Citizens Resist Fermi 2, a Michigan environmental justice group, didn't get everything on its wish list, but the group is still pleased to see long-awaited changes made to the permit for DTE Energy's Fermi 2 nuclear plant.
The facility's new permit includes what environmental groups call important safeguards. One of the most notable changes is the first-ever implementation of temperature limits, which supporters said will prevent the Monroe County facility from overheating local ocean waters and protect aquatic life from potential harm.
Nicholas Schrock, interim dean of Mercy College of Law and an environmental lawyer who represented Citizens Resistance at Fermi 2, said this is a major step forward.
“We're already concerned about Lake Erie temperatures,” Schrock said. “Climate change is warming the lake, and this facility is a big contributor to that warming, so it's important to monitor it, because if we don't monitor it, we don't know.”
The group also succeeded in securing a public hearing on the permit and an extended comment period to ensure greater community involvement in the decision-making process.
DTE Energy acknowledged that the plant's design is the main problem, but environmental groups believe the company hasn't done enough to mitigate the impacts. Schrock said the groups will continue to monitor pollution data.
“CRAFT is actually tracking that and sharing that information with the public,” Schrock noted, “and also looking at whether they might challenge certain aspects of the permit. CRAFT is considering their options, but no decisions have been made about whether or not they will file a legal challenge.”
Environmental justice advocates are hopeful the next administration will act on their concerns at the federal level.
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Fracking is on the rise in southwestern Pennsylvania, leading to increased plastic production and severe impacts for residents.
Hydraulic fracturing is thriving in Washington County, with about 4,000 fracking wells in addition to current and former coal mines.
Sarah Martich, executive director of the Caulfield Center for Justice, said the debate over fracking is taking place at a national and global level and is impacting how the fossil fuel industry operates in the region. She added that the growing demand for plastics is one factor behind the rise in fracking in the region.
“Plastics production is becoming an increasingly important part of the fossil fuel industry's strategy to protect itself and its profits from declining profits due to the transition to renewable energy, with a growing number of communities affected on both the plastics production and petrochemical fronts,” Martich explained.
99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, including fracking gas, and southwestern Pennsylvania is a major fracking gas extraction hotspot in the United States.
Jodi Borrello, a community activist with the Coalfield Justice Center in Washington County, said natural gas drilling sites are polluting the air and water in her rural community. She pointed to a new University of Pittsburgh study that details the impacts of fracking in the region.
“Studies have shown that children who live within one mile of an oil and gas facility are five to seven times more likely to develop lymphoma, and this is a major concern for our community,” Borrero emphasized, “because these wells are everywhere.”
Borrello, testifying at the 43rd state grand jury hearing on the unconventional oil and gas industry, noted that the grand jury report laid out eight recommendations and that his group is pushing for increased regulation of single-use plastics in particular.
“Expand Pennsylvania's no-drilling zones from the prescribed 500 feet to 2,500 feet,” Borrello said in his petition. “This is an issue that many residents face. They have wells 500 feet, next to their homes. This is one of the most important recommendations.”
Borrero added that he would encourage fracking companies to disclose all chemicals used in drilling and fracking before they are used on-site.
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Many Florida residents are expressing concern over the DeSantis administration's surprising proposal to add golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges throughout the state's award-winning parks system.
The proposal has sparked public backlash as some argue it could shatter Gov. Ron DeSantis' environmental record. The proposed changes include building a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and building 350-room park lodges at Anastasia State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.
Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Racemell expressed concerns about the proposal and the early deadline for public comment.
“This is all happening so quickly,” Racemell explained. “The announcement is coming on Tuesday, and the public hearing for comment is scheduled for next week, Tuesday, and many Floridians will not be able to attend.”
With just six days left in reviewing the parks' massive plan, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold simultaneous, in-person meetings across the state. All meetings will be held Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m.
A bipartisan group of elected officials, including Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), has urged the proposal not to go forward, saying it is “antithetical to the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature.” “It's time to make our public lands more accessible to the public,” DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said Thursday.
Critics argued the development goes against the traditional purpose of Florida's state parks, which have long been celebrated for their natural beauty and environmental importance. Racemell pointed to potential ecological impacts, particularly at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, home to endangered species such as the Florida jay.
“The idea of yet another golf course being built in exchange for selling off the habitat this iconic Florida species needs to survive has many Floridians scratching their heads about the wisdom of the proposal,” Rathmell said.
Several Florida Cabinet members, including Florida Agriculture Commission Chairman Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, have also spoken out against the proposal.
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Last Friday marked the second anniversary of the implementation of the Inflation Control Act, a milestone year for Ohioans looking to make their buildings and homes more energy efficient.
The IRA tax credit provides an important financial incentive, and some Ohioans — both homeowners and businesses — are taking advantage of it.
But Marcus Hazelwood, director of building optimization at EA Energy Solutions, said not everyone knows that tax credits can offset the upfront costs of energy-efficient upgrades, so it's important to keep spreading the word, especially to business owners.
“Having them understand that leveraging existing infrastructure and providing them with the opportunity to raise capital and funding to make improvements to their buildings will reduce their operating costs in the long run helps with the initial investment that's needed,” Hazelwood said.
Ohio's new energy law simplifies qualification for the IRA deduction, and supporters say it will also spur economic growth by supporting good-paying local jobs.
But critics of the IRA say its costs are too high and that it doesn't do enough to bring down the costs of energy-efficient products and services.
Ben Evans, director of federal legislative affairs for the U.S. Green Building Council, said IRAs aren't just focused on businesses, but also benefit individual property owners.
He explained that a variety of tax incentives, grants and low-cost financing allow homeowners to maximize their savings and make meaningful improvements to their property.
“The great thing about the Inflation Control Act is that you can combine many of these,” Evans said. “It's not like you have to pick just one. You can get two different tax incentives for the same project. For example, let's say you renovate a building and add a rooftop solar system. You can get a tax incentive for each of those.”
The IRA is made up of several programs, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to promote energy efficiency.
Evans said Ohio is well positioned to lead the way in this area and has plenty of time to take advantage of these incentives over the next decade.
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