Publication Items

Solar Power, the Community Way [1]

The energy transition imperative to move from fossil fuels toward renewable energies could leave out individual homeowners unable to install rooftop solar. But as the latest TipSheet points out, there’s an alternative: community solar. Good local reporting is needed to demystify it though. The backstory, plus more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Solar Power, the Community Way [1]
LNG To Fuel Conflict, Profit, Warming in Coming Years [13]

A partisan debate has flared over liquified natural gas, as industry, environmentalists and politicians wrangle over LNG’s role in climate change and the energy transition, heating and electricity prices, and international and domestic U.S. politics. Backgrounder lays out LNG’s history, starting with the fracking boom and bringing it up to speed with the war in Ukraine and upcoming presidential elections.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [15]
Chemicals [16]
Climate Change [3]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [17]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [18]
Policy [10]
Pollution [19]
Technology [20]
Transportation [21]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [23]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [24]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [25]
International [26]
Canada [27]
Mexico [28]
Asia [29]
Europe [30]
Middle East [31]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about LNG To Fuel Conflict, Profit, Warming in Coming Years [13]
Chemical Safety Board May Have Finally Cleaned Its Slate. What Now? [32]

A key U.S. federal agency tasked with investigating the nation’s industrial chemical accidents has been limping along for years. Now, the latest Issue Backgrounder reports that replenished staffing and a funding boost may mean it’s found its footing. But as the pace of chemical accidents accelerates and safety regulations stagnate, will it make a difference?

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [16]
Disasters [33]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [17]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [26]
Asia [29]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Chemical Safety Board May Have Finally Cleaned Its Slate. What Now? [32]
Chemical Plants, Terrorism and Regulations May Be Back on the Agenda [34]

For years, high-risk U.S. industrial facilities fell under a federal anti-terrorism program to ensure their potentially lethal chemicals would not become terrorist targets. But when the program expired last year, something unexpected happened. Veteran chemical industry reporter Jeff Johnson has a behind-the-scenes look at the maneuvering over how best to secure the country’s dangerous chemical stores.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [16]
Disasters [33]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [17]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Chemical Plants, Terrorism and Regulations May Be Back on the Agenda [34]
Take This Clean Electricity ‘Dashboard’ for a Trip Into the Energy Transition Future [37]

To better understand progress in the U.S. energy transition, some of the best nonpartisan data comes from the Energy Information Administration. And, as the latest Reporter’s Toolbox explains, EIA has an effective dashboard tool for exploring state-by-state variations in clean energy performance, among other things. Here’s how to use it smartly. Plus, a few caveats.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [5]
Government [17]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [18]
Planning & Growth [39]
Policy [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Take This Clean Electricity ‘Dashboard’ for a Trip Into the Energy Transition Future [37]
Clearing the Smoke — Collaboration Exposes Impacts of Wildfire Pollution-Reporting Rules [40]

Climate change is fueling the frequency and severity of wildfires, but a little-known Clean Air Act rule lets environmental agencies downplay the impacts of wildfire smoke. A collaborative investigation into this loophole connected dots that even the experts didn’t know about. Journalists Dillon Bergin and Molly Peterson explain their reporting process and offer advice for following your own local leads.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [41]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [33]
Environmental Health [42]
Government [17]
Health [43]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [23]
California [44]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [45]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [46]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [24]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [47]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [48]
Northwest (OR WA) [49]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [25]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Clearing the Smoke — Collaboration Exposes Impacts of Wildfire Pollution-Reporting Rules [40]
Personal Care Products — Bringing the Problems Home [50]

Health and environmental concerns about some beauty items — like the use of formaldehyde in certain hair straighteners — have started to emerge as a focus for federal regulation. But as the latest TipSheet points out, the response has been slow and fitful. Meanwhile, here are story ideas and resources to help reporters find local angles for this environmental and public health hazard.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [16]
Consumer [4]
Government [17]
Health [43]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Personal Care Products — Bringing the Problems Home [50]
U.S. Offshore Wind May Not Stay Becalmed for Long [51]

While the first offshore wind turbine started sending power into the U.S. grid just last month, and the renewable power source has enthusiastic support from the Biden administration, the industry has been slowed by politics, high interest rates and supply chain problems. But the latest Issue Backgrounder explores why offshore wind can be expected to succeed.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [52]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Health [42]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [53]
Government [17]
Infrastructure [7]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [18]
Policy [10]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [48]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about U.S. Offshore Wind May Not Stay Becalmed for Long [51]
Want To Protect Your Sources? It Helps To Know the Law [54]

With climate-related legal disputes playing out worldwide, we could see more environmental journalists facing subpoenas to access their newsgathering materials and reveal their sources. Case in point: the legal battle embroiling a news nonprofit over its coverage of pipeline protests. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press’ Chris Young looks at shield laws and resources to help deal with legal threats to your journalistic integrity.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [15]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Government [17]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [18]
Policy [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [23]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [45]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [47]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Want To Protect Your Sources? It Helps To Know the Law [54]
Reemerging Wetlands Controversy Brings Local Angles [55]

Wetlands provide a wide array of ecological and societal benefits. But in the United States, they also represent a morass of conflicting views going back decades on how best to regulate them. Now a recent Supreme Court ruling and proposed federal rules are the source of new discord. The latest TipSheet explores how best to cover the wetlands controversy for your community.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [56]
Biodiversity [57]
Economy & Business [52]
Environmental Health [42]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [53]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [18]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Reemerging Wetlands Controversy Brings Local Angles [55]

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