Complete list of press releases

(BOSTON – January 23, 2013) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the first 36 organizations to sign on for EDF Climate Corps in 2013. New companies including Colgate-Palmolive, DreamWorks Animation and Sprint, join repeat participants Bank of America, Ingersoll Rand and Verizon Communications in EDF’s proven solution to cut energy costs and emissions. Public sector participants include housing authorities in New York City and Boston, Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Port Authority.

EDF Climate Corps transforms the way organizations use energy by training bright young leaders and embedding them in companies, cities and universities nationwide to analyze and improve energy performance.

On average, EDF Climate Corps has found $1 million in energy savings for each participating organization. Collectively, the program has uncovered enough energy savings to power 150,000 homes each year and save $1.2 billion in energy costs.

“EDF Climate Corps is powered by a new generation of leaders with the skills and passion to make a difference,” said Victoria Mills, Managing Director at EDF. “That’s why leading organizations turn to EDF Climate Corps year after year to take their energy management efforts to the next level.”

“DreamWorks Animation is committed to hiring world-class talent, which is why we turned to EDF for a dedicated resource to improve energy performance,” said Stacy Hibbard, Director of Engineering for DreamWorks Animation. “We are proud to be part of an impressive list of companies participating this year and can’t wait to see what our EDF Climate Corps fellow accomplishes.”

The deadline to apply for an EDF Climate Corps fellow for this summer is February 28, 2013. There are a limited number of spots available, so interested organizations are encouraged to apply now at edfclimatecorps.org. For more information, please email info@edfclimatecorps.org.

The list of 2013 EDF Climate Corps organizations confirmed to date includes:

Bank of America, Baxter International, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Medical Center, Boston Public Health Commission, Caesar’s Entertainment, CA Technologies, Children’s Defense Fund, City of Boston, City of Cleveland, Colgate-Palmolive, Cytec Industries, DirecTV, DreamWorks Animation, General Motors, Genzyme (a Sanofi Company), Glendale Community College, Hilex Poly, Ingersoll Rand, International Warehouse Logistics Association, JPMorgan Chase, Mack Trucks, Massachusetts Port Authority, Mondelez International, New York City Housing Authority, NYSE Euronext, Office Depot, PepsiCo Americas Beverages, PepsiCo Americas Foods, QTS (Quality Technology Services), Shorenstein Properties, Sprint, Syniverse Technologies, Town of Cary (N.C.), Verizon Communications, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

“The President said it exactly right: ‘We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.’

“We at EDF share the sense of urgency President Obama described. We are fully focused on working with him and many others to achieve climate security and American clean energy innovation.” 

• Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund 

(Boulder, CO – January 18, 2013) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new steps to protect people in northern Arizona and around the Four Corners region from unhealthy air pollution.

EPA unveiled a proposal this morning to limit emissions of oxides of nitrogen from the Navajo Generating Station – one of the single largest sources of oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide pollution in America.

Environmental Defense Fund experts welcomed the announcement today.

“The emissions from the Navajo Generating Station and related industrial activities have a serious impact on people nearby,” said EDF General Counsel Vickie Patton. “The emissions also harm the Golden Circle of national parks in the Four Corners Region, including the Grand Canyon National Park — the crown jewel of our national park system. We welcome EPA’s proposal to limit the extensive emissions of oxides of nitrogen at the Navajo Generating Station by using widely available modern pollution controls, and we look forward to working with EPA and many others on these complex issues to secure final protections that protect human health and the environment.” 

The Navajo Generating Station is a three-unit, 2250 megawatt coal-fired power plant on Navajo Tribal lands in northern Arizona. EPA has proposed a plant-wide emission limit on nitrogen oxides of 0.055 lb/MMBtu — which will reduce those emissions more than 80 percent. EPA has also proposed two alternative implementation schedules based on a variety of considerations.  

The action is being undertaken pursuant to EPA’s responsibilities under our nation’s clean air laws to protect air quality and restore the grand vistas to America’s premier national parks.  

