Complete list of press releases

Contact:
Keith Gaby, 202-572-3336, kgaby@edf.org
Mark Eddy, 720-201-4251, marke@markeddycomm.com

Defend Our Future is employing a mix of groundbreaking digital, social and data targeting technologies, along with traditional boots-on-the-ground organizing, to collect the pledges from potential voters. The non-partisan campaign will serve as a test run for a larger, national effort in future election cycles. The campaign’s website is defendourfuture.org.

The message of Defend Our Future focuses on empowerment for voters under 35. Younger voters represent the leading edge of a growing demographic wave that is far more supportive of climate action than older cohorts of voters. Colorado organizers are on the ground at Colorado State University and University of Colorado, Boulder.

“Millennials are the ones who must live with the consequences of climate change,” Prevost said. “They have the power to tell elected leaders, candidates and policymakers that they want action. This campaign is designed to help them harness that power.”

(Washington, D.C. – October 6, 2014) The U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection today of legal challenges to the national, health-based air quality standard for ground-level ozone is an important step forward for clean air and for public health, according to Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).  It is also critical that EPA fully carry out its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act to further strengthen our nation’s public health protections against ground-level ozone. 

The Supreme Court today rejected further attempts by the Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG), a coalition of coal-based power companies, to weaken the standard for ground-level ozone, more commonly known as smog.   

“Millions of Americans are harmed by smog pollution and the Court’s decision is a welcome end to efforts by large coal-based power companies to derail vital clean air protections for our communities and families,” said EDF Senior Attorney Peter Zalzal.  

Smog is a harmful air pollutant that is associated with adverse health effects, including asthma attacks, decreased lung function and premature death. Children, older Americans, and those with preexisting respiratory conditions are especially at risk.

In July of 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2008 ground-level ozone standard of 75 parts per billion.  Industry groups had sought to weaken that standard despite a unanimous recommendation of EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee that, on the basis of the best scientific data, EPA should have adopted a more protective standard than it did – in the range of 60 to 70 parts per billion.

In April, UARG petitioned the Supreme Court to review and reverse the decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (UARG v. EPA, No. 13-1235). Today’s decision denying that petition ends any further legal challenges to the nation’s 2008 health-based standard for ground-level ozone. Several organizations, including American Lung Association and Earthjustice as well as EDF, vigorously opposed UARG’s legal claims in the Court of Appeals.  

EPA is now in the process of reviewing the adequacy of the 2008 ground-level ozone standard to protect human health. EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee has again recommended that the agency establish a standard in the range of 60 to 70 parts per billion. 

“Since 2008, additional scientific evidence has only further confirmed that a more rigorous standard for ground-level ozone is necessary to protect public health,” said Zalzal. “It is critical that the EPA move forward with health-protective standards based on the best available scientific information.” 

EPA is under a court-ordered deadline to issue proposed national health standards on December 1 of this year. 

(NEW YORK – October 3, 2014) On NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show yesterday, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) CEO Lisa Nelson tried to use Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to back up her claim that ALEC is dedicated to open-minded “dialogue between all sides with respect to climate change.” As EDF has made clear time and time again, ALEC is anti-environmental, dishonest about whether climate change exists, and waging an all-out attack on clean energy. It is flat-out wrong to suggest EDF and ALEC are partners.

“Lisa Nelson misrepresented EDF’s participation in ALEC’s annual meeting. EDF takes bipartisanship seriously, and the consequences of climate change are so severe and time is so short that we will talk about our solutions with just about anyone. In this case, an EDF staffer spoke at ALEC’s annual meeting about innovative clean energy finance and energy efficiency ideas – ideas that ALEC has opposed.

“Alternative energy financing approaches such as on-bill repayment and property assessed clean energy (PACE) are solutions EDF supports, and that we believe everyone should support. Even ALEC.”

