Half of Americans live in states without rules restricting disconnections for unpaid or overdue bills, report finds
Millions of low-income households are at risk of having their power disconnected this summer, exacerbating the risk of deadly heat as the climate crisis drives up temperatures.
A new report by the Centre for Energy Poverty and Climate (EPC) and the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (Neada) found that almost half of Americans live in states without rules restricting disconnections for unpaid or overdue energy bills during potentially deadly heatwaves, forcing some low-income families to choose between cooling their homes and paying rent.
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Breaking Waves: Ocean News
07/16/2024 - 13:05
07/16/2024 - 12:31
Nashville and surrounding areas have been hit by severe storms and flooding, overwhelming city’s infrastructure
Residents in Nashville, Illinois, are evacuating their homes after emergency management officials warned the failure of the city’s dam was “imminent”.
Nashville, a small city in Illinois with a population of nearly 3,000 people, and surrounding areas have been hit with severe storms which have caused flooding, overwhelming the city’s infrastructure. More than 5in of rain fell in the region within six hours on Tuesday.
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07/16/2024 - 12:30
Government will also overhaul state laws after Guardian Australia uncovered serious problems with biodiversity offsets scheme
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The New South Wales government says the state’s biodiversity is in crisis and must be put on a path to recovery to reverse the decline of beloved species and ecosystems.
The environment minister, Penny Sharpe, has released the government’s “first steps” in responding to a major review of the state’s nature laws, saying “we cannot ignore the truth: biodiversity in NSW is in crisis”.
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Introducing legislation next year to enshrine a new state nature strategy with conservation and restoration targets;
Amending laws this year to reform the state’s offsets scheme;
Developing maps that identify current and future areas of high biodiversity value to give “clear guidance” on where environmental impacts should be avoided;
Reviewing other pieces of legislation that affect biodiversity to improve outcomes for the environment.
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07/16/2024 - 09:58
Company insists project should go ahead despite new government saying it had been unlawfully approved
The company behind the first new coalmine in the UK for 30 years has argued in the high court on Tuesday that it would be a “unique net zero” mine.
West Cumbria Mining (WCM) continued to defend the legality of its mine, which will produce 60m tonnes of coking coal in its lifetime, in the court days after the government said its planning permission was unlawful because it had not taken into account downstream emissions from using the coal.
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07/16/2024 - 09:00
Vance’s record shows ‘pattern of prioritizing fossil fuel interests’ over the climate crisis, environmentalist says
JD Vance’s close ties to the fossil fuels industry and eagerness to please Donald Trump pose a major threat to Americans and the planet, environmental advocates have warned.
The Republican nominee for vice-president, a wealthy venture capitalist who was elected to the US Senate in 2022, went from voicing concern about the climate crisis before running for political office to voting to roll back environmental protections and to repeal landmark climate legislation boosting renewables and electric vehicles.
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07/16/2024 - 08:40
Authorities asked residents of small, rural community to leave, nearly a year after deadliest US wildfire struck in Maui
Firefighters have contained a wind-swept wildfire that was threatening about 200 homes on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, nearly a year after an explosive blaze killed more than a hundred people on nearby Maui.
Residents of about 200 homes in a small, rural community on Kauai were told to evacuate on Monday, as firefighters worked to stop the spread of a fire between Hanapepe and Kaumakani.
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07/16/2024 - 07:47
Award for Lawrence Gosden comes after criticism of business plan and attempts to increase bills by 73%
Every water firm in England and Wales under investigation over sewage spills
The chief executive of Southern Water has received a £183,000 bonus despite submitting a business plan that has been criticised by the industry regulator and attempting to raise bills more than any other English water company.
Lawrence Gosden received the bonus as part of a £764,000 pay package, up from £428,000 a year earlier, according to the company’s annual report.
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07/16/2024 - 02:59
New peak may be challenged as early as Tuesday evening as mid-winter bites in Melbourne
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The wintry blast sweeping across eastern Australia has set a record for electricity demand in Victoria and propelled wind generation in New South Wales to new highs, with energy authorities preparing for another power peak on Tuesday evening.
Victoria broke a 17-year record for maximum winter electricity demand, with the tally reaching 8,612 megawatts at 6pm on Monday, the Australian Energy Market Operator said.
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07/16/2024 - 02:30
Ofwat opens cases against Severn Trent and others, days after they faced criticism over huge bill rises
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The water regulator for England and Wales is taking action against four more water companies including Severn Trent and United Utilities over sewage spills, just days after being accused of showing “contempt” to customers over the latest water bill price rises.
Ofwat said it had served formal notices on Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities asking them to provide evidence for its investigation into companies’ wastewater management in England and Wales.
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07/16/2024 - 01:00
From ‘sea carrots’ to the rubbery luga, Rodolfo Guzmán is on a mission to transform seaweed’s unique salty flavours into irresistible bites
Rodolfo Guzmán produces a carrot-shaped pod of algae from one of the packed shelves in his test kitchen in the Chilean capital, Santiago: “Put it on your tongue for five seconds,” he instructs. An explosion of salty flavour ensues.
“Imagine getting more kids to eat stuff like this!” he says, eagerly. “Instead of processed snacks like Pringles, they could eat something healthy and delicious from the sea.”
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