Economics - MAHB

A feed of recent articles relating to Behavioral Economics from The Daily Climate.

17 May 2024. Cancer-causing benzene levels were cut in half at US refineries in 2023: Report –

HOUSTON — The number of U.S. oil refineries exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for benzene in 2023 was cut in half compared to 2020, according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project.

In 2023 just six refineries were above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s average annual “action level,” compared to 12 back in 2020. The level, which is nine micrograms per cubic meter and was set in 2015, serves as a standard that requires corrective action if the concentration of benzene at a facility exceeds it. Corrective measures include determining the root cause of the emissions and then mitigating the pollution. The 2015 benzene standard also required fenceline monitoring for benzene to be finalized by 2018 at several refineries and chemical plants.

Benzene is a cancer-causing compound found in oil, gas and petroleum products. Long-term exposure can also cause various blood disorders and reproductive harm. Short-term exposure can result in headaches, dizziness and respiratory irritation.

Environmental groups lauded the findings.

“Requiring companies to publicly disclose their fenceline monitoring results and to find and fix benzene pollution sources appears to be working,” said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a statement. “Although we and others are sometimes critical of EPA, this is an example of a success story of regulations working to help to protect neighborhoods near refineries from a dangerous pollutant.”

However, it’s not all good news. Houston, the “energy capital of the nation,” hosts one of the six remaining refineries exceeding the EPA’s benzene standards. The Houston-area Pemex (formally Shell) Deer Park Refinery is exceeding the standard more than any of the other remaining refineries and its annual emissions increased to 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023 — nearly double the EPA’s action level. The levels have been rising over the past two and a half years, according to fenceline data compiled by the Environmental Integrity Project.

“Let's not forget communities that are still suffering from the effects of high benzene levels, such as Deer Park and Galena Park in the Houston area, as well as others nationwide. We must continue to take further strides and actions to provide support to these communities,” said Juan Flores, community air monitoring program manager for Air Alliance Houston, a local nonprofit dedicated to cleaner air, in a statement.

Another Texas refinery — the Total Refinery in Port Arthur — exceeded the EPA’s action level “every reporting period since monitoring began in January 2019,” according to the Environmental Integrity Project report.

“Requiring companies to publicly disclose their fenceline monitoring results and to find and fix benzene pollution sources appears to be working." - Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project

The report authors did note that the decrease in refineries exceeding the action levels does not account for a few refineries that have onsite monitoring plans that adjust their benzene readings downward if there are known offsite sources — or onsite sources like storage tanks — contributing to the emissions.

In addition to the benzene rule, the EPA in April expanded fenceline monitoring rules for more than 200 chemical companies. The EPA says the rule — created under the Clean Air Act and focused on six pollutants including ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride — will reduce toxic air pollution near these plants by roughly 6,200 tons annually, protecting the health and reducing the cancer burden of nearby residents.

“With the success of the benzene monitoring program, hopefully this expansion of fenceline monitoring will mean that even more industrial facilities will feel pressure to curb their emissions of dangerous air pollutants into surrounding communities,” said Schaeffer.

For additional information on benzene levels, the Environmental Integrity Project launched a database including fenceline monitoring data from 2018 through 2023.

17 May 2024. Environmental justice advocates find hope, healing and community in Pittsburgh –

PITTSBURGH — Environmental justice advocates gathered last week to celebrate progress and chart a path to the future while focusing on healing, self care and mental health.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Environmental Justice Summit highlighted the need for self-care and connection among researchers and advocates working to advance justice. Exposure to pollution and anxiety about climate change can negatively impact mental health and people who work to right injustices face the risk of compassion fatigue and burnout.

“Advancing justice is emotionally difficult work,” Dani Wilson, executive director of the Cancer and Environment Network of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which coordinated the event alongside the University of Pittsburgh, told EHN. “Taking care of ourselves and each other is critical to fostering moments of joy and connection that help us stay in the movement.”

Over three days, attendees strategized about how to advance environmental justice in the greater Pittsburgh region and how to foster resilience with tools like meditation, storytelling, community-building, yoga, crafting and cooking. The event also highlighted the importance of humor, connection and optimism.

“This is a social movement,” said Jamil Bey, founder of the nonprofit think tank UrbanKind Institute and newly-appointed director of the Department of City Planning for Pittsburgh. “That means that as part of this work, we’ve gotta have fun with our friends. We’ve gotta stay connected and be able to laugh.”

On Friday, Dr. Sacoby Wilson, an environmental health scientist, professor and director of the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice and Health at the University of Maryland, set the tone for the day by declaring himself a “hardcore Steelers fan” and waving a Terrible Towel above his head while shouting “Go Steelers!”

Wilson peppered an otherwise serious talk about the ravages of environmental racism and his work developing tools to combat it with football jokes, referencing recent quarterback drama (“two quarterbacks are better than one!”), emphasizing the importance of both offense and defense for communities burdened by pollution and quipping that if we want to score a touchdown, the community needs to work as a team.

“Where you live can kill you,” Wilson said, noting that poor, Black and Brown neighborhoods in most places, including southwestern Pennsylvania, face higher levels of exposure to pollution that result in worse health outcomes and lowered life expectancy. These places are also more likely to experience the impacts of climate change and other disproportionate harms.

“We need a holistic framework for environmental justice that also acknowledges the need for housing justice, economic justice, social justice, educational justice, reproductive justice and racial justice,” he said, “because these things are all connected. And you can’t get equity without justice… And on a separate note, we’re going to the Super Bowl this year, right?”

Environmental justice victories

Other speakers shared recent victories and progress.

Professor Tiffany Gary-Webb, the associate dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, shared the results of her work with the Black Environmental Collective and the Black Equity Coalition. The group formed in April 2020 to ensure an equitable response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pittsburgh and has evolved to continue advancing racial equity in western Pennsylvania.

“We used data to try and understand where there were higher rates of COVID and sent those to the county and state health departments. We talked to elected officials and put out our own dashboard with the numbers for Black populations, and through those efforts we were able to get critical resources to our communities and see that data change,” Gary-Webb said, pointing to a study that summarized the group’s effectiveness. “Now we’re continuing that work with a focus on other issues in our communities.”

