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5 Black Environmentalists you should know

These Black environmentalists dedicated their lives to advocating for environmental justice.

Environmental Justice has long been a Black issue, our communities have historically, and even now, been disproportionately impacted by environmental issues. From chemical companies to contaminated water, Black and poor neighborhoods are far too often in close proximity to environmental hazards. Despite that, our communities have fought and continue to fight because we understand our lives and the environment are intertwined. Check out these five Black environmentalists who dedicated their lives to advocating for environmental justice throughout history. Hazel M. Johnson 1935 – 2011“For so long, environmental activism has been primarily a white, middle-class issue, far removed from the daily reality of inner-city life.”Affectionately known as the mother of the environmental justice movement, Hazel Johnson became a leading voice on the environmental racism impacting Black communities. After the Louisiana-born activist moved to Chicago, she became an influential figure in the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood she called home. Following the death of her husband from Lung Cancer, Johnson became concerned about a similar pattern of lung-related ailments plaguing other residents. Through her own investigation she learned the Altgeld Gardens was surrounded by several environmental hazards, including having been built over a landfill. Johnson eventually founded the People for Community Recovery, an organization to support Altgeld Gardens tenants and focus on environmental justice. Her persistent advocacy played a crucial role in President Bill Clinton signing an executive order to address environmental issues impacting minority and low-income folks. Wangari Maathai 1940 – 2011Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, speaks during the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, Friday, March 10, 2006, at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.ASSOCIATED PRESS“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope. We also secure the future for our children.”Internationally renowned Kenyan human rights activist and environmentalist, Wangari Maathai devoted her life to making this world a more peaceful, equitable and greener place. In 1977, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an organization focused on supporting women, alleviating poverty and planting trees to conserve the environment. The Green Belt Movement resulted in the planting of over 30 million trees across Kenya. Maathai’s advocacy and impact traversed the continent and ultimately the world with her becoming the first African woman and first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Margie Richard 1941 – Goldman Environmental Prize winner Margie Richard, of Norco, LA., smiles in San Francisco, Saturday, April 17, 2004.AP Photo“The environment is everything around us—the air, the water and the land. The Earth is the foundation of life. Environmental issues should never be ignored.”Margie Richard grew up in a historically Black neighborhood in Norco, Louisiana which is a part of a region known as “Cancer Alley.” Richard’s own house was just a few feet away from a Shell chemical plant. Witnessing her community be afflicted by health issues primed her for a life of activism. However, what solidified her journey into environmentalism was the 1973 Shell Pipeline explosion that killed two people. Another Shell plant explosion would happen in 1988 killing seven workers, and a year later, Richard founded Concerned Citizens of Norco. After a decades-long campaign led by Richard, Shell agreed to buyout the neighborhood and reduce its toxic emissions by 30 percent. Richard’s advocacy expanded beyond her Norco neighborhood earning her the honor of becoming the first African American to win the Goldman Environmental Prize.Robert D. Bullard 1946 – Robert Bullard, the founder of the environmental justice center, poses in his office on the Clark Atlanta University Campus in Atlanta, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, between enlarged versions of two of his books.AP Photo“America is segregated, and so is pollution.”Often regarded as the father of environmental justice, Robert Bullard has been a prominent scholar and activist in the environmental justice movement spanning four decades. An award-winning author of 18 books, much of his work has been focused on environmental racism, sustainability, urban land use, and climate justice. Bullard is also the founding director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice and the HBCU Climate Change Consortium. Bullard’s advocacy and leadership has earned him dozens of prestigious honors, including receiving the 2020 Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award and being appointed to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council by President Joe Biden.John Francis 1946 – “We are the environment and how we treat each other is really how we treat the environment.”Inspired by the 1971 oil spill in San Francisco Bay, John Francis made a decision to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. One of the big changes he made was giving up motorized transportation and instead walking. After receiving pushback for his decision, Francis took a 17-year vow of silence. During that time, he remained committed to the cause, founding Planetwalk, a non-profit environmental awareness organization. Over the years, Francis, nicknamed Planetwalker, trekked across the United States taking detours along the way for several degrees, including a Ph.D. in Land Resources. In addition to journeying through the United States, he walked and sailed through the Caribbean, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. As the National Geographic Society’s first Education Fellow, Francis continues to spread awareness to the masses about the importance of taking care of the Earth. Check out our Earth Day Reads on the Black Joy Bookshop to learn more!

Activism

Chemicals

Climate

Bauman’s Cider opens 1st Portland location

Bauman’s Cider of Gervais on Friday holds the grand opening of its first tasting room and restaurant, Bauman’s on Oak. Also in this beer roundup, Labyrinth Forge Brewing closes, and Belmont Station turns 27.

