Complete list of press releases

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CONTACTS:
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.572.3331, scrowley@edf.org  
David J. Ringer, National Audubon Society, 601.642.7058, dringer@audubon.org  
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, guidrye@nwf.org  

(Washington, DC–September 28) Praising a new government report detailing a long-term environmental restoration plan for the Gulf Coast, five environmental groups today called on the President and Congress to implement the report’s recommendations by using the fines BP will have to pay for the blowout of the company’s Macondo well. The report was presented today in New Orleans by Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus, who was appointed by President Obama to lead the team developing the plan. The report urges Congress to create a Gulf Coast Recovery Fund—managed by a council including federal, state, local and tribal representatives—and funded with a “significant amount” of BP fine money.

“Secretary Mabus is doing his part to fulfill President Obama’s promise to create a long-term plan to restore the Gulf Coast and make it better than it was before the BP oil disaster,” said a joint statement by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Environmental Defense Fund, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and National Audubon Society and National Wildlife Federation. “Now it’s up to President Obama and Congress to act this year to ensure that the fines paid by BP under existing law are directed to restoring the Gulf, and that the new penalties included in House legislation are made law.”

As a first step in the restoration plan, the President soon plans to sign an executive order creating a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which will be led by Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson, a New Orleans native. The joint statement also applauded this commitment, noting that moving forward quickly with a robust task force is necessary to move forward already-authorized projects, ensure that congressional appropriations are put in place, and that the full scope of needed restoration projects is designed and implemented.

“Restoring the Gulf will require that numerous federal agencies work closely together, with Congress, and with state governments. An executive order should give Administrator Jackson all the tools she needs to move quickly and effectively,” the groups concluded.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an amendment to oil response legislation (H.R. 3534) authored by Congressman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) that would create a new civil penalty for any oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico—including the BP oil disaster—but the Senate has yet to act on this provision or on dedicating penalties from existing Clean Water Act provisions.

U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.) and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) have introduced legislation that would require that at least 80 percent of the civil and criminal penalties charged to BP under the Clean Water Act for oil spill damages be returned to the Gulf Coast for long-term economic and environmental recovery. Penalties for violations of the Clean Water Act alone will range between $1,100 and $4,300 for each of the 4.9 million barrels spilled, totaling between $5 billion and $21 billion. The exact amount will depend upon if BP is found grossly negligent for the Gulf oil disaster.

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Contact:

David Baron, Earthjustice, (202) 841-6657, dbaron@earthjustice.org
Raviya Ismail, Earthjustice, (202) 841-7619, rismail@earthjustice.org
Carrie Martin, American Lung Association, (202) 715-3461, cmartin@lungusa.org
Sharyn Stein, Environmental Defense Fund, (202) 572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington, D.C. – September 23, 2010) The American Lung Association and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) intervened on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to defend important air quality standards that will limit sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants, factories, and other sources. Tuesday’s court filing by Earthjustice seeks to oppose industry suits challenging the public health standards.

The EPA strengthened the national ambient air quality standards for sulfur dioxide air pollution in June 2010, the first time EPA had strengthened the standard since 1971. In August, several industry groups and two states filed court challenges to the new standards. EPA’s revised standards for sulfur dioxide will limit the dangerous, short-term exposures to sulfur dioxide. The stronger standards will help prevent thousands of asthma attacks and hundreds of emergency room visits. Since sulfur dioxide emissions transform into fine particles in the air, this standard will significantly reduce extremely harmful particulate matter pollution, saving thousands of lives.

“Breathing in sulfur dioxide can have dire consequences on human health,” said Janice E. Nolen of the American Lung Association. “These bursts of sulfur dioxide pose a special problem for residents who live next door to power plants, but they also spread far beyond them. EPA was right to adopt stronger standards that will save lives, and keep many people out of the hospital.”

Sulfur dioxide pollution causes a variety of adverse health impacts including breathing difficulties, aggravation of asthma, and increased hospital and emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses. This stronger standard will improve the health of millions of people at risk from these pollutants, especially seniors, children and people with chronic lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.

“EPA’s clean air standard will help ensure millions of Americans have healthier and longer lives,” said Vickie Patton, General Counsel of the Environmental Defense Fund. “This science-based clean air standard is critical to protect against the peak, short-term pollution exposures that are especially dangerous to children, senior citizens, and people with asthma.”

The Lung Association, EDF, and Earthjustice won a successful suit in 1998 that directed EPA to examine if the sulfur dioxide standards then in place served to protect people against high bursts of sulfur dioxide pollution. This new standard will provide more protection from those intense, high pollution levels.

“The law requires clean air standards to be strong enough to protect health.” said Earthjustice attorney David Baron. “We want to make sure that kids and senior citizens can go outside without getting sick just from breathing.”

For more information about EPA’s health based national ambient air quality standard for sulfur dioxide, please see http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/actions.html#jun10.

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Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.LungUSA.org.

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.

