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White House introduces new permitting rules focusing on climate and community impacts

News Feed
Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The Biden administration has issued new guidelines aimed at accelerating clean energy projects while considering their environmental and community impacts.Coral Davenport reports for The The New York Times.In short:The new rules modify the National Environmental Policy Act to speed up project approvals while ensuring environmental and social justice considerations.Agencies must complete environmental impact assessments within two years, a reduction from the previous average of 4.5 years.The guidelines prioritize projects with long-term environmental benefits, allowing some to bypass extensive reviews.Key quote: "These reforms will deliver smarter decisions, quicker permitting, and projects that are built better and faster." — Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental QualityWhy this matters: Revised regulations aim to streamline the implementation of critical clean energy projects without compromising on environmental integrity or community well-being. Read more: Western Pennsylvania can meet its climate goals — if the region stops subsidizing natural gas.

The Biden administration has issued new guidelines aimed at accelerating clean energy projects while considering their environmental and community impacts.Coral Davenport reports for The The New York Times.In short:The new rules modify the National Environmental Policy Act to speed up project approvals while ensuring environmental and social justice considerations.Agencies must complete environmental impact assessments within two years, a reduction from the previous average of 4.5 years.The guidelines prioritize projects with long-term environmental benefits, allowing some to bypass extensive reviews.Key quote: "These reforms will deliver smarter decisions, quicker permitting, and projects that are built better and faster." — Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental QualityWhy this matters: Revised regulations aim to streamline the implementation of critical clean energy projects without compromising on environmental integrity or community well-being. Read more: Western Pennsylvania can meet its climate goals — if the region stops subsidizing natural gas.



The Biden administration has issued new guidelines aimed at accelerating clean energy projects while considering their environmental and community impacts.

Coral Davenport reports for The The New York Times.

In short:

  • The new rules modify the National Environmental Policy Act to speed up project approvals while ensuring environmental and social justice considerations.
  • Agencies must complete environmental impact assessments within two years, a reduction from the previous average of 4.5 years.
  • The guidelines prioritize projects with long-term environmental benefits, allowing some to bypass extensive reviews.

Key quote:

"These reforms will deliver smarter decisions, quicker permitting, and projects that are built better and faster."

— Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Why this matters:

Revised regulations aim to streamline the implementation of critical clean energy projects without compromising on environmental integrity or community well-being. Read more: Western Pennsylvania can meet its climate goals — if the region stops subsidizing natural gas.

Read the full story here.
Photos courtesy of

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Hochul signs law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for natural disaster cleanup

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Thursday signed a law that will require companies responsible for large amounts of planet-warming pollution to contribute to climate damage repair efforts. Under the new state law, companies responsible for the bulk of emissions from 2000 to 2018 will be on the hook for some $3 billion a...

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Thursday signed a law that will require companies responsible for large amounts of planet-warming pollution to contribute to climate damage repair efforts. Under the new state law, companies responsible for the bulk of emissions from 2000 to 2018 will be on the hook for some $3 billion a year over the next 25 years. The law is modeled after the federal Superfund law, which sticks the bill for pollution cleanup with the companies responsible for the pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency notably invoked the Superfund law last year in East Palestine, Ohio, after a railroad car carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the town. Co-sponsor state Sen. Liz Krueger (D) called the New York bill a “shot that will be heard ‘round the world.” “Too often over the last decade, courts have dismissed lawsuits against the oil and gas industry by saying that the issue of climate culpability should be decided by legislatures,” she said in a statement. “Well, the Legislature of the State of New York — the 10th largest economy in the world — has accepted the invitation, and I hope we have made ourselves very clear: the planet’s largest climate polluters bear a unique responsibility for creating the climate crisis, and they must pay their fair share to help regular New Yorkers deal with the consequences.” Hochul’s signature makes New York the second state with such a law, following Vermont, but the Empire State is far larger, more populous and a major center of American and international financial power. Neither New York's nor Vermont's law is guaranteed to survive a legal challenge. The American Petroleum Institute (API) vocally lobbied New York lawmakers against it last year and cast doubt on its durability in court. The Hill has reached out to API for comment. President-elect Trump, who has denied the existence of climate change and vowed to pursue pro-fossil fuel policies in his second term, is unlikely to devote much, if any, energy to climate change mitigation. This will put the onus on large Democratic states like New York and California, the latter of which received approval earlier this month from the Biden administration for its goal of phasing out new gas-powered car sales by 2035. California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) told The Hill the state expects the new administration to challenge that waiver in court.