Bauman’s Cider of Gervais on Friday holds the grand opening of its first tasting room and restaurant, Bauman’s on Oak, moving into the space previously occupied by Base Camp Brewing then Ecliptic Brewing’s Moon Room in Southeast Portland’s Buckman neighborhood.The grand opening festivities begin at 2 p.m. and run through Sunday. For those unfamiliar with Bauman’s, the ciderhouse is highly acclaimed, having garnered over 160 medals for its ciders on the national and international stage, and it has won four consecutive titles of mid-sized cidery of the year at two of the most prestigious cider competitions in the U.S. It was founded in 2016 by Christine Walter, who began life as Christine Bauman and grew up working and playing in the fields of her family’s Bauman Farms.Walter is among the fifth generation to farm the Marion County land, which her great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Bauman, homesteaded in 1895. In 2015, Walter started the cider operation in a small corner of a barn on the farm, and it has grown so much it needed to move manufacturing to the Southeast Portland location to have room to grow — and open a tasting room. “Our restaurant and tasting room,” Walter says, “is a love letter to the cider community. But the thing about the cider community is, everyone is welcome.“So whether you’re cider-obsessed, cider-curious, or simply looking for a good meal with friends and family, we’d love to have you in to dine with us.”Bauman’s on Oak has been “soft” opened for two weeks, serving its exquisite ciders to customers who flocked to the tasting room since hearing about it on social media and word of mouth. The kitchen is operated by Chef Daniel Green, former founding partner at Portland’s Cafe Olli, and he has created a menu of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that builds on his depth of experience as a sourdough baker and fermentation expert. The menu features items such as house-made sourdough with caramelized onion butter; roasted beets with ricotta, nettle salsa and dukkah; brown rice with mushroom confit and mustard greens; and gigante beans with cabbage and shredded pork.Walter’s team has transformed the former Moon Room into an elegant space with lush greens and almond whites to complement the bare concrete walls and open wood-beam ceiling. Chris Leimena, who has worked with some of Portland’s best restaurants including Higgins, Langbaan, and most recently Le Pigeon/Canard, has been brought on to lead the front of house, which offers full table service along with a bar that seats about 10.Offerings also include wine and beer served from the more than 30 taps. Nonalcoholic options are also plentiful.The grand opening begins at 2 p.m. Friday and continues through Sunday, and it includes raffles for prizes all weekend, along with tours, pie specials, and more surprises. Bauman’s on Oak is at 930 S.E. Oak St., with regular hours from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 2-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.***Editor’s note: This is a re-publication of the Oregon Brews and News weekly beer and cider newsletter, written by Oregonian/OregonLive beer writer Andre Meunier. To subscribe to have the newsletter delivered every Thursday at noon to your email inbox, go to oregonlive.com/newsletters and sign up.***Labyrinth Forge Brewing exits the mazeLabyrinth Forge Brewing took a shot in the former Hair of the Dog space.Andre Meunier/The OregonianLast summer Labyrinth Forge Brewing, with great energy and optimism, opened its modernized and comfy taproom in the former Hair of the Dog Brewing space in Southeast Portland. Not a year later, the forces weighing down the brewing industry have shut down the dream. Founder Dylan Vandetta announced two Fridays ago on Instagram that Sunday, April 7, would be its last day. Here’s what he had to say:“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Labyrinth Forge Brewing Company. After much consideration and reflection, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors due to the challenges faced by the craft brewing industry.The last year proved to be exceptionally tough for us, as it did for many others in our craft beer community. Despite our best efforts and the unwavering dedication of our team, the combination of depressed draft beer sales and escalating operational costs has created challenges that we simply cannot overcome.”He went on to thank his team and LFB’s supporters, saying, “Remember to continue embracing the spirit of exploration and camaraderie that has defined Labyrinth Forge Brewing Company and Get Lost With Your Beer!”The loss is a double whammy. LFB’s brewhouse was also the brewery home of Green Dragon Brewing, a group of beer enthusiasts that provides opportunities and helps local homebrewers design and brew beer recipes that are then made available to the public. Green Dragon has brewed over 500 batches of beer in its long history, so stay tuned here to what might come next.Get smoky and dank on 4/20April 20 is in a couple of days, and it’s a day that is very exciting to a lot of people. And if the smoky and dank but in liquid form is your thing, you have reason to celebrate as well, because The BeerMongers and Mayfly Tap Room and Bottle Shop (with special guest Grand Fir Brewing) are partnering on the Smoked & Dank Fest this Saturday, offering — you guessed it — smoky and dank beers a-flowin. The BeerMongers has been holding the 4/20 event for years, and this year proprietor Sean Campbell is bringing pal Ryan Born and his Mayfly taproom aboard, with the two cross-town pubs each hosting separate locations for the festival. Here’s BeerMongers lineup:Aecht Schlenkerla Erle alderwood-smoked schwarzbierUpright Brewing’s Prague Rauch lager smoked dark lagerForeland Beer and Level Beer’s Mashes to Ashes smoked marzenOregon City Brewing’s Pipe Dreams smoked Munich dunkelPizza Port Brewing’s Sherpa beechwood-smoked porter (Ode to Alaskan smoked porter)Great Notion Brewing’s Roach Clip hazy IPAGreat Notion and Finback Brewery’s Wake & Bake imperial stoutCulmination Brewing’s 4&20 Black IPA Grand Fir Brewing’s Moss Giant DIPABeing new to the festival, Born says Mayfly’s taplist is smaller but still “mighty tasty”: Dank: VIA Beer’s Zach Smash Wild Ride Brewing’s Kiefer Magic Fortside Brewing’s Drop The MICSmoked: VIA’s Stash Box Rauch Marzen Upright Brewing’s Prague LagerDoyaji and Champs Burgers will be the food vendors at Mayfly, and The BeerMongers will offer the cuisines of HarBQ barbecue and Doug Adams of Doug Fir Brewing. BeerMongers is at 2415 S.E. 11th Ave. (opens at 11 a.m.), and Mayfly is at 8350 N. Fenwick Ave. (opens at noon)Belmont Station having a momentBelmont Station, at 4500 S.E. Stark St., celebrates its 27th anniversary.Oregonian file photoSoutheast Portland’s Belmont Station is always a great place to have a beer or search the coolers and shelves for bottles or cans, but right now it’s even a bit extra special. For starters, the bottle shop was just named best at the Oregon Beer Awards, and it placed third in USA Today’s survey of best beer bars in America. On top of those honors, tomorrow, Friday, April 19, Belmont Station celebrates its 27th anniversary. That’s a long time and a lot of beers served. To celebrate, owner Lisa Morrison and her crew brewed a collaboration beer with Pizza Port Brewing of San Diego called Greetings From Belmont that’s modeled after PPB’s famous Swami’s IPA, with a few modern twists. And for the anniversary celebration tomorrow, all patrons get $1 off their first beverage purchased. Opens at 10 a.m.; 4500 S.E. Stark St.Beer (style) of the WeekThreshold Brewing & Blending on Saturday, April 27, 2024, celebrates the Polish beer style grodziskie.Courtesy of Threshold Brewing & BlendingGrodziskie: Two things (and probably more) are true about Threshold Brewing & Blending in Southeast Portland: 1) Brewer and co-founder Jarek Szymanski makes amazing beer; and 2) His wife and co-founder Sara Szymanski keeps the fun coming at the Montavilla neighborhood taproom. The latest is the brewery’s first ever Grodz Day, a celebration of the Polish beer style Grodziskie, “the Champagne of Poland,” the brewery says (Jarek is Polish-born). On Saturday, April 27, Threshold welcomes Polish guests from Browar Grodzisk, the Polish brewery credited in part for reviving the centuries-old style both nationally and abroad. In attendance also will be the crew from Polish Hops and Portland beer writer and international speaker Jeff Alworth. Here’s what Threshold says: “Expect a fascinating afternoon centered on this centuries-old Polish beer style, featuring a panel discussion, introduction to the brand new White Labs Grodziskie yeast strain, Polish hop sensory and guest taps featuring select Portland-brewed Grodziskie.” The style is pronounced “grow-JEES-kee-uh,” and it’s a light oak-smoked wheat ale style originating in the Polish town of Grodzisk in the mid-15th century. Threshold and Browar Grodzisk head brewer Marcin Ostajewski will be brewing a grodziskie while he’s here, so look for that soon.Threshold is also busy releasing more beers, including Quantum Vision Hazy and Quantum Vision West Coast, two IPAs featuring Citra and Mosaic hops. Brewery notes: “Ultra bright and dank, Mosaic is giving fruity tropical in all the right ways, and showcasing them combined side by side as a crisp West Coast vs super smooth hazy feels like a hop selection prerequisite.” Both on tap now, with cans available next Tuesday. Find Threshold at 403 S.E. 79th Ave.What to do, what to do?Earth to Beer bash: I wrote last month about the Earth to Beer project, a national Earth Day beer campaign where breweries make beer with environmentally responsible ingredients and give back to local environmental nonprofits. The effort has 35 breweries across the country onboard, and tomorrow one of those — Hopworks Brewery — is tapping eight of those beers at its original location, 2944 S.E. Powell Blvd.Music, beer and tacos: Montavilla Brew Works from 5-9 p.m. this Saturday, April 20, brings all three together for DJ Majik Man’s 420 Vinyl Bash. They’ll be spinning LPs from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, and Reina Del Mole will serve up mole tacos, burritos and tamales of authentic Oaxacan cuisine from 5 p.m. until they’re out. 7805 S.E. Stark St.The Pineapple Express Pineapple Beer Fest, Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom: Beer enthusiasts and pineapple lovers on Saturday should head over to Southeast Portland’s Imperial Bottle Shop to indulge in a unique selection of pineapple-infused brews. With 10 pineapple beers and one pineapple cider on tap, attendees can sip their way through a tropical paradise of flavors. Festival-goers can also get complimentary Pineapple Donuts courtesy of Mikiko Mochi Donuts, and Detroit Style Pineapple Pizza from Matt Cortese will be served from 3-4 p.m, while supplies last. The brainchild of local beer adventurer John “John The Kiwi” Lovegrove is also a celebration of his 50th birthday, so go on out and meet him. Participants include Vice Beer, Living Haus Beer, Gigantic Brewing, Breakside Brewery, Great Notion Brewing, Little Beast Brewing, iLK Beer, Steeplejack Brewing, McMenamins, Old Town Brewing and Swift Cider. Noon until close, 3090 S.E. Division St. More details here.Von Ebert Brewing’s 6th anniversary: The Portland brewery celebrates by releasing two collaboration beers with Firestone Walker Brewing of California: 6th Anniversary West Coast IPA and 6th Anniversary German-style Pilsner, which will be available at all four Von Ebert locations and Portland-area bottle shops. Said Sam Pecoraro, brewmaster of Von Ebert Brewing: “We wanted to celebrate this milestone with our friends at Firestone Walker Brewing Company, who are West Coast craft brewing pioneers and innovators, through collaborations that truly highlight our mutual drive to cultivate a brewery culture of continuous improvement to quench our beer drinkers.” On Thursday, April 18, Wildwood Taphouse, at 9345 N.E. Windsor St. in Hillsboro, will hold a release party from 4-10 p.m. with Von Ebert and Firestone Walker brewers in attendance. Fracture Brewing’s 2nd anniversary: The Portland brewery turns two and throws a party to celebrate at its Fracture Stark Street taproom, 1015 S.E. Stark, starting at noon Saturday, April 20. The brewery will release three beers to celebrate:Green is Gold, a triple dry hopped hazy IPA. Brewery notes: “A juice bomb that pushes the limits of saturated hop oils.”More Than Enough Citra, Fracture’s classic West Coast IPA base loaded up with Citra hops. Brewery notes: “A punch of lychee, sweet orange and dank citrus.”Turtles All the Way Down, a West Coast IPA brewed with Day One Distribution and Cascade Brewing. Brewery notes: “A perfect dank, piney, tropical/citrus hop bomb.”Get on the Bus campaign: Great Notion Brewing’s third annual tribute to Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters this year continues until the end of April, as fans get to “taste a ton of trippy beers, check out new cannabis-friendly merchandise, and have the chance to win a ton of far-out prizes,” the brewery says. Owners Paul Reiter, James Dugan and Andy Miller are big fans of Kesey and the Pranksters, thus the brewery name and beer references stem from the 1971 film “Sometimes a Great Notion.” The campaign is a “celebration of the fun annual Bicycle Day (the first recorded LSD ‘trip’ by Albert Hoffman on 4/19) and 4/20 cannabis celebration holidays honoring the Merry Pranksters and their Further Bus.” New beers that only appear annually around this time include these remaining releases:April 18:AuraBicycle DayElectric HeadbandMerry Dankster April 25:Micro DanksterBaked & Stuffed Berry DanishTriple Dank SharkCustomers can purchase GNB’s Get on the Bus beers on the GN mobile App, in-person at one of Great Notion’s seven locations; or at the website events page, where more detail is available. Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest: Now in its ninth year, this annual event, held this year on April 27, invites seasoned and novice cider enthusiasts to sample ciders from Columbia River Gorge and Pacific Northwest hard cidermakers. It offers over 60 ciders on tap from more than 30 cideries. Held at the Port of Hood River Event Site, this year the event expands its footprint to provide beachfront access to the Columbia River and the option for attendees to bring their own glass, contributing to what organizers call an “immersive and sustainable Hood River experience.” Beyond cider sampling, the daylong event boasts artisan food, art vendors, music and a children’s play area. For more information or tickets, visit hoodriverciderfest.com. For more information on Hood River, or to book a stay at one of Hood River’s lodging options visit visithoodriver.com/stay.New Releases of Note2023 Harvest Ciders, Dwinell Country Ales: If you’ve never made the trek out to Dwinell’s tasting room in Goldendale, Washington, please do. The drive along Washington’s Highway 14 is magical, as are Dwinell’s various offerings. This weekend Dwinell’s cider arm releases these three, and you’ll also discover some of their newer beers and wines. Almira - French Cider: A Normandy-style cider made from a blend of Domaines, Marie Menard and Muscadet de Lense apples.Russet - Dry Cider: A wild-fermented heirloom cider made from a blend of Winesap, Jonathan and Roxbury Russet apples.Robin - Pear Cider: An aromatic pear cider made from a blend of Comice, Pakham, Bosc and Taylor’s Gold pears, together with Karmijn de Sonnaville apples.Squeeze Play, Portland Cider Co.: The new cider release is a collaboration with the Hillsboro Hops that is crafted exclusively for the local minor league baseball team and is available during home games at Hillsboro Ballpark and at select retail locations. Cidery notes: “Juicy and refreshing and inspired by a classic margarita, the cider is bursting with fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juices accentuated by the floral and citrus aromas of Citra hops, and finished with a pinch of salt. Notes of ripe melon and lychee on the nose anchor the bright, fresh citrus flavors that are enhanced by light hoppiness, finishing tart and dry.” Sunshine Keyholes, Recluse Brew Works: This very juicy IPA isn’t exactly a hazy, front of house manager Richard LaRue says, but it’s “very drinkable, certainly unfiltered, and the closest thing to a hazy we’ve made so far.” Brewery notes: “Juicy. Sunny. Funny,” much like those notes. Available Friday, April 19, at the brewery, 4035 Grant St. Suite 102, Washougal.Black Dragon Imperial Cider, Avid Cider: The Bend ciderhouse releases this imperial cider of “mythical proportions” at 8.5% ABV. Cidery notes: “Black Dragon presents a bold blend of blackberry, raspberry and dragon fruit flavors.” On shelves now across Oregon and Washington in six-packs of 12-ounce cans and alongside Royal Apricot, Blueberry Pom and Golden Delish in Avid Cider’s first ever, newly released Variety Imperial 12-pack.Beach Beer, Pelican Brewing: This release from the coastal brewery is the newest addition to its year-round lineup and joins the newly released Beak Breaker Tropical Hazy IPA and re-released Pelicano cerveza lager as its summer trio lineup. “We wanted to create a tasty and flavorful beer that is true to our roots and celebrates our home here on the Oregon Coast,” says Pelican Brewing’s brewmaster of 28 years, Darron Welch, who just entered the Oregon Beer Awards Hall of Fame. “And after years of stepping out onto the sand from the back patio of our original location in Pacific City, it was clear that Beach Beer is the right beer to carry that feeling to wherever you happen to be.” Pelican says it is a “lighter, approachable, every-day beer that anyone can enjoy,” and Welch calls it “just good beer.” Available in 16-ounce can six-packs at any of Pelican Brewing’s four coastal locations and on store shelves wherever Pelican is sold. Juicy Drama, 10 Barrel Brewing: This fruit-forward imperial IPA becomes the fourth member of 10 Barrel’s HopBurst Family of IPAs. Brewery notes: “Brewed with a ridiculous amount of Bravo and Simcoe hops, giving it a dramatic burst of citrus and pine hop flavor, but keeping bitterness to a minimum. To round out the theatrics, the brewers added Yuzu zest to the fermenter for an explosive aroma that makes this 9.6% ABV surprisingly easy-drinking and low-maintenance.” — Andre Meunier has been writing about Northwest beer and breweries since 2016; reach him at 503-221-8488 or ameunier@oregonian.com, and sign up for his weekly newsletter, Oregon Brews and News. Instagram: @oregonianbeerguy