Contact:
Jennifer Witherspoon, (415) 293.6067, jwitherspoon@edf.org
Erica Fick, (213) 435.7160, efick@edf.org

(Los Angeles—September 21, 2010) Californians looking to join the state’s fastest growing economic sector now have an easier way to do so, thanks to a first-of-its-kind career site launched today by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Green Jobs California is a comprehensive resource for job seekers and guidance counselors that want to join or learn more about the state’s emerging green economy. It includes thousands of businesses, institutions and organizations throughout the state.

“This one-of-a-kind website is a dream come true for job seekers who want green careers,” said Erica Fick, a clean energy fellow at Environmental Defense Fund. “The goal of Green Jobs California is three-fold: to inspire people to pursue a career within the green economy; connect them to the training they need; and expose them to online resources, including job boards that will help them start a green career in their chosen field of interest.”

Green Jobs California features a searchable version of EDF’s Greenjobs Guidebook that lets individuals learn about position descriptions, salary ranges and required experience and education. It also lists training programs in the Los Angeles area.

One site highlight is Faces of Green Jobs, a mini-documentary showcasing the experiences of men and women in what some are calling California’s new industrial revolution. Companies and jobs profiled are in the five GREEN categories: generating renewable energy (Suntrek Solar); recycling (Vetrazzo); energy efficiency (Rising Sun); education (Central California Consortium); and natural product manufacturing (California Rising). Shot on location in greater Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Joaquin Valley, the film exposes viewers to the diverse opportunities that exist.

“We have had tremendous growth this year winning major accounts such as McDonald’s and the National Parks Service (Yosemite), which see solar as a viable energy alternative and want to cut costs and reduce their taxes,” said Roy Heine, CEO of Suntrek Solar. “This has created employment opportunities for engineers, installers, administrative staff and management. Green Jobs California is a valuable resource for job candidates that want to find opportunities and the training they need to join this rapidly growing workforce.”

The three companies profiled on the site—Flying Pigeon LA, Reverb and Silver Lake Farms—show the variety of green businesses. Flying Pigeon LA is a bike shop that’s had one of its bikes featured on NBC during the summer Olympics in Beijing. Reverb greens tours for musicians such as Sheryl Crow, Arcade Fire and Jack Johnson. Silver Lake Farms was written up in Sunset Magazine and listed as one of LA Magazine’s 101 Favorite Things in 2009.

“California has the nation’s largest clean energy economy thanks to entrepreneurial, innovative companies and ground-breaking energy policies,” said Derek Walker, director of EDF’s California Climate Initiative. “Green Jobs California can help job seekers—whether they’re recent college graduates or mid-career employees looking to build and utilize new skills—create a game plan for finding employment in this emerging market. It will also help green companies find the skilled workers they need to expand and compete in the $8 trillion global green industry.”

The site complements the recently updated map of California’s green economy that lists thousands of clean energy and sustainable companies that are growing as a result of the state’s climate change leadership. Workplaces on the map are involved in energy generation, energy efficiency, green buildings, transportation, carbon markets and sustainable business practices. The listings can be sorted by county and state legislative district.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit www.edf.org/california. Follow us on Twitter at EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/.

(Northbrook, IL – Sept 21, 2010) Donlen, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and GreenDriver™ today announced that they are collaborating on a multi-year Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action titled, “Commercial Fleet 20% GHG Emissions Reduction.” This commitment indicates a significant pledge by all three organizations to work together to transform the environmental impact of the fleet industry.

CGI commitments are designed to promote global corporate citizenship through the development of business practices that encourage sustainability, foster education, improve health, and stimulate global economies. These commitments create innovative partnerships between corporations and nonprofits to accomplish their goals through new, specific, and measureable business strategies.

Donlen, North America’s fastest growing and most innovative fleet leasing and management company, will work with clients and other companies to baseline fleet emissions and create actionable emissions reductions plans to increase fuel efficiency, reduce miles traveled, utilize low-carbon fuels, and deploy technologically advanced vehicles. As a result, companies will reduce fuel expenditures, petroleum consumption, and global warming emissions.

EDF will assist Donlen by validating its data collection process, reduction strategies and methodology. Donlen will also utilize GreenDriver online training and behavior management programs to help commercial and government fleets reduce their CO₂ emissions and fuel costs by focusing on the greatest variable in a vehicle’s fuel efficiency: the driver.

Donlen, EDF, and GreenDriver invite and encourage their clients, large commercial fleets, and other fleet management companies, suppliers, and vendors to join in this important effort. There are nearly three million vehicles in U.S. corporate fleets; industry-wide participation in this effort could eliminate more than 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The transportation industry is responsible for 28 percent of the overall greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.,” said Gary Rappeport, Donlen CEO. “As a leader in the fleet management industry, it’s important that Donlen takes the initiative to help reduce commercial fleet GHG on a broader scale. The Clinton Global Initiative offers us the venue to address this critically important issue, and we’re proud to collaborate with EDF to be part of the larger work of CGI.”