Read EPA’s full proposal here.

“I would like to thank the Members of Congress who voted for relief for the families and businesses that suffered the ravages of Sandy. Every American who has ever needed help after a natural disaster knows exactly how important it is that we stick together as a nation and support one another in times of need.

“These funds will help these communities get back on their feet more quickly. Top priority now should be making them safer and more resilient in a world where scientists say that extreme weather events will become routine. As Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg both stressed after the storm, we must also start tackling the climate problem itself if we want to avoid worse things to come.”

— Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund

(Pinedale, Wyo. – January 11, 2013) The Wyoming Outdoor Council and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today commended the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for plans to tackle persistent and severe air pollution from oil and gas operations in the Pinedale region.

The DEQ plan comes in response to consensus recommendations made by the Upper Green River Basin Air Quality Task Force — a group that comprises government officials, representatives from the oil and gas industry, environmental and public health groups, and local area residents.

“This is an important first step,” said Bruce Pendery with the Wyoming Outdoor Council, who served on the task force. “Local citizens have suffered for too long from ozone problems that threaten public health and the environment and that are bad for economic development. The DEQ has offered an outline that, if implemented quickly and completely, will help put us on the path toward cleaner, healthier air.”

“These are practical recommendations that make sense. The important thing is follow through,” said Jon Goldstein, EDF senior energy policy manager. “Wyoming has a strong history of leadership in regulating air emissions from the oil and gas sector, but much more remains to be done. As we move to flesh out the details of this plan, it’s critical that we make sure we have the highest standards in place to reduce emissions and protect communities.”       

(Washington, DC – January 10, 2013) In Ohio, Iowa and Colorado, clean energy markets drive economic growth. Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF’s) new Clean Energy Economic Development Series highlights the successful road map for each of these states. These road maps share a formula for success, where policy and economic development actions work together across three fronts: (1) stimulating demand for clean energy products and services, (2) seeding innovation in clean energy solutions and (3) recruiting and supporting new firms, jobs and workforce skills in clean energy.

Report highlights:

• Ohio experienced record investment and merger and acquisition deals in clean energy in 2010 and 2011. Ohio also significantly increased patent in batteries, fuel cells and wind technologies, moving up in national rankings in all three areas.
• The Metro Denver region alone had about 1500 companies and 18,000 workers in the cleantech sector in 2011, and achieved a 35% increase in direct employment growth since 2006.
• Iowa leads with the second highest installed wind capacity in the nation and is one of only two states that receive over 20% of electricity from wind power. According to the American Wind Energy Association, Iowa has attracted more major wind industry manufacturers than any other state.

Clean energy policy embedded in the American Taxpayers Relief Act (ATRA) provides critical federal support for stimulating demand for clean energy products and services, the first area examined in each report. “Creating customers is an essential first step to creating new jobs,” said Jackie Roberts, Director of Sustainable Technologies for Environmental Defense Fund. “We’ve seen some states create terrific job training programs, but no market demand to actually help companies grow and start hiring. States need to do both, and support innovation. The good news is that every state developing a clean energy sector will benefit from the American Taxpayers Relief Act.”

The ATRA extends the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) for two years – significantly changing the rules so that any facility that starts construction (not operation) by December 31, 2013 can qualify.  According to the National Renewable Energy Labs, the percentage of domestically-sourced equipment used in wind power projects has grown from 35% in 2005-06 to 67% in 2011. Exports of wind power-generating sets have also increased from $15 M in 2007 to $149M in 2011. The ATRA also extends a series of tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades and energy efficient homes.

The American Wind Energy Association counts 75,000 workers in America’s wind energy sector, with the new tax law expected to save up to 37,000 jobs and create far more over time, as well as reviving business at nearly 500 manufacturing facilities across the country. Ohio, Colorado and Iowa are far enough down the path to start benefitting immediately.

“I thank Gov. Cuomo for the opportunity to serve on the NYS 2100 Commission. I applaud him for calling out the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather, as well as for his leadership in making our state stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to face them.

