"The U.S. electric grid will require major changes to reposition itself for the future challenges of climate change, new technologies, and national security in coming decades, according to a first-ever “Quadrennial Energy Review” released by the Obama administration."
"U.S. fisheries managers on Monday proposed lifting protections for most humpback whales around the globe, including in American waters, based on evidence the mammals have made a strong comeback since commercial whaling drove them near extinction."
"As many as 5.3 million hens will be euthanized at a commercial laying facility in northwest Iowa as a result of the presence of H5N2. The United States Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence this highly pathogenic strain avian flu Monday."
"The BP drilling rig explosion five years ago sent 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread damage to wildlife, ecosystems and livelihoods still seen today."
April 20 was the fifth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon offshore well blowout that led to one of the biggest environmental disasters in U.S. history. The Gulf of Mexico, its fish and wildlife, and the people whose jobs and lives depend on it are still recovering. Media coverage abounds — some of it focusing on whether the industry or the government learned anything from the disaster and how likely it is to happen again in the Gulf, in the Arctic, or elsewhere. SEJ has rounded up some of the coverage in its daily news digest, EJToday Headlines. We also published two useful explainers on the money issues and the science issues.
"Five years after the largest oil spill in U.S. history spewed millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico, many Louisiana oystermen are fearful that a once-bountiful population of the mollusks may never recover."
"Billionaire activist Tom Steyer's climate change advocacy group offered unexpected praise on Friday to Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush for saying the United States should work with the world to reduce carbon emissions."
"Utah's oldest coal-fired power plant is no longer in operation."
"Electricity producers in several states are asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support to keep costly nuclear power plants in business—a move that is likely to boost customers’ power bills."
"President Obama will tout his administration's efforts to protect the environment during a visit to the Everglades in south Florida on Wednesday, as the White House presses its go-it-alone climate-change agenda."
