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The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) recommends that the EPA establish specific emission rate standards for existing fossil fuel-fired utility boilers (1,450 lbs/MWh) and natural gas combustion turbines (1,100 lbs/MWh). The proposal centers on a 'model' interstate emission credit trading rule that allows states flexibility in compliance, including the use of state-specific emission budgets. Analysis by The NorthBridge Group indicates this approach could reduce electric sector carbon dioxide emissions by 27 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, resulting in a total reduction of 636 million metric tons. The report argues that nearly 70 percent of these reductions would come from optimizing fossil dispatch. Beyond climate benefits, the proposal is estimated to avoid over 2,000 premature deaths annually due to reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The total monetized health and climate benefits are estimated at $34 billion in 2020, significantly outweighing the $9.4 billion compliance cost.

Earthjustice and a coalition of environmental and tribal groups are appealing a July 2013 decision by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to lease approximately 13,175 acres for coal in the Canyon Creek area. The appeal argues that the lease is unconstitutional because it grants exploration rights for an indeterminate period, violating the Alaska Constitution's requirement for 'specific periods'. Furthermore, the appellants contend that the DNR ignored the foreseeable impacts of climate change, seismic risks, and severe health hazards to workers and local communities. They also argue that the economic benefits are exaggerated and that the project would cause irreversible damage to salmon habitats and watersheds, citing similar findings from the nearby Chuitna project.

The study concludes that nutrient trading in the MRB is economically feasible, as wastewater utilities could significantly reduce costs by purchasing credits from the agricultural sector. Using case studies of two utilities and six agricultural watersheds, the report finds that nitrogen (N) supply is sufficient to meet demand, while phosphorus (P) supply is more limited. It highlights that some conservation practices are profitable for farmers even without trading due to fertilizer savings and yield increases. However, the report notes that the lack of a strong policy driver, potential local water quality standards, and regulatory capacity are significant barriers to implementation.

Former National Mine Health and Safety Academy Director Jack Spadaro opposes Senate Bill S.3512, claiming that relying on independent engineers employed by operators—rather than strict federal regulations—creates a dangerous risk of dam failure. He cites historical disasters in Buffalo Creek and Martin County to illustrate the failure of inadequate oversight and notes an EPA study finding 25% of over 400 coal ash dams are in 'poor' condition without legal requirements for owners to remedy deficiencies.

The document criticizes 260 U.S. House members who voted on June 21, 2012, to include a provision in a transportation bill that allows coal ash ponds to operate without basic safety standards and prevents the EPA from establishing national health and safety regulations. It highlights that these members represent districts containing the vast majority of the U.S.'s hazardous coal ash sites and notes a correlation between these votes and campaign contributions from the electric utility and mining industries.

Jeremy Fisher, Ph.D., testifying for the Sierra Club, argues that Kentucky Power Company's (KPCo) analysis erroneously favors retrofitting the Big Sandy 2 unit. He identifies significant flaws in the Strategist and Aurora models, including underestimated capital costs for the retrofit, overestimated costs for natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) replacements, and an unrealistically low carbon dioxide (CO2) price forecast. Fisher asserts that when these errors are corrected and off-system sales are properly allocated, alternatives such as NGCC replacement or market purchases are substantially more cost-effective than the FGD retrofit.

The report analyzes the financial burden on U.S. states that rely on imported coal, identifying those with the highest spending and per capita costs. It highlights a trend of increasing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that these states can redirect funds from coal imports toward energy efficiency and homegrown renewables to create local jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

The report identifies 38 U.S. states as net importers of coal in 2008, with 11 states spending over $1 billion each on these imports. It highlights a growing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that states can mitigate these economic losses and environmental damages by investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables.

In 2008, Michigan imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in an economic drain of $1.36 billion. The state's electricity generation relied on coal for over 60% of its needs, with Detroit Edison's Monroe facility identified as the most import-dependent plant. To reduce this dependence and stimulate the local economy, the document advocates for investments in energy efficiency and homegrown renewable energy, noting that Michigan has the technical potential to produce nearly twice its 2008 electricity needs from renewables, primarily wind and bioenergy.

The document analyzes the challenges facing the U.S. advanced biofuels industry, including the 'valley of death' between pilot projects and commercialization, volatile petroleum prices, and regulatory uncertainties. It argues that while the federal government provides essential broad-scale support, state governments are uniquely positioned to guide the industry by leveraging local geography and resources. The report proposes ten specific policy options for states, ranging from resource inventorying and sustainable feedstock guidelines to the implementation of low carbon fuel standards and interagency cooperation, highlighting examples from states like California, Oregon, and Tennessee.

