"Bills boosting solar, batteries, EVs, and smart thermostats to rein in California’s utility costs moved ahead — but the most innovative approaches were cut."
"The administration is cranking up efforts to kill state laws and legal cases that would force fossil-fuel companies to pay for climate damage."
"Chris Wright, who travels to Europe next week to promote American gas, called climate change “not incredibly important.”"
"Despite MAHA promises to reduce chemical exposures, experts warn the Trump administration is approving a wave of ‘frightening’ pesticides."
"A Trump administration plan to remove thousands of agriculture employees from Washington, D.C., is raising concerns among economists, who fear that such a move could erode expertise in a workforce reluctant to relocate."
"The EPA couldn’t justify scaling back startup, shutdown, and malfunction liability shields in Title V air permitting rules, according to a Friday judgment from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit."
"As US reneges on climate breakdown pledges, China’s response to crisis will shape geopolitics and our future"
Many local government decisions come down to a key factor: walkability. And that’s not just a question of transportation infrastructure. As the latest Reporter’s Toolbox notes, walkability is also an environmental consideration. To turn that simple truth into stories about the built environment, here’s a high-quality, mappable walkability index. How to use the database smartly, plus questions to ask that will get your reporting started.
As government resistance intensifies over sharing public records — especially environmental documents — journalists need to hone their skills to get the information they need to do their jobs and serve their audiences. FOIA expert David Cuillier offers tips and tactics to help you use your reporting time and dollars most effectively and ensure your public records requests produce high-quality results.
The Institute for Independent Journalists' eight-week live, online course combines real-world strategy with personalized guidance, covering topics such as rate setting, finding new clients and long-term planning. One-hour classes take place Thursdays at 1 pm ET/10 am PT. Early bird registration ends Sep 19.
Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/headlines/california-quietly-guts-ambitious-virtual-power-plant-bill
[2] https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/virtual-power-plants/california-amend-legislation-utility-bills
[3] https://www.sej.org/headlines/inside-trump-s-unorthodox-climate-attacks-courts-nationwide
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/climate/lawsuits-superfund-trump-justice-climate.html?smid=url-share
[5] https://www.sej.org/headlines/energy-secretary-attacks-offshore-wind-and-dismisses-climate-change
[6] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/climate/wright-energy-offshore-wind-turbines.html?unlocked_article_code=1.kk8.6Ypr.cE0dlJ5w4kHh&smid=url-share
[7] https://www.sej.org/headlines/epa-approves-four-new-pesticides-qualify-pfas
[8] https://civileats.com/2025/09/08/epa-approves-four-new-pesticides-that-qualify-as-pfas/
[9] https://www.sej.org/headlines/trump-plan-move-usda-spurs-brain-drain-fears
[10] https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5486924-trump-usda-move-rollins-colorado-indiana-north-carolina/
[11] https://www.sej.org/headlines/dc-circuit-reverses-epa-removal-sudden-emission-protections
[12] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/dc-circuit-reverses-epa-removal-of-sudden-emission-protections
[13] https://www.sej.org/headlines/there-only-one-player-china-becoming-world-leader-green-energy
[14] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/07/china-fossil-fuel-us-climate-environment-energy
[15] https://www.sej.org/publications/reporters-toolbox/walkability-index-helps-journalists-highlight-planning-issues
[16] https://www.sej.org/publications/features/art-access-strategies-acquiring-environmental-records
[17] https://www.sej.org/calendar/iij-fall-2025-business-freelancing-course
[18] https://www.sej.org/search_results
[19] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=142
[20] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=139
[21] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=140
[22] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=141
[23] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=144
[24] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=145
[25] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=146
[26] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=147
[27] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=4951