News & Commentary

These Montanans Don’t Want an Industrial Slaughterhouse in Their Backyard

February 1, 2019 DispatchMontanaLora Shinn

In the small city of Great Falls, residents push back against a Big Ag plant that would consume 3.5 million gallons of water—and produce 102,995 pounds of waste—per day.

A Tribe in Northern Minnesota Shows the Country How to Do Community Solar

December 12, 2018 DispatchMinnesotaSusan Cosier

Photovoltaic panels on the Leech Lake reservation are generating clean power—and revenue to help those who need it most.

Trailblazing Bill Would Make NYC an Efficiency Champion

December 3, 2018 Expert BlogNew York CityDonna De Costanzo

On the Horizon in the Cowboy State: Wind Turbines

September 4, 2018 DispatchWyomingHillary Rosner

Wyoming, the country’s top coal producer, is wrangling support for wind power—and not a moment too soon.

St. Louis Building Code Update: Raising the Roof (Floor)

July 26, 2018 Expert BlogMissouriKatharine McCormick

St. Louis adopted the 2018 IECC, or International Energy Conservation Code, a model code that creates a floor for energy performance in new buildings. Because the IECC update addresses a wide range of energy uses in both commercial and residential…

Race to Reduce Launched to Energize Saint Paul

June 12, 2018 Expert BlogMinnesotaKatharine McCormick

Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has kicked off an energy efficiency challenge directed at the city’s largest buildings. Through the program, dubbed the “Race to Reduce,” buildings will be invited to join a cohort that will collectively strive to streamline…

The South Is Warming Up to Solar

May 11, 2018 DispatchGeorgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, MississippiRobynne Boyd

In the past five years, solar capacity in the South has increased nearly thirtyfold.

Like Wind Before It, Minnesota’s Solar Industry Is Booming

March 26, 2018 DispatchMinnesotaSusan Cosier

Rapid development and strong support in the state may help projects all across the country.

NY Anti-Wind Bill Could Hurt Clean Energy Economy

March 19, 2018 Expert BlogNew YorkSneha Ayyagari, Jackson Morris

The New York State Assembly should reject Assembly Bill A.9053A, which would unfairly prohibit state funding for wind power facilities in six large areas near the Fort Drum military reservation in Jefferson County, New York. This bill is completely unnecessary…

Controversial New Pipelines May Slice Through the Southeast

January 16, 2018 DispatchVirginia, West Virginia, North CarolinaRobynne Boyd

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline—and the Mountain Valley Pipeline, with a similar path—could tear up land and negatively impact people throughout Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

For the Delaware River Basin, a Partial Fracking Ban Is a Partial Victory

January 11, 2018 DispatchDelaware, New York, Pennsylvania

Proposed regulations would still allow wastewater to be disposed of in the watershed, with risks to both drinking water and the environment.

City Council to NYC Mayor: Clean Up Our Waters!

December 15, 2017 Expert BlogNew York CityLarry Levine

When It Rains, It Pours Raw Sewage into New York City’s Waterways

December 12, 2017 DispatchNew York CityClara Chaisson

The Big Apple’s combined sewer system is 150 years old—and in desperate need of improvement.

We Need Clean and Affordable Water for All New Yorkers

December 4, 2017 Expert BlogNew YorkLarry Levine

Over the last 15 years, increasing capital investment needs (and decreasing federal financial assistance) have caused water and wastewater rates to rise nationally at about twice the rate of both inflation and income growth.

Wyoming’s Anti-Science Laws Get a Second Look

October 30, 2017 DispatchWyomingAlisa Opar

How far will the state go to push back against citizens who want to know what’s in their water and air?

These Southern Cities Are Going 100 Percent Clean (Energy)

October 23, 2017 DispatchAtlanta, Georgia, Columbia, South Carolina, Orlando, St. Petersburg, FloridaRobynne Boyd

Here’s how they’re getting started.

The South Needs the Clean Water Rule

April 18, 2017 DispatchSouth Carolina, GeorgiaRobynne Boyd

For drinking water, flood control, climate defense, habitat protection, fishing, swimming, and, of course, craft beer.

The South Kicks Off the New Year with a New Power Source: Wind

December 27, 2016 DispatchSouth Carolina, United StatesRobynne Boyd

Thanks to advances in turbine tech, the first commercial-scale wind farm in the Southeast is about to get whirring.

Our Favorite National Parks

August 15, 2016 NRDC in ActionColorado, California, Minnesota, Alaska, New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, Arizona, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, Tennessee

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, NRDC’s very own wilderness fanatics share their most treasured park memories.

One of America’s Great Rivers Fights for Its Life

July 5, 2016 DispatchGeorgia, Florida, AlabamaRobynne Boyd

The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system brings precious water to three southern states. If only they could all get along.