As part of Donlen’s Commitment to Action, Rappeport joins other notable leaders who are members of CGI through commitments on behalf of their respective organizations, including Fred Krupp, President, EDF; Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo; Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Renault-Nissan Alliance; Bill Gates, Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated.

“Many opportunities exist today for companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fleets while cutting costs,” said Jason Mathers, Project Manager, Environmental Defense Fund, “Time and again, we have seen that a smart, performance-based structure is critical to achieving success. This commitment through the Clinton Global Initiative is a shining example of such a structure. We applaud Donlen and Green Driver for taking a central role in coordinating this commitment and are proud to work with them on this effort.”

The Commercial Fleet 20% GHG Emissions Reduction Commitment to Action was officially announced today at the 2010 CGI Annual Meeting in New York City at the Environment and Energy keynote session by Master of Ceremony José María Figueres, Former President of the Republic of Costa Rica.

For more information about Donlen’s Commitment to Action, please contact Dan Hannan, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Product Development at 847-412-5402 or visit www.donlen.com/clinton-global-initiative.aspx.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.550.6524, scrowley@edf.org  
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, guidrye@nwf.org  

(New Orleans, La. – September 13, 2010) Three environmental groups joined a bipartisan call for action today for President Obama to fulfill the commitment that he made in his very first oval office speech on June 15 to restore the Gulf Coast to make it better than it was before the BP oil disaster.  At a news conference in New Orleans this morning, Louisiana U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise urged the President to dedicate BP oils spill penalties to the long-term restoration of the Gulf Coast and its economy.

“We need President Obama’s leadership to make restoration a reality. Without restoration, each new disaster will sow the seeds of more destruction — of wetlands, wildlife, and communities — and Louisiana’s coastal region will remain on a path to eventual destruction,” said a joint statement by Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society and National Wildlife Federation.

The three groups coauthored a July 28 report, Common Ground: A Shared Vision for Restoring the Mississippi River Delta, calling for the Obama administration to negotiate with BP for an initial $5 billion commitment to pay for expected damages to natural resources.

Two days after the report was released, the U.S. House of Representatives took an important first step toward fulfilling the President’s pledge. It passed a bill to respond to the oil spill disaster, the CLEAR Act (H.R. 3534) — which included a provision authored by Congressman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) — that would direct new funding to restore the damaged Gulf Coast. Instead of adding to the deficit, the new work would be funded from a portion of the penalties that BP will pay for the damage it has caused to the natural resources of the Gulf.

On August 6, Sen. Landrieu introduced revised legislation, “The Restoring Ecosystem Sustainability and Protection on the Delta (RESPOND) Act” (S. 3763), that would require that at least 80 percent of the civil and criminal penalties charged to BP under the Clean Water Act be returned to the Gulf Coast for long-term economic and environmental recovery. Those penalties will range between $1,100 and $4,300 per barrel spilled, totaling between $5 billion and $21 billion.

“While the BP oil disaster still is high on the national agenda, the Senate should act now on our primary recommendation: designating the funding needed to fulfill the President’s pledge to restore the Gulf Coast to make it better than before the oil disaster began,” concluded the three groups. “Otherwise, we risk losing critical momentum — and five years after Hurricane Katrina — leaving Louisiana in peril, while putting our nation’s fragile economy at further risk.”

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Seetwitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; http://blogs.edf.org/restorationandresilience/

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. For more information, visit www.audubon.org.

National Wildlife Federation is America’s conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. For more information, visit www.nwf.org.

CONTACT:
BreAnda Northcutt
(916) 446-1955
breanda@catercommunications.com 

San Francisco, SEPT. 13, 2010— California’s clean energy and clean air standards could save the average household up to $670 in 2020 if oil and natural gas prices spike, according to a new study by three economists.

The U.S. economy has experienced five price shocks in the last 30 years when crude oil prices rose an average of 179% in just one year. This study analyzed how much more Californians would pay if wholesale crude oil and natural gas prices doubled at the start of 2020 and stayed there for a year.

“No study has calculated the benefits of AB 32 in the event of an energy price shock,” said James Fine, economist for Environmental Defense Fund and one of the report’s authors. “This study uncovers massive potential savings, and shows how the state’s landmark policy will protect California’s economy from unpredictable events, such as hurricanes and wars, that cause energy prices to jump.”

The study, “Shockproofing Society: How California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) Reduces the Economic Pain of Energy Price Shocks,” calculates the savings from added protections against energy price spikes achieved from implementing AB 32 through effective standards adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Savings occur from reduced demand for and dependence on imported oil and natural gas through a suite of standards that result in more efficient cars that cost less to drive, greater alternative fuel options, more renewable energy, better-planned neighborhoods that give people transportation options, and buildings that use less energy.