Culture

Energy

Food

Find a hidden wildflower paradise at Camassia Natural Area in West Linn

The small nature preserve is a rainbow of color in the spring.

It doesn’t look like much at first – a small, gravel parking area at the end of a neighborhood street in West Linn, a couple of signs in the trees – but soon the splendor of Camassia comes alive.Officially known as the Camassia Natural Area, a 26-acre nature preserve is home to more than 300 plant species, including wildflowers that bloom in April and May and turn the grassy plateau into a colorful display.Managed by international environmental nonprofit The Nature Conservancy, the Camassia preserve is tucked away in plain sight, bordered by Interstate 205, West Linn High School and quiet neighborhood streets. If you didn’t frequent the area, or didn’t know to look for it, you might never find it.Walking distance from downtown Oregon City, the preserve can also be counted as one among many easily accessible outdoor attractions in the area, alongside the McLoughlin Promenade, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park and Mary S. Young Park.And though Camassia is nice any time of year, there’s nothing like the spring.Shortspur seablush wildflowers bloom at Camassia Nature Preserve.Jamie Hale/The OregonianA boardwalk trail through a boggy forest is found on a side trail.Jamie Hale/The OregonianTrillium wildflowers bloom in the shade of a conifer.Jamie Hale/The OregonianA fawn lily blooms in a wooded area on a side trail.Jamie Hale/The OregonianA hazy view of Mount Hood is found on a viewpoint at the edge of the preserve.Jamie Hale/The OregonianOn a recent visit in the middle of April, the meadows and forests of the preserve were a rainbow of wildflowers. Pretty white trillium flowers and fawn lilies bloomed in the shade of conifers. Purple camas lilies and pink sea blush flowers filled the grassy meadows. Yellow blooming Oregon grape filled the spaces in between, beside giant blue-eyed Mary, little yellow violets and many delicate white blossoms.A half-mile one-way loop trail circles the preserve, running on boardwalks, dirt trails and rocky paths. Several short offshoot trails lead to other corners of the natural area, leading to the high school, other neighborhood entrances and neighboring Wilderness Park. It’s worth exploring them all, if only for a short distance.You could tour the whole place in a matter of minutes, but you’re better off taking it slow, observing the many different species and the lovely, intricate ecosystem that they call home.To find the Camassia Natural Area, take Oregon 43 south from Portland for 10 miles to West Linn. Turn right onto West A Street, then go right onto Willamette Falls Drive. In .2 miles, turn right onto Sunset Avenue, and in .1 miles turn right onto Walnut Street. The parking area is at the end of the street. If full, find a place to safely park being mindful and respectful of the neighbors.--Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.