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Why mountain meadows should be a priority for California’s new climate bond

More than half of California's Sierra meadows have been degraded or lost. Given their vital role assisting with water storage, carbon sequestration and providing a habitat to wildlife, investments from the newly passed Proposition 4 could boost ongoing restoration work.

Guest Commentary written by Ryan Burnett Ryan Burnett leads the Sierra Nevada Group at Point Blue Conservation Science and is the chair of the Sierra Meadows Partnership. When I stepped into a Sierra Nevada meadow over 25 years ago, I was struck by the diversity of life, the hub of biological activity — full of birds, frogs, fish and plants. As a wildlife ecologist, I was in love. That infatuation has endured, growing into one of the great passions in my life. As a lifelong Californian, I’ve always been enamored with the natural wonders our state contains, and meadows are no exception. Californians have a lot to be proud of. In addition to the highest GDP of any state, we have a proven track record as the country’s climate and environmental leader. Since voters recently approved Proposition 4, we can be proud that California will deepen its commitment to large-scale action to address the state’s water, wildfire and climate challenges. The $10 billion bond measure will flow to environmental projects large and small, including $1.2 billion for land conservation and habitat restoration, which will benefit communities and wildlife around the state. But one question looms: What might these investments to increase climate resilience look like on the ground? Some of the most important — and often overlooked — natural resources the state has are the verdant high elevation wetlands we call mountain meadows. These meadows lie at the headwaters of the rivers that flow out of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade and Klamath mountains, supplying the majority of water we rely on for agriculture and drinking, and supporting diverse ecosystems from the Sierra to the sea, from Yreka to San Diego. They serve an important role in improving water quality and increasing water storage, acting as giant sponges that soak up snow melt and slowly release it through the dry summer months. And mountain meadows are superstars at carbon sequestration, pulling carbon out of the atmosphere as fast as tropical rainforests.  Mountain meadows provide important wildlife habitat for a broad suite of species, including many that are threatened with extinction, such as Willow Flycatchers and Yosemite Toads. For a millennia, mountain meadows have also held a deep cultural significance for the many tribes that have stewarded these ecosystems.  Read Next Elections Prop. 4 passes: Californians approve $10 billion for water, wildfire, climate projects by Alejandro Lazo Unfortunately, over 50% of Sierra meadows have been heavily degraded or lost over the past 150 years, due to road-building, overgrazing, fire suppression, mining, water diversions and more. These meadows no longer provide the wealth of important services they once did. The Sierra Meadows Partnership has sought to protect and restore these crown jewels of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades mountains. Comprised of NGOs, government agencies, universities, conservation districts and restoration practitioners, we have restored more than 8,000 acres and protected 10,000 since 2016. The goal is to restore and conserve 30,000 acres by 2030. Prop. 4 has the potential to dramatically scale up the meadow restoration and conservation work taking place, which will pay dividends to the people and wildlife statewide that rely on the many natural benefits of healthy mountain meadows. The billions designated for water projects, forest health and nature-based climate solutions could increase funding possibilities to restore meadows, amplify Indigenous voices and improve the resilience of our watersheds. Recently, I had the privilege of engaging local elementary students from the small town of Chester to assist us in the restoration of Child’s Meadow, near Lassen Volcanic National Park. Witnessing their sense of purpose and accomplishment as they took an active role in restoring their watershed reminded me once again of why California invests in the restoration of our incredible natural resources.  Read More Water More water for urban areas, some farms: Biden, Newsom officials announce long-awaited new water delivery rules December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Environment Unstoppable invasion: How did mussels sneak into California, despite decades of state shipping rules? November 26, 2024November 27, 2024

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Grief, Hope, Joy: Faith in the Time of Climate Change

As the director of Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, Sarah Ogletree has spent the last three and a half years working from her base in Mitchell County to empower congregations and interfaith organizations in the fight for climate and environmental justice.  She and other faith leaders active in the climate movement have long […]

Leaders from different spiritual traditions share their unique approaches to wrestling with existential climate fears.By Nina DietzAs the director of Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, Sarah Ogletree has spent the last three and a half years working from her base in Mitchell County to empower congregations and interfaith organizations in the fight for climate and environmental justice. 

