With billions of infrastructure dollars now on the table to clean up orphan oil wells, states are already elbowing their way in for a taste. But as our new Backgrounder explains, the process to ensure they cannot pollute the environment or spew climate-change gasses is a complex one. And the sheer (and largely unknown) number of orphaned wells adds to the complications.
Offshore wind, which some see as a panacea in the search for climate-friendly energy solutions, is getting a push from the Biden administration. But as noted in this week’s TipSheet, part of our 2022 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment, there are numerous obstacles to the renewable power source, whether from states, coastal property owners and towns, fishing industry and even some environmentalists.
"Snuggling a bearded dragon could end up being a stomach-churning experience. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday published information suggesting that a recent salmonella outbreak in 25 states seems to be linked to people who got up close and personal with one of the lizards."
"An unprecedented, experimental attempt to feed manatees facing starvation in Florida has started slowly but wildlife officials expressed optimism Thursday that it will work as cold weather drives the marine mammals toward warmer waters."
"The U.S. Postal Service, which has been criticized for its plan to buy tens of thousands of gas-burning delivery trucks, estimates that it could in fact go all-electric if Congress gives it at least $3.3 billion."
"The decline of seed-dispersing animals is damaging plants’ ability to adapt to climate breakdown, a study has found."
"A new report has revealed that a record number of Americans are now alarmed about the climate crisis."
"The latest budget proposal, unveiled this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom, includes $22 billion in new climate funding. It also allocates money from last year’s budget, for a total of $37 billion in climate spending over six years."
"More than a year after Coastal GasLink was cited for multiple environmental violations on its pipeline route through northern B.C., the provincial government still hasn’t imposed penalties."
"Drought was present in nearly 55% of the contiguous US this week, according to the US Drought Monitor. The last time drought has been so widespread for so long was October 2013."
Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/backgrounders/infrastructure-funding-coming-soon-cleanup-orphan-oil-wells
[2] https://www.sej.org/publications/tipsheet/conflict-over-biden-s-offshore-wind-drive-generate-news-2022-and-beyond
[3] https://www.sej.org/headlines/cdc-warns-americans-don-t-kiss-or-snuggle-your-bearded-dragon
[4] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bearded-dragon-salmonella-outbreak-cdc_n_61e0ad20e4b04bb0aa0c0096
[5] https://www.sej.org/headlines/manatee-feeding-experiment-starts-slowly-cold-looms
[6] https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-environment-and-nature-florida-animals-17470fe6adb9f3c4378c8d2b199f373e
[7] https://www.sej.org/headlines/postal-service-here-s-price-tag-100-evs
[8] https://www.eenews.net/articles/postal-service-heres-the-price-tag-for-100-evs/
[9] https://www.sej.org/headlines/plants-risk-extinction-climate-disrupts-animal-migration
[10] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/13/plants-at-risk-of-extinction-as-climate-crisis-disrupts-animal-migration
[11] https://www.sej.org/headlines/six-10-americans-alarmed-or-concerned-about-climate-change-study
[12] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/13/record-number-americans-alarmed-about-climate-crisis
[13] https://www.sej.org/headlines/how-california-plans-spend-37-billion-fighting-climate-change
[14] https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2022-01-13/heres-how-california-plans-to-spend-22-billion-fighting-climate-change-boiling-point
[15] https://www.sej.org/headlines/still-no-penalties-coastal-gaslink-environmental-violations
[16] https://thetyee.ca/News/2022/01/13/Still-No-Penalties-Coastal-GasLink-Environmental-Violations/
[17] https://www.sej.org/headlines/us-megadrought-sets-another-stunning-record
[18] https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/13/weather/us-west-california-drought-record-68-weeks-climate/index.html
[19] https://www.sej.org/search_results
[20] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1301
[21] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1298
[22] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1299
[23] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1300
[24] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1303
[25] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1304
[26] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1305
[27] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1306
[28] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=5074