Ash Chan, a farmer and steward at Oasis Farm and Fishery, shared their experience working at a Black-owned garden and market in Pittsburgh’s predominantly Black, working-class Homewood neighborhood, which has a long history of disinvestment and has been without a grocery store since 1994. The organization uses vacant land to grow food and offers classes in urban farming and healthy cooking.

“We see food as a driver of social and economic capital, as well as a way that connects people to their cultural roots and their natural environment,” Chan said. “We’re growing what folks want. For example, last year we noticed that elders in the community would line up for okra before we even opened our farmer’s market …so this year we’re growing six different kinds of okra based on that demand.”

Bearing witness to injustice

While the Summit highlighted progress and promoted resilience, it also emphasized “bearing witness” — a process described by event organizers as actively listening, not looking away, and most importantly, responding — to “the slow violence of environmental degradation on our land.”

Participants were invited to attend a “bearing witness ceremony” in Clairton, a small town about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh that regularly sees some of the most polluted air in the country due to emissions from a coal-based U.S. Steel plant.

“The injustices are very thick and very brutal in Clairton,” said Melanie Meade, a clean air activist and resident of Clairton. Meade shared the heartbreak she has experienced learning that Clairton’s rate of childhood asthma is more than double the national rate, watching many loved ones die of cancer and witnessing the impacts of poverty and violence. “The people are tired and they are sick and they are in great need, and we need to stand in the way for them.”

Later in the day, Kayien Conner, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, told Melanie she’d been moved by her words and asked if she could connect her with an organization she’s involved with that offers mental health resources for Black communities to get additional resources to Clairton.

“Yes, please, thank you!” Melanie said.

“See? We’re here making connections, collaborating, getting this work done already!” Wilson shouted to applause and laughter.

Political optimism

Speakers at the symposium also noted that western Pennsylvania is on the precipice of major political changes that offer many reasons for optimism for environmental advocates, pointing to the election of progressive politicians like Summer Lee and Lindsay Powell and county executive Sara Innamorato, all of whom have pledged to prioritize environmental justice.

“We’re really shaking things up politically right now,” said Bey. “If we don’t do this now, then that’s on us. Now is the time. Let’s keep lifting each other up, let’s do our work and let’s get this done.”

17 May 2024. Biden administration ends new coal leasing in Powder River Basin –

The Biden administration moves to halt new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, aiming to curb fossil fuel extraction.

Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

The Biden administration will end new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, the largest coal-producing region in the U.S.
Climate activists celebrate the decision, which could prevent billions of tons of coal from being mined.
Critics, including Republican lawmakers and mining groups, argue it will harm local economies and energy security.

Key quote:

“The nation’s electricity generation needs are being met increasingly by wind, solar and natural gas. The nation doesn’t need any increase in the amount of coal under lease out of the Powder River Basin.”

— Tom Sanzillo, director of financial analysis at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Why this matters:

This move aligns with national climate goals by reducing carbon emissions from coal, addressing environmental and public health concerns, and signaling a shift towards renewable energy sources. Read more: Appalachia is transitioning from coal. Here’s what it could learn from Germany.

17 May 2024. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's new grid rule deepens partisan divisions –

A recent FERC initiative aimed at modernizing the U.S. power grid has intensified partisan disagreements, threatening bipartisan efforts for a comprehensive permitting overhaul.

Kelsey Brugger reports for E&E News.

In short:

Democrats praise the rule for promoting renewable energy expansion, while Republicans criticize it for potential hikes in energy costs.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggests legislative efforts on transmission are unlikely to proceed due to the political landscape.
Despite these tensions, some Democrats continue to advocate for further legislative actions to address climate goals.

Key quote:

"North Dakotans are used to being the backbone of an affordable and reliable grid, but this rulemaking will force my constituents into the unaffordable and unreliable grid Democrats dream about."

— Senator Kevin Cramer, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Why this matters:

This rule sits at the heart of a conversation about how America balances immediate economic challenges with long-term environmental and health goals. The partisan debate affects policy and economic landscapes and carries significant implications for public health. Transitioning to renewable energy has the potential to reduce air pollution, a major health hazard linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and represents a pivotal shift in how environmental health is approached in the United States.

17 May 2024. Barge collision collapses Galveston bridge, triggers oil spill –

A barge collision caused a partial collapse of a Galveston bridge, leading to an oil spill and the closure of the only road to Pelican Island.

Juan Lozano and Lekan Oyekanmi report for The Associated Press.

In short:

A barge hit the Pelican Island Causeway Bridge, causing partial collapse and oil spillage into nearby waters.
The accident halted access to Pelican Island and led to a cleanup effort but is not expected to cause major economic disruptions.
The bridge, built in 1960 and rated in poor condition, was scheduled for replacement in 2025.

Key quote:

"The current was very bad, and the tide was high. He lost it."

— David Flores, bridge superintendent, Galveston County Navigation District

Why this matters:

The incident shows the risks associated with aging infrastructure and the potential environmental impact of oil spills, emphasizing the need for timely maintenance and upgrades to prevent similar occurrences. Read more: Source of pride and pollution: Balancing energy needs and community health.

17 May 2024. Rep. Jamie Raskin probes oil companies over alleged Trump donation meeting –

Rep. Jamie Raskin is demanding details from oil industry leaders about a reported meeting with Donald Trump, where deregulation promises were allegedly exchanged for campaign donations.

Erin Mansfield reports for USA Today.

In short:

The inquiry involves letters sent to companies like ExxonMobil after claims Trump offered regulatory rollbacks for $1 billion in campaign support.
According to a spokesperson, the American Petroleum Institute engages with various political figures, emphasizing industry topics like energy security.
Raskin's letters cite concerns over potential ethical and legal violations stemming from the reported promises of policy changes for donations.

Why this matters:

The investigation suggests a direct link between political contributions and policy making, a situation that raises questions about the influence of money in politics and its impact on sustainable environmental practices. This scenario could set a worrying precedent where environmental protections become secondary to corporate profits.

17 May 2024. US shifts to domestic uranium production amid geopolitical tensions –

The Biden administration has enacted a law ending uranium imports from Russia to bolster local production and strengthen the U.S. nuclear energy sector.

Justine Calma reports for The Verge.