• Jim Marston, Vice President, US Climate and Energy, Environmental Defense Fund

(Austin, TX – Oct.3, 2014) Drilling services company Baker Hughes announced Wednesday that it will publicly disclose all chemicals used for fracking operations. Baker Hughes, a global services provider working with some of the largest oil and gas companies worldwide, reports it is the first to disclose 100 percent of the chemical ingredients it supplies the oil and gas industry for development at hydraulic fracturing sites.

 “We are encouraged by Baker Hughes’ disclosure pledge and applaud their leadership,” said Mark Brownstein, EDF Associate Vice President of US Climate and Energy Program. “We hope it will influence the rest of the oil and gas industry. The public deserves transparency from industries that impact their local communities, and this company’s disclosure of the full list of chemicals used during drilling operations is a very important step in the right direction.”

• Mark Brownstein, Associate Vice President & Chief Counsel, US Climate and Energy Program

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Lauren Whittenberg, 512-691-3437, lwhittenberg@edf.org
Steven Goldman, 202-572-3357, sgoldman@edf.org

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 2, 2014) A new report suggests that the nation’s growing methane mitigation industry can boost economic development in key energy states and help reduce oil and gas air pollution, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. As the federal government considers standards to limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations, the demand for this equipment and services is expected to rise. A report from the consultancy ICF International indicated methane emissions will increase roughly five percent from now through 2018 absent industry-wide adoption of new control measures. 

EDF released an economic analysis today, conducted by Datu Research and entitled “The Emerging U.S. Methane Mitigation Industry,” which assessed the current market landscape for companies providing solutions to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. The report identified 76 companies nationwide – more than half small businesses – that manufacture methane controls or offer related services from over 500 different locations across 46 states. Ten states had the highest concentration of facilities: Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, California, Wyoming, Illinois, Ohio and New Mexico. These states stand to gain the most from future growth associated with this industry.

Unburned natural gas is primarily methane, both a powerful greenhouse gas and a valuable product. Many companies have effectively developed technologies and services that capture these emissions from oil and gas systems, according to the Datu report. Increased use of these available solutions can create new, well-paying American jobs for skilled workers, save industry over $1 billion in lost product and reduce air pollution. The burgeoning industry is also helping to revitalize manufacturing in states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

“This report clearly shows an industry that has the capability to help reduce methane emissions and, with the right policies in place, also has the room to grow,” said Mark Brownstein, associate vice president and chief counsel for Environmental Defense Fund. “These companies offer opportunities for the oil and gas industry to increase operational efficiencies, improve public and worker safety and reduce air and methane pollution. It’s a win-win proposition made even better, when you consider that this industry can support more good-paying U.S. jobs that largely can’t be outsourced.”

Concern around methane emissions is growing as domestic exploration expands. The oil and gas sector is the nation’s second largest industrial source of climate pollution—about 25 percent of today’s manmade global warming is caused by methane emissions, according to IPCC data. EPA estimates oil and gas operations emit 7.7 million metric tons of methane per year, equal to $1.8 billion in lost company revenue based on the average price of natural gas over the last year. Yet, reports show that cutting those emissions by at least 40 percent is possible for just one penny per thousand cubic feet of gas produced on average.

Greater state and federal oversight is needed to limit methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Colorado adopted the nation’s first air pollution rules that require oil and gas companies to control both emissions of methane and smog-forming VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The rules, supported by energy companies and environmentalists, reduce nearly 200,000 tons of methane and VOCs each year—equal to the amount produced by all the cars and trucks in Colorado. Colorado’s rules are a model for smart policy with clear economic, environmental and health benefits.

“Finalizing methane rules and regulations across the country will naturally make it much easier for companies to make the right decisions on acquiring the technology that can help them monitor and control emissions most efficiently and cost-effectively,” says Brent Lammert, FLIR’s Vice President of Sales, US Thermography. “FLIR believes we have the best products to help people find large leaks quickly, protect the environment and reduce costs to producers.”

The full report, The Emerging U.S. Methane Mitigation Industry, including an interactive map of all facilities listed in the report can be found at http://edf.org/methanejobs. 