“The worst part about our dependence on oil is how much it hurts consumers and small businesses when the price shoots up and you have little choice but to empty your wallet at the pump,” said Remy Garderet, economist for Energy Independence Now and the report’s co-author. “When you think about that at the scale of the California economy, you realize how much sense it makes to reduce our dependence on these fuels.”

The study considered scenarios for “moderate” and “large” price shocks on two different spending conditions: 1) direct savings to consumers on transportation fuels, such as drivers purchasing gasoline, and industrial consumers buying oil and natural gas products; and 2) savings on imports that follow from reduced reliance on crude oil and natural gas. Essentially, these are two ways of looking at the same savings.

Chris Busch, report author and Policy Director at the Center for Resource Solutions noted that, “Since the 1970s, American political leaders and the public have recognized the problem of our dependence on imported oil. Yet, our reliance on these imports has only gotten worse. In our report, we give the first assessment of how AB 32 will protect consumers from the volatile prices of oil and natural gas. And we found that the savings are significant.”

Study Conclusions:

• Retail Savings: By increasing energy efficiency and providing more fuel choices,
AB 32 implementation will save California consumers and businesses $4.8 billion if a moderate price shock occurs in 2020. The savings increase to $9.6 billion if a large oil price shock occurs. This translates into household savings of $337 to $670.

• Wholesale Savings: Reduced dependence on fossil energy as a result of AB 32 will cut demand for oil imports by 75 million barrels (18% decrease) in 2020, and lessen natural gas demand by 10%. This means decreased spending in 2020 on oil and natural gas imports by $18.8 billion if a moderate shock occurs, and by $29.6 billion if a large shock occurs.

Previous studies on AB 32 typically have assumed steady energy prices. For example, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimated savings of $7.5 billion using a price of gasoline in 2020 that is not much higher than the current price and significantly less than prices in 2008, when prices spiked 45% to $4.59 per gallon. The retail savings calculated are in addition to those calculated by CARB using the U.S. Department of Energy’s Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) reference price forecast for 2020.

The report was completed by Center for Resource Solutions, Energy Independence Now and Environmental Defense Fund. This analysis supports the adoption of effective standards by CARB to implement AB 32 and other clean energy and clean air policies.

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(Washington, DC – Sept. 14, 2010) This summer, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) placed specially-trained MBA students at 47 leading companies — including Bloomberg, eBay, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Target, Verizon and Xerox — to search out big energy savings. These EDF Climate Corps fellows uncovered energy efficiency opportunities that represent net operating savings of more than $350 million and over 400,000 metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Since the program’s inception just three years ago, EDF Climate Corps has grown exponentially, from 7 MBA fellows in 2008 to 26 fellows in 2009 and 51 fellows this past summer. Over this three year period, the fellows have uncovered efficiencies in lighting, computer equipment and heating and cooling systems that can avoid 557,000 metric tons in annual carbon emissions – equivalent to taking 86,000 SUVs off the road – and cut the equivalent of 958 million kilowatt hours of energy use per year – enough to power 85,000 homes. These energy initiatives could save participating companies a total of $439 million over the project lifetimes. To date, projects accounting for 84 percent of the energy savings identified by 2008 and 2009 fellows are either complete or underway.

“Our EDF Climate Corps fellows bring a laser-like focus to finding energy savings, and the financial and environmental results speak for themselves,” said Victoria Mills, Managing Director at EDF. “We call on companies across America to join us in harvesting the power and potential of energy efficiency.”

In 2010, the EDF Climate Corps host companies welcomed MBA students from top-ranked business schools including the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, Duke University, University of California at Berkeley, New York University and the University of Virginia, among many others. With support and training from EDF, the fellows developed detailed energy-efficiency investment and implementation plans for each company to cut carbon pollution from facilities and equipment while boosting the bottom line.

Energy use from commercial buildings accounts for 18 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. EDF Climate Corps fellows ferret out savings that companies can benefit from and build upon year after year, such as improving lighting, computer equipment and heating and cooling systems, among other strategies.

“Our EDF Climate Corps fellow had the skills and training to dive deeply into projects. Her pilot project identified the potential for up to an 80% reduction in electricity costs for AT&T across more than 100 million square feet of space,” said John Schinter, AT&T’s Executive Director of Energy.

As a testimony to the value of the program, several of the 2010 host companies are repeat participants in the EDF Climate Corps — among them Cisco, eBay, Genzyme, Savvis, SunGard and Yahoo! “The tremendous value of the EDF Climate Corps program is clear to us,” said Christina Page, Director of Climate and Energy Strategy at Yahoo! “We are saving tens of millions of kilowatt hours per year of energy from previous projects identified by our first Climate Corps fellow, so we jumped at the chance to sign up again. Our 2010 fellow uncovered even more opportunities for saving energy in our data centers and building systems.”

