Congress passed funding bill without disaster aid despite looming hurricane
Congress passed a stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown but excluded billions in disaster relief funding, even as Hurricane Helene bore down on the Southeast.
In short:
- Congress passed a funding extension but left out disaster aid, including FEMA’s depleted relief fund, despite bipartisan support for the funding.
- Lawmakers from disaster-prone areas expressed frustration, citing the urgent need for federal assistance, especially as natural disasters increase.
- FEMA’s disaster relief fund is in significant deficit, facing a $3 billion shortfall by February 2025 without additional funding.
Key quote:
Federal disaster programs “have no money in the bank, essentially, to help people in supporting these long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.”
— Andy Winkler, Bipartisan Policy Center
Why this matters:
With increasing natural disasters, FEMA and other federal programs need funds to respond quickly. Delays in funding can extend recovery times for communities, leaving them vulnerable during future emergencies.
Related: Disaster by choice: The need to create a culture of warning and safety
Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda
Alaska Native community moves to escape climate-driven permafrost loss
Alaska’s Newtok village is relocating to Mertarvik after climate change destroyed homes and infrastructure by melting permafrost and eroding coastlines.
Rick Bowmer and Mark Thiessen report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Erosion and melting permafrost have devastated Newtok, forcing its remaining residents to relocate to a new site, Mertarvik.
- The move, which began in 2019, marks one of the first large-scale climate-driven relocations of an Alaska Native village.
- The relocation faces high costs and logistical hurdles, with other villages facing similar climate threats but no clear funding for moves.
Key quote:
"Living with my great-grandmother was all I could remember from Newtok, and it was one of the first houses to be demolished."
— Ashley Tom, former Newtok resident
Why this matters:
Alaska is warming faster than the global average, threatening Indigenous communities' homes, culture and way of life. Without long-term solutions and funding, these relocations may only be the beginning of widespread displacement across the Arctic.
Related: Melting Alaskan permafrost releases dangerous mercury levels
Hilton, Marriott and Chipotle fund climate opposition despite public green goals
Major corporations, including Hilton, Marriott and Chipotle, are supporting trade groups that oppose key climate legislation in Colorado while promoting their own sustainability pledges.
In short:
- Chipotle and other companies publicly commit to reducing emissions but support trade groups fighting local climate rules.
- Industry groups are suing to overturn Colorado's greenhouse-gas reduction laws targeting buildings, which are major contributors to emissions.
- These contradictions between corporate climate promises and actions could undermine state and city efforts to combat climate change.
Key quote:
“A lot of companies have sort of outsourced their climate obstruction to their trade associations.”
— Timmons Roberts, professor of environment and society at Brown University
Why this matters:
Corporate commitments to cut emissions mean little if those same companies support legal actions against climate regulations. Buildings contribute significantly to U.S. emissions, so blocking these rules delays progress toward greener cities and cleaner energy.
Related: Oregon’s biggest gas company isn’t as green as it claims
CNX’s controversial fracking study sparks debate in Pennsylvania
CNX Resources claims their fracking operations pose no public health risks based on a self-funded study, but climate activists argue the findings contradict peer-reviewed science and past reports of harm to nearby residents.
In short:
- CNX Resources, a major Pennsylvania gas producer, released a study downplaying health risks from fracking, sparking criticism from environmentalists.
- The study comes as CNX seeks federal funding for a hydrogen project, but opponents argue it overlooks proven health hazards from fracking, such as polluted air and water.
- Activists and researchers question the study’s scientific rigor, arguing that its findings are not supported by long-term or comprehensive data.
Key quote:
"CNX’s radically dishonest and irresponsible fracking report fails the fundamental tests of scientific integrity."
— Alex Bomstein, executive director of Clean Air Council
Why this matters:
Fracking has long been linked to serious health risks, particularly in communities near drilling sites. As CNX pushes to secure public funds, critics fear that flawed data may lead to environmental and public health sacrifices for the sake of industry profits.
Related EHN coverage:
- A Pennsylvania fracking company with more than 2,000 environmental violations was selected for federal environmental justice funding
- Fracking chemicals “imbalance” the immune system
- Fractured: The body burden of living near fracking
- Fractured: Harmful chemicals and unknowns haunt Pennsylvanians surrounded by fracking
Rural opposition to solar energy influenced by local history and landscape concerns
Researchers in Pennsylvania found that rural attitudes toward solar power are shaped by a deep connection to the land and the region's coal-mining history, with support for projects depending on their scale and visual impact.
In short:
- Rural residents often resist solar projects due to concerns over changing the visual landscape and local identity.
- Support for solar is more likely when projects are smaller and respect farmers’ attachment to their land.
- Misinformation, such as fears over chemical runoff from solar panels, complicates local debates but is not a primary driver of opposition.
Key quote:
“If farmers perceive an energy project as protecting the valued attributes of place, whether by enhancing its economic viability (thus enabling them to continue owning, working and living on the land) or cultural meaning, they are more likely to support that project.”
— Shanti Gamper-Rabindran, economist at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public & International Affairs
Why this matters:
Rural communities play a key role in the energy transition, but to garner local support, development must account for concerns about preserving landscapes and livelihoods. Understanding these perspectives can guide more community-friendly renewable energy strategies.
Nuclear plants gain new life as AI demand for energy rises
AI's skyrocketing energy consumption is driving investment in nuclear power plants, with utilities like Constellation Energy and Vistra reactivating dormant plants to meet demand.
In short:
- Utilities with nuclear plants are experiencing stock surges due to contracts with AI companies like Microsoft and Amazon.
- The reopening of nuclear facilities like Three Mile Island and potential reactivation of other plants reflect AI's insatiable energy needs.
- Older power plants, including coal-fired ones, are being considered anew as AI-driven energy demand outpaces renewable energy development.
Key quote:
“This is a problem that is getting bigger and bigger.”
— Jesse Dodge, senior researcher at the nonprofit Allen Institute for A.I.
Why this matters:
As AI expands, its energy demands may push utilities to prolong the use of nuclear and fossil fuel plants, raising environmental concerns. Finding sustainable, safe energy sources to power AI’s growth is critical to limiting its ecological impact.
Read more:
Tech giants bring economic growth but strain resources in drought-prone Mexican state
Big tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Google are investing in data centers in Querétaro, but concerns are rising over how the region’s limited water and energy supplies will sustain the growing demands of the industry.
In short:
- Data centers in Querétaro, fueled by tech giants, demand significant water and electricity resources, raising concerns in a drought-stricken region.
- Local aquifers and a recently built aqueduct are already struggling to meet the needs of the growing city, industry and agriculture.
- Community protests have emerged, accusing the government of prioritizing industrial needs over local water access.
Key quote:
“Last year, it hardly rained, and this year it hasn’t rained at all. This year has been the hottest I can remember.”
— Alejandro Ortiz, community leader in Maconí
Why this matters:
The growth of the tech industry in Querétaro brings economic benefits, but it also worsens water shortages in a region already facing severe droughts. Without careful management, the competition between industrial and community needs may escalate further.
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Residents say Pennsylvania has failed communities after state studies linked fracking to child cancer
Last year Pennsylvania Department of Health studies showed increased risk of childhood cancer, asthma and low birth weights for people living near fracking. Advocates say not enough has been done since.
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As Biden prepares to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, pollution concerns persist in Pennsylvania
“Pennsylvania steel communities have lived with dangerous air quality for generations. That needs to end.”