The Coal Industry Asked for a Rescue. Trump Obliged.
"In a previously unreported letter, a top lobbyist floated the idea of using emergency powers to keep aging coal plants open."
Source: New York Times, 10/01/2026
EJToday: Top Headlines
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Trump Slashes Fuel-Economy Standards in Blow to Climate, Health, EV Market
"The Trump administration Monday finalized the rollback of a major fuel economy standard for cars and trucks, a move critics say will cause more climate-warming pollution, human health problems and higher fuel costs for consumers."
Source: Inside Climate News, 09/30/2026$10 A Gallon Gas Has Red Alaska Thinking About A Democratic Senator
"Mary Peltola hopes to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in a race all about prices, federal aid and Donald Trump."
Source: Washington Post, 09/30/2026Enviros Sue Agencies Over Nation’s 1st Fast-Tracked Critical Minerals Mine
"Federal regulators approved South32’s Hermosa mine despite identifying adverse impacts to multiple endangered or threatened species, the suit notes."
Source: Inside Climate News, 09/30/2026Millions Who Need Federal Flood Insurance The Most Can't Afford It
"In eastern Kentucky, Libby Honeycutt listened upstairs to the sound of glass breaking below as floodwaters tore apart her house. Twenty-six miles to the south, Ronald Conley rescued his dogs from his elevated house with a pontoon boat. Jennifer Campbell heard the screams from across the river of a neighbor desperate for rescue."
Source: AP, 09/30/2026EPA To Reconsider Air Quality Rules As Texas Faces Diesel Price Disaster
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday it would “reconsider” air-quality regulations amid Texas’s diesel price “disaster.”
Source: The Hill, 09/30/2026The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Is Low. Here's Why You Should Care
"Deep in the giant underground salt caverns of Louisiana and Texas, the U.S. government stores hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil."
Source: NPR, 09/30/2026Can California Stop Trump From Drilling Off Its Coast? A New Law Tries
"Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed legislation to strengthen California’s protections against offshore drilling amid escalating efforts by the Trump administration to open up the coast to new oil and gas operations."
Source: Los Angeles Times, 09/30/2026EPA Union Sues Trump Admin To Restore Collective Bargaining Contract
"The union representing more than 8,000 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a lawsuit against the agency and administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday alleging the agency illegally terminated the union’s collective bargaining agreement."
Source: Guardian, 09/30/2026How Should We Cover the Climate Story?
"Speaking with climate reporters about staying on the beat—because, as Bill McKibben put it, “for better or for worse, by this time next year, there’s no doubt in my mind that climate coverage will be at the forefront.”"
Source: Columbia Journalism Review, 09/30/2026‘Digger’ Is The Year’s Big Climate Movie. This Climate Reporter Hated It.
"Tom Cruise’s latest film is a crude parable about an unrepentant oil executive."
Source: Grist, 09/30/2026Alito Bows Out Of Blockbuster Supreme Court Climate Case
"Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is stepping back from a major climate argument just a week before the court is scheduled to take up the case." "The conservative justice had previously resisted calls from environmentalists to recuse himself."
Source: POLITICO, 09/29/2026U.S. Rejects U.N. Declaration on Preparing for Future Pandemics
"The United States on Friday rejected a declaration by member countries of the United Nations that pledged international collaboration and solidarity in preparing for and responding to pandemics."
Source: New York Times, 09/29/2026As Pacific Churns With Hurricanes, The Atlantic Is Quiet. Blame El Niño.
"The Pacific Ocean has seen 18 hurricanes so far and 41 named storms overall, which are unusually high numbers for this point in the season. The Atlantic Ocean is experiencing the exact opposite."
Source: NPR, 09/29/2026In Global First, A Next-Gen Geothermal Plant Goes Live At Utility Scale
"Fervo Energy is producing clean power at Cape Station in Utah. It’s a big milestone, but the industry must tackle high costs and other barriers in order to scale."
Source: Canary Media, 09/29/2026