“The Commission recommendations in today’s State of the State address provide a roadmap to a safer, more secure future for our citizens and our economy. A smarter, more robust utility grid will help keep the lights on when major storms strike, and also make it easier for all of us to use cleaner, greener, more efficient energy technologies that will pay dividends not only in times of crisis but every day, for all New Yorkers. It will also open up new opportunities for renewable energy, and help us reduce the heat-trapping emissions responsible for the warming climate.

“The appointment of Richard Kauffman to fill a new cabinet-level position as ‘Energy Czar’ is a big first step toward making these proposed solutions a reality. Once implemented, they will help put New York’s energy system on the bold new course we need.”

— Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund    

(DENVER – Jan. 7, 2013) Environmental Defense Fund today criticized the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) for ignoring accepted scientific practice and adopting the weakest rule in the nation for testing groundwater around oil and gas operations.

“At a time when Colorado desperately needs a signal that state officials are listening to the concerns of citizens and communities, it is unfortunate that the Administration failed to adopt a rigorous, science-based program to adequately assess whether our groundwater is being protected,” said Dan Grossman, EDF Rocky Mountain Regional Director.

“Of the five states that have proposed or adopted groundwater testing programs, Colorado would be the first to place an arbitrary cap on which water wells get tested and allow companies to cherry-pick the ones they want to test, and it would be the only state to create a massive carve-out for the area with the most intensive drilling activity – precisely the area that demands the greatest scrutiny, not the least,” Grossman said.

The program adopted by the COGCC falls short in three key respects.

First, the rule exempts for the entire Greater Wattenberg Area (encompassing parts of Weld, Adams, Boulder, and Larimer counties)—from the statewide program. The Greater Wattenberg Area holds more than a quarter of Colorado’s oil and gas wells and is home to some of the state’s most intensive drilling activity. It also encroaches on Front Range communities that have heightened concern about impacts from development. And yet, the rule provides a major carve-out by requiring only cursory groundwater testing in the area. Under the carve-out, the odds of detecting contamination are significantly diminished, and the odds of tracking contamination back to a particular oil and gas well would be almost impossible.

Second, where the rule applies statewide, it arbitrarily caps the number of water sources operators are required to sample within a well radius, allowing companies to “cherry pick” what gets tested. Groundwater experts agree that, in order to have a robust program, all water sources near a production well should be sampled in order to account for localized variation in hydrogeology – as is required in the five states that have proposed or adopted baseline testing policies (Alaska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia).

Finally, the COGCC program fails to set rules for how groundwater samples are collected and tested. Having a robust sampling and analysis plan that everyone follows is critical to ensuring the quality and consistency of data generated under the program. Relying on undefined “accepted industry practices” is a meaningless standard that will only undermine the data quality, making agency investigations more costly and time consuming and inviting more litigation.

“This isn’t leadership,” Grossman said. “It’s especially embarrassing, given that many of the companies in Colorado are already following stronger policies in other states. If they can do it in West Virginia, certainly they can do it here too.”

(Washington, D.C. – January 3, 2013) Today, Transocean and the U.S. Department of Justice announced they have reached a $1.4 billion settlement relating to civil and criminal charges from the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. Transocean has agreed to pay an unprecedented $1 billion in Clean Water Act penalties, of which $800 million will be used for Gulf Coast restoration as directed by the RESTORE Act. Additionally, $150 million will be dedicated to Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration, including Louisiana barrier island restoration and diversion projects along the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers to rebuild the state’s deteriorating coastal wetlands.

Paul Harrison, Senior Director for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)’s Water Program, released the following statement in response:

“We applaud the Department of Justice for pursuing unprecedented Clean Water Act fines and for allocating a portion of funds to restoration of the Mississippi River Delta and Gulf Coast ecosystems. Thanks to the RESTORE Act, 80 percent – or $800 million – of these fines will be used for restoration and overseen by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. In Louisiana, restoration projects are expected to include large-scale river diversions, which have been identified as a key component in federal restoration strategies. We thank the Justice Department for standing up for people and environment of the Gulf, and we look forward to working with the Restoration Council to advance large-scale restoration projects along the Gulf Coast and in the Mississippi River Delta.”

