While renewable energy legislation may unite Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, it is far from the only environmental priority expected to make waves. Here’s a look at the environmental moves each state might make during their legislative sessions this spring.
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More DMV News
Feds, State Close in on Building New Island in Bay
Maryland Matters
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Maryland Port Administration are finalizing their proposal to resurrect an island that has vanished beneath the waves of the Chesapeake Bay. If all goes according to plan, James Island will convert more than 2,000 acres of open water into prime habitat for migratory birds while helping to protect communities on the vulnerable Eastern Shore from further erosion.
DC Sues Federal Government Over Pollution in Anacostia River
NBC Washington
The District of Columbia on Friday filed a lawsuit against the federal government over pollution in the Anacostia River, arguing it has inflicted “catastrophic harm” on the mostly poor and minority communities living along the urban waterway.
Maryland’s Climate Goals Under Strain as Budget Gaps and Looming Federal Cuts Threaten Progress
Inside Climate News
Maryland lawmakers enter the 2025 legislative session facing a trifecta of challenges—soaring energy prices, a deepening budget crisis and shaky federal climate funding under a Trump presidency. That has observers concerned about whether the state can sustain its ambitious climate commitments amid competing mandates.
Virginia to Receive $46 Million in Federal Funds for Helene Relief Efforts
Virginia Mercury
Federal lawmakers announced Tuesday that Virginia is receiving over $46 million to support the commonwealth’s Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, which wreaked havoc in Southwest Virginia last September and left three Virginians dead.
National and International News
The Climate Benefits Of Congestion Charges In New York City
CleanTechnica
Congestion charges are a tribute to how powerful the economic forces are that influence human behavior. Almost every decision we make includes an analysis of how much it will cost. We might all crave a Mercedes-Benz or a Ferrari, but most of us choose a less expensive vehicle because every dollar we spend on one thing is a dollar we cannot spend on something else — like food. Congestion has always been an issue in cities. First it was push carts and horse-drawn wagons, then automobiles, trucks, buses, and taxis — lots and lots of taxis.
Massive Underground Air Battery Project Lands $1.76B DOE Award
Canary Media
Compressed-air energy storage, a decades-old but rarely deployed technology that can store massive amounts of energy underground, could soon see a modern rebirth in California’s Central Valley.
Biden Administration Axes Controversial Climate Plan for Old Growth Forests
Grist
After spending more than two years drafting a plan to manage and protect the nation’s old-growth forests as they endure the ravages of climate change, the Biden administration has abruptly abandoned the effort.
These Common Medications Could Be Releasing ‘Forever Chemicals’ Into the Environment
Washington Post
The widespread use of pharmaceuticals in America is introducing even more toxic “forever chemicals” into the environment through wastewater, according to a study released Monday, and large municipal wastewater treatment plants are not capable of fully filtering them out.
5 Issues Likely to Shape the Waste and Recycling Industry in 2025
Waste Dive
The waste industry is shifting gears as it heads into 2025. A new presidential administration is likely to make significant federal policy changes. At the same time, many experts predict stable but elevated interest rates and a macroeconomic environment that remains broadly beneficial for the industry.