The document identifies approximately 2 million mobile homes built before 1976 as the "worst housing stock" in the U.S., noting they are energy-inefficient and often house low-income, elderly, or disabled residents. It highlights that these structures are often ineligible for traditional weatherization programs and proposes the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act of 2009 to provide rebates for ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The text details the differences between mobile, manufactured, and modular homes, and provides demographic data on residents of pre-1980 manufactured housing.

The report analyzes the EPA's 2007 risk assessment, finding that unlined coal ash ponds and landfills pose severe cancer and non-cancer risks to humans and aquatic ecosystems. It specifically highlights that residents near unlined ponds mixing ash and coal refuse face a 1 in 50 cancer risk from arsenic, 2,000 times the EPA's regulatory goal. The document also notes that boron levels in surface waters can reach 2,000 times safe thresholds for aquatic life. It argues that the EPA underestimated these risks by ignoring direct surface water releases and inhalation pathways, and calls for the phase-out of ash ponds within five years and the mandatory use of composite liners for landfills.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) attempted to replace the 1983 stream buffer zone (SBZ) rule, which protects Appalachian streams from mountaintop removal mining, with weaker regulations. The report alleges that OSM's 2004 and 2007 environmental impact statements (EIS) were compromised by political interference and the systematic misrepresentation of scientific data regarding biodiversity, water toxins, and flood risks. Specifically, it claims OSM ignored findings on the ecological importance of temporary streams, the reduction of fish genetic diversity in West Virginia and Kentucky, and the presence of human toxins like manganese and selenium in mining-affected waters. The document concludes that the OSM prioritized the interests of the coal industry over scientific integrity and environmental protection.

The document advocates for wind power as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear energy, particularly in New England. It details the severe environmental and health costs of conventional energy—including CO2 emissions, air pollution, water consumption, and land degradation—while positioning wind energy as a low-impact solution with minimal land footprints and no operational emissions.

The report details how U.S. power plants impact water resources through massive withdrawals and the discharge of heated, chemically treated water. It highlights the ecological damage caused by once-through cooling systems—such as fish impingement and entrainment—and the risks of toxic chemical leaks from coal ash ponds. The document argues for a transition to closed-cycle and dry-cooling technologies to mitigate these effects and ensure power system reliability during droughts. It also critiques the current state-led enforcement of the Clean Water Act, calling for more consistent federal standards and cumulative impact assessments.

The document details how political appointees in the early 2000s allegedly pressured MSHA investigators to prematurely end an investigation into a 300-million-gallon toxic sludge spill in Kentucky, resulting in fewer citations and lower fines for the Martin County Coal Corporation. It highlights the testimony of whistleblower Jack Spadaro, who claimed retaliation for exposing this interference. Additionally, the text describes a broader policy shift under the Bush administration to restrict the public release of mine inspection reports, which critics argue undermined accountability and contributed to a spike in mining deaths in 2005 and 2006.

The report details the environmental and health risks associated with the disposal of over 100 million tons of annual coal and oil combustion waste in the United States. It highlights that 76 million tons are typically disposed of in unlined, unmonitored onsite lagoons and landfills, leading to groundwater contamination and ecological damage. The authors argue that current state-level regulations are inconsistent and insufficient, and that the EPA's preliminary determination to maintain a regulatory exemption for these wastes ignores significant risks to low-income communities and people of color. The document calls for federal oversight under RCRA to mandate modern environmental controls like liners and groundwater monitoring.

The document examines the integration of lean manufacturing and environmental management at Honda of America Manufacturing (HAM) in Ohio. It explores how Honda's 'localization' policy and lean principles—such as waste reduction, continuous improvement, and employee empowerment—contribute to environmental performance, specifically in reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The case compares HAM's decentralized, employee-driven approach to Toyota's more centralized environmental management structure and assesses the potential for HAM to achieve ISO 14000 certification.

The document examines the tension between lean manufacturing and environmental management at Honda of America's plants in East Liberty and Marysville, Ohio. It explores how lean practices—such as waste reduction, high-involvement human resources, and continuous improvement—can both complement and conflict with environmental goals. The text contrasts Honda's localized management approach with Toyota's more centralized global strategy and discusses the trade-offs between integrated and buffered organizational designs for environmental staff.

The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) is projected to create over 21,000 direct jobs, including 18,000 in construction and 3,000 permanent positions, through 11 major projects in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. The initiative involves a broad coalition of partners including project developers like Air Liquide and Plug Power, industrial equipment providers such as Baker Hughes and Bloom Energy, and various government, academic, and labor organizations across the region.