March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
More than 21,000 unexpected pollution releases by Texas companies have released over 400,000 tons of air pollution in Texas from 2016 to 2022.
Multimillion-dollar tax breaks approved for Plaquemines LNG, Louisiana Green Fuels
Summary
The Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry unanimously granted tax credits totaling millions of dollars for two huge industrial projects in Plaquemines and Caldwell parishes. Venture Global LNG obtained a payroll credit of $29.8 million over ten years for its $14.4 billion Plaquemines LNG plant in Plaquemines Parish. The Virginia-based liquefied natural gas exporter obtained the tax credit under the state's Quality Jobs program, which encourages businesses to create new, high-paying jobs. According to papers filed with Louisiana Economic Development, the state agency in charge of the state's corporate incentive programs, the board authorized an Industrial Tax Exemption Program contract for the LNG facility in 2016. According to LED estimates, the break was worth $83.5 million in the first year of the arrangement. Over a 10-year period, the new LNG terminal is estimated to generate 413 new direct jobs with a total payroll of $497 million, as well as 6,000 construction jobs. To the dismay of environmental justice activists, the project recently received preliminary clearance from government officials to increase its yearly LNG production from 24 million metric tons to 27.2 million. It is scheduled to go live in 2024.
Black communities smothered 24/7 by toxic industries keep getting strung along, with no apology in sight.
Natural gas pipeline developers are pressing Congress and US energy regulators to speed up the permitting process as a way to build more projects that deliver energy to the Easter
March 24, 2023
Carbon Emissions
Carbon Emissions
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), countries spent a record-breaking $1 trillion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2022.
March 24, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The only way to stop the long-lasting harms of lead poisoning in children is to end exposure to the chemical — and with data-driven and community-based action, that’s possible.
March 24, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act has been reintroduced by Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva and Barbara Lee, and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Cory Booker.
March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Advocates criticized Biden’s Council on Environmental Quality for excluding race as a key factor in its tool and have added the metric in their alternative version.
March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Residents of a Louisiana parish located in the heart of a cluster of polluting petrochemical factories filed a lawsuit in federal court.
March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Federal limits on particulate matter commonly known as soot could mean cleaner, safer air for Texans. But environmental experts worry Texas may snub rules.
March 30, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Residents in industry-choked Randolph renew efforts to block the power company’s plans near their fragile town.
February 26, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The US Department of Agriculture is rolling out a new $3.1bn program to make payments towards loans for farmers who are behind on loan payments or on the brink of foreclosure.
February 27, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The U.S. EPA has ordered Union Pacific Railroad to investigate potential contamination in and around the former wood preserving facility in Greater Fifth Ward area of Houston, TX.
February 27, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The revised version of the U.S. government's "disadvantaged communities" tool automatically considers more than 750 federally recognized tribal tracts disadvantaged.
February 27, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The Gulf of Mexico is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the oceans on earth, according to a new study.
February 28, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The protection of children from pesticide exposure varies from state to state in the US due to different laws and regulations.