recently created a slew of new programs to reduce demand on the hottest summer days.

Solar Power 298

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 298

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 3, 2023

Sales of zero-emission vehicles in California have grown considerably since 2020. Because of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation adopted last fall , all automakers will have to achieve ZEV sales above 30% by model year 2026 and be on the way to 100% ZEV sales by 2035. To date , more than 1.5

Electricity 278

Electricity Regulations 2026 Air Pollution 278

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 12, 2024

While municipalities may have some flexibility in how they zone or regulate oil and gas operations – provided they do not exceed limitations in state or federal law – doing so in an unreasonable manner which prevents future natural gas development should render the municipality ineligible for state collected and distributed impact fees.

Natural Gas 109

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Law 2019 109

Law and Environment

JULY 2, 2021

The ORES was created under the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, which included Section 94-c of the New York State Executive Law, passed and signed into law in 2020. The ORES and Section 94-c process effectively replaced the “Article 10” Siting Board and process, which had been widely criticized as ineffective.

Renewable Energy 130

Renewable Energy Regulations Law 2020 130

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Michigan counts nearly 11,000 agricultural wells, 3,800 of them installed from 2010 to 2020. Michigan now counts nearly 11,000 agricultural wells, 3,800 of them installed from 2010 to 2020. In 2020, farmers and livestock operations used 187 billion gallons of water, double the amount in 2009. Is the state prepared for more?

2009 348

2009 Natural Resources 2020 2010 348

Legal Planet

AUGUST 30, 2023

coastline is projected to see an average of 10 to 12 inches of sea level rise between 2020 and 2050, which is equal to the amount measured over the last 100 years. Include more specific references to coastal regulations (e.g. In fact, the U.S.

Sea Level 293

Sea Level Climate Change Regulations Law 293

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 28, 2022

That amount, however, is less than what Ohio households have already paid in coal subsidies since January 2020. An analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity and BailoutWatch found that Ohio was one of the top 10 states with the most electric utility disconnections in 2020 and 2021. Ohio regulators need to act.

Renewable Energy 352

Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides Electricity Clean Energy 352

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

But solar is the big winner here, with it’s share of total US capacity increasing from 7% in 2020 to 29% in 2050. Capacity factors for existing natural gas combined cycle plants are cut in half, from nearly 60% in 2020 to below 30% in 2050. EIA also recently reported that US coal exports increased 23% between 2020 and 2021.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

Circle of Blue

OCTOBER 3, 2022

“To drink bottled water, or its commercial alternatives, is a sign that you distrust government, because you’re willing to pay tens to hundreds of times more for a commercial product that you believe is superior” — even though bottled water is less stringently regulated. Who distrusts tap water the most?

Government 263

Government 2020 Regulations 2022 263

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 3, 2024

In August of 2020 when the last permit fee increase was put in place, DEP estimated it would need the revenue from 2,000 unconventional shale gas permits a year to adequately support the regulatory program for both conventional and unconventional oil and gas drilling. In 2023, DEP received just over 663 shale gas permit applications.

Natural Gas 87

Natural Gas 2008 2024 2023 87

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 25, 2024

In August of 2020 when the last permit fee increase was put in place, DEP estimated it would need the revenue from 2,000 unconventional shale gas permits a year to adequately support the regulatory program for both conventional and unconventional oil and gas drilling. In 2023, DEP received just over 663 shale gas permit applications.

Natural Gas 120

Natural Gas 2024 2007 Regulations 120

Legal Planet

JULY 1, 2022

That initiative would have authorized CalRecycle to adopt and enforce regulations requiring that 80 percent of single-use plastic packaging and food service ware, as compared to 2020 levels, be recyclable, compostable, or source reduced by 2030, with an additional requirement that 25 percent of the waste be source reduced.

Recycling 283

Recycling Waste Law 2019 283

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 16, 2023

Shapiro’s office supporting “key recommendations” in a 2020 Grand Jury Report that concluded DEP’s oil and gas regulatory program failed to protect public health and the environment. On April 26 Inside Climate News published a comprehensive article by Stacey Burling on issues surrounding the disposal of 2.6 Read more here. 27 Released 1.1

Natural Gas 97

Natural Gas 2020 Regulations Air Pollution 97

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 13, 2022

This new regulation would apply to delivery vans, big rigs, box trucks, and buses. California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule passed in 2020, which required manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions MHD vehicles, was an excellent start. Regulate more tractor trucks, including the smaller fleets.

