Complete list of press releases

(SACRAMENTO, CA – July 24, 2019) Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to sign legislation today to allocate up to $130 million a year to provide safe and affording drinking water to all Californians. The bill, SB 200, authored by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) creates the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund to support projects to clean up contaminated drinking water and help cash-strapped rural water districts. Approximately 1 million Californians lack access to safe drinking water today, seven years after California became the first state in the country to legislatively recognize that every human has the right to safe, clean and affordable water.

“Today marks an important milestone toward providing clean and affordable water to all Californians. We commend Gov. Newsom for making clean water one of his highest priorities and Sen. Monning for his persistence in moving this legislation across the finish line.

Now that we have overcome this funding hurdle, it’s time to move quickly and provide long-overdue assistance to communities whose water systems have failed as a result of drought and groundwater over-pumping. These communities have been ignored for far too long.”

• Pablo Garza, California Political Director, Ecosystems, Environmental Defense Fund

(Washington, D.C. – July 23, 2019) EDF is praising a new bipartisan Senate bill that would preserve the public’s right to access federal records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Open and Responsive Government Act of 2019 (S. 2220) was introduced today by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

“For nearly half a century, FOIA has been one of the public’s most powerful tools for understanding the actions of its federal government,” said EDF Attorney Ben Levitan. “This bill would help FOIA continue to make federal agencies more transparent and accountable to the people they serve.”

The bill would clarify the limited circumstances under which federal agencies can withhold public records in response to a FOIA request. By making these commonsense clarifications to the act, the bill would resolve confusion that has arisen following recent judicial and regulatory decisions.

EDF regularly uses FOIA to keep the public informed about government activities that affect human health and the environment. A selection of the records that EDF has received under FOIA is available on our Promoting Government Transparency webpage.

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 23, 2019)—Today, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) announced the House Energy and Commerce Committee will prioritize hearings and legislation to put the country on a path to a 100% clean economy.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is a strong advocate for 100% clean across the U.S. economy, not just the utility sector. That ambitious goal means that by 2050 the United States will produce no more climate pollution than we can remove.

“Rep. Pallone is showing real leadership by working to move the country to a 100% clean economy. This effort to address the climate crisis will help insulate us from the worst impacts of climate pollution, bolster our economy, improve our kids’ health, and protect our communities. We look forward to working with the committee to develop legislation to achieve a clean energy future.”

• Elizabeth Gore, EDF Senior Vice President, Political Affairs

(COLUMBUS, OH) The Ohio General Assembly today approved legislation known as HB 6 that bails out FirstEnergy Solutions’ two nuclear reactors (costing $150 million annually), subsidizes two Ohio Valley Electric Corp. coal plants (one of which is located in Indiana), and guts the state’s efficiency and renewable energy standards. Gov. Mike DeWine has suggested he will sign HB 6 into law.  

“With passage of the FirstEnergy bailout bill, Ohio will be known as the state that subsidizes old, dirty, and uneconomic technologies while gutting investments in clean energy innovation,” said Dick Munson, director of regulatory and legislative affairs for Environmental Defense Fund. “As Ohio faces more pollution and higher costs, other states are licking their chops at the chance to attract the economic development that Ohio has rejected.”

Today’s decision is one in a long saga of bailout attempts by FirstEnergy dating back to 2014, and comes just one month after the Ohio Supreme Court rejected state regulators’ 2016  decision to grant the utility a blank check of approximately $200 million annually for three years.

(NEW YORK, NY) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo today signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), a law codifying some of the strongest climate pollution reduction requirements in the country. The new law makes New York, the country’s third largest economy, a leader in the U.S. and the third state this spring to set strong short-term and long-term goals to cut pollution, while requiring development and implementation of regulations to achieve these targets. Given New York’s size and diversity of land use and energy needs, including one of the world’s most vital urban centers and several heavily industrial regions, this latest law builds on the momentum of other states, among them Colorado and Maine, which have put in place comparable overarching pollution reduction requirements.

“This is a bold move. New York is cutting climate pollution, making the air cleaner, and protecting vulnerable communities,” said Mary Barber, Director, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs. “These targets to reduce emissions are among the best in the country and will propel progress toward cutting climate pollution nationwide. By developing a clear timeline for implementing these short and long term targets, New York is taking a significant step toward a 100% clean economy by 2050.”

The new law commits New York to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and 85% below 1990 levels by 2050—while setting a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It also requires that New York’s power sector eliminate carbon pollution by 2040, recognizing that significant near-term reductions of pollutants in the power sector and accelerated deployment of clean energy technologies are critical to achieving economy wide emissions reductions at a level consistent with science.

Similar to the Colorado law, the CLCPA also calls for the Department of Environmental Conservation to identify and prioritize measures to maximize reductions of conventional air pollutants in disadvantaged communities, in addition to greenhouse gases, when developing regulations to implement statewide mandated targets.

(Washington D.C. – July 16, 2019) A Congressional hearing today will highlight a new report that found the Trump administration interfered with the appointment process for crucial independent science advisory committees, and that the interference has led to committees that lack necessary scientific expertise and may have conflicts of interest.

This afternoon’s hearing will be held jointly by the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. They’ll discuss the findings of the new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

“The GAO report demonstrates, once again, the Trump administration’s pattern of undermining rigorous science to advance an agenda that denies climate change, harms our environment, and endangers Americans’ lives and health,” said EDF senior attorney Martha Roberts. “The Trump administration should be relying on the most knowledgeable independent experts on health and environmental issues – not elevating climate deniers or those who question well-established links between pollution and public health. We applaud Congressional leaders’ efforts to investigate these troubling findings.”

The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires science advisory committees to be independent of undue political interference and constituted of experts with fairly balanced viewpoints and expertise. Federal conflict of interest laws also apply to these panels. Until now, EPA has typically followed a process led by career staff to ensure those laws are complied with and that appointments are not made based on political considerations.

In 2017, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Tom Carper, and eight other Senators called for the Government Accountability Office to investigate EPA’s appointments to science advisory committees after then-Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a directive arbitrarily barring scientists who had received EPA grants from serving.

The Government Accountability Office report released yesterday concludes that the Trump EPA failed to follow the accepted process. The administration replaced highly qualified scientists with individuals like Tony Cox – an industry-funded critic of EPA safeguards who has produced dubious research questioning well-established findings on the harmful impacts of pollution on human health.

The Trump administration selected Tony Cox to serve as head of EPA’s Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC). Cox and other improperly selected Trump EPA appointees are now overseeing the agency’s review of the science underpinning national air quality standards that protect all communities from harmful air pollution.

Documents that Senator Whitehouse and others had already obtained revealed that EPA political appointees ignored career staff’s concerns regarding CASAC nominees. In particular, staff had flagged that Tony Cox lacked key scientific credentials and had indications of a financial conflict of interest.

Other records obtained by EDF through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that EPA political official Clint Woods coordinated with Tony Cox before Pruitt released a memorandum about revamping the process for developing our health-based national ambient air quality standards, and undermining established, peer-reviewed science in the new process.

(HAVANA – July 14, 2019) The government of Cuba enacted sweeping reforms of its fishing laws over the weekend, putting the island nation on a course to increase protection for some of the world’s most important and vibrant marine ecosystems while also ensuring a future for its fishers.

The new law, which is the first national change in more than 20 years (Decree Law 164 of 1996), represents a major shift in Cuba’s current fisheries policy. It includes provisions to curtail illegal fishing, recover fish populations and protect small-scale fishers in coastal communities. Its passage will also help ensure coordinated management of marine resources between Cuba and other countries in the region, including the United States.

At the center of the law is a mandate for a science-based, adaptive conservation approach to managing depleted fish populations, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, which has been working actively in Cuba over the past two decades to help foster greater sustainability and conservation in the country’s fishery resources.

“Cuba has made a great leap towards adopting best management practices for its fisheries,” said Dan Whittle, Caribbean Director, Environmental Defense Fund. “It’s important for the people of Cuba, and also a significant step in international efforts to preserve some of the world’s most important coral reefs, sharks, rays and other marine life.”

Cuba already protects approximately 25 percent of its coastal waters, boasting some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular marine ecosystems and successful conservation strategies. However, declining fish populations have remained a serious problem, putting the country’s food security, thousands of jobs and healthy ecosystems at risk. Many of Cuba’s most important commercial fish stocks, including several species of grouper and snapper, have declined in recent years.

Under the new law, Cuba will expand the use of data-limited methods, introduced by EDF experts, to track the health of dozens of important finfish, shark and ray species. The approach, called Framework for Integrated Stock and Habitat Evaluation (FISHE), allows fishery managers to assess which fish species are the most vulnerable to overfishing, even when scientific data on the specific stocks are scarce. The FISHE methodology is now being used in other countries in the Caribbean and around the world.

The creation of the new law was the result of a multi-year collaborative process, which brought together administrators, fishers, the seafood industry, scientists, conservationists and government officials to explore new conservation approaches and tools for collecting better data. EDF is proud to have participated in and supported these collaborations, like the SOS Pesca project, that brought fishers’ and coastal communities’ voices to the forefront of discussions about sustainable fishing and conservation.

“The law reflects the important progress Cuba has made to protect its natural environment and will advance the country’s goals to have more fish in the future, maintain fishing jobs and protect marine ecosystems,” said Valerie Miller, Senior Manager of EDF’s Cuba Oceans Program.

A key feature of the law is a new licensing and management framework for the growing private commercial fishing sector, established in 2009 to increase seafood production and create jobs. This sector, which now is comprised of 18,000 private commercial fishers operating out of 160 fishing ports around the country, provides seafood to state markets and plays an important role in local economies.

The new law is designed to prevent overfishing within this sector and provide benefits to private commercial fishermen that are already available to others in the self-employed sector.  Finally, the law includes a process for updating rules and licensing systems for the emerging recreational fishing sector. 

“We look forward to supporting Cuba’s fishers, scientists, managers and other stakeholders in making these news rules successful for the ocean and the communities who depend on it,” said Miller.

(Washington, D.C. - July 10, 2019) Today, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology (HSST)’s Energy Subcommittee held a markup on three bills reauthorizing funding for Solar, Wind and Fossil Energy Research and Development (R&D) in the Federal government through Fiscal Year 2024. Taken together, these bills – all of which have bipartisan support – outline an R&D agenda that will lead to significant carbon reductions in the power and industrial sectors, while recognizing the need for a diverse set of clean energy technologies.

“EDF applauds the House Science Committee for demonstrating support for clean energy innovation that will be essential to meet our climate goals,” said Elgie Holstein, EDF Senior Director, Strategic Planning. “While we know that innovation alone will be insufficient without an enforceable economy wide limit on carbon emissions, continued improvements in technology costs and performance – in zero emission technologies like wind and solar, and nascent negative emissions technologies like direct air capture – will help us reduce emissions as quickly and as cheaply as possible.”

The solar and wind energy R&D bills (H.R. 3597 and H.R. 3609 respectively) would authorize increased funding for the Department of Energy (DOE)’s successful solar and wind research and development programs, including for issues like resilience, grid integration, workforce development, and alternative materials and designs. Among other provisions, they would also direct DOE to award grants for advanced solar technology demonstration projects, and for improved materials, engineering and manufacturing processes for wind turbines, including supersized turbines that are at least 140 meters tall.

EDF recently testified before HSST in support of the Fossil Energy R&D (H.R. 3607) bill that would create and authorize funding for research, development, and demonstration of technologies that capture carbon at power plants and industrial facilities, including large-scale pilot projects. It also authorizes R&D activities in carbon storage and utilization and would establish programs to advance carbon dioxide removal technologies as well as methane leak detection and mitigation technologies and practices.
 

(SACRAMENTO, CA – June 28, 2019) Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the reappointments today of Karla Nemeth as director of the California Department of Water Resources and Chuck Bonham as director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“EDF is pleased to see Gov. Newsom reappoint Karla Nemeth and Chuck Bonham to these important positions. At this critical time for California’s water supplies, it is important to have their experience and continuity. We look forward to working with Karla Nemeth and Chuck Bonham to build greater resilience in the state’s finite water resources. We are hopeful we can reverse the decline of aquatic species in California’s waterways and secure clean, affordable drinking water for disadvantaged communities.”

• Maurice Hall, Associate VP, Ecosystems – Water, Environmental Defense Fund

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 28, 2019) Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), and Congressman Francis Rooney (FL-19) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen coastal climate resiliency.

The Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act will establish a grant initiative to fund state coastal resiliency planning and response efforts. State governments can use the funding to update coastal management plans to address negative impacts from climate change.

“Congressmen Carbajal, Fitzpatrick, and Rooney must be applauded for putting politics aside and crossing the aisle to find real climate solutions.

“Their leadership will provide states additional resources to increase coastal resiliency, protect vital infrastructure, and preserve unique ecosystems.

“With more frequent severe storms and rising sea-levels, we can’t afford to wait, and it is encouraging to see both Democrats and Republicans step forward with legislation that will help address this critical issue.”

• Elizabeth Gore, Sr. Vice President, Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund

(WASHINGTON, DC – Jun. 27, 2019)—Following the passage of a tax extenders package in the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee last week, the Environmental Defense Fund is calling on Congressional leadership to take more action.

“The House Ways & Means Committee has the chance to advance incentives that will reduce climate pollution and help unlock solutions to a clean economy.

“We need legislative action now that will catalyze private sector investments to put more electric vehicles on our roads, increase electricity storage capacity, and boost offshore wind energy production.

“We call on the House to demonstrate leadership and seize this opportunity to advance these crucial climate incentives.”

• Elizabeth Gore, Sr. Vice President, Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund

(Washington, D.C. – June 26, 2019) Today, Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act to extend an investment tax credit for offshore wind facilities for at least seven years.

“This bill provides policy and investment certainty for the offshore wind industry,” said Elizabeth Gore, EDF’s Senior Vice President for Political Affairs. “Offshore wind is still a young industry in the United States, but it has enormous potential to provide clean, renewable, and reliable energy to some of the most populous areas of the country.”

The offshore wind investment tax credit is set to expire at the end of this year. This bill would extend the credit for projects that start construction by 2026 or by the year after the U.S. has installed 3,000 megawatts of new capacity – whichever is later.

While EDF welcomes introduction of this bill, it also calls on Congress to extend tax incentives for other key clean energy technologies, including energy storage and electric vehicles.

“Congress has a chance to unlock private sector investments in clean energy,” said Gore. “We urge Congress to seize the opportunity to make meaningful climate progress now.”

“Today’s announcement by Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna and California’s Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols shows the kind of vision and leadership we need to protect public health and safety from the urgent threat of climate change, and to provide better, cleaner cars for our future. The two signed a new cooperation agreement to work together on clean car policies and accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles like electric cars. This is the kind of leadership we need – but aren’t getting – from the Trump administration.

“Canada and American states across the country are committed to clean car policies that will reduce pollution, spur innovation, and save families in both our countries money at the gas pump. Today’s announcement underscores that these leaders will continue moving full speed ahead. The Trump administration, by contrast, is recklessly attacking America’s successful Clean Car Standards – a move that would dramatically increase pollution, destabilize this market, make us all less safe, and benefit no one but possibly the oil industry.

“Americans across the country, and Canadians to our north, are moving swiftly to support clean cars and reduce climate pollution. The Trump administration must step up and join them. “

- Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund

(Washington, D.C. – June 26, 2019) Today, Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2019 to help reduce climate pollution and protect Americans from the threat of climate change.

Starting in 2020, the bill would require that each electricity provider increase its supply of renewable energy by a percentage of total retail sales each year. Senator Udall claims the bill will result in at least fifty percent of electricity in the U.S. being provided by renewable sources by 2035.

Reducing climate pollution in the electricity sector is critical to achieving our national climate change goals. The US will also need dramatic reductions in climate pollution across other sectors of the economy, including from transportation and industry.

EDF applauds Senators Udall, Heinrich, Whitehouse, Smith, and King for their continuing efforts to reduce climate pollution in the electricity sector.  Renewable energy plays an important role – as does energy efficiency, other zero carbon sources of electricity, and technologies that reduce emissions from the current fleet of fossil fuel fired generators.

“EDF looks forward to working with Senators Udall, Heinrich, Whitehouse, Smith, and King, and all Members of Congress to advance climate policy,” said Elizabeth Gore, EDF Senior Vice President, Political Affairs. “We hope this bill and any other serious proposals will encourage members on both sides of the aisle to provide the kind of leadership on climate change that America needs.”

 SALEM, OREGON (June 25, 2019) — The following is a joint statement from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in response to events surrounding the Oregon climate bill.

“The Clean Energy Jobs bill deserves an up-or-down vote, and Oregonians shouldn’t settle for less.

“Oregonians overwhelmingly support strong action to protect the health and economic future of their state. The Clean Energy Jobs bill will slash climate pollution and invest in clean energy solutions across the state, helping to lead the nation in solving the climate crisis.

“HB 2020 is the product of extensive public input over the past two years. It is supported by a large and diverse coalition of business owners, labor groups, outdoorsmen and women, consumer advocates, Tribes, and community leaders—and is projected to boost the state’s economy, growing Oregon’s 55,000 employee-strong clean energy sector. Governor Brown and legislators campaigned and won on Clean Energy Jobs—and 7 in 10 Oregonians support its passage.

“Despite clearing the House by a wide margin, a minority of senators – for the second time this session – chose to dodge their responsibilities rather than show up for work. Senate President Peter Courtney needs to stand strong in the face of such obstructionism to protect the democratic process and not reward petulance at the expense of Oregon’s future. The Senators who have walked out have behaved badly, and without climate solutions like HB 2020, it’s our kids that will pay the price. You can’t run and hide from climate change – or the Oregon people.”