Along with building the business case for energy efficiency, EDF Climate Corps fellows also developed tools and strategies to help companies institutionalize energy efficiency. Cummins, a global manufacturer of commercial engines and power generation systems, joined the program this summer by sponsoring two EDF Climate Corps fellows working in energy efficiency and new building standards. “We had high expectations for our EDF Climate Corps fellows as MBA students with special skills in energy and lifecycle analysis. This unique external viewpoint proved hugely beneficial in our development of new sustainable building standards – enabling tremendous progress in a few short months” said Mike Molnar, director of environmental policy and sustainable development at Cummins.

EDF partners with Net Impact to recruit fellows for the EDF Climate Corps program. Net Impact is a preeminent network of students and professionals using the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. This year, 25 percent of the 200-plus MBA applicants were chosen to participate in the program.

For more information on EDF Climate Corps, visit http://edfclimatecorps.org. For video highlighting EDF Climate Corps fellows, visit http://youtu.be/EaCqgujNW_U.

http://pitch.pe/87179

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Contact:
Jim Marston, Environmental Defense Fund, 512-289-5293
Ilan Levin, Environmental Integrity Project, 512-619-7287
Charles Irvine, Blackburn & Carter, P.C., 713-524-1012

(August 30, 2010 – Austin) On Friday, August 27, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit brought by Attorney General Greg Abbott and the State of Texas against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the EPA’s June 2010 disapproval of a portion of Texas’ air permitting program.

The motion was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. EDF and EIP are asking to intervene on the side of EPA and, if allowed, will argue that the agency properly disapproved the Texas Flexible Air Permitting program.

“Governor Perry wants people to think that Washington is picking on him,” said EDF energy program director Jim Marston. “The truth is he wants Texas to get a special pollution pass that no other state gets. All other 49 states follow the Clean Air Act, and it’s time that politicians and polluters in Texas follow it, too. Our intent is to make sure this lawsuit considers the facts and science surrounding this issue and that re-election campaigns aren’t waged in the courtroom.”

The issue under contention stems from an action taken by EPA in June to formally disapprove the state’s Flexible Air Permitting rules as part of the state’s Clean Air Act implementation plan. On June 30, EPA disapproved the state’s implementation plan submittal, stating that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Flexible Air Permitting program failed to meet minimum federal Clean Air Act standards.

EPA’s long anticipated action came after the Agency put all affected industries on notice in 2007 – under the previous administration – and took public comments last year. EPA took the action after nearly a decade’s worth of communication between the federal Agency and the TCEQ failed to resolve the issues.

“The EPA’s June 30 action to disapprove this program came as no surprise to anyone,” said EIP senior attorney and Texas program director Ilan Levin. “After being forced by an industry lawsuit to finally make a decision on whether the Texas Flexible Air Permitting rules measure up to minimum Clean Air Act standards, the EPA came to the only conclusion it could. Texans deserve the same air quality protections that residents of other states enjoy.”

EDF and EIP have been deeply involved with air quality issues and TCEQ’s permitting program for the last decade. During that time, the organizations have urged TCEQ and EPA to address numerous failings in the Texas air pollution program, including the state’s failure to comply with several basic federal Clean Air Act requirements. The groups have documented several failures of the Texas air pollution program, including state policies that allow companies to skirt federal requirements.

Flexible Air Permits – which assign pollution caps to entire facilities instead of regulating individual emission sources like boilers and flares – represent just one of the state’s shortcomings when it comes to air pollution. Flexible Air Permits issued by the TCEQ make it more difficult to enforce air pollution laws that protect citizens from harmful pollution and air toxics.

For more information about the Texas-EPA air permitting issue, please download our 6-page PDF fact sheet packet. And you can watch a short video about the how Texas air quality challenges are affecting residents near polluting facilities.

Contact:
Vickie Patton, 720-837-6239, vpatton@edf.org
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington D.C. – August 30, 2010) Plans to redesign fuel economy labels for cars will help Americans save both money and gas, and protect the planet at the same time, said Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

EDF praised an announcement today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that they plan to overhaul fuel economy labels for cars and light trucks for the first time in 30 years. EDF encourages Americans to view the proposed new labels and offer their comments.

“Passenger cars and trucks are responsible for about 44 percent of all U.S. oil consumption, and for almost 20 percent of the pollution that causes climate change,” said Vickie Patton, General Counsel for Environmental Defense Fund. “Truth in labeling empowers Americans to make choices that will save our families money, reduce our dependence on imported oil, and cut heat-trapping greenhouse gases.”

EPA and DOT are proposing two different label designs and are gathering public input on the choices. The proposed new labels would have expanded information for car buyers, including ratings on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the proposals would feature a letter grade based on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions performance, and an estimate of cost savings at the gas pump over five years compared with the average gasoline powered vehicle.

The goal is to make it easier for consumers to compare all types of vehicles, including new technologies like electric vehicles, and to help buyers make more informed choices when they’re shopping for new passenger cars or trucks.