Electricity 246

Electricity Air Pollution Nitrogen Oxides 2030 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is considering amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation, but indicated they have no plans to address the problems caused by counter-productive subsidies for manure biomethane. California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look.

Fossil Fuels 320

Fossil Fuels Regulations Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 320

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 6, 2022

EPA proposed changes to its MON rule in 2019, regulating toxic emissions for about 200 chemical plants that produce solvents, plastics, and pesticides across the country. This group pressed the EPA to support the adoption of a far less protective standard based on the TCEQ’s analysis.

Clean Air Act 283

Clean Air Act 2019 Environmental Protection 2020 283

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

We urgently need more action and oversight from policymakers at every level, from Congress to federal and state regulators, to address the consequences of methane gas overreliance head-on. And between 2010 and 2020 across all economic sectors, the share of US primary energy consumption from methane gas increased from 25 to 34 percent. .

Clean Energy 246

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

The dip in gasoline use in 2020 was due to the reduction in personal vehicle use during the initial phases of the coronavirus pandemic. These regulations (both state and federal) that UCS has advocated for have saved drivers money and reduced emissions.

Carbon Dioxide 283

Carbon Dioxide 2005 Electricity Nitrogen Oxides 283

Legal Planet

AUGUST 1, 2023

Any serious news coverage that’s going to touch on possible regulations should distinguish between these various classes of e-bikes, as should policymakers. The number of preventable nonfatal injuries to cyclists was 325,173 in 2020. How are other countries regulating e-bikes? increase from 856 in 2019.

Electricity 246

Electricity Regulations Technology 2020 246

PA Environment Daily

JULY 22, 2023

On July 22, the Governor’s Office published an update to the Regulatory Agenda of regulations in development that included a new annual permit fee for unconventional shale gas operations and a schedule for the release of updated waste and other environmental standards for conventional oil and gas drilling. Read more here. [ Read more here.

Regulations 92

Regulations Waste 2023 Radiation 92

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced new regulations enhancing pipeline safety and governing hazardous liquids pipelines owned by public utilities in Pennsylvania are expected to be published as final this month and take effect in November. Of Interior Approves $76.4

Regulations 103

Regulations Natural Gas 2028 Electricity 103

Clean Energy Law

NOVEMBER 24, 2020

The novel regulation aims to reduce GHG emissions from ride-sharing vehicles in California. The regulation will include two primary requirements related to: (1) increasing the percentage of total miles driven by ride-sharing companies using ZEVs, and (2) reducing GHG emissions per passenger mile traveled. By Joshua T.

Regulations 130

Regulations Greenhouse 2020 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

ExxonMobil cited IPAA’s lack of support for policies related to climate change or reducing carbon emissions, as well as its opposition to strong methane regulations, as reasons for ending its membership (IPAA was also classified as “misaligned” two years ago in the company’s inaugural lobbying report, but the company maintained its membership).

Fossil Fuels 297

Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Climate Change Paris Agreement 297

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 23, 2023

Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) at the March 22 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on DEP’s budget request , the Department of Environmental Protection said it is projecting a $1,581,000 deficit in funding for the Oil and Gas Regulation Program. The claims that Pennsylvania has the toughest oil and gas regulations in the U.S.

Regulations 97

Regulations 2023 Natural Gas 2022 97

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

In August 2020, California experienced an extreme heat wave that prompted electricity demand to soar to a level that exceeded available supply, leading to the first rolling blackouts of this kind since the state’s energy crisis in the early 2000s. The rolling blackouts took place two nights in a row on August 14 and August 15, 2020.

Fossil Fuels 230

Fossil Fuels Cooling Electricity 2015 230

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

Power companies will therefore have to pay more for the fuel, but utilities are generally allowed by state regulators to pass those cost increases onto their customers in the form of higher electricity rates. The bankruptcies were set in motion even before 2020. There are examples from across the country.

Fossil Fuels 332

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 332