News & Commentary

Colorado Legislative Roundup: 2024

May 29, 2024 Expert BlogColoradoAlana Miller

This legislative session, Colorado once again solidified its place as a climate leader by taking on new and innovative approaches to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

NRDC Offers Department of Energy Guidance on LNG Exports

May 28, 2024 Expert BlogLouisiana, TexasGillian Giannetti, Morgan Johnson

NRDC provides key recommendations that the U.S. Department of Energy should consider as it updates the studies it uses to review LNG export applications.

Weaker Building Codes in North Carolina's Future.

May 22, 2024 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaRob Moore

North Carolina already has some of the weakest building codes in the nation when it comes to protecting people from hazards and disasters, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Division of Building Sciences. But the state’s legislature is determined…

Mountain Valley Ruptures, Yet Claims It's Gas Ready

May 17, 2024 Expert BlogVirginia, West Virginia, North CarolinaGillian Giannetti, Amy Mall

On May 1, Mountain Valley suffered a major rupture during safety testing. But it still wants to start flowing gas next week.

Colorado Lawmakers Must Approve Landmark Proposal to Fund Public Transit

April 30, 2024 Expert BlogColoradoAlana Miller

SB24-230 offers a tremendous opportunity to fund transit service through a fee on oil and gas production in Colorado—linking a key source of climate and ozone pollution with a key solution.

Of Colorado's Wetlands Protection Bills, Only HB 1379 Gets the Job Done

April 29, 2024 Expert BlogColoradoSam Gilchrist

Colorado urgently needs to step up to safeguard our wetlands and streams left vulnerable by the Sackett decision.

Building a More Sustainable, Affordable Colorado with Thoughtful Housing Strategies

February 22, 2024 Expert BlogUnited States, Colorado, DenverAlana Miller

Land use reform proposed by Colorado leaders could deliver a triple victory for climate, air quality, and housing affordability.

Industry Bids on 1.7 Million Acres for New Offshore Drilling

December 20, 2023 Expert BlogTexas, Louisiana, Mississippi, AlabamaRebecca Loomis

BOEM's offshore oil and gas lease sale offered nearly 73 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to the fossil fuel industry.

The Uinta Basin Railway Would Be a Bigger Carbon Bomb Than Willow

December 13, 2023 ExplainerUtah, Colorado, United StatesNicole Greenfield

The project could sabotage U.S. climate goals, send oil-filled trains along the Colorado River, and pollute the air from Utah to the Gulf Coast.

Yet Another Oil Spill Hits the Gulf of Mexico

December 8, 2023 Expert BlogLouisianaRebecca Loomis, Valerie Cleland

The largest Gulf oil spill since Deepwater Horizon highlights the inherent risks of offshore drilling to coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

Even One More Oil and Gas Lease Sale in the Gulf of Mexico Is Too Many

November 17, 2023 ExplainerUnited States, LouisianaCourtney Lindwall

An expansion of offshore drilling would lock the region into decades of fossil fuel extraction at the expense of the climate, coastal communities, and marine life.

Holding BOEM Accountable for Offshore Leasing Reform

November 3, 2023 Expert BlogTexas, Louisiana, Mississippi, AlabamaRebecca Loomis

New offshore leasing proposed by BOEM would cause unacceptable harm to our climate, ocean, and Gulf communities. But agency reforms can help lessen the impacts.

Biden Administration Expands the Gulf's Waters to Oil and Gas Drilling

October 3, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, TexasAndrew Wetzler

The region's communities and marine life will continue to be exposed to the catastrophic risk and ongoing damage of these inherently hazardous industrial operations at sea.

Taxpayers Still on Hook for Oil and Gas Clean-up, Despite New Rule

September 25, 2023 Expert BlogTexas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, AlaskaRebecca Ramirez

BOEM's proposed rule falls short in requiring oil and gas companies to demonstrate they are financially able to fully remove and clean up platforms & pipelines.

Colorado makes Buildings Cleaner, More Livable

August 24, 2023 Expert BlogColoradoAlejandra Mejia Cunningham, Claire Lang-Ree

With a new Building Performance Standard policy, Colorado is leading the nation with clean, healthy buildings.

N.C. Offshore Wind Surveys Advance with Protections for Right Whales

August 11, 2023 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaDr. Francine Kershaw

NRDC is pleased to see that initial offshore wind planning surveys close to right whale calving habitat will be undertaken with protective measures in place.

Mapping Urban Heat Islands Is Helping These Neighborhoods Adapt

August 1, 2023 DispatchRaleigh, North Carolina, United StatesCourtney Lindwall

The Urban Heat Island mapping campaign is the largest national effort of its kind to identify why one section of a city can feel so different from another on any given summer day.

Study Shows 14,000 Unplugged Oil and Gas Wells in Gulf of Mexico

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogTexas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, FloridaRebecca Loomis, Rebecca Ramirez

Industry has neglected thousands of unused oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico. They will cost an estimated $30 billion to plug and decommission.

Smart Housing Policy Is a Climate Strategy for Colorado

March 22, 2023 Expert BlogColoradoAlana Miller

Colorado leaders are looking for ways to expand housing availability, improve housing affordability, and ensure housing development advances climate goals, including proposed legislation from Governor Jared Polis and legislative leadership.

Holding Interior to Account on Gulf Oil and Gas Leasing

March 6, 2023 Expert BlogAlabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, TexasIrene Gutierrez

Continuing to extract oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico will have a steep price for the environment and coastal communities in the region. That's why NRDC and our partners took BOEM to court.