In short:

President Biden's new law not only prohibits Russian uranium imports but also allocates $2.7 billion to support U.S. uranium mining and processing.
Domestic efforts include reopening mines in Arizona and Utah, despite ongoing environmental and tribal concerns.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm emphasized the importance of self-reliance in nuclear fuel supply for America's clean energy future.

Key quote:

"Our nation’s clean energy future will not rely on Russian imports. We are making investments to build out a secure nuclear fuel supply chain here in the United States."

— Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy

Why this matters:

Increasing domestic uranium production could lead to mixed outcomes. On the positive side, bolstering local production of uranium reduces reliance on foreign resources, which can enhance national security and reduce vulnerabilities associated with geopolitical tensions. However, uranium mining and milling are resource-intensive processes that pose potential risks to local ecosystems and water sources. The extraction process can generate large amounts of waste rock and tailings, which may contain hazardous substances like radium and arsenic. These can contaminate groundwater and surface water if not properly managed.

17 May 2024. Ecuador's nature rights movement faces new challenges amid energy shifts –

Fifteen years after Ecuador recognized the constitutional rights of nature, environmental advocate Natalia Greene discusses the ongoing challenges and landmark court victories defending these rights.

Katie Surma reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

Ecuador leads globally in nature's rights jurisprudence, influenced by landmark cases like the successful defense of the longnose harlequin frog against mining interests.
The Constitutional Court has revoked several mining licenses, asserting nature's legal rights, which includes numerous species and ecosystems.
The nation grapples with illegal mining and drug trafficking that threaten both the environment and local communities.

Key quote:

“We now have a whole generation of young people who have grown up only knowing that nature has rights. The law has influenced peoples’ understanding of nature and that is very powerful.”

— Natalia Greene, judge at the International Rights of Nature Tribunal

Why this matters:

This judicial approach in Ecuador, where ecosystems and species have legally enforceable rights, is reshaping the dialogue around environmental protection. It challenges traditional views that prioritize economic gain over ecological health, and sets a precedent for how nature's rights can be enforced legally. Such jurisprudence provides a robust framework for protecting biodiversity while emphasizing the intrinsic value of nature, independent of its utility to humans.

17 May 2024. Activists meet with Canadian official to discuss concerns about Line 5 pipeline –

Activists have called on a Canadian consular official to close the Line 5 oil pipeline, citing environmental and Indigenous rights concerns.

Jon King reports for the Michigan Advance.

In short:

An international coalition presented a letter to a Canadian consular official, urging the revocation of a treaty that supports the operation of Line 5.
The pipeline, which traverses tribal lands, has been deemed trespassing by a court, with orders for partial closure by 2026.
Enbridge disputes these claims, citing a 1992 easement and arguing against treaty violations.

Key quote:

“It’s hypocritical and irrelevant for the Canadian government to invoke the 1977 treaty while ignoring the long standing treaties they have with First Nations.”

— Andrea Pierce, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians citizen

Why this matters:

Line 5, part of a network operated by Enbridge Inc., runs under the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. This location is pivotal for its natural beauty and as a vital freshwater resource. Critics argue that any potential oil spill could devastate these waters, which are important for local ecosystems and the millions who rely on them for drinking water.

The pipeline also crosses areas significant to local Indigenous communities, who have raised alarms about the infringement of their sovereign rights and the risks to their lands.

17 May 2024. Maui residents struggle with health issues months after devastating fires –

Months following the catastrophic fire in Lahaina, Maui, residents are facing serious health complications, including respiratory problems and psychological distress, while grappling with inadequate medical resources.

Brianna Sacks reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study reveals a strong correlation between exposure to fire debris and adverse health outcomes.
Local health services are overwhelmed, with significant increases in reported cases of depression and anxiety among the affected residents.
Access to healthcare has deteriorated, impacting particularly Native Hawaiians and other minority communities in the region.

Key quote:

"You can see it in the data. We are capturing a broad insight into exposures and issues that no one has done before."

— Ruben Juarez, professor of health economics

Why this matters:

These struggles are a reminder of the long-term health consequences that can follow natural disasters, especially in areas not sufficiently equipped to handle their immediate impacts or their lingering aftermath.

Related EHN coverage:

17 May 2024. Warming waters in Europe pose significant health risks, says EU agency –

A report by the European Environment Agency warns of health hazards from emerging waterborne diseases and pollution due to climate change.

Leonie Cater reports for POLITICO

In short:

Thawing permafrost in northern Europe is expected to release pathogens and pollutants, raising concerns about food and water safety.
Health risks such as ciguatera poisoning from contaminated fish and anthrax outbreaks among reindeer are increasing due to climate impacts.
The European Environment Agency urges immediate and comprehensive implementation of existing climate, water, and health policies.

Key quote:

"Protecting human lives and health from the impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods and worsened water quality is of utmost importance and urgency."

— Leena Ylä-Mononen, chief of the European Environment Agency

Why this matters:

Scientists warn that pathogens, some of which may have been encased in ice for thousands of years, could enter local water systems as the ice melts. This phenomenon raises the possibility of diseases unknown to modern medicine or those considered eradicated reappearing in the environment. Additionally, the release of pollutants—such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals previously locked within the ice—could contaminate soil and waterways, further threatening agricultural productivity and drinking water quality.

Be sure to read:

Critical condition: Health experts sound the climate alarm

17 May 2024. Ohio enforces stricter measures on oil and gas drilling rights on private properties –

Ohio sees a surge in forced land use for oil and gas extraction despite property owners' resistance.

Kathiann M. Kowalski reports for Energy News Network.

In short:

Ohio has increased the number of unitization orders, allowing oil and gas companies to drill on private lands without full owner consent.
The state law mandates 65% owner agreement before companies can proceed, yet recent changes have eased this process significantly.
Critics argue these legal adjustments favor the petroleum industry overwhelmingly, sidelining landowner rights and environmental concerns.

Key quote:

"All the cards are stacked against us."

— Patrick Hunkler, affected landowner

Why this matters:

The increasing frequency of these orders raises concerns about the balance of industry benefits against individual property rights and environmental impacts. This controversial approach has raised significant environmental and health concerns among residents. Many fear that the intrusion of drilling operations could lead to water contamination, air pollution, and other risks associated with fracking and traditional drilling methods. These apprehensions are compounded by reports from other regions that experienced similar expansions in drilling activity, where increases in health issues like respiratory problems and waterborne diseases were observed.

