Thu.Dec 12, 2024

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Power Moves: Billions in Benefits for the Midwest’s Transmission System 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Today, the MISO Board of Directors took the landmark step of approving what is likely the largest single investment in the history of the US power grid. For its part, the transmission advocacy group Clean Grid Alliance calls MISOs action the biggest regional grid upgrade ever in the United States. In 2022, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)the entity that runs the electric grid for much of the Midwestrolled out a portfolio of transmission upgrades known as Tranche 1 of its Long

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NEPA in the Supreme Court: The Seven Counties Oral Argument

Legal Planet

The Supreme Court heard oral argument recently in the Seven Counties case. The issue in the case is the scope of an agencys duty to consider the environmental effects of its actions. Several arguments popped up in the discussion that appealed to at least some of the Justices. We think that they would do well to rethink them. Each of the arguments distracts attention from what ought to be the key question: what impacts should the agency take into account in making its decision?

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Polling Shows GTA Voters Would Punish Federal Liberals if They Fail to Designate 413 for Impact Assessment and Protect Habitat and Waterways

Enviromental Defense

Federal Liberal incumbents would lose significant support if they fail to act to protect environmental values within federal jurisdiction Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat As January 2025 deadlines near for federal decisions to require impact assessment and protect a key endangered species along the 413 route, a large, fine-grained poll of GTA voters , commissioned by Environmental Defence, shows that they wo

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A Framework for Equity and Local Leadership in the EV Transition

Legal Planet

Eliminating fossil fuel-powered vehicles from the road is necessary to fight climate change and save thousands of lives at risk due to poor air quality. As governments and the auto industry advance the switch to electric vehicles, this rapid technology transition may disrupt traditional mobility patternsand, without equitable planning and policy, it has the potential for negative impacts to mobility and affordability in underserved and lower-income communities.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Milieudefensie v Shell: 3 Takeaways and Challenges on the Appeal’s Court Decision

Law Columbia

Introduction On November 12, 2024, the Dutch Court of Appeal in The Hague issued its eagerly awaited appeals judgment in Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) and others v. Royal Dutch Shell. The applicants sought an injunction declaring that Shell is legally bound to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 45% below 2019 levels by 2030.

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EPA Begins Public Consultation on Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts

Nanotech

On November 21, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts (Interim Framework). 89 Fed. Reg. 92125. According to EPA, the Interim Framework provides a shared reference point for EPA programs and regions as they determine when and how to analyze and consider cumulative impacts.

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The Feed: Vol. 2, Issue 23

National Law Center

The Feed newsletter highlights recent legal developments affecting agriculture, with issues released twice a month. Click below to sign up for. The post The Feed: Vol. 2, Issue 23 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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DOE approach to Research, Technology, and Economic Security (RTES) risk

Environmental News Bits

In November 2024, the Deputy Secretary for Energy (S2) issued a memo outlining DOE’s approach to Research, Technology, and Economic Security (RTES) risk in financial assistance and loan activities. The memo includes an overview of DOEs goals, process, high-level risk factors, and commitment to mitigation.

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Environmental and Health Professionals Call for Investigation into Alberta Oil and Gas Company’s Failure to Report Air Emissions

Enviromental Defense

CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATIES 6 AND 7, HOME TO MTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III Environmental and health groups are calling on the federal government to investigate Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) in light of data showing many of its oil and gas facilities in Alberta are failing to report dangerous emissions, including benzene, volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).

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Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 1990-2022 and Preliminary 2023 Estimates

Environmental News Bits

Download the report. We estimate that global GHG emissions rose in 2023 by 1.2% over the previous year, reaching 51.8 gigatons of CO2-equivalent on net. This follows a 1.0% increase in 2022 as countries recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions of 2020.

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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STATEMENT: Government’s New Climate Target Cements Canada’s Position as a Global Laggard

Enviromental Defense

Statement by Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate, Environmental Defence Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People The Government of Canadas new greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2035 is deeply disappointing, and signals that the government is not committed to the clean energy future that Canadians are demanding.

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How climate change threatens this iconic Florida bird

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Cornell University. A new analysis of data from a long-term study finds that warmer winters driven by climate change reduced the number of offspring raised annually by the federally threatened Florida scrub-jay by 25% since 1981.

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Massive Investments in the Midwest Grid are Worth Celebrating 

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Midwest is about to get a major power boostgenerating jobs, economic growth, and enabling a cleaner energy future at the same time. Meeting our clean energy ambitions in the face of growing power demand , extreme weather risks , and simply keeping the lights on with an aging system are putting a significant strain on the bulk transmission system that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers.

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Using sunlight to recycle black plastics

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from the American Chemical Society. Not all plastics are equal — some types and colors are easier to recycle than others. For instance, black foam and black coffee lids, which are often made of polystyrene, usually end up in landfills because color additives lead to ineffective sorting.

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Western monarch butterflies favor private land. Now what?

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from High Country News. Every year, the Western monarch butterfly population undertakes an epic migration that spans 11 states in the region. About half that acreage is public land, but a new analysis has found that the migrating insects greatly prefer private property, suggesting that private-land conservation has outsized importance for … Continue reading Western monarch butterflies favor private land.

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Carbon removal developers unveil first all wind-powered direct air capture plant

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at ESG Dive. Carbon removal project developers Return Carbon and Verified Carbon are collaborating on a direct air capture facility that will run entirely on wind power, a feat the pair called a first for the sector on Thursday.

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How USDA awardees are shaping the future of agriculture

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Carbon180. This fall, dozens of farmers, universities, non-profits, and other entities kicked off the implementation of their Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced awards earlier this year.

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NOAA and Carbon to Sea Initiative partner to develop ocean-based carbon dioxide removal data management guidelines

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from the Carbon to Sea Initiative. Today, the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop data management guidelines for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) research also referred to as marine CDR or mCDR.

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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Despite critics, organic farming thrives in heart of US corn country

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at The New Lede. People searching for ways to limit the toll industrialized American agriculture takes on communities, land, and water may want to make a visit to Clear Creek Acres in northern Iowa.

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Re-Assembly works to recycle a notoriously wasteful facade component

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at The Architect’s Newspaper. Daniel Marshall founded Re-Assembly in 2022 to investigate the potential to recycle architectural glass.

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A slippery slope for used cooking oils

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Food Business News.