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the future of environmental leadership.
As wildfire season becomes longer and more severe across the American West, smoky skies have become an increasingly familiar part of summer. https://loom.ly/d7qpba8
How wildfire smoke is reshaping childhood
Smoky summers are becoming the new normal across the American West, forcing a generation of children to grow up indoors.
grist.org
September 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM
As wildfire season becomes longer and more severe across the American West, smoky skies have become an increasingly familiar part of summer. https://loom.ly/d7qpba8
For months leading up to the wildfires, Western Europe had been scorched by back-to-back heat waves and an extended drought that dried out trees, shrubs, and farmland, turning the landscape into a tinderbox. https://loom.ly/8pLljXI
Here's what supercharged the monster wildfires in Spain and France
Last summer brought Europe's most destructive wildfire season on record. This season is on track to break it.
grist.org
September 26, 2026 at 2:02 PM
For months leading up to the wildfires, Western Europe had been scorched by back-to-back heat waves and an extended drought that dried out trees, shrubs, and farmland, turning the landscape into a tinderbox. https://loom.ly/8pLljXI
For communities facing this summer’s fires, the challenges have extended beyond escaping the flames. https://loom.ly/sujznZw
Canada’s wildfire season is taking a heavy toll on First Nations
Thousands have been displaced as Indigenous leaders raise concerns about firefighting resources, emergency aid, and evacuation decisions.
grist.org
September 25, 2026 at 8:01 PM
For communities facing this summer’s fires, the challenges have extended beyond escaping the flames. https://loom.ly/sujznZw
Panamint’s clean energy project will be among the largest in the nation and, the developer claims, the biggest solar array ever built at a brownfield site in North America. https://loom.ly/t7fzmWA
This Texas coal mine will soon be home to a 1.2GW solar farm
Panamint Capital broke ground on a $1.7 billion solar and storage project at the Calvert coal mine. The mine and an adjacent coal plant will stay online.
grist.org
September 25, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Panamint’s clean energy project will be among the largest in the nation and, the developer claims, the biggest solar array ever built at a brownfield site in North America. https://loom.ly/t7fzmWA
Construction is underway on a $1.7 billion solar and battery storage project in Texas that will turn existing coal mining land into a hub of clean energy generation. https://loom.ly/t7fzmWA
This Texas coal mine will soon be home to a 1.2GW solar farm
Panamint Capital broke ground on a $1.7 billion solar and storage project at the Calvert coal mine. The mine and an adjacent coal plant will stay online.
grist.org
September 25, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Construction is underway on a $1.7 billion solar and battery storage project in Texas that will turn existing coal mining land into a hub of clean energy generation. https://loom.ly/t7fzmWA
Lawmakers created the nameplate capacity tax in 2010 to replace personal property tax for renewable developments.
https://loom.ly/Bza2R94
https://loom.ly/Bza2R94
Some Nebraska communities are cashing in on renewables. Others are being left behind.
More than 88 percent of the taxes on wind and solar went to just 10 of the state’s 93 counties.
grist.org
September 24, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Lawmakers created the nameplate capacity tax in 2010 to replace personal property tax for renewable developments.
https://loom.ly/Bza2R94
https://loom.ly/Bza2R94
Washington is having the most destructive season on record, with more than half a million acres burned and at least 65,000 residents ordered to evacuate across the state. https://loom.ly/l0qPi3c
Wildfire season is changing. Spokane is showing how.
As climate change primes the Pacific Northwest to burn, hundreds in Washington state's second-biggest city lose their homes.
grist.org
September 24, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Washington is having the most destructive season on record, with more than half a million acres burned and at least 65,000 residents ordered to evacuate across the state. https://loom.ly/l0qPi3c
Washington is also in the middle of its most destructive season on record, with more than half a million acres burned and at least 65,000 residents ordered to evacuate across the state. https://loom.ly/l0qPi3c
Wildfire season is changing. Spokane is showing how.
As climate change primes the Pacific Northwest to burn, hundreds in Washington state's second-biggest city lose their homes.
grist.org
September 24, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Washington is also in the middle of its most destructive season on record, with more than half a million acres burned and at least 65,000 residents ordered to evacuate across the state. https://loom.ly/l0qPi3c
As the United States increasingly relies on renewables, for example, charging an EV becomes even more environmentally appealing. https://loom.ly/u2SOics
Your gas car works fine. Consider an EV anyway, scientists say.