Learn more:

17 May 2024. Environmental damage from wars must be addressed in peace accords –

Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Colombia show the urgent need to include environmental restoration in peace agreements to ensure long-term sustainability and peace.

Richard Marcantonio and Josefina Echavarria Alvarez write for The Conversation.

In short:

Colombia's peace accord includes extensive environmental provisions, serving as a model for other conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza.
Few peace agreements globally include environmental protections, highlighting Colombia's unique approach.
Environmental damages from wars are vast, including contamination, deforestation, and infrastructure destruction.

Key quote:

"Peaceful postwar society requires not only respect for human rights but also protection of the environment."

— Richard Marcantonio, University of Notre Dame.

Why this matters:

Addressing environmental damage in peace accords is critical for sustainable recovery and long-term peace. Neglecting this aspect can lead to prolonged health crises and renewed conflicts. Read more: As inevitable as blood and taxes.

17 May 2024. Biden's climate corps aims to curb eco-anxiety –

President Joe Biden's new American Climate Corps is designed to address climate change while providing green jobs and potentially alleviating climate anxiety among young people.

Kate Yoder reports for Grist.

In short:

The American Climate Corps offers jobs restoring wetlands, installing solar panels, and addressing climate anxiety.
Many young people are unsure how to take effective climate action, which contributes to widespread eco-anxiety.
Structured, hands-on work with clear goals can alleviate the distress associated with climate change.

Key quote:

“There’s something about, ‘Here is a clear job with a clear timeline and a clear local goal. I can, like, put my hands in the dirt.’'"

— Kidus Girma, campaign director of the Sunrise Movement

Why this matters:

The American Climate Corps not only fights climate change but also provides mental health benefits by giving young people purposeful work, fostering social support, and building psychological resilience. Read more: Robbie Parks on climate justice and mental health.

17 May 2024. Exploring climate impacts through photography in Pájaro, California –

In a heartfelt response to a devastating flood, Pájaro residents use the PhotoVoice Project to document the lingering effects of climate change on their community.

Liza Gross reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

The catastrophic flood, a result of ignored levee warnings, left many in Pájaro homeless and jobless.
The community's resilience shines through in a local exhibition showcasing their photographic journey post-disaster.
Residents, particularly farmworkers, confront ongoing climate threats like extreme weather and agricultural challenges.

Key quote:

"This was when the rains started falling in Pájaro, before the levee break, and I was feeling so anxious when I took this photo because I knew that the rains would ruin the strawberries."

— Elisa H., resident and farmworker

Why this matters:

The Pájaro images serve as a powerful advocacy tool, drawing attention to the broader, often abstract concept of climate change and making it tangible. Each photograph tells a story of loss and resilience, urging viewers to comprehend the human element behind the headlines. As these images circulate, they foster a greater understanding of the need for robust climate action and support for communities like Pájaro, which bear the brunt of environmental upheaval.

Related EHN coverage:

17 May 2024. New Mexico emissions loophole enables significant methane releases –

New Mexico's emissions loophole has resulted in significant methane releases, challenging state climate goals.

Jerry Redfern reports for Capital & Main.

In short:

Targa Northern Delaware vented substantial amounts of methane due to 'emergency' loopholes in state regulations.
These emissions were the highest since New Mexico began tracking data in 2021, significantly impacting greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
Despite regulations, the loophole allows substantial methane releases under specific conditions deemed as emergencies.

Key quote:

“Why wasn’t this massive amount of gas routed to a flare?”

— Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund

Why this matters:

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is more than 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, and its unchecked release can accelerate global warming. The issue is particularly pressing in New Mexico, where oil and gas production is a major economic driver yet a significant source of methane emissions. This situation places the state at a crossroads: how to sustain its economic engine without compromising its environmental responsibilities.

17 May 2024. Venezuela's last glacier disappears, marking an environmental milestone –

Venezuela has lost its final glacier, La Corona, making it the first country in the Andes without any glaciers, amid rising concerns over global warming effects.

Ana Vanessa Herrero and Matthew Hay Brown report for The Washington Post.

In short:

La Corona's size shrank dramatically from more than 1,100 acres to less than five, leading scientists to declare its end as a glacier.
Despite government attempts to preserve it using geothermal covers, experts deemed such interventions unfeasible and potentially harmful.
The loss marks a significant shift in Venezuela's ecological and cultural landscape, previously home to multiple glaciers.

Key quote:

"Our tropical glaciers are disappearing quickly since the Seventies. Now people are feeling the absence."

— Alejandra Melfo, astrophysicist at the University of the Andes

Why this matters:

The loss of La Corona extends beyond symbolic significance; it is sounding a dire alarm for both ecological balance and water resource management. Glaciers, often referred to as nature’s reservoirs, slowly release water into rivers and lakes, supporting both human activities and the natural ecosystems throughout the year. Their disappearance can lead to water shortages that affect millions, complicating efforts to grow crops, generate hydroelectric power, and maintain natural habitats.

17 May 2024. Republicans challenge federal and California electric vehicle mandates –

Arizona Republican leaders have initiated legal actions against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California for imposing electric vehicle rules they deem overreaching.

Jim Small reports for the Arizona Mirror.

In short:

Arizona Republicans, led by House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen, have filed lawsuits against the EPA's vehicle emissions standards and a California rule on electric trucks.
The lawsuits argue that these regulations exceed legal authority, lack proper analysis, and could negatively impact jobs and the economy.
These legal challenges follow previous actions this year, including another lawsuit against the EPA regarding air pollution standards.

Key quote:

"The EPA’s tailpipe emissions rules prioritize politics over science, posing a greater threat to public health by inflating the cost of essential and everyday goods."

— Tony Bradley, president and CEO, Arizona Trucking Association

Why this matters:

This legal standoff highlights the resistance among some states to federally mandated or influenced environmental policies, particularly those that demand rapid changes to existing infrastructure and market dynamics. Critics, like those leading the charge in Arizona, argue that such mandates place undue burdens on states and consumers, potentially leading to increased costs and economic disruption, especially in regions heavily reliant on traditional industries and older modes of transportation.