Nature

Forests

Revelator Reads: 15 Random Books That Every Environmentalist Should Read

These aren’t books that will get filed under “climate change” or “wildlife,” but they all offer a glimpse into our changing world. The post Revelator Reads: 15 Random Books That Every Environmentalist Should Read appeared first on The Revelator.

A few months ago, I decided to take a break from reading environmental books. I didn’t make the decision lightly — I’m an environmental journalist, after all. But I’ve spent the past seven years reading and reviewing hundreds of weighty tomes on climate change, endangered species and environmental justice. With a rare (and now-completed) sabbatical on the horizon, I felt the need to recharge and immerse myself in different forms of writing. So I chose to put the eco-books aside for a while and devote my free time to history, poetry, philosophy, literature and pure entertainment. Oh, what a fool I was. Because you can’t escape tough topics like global warming, extinction and injustice — even in the pages of political analysis, science fiction, Buddhist teachings, poetry and comic books. The natural world is all around us, and the best writers bring it to life in their work, no matter the broader topic. Science history? That’s an environmental subject. Religion? That’s an environmental issue. Batman? He’s named after an animal, naturally. They’re all reflections of the cultures we live in, the pain we feel, our relationships and our transitions. I found myself reflecting on the environmental messages contained in these diverse volumes. In my first book-review column of 2024, below, I dig into some of them, mostly published in the past couple of years. Few were marketed as “environmental” books, but they contain wisdom environmentalists may enjoy. 1919 by Eve L. Ewing — This poetry collection is easily one of the most powerful and vital books I’ve read in the past year. It’s based on a painfully real series of events that took place in Chicago more than a century ago, when a deadly heat wave and a history of inequality combined to create an even deadlier racial conflict. This all happened long before the era of runaway climate change, but Ewing’s poetic accounts — drawn from little-seen documents contemporary to what became known as the Chicago Race Riot — feel painfully relevant. Could raging heat and injustice cause a violent crisis like this in the future? You’d better believe it. How to Walk by Thich Nhat Hanh — Parallax Press has condensed the late Buddhist teacher’s writings and speeches into 11 pocket-sized books called the “Mindfulness Essentials” series. I read them the entire series during my sabbatical, and each volume has at least something to do with the environment — this one more than most. It touches on the importance of placing our feet on the ground and — as we take each step — recognizing where we are in the greater scheme of our neighborhoods, our communities, the planet and the universe. These are lessons I’ve already come back to it a few times. (Also relevant and recommended: How to Fight, How to Connect, and How to Relax.) Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski — A book every environmentalist should read — or at least keep on the shelf for when they need it. And trust me, you’re probably going to need it. This doesn’t specifically cover environmental topics, and it’s written chiefly for women and the pressures they face, but it contains tips and tools for recovering from burnout that can help us rebuild for the long fight ahead. (Side note: My local library had a 17-week reservation backlog when I first tried to read this, so maybe put in your request early?) The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms, and Our Minds by Benyamin Cohen — A planet-hopping travelog through the late scientist’s achievements and impact on the world, including several surprising environmental tie-ins. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the white-haired icon and a better understanding of how one person can have a powerful ripple effect that lasts for decades. Plus, you get to find out what happened to Einstein’s brain after he died. (Spoiler alert: It ain’t pretty). Late in the Day: Poems 2010–2014 by Ursula K. Le Guin — Only one poem in this book by the late science-fiction author contains any real environmental themes, but coincidentally, it may also be the best poem I’ve ever read. And no, I’m not going to tell you which one. Go find out for yourself. Poison Ivy Vol. 1: The Virtuous Cycle and Poison Ivy Vol. 2: Unethical Consumption by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara & Atagun Ilhan — Stories featuring this green-clad Batman villain, who controls plants and seeks to wipe humans off the face of the planet, usually leave me cold. In the wrong creative hands, Poison Ivy makes for boring, didactic storytelling. But in this new iteration, Ivy’s in the right hands. This is a marvelously illustrated series, written by the creator of Muslim superhero Ms. Marvel, that deftly tackles all manner of environmental issues in ways that entertain, educate and challenge the reader. Along the way Wilson shows us how a character considered by some as an “ecoterrorist” may have the best intentions in the world (even if she is, in this case, an occasional murderer). Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems by Joy Harjo — Pure beauty (with more than a little emotion thrown in for good measure). This collection by the former U.S. poet laureate touches many themes, including environmental ones, although I found the poems about music and loss to be the most resonant. Kepler by David Duchovny & Phillip Sevy — This graphic novel flips the script from Duchovny’s X-Files days: What if humans landed on a less advanced alien planet and promptly taught the residents to make the same mistakes we’ve made here? The result: political divides, corruption, injustice, climate change, violence and all the other things that make humanity not so great. The resulting book has flaws, but it wears its satire proudly on its sleeve — and at least it has something to say. Earthdivers Vol. 1: Kill Columbus by Stephen Graham Jones & Davide Gianfelice — A graphic novel that packs a punch. In a future ruined by climate change, a lone Native American man travels back in time to rewrite history by… well, you can probably guess from the title. (Spoiler: It doesn’t go well.) Like all time-travel stories, the twists and turns and paradoxes get a little confusing if you’re not paying close attention, but it pays off (at least for now; the story is far from concluded in this first book). I came to this expecting some strong Indigenous storytelling about racial and cultural justice, but found the environmental themes provided extra relevance and raised the stakes even higher. It left me wondering: How long do we have to right our wrongs? Porcelain by Moby — A memoir by the electronic music star, who touches upon veganism and animal rights throughout the book. But it’s also about finding beauty, purpose and community in a harsh, harsh world. It’s told through the lens of New York City in decades past, and that had me wondering about our collective future. Strongmen by Ruth Ben-Ghiat; Sedition Hunters by Ryan J. Reilly; and Doppelganger by Naomi Klein — These books help clarify the threats people and the planet face from authoritarianism, disinformation and conspiracies — and the followers complicit in those crimes. Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth’s Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis by Michael E. Mann — OK, I had to squeeze one explicitly environmental book into this column, and it’s a good one. Mann, the climate scientist who originated the famed “hockey stick” graph, has a right to be completely pessimistic about the future, but the fact that he leans into optimism gives me strength. I’ve come back to this one a few times as I look for inspiration to reach people with powerful messages about the struggles we’ll face over the coming years. We’ll be back next month with several brand-new environmental books — and this time they’ll fully embrace the subject matter. Get more from The Revelator. Subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn. Previously in The Revelator: The Perils of Capitalism and Disinformation: 4 Critical New Books The post Revelator Reads: 15 Random Books That Every Environmentalist Should Read appeared first on The Revelator.