“We will not know the full extent of environmental damages in the Gulf for years to come, but we do know that devastating effects of the oil spill continue to unfold nearly 1,000 days later. Therefore, it is crucial that all of the responsible parties, particularly BP, be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Today’s settlement with Transocean raises our expectations that the Department of Justice will continue to hold BP fully accountable for its civil violations under both the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act. The Gulf depends on it.”

(WASHINGTON, DC) Gulf restoration and economic development groups lauded the announcement today from the Department of Justice that it has reached an historic settlement with Transocean for its role in the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Today’s $1.4 billion settlement will be paid under the Clean Water Act for civil and criminal penalties. A significant portion of those funds will be used to restore the Gulf, as directed by the RESTORE Act.   

The groups issued the following statement:

“This is a great day for the Gulf environment and the communities that rely on a healthy ecosystem for their livelihoods,” said Environmental Defense Fund, Greater New Orleans Inc., National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Oxfam America and Ocean Conservancy. “We thank the Department of Justice for their leadership in holding Transocean accountable and look forward to full resolution of the case with other responsible parties, which will allow restoration efforts in the Gulf to get fully underway.”

“With this settlement, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council finally has some funding to begin implementing a comprehensive plan for ecosystem restoration that will rebuild the environment of the Gulf and the communities that rely upon it.”

“It has been an honor to work with Lisa Jackson. During her tenure as EPA Administrator, America has taken strides toward cleaner air, a smaller carbon footprint and a healthier environment.

“Under Administrator Jackson’s leadership, EPA established the first-ever national standards for mercury and other toxic air pollution from America’s power plants, and updated our public health protections to address harmful levels of sulfur dioxide and fine particle pollution in the air we breathe. With the Department of Transportation, EPA set historic new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for our cars and trucks that will save American families money at the gas pump and reduce our dependence on imported oil. EPA also took the first steps towards addressing the powerful climate pollutant methane, which hopefully will soon lead to comprehensive clean air safeguards and rigorous, accurate disclosure of methane emissions by the oil and gas industry.

“Most importantly, EPA helped set a path for us to begin to meaningfully fight climate change by completing the Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, and then started us down the path towards addressing greenhouse gases by proposing carbon pollution standards for new power plants.

“Now we should all look to the future, and build on Administrator Jackson’s legacy by continuing to create sensible, well-designed programs to reduce pollution, focusing on carbon pollution from power plants.”

                                        — Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund

WHAT
As part of the release of the widely-publicized new Hollywood film, Promised Land, when it opens in select theaters tomorrow and across the nation on January 4, 2013, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) expects questions to reemerge around the “fracking” debate. EDF is actively engaged across the country to further the safety and environmental protection of natural resources wherever natural gas operations are occurring, and as such, is available to comment on concerns the movie may raise about the impacts of natural-gas drilling on air, water, landscapes and communities.

EDF’s goal is to make sure that the carbon benefits ascribed to natural gas are real and sustained and that the rush to develop the nation’s abundant natural gas reserves does not trample environmental quality or the health of communities where gas development occurs. No one should be forced to trade their children’s health or quality of life for cheap energy. This is precisely why EDF works on natural gas. For more information about what areas of concern EDF is focused on addressing along the natural gas supply chain, an interactive graphic is now available on EDF’s website.

WHEN
Thursday, December 27 and Friday, December 28, 2012

WHO
Mark Brownstein, Chief Counsel, Environmental Defense Fund’s Energy Program

CONTACT
Lauren Whittenberg, EDF Natural Gas Media Director, 512-691-3437, lwhittenberg@edf.org

(PHOENIX—December 21, 2012) Today, Fossil Creek was featured as the Arizona “River of the Month,” the tenth in a year-long series celebrating the state’s rivers in honor of its centennial year. The short profile released today by five conservation groups highlights the river’s ecology, geography, and use by the people who rely on it, as well as the threats to the river.