(Austin, TX – Oct.1, 2014) An analysis of state regulations issued today by the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) reports that a growing number of oil-and-gas producing states have updated or created new rules and policies to better protect water sources. Compared to a similar analysis done in 2009, the report shows a positive trend emerging among the 27 states, which produce more than 95 percent of nation’s oil and gas, to tighten measures that will minimize the risks of local groundwater contamination caused by oil and gas development.

“Effective environmental regulation is not a ‘set it and forget it’ exercise,” said EDF senior policy expert Scott Anderson. “This report demonstrates that states realize it takes committing to a process of continual improvement to ensure the clean water protections communities expect and deserve.

“The momentum documented in this report is encouraging, yet the fact remains that the oil and gas industry is rapidly expanding without important public health and environmental protections for our air, water and communities. It’s why EDF believes that states continue to have work to do to revise, create and expand their rulebooks and devote the necessary resources to enforce those rules.”

• Scott Anderson, Senior Policy Advisor, US Climate and Energy Program

(SACRAMENTO – September 29, 2014) On Friday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)-sponsored Senate Bill 1414 by Senator Lois Wolk. This bill accelerates the use of demand response, a voluntary, cost-effective tool that relies on people and technology, not polluting, water-intensive power plants, to meet the state’s rising electricity needs. Further, the Public Utilities Commission now has clear direction to consider demand response, not just fossil fuel investments, in planning how to balance and ensure reliability for the state’s power grid.

“Today’s announcement proves once again that California, with Governor Brown at the helm, is leading the nation’s clean energy economy and providing health, environmental, and economic benefits that Californians will enjoy for generations to come. Low-cost, zero-carbon demand response is a win across the spectrum that empowers families and businesses to lower their electricity bills, improves air quality, allows for more renewable energy, and enhances electric grid reliability.

“As California continues to modernize its power grid and grow its economy, EDF hopes to see the rest of the nation follow suit to advance the innovative technologies needed to create cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable power.”   

• Lauren Navarro-Treichler, EDF attorney and California senior manager, clean energy

“Today marks a turning point for the state of California. I thank the Governor for signing SB 1414 into law, helping to bring California up to speed with other states in implementing common-sense, cost-effective demand response programs to meet the needs of California residents and businesses.

“Demand response programs will not only enable Californians to get rebates in exchange for reducing their electricity use during times of peak energy demand, but will reduce the need for costly and polluting power plants that run only when there is peak demand for electricity. This is a great step forward for California’s energy policy.”

• Senator Lois Wolk, D-Davis, author of the bill

(NEW YORK – September 29, 2014) Mayor de Blasio today announced a $28 million investment in solar at schools, funding 24 installations as part of the administration’s new green buildings plan. These new solar projects are part of the mayor’s ambitious plan announced last week, committing New York City to an 80 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions over 2005 levels by the year 2050.

“80% by 2050 – here we come! Solar for schools is exactly the kind of investment we need today to turn the corner on climate change tomorrow. The price of solar has fallen dramatically; what a great way to deliver clean, affordable, and resilient energy for our kids.”  

• Andy Darrell, Chief of Strategy, US Climate and Energy and New York Regional Director

“EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy gave a powerful speech today about the costs of climate change, and how economics can help ensure a safe future for our planet and our children.

“She was absolutely right when she said, ‘when it comes to climate change, the most expensive thing we could do, is to do nothing.’  Standard economic analysis demonstrates that taking strong action to protect the planet pays for itself many times over. When EPA, the IMF, the World Bank, and almost every academic economist having looked at the question agree, that’s a sure sign that we must act.”

“As the Administrator said, ‘We don’t have to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. They’re not separate — they’re intertwined. A world-leading economy depends on a healthy environment and a stable climate.’ I could not agree more. The best investment we can make in America’s future is to take steps to prevent the risks, and the cost, of climate change.” 

          — Gernot Wagner, Lead Senior Economist at EDF

(WASHINGTON – September 25, 2014) The Obama administration’s move this week to create the world’s largest marine protected area signals a historic commitment to the health of the world’s oceans that will help vulnerable creatures and efforts to combat overfishing and climate change. At 490,000 square miles, the Pacific Islands Marine National Monument is now six times its previous size, covering waters controlled by the United States between Hawaii and American Samoa. Working with the Bush administration, the Environmental Defense Fund played a key role in advocating for the creation of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in 2009.