New research suggest that swapping your internal combustion engine for an EV is almost always the greener choice.
grist.org
September 23, 2026 at 8:01 PM
As the United States increasingly relies on renewables, for example, charging an EV becomes even more environmentally appealing. https://loom.ly/u2SOics
The proposed pipeline is expected to move roughly 500,000 barrels of crude tar sands oil per day. https://loom.ly/C5Clp7w
In Montana, a controversial $2B pipeline hits a speed bump
After an environmental group filed a complaint on behalf of two Montana residents, state regulators rescinded a crucial waiver.
grist.org
September 23, 2026 at 6:02 PM
The proposed pipeline is expected to move roughly 500,000 barrels of crude tar sands oil per day. https://loom.ly/C5Clp7w
On July 22, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, withdrew a waiver it had previously granted the pipeline. https://loom.ly/C5Clp7w
In Montana, a controversial $2B pipeline hits a speed bump
After an environmental group filed a complaint on behalf of two Montana residents, state regulators rescinded a crucial waiver.
grist.org
September 23, 2026 at 2:04 PM
On July 22, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, withdrew a waiver it had previously granted the pipeline. https://loom.ly/C5Clp7w
Visitors to the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, captivated by gliding birds overhead and golden hills across the Bay waters, could be forgiven for failing to notice that the preserve is also home to the Bay’s newest levee.
https://loom.ly/7KAKYQw
https://loom.ly/7KAKYQw
A new type of levee is taking root in Northern California
Combining flood mitigation with wetland habitat restoration, horizontal levees could protect coastal cities and wildlife from rising seas.
grist.org
September 22, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Visitors to the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, captivated by gliding birds overhead and golden hills across the Bay waters, could be forgiven for failing to notice that the preserve is also home to the Bay’s newest levee.
https://loom.ly/7KAKYQw
https://loom.ly/7KAKYQw
Georgia is home to more than a third of the connected marsh habitat along the coast of the Southeastern U.S comprised of hundreds of thousands of acres. https://loom.ly/el4yGJs
A new plan to preserve Georgia’s marshes: Give them space to migrate
Environmental protections usually only cover existing ecosystems. A group of conservationists wants the state to take a longer view.
grist.org
September 22, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Georgia is home to more than a third of the connected marsh habitat along the coast of the Southeastern U.S comprised of hundreds of thousands of acres. https://loom.ly/el4yGJs
A pioneering California law meant to sharply limit use of the familiar “chasing arrows” recycling symbol has been blocked by a federal judge who said it probably violates the First Amendment. https://loom.ly/AOZF-_0
Is the recycling symbol free speech? A judge just ruled it could be.
The ruling pauses a California law dictating how the recycling symbol is used, teeing up a First Amendment fight over environmental marketing.
grist.org
September 22, 2026 at 2:04 PM
A pioneering California law meant to sharply limit use of the familiar “chasing arrows” recycling symbol has been blocked by a federal judge who said it probably violates the First Amendment. https://loom.ly/AOZF-_0
America’s offshore wind farms have already shown their ability to keep electricity flowing during brutal winter storms. Now, the clean energy resource has proved it can also bolster the grid during major heat waves. https://loom.ly/WSmk-0A
Here’s how offshore wind helped New England beat record heat
The region has added dozens of turbines off the East Coast since last summer. They and other clean energy sources cut the need for oil power amid recent hot weather.
grist.org
September 21, 2026 at 6:01 PM
America’s offshore wind farms have already shown their ability to keep electricity flowing during brutal winter storms. Now, the clean energy resource has proved it can also bolster the grid during major heat waves. https://loom.ly/WSmk-0A
Earlier forecasts, new warning systems, and a public primed by last year’s tragedies saved lives.
https://loom.ly/_6rAcUo
https://loom.ly/_6rAcUo
What another Texas flood revealed about the state's warning system
Texas remade its early warning system after last year's deadly inundation. July's flood revealed what it accomplished — and what’s left to do.
grist.org
September 21, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Earlier forecasts, new warning systems, and a public primed by last year’s tragedies saved lives.
https://loom.ly/_6rAcUo
https://loom.ly/_6rAcUo
Forests in the West evolved in response to fire, and fire has long been part of their normal ecological function,
https://loom.ly/MU3uLMs
https://loom.ly/MU3uLMs
Wildfire prevention has always been a challenge in the West. Hotter, drier weather is making it worse.
In Western states, climate change is starting to overwhelm the old techniques that used to keep fires from raging out of control.
grist.org
September 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Forests in the West evolved in response to fire, and fire has long been part of their normal ecological function,
https://loom.ly/MU3uLMs
https://loom.ly/MU3uLMs
More than half the world’s population depends on rice to survive. But this year’s El Niño weather pattern and the ongoing climate crisis are intensifying dry, hot weather that could cause yields to plummet. https://loom.ly/D4IFCfw
Why rice crops could be in for a weird year
Researchers explain how El Niño and global warming are combining to create the haves and the have-nots.
grist.org
September 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM
More than half the world’s population depends on rice to survive. But this year’s El Niño weather pattern and the ongoing climate crisis are intensifying dry, hot weather that could cause yields to plummet. https://loom.ly/D4IFCfw
For the last four months, approximately 800 other workers represented by United Steelworkers Local 7-1, or USW, have been locked out of the refinery without pay and with no clear indication of when they’ll return to work. https://loom.ly/AVjauKg
Inside the nearly 5-month labor lockout at an Indiana refinery
BP has locked out about 800 refinery workers in Whiting without pay for months. The hardline tactic is raising fears about the future of union power.
grist.org
September 20, 2026 at 2:01 PM
For the last four months, approximately 800 other workers represented by United Steelworkers Local 7-1, or USW, have been locked out of the refinery without pay and with no clear indication of when they’ll return to work. https://loom.ly/AVjauKg
The report is especially concerning since decarbonizing the electricity sector, which accounts for about 25 percent of U.S. emissions, is an essential step toward meeting national climate targets. https://loom.ly/Q8fuLR4
It’s official: Data centers are slowing America’s shift away from coal
New federal data shows that AI demand helped push U.S. power sector emissions up last year.
grist.org
September 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The report is especially concerning since decarbonizing the electricity sector, which accounts for about 25 percent of U.S. emissions, is an essential step toward meeting national climate targets. https://loom.ly/Q8fuLR4
Africa has extraordinary renewable-energy potential. The next challenge is strengthening the institutions, markets and grids needed to turn that potential into reliable power. https://loom.ly/8bUu5KE
Focus turns to building stronger institutions in Africa to speed shift to renewable energy
Africa’s renewable energy transition is entering a new phase as the continent shifts from proving that clean energy works to building the institutions needed to deploy it at scale.
apnews.com
September 19, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Africa has extraordinary renewable-energy potential. The next challenge is strengthening the institutions, markets and grids needed to turn that potential into reliable power. https://loom.ly/8bUu5KE
The Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in 2022, was the first and largest climate bill in the history of the United States. The law lasted less than 3 years. https://loom.ly/0a9Evf0
Biden’s climate law is dead. The energy transition might not be.
A year after Trump repealed the Inflation Reduction Act, the outlook for climate action is dark. But there are silver linings.
grist.org
September 18, 2026 at 8:01 PM
The Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in 2022, was the first and largest climate bill in the history of the United States. The law lasted less than 3 years. https://loom.ly/0a9Evf0
Traditional fire prevention methods may no longer work, one researcher cautions, with a changing climate that makes hot, dry weather increasingly the norm.https://loom.ly/MU3uLMs
Wildfire prevention has always been a challenge in the West. Hotter, drier weather is making it worse.
In Western states, climate change is starting to overwhelm the old techniques that used to keep fires from raging out of control.
grist.org
September 18, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Traditional fire prevention methods may no longer work, one researcher cautions, with a changing climate that makes hot, dry weather increasingly the norm.https://loom.ly/MU3uLMs
A new California factory plans to produce sodium-ion grid batteries—an emerging alternative that could be safer, cheaper and more durable than lithium-ion storage. https://loom.ly/ixE9Vck
A pioneering grid-battery factory is headed for this California city
Sodium-ion batteries promise cheaper, more durable energy storage. Peak Energy seeks to kick-start the next-gen battery market by building the first big…
www.canarymedia.com
September 18, 2026 at 2:04 PM
A new California factory plans to produce sodium-ion grid batteries—an emerging alternative that could be safer, cheaper and more durable than lithium-ion storage. https://loom.ly/ixE9Vck
Technology companies have invested billions of dollars to build data centers all across the country, driven in part by the computing demands from artificial intelligence. https://loom.ly/hErN0oA
New York governor orders first statewide data center moratorium
Data centers have drawn vocal opposition at local public meetings and in state capitols across the US.
grist.org
September 17, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Technology companies have invested billions of dollars to build data centers all across the country, driven in part by the computing demands from artificial intelligence. https://loom.ly/hErN0oA