Fossil Creek originates north of the community of Pine at Fossil Springs, a series of springs at the bottom of a deep canyon of the Mogollon Rim. From Fossil Springs, Fossil Creek flows southwest, primarily through national forest lands and a gradually widening canyon, and joins the Verde River approximately 20 miles southeast of Camp Verde. Throughout the creek’s course, deposition of travertine creates deep pools and waterfalls. Over time, these limestone deposits gradually encase anything that falls into the creek, creating the fossil-like features for which it is named. 

The deep pools, waterfalls and fossil-like deposits that today characterize the creek were once disrupted by the presence of a dam which, for nearly 100 years, diverted water to the Childs and Irving power plants. In 1999, in light of the unique natural resources being impacted by the dam and after years of activism and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, Arizona Public Service Company (APS) decided to decommission the dam and shut down the power plants – enabling the restoration of Fossil Creek.

Today, the revitalized creek is considered to be the prime native-fish restoration area in Arizona. Fossil Creek also became the second river in Arizona to receive federal designation as a “Wild and Scenic River” and was designated as an Outstanding Arizona Water by the state – significant achievements considering that for 100 years Fossil Creek was often completely dry.

The River of the Month series profiles one of Arizona’s rivers each month. It is produced by Environmental Defense Fund, Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Sonoran Institute, and Western Resource Advocates, with technical assistance provided by the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center. Previous profiles—starting with a feature of the iconic Colorado River—may be downloaded from Environmental Defense Fund, Sonoran Institute, or Western Resource Advocates, and interested groups and individuals may sign up here to receive a notification when a new profile is released. 

(Washington, DC – December 20, 2012) Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit refused petitions to rehear a landmark carbon pollution case — once again affirming the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) clean air measures to protect Americans’ health and well-being from climate-disrupting pollution.

The three-judge panel of the court heard the cases in June. Today, the court refused petitions requesting that the entire court rehear the challenges sitting en banc.

The panel opinion that was the subject of the rehearing petition dismissed challenges to the Climate Pollution Endangerment Finding and the Clean Car Standards as well as the Timing and Tailoring Rules (see below for details on the cases).

In the original panel opinion by Chief Judge David Sentelle, appointed to the Court by President Ronald Reagan,and Circuit Judges Judith Rogers and David Tatel, the court held EPA’s interpretation of the nation’s clean air laws was “unambiguously correct.”

The panel opinion also stated that, “[F]or the reasons set forth below, we conclude: 1) the Endangerment Finding and Tailpipe Rule are neither arbitrary nor capricious; 2) EPA’s interpretation of the governing CAA provisions is unambiguously correct; and 3) no petitioner has standing to challenge the Timing and Tailoring Rules. We thus dismiss for lack of jurisdiction all petitions for review of the Timing and Tailoring Rules, and deny the remainder of the petitions.”

Today, Judges Sentelle, Rogers, and Tatel issued a statement concurring in the Court’s decision not to rehear the case en banc. That statement points to the clear law and binding precedent of the United States Supreme Court, and says, “Here, Congress spoke clearly, EPA fulfilled its statutory responsibilities, and the panel, playing its limited role, gave effect to the statute’s plain meaning …To be sure, the stakes here are high. The underlying policy questions and the outcome of this case are undoubtedly matters of exceptional importance. The legal issues presented, however, are straightforward, requiring no more than the application of clear statutes and binding Supreme Court precedent. There is no cause for en banc review.”

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), together with a large coalition of states and environmental organizations, intervened in defense of the vital clean air protections at stake in this litigation.

“America’s clean air laws are clear; EPA has the authority and the responsibility to address the carbon pollution that has profound consequences for our nation’s health, safety and prosperity,” said Vickie Patton, General Counsel of Environmental Defense Fund. “It is now time for EPA to address the dangerous carbon pollution that comes from power plants by working with the dozens of states that have forged common sense clean energy solutions, as well as the numerous businesses that asked the President to carry out cost-saving energy efficiency solutions in reducing carbon pollution, and the communities across our nation afflicted by the clear and present danger of extreme weather that’s linked to climate change.”

