September 20, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
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Two new reports highlight the global impact of wildfire smoke on air quality. One study reveals that over two billion people worldwide were exposed to fire-related air pollution.
"A California County Returns to Power, Thanks to Its Microgrid"
Summary
In August 2023, Del Norte County in California faced a power crisis when wildfires threatened its only transmission lines, leaving its 27,000 residents in the dark. Pacific Power, in collaboration with Pacific Gas & Electric, responded with an innovative solution: deploying tractor-trailer-sized generators to create microgrids that could operate independently from the endangered transmission lines. These generator-powered microgrids became the largest and longest-running microgrid operation of its kind in the state, supplying power to homes and businesses in the county. Within a week, all non-evacuated residents had their electricity restored, providing a lifeline for critical services and preventing further damage from the wildfires. While this response was effective, it also highlighted the need for more resilient and sustainable solutions, such as solar, batteries, and natural gas-powered microgrids, to address power outages in the face of growing wildfire risks and extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.
September 20, 2023
Human Health
Human Health
The article discusses the profound impact of location on health equity and environmental justice. It emphasizes that where people live significantly affects their health.
Research from UC Berkeley School of Public Health reveals that despite redlining, a discriminatory lending practice being outlawed since 1968, its legacy continues.
September 21, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Brazil's supreme court has voted against a proposal to restrict Indigenous land rights, a decision hailed as a historic victory for the country's Indigenous communities.
September 21, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
The article discusses the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on community solar programs in the United States one year after its passage.
September 21, 2023
Civil Rights & Human Rights
Civil Rights & Human Rights
The Biden Administration is allocating $1 billion in grants to address "environmental injustice" by planting trees in urban areas predominantly inhabited by minorities .
September 22, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The article discusses the need for President Joe Biden's American Climate Corps (ACC) to prioritize equity, especially for Black youth, drawing parallels .
September 22, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
In this article by Bill McKibben, published in The New Yorker on September 22, 2023, the author discusses the Biden Administration's upcoming decision.
September 22, 2023
Economic Justice
Economic Justice
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The article discusses the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) approval of the expansion of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects on the Gulf Coast.
September 15, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
On September 15, 2023, the state of California filed a significant lawsuit against major oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron.
September 15, 2023
Food & Water Justice
Food & Water Justice
During a City Council candidate forum held on September 15, 2023, in Houston, the Union Pacific rail yard's contamination and its impact on the Fifth Ward.
September 15, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
An analysis by the independent market monitor revealed that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)'s recent effort to ensure grid reliability.
September 15, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
A Deloitte report has highlighted the issue of "climate racism," which disproportionately impacts marginalized communities in Canada, particularly Indigenous and racialized groups
September 15, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened a civil rights investigation in 2022 into whether the State of Louisiana disproportionately burdened Black communities along.
September 15, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
In August 2023, Del Norte County in California faced a power crisis when wildfires threatened its only transmission lines, leaving its 27,000 residents in the dark.