Transitioning to electric vehicles is seen by many experts as a crucial step in addressing urban air quality issues, reducing respiratory diseases, and curbing the overall impact of climate change. However, the path to such transitions is fraught with economic and logistical challenges that necessitate thoughtful consideration of local contexts and capabilities.

16 May 2024. DeSantis eliminates climate change from Florida's energy policy –

Florida will no longer prioritize climate change in energy decisions, despite facing severe environmental threats, after Governor Ron DeSantis signed new legislation.

Anna Phillips reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

The new law removes most mentions of climate change from state law, bans offshore wind turbines, and weakens regulations on natural gas pipelines.
Supporters claim the law focuses on energy affordability, but climate advocates argue it is symbolic and politically motivated.
Despite legislative changes, Florida's renewable energy, particularly solar, continues to grow due to environmental and public pressure.

Key quote:

“It feels like we’ve taken a major step backward and are no longer recognizing the dangers of greenhouse gases."

— Raymer Maguire, director of campaigns and policy for the CLEO Institute

Why this matters:

This legislation could undermine efforts to combat climate change in a state highly vulnerable to its impacts, such as stronger hurricanes and extreme heat, highlighting a significant policy shift with potential national implications. Read more about Florida's history of "don't ask, don't tell" climate strategy: With Ian, treat climate like an 'active shooter.'

16 May 2024. Protecting species from extinction is not enough –

The loss of species abundance poses a serious threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functionality.

John Reid reports for The Atlantic.

In short:

Abalone populations have collapsed due to overfishing and environmental changes, including a marine heatwave and a sunflower sea star epidemic.
The concerning issue is not species extinction but the collapse of wildlife populations, disrupting ecosystems.
The decline of species like abalone signifies a broader biodiversity crisis driven by human activities such as pollution and habitat destruction.

Key quote:

"The more we slow climate change, the more evolutionary storylines can reach into the future. In other words, climate policy is biodiversity policy."

— John Reid, founder, Conservation Strategy Fund.

Why this matters:

The decline in species abundance affects ecosystem stability and human cultural heritage. Addressing this crisis requires comprehensive conservation strategies that go beyond preventing extinction to ensure the health and abundance of wildlife populations. Read more: The planet’s largest ecosystems could collapse faster than we thought.

16 May 2024. North Atlantic's record heat waves may fuel an intense hurricane season –

A marine heat wave in the North Atlantic has set daily temperature records for over a year, raising concerns about its potential to drive an unusually severe hurricane season.

Chelsea Harvey reports for E&E News.

In short:

The North Atlantic has experienced unprecedented marine heat waves, breaking daily temperature records for over a year.
Rising ocean temperatures are linked to increasing the strength and frequency of hurricanes, posing significant risks.
This warming trend could signal a potential shift in global climate patterns, alarming scientists worldwide.

Key quote:

“It could imply that a warming planet is already fundamentally altering how the climate system operates, much sooner than scientists had anticipated.”

— Gavin Schmidt, head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies

Why this matters:

The sustained oceanic warmth acts as a potent catalyst for hurricanes, enhancing both their frequency and ferocity. This situation poses not only a threat to coastal areas but could also herald broader environmental shifts with significant implications for weather patterns globally.

In addition, increased ocean warmth disrupts the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, leading to coral bleaching, the migration of fish populations away from their traditional habitats, and adverse effects on breeding patterns and food chains. Such changes not only harm the organisms that inhabit these waters but also the fishing communities and industries that depend on them.

16 May 2024. US banks facilitate clean energy transition through municipal bond market –

The use of municipal bonds to finance clean energy initiatives is gaining traction, enabling significant savings for towns and communities in their pursuit of renewable energy goals.

Meg Duff reports for Capital & Main.

In short:

Municipal bonds have historically allowed towns to purchase natural gas at discounted rates, with the practice now extending to renewable energy, potentially saving 10% or more on long-term contracts.
This shift is being led by entities like the California Community Choice Financing Authority, which has issued nearly $10 billion in renewable energy bonds since 2021.
Despite its potential, Georgia remains hesitant to adopt renewable energy prepays due to its entrenched interests in existing power sources.

Key quote:

“You’re seeing that flexibility creeping in, because everyone is well aware that we’re under a transition, but no one knows how quickly or how smoothly it’s going to go."

— Dennis Pidherny, a managing director on the municipal bond team at Fitch Ratings

Why this matters:

Adopting municipal bonds for renewable energy could dramatically lower costs and accelerate the shift toward sustainable energy sources. This financial strategy may also help mitigate the competitive threats posed by traditional power infrastructures, promoting a broader adoption of renewables in energy plans.

16 May 2024. US imposes tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to protect domestic industry –

President Joe Biden's administration has increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, a move supported by U.S. automakers to shield local jobs and investments from low-cost imports.

Neal E. Boudette reports for The New York Times.

In short:

The Biden administration raised the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 100%, aiming to support U.S. electric vehicle and battery production.
This tariff strategy reflects concerns about China's potential to flood the U.S. market with economically priced electric vehicles, challenging domestic manufacturers.
U.S. automakers argue that such protective measures are vital for maintaining competitiveness and safeguarding American jobs.

Key quote:

"Today’s announcement is a necessary response to combat the Chinese government’s unfair trade practices that endanger the future of our auto industry."

— Senator Gary Peters, Michigan Democrat

Why this matters:

The move underscores growing unease over China's rapid advancements in the electric vehicle sector, which pose significant competition to U.S. manufacturers. By imposing these tariffs, the U.S. aims to prevent market saturation with cheaper imports, thereby encouraging local production and technological innovation in the burgeoning electric vehicle industry.

16 May 2024. Rising tides increase fecal bacteria in coastal waters, study finds –

High tide events now bring more than just seawater to North Carolina's beaches; they also raise the risk of fecal contamination in coastal waters.

Liz McLaughlin reports for WRAL.

In short:

NC State's latest study links sunny day flooding—clear day tidal overflows—to increased fecal bacteria in water.
Lead researcher Megan Carr highlights growing frequency of these floods due to environmental changes.
Despite contamination spikes during high tides, these high bacteria levels tend to be temporary.