Climate

Animals

Crisis

CA workers to get indoor heat protections

The long and winding road to indoor heat protections for California workers took another turn Thursday: Cal/OSHA officials announced that they plan to finish rules this summer, covering employees in industries such as warehouses and manufacturing. But as CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang explains, there’s a big exception: State prisons. The heat rule for correctional […]

Employees make burgers at an In-N-Out restaurant in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. Photo by Chin Hei Leung, SOPA Images/Sip USA via Reuters The long and winding road to indoor heat protections for California workers took another turn Thursday: Cal/OSHA officials announced that they plan to finish rules this summer, covering employees in industries such as warehouses and manufacturing. But as CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang explains, there’s a big exception: State prisons. The heat rule for correctional staff will be on a separate track because the state says the cost is much more than initially anticipated. That 11-hour hitch emerged the night before the safety board’s March 21 meeting, when it was set to adopt the indoor heat rule, five years past the deadline set by the Legislature. State finance officials withheld a required sign-off, raising concerns that it could cost the Corrections Department billions of dollars to comply. With the carve out for correctional facilities, however, the rule can move forward, and employers will be expected to either cool down workplaces when indoor temperatures reach 87 degrees or lower the risk of workers getting sick from heat illnesses. After a 15-day public comment period and another vote by the safety board, the rule will likely take at least a few weeks to be approved. So what happens to workers inside jails and prisons? Eric Berg, a Cal/OSHA deputy chief, said it will separately propose a new rule for them, which will be expected to require a separate cost analysis and public hearing. The process could last a few months to a few years. This has disappointed some workers’ advocates. AnaStacia Wright, an attorney at the advocacy group Worksafe: This leaves “not just guards but also nurses, janitors and many other prison workers across California unprotected from heat, not to mention all the incarcerated workers…” Meanwhile, the Newsom administration has not provided a public explanation of its prison cost calculations — which far exceeded the safety board’s own estimate of $1 million in the first year — or why the costs were flagged so late. Read more in Jeanne’s story. The indoor heat rule isn’t the only policy that advocates for workers want: Jobless aid for undocumented: A coalition of workers and immigrant groups known as Safety Net for All marched in Sacramento Thursday to push for legislation that would extend unemployment benefits to undocumented immigrants. Describing it as “a matter of fairness,” one coalition member said in a statement that undocumented workers contribute to California’s economy and should be protected in “situations like a natural disaster or a pandemic.” Better working conditions for janitors: After rallying in support of a bill to curb overworking among janitorial staff, janitors from Sacramento and members of SEIU United Service Workers West voted Wednesday to authorize a strike. Other janitors from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Jose and San Diego are also expected to hold a vote strike on May 18 — laying the groundwork for a potential work stoppage of about 25,000 janitors statewide. Said the union: “For too long, immigrant janitors have been treated as commodities, not people.” Avoiding late-night boss calls: And a bill that would require employers to let workers ignore calls from their bosses’ outside work hours cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, advancing out of the Assembly’s labor committee. The measure’s author, Democratic Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco, said his proposal protects workers from burnout but is also pro-business: “California businesses will be more competitive for desperately needed workers as a result of this law.” CalMatters announces the acquisition of The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom that specializes in covering technology and its impact on our lives. Pairing The Markup’s innovative data and impact methodology with CalMatters’ expertise creates a powerful newsroom poised to lead coverage of California tech policy and deliver impactful reporting across all of its beats. Learn more from our engagement team. Spring member drive: We rely on your support. Join our nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom today, with a tax-deductible donation, to build a better California for tomorrow. Give now. Focus on inequality: Each Friday, the California Divide team delivers a newsletter that focuses on the politics and policy of inequality. Read an edition here and subscribe here. Other Stories You Should Know Environmentalists split on power fee Ken Wells of O&M Solar Services outside a home in Ladera Heights on Jan. 23, 2024. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters As the California Public Utilities Commission prepares to vote next month on whether to allow large utility companies to impose a “fixed charge,” environmental groups are split about the fee, writes CalMatters’ Ben Christopher. Though most utility companies across the country already collect fixed charges, in California it would be new to customers of investor-owned utilities including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. They initially proposed a monthly fee based on income, charging higher-income households significantly more. But after bipartisan blowback from legislators and others, the proposal now before the utilities commission calls for a flat $24 monthly fee, with discounts for lower-income households. In exchange, customers would be charged lower usage rates. Under this pricing structure, people who use less electricity will pay a bit more because of the monthly fee, while those who use more electricity will save some money thanks to the lower usage rates. Because this could discourage some people from conserving energy, major environmental groups are divided. Those that support it say it’s a meaningful first step toward electrification and cleaner energy. Mohit Chhabra, Natural Resources Defense Council analyst: “Ten years ago, even, the grid was mostly powered by fossil fuels. The question now, as the grid gets cleaner, is ‘When should you use more?’” But critics contend that the proposal strays from California’s tradition of encouraging energy conservation. Laura Deehan, state director of Environment California, at a press conference: “It’s going to have this perverse impact of incentivizing wasting energy, encouraging people to buy the biggest car, the biggest house, leaving the lights on.” For more about the debate, read Ben’s story. Ballot measure bonanza Voter guides in various languages at a polling site at Modoc Hall on the Sacramento State campus on March 5, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters California’s crowded November ballot for initiatives and referendums is starting to come into sharper focus. Thursday, proponents of changing Proposition 47, the criminal justice measure approved by voters in 2014, announced they’re submitting 900,000 signatures, nearly double the 546,651 valid names required to make the ballot. The initiative would increase penalties for repeat offenders to deter retail theft and other crimes. Prop. 47 is being blamed for smash and grabs because it increased the threshold for felony charges to $950 in value, though the data is nowhere near conclusive. Also Thursday, supporters of an initiative to require schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender were in court to fight over the ballot title. They wanted it to say “Protect Kids of California Act,” but Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office changed it to “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth.” A ruling could come today. And earlier this week, two other initiatives officially didn’t make the cut, failing to gather enough signatures in time. One would have banned new oil and gas wells near homes, hospitals and schools, while the other would have required more transparency in state government records. That brings to an even dozen the number of measures that have failed to qualify for the Nov. 5 ballot, or have been withdrawn. Ten measures are on the Nov. 5 ballot for now, though there could be many more. It’s also possible measures currently on the ballot will fall off: On May 8, the state Supreme Court is set to hear a lawsuit by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislators to block a business-backed measure that would make it more difficult for local and state governments to raise taxes. And the Legislature has until June 27 to make deals with proponents to withdraw measures. Keep up with all of CalMatters’ election coverage here. And lastly: Probation probe impact A halfway house in Los Angeles on Feb. 3, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local Last July, CalMatters published an investigation by Byrhonda Lyons revealing how the California Department of Corrections had spent more than $600 million on a probation program but couldn’t say how it helped participants. Now, the department is responding. Find out how from investigative editor Andrew Donohue. CalMatters Commentary CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Californians once supported reducing prison sentences, but attitudes have changed. A likely November ballot measure could test just how much. CalMatters columnist Jim Newton: After L.A. politicians were exposed in 2022 trying to draw city council districts to serve narrow interests, the case for expanding the council has become more viable. Earth Day contest: CalMatters held its Earth Day commentary contest, and more than 70 high school students across California called on candidates to back a variety of climate solutions.Sophia Bella, a junior at Burlingame High School, won second place with a piece about the importance of public transit and high-speed rail. Read more about the contest, plus excerpts from other finalists. Other things worth your time: Some stories may require a subscription to read. Newsom calls for increased oversight of local homelessness efforts // Los Angeles Times State faces mounting pressure to shore up jobless aid fund // Los Angeles Times Anxious CA teachers with pink slips await word on jobs next school year // EdSource Google announces more layoffs, plans to move jobs overseas // San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area aerospace company, chip maker cut hundreds of jobs // The Mercury News Musk apologizes to laid-off Tesla employees for severance error // San Francisco Chronicle Disneyland cast members file for union election with NLRB // Los Angeles Times Disneyland gets OK to add new rides, restaurants, hotels // Los Angeles Times Tijuana River among most endangered due to sewage crisis // The San Diego Union-Tribune SF DA has message for those stuck in Golden Gate Bridge protest // San Francisco Chronicle Insurers non-renew Bay Area homes due to post-quake fire risk // San Francisco Chronicle Calexico recalls first transgender mayor and a council ally // Los Angeles Times SF sues Oakland over airport name, alleging trademark violation // San Francisco Chronicle

Business

Climate

Conservation

E.P.A. Will Make Polluters Pay to Clean Up Two PFAS Compounds

The step follows an extraordinary move that requires utilities to reduce the levels of carcinogenic PFAS compounds in drinking water to near-zero.

