News and Articles


Survey Finds 18 Million Trees Died in California During 2018

"It is encouraging that the rate of mortality slowed in 2018. However, 18 million trees are an indication that the forests of California are still under significant stress," said Thom Porter, CAL FIRE's director and California's state forester. "The stress of drought, insects, disease, and prolific wildfire will continue to challenge the resilience of the state's forests."

TVA to Retire Two Coal-Fired Power Plants

TVA's board of directors on Feb. 14 approved the retirement of Paradise Unit 3 in Drakesboro, Ky., and the Bull Run facility in Clinton, Tenn., older coal generating units that TVA describes as "not designed to efficiently respond to today's continually fluctuating power needs of customers."

Nine Teams Chosen for Colorado's NextCycle Program

Each of the nine teams selected for the first-of-its-kind pilot program will receive a $5,000 business development grant, mentoring from the Colorado NextCycle technical advisory committee, and technical support from RRS, the recycling and sustainability consulting firm assisting with the Colorado NextCycle program.

California's Governor Warns Climate Change Pressuring Utilities

In his first State of the State address, Gov. Gavin Newsom said climate change is putting pressure on all of California's utilities, public and private, and that two recently had their credit ratings downgraded.

Florida DEP Presents 2018 Plant Excellence Awards

The department is awarding a total of 18 facilities, including 10 domestic wastewater facilities and eight drinking water facilities statewide. This is the 29th year that the Florida Rural Water Association has conducted the Focus on Change Seminars in conjunction with DEP.

Marathon Subsidiary Signs Contracts with Solaris Water

Solaris Water Midstream, LLC will manage all produced water transportation, disposal, fresh water, and recycled water needs within a 369,000-acre region in Lea County, N.M.

PA DEP Sets Meeting on Proposed Waste Treatment Facility

Elcon Recycling Services, LLC wants to construct and operate a hazardous waste treatment and storage facility to treat and store liquid waste at the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, Bucks County.

Climate Scientists Awarded 2019 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement

Michael E. Mann, Ph.D., distinguished professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University, and Warren M. Washington, Ph.D., distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, are the 2019 Laureates.

IKEA Norfolk Store to Feature Large Solar Array

The new store will feature a 180,000-square-foot solar array and three EV charging stations.

NRC Raising Some Fees This Year

Proposed annual fees for FY2019 have increased for operating reactors, some materials users, and Department of Energy transportation activities.

Top Energy Efficiency Strategies for Building Owners

Investing in new "green" technology to reduce energy use can be intimidating at first, but it doesn't need to be.

Green Cleaning: Where We've Been and What's Next

The professional cleaning industry, like so many other industries, is now realizing that sustainability helps minimize risk, making sustainability simply smart business.

Waste Associations Want Performance-Based End to Post-Closure Care

"We believe that a one-size-fits-all approach to post-closure care is too prescriptive and does not account for the differences among landfills," said Darrell Smith, NWRA's president and CEO. "A performance-based standard offers wider applicability to achieve the same environmental protection goals."

NASA Reports Giant Hole Beneath Thwaites Glacier

The size of a cavity under a glacier plays an important role in melting, said the study's lead author, Pietro Milillo of JPL. "As more heat and water get under the glacier, it melts faster," Milillo explained.

New ASTM Test Method Addresses Corrosion in Petrochemical Pipelines

The annual estimated cost of microbiologically induced corrosion to the oil and gas industry ranges from $4 billion to $30 billion.

Colorado Governor Signs Order on Zero Emission Vehicles

"Today's executive order will strengthen our economy and protect the wallets of consumers across the state. As we continue to move towards a cleaner electric grid, the public health and environmental benefits of widespread transportation electrification will only increase," Gov. Jared Polis said Jan. 17.

The National Hurricane Center will use predictions of storm surges and storm surge mapping during the 2016 U.S. hurricane season.

Extreme Weather Events a Top Concern in 2019

The 2019 Global Risks Report identifies economic worries, major power tensions, political strains, climate catastrophe, and technological instabilities as areas of concern.

IRENA Chooses New Director-General

Francesco La Camera will take office on April 4, 2019, succeeding Adnan Z. Amin, who has been the International Renewal Energy Agency's director-general since 2011.

NRC Sets Hearing in Albuquerque on Holtec Fuel Storage Application

The oral arguments on Jan. 23 and, if necessary, Jan. 24, will be open to the public. Signs, banners, posters, demonstrations, and displays will not be permitted by NRC policy, according to the agency.

New CalEPA Secretary Appointed

Jared Blumenfeld, 49, of San Francisco, has been appointed secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), subject to confirmation by the state Senate.