Natural Resources Defense Council

PJM Interconnection's electricity price for 2028 and 2029 reached the $325-per-megawatt-day cap set by the Shapiro administration. The auction fell 6,831 megawatts short of capacity goals, exacerbating concerns about grid reliability and rising consumer costs due to retiring plants and increased demand from data centers.

Extreme heat in the Northeast and Midwest, with temperatures exceeding 100°F in Philadelphia and Boston, poses health risks ahead of Fourth of July celebrations. A heat dome traps heat and humidity, worsening conditions in urban areas. Incidents like a failed AC bus causing heat-related illnesses highlight dangers, while ice demand surges in Cambridge.

Extreme heat warnings affected New York, Boston, and Philadelphia as temperatures reached over 100°F, disrupting Fourth of July celebrations. A heat dome exacerbated conditions, prompting health advisories and citywide cooling measures, including shelters and misting fans. Officials emphasized risks from high humidity and urban heat retention.

Extreme heat warnings hit the US Northeast as temperatures reach high 90s to over 100°F, disrupting Fourth of July celebrations. A heat dome exacerbates discomfort during historic events, prompting public health advisories and citywide cooling efforts.

Extreme heat warnings hit New York, Boston, and Philadelphia as a heat dome causes temperatures to exceed 100°F, disrupting Fourth of July celebrations. Authorities and organizations are implementing cooling measures, including cooling centers and allowing pets in air-conditioned spaces. Health experts warn of heat-related risks due to high humidity and urban heat retention.

The article discusses strategies to stay cool during heat waves without air conditioning, emphasizing risks for vulnerable groups and the role of climate change. It highlights methods like creating a 'cool corner,' using fans or evaporative coolers, and accessing public cooling centers. Workplace protections vary by state, with some offering specific heat safety regulations.

Chicago has the largest inventory of lead water service lines in the U.S., with over 400,000 lines. Replacing each line costs an average of $31,000, more than six times the EPA’s national estimate of $4,700. High costs are attributed to inefficient contracts, permitting delays, and fragmented replacement strategies, with total replacement estimated at over $12 billion under a federal mandate.

PJM Interconnection warns of record electricity demand due to a heatwave affecting 13 states, including Maryland, with projected usage exceeding 166,000 megawatts. PJM seeks permission to require data centers to use backup generators during peak times, while utilities urge customers to reduce energy consumption. AI data centers are cited as a key driver of increased grid strain.

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to abandon a Biden-era EPA rule imposing stricter standards for soot pollution. The ruling upholds a 2024 standard limiting fine particle pollution to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down from 12 micrograms, and criticizes the EPA's arguments as lacking merit. Environmental groups praised the decision as a public health victory, while opponents argued it would increase costs for businesses and families.

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to abandon a Biden-era rule that tightens soot pollution standards. The court found the EPA's arguments lacked merit, upholding a 9 microgram per cubic meter annual limit on fine particle pollution. The decision supports public health benefits projected by the Biden-era rule, which aims to reduce asthma cases and premature deaths.

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to invalidate a Biden-era EPA rule that tightens soot pollution standards. The court upheld the 2024 rule, which reduces annual fine particle pollution limits from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, despite the EPA's argument that it exceeded statutory authority and ignored economic costs. Environmental groups praised the decision as a public health victory.

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to abandon a Biden-era rule imposing stricter standards on soot pollution. The decision upheld a 2024 rule requiring a tighter annual limit of 9 micrograms of fine particle pollution per cubic meter of air, rejecting the EPA's claim that it exceeded statutory authority. The ruling supports public health benefits projected to prevent thousands of premature deaths and hospital visits.

New Jersey's Summer Termination Program protects eligible residents from electric, water, and sewer shutoffs between June 15 and August 31. The initiative aims to address rising utility costs and health risks during extreme heat, with state officials citing climate-driven heatwaves as a growing threat.

Global data centers consume energy equivalent to entire countries, with Tennessee cities debating their growth. Researchers warn that data centers, now critical to daily activities like healthcare and finance, could strain power grids and climate, using up to 945 Terrawatt hours by 2030. A NERC alert highlights risks from their rapid energy consumption and operational demands.

Dr. Hope Thompson of the Natural Resources Defense Council discusses rising homeowners insurance costs linked to climate change and weather disasters, highlighting their role in North Carolina's housing affordability crisis. She advocates for regulatory steps to enhance building resilience and ensure affordable insurance availability.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce $700 million in support for the U.S. coal industry, including funding for 13 coal plants, new plant construction in Alaska and West Virginia, and a coal export terminal in California. The move aims to create or support over 14,000 jobs in coal and related industries, using a Cold War-era national defense law to justify the funding.

President Trump is expected to announce $700 million in support for the U.S. coal industry, including funding for 13 coal-fired power plants, new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and a coal export terminal in California. The initiative aims to create or support over 14,000 jobs in coal, construction, rail, and maritime industries, using authority under a Cold War-era national defense law.

New York City now receives electricity from hydropower dams in Quebec via the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a 330-mile transmission line capable of supplying 1,250 megawatts—enough for a million homes. The project, developed by Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers Inc., aims to reduce fossil fuel reliance and ease summer energy shortages.

Cory Kreft, a Colorado beekeeper, lost 85% of his hives due to neonicotinoid pesticides, which are used to coat crop seeds and persist in the environment. A federal loophole allows these neurotoxic chemicals to be applied to seeds without strict regulation, leading to widespread contamination of ecosystems and food sources.