“This commitment by President Obama is a historic down payment on the health of the world’s oceans. The protected area will serve as a critical tool in the protection of whales, sharks and other fish, corals and other increasingly vulnerable creatures. As the world works to combat overfishing, acidification and other threats to our oceans, this type of leadership by the United States is crucial.”

       Amanda Leland, vice president, Oceans, Environmental Defense Fund

(New York – September 24, 2014) As the United Nations Climate Summit convened yesterday in New York City, government officials, corporate leaders and policy experts from China met with environmental leaders and state-level policy staffers from the United States for discussions about reducing climate pollution.

The China-U.S. Climate Dialogue was held at the New York offices of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The talks were aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, especially from the power sector. 

“There is enormous opportunity for the world’s two largest emitters to work together right now to reduce the risk of climate change,” said Fred Krupp,  president of EDF. “Both nations and the entire world have a great deal  to gain from a strong China-U.S. agreement on climate change, and I am hopeful  that Presidents Obama and Xi will take strong steps together when they meet in November.”

President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet November 12^th in Beijing. Climate change is one of the most consequential issues they’re expected to discuss. 

Both countries have made reducing climate pollution a priority. At their last Presidential Summit, the two heads of state announced they would cooperate to reduce the potent greenhouse gases known as HFC’s. China has also established seven carbon trading pilot programs, covering more than 2,000 individual sources and 1.25 billion tons of carbon dioxide in areas where 250 million people live. The Obama Administration has proposed the Clean Power Plan, which would set the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants.

A Chinese government official at yesterday’s meeting said that China’s new National Climate Plan (2014 – 2020) will consider using a carbon market to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. Participants agreed that the U.S. and China have an opportunity to share experiences and jointly chart a path forward in capping emissions. The U.S. Clean Power Plan could be the highlight of U.S. and China cooperation on how to regulate the power sector, especially in a Chinese context. 

The China-U.S. meeting in EDF’s offices included representatives from China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Shenzhen’s Development and Reform Commission (the leading carbon trading pilot), Peking University, China South Low Carbon Academy, the Shenzhen Low Carbon Development Foundation, the China Low Carbon Alliance, State Grid Corporation, BYD Motors, SinoCarbon, as well as leaders from EDF and the U.S. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cooperative effort among nine northeastern and mid-Atlantic states to cap and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector.

The discussion included China’s National Climate Plan (2014 – 2020), which was issued by the State Council on September 19^th and features both regionally differentiated targets and separate sectoral plans. On the U.S. side, RGGI’s recent decision to lower its carbon dioxide emissions cap by 50 percent was seen as an excellent example of multi-jurisdictional cooperation useful to both the US and China. The EPA Clean Power Plan was outlined along with the present timeline for implementation. EPA’s assessment of building blocks for the plan was a backdrop for discussion of the outlook for the power sector in China. There was wide consensus that cooperation between the two countries could accelerate the pace of reductions from the power sector and inspire more ambitious commitments to climate protection. 

The China-US group is expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks. The next meeting is planned for early October in Beijing.

(NEW YORK – Sept. 23, 2014)  Unconventional alliances among countries, industry, companies and NGOs took center stage at today’s Climate Summit 2014, hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Among the summit’s notable initiatives were a public-private partnership to address methane emissions from oil and gas production and a push from companies, investors and countries to put a price on carbon.

“There is an urgent need for action in the global community, and this summit is an important step along the path to the greater ambition that’s needed to turn the corner toward climate stability and a new era of clean, low-carbon prosperity” said Fred Krupp, president of the U.S.-based Environmental Defense Fund, who attended the summit.

“The broad commitment we’ve seen come together around the summit reflects the undeniable momentum among governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and civil society to curtail climate change,” said Nathaniel Keohane, Vice President for International Climate, who also attended the summit.

