Funding freeze stalls climate projects for tribes and nonprofits

Tribal and community organizations awarded federal climate grants remain unable to access funds due to the Trump administration’s freeze, despite court orders requiring their release.

Naveena Sadasivam reports for Grist.

In short:

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and other groups lost access to millions in federal climate grants after a White House directive froze funding on Jan. 27.
Despite a court ruling ordering the government to restore funds, many organizations still lack access, forcing them to pause projects, delay hiring or seek emergency loans.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims it is unfreezing some funds, but a separate review of grant programs may continue to stall climate and environmental justice projects.

Key quote:

“There are all kinds of ways that folks are trying to mitigate harm, but they’re not going to be able to avoid harm.”

— Hana Vizcarra, senior attorney, Earthjustice

Why this matters:

The freezing of these grants represents more than just a bureaucratic snag — it’s a direct hit to communities counting on them to safeguard against climate-related disasters. Local governments and organizations rely on this funding to expand renewable energy projects, bolster flood defenses and prepare for extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and severe. Without it, infrastructure projects stall, workers lose jobs and vulnerable populations face heightened risks. While legal disputes play out, the uncertainty leaves communities in limbo, potentially setting back progress on climate adaptation for years to come.

grist.org

TransAlta head office building in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Credit: Jeff Whyte Photography/BigStock Photo ID: 449639657

The tab to keep a Pacific Northwest coal plant on standby keeps rising. Who will pay?

Electric utilities across the Pacific Northwest are fuming that their customers might be saddled with the costs of a coal-burning power plant that isn’t producing any power.The messy dispute stems from the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to sustain the American coal industry.

Read the Full Article on

washingtonstatestandard.com

Funding freeze stalls climate projects for tribes and nonprofits

Carbon captured

‘Kind of miracle solution’: How Paris is harnessing the Seine to replace air-con

Indigenous cultural practices are a climate solution, report finds

The ‘guerrilla solar’ era has arrived, and here’s what to know

Solar has a PR problem. Could ‘Got Milk?’ help?

The tab to keep a Pacific Northwest coal plant on standby keeps rising. Who will pay?

EU countries are bailing out fossil fuels instead of funding the green transition, Greenpeace warns

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.