Key quote:

"What we know from our study is the floodwaters are fecally contaminated. During high tides, we have floods which move through underground infrastructure, such as stormwater networks."

— Megan Carr, Ph.D. student at NC State

Why this matters:

Fecal contamination can lead to significant health risks such as gastrointestinal illnesses and infections. Residents and visitors coming into contact with these waters might face conditions ranging from minor skin rashes to serious diseases like hepatitis.For the local flora and fauna, the stakes are similarly high. Ecosystems that rely on clean water are disrupted, often with long-lasting effects on marine and coastal biodiversity.

16 May 2024. California town looks to carbon capture amid oil industry's decline –

Kern County explores a novel approach to sustain its economy by leveraging carbon capture technology, shifting from traditional oil revenues.

Jake Bittle reports for Grist.

In short:

Les Clark III oversees the West Side Recreation and Park District in Taft, heavily funded by the local oil industry, which faces significant decline.
California Resources Corporation proposes a carbon capture project to rejuvenate local jobs and maintain public services without relying on government bailouts.
Skepticism remains among local communities about the safety and actual benefits of storing carbon dioxide underground.

Key quote:

"There’s some kind of window of opportunity, because the industry is trying to evolve."

— Les Clark III, manager of the West Side Recreation and Park District in Taft

Why this matters:

Carbon capture and storage technology, which involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and industrial processes before they enter the atmosphere and storing them underground, is gaining traction globally as a tool to combat global warming. For Kern County, which produces about 70% of California's oil, this technology could transform the very infrastructure that once bolstered its economy into a new, greener legacy.

16 May 2024. Wildfires in Canada worsen air quality across the U.S. Midwest –

Wildfire smoke from Canadian blazes has dramatically worsened air quality across the Midwestern United States, permeating indoor environments despite efforts to keep it out.

Kiley Price reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

More than 140 wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia have sent smoke across U.S. borders, affecting indoor air quality even with closed windows and doors.
Experts emphasize the importance of high-quality air filtration systems to combat the infiltration of outdoor pollutants indoors.
Vulnerable groups like children and the elderly face significant health risks from prolonged exposure to this smoke.

Key quote:

“Housing quality plays a big role in this. If you’re in an older, leakier home, you’re going to be exposed to more wildfire smoke."

— Elliott Gall, mechanical and materials engineering professor at Portland State University

Why this matters:

As climate change escalates the frequency and severity of wildfires, more individuals will likely experience adverse health effects from smoke exposure. Effective indoor air quality management is becoming important for health safety, particularly in densely populated and vulnerable communities.

16 May 2024. Wildfires affect soil and release more carbon and toxics, study finds –

A recent study reveals wildfires alter soil composition, leading to increased carbon dioxide and toxic release.

Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill.

In short:

The study highlights how black carbon from wildfires does not sequester carbon dioxide as effectively as hoped, speeding up its conversion back to CO2.
Research shows wildfires double the soil levels of harmful polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, obstructing plant regrowth.
Findings suggest wildfires convert metals into toxic forms, contaminating water supplies and hindering ecological recovery.

Key quote:

"Carbon that’s gone through forest fires and becomes black carbon can actually turn more readily into carbon dioxide by microbes than previously thought."

— Scott Fendorf, professor, Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability

Why this matters:

When wildfires rage through an area, the intense heat incinerates vegetation and organic matter that are crucial for healthy soil. This loss not only depletes the soil of nutrients but also reduces its ability to store carbon, leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming—released back into the atmosphere. In addition, the structure of the soil changes, becoming more compact and less able to absorb water. This leads to greater runoff during rainfalls and can also cause harmful substances like heavy metals to be more easily washed into rivers and streams, affecting water quality and aquatic life.

16 May 2024. Climate change and its impact on Africa's public health –

Africa's rising temperatures are worsening vector-borne diseases in vulnerable regions, a serious public health issue.

Juliet Akoth Ojwang reports for Mongabay.

In short:

Rising temperatures in Africa extend the life cycle of disease vectors like mosquitoes and ticks, increasing disease spread.
Edward Miano emphasized climate change as a major public health crisis, linking it to the reemergence of diseases in previously unaffected areas.
Collaborative efforts across various sectors are deemed necessary to combat the adverse effects of climate change on health.

Key quote:

"It is crucial to acknowledge the gravity of the situation that we are facing today, especially around climate change, as it is no longer only an environmental concern, but it has evolved into a significant public health crisis with far-reaching implications for communities worldwide."

— Edward Miano, executive director of the Health Rights Advocacy Forum

Why this matters:

Climate change reshapes our environment and our health landscape, making once rare diseases common and introducing new health threats to regions already facing socio-economic challenges.

16 May 2024. Wildfire impact on ancient rainforests examined –

Amid increasing wildfires, researchers investigate how old-growth rainforests on the West Coast could adapt to the changing climate.

Madeline Ostrander reports for Hakai Magazine.

In short:

Brian Harvey and his team study the regeneration of old-growth rainforests after wildfires, noting the importance of these forests for carbon storage.
Despite typically wet conditions that deter fires, recent climate trends and dry spells have led to more frequent and severe wildfires in these regions.
The resilience of these forests is under scrutiny, with efforts to understand how they can be protected in the face of escalating fire risks.

Key quote:

“The dynamics of these forests really unfold over multiple human lifetimes."

— Brian Harvey, University of Washington forest fire ecologist

Why this matters:

As wildfires continue to flare up with increasing frequency and intensity on the West Coast, a question arises: How will the region’s ancient rainforests withstand the onslaught of climate change? These verdant expanses, some of which have stood for millennia, are iconic landscapes and also act as vital ecological strongholds that harbor a rich biodiversity and play a crucial role in carbon sequestration.

24 January 2024. Amid LNG’s Gulf Coast expansion, community hopes to stand in its way –

This 2-part series was co-produced by Environmental Health News and the journalism non-profit Economic Hardship Reporting Project. See part 1 here. Este ensayo también está disponible en español

CAMERON PARISH, La. — Late into the night, John Allaire watches the facility next to his home shoot 300-foot flares from stacks.