EDF has been involved in a number of key initiatives announced at the summit, along with partners from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. 

EDF has been particularly involved in developing the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Oil/Gas Methane Partnership, through which participating companies agree to take key steps to measure, reduce and report methane emissions from oil and gas production — the largest industrial source of methane. Though not a substitute for regulation in the U.S., this voluntary public-private approach can help address methane emissions in areas of the world where regulatory approaches are less likely to make headway. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas – one with 84 times the heat-trapping effect of carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period – curtailing methane emissions provides an immediate opportunity to slow the rate of warming in the near term even as the world undertakes the critical work to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The summit also addressed carbon pricing, with EDF joining more than 1,000 companies and investors, and 73 countries that represent 54 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, 52 percent of global GDP and nearly half of the global population announcing their support for a price on carbon. Both limits on carbon pollution and a price on carbon to achieve them as efficiently and as fairly as possible are needed to drive the transformation to shared global prosperity.

Other key initiatives included the launch of a global alliance on climate-smart agriculture and a declaration on deforestation joined by governments, businesses and civil society.

“In his speech today at the United Nations, and in the commitments made by the United States, the President demonstrated strong climate leadership both at home and abroad. 

“With leading roles in a number of climate commitments announced today, including a public-private sector partnership to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production worldwide and an alliance to promote climate smart agriculture, the Administration is helping to mobilize important global actions. 

“And with his new executive order requiring federal agencies to factor climate resilience into the design of international development programs and investments, the President is harnessing the global reach of the United States to help the world’s most vulnerable communities and countries.

“Of course much more needs to be done, from strengthening EPA’s proposed carbon limits for power plants to moving forward with strong federal rules to reduce methane emissions from domestic oil-and-gas development. And that’s just for starters. 

“But the President has again made it clear that he is one of the world leaders committed to turning the corner toward climate stability. And today the United States joined some exciting efforts that will help move us toward that goal.”

                -  Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund  

“Shared global prosperity requires robust growth in the world economy — without the carbon pollution that has fueled it in the past. To drive this transformation, we need both limits on carbon pollution, and a price on carbon to achieve them as efficiently and as fairly as possible.

“The test of any climate policy is whether it will deliver the ambitious reductions the world needs while spurring the innovation and jobs that can sustain low-carbon economic growth.

“EDF is proud to join this call to action. Let’s get on with the urgent business at hand: turning the corner toward climate stability and a new era of clean, low-carbon prosperity.”

-  Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Timothy O’Connor, (916) 549-8423, toconnor@edf.org
Julie Dixon, (415) 302-6089, julie@resourcemedia.org

(SACRAMENTO, California) Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law groundbreaking legislation to reduce methane pollution caused by leaks in the state’s aging natural gas pipelines. Methane is the primary ingredient in natural gas and is a potent climate-destabilizing pollutant.

According to Tim O’Connor, Director of EDF’s California Climate Initiative, “This is a huge step towards the build-out of a comprehensive strategy in California to reduce methane pollution. Implementing policies to curb the loss of a valuable resource is good for both California’s environment and our economy.”

California is the nation’s second largest consumer of natural gas, with over 100,000 miles of pipes and other equipment delivering natural gas to customers across the state. Given the documented widespread nature of leaks within the vast system, the Governor’s support reinforces California’s leadership in reducing emissions that contribute to climate change, with the added benefit of eliminating waste of a critical energy resource. So-called “fugitive” emissions can equate to millions of dollars of lost gas that Californians end up paying for in their monthly utility bills. 

The new law specifically directs the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to develop and implement a comprehensive natural gas pipelines leak reduction strategy that ensures the quick and efficient repair of leaks.

California now joins other state and federal efforts to mitigate methane emissions. Colorado adopted direct methane regulations in February, while earlier this year the White House released a national methane reduction strategy. As part of this strategy, EPA is on track to decide this fall how to best pursue additional methane reductions from the oil and gas sector, and the California Air Resources Board is also considering new methane regulations for oil and gas development.