The Biden administration is designating two “forever chemicals,” man-made compounds that are linked to serious health risks, as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, shifting responsibility for their cleanup to polluters from taxpayers.The new rule announced on Friday empowers the government to force the many companies that manufacture or use perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, known as PFOS, to monitor any releases into the environment and be responsible for cleaning them up.The compounds, found in everything from dental floss to firefighting foams to children’s toys, are called forever chemicals because they degrade very slowly and can accumulate in the body and the environment. Exposure to PFAS has been associated with metabolic disorders, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children and increased risk of some prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.The chemicals are so ubiquitous that they can be found in the blood of almost every person in the United States. In 2022, the E.P.A. found the chemicals could cause harm at levels “much lower than previously understood” and that almost no level of exposure was safe.The pair of compounds are part of a larger family of chemical substances known collectively as PFAS.The announcement follows an extraordinary move last week from the E.P.A. mandating that water utilities reduce the PFAS in drinking water to near-zero levels. The agency has also proposed to designate seven additional PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances.Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.

Water

Chemicals

Health

For the first time, U.S. may force polluters to clean up these ‘forever chemicals’

The Environmental Protection Agency designated two of the most widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances.

The Biden administration on Friday moved to force polluters to clean up two of the most pervasive forms of “forever chemicals,” designating them as hazardous substances under the nation’s Superfund law.The long-awaited rule from the Environmental Protection Agency could mean billions of dollars of liabilities for major chemical manufacturers and users of certain types of compounds known as polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.“Designating these chemicals under our Superfund authority will allow EPA to address more contaminated sites, take earlier action, and expedite cleanups, all while ensuring polluters pay for the costs to clean up pollution threatening the health of communities,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.The EPA’s action on Friday applies to two widely used PFAS chemicals — perfluorooctanoic acid, known as PFOA, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, known as PFOS. The agency said the designation will enable regulators to investigate and force the cleanup of leaks and spills of the chemicals, which have been associated with a range of health issues, including cardiovascular problems, low birth weights and certain cancers.The move is the latest in a broader set of policies meant to address the prevalence of the human-made chemicals throughout the country. Last week, the EPA finalized the nation’s first drinking water standard for PFAS, the first such update since 1996. Agency officials estimate that the standard will reduce exposure to these chemicals in drinking water for about 100 million Americans.“The PFAS Superfund listing and the drinking water standard are kind of a one-two punch to address the PFAS problem, and they are two of the most significant public health steps that the Biden administration has taken,” said Erik Olson, a senior strategic director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group.The listing, Olson added, “will help force the polluters themselves to pay for the contamination, rather than those who are most affected by it.”The rule could benefit hundreds of affected families and communities around the country, such as those along the Cape Fear River in North Carolina that have been grappling with PFAS contamination for years. The Donovan family is one of those.Three years after moving to Leland, N.C., David Donovan began losing his vision. Doctors discovered a brain tumor in his skull and performed an emergency procedure to remove it.His wife, Emily Donovan, who co-founded a grass-roots advocacy group called Clean Cape Fear, wonders if tap water was to blame. For more than 30 years, a chemical plant outside Fayetteville released PFAS chemicals into the Cape Fear River, contaminating the drinking water of roughly 500,000 people.She worries that her 14-year-old son and daughter twins grew up drinking tap water, which her pediatrician encouraged over sugary juices and soft drinks. While David has recovered his vision and the kids appear healthy, recent testing revealed that all the family members have elevated levels of PFAS in their blood.“Our pediatrician told us the best thing we could do for our children was teach them to love water, and that’s what we did,” Donovan said through tears. “We thought we were doing the right thing.”The rule released Friday comes as part of the Biden administration’s multifaceted crackdown on PFAS, one that many advocates argue should have happened decades ago. As early as the 1960s, research conducted by the manufacturing giants 3M and DuPont revealed that PFAS could pose health risks for lab animals and humans.Today, the federal government has only begun to grapple with these risks, which have become remarkably pervasive. Nearly every American has measurable amounts of PFAS in his or her blood, and close to half of the nation’s tap water has one or more types of PFAS, according to an estimate by the U.S. Geological Survey.PFAS are used to make a variety of everyday products, including nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, artificial turf, food packaging and firefighting foam. They are often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment.For decades, manufacturers prized PFAS for their durability. Because the carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest, these chemicals are resistant to water, grease and heat. They keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, and they prevent stains from marking clothes or carpets.Yet that resilience has proved dangerous. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, has classified PFOA as “carcinogenic” and PFOS as “possibly carcinogenic.”In theory, the Superfund listing for PFOA and PFOS will make it easier for the government to force polluters to clean up contaminated sites. In practice, however, it could also inspire fierce legal battles over who should foot the bill for the damage these chemicals have inflicted.Major manufacturers reached an agreement with the EPA in 2006 to phase out production of PFOA and PFOS in the United States. But the persistent chemicals have continued to contaminate U.S. public drinking water systems, leading to numerous lawsuits and multibillion-dollar settlements.“The corporations that produced and used these chemicals and allowed them to invade our lakes, streams and aquifers made billions, even trillions, of dollars of profits as a result,” Robert F. Powelson, president of the National Association of Water Companies, said in a statement. “But it is water and wastewater systems that are on the front lines of cleaning up the contamination, leaving water customers on the hook for paying tens of billions of dollars to remove the toxins from our water.”In 2022, Minnesota-based 3M pledged to stop all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025. The following year, the company agreed to pay $10.3 billion as part of a sweeping settlement with U.S. cities and towns that detected PFAS in their water supplies.The EPA’s latest rule could result in an additional $2.9 billion in liabilities for 3M and $4.8 billion in liabilities for three DuPont entities, analysts with the firm Capstone wrote in a recent note to clients.“Especially if there’s litigation, it could take at least five to 10 years to determine liability for each cleanup,” said Gianna Kinsman, a vice president on Capstone’s energy team. “You could see it take a couple of decades even.”3M spokesman Sean Lynch said in a statement that the company “is committed to compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and we will continue to work to address legacy PFAS issues.” He added that 3M is on schedule to meet its target to end all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025.A spokesman for DuPont declined to comment for this story.Tom Flanagin, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, said the trade group “strongly” opposes the EPA’s decision to list PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, dubbed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.“CERCLA is an expensive, ineffective, and unworkable means to achieve remediation for these chemicals,” Flanagin said in an emailed statement. The law, he added, is “fraught with unintended consequences, and will likely result in extensive, unnecessary delays for cleanups. There are more effective and timely means to address potential site remediation through existing regulatory processes.”In addition to corporations, the federal government — and ultimately taxpayers — could also face significant liabilities. For more than a half-century, the Defense Department used a PFAS-laced firefighting foam to quickly extinguish fires and prevent them from reigniting at military bases nationwide.The communities near those military bases are now some of the most contaminated sites in the country. It is unclear whether the federal government will shoulder the full cost of cleaning up those sites, or whether the Pentagon will seek to recoup some costs from chemical makers, said Rainer Lohmann, a professor who leads the Superfund Research Center at the University of Rhode Island.“I think that’s the biggest unknown,” Lohmann said.Pentagon spokesman Robert L. Ditchey II said in an email that “this final rulemaking will not change DoD’s ongoing PFAS investigations and cleanup actions.” He said that as of December, the Pentagon had identified 715 military installations that required an assessment for PFAS contamination, and after an initial assessment, 574 installations are proceeding to the next step in the Superfund cleanup process.Ditchey referred questions about recouping the cleanup costs to the Justice Department. In court filings, Justice Department lawyers have argued that the Pentagon is immune from 27 lawsuits over the contamination filed by local and state governments, businesses and property owners.The demographics of communities affected by PFAS contamination vary from state to state. But a recent analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that PFAS pollution is more prevalent in disadvantaged communities in California, potentially affecting up to 8.9 million people in these neighborhoods.Kelly Moser, a senior attorney and leader of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Water Program, said the EPA’s use of the Superfund law to address the problem is critical, since it is the country’s bedrock law governing the most contaminated sites.“And some of the worst of the worst contaminated sites these days contain PFAS,” she said.But perhaps just as important, Moser said, is that even as it could take years for the government to assess tainted areas and assign responsibility, the new rules could serve as a deterrent for ongoing pollution.“Although Superfund sites are not going to pop up overnight, the threat of them will. It is an incentive for industries to start acting responsibly,” she said. “What EPA is making clear with these rules is these chemicals are extremely harmful to human health, and people must be protected from them.”