Climate

Hurricane-Force Winds Bear Down on California, Latest in Stretch of Extreme Weather

California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Record-setting flooding over three days dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of northern California, a fire left thousands under evacuation orders and warnings in Los Angeles County, forecasters issued the first-ever tornado warning in San Francisco and rough seas tore down part of a wharf in Santa Cruz.All of this extreme weather has hit California in the past several weeks, showcasing the state’s particular vulnerability to major weather disasters. Strong storms Tuesday produced waves that forecasters said could reach 35 feet (10.7 meters) around Santa Cruz. The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning until early evening, cautioning people to stay out of the ocean and away from piers. For Chandler Price, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, these extreme weather events are both typical and unusual for a La Niña winter, a natural climate cycle that can cause extreme weather across the planet. In California, it means a wetter than average northern region and a drier south. “So far we’ve seen that pattern play out pretty well,” he said, but added, “obviously, you know, the tornado in the Bay Area was atypical. ... We haven’t seen that before, at least not for a very long time.”A storm and wind gusts of up to 60 mph (96 kph) prompted the San Francisco tornado warning that extended to neighboring San Mateo County, which went out to about 1 million people earlier this month. The tornado overturned cars and toppled trees and utility poles near a mall in Scotts Valley, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Francisco, injuring several people. Tornadoes do occur in California, but they rarely hit populated areas.In San Francisco, local meteorologists said straight-line winds, not a tornado, felled trees onto cars and streets and damaged roofs. The storm also dumped significant snow across the northern Sierra Nevada. F. Martin Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, said climate change means that atmospheric rivers, long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, will be responsible for a greater share of California’s yearly precipitation and the periods in between those big events will be drier. These storms are essential for the water supply but can also be dangerous.“When they are too strong and too many in a row, we end up getting floods,” he said, adding that they drive California’s weather extremes.During storms this week around Santa Cruz, one man was trapped under debris and died and another person was pulled into the ocean. The surf also splintered off the end of a Santa Cruz municipal wharf that was under construction, plunging three people into the ocean. One swam to shore and the other two were rescued. A series of atmospheric rivers are expected through the rest of the week. Overall, this pattern is not unusual — these storms regularly produce high winds, heavy snow in the mountains and torrential rain this time of year.“What’s a little unique about this setup is how closely spaced they are, so there’s not much of a break between them,” said David Lawrence, a meteorologist and emergency response specialist with the National Weather Service.But these storms haven’t stretched very far south, creating dry weather in Southern California that increases fire risk.One of the state’s most recent blazes, the Franklin Fire left some 20,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings and forced students at Pepperdine University to shelter in place. The blaze was fueled by the Santa Anas, the notorious seasonal winds that blow dry air from the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes.Most of the destruction occurred in Malibu, a community on the western corner of Los Angeles known for its beautiful bluffs and the Hollywood-famous Zuma Beach. The fire damaged or destroyed 48 structures and is one of nearly 8,000 wildfires that have scorched more than 1 million acres (more than 404,685 hectares) in the Golden State this year. The Santa Ana winds, which peak in December, have also contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in parts of the southern state, said Price with the National Weather Service. “Eighty-degree (26.7 Celsius) Christmases are not entirely uncommon around here,” he added, but “there was a couple of high temperature record breaks in the mountains, which are usually less affected by the Santa Anas, and so those were a little unusual.” Phillis reported from St. Louis.Associated Press writers Martha Mendoza and Stefanie Dazio contributed to this story.The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment.Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Sept. 2024

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EPA administrator Michael Regan to depart at year’s end

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan will leave the Biden administration at the end of this year — about a month before the presidency changes hands. While Regan could serve until Trump’s inauguration, he notified staff on Friday that he will leave a few weeks early. “Today, I am writing to let you know...

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan will leave the Biden administration at the end of this year — about a month before the presidency changes hands. While Regan could serve until Trump’s inauguration, he notified staff on Friday that he will leave a few weeks early.  “Today, I am writing to let you know that my last day as your Administrator will be Dec. 31,” he wrote in a note to EPA staff. “I am so proud to be part of the EPA family,” he wrote, touting the agency’s regulations over the past four years aimed at mitigating climate change and pollution.  Jane Nishida, head of the agency’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs, will serve as acting administrator in Regan’s absence. The message said that Regan would “return home” to North Carolina, but gave no other information on his next steps.  President-elect Trump has already said he would nominate former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) to helm the agency during the incoming administration.

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