He lives within eyesight of southwest Louisiana’s salty shores, where, for decades, he’s witnessed nearly 200 feet of land between it and his property line disappear into the sea. Two-thirds of the land was rebuilt to aid the oil and gas industry’s LNG expansion. LNG — shorthand for liquified natural gas – is natural gas that's cooled to liquid form for easier storage or transport; it equates to 1/600th the volume of natural gas in a gaseous state. It’s used to generate electricity, or fuel stove tops and home heaters, and in industrial processes like manufacturing fertilizer.

In the U.S., at least 30 new LNG terminal facilities have been constructed or proposed since 2016, according to the Oil and Gas Watch project. Louisiana and Texas’ Gulf Coast, where five facilities are already operating, will host roughly two-thirds of the new LNG terminals – meaning at least 22 Gulf Coast LNG facilities are currently under construction, were recently approved to break ground or are under further regulatory review.

Although the U.S. didn’t ship LNG until 2016, when a freight tanker left, a few miles from where Cameron Parish’s LNG plants are today, last year the country became the global leader in LNG production and export volume, leapfrogging exporters like Qatar and Australia. The EIA’s most recent annual outlook estimated that between the current year and 2050, U.S. LNG exports will increase by 152%.

And it’s changed local economic estimates: last year, retired Louisiana State University professor Loren Scott’s economic forecast last year predicted an additional $36 billion in oil and gas industry spending will boost local employment by 7% over just two years.

Allaire, 68, watches how saltwater collects where rainwater once fed the area’s diminishing coastal wetlands. “We still come down here with the kids and set out the fishing rods. It's not as nice as it used to be,” he told Environmental Health News (EHN).

That intimacy with nature drew Allaire to the area when he purchased 311 acres in 1998. An environmental engineer and 30-year oil and gas industry veteran, he helped lead environmental assessments and manage clean-ups, and although retired, he still works part-time as an environmental consultant with major petroleum companies. With a lifetime of oil and gas industry expertise, he’s watched the industry's footprint spread across Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico’s fragile shores and beyond. Now that the footprints are at the edge of his backyard, Allaire is among a cohort of organizers, residents and fisher-folk in the region mobilizing to stop LNG facility construction. For him, the industry’s expansion usurps the right-or-wrong ethics he carried across his consulting career. For anglers, oil and gas infrastructure has destroyed fishing grounds and prevented smaller vessels from accessing the seafood-rich waters of the Calcasieu River.

From the view of Allaire’s white pickup truck as he drives across his property to the ocean’s shore, he points to where a new LNG facility will replace marshlands. Commonwealth LNG intends to clear the land of trees and then backfill the remaining low-lying field.

“You see what’s happening with the environment,” Allaire said. “When the facts change, I got to change my mind about what we’re doing.”

Community bands together

During an Earth Day rally in April, community members gathered in the urban center of Lake Charles to demand local oil and gas industries help deliver a safer, healthier future for all. In between live acts by artists performing south Louisiana’s quintessential zydeco musical style, speakers like James Hiatt, a Calcasieu Parish native with ties to Cameron Parish and a Healthy Gulf organizer, and RISE St. James organizer Sharon Lavigne, who’s fighting against LNG development in rural Plaquemines Parish near the city of New Orleans, asked the nearly 100 in attendance to imagine a day in which the skyline isn’t dotted by oil and gas infrastructure.

Not long ago, it was hard to imagine an Earth Day rally in southwest Louisiana at all. For decades, the area has been decorated with fossil fuel infrastructure. Sunsets on some days are highlighted by the chemicals in the air; at night, thousands of facilities’ lights dot the dark sky.

“It takes a lot of balls for people to start speaking up,” Shreyas Vasudevan, a campaign researcher with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, told EHN in the days after the rally. In a region with its history and economy intertwined with oil and gas production, “you can get a lot of social criticism – or ostracization, as well – even threats to your life.”

Many are involved in local, regional and national advocacy groups, including the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Healthy Gulf, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Turtle Island Restoration Network, the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Audubon Society.

“You see what’s happening with the environment,” Allaire said. “When the facts change, I got to change my mind about what we’re doing.” - John Allaire, environmental engineer and 30-year oil and gas industry veteran

But environmental organizers are fighting a multi-billion-dollar industry with federal and state winds at its back. And LNG’s federal support is coupled with existing state initiatives.

Under outgoing Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards — a term-limited Democrat — the state pledged a goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. Natural gas, which the LNG industry markets as a cleaner-burning alternative, is cited as one of the state’s solutions. Louisiana is the only state that produces a majority of its carbon emissions through fossil fuels refining industries, like LNG, rather than energy production or transportation. Governor Edwards’ office did not return EHN’s request for comment.

This accommodating attitude towards oil and gas industries has resulted in a workforce that’s trained to work in LNG refining facilities across much of the rural Gulf region, said Steven Miles, a lawyer at Baker Botts LLP and a fellow at the Baker Institute’s Center on Energy Studies. Simultaneously, anti-industrialization pushback is lacking. It’s good news for industries like LNG.

“The bad news,” Miles added. “[LNG facilities] are all being jammed in the same areas.”

One rallying cry for opponents is local health. The Environmental Integrity Project found that LNG export terminals emit chemicals like carbon monoxide –potentially deadly– and sulfur dioxide, of which the American Lung Association says long-term exposure can lead to heart disease, cancer, and damage to internal or female reproductive organs.

An analysis of emissions monitoring reports by the advocacy group the Louisiana Bucket Brigade found that Venture Global’s existing Calcasieu Pass facility had more than 2,000 permit violations.That includes exceeding the permit’s authorized air emissions limit to release nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds 286 out of its first 343 days of operation.

Rather than amend its infrastructure to meet regulatory standards, Venture Global is asking the state to raise its facility’s air emissions permit limits to release an additional 833% of greenhouses gasses each year, according to the Louisiana Bucket Brigade’s January report. If approved, permitted emissions would rise to roughly 4.65 million tons, making the facility the state’s fifth-largest emitter), according to a 2021 statewide greenhouse data inventory compiled by Louisiana State University’s Center for Energy Studies.

“This is just one facility,” at a time when three more facilities have been proposed in the region and state, Vasudevan said. Venture Global’s operational LNG facility — also known as Calcasieu Pass — “is much smaller than the other facility they’ve proposed.”