Chemicals

Animals

Energy

A plan to change your utility rates is dividing California environmentalists. Here’s why

The California Public Utilities Commission will consider on May 9 a new proposal that would change how Californians pay for electricity.

In summary The California Public Utilities Commission will consider on May 9 a new proposal that would change how Californians pay for electricity. On May 9, the California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote on whether to let the state’s largest power providers slap most customers with a new fixed charge. Think of it like paying for a subscription service, except instead of forking over a monthly fee to watch old Friends episodes, this one lets you enjoy the comforts of 20th century living. Also,according to the proposed rule, the utilities will be required to lower the rate we all pay for each unit of power we consume. On average, electric bills won’t go up or down, but most households aren’t exactly average. Under the proposed change, people who use less electricity will pay a bit more as a result of the fee, while those who rack up large power bills will save thanks to the lower usage rates. The basic idea isn’t novel, even if it’s wildly controversial here in California; Most utilities across the country already collect fixed charges. But this proposed regulation comes with a distinctly California twist: The fixed charges would vary by income, with higher earners paying a $24 fee and lower-income households paying either $6 or $12. The proposed charges are significantly less steep than ones proposed by the utilities themselves last spring, which topped out at $128 per month for the highest earners. But with a national average of roughly $11 per month, the $24 fee under consideration is still on the high end. Though most households will be compensated, at least partially, through lower rates, that sticker shock has engendered plenty of political outrage. Republicans don’t like it because the income-varying nature of the charge smacks of a progressive income tax. Many Democrats have lambasted the idea, too, because the lower volumetric rates will water down the incentive to mind one’s electric usage. The utilities say they need some kind of fixed charge to help pay down wildfire and other rising fixed costs. “Those who consume more electricity, such as a single family home with (a) pool, will receive a discount at the expense of a low electricity user, such as an apartment renter,” wrote Jacqui Irwin, an Assemblymember from Thousand Oaks, along with 21 of her fellow Democratic colleagues last fall. Irwin is also the lead author of a bill that would put a tight lid on fixed charges, capping them at $10 for most customers and $5 for those enrolled in the state’s biggest energy assistance program. What makes the debate especially unusual is where some of the state’s most influential environmental interests have come down on the proposal. Namely, on both sides. The Natural Resources Defense Council is for it. Environment California is against it. The Sierra Club called it a “mixed bag.” Once upon a time, environmental interests shared a united view about the best way to make use of the grid: The less the better. Now, depending on which green activist you ask, the regulatory proposal is either a utility-backed break from the state’s long, eco-conscious tradition of encouraging energy conservation, or a necessary first step toward electrifying our homes and vehicles for the sake of the planet’s future. “Ten years ago, even, the grid was mostly powered by fossil fuels,” said Mohit Chhabra, an analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, which backs the proposed change. “The question now, as the grid gets cleaner, is ‘When should you use more?’” As the commission prepares for its vote early next month, the debate is the latest sign that the changing economics of electricity generation in California are beginning to upend the traditional politics of the grid as well. The case for a fixed charge The origin of the current debate dates back to at least 2021 when three UC Berkeley energy economists published a report on what’s wrong with California’s electricity prices. The report is heavy on jargon, but the gist is simple: Rates are just way too high. Severin Borenstein, one of the report’s authors, said that isn’t a populist argument; it’s an economic and environmental one. Providing energy through the state’s increasingly solar- and wind-saturated electric grid is not only cheaper, but vastly more environmentally friendly than getting an equivalent amount of energy by burning gasoline or methane. But because California has some of the highest retail electric rates in the country, “the cost of fueling my Prius at a gas station is about the cost of fueling a Tesla — and it shouldn’t be,” he said. “We are sending entirely the wrong price signals and it’s undermining decarbonisation.” The reason for the gap between the price California households pay and the actual cost of producing the energy, Borenstein argues, is that many of the costs that large utilities face — costs that have nothing to do with actually producing electricity — are larded onto the rates we pay per kilowatt hour. Those costs include paying off wildfire-related lawsuits, investments intended to ward off future fires, rebates for lower-income customers, electric vehicle charging stations, payments to customers with rooftop solar panels and upkeep of the grid itself. The utilities say they need some kind of fixed charge to help pay down wildfire and other rising fixed costs. The best way to pay for many of these costs would be out of the state budget, Borenstein argues — a political nonstarter. The report suggested an alternative: Cut rates and make up the difference with a fixed charge on every electric bill. Better yet, for the sake of fairness, make the fixed-charge vary by household income — an income tax of sorts, but paid monthly to the utilities. Customers would still be on the hook, the argument goes, but at least bills would do less to discourage Californians from buying electric cars and induction stoves. The next year Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget proposal included language that would let the state’s utility regulator do just that. An income-graduated fixed charge, the budget document read, would “enable creation of better price signals that will enhance widespread electrification efforts.” A month later, that measure was tucked in a 21,000-word budget bill with little public discussion. It wasn’t until late last year, after the public utility commission began soliciting feedback on the proposal it had been tasked by the Legislature to come up with, that legislators began sounding the alarm and introducing new legislation to reverse course. Newsom’s office declined to comment on the current legislation. But in January, a spokesperson for the administration told reporters that the governor “looks forward to seeing a commission proposal that is consistent” with the 2022 budget bill language Electrification vs. conservation It’s not a coincidence that utilities in eco-conscious, politically blue California are rare among the nation’s power providers in doing without fixed charges. Sticking high energy users, believed to be higher income households, with more of the bill has always appeared to align with the state’s economically progressive bent. Charging more per unit of electricity also promotes energy efficiency. Environmental advocates who oppose the change aren’t keen on lessening the current financial penalty for being an energy hog. “It’s going to have this perverse impact of incentivizing wasting energy, encouraging people to buy the biggest car, the biggest house, leaving the lights on,” said Laura Deehan, state director of Environment California, at a digital press conference on Tuesday. The change would also further discourage the uptake of rooftop solar panels, she warned. It’s already been a punishing few years for the rooftop solar industry in California. In 2022, the public utilities commission cut the payment that panel owners receive for the excess energy they pipe back onto the grid. By lowering the per-unit cost of electricity that panel owners forgo, this year’s change would further chip away at the benefit of going solar, while also sticking those households with an unavoidable monthly fee. “High fixed charges pick winners and losers,” explained Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association, in an email. “The winners are high energy users. The losers are low energy users. Adding solar and batteries to your home can also make you a low energy user. So, yes, we have a dog in the fight.” “But the numbers of non-solar users impacted by this are much larger,” she said. Winners and losers Who those affected customers are is its own spirited debate. The biggest losers will be middle income households who just miss the cut-off for a discount and who currently have small energy bills. The biggest winners will be the biggest users. “High usage customers tend to be wealthier people who can afford to pay these energy bills,“ said Josh Plaisted, founder of the engineering and regulator consulting firm Flagstaff Research, which conducted analysis of the proposed change for the Clean Coalition, a nonprofit that promotes policies that support rooftop solar, microgrids and other non-utility-based energy systems. Under the fixed charge proposal, “a home with a backyard pool in Walnut Creek is rocking it,” he said. Supporters counter that while higher income households do tend to use more energy, the relationship isn’t as consistent as one might think. Of all the things that determine whether a house uses a lot of energy or a little, income isn’t as important as local climate, household size and the efficiency of the building, said Chhabra. Wealthier families are more likely to have better insulated homes, solar panels on their roofs and live in expensive coastal cities, all of which tend to result in lower electric bills. “Once you start looking through the details, a generic assumption like that just doesn’t hold,” he said. The CPUC estimates that a typical household that goes fully electric would save between $12 and $19 per month on their electric bill as a result of the new rate change. For now the debate may be more symbolic than meaningful. While the biggest winners and losers under the proposed policy stand to see their yearly utility spending change by a few hundred dollars, both supporters and opponents concede that most customers will fall somewhere in the middle. Many may not even notice the change. Meanwhile, the change won’t affect commercial or industrial customers at all. That’s not enough to break the bank for most, but nor is it likely to make the difference for a household weighing a gas versus an electric hot water heater. “Connecting the fixed charge with ‘this enables electrification’ just rings hollow,” said Plaisted. The CPUC estimates that a typical household that goes fully electric — swapping out its gas-powered space and water heaters, its oven and its dryer with grid-powered alternatives — would save between $12 and $19 per month on their electric bill as a result of the new rate change. Chhabra argued that the effect that a reduced rate will have on conservation is also likely to be negligible. California’s electric prices are“ still the highest in the country, save Hawaii, right?” he said. “So there’s still enough signal there.” But as California continues its campaign to wean itself off fossil fuels, the divide among environmental advocates and other members of the Democratic coalition who shape state energy policy isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. “We are trying to balance conservation, efficiency, electrification and fairness,” said Chhabra. “And you can’t give the best thing for everything all at once.”

