Based on our first ever survey of solar developers, ILSR’s new report shows how electric utilities and policymakers are creating unexpected delays and added costs for solar projects and slowing the growth of local solar. The report, 2021 Local Solar Developer Survey, seeks to identify the most common and impactful barriers to local solar through findings from the […]
In what climate campaigners on Wednesday celebrated as not only a “historic” win but also a model for the rest of the country, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and trustees of major public pensions funds announced a $3 billion divestment from fossil fuels. By Jessica Corbett Common Dreams “We’d like to thank Comptroller Stringer, for his […]
Climate campaigners in the United Kingdom applauded as oil giant Shell signaled it would not drill for oil in the proposed Cambo oil field off the coast of Scotland’s Shetland Islands, following a grassroots effort to halt the project. By Julia Conley Common Dreams Advocates said Shell’s announcement that it had found a weak economic case for the […]
In her first major policy action, Boston Michelle Wu signed an ordinance on Monday to divest public funds from fossil fuels. The measure prohibits public investment in any financial instrument deriving more than 15% of its revenue from fossil fuels, as well as from tobacco products or jail or prison facilities. By Nexus Media News […]
A coalition of environmental justice, public interest and climate groups announced Thursday that the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) at the COP26 Conference in Glasgow that California will join as an “associate” member, a secondary tier of membership for those yet to commit to end new drilling for oil and gas. By Dan […]
For the Glasgow climate summit to be judged a success, a key outcome had to be that parties agree the majority of the world’s fossil fuel reserves need to be left in the ground. As recent research suggests, 89% of coal and 59% of gas reserves need to stay in the ground if there’s to […]
Climate advocates warned Friday that “the fingerprints of the fossil fuel industry” are all over a COP26 draft decision text released in the waning hours of the summit in Glasgow, Scotland, where campaigners and scientists have implored world leaders to take ambitious steps to curb planet-warming emissions. The new text—released on the last official day of a conference swarming with […]
On July 7, 1919, a group of U.S. military members dedicated Zero Milestone – the point from which all road distances in the country would be measured – just south of the White House lawn in Washington, D.C. The next morning, they helped to define the future of the nation. Brian C. Black, Penn State […]
As the ongoing COP26 climate summit draws attention to the financial institutions that enable fossil fuel companies to keep wrecking the planet, a pair of progressive U.S. senators on Friday introduced a bill that would force big banks to stop pouring money into the destructive industry. By Jessica Corbett Common Dreams The Fossil Free Finance Act, sponsored by […]
Six heads of oil companies and lobby groups testified virtually before Congress last week in a marathon, all-day hearing in which they, and Republicans, provided examples of how their disinformation has shifted from denial that they’re causing the problem to denial by suggesting their polluting products are actually part of the solution. By Climate Denier […]
Fossil fuel executives who testified Thursday at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing focused on decades of coordinated industry misinformation refused to pledge that their companies will stop lobbying against efforts to combat the climate emergency driven largely by their businesses. By Jessica Corbett Common Dreams That joint refusal came in response to a challenge from Rep. Carolyn […]
Earth Matters is a semi-regular rundown of climate change and clean energy stories By Meteor Blades TWO DOZEN FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION WOULD BOOST U.S. EMISSIONS BY 20% According to Oil Change International, emissions from these projects would be larger than those from all current U.S. coal power plants combined unless President Biden makes […]
Yesterday, the California Democratic Party once again blocked an activist-brought motion to get fossil fuel money out of elections. This has been a huge problem, as fossil fuel interests have dumped millions of dollars into candidate coffers (and reaped billions in rewards – see “Big oil lobbying money turns California the WRONG kind of green”). […]
Climate campaigners are welcoming Québec Premier François Legault’s Tuesday announcement that his government has decided to put an end to any further fossil fuel extraction in the province. “This is excellent news,” said Patrick Bonin, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Canada, in a statement. By Andrea Germanos Common Dreams Legault’s announcement—that the government “decided to definitively renounce the […]
Since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, many residents and environmental advocates have called for new clean energy sources for the island. Currently Puerto Rico gets more than 97% of its electricity from imported fossil fuel. Power is expensive and unreliable. The Biden Administration has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help Puerto Rico transition to […]