In an area that experienced 18 feet of storm surge during Hurricane Laura in 2020 — and just weeks later, struck by Hurricane Delta — Venture Global is planning to build a second export terminal Known as “CP2,” it’s the largest of the roughly two dozen proposed Gulf LNG export terminals, and a key focal point for the region’s local organizing effort.

Residents “don’t really want LNG as much as they want Cameron [Parish] from 1990 back,” Hiatt told EHN of locals’ nostalgia for a community before storms like Rita in 2005 brought up to 15 feet of storm surge, only for Laura to repeat the damage in 2020. Throughout that time, the parish’s population dipped from roughly 10,000 to 5,000. “But the wolf knocking at the door is LNG. Folks in Cameron think that's going to bring back community, bring back the schools, bring back this time before we had all these storms — when Cameron was pretty prosperous.”

“Clearly,” for the oil and gas industry, “the idea is to transform what was once the center of commercial fishing in Louisiana to gas exports,” Cindy Robertson, an environmental activist in southwest Louisiana, told EHN.

Helping fishers’ impacted by LNG is about “actual survival of this unique culture,” Cooke said.

In a measure of organizers’ success, she pointed to a recent permit hearing for Venture Global’s CP2 proposal. Regionally, it’s the only project that’s received an environmental permit, but not its export permit, which remains under federal review. At the meeting, some spoke on the company’s behalf. As an organizer, it was a moment of clarity, Cooke explained. Venture Global officials “had obviously done a lot of coaching and organizing and getting people together in Cameron to speak out on their behalf,” Cooke said. “So, in a way, that was bad. But in another way, it shows that we really had an impact.”

“It also shows that we have a lot to do,” Cooke added.

Environmental organizers like Alyssa Portaro describe a sense of fortitude among activists — she and her husband to the region’s nearby town of Vinton near the Texas-Louisiana border. Since the families’ relocation to their farm, Portaro has worked with Cameron Parish fisher-folk.

“I’ve not witnessed ‘community’ anywhere like there is in Louisiana,” Portaro told EHN. But a New Jersey native, she understands the toll environmental pollution has on low-income communities. “This environment, it’s so at risk — and it’s currently getting sacrificed to big industries.”

“People don’t know what we’d do without oil and gas. It comes at a big price,” she added.

A disappearing parish

The stakes are seemingly higher for a region like southwest Louisiana, which is the epicenter of climate change impacts.

In nearly a century, the state has lost roughly 2,000 square miles of land to coastal erosion. In part driving the state’s erosion crisis is the compounding impacts of Mississippi River infrastructure and oil and gas industry activity, such as dredging canals for shipping purposes, according to a March study published in the journal Nature Sustainability. Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority said Cameron Parish could lose more land than other coastal parishes over the next 50 years. A recent Climate Central report says the parish will be underwater within that time frame.

On top of erosion and sea level rise impacts, in August, 2023, marshland across southwest Louisiana’s Cameron Parish burned. The fires were among at least 600 across the Bayou State this year. Statewide, roughly 60,000 acres burned — a more than six-fold increase of the state’s average acres burned per year in the past decade alone.

But while the blaze avoided coastal Louisiana communities like Cameron Parish, the fires represented a warning coming from a growing chorus of locals across the region — one that’s echoes by the local commercial fishing population, who claimed to have experienced unusually low yields during the same time, according to a statement from a local environmental group. At the site of the Cameron Parish fires are locations for two proposed LNG expansion projects.

"The idea is to transform what was once the center of commercial fishing in Louisiana to gas exports.” - Cindy Robertson, an environmental activist in southwest Louisiana

It was an unusual occurrence for an area that’s more often itself underwater this time of year due to a storm surge from powerful storms. For LNG expansion’s local opposition, it was a red flag.

As the Louisiana Bucket Brigade has noted prior, the confluence of climate change’s raising of sea levels and the construction of LNG export terminals — some are proposed at the size of nearly 700 football fields — are wiping away the marshland folks like Allaire watched wither. Among their fears is that the future facilities won’t be able to withstand the power of another storm like Laura and its storm surge, which wiped away entire communities in 2020.

Amidst these regional climate impacts, LNG infrastructure has shown potential to exacerbate the accumulation of greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. For the most part, LNG is made up of methane — a greenhouse gas that’s more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Among the 22 current LNG facility proposals, the advocacy group Sierra Club described a combined climate pollution output that would roughly equal to that of about 440 coal plants.

The climate impacts prompt some of the LNG industry’s uncertainty going forward. It isn’t clear if Asian countries, key importers of U.S. LNG, will “embrace these energy transition issues,” said David Dismuke, an energy consultant and the former executive director of Louisiana State University’s Center for Energy Studies. Likewise, European nations remain skeptical of embracing LNG as a future staple fuel source.

“They really don't want to have to pull the trigger,” Dismukes added, referring to Europe’s hesitation to commit more resources to exporting LNG from the American market. “They don't want to go down that road.”

While there will be a tapering down of natural gas supply, Miles explained, “we’re going to need natural gas for a long time,” as larger battery storage for renewables is still unavailable.

“I'm not one of these futurists that can tell you where we're going to be, but I just don't see everything being extreme,” Dismukes said. “I don't see what we've already built getting stranded and going away, either.”

For now, LNG seems here to stay. From 2012 to 2022,U.S. natural gas demand — the sum of both domestic consumption and gross exports — rose by a whopping 43%, reported the U.S. Energy Information Administration, or EIA. Meanwhile, in oil and gas hotbeds like Louisiana and Texas, natural gas demand grew by 116%.

Throughout 25 years, Allaire has witnessed southwest Louisiana’s land slowly fade, in part driven by the same industrial spread regionally. Near where the front door of his travel trailer sits underneath the aluminum awning, he points to a chenier ridge located near the end of the property. It’s disappearing, he said.

“See the sand washing over, in here?” Allaire says, as he points towards the stretches of his property. “This pond used to go down for a half mile. This is all that's left of it on this side.”

Read Part 1: LNG production comes with a price, Gulf Coast communities warn

Some funding for this reporting was also provided by the Wake Forest University Environmental and Epistemic Justice Initiative.