Activism

Climate

Conservation

California has to rid itself of a ‘no’ mentality to change its relationship with cars

California's failure to build important infrastructure is at the heart of our overreliance on cars. It was once estimated that 50% of the land in American cities is devoted to vehicular infrastructure, and nearly one-quarter is dedicated to parking lots. The solution is right under our noses.

Earth Day Op-Ed Contest Winner: Second Place More than 70 high school students across California submitted opinion pieces to CalMatters’ second annual Earth Day contest. The 2024 contest theme was “What solution should Californians running for office support to help address climate change?” Guest Commentary written by Sophia Bella Sophia Bella is a junior at Burlingame High School. She is an avid writer and serves as the managing editor for her school’s student publication. Streamlining public transportation has long been a favored approach to combat climate change, and rightfully so. The advent of the automobile completely changed our relationship with space, redesigning the layout of our cities to specifically accommodate cars. But over time we learned that car transport is antithetical to efficient urban life. That’s where the problem lies: Sustainable cities depend on effective public transportation. So why can’t we build it? Experiencing the public transportation system in Japan for the first time was unforgettable. As a Bay Area native, my 18-mile weekend trips to San Francisco via CalTrain and Muni could sometimes take upwards of two hours. You can imagine the sense of awe I felt when I took the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto – a distance of 280 miles – in almost the same two hours. This stark contrast brought to mind California’s own aspirations for high-speed rail. In 2008, voters sanctioned a nearly $10 billion bond to construct a rail line that could connect San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours. We now know that the approach to the project was a bust. High-speed rail had an unrealistic timeline, with the system expected to be fully operational by 2020 and an estimated cost of $33 billion. Fast forward four years, and the entire route is still far from completion, with its projected cost ballooning to nearly $100 billion more than the initial budget. Our failure to build important infrastructure is at the heart of our overreliance on cars. It was once estimated that 50% of the land in American cities is devoted to vehicular infrastructure, and nearly one-quarter is dedicated to parking lots. In San Bernardino, for example, they account for 49% of the city’s core. If we de-emphasized cars as a pillar of our urban planning, we could reclaim half of our cities. The solution is right under our noses. We have the technology. We have the resources. We have the knowledge. So why haven’t we accomplished anything? It’s easy to say that Californians running for office this year should rally behind better public transit and other infrastructural improvements to limit urban sprawl. But the reality is that there is a preliminary challenge that we need to tackle. The high-speed rail project illustrates the greater issue at large: No matter how innovative or ambitious the solution is, California just can’t seem to get these infrastructure plans off the ground. First and foremost, legislators need to support streamlining the process of infrastructure construction – and it starts with realistic project goals and transparent planning. Our history suggests that we chronically underestimate the cost of projects, encountering scope creep that escalates both prices and stakes. Each time a new interest-holder raises a concern in the midst of a project, it becomes more expensive and more problematic. California needs planning processes that involve stakeholders from the outset – something more future-proof and inclusive. California has already made strides in this direction, as seen in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s infrastructure streamlining package. In Newsom’s words, it’s about tackling California’s “pervasive mindset of ‘no.’” Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton observed that a big reason for this mindset is that Californians have become increasingly environmentally conscious. Yes, environmental concerns are often used as justification to oppose projects, but this awareness is a strength. More awareness means we can now make more informed and sustainable decisions, creating infrastructure that contributes positively to our surroundings rather than detracts. Unimplemented ideas have little value. People are losing trust in the state’s ability to build things, and climate change isn’t going to wait.

Climate

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Biden administration bars drilling on millions of acres in Alaska

The Biden administration is restricting drilling on millions of acres of government-owned lands in Alaska — and taking the penultimate step toward blocking a mining access road in the same state. The administration announced on Friday that it would block off oil and gas drilling on 13 million acres in the Western Arctic that are part of an area known as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve, found in Alaska’s North Slope, was set aside in 1923 by then-President Warren G. Harding as an emergency supply of oil for the Navy. The area is also home to caribou herds, threatened and sensitive bird species, and other animals including polar bears. The administration also issued a document indicating that it would not approve a proposed industrial road through northwestern Alaskan wilderness toward deposits of copper and zinc — disrupting Ambler Metals’ effort to mine there. The administration cited its finding that the road would significantly restrict activities for more than 30 Alaska Native communities. The Hill previously reported the Biden administration had reached this decision Tuesday. “Today’s historic actions to protect lands and waters in the western Arctic will ensure continued subsistence use by Alaska Native communities while conserving these special places for future generations,” White House adviser John Podesta said in a statement. “With these new announcements, the Biden-Harris administration has now protected more than 41 million acres of lands and waters across the country, leaving a huge mark on the history of American conservation,” he added. The Biden administration has a mixed record on energy- and conservation-related issues in Alaska, most notably approving the Willow Project last year — which will allow ConocoPhillips to drill in Alaska for about 30 years. That move was particularly controversial among progressives, who said the administration should not allow significant new oil infrastructure amid the transition away from fossil fuels. One day prior to that decision, the administration announced its proposed expansion of protections in the petroleum reserve that was finalized on Friday. It reverses a Trump-era effort to open up significantly more of the area for drilling. The Biden administration’s move to bar the Ambler road’s construction technically is not final, as the government is required to wait at least 30 days before issuing a formal Record of Decision. The actions taken by the Biden administration have been opposed by Alaska’s bipartisan congressional delegation, with lawmakers arguing that the move will have negative impacts on the area’s economy, including for Alaska Native Corporations. The moves were met with praise from many environmental and tribal advocates. “The Biden Administration's choice to reject the Ambler Road Project is a monumental step forward in the fight for Indigenous rights and environmental justice,” Chief Chair Brian Ridley of the Tanana Chiefs Conference said in a statement.

Government

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Energy

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CA workers to get indoor heat protections

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For the first time, U.S. may force polluters to clean up these ‘forever chemicals’

A plan to change your utility rates is dividing California environmentalists. Here’s why

California has to rid itself of a ‘no’ mentality to change its relationship with cars

Biden administration bars drilling on millions of acres in Alaska

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