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Funding for Environmental Justice is coming. Will it reach communities most in need?

Summary

The first $100 million in environmental justice grants from last year's Inflation Reduction Act will soon be available, according to EPA chief Michael Regan. They are the first of an anticipated $3 billion in block grants that Congress created last August as part of President Biden's landmark climate bill. More than 60 Democrats wrote to the White House in September to improve its "Justice40" project by ensuring additional cash does not exacerbate pollution in poor neighborhoods. Regan  said the new environmental justice and civil rights office's 200 staffers "will be the eyes, the ears, the brains" behind how it is spent and would help communities qualify for awards.  The EPA said $30 million would go to community-based nonprofit organizations and $40 million to state and local governments to spend with community partners. Federally recognized tribes will get $20 million and U.S. territories and remote tribes $10 million.  Grant applicants must apply by April 10, and Regan said some projects could start by October 1.

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Climate Change
Climate Change

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Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Golden State Natural Resources' proposal to construct wood pellet plants in California's Lassen and Tuolumne counties for exporting a million tons annually raises environmental

March 19, 2024
Civil Rights & Human Rights
Civil Rights & Human Rights

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the construction of a copper mine in Arizona, situated on land sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other Indigenous nations, was not

March 19, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

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March 18, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that petrochemicals, a byproduct of fossil fuel production, are not only fueling climate change but also contributing to

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Climate Change
Climate Change

Despite reliance on fossil fuel-generated electricity in the U.S., heat pumps significantly reduce emissions compared to traditional heating systems.

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Economic Justice
Economic Justice

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives reveals that low-income Americans residing in federal housing assistance programs exhibit significantly lower blood lead lev

March 15, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The article discusses the environmental consequences of the Israel-Hamas conflict, noting over 30,000 fatalities and significant environmental damage.

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Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

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Climate Change
Climate Change

Despite regular violations of pollution permits, a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project reveals that the booming petrochemical buildout on the Gulf Coast has attracte

March 14, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

The pressing issue of sinking land compounded by sea-level rise, particularly along the Gulf Coast.

March 13, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

In Florida, the deadliest state for heat-related fatalities, Laurie Giordano's impassioned plea led to the Zachary Martin Act, ensuring safety provisions for student athletes afte

March 13, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

The article discusses a damning report by Human Rights Watch accusing the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project in Cambodia of violating the rights of Indigenous Chong peoples.

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Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on clean energy investment in the U.S. According to an analysis, for every dollar invested by the government, the private sector

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Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The New Mexico Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on March 11, 2024, regarding regulations for the state's community solar program.