The lawsuits and petitions for rehearing were brought by major industrial polluters and states such as Texas.

The cases in question include:

• The Climate Pollution Endangerment Finding — in which EPA, following the Supreme Court’s order in Massachusetts v. EPA, determined that climate pollution endangers human health and welfare on the basis of a rigorous review of the extensive body of climate science.
• The Clean Car Standards — which establish cost-saving fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The standards are supported by U.S. auto makers and the United Auto Workers union, among others. They will save Americans thousands of dollars at the gas pump by enabling families to get more mileage out of each gallon of gas. They will also help break our nation’s addiction to imported oil and will cut the amount of dangerous pollution from vehicles.
• Carbon Pollution Limits for Big New Power Plants and Industrial Sources (the Timing and Tailoring Rules) — in which EPA is phasing-in requirements for use of the best available cost-effective pollution controls, starting with new, large industrial emitters (like power plants) while shielding smaller emitters.

The U.S. auto makers and a dozen states (California, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington) intervened in defense of EPA’s clean car standards (the second case listed above).

“EPA’s reasonable steps to reduce climate pollution will help secure a safe and prosperous future for our country.” said EDF’s outside legal counsel Sean Donahue, who presented oral arguments to the three judge panel in defense of these protections. “Today’s court ruling will help our country move forward toward the clean energy economy of the future.”

You can read more about the cases and the parties involved, find the court briefs, and get more information on our website.

Media Contact:
Lauren Whittenberg, 512-691-3437, lwhittenberg@edf.org

Expert Contact:
Peter Zalzal, 303-946-0907, pzalzal@edf.org

(Washington, D.C. – December 19,2012) Today, a broad coalition of environmental, conservation and children’s health groups petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand ozone monitoring in communities, near protected national parks and wilderness areas, and at oil and gas industrial activities across the nation to protect Americans impacted by oil and gas air pollution.  The petition also requests EPA to issue a state-of-the art blueprint for clean air measures that states and communities can readily carry out to reduce this harmful air pollution and strengthen human health protections. Best in class clean air solutions to reduce oil and gas pollution often can be implemented in a manner that saves the oil and gas companies money and strengthens our nation’s energy security by limiting the venting, leaking and discharges of a valuable U.S. energy resource.

Ground-level ozone or “smog” contributes to serious adverse health impacts, including decreased lung function and premature mortality, and it damages foliage.  Children, the elderly, Americans with existing lung and heart disease, and those active outside are especially vulnerable.

The petition is available here, and calls for EPA to take two actions that will provide important public health protections for communities impacted by oil and gas emissions that contribute to harmful ozone pollution: 

• First, we respectfully urge EPA to require broad deployment of ozone air quality monitors in oil and natural gas development areas. Requiring the necessary air monitors will ensure that Americans have clear, transparent information about whether the air in their communities meets the nation’s health-based air quality standards for ground-level ozone or “smog” pollution as oil and natural gas operations in their communities expands briskly.
• Second, we respectfully ask that EPA provide communities with tools to help reduce smog-forming pollution from oil and gas development by issuing control technology guidelines (“CTGs”) for oil and gas equipment. These clean air measures can be some of the single most cost-effective methods for reducing smog-forming pollution in areas that violate the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone as well as those areas seeking to attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards under the Ozone Advance Program.

The petitioners include the following organizations: California Kids IAQ, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Clean Air Task Force, Clean Water Action, Coalition for Safe a Safe Environment, Community Dreams, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environment America, Environment California, Environment Colorado, Environment Illinois, Environment Maryland, Environment New Mexico, Environment New York, Environment North Carolina, PennEnvironment, Environment Texas, Mom’s Clean Air Force, National Audubon Society, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, Powder River Basin Resource Council, SkyTruth, Sierra Club, Texas League of Conservation Voters, Wyoming Outdoor Council.