“Americans want to address our addiction to oil, to fight climate change – and to spend less money at the gas pump,” said Patton. “It can be difficult to sift through all the technical and scientific information about clean cars and fuel economy, and you shouldn’t need a Ph.D. to buy a car. These proposed new labels will make it much easier for consumers to comparison shop. With clearer labeling, consumers can make smart choices that protect our economy, our security and our environment.”

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-572-3378, tkreindler@edf.org
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Philadelphia, August 26, 2010) Strengthening federal clean air standards for smokestacks will save American lives and prevent costly hospitalizations for asthma and other respiratory ailments, according to Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

An EDF expert delivered that testimony today at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public hearing on proposed clean air standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants across the eastern United States. The proposed standards would limit the amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) pollution that could be discharged from smokestacks at those plants.

“Smokestack pollution is lethal,” said EDF Policy Analyst Mandy Warner, who testified at today’s hearing in Philadelphia. “Cleaning up the pollution discharged from power plant smokestacks is one of the single most practical and cost-effective steps we can take to save lives.”

EPA’s proposed new Transport Rule would improve air quality across the eastern U.S. by reducing power plant emissions in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The transport rule would replace current EPA standards, which a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling found to have serious deficiencies. Today’s hearing was the second of three that will be held across the eastern U.S. to get public input about the proposed new Transport Rule.

SO2 and NOx emissions from eastern power plants are associated with a long list of health and social hazards, including:

• Up to 60,000 deaths each year
• 18 million cases of acute respiratory symptoms each year, many of which require emergency room visits or hospitalization
• 3.1 million lost work days for Americans each year

“About 134,000 people in Philadelphia alone suffer from asthma, including 34,000 children,” said Warner. “That’s just a small subsection of the people across the eastern U.S. who will have fewer health problems if we have stricter pollution limits. Americans spend $10 billion a year on hospitalizations for asthma alone, so reducing pollution will be good for our economy as well as for public health and safety.”

The total estimated cost of the health harms associated with current pollution levels from eastern power plants is more than $200 billion annually; some estimates put it as high as $500 billion annually. EPA analysis shows the benefits of reducing SO2 and NOx emissions outweigh the costs of providing those reductions by at least 40 to 1, and potentially by more than 100 to 1.

(Washington, DC – August 25, 2010) Twenty-six health, labor and environmental organizations today filed detailed comments voicing resounding support for a long-overdue change in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy that denied public access to information EPA receives from the chemical industry. That policy and the resulting Agency practice had allowed chemical companies routinely to mask the identity of chemicals when submitting information to the agency about known health and safety impacts. [Click here to see a sample redacted chemical industry report to EPA.]

“EPA’s move brings us toward an age of greater transparency and helps give people the power to make safer choices about what products to bring into their home,” said Earthjustice attorney Marianne Engelman Lado. “If a chemical is known or suspected to be causing cancer or other serious diseases, at the very minimum, the public should be able to find out the name of that chemical. Although it’s the law, in the past it wasn’t the practice.”

The groups’ filing comes as Congress considers legislation that would overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the 1976 law that EPA, health, labor and environmental groups, and even the chemical industry agree has not adequately protected the public from toxic chemicals. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has declared enhancing chemical safety to be one of her priorities, and announced the agency’s new right-to-know policy in late May. At that time EPA signaled its intent to deny industry claims seeking to withhold the names of chemicals when submitting health and safety data to the Agency. EPA announced that it will not only deny future claims, but will review and challenge such claims made in the past.

“One of the few positive provisions of TSCA is that it clearly puts chemical health and safety data off-limits for protection as confidential business information,” said Dr. Richard A. Denison, senior scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund. “Despite this, chemical companies have as a matter of course claimed the identity of the chemical in question to be confidential even when providing EPA data indicating a chemical presents a substantial risk – yielding the perverse outcome that the public learns only that some unnamed chemical may be dangerous.”

One provision of current law requires chemical companies to submit to EPA any studies or data they obtain that indicate a chemical presents a substantial risk to the public or the environment. According to EPA, the identities of more than 40 percent of the hundreds of chemicals covered by reports submitted in fiscal years 2006 through 2009 have been claimed secret.

On the rare occasions in the past when EPA has reviewed such claims, it has uniformly found they do not actually qualify for protection after all. Yet EPA’s only recourse is to challenge those claims one by one – a highly resource-intensive activity that has hamstrung EPA officials. EPA officials have noted that they review an average of only 14 of the thousands of secrecy claims made under TSCA annually. EPA’s new policy puts companies on notice that they should not make those claims, and that they will be denied except in very rare cases.

“Communities of color and low-income communities are particularly at risk from toxic chemicals,” said Dr. Mark Mitchell, President of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice. “Public access to all available health information on chemicals is critical to our communities’ ability to inform and protect ourselves from the disproportionately high exposures to such chemicals that we experience.”

In their comments, the groups urged EPA to take several additional steps in implementing the new policy, including that

• EPA should implement a system for tracking and publicly reporting the status of all reviewed and challenged claims and should provide that information on EPA’s website in a timely manner.
• In reviewing past claims, EPA should prioritize review of claims for chemicals for which available information indicate cause for concern as to hazard or exposure potential.
• Where EPA determines that a chemical’s identity is not entitled to protection in the context of a health and safety study, it should also remove any such protection for that chemical in the context of its listing on the TSCA Inventory.
• EPA should require the recertification of CBI claims after no more than five years and not allow information to be withheld from the public indefinitely without substantiation.

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(Sacramento, CA—August 5, 2010) California’s growing green economy reaches every major metropolitan area in the state, according to an updated online map released today by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). 

Originally released last year with 2,200 businesses, the map has grown 60 percent to more than 3,500 entities and now includes: an additional industry sector category; businesses that use sustainable practices; and non-profits, academic institutions and public agencies that design policies, train workers and educate the public on the economic opportunities that stem from energy and environmental policies.

The map—which is searchable by county, state legislative district and industry sector—shows that Los Angeles (489), Orange (275) and Santa Clara (265) counties have the most businesses and other work places specializing in five key sectors: low-carbon energy, energy efficiency, transportation, green buildings and carbon markets. Examples of business types in the green practices listing include: hospitality, food services, printing and media, vehicle repair and business services.

Dozens of companies in smaller counties, such as Fresno/Tulare (43), Chico (28), Santa Cruz (36) and Truckee (10), also are providing innovative solutions, attracting grants and investments and creating jobs.

“For the first time, we can see exactly where many of California’s clean tech businesses and other green work places are located, listed by category, county and state legislative district,” said Tim O’Connor, an attorney in EDF’s Sacramento office and an expert on the state’s green economy. “Job seekers looking for opportunities in this exciting new arena now have a way to easily search for and identify potential employers by area of interest. Elected officials who have supported energy-related policies also can see the fruits of their labor.”

“The green economy today represents the future and we are committed to partnering with leaders throughout California to foster innovation and emerging technologies that move our state forward,” said Governor’s Office of Economic Development Director Joel Ayala. “By designing California’s Green Economy Map, Environmental Defense Fund has provided a critical tool for connecting green businesses and consumers which, in turn, can potentially lead to further increased economic activity along California’s Green Corridor.”

EDF spent more than two years researching California companies in this sector. It also compiled multiple public and private-sector lists to create the map’s fully searchable database. While the mapping tool is the largest free listing of green companies, it does not include every green company or work place in the state. To build on this list and keep it as up to date as possible, the map features an online form that non-listed companies and work places can use to submit their information for review and inclusion.

“From larger companies that are operating more sustainably to clean tech companies that recently have gone public to smaller shops that are manufacturing fluorescent light bulbs, each is playing an important role in California’s transition to a low-carbon economy,” added O’Connor. “These are the companies that can lead the world in innovative solutions that create jobs and increase our global competitiveness.

California already is a clean tech leader. The Green Innovation Index shows that green jobs have grown 10 times the statewide job growth average since 2005. Earlier this week, Ernst & Young said that $1.5 billion was invested in U.S. clean tech companies in the second quarter of 2010—an increase of nearly 65 percent from one year ago—75 percent ($1.125 billion) of which went to California companies.

“It’s simple math: innovative energy and environmental policies equal economic growth,” said Derek Walker, EDF’s California Climate Initiative director and deputy director of EDF’s States Climate Program. “What this map really shows is that California is paving the road to a clean energy future.”

For more information on the map and methodology, visit www.edf.org/cagreen.

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A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Where to find us online: Website: www.edf.org; Twitter: http://twitter.com/edf_ca; California blog: http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/; and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contacts:
Cynthia Koehler, California Water Legislative Director at EDF (415) 235-9432-c, or ckoehler@edf.org
Jennifer Witherspoon, EDF communications director at (415) 378-1985 or jwitherspoon@edf.org

(Sacramento–August 3, 2010) An environmental group that played a major role in developing last year’s water reform legislation is praising a state agency’s final determinations for necessary fresh water flow levels to protect the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its public trust resources, such as fish and waterfowl. The State Water Resources Control Board—which is charged with protecting California’s waters—released the final determinations today for the Delta, the largest estuary on the west coast of the Western Hemisphere and the major source of fresh water for 23 million Californians. 

“The Board’s action acknowledges that diverting 50 percent of the Delta’s freshwater flow is not sustainable, and that substantially more water is needed to maintain the health of the Delta estuary,” said Cynthia Koehler, California Water Legislative Director at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “Today’s decision follows through on requirements of last November’s Delta bill (SB 7X-1). After surveying 30 years of science, the Board concluded the health of the Bay-Delta Estuary depends upon how much water is being left in the system.”

After decades of excessive pumping, the Delta is near ecological collapse. Declines in salmon runs have led to severe job loss in California’s coastal fishing communities. (Click here to see a short video from the April 1 “Salmon Summit,” where salmon fishermen and elected officials called for more sustainable water use to save wild California salmon runs and fishing jobs and more federal resources to manage the Delta as a waterway of national significance).

“The State Board’s decision underscores that all Californians, agricultural and urban water users alike, need to deploy common sense solutions to reduce water consumption,” said Laura Harnish, EDF’s West Coast Regional Director. “While today’s action is a victory, to make it a reality for the Delta, the Board’s flow criteria must become the foundation for ongoing water policy planning in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and in the Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan.”

The Salmon Summit

On April 1, 2010, 500 salmon fishermen, businesses and their families gathered in Fort Mason, San Francisco to demand protections of salmon fishing jobs and sustainable use of Bay-Delta water. California State Assemblyman Jared Huffman, Congressmen George Miller and Mike Thompson presented their thoughts on why it is important to protect these waters and jobs.

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A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Twitter: Twitter.com/EDF_CA. Blog: http://blogs.edf.org/waterfront . Website: www.edf.org/california. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jill Logeman, jlogeman@edf.org, 919-881-2937
Paula Thomas, paula.thomas@raleighnc.gov, 919-996-3840

(Raleigh, NC - August 3, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Raleigh, NC, are joining hands this summer to develop an energy efficiency plan for the city’s fire stations that will reduce operating costs and energy use. Raleigh is the first municipality in the country to participate in EDF’s national Climate Corps program.

Climate Corps began in 2007 as a program to place top-tier MBA students in the nation’s leading companies to help identify and implement energy efficiency plans. Its quick success in the corporate world led EDF to expand Climate Corps to the public sector in state universities, and now, to municipalities.

Last summer, EDF Climate Corps fellows conducted an energy efficiency analysis at North Carolina Central University in Durham. The fellows identified ways that efficiency could save the campus more than $13 million over five years and reduce greenhouse gas pollution by more than 50 percent.

“Firefighters are community role models and fire stations can be models of energy efficiency,” said Jill Logeman, Climate Corps Program Coordinator with Environmental Defense Fund. “Climate Corps will help Raleigh identify the low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy, and also document the best investments to help Raleigh save even more energy and money in the future. Like universities, cities can play a pivotal role in energy conservation and education.”

Raleigh’s two Climate Corps fellows will assess energy use in more than 25 fire stations and develop a concrete plan for improving efficiency that will save taxpayer dollars, reduce operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The fellows will also research sophisticated financing strategies to help the city implement the plan.

“We are thrilled to partner with EDF on this pilot project. We see tremendous value in conducting the financial and environmental analysis that is normally not accessible to government bodies, and we welcome the opportunity to build our internal capacity,” said Paula Thomas, Sustainability Manager for the City of Raleigh. “We believe this program will be a model for municipalities in the state and country.”

Recommendations for increasing energy efficiency are expected to be presented to the City Council in September.

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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Environmental Defense Fund has a 20-year track record of success in partnering with business. To maintain its independence and credibility, EDF accepts no money from corporate partners; generous individuals and foundations fund its work. For more information, visit www.EDF.org.
Follow our blog at blogs.edf.org/innovation ∙ Twitter: twitter.com/EDFCC and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Sean Crowley, 202-572-3331, scrowley@edf.org; Kathryn Phillips, 916-893-8494, kphillips@edf.org  

(Washington, DC—July 30, 2010) A bill introduced Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives could help transform America’s transportation policy and investment by directing federal investment to freight system projects that update the freight system and help reduce freight’s environmental and health impacts, according to a green transportation group.

The legislation, the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 (FREIGHT Act/HR 5976)—sponsored by Reps. Albio Sires (NJ), Adam Smith (WA), Laura Richardson (CA), and Steve Cohen (TN)—mirrors a Senate bill (S. 3629) introduced last week by Senators Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Patty Murray (WA) and Maria Cantwell (WA). The bill also complements freight improvement provisions in the transportation authorization bill introduced last year by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (MN).

“We look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Oberstar and Reps. Sires, Cohen, Richardson, and Smith to ensure that federal freight investment simultaneously modernizes the outdated freight transportation system and reduces its environmental and public health impacts,” said Kathryn Phillips, a transportation expert with the Environmental Defense Fund. “These environmental and health impacts are especially bad in communities adjacent to high-polluting freight hubs.”

Freight air pollution is an enormous health threat. The fine particle pollution from U.S. diesel engines—the most common engines used in freight—is estimated to shorten the lives of more than 20,000 people each year.’

The FREIGHT ACT directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop and implement institutional advances that will improve and coordinate policy within the federal government and the states:

1. A National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan to guide and inform goods movement infrastructure investments in future years
2. An Office of Freight Planning and Development, led by an Assistant Secretary for Freight Planning and Development
3. A new National Freight Infrastructure Grants program, a competitive, merit-based program for multimodal freight investment designed to focus funds where they will provide the most public benefit

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A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Twitter: http://twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund Read our Way2Go blog at http://blogs.edf.org/